U.S. patent application number 16/354170 was filed with the patent office on 2019-07-11 for prioritizing shelf-oriented tasks.
This patent application is currently assigned to Trax Technologies Solutions Pte Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Trax Technologies Solutions Pte Ltd.. Invention is credited to Yair Adato, Youval Bronicki, Daniel Shimon Cohen, Shlomi Dayan, David M. Gottlieb, Alon Grubshtein, Galit Peled.
Application Number | 20190213523 16/354170 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 67139515 |
Filed Date | 2019-07-11 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190213523 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Adato; Yair ; et
al. |
July 11, 2019 |
PRIORITIZING SHELF-ORIENTED TASKS
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for
processing images captured in a retail store and automatically
addressing detected conditions within the retail store. In one
implementation, the system may include a processor configured to
receive a plurality of images depicting a plurality of products
displayed on a plurality of store shelves; detect in the plurality
of images an indicator of a first service-improvement condition
relating to the plurality of products; detect in the plurality of
images an indicator of a second service-improvement condition
relating to the plurality of products; determine a first
product-related task for addressing the first service-improvement
condition; determine a second product-related task for addressing
the second service-improvement condition; and access a database
storing information indicative of a first employee and a second
employee on duty during a time interval over which the plurality of
images was received.
Inventors: |
Adato; Yair; (Kfar Shmuel,
IL) ; Bronicki; Youval; (Los Altos, CA) ;
Dayan; Shlomi; (Raanana, IL) ; Peled; Galit;
(Ramat Hasharon, IL) ; Gottlieb; David M.;
(Denver, CO) ; Grubshtein; Alon; (Lehavim, IL)
; Cohen; Daniel Shimon; (Hoboken, NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Trax Technologies Solutions Pte Ltd. |
Singapore |
|
SG |
|
|
Assignee: |
Trax Technologies Solutions Pte
Ltd.
Singapore
SG
|
Family ID: |
67139515 |
Appl. No.: |
16/354170 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/US2019/013054 |
Jan 10, 2019 |
|
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16354170 |
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62615512 |
Jan 10, 2018 |
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62681718 |
Jun 7, 2018 |
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62695469 |
Jul 9, 2018 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 9/6231 20130101;
G06F 16/90335 20190101; G06F 16/55 20190101; G06T 7/13 20170101;
H04N 5/2253 20130101; G06F 16/23 20190101; H04N 5/247 20130101;
G06F 16/583 20190101; G06T 2207/30232 20130101; G08B 21/18
20130101; G06K 9/00671 20130101; G06Q 10/0875 20130101; G06K
9/00362 20130101; G06Q 10/06316 20130101; G06Q 50/28 20130101; H04N
5/2252 20130101; H04N 5/23229 20130101; G06T 7/75 20170101; G06Q
20/203 20130101; G06K 9/00771 20130101; G06Q 10/06311 20130101;
G06F 17/18 20130101; G06T 7/70 20170101; G06Q 30/0643 20130101;
G07G 1/0036 20130101; G06T 7/0002 20130101; G06K 9/325 20130101;
G06K 2209/17 20130101; G06K 9/00624 20130101; G06Q 10/063112
20130101; G06T 2207/30242 20130101; H04N 5/23206 20130101; G06Q
10/087 20130101; G06K 9/00201 20130101; G06F 16/235 20190101; G06T
7/20 20130101; G06T 7/55 20170101; G06F 16/288 20190101; H04N
5/23241 20130101; G06T 2207/30196 20130101; H04N 5/232 20130101;
G06F 16/5846 20190101; G08B 21/182 20130101; G06T 7/521 20170101;
H04N 5/23219 20130101; G06K 2209/01 20130101; G06Q 30/0629
20130101; G06Q 30/0639 20130101; H04N 5/23203 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 10/06 20060101
G06Q010/06; G06K 9/00 20060101 G06K009/00; G06F 16/903 20060101
G06F016/903; G06Q 10/08 20060101 G06Q010/08 |
Claims
1-195. (canceled)
196. A system for processing images captured in a retail store and
automatically addressing detected conditions within the retail
store, the system comprising: at least one processor configured to:
receive a plurality of images depicting a plurality of products
displayed on a plurality of store shelves; detect in the plurality
of images an indicator of a first service-improvement condition
relating to the plurality of products; detect in the plurality of
images an indicator of a second service-improvement condition
relating to the plurality of products; determine a first
product-related task for addressing the first service-improvement
condition; determine a second product-related task for addressing
the second service-improvement condition; access a database storing
information indicative of a first employee and a second employee on
duty during a time interval over which the plurality of images was
received; and assign the first product-related task to the first
employee and assign the second product-related task to the second
employee.
197. The system of claim 196, wherein the first service-improvement
condition and the second service-improvement condition each include
at least one of: a need for cleaning, a need for product
restocking, a need for product rearrangement, a need for product
re-orienting, a need for product recall, a need for labeling, a
need for updated pricing, a promotion-related need, an identified
misplaced product, and an occlusion event.
198. The system of claim 197, wherein, when the first
service-improvement condition and the second service-improvement
condition include identified misplaced products, the at least one
processor is configured to assign the first product-related task to
the first employee and the second product-related task to the
second employee based on product categories associated with the
identified misplaced products.
199. The system of claim 197, wherein, when the first
service-improvement condition and the second service-improvement
condition are occlusion events, the at least one processor is
configured to assign the first product-related task to the first
employee and the second product-related task to the second employee
based on occlusion categories associated with the occlusion
events.
200. The system of claim 197, wherein, when the first
service-improvement condition is a need for cleaning, and the
second service-improvement condition is a need for product
rearrangement, the at least one processor is configured to assign
the first product-related task to a robot employee and assign the
second product-related task to a human employee.
201. The system of claim 196, wherein, when the first employee is a
robot employee, the at least one processor is further configured to
determine that the first service-improvement condition can be
resolved by the robot employee, before assigning the first
product-related task to the first employee.
202. The system of claim 201, wherein the at least one processor is
further configured to: obtain data indicative of a current physical
condition of the robot employee for determining that the first
service-improvement condition can be resolved by the robot
employee.
203. The system of claim 196, wherein the at least one processor is
further configured to: receive location data indicative of current
locations of the first employee and the second employee within the
retail store; and assign the first product-related task to the
first employee and the second product-related task to the second
employee based on the received location data and identified
locations of the first service-improvement condition and the second
service-improvement condition.
204. The system of claim 196, wherein the at least one processor is
further configured to access pending assignment data indicative of
product-related tasks assigned to the first employee and the second
employee; and assign the first product-related task to the first
employee and the second product-related task to the second employee
based on at least one pending product-related task previously
assigned to the first employee and at least one pending
product-related task previously assigned to the second
employee.
205. The system of claim 196, wherein the at least one processor is
further configured to access employment data indicative of skill
sets associated with each of the first and second employees; and
assign the first product-related task to the first employee and the
second product-related task to the second employee based on the
skill sets of the first employee and the second employee and a type
of the first service-improvement condition and a type of the second
service-improvement condition.
206. The system of claim 196, wherein the at least one processor is
further configured to access employment ranking data associated
with past performances of the first employee and the second
employee; and assign the first product-related task to the first
employee and the second product-related task to the second employee
based on the employment ranking data.
207. The system of claim 196, wherein the at least one processor is
further configured to: determine prioritization of the first
product-related task and the second product-related task based on
urgency of the first service-improvement condition and the second
service-improvement condition; and assign the first product-related
task to the first employee and the second product-related task to
the second employee based on the determined prioritization of the
first product-related task and the second product-related task.
208. The system of claim 196, wherein the at least one processor is
further configured to: after assigning the first product-related
task to the first employee first, analyze the plurality of images
to determine that there is a need for a third product-related task
to resolve a third service-improvement condition; based on the
plurality of images, determine that the third service-improvement
condition is more urgent than the first service-improvement
condition; assign the third product-related task to the first
employee; and inform the first employee that the third
product-related task has priority over the first product-related
task.
209. The system of claim 196, wherein the at least one processor is
further configured to: analyze the plurality of images to determine
that the first service-improvement condition had been resolved
prior to the arrival of the first employee; and inform the first
employee that the first product-related task has been
cancelled.
210. The system of claim 196, wherein the at least one processor is
further configured to: analyze the plurality of images to identify
that the first product-related task has been completed by the first
employee; and update a repository of product-related tasks
associated with the first employee based on the identification of
the completion of the first product-related task.
211. The system of claim 210, wherein the at least one processor is
further configured to: analyze the plurality of images to determine
a performance quality level associated with the completion of the
first product-related task; and update a performance record
associated with the first employee based on the determined
performance quality level.
212. A method for processing images captured in a retail store and
for automatically addressing detected conditions within the retail
store, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of images
depicting a plurality of products displayed on a plurality of store
shelves; detecting in the plurality of images an indicator of a
first service-improvement condition relating to the plurality of
products; detecting in the plurality of images an indicator of a
second service-improvement condition relating to the plurality of
products; determining a first product-related task for addressing
the first service-improvement condition; determining a second
product-related task for addressing the second service-improvement
condition; accessing a database storing information indicative of a
first employee and a second employee on duty during a time interval
over which the plurality of images was received; and assigning the
first product-related task to the first employee and assign the
second product-related task to the second employee.
213. The method of claim 212, wherein: when the first
service-improvement condition and the second service-improvement
condition include identified misplaced product, the method further
comprises: assigning the first product-related task to the first
employee and the second product-related task to the second employee
based on product categories associated with the identified
misplaced products; when the first service-improvement condition
and the second service-improvement condition are occlusion events,
the method further comprises: assigning the first product-related
task to the first employee and the second product-related task to
the second employee based on occlusion categories associated with
the occlusion events; and when the first service-improvement
condition is a need for cleaning and the second service-improvement
condition is a need for rearrangement, the method further
comprises: assigning the first product-related task to a robot
employee and assigning the second product-related task to a human
employee.
214. The method of claim 212, wherein, when the first employee is a
robot employee, the method further comprises: obtaining data
indicative of a current status of the robot employee for
determining that the first service-improvement condition can be
resolved by the robot employee; and based on the obtained data,
determining that the first service-improvement condition can be
resolved by the robot employee, before assigning the first
product-related task to the first employee.
215. A computer program product for processing images captured in a
retail store and for automatically addressing detected conditions
within the retail store, the computer program product being
embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and being
executable by at least one processor, the computer program product
including instructions for causing the at least one processor to
execute a method comprising: receiving a plurality of images
depicting a plurality of products displayed on a plurality of store
shelves; detecting in the plurality of images an indicator of a
first service-improvement condition relating to the plurality of
products; detecting in the plurality of images an indicator of a
second service-improvement condition relating to the plurality of
products; determining a first product-related task for addressing
the first service-improvement condition; determining a second
product-related task for addressing the second service-improvement
condition; accessing a database storing information indicative of a
first employee and a second employee on duty during a time interval
over which the plurality of images was received; and assigning the
first product-related task to the first employee and assign the
second product-related task to the second employee.
216-284. (canceled)
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 62/615,512, filed on Jan. 10,
2018, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/681,718, filed on
Jun. 7, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
62/695,469, filed on Jul. 9, 2018, all of which are incorporated
herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
I. Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to systems,
methods, and devices for identifying products in retail stores, and
more specifically to systems, methods, and devices for capturing,
collecting, and automatically analyzing images of products
displayed in retail stores for purposes of providing one or more
functions associated with the identified products.
II. Background Information
[0003] Shopping in stores is a prevalent part of modern daily life.
Store owners (also known as "retailers") stock a wide variety of
products on store shelves and add associated labels and promotions
to the store shelves. Typically, retailers have a set of processes
and instructions for organizing products on the store shelves. The
source of some of these instructions may include contractual
obligations and other preferences related to the retailer
methodology for placement of products on the store shelves.
Nowadays, many retailers and suppliers send people to stores to
personally monitor compliance with the desired product placement.
Such a monitoring technique, however, may be inefficient and may
result in nonuniform compliance among retailers relative to various
product-related guidelines. This technique may also result in
significant gaps in compliance, as it does not allow for continuous
monitoring of dynamically changing product displays. To increase
productivity, among other potential benefits, there is a
technological need to provide a dynamic solution that will
automatically monitor retail spaces. Such a solution, for example
and among other features, may automatically determine whether a
disparity exists between a desired product placement and an actual
product placement.
[0004] The disclosed devices and methods are directed to providing
new ways for monitoring retail establishments using image
processing and supporting sensors.
SUMMARY
[0005] Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure provide
systems, methods, and devices for capturing, collecting, and
analyzing images of products displayed in retail stores. For
example, consistent with the disclosed embodiments, an example
system may receive an image depicting a store shelf having products
displayed thereon, identify the products on the store shelf, and
trigger an alert when disparity exists between the desired product
placement and the actual product placement.
[0006] Consistent with disclosed embodiments, a system for
acquiring images of products in a retail store is disclosed. The
system may include at least one first housing configured for
location on a retail shelving unit, and at least one image capture
device included in the at least one first housing and configured
relative to the at least one first housing such that an optical
axis of the at least one image capture device is directed toward an
opposing retail shelving unit when the at least one first housing
is fixedly mounted on the retail shelving unit. The system may
further include a second housing configured for location on the
retail shelving unit separate from the at least one first housing,
the second housing may contain at least one processor configured to
control the at least one image capture device and also to control a
network interface for communicating with a remote server. The
system may also include at least one data conduit extending between
the at least one first housing and the second housing, the at least
one data conduit being configured to enable transfer of control
signals from the at least one processor to the at least one image
capture device and to enable collection of image data acquired by
the at least one image capture device for transmission by the
network interface.
[0007] Consistent with disclosed embodiments, a method for
acquiring images of products in a retail store is disclosed. The
method may include fixedly mounting on a retail shelving unit at
least one first housing containing at least one image capture
device such that an optical axis of the at least one image capture
device is directed to an opposing retail shelving unit. The method
may also include fixedly mounting on the retail shelving unit a
second housing at a location spaced apart from the at least one
first housing, the second housing containing at least one
processor. The method may further include extending at least one
data conduit between the at least one first housing and the second
housing. The method may additionally include capturing images of
the opposing retail shelving unit using the at least one image
capture device, and transmitting at least some of the captured
images from the second housing to a remote server configured to
determine planogram compliance relative to the opposing retail
shelving unit.
[0008] In one embodiment, a sensing system for monitoring planogram
compliance on a store shelf may comprise a plurality of detection
elements configured to detect placement of products on the store
shelf and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be
configured to receive first signals from a first subset of
detection elements from among the plurality of detection elements
after one or more of a plurality of products are placed on at least
one area of the store shelf associated with the first subset of
detection elements and use the first signals to identify at least
one pattern associated with a product type of the plurality of
products. The at least one processor may be further configured to
receive second signals from a second subset of detection elements
from among the plurality of detection elements. The second signals
may be indicative of no products being placed on at least one area
of the store shelf associated with the second subset of detection
elements. The at least one processor may be further configured to
use the second signals to determine at least one empty space on the
store shelf, determine, based on the at least one pattern and the
at least one empty space, at least one aspect of planogram
compliance; and transmit an indicator of the at least one aspect of
planogram compliance to a remote server.
[0009] In one embodiment, a method for monitoring planogram
compliance in a store shelf may comprise receiving first signals
from a first subset of a plurality of detection elements after one
or more of a plurality of products are placed on at least one area
of the store shelf associated with the first subset of detection
elements and using the first signals to identify at least one
pattern associated with a product type of the plurality of
products. The method may further comprise receiving second signals
from a second subset of the plurality of detection elements. The
second signals may be indicative of no products being placed on at
least one area of the store shelf associated with the second subset
of detection elements. The method may further comprise using the
second signals to determine at least one empty space on the store
shelf; determining, based on the at least one pattern and the at
least one empty space, at least one aspect of planogram compliance;
and transmitting an indicator of the at least one aspect of
planogram compliance to a remote server.
[0010] In one embodiment, a computer program product for monitoring
planogram compliance a store shelf may be embodied in a
non-transitory computer-readable medium and executable by at least
one processor. The computer program product may include
instructions for causing the at least one processor to execute a
method. The method may comprise receiving first signals from a
first subset of a plurality of detection elements after one or more
of a plurality of products are placed on at least one area of the
store shelf associated with the first subset of detection elements
and using the first signals to identify at least one pattern
associated with a product type of the plurality of products. The
method may further comprise receiving second signals from a second
subset of the plurality of detection elements. The second signals
may be indicative of no products being placed on at least one area
of the store shelf associated with the second subset of detection
elements. The method may further comprise using the second signals
to determine at least one empty space on the store shelf;
determining, based on the at least one pattern and the at least one
empty space, at least one aspect of planogram compliance; and
transmitting an indicator of the at least one aspect of planogram
compliance to a remote server.
[0011] In one embodiment, a sensing system for monitoring planogram
compliance on a store shelf may comprise a plurality of detection
elements configured for location on the store shelf, wherein the
plurality of detection elements are configured to detect placement
of products when the products are placed above at least part of the
plurality of detection elements. The system may further comprise at
least one processor configured to receive first signals from a
first subset of detection elements from among the plurality of
detection elements after one or more of a plurality of products are
placed on at least one area associated with the first subset of
detection elements and use the first signals to identify at least
one pattern associated with a product type of the plurality of
products. The at least one processor may be further configured to
receive second signals from a second subset of detection elements
from among the plurality of detection elements. The second signals
may be indicative of no products being placed on at least one area
associated with the second subset of detection elements. The at
least one processor may be further configured to use the second
signals to determine at least one empty space on the store shelf
determine, based on the at least one pattern and the at least one
empty space, at least one aspect of planogram compliance; and
transmit an indicator of the at least one aspect of planogram
compliance to a remote server.
[0012] The disclosed embodiments describe non-transitory computer
readable media, systems, and methods for controlling changes to
authentication credentials. For example, in an exemplary
embodiment, there may be a non-transitory computer readable medium
including instructions that, when executed by at least one
processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations
for controlling changes to authentication credentials. The
operations may comprise accessing a database storing a group of
product models, each relating to at least one product in the retail
store. The operations may also include receiving at least one image
depicting at least part of at least one store shelf having a
plurality of products of a same type displayed thereon. The
operations may also include analyzing the at least one image and
determining a first candidate type of the plurality of products
based on the group of product models and the image analysis. The
operations may also include determining a first confidence level
associated with the determined first candidate type of the
plurality of products. When the first confidence level associated
with the first candidate type is below a confidence threshold, the
operations may also include determining a second candidate type of
the plurality of products using contextual information. The
operations may also include determining a second confidence level
associated with the determined second candidate type of the
plurality of products. When the second confidence level associated
with the second candidate type is above the confidence threshold,
the operations may also include initiating an action to update the
group of product models stored in the database.
[0013] Aspects of the disclosed embodiments may include tangible
computer readable media that store software instructions that, when
executed by one or more processors, are configured for and capable
of performing and executing one or more of the methods, operations,
and the like consistent with the disclosed embodiments. Also,
aspects of the disclosed embodiments may be performed by one or
more processors that are configured as special-purpose processor(s)
based on software instructions that are programmed with logic and
instructions that perform, when executed, one or more operations
consistent with the disclosed embodiments.
[0014] The disclosed embodiments describe non-transitory computer
readable media, systems, and methods for selective usage of product
model. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, there may be a
non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions
that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least
one processor to perform operations for controlling changes to
authentication credentials. The operation may include accessing a
database storing a set of product models relating to a plurality of
products. The operation may also include receiving at least one
image depicting at least one store shelf and at least one product
displayed thereon. The operation may further include selecting a
product model subset from among the set of product models based on
at least one characteristic of the at least one store shelf and
based on analysis of the at least one image. A number of product
models included in the product model subset may be less than a
number of product models included in the set of product models. The
operation may also include determining whether the selected product
model subset is applicable to the at least one product. When the
selected product model subset is determined to be applicable to the
at least one product, the operation may also include analyzing a
representation of the at least one product depicted in the at least
one image using the product model subset, and identifying the at
least one product based on the analysis of the representation of
the at least one product depicted in the at least one image using
the product model subset. When the selected product model subset is
determined to be not applicable to the at least one product, the
operation may include updating the selected product model subset to
include at least one additional product model from the stored set
of product models not previously included in the selected product
model subset to provide an updated product model subset, analyzing
the representation of the at least one product depicted in the at
least one image in comparison to the updated product model subset,
and identifying the at least one product based on the analysis of
the representation of the at least one product depicted in the at
least one image in comparison to the updated product model
subset.
[0015] Aspects of the disclosed embodiments may include tangible
computer readable media that store software instructions that, when
executed by one or more processors, are configured for and capable
of performing and executing one or more of the methods, operations,
and the like consistent with the disclosed embodiments. Also,
aspects of the disclosed embodiments may be performed by one or
more processors that are configured as special-purpose processor(s)
based on software instructions that are programmed with logic and
instructions that perform, when executed, one or more operations
consistent with the disclosed embodiments.
[0016] In accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided
a system and method for processing images captured in a retail
store. The system may include at least one processor. The at least
one processor may be configured to perform the method for
processing images captured in a retail store. The method may
include receiving an image depicting a store shelf having at least
one bottle displayed thereon. The method may also include analyzing
the image to detect a representation in the image of the at least
one bottle, wherein the bottle has an outline design. Further, the
method may include identifying in the image two outline elements
being associated with the outline design of the at least one
bottle. Each of the two outline elements may have a specific
length. In addition, the method may include determining a size of
the at least one bottle based on a comparison of the lengths of the
two outline elements. In accordance with the present disclosure,
there is further provided a computer program product for processing
images captured in a retail store in a non-transitory
computer-readable medium. The non-transitory computer-readable
medium may be executable by at least one processor. The computer
program product may include instructions for causing the at least
one processor to execute the instructions in order to perform the
method for processing images captured in a retail store.
[0017] Consistent with disclosed embodiments, a method for
processing images captured in a retail store is disclosed. The
method may include receiving at least one image depicting a store
shelf having a product displayed thereon. The method may also
include analyzing the at least one image to detect the product
represented in the at least one image. The method may further
include determining that the detected product is either a first
type of product or a second type of product. The first type of
product and the second type of product may have similar visual
appearances. The first type of product and the second type of
product may be associated with different price ranges. A first
price range associated with the first type of product may be higher
than a second price range associated with the second type of
product. The method may include analyzing the at least one image to
determine a price associated with the detected product. Further,
the method may include determining that the detected product is of
the first type of product when the determined price falls within
the first price range. Additionally, the method may include
determining that the detected product is of the second type of
product when the determined price falls within the second price
range. Consistent with disclosed embodiments, a system for
processing images captured in a retail store and differentiating
between products with similar visual appearances is disclosed. The
system may include at least one processor configured to perform the
method for processing images captured in a retail store. Consistent
with disclosed embodiments, a computer program product for
processing images captured in a retail store embodied in a
non-transitory computer-readable medium and executable by at least
one processor is disclosed. The computer program product may
include instructions for causing the at least one processor to
execute the method for processing images captured in a retail
store.
[0018] Consistent with disclosed embodiments, a system for
processing images captured in a retail store and automatically
identifying misplaced products is provided. The system may include
at least one processor. The at least one processor may be
configured to receive one or more images captured by one or more
image sensors from an environment of a retail store and depicting a
plurality of products displayed on at least one store shelf. The at
least one processor may also be configured to detect in the one or
more images a first product, wherein the first product has an
associated first correct display location. The at least one
processor may also be configured to determine, based on analysis of
the one or more images, that the first product is not located in
the first correct display location. The at least one processor may
also be configured to determine an indicator of a first level of
urgency for returning the first product to the first correct
display location. The at least one processor may also be configured
to cause an issuance of a user-notification associated with the
first product, wherein the user-notification is issued within a
first period of time from when the first product was determined not
to be located in the first correct display location. The at least
one processor may also be configured to detect in the one or more
images a second product, wherein the second product has an
associated second correct display location. The at least one
processor may also be configured to determine, based on analysis of
the one or more images, that the second product is not located in
the second correct display location. The at least one processor may
also be configured to determine an indicator of a second level of
urgency for returning the second product to its associated second
correct display location. After determining that the second product
is not located in the second correct display location and when the
second urgency level is lower than the first urgency level, the at
least one processor may also be configured to withhold issuance of
a user-notification associated with the second product within a
time duration equal to the first period of time.
[0019] Consistent with disclosed embodiments, a method for
processing images captured in a retail store and automatically
identifying misplaced products is provided. The method may include
receiving one or more images captured by one or more image sensors
from an environment of a retail store and depicting a plurality of
products displayed on at least one store shelf. The method may also
include detecting in the one or more images a first product,
wherein the first product has an associated first correct display
location. The method may also include determining, based on
analysis of the one or more images, that the first product is not
located in the first correct display location. The method may also
include determining an indicator of a first level of urgency for
returning the first product to the associated first correct display
location. The method may also include causing an issuance of a
user-notification associated with the first product, wherein the
user-notification is issued within a first period of time from when
the first product was determined not to be located in the first
correct display location. The method may also include detecting in
the one or more images a second product, wherein the second product
has an associated second correct display location. The method may
also include determining, based on analysis of the one or more
images, that the second product is not located in the second
correct display location. The method may also include determining
an indicator of a second level of urgency for returning the second
product to its associated second correct display location. The
method may also include withholding issuance of a user-notification
associated with the second product within a time duration equal to
the first period of time, after determining that the second product
is not located in the second correct display location and when the
second urgency level is lower than the first urgency level.
[0020] Consistent with other disclosed embodiments, a
non-transitory computer readable medium for processing images
captured in a retail store is provided. The computer readable
medium including instructions that, when executed by at least one
processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations
comprising: receiving one or more images captured by one or more
image sensors from an environment of a retail store and depicting a
plurality of products displayed on at least one store shelf;
detecting in the one or more images a first product, wherein the
first product has an associated first correct display location;
determining, based on analysis of the one or more images, that the
first product is not located in the first correct display location;
determining an indicator of a first level of urgency for returning
the first product to the associated first correct display location;
causing an issuance of a user-notification associated with the
first product, wherein the user-notification is issued within a
first period of time from when the first product was determined not
to be located in the first correct display location; detecting in
the one or more images a second product, wherein the second product
has an associated second correct display location; determining,
based on analysis of the one or more images, that the second
product is not located in the second correct display location;
determining an indicator of a second level of urgency for returning
the second product to its associated second correct display
location. After determining that the second product is not located
in the second correct display location and when the second urgency
level is lower than the first urgency level, the operations may
also comprise withholding issuance of a user-notification
associated with the second product within a time duration equal to
the first period of time.
[0021] The disclosed embodiments describe non-transitory computer
readable media, systems, and methods for identifying occlusions in
retail stores. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, there may
be a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions
that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least
one processor to perform operations for controlling changes to
authentication credentials. The operation may include receiving one
or more images captured by one or more image sensors from an
environment of a retail store and depicting a plurality of products
displayed on at least one store shelf. The operation may also
include detecting in the one or more images a first occlusion
event, wherein the first occlusion event is associated with a first
occluding object in the retail store. The operation may further
include analyzing the plurality of images to determine an indicator
of a first level of urgency for resolving the first occlusion
event. The operation may also include causing issuance of a
user-notification associated with the first occlusion event,
wherein the user-notification is issued within a first period of
time from when the first occlusion event was detected. The
operation may also include detecting in the one or more images a
second occlusion event, wherein the second occlusion event is
associated with a second occluding object in the retail store.
Further, the operation may include analyzing the plurality of
images to determine an indicator of a second level of urgency for
resolving the second occlusion event. When the second urgency level
is lower than the first urgency level, the operation may further
include withhold issuance of a user-notification associated with
the second occlusion event within a time duration equal to the
first period of time.
[0022] Aspects of the disclosed embodiments may include tangible
computer readable media that store software instructions that, when
executed by one or more processors, are configured for and capable
of performing and executing one or more of the methods, operations,
and the like consistent with the disclosed embodiments. Also,
aspects of the disclosed embodiments may be performed by one or
more processors that are configured as special-purpose processor(s)
based on software instructions that are programmed with logic and
instructions that perform, when executed, one or more operations
consistent with the disclosed embodiments.
[0023] Consistent with disclosed embodiments, a system for
processing images captured in a retail store may include at least
one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to
receive at least one image depicting at least part of at least one
store shelf having a plurality of products displayed thereon. The
plurality of products may include a group of first products
associated with a first product size and a group of second products
associated with a second product size. The second product size may
differ from the first product size. The at least one processor may
also be configured to analyze the at least one image to detect the
plurality of products. Further, the at least one processor may be
configured to identify one or more vacant spaces associated with
the plurality of products on the at eat one store shelf. The at
least one processor may also be configured to determine that at
least one additional first product may be displayed on the at least
one store shelf next to the group of first products. The
determination may be based on the one or more identified vacant
spaces and a determination that the group of second products may be
rearranged on the at least one store shelf to at least partially
eliminate the one or more vacant spaces. Further, the at least one
processor may be configured to provide information to a user
indicative of the identified vacant spaces. The information may be
provided based on the determination that at least one additional
first product may be displayed on the at least one store shelf.
[0024] Consistent with disclosed embodiments, a system for
processing images captured in a retail store may include at least
one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to
receive at least one image depicting at least part of a shelving
unit with a plurality of shelves having a plurality of products
displayed thereon. The at least one processor may also be
configured to analyze the at least one image to detect the
plurality of products. Further, the at least one processor may be
configured to identify one or more vacant spaces associated with
the shelving unit. The at least one processor may be further
configured to determine, based on the one or more identified vacant
spaces, that by rearranging the plurality of products, at least one
shelf may be added to the shelving unit. Further, the at least one
processor may be configured to provide, based on the determination
that at least one shelf may be added to the shelving unit,
information to a user indicative of the identified vacant
spaces.
[0025] Consistent with disclosed embodiments, a method for
processing images captured in a retail store may include receiving
at least one image depicting at least part of at least one store
shelf having a plurality of products displayed thereon. The
plurality of products depicted in the at least one image may
include a group of first products associated with a first product
size and a group of second products associated with a second
product size. The second product size may differ from the first
product size. The method may further include analyzing the at least
one image to detect the plurality of products. The method may also
include identifying one or more vacant spaces associated with the
plurality of products on the at least one store shelf. Based on the
one or more identified vacant spaces, the method may include
determining that by rearranging the group of second products on the
at least one store shelf to at least partially eliminate the one or
more identified vacant spaces, at least one additional first
product may be displayed on the at least one store shelf next to
the group of first products. The method may include additional
steps based on the determination that at least one additional first
product may be displayed. The method may include providing
information to a user indicative of the identified vacant
spaces.
[0026] Consistent with disclosed embodiments, a computer program
product for processing images captured in retail stores, embodied
in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and executable by at
least one processor, may include instructions for causing the at
least one processor to execute a method. The method may include
receiving at least one image depicting at least part of at least
one store shelf having a plurality of products displayed thereon.
The plurality of products may include a group of first products
associated with a first product size and a group of second products
associated with a second product size, the second product size may
differ from the first product size. The method may further include
analyzing the at least one image to detect the plurality of
products. The method may also include identifying one or more
vacant spaces associated with the plurality of products on the at
least one store shelf. Further, the method may include determining,
based on the one or more identified vacant spaces, that by
rearranging the group of second products on the at least one store
shelf to at least partially eliminate the one or more identified
vacant spaces, at least one additional first product may be
displayed on the at least one store shelf next to the group of
first products. Additionally, the method may include providing,
based on the determination that at least one additional first
product may be displayed, information to a user indicative of the
identified vacant spaces.
[0027] In one aspect, a system for processing images captured in a
retail store and automatically addressing detected conditions
within the retail store is disclosed. The system may include at
least one processor configured to receive a plurality of images
depicting a plurality of products displayed on a plurality of store
shelves. The processor may also be configured to detect in the
plurality of images an indicator of a first service-improvement
condition relating to the plurality of products and detect in the
plurality of images an indicator of a second service-improvement
condition relating to the plurality of products. The processor may
be configured to determine a first product-related task for
addressing the first service-improvement condition and determine a
second product-related task for addressing the second
service-improvement condition. The processor may also be configured
to access a database storing information indicative of a first
employee and a second employee on duty during a time interval over
which the plurality of images was received and assign the first
product-related task to the first employee and assign the second
product-related task to the second employee.
[0028] In another aspect, a method for processing images captured
in a retail store and for automatically addressing detected
conditions within the retail store is disclosed. The method may
include receiving a plurality of images depicting a plurality of
products displayed on a plurality of store shelves. The method may
also include detecting in the plurality of images an indicator of a
first service-improvement condition relating to the plurality of
products and detecting in the plurality of images an indicator of a
second service-improvement condition relating to the plurality of
products. The method may further include determining a first
product-related task for addressing the first service-improvement
condition and determining a second product-related task for
addressing the second service-improvement condition. The method may
include accessing a database storing information indicative of a
first employee and a second employee on duty during a time interval
over which the plurality of images was received and assigning the
first product-related task to the first employee and assign the
second product-related task to the second employee.
[0029] In another aspect, a computer program product for processing
images captured in a retail store and for automatically addressing
detected conditions within the retail store is provided. The
computer program product may be embodied in a non-transitory
computer-readable medium and may be executable by at least one
processor. The computer program product may include instructions
for causing the at least one processor to execute the method
described above.
[0030] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a system
is disclosed for identifying products in retail stores based on
analysis of image data and for automatically generating performance
indicators relating to the identified products. The system may
comprise at least one processor configured to receive a first set
of images depicting a first plurality of products associated with
single product type displayed on a first shelving unit in a retail
store. The at least one processor may receive a first set of images
depicting a first plurality of products associated with a single
product type displayed on a first shelving unit in a retail store
and may analyze the first set of images to determine first product
turnover data associated with the first shelving unit. The at least
one processor may further receive a second set of images depicting
a second plurality of products also associated with the single
product type displayed on a second shelving unit in the retail
store nonadjacent to the first shelving unit and may analyze the
second set of images to determine second product turnover data
associated with the second shelving unit. The at least one
processor may automatically generate a performance indicator
associated with the product type using the first product turnover
data and the second product turnover data
[0031] Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a
method for identifying products in a retail store based on image
analysis of captured images and for automatically generating
performance indicators relating to the identified products. The
method may include receiving a first set of images depicting a
first plurality of products associated with a single product type
displayed on a first shelving unit in a retail store and analyzing
the first set of images to determine first product turnover data
associated with the first shelving unit. The method may further
include receiving a second set of images depicting a second
plurality of products also associated with the single product type
displayed on a second shelving unit in the retail store nonadjacent
to the first shelving unit and analyzing the second set of images
to determine second product turnover data associated with the
second shelving unit. The method may further include automatically
generating a performance indicator associated with the product type
using the first product turnover data and the second product
turnover data.
[0032] Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a
computer program product for identifying products in a retail store
based on image analysis of captured images embodied in a
non-transitory computer-readable medium and executable by at least
one processor, the computer program product including instructions
for causing the at least one processor to execute a method as
described above.
[0033] Consistent with disclosed embodiments, a system for tracking
inventory in a retail store based on analysis of image data is
disclosed. The system may include at least one processor configured
to receive image data from a plurality of image sensors mounted in
a retail store and to analyze the image data to estimate a current
inventory of at least one product type in the retail store. The at
least one processor is further configured to receive product supply
information associated with the at least one product type in the
retail store and to determine that an online order from a virtual
store made during a first time period will be fulfilled by an
employee of the retail store during a second time period. The at
least one processor is also configured to determine, based on the
current inventory estimated by analyzing the image data and the
product supply information, a predicted inventory of the at least
one product type during the second time period. The at least one
processor is also configured to provide information to the virtual
store regarding the predicted inventory of the at least one product
type during the second time period such that the virtual store can
present during the first time period an inventory indicator for the
at least one product type.
[0034] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method
is disclosed for identifying products and monitoring planogram
compliance using analysis of image data. The method may include
accessing at least one planogram describing a desired placement of
a plurality of product types on shelves of a plurality of retail
stores; receiving image data from the plurality of retail stores;
analyzing the image data to determine an actual placement of the
plurality of product types on the shelves of the plurality of
retail stores; determining at least one characteristic of planogram
compliance based on detected differences between the at least one
planogram and the actual placement of the plurality of product
types on the shelves of the plurality of retail stores; receiving
checkout data from the plurality of retail stores reflecting sales
of at least one product type from the plurality of product types;
estimating, based on the determined at least one characteristic of
planogram compliance and based on the received checkout data, an
impact of the at least one characteristic of planogram compliance
on the sales of the at least one product type; based on the
estimated impact, identifying an action, associated with the at
least one characteristic of planogram compliance, for potentially
increasing future sales of the at least one product type; and
providing information associated with the identified action to an
entity.
[0035] Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a
system identifying products and monitoring planogram compliance
using analysis of image data. The system may comprise at least one
processor configured to access at least one planogram describing a
desired placement of a plurality of product types on shelves of a
plurality of retail stores; receive image data from the plurality
of retail stores; analyze the image data to determine an actual
placement of the plurality of product types on the shelves of the
plurality of retail stores; determine at least one characteristic
of planogram compliance based on detected differences between the
at least one planogram and the actual placement of the plurality of
product types on the shelves of the plurality of retail stores;
receive checkout data from the plurality of retail stores
reflecting sales of at least one product type from the plurality of
product types; estimate, based on the determined at least one
characteristic of planogram compliance and based on the received
checkout data, an impact of the at least one characteristic of
planogram compliance on the sales of the at least one product type;
based on the estimated impact, identify an action, associated with
the at least one characteristic of planogram compliance, for
potentially increasing future sales of the at least one product
type; and provide information associated with the identified action
to an entity.
[0036] Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a
computer program product for identifying products and monitoring
planogram compliance using analysis of image data embodied in a
non-transitory computer-readable medium and executable by at least
one processor, the computer program product including instructions
for causing the at least one processor to execute the method
described above.
[0037] Consistent with other disclosed embodiments, non-transitory
computer-readable storage media may store program instructions,
which are executed by at least one processing device and perform
any of the methods described herein.
[0038] The foregoing general description and the following detailed
description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not
restrictive of the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various disclosed
embodiments. In the drawings:
[0040] FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary system for
analyzing information collected from a retail store;
[0041] FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates some of the
components of an image processing system, consistent with the
present disclosure;
[0042] FIG. 3 is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary
embodiment of a capturing device, consistent with the present
disclosure;
[0043] FIG. 4A is a schematic illustration of an example
configuration for capturing image data in a retail store,
consistent with the present disclosure;
[0044] FIG. 4B is a schematic illustration of another example
configuration for capturing image data in a retail store,
consistent with the present disclosure;
[0045] FIG. 4C is a schematic illustration of another example
configuration for capturing image data in a retail store,
consistent with the present disclosure:
[0046] FIG. 5A is an illustration of an example system for
acquiring images of products in a retail store, consistent with the
present disclosure.
[0047] FIG. 5B is an illustration of a shelf-mounted camera unit
included in a first housing of the example system of FIG. 5A,
consistent with the present disclosure.
[0048] FIG. 5C is an exploded view illustration of a processing
unit included in a second housing of the example system of FIG. 5A,
consistent with the present disclosure.
[0049] FIG. 6A is a top view representation of an aisle in a retail
store with multiple image acquisition systems deployed thereon for
acquiring images of products, consistent with the present
disclosure.
[0050] FIG. 6B is a perspective view representation of part of a
retail shelving unit with multiple image acquisition systems
deployed thereon for acquiring images of products, consistent with
the present disclosure.
[0051] FIG. 6C provides a diagrammatic representation of how the
exemplary disclosed image acquisition systems may be positioned
relative to retail shelving to acquire product images, consistent
with the present disclosure.
[0052] FIG. 7A provides a flowchart of an exemplary method for
acquiring images of products in retail store, consistent with the
present disclosure.
[0053] FIG. 7B provides a flowchart of a method for acquiring
images of products in retail store, consistent with the present
disclosure.
[0054] FIG. 8A is a schematic illustration of an example
configuration for detecting products and empty spaces on a store
shelf, consistent with the present disclosure;
[0055] FIG. 8B is a schematic illustration of another example
configuration for detecting products and empty spaces on a store
shelf, consistent with the present disclosure;
[0056] FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of example configurations
for detection elements on store shelves, consistent with the
present disclosure;
[0057] FIG. 10A illustrates an exemplary method for monitoring
planogram compliance on a store shelf, consistent with the present
disclosure:
[0058] FIG. 10B is illustrates an exemplary method for triggering
image acquisition based on product events on a store shelf,
consistent with the present disclosure;
[0059] FIG. 11A is a schematic illustration of an example output
for a market research entity associated with the retail store,
consistent with the present disclosure;
[0060] FIG. 11B is a schematic illustration of an example output
for a supplier of the retail store, consistent with the present
disclosure;
[0061] FIG. 11C is a schematic illustration of an example output
for a manager of the retail store, consistent with the present
disclosure:
[0062] FIG. 11D is a schematic illustration of two examples outputs
for an employee of the retail store, consistent with the present
disclosure:
[0063] FIG. 11E is a schematic illustration of an example output
for an online customer of the retail store, consistent with the
present disclosure.
[0064] FIG. 12 is a block diagram that illustrates exemplary
components of an image processing system, consistent with the
present disclosure;
[0065] FIG. 13A is an exemplary image received by the system,
consistent with the present disclosure;
[0066] FIG. 13B is another exemplary image received by the system,
consistent with the present disclosure;
[0067] FIG. 14 is a flow chart of an exemplary method for
processing images captured in a retail store, consistent with the
present disclosure.
[0068] FIG. 15 depicts an exemplary user interface, consistent with
the present disclosure;
[0069] FIG. 16 depicts an exemplary image that may be used in
product identification analysis, consistent with the present
disclosure; and
[0070] FIG. 17 is a flow chart of an exemplary method for
identifying products in a retail store, consistent with the present
disclosure.
[0071] FIG. 18A illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a bottle
showing exemplary outline elements, consistent with the present
disclosure.
[0072] FIG. 18B is a flow chart of an exemplary method of
determining size of a bottle, consistent with the present
disclosure.
[0073] FIG. 18C is a flow chart of an exemplary method of
determining product type, consistent with the present
disclosure.
[0074] FIG. 18D is a flow chart of an exemplary method of
confirming size of a bottle, consistent with the present
disclosure.
[0075] FIG. 19 is a flow chart of an exemplary method of
identifying products, consistent with the present disclosure.
[0076] FIG. 20 is a flow chart of an exemplary method of
identifying products, consistent with the present disclosure.
[0077] FIG. 21A is an illustration of an exemplary method of using
price to determine if a product is of a first or second type,
consistent with the present disclosure.
[0078] FIG. 21B is an illustration of an exemplary method for
determining whether a product is of a first or second type based on
a comparison of a determined price with a first a second price
range, consistent with the present disclosure.
[0079] FIG. 21C is an illustration of an exemplary method for
determining whether a product is of a first or second type based on
a comparison of a determined price with a first and a second price
range and a first and a second catalog price, consistent with the
present disclosure.
[0080] FIG. 22A in an illustration of an exemplary method of using
a promotional price to determine whether a product is of a first or
second type, consistent with the present disclosure.
[0081] FIG. 22B is an illustration of an exemplary method for
responding to a determination that a determined price does not fall
within a first or second price range, consistent with the present
disclosure.
[0082] FIG. 22C is an illustration of an exemplary method for
responding to a determination that a determined price does not fall
within a first or second price range, consistent with the present
disclosure.
[0083] FIG. 23 is an illustration of a schematic illustration of a
retail shelf containing price labels that may be used to determine
a price associated with a product, consistent with the present
disclosure.
[0084] FIG. 24 is an exemplary image received by the system,
consistent with the present disclosure;
[0085] FIG. 25 is another exemplary image received by the system,
consistent with the present disclosure; and
[0086] FIG. 26 is a flow chart of an exemplary method for
processing images captured in a retail store and automatically
identifying misplaced products, consistent with the present
disclosure.
[0087] FIG. 27 is an exemplary image received by the system,
consistent with the present disclosure;
[0088] FIG. 28 is another exemplary image received by the system,
consistent with the present disclosure; and
[0089] FIG. 29 is a flow chart of an exemplary method for
processing images captured in a retail store and automatically
identifying occlusion events, consistent with the present
disclosure.
[0090] FIG. 30A is diagrammatic illustration of retail shelf
containing a plurality of products.
[0091] FIG. 30B is a diagrammatic illustration of a shelving unit
containing a plurality of products.
[0092] FIG. 30C is a diagrammatic illustration of a shelving unit
containing a plurality of products.
[0093] FIG. 31A is a flowchart representation of an exemplary
method for determining that at least one additional product may be
displayed on a shelf.
[0094] FIG. 31B is a flowchart representation of an exemplary
method for determining that at least one additional shelf may be
added to a shelving unit.
[0095] FIG. 32A is a flowchart representation of an exemplary
method for recommending a rearrangement event.
[0096] FIG. 32B is a flowchart representation of an exemplary
method for recommending a rearrangement event.
[0097] FIG. 32C is a flowchart representation of an exemplary
method for recommending a rearrangement event.
[0098] FIG. 33 illustrates an exemplary system for processing
images captured in a retail store and automatically addressing
detected conditions within the retail store; and
[0099] FIG. 34 illustrates an exemplary method for processing
images captured in a retail store and automatically addressing
detected conditions within the retail store.
[0100] FIG. 35 illustrates an exemplary method for processing
images captured in a retail store and automatically addressing
detected conditions within the retail store.
[0101] FIG. 36 is a diagrammatic illustration of an example
configuration for the layout of a retail store, consistent with the
disclosed embodiments;
[0102] FIG. 37 is a diagrammatic illustration of an example
configuration for the layout of a retail store, consistent with the
disclosed embodiments;
[0103] FIG. 38 is a diagrammatic illustration of an example
configuration of different displays and shelving units, consistent
with the disclosed embodiments;
[0104] FIG. 39 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method
for monitoring a display and shelf consistent with the disclosed
embodiments;
[0105] FIG. 40A is an illustration of a timeline associated with
online shopping, consistent with the present disclosure.
[0106] FIG. 40B is a flowchart of an exemplary method for
identifying products and tracking inventory in a retail store,
consistent with the present disclosure.
[0107] FIG. 41 is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary
embodiment of a memory containing software modules for executing
the method depicted in FIG. 40B, consistent with the present
disclosure.
[0108] FIG. 42A provides a flowchart of an exemplary process for
providing inventory information to a virtual store and an example
GUI of the virtual store, consistent with the present
disclosure.
[0109] FIG. 42B provides a flowchart of an exemplary process for
providing quality information to a virtual store and another
example GUI of the virtual store, consistent with the present
disclosure.
[0110] FIG. 43 is a diagrammatic illustration of an example of
comparing planogram compliance to checkout data consistent with the
disclosed embodiments:
[0111] FIG. 44 is a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary
system for comparing planogram compliance, consistent with the
disclosed embodiments;
[0112] FIG. 45 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method
for comparing planogram compliance to checkout data consistent with
the disclosed embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0113] The following detailed description refers to the
accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference
numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to
refer to the same or similar parts. While several illustrative
embodiments are described herein, modifications, adaptations and
other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions,
additions, or modifications may be made to the components
illustrated in the drawings, and the illustrative methods described
herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, removing, or
adding steps to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following
detailed description is not limited to the disclosed embodiments
and examples. Instead, the proper scope is defined by the appended
claims.
[0114] The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods
for processing images captured in a retail store. As used herein,
the term "retail store" or simply "store" refers to an
establishment offering products for sale by direct selection by
customers physically or virtually shopping within the
establishment. The retail store may be an establishment operated by
a single retailer (e.g., supermarket) or an establishment that
includes stores operated by multiple retailers (e.g., a shopping
mall). Embodiments of the present disclosure include receiving an
image depicting a store shelf having at least one product displayed
thereon. As used herein, the term "store shelf" or simply "shelf"
refers to any suitable physical structure which may be used for
displaying products in a retail environment. In one embodiment the
store shelf may be part of a shelving unit including a number of
individual store shelves. In another embodiment, the store shelf
may include a display unit having a single-level or a multi-level
surfaces.
[0115] Consistent with the present disclosure, the system may
process images and image data acquired by a capturing device to
determine information associated with products displayed in the
retail store. The term "capturing device" refers to any device
configured to acquire image data representative of products
displayed in the retail store. Examples of capturing devices may
include, a digital camera, a time-of-flight camera, a stereo
camera, an active stereo camera, a depth camera, a Lidar system, a
laser scanner, CCD based devices, or any other sensor based system
capable of converting received light into electric signals. The
term "image data" refers to any form of data generated based on
optical signals in the near-infrared, infrared, visible, and
ultraviolet spectrums (or any other suitable radiation frequency
range). Consistent with the present disclosure, the image data may
include pixel data streams, digital images, digital video streams,
data derived from captured images, and data that may be used to
construct a 3D image. The image data acquired by a capturing device
may be transmitted by wired or wireless transmission to a remote
server. In one embodiment, the capturing device may include a
stationary camera with communication layers (e.g., a dedicated
camera fixed to a store shelf, a security camera, etc.). Such an
embodiment is described in greater detail below with reference to
FIG. 4A. In another embodiment, the capturing device may include a
handheld device (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet, a mobile station, a
personal digital assistant, a laptop, and more) or a wearable
device (e.g., smart glasses, a smartwatch, a clip-on camera). Such
an embodiment is described in greater detail below with reference
to FIG. 4B. In another embodiment, the capturing device may include
a robotic device with one or more cameras operated remotely or
autonomously (e.g., an autonomous robotic device, a drone, a robot
on a track, and more). Such an embodiment is described in greater
detail below with reference to FIG. 4C.
[0116] In some embodiments, the capturing device may include one or
more image sensors. The term "image sensor" refers to a device
capable of detecting and converting optical signals in the
near-infrared, infrared, visible, and ultraviolet spectrums into
electrical signals. The electrical signals may be used to form
image data (e.g., an image or a video stream) based on the detected
signal. Examples of image sensors may include semiconductor
charge-coupled devices (CCD), active pixel sensors in complementary
metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS), or N-type
metal-oxide-semiconductors (NMOS, Live MOS). In some cases, the
image sensor may be part of a camera included in the capturing
device.
[0117] Embodiments of the present disclosure further include
analyzing images to detect and identify different products. As used
herein, the term "detecting a product" may broadly refer to
determining an existence of the product. For example, the system
may determine the existence of a plurality of distinct products
displayed on a store shelf. By detecting the plurality of products,
the system may acquire different details relative to the plurality
of products (e.g., how many products on a store shelf are
associated with a same product type), but it does not necessarily
gain knowledge of the type of product. In contrast, the term
"identifying a product" may refer to determining a unique
identifier associated with a specific type of product that allows
inventory managers to uniquely refer to each product type in a
product catalogue. Additionally or alternatively, the term
"identifying a product" may refer to determining a unique
identifier associated with a specific brand of products that allows
inventory managers to uniquely refer to products, e.g., based on a
specific brand in a product catalogue. Additionally or
alternatively, the term "identifying a product" may refer to
determining a unique identifier associated with a specific category
of products that allows inventory managers to uniquely refer to
products, e.g., based on a specific category in a product
catalogue. In some embodiments, the identification may be made
based at least in part on visual characteristics of the product
(e.g., size, shape, logo, text, color, etc.). The unique identifier
may include any codes that may be used to search a catalog, such as
a series of digits, letters, symbols, or any combinations of
digits, letters, and symbols. Consistent with the present
disclosure, the terms "determining a type of a product" and
"determining a product type" may also be used interchangeably in
this disclosure with reference to the term "identifying a
product."
[0118] Embodiments of the present disclosure further include
determining at least one characteristic of the product for
determining the type of the product. As used herein, the term
"characteristic of the product" refers to one or more visually
discernable features attributed to the product. Consistent with the
present disclosure, the characteristic of the product may assist in
classifying and identifying the product. For example, the
characteristic of the product may be associated with the ornamental
design of the product, the size of the product, the shape of the
product, the colors of the product, the brand of the product, a
logo or text associated with the product (e.g., on a product
label), and more. In addition, embodiments of the present
disclosure further include determining a confidence level
associated with the determined type of the product. The term
"confidence level" refers to any indication, numeric or otherwise,
of a level (e.g., within a predetermined range) indicative of an
amount of confidence the system has that the determined type of the
product is the actual type of the product. For example, the
confidence level may have a value between 1 and 10, alternatively,
the confidence level may be expressed as a percentage.
[0119] In some cases, the system may compare the confidence level
to a threshold. The term "threshold" as used herein denotes a
reference value, a level, a point, or a range of values, for which,
when the confidence level is above it (or below it depending on a
particular use case), the system may follow a first course of
action and, when the confidence level is below it (or above it
depending on a particular use case), the system may follow a second
course of action. The value of the threshold may be predetermined
for each type of product or may be dynamically selected based on
different considerations. In one embodiment, when the confidence
level associated with a certain product is below a threshold, the
system may obtain contextual information to increase the confidence
level. As used herein, the term "contextual information" (or
"context") refers to any information having a direct or indirect
relationship with a product displayed on a store shelf. In some
embodiments, the system may retrieve different types of contextual
information from captured image data and/or from other data
sources. In some cases, contextual information may include
recognized types of products adjacent to the product under
examination. In other cases, contextual information may include
text appearing on the product, especially where that text may be
recognized (e.g., via OCR) and associated with a particular
meaning. Other examples of types of contextual information may
include logos appearing on the product, a location of the product
in the retail store, a brand name of the product, a price of the
product, product information collected from multiple retail stores,
product information retrieved from a catalog associated with a
retail store, etc.
[0120] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which shows an example of a
system 100 for analyzing information collected from retail stores
105 (for example, retail store 105A, retail store 105B, and retail
store 105C). In one embodiment, system 100 may represent a
computer-based system that may include computer system components,
desktop computers, workstations, tablets, handheld computing
devices, memory devices, and/or internal network(s) connecting the
components. System 100 may include or be connected to various
network computing resources (e.g., servers, routers, switches,
network connections, storage devices, etc.) necessary to support
the services provided by system 100. In one embodiment, system 100
may enable identification of products in retail stores 105 based on
analysis of captured images. In another embodiment, system 100 may
enable a supply of information based on analysis of captured images
to a market research entity 110 and to different suppliers 115 of
the identified products in retail stores 105 (for example, supplier
115A, supplier 115B, and supplier 115C). In another embodiment,
system 100 may communicate with a user 120 (sometimes referred to
herein as a customer, but which may include individuals associated
with a retail environment other than customers, such as store
employee, data collection agent, etc.) about different products in
retail stores 105. In one example, system 100 may receive images of
products captured by user 120. In another example, system 100 may
provide to user 120 information determined based on automatic
machine analysis of images captured by one or more capturing
devices 125 associated with retail stores 105.
[0121] System 100 may also include an image processing unit 130 to
execute the analysis of images captured by the one or more
capturing devices 125. Image processing unit 130 may include a
server 135 operatively connected to a database 140. Image
processing unit 130 may include one or more servers connected by a
communication network, a cloud platform, and so forth. Consistent
with the present disclosure, image processing unit 130 may receive
raw or processed data from capturing device 125 via respective
communication links, and provide information to different system
components using a network 150. Specifically, image processing unit
130 may use any suitable image analysis technique including, for
example, object recognition, object detection, image segmentation,
feature extraction, optical character recognition (OCR),
object-based image analysis, shape region techniques, edge
detection techniques, pixel-based detection, artificial neural
networks, convolutional neural networks, etc. In addition, image
processing unit 130 may use classification algorithms to
distinguish between the different products in the retail store. In
some embodiments, image processing unit 130 may utilize suitably
trained machine learning algorithms and models to perform the
product identification. Network 150 may facilitate communications
and data exchange between different system components when these
components are coupled to network 150 to enable output of data
derived from the images captured by the one or more capturing
devices 125. In some examples, the types of outputs that image
processing unit 130 can generate may include identification of
products, indicators of product quantity, indicators of planogram
compliance, indicators of service-improvement events (e.g., a
cleaning event, a restocking event, a rearrangement event, etc.),
and various reports indicative of the performances of retail stores
105. Additional examples of the different outputs enabled by image
processing unit 130 are described below with reference to FIGS.
11A-11E and throughout the disclosure.
[0122] Consistent with the present disclosure, network 150 may be
any type of network (including infrastructure) that provides
communications, exchanges information, and/or facilitates the
exchange of information between the components of system 100. For
example, network 150 may include or be part of the Internet, a
Local Area Network, wireless network (e.g., a Wi-Fi/302.11
network), or other suitable connections. In other embodiments, one
or more components of system 100 may communicate directly through
dedicated communication links, such as, for example, a telephone
network, an extranet, an intranet, the Internet, satellite
communications, off-line communications, wireless communications,
transponder communications, a local area network (LAN), a wide area
network (WAN), a virtual private network (VPN), and so forth.
[0123] In one example configuration, server 135 may be a cloud
server that processes images received directly (or indirectly) from
one or more capturing device 125 and processes the images to detect
and/or identify at least some of the plurality of products in the
image based on visual characteristics of the plurality of products.
The term "cloud server" refers to a computer platform that provides
services via a network, such as the Internet. In this example
configuration, server 135 may use virtual machines that may not
correspond to individual hardware. For example, computational
and/or storage capabilities may be implemented by allocating
appropriate portions of desirable computation/storage power from a
scalable repository, such as a data center or a distributed
computing environment. In one example, server 135 may implement the
methods described herein using customized hard-wired logic, one or
more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) or Field
Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), firmware, and/or program logic
which, in combination with the computer system, cause server 135 to
be a special-purpose machine.
[0124] In another example configuration, server 135 may be part of
a system associated with a retail store that communicates with
capturing device 125 using a wireless local area network (WLAN) and
may provide similar functionality as a cloud server. In this
example configuration, server 135 may communicate with an
associated cloud server (not shown) and cloud database (not shown).
The communications between the store server and the cloud server
may be used in a quality enforcement process, for upgrading the
recognition engine and the software from time to time, for
extracting information from the store level to other data users,
and so forth. Consistent with another embodiment, the
communications between the store server and the cloud server may be
discontinuous (purposely or unintentional) and the store server may
be configured to operate independently from the cloud server. For
example, the store server may be configured to generate a record
indicative of changes in product placement that occurred when there
was a limited connection (or no connection) between the store
server and the cloud server, and to forward the record to the cloud
server once connection is reestablished.
[0125] As depicted in FIG. 1, server 135 may be coupled to one or
more physical or virtual storage devices such as database 140.
Server 135 may access database 140 to detect and/or identify
products. The detection may occur through analysis of features in
the image using an algorithm and stored data. The identification
may occur through analysis of product features in the image
according to stored product models. Consistent with the present
embodiment, the term "product model" refers to any type of
algorithm or stored product data that a processor may access or
execute to enable the identification of a particular product
associated with the product model. For example, the product model
may include a description of visual and contextual properties of
the particular product (e.g., the shape, the size, the colors, the
texture, the brand name, the price, the logo, text appearing on the
particular product, the shelf associated with the particular
product, adjacent products in a planogram, the location within the
retail store, etc.). In some embodiments, a single product model
may be used by server 135 to identify more than one type of
products, such as, when two or more product models are used in
combination to enable identification of a product. For example, in
some cases, a first product model may be used by server 135 to
identify a product category (such models may apply to multiple
product types, e.g., shampoo, soft drinks, etc.) and a second
product model may be used by server 135 to identify the product
type, product identity, or other characteristics associated with a
product. In some cases, such product models may be applied together
(e.g., in series, in parallel, in a cascade fashion, in a decision
tree fashion, etc.) to reach a product identification. In other
embodiments, a single product model may be used by server 135 to
identify a particular product type (e.g., 6-pack of 16 oz Coca-Cola
Zero).
[0126] Database 140 may be included on a volatile or non-volatile,
magnetic, semiconductor, tape, optical, removable, non-removable,
or other type of storage device or tangible or non-transitory
computer-readable medium. Database 140 may also be part of server
135 or separate from server 135. When database 140 is not part of
server 135, server 135 may exchange data with database 140 via a
communication link. Database 140 may include one or more memory
devices that store data and instructions used to perform one or
more features of the disclosed embodiments. In one embodiment,
database 140 may include any suitable databases, ranging from small
databases hosted on a work station to large databases distributed
among data centers. Database 140 may also include any combination
of one or more databases controlled by memory controller devices
(e.g., server(s), etc.) or software. For example, database 140 may
include document management systems, Microsoft SQL databases,
SharePoint databases, Oracle.TM. databases, Sybase.TM. databases,
other relational databases, or non-relational databases, such as
mongo and others.
[0127] Consistent with the present disclosure, image processing
unit 130 may communicate with output devices 145 to present
information derived based on processing of image data acquired by
capturing devices 125. The term "output device" is intended to
include all possible types of devices capable of outputting
information from server 135 to users or other computer systems
(e.g., a display screen, a speaker, a desktop computer, a laptop
computer, mobile device, tablet a PDA, etc.), such as 145A, 145B,
145C and 145D. In one embodiment each of the different system
components (i.e., retail stores 105, market research entity 110,
suppliers 115, and users 120) may be associated with an output
device 145, and each system component may be configured to present
different information on the output device 145. In one example,
server 135 may analyze acquired images including representations of
shelf spaces. Based on this analysis, server 135 may compare shelf
spaces associated with different products, and output device 145A
may present market research entity 110 with information about the
shelf spaces associated with different products. The shelf spaces
may also be compared with sales data, expired products data, and
more. Consistent with the present disclosure, market research
entity 110 may be a part of (or may work with) supplier 115. In
another example, server 135 may determine product compliance to a
predetermined planogram, and output device 145B may present to
supplier 115 information about the level of product compliance at
one or more retail stores 105 (for example in a specific retail
store 105, in a group of retail stores 105 associated with supplier
115, in all retail stores 105, and so forth). The predetermined
planogram may be associated with contractual obligations and/or
other preferences related to the retailer methodology for placement
of products on the store shelves. In another example, server 135
may determine that a specific store shelf has a type of fault in
the product placement, and output device 145C may present to a
manager of retail store 105 a user-notification that may include
information about a correct display location of a misplaced product
information about a store shelf associated with the misplaced
product, information about a type of the misplaced product, and/or
a visual depiction of the misplaced product. In another example,
server 135 may identify which products are available on the shelf
and output device 145D may present to user 120 an updated list of
products.
[0128] The components and arrangements shown in FIG. 1 are not
intended to limit the disclosed embodiments, as the system
components used to implement the disclosed processes and features
may vary. In one embodiment, system 100 may include multiple
servers 135, and each server 135 may host a certain type of
service. For example, a first server may process images received
from capturing devices 125 to identify at least some of the
plurality of products in the image, and a second server may
determine from the identified products in retail stores 105
compliance with contractual obligations between retail stores 105
and suppliers 115. In another embodiment, system 100 may include
multiple servers 135, a first type of servers 135 that may process
information from specific capturing devices 125 (e.g., handheld
devices of data collection agents) or from specific retail stores
105 (e.g., a server dedicated to a specific retail store 105 may be
placed in or near the store). System 100 may further include a
second type of servers 135 that collect and process information
from the first type of servers 135.
[0129] FIG. 2 is a block diagram representative of an example
configuration of server 135. In one embodiment, server 135 may
include a bus 200 (or any other communication mechanism) that
interconnects subsystems and components for transferring
information within server 135. For example, bus 200 may
interconnect a processing device 202, a memory interface 204, a
network interface 206, and a peripherals interface 208 connected to
an I/O system 210.
[0130] Processing device 202, shown in FIG. 2, may include at least
one processor configured to execute computer programs,
applications, methods, processes, or other software to execute
particular instructions associated with embodiments described in
the present disclosure. The term "processing device" refers to any
physical device having an electric circuit that performs a logic
operation. For example, processing device 202 may include one or
more processors, integrated circuits, microchips, microcontrollers,
microprocessors, all or part of a central processing unit (CPU),
graphics processing unit (GPU), digital signal processor (DSP),
field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other circuits suitable
for executing instructions or performing logic operations.
Processing device 202 may include at least one processor configured
to perform functions of the disclosed methods such as a
microprocessor manufactured by Intel.TM., Nvidia.TM., manufactured
by AMD.TM., and so forth. Processing device 202 may include a
single core or multiple core processors executing parallel
processes simultaneously. In one example, processing device 202 may
be a single core processor configured with virtual processing
technologies. Processing device 202 may implement virtual machine
technologies or other technologies to provide the ability to
execute, control, run, manipulate, store, etc., multiple software
processes, applications, programs, etc. In another example,
processing device 202 may include a multiple-core processor
arrangement (e.g., dual, quad core, etc.) configured to provide
parallel processing functionalities to allow a device associated
with processing device 202 to execute multiple processes
simultaneously. It is appreciated that other types of processor
arrangements could be implemented to provide the capabilities
disclosed herein.
[0131] Consistent with the present disclosure, the methods and
processes disclosed herein may be performed by server 135 as a
result of processing device 202 executing one or more sequences of
one or more instructions contained in a non-transitory
computer-readable storage medium. As used herein, a non-transitory
computer-readable storage medium refers to any type of physical
memory on which information or data readable by at least one
processor can be stored. Examples include random access memory
(RAM), read-only memory (ROM), volatile memory, nonvolatile memory,
hard drives, CD ROMs, DVDs, flash drives, disks, any other optical
data storage medium, any physical medium with patterns of holes, a
RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM or any other flash memory,
NVRAM, a cache, a register, any other memory chip or cartridge, and
networked versions of the same. The terms "memory" and
"computer-readable storage medium" may refer to multiple
structures, such as a plurality of memories or computer-readable
storage mediums located within server 135, or at a remote location.
Additionally, one or more computer-readable storage mediums can be
utilized in implementing a computer-implemented method. The term
"computer-readable storage medium" should be understood to include
tangible items and exclude carrier waves and transient signals.
[0132] According to one embodiment, server 135 may include network
interface 206 (which may also be any communications interface)
coupled to bus 200. Network interface 206 may provide one-way or
two-way data communication to a local network, such as network 150.
Network interface 206 may include an integrated services digital
network (ISDN) card, cable modem, satellite modem, or a modem to
provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of
telephone line. As another example, network interface 206 may
include a local area network (LAN) card to provide a data
communication connection to a compatible LAN. In another
embodiment, network interface 206 may include an Ethernet port
connected to radio frequency receivers and transmitters and/or
optical (e.g., infrared) receivers and transmitters. The specific
design and implementation of network interface 206 depends on the
communications network(s) over which server 135 is intended to
operate. As described above, server 135 may be a cloud server or a
local server associated with retail store 105. In any such
implementation, network interface 206 may be configured to send and
receive electrical, electromagnetic, or optical signals, through
wires or wirelessly, that may carry analog or digital data streams
representing various types of information. In another example, the
implementation of network interface 206 may be similar or identical
to the implementation described below for network interface
306.
[0133] Server 135 may also include peripherals interface 208
coupled to bus 200. Peripherals interface 208 may be connected to
sensors, devices, and subsystems to facilitate multiple
functionalities. In one embodiment, peripherals interface 208 may
be connected to I/O system 210 configured to receive signals or
input from devices and provide signals or output to one or more
devices that allow data to be received and/or transmitted by server
135. In one embodiment I/O system 210 may include or be associated
with output device 145. For example, I/O system 210 may include a
touch screen controller 212, an audio controller 214, and/or other
input controller(s) 216. Touch screen controller 212 may be coupled
to a touch screen 218. Touch screen 218 and touch screen controller
212 can, for example, detect contact, movement, or break thereof
using any of a plurality of touch sensitivity technologies,
including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, and
surface acoustic wave technologies as well as other proximity
sensor arrays or other elements for determining one or more points
of contact with touch screen 218. Touch screen 218 may also, for
example, be used to implement virtual or soft buttons and/or a
keyboard. In addition to or instead of touch screen 218, I/O system
210 may include a display screen (e.g., CRT, LCD, etc.), virtual
reality device, augmented reality device, and so forth.
Specifically, touch screen controller 212 (or display screen
controller) and touch screen 218 (or any of the alternatives
mentioned above) may facilitate visual output from server 135.
Audio controller 214 may be coupled to a microphone 220 and a
speaker 222 to facilitate voice-enabled functions, such as voice
recognition, voice replication, digital recording, and telephony
functions. Specifically, audio controller 214 and speaker 222 may
facilitate audio output from server 135. The other input
controller(s) 216 may be coupled to other input/control devices
224, such as one or more buttons, keyboards, rocker switches,
thumb-wheel, infrared port, USB port, image sensors, motion
sensors, depth sensors, and/or a pointer device such as a computer
mouse or a stylus.
[0134] In some embodiments, processing device 202 may use memory
interface 204 to access data and a software product stored on a
memory device 226. Memory device 226 may include operating system
programs for server 135 that perform operating system functions
when executed by the processing device. By way of example, the
operating system programs may include Microsoft Windows.TM.,
Unix.TM., Linux.TM., Apple.TM. operating systems, personal digital
assistant (PDA) type operating systems such as Apple iOS, Google
Android, Blackberry OS, or other types of operating systems.
[0135] Memory device 226 may also store communication instructions
228 to facilitate communicating with one or more additional devices
(e.g., capturing device 125), one or more computers (e.g., output
devices 145A-145D) and/or one or more servers. Memory device 226
may include graphical user interface instructions 230 to facilitate
graphic user interface processing; image processing instructions
232 to facilitate image data processing-related processes and
functions; sensor processing instructions 234 to facilitate
sensor-related processing and functions; web browsing instructions
236 to facilitate web browsing-related processes and functions; and
other software instructions 238 to facilitate other processes and
functions. Each of the above identified instructions and
applications may correspond to a set of instructions for performing
one or more functions described above. These instructions need not
be implemented as separate software programs, procedures, or
modules. Memory device 226 may include additional instructions or
fewer instructions. Furthermore, various functions of server 135
may be implemented in hardware and/or in software, including in one
or more signal processing and/or application specific integrated
circuits. For example, server 135 may execute an image processing
algorithm to identify in received images one or more products
and/or obstacles, such as shopping carts, people, and more.
[0136] In one embodiment, memory device 226 may store database 140.
Database 140 may include product type model data 240 (e.g., an
image representation, a list of features, a model obtained by
training machine learning algorithm using training examples, an
artificial neural network, and more) that may be used to identify
products in received images; contract-related data 242 (e.g.,
planograms, promotions data, etc.) that may be used to determine if
the placement of products on the store shelves and/or the promotion
execution are consistent with obligations of retail store 105;
catalog data 244 (e.g., retail store chain's catalog, retail
store's master file, etc.) that may be used to check if all product
types that should be offered in retail store 105 are in fact in the
store, if the correct price is displayed next to an identified
product, etc.; inventory data 246 that may be used to determine if
additional products should be ordered from suppliers 115; employee
data 248 (e.g., attendance data, records of training provided,
evaluation and other performance-related communications,
productivity information, etc.) that may be used to assign specific
employees to certain tasks; and calendar data 250 (e.g., holidays,
national days, international events, etc.) that may be used to
determine if a possible change in a product model is associated
with a certain event. In other embodiments of the disclosure,
database 140 may store additional types of data or fewer types of
data. Furthermore, various types of data may be stored in one or
more memory devices other than memory device 226.
[0137] The components and arrangements shown in FIG. 2 are not
intended to limit the disclosed embodiments. As will be appreciated
by a person skilled in the art having the benefit of this
disclosure, numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to
the depicted configuration of server 135. For example, not all
components may be essential for the operation of server 135 in all
cases. Any component may be located in any appropriate part of
server 135, and the components may be rearranged into a variety of
configurations while providing the functionality of the disclosed
embodiments. For example, some servers may not include some of the
elements shown in I/O system 215.
[0138] FIG. 3 is a block diagram representation of an example
configuration of capturing device 125. In one embodiment, capturing
device 125 may include a processing device 302, a memory interface
304, a network interface 306, and a peripherals interface 308
connected to image sensor 310. These components can be separated or
can be integrated in one or more integrated circuits. The various
components in capturing device 125 can be coupled by one or more
communication buses or signal lines (e.g., bus 300). Different
aspects of the functionalities of the various components in
capturing device 125 may be understood from the description above
regarding components of server 135 having similar
functionality.
[0139] According to one embodiment, network interface 306 may be
used to facilitate communication with server 135. Network interface
306 may be an Ethernet port connected to radio frequency receivers
and transmitters and/or optical receivers and transmitters. The
specific design and implementation of network interface 306 depends
on the communications network(s) over which capturing device 125 is
intended to operate. For example, in some embodiments, capturing
device 125 may include a network interface 306 designed to operate
over a GSM network, a GPRS network, an EDGE network, a Wi-Fi or
WiMax network, a Bluetooth), network, etc. In another example, the
implementation of network interface 306 may be similar or identical
to the implementation described above for network interface
206.
[0140] In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, peripherals interface
308 of capturing device 125 may be connected to at least one image
sensor 310 associated with at least one lens 312 for capturing
image data in an associated field of view. In some configurations,
capturing device 125 may include a plurality of image sensors
associated with a plurality of lenses 312. In other configurations,
image sensor 310 may be part of a camera included in capturing
device 125. According to some embodiments, peripherals interface
308 may also be connected to other sensors (not shown), such as a
motion sensor, a light sensor, infrared sensor, sound sensor, a
proximity sensor, a temperature sensor, a biometric sensor, or
other sensing devices to facilitate related functionalities. In
addition, a positioning sensor may also be integrated with, or
connected to, capturing device 125. For example, such positioning
sensor may be implemented using one of the following technologies:
Global Positioning System (GPS), GLObal NAvigation Satellite System
(GLONASS), Galileo global navigation system, BeiDou navigation
system, other Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Indian
Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), Local Positioning
Systems (LPS), Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS), Indoor
Positioning System (IPS), Wi-Fi based positioning systems, cellular
triangulation, and so forth. For example, the positioning sensor be
built into mobile capturing device 125, such as smartphone devices.
In another example, position software may allow mobile capturing
devices to use an internal or external positioning sensors (e.g.,
connecting via a serial port or Bluetooth).
[0141] Consistent with the present disclosure, capturing device 125
may include digital components that collect data from image sensor
310, transform it into an image, and store the image on a memory
device 314 and/or transmit the image using network interface 306.
In one embodiment, capturing device 125 may be fixedly mountable to
a store shelf or to other objects in the retail store (such as
walls, ceilings, floors, refrigerators, checkout stations,
displays, dispensers, rods which may be connected to other objects
in the retail store, and so forth). In one embodiment, capturing
device 125 may be split into at least two housings such that only
image sensor 310 and lens 312 may be visible on the store shelf,
and the rest of the digital components may be located in a separate
housing. An example of this type of capturing device is described
below with reference to FIGS. 5-7.
[0142] Consistent with the present disclosure, capturing device 125
may use memory interface 304 to access memory device 314. Memory
device 314 may include high-speed, random access memory and/or
non-volatile memory such as one or more magnetic disk storage
devices, one or more optical storage devices, and/or flash memory
(e.g., NAND, NOR) to store captured image data. Memory device 314
may store operating system instructions 316, such as DARWIN, RTXC,
LINUX, iOS, UNIX, LINUX, OS X, WINDOWS, or an embedded operating
system such as VXWorkS. Operating system 316 can include
instructions for handling basic system services and for performing
hardware dependent tasks. In some implementations, operating system
316 may include a kernel (e.g., UNIX kernel, LINUX kernel, etc.).
In addition, memory device 314 may store capturing instructions 318
to facilitate processes and functions related to image sensor 310;
graphical user interface instructions 320 that enables a user
associated with capturing device 125 to control the capturing
device and/or to acquire images of an area-of-interest in a retail
establishment; and application instructions 322 to facilitate a
process for monitoring compliance of product placement or other
processes.
[0143] The components and arrangements shown in FIG. 3 are not
intended to limit the disclosed embodiments. As will be appreciated
by a person skilled in the art having the benefit of this
disclosure, numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to
the depicted configuration of capturing device 125. For example,
not all components are essential for the operation of capturing
device 125 in all cases. Any component may be located in any
appropriate part of capturing device 125, and the components may be
rearranged into a variety of configurations while providing the
functionality of the disclosed embodiments. For example, some
capturing devices may not have lenses, and other capturing devices
may include an external memory device instead of memory device
314.
[0144] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate example configurations for capturing
image data in retail store 105 according to disclosed embodiments.
FIG. 4A illustrates how an aisle 400 of retail store 105 may be
imaged using a plurality of capturing devices 125 fixedly connected
to store shelves. FIG. 4B illustrates how aisle 400 of retail store
105 may be imaged using a handheld communication device. FIG. 4C
illustrates how aisle 400 of retail store 105 may be imaged by
robotic devices equipped with cameras.
[0145] With reference to FIG. 4A and consistent with the present
disclosure, retail store 105 may include a plurality of capturing
devices 125 fixedly mounted (for example, to store shelves, walls,
ceilings, floors, refrigerators, checkout stations, displays,
dispensers, rods which may be connected to other objects in the
retail store, and so forth) and configured to collect image data.
As depicted, one side of an aisle 400 may include a plurality of
capturing devices 125 (e.g., 125A, 125B, and 125C) fixedly mounted
thereon and directed such that they may capture images of an
opposing side of aisle 400. The plurality of capturing devices 125
may be connected to an associated mobile power source (e.g., one or
more batteries), to an external power supply (e.g., a power grid),
obtain electrical power from a wireless power transmission system,
and so forth. As depicted in FIG. 4A, the plurality of capturing
devices 125 may be placed at different heights and at least their
vertical fields of view may be adjustable. Generally, both sides of
aisle 400 may include capturing devices 125 in order to cover both
sides of aisle 400.
[0146] Differing numbers of capturing devices 125 may be used to
cover shelving unit 402. In addition, there may be an overlap
region in the horizontal field of views of some of capturing
devices 125. For example, the horizontal fields of view of
capturing devices (e.g., adjacent capturing devices) may at least
partially overlap with one another. In another example, one
capturing device may have a lower field of view than the field of
view of a second capturing device, and the two capturing devices
may have at least partially overlapping fields of view. According
to one embodiment, each capturing device 125 may be equipped with
network interface 306 for communicating with server 135. In one
embodiment, the plurality of capturing devices 125 in retail store
105 may be connected to server 135 via a single WLAN. Network
interface 306 may transmit information associated with a plurality
of images captured by the plurality of capturing devices 125 for
analysis purposes. In one example, server 135 may determine an
existence of an occlusion event (such as, by a person, by store
equipment, such as a ladder, cart, etc.) and may provide a
notification to resolve the occlusion event. In another example,
server 135 may determine if a disparity exists between at least one
contractual obligation and product placement as determined based on
automatic analysis of the plurality of images. The transmitted
information may include raw images, cropped images, processed image
data, data about products identified in the images, and so forth.
Network interface 306 may also transmit information identifying the
location of the plurality capturing devices 125 in retail store
105.
[0147] With reference to FIG. 4B and consistent with the present
disclosure, server 135 may receive image data captured by users
120. In a first embodiment, server 135 may receive image data
acquired by store employees. In one implementation, a handheld
device of a store employee (e.g., capturing device 125D) may
display a real-time video stream captured by the image sensor of
the handheld device. The real-time video stream may be augmented
with markings identifying to the store employee an area-of-interest
that needs manual capturing of images. One of the situations in
which manual image capture may be desirable may occur where the
area-of-interest is outside the fields of view of a plurality of
cameras fixedly connected to store shelves in aisle 400. In other
situations, manual capturing of images of an area-of-interest may
be desirable when a current set of acquired images is out of date
(e.g., obsolete in at least one respect) or of poor quality (e.g.,
lacking focus, obstacles, lesser resolution, lack of light, etc.).
Additional details of this embodiment are described in Applicant's
International Patent Application No. PCT/IB2018/001107, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
[0148] In a second embodiment, server 135 may receive image data
acquired by crowd sourcing. In one exemplary implementation, server
135 may provide a request to a detected mobile device for an
updated image of the area-of-interest in aisle 400. The request may
include an incentive (e.g., $2 discount) to user 120 for acquiring
the image. In response to the request, user 120 may acquire and
transmit an up-to-date image of the area-of-interest. After
receiving the image from user 120, server 135 may transmit the
accepted incentive or agreed upon reward to user 120. The incentive
may comprise a text notification and a redeemable coupon. In some
embodiments, the incentive may include a redeemable coupon for a
product associated with the area-of-interest. Server 135 may
generate image-related data based on aggregation of data from
images received from crowd sourcing and from images received from a
plurality of cameras fixedly connected to store shelves. Additional
details of this embodiment are described in Applicant's
International Patent Application No. PCT/IB2017/000919, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
[0149] With reference to FIG. 4C and consistent with the present
disclosure, server 135 may receive image data captured by robotic
devices with cameras traversing in aisle 400. The present
disclosure is not limited to the type of robotic devices used to
capture images of retail store 105. In some embodiments, the
robotic devices may include a robot on a track (e.g., a Cartesian
robot configured to move along an edge of a shelf or in parallel to
a shelf, such as capturing device 125E), a drone (e.g., capturing
device 125F), and/or a robot that may move on the floor of the
retail store (e.g., a wheeled robot such as capturing device 125G,
a legged robot, a snake-like robot etc.). The robotic devices may
be controlled by server 135 and may be operated remotely or
autonomously. In one example, server 135 may instruct capturing
device 125E to perform periodic scans at times when no customers or
other obstructions are identified in aisle 400. Specifically,
capturing device 125E may be configured to move along store shelf
404 and to capture images of products placed on store shelf 404,
products placed on store shelf 406, or products located on shelves
opposite store shelf (e.g., store shelf 408). In another example,
server 135 may instruct capturing device 125F to perform a scan of
all the area of retail store 105 before the opening hour. In
another example, server 135 may instruct capturing device 125G to
capture a specific area-of-interest, similar as described above
with reference to receiving images acquired by the store employees.
In some embodiments, robotic capturing devices (such as 125F and
125G) may include an internal processing unit that may allow them
to navigate autonomously within retail store 105. For example, the
robotic capturing devices may use input from sensors (e.g., image
sensors, depth sensors, proximity sensors, etc.), to avoid
collision with objects or people, and to complete the scan of the
desired area of retail store 105.
[0150] As discussed above with reference to FIG. 4A, the image data
representative of products displayed on store shelves may be
acquired by a plurality of stationary capturing devices 125 fixedly
mounted in the retail store. One advantage of having stationary
image capturing devices spread throughout retail store 105 is the
potential for acquiring product images from set locations and on an
ongoing basis such that up-to-date product status may be determined
for products throughout a retail store at any desired periodicity
(e.g., in contrast to a moving camera system that may acquire
product images more infrequently). However, there may be certain
challenges in this approach. The distances and angles of the image
capturing devices relative to the captured products should be
selected such as to enable adequate product identification,
especially when considered in view of image sensor resolution
and/or optics specifications. For example, a capturing device
placed on the ceiling of retail store 105 may have sufficient
resolutions and optics to enable identification of large products
(e.g., a pack of toilet paper), but may be insufficient for
identifying smaller products (e.g., deodorant packages). The image
capturing devices should not occupy shelf space that is reserved
for products for sale. The image capturing devices should not be
positioned in places where there is a likelihood that their fields
of view will be regularly blocked by different objects. The image
capturing devices should be able to function for long periods of
time with minimum maintenance. For example, a requirement for
frequent replacement of batteries may render certain image
acquisition systems cumbersome to use, especially where many image
acquisition devices are in use throughout multiple locations in a
retail store and across multiple retail stores. The image capturing
devices should also include processing capabilities and
transmission capabilities for providing real time or near real time
image data about products. The disclosed image acquisition systems
address these challenges.
[0151] FIG. 5A illustrates an example of a system 500 for acquiring
images of products in retail store 105. Throughout the disclosure,
capturing device 125 may refer to a system, such as system 500
shown in FIG. 5A. As shown, system 500 may include a first housing
502 configured for location on a retail shelving unit (e.g., as
illustrated in FIG. 5B), and a second housing 504 configured for
location on the retail shelving unit separate from first housing
502. The first and the second housing may be configured for
mounting on the retail shelving unit in any suitable way (e.g.,
screws, bolts, clamps, adhesives, magnets, mechanical means,
chemical means, etc.). In some embodiments, first housing 502 may
include an image capture device 506 (e.g., a camera module that may
include image sensor 310) and second housing 504 may include at
least one processor (e.g., processing device 302) configured to
control image capture device 506 and also to control a network
interface (e.g., network interface 306) for communicating with a
remote server (e.g., server 135).
[0152] System 500 may also include a data conduit 508 extending
between first housing 502 and second housing 504. Data conduit 508
may be configured to enable transfer of control signals from the at
least one processor to image capture device 506 and to enable
collection of image data acquired by image capture device 506 for
transmission by the network interface. Consistent with the present
disclosure, the term "data conduit" may refer to a communications
channel that may include either a physical transmission medium such
as a wire or a logical connection over a multiplexed medium such as
a radio channel. In some embodiments, data conduit 508 may be used
for conveying image data from image capture device 506 to at least
one processor located in second housing 504. Consistent with one
implementation of system 500, data conduit 508 may include flexible
printed circuits and may have a length of at least about 5 cm, at
least about 10 cm, at least about 15 cm, etc. The length of data
conduit 508 may be adjustable to enable placement of first housing
502 separately from second housing 504. For example, in some
embodiments, data conduit may be retractable within second housing
504 such that the length of data conduit exposed between first
housing 502 and second housing 504 may be selectively adjusted.
[0153] In one embodiment, the length of data conduit 508 may enable
first housing 502 to be mounted on a first side of a horizontal
store shelf facing the aisle (e.g., store shelf 510 illustrated in
FIG. 5B) and second housing 504 to be mounted on a second side of
store shelf 510 that faces the direction of the ground (e.g., an
underside of a store shelf). In this embodiment, data conduit 508
may be configured to bend around an edge of store shelf 510 or
otherwise adhere/follow contours of the shelving unit. For example,
a first portion of data conduit 508 may be configured for location
on the first side of store shelf 510 (e.g., a side facing an
opposing retail shelving unit across an aisle) and a second portion
of data conduit 508 may be configured for location on a second side
of store shelf 510 (e.g., an underside of the shelf, which in some
cases may be orthogonal to the first side). The second portion of
data conduit 508 may be longer than the first portion of data
conduit 508. Consistent with another embodiment, data conduit 508
may be configured for location within an envelope of a store shelf.
For example, the envelope may include the outer boundaries of a
channel located within a store shelf, a region on an underside of
an L-shaped store shelf, a region between two store shelves, etc.
Consistent with another implementation of system 500 discussed
below, data conduit 508 may include a virtual conduit associated
with a wireless communications link between first housing 502 and
second housing 504.
[0154] FIG. 5B illustrates an exemplary configuration for mounting
first housing 502 on store shelf 510. Consistent with the present
disclosure, first housing 502 may be placed on store shelf 510,
next to or embedded in a plastic cover that may be used for
displaying prices. Alternatively, first housing 502 may be placed
or mounted on any other location in retail store 105. For example,
first housing 502 may be placed or mounted on the walls, on the
ceiling, on refrigerator units, on display units, and more. The
location and/or orientation of first housing 502 may be selected
such that a field of view of image capture device 506 may cover at
least a portion of an opposing retail shelving unit. Consistent
with the present disclosure, image capture device 506 may have a
view angle of between 50 and 80 degrees, about 62 degrees, about 67
degrees, or about 75 degrees. Consistent with the present
disclosure, image capture device 506 may include an image sensor
having sufficient image resolution to enable detection of text
associated with labels on an opposing retail shelving unit. In one
embodiment, the image sensor may include m*n pixels. For example,
image capture device 506 may have an 8 MP image sensor that
includes an array of 3280*2464 pixels. Each pixel may include at
least one photo-voltaic cell that converts the photons of the
incident light to an electric signal. The electrical signal may be
converted to digital data by an A/D converter and processed by the
image processor (ISP). In one embodiment, the image sensor of image
capture device 506 may be associated with a pixel size of between
1.1.times.1.1 um.sup.2 and 1.7.times.1.7 um.sup.2, for example,
1.4.times.1.4 um.sup.2.
[0155] Consistent with the present disclosure, image capture device
506 may be associated with a lens (e.g., lens 312) having a fixed
focal length selected according to a distance expected to be
encountered between retail shelving units on opposite sides of an
aisle (e.g., distance d1 shown in FIG. 6A) and/or according to a
distance expected to be encountered between a side of a shelving
unit facing the aisle on one side of an aisle and a side of a
shelving unit facing away of the aisle on the other side of the
aisle (e.g., distance d2 shown in FIG. 6A). The focal length may
also be based on any other expected distance between the image
acquisition device and products to be imaged. As used herein, the
term "focal length" refers to the distance from the optical center
of the lens to a point where objects located at the point are
substantially brought into focus. In contrast to zoom lenses, in
fixed lenses the focus is not adjustable. The focus is typically
set at the time of lens design and remains fixed. In one
embodiment, the focal length of lens 312 may be selected based on
the distance between two sides of aisles in the retail store (e.g.,
distance d1, distance d2, and so forth). In some embodiments, image
capture device 506 may include a lens with a fixed focal length
having a fixed value between 2.5 mm and 4.5 mm, such as about 3.1
mm, about 3.4 mm, about 3.7 mm. For example, when distance d1
between two opposing retail shelving units is about 2 meters, the
focal length of the lens may be about 3.6 mm. Unless indicated
otherwise, the term "about" with regards to a numeric value is
defined as a variance of up to 5% with respect to the stated value.
Of course, image capture devices having non-fixed focal lengths may
also be used depending on the requirements of certain imaging
environments, the power and space resources available, etc.
[0156] FIG. 5C illustrates an exploded view of second housing 504.
In some embodiments, the network interface located in second
housing 504 (e.g., network interface 306) may be configured to
transmit to server 135 information associated with a plurality of
images captured by image capture device 506. For example, the
transmitted information may be used to determine if a disparity
exists between at least one contractual obligation (e.g. planogram)
and product placement. In one example, the network interface may
support transmission speeds of 0.5 Mb/s, 1 Mb/s, 5 Mb/s, or more.
Consistent with the present disclosure, the network interface may
allow different modes of operations to be selected, such as:
high-speed, slope-control, or standby. In high-speed mode,
associated output drivers may have fast output rise and fall times
to support high-speed bus rates; in slope-control, the
electromagnetic interference may be reduced and the slope (i.e.,
the change of voltage per unit of time) may be proportional to the
current output; and in standby mode, the transmitter may be
switched off and the receiver may operate at a lower current.
[0157] Consistent with the present disclosure, second housing 504
may include a power port 512 for conveying energy from a power
source to first housing 502. In one embodiment, second housing 504
may include a section for at least one mobile power source 514
(e.g., in the depicted configuration the section is configured to
house four batteries). The at least one mobile power source may
provide sufficient power to enable image capture device 506 to
acquire more than 1,000 pictures, more than 5,000 pictures, more
than 10,000 pictures, or more than 15,000 pictures, and to transmit
them to server 135. In one embodiment, mobile power source 514
located in a single second housing 504 may power two or more image
capture devices 506 mounted on the store shelf. For example, as
depicted in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a single second housing 504 may be
connected to a plurality of first housings 502 with a plurality of
image capture devices 506 covering different (overlapping or
non-overlapping) fields of view. Accordingly, the two or more image
capture devices 506 may be powered by a single mobile power source
514 and/or the data captured by two or more image capture devices
506 may be processed to generate a panoramic image by a single
processing device located in second housing 504. In addition to
mobile power source 514 or as an alternative to mobile power source
514, second housing 504 may also be connected to an external power
source. For example, second housing 504 may be mounted to a store
shelf and connected to an electric power grid. In this example,
power port 512 may be connected to the store shelf through a wire
for providing electrical power to image capture device 506. In
another example, a retail shelving unit or retail store 105 may
include a wireless power transmission system, and power port 512
may be connected to a device configured to obtain electrical power
from the wireless power transmission system. In addition, as
discussed below, system 500 may use power management policies to
reduce the power consumption. For example, system 500 may use
selective image capturing and/or selective transmission of images
to reduce the power consumption or conserve power.
[0158] FIG. 6A illustrates a schematic diagram of a top view of
aisle 600 in retail store 105 with multiple image acquisition
systems 500 (e.g., 500A, 500B, 500C, 500D, and 500E) deployed
thereon for acquiring images of products. Aisle 600 may include a
first retail shelving unit 602 and a second retail shelving unit
604 that opposes first retail shelving unit 602. In some
embodiments, different numbers of systems 500 may be mounted on
opposing retail shelving units. For example, system 500A (including
first housing 502A, second housing 504A, and data conduit 508A),
system 500B (including first housing 502B second housing 504B, and
data conduit 508B), and system 500C (including first housing 502C,
second housing 504C, and data conduit 508C) may be mounted on first
retail shelving unit 602; and system 500D (including first housing
502D1, first housing 502D2, second housing 504D, and data conduits
508D1 and 508D2) and system 500E (including first housing 502E1,
first housing 502E2, second housing 504E, and data conduits 508E 1
and 508E2) may be mounted on second retail shelving unit 604.
Consistent with the present disclosure, image capture device 506
may be configured relative to first housing 502 such that an
optical axis of image capture device 506 is directed toward an
opposing retail shelving unit when first housing 502 is fixedly
mounted on a retail shelving unit. For example, optical axis 606 of
the image capture device associated with first housing 502B may be
directed towards second retail shelving unit 604 when first housing
502B is fixedly mounted on first retail shelving unit 602. A single
retail shelving unit may hold a number of systems 500 that include
a plurality of image capturing devices. Each of the image capturing
devices may be associated with a different field of view directed
toward the opposing retail shelving unit. Different vantage points
of differently located image capture devices may enable image
acquisition relative to different sections of a retail shelf. For
example, at least some of the plurality of image capturing devices
may be fixedly mounted on shelves at different heights. Examples of
such a deployment are illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 6B.
[0159] As shown in FIG. 6A each first housing 502 may be associated
with a data conduit 508 that enables exchanging of information
(e.g., image data, control signals, etc.) between the at least one
processor located in second housing 504 and image capture device
506 located in first housing 502. In some embodiments, data conduit
508 may include a wired connection that supports data-transfer and
may be used to power image capture device 506 (e.g., data conduit
508A, data conduit 508B, data conduit 508D1, data conduit 508D2,
data conduit 508E1, and data conduit 508E2). Consistent with these
embodiments, data conduit 508 may comply with a wired standard such
as USB, Micro-USB, HDMI, Micro-HDMI, Firewire, Apple, etc. In other
embodiments, data conduit 508 may be a wireless connection, such as
a dedicated communications channel between the at least one
processor located in second housing 504 and image capture device
506 located in first housing 502 (e.g., data conduit 508C). In one
example, the communications channel may be established by two Near
Field Communication (NFC) transceivers. In other examples, first
housing 502 and second housing 504 may include interface circuits
that comply with other short-range wireless standards such as
Bluetooth, WiFi, ZigBee, etc.
[0160] In some embodiments of the disclosure, the at least one
processor of system 500 may cause at least one image capture device
506 to periodically capture images of products located on an
opposing retail shelving unit (e.g., images of products located on
a shelf across an aisle from the shelf on which first housing 502
is mounted). The term "periodically capturing images" includes
capturing an image or images at predetermined time intervals (e.g.,
every minute, every 30 minutes, every 150 minutes, every 300
minutes, etc.), capturing video, capturing an image every time a
status request is received, and/or capturing an image subsequent to
receiving input from an additional sensor, for example, an
associated proximity sensor. Images may also be captured based on
various other triggers or in response to various other detected
events. In some embodiments, system 500 may receive an output
signal from at least one sensor located on an opposing retail
shelving unit. For example, system 500B may receive output signals
from a sensing system located on second retail shelving unit 604.
The output signals may be indicative of a sensed lifting of a
product from second retail shelving unit 604 or a sensed
positioning of a product on second retail shelving unit 604. In
response to receiving the output signal from the at least one
sensor located on second retail shelving unit 604, system 500B may
cause image capture device 506 to capture one or more images of
second retail shelving unit 604. Additional details on a sensing
system, including the at least one sensor that generates output
signals indicative of a sensed lifting of a product from an
opposing retail shelving unit, is discussed below with reference to
FIGS. 8-10.
[0161] Consistent with embodiments of the disclosure, system 500
may detect an object 608 in a selected area between first retail
shelving unit 602 and second retail shelving unit 604. Such
detection may be based on the output of one or more dedicated
sensors (e.g., motion detectors, etc.) and/or may be based on image
analysis of one or more images acquired by an image acquisition
device. Such images, for example, may include a representation of a
person or other object recognizable through various image analysis
techniques (e.g., trained neural networks, Fourier transform
analysis, edge detection, filters, face recognition, etc.). The
selected area may be associated with distance d1 between first
retail shelving unit 602 and second retail shelving unit 604. The
selected area may be within the field of view of image capture
device 506 or an area where the object causes an occlusion of a
region of interest (such as a shelf, a portion of a shelf being
monitored, and more). Upon detecting object 608, system 500 may
cause image capture device 506 to forgo image acquisition while
object 608 is within the selected area. In one example, object 608
may be an individual, such as a customer or a store employee. In
another example, detected object 608 may be an inanimate object,
such as a cart, box, carton, one or more products, cleaning robots,
etc. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6A, system 500A may detect
that object 608 has entered into its associated field of view
(e.g., using a proximity sensor) and may instruct image capturing
device 506 to forgo image acquisition. In alternative embodiments,
system 500 may analyze a plurality of images acquired by image
capture device 506 and identify at least one of the plurality of
images that includes a representation of object 608. Thereafter,
system 500 may avoid transmission of at least part of the at least
one identified image and/or information based on the at least one
identified image to server 135.
[0162] As shown in FIG. 6A, the at least one processor contained in
a second housing 504 may control a plurality of image capture
devices 506 contained in a plurality of first housings 502 (e.g.,
systems 500D and 500E). Controlling image capturing device 506 may
include instructing image capturing device 506 to capture an image
and/or transmit captured images to a remote server (e.g., server
135). In some cases, each of the plurality of image capture devices
506 may have a field of view that at least partially overlaps with
a field of view of at least one other image capture device 506 from
among plurality of image capture devices 506. In one embodiment,
the plurality of image capture devices 506 may be configured for
location on one or more horizontal shelves and may be directed to
substantially different areas of the opposing first retail shelving
unit. In this embodiment, the at least one processor may control
the plurality of image capture devices such that each of the
plurality of image capture devices may capture an image at a
different time. For example, system 500E may have a second housing
504E with at least one processor that may instruct a first image
capturing device contained in first housing 502E 1 to capture an
image at a first time and may instruct a second image capturing
device contained in first housing 502E2 to capture an image at a
second time which differs from the first time. Capturing images in
different times (or forwarding them to the at least one processor
at different times) may assist in processing the images and writing
the images in the memory associated with the at least one
processor.
[0163] FIG. 6B illustrates a perspective view assembly diagram
depicting a portion of a retail shelving unit 620 with multiple
systems 500 (e.g., 500F, 500G, 500H, 500I, and 500J) deployed
thereon for acquiring images of products. Retail shelving unit 620
may include horizontal shelves at different heights. For example,
horizontal shelves 622A, 622B, and 622C are located below
horizontal shelves 622D, 622E, and 622F. In some embodiments, a
different number of systems 500 may be mounted on shelves at
different heights. For example, system 500F (including first
housing 502F and second housing 504F), system 500G (including first
housing 502G and second housing 504G), and system 500H (including
first housing 502H and second housing 504H) may be mounted on
horizontal shelves associated with a first height; and system 500I
(including first housing 502I, second housing 504I, and a projector
632) and system 500J (including first housing 502J1, first housing
502J2, and second housing 504J) may be mounted on horizontal
shelves associated with a second height. In some embodiments,
retail shelving unit 620 may include a horizontal shelf with at
least one designated place (not shown) for mounting a housing of
image capturing device 506. The at least one designated place may
be associated with connectors such that first housing 502 may be
fixedly mounted on a side of horizontal shelf 622 facing an
opposing retail shelving unit using the connectors.
[0164] Consistent with the present disclosure, system 500 may be
mounted on a retail shelving unit that includes at least two
adjacent horizontal shelves (e.g., shelves 622A and 622B) forming a
substantially continuous surface for product placement. The store
shelves may include standard store shelves or customized store
shelves. A length of each store shelf 622 may be at least 50 cm,
less than 200 cm, or between 75 cm to 175 cm. In one embodiment,
first housing 502 may be fixedly mounted on the retail shelving
unit in a slit between two adjacent horizontal shelves. For
example, first housing 502G may be fixedly mounted on retail
shelving unit 620 in a slit between horizontal shelf 622B and
horizontal shelf 622C. In another embodiment, first housing 502 may
be fixedly mounted on a first shelf and second housing 504 may be
fixedly mounted on a second shelf. For example, first housing 502I
may be mounted on horizontal shelf 622D and second housing 504I may
be mounted on horizontal shelf 622E. In another embodiment, first
housing 502 may be fixedly mounted on a retail shelving unit on a
first side of a horizontal shelf facing the opposing retail
shelving unit and second housing 504 may be fixedly mounted on
retail shelving unit 620 on a second side of the horizontal shelf
orthogonal to the first side. For example, first housing 502H may
mounted on a first side 624 of horizontal shelf 622C next to a
label and second housing 504H may be mounted on a second side 626
of horizontal shelf 622C that faces down (e.g., towards the ground
or towards a lower shelf). In another embodiment, second housing
504 may be mounted closer to the back of the horizontal shelf than
to the front of the horizontal shelf. For example, second housing
504H may be fixedly mounted on horizontal shelf 622C on second side
626 closer to third side 628 of the horizontal shelf 622C than to
first side 624. Third side 628 may be parallel to first side 624.
As mentioned above, data conduit 508 (e.g., data conduit 508H) may
have an adjustable or selectable length for extending between first
housing 502 and second housing 504. In one embodiment, when first
housing 502H is fixedly mounted on first side 624, the length of
data conduit 508H may enable second housing 604H to be fixedly
mounted on second side 626 closer to third side 628 than to first
side 624.
[0165] As mentioned above, at least one processor contained in a
single second housing 504 may control a plurality of image capture
devices 506 contained in a plurality of first housings 502 (e.g.,
system 500J). In some embodiments, the plurality of image capture
devices 506 may be configured for location on a single horizontal
shelf and may be directed to substantially the same area of the
opposing first retail shelving unit (e.g., system 500D in FIG. 6A).
In these embodiments, the image data acquired by the first image
capture device and the second image capture device may enable a
calculation of depth information (e.g., based on image parallax
information) associated with at least one product positioned on an
opposing retail shelving unit. For example, system 500J may have
single second housing 504J with at least one processor that may
control a first image capturing device contained in first housing
502J1 and a second image capturing device contained in first
housing 502J2. The distance d3 between the first image capture
device contained in first housing 502J1 and the second image
capture device contained in first housing 502J2 may be selected
based on the distance between retail shelving unit 620 and the
opposing retail shelving unit (e.g., similar to d1 and/or d2). For
example, distance d3 may be at least 5 cm, at least 10 cm, at least
15 cm, less than 40 cm, less than 30 cm, between about 5 cm to
about 20 cm, or between about 10 cm to about 15 cm. In another
example, d3 may be a function of d1 and/or d2, a linear function of
d1 and/or d2, a function of d1*log(d1) and/or d2*log(d2) such as
a1*d1*log(d1) for some constant a1, and so forth. The data from the
first image capturing device contained in first housing 502J1 and
the second image capturing device contained in first housing 502J2
may be used to estimate the number of products on a store shelf of
retail shelving unit 602. In related embodiments, system 500 may
control a projector (e.g., projector 632) and image capture device
506 that are configured for location on a single store shelf or on
two separate store shelves. For example, projector 632 may be
mounted on horizontal shelf 622E and image capture device 5061 may
be mounted on horizontal shelf 622D. The image data acquired by
image capture device 506 (e.g., included in first housing 502I) may
include reflections of light patterns projected from projector 632
on the at least one product and/or the opposing retail shelving
unit and may enable a calculation of depth information associated
with at least one product positioned on the opposing retail
shelving unit. The distance between projector 632 and the image
capture device contained in first housing 502I may be selected
based on the distance between retail shelving unit 620 and the
opposing retail shelving unit (e.g., similar to d1 and/or d2). For
example, the distance between the projector and the image capture
device may be at least 5 cm, at least 10 cm, at least 15 cm, less
than 40 cm, less than 30 cm, between about 5 cm to about 20 cm, or
between about 10 cm to about 15 cm. In another example, the
distance between the projector and the image capture device may be
a function of d1 and/or d2, a linear function of d1 and/or d2, a
function of d1*log(d1) and/or d2*log(d2) such as a1*d1*log(d1) for
some constant a1, and so forth.
[0166] Consistent with the present disclosure, a central
communication device 630 may be located in retail store 105 and may
be configured to communicate with server 135 (e.g., via an Internet
connection). The central communication device may also communicate
with a plurality of systems 500 (for example, less than ten, ten,
eleven, twelve, more than twelve, and so forth). In some cases, at
least one of the plurality of systems 500 may be located in
proximity to central communication device 630. In the illustrated
example, system 500F may be located in proximity to central
communication device 630. In some embodiments, at least some of
systems 500 may communicate directly with at least one other system
500. The communications between some of the plurality of systems
500 may happen via a wired connection, such as the communications
between system 500J and system 500I and the communications between
system 500H and system 500G. Additionally or alternatively, the
communications between some of the plurality of systems 500 may
occur via a wireless connection, such as the communications between
system 500G and system 500F and the communications between system
500I and system 500F. In some examples, at least one system 500 may
be configured to transmit captured image data (or information
derived from the captured image data) to central communication
device 630 via at least two mediating systems 500, at least three
mediating systems 500, at least four mediating systems 500, or
more. For example, system 500J may convey captured image data to
central communication device 630 via system 500I and system
500F.
[0167] Consistent with the present disclosure, two (or more)
systems 500 may share information to improve image acquisition. For
example, system 500J may be configured to receive from a
neighboring system 500I information associated with an event that
system 500I had identified, and control image capture device 506
based on the received information. For example, system 500J may
forgo image acquisition based on an indication from system 500I
that an object has entered or is about to enter its field of view.
Systems 500I and 500J may have overlapping fields of view or
non-overlapping fields of view. In addition, system 500J may also
receive (from system 500I) information that originates from central
communication device 630 and control image capture device 506 based
on the received information. For example, system 500I may receive
instructions from central communication device 630 to capture an
image when suppler 115 inquiries about a specific product that is
placed in a retail unit opposing system 500S. In some embodiments,
a plurality of systems 500 may communicate with central
communication device 630. In order to reduce or avoid network
congestion, each system 500 may identify an available transmission
time slot. Thereafter, each system 500 may determine a default time
slot for future transmissions based on the identified transmission
time slot.
[0168] FIG. 6C provides a diagrammatic representation of a retail
shelving unit 640 being captured by multiple systems 500 (e.g.,
system 500K and system 500L) deployed on an opposing retail
shelving unit (not shown). FIG. 6C illustrates embodiments
associated with the process of installing systems 500 in retail
store 105. To facilitate the installation of system 500, each first
housing 502 (e.g., first housing 502K) may include an adjustment
mechanism 642 for setting a field of view 644 of image capture
device 506K such that the field of view 644 will at least partially
encompass products placed both on a bottom shelf of retail shelving
unit 640 and on a top shelf of retail shelving unit 640. For
example, adjustment mechanism 642 may enable setting the position
of image capture device 506K relative to first housing 502K.
Adjustment mechanism 642 may have at least two degrees of freedom
to separately adjust manually (or automatically) the vertical field
of view and the horizontal field of view of image capture device
506K. In one embodiment, the angle of image capture device 506K may
be measured using position sensors associated with adjustment
mechanism 642, and the measured orientation may be used to
determine if image capture device 506K is positioned in the right
direction. In one example, the output of the position sensors may
be displayed on a handheld device of an employee installing image
capturing device 506K. Such an arrangement may provide the
employee/installer with real time visual feedback representative of
the field of view of an image acquisition device being
installed.
[0169] In addition to adjustment mechanism 642, first housing 502
may include a first physical adapter (not shown) configured to
operate with multiple types of image capture device 506 and a
second physical adapter (not shown) configured to operate with
multiple types of lenses. During installation, the first physical
adapter may be used to connect a suitable image capture device 506
to system 500 according to the level of recognition requested
(e.g., detecting a barcode from products, detecting text and price
from labels, detecting different categories of products, etc.).
Similarly, during installation, the second physical adapter may be
used to associate a suitable lens to image capture device 506
according to the physical conditions at the store (e.g., the
distance between the aisles, the horizontal field of view required
from image capture device 506, and/or the vertical field of view
required from image capture device 506). The second physical
adapter provides the employee/installer the ability to select the
focal length of lens 312 during installation according to the
distance between retail shelving units on opposite sides of an
aisle (e.g., distance d1 and/or distance d2 shown in FIG. 6A). In
some embodiments, adjustment mechanism 642 may include a locking
mechanism to reduce the likelihood of unintentional changes in the
field of view of image capture device 506. Additionally or
alternatively, the at least one processor contained in second
housing 504 may detect changes in the field of view of image
capture device 506 and issue a warning when a change is detected,
when a change larger than a selected threshold is detected, when a
change is detected for a duration longer than a selected threshold,
and so forth.
[0170] In addition to adjustment mechanism 642 and the different
physical adapters, system 500 may modify the image data acquired by
image capture device 506 based on at least one attribute associated
with opposing retail shelving unit 640. Consistent with the present
disclosure, the at least one attribute associated with retail
shelving unit 640 may include a lighting condition, the dimensions
of opposing retail shelving unit 640, the size of products
displayed on opposing retail shelving unit 640, the type of labels
used on opposing retail shelving unit 640, and more. In some
embodiments, the attribute may be determined, based on analysis of
one or more acquired images, by at least one processor contained in
second housing 504. Alternatively, the attribute may be
automatically sensed and conveyed to the at least one processor
contained in second housing 504. In one example, the at least one
processor may change the brightness of captured images based on the
detected light conditions. In another example, the at least one
processor may modify the image data by cropping the image such that
it will include only the products on retail shelving unit (e.g.,
not to include the floor or the ceiling), only area of the shelving
unit relevant to a selected task (such as planogram compliance
check), and so forth.
[0171] Consistent with the present disclosure, during installation,
system 500 may enable real-time display 646 of field of view 644 on
a handheld device 648 of a user 650 installing image capturing
device 506K. In one embodiment, real-time display 646 of field of
view 644 may include augmented markings 652 indicating a location
of a field of view 654 of an adjacent image capture device 506L. In
another embodiment, real-time display 646 of field of view 644 may
include augmented markings 656 indicating a region of interest in
opposing retail shelving unit 640. The region of interest may be
determined based on a planogram, identified product type, and/or
part of retail shelving unit 640. For example, the region of
interest may include products with a greater likelihood of
planogram incompliance. In addition, system 500K may analyze
acquired images to determine if field of view 644 includes the area
that image capturing device 506K is supposed to monitor (for
example, from labels on opposing retail shelving unit 640, products
on opposing retail shelving unit 640, images captured from other
image capturing devices that may capture other parts of opposing
retail shelving unit 640 or capture the same part of opposing
retail shelving unit 640 but in a lower resolution or at a lower
frequency, and so forth). In additional embodiments, system 500 may
further comprise an indoor location sensor which may help determine
if the system 500 is positioned at the right location in retail
store 105.
[0172] In some embodiments, an anti-theft device may be located in
at least one of first housing 502 and second housing 504. For
example, the anti-theft device may include a specific RF label or a
pin-tag radio-frequency identification device, which may be the
same or similar to a type of anti-theft device that is used by
retail store 105 in which system 500 is located. The RF label or
the pin-tag may be incorporated within the body of first housing
502 and second housing 504 and may not be visible. In another
example, the anti-theft device may include a motion sensor whose
output may be used to trigger an alarm in the case of motion or
disturbance, in case of motion that is above a selected threshold,
and so forth.
[0173] FIG. 7A includes a flowchart representing an exemplary
method 700 for acquiring images of products in retail store 105 in
accordance with example embodiments of the present disclosure. For
purposes of illustration, in the following description, reference
is made to certain components of system 500 as deployed in the
configuration depicted in FIG. 6A. It will be appreciated, however,
that other implementations are possible and that other
configurations may be utilized to implement the exemplary method.
It will also be readily appreciated that the illustrated method can
be altered to modify the order of steps, delete steps, or further
include additional steps.
[0174] At step 702, the method includes fixedly mounting on first
retail shelving unit 602 at least one first housing 502 containing
at least one image capture device 506 such that an optical axis
(e.g., optical axis 606) of at least one image capture device 506
is directed to second retail shelving unit 604. In one embodiment,
fixedly mounting first housing 502 on first retail shelving unit
602 may include placing first housing 502 on a side of store shelf
622 facing second retail shelving unit 604. In another embodiment,
fixedly mounting first housing 502 on retail shelving unit 602 may
include placing first housing 502 in a slit between two adjacent
horizontal shelves. In some embodiments, the method may further
include fixedly mounting on first retail shelving unit 602 at least
one projector (such as projector 632) such that light patterns
projected by the at least one projector are directed to second
retail shelving unit 604. In one embodiment, the method may include
mounting the at least one projector to first retail shelving unit
602 at a selected distance to first housing 502 with image capture
device 506. In one embodiment, the selected distance may be at
least 5 cm, at least 10 cm, at least 15 cm, less than 40 cm, less
than 30 cm, between about 5 cm to about 20 cm, or between about 10
cm to about 15 cm. In one embodiment, the selected distance may be
calculated according to a distance between to first retail shelving
unit 602 and second retail shelving unit 604, such as d1 and/or d2,
for example selecting the distance to be a function of d1 and/or
d2, a linear function of d1 and/or d2, a function of d1*log(d1)
and/or d2*log(d2) such as a1*d1*log(d1) for some constant a1, and
so forth.
[0175] At step 704, the method includes fixedly mounting on first
retail shelving unit 602 second housing 504 at a location spaced
apart from the at least one first housing 502, second housing 504
may include at least one processor (e.g., processing device 302).
In one embodiment, fixedly mounting second housing 504 on the
retail shelving unit may include placing second housing 504 on a
different side of store shelf 622 than the side first housing 502
is mounted on.
[0176] At step 706, the method includes extending at least one data
conduit 508 between at least one first housing 502 and second
housing 504. In one embodiment, extending at least one data conduit
508 between at least one first housing 502 and second housing 504
may include adjusting the length of data conduit 508 to enable
first housing 502 to be mounted separately from second housing 504.
At step 708, the method includes capturing images of second retail
shelving unit 604 using at least one image capture device 506
contained in at least one first housing 502 (e.g., first housing
502A, first housing 502B, or first housing 502C). In one
embodiment, the method further includes periodically capturing
images of products located on second retail shelving unit 604. In
another embodiment the method includes capturing images of second
retail shelving unit 604 after receiving a trigger from at least
one additional sensor in communication with system 500 (wireless or
wired).
[0177] At step 710, the method includes transmitting at least some
of the captured images from second housing 504 to a remote server
(e.g., server 135) configured to determine planogram compliance
relative to second retail shelving unit 604. In some embodiments,
determining planogram compliance relative to second retail shelving
unit 604 may include determining at least one characteristic of
planogram compliance based on detected differences between the at
least one planogram and the actual placement of the plurality of
product types on second retail shelving unit 604. Consistent with
the present disclosure, the characteristic of planogram compliance
may include at least one of: product facing, product placement,
planogram compatibility, price correlation, promotion execution,
product homogeneity, restocking rate, and planogram compliance of
adjacent products.
[0178] FIG. 7B provides a flowchart representing an exemplary
method 720 for acquiring images of products in retail store 105, in
accordance with example embodiments of the present disclosure. For
purposes of illustration, in the following description, reference
is made to certain components of system 500 as deployed in the
configuration depicted in FIG. 6A. It will be appreciated, however,
that other implementations are possible and that other
configurations may be utilized to implement the exemplary method.
It will also be readily appreciated that the illustrated method can
be altered to modify the order of steps, delete steps, or further
include additional steps.
[0179] At step 722, at least one processor contained in a second
housing may receive from at least one image capture device
contained in at least one first housing fixedly mounted on a retail
shelving unit a plurality of images of an opposing retail shelving
unit. For example, at least one processor contained in second
housing 504A may receive from at least one image capture device 506
contained in first housing 502A (fixedly mounted on first retail
shelving unit 602) a plurality of images of second retail shelving
unit 604. The plurality of images may be captured and collected
during a period of time (e.g., a minute, an hour, six hours, a day,
a week, or more).
[0180] At step 724, the at least one processor contained in the
second housing may analyze the plurality of images acquired by the
at least one image capture device. In one embodiment, at least one
processor contained in second housing 504A may use any suitable
image analysis technique (for example, object recognition, object
detection, image segmentation, feature extraction, optical
character recognition (OCR), object-based image analysis, shape
region techniques, edge detection techniques, pixel-based
detection, artificial neural networks, convolutional neural
networks, etc.) to identify objects in the plurality of images. In
one example, the at least one processor contained in second housing
504A may determine the number of products located in second retail
shelving unit 604. In another example, the at least one processor
contained in second housing 504A may detect one or more objects in
an area between first retail shelving unit 602 and second retail
shelving unit 604.
[0181] At step 726, the at least one processor contained in the
second housing may identify in the plurality of images a first
image that includes a representation of at least a portion of an
object located in an area between the retail shelving unit and the
opposing retail shelving unit. In step 728, the at least one
processor contained in the second housing may identify in the
plurality of images a second image that does not include any object
located in an area between the retail shelving unit and the
opposing retail shelving unit. In one example, the object in the
first image may be an individual, such as a customer or a store
employee. In another example, the object in the first image may be
an inanimate object, such as carts, boxes, products, etc.
[0182] At step 730, the at least one processor contained in the
second housing may instruct a network interface contained in the
second housing, fixedly mounted on the retail shelving unit
separate from the at least one first housing, to transmit the
second image to a remote server and to avoid transmission of the
first image to the remote server. In addition, the at least one
processor may issue a notification when an object blocks the field
of view of the image capturing device for more than a predefined
period of time (e.g., at least 30 minutes, at least 75 minutes, at
least 150 minutes).
[0183] Embodiments of the present disclosure may automatically
assess compliance of one or more store shelves with a planogram.
For example, embodiments of the present disclosure may use signals
from one or more sensors to determine placement of one or more
products on store shelves. The disclosed embodiments may also use
one or more sensors to determine empty spaces on the store shelves.
The placements and empty spaces may be automatically assessed
against a digitally encoded planogram. A planogram refers to any
data structure or specification that defines at least one product
characteristic relative to a display structure associated with a
retail environment (such as store shelf or area of one or more
shelves). Such product characteristics may include, among other
things, quantities of products with respect to areas of the
shelves, product configurations or product shapes with respect to
areas of the shelves, product arrangements with respect to areas of
the shelves, product density with respect to areas of the shelves,
product combinations with respect to areas of the shelves, etc.
Although described with reference to store shelves, embodiments of
the present disclosure may also be applied to end caps or other
displays; bins, shelves, or other organizers associated with a
refrigerator or freezer units; or any other display structure
associated with a retail environment.
[0184] The embodiments disclosed herein may use any sensors
configured to detect one or more parameters associated with
products (or a lack thereof). For example, embodiments may use one
or more of pressure sensors, weight sensors, light sensors,
resistive sensors, capacitive sensors, inductive sensors, vacuum
pressure sensors, high pressure sensors, conductive pressure
sensors, infrared sensors, photo-resistor sensors, photo-transistor
sensors, photo-diodes sensors, ultrasonic sensors, or the like.
Some embodiments may use a plurality of different kinds of sensors,
for example, associated with the same or overlapping areas of the
shelves and/or associated with different areas of the shelves. Some
embodiments may use a plurality of sensors configured to be placed
adjacent a store shelf, configured for location on the store shelf,
configured to be attached to, or configured to be integrated with
the store shelf. In some cases, at least part of the plurality of
sensors may be configured to be placed next to a surface of a store
shelf configured to hold products. For example, the at least part
of the plurality of sensors may be configured to be placed relative
to a part of a store shelf such that the at least part of the
plurality of sensors may be positioned between the part of a store
shelf and products placed on the part of the shelf. In another
embodiment, the at least part of the plurality of sensors may be
configured to be placed above and/or within and/or under the part
of the shelf.
[0185] In one example, the plurality of sensors may include light
detectors configured to be located such that a product placed on
the part of the shelf may block at least some of the ambient light
from reaching the light detectors. The data received from the light
detectors may be analyzed to detect a product or to identify a
product based on the shape of a product placed on the part of the
shelf. In one example, the system may identify the product placed
above the light detectors based on data received from the light
detectors that may be indicative of at least part of the ambient
light being blocked from reaching the light detectors. Further, the
data received from the light detectors may be analyzed to detect
vacant spaces on the store shelf. For example, the system may
detect vacant spaces on the store shelf based on the received data
that may be indicative of no product being placed on a part of the
shelf. In another example, the plurality of sensors may include
pressure sensors configured to be located such that a product
placed on the part of the shelf may apply detectable pressure on
the pressure sensors. Further, the data received from the pressure
sensors may be analyzed to detect a product or to identify a
product based on the shape of a product placed on the part of the
shelf. In one example, the system may identify the product placed
above the pressure sensors based on data received from the pressure
sensors being indicative of pressure being applied on the pressure
sensors. In addition, the data from the pressure sensors may be
analyzed to detect vacant spaces on the store shelf, for example
based on the readings being indicative of no product being placed
on a part of the shelf, for example, when the pressure readings are
below a selected threshold. Consistent with the present disclosure,
inputs from different types of sensors (such as pressure sensors,
light detectors, etc.) may be combined and analyzed together, for
example to detect products placed on a store shelf, to identify
shapes of products placed on a store shelf, to identify types of
products placed on a store shelf, to identify vacant spaces on a
store shelf, and so forth.
[0186] With reference to FIG. 8A and consistent with the present
disclosure, a store shelf 800 may include a plurality of detection
elements, e.g., detection elements 801A and 801B. In the example of
FIG. 8A, detection elements 801A and 801B may comprise pressure
sensors and/or other type of sensors for measuring one or more
parameters (such as resistance, capacitance, or the like) based on
physical contact (or lack thereof) with products, e.g., product
803A and product 803B. Additionally or alternatively, detection
elements configured to measure one or more parameters (such as
current induction, magnetic induction, visual or other
electromagnetic reflectance, visual or other electromagnetic
emittance, or the like) may be included to detect products based on
physical proximity (or lack thereof) to products. Consistent with
the present disclosure, the plurality of detection elements may be
configured for location on shelf 800. The plurality of detection
elements may be configured to detect placement of products when the
products are placed above at least part of the plurality of
detection elements. Some embodiments of the disclosure, however,
may be performed when at least some of the detection elements may
be located next to shelf 800 (e.g., for magnetometers or the like),
across from shelf 800 (e.g., for image sensors or other light
sensors, light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors, radio
detection and ranging (RADAR) sensors, or the like), above shelf
800 (e.g., for acoustic sensors or the like), below shelf 800
(e.g., for pressure sensors or the like), or any other appropriate
spatial arrangement. Although depicted as standalone units in the
example of FIG. 8A, the plurality of detection elements may form
part of a fabric (e.g., a smart fabric or the like), and the fabric
may be positioned on a shelf to take measurements. For example, two
or more detection elements may be integrated together into a single
structure (e.g., disposed within a common housing, integrated
together within a fabric or mat, etc.). In some examples, detection
elements (such as detection elements 801A and 801B) may be placed
adjacent to (or placed on) store shelves as described above. Some
examples of detection elements may include pressure sensors and/or
light detectors configured to be placed above and/or within and/or
under a store shelf as described above.
[0187] Detection elements associated with shelf 800 may be
associated with different areas of shelf 800. For example,
detection elements 801A and 801B are associated with area 805A
while other detection elements are associated with area 805B.
Although depicted as rows, areas 805A and 805B may comprise any
areas of shelf 800, whether contiguous (e.g., a square, a
rectangular, or other regular or irregular shape) or not (e.g., a
plurality of rectangles or other regular and/or irregular shapes).
Such areas may also include horizontal regions between shelves (as
shown in FIG. 8A) or may include vertical regions that include area
of multiple different shelves (e.g., columnar regions spanning over
several different horizontally arranged shelves). In some examples,
the areas may be part of a single plane. In some examples, each
area may be part of a different plane. In some examples, a single
area may be part of a single plane or be divided across multiple
planes.
[0188] One or more processors (e.g., processing device 202)
configured to communicate with the detection elements (e.g.,
detection elements 801A and 801B) may detect first signals
associated with a first area (e.g., areas 805A and/or 805B) and
second signals associated with a second area. In some embodiments,
the first area may, in part, overlap with the second area. For
example, one or more detection elements may be associated with the
first area as well as the second area and/or one or more detection
elements of a first type may be associated with the first area
while one or more detection elements of a second type may be
associated with the second area overlapping, at least in part, the
first area. In other embodiments, the first area and the second
area may be spatially separate from each other.
[0189] The one or more processors may, using the first and second
signals, determine that one or more products have been placed in
the first area while the second area includes at least one empty
area. For example, if the detection elements include pressure
sensors, the first signals may include weight signals that match
profiles of particular products (such as the mugs or plates
depicted in the example of FIG. 8A), and the second signals may
include weight signals indicative of the absence of products (e.g.,
by being equal to or within a threshold of a default value such as
atmospheric pressure or the like). The disclosed weight signals may
be representative of actual weight values associated with a
particular product type or, alternatively, may be associated with a
relative weight value sufficient to identify the product and/or to
identify the presence of a product. In some cases, the weight
signal may be suitable for verifying the presence of a product
regardless of whether the signal is also sufficient for product
identification. In another example, if the detection elements
include light detectors (as described above), the first signals may
include light signals that match profiles of particular products
(such as the mugs or plates depicted in the example of FIG. 8A),
and the second signals may include light signals indicative of the
absence of products (e.g., by being equal to or within a threshold
of a default value such as values corresponding to ambient light or
the like). For example, the first light signals may be indicative
of ambient light being blocked by particular products, while the
second light signals may be indicative of no product blocking the
ambient light. The disclosed light signals may be representative of
actual light patterns associated with a particular product type or,
alternatively, may be associated with light patterns sufficient to
identify the product and/or to identify the presence of a
product.
[0190] The one or more processors may similarly process signals
from other types of sensors. For example, if the detection elements
include resistive or inductive sensors, the first signals may
include resistances, voltages, and/or currents that match profiles
of particular products (such as the mugs or plates depicted in the
example of FIG. 8A or elements associated with the products, such
as tags, etc.), and the second signals may include resistances,
voltages, and/or currents indicative of the absence of products
(e.g., by being equal to or within a threshold of a default value
such as atmospheric resistance, a default voltage, a default
current, corresponding to ambient light, or the like). In another
example, if the detection elements include acoustics, LIDAR, RADAR,
or other reflective sensors, the first signals may include patterns
of returning waves (whether sound, visible light, infrared light,
radio, or the like) that match profiles of particular products
(such as the mugs or plates depicted in the example of FIG. 8A),
and the second signals may include patterns of returning waves
(whether sound, visible light, infrared light, radio, or the like)
indicative of the absence of products (e.g., by being equal to or
within a threshold of a pattern associated with an empty shelf or
the like).
[0191] Any of the profile matching described above may include
direct matching of a subject to a threshold. For example, direct
matching may include testing one or more measured values against
the profile value(s) within a margin of error, mapping a received
pattern onto a profile pattern with a residual having a maximum,
minimum, integral, or the like within the margin of error,
performing an autocorrelation. Fourier transform, convolution, or
other operation on received measurements or a received pattern and
comparing the resultant values or function against the profile
within a margin of error; or the like. Additionally or
alternatively, profile matching may include fuzzy matching between
measured values and/or patterns and a database of profiles such
that a profile with a highest level of confidence according to the
fuzzy search. Moreover, as depicted in the example of FIG. 8A,
products, such as product 803B, may be stacked and thus associated
with a different profile when stacked than when standalone.
[0192] Any of the profile matching described above may include use
of one or more machine learning techniques. For example, one or
more artificial neural networks, random forest models, or other
models trained on measurements annotated with product identifiers
may process the measurements from the detection elements and
identify products therefrom. In such embodiments, the one or more
models may use additional or alternative input, such as images of
the shelf (e.g., from capturing devices 125 of FIGS. 4A-4C
explained above) or the like.
[0193] Based on detected products and/or empty spaces, determined
using the first signals and second signals, the one or more
processors may determine one or more aspects of planogram
compliance. For example, the one or more processors may identify
products and their locations on the shelves, determine quantities
of products within particular areas (e.g., identifying stacked or
clustered products), identify facing directions associated with the
products (e.g., whether a product is outward facing, inward facing,
askew, or the like), or the like. Identification of the products
may include identifying a product type (e.g., a bottle of soda, a
loaf of broad, a notepad, or the like) and/or a product brand
(e.g., a Coca-Cola.RTM. bottle instead of a Sprite.RTM. bottle, a
Starbucks.RTM. coffee tumbler instead of a Tervis.RTM. coffee
tumbler, or the like). Product facing direction and/or orientation,
for example, may be determined based on a detected orientation of
an asymmetric shape of a product base using pressure sensitive
pads, detected density of products, etc. For example, the product
facing may be determined based on locations of detected product
bases relative to certain areas of a shelf (e.g., along a front
edge of a shelf), etc. Product facing may also be determined using
image sensors, light sensors, or any other sensor suitable for
detecting product orientation.
[0194] The one or more processors may generate one or more
indicators of the one or more aspects of planogram compliance. For
example, an indicator may comprise a data packet, a data file, or
any other data structure indicating any variations from a
planogram, e.g., with respect to product placement such as encoding
intended coordinates of a product and actual coordinates on the
shelf, with respect to product facing direction and/or orientation
such as encoding indicators of locations that have products not
facing a correct direction and/or in an undesired orientation, or
the like.
[0195] In addition to or as an alternative to determining planogram
compliance, the one or more processors may detect a change in
measurements from one or more detection elements. Such measurement
changes may trigger a response. For example, a change of a first
type may trigger capture of at least one image of the shelf (e.g.,
using capturing devices 125 of FIGS. 4A-4C explained above) while a
detected change of a second type may cause the at least one
processor to forgo such capture. A first type of change may, for
example, indicate the moving of a product from one location on the
shelf to another location such that planogram compliance may be
implicated. In such cases, it may be desired to capture an image of
the product rearrangement in order to assess or reassess product
planogram compliance. In another example, a first type of change
may indicate the removal of a product from the shelf, e.g., by an
employee due to damage, by a customer to purchase, or the like. On
the other hand, a second type of change may, for example, indicate
the removal and replacement of a product to the same (within a
margin of error) location on the shelf, e.g., by a customer to
inspect the item. In cases where products are removed from a shelf,
but then replaced on the shelf (e.g., within a particular time
window), the system may forgo a new image capture, especially if
the replaced product is detected in a location similar to or the
same as its recent, original position.
[0196] With reference to FIG. 8B and consistent with the present
disclosure, a store shelf 850 may include a plurality of detection
elements, e.g., detection elements 851A and 851B. In the example of
FIG. 8B, detection elements 851A and 851B may comprise light
sensors and/or other sensors measuring one or more parameters (such
as visual or other electromagnetic reflectance, visual or other
electromagnetic emittance, or the like) based on electromagnetic
waves from products, e.g., product 853A and product 853B.
Additionally or alternatively, as explained above with respect to
FIG. 8B, detection elements 851A and 851B may comprise pressure
sensors, other sensors measuring one or more parameters (such as
resistance, capacitance, or the like) based on physical contact (or
lack thereof) with the products, and/or other sensors that measure
one or more parameters (such as current induction, magnetic
induction, visual or other electromagnetic reflectance, visual or
other electromagnetic emittance, or the like) based on physical
proximity (or lack thereof) to products.
[0197] Moreover, although depicted as located on shelf 850, some
detection elements may be located next to shelf 850 (e.g., for
magnetometers or the like), across from shelf 850 (e.g., for image
sensors or other light sensors, light detection and ranging (LIDAR)
sensors, radio detection and ranging (RADAR) sensors, or the like),
above shelf 850 (e.g., for acoustic sensors or the like), below
shelf 850 (e.g., for pressure sensors, light detectors, or the
like), or any other appropriate spatial arrangement. Further,
although depicted as standalone in the example of FIG. 8B, the
plurality of detection elements may form part of a fabric (e.g., a
smart fabric or the like), and the fabric may be positioned on a
shelf to take measurements.
[0198] Detection elements associated with shelf 850 may be
associated with different areas of shelf 850, e.g., area 855A, area
855B, or the like. Although depicted as rows, areas 855A and 855B
may comprise any areas of shelf 850, whether contiguous (e.g., a
square, a rectangular, or other regular or irregular shape) or not
(e.g., a plurality of rectangles or other regular and/or irregular
shapes).
[0199] One or more processors (e.g., processing device 202) in
communication with the detection elements (e.g., detection elements
851A and 851B) may detect first signals associated with a first
area and second signals associated with a second area. Any of the
processing of the first and second signals described above with
respect to FIG. 8A may similarly be performed for the configuration
of FIG. 8B.
[0200] In both FIGS. 8A and 8B, the detection elements may be
integral to the shelf, part of a fabric or other surface configured
for positioning on the shelf, or the like. Power and/or data cables
may form part of the shelf, the fabric, the surface, or be
otherwise connected to the detection elements. Additionally or
alternatively, as depicted in FIGS. 8A and 8B, individual sensors
may be positioned on the shelf. For example, the power and/or data
cables may be positioned under the shelf and connected through the
shelf to the detection elements. In another example, power and/or
data may be transmitted wirelessly to the detection elements (e.g.,
to wireless network interface controllers forming part of the
detection elements). In yet another example, the detection elements
may include internal power sources (such as batteries or fuel
cells).
[0201] With reference to FIG. 9 and consistent with the present
disclosure, the detection elements described above with reference
to FIGS. 8A and 8B may be arranged on rows of the shelf in any
appropriate configuration. All of the arrangements of FIG. 9 are
shown as a top-down view of a row (e.g., area 805A, area 805B, area
855A, area 855B, or the like) on the shelf. For example,
arrangements 910 and 940 are both uniform distributions of
detection elements within a row. However, arrangement 910 is also
uniform throughout the depth of the row while arrangement 940 is
staggered. Both arrangements may provide signals that represent
products on the shelf in accordance with spatially uniform
measurement locations. As further shown in FIG. 9, arrangements
920, 930, 950, and 960 cluster detection elements near the front
(e.g., a facing portion) of the row. Arrangement 920 includes
detection elements at a front portion while arrangement 930
includes defection elements in a larger portion of the front of the
shelf. Such arrangements may save power and processing cycles by
having fewer detection elements on a back portion of the shelf.
Arrangements 950 and 960 include some detection elements in a back
portion of the shelf but these elements are arranged less dense
than detection elements in the front. Such arrangements may allow
for detections in the back of the shelf (e.g., a need to restock
products, a disruption to products in the back by a customer or
employee, or the like) while still using less power and fewer
processing cycles than arrangements 910 and 940. And, such
arrangements may include a higher density of detection elements in
regions of the shelf (e.g., a front edge of the shelf) where
product turnover rates may be higher than in other regions (e.g.,
at areas deeper into a shelf), and/or in regions of the shelf where
planogram compliance is especially important.
[0202] FIG. 10A is a flow chart, illustrating an exemplary method
1000 for monitoring planogram compliance on a store shelf, in
accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter. It is
contemplated that method 1000 may be used with any of the detection
element arrays discussed above with reference to, for example,
FIGS. 8A, 8B and 9. The order and arrangement of steps in method
1000 is provided for purposes of illustration. As will be
appreciated from this disclosure, modifications may be made to
process 1000, for example, adding, combining, removing, and/or
rearranging one or more steps of process 1000.
[0203] Method 1000 may include a step 1005 of receiving first
signals from a first subset of detection elements (e.g., detection
elements 801A and 801B of FIG. 8A) from among the plurality of
detection elements after one or more of a plurality of products
(e.g., products 803A and 803B) are placed on at least one area of
the store shelf associated with the first subset of detection
elements. As explained above with respect to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the
plurality of detection elements may be embedded into a fabric
configured to be positioned on the store shelf. Additionally or
alternatively, the plurality of detection elements may be
configured to be integrated with the store shelf. For example, an
array of pressure sensitive elements (or any other type of
detector) may be fabricated as part of the store shelf. In some
examples, the plurality of detection elements may be configured to
placed adjacent to (or located on) store shelves, as described
above.
[0204] As described above with respect to arrangements 910 and 940
of FIG. 9, the plurality of detection elements may be substantially
uniformly distributed across the store shelf. Alternatively, as
described above with respect to arrangements 920, 930, 950, and 960
of FIG. 9, the plurality of detection elements may be distributed
relative to the store shelf such that a first area of the store
shelf has a higher density of detection elements than a second area
of the store shelf. For example, the first area may comprise a
front portion of the shelf, and the second area may comprise a back
portion of the shelf.
[0205] In some embodiments, such as those including pressure
sensors or other contact sensors as depicted in the example of FIG.
8A, step 1005 may include receiving the first signals from the
first subset of detection elements as the plurality of products are
placed above the first subset of detection elements. In some
embodiments where the plurality of detection elements includes
pressure detectors, the first signals may be indicative of pressure
levels detected by pressure detectors corresponding to the first
subset of detection elements after one or more of the plurality of
products are placed on the at least one area of the store shelf
associated with the first subset of detection elements. For
example, the first signals may be indicative of pressure levels
detected by pressure detectors corresponding to the first subset of
detection elements after stocking at least one additional product
above a product previously positioned on the shelf, removal of a
product from the shelf, or the like. In other embodiments where the
plurality of detection elements includes light detectors, the first
signals may be indicative of light measurements made with respect
to one or more of the plurality of products placed on the at least
one area of the store shelf associated with the first subset of
detection elements. Specifically, the first signals may be
indicative of at least part of the ambient light being blocked from
reaching the light detectors by the one or more of the plurality of
products.
[0206] In embodiments including proximity sensors as depicted in
the example of FIG. 8B, step 1005 may include receiving the first
signals from the first subset of detection elements as the
plurality of products are placed below the first subset of
detection elements. In embodiments where the plurality of detection
elements include proximity detectors, the first signals may be
indicative of proximity measurements made with respect to one or
more of the plurality of products placed on the at least one area
of the store shelf associated with the first subset of detection
elements.
[0207] Method 1000 may include step 1010 of using the first signals
to identify at least one pattern associated with a product type of
the plurality of products. For example, any of the pattern matching
techniques described above with respect to FIGS. 8A and 8B may be
used for identification. A pattern associated with a product type
may include a pattern (e.g., a continuous ring, a discontinuous
ring of a certain number of points, a certain shape, etc.)
associated with a base of a single product. The pattern associated
with a product type may also be formed by a group of products. For
example, a six pack of soda cans may be associated with a pattern
including a 2.times.3 array of continuous rings associated with the
six cans of that product type. Additionally, a grouping of two
liter bottles may form a detectable pattern including an array
(whether uniform, irregular, or random) of discontinuous rings of
pressure points, where the rings have a diameter associated with a
particular 2-liter product. Various other types of patterns may
also be detected (e.g., patterns associated with different product
types arranged adjacent to one another, patterns associated with
solid shapes (such as a rectangle of a boxed product), etc.). In
another example, an artificial neural network configured to
recognize product types may be used to analyze the signals received
by step 1005 (such as signals from pressure sensors, from light
detectors, from contact sensors, and so forth) to determine product
types associated with products placed on an area of a shelf (such
as an area of a shelf associated with the first subset of detection
elements). In yet another example, a machine learning algorithm
trained using training examples to recognize product types may be
used to analyze the signals received by step 1005 (such as signals
from pressure sensors, from light detectors, from contact sensors,
and so forth) to determine product types associated with products
placed on an area of a shelf (such as an area of a shelf associated
with the first subset of detection elements).
[0208] In some embodiments, step 1010 may further include accessing
a memory storing data (e.g., memory device 226 of FIG. 2 and/or
memory device 314 of FIG. 3A) associated with patterns of different
types of products. In such embodiments, step 1010 may include using
the first signals to identify at least one product of a first type
using a first pattern (or a first product model) and at least one
product of a second type using a second pattern (or a second
product model). For example, the first type may include one brand
(such as Coca-Cola.RTM. or Folgers.RTM.) while the second type may
include another brand (such as Pepsi.RTM. or Maxwell House.RTM.).
In this example, a size, shape, point spacing, weight, resistance
or other property of the first brand may be different from that of
the second brand such that the detection elements may differentiate
the brands. Such characteristics may also be used to differentiate
like-branded, but different products from one another (e.g., a
12-ounce can of Coca Cola, versus a 16 oz bottle of Coca Cola,
versus a 2-liter bottle of Coca Cola). For example, a soda may have
a base detectable by a pressure sensitive pad as a continuous ring.
Further, the can of soda may be associated with a first weight
signal having a value recognizable as associated with such a
product. A 16 ounce bottle of soda may be associated with a base
having four or five pressure points, which a pressure sensitive pad
may detect as arranged in a pattern associated with a diameter
typical of such a product. The 16 ounce bottle of soda may also be
associated with a second weight signal having a value higher than
the weight signal associated with the 12 ounce can of soda. Further
still, a 2 liter bottle of soda may be associated with a base
having a ring, four or five pressure points, etc. that a pressure
sensitive pad may detect as arranged in a pattern associated with a
diameter typical of such a product. The 2 liter bottle of soda may
be associated with a weight signal having a value higher than the
weight signal associated with the 12 ounce can of soda and 16 ounce
bottle of soda.
[0209] In the example of FIG. 8B, the different bottoms of product
853A and product 853B may be used to differentiate the products
from each other. For example, detection elements such as pressure
sensitive pads may be used to detect a product base shape and size
(e.g., ring, pattern of points, asymmetric shape, base dimensions,
etc.). Such a base shape and size may be used (optionally, together
with one or more weight signals) to identify a particular product.
The signals may also be used to identify and/or distinguish product
types from one another. For example, a first type may include one
category of product (such as soda cans) while a second type may
include a different category of product (such as notepads). In
another example, detection elements such as light detectors may be
used to detect a product based on a pattern of light readings
indicative of a product blocking at least part of the ambient light
from reaching the light detectors. Such pattern of light readings
may be used to identify product type and/or product category and/or
product shape. For example, products of a first type may block a
first subset of light frequencies of the ambient light from
reaching the light detectors, while products of a second type may
block a second subset of light frequencies of the ambient light
from reaching the light detectors (the first subset and second
subset may differ). In this case the type of the products may be
determined based on the light frequencies reaching the light
detectors. In another example, products of a first type may have a
first shape of shades and therefore may block ambient light from
reaching light detectors arranged in one shape, while products of a
second type may have a second shape of shades and therefore may
block ambient light from reaching light detectors arranged in
another shape. In this case the type of the products may be
determined based on the shape of blocked ambient light. Any of the
pattern matching techniques described above may be used for the
identification.
[0210] Additionally or alternatively, step 1010 may include using
the at least one pattern to determine a number of products placed
on the at least one area of the store shelf associated with the
first subset of detection elements. For example, any of the pattern
matching techniques described above may be used to identify the
presence of one or more product types and then to determine the
number of products of each product type (e.g., by detecting a
number of similarly sized and shaped product bases and optionally
by detecting weight signals associated with each detected base). In
another example, an artificial neural network configured to
determine the number of products of selected product types may be
used to analyze the signals received by step 1005 (such as signals
from pressure sensors, from light detectors, from contact sensors,
and so forth) to determine the number of products of selected
product types placed on an area of a shelf (such as an area of a
shelf associated with the first subset of detection elements). In
yet another example, a machine learning algorithm trained using
training examples to determine the number of products of selected
product types may be used to analyze the signals received by step
1005 (such as signals from pressure sensors, from light detectors,
from contact sensors, and so forth) to determine the number of
products of selected product types placed on an area of a shelf
(such as an area of a shelf associated with the first subset of
detection elements). Additionally or alternatively, step 1010 may
include extrapolating from a stored pattern associated with a
single product (or type of product) to determine the number of
products matching the first signals. In such embodiments, step 1010
may further include determining, for example based on product
dimension data stored in a memory, a number of additional products
that can be placed on the at least one area of the store shelf
associated with the second subset of detection elements. For
example, step 1010 may include extrapolating based on stored
dimensions of each product and stored dimensions of the shelf area
to determine an area and/or volume available for additional
products. Step 1010 may further include extrapolation of the number
of additional products based on the stored dimensions of each
product and determined available area and/or volume.
[0211] Method 1000 may include step 1015 of receiving second
signals from a second subset of detection elements (e.g., detection
elements 851A and 851B of FIG. 8B) from among the plurality of
detection elements, the second signals being indicative of no
products being placed on at least one area of the store shelf
associated with the second subset of detection elements. Using this
information, method 1000 may include step 1020 of using the second
signals to determine at least one empty space on the store shelf.
For example, any of the pattern matching techniques described above
may be used to determine that the second signals include default
values or other values indicative of a lack of product in certain
areas associated with a retail store shelf. A default value may be
include, for example, a pressure signal associated with an
un-loaded pressure sensor or pressure sensitive mat, indicating
that no product is located in a certain region of a shelf. In
another example, a default value may include signals from light
detectors corresponding to ambient light, indicating that no
product is located in a certain region of a shelf.
[0212] Method 1000 may include step 1025 of determining, based on
the at least one pattern associated with a detected product and the
at least one empty space, at least one aspect of planogram
compliance. As explained above with respect to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the
aspect of planogram compliance may include the presence or absence
of particular products (or brands), locations of products on the
shelves, quantities of products within particular areas (e.g.,
identifying stacked or clustered products), facing directions
associated with the products (e.g., whether a product is outward
facing, inward facing, askew, or the like), or the like. A
planogram compliance determination may be made, for example, by
determining a number of empty spaces on a shelf and determining a
location of the empty spaces on a shelf. The planogram
determination may also include determining weight signal magnitudes
associated with detected products at the various detected non-empty
locations. This information may be used by the one or more
processors in determining whether a product facing specification
has been satisfied (e.g., whether a front edge of a shelf has a
suitable number of products or suitable density of products),
whether a specified stacking density has been achieved (e.g., by
determining a pattern of detected products and weight signals of
the detected products to determine how many products are stacked at
each location), whether a product density specification has been
achieved (e.g., by determining a ratio of empty locations to
product-present locations), whether products of a selected product
type are located in a selected area of the shelf, whether all
products located in a selected area of the shelf are of a selected
product type, whether a selected number of products (or a selected
number of products of a selected product type) are located in a
selected area of the shelf, whether products located in a selected
area of a shelf are positioned in a selected orientation, or
whether any other aspect of one or more planograms has been
achieved.
[0213] For example, the at least one aspect may include product
homogeneity, and step 1025 may further include counting occurrences
where a product of the second type is placed on an area of the
store shelf associated with the first type of product. For example,
by accessing a memory including base patterns (or any other type of
pattern associated with product types, such as product models), the
at least one processor may detect different products and product
types. A product of a first type may be recognized based on a first
pattern, and product of a second type may be recognized based on a
second, different pattern (optionally also based on weight signal
information to aid in differentiating between products). Such
information may be used, for example, to monitor whether a certain
region of a shelf includes an appropriate or intended product or
product type. Such information may also be useful in determining
whether products or product types have been mixed (e.g., product
homogeneity). Regarding planogram compliance, detection of
different products and their relative locations on a shelf may aid
in determining whether a product homogeneity value, ratio, etc. has
been achieved. For example, the at least one processor may count
occurrences where a product of a second type is placed on an area
of the store shelf associated with a product of a first type.
[0214] Additionally or alternatively, the at least one aspect of
planogram compliance may include a restocking rate, and step 1025
may further include determining the restocking rate based on a
sensed rate at which products are added to the at least one area of
the store shelf associated with the second subset of detection
elements. Restocking rate may be determined, for example, by
monitoring a rate at which detection element signals change as
products are added to a shelf (e.g., when areas of a pressure
sensitive pad change from a default value to a product-present
value).
[0215] Additionally or alternatively, the at least one aspect of
planogram compliance may include product facing, and step 1025 may
further include determining the product facing based on a number of
products determined to be placed on a selected area of the store
shelf at a front of the store shelf. Such product facing may be
determined by determining a number of products along a certain
length of a front edge of a store shelf and determining whether the
number of products complies with, for example, a specified density
of products, a specified number of products, and so forth.
[0216] Step 1025 may further include transmitting an indicator of
the at least one aspect of planogram compliance to a remote server.
For example, as explained above with respect to FIGS. 8A and 8B,
the indicator may comprise a data packet, a data file, or any other
data structure indicating any variations from a planogram, e.g.,
with respect to product (or brand) placement, product facing
direction, or the like. The remote server may include one or more
computers associated with a retail store (e.g., so planogram
compliance may be determined on a local basis within a particular
store), one or more computers associated with a retail store
evaluation body (e.g., so planogram compliance may be determined
across a plurality of retail stores), one or more computers
associated with a product manufacturer, one or more computers
associated with a supplier (such as supplier 115), one or more
computers associated with a market research entity (such as market
research entity 110), etc.
[0217] Method 1000 may further include additional steps. For
example, method 1000 may include identifying a change in at least
one characteristic associated with one or more of the first signals
(e.g., signals from a first group or type of detection elements),
and in response to the identified change, triggering an acquisition
of at least one image of the store shelf. The acquisition may be
implemented by activating one or more of capturing devices 125 of
FIGS. 4A-4C, as explained above. For example, the change in at
least one characteristic associated with one or more of the first
signals may be indicative of removal of at least one product from a
location associated with the at least one area of the store shelf
associated with the first subset of detection elements.
Accordingly, method 1000 may include triggering the acquisition to
determine whether restocking, reorganizing, or other intervention
is required, e.g., to improve planogram compliance. Thus, method
1000 may include identifying a change in at least one
characteristic associated with one or more of the first signals;
and in response to the identified change, trigger a product-related
task for an employee of the retail store.
[0218] Additionally or alternatively, method 1000 may be combined
with method 1050 of FIG. 10B, described below, such that step 1055
is performed any time after step 1005.
[0219] FIG. 10B is a flow chart, illustrating an exemplary method
1050 for triggering image capture of a store shelf, in accordance
with the presently disclosed subject matter. It is contemplated
that method 1050 may be used in conjunction with any of the
detection element arrays discussed above with reference to, for
example, FIGS. 8A, 8B and 9. The order and arrangement of steps in
method 1050 is provided for purposes of illustration. As will be
appreciated from this disclosure, modifications may be made to
process 1050, for example, adding, combining, removing, and/or
rearranging one or more steps of process 1050.
[0220] Method 1050 may include a step 1055 of determining a change
in at least one characteristic associated with one or more first
signals. For example, the first signals may have been captured as
part of method 1000 of FIG. 10A, described above. For example, the
first signals may include pressure readings when the plurality of
detection elements includes pressure sensors, contact information
when the plurality of detection elements includes contact sensors,
light readings when the plurality of detection elements includes
light detectors (for example, from light detectors configured to be
placed adjacent to (or located on) a surface of a store shelf
configured to hold products, as described above), and so forth.
[0221] Method 1050 may include step 1060 of using the first signals
to identify at least one pattern associated with a product type of
the plurality of products. For example, any of the pattern matching
techniques described above with respect to FIGS. 8A, 8B, and step
1010 may be used for identification.
[0222] Method 1050 may include step 1065 of determining a type of
event associated with the change. For example, a type of event may
include a product removal, a product placement, movement of a
product, or the like.
[0223] Method 1050 may include step 1070 of triggering an
acquisition of at least one image of the store shelf when the
change is associated with a first event type. For example, a first
event type may include removal of a product moving of a product, or
the like, such that the first event type may trigger a
product-related task for an employee of the retail store depending
on analysis of the at least one image. The acquisition may be
implemented by activating one or more of capturing devices 125 of
FIGS. 4A-4C, as explained above. In some examples, the triggered
acquisition may include an activation of at least one projector
(such as projector 632). In some examples, the triggered
acquisition may include acquisition of color images, depth images,
stereo images, active stereo images, time of flight images, LIDAR
images, RADAR images, and so forth.
[0224] Method 1050 may include a step (not shown) of forgoing the
acquisition of at least one image of the store shelf when the
change is associated with a second event type. For example, a
second event type may include replacement of a removed product by a
customer, stocking of a shelf by an employee, or the like. As
another example, a second event type may include removal,
placement, or movement of a product that is detected within a
margin of error of the detection elements and/or detected within a
threshold (e.g., removal of only one or two products; movement of a
product by less than 5 cm, 20 cm, or the like; moving of a facing
direction by less than 10 degrees; or the like), such that no image
acquisition is required.
[0225] FIGS. 11A-11E illustrate example outputs based on data
automatically derived from machine processing and analysis of
images captured in retail store 105 according to disclosed
embodiments. FIG. 11A illustrates an optional output for market
research entity 110. FIG. 11B illustrates an optional output for
supplier 115. FIGS. 11C and 11D illustrate optional outputs for
employees of retail store 105. And FIG. 11E illustrates optional
outputs for user 120.
[0226] FIG. 11A illustrates an example graphical user interface
(GUI) 500 for output device 145A, representative of a GUI that may
be used by market research entity 110. Consistent with the present
disclosure, market research entity 110 may assist supplier 115 and
other stakeholders in identifying emerging trends, launching new
products, and/or developing merchandising and distribution plans
across a large number of retail stores 105. By doing so, market
research entity 110 may assist supplier 115 in growing product
presence and maximizing or increasing new product sales. As
mentioned above, market research entity 110 may be separated from
or part of supplier 115. To successfully launch a new product,
supplier 115 may use information about what really happens in
retail store 105. For example, supplier 115 may want to monitor how
marketing plans are being executed and to learn what other
competitors are doing relative to certain products or product
types. Embodiments of the present disclosure may allow market
research entity 110 and suppliers 115 to continuously monitor
product-related activities at retail stores 105 (e.g., using system
100 to generate various metrics or information based on automated
analysis of actual, timely images acquired from the retail stores).
For example, in some embodiments, market research entity 110 may
track how quickly or at what rate new products are introduced to
retail store shelves, identify new products introduced by various
entities, assess a supplier's brand presence across different
retail stores 105, among many other potential metrics.
[0227] In some embodiments, server 135 may provide market research
entity 110 with information including shelf organization, analysis
of skew productivity trends, and various reports aggregating
information on products appearing across large numbers of retail
stores 105. For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, GUI 1100 may include
a first display area 1102 for showing a percentage of promotion
campaign compliance in different retail stores 105. GUI 1100 may
also include a second display area 1104 showing a graph
illustrating sales of a certain product relative to the percentage
of out of shelf. GUI 1100 may also include a third display area
1106 showing actual measurements of different factors relative to
target goals (e.g., planogram compliance, restocking rate, price
compliance, and other metrics). The provided information may enable
market research entity 110 to give supplier 115 informed shelving
recommendations and fine-tune promotional strategies according to
in-store marketing trends, to provide store managers with a
comparison of store performances in comparison to a group of retail
stores 105 or industry wide performances, and so forth.
[0228] FIG. 11B illustrates an example GUI 1110 for output device
145B used by supplier 115. Consistent with the present disclosure,
server 135 may use data derived from images captured in a plurality
of retail stores 105 to recommend a planogram, which often
determines sales success of different products. Using various
analytics and planogram productivity measures, server 135 may help
supplier 115 to determine an effective planogram with assurances
that most if not all retail stores 105 can execute the plan. For
example, the determined planogram may increase the probability that
inventory is available for each retail store 105 and may be
designed to decrease costs or to keep costs within a budget (such
as inventory costs, restocking costs, shelf space costs, etc.).
Server 135 may also provide pricing recommendations based on the
goals of supplier 115 and other factors. In other words, server 135
may help supplier 115 understand how much room to reserve for
different products and how to make them available for favorable
sales and profit impact (for example, by choosing the size of the
shelf dedicated to a selected product, the location of the shelf,
the height of the shelf, the neighboring products, and so forth).
In addition, server 135 may monitor near real-time data from retail
stores 105 to determine or confirm that retail stores 105 are
compliant with the determined planogram of supplier 115. As used
herein, the term "near real-time data," in the context of this
disclosure, refers to data acquired or generated, etc., based on
sensor readings and other inputs (such as data from image sensors,
audio sensors, pressure sensors, checkout stations, etc.) from
retail store 105 received by system 100 within a predefined period
of time (such as time periods having durations of less than a
second, less than a minute, less than an hour, less than a day,
less than a week, etc.).
[0229] In some embodiments, server 135 may generate reports that
summarize performance of the current assortment and the planogram
compliance. These reports may advise supplier 115 of the category
and the item performance based on individual SKU, sub segments of
the category, vendor, and region. In addition, server 135 may
provide suggestions or information upon which decisions may be made
regarding how or when to remove markdowns and when to replace
underperforming products. For example, as shown in FIG. 11B, GUI
1110 may include a first display area 1112 for showing different
scores of supplier 115 relative to scores associated with its
competitors. GUI 1110 may also include a second display area 1114
showing the market share of each competitor. GUI 1110 may also
include a third display area 1116 showing retail measurements and
distribution of brands. GUI 1110 may also include a fourth display
area 1118 showing a suggested planogram. The provided information
may help supplier 115 to select preferred planograms based on
projected or observed profitability, etc., and to ensure that
retail stores 105 are following the determined planogram.
[0230] FIGS. 11C and 11D illustrate example GUIs for output devices
145C, which may be used by employees of retail store 105. FIG. 11C
depicts a GUI 1120 for a manager of retail store 105 designed for a
desktop computer, and FIG. 11D depicts GUI 1130 and 1140 for store
staff designed for a handheld device. In-store execution is one of
the challenges retail stores 105 have in creating a positive
customer experience. Typical in-store execution may involve dealing
with ongoing service events, such as a cleaning event, a restocking
event, a rearrangement event, and more. In some embodiments, system
100 may improve in-store execution by providing adequate visibility
to ensure that the right products are located at preferred
locations on the shelf. For example, using near real-time data
(e.g., captured images of store shelves) server 135 may generate
customized online reports. Store managers and regional managers, as
well as other stakeholders, may access custom dashboards and online
reports to see how in-store conditions (such as, planogram
compliance, promotion compliance, price compliance, etc.) are
affecting sales. This way, system 100 may enable managers of retail
stores 105 to stay on top of burning issues across the floor and
assign employees to address issues that may negatively impact the
customer experience.
[0231] In some embodiments, server 135 may cause real-time
automated alerts when products are out of shelf (or near out of
shelf), when pricing is inaccurate, when intended promotions are
absent, and/or when there are issues with planogram compliance,
among others. In the example shown in FIG. 11C, GUI 1120 may
include a first display area 1122 for showing the average scores
(for certain metrics) of a specific retail store 105 over a
selected period of time. GUI 1120 may also include a second display
area 1124 for showing a map of the specific retail store 105 with
real-time indications of selected in-store execution events that
require attention, and a third display area 1126 for showing a list
of the selected in-store execution events that require attention.
In another example, shown in FIG. 11D, GUI 1130 may include a first
display area 1132 for showing a list of notifications or text
messages indicating selected in-store execution events that require
attention. The notifications or text messages may include a link to
an image (or the image itself) of the specific aisle with the
in-store execution event. In another example, shown in FIG. 11D,
GUI 1140 may include a first display area 1142 for showing a
display of a video stream captured by output device 145C (e.g., a
real-time display or a near real-time display) with augmented
markings indicting a status of planogram compliance for each
product (e.g., correct place, misplaced, not in planogram, empty,
and so forth). GUI 1140 may also include a second display area 1144
for showing a summary of the planogram compliance for all the
products identified in the video stream captured by output device
145C. Consistent with the present disclosure, server 135 may
generate within minutes actionable tasks to improve store
execution. These tasks may help employees of retail store 105 to
quickly address situations that can negatively impact revenue and
customer experience in the retail store 105.
[0232] FIG. 11E illustrates an example GUI 1150 for output device
145D used by an online customer of retail store 105. Traditional
online shopping systems present online customers with a list of
products. Products selected for purchase may be placed into a
virtual shopping cart until the customers complete their virtual
shopping trip. Virtual shopping carts may be examined at any time,
and their contents can be edited or deleted. However, common
problems of traditional online shopping systems arise when the list
of products on the website does not correspond with the actual
products on the shelf. For example, an online customer may order a
favorite cookie brand without knowing that the cookie brand is
out-of-stock. Consistent with some embodiments, system 100 may use
image data acquired by capturing devices 125 to provide the online
customer with a near real-time display of the retail store and a
list of the actual products on the shelf based on near real-time
data. In one embodiment, server 135 may select images without
occlusions in the field of view (e.g., without other customers,
carts, etc.) for the near real-time display. In one embodiment,
server 135 may blur or erase depictions of customers and other
people from the near real-time display. As used herein, the term
"near real-time display," in the context of this disclosure, refers
to image data captured in retail store 105 that was obtained by
system 100 within a predefined period of time (such as less than a
second, less than a minute, less than about 30 minutes, less than
an hour, less than 3 hours, or less than 12 hours) from the time
the image data was captured.
[0233] Consistent with the present disclosure, the near real-time
display of retail store 105 may be presented to the online customer
in a manner enabling easy virtual navigation in retail store 105.
For example, as shown in FIG. 11E, GUI 1150 may include a first
display area 1152 for showing the near real-time display and a
second display area 1154 for showing a product list including
products identified in the near real-time display. In some
embodiments, first display area 1152 may include different GUI
features (e.g., tabs 1156) associated with different locations or
departments of retail store 105. By selecting each of the GUI
features, the online customer can virtually jump to different
locations or departments in retail store 105. For example, upon
selecting the "bakery" tab, GUI 1150 may present a near real-time
display of the bakery of retail store 105. In addition, first
display area 1152 may include one or more navigational features
(e.g., arrows 1158A and 1158B) for enabling the online customer to
virtually move within a selected department and/or virtually walk
through retail store 105. Server 135 may be configured to update
the near real-time display and the product list upon determining
that the online customer wants to virtually move within retail
store 105. For example, after identifying a selection of arrow
1158B, server 135 may present a different section of the dairy
department and may update the product list accordingly. In another
example, server 135 may update the near-real time display and the
product list in response to new captured images and new information
received from retail store 105. Using GUI 1150, the online customer
may have the closest shopping experience without actually being in
retail store 105. For example, an online customer can visit the
vegetable department and decide not to buy tomatoes after seeing
that they are not ripe enough.
[0234] The present disclosure relates to a system for processing
images captured in a retail store. According to the present
disclosure, the system may include at least one processor. While
the present disclosure provides examples of the system, it should
be noted that aspects of the disclosure in their broadest sense,
are not limited to a system for processing images. Rather, the
system may be configured to process information collected from a
retail store. System 1200, illustrated in FIG. 12, is one example
of a system for processing images captured in a retail store, in
accordance with the present disclosure.
[0235] System 1200 may include an image processing unit 130. Image
processing unit 130 may include server 135 operatively connected to
database 140. Image processing unit 130 may include one or more
servers connected by network 150. The one or more servers 135 may
include processing device 202, which may include one or more
processors as discussed above. While the present disclosure
provides examples of processors, it should be noted that aspects of
the disclosure in their broadest sense, are not limited to the
disclosed processors.
[0236] System 1200 may include or be connected to network 150.
Network 150 may facilitate communications and data exchange between
different system components, such as, server 135, when these
components are coupled to network 150 to enable output of data
derived from the images captured by the one or more capturing
devices 125. Other devices may also be coupled to network 150.
[0237] Server 135 may include a bus (or any other communication
mechanism) that interconnects subsystems and components for
transferring information within server 135. For example, as shown
in FIG. 12, server 135 may include bus 200. Bus 200 may
interconnect processing device 202, memory interface 204, network
interface 206, and peripherals interface 208 connected to I/O
system 210. Processing device 202 may include at least one
processor configured to execute computer programs, applications,
methods, processes, or other software to execute particular
instructions associated with embodiments described in the present
disclosure.
[0238] Consistent with the present disclosure, the methods and
processes disclosed herein may be performed by server 135 as a
result of processing device 202 executing one or more sequences of
one or more instructions contained in a non-transitory
computer-readable storage medium. As used herein, a non-transitory
computer-readable storage medium refers to any type of physical
memory on which information or data readable by at least one
processor can be stored.
[0239] Server 135 may also include peripherals interface 208
coupled to bus 200. Peripherals interface 208 may be connected to
sensors, devices, and subsystems to facilitate multiple
functionalities. In one embodiment, peripherals interface 208 may
be connected to I/O system 210 configured to receive signals or
input from devices and provide signals or output to one or more
devices that allow data to be received and/or transmitted by server
135. In one embodiment I/O system 210 may include or be associated
with output device 145. For example, I/O system 210 may include a
touch screen controller 212, an audio controller 214, and/or other
input controller(s) 216. Touch screen controller 212 may be coupled
to a touch screen 218. Touch screen 218 and touch screen controller
212 can, for example, detect contact, movement, or break thereof
using any of a plurality of touch sensitivity technologies,
including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, and
surface acoustic wave technologies as well as other proximity
sensor arrays or other elements for determining one or more points
of contact with touch screen 218. Touch screen 218 can also, for
example, be used to implement virtual or soft buttons and/or a
keyboard. While touch screen 218 is shown in FIG. 12, I/O system
210 may include a display screen (e.g., CRT or LCD) in place of
touch screen 218. Audio controller 214 may be coupled to a
microphone 220 and a speaker 222 to facilitate voice-enabled
functions, such as voice recognition, voice replication, digital
recording, and telephony functions. The other input controller(s)
216 may be coupled to other input/control devices 224, such as one
or more buttons, rocker switches, thumb-wheel, infrared port, USB
port, and/or a pointer device such as a stylus. While the present
disclosure provides examples of peripherals, it should be noted
that aspects of the disclosure in their broadest sense, are not
limited to the disclosed peripherals.
[0240] In some embodiments, server 135 may be configured to display
an image to a user using I/O system 210 (e.g., a display screen).
Processing device 202 may be configured to send the image data to
I/O system 210 using bus 200 and peripherals interface 208.
[0241] In some embodiments, server 135 may be configured to
interact with one or more users using I/O interface system 210,
touch screen 218, microphone 220, speaker 222 and/or other
input/control devices 224. From the interaction with the users,
server 135 may be configured to receive input from the users. For
example, a user may enter inputs by clicking on touch screen 218,
by typing on a keyboard, by speaking to microphone 220, and/or
inserting USB driver to a USB port. In some embodiments, the inputs
may include an indication of a type of products, such as,
"Coca-Cola Zero," "Head & Shoulders Shampoo," or the like. In
some embodiments, the inputs may include an image that depicts
products of different type displaying on one or more shelves, as
illustrated in FIG. 13A; and/or an image that depicts a type of
product displayed on a shelf or a part of a shelf, as described in
FIG. 13B.
[0242] In one embodiment, memory device 226 may store data in
database 140. Database 140 may include one or more memory devices
that store data and instructions used to perform one or more
features of the disclosed embodiments. In some embodiments,
database 140) may be configured to store product models. The data
for each product model may be stored as rows in tables or in other
ways. In some embodiments, database 140 may be configured to update
at least one product model. Updating a group of product models may
comprise deleting or deactivating some data in the models. For
example, image processing unit 130 may delete some images in the
product models in database 140, and store other images for
replacement. While the present disclosure provides examples of
databases, it should be noted that aspects of the disclosure in
their broadest sense, are not limited to the disclosed
databases.
[0243] Database 140 may include product models 1201, confidence
thresholds 1203, and some other data. Product models 1201 may
include product type model data 240 (e.g., an image representation,
a list of features, and more) that may be used to identify products
in received images. In some embodiments, product models 1201 may
include visual characteristics associated with a type of product
(e.g., size, shape, logo, text, color, etc.). Consistent with the
present disclosure, database 140 may be configured to store
confidence threshold 1203, which may denote a reference value, a
level, a point, or a range of values. In some embodiments, database
140 may store contextual information associated with a type of
product. In other embodiments of the disclosure, database 140 may
store additional types of data or fewer types of data. Furthermore,
various types of data may be stored in one or more memory devices
other than memory device 226. While the present disclosure provides
examples of product models, it should be noted that aspects of the
disclosure in their broadest sense, are not limited to the
disclosed product models.
[0244] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to access a database storing a group of
product models, each product model may relate to at least one
product in the retail store. The group of product models may
correspond to a plurality of product types in the retail store. For
example, server 135 may be configured to access database 140
directly or via network 150. In some embodiments, sever 135 may be
configured to store/retrieve data stored in database 140. For
example, server 135 may be configured to store/retrieve a group of
product models. Consistent with the present embodiment, "product
model" refers to any type of algorithm or stored product data that
a processor can access or execute to enable the identification of a
particular product associated with the product model. For example,
the product model may include a description of visual and
contextual properties of the particular product (e.g., the shape,
the size, the colors, the texture, the brand name, the price, the
logo, text appearing on the particular product, the shelf
associated with the particular product, adjacent products in a
planogram, the location within the retail store, etc.). In another
example, the product model may include exemplary images of the
product or products. In yet another example, the product model may
include parameters of an artificial neural network configured to
identify particular products. In another example, the product model
may include parameters of an image convolution function. In yet
another example, the product model may include support vectors that
may be used by a Support Vector Machine to identify products. In
another example, the product models may include parameters of a
machine learning model trained by a machine learning algorithm
using training examples to identify products. In some embodiments,
a single product model may be used by server 135 to identify more
than one product. In some embodiments, two or more product models
may be used in combination to enable identification of a product.
For example, a first product model may be used by server 135 to
identify a product type or category (e.g., shampoo, soft drinks,
etc.) (such models may apply to multiple products), while one or
more other product models may enable identification of a particular
product (e.g., 6-pack of 16 oz Coca-Cola Zero). In some cases, such
product models may be applied together (e.g., in series, in
parallel, as a cascade of classifiers, as a tree of classifiers,
and/or as an ensemble of classifiers, etc.) to enable product
identification.
[0245] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to receive at least one image depicting
at least part of at least one store shelf having a plurality of
products of a same type displayed thereon. For example, image
processing unit 130 may receive raw or processed data from
capturing device 125 via respective communication links, and
provide information to different system components using a network
150. In some embodiments, image processing unit 130 may receive
data from an input device, such as, hard disks or CD ROM, or other
forms of RAM or ROM, USB media, DVD, Blu-ray, or other optical
drive media, or the like. For example, the data may include an
image file (e.g., JPG, JPEG, JFIF, TIFF, PNG, BAT, BMG, or the
like).
[0246] FIG. 13A is an exemplary image 1300 received by the system,
consistent with the present disclosure. Image 1300 illustrates
multiple shelves 1306 with many different types of product
displayed thereon. A type of product may refer to identical product
items, such as, "Coca-Cola Zero 330 ml," "Pepsi 2 L," "pretzels
family size packet," or the like. In some aspects, a type of
product may be a product category, such as, snacks, soft drinks,
personal care products, foods, fruits, or the like. In some
aspects, a type of product may include a product brand, such as,
"Coca-Cola," "Pepsi," and the like. In some aspects, a type of
product may include products having similar visual characteristics,
such as, "can," "packet," "bottle." For example, a "can" type of
product may include "can of Coca-Cola Zero," "can of Sprite," "can
of Pepsi," and the like. A "packet" type of product may include
"packet of pretzels," "packet of chips," "packet of crackers", and
the like. Further, a "bottle" type of products may include "bottle
of water," "bottle of soda," "bottle of Sprite," etc. In some
aspects, a type of product may include products having the same
content but not the same size. For example, a "Coca-Cola Zero" type
of product may include "Coca-Cola Zero 330 ml," "Coca-Cola Zero 2
L," "can of Coca-Cola Zero," or the like. For example, in FIG. 13A,
image 1300 illustrates three shelves 1306 with eight different
types of products 1302, 1304, etc. displayed on shelves 1306. After
receiving the image, server 135 may be configured to distinguish
the different types of products and determine that eight different
types of products are included in the image. Based on image
analysis described above, server 135 may divide image 1300 into
eight segmentations, each including a type of products. Based on
image analysis and the group of product models, server 135 may
recognize the eight types of products, such as, "Soda 330 ml,"
"Soda 2 L" "Cola 330 ml," "POP 2 L," "POP 330 ml," "pretzels,"
"Cheesy Crackers," and "BBQ chips." In some aspects, based on image
analysis, server 135 may divide image 1300 into three
segmentations, each including a type of product, such as for
example, "packages of snacks," "cans of soft drinks," and "bottles
of soft drinks."
[0247] FIG. 13B illustrates another exemplary image 1310 received
by the system, consistent with the present disclosure. Image 1310
may illustrate a portion of multiple shelves 1306 with one type of
product displayed thereon. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 13B,
an image 1310 may depict a product of a same type displayed on a
shelf 1306 or on a part of shelf 1306. After receiving the image,
server 135 may identify only one type of product displayed on this
portion of shelves 1306. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 13B,
based on image analysis and the group of product models, sever 135
may recognize the type of product as "Cola 330 ml."
[0248] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to analyze the received at least one
image and determine a first candidate type of the plurality of
products based on the group of product models and the image
analysis. For example, image processing unit 130 may analyze an
image to identify the product(s) in the image. Image processing
unit 130 may use any suitable image analysis technique including,
for example, object recognition, image segmentation, feature
extraction, optical character recognition (OCR), object-based image
analysis, shape region techniques, edge detection techniques,
pixel-based detection, etc. In addition, image processing unit 130
may use classification algorithms to distinguish between the
different products in the retail store. In some embodiments, image
processing unit 130 may utilize suitably trained machine learning
algorithms and models to perform the product identification. The
algorithms may include linear regression, logistic regression,
linear discriminant analysis, classification and regression trees,
naive Bayes, k-nearest neighbors, learning vector quantization,
support vector machines, bagging and random forest, boosting and
adaboost, artificial neural networks, convolutional neural
networks, and/or deep learning algorithms, or the like. In some
embodiments, image processing unit 130 may identify the product in
the image based at least on visual characteristics of the product
(e.g., size, shape, logo, text, color, etc.).
[0249] In some embodiments, image processing unit 130 may include a
machine learning module that may be trained using supervised
models. Supervised models are a type of machine learning that
provides a machine learning module with training data, which pairs
input data with desired output data. The training data may provide
a knowledge basis for future judgment. The machine learning module
may be configured to receive sets of training data, which comprises
data with a "product name" tag and optionally data without a
"product name" tag. For example, the training data may include
Coca-Cola Zero images with "Coca-Cola Zero" tags and other images
without a tag. The machine learning module may learn to identify
"Coca-Cola Zero" by applying a learning algorithm to the set of
training data. The machine learning module may be configured to
receive sets of test data, which may be different from the training
data and may have no tag or tags that may be used for measuring the
accuracy of the algorithm. The machine learning module may identify
the test data that contains the type of product. For example,
receiving sets of test images, the machine learning module may
identify the images with Coca-Cola Zero in them, and tag them as
"Coca-Cola Zero." This may allow the machine learning developers to
better understand the performance of the training, and thus make
some adjustments accordingly.
[0250] In additional or alternative embodiments, the machine
learning module may be trained using unsupervised models.
Unsupervised models are a type of machine learning using untampered
data which are not labeled or selected. Applying algorithms, the
machine learning module identifies commonalities in the data. Based
on the presence and the absence of the commonalities, the machine
learning module may categorize future received data. The machine
learning module may employ product models in identifying visual
characteristics associated with a type of product, such as those
discussed above. For example, the machine learning module may
identify commonalities from the product models of a specific type
of product. When a future received image has the commonalities,
then the machine learning module may determine that the image
contains the specific type of product. For example, the machine
learning module may learn that images containing "Coca-Cola Zero"
have some commonalities. When such commonalities are identified in
a future received image, the machine learning module may determine
that the future received image contains "Coca-Cola Zero." Further,
the machine learning module may be configured to store these
commonalities in database 140. While the present disclosure
provides examples of image processing algorithms, it should be
noted that aspects of the disclosure in their broadest sense, are
not limited to the disclosed algorithms.
[0251] Consistent with the present disclosure, image processing
unit 130 may determine a candidate type of product, based on the
product models and the image analysis. A candidate type of product
may include a type of product that image processing unit 130
suspects the image to be or contains. For example, when image
processing unit 130 determined that an image has some visual
characteristics of "Head & Shoulders Shampoo," such as,
"signature curve bottle", "Head & Shoulders logo", "white
container", "blue cap," etc., then image processing unit 130 may
determine "Head & Shoulders Shampoo" to be a candidate type of
product.
[0252] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine a first confidence level
associated with the first candidate type of the plurality of
products. The term "confidence level" refers to any indication,
numeric or otherwise, of a level (e.g., within a predetermined
range) indicative of an amount of confidence the system has that
the determined type of the product is the actual type of the
product. For example, the confidence level may have a value between
1 to 10. A confidence level may indicate how likely the product in
the image is the determined candidate type. In some embodiments,
image processing unit 130 may store the determined confidence level
in database 140. A confidence level may be used, for example, to
determine whether the image processing unit 130 needs more
information to ascertain the determination of the type of product.
In some embodiments, image processing unit 130 may utilize suitably
trained machine learning algorithms and models to perform the
product identification, as described above, and the machine
learning algorithms and models may output a confidence level
together with the suggested product identity. In some embodiments,
image processing unit 130 may utilize suitably algorithms and
models to perform the product identification, as described above,
and the result may include a plurality of suggested alternative
product identities, where in some cases each suggested identity may
be accompanied with a confidence level (for example, accompanied
with a probability, and the probabilities of all the suggested
alternative product identities may sum to 1). In some embodiments,
image processing unit 130 may comprise an algorithm to determine a
confidence level, based on the identified visual characteristics.
For example, an image of the products is identified as having
"white container," image processing unit 130 may assign 5 points to
the confidence level for "Head & Shoulders Shampoo" being the
candidate type of the products. An image of the products is
identified as having "white container," and "signature curve
bottle," image processing unit 130 can assign 15 points to the
confidence level for "Head & Shoulders Shampoo" being the
candidate type of the products, that is, 5 points for having "white
container," and 10 points for having "signature curve bottle." That
said, different characteristics may be assigned different point
values. For example, "signature curve bottle" may have greater
point value than "white container."
[0253] In some embodiments, image processing unit 130 may comprise
an algorithm to determine a confidence level, based on a location
of a product or a shelf in the retail store. For example, the shelf
may be a part of (or the product may be located in) an aisle or a
part of the retail store dedicated to a first category of products,
and the confidence level may be determined based, at least in part,
on the compatibility of the suggested product identity to the first
category. For example, the first category may be "Fresh Products",
and as a result a "Tomato" suggested product identity may be
assigned a high confidence level or a high number of points may be
added to the confidence level based on the compatibility to the
first category, while a "Cleaning Product" suggested product
identity may be assigned a low confidence level or a low (or
negative) number of points may be added to the confidence level
based on the incompatibility to the first category. In some
embodiments, image processing unit 130 may comprise an algorithm to
determine a confidence level based, at least in part, on
neighboring products. For example, the product may be located on a
shelf between neighboring products that are assigned the same first
suggested product identity, and when the product is assigned with a
second suggested identity, the confidence of the assignment of the
second suggested identity may be based, at least in part, on the
compatibility of the second suggested identity to the first
suggested identity, for example assigning high confidence level or
adding a high number of points to the confidence level in cases
where the first suggested identity and the second suggested
identity are identical, assigning a medium confidence level or
adding a medium number of points to the confidence level in cases
where the first suggested identity and the second suggested
identity are of a same category or of the same brand, and assigning
a low confidence level or adding a low (or negative) number of
points to the confidence level in cases where the first suggested
identity and the second suggested identity are incompatible.
[0254] The following exemplary algorithm illustrates how the
characteristics can be used to determine a confidence level for
"Head & Shoulders Shampoo" being the candidate type of the
products:
[0255] 1. If "white container" AND "blue cap" AND "Head &
Shoulders logo" THEN confidence level=HIGH
[0256] 2. If"word shampoo on the label" AND "white container" THEN
confidence level=MEDIUM
[0257] 3. If "white container" THEN confidence level=LOW
[0258] While the present disclosure provides examples of techniques
and algorithms for determining a confidence level, it should be
noted that aspects of the disclosure in their broadest sense, are
not limited to the disclosed techniques and algorithms.
[0259] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine the first confidence level
associated with the first candidate type is above or below a
confidence threshold. For example, image processing unit 130 may
compare the first confidence level to a confidence threshold. The
term "confidence threshold" as used herein denotes a reference
value, a level, a point, or a range of values, for which, when the
confidence level is above it (or below it depending on a particular
use case), the system may follow a first course of action and, when
the confidence level is under it (or above it depending on a
particular use case), the system may follow a second course of
action. The value of the threshold may be predetermined for each
type of product or may be dynamically selected based on different
considerations. In some implementations, the confidence threshold
may be selected based on parameters such as a location in the
retail store, a location of the retail store, the product type, the
product category, time (such as time in day, day in year, etc.),
capturing parameters (such as type of camera, illumination
conditions, etc.), and so forth. For example, a higher confidence
threshold may be selected during stocktaking periods. In another
example, a higher confidence threshold may be selected for more
profitable retail stores or more profitable portions of the retail
store. In some examples, a combination of factors may be taken into
account when selecting the confidence threshold. For example,
assume the confidence threshold is x according to location and y
according to time, some examples of the selected confidence level
may include average of x and y, the n-th root of the sum of the
n-th power of x and the n-th power of y, a sum or a multiplication
of functions of x and y, and so forth. When the confidence level
associated with the first candidate type is below a confidence
threshold, the at least one processor may be configured to
determine a second candidate type of the plurality products using
contextual information. In some aspects, image processing unit 130
may obtain contextual information to increase the confidence level.
For example, when the confidence level for "Head & Shoulders
Shampoo" being the candidate type of the products is 15 and a
confidence threshold, 10, then image processing unit 130 may obtain
contextual information. For example, when the confidence level for
"Head & Shoulders Shampoo" being the candidate type of the
products is LOW and a confidence threshold, MEDIUM, then image
processing unit 130 may also obtain contextual information. When
the confidence level associated with the first candidate type of
product is above a confidence threshold, the at least one processor
may store the images in the database 140. The images may be stored
in the group of product models that are associated with the certain
type of product. For example, when the products in the images are
determined to be "Coca-Cola Zero," and the confidence level is
above the threshold, then image processing unit 130 may store the
images in the product models associated with "Coca-Cola Zero." In
some embodiments, image processing unit 130 may update the group of
product models. Updating the group of product models may comprise
deleting or deactivating some data in one or more models of the
group of product models. For example, image processing unit 130 may
delete some images in the product models, and/or store other
replacement images. Updating the group of product models may
comprise deleting or deactivating a product model from the group of
product models, for example by removing the product model from the
group, by marking the product model as deactivated, by moving the
product model from the group of product models to a repository of
deactivated product models, and so forth.
[0260] The term "contextual information" refers to any information
having a direct or indirect relationship with a product displayed
on a store shelf. In one embodiment, image processing unit 130 may
receive contextual information from capturing device 125 and/or a
user device (e.g., a computing device, a laptop, a smartphone, a
camera, a monitor, or the like). In some embodiments, image
processing unit 130 may retrieve different types of contextual
information from captured image data and/or from other data
sources. In some cases, contextual information may include
recognized types of products adjacent to the product under
examination. In other cases, contextual information may include
text appearing on the product, especially where that text may be
recognized (e.g., via OCR) and associated with a particular
meaning. Other examples of types of contextual information may
include logos appearing on the product, a location of the product
in the retail store, a brand name of the product, a price of the
product, product information collected from multiple retail stores,
product information retrieved from a catalog associated with a
retail store, etc. While the present disclosure provides examples
of contextual information, it should be noted that aspects of the
disclosure in their broadest sense, are not limited to the
disclosed examples.
[0261] Consistent with the present disclosure, when the first
confidence level of the first candidate type is below the
confidence threshold, the at least one processor may be configured
to provide a visual representation of the plurality of products to
a user. The at least one processor may also be configured to
receive input from the user indicating a type of the plurality of
products. The at least one processor may also be configured to
determine a second candidate type of the plurality of products
using the received input. This may increase the efficiency of
recognizing new product or new package. This may also lower the
inaccuracy while recognizing products in the images. For example,
image processing unit 130 may determine "Biore facial cleansing" to
be the second candidate type of product, based on the
identification from a user, after showing the image to the user.
Server 135 may provide a visual representation on an output device,
using I/O system 210 and peripherals interface 208. For example,
server 135 may be configured to display the image to a user using
I/O system 210. As described above, processing device 202 may be
configured to send the image data to I/O system 210 using bus 200
and peripherals interface 208. And, output device (e.g., a display
screen) may receive the image data and display the image to a user.
In some cases, server 135 may further provide a list of multiple
alternative product types to select from. For example, in some
cases image processing unit 130 may utilize suitably algorithms and
models to perform the product identification and the result may
include a plurality of suggested alternative product identities,
where in some cases each suggested identity may be accompanied with
a corresponding confidence level, as described above. Server 135
may select the multiple alternative product types from the
suggested alternative product identities according to the
corresponding confidence levels, for example by selecting all
product identities that correspond to a confidence level greater
than a selected threshold, selecting the product identities that
correspond to the highest percentile or highest number of
confidence levels, and so forth.
[0262] Server 135 may receive input from a user using I/O interface
system 210 and peripherals interface 208. The user may send the
input to server 135 by interacting with input/output devices 224,
such as, a keyboard, and/or a mouse. The input may include an
indication of a type of product, and such indication may be in the
form of a selection of an option from multiple alternative product
types presented to the user, in text format, audio file, and/or
other representation. In some embodiments, to receive input from
users, server 135 may be configured to interact with users using
I/O interface system 210, touch screen 218, microphone 220, speaker
222 and/or other input/control devices 224.
[0263] Server 135 may recognize the indication of a type of product
received from a user, for example by recognizing the selection made
by the user from multiple alternative product types presented to
the user, by recognizing the text sent by the user, and/or by
recognizing the indication in the audio file. For example, server
135 may access a speech recognition module to convert the received
audio file to text format. Server 135 may also access a text
recognition module to recognize the indication of a type of
products in the text.
[0264] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine a second candidate type of
the plurality of products, using contextual information. In some
aspects, consistent with the present disclosure, the contextual
information used to determine the second candidate type may include
detected types of products adjacent the plurality of products. For
example, image processing unit 130 may determine the second
candidate type to be "Coca-Cola Zero," instead of "Head &
Shoulders Shampoo," at least because image processing unit 130
recognizes other soft drinks that are displayed on the same shelves
in the image. Consistent with the present disclosure, the
contextual information used to determine the second candidate type
may include text presented in proximity to the plurality of
products. By way of another example, image processing unit 130 may
determine the second candidate type to be "Coca-Cola Zero," at
least because the text "Cola" that appears in the image (e.g. 1300
or 1310) can be recognized using OCR. As another example, image
processing unit 130 may determine the second candidate type to be
"Coca-Cola Zero," at least because the text "Soda" in the image can
be recognized using OCR, at least because the letters "Z" and "o"
in the image can be recognized using OCR, and so forth. Consistent
with the present disclosure, the contextual information used to
determine the second candidate type may include at least one logo
appearing on the product. For example, image processing unit 130
may determine the second candidate type to be "Coca-Cola Zero,"
instead of "Head & Shoulders Shampoo," at least because the
signature "Coca-Cola" logo on the products may be recognized.
Consistent with the present disclosure, the contextual information
used to determine the second candidate type may include a brand
name of the plurality of products. For example, image processing
unit 130 may determine the second candidate type to be "Coca-Cola
Zero," instead of "Head & Shoulders Shampoo," at least because
brand name "Coca-Cola" in the image (e.g. 1300) is recognized,
because the shelf or the aisle is dedicated to "Coca-Cola"
according to a store map, and so forth.
[0265] Consistent with the present disclosure, the contextual
information used to determine the second candidate type may include
a location of the plurality of products in the store. For example,
the location information may include an indication of an area in a
retail store (e.g., cleaning section, soft drink section, dairy
product shelves, apparel section, etc.), an indication of the floor
(e.g., 2nd floor), an address, a position coordinate, a coordinate
of latitude and longitude, and/or an area on map, etc. By way of
example, image processing unit 130 may determine the second
candidate type to be "Coca-Cola Zero," instead of "Head &
Shoulders Shampoo," at least because the indication of soft drink
section is detected in the received location information.
[0266] Consistent with the present disclosure, the contextual
information used to determine the second candidate type may include
a price associated with the plurality of products. In some
embodiments, image processing unit 130 may recognize the price tag
and/or barcode on the products in the image. Based on the price tag
and/or barcode, image processing unit 130 may determine the second
candidate type of product. For example, image processing unit 130
may recognize $8 on the price tag. Based on the price information
of "Coca-Cola Zero," which may be in the range of $6-10, image
processing unit 130 may determine the second candidate type to be
"Coca-Cola Zero," instead of "Head & Shoulders Shampoo," which
may have a price range of $20-25. The price information may be
entered by a user, collected from multiple retail stores, retrieved
from catalogs associated with a retail store, and/or retrieved from
online information using the internet.
[0267] Consistent with the present disclosure, the contextual
information used to determine the second candidate type may include
information from multiple stores. Such information may include
logos appearing on the product, a location of the product in the
retail store, a brand name of the product, a price of the product,
expiration time information, product nutrition information, and/or
discount information, etc. Further, such information may be derived
from products in more than one store. The more than one stores used
to derive the contextual information may be located in the same
geographical area (city, county, state, etc.) or in different
regions (different cities, counties, states, countries, etc.) For
example, analyzing image data from multiple stores, the system may
learn a high probability for a first product type and a second
product type to be placed in proximity to each other (for example,
on the same shelf, in the same aisle, etc.), and learn low
probability for the first product type and a third product type to
be in proximity to each other. Using this information learnt from
multiple retail stores, the system may identify a product as being
of the second product type rather than the third product type when
the item is in proximity to a product of the first product type. In
another example, analyzing images from multiple stores in the same
retail chain, the system may learn that a first product type in on
sale and is accompanied by a special promotion sign in the retail
chain, while a second product type is not on sale and is not
accompanied by such sign. Using this information learnt from other
retail stores in the retail chain, the system identify an item in a
retail store as being of the first product type rather than the
second product type when the item is in proximity to such special
promotion sign when the retail store is part of the retail chain,
while identifying the item as being of the second product type when
the retail store is not part of the retail chain. Consistent with
the present disclosure, the contextual information used to
determine the second candidate type may include information from a
catalog of the retail store. A catalog as used in this disclosure
may refer to a compilation of products and product information on
printed medial (e.g. booklet, pamphlet, magazine, newspaper), or a
similar compilation available electronically in the form of a text
file, video file, audio file, or any other type of digital file
that may be used to disseminate product information about the
retail store. As described above, such information may include
logos appearing on the product, a location of the product in the
retail store, a brand name of the product, a price of the product,
expiration time information, product nutrition information, and/or
discount information, etc.
[0268] Consistent with the present disclosure, when the second
candidate type of the plurality of products is determined, the at
least one processor may determine a second confidence level
associated with the determined second candidate type of plurality
of products. For example, when an image of the products is
identified as having "white container," "blue cap," "Biore logo,"
and "$50 on the price tag," then image processing unit 130 may use
the one or more algorithms described above, and assign 70 points to
the second confidence level for "Biore facial cleansing" being the
second candidate type of the products, that is, 5 points for "white
container," 5 points for "blue cap," 50 points for "Biore logo,"
and 10 points for "$50 on the price tag". Consistent with the
present disclosure, when the second confidence level associated
with the second candidate type is above the confidence threshold,
then the at least one processor may initiate an action to update
the group of product models stored in the database. For example,
when the confidence level associated with the second candidate type
of product may be determined to be above the threshold, then image
processing unit 130 may initiate an action to update the product
models in database 140. Consistent with the present disclosure, the
at least one processor may be configured to select the action to
initiate, from among a plurality of available actions, based on the
determined confidence level of the second candidate type. Such
actions may include providing notification to users, providing
image to the users, updating the group of product models, forgoing
another action, etc. For example, image processing unit 130 may
send notification to the users when the confidence level is
determined to be 3. For another example, image processing unit 130
may update the group of product models when the determined
confidence level is determined to be 10. Consistent with the
present disclosure, the action to update the group of product
models may include deactivating an existing product model from
group of product models, and a deactivation of the existing product
model may be based on a detected a change in an appearance
attribute of the plurality of products. For example, when a product
has a new appearance, such as, new package, new color, festival
special package, new texture, and/or new logo, etc., image
processing unit 130 may deactivate the old images or information
stored in the product models. When a visual characteristic is
determined to be different from the characteristics stored in the
product models, then image processing unit 130 may
delete/deactivate the old image stored in the product models. For
example, a new Biore logo is identified, and/or a new color of lid
is identified, then image processing unit 130 may delete the old
Biore logo images and/or deactivate the "blue lid" characteristic
that are stored in the product models. Then image processing unit
130 may store the new image in "Biore facial cleansing" product
model. This may increase the number of images stored in the product
models, that may help analyze future received images.
[0269] Consistent with the present disclosure, the action to update
the group of product models may include modifying an existing
product model from a group of product models, the modification to
the existing product model may be based on a detected change in an
appearance attribute of the plurality of products. For example, as
described above, when a product has a new appearance, image
processing unit 130 may detect the change and modify the old images
or information stored in the product models. For example, when a
new color of lid is identified for "Biore Shampoo," then image
processing unit 130 may modify the indication of the old color of
lid in the product model of "Biore Shampoo" to include the new
color of lid. In another example, when the existing product model
comprises parameters of an artificial neural network configured to
identify particular products, the modification to the existing
product model may include a change to at least one of the
parameters of the artificial neural network configured to identify
particular products. In yet another example, when the existing
product model comprises parameters of an image convolution
function, the modification to the existing product model may
include a change to at least one of the parameters of the image
convolution function. In another example, when the existing product
model comprises support vectors that may be used by a Support
Vector Machine to identify products, the modification to the
existing product model may include a removal of a support vector,
an addition of a new support vector, a modification to at least one
of the support vectors, and so forth. In yet another example, when
the existing product model comprises parameters of a machine
learning model trained by a machine learning algorithm using
training examples to identify products, the modification to the
existing product model may include a change to at least one of the
parameters of the machine learning model, for example using a
continuous learning scheme, using a reinforcement algorithm, and so
forth. This may increase the accuracy in the product models, and
may help analyze future received images.
[0270] Consistent with the present disclosure, the first candidate
type and the second candidate type may be associated with the same
type of product that changed an appearance attribute, and the
contextual information used to determine the second candidate type
may include an indication that the plurality of products are
associated with a new appearance attribute. For example, the image
of the products may be identified as having "white container,"
"blue cap," "Head & Shoulders logo," and "text Anti-Dandruff,"
which are all visual characteristics for "Head & Shoulders
Shampoo." However, "signature curve bottle" characteristic may be
missing for the identified characteristics, resulting in a
confidence level below the confidence threshold. Image processing
unit 130 may obtain contextual information to help determine a
second candidate type of product. Using OCR and other image
analysis method described above, server 135 may identify "displayed
in the personal product section." "conditioner is displayed on the
same shelf," and "$15 on the price tag," which again may be all
characteristics for "Head & Shoulders Shampoo." Image
processing unit 130 may assign 105 points to the confidence level
for "Head & Shoulders Shampoo" being the candidate type of the
products, that is, 5 points for having "white container," 5 points
for having "blue cap," 50 points for "Head & Shoulders logo,"
30 points for having "text Anti-Dandruff," 5 points for having
"displayed in the personal product section," 5 points for having
"conditioner is displayed on the same shelf," and 5 points for
having "$15 on the price tag." The confidence level of 105 points
may be above the threshold, and image processing unit 130 may store
the received image to "Head & Shoulders Shampoo" product
models. Continuing the example, based on the missing
characteristics of "Head & Shoulders Shampoo," such as,
"signature curve bottle," image processing unit 130 may generate an
indication of "new package" and store the image with the indication
in the product models for "Head & Shoulders Shampoo."
[0271] Consistent with the present disclosure, the action to update
the group of product models may include adding a new product model
to the group of product models, the new product model being
representative of a previously unidentified type of products. In
some aspects, image processing unit 130 may create a new product
model and store the received image in the new product model. For
example, a new product may be launched, and no associated product
model may be stored in database. Based on the identified
characteristics, image processing unit 130 may determine "new
product" as a candidate type of product. Thus, image processing
unit 130 may create a new product model accordingly and store the
received image in the new product model. For example, "Head &
Shoulders Body Wash" may be the new product that launches in the
retail store, and there may be no product model associated with it.
Image processing unit 130 may identify "Head & Shoulders logo,"
"text Body Wash," and "blue container," which may not match any
products that are stored in the product models, and thus, image
processing unit 130 cannot recognize "Head & Shoulders Body
Wash." However, based on the contextual information, image
processing unit 130 may determine the "Head & Shoulders Body
Wash" to be the candidate type, and may further determine that the
confidence level is above the threshold. Then, image processing
unit 130 may create a product model in database 140 to store the
image and the characteristics for "Head & Shoulders Body Wash."
In some aspects, image processing unit 130 may create a new product
model and store the received image in the new product model. For
example, a new product may be launched, and no associated product
model may be stored in database. Based on the identified
characteristics, sever 135 may determine "new product" as a
candidate type of products. Thus, sever 135 may create a new
product model accordingly and store the received image in the new
product model. In some aspects, based on the contextual
information, image processing unit 130 may determine the "Head
& Shoulders Body Wash" to be the second candidate type, and
further that the second confidence level may be above the
threshold. Then, image processing unit 130 may create a "Head &
Shoulders Body Wash" product model in database 140 to store the
image and the characteristics. Additionally or alternatively, image
processing unit 130 may find a product model corresponding to the
second candidate type (for example, "Head & Shoulders Body
Wash") in a repository of additional product models (for example,
repository of product models from other retail stores, repository
of deactivated product models, external repository of product
models provided by supplier 115, and so forth), and add the found
product model to the group of product models in database 140.
[0272] Consistent with the present disclosure, the action to update
the group of product models may include replacing an existing
product model from the group of product models with at least one
new product model, and the existing product model and the new
product model may be associated with a same product type. For
example, as described above, when a product has a new appearance,
image processing unit 130 may create a new product model to store
the change. For example, an Olympic Game logo may appear on a soft
drink bottle, during the Olympic game. Image processing unit 130
may detect the change and create a new product model to store the
images or information of the new bottle with the Olympic logo.
Additionally or alternatively, image processing unit 130 may
deactivate an existing product model that do not account for the
Olympic Game logo. In a further example, after the Olympic Games
are over, image processing unit 130 may reactivate the previously
deactivated product model, for example in response to a detection
of soft drink bottles without the Olympic Game logo, in response to
an indication (for example in the form of a digital signal, from a
calendar, etc.) that the Olympic Games are over.
[0273] Consistent with the present disclosure, a computer program
product for processing images captured in a retail store embodied
in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and executable by at
least one processor is disclosed. The computer program product may
include instructions for causing the at least one processor to
execute a method for processing images captured in a retail store,
in accordance with the present disclosure. For example, the
computer program product may be embodied in a non-transitory
computer-readable storage medium, such as, a physical memory,
examples of which were described above. Further, the storage medium
may include instructions executable by one of more processors of
the type discussed above. Execution of the instructions may cause
the one or more processors to perform a method of processing images
captured in a retail store.
[0274] FIG. 14 is a flow chart, illustrating an exemplary method
1400 for processing images captured in a retail store, in
accordance with the present disclosure. The order and arrangement
of steps in method 1400 is provided for purposes of illustration.
As will be appreciated from this disclosure, modifications may be
made to process 1400 by, for example, adding, combining, removing,
and/or rearranging one or more steps of process 1400.
[0275] In step 1401, consistent with the present disclosure, the
method may include accessing a database storing a group of product
models, each relating to at least one product in the retail store.
For example, server 135 may be configured to access database 140
directly or via network 150. For example, "Coca-Cola Zero" product
model may include the visual characteristics of "Coca-Cola Zero,"
such as, "black package," "black lid," "signature Coca-Cola logo,"
text "Zero Calorie," text "Zero Sugar," and "Coca-Cola's iconic
bottle," etc. Such visual characteristics may be stored as images,
text, or any other source server 135 may recognize. "Coca-Cola
Zero" product model may also include contextual information, such
as, "price range of $5$10", "displayed in soft drink section,"
"Soda may be displayed on the same shelve," "displayed on bottom of
the shelves," and/or "stored in a fridge," etc. In another example,
"Head & Shoulders Shampoo" may include the visual
characteristics of "Head & Shoulders Shampoo," for example,
"signature curve bottle", "Head & Shoulders logo", "white
container", "blue cap," text "Anti-Dandruff," etc. "Head &
Shoulders Shampoo" product model may also include contextual
information, such as, "price range of $15$20", "displayed in
personal product section," "conditioner may be displayed on the
same shelve," "displayed on top of the shelves," and/or "stored on
the second floor," etc.
[0276] In step 1403, consistent with the present disclosure, the
method may include receiving at least one image depicting at least
part of at least one store shelf having a plurality of products of
a same type displayed thereon. For example, server 135 may receive
one or more image. The image may depict a shelf with products in a
retail store. For example, as described in FIG. 13A, image 1300 may
depict products 1302, 1304, etc. displaying on one or more shelves
1306, and in FIG. 13B, image 1310 may depict a type of product
displayed on a shelf 1306 or a part of a shelf 1306.
[0277] In step 1405, consistent with the present disclosure, the
method may include analyzing the at least one image and determining
a first candidate type of the plurality of products based on the
group of product models and the image analysis. For example, server
135 may analyze the image and determine a candidate type of
product. For example, if the image in FIG. 13A is analyzed, server
135 may distinguish eight different types of products, using
classification algorithms. If the image in FIG. 13B is analyzed,
server 135 may identify a specific type of product. In some
embodiments, server 135 may utilize suitably trained machine
learning algorithms and models to perform the product
identification, as described above. In some embodiments, server 135
may identify the product in the image based at least on visual
characteristics of the product. Based on the identified visual
characteristics, server 135 may determine a candidate type of
product. A candidate type of product is a type of product that
server 135 suspects the image to be or contains. For example, when
server 135 identifies some visual characteristics of "Head &
Shoulders Shampoo" in the image, such as, "signature curve bottle",
"Head & Shoulders logo", "white container", "blue cap," etc.,
then server 135 may determine "Head & Shoulders Shampoo" to be
a candidate type of product.
[0278] In step 1407, consistent with the present disclosure, the
method may include determining a first confidence level associated
with the determined first candidate type of the plurality of
products. For example, server 135 may determine a confidence level
associated with the candidate type of the product. In some
embodiments, server 135 may store/retrieve the confidence level in
database 140. A confidence level may be used, for example, to
determine whether server 135 need more information to ascertain the
determination of the type of product and/or whether the machine
learning module need more training data to be able to perform
product identification. In some embodiments, sever 135 may access
an algorithm to determine a confidence level, based on the
identified visual characteristics.
[0279] In step 1409, consistent with the present disclosure, the
method may include determining the first confidence level is above
or below the confidence threshold. After a confidence level is
determined, server 135 may compare the confidence level to a
confidence threshold. The value of the threshold may be
predetermined for each type of product or may be dynamically
selected based on different considerations.
[0280] In step 1411, when the first confidence level associated
with the first candidate type is above a confidence threshold, the
method may include storing the image. For example, server 135 may
store the image in the product models associated with the specific
type of product in database 140. For example, when server 135
determines a confidence level of 15 for "Head & Shoulders
Shampoo" being the candidate type of the products, and the
confidence threshold is set to be 10, then server 135 may store the
image in the "Head & Shoulders Shampoo" product models. This
may increase the number of images stored in the product models,
that may help analyze future received images. Additionally or
alternatively to step 1411, when the first confidence level
associated with the first candidate type is above a confidence
threshold, the method may include actions that uses as input the
information about the identification of the first candidate type in
the image, such as planogram compliance check, update of store
inventory information, and so forth.
[0281] In step 1413, when the first confidence level associated
with the first candidate type is below a confidence threshold, the
method may include determining a second candidate type of the
plurality of products using contextual information. For example,
only "white container" and "blue cap" are identified in the image,
resulting in a low confidence level for determining "Head &
Shoulders Shampoo" to be the candidate type of the products. The
confidence level is below the confidence threshold, sever 135 may
obtain contextual information to help determine a second candidate
type of product. Using OCR and other image analysis method
described above, server 135 identifies "Biore logo," and "$50 on
the price tag," which are not the characteristics for "Head &
Shoulders Shampoo" but rather "Biore facial cleansing." Based on
the identified visual characteristics and characteristics using
contextual information, server 135 may determine "Biore facial
cleansing" to be the candidate type of product. As described above,
consistent with the present disclosure, the contextual information
used to determine second candidate type includes at least one of:
text presented in proximity to the plurality of products, a
location of the plurality of products in the store, a brand name of
the plurality of products, a price associated with the plurality of
products, at least one logo appearing on the product, information
from multiple stores, and information from a catalog of the retail
store.
[0282] In additional or alternative embodiments, when the
confidence level associated with a certain product is below a
threshold, server 135 may determine a second candidate type of
products, based on the input from a user. This may increase the
efficiency of recognizing new product or new package using the
image processing unit 130. This may also lower the inaccuracy while
recognizing products in the images. For example, server 135 may
determine "Biore facial cleansing" to be the candidate type of
product, based on the identification from a user, after showing the
image to the user. Server 135 may provide a visual representation
on an output device, using I/O system 210 and peripherals interface
208. For example, server 135 may be configured to display the image
to a user using I/O system 210. As described above, processing
device 202 may be configured to send the image data to I/O system
210 using bus 200 and peripherals interface 208. And, output device
(e.g., a display screen) may receive the image data and display the
image to a user.
[0283] Server 135 may receive input from a user using I/O interface
system 210 and peripherals interface 208. The user may send the
input to server 135 by interacting with input/output devices 224,
such as, a keyboard, and/or a mouse. The input may include an
indication of a type of product, and such indication may be in text
format, audio file, and/or other representation. In some
embodiments, to receive input from users, server 135 may be
configured to interact with users using L/O interface system 210,
touch screen 218, microphone 220, speaker 222 and/or other
input/control devices 224.
[0284] Server 135 may recognize the indication of a type of product
received from a user, by recognizing the text sent by the user,
and/or by recognizing the indication in the audio file. For
example, server 135 may access a speech recognition module to
convert the received audio file to text format. Server 135 may also
access a text recognition module to recognize the indication of a
type of products in the text.
[0285] In step 1415, consistent with the present disclosure, the
method may include determining a second confidence level associated
with the determined second candidate type of the plurality of
products. For example, server 135 may determine a confidence level
for the second candidate type of product. Server 135 may compare
the confidence level with a confidence threshold, as described
above. In another aspect, the second candidate type of product may
be the same as the first candidate type of product. For example,
the image of the products is identified as having "white
container," "blue cap," "Head & Shoulders logo," and "text
Anti-Dandruff," which are all visual characteristics for "Head
& Shoulders Shampoo." However, "signature curve bottle"
characteristic may be missing for the identified characteristics,
and thus, resulting in a confidence level below the confidence
threshold. Server 135 may obtain contextual information to help
determine a second candidate type of product. Using OCR and other
image analysis method described above, server 135 identifies
"displayed in the personal product section," "conditioner is
displayed on the same shelf," and "$15 on the price tag," which
again are all characteristics for "Head & Shoulders Shampoo."
Server 135 can assign 105 points to the confidence level for "Head
& Shoulders Shampoo" being the candidate type of the products,
that is, 5 points for having "white container," 5 points for having
"blue cap," 50 points for "Head & Shoulders logo," 30 points
for having "text Anti-Dandruff," 5 points for having "displayed in
the personal product section," 5 points for having "conditioner is
displayed on the same shelf," and 5 points for having "$15 on the
price tag." The confidence level of 105 points may be above the
threshold, and server 135 may store the received image to "Head
& Shoulders Shampoo" product models. Continuing the example,
based on the missing characteristics of "Head & Shoulders
Shampoo," such as, "signature curve bottle," server 135 may
generate an indication of new package and store the image with the
indication in the product models for "Head & Shoulders
Shampoo."
[0286] In step 1417, consistent with the present disclosure, the
method may include determining the second confidence level is above
or below the confidence threshold. As described above, server 135
may compare the confidence level to a confidence threshold. The
value of the threshold may be predetermined for each type of
product or may be dynamically selected based on different
considerations.
[0287] In step 1419, consistent with the present disclosure, when
the second candidate level associated with the second candidate
type is above the confidence threshold, the method may include
initiating an action to update the group of product models. For
example, when the confidence level for the second candidate type of
product is above the threshold, then server 135 may initiate an
action to update the product models in database 140. Consistent
with the present disclosure, the method may include determining one
or more actions to initiate to update the group of product models
based on the determined certainty level of the second candidate
type. The one or more actions may include at least one of: adding a
new product model to the group of product models; replacing an
existing product model from the group of product models with at
least one new product model; and/or modifying a product model of
the group of product models; and deactivating a product model from
the group of the plurality of product models. For example, updating
the group of product models may comprise deleting or deactivating
some data in the models. In some aspects, server 135 may delete
some images in the product models, and store the received images
for replacement. For example, when a product has a new appearance,
such as, new package, new color, festival special package, new
texture, and/or new logo, etc., server 135 may deactivate the old
images stored in the product models, and store the new image
accordingly. As described above, server 135 may create a new
product model and store the received image in the new product
model. For example, based on the contextual information, server 135
may determine the "Head & Shoulders Body Wash" to be the second
candidate type, and the confidence level associated with it is
above the threshold. Then, server 135 may create a product model in
database 140 to store the image for "Head & Shoulders Body
Wash."
[0288] In step 1421, when the second confidence level associated
with the second candidate type is below the confidence threshold,
the method may include repeating steps 1413-1421. For example, when
the confidence level for the second candidate type of product is
below the threshold, then server 135 may initiate an action to
repeat steps 1413-1421 and store the image in the database 140. In
some embodiments, server 135 may create a new product model and
store the received image in the new product model. For example,
when the products in the image cannot be recognized, server 135 may
create a product model labeled as "unknown," and store the
unrecognizable images in the "unknown" product model. In some
embodiments, server 135 may obtain more information to recognize
the products, and determine another candidate type and repeat the
process described above. Additionally or alternatively to Step
1421, when the second confidence level associated with the second
candidate type is below the confidence threshold, the method may
include other actions, such as providing information to a user,
receiving manual input about the type of the product in the image,
and so forth.
[0289] The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for
identifying products in a retail store based on analysis of
captured images. System 1200, illustrated in FIG. 12, is one
example of a system for identifying products in a retail store
based on analysis of captured images, in accordance with the
present disclosure.
[0290] In accordance with the present disclosure, a system for
identifying products in a retail store based on analysis of
captured images is disclosed. FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary
system 1200 for identifying products in a retail store. System 1200
may include an image processing unit 130. Image processing unit 130
may include a server 135 operatively connected to a database 140.
It is also contemplated that image processing unit 130 may include
one or more servers connected by network 150. Consistent with the
present disclosure, server 135 may be configured to access database
140 directly or via network 150. Sever 135 may be configured to
store/retrieve data stored in database 140. As discussed above,
server 135 may include processing device 202, which may include at
least one processor. While the present disclosure provides examples
of servers, databases, networks, processors, etc., it should be
noted that aspects of the disclosure in their broadest sense, are
not limited to the disclosed examples.
[0291] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to access a database storing a set of
product models relating to a plurality of products. For example,
server 135 may be configured to store/retrieve a set or group of
product models in database 140. At least one processor associated
with server 135 may be able to access, read, or retrieve
information including one or more product models from, for example,
database 140. While the present disclosure provides examples of
product models, it should be noted that aspects of the disclosure
in their broadest sense, are not limited to the disclosed
examples.
[0292] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to receive at least one image depicting
at least one store shelf and at least one product displayed
thereon. For example, image processing unit 130 may receive raw or
processed data from capturing device 125 as described above.
[0293] Consistent with the present disclosure, image processing
unit 130 may analyze an image to identify the shelves in the image.
For example, image processing unit 130 may identify the shelf for
soft drinks, the shelf for cleaning products, the shelf for
personal products, and/or the shelf for books, or the like. Image
processing unit 130 may use any suitable image analysis technique
including, for example, object recognition, image segmentation,
feature extraction, optical character recognition (OCR),
object-based image analysis, shape region techniques, edge
detection techniques, pixel-based detection, etc. In some
implementation, identifying the shelves in the image may comprise
identifying characteristic(s) of the shelf based on image analysis.
Such characteristics may include the visual characteristics of the
shelf (e.g., length, width, depth, color, shape, lighting on the
self, the number of partitions of a shelf, number of layers, and/or
whether a glass door is in front of the self, etc.). Such
characteristics may also include the location of a shelf (e.g.,
position within the store, height of shelf in a shelves unit, and
so forth). For example, the location of the shelf may be used
together with a store map or a store plan to identify the shelf. In
another example, the shelf location in an aisle or an area
dedicated to a specific product category (as determined, for
example, by analyzing images of the aisle or the area, from a store
map, and so forth) may be used to determine the identity of the
type of the shelf. In some implementations, identifying the shelves
in the image may be based, at least in part, on labels related to
the shelves (for example, labels attached or positioned next to the
shelves). For example, a label related a shelf may include text,
barcode, logo, brand name, price, or the like, identifying a
product type and/or a category of products, and the identification
of the shelf may be based on product type and/or a category of
products identified by analyzing images of the label. In some
implementations, identifying the shelves in the image may be based,
at least in part, on products positioned on the shelves. For
example, the type of at least some products positioned on the shelf
may be determined, for example by analyzing images of the products
and/or by analyzing input from sensors positioned on the shelf as
described above, and the type of shelf may be determined based on
the determined types of the products positioned on the shelf. While
the present disclosure provides exemplary characteristics of a
shelf, it should be noted that aspects of the disclosure in their
broadest sense, are not limited to the disclosed
characteristics.
[0294] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to select the product model subset
based on a characteristic of the at least one store shelf, wherein
the characteristic may include a location of the at least one store
shelf in the store. For example, the shelf may be located on the
"second floor," or in the "fourth aisle," etc. By way of another
example, the shelf may be located in a section designated the
"cleaning section" because that section may be used to store, for
example, cleaning supplies. In some aspects, image processing unit
130 may identify the location information by recognizing the text
on a sign or a promotion material depicted in the image. In some
aspects, such characteristics may also include information of the
products displayed on the shelf (e.g., the price of the products,
the names of the products, the type of the products, the brand name
of the products, and/or the section in the retail store, etc.). In
some aspects, such characteristics may also include a type of
shelf. Some examples of such types of shelves may include shelf in
a refrigerator, wall shelf, end bay, corner bay, pegboard shelf,
freestanding shelf, display rack, magazine shelf, stacking wire
baskets, dump bins, warehouse shelf, and so forth.
[0295] Consistent with the present disclosure, image processing
unit 130 may identify the shelf, based on the identified
characteristic of the shelf. For example, when image processing
unit 130 identifies that the shelf in the image has some
characteristics, such as, "80 inches length", "4 layers," "average
price of $20 on the price tag," "white shelf", "yellow price tags,"
etc., image processing unit 130 may determine the shelf in the
image is for soft drinks. As another example, when image processing
unit 130 identifies a banner on the shelf in the image that shows
"Snacks Section," using, for example, OCR, image processing unit
130 may determine the shelf in the image is for snacks, such as,
BBQ chips, cheesy crackers, and/or pretzels, or the like. By way of
another example, when image processing unit 130 identifies that the
shelf in the image has "a glass door in the front," image
processing unit 130 may determine the shelf in the image is in a
refrigerator and/or image processing unit 130 may further determine
the shelf in the image is for dairy products. As another example,
when image processing unit 130 recognizes a product (e.g.,
Coca-Cola Zero) on the shelve in the image, image processing unit
130 may determine the shelf is for similar products (e.g., Sprite,
Fanta, and/or other soft drinks). While the present disclosure
provides exemplary methods of identifying characteristics of a
store shelf, it should be noted that aspects of the disclosure in
their broadest sense, are not limited to the disclosed methods.
[0296] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to select a product model subset from
among the set of product models based on at least one
characteristic of the at least one store shelf determined based on
analysis of the received at least one image, wherein a number of
product models included in the product model subset is less than a
number of product models included in the set of product models. For
example, image processing unit 130 may select a subset of product
models from the set of product models stored in database 140. The
set of product models may include the subset of product models. For
example, the set of product models may include "N" number of
product models. Image processing unit 130 may select a subset
containing "M" number of product models from the set of product
models. It is contemplated that the numerical value of M is smaller
than the numerical value of N. In some implementations, a score
function may be used to score the compatibility of product models
to the at least one shelf, and the subset of the set of product
models may be selected based on the compatibility scores of the
product models. Some examples of inputs that may be used by such
compatibility score may include the at least one characteristic of
the at least one store shelf, type of product, category of product,
brand of product, size of product, information related to the
retail store that the shelf is located at, and so forth. For
example, the M product models corresponding to the highest
compatibility scores may be selected. In another example, all
product models corresponding to compatibility score higher than a
selected threshold may be selected. In some implementations, a
subset of product models may be selected from a plurality of
alternative subsets according to the at least one characteristic of
the at least one store shelf, information related to the retail
store that the shelf is located at, and so forth.
[0297] By way of example, image processing unit 130 may select a
subset of product models based on the identified characteristic(s)
of the shelf in the image. For example, image processing unit 130
may determine the shelf in the image is for dairy products based on
the identified characteristics, such as, "a glass door in front of
the shelf," and/or "text Dairy Product Section." As a result, image
processing unit 130 may select a subset of product models that are
associated with dairy products, such as, the product models for
"milk," "butter," and/or "cheese." When the shelf in the image is
identified to have the characteristics of, for example, soft drink
section, image processing unit 130 may select a subset of product
models that are associated with soft drinks from the set of product
models in database 140.
[0298] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to select the product model subset
based on a characteristic of the at least one store shelf, wherein
the characteristic is related to the position of the at least one
store shelf, such as height of the at least one store shelf,
position of the at least one store shelf within the retail store,
and so forth. In some examples, a first subset of product models
may be selected for a shelf positioned at a first height, while a
second subset of product models may be selected for a shelf
positioned at a second height. For example, the first height may
include the lowest shelf in a shelving unit and the first subset
may include product models of products targeting children, while
the second height may include shelves positioned at least a
threshold height above ground (for example, half meter, one meter,
etc.), and the second subset may include product models of products
targeting adult shoppers. In another example, a first subset of
product models may be selected for a shelf located at a first area
of the retail store, while a second subset of product models may be
selected for a shelf located at a second area of the retail store.
For example, the first area of the store may correspond to cleaning
products (such as a cleaning product aisle) and the first subset
may include product models of cleaning products, while the second
area of the store may correspond to beverages (such as beverages
aisle) and the second subset may include product models of
beverages.
[0299] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to select the product model subset
based on a retail store that the at least one store shelf is
located at. For example, the product model subset may be selected
based on the identity of the store, based on information associated
with the retail store (such as the store master file, planograms
associated with the store, checkout data from the store, contracts
associated with the retail store, etc.), on a retail chain
associated with the retail store, on a type of the retail store,
and so forth. In some examples, a first subset of product models
may be selected for a shelf located at a first retail store, while
a second subset of product models may be selected for a similar or
identical shelf located at a second retail store. For example, the
first retail store may work with a first supplier of beverages
while the second retail store may work with a second supplier of
beverages, and a subset of product models corresponding to
beverages offered by the first supplier may be selected for a
beverages shelf located in the first retail store, while a subset
of product models corresponding to beverages offered by the second
supplier may be selected for a beverages shelf located in the
second retail store.
[0300] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to select the product model subset
based on a characteristic of the at least one store shelf, wherein
the characteristic is at least one of an expected product type and
a previously identified product type associated with the at least
one store shelf. For example, when the shelf in the image is
determined to be for displaying soft drinks (for example according
to a planogram, to a store map, etc.), image processing unit 130
may select the product models that contains the expected product
types, such as, "Coca-Cola Zero," "Sprite," and "Fanta," etc., to
be included in the subset of product models. In another example,
when products of a specific type and/or category and/or brand were
previously detected on the at least one shelf, image processing
unit 130 may select the product models corresponding to specific
type and/or category and/or brand. In some aspects, image
processing unit 130 may determine the shelf in the image to be
identical or similar to a known shelf. Image processing unit 130
may select the product models that associated with the types of
products displayed on the known shelf. For example, when the shelf
in the image is determined to be identical or similar to another
known shelf which was previously recognized as displaying product
types, such as, "Coca-Cola Zero," and "Sprite," image processing
unit 130 may include "Coca-Cola Zero" product model and "Sprite"
product model in the subset of product models. In some examples,
the location of a shelf (for example, the location of the shelf
within the store, the height of the shelf) may be used to determine
expected product types associated with the shelf (for example,
using a store map or a database, using a planogram selected
according to the location of the shelf, and so forth), the product
model subset may be selected to include product models
corresponding to the expected product types.
[0301] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to select the product model subset
based on a characteristic of the at least one store shelf, wherein
the characteristic is a recognized product type of an additional
product on the at least one store shelf adjacent the at least one
product. For example, image processing unit 130 may update and/or
select the subset of product models, based on a recognized product
type that is adjacent to the at least one product on the shelf in
the image. For example, when "Fanta" is recognized on the shelf in
the image, image processing unit 130 may select the subset of
product models to include product models for other soft drinks or
sodas. For example, image processing unit 130 may include product
models for "Sprite" and "Coca-Cola" in the subset of product
models.
[0302] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine whether the selected
product model subset is applicable to the at least one product. For
example, image processing unit 130 may determine whether the subset
of product models is applicable to the at least one product in the
image. For example, the selected product model subset may be used
to attempt to identify the at least one product, and in response to
a failure to identify the at least one product using the selected
product model subset, it may be determined that the selected
product model subset is not applicable to the at least one product,
while in response to a successful identification of the at least
one product using the selected product model subset, it may be
determined that the selected product model subset is applicable to
the at least one product. For example, the attempt to identify the
at least one product using the selected product model subset may
comprise using a product recognition algorithm configured to
provide a success or failure indication. In another example, the
attempt to identify the at least one product using the selected
product model subset may comprise using a product recognition
algorithm configured to provide product type together with a
confidence level, the attempt may be considered a failure when the
confidence level is below a selected threshold, and the attempt may
be considered successful when the confidence level is above a
selected threshold. For example, the selected threshold may be
selected based on confidence levels of other products in the retail
store (for example, of neighboring products), for example setting
the selected threshold to be a function of the confidence levels of
the other products. Some examples of such function may include an
average, a median, a mode, a minimum, a minimum plus a selected
positive constant value, and so forth. In some examples, image
processing unit 130 may identify or attempt to identify a type of
the at least one product, for example by determining a
characteristic of the at least one product and/or a characteristic
of the store shelf on which the product is displayed, for example
using one or more techniques discussed above. For example, image
processing unit 130 may determine that a store shelf is associated
with displaying carbonated drinks. Image processing unit 130 may
further determine whether the selected subset of product models is
applicable to carbonated drinks. For example, if the selected
subset of models includes product models for carbonated drinks,
image processing unit 130 may determine that the selected subset of
models is applicable to the at least one product on the store
shelf. Conversely, when the selected subset of product models does
not correspond to, for example, a characteristic of the store
shelf, image processing unit 130 may determine that the selected
subset of product models is not applicable to the at least one
product in the image. It is contemplated that image processing unit
130 may compare the selected subset of models with one or more
characteristics of the store shelf and/or one or more
characteristics of the at least one product. Image processing unit
130 may determine the one or more characteristics using product
recognition techniques, image analysis, shape or pattern
recognition, text recognition based on labels attached to or
adjacent to the store shelf or the at least one product, etc. While
the present disclosure provides exemplary methods of determining
applicability of product models to a product, it should be noted
that aspects of the disclosure in their broadest sense, are not
limited to the disclosed methods.
[0303] Consistent with the present disclosure, when the at least
one processor determines that the selected product model subset is
applicable to the at least one product, the at least one processor
may be configured to analyze a representation of the at least one
product depicted in the at least one image using the product model
subset, and identify the at least one product based on the analysis
of the representation of the at least one product depicted in the
at least one image using the product model subset. For example,
when image processing unit 130 determines the selected subset of
product models is applicable to the at least one product in the
image, then image processing unit 130 may analyze the image and
identify the type of product in the image, using the selected
subset of product models. Image processing unit 130 may use any
suitable image analysis technique including, for example, object
recognition, image segmentation, feature extraction, optical
character recognition (OCR), object-based image analysis, shape
region techniques, edge detection techniques, pixel-based
detection, object recognition algorithms, machine learning
algorithms, artificial neural networks, etc. In addition, image
processing unit 130 may use classification algorithms to
distinguish between the different products in the retail store. The
subset of product models may include visual characteristics of the
products and contextual information associated with the products.
Image processing unit 130 may identify the product in the image
based at least on visual characteristics of the product (e.g.,
size, texture, shape, logo, text, color, etc.). To identify the
product, image processing unit 130 may also use contextual
information of the product (e.g., the brand name, the price, text
appearing on the particular product, the shelf associated with the
particular product, adjacent products in a planogram, the location
within the retail store, or the like.).
[0304] Additionally and alternatively, image processing unit 130
may include a machine learning module that may be trained using
supervised models. Supervised models are a type of machine learning
that provides a machine learning module with training data, which
pairs input data with desired output data. The training data may
provide a knowledge basis for future judgment. The machine learning
module may be configured to receive sets of training data, which
comprises data with a "product name" tag and data without a
"product name" tag. For example, the training data comprises
Coca-Cola Zero images with "Coca-Cola Zero" tags and other images
without a tag. The machine learning module may learn to identify
"Coca-Cola Zero" by applying a learning algorithm to the set of
training data. The machine learning module may be configured to
receive sets of test data, which are different from the training
data and may have no tag. The machine learning module may identify
the test data that contains the type of product. For example,
receiving sets of test images, the machine learning module may
identify the images with Coca-Cola Zero in them, and tag them as
"Coca-Cola Zero." This may allow the machine learning developers to
better understand the performance of the training, and thus make
some adjustments accordingly.
[0305] In additional or alternative embodiments, the machine
learning module may be trained using unsupervised models.
Unsupervised models are a type of machine learning using data which
are not labelled or selected. Applying algorithms, the machine
learning module identifies commonalities in the data. Based on the
presence and the absence of the commonalities, the machine learning
module may categorize future received data. The machine learning
module may employ product models in identifying visual
characteristics associated with a type of product, such as those
discussed above. For example, the machine learning module may
identify commonalities from the product models of a specific type
of product. When a future received image has the commonalities,
then the machine learning module may determine that the image
contains the specific type of product. For example, the machine
learning module may learn that images contain "Coca-Cola Zero" have
some commonalities. When such commonalities are identified in a
future received image, the machine learning module may determine
the image contains "Coca-Cola Zero." Further, the machine learning
module may be configured to store these commonalities in database
140. Some examples of machine algorithms (supervised and
unsupervised) may include linear regression, logistic regression,
linear discriminant analysis, classification and regression trees,
naive Bayes, k-nearest neighbors, learning vector quantization,
support vector machines, bagging and random forest, and/or boosting
and adaboost, artificial neural networks, convolutional neural
networks, or the like. While the present disclosure provides
exemplary methods of machine learning, it should be noted that
aspects of the disclosure in their broadest sense, are not limited
to the disclosed methods.
[0306] Consistent with the present disclosure, image processing
unit 130 may determine a type of product in the image, based on the
subset of product models and the image analysis. A type of product
is a type of product that image processing unit 130 suspects the
image to be or contains. For example, by using the subset of
product models, when image processing unit 130 determined that an
image has some visual characteristics of "Head & Shoulders
Shampoo," such as, "signature curve bottle", "Head & Shoulders
logo", "white container", "blue cap," etc., then image processing
unit 130 may determine "Head & Shoulders Shampoo" to be the
type of product in the image.
[0307] Consistent with the present disclosure, image processing
unit 130 may determine a confidence level associated with the
identified product, based on the identified characteristics, for
example as described above.
[0308] Consistent with the present disclosure, after a confidence
level is determined, image processing unit 130 may compare the
confidence level to a confidence threshold. The value of the
threshold may be predetermined for each type of product or may be
dynamically selected based on different considerations. When the
confidence level is determined to be above the confidence
threshold, then image processing unit 130 may determine that the
selected subset of product model is applicable to the product in
the image.
[0309] Consistent with the present disclosure, when the at least
one processor determines that the selected product model subset is
not applicable to the at least one product, the at least one
processor may be configured to update the selected product model
subset to include at least one additional product model from the
stored set of product models not previously included in the
selected product model subset to provide an updated product model
subset. Further the at least one processor may be configured to
analyze the representation of the at least one product depicted in
the at least one image in comparison to the updated product model
subset. The at least one processor may be also configured to
identify the at least one product based on the analysis of the
representation of the at least one product depicted in the at least
one image in comparison to the updated product model subset. For
example, when the confidence level associated with a certain
product is below a selected threshold, image processing unit 130
may determine that the selected subset of product model is not
applicable to the product in the image. For example, only "white
container" and "blue cap" are identified in the image, resulting in
a low confidence level for determining "Head & Shoulders
Shampoo" to be the candidate type of the products. When the
confidence level is below the confidence threshold, image
processing unit 130 may obtain other subsets of product models to
determine the products. The other subsets of product models may be
selected based on an analysis of the image, for example, based on
identified characteristics of the products in the image (e.g.,
"white container" and "blue cap"), based on identified text in the
image (e.g., "facial cleansing"), based on logos identified in the
image (e.g., a Biore logo), based on price identified in the image
(e.g., "$50 on the price tag"), based on other products identified
in the image, and so forth. In another example, the other subsets
of product models may be selected based on digital records
associated with the retail store, for example based on sales
records including a new type of product. After adding additional
product models in the selected subset, image processing unit 130
may identify "Biore logo," and "$50 on the price tag," which are
not the characteristics for "Head & Shoulders Shampoo" but
rather "Biore facial cleansing," using OCR and other image analysis
method described above. Based on the identified visual
characteristics and characteristics using contextual information,
server 135 may recognize "Biore facial cleansing" in the
images.
[0310] Consistent with the present disclosure, the action that
updates the product model subset may include deactivating an
existing product model from the product model subset. Additionally
and alternatively, consistent with the present disclosure, the
action that updates the product model subset may include replacing
an existing product model from the product model subset with a new
product model. For example, updating the selected subset of product
models may also comprise deleting or deactivating one or more
existing product models in the selected subset of product models
and add in a new product model in replacement. In some cases, the
existing product model and the new product model may be associated
with the same type of product. For example, as part of a
rebranding, packages of the products of a brand may be modified,
and usually the old brand, old packages, and/or old logos may not
be seen on the shelves again. In such cases, when updating the
selected subset of product models, image processing unit 130 may be
configured to determine to delete the existing product model,
automatically or manually. In some cases, one or more visual
characteristics may be added to the product package, such as, a
special logo, a mark, a new color, etc. For example, an Olympic
logo appears on the packages during the Olympic Games. During the
Olympic game, to identify the Olympic logo, image processing unit
130 may deactivate the existing product models and add in the
"Olympic Game Time" product models to replace the existing product
model. The "Olympic Game Time" product models may include
descriptions of the Olympic logo, images of sports player, images
of medals, etc. For another example, in December, many products may
have Christmas special packages, red appearance, gift-like
packages, and/or Christmas features. Image processing unit 130 may
deactivate the existing product models, and add in the "Christmas
Time" product models, in order to better determine the products in
the images. This may increase the efficiency and decrease the
processing time for recognizing the type of product in the image
using the selected subset of product models.
[0311] Consistent with the present disclosure, when the selected
product model subset is not applicable to the at least one product,
the at least one processor may be further configured to provide a
visual representation of the at least one product to a user. For
example, when the selected product model subset is determined to be
not applicable to the at least one product, image processing unit
130 may rely on a user to recognize the product. For example, image
processing unit 130 may provide an image of the at least one
product to a user. Image processing unit 130 may provide a visual
representation on an output device, using I/O system 210 and
peripherals interface 208. For example, image processing unit 130
may be configured to display the image to a user using I/O system
210. As described above, processing device 202 may be configured to
send the image data to I/O system 210 using bus 200 and peripherals
interface 208. And, output device (e.g., a display screen) may
receive the image data and display the image to a user. In another
example, image processing unit 130 may provide information about
the location of the product in the retail store to a user,
requesting the user to identify the product at the specified
location. While the present disclosure provides exemplary methods
of providing a visual representation of the at least one product to
a user, it should be noted that aspects of the disclosure in their
broadest sense, are not limited to the disclosed methods.
[0312] In accordance with this disclosure, the at least one
processor may be further configured to receive input from the user
regarding the at least one product. For example, image processing
unit 130 may receive an indication of the at least one product type
from the user. Image processing unit 130 may receive input from a
user using I/O interface system 210 and peripherals interface 208.
The user may send the input to server 135 by interacting with
input/output devices 224, such as, a keyboard, and/or a mouse. The
input may include an indication of a type of product, and such
indication may be in text format, audio file, and/or other
representation. In some embodiments, to receive input from users,
image processing unit 130 may be configured to interact with users
using I/O interface system 210, touch screen 218, microphone 220,
speaker 222 and/or other input/control devices 224. Server 135 may
recognize the indication of a type of product received from a user,
by recognizing the text sent by the user, and/or by recognizing the
indication in the audio file. For example, server 135 may access a
speech recognition module to convert the received audio file to
text format. Server 135 may also access a text recognition module
to recognize the indication of a type of products in the text. For
example, image processing unit 130 may determine "Biore facial
cleansing" to be product in the image, based on the identification
from a user, after showing the image to the user. This may increase
the efficiency of recognizing new product or new package using the
image processing unit 130. This may also lower the inaccuracy while
recognizing products in the images.
[0313] Consistent with this disclosure, the at least one processor
may be also configured to determine that the at least one product
is associated with the at least one additional product model from
the stored set of product models not previously included in the
selected product model subset based on the received input. Image
processing unit 130 may then update the selected subset of product
models and identify the at least one product in the image, based on
the updated subset of product models. In some aspects, image
processing unit 130 may determine that the at least one product is
associated with the at least one additional product model from the
stored set of product models not previously included in the
selected product model subset based on the received input from the
user.
[0314] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be further configured to initiate an action that
updates the product model subset associated with the at least one
store shelf upon determining that the product model subset is
obsolete. For example, image processing unit 130 may determine a
subset of product models to be obsolete. In some aspects, a user
may input an indication that a subset of product models may be
obsolete. In some aspects, image processing unit 130 may determine
a subset of product models to be obsolete, based on the image
analysis, at least because at least one product in the image may
not be recognized. Upon a subset of product models is determined to
be obsolete, image processing unit 130 may be configured to
initiate an action that updates the subset of product model.
[0315] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine an elapsed time since a
last identification of a product on the at least one store shelf,
compare the elapsed time with a threshold, and determine that the
product model subset is obsolete based on a result of the
comparison. For example, image processing unit 130 may determine an
elapsed time since a last identification of a product on the shelf.
In some aspects, image processing unit 130 may store a time stamp
for each time of product recognition. Thus, image processing unit
130 may determine the elapsed time by calculating the time
difference between present time and the stored time stamp. In some
aspects, image processing unit 130 may access a timer, which may be
configured to track the time since the last product recognition.
Image processing unit 130 may compare the elapsed time with a
threshold. If the elapsed time is determined to be greater than the
threshold, then image processing unit 130 may determine the subset
of product models to be obsolete.
[0316] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine a number of product
detections since a last identification of a product on the at least
one store shelf, compare the determined number of product
detections with a threshold, and determine that the product model
subset is obsolete based on a result of the comparison. For
example, image processing unit 130 may determine a number of
product detections since a last identification of a product on the
shelf. In some aspects, image processing unit 130 may count and
track the number of product detections. In some aspects, image
processing unit 130 may restart and count the number each time a
product detection occurs. Image processing unit 130 may compare the
number of product detection since a last identification with a
threshold. If the number is determined to be greater than the
threshold, then image processing unit 130 may determine the subset
of product models to be obsolete.
[0317] Consistent with the present disclosure, the updated product
model subset may be updated by adding a product model associated
with a product brand of the at least one product. For example, when
the brand of the at least one product in the image is identified,
image processing unit 130 may add, to the selected subset of
product models, an additional product model that may be associated
with the brand of the at least one product in the image. Consistent
with the present disclosure, the updated product model subset may
be updated by adding a product model associated with a same logo as
the at least one product. When the logo (e.g., "gluten free logo")
on the at least one product in the image is identified, then image
processing unit 130 may add, to the selected subset of product
models, an additional product model that has the same
characteristics (i.e., the same logo). Consistent with the present
disclosure, the updated product model subset may be updated by
adding a product model associated with a category of the at least
one product. When the product category (e.g., cleaning products,
soft drinks, foods, snacks, or the like) of the at least one
product in the image is identified, then image processing unit 130
may add, to the selected subset of product models, an additional
product model that is associated with the same category of the at
least one product in the image. Consistent with the present
disclosure, the action that updates the product model subset may
include modifying an existing product model from the product model
subset, a modification to the existing product model is based on a
detected change in an appearance of the at least one product. For
example, based on the detected change in the visual
characteristic(s) of a product, image processing unit 130 may
modify description of such characteristic(s) stored in the product
model. For example, an addition of a logo (such as the Olympic
logo) on a product may be recognized by analyzing the image and may
cause an update to a product model corresponding to the product to
account for the addition of the logo.
[0318] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to analyze a representation of the at
least one product depicted in the at least one image using the
product model subset, and identify the at least one product based
on the analysis of the representation of the at least one product
depicted in the at least one image using the product model subset.
For example, image processing unit 130 may analyze an image to
identify the product(s) in the image. Image processing unit 130 may
use any suitable image analysis technique including, for example,
object recognition, image segmentation, feature extraction, optical
character recognition (OCR), object-based image analysis, shape
region techniques, edge detection techniques, pixel-based
detection, object recognition algorithms, machine learning
algorithms, artificial neural networks, etc. In addition, image
processing unit 130 may use classification algorithms to
distinguish between the different products in the retail store. For
example, image processing unit 130 may utilize suitably trained
machine learning algorithms and models to perform the product
identification. Image processing unit 130 may identify the product
in the image based at least on visual characteristics of the
product (e.g., size, texture, shape, logo, text, color, etc.).
[0319] Consistent with the present disclosure, when the selected
product model subset is not applicable to the at least one product,
the at least one processor may be further configured to obtain
contextual information associated with the at least one product,
and determine that the at least one product is associated with the
at least one additional product model from the stored set of
product models not previously included in the selected product
model subset based on the obtained contextual information. For
example, when the selected subset of product models is determined
to be not applicable to the at least one product in the image,
image processing unit 130 may obtain contextual information
associated with the at least one product. Image processing unit 130
may also update the selected subset of product models to add in an
at least one additional product model. And, based on the contextual
information, image processing unit 130 may determine that the at
least one product is associated with the at least one additional
product model not previously included in the selected subset of
product models. Image processing unit 130 may then store the
decision with the updated subset of product model in database 140.
Image processing unit 130 may receive contextual information from
capturing device 125 and/or a user device (e.g., a computing
device, a laptop, a smartphone, a camera, a monitor, or the like).
Image processing unit 130 may retrieve different types of
contextual information from captured image data and/or from other
data sources. In some cases, contextual information may include
recognized types of products adjacent to the product under
examination. Consistent with the present disclosure, the contextual
information used to determine that the at least one product is
associated with the at least one additional product model may be
obtained from analyzing the plurality of images. For example,
performing image analysis, image processing unit 130 may identify a
banner or a sign in the images that shows "Snacks Section," using
OCR. Consistent with the present disclosure, the contextual
information used to determine that the at least one product is
associated with the at least one additional product model may be
obtained from analyzing portions of the plurality of images not
depicting the at least one product. That said, the contextual
information may be obtained from analyzing portions of the image
that does not depict the at least one product. Image processing
unit 130 may obtain contextual information from the price tag on
the shelf, from the decoration on the shelf, from the text shown on
the sign or banner, etc., using any image analysis techniques.
[0320] Consistent with the present disclosure, the contextual
information may include at least one of: information from a catalog
of the retail store, text presented in proximity to the at least
one product, a category of the at least one product, a brand name
of the at least one product, a price associated with the at least
one product, and a logo appearing on the at least one product. For
example, contextual information may include text appearing on the
product, especially where that text may be recognized (e.g., via
OCR) and associated with a particular meaning. Other examples of
types of contextual information may include logos appearing on the
product, a location of the product in the retail store, a brand
name of the product, a price of the product, product information
collected from multiple retail stores, product information
retrieved from a catalog associated with a retail store, etc.
[0321] In some aspects, image processing unit 130 may determine the
product in the image to be "Coca-Cola Zero," at least because image
processing unit 130 recognized other soft drinks that are displayed
on the same shelves in the image. Image processing unit 130 may
determine the product in the image to be "Coca-Cola Zero," at least
because the text "Cola" that appears in the image can be recognized
using OCR. Image processing unit 130 may determine the type of
product in the image to be "Coca-Cola Zero," at least because the
text "Soda" in the image can be recognized using OCR. Image
processing unit 130 may determine the type of product in the image
to be "Coca-Cola Zero," at least because the signature "Coca-Cola"
logo on the products is recognized. In some embodiments, contextual
information may include location information. For example, the
location information may include an indication of an area in a
retail store (e.g., cleaning section, soft drink section, dairy
product shelves, apparel section, etc.), an indication of the floor
(e.g., 2nd floor), an address, a position coordinate, a coordinate
of latitude and longitude, and/or an area on map. Image processing
unit 130 may determine the type of product in the image to be
"Coca-Cola Zero," at least because the indication of soft drink
section is detected in the received location information. Image
processing unit 130 may recognize the price tag and/or barcode on
the products in the image, based on the price tag and/or barcode,
image processing unit 130 may determine the type of product. For
example, image processing unit 130 may recognize $8 on the price
tag. Based on the price information of "Coca-Cola Zero," which may
be in the range of $6-10, image processing unit 130 may determine
the type of product to be "Coca-Cola Zero," which has a price range
of $20-25. The price information may be entered by a user,
collected from multiple retail stores, retrieved from catalogs
associated with a retail store, and/or retrieved from online
information using the internet.
[0322] Consistent with the present disclosure, image processing
unit 130 may determine that the additional product model was not
included in the selected subset of product models, based on the
contextual information. In some embodiments, as described above,
based on the contextual information, image processing unit 130 may
recognize the type of product in the image and determine the type
of product is not previously included in the selected subset of
product models. In some embodiments, image processing unit 130 may
compare the selected subset of the product models with the
previously selected subset of product models. And, based on the
comparison, image processing unit 130 may determine that the
additional product model was not included in the selected subset of
product models.
[0323] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to identify a type of the at least one
product in a confidence level above a predetermined threshold using
the updated product model subset. For example, using the updated
product models, server 135 may identify a type of at least one
product in a confidence level that is above a selected threshold.
Consistent with the present disclosure, server 135 may determine a
confidence level associated with the type of the product.
[0324] Consistent with the present disclosure, server 135 may
compare the confidence level to a selected threshold. In one
embodiment, when the confidence level associated with a certain
product is below a threshold, server 135 may obtain contextual
information to increase the confidence level. In some embodiments,
when the confidence level associated with a certain product is
above a threshold, server 135 may store the image and the updated
subset of product models in database 140. This may increase the
efficiency and decrease the processing time for recognizing the
type of product in the image using the updated subset of product
models.
[0325] System 1200 may include or connected to network 150,
described above. In some embodiments, database 140 may be
configured to store product models. The data for each product model
may be stored as rows in tables or in other ways. In some
embodiments, database 140 may be configured to store at least one
subset of product models. Database 140 may be configured to update
the at least one subset of product model. Updating a subset of
product models may comprise deleting or deactivating some product
models in the subset. For example, image processing unit 130 may
delete some images and/or algorithms in the subset of product
models, and store other product models for replacement in database
140.
[0326] Consistent with the present disclosure, server 135 may be
configured to display an image to a user using I/O system 210
(e.g., a display screen). Processing device 202 may be configured
to send the image data to I/O system 210 using bus 200 and
peripherals interface 208.
[0327] Consistent with the present disclosure, server 135 may be
configured to interact with users using I/O interface system 210,
touch screen 218, microphone 220, speaker 222 and/or other
input/control devices 224. From the interaction with the users,
server 135 may be configured to receive input from the users. For
example, the users may enter inputs by clicking on touch screen
218, by typing on a keyboard, by speaking to microphone 220, and/or
inserting USB driver to a USB port. Consistent with the present
disclosure, the inputs may include an indication of a type of
products, such as, "Coca-Cola Zero," "Head & Shoulders
Shampoo," or the like. Consistent with the present disclosure, the
inputs may include an image that depicts products of different type
displaying on one or more shelves, as described in FIG. 13A; and/or
an image that depicts a type of product displayed on a shelf or a
part of a shelf, as described in FIG. 13B.
[0328] In one embodiment, memory device 226 may store data in
database 140. Database 140 may include subsets of product models
and some other data. Product models may include product type model
data 240 (e.g., an image representation, a list of features, and
more) that may be used to identify products in received images. In
some embodiments, product models may include visual characteristics
associated with a type of product (e.g., size, shape, logo, text,
color, etc.). In some embodiments, database 140 may also store
contextual information associated with a type of product. In other
embodiments of the disclosure, database 140 may store additional
types of data or fewer types of data. Furthermore, various types of
data may be stored in one or more memory devices other than memory
device 226.
[0329] FIG. 15 illustrates an example graphical user interface
(GUI) for device output, consistent with the present disclosure. As
described above, when the selected product model subset is
determined to be not applicable to the at least one product, image
processing unit 130 may rely on user input to assist in identifying
or recognizing the product. Consistent with the present disclosure,
server 135 may be configured to display an image to a user using
I/O system 210 (e.g., a display screen). GUI may include an
exemplary image 1500 received by the system and then displayed to
the user. Image 1500 may depict multiple shelves with many
different product types displayed thereon. Server 135 may determine
that the selected subset of product models may not be applicable to
image 1500, due to the inability to identify product 1501. GUI may
also include box 1503, where the product type may be entered by the
user. For example, by interacting with input/output devices 224,
such as, a keyboard, and/or a mouse, the user may enter the product
type, such as, "Sprite 1 L." In another example, the user may be
presented with a number of alternative product types (for example,
alternative product types identified as possible candidates by a
product recognition algorithm), such as "Sprite half L", "Sprite 1
L", and "Sprite 2 L", and the user may select one of the presented
alternative product types corresponding to product 1501, provide an
indication that the correct product type for product 1501 is not in
the presented alternative product types, or provide an indication
that the product type can't be determined from image 1500 (at least
by the user). Alternatively or additionally, the user may enter a
product identification number or code (e.g., a stock keeping unit
(SKU).) Such information supplied by the user may be entered via
keypad, etc. or may be automatically entered (e.g., by scanning a
QR code, etc.).
[0330] FIG. 16 represents an exemplary image received by the
system, consistent with the present disclosure. The image may
depict multiple shelves with many different types of product
displayed thereon. Image 1600 shows three shelves with different
types of products. Olympic logo 1603 appears on the packages of
cereal 1601. To identify the Olympic logo, image processing unit
130 may deactivate the existing product models for cereal 1601 and
add in the "Olympic" product models to replace the existing product
model. The "Olympic" product models may include descriptions of the
Olympic logo, images of sports player, images of medals, etc. Based
on image analysis described above, image processing unit 130 may
recognize Olympic logo 1603.
[0331] FIG. 17 is a flow chart, illustrating an exemplary method
1700 for identifying products in a retail store based on image
analysis of the captured images, in accordance with the present
disclosure. The order and arrangement of steps in method 1700 is
provided for purposes of illustration. As will be appreciated from
this disclosure, modifications may be made to process 1700 by, for
example, adding, combining, removing, and/or rearranging one or
more steps of process 1700.
[0332] In step 1701, the method may comprise accessing a database
storing a set of product models relating to a plurality of
products. For example, server 135 may access product models stored
in database 140. Consistent with the present disclosure, server 135
may be configured to access database 140 directly or via network
150. Accessing database 140 may comprise storing/retrieving data
stored in database 140. For example, server 135 may be configured
to store/retrieve a group of product models. As described above,
"product model" refers to any type of algorithm or stored product
data that a processor can access or execute to enable the
identification of a particular product associated with the product
model. For example, the product model may include a description of
visual and contextual properties of the particular product (e.g.,
the shape, the size, the colors, the texture, the brand name, the
price, the logo, text appearing on the particular product, the
shelf associated with the particular product, adjacent products in
a planogram, the location within the retail store, etc.). That
said, "Coca-Cola Zero" product model may include the visual
characteristics of "Coca-Cola Zero," for example, "black package,"
"black lid," "signature Coca-Cola logo," text "Zero Calorie," text
"Zero Sugar," and "Coca-Cola's iconic bottle," etc. Such visual
characteristics may be stored as images, text, or any other source
server 135 may recognize. "Coca-Cola Zero" product model may also
include contextual information, such as, "price range of $5-$10",
"displayed in soft drink section," "Soda may be displayed on the
same shelve," "displayed on bottom of the shelves," and/or "stored
in a fridge," etc. In another example, "Head & Shoulders
Shampoo" may include the visual characteristics of "Head &
Shoulders Shampoo," for example, "signature curve bottle", "Head
& Shoulders logo", "white container", "blue cap," text
"Anti-Dandruff," etc. "Head & Shoulders Shampoo" product model
may also include contextual information, such as, "price range of
$15$20", "displayed in personal product section" "conditioner may
be displayed on the same shelve," "displayed on top of the
shelves," and/or "stored on the second floor," etc.
[0333] In step 1703, the method may comprise receiving at least one
image depicting at least one store shelf and at least one product
displayed thereon. For example, server 135 may receive one or more
image. The image may depict a shelf with products in a retail
store. For example, as described in FIG. 16A, the image may depict
products displaying on one or more shelves, and in FIG. 16B, the
image may depict a type of product displayed on a shelf or a part
of a shelf. Consistent with the present disclosure, server 135 may
receive the image via network 150. In some embodiments, server 135
may receive the image from an input device, such as, hard disks or
CD ROM, or other forms of RAM or ROM, USB media, DVD, Blu-ray, or
other optical drive media, or the like. For example, the image may
be in an image format (e.g., JPG, JPEG, JFIF, TIFF, PNG, BAT, BMG,
or the like).
[0334] In step 1705, the method may comprise selecting a product
model subset from among the set of product models based on at least
one characteristic of the at least one store shelf and based on
analysis of the at least one image, wherein a number of product
models included in the product model subset is less than a number
of product models included in the set of product models. Server 135
may select a subset of product models from the set of product
models in the database 140, based on at least one characteristic of
the at least one shelf in the image. Consistent with the present
disclosure, server 135 may analyze an image to identify
characteristic of the at least one shelf in the image. Such
characteristics may include the visual characteristics of the shelf
(e.g., length, width, depth, color, shape, lighting on the self,
the number of partitions of a shelf, number of layers, and/or
whether a glass door is in front of the self, etc.). Such
characteristics may also include the location of a shelf, for
example, "second floor," "forth aisle," "cleaning section," etc. In
some aspects, image processing unit 130 may identify the location
information by recognizing the text on a sign or a promotion
material depicted in the image. In some aspects, such
characteristics may also include information of the products
displayed on the shelf (e.g., the price of the products, the type
of the products, and/or the section in the retail store, etc.).
Based on the characteristics, server 135 may determine the category
of product that the shelf is for. For example, server 135 may
determine the shelf for soft drinks, the shelf for cleaning
products, the shelf for personal products, and/or the shelf for
books, or the like. Server 135 may apply any suitable image
analysis technique including, for example, object recognition,
image segmentation, feature extraction, optical character
recognition (OCR), object-based image analysis, shape region
techniques, edge detection techniques, pixel-based detection,
object recognition algorithms, machine learning algorithms,
artificial neural networks, etc.
[0335] In step 1707, the method may comprise determining whether
the selected product model subset is applicable to the at least one
product. For example, server 135 may determine whether the selected
subset of product models is applicable to the at least one product.
Consistent with the present disclosure, server 135 may determine
whether the subset of product models is applicable to the at least
one product in the image. In some embodiments, server 135 may
determine whether the subset of product models is applicable to the
at least one product in the image based on product recognition and
image analysis, using the selected subset of product models. For
example, when the product in the image is not recognizable, then
server 135 may determine that the selected subset of product models
is not applicable to the at least one product in the image.
[0336] In step 1709, when the selected product model subset is
determined to be applicable to the at least one product, the method
may comprise analyzing a representation of the at least one product
depicted in the at least one image using the product model subset.
For example, when server 135 determines the selected subset of
product models is applicable to the at least one product in the
image, then server 135 may analyze the image and identify the type
of product in the image, using the selected subset of product
models. Server 135 may analyze the image and determine a type of
product in the image. For example, if the image in FIG. 16A is
analyzed, server 135 may distinguish eight different types of
products, using classification algorithms. If the image in FIG. 16B
is analyzed, server 135 may identify a specific type of product.
Consistent with the present disclosure, server 135 may use any
suitable image analysis technique including, for example, object
recognition, image segmentation, feature extraction, optical
character recognition (OCR), object-based image analysis, shape
region techniques, edge detection techniques, pixel-based
detection, object recognition algorithms, machine learning
algorithms, artificial neural networks, etc. In some embodiments,
server 135 may utilize suitably trained machine learning algorithms
and models to perform the product identification, as described
above.
[0337] In step 1711, the method may comprise identifying the at
least one product based on the analysis of the representation of
the at least one product depicted in the at least one image using
the product model subset. For example, server 135 may identify the
at least one product in the image, based on the image analysis,
using the selected subset of product models. Analyzing the image
may comprise identifying one or more characteristics of the at
least one product in the image. In some embodiments, server 135 may
identify the product in the image based at least on visual
characteristics of the product (e.g., size, shape, logo, text,
color, etc.). Based on the identified visual characteristics,
server 135 may determine a type of product that server 135 suspects
the image to be or contains. For example, when server 135
identifies some visual characteristics of "Head & Shoulders
Shampoo" in the image, such as, "signature curve bottle", "Head
& Shoulders logo", "white container", "blue cap," etc., then
server 135 may determine "Head & Shoulders Shampoo" to be the
type of product in the image.
[0338] In step 1713, when the selected product model subset is
determined to be not applicable to the at least one product, the
method may comprise updating the selected product model subset to
include at least one additional product model from the stored set
of product models not previously included in the selected product
model subset to provide an updated product model subset. For
example, when server 135 determines the selected subset of product
models is not applicable to the at least one product in the image,
then server 135 may update the selected subset of product models to
include at least one additional product model. After updating the
selected subset of product models, server 135 may analyze the image
and identify the type of product in the image, using the selected
subset of product models. Updating the selected subset of product
models may also comprise deleting or deactivating one or more
product model in the selected subset of product models. In some
embodiments, updating the selected subset of product models may
comprise adding an additional product model. For example, when the
brand of the at least one product in the image is identified,
server 135 may add, to the selected subset of product models, an
additional product model that may be associated with the brand of
the at least one product in the image. When the logo (e.g., "gluten
free logo") on the at least one product in the image is identified,
then server 135 may add, to the selected subset of product models,
an additional product model that has the same characteristics
(i.e., the same logo). When the product category (e.g., cleaning
products, soft drinks, foods, snacks, or the like) of the at least
one product in the image is identified, then server 135 may add, to
the selected subset of product models, an additional product model
that is associated with the same category of the at least one
product in the image. In some aspect, updating the selected subset
of product models may also comprise modifying a product model in
the subset of product models. For example, based on the detected
change in the visual characteristic(s) of a product, server 135 may
modify description of such characteristic(s) stored in the product
model.
[0339] In step 1715, the method may comprise analyzing the
representation of the at least one product depicted in the at least
one image in comparison to the updated product model subset. For
example, server 135 may analyze the image, in comparison to the
updated subset of product models. As described above, server 135
may use any suitable image analysis technique to analyze the
image.
[0340] In step 1717, the method may comprise identifying the at
least one product based on the analysis of the representation of
the at least one product depicted in the at least one image in
comparison to the updated product model subset. For example, server
135 may identify the at least one product in the image, based on
the image analysis, in comparison to the updated subset of product
models. As described above, server 135 may identify the type of the
at least one product.
[0341] Consistent with the present disclosure, the method may
further comprise initiating an action that updates the product
model subset associated with the at least one store shelf upon
determining that the product model subset is obsolete. As described
above, server 135 may determine a subset of product models to be
obsolete. A user may input an indication that a subset of product
models may be obsolete. Server 135 may determine a subset of
product models to be obsolete, based on the image analysis, at
least because at least one product in the image may not be
recognized. Upon a subset of product models is determined to be
obsolete, server 135 may be configured to initiate an action that
updates the subset of product model.
[0342] According to the present disclosure, a system for processing
images captured in a retail store and determining sizes of products
displayed on a shelf may include at least one processor. By way of
example, FIG. 1 illustrates system 100, which enables
identification of products in retail stores 105 based on analysis
of captured images.
[0343] According to the present disclosure, system 100 may use at
least one visual characteristic of a product, for example, a
bottle. The visual characteristics may include, for example, shape,
logo, textual elements on a label, color, price, brand etc. to
identify the bottle. According to the present disclosure, the
product may include a carton or any container, which may be capable
of storing product contents. Products may include any liquids,
solids or semi-solids or any combination of any liquids, solids or
semi-solids which can be stored in a container including but not
limited to juice, water, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, milk,
medications, beauty products, hair products, body products,
cleaning supplies, food products, beverages, energy drinks,
carbonated drinks, ice creams, etc. While the present disclosure
provides exemplary systems and methods for determining a size of a
bottle, it should be noted that aspects of the disclosure in their
broadest sense, are not limited to determining sizes of bottles.
Rather the disclosed systems and methods may be used to determine
the sizes of other types of containers (e.g. boxes, packets,
pouches, cans, canisters, crates, cartons, packages etc.)
[0344] According to the present disclosure, system 100 may use
contextual information, which may refer to any information having a
direct or indirect relationship with a bottle displayed on a store
shelf to identify the bottle. According to the present disclosure,
the system may retrieve different types of contextual information
from captured image data and/or from other data sources. In some
cases, contextual information may include recognized types of
products adjacent to the bottle, location of the product in the
retail store, and other product information collected from multiple
retail stores, product information retrieved from a catalog
associated with a retail store, etc. In other cases, contextual
information may also include visual characteristics of the bottle
and visual characteristics of the products adjacent to the bottle.
Contextual information may further include outline design of the
products which may refer to the shape of the product, features of
the product, relative positions of features of the product, and so
forth.
[0345] According to the present disclosure, physical proportions of
a bottle may be used to differentiate between bottles with similar
visual characteristics. A shelf in a retail store may contain
multiple types and brands of products packaged in bottles of
different physical proportions. Consistent with the present
disclosure, the physical proportions of the bottle may be used to
classify, sort, categorize and/or identify a particular bottled
product. For Example, the physical proportions of a 100 ml
Pepsi.RTM. bottle and a 500 ml Coca-Cola.RTM. bottle may be very
different. In another example, while other visual properties of a 1
Liter Coca-Cola.RTM., bottle and a 2 Liter Coca-Cola.RTM. may be
identical or very similar, the physical proportions of the two
bottles may be very different.
[0346] Capturing device 125 may capture an image of the shelf which
includes multiple bottles. Image processing unit 130 may analyze
the captured image to detect a representation of a bottle in the
image. Physical proportions of a bottle may also be referred to as
outline elements. As used in this disclosure, outline elements may
refer to various portions of the bottle. Various dimensions of the
outline elements for e.g. length, width, height, depth, or any
other dimensions of the outline elements may be used by system 100.
For example, Image processing unit 130 may further analyze the
image of the bottle to determine at least one ratio of two lengths
associated with two outline elements of the bottle. The determined
at least one ratio may be used to determine the size of the bottle
and/or type of product.
[0347] According to the present disclosure, image processing unit
130 may analyze the captured image to detect at least one store
shelf. Further, the image processing unit 130 may use the detected
at least one shelf to detect the bottle. For example, image
processing unit 130 may detect the bottle based on the detected
store shelf when the bottle is associated with the at least one
store shelf. It is also contemplated that image processing unit 130
may use information associated with the shelves to detect the
bottle. The information associated with the shelves may be obtained
from a store map and/or a planogram and/or a store database, from
an analysis of images of the shelves, and so forth. For example,
the location of the shelf may be used to focus the search area for
bottles to an area directly above the shelf. In another example,
two or more shelves may be detected in an image, the image may be
analyzed to determine that a first shelf is associated with bottles
while a second shelf is not associated with bottles (for example,
from labels attached to the shelves, location of the shelves, or
any other technique described above), and the search for bottles
may be targeted in an area directly above the first shelf rather
than an area directly above the second shelf.
[0348] Outline elements of bottles as described above, may be used
to differentiate between premium brand name products and/or generic
store brand products. For example, outline elements of a
Neutrogena.RTM. moisturizer bottle may be different from the
outline elements of a store brand moisturizer bottle. Even if the
visual characteristics of the Neutrogena.RTM. moisturizer bottle
and the store brand moisturizer bottle may be same, they may be
differentiated using the different outline elements. In another
example, outline elements of bottles may be used to identify if the
bottles are packaged in a group (6-pack, 12-pack, 24-pack etc.) and
placed on the shelf or individually placed on a shelf. There are
many examples of bottled products with similar visual
characteristics for which outline elements may be an effective way
to differentiate between the products based on bottle sizes, the
examples herein are in no way limiting. For example, outline
elements of a 6-pack of 100 ml soda are different from the outline
elements of a 12 pack 100 ml soda.
[0349] Database 140 may store product data including visual
characteristics, physical proportions or outline elements, lengths
of outline elements and contextual information of every product
displayed on a store shelf. Product data, including outline designs
and/or ornamental designs of all the products in the retail store
may be stored in database 140. Product data may also include, for
example, product name, product identifier, product width, product
height, product depth, product area, product diagonal length,
product size, manufacturer brand of the product, price of the
product, image of the product, etc. Product data may also include a
table with ratio of the pixel dimensions of the outline elements to
the physical dimensions of all the products mapped to the length,
width, or any other dimensions of the outline elements of the
products in the retail store. Product data may further include a
table with ratios of plurality of outline elements mapped to
various heights of bottles. Product data may further include a
ratio of a length associated with at least one of: a bore of the
bottle, an orifice of the bottle, a lip of the bottle, a collar of
the bottle, and/or a length associated with at least one of a neck
of the bottle, a body of the bottle, an insweep of the bottle, a
heel of the bottle, and a base of the bottle. Multiple ratios using
various combinations of the lengths of the outline elements may be
stored in database 140. The stored outline elements may be acquired
by image processing unit 130 or any component of system 100
whenever required. Database 140 may also include a table mapping
size and various visual characteristics to the associated product.
Database 140 may also include historic data related to size
determination for every product. System 100 may use the stored
information in database 140 to determine a product size and/or a
product type.
[0350] Outline elements of the bottles may also be used to
differentiate between bottles of varying sizes when visual
characteristics of the bottles are not visibly captured in an image
of a product shelf. For Example, if only half a bottle is visible
and the other half may be hidden, image processing unit 130 may
receive only a portion of the image data required to identify the
bottle size based on the visual characteristics of the bottle. By
identifying the outline elements of the bottles and comparing
lengths of two outline elements of the bottle, system 100 may be
able to correctly identify the size of the bottle and the type of
product.
[0351] According to the present disclosure, outline elements may be
used in conjunction with any of the visual characteristics
previously disclosed to differentiate between product sizes
identified in an image. Further, in accordance with the present
disclosure, determining a confidence level associated with the
determined size of the bottle.
[0352] According to the present disclosure, system 100 may compare
the confidence level to a threshold. The term "threshold" as used
herein denotes a reference value, a level, a point, or a range of
values, for which, when the confidence level is above it (or below
it depending on a particular use case), system 100 may follow a
first course of action and, when the confidence level is under it
(or above it depending on a particular use case), system 100 may
follow a second course of action. The value of the threshold may be
predetermined for each size of the bottle or may be dynamically
selected based on different considerations.
[0353] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to execute instructions to perform a
method for processing images captured in a retail store. Further,
in accordance with the present disclosure, a computer program
product for processing images captured in a retail store may be
provided. The computer program product may be embodied in a
non-transitory computer-readable medium and may executable by at
least one processor to execute a method for processing images
captured in a retail store. The method of processing the images may
include identifying a bottle on the shelf of the retail store and
determining the size of the bottle. In accordance with the present
disclosure, the method may further include determining a confidence
level for the determined size.
[0354] In accordance with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to receive at least one image depicting
a store shelf having at least one bottle displayed thereon.
According to the present disclosure, the method for processing
images captured in a retail store may include receiving at least
one image depicting a store shelf having at least one bottle
displayed. FIG. 18B illustrates an exemplary method 1850 of
determining size of a bottle, consistent with the present
disclosure. Exemplary method 1850 may include a step of receiving
an image depicting a store shelf (step 1852). By way of example,
image processing unit 130 may receive the image from the image
capturing apparatus 125, via network 150.
[0355] FIG. 18A illustrates an exemplary image 1800 that may be
received by image processing unit 130. As illustrated in FIG. 18A,
image 1800 may include at least one shelf 1824 and bottle 1801
positioned on shelf 1824. For example, bottle 1801 may include
outline elements such as a bore or an orifice 1802 of the bottle, a
lip 1804 of the bottle, a collar 1806 of the bottle, a side mold
seam 1808 of the bottle, a finish 1812 of the bottle, a neck 1814
of the bottle, a shoulder 1816 of the bottle, a body 1818 of the
bottle, an insweep or a heel 1820 of the bottle, and a base 1822 of
the bottle. The bottle may be placed on a shelf 1824. By way of
example, bottle 1801 may also include ornamental design 1810 of the
bottle. Ornamental design 1810 may refer to an embossing, etching,
carving, stamp, engraving, marking, or any decorative element
imprinted on the outside or inside of the bottle. While the present
disclosure provides examples of various physical proportions or
outline elements of a bottle, it should be noted that aspects of
the disclosure in their broadest sense, are not limited to the
disclosed physical proportions or outline elements.
[0356] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may further be configured to analyze the image to detect
a representation in the image of the at least one bottle which has
an outline design. In accordance with the present disclosure, the
method for processing images captured in a retail store may further
include analyzing the image to detect a representation in the image
of the at least one bottle which has an outline design. For
example, outline design may refer to the shape of the bottle, to
features of the bottle, relative positions of features of the
bottle, and so forth. Exemplary method 1850 may include a step of
analyzing the image to detect a bottle (step 1854). According to
the present disclosure, the detection can at least in part be based
on visual characteristics of the bottle and/or contextual
information of the bottle as described previously. For example, the
bottle in the image may have a distinct color and text on the label
of the bottle clearly visible in the captured image which may be
beneficial in detecting the bottle.
[0357] As previously discussed, in accordance with the present
disclosure, outline elements may refer to various portions of the
bottle. Various dimensions of the outline elements for e.g. length,
width, height, depth, or any other dimensions of the outline
elements may be used by system 100. According to the present
disclosure, the at least one processor may further be configured to
identify two or more outline elements associated with the outline
design of the bottle where, each of the two or more outline
elements have specific lengths. In accordance with the present
disclosure, the method for processing images captured in a retail
store may further include identifying two or more outline elements
associated with the outline design of the bottle where, each of the
two or more outline elements have specific lengths. Exemplary
method 1850 further comprises of identifying two or more outline
elements of specific lengths associated with the bottle (step
1856). In some examples, the two or more outline elements may be
selected from a group including a bore of the bottle, an orifice of
the bottle, a lip of the bottle, a collar of the bottle, a top of a
bottle, a neck of the bottle, a body of the bottle, an insweep of
the bottle, a heel of the bottle, a base of the bottle, a side mold
seam of the bottle, a finish of the bottle, a shoulder of the
bottle, and so forth. By way of example, FIG. 18A illustrates
exemplary outline elements. For example, bottle 1801 may include
outline elements such as a bore or an orifice 1802 of the bottle, a
lip 1804 of the bottle, a collar 1806 of the bottle, a side mold
seam 1808 of the bottle, a finish 1812 of the bottle, a neck 1814
of the bottle, a shoulder 1816 of the bottle, a body 1818 of the
bottle, an insweep or a heel 1820 of the bottle, and a base 1822 of
the bottle.
[0358] Each of the two or more selected outline elements may have a
specific length. The lengths of the outline elements may be
different for bottles of different products. For example, the neck
1814 of a Coca-Cola.RTM. bottle may have a different length than
the neck 1814 of a Gatorade.RTM. bottle or the base 1822 of a 50 ml
bottle may be smaller than the base 1822 of a 500 ml bottle. Also,
the neck 1814 of a Coca-Cola.RTM. bottle may have a different
length than the base 1822 of a 50 ml bottle or any combination
thereof. In some embodiments, one or more images of the at least
bottle may be analyzed to determine the length of the two or more
selected outline elements, and/or a function of the lengths of the
two or more selected elements, such as a ratio of the lengths of
two lengths, a function of the ratio, a difference between two
lengths, a distribution of the lengths of the two or more selected
outline elements, a function or property of the distribution of the
lengths of the two or more selected outline elements (such as mean,
median, mode, standard deviation, variance, coefficient of
variation, coefficient of dispersion, standardized moment, Fano
factor, etc.), and so forth. The one or more images may be analyzed
using any techniques known to one skilled in the art, such as
machine learning algorithms, artificial neural networks,
convolutional neural networks, and so forth.
[0359] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may further be configured to determine a size of the at
least one bottle based on a comparison of the lengths of the two or
more outline elements. In accordance with the present disclosure,
the method for processing images captured in a retail store may
further include determining a size of the at least one bottle based
on a comparison of the lengths of the two or more outline elements.
In some embodiments, the size of the at least one bottle may be
determined based on the function of the lengths of the two or more
selected elements determined by analyzing the one or more images of
the at least one bottle, as described above. For example, the size
of the at least one bottle may be determined using the length of
the two or more selected outline elements, a function of the
lengths of the two or more selected outline elements, such as a
ratio of the lengths of two lengths, a function of the ratio, a
difference between two lengths, a distribution of the lengths of
the two or more selected elements, a function or property of the
distribution of the lengths of the two or more selected outline
elements (such as mean, median, mode, standard deviation, variance,
coefficient of variation, coefficient of dispersion, standardized
moment, Fano factor, etc.), and so forth. For example, the value of
the function of the lengths of the two or more selected outline
elements may be compared with selected one or more thresholds, and
the size of the at least one bottle may be determined based on
result of the comparison. In another example, the value of the
function of the lengths of the two or more selected outline
elements may be compared with selected ranges, and the size of the
at least one bottle may be determined based on the range the value
falls in. In yet another example, the size of the at least one
bottle may be calculated using the function of the lengths of the
two or more selected outline elements.
[0360] According to the present disclosure, image processing unit
130 may determine the product type and/or the bottle size by
matching the stored outline elements to the images of products
stored in database 140. For example, image processing unit 130 may
compare the received image to the images of products stored in
database 140. Image processing unit 130 may identify a matching
image and divide the captured image of the bottle into multiple
portions or outline elements, for e.g. body 1818, neck 1814,
shoulder 1816, etc. based on the comparison. Image processing unit
130 may then extract additional product data including lengths of
outline elements for the matching image, also stored in database
140. Image processing unit 130 may further compare the identified
outline elements of the received image to the outline elements of
the matching image to determine the length of the outline elements
in the received image.
[0361] For example, system 100 may be configured to determine the
length of neck 1814 of a Gatorade.RTM. bottle and the length of
base 1822 of the Gatorade.RTM. bottle. System 100 is further
configured to compare the identified lengths of the two outline
elements i.e. neck 1814 and the base 1822 with the stored lengths
of the neck 1814 and the base 1822 of the Gatorade.RTM. bottle. In
another example, system 100 may be configured to determine the
ratio of the length of neck 1814 of a Gatorade.RTM. bottle and the
length of base 1822 of the Gatorade.RTM. bottle, and compare the
determined ratio with some selected thresholds and/or selected
values ranges, for example to determine a size of the bottle, a
type of the bottle, a brand of the bottle, and so forth. While the
present disclosure provides exemplary systems and methods for
determining a size and a product type of a bottle, it should be
noted that aspects of the disclosure in their broadest sense, are
not limited to determining sizes or types of bottled products.
Rather the disclosed systems and methods may be used to determine
the sizes or types of other types of containers (e.g. boxes,
packets, pouches, cans, etc.) or other types of products stored in
containers (e.g. cereals, chips, yogurts, perfumes, shampoos,
etc.)
[0362] In accordance with the present disclosure, image processing
unit 130 may also use artificial neural networks to identify the
outline elements. For example, in accordance with the present
disclosure, image processing unit 130 may use convolutional neural
networks to identify outline elements. Convolutional neural
networks may be capable of identifying and combining low-level
features of the product in the received image for e.g. lines,
edges, colors to more abstract features for e.g. squares, circles,
objects, etc. to identify a product. Once the product is
identified, system 100 may identify the outline elements for e.g.
body 1818, neck 1814, shoulder 1816, etc. of the identified product
by comparing the image of the same product stored in database
140.
[0363] According to the present disclosure, the lengths of the
outline elements and/or the function of the lengths of the outline
elements may be determined using pixel data. For example, image
processing unit 130 may identify multiple portions or outline
elements, for e.g. body 1818, neck 1814, shoulder 1816, etc. of the
received image. Image processing unit 130 may further determine
pixel dimensions of each of the identified outline elements. For
example, image processing unit 130 may determine height of the neck
1814 of the bottle in pixels or width of the base 1822 in pixels,
etc. Image processing unit 130 may further determine height of the
bottle, i.e. distance between the end-points of the bottle. Image
processing unit may determine ratio of the pixel dimensions of an
outline element to the height of the bottle. Image processing unit
130 may then compare the determined ratio to the product data
stored in database 140 to identify the length of the outline
element. In this case, product data may include a table with ratio
of the pixel dimensions of the outline elements to the physical
dimensions of all the products mapped to the length, width, or any
other dimensions of the outline elements of the products in the
retail store. For example, the height in pixels of the neck 1814 of
the bottle in pixels is 200 and the height of the bottle is 152 mm,
the ratio may be determined to be 200/152=1.31. Image processing
unit 130 may compare the determined ratio to the ratios stored in
the database to obtain the length of the neck 1814.
[0364] Exemplary method 1850 further comprises of determining a
size of the at least one bottle based on a comparison of the
lengths of the two outline elements (step 1858). For example, the
at least one image may be analyzed to determine at least one ratio
of two lengths associated with the bottle. The determined at least
one ratio may be used to determine a size of the bottle. Database
140 may include a table with ratios of plurality of outline
elements mapped to various heights of bottles. The different
lengths associated with the outline elements may be obtained from
the manufacturer when the product is stocked in the retail store.
The different lengths associated with the outline elements may be
input by a store employee, or may be retrieved from product data
stored in database 140. The different lengths associated with the
outline elements can also be input by a supplier or manufacturer of
the product. In this case, the product data may include a table
associating lengths associated with the outline elements with a
particular brand or size of bottle which may be provided. System
100 may calculate multiple ratios of the outline elements and store
them in database 140. For example, the at least one ratio may
comprise a ratio of a length associated with at least one of: a
bore or an orifice 1802 of the bottle, a lip 1804 of the bottle, a
collar 1806 of the bottle, a side mold seam 1808 of the bottle, a
finish 1812 of the bottle, a neck 1814 of the bottle, a shoulder
1816 of the bottle, a body 1818 of the bottle, an insweep or a heel
1820 of the bottle, and a base 1822 of the bottle. Multiple ratios
using various combinations of the lengths of the outline elements
may be stored in database 140.
[0365] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may further be configured to determine a size of the at
least one bottle when at least 50% of the outline design of the
bottle is obscured. For example, an individual or an object may
obscure at least a portion of the field of view of capturing device
125. In this case, at least 50% or more than 50% of the outline
design may be obscured. In this case, system 100 may use only a
portion of the shelf and partial image of the bottle on that shelf
to determine the size of the bottle. For example, a 500 ml
Pepsi.RTM. bottle may be obscured by an obstacle. System 100 may
obtain a partial image of the bottle and may use the outline
elements available in the partial image to determine the size of
the bottle. For example, if only the top half of the bottle is
captured, system 100 may use the lengths associated with neck 1814
of the bottle and bore 1802 of the bottle to determine the size of
the bottle. For example, system 100 may determine the ratio of the
length of neck 1814 to bore 1802 of the bottle. System 100 may
compare the obtained ratio to the product data stored in database
140. In this case, product data may include a table mapping ratio
of plurality of outline elements to the size of the product. In
this case, system 100 may not rely on the ornamental design 1810 or
the label, logo or any other visual characteristics to determine
the size of the bottle.
[0366] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may further be configured to determine a product type of
the at least one bottle based on the determined size. In accordance
with the present disclosure, the method for processing images
captured in a retail store may further include determining a
product type of the at least one bottle based on the determined
size. Exemplary method 1870 disclosed in FIG. 18C may include a
step of receiving image depicting a store shelf (step 1872);
analyzing image to detect a bottle (step 1874); determining the
size of the bottle (1876) and determining a product type based on
the size of the bottle (step 1878). For example, if the size of a
bottle may be determined by analyzing the image received from the
image capturing device 125. Based on the size and the ornamental
design 1810 and/or the visual characteristics or the outline
elements and/or the outline design of the bottle in the image, a
product type may be determined. For example, a size of 100 ml is
determined for the bottle based on the image analysis or one or
more of the methods discussed in accordance with the present
disclosure. The image can be further analyzed to detect the visual
characteristics of the bottle including but not limited to the
logo, price, shape, textual elements on the label etc. For example,
a Pepsi.RTM. bottle may be detected using size of the bottle
obtained using one or more of the methods discussed in accordance
with the present disclosure. The image capturing unit 130 may
capture the unique Pepsi.RTM. logo which includes a circle divided
into three sections with red white and blue colors. System 100 may
compare the determined parameters with those stored in database 140
to identify the product type. In this case, database 140 may
include a table mapping the size and various visual characteristics
to the associated product. The visual characteristics including the
logo, price, shape, textual elements on the label etc. may be
stored in database 140. Based on at least the size of the bottle
and additionally or alternatively using the visual characteristics
of the bottle, a product type may be determined.
[0367] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may further be configured to determine a product type of
another product displayed on the store shelf based on the
determined size of the at least one bottle. In accordance with the
present disclosure, the method for processing images captured in a
retail store may further include determining a product type of
another product depicted in the image based on the determined size
of the at least one bottle. For example, a type of a product may be
identified based, at least in part, on the determined size of the
bottle. According to the present disclosure, system 100 may
determine the size of a bottle and use this determination to access
the database 140 and obtain information about the products having a
direct or indirect relationship with the bottle. System 100 may
determine a product type based on the placement of products of
different sizes on the same shelf or adjacent shelves. In some
embodiments, system 100 may use the ornamental design 1810 and/or
the visual characteristics and/or the outline design of the
products to determine if a correct product is placed on the correct
shelf.
[0368] In accordance with the present disclosure, system 100 may
also use machine learning to determine the product type based on
context. System 100 may employ various machine learning techniques
including decision tree learning, association rule learning,
artificial neural networks, inductive logic programming, support
vector machines, clustering, Bayesian networking, reinforcement
learning, representation learning, similarity and metric learning,
spare dictionary learning, rule-based machine learning, etc. In
accordance with the present disclosure, machine learning may be
used to predict context for a given product. System 100 may be able
to predict which products are supposed to be placed next to or near
by or on the adjacent shelf of the given product. For example,
system 100 may predict, over time, that a Coca-Cola.RTM. bottle is
more likely to be placed next to a Pepsi.RTM. bottle. Therefore,
when system 100 identifies a Coca-Cola.RTM. bottle placed on a
shelf, it may be able to predict which bottles or products may be
placed next to the Coca-Cola.RTM. bottle on the same shelf. System
100 may also be able to predict products placed on any shelves
adjacent to, above or below the shelf on which the Coca-Cola.RTM.
bottle is placed.
[0369] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may further be configured to determine a product type of
the at least one bottle based on the determined size of the at
least one bottle and at least one of a brand associated with the at
least one bottle, a logo associated with the at least one bottle,
text associated with the at least one bottle, a price associated
with the at least one bottle, and a shape of the at least one
bottle. In accordance with the present invention, a type of a
product may be identified based, at least in part, on the
determined size of the bottle. In one case, the product may be the
bottle. In accordance with the present invention, the product may
be a different product than the bottle, but it was identified using
the determined size of the bottle. In addition, the at least one
image may be further analyzed to identify a brand associated with
the bottle, and the identified brand may be used in the
identification of the type of the product. In accordance with the
present invention, the at least one image may be further analyzed
to detect a logo associated with the bottle, and the detected logo
may be used in the identification of the type of the product (for
example by using image recognition algorithm to recognize the logo,
and using the identity of the logo of the identification of the
type of the product). In accordance with the present invention, the
at least one image may be further analyzed to identify text
associated with the bottle, and the identified text may be used in
the identification of the type of the product (for example by
processing the image of the text using OCR algorithm, and using the
resulting textual information in the identification of the type of
the product). In accordance with the present invention, the at
least one image may be further analyzed to identify a price
associated with the bottle, and the identified price may be used in
the identification of the type of the product (for example as
described below). In accordance with the present invention, the at
least one image may be further analyzed to detect a label
associated with the bottle, and the detected label may be used in
the identification of the type of the product (for example by
identifying text on the label using OCR and using the resulting
textual information in the identification of the type of the
product, by using price specified on the label as described below,
by identifying a barcode on the label and using the identified
barcode in the identification of the type of the product, and so
forth). In accordance with the present invention, the at least one
image may be further analyzed to identify at least one store shelf
associated with the bottle, and the identified at least one store
shelf may be used in the identification of the type of the product
(for example, in a combination with information associated with the
shelves, which in some cases may be obtain from a store map and/or
a planogram and/or a store database, from an analysis of images of
the shelves, and so forth). According to the present disclosure,
the at least one processor may further be configured to determine a
confidence level for the determined size. In accordance with the
present disclosure, the method for processing images captured in a
retail store may further include determining a confidence level for
the determined size. FIG. 18D illustrates an exemplary method 1880
of confirming size of a bottle based on a confidence level,
consistent with the present disclosure. Exemplary method 1880 may
include a step of receiving image depicting a store shelf (step
1882); analyzing image to detect a bottle (step 1884); determining
the size of the bottle (1886), determining a confidence level for
the determined size (step 1888). In accordance with the present
disclosure, the term "confidence level" refers to any indication,
numeric or otherwise, of a level (e.g., within a predetermined
range) indicative of an amount of confidence system 100 has that
the determined size of the bottle is the actual size of the bottle.
For example, the confidence level may have a value between 1 to 10.
The confidence level for every size of every product may be stored
in database 140.
[0370] In accordance with the present disclosure, a confidence
level may be calculated using historic data related to the bottle.
Historic data related to size determination for every size of every
product may be stored in database 140. Confidence level may be
calculated by dividing a "number of times a correct size was
predicted" by a "sample size". For example, system 100 may have
determined size of a Gatorade.RTM. bottle 500 times in the past one
year. Out of those 500 times, correct size may have been determined
300 times. Therefore, the confidence level may be calculated as
300/500*10=6. In this case, system 100 has a confidence level of 6
that the predicted size may be the correct size. The sample size
may vary for every product depending on for example, number of days
a product is in the retail store, number of products sold each day,
number of products sold per day, etc.
[0371] In accordance with the present disclosure, system 100 may
compare the confidence level to a threshold. The term "threshold"
as used herein denotes a reference value, a level, a point, or a
range of values, for which, when the confidence level is above it
(or below it depending on a particular use case), system 100 may
follow a first course of action and, when the confidence level is
under it (or above it depending on a particular use case), system
100 may follow a second course of action. The value of the
threshold may be predetermined for each size of the bottle or may
be dynamically selected based on different considerations. The
threshold for different bottles of different sizes may be stored in
database 140.
[0372] In accordance with the present disclosure, the threshold may
be calculated by using the historic data of confidence levels
stored in database 140. For example, threshold may be calculated by
calculating a mode of the confidence levels. For example, for a 100
ml Coca-Cola.RTM. bottle the mode of the confidence levels of a 100
ml Coca-Cola.RTM. bottle may be the confidence level that occurred
the most often. If the 100 ml Coca-Cola.RTM. bottle has a threshold
of 7 that means, maximum times the confidence level for the 100 ml
Coca-Cola.RTM. bottle was 7. In accordance with the present
disclosure, the confidence level may be updated and stored in
database 140 every time system 100 makes a size determination.
Therefore, based on the confidence level, the threshold may also be
updated. Additionally, or alternatively in accordance with the
present disclosure, the confidence level and threshold for every
size of every product may be predetermined. The predetermined
confidence level and threshold may be input by a retail store
employee, manufacturer, system administrator or any other personnel
and/or stored in database 140.
[0373] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may further be configured to determine when the
confidence level is below a threshold and analyze the image to
identify another product on the store shelf which may include
another outline element associated with a specific length.
According to the present disclosure, the at least one processor may
further be configured to determine when the confidence level is
below a threshold to identify another outline element of the at
least one bottle. FIG. 18D illustrates an exemplary method 1880 of
confirming size of a bottle based on a confidence level, consistent
with the present disclosure. Exemplary method 1880 may include a
step of receiving image depicting a store shelf (step 1882);
analyzing image to detect a bottle (step 1884); determining the
size of the bottle (1886), determining a confidence level for the
determined size (step 1888), analyzing the image to identify
another product with a third outline element associated with a
specific length (step 1890). According to the present disclosure,
the determined confidence level may be compared to the threshold
stored in database 140. If it is determined that the confidence
level is below the threshold, system 100 may be configured to
perform additional steps. System 100 may further be configured to
analyze the image to identify another product on the store shelf.
The other product may be a second product different than the at
least one bottle. The second product may be the same product of
same size or different size or a different product in the retail
store. The second product may be the same bottle of same of
different size. The second product may be a product having
different visual characteristics than the bottle including but not
limited to shape, logo, textual elements on a label, color, price,
brand etc. The second product may be a product which is stored on
the same shelf or any of the adjacent shelves which are captured in
the image. System 100 may further be configured to identify a third
outline element of the second product associated with a specific
length. For example, a milk carton may be placed next to a
Gatorade.RTM. bottle. System 100 may be configured based on the
methods disclosed in the present disclosure, to identify that the
product next to the Gatorade.RTM. bottle is a milk carton. System
100 may be able to identify an outline element for example base
1822 associated with the milk carton. Further, system 100 may be
configured to identify the length of the base 1822 of the milk
carton along with the length of the neck 1814 or the body 1818 of
the Gatorade.RTM. bottle. In another example, System 100 may
further be configured based on the methods disclosed in the present
disclosure, to identify a three different outline element of the
same Gatorade.RTM. bottle. System 100 may be able to identify neck
1817, body 1818 and/or base 1822 associated with the same
Gatorade.RTM. bottle. System 100 may further be configured based on
the methods disclosed in the present disclosure, to identify to
identify lengths of the neck 1817, the body 1818 and/or base the
1822 associated with the same Gatorade.RTM.
[0374] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may further be configured to confirm the size of the
bottle based on a comparison of the specific length of the other
outline element of the other product and the length of one of the
two outline elements of the at least one bottle. According to the
present disclosure, the at least one processor may further be
configured to confirm the size of the bottle based on a comparison
of the specific length of the other outline element of the at least
one bottle and the length of one of the two outline elements of the
at least one bottle. Exemplary method 1880 may further include a
step of confirming the size of the bottle based on comparison of
the specific length of the third outline element of the other
product or the third outline element of the at least one bottle and
the length of one of the two outline elements of the at least one
bottle (step 1892). Continuing the above example, system 100 may be
configured to compare the length of the base 1822 of the milk
carton and length of the neck 1814 or the body 1818 of the
Gatorade.RTM., bottle using the lengths of the outline elements for
these products stored in database 140. System 100 may also be able
to determine that the length of the identified outline element
(i.e. length of the base 1822) of the milk carton matches with the
and length of the stored outline element (i.e. length of the base
1822) of the milk carton and that the length of the identified
outline element (neck 1814 or the body 1818 of the Gatorade.RTM.
bottle) match with the stored outline element (neck 1814 or the
body 1818 of the Gatorade.RTM. bottle) on that shelf. System 100
may be able to make this determination using the planogram and the
product data stored in database 140. Based on the determination
that the identified lengths match with the stored lengths, system
100 may confirm the size of the bottle.
[0375] According to the present disclosure, continuing the above
example, system 100 may be configured to compare the length of neck
1817 with the length body 1818 or length of base 1822 associated
with the same Gatorade.RTM. bottle. System 100 may also be able to
determine that the length of identified neck 1817 and the length of
the identified body 1818 or base 1822 matches with the length of
the stored neck 1817 and the length of the stored body 1818 or base
1822. System 100 may be able to make this determination using the
planogram and the product data stored in database 140. Based on the
determination that the identified lengths match with the stored
lengths, system 100 may confirm the size of the bottle.
[0376] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may further be configured to analyze the image to
identify a label attached to the store shelf, wherein the label may
include a textual element associated with a specific length and
confirm the size of the bottle based on a comparison of the
specific length of the textual element of the label and the length
of one of the two outline elements of the at least one bottle.
According to the present disclosure, upon determination that the
confidence level is below a predetermined threshold, the
identification can at least in part be made based also on visual
characteristics of the store shelf (e.g., logo, text, color, label,
price etc.). For example, the system 100 may identify a label
associated with the shelf on which the at least one bottle is
placed. This label may include a textual element associated with a
specific length. This textual element may be the name, type, price,
unique identifier, product identification code or any other
catalogable codes, such as a series of numbers, letters, symbols,
or any combinations of numbers, letters, and symbols. The length of
the textual element of the label is compared to the length of one
of the two outline elements of the at least one bottle. Based on
the result of this comparison, system 100 is able to confirm the
size of the at least one bottle. For example, continuing the above
example, system 100 may further analyze the label attached to the
store shelf on with the Gatorade.RTM. bottle is placed. The label
may disclose the price of the Gatorade.RTM. bottle or a unique
identifier of the Gatorade.RTM., bottle or any textual element
associated with the Gatorade.RTM. bottle. System 100 may identify
that the length of the unique identifier of the label of the
Gatorade.RTM. bottle is 1.2 cm. The length of textual elements may
be the lengths of price, identifier, code, symbol or any other
textual element. System 100 compares the identified length of the
identified unique identifier of the label of the Gatorade.RTM.
bottle and the length of the identified body 1818 or base 1822
matches with the length of the stored unique identifier of the
label of the Gatorade.RTM. bottle and the length of the stored body
1818 or base 1822. System 100 may be able to make this
determination using the planogram and the product data stored in
database 140. Based on the determination that the identified
lengths match with the stored lengths, system 100 may confirm the
size of the bottle.
[0377] According to the present disclosure, the method for
processing images captured in a retail store may further include
when the confidence level is below a threshold, attempt to
recognize the product type of the at least one bottle based on at
least one of: a brand associated with a detected bottle, a logo
associated with the detected bottle, text associated with the
detected bottle, a price associated with the bottle, and a shape of
the detected bottle and confirm the size of the detected bottle
based on the product type. According to the present disclosure,
upon determination that the confidence level is below a
predetermined threshold, system 100 may recognize the type of
product as previously described, based on the visual
characteristics of the products including but not limited to a
brand, a logo, text associated with the detected bottle, price, a
unique identifier, a bar code, a QR code and a shape associated
with the detected bottle. The size of the detected bottle is then
determined based on the identified type of product. For example,
based on the visual characteristics, system 100 detects a
Coca-Cola.RTM. logo on the bottle and the textual elements of the
label show that it's a 100 ml bottle. System 100 retrieves the
proportions of the outline elements of a 100 ml Coca-Cola.RTM.
bottle from database 140. Based on this information determined
using the image capturing device 125 and image processing unit 130,
system 100 confirms the size of a 100 ml Coca-Cola.RTM. bottle.
[0378] FIG. 19 is an illustration of an exemplary method of
identifying multiple bottles, consistent with the present
disclosure. According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may further be configured to receive an image which
depicts a first bottle and a second bottle located adjacent to each
other. FIG. 19 illustrates an exemplary method 1900 of identifying
multiple bottles, consistent with the present disclosure. Exemplary
method 1900 may include a step of receiving image depicting a store
shelf (step 1902), a step of analyzing the image to detect a first
bottle and a second bottle (step 1904), a step of identifying
visual characteristics of the first bottle and second bottle (step
1906). According to the present disclosure, the image captured by
capturing device 125 may include images of multiple bottles on a
shelving unit. While stocking the shelves, based on a planogram,
bottles may be placed adjacent to each other based on the size,
brand, price or any combination of the visual characteristics or
contextual information. For example, a 6 pack may be placed
adjacent to another 6 pack of different brands or a 6 pack and an
individual bottle of the same brand may be placed adjacent to each
other based on the planogram. The combinations in which the bottles
are supposed to be shelved according to the planogram are stored in
database 140. System 100 may be configured to receive an image of a
shelf where two bottles are placed adjacent to each other.
According to the present disclosure, the first and second bottles
may be associated with a common brand, but the first and second
bottles may have different sizes. For example, two Coca-Cola.RTM.
bottles, are placed adjacent to each other and the first bottle may
be a 100 ml bottle while the second bottle may be 500 ml bottle.
According to the present disclosure, the first and second bottles
may be associated with a different brand, but the first and second
bottles may have same sizes. For example, A Pepsi.RTM. bottle of
100 ml may be placed next to a Coca-Cola.RTM. bottle of 100 ml.
According to the present disclosure, the first and second bottles
may have different pricing and same size but may be associated with
a different brand. For example, a Pepsi.RTM. bottle of 100 ml
priced $2 may be placed next to a Coca-Cola.RTM. bottle of 100 ml
priced $2.25. According to the present disclosure, the first and
second bottles may have same sizes, but may be of different product
types. For example, a milk carton of 1 gallon may be placed next to
a juice carton of 1 gallon. In this case, both the cartons are of
different product type, but have a same size.
[0379] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may further be configured to use a same two outline
elements for the first and second bottles to determine a first
product size for the first bottle and a second product size for the
second bottle differs than the first product size. FIG. 19
illustrates an exemplary method 1900 of identifying multiple
bottles, consistent with the present disclosure. Exemplary method
1900 may include a step of receiving image depicting a store shelf
(step 1902), a step of analyzing the image to detect a first bottle
and a second bottle (step 1904), a step of identifying visual
characteristics of the first bottle and second bottle (step 1906),
a step of identifying same two outline elements for the first and
second bottle (step 1908), a step of comparing the ratio of the two
outline elements (1910), a step of determining the size of the
first bottle and the second bottle (1912), a step of determining
the product type of the first bottle and the second bottle and a
step of determining the product type of the first bottle and the
second bottle (1914).
[0380] According to the present disclosure, the product size of the
first and second bottles may be determined using any two of the
outline elements as discussed previously, where the first and the
second bottles are located adjacent to each other. According to the
present disclosure, system 100 may determine the first product size
for the first bottle which is different than the second product
size for the second bottle. The same two outline elements may be
used to determine the product type of the first and second bottles.
For example, Pepsi.RTM. bottle of 500 ml may be placed next to a
Pepsi.RTM. bottle of 100 ml. System 100 may be configured to use
two outline elements (e.g. the neck 1814 and the body 1820) for the
Pepsi.RTM. bottle of 500 ml and the same two outline elements (e.g.
the neck 1814 and the body 1820) for the Pepsi.RTM. bottle of 100
ml. System 100 may be configured to use the lengths of the outline
elements to determine the size of the bottle.
[0381] According to the present disclosure, a ratio of the lengths
of the two outline elements of the first bottle may be different
than a ratio of the lengths of the two outline elements of the
second bottle. As discussed above, same outline elements may be
used to determine the product type of the first and second bottles
located adjacent to each other. The lengths of the outline elements
may be determined by system 100 using the image received from the
image capturing device 125. The ratio of the lengths of the same
two outline elements may be used to make this determination. For
example, if the length of the neck 1814 of a Gatorade.RTM. bottle
of 100 ml may be 0.59 inches and the length of the base 1822 of a
Gatorade.RTM. bottle of 500 ml may be 2.59 inches, the ratio of
these lengths is 0.59/1.59, which is equal to 0.37. Further, if the
length of the neck 1814 of a Pepsi.RTM. bottle of 100 ml may be
0.86 inches and the length of the base 1822 of a Pepsi.RTM. bottle
of 500 ml may be 3.46 inches, the ratio of these lengths is
0.86/3.46, which is equal to 0.24. Database 140 may store ratios of
the outline elements for every bottle of every size in the retail
store. System 100 may use this information to calculate ratios of
multiple combinations of the outline elements. For example, system
100 may also calculate the ratio of lengths of the body 1818 or
lengths of the bores 1802, etc. for same product of different
sizes. The ratios may be previously calculated and stored in
database 140 or may be calculated in real-time. Based on the
determined ratios and the calculated ratios, the product size of
the first and the second bottles may be determined. For example,
system 100 may compare the above calculated ratios for the
Gatorade.RTM. bottles and the Pepsi.RTM. bottles with the stored
ratios of the same bottles to determine the size of the bottles.
Further as discussed in the present disclosure, system 100 may use
the determine sizes to identify the product types.
[0382] According to the present disclosure, at least one processor
may further be configured to use different two outline elements for
the first and second bottles to determine a first product size for
the first bottle and a second product size for the second bottle
differs than the first product size. FIG. 20 illustrates an
exemplary method 1900 of identifying multiple bottles, consistent
with the present disclosure. Exemplary method 1900 may include a
step of receiving image depicting a store shelf (step 1922), a step
of analyzing the image to detect a first bottle and a second bottle
(step 1924), a step of identifying visual characteristics of the
first bottle and second bottle (step 1926), a step of identifying
different two outline elements for the first and second bottle
(step 1928), a step of determining the size of the first bottle and
the second bottle (1930), a step of determining the product type of
the first bottle and the second bottle and a step of determining
the product type of the first bottle and the second bottle (1932).
As discussed above, outline elements may be used to determine the
product type of the first and second bottles located adjacent to
each other. According to the present disclosure, the two outline
elements used for the first bottle may be different from the two
outline elements used for the second bottle. For example, length of
the neck 1814 of the first bottle and length of the base 1822 of
the first bottle may be used to determine the product size for the
first bottle whereas, length of the collar 1806 of the second
bottle and length of the body 1818 of the second bottle is used to
determine the product size for the second bottle. For example, the
length of the neck 1814 of a Gatorade.RTM. bottle may be 0.59
inches and the length of the base 1822 of a Gatorade.RTM. bottle
may be 2.59 inches, this information may be used to calculate the
size of the Gatorade.RTM. bottle. Further, for calculating the size
of the Pepsi.RTM. bottle, the length of the neck 1814 and the
length of the base 1822 are not used as outline elements. Different
outline elements for example, length of the collar 1806 of the
Pepsi.RTM. bottle and length of the body 1818 of the Pepsi.RTM. may
be used instead. Product type can be further determined based on
the size of the first bottle and the second bottle in conjunction
with visual characteristics of the first bottle and the second
bottle. Product type may be determined based on the product size as
discussed previously in the present disclosure.
[0383] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may further be configured to receive an image which may
depict a first bottle and a second bottle that may not located
adjacent to each other. For example, the second bottle may be
located at exact same location on a shelf above or below the shelf
on which the first bottle may be located. System 100 may be
configured to use same two outline elements (for e.g. neck 1814 and
body 1818) for the first and second bottles to determine a first
product size for the first bottle and a second product size for the
second bottle. The size of the first product may differ from the
size of the second product. The ratio of the lengths of the two
outline elements (for e.g. length of neck 1814 and length of body
1818) of the first bottle may be different than the ratio of the
lengths of the two outline elements (for e.g. length of neck 1814
and length of body 1818) of the second bottle as discussed above.
System 100 may further be configured to use different two outline
elements for the first and second bottles as described above to
determine a first product size for the first bottle and a second
product size for the second bottle. According to the present
disclosure, the at least one processor may further be configured to
perform a first action associated with the first bottle upon
determining that the first bottle and the second bottles may
located adjacent each other, may associated with a common brand,
and may have different sizes. In accordance with the present
embodiments, the at least one image may be further analyzed to
detect a second bottle. Furthermore, the at least one image may be
further analyzed to determine a second group of at least one ratio
of two lengths associated with the second bottle. Moreover, the
second group of at least one ratio may be used to determine a
second size of the second bottle. In some examples, a first action
associated with the bottle may be performed (for example the first
action may be selected based on the determined size of the bottle),
and a second action associated with the second bottle (for example
the second action may be selected based on the determined size of
the second bottle), where the second action may differ from the
first action. In other examples, a first action may be performed
when the size of the first bottle is identical to the size of the
second bottle, and a second action may be performed when the size
of the first bottle is different than the size of the second
bottle. Different sizes bottles placed next to each may indicate a
misplaced product.
[0384] For example, system 100 may determine that the first bottle
and the second bottle of a common may be located adjacent each
other but may have varying sizes. System 100 may then initiate a
first action associated with respect to the first bottle based on
this determination. Consistent with the present disclosure, server
135 may generate in real time, actionable tasks to improve store
execution. These tasks may help employees of retail store 105 to
quickly address situations that can negatively impact revenue and
customer experience in the retail store 105. According to the
present disclosure, a first action may refer to server 135 causing
real-time automated alerts when products may be out of shelf, when
pricing may be inaccurate, when intended promotions may be absent,
and/or when there may be issues with planogram compliance, among
others. For example, a Coca-Cola.RTM., bottle of 100 ml may be
erroneously placed in the shelf adjacent Coca-Cola.RTM. bottles of
500 ml which may result in issues with planogram compliance. In
this case, a user 120 may be updated of the status of the first
bottle via GUI 500 on output device 145. For example, according to
the present disclosure, an action may refer to system 100 searching
and/or updating the inventory associated with the first bottle. For
example, a Coca-Cola.RTM. bottle of 100 ml may be erroneously
placed in the shelf adjacent to Coca-Cola.RTM. bottles of 500 ml.
When an image of the shelf carrying 100 ml Coca-Cola.RTM. bottles
is captured, it may lead to discrepancy in the inventory as one of
the 100 ml bottles may be determined to be out of place. This
information may be used by system 100 to transmit an alert, for
example, to user 120 via GUI 500 on output device 145 to correctly
update the inventory. An alert may be transmitted to the user by
sending a picture of the shelf via a text message or an email,
sending a link to a web page with a picture of the product, sending
a text message or an email disclosing the shelf number, sending a
picture of the product via a text message or an email, etc.
[0385] According to the present disclosure, the action may also
include updating the price of the bottle. For example, the price
associated with a Gatorade.RTM. bottle may mistakenly be stored as
$5 instead of $3. System 100 may determine a price of $5 for the
Gatorade.RTM. bottle which is actually priced at $3. Based on the
difference in the size of the first bottle and the second bottle,
as discussed above in reference to FIGS. 19 and 20, system 100 may
recognize this discrepancy and may transmit an alert, for example,
to user 120 via GUI 500 on output device 145 to take a corrective
action.
[0386] According to the present disclosure, an action may comprise
any action consistent with this disclosure. For example, system 100
may provide information regarding the first bottle, price, size or
any other visual characteristics or contextual data associated with
the bottle to user 120 via GUI 500 on output device 145.
Additionally or alternatively, the action may comprise storing the
determined size of the bottle in memory 226 for further processing
the information in accordance with other aspects of this
disclosure. An action may also include updating the database every
time a confidence level and/or threshold are determined according
to FIG. 18D. An action may also include informing the head office
of the retail chain, sending the data to different
branches/locations of the retail store, place an order for adding
new stock, etc.
[0387] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may further be configured to perform a second action
associated with the second bottle, wherein the second action
differs from the first action when the determined size of the
second bottle differs from the determined size of the first bottle.
According to the present disclosure, upon determining that the
first bottle and the second bottles may be located adjacent each
other, may be associated with a common brand, and may have
different sizes, a second action, associated with the second
bottle, different from the first action may be performed. Different
sizes bottles placed next to each other may indicate a misplaced
product. The actions may be substantially the same as those
discussed above, however, the action performed for different
bottles may be different. For example, if the first action may
correspond to sending an alert to user 120 associated with the
first bottle, the second action may correspond to storing the
determined size of the second bottle in memory 226 for further
processing the information.
[0388] According to the present disclosure, a first action may be
performed when the size of the first bottle is identical to the
size of the second bottle. For example, when the size of the first
bottle is identical to the size of the second bottle, system 100
may use the visual characteristics and contextual data to further
determine the product type as discussed above on accordance with
the present disclosure. If the product type of the first bottle may
be different from the second bottle, system 100 may perform a first
action. The first action may include sending an alert to user 120
via GUI 500 on output device 145. For example, system 100 may
detect two Coca-Cola.RTM. 100 ml bottles adjacent to each other.
System 100 may further determine based on visual characteristics,
for example the label or the logo or the color of the bottle, that
the first bottle may be a Coke Zero.RTM. bottle and the second
bottle may be a Diet Coke.RTM. bottle. This information may be
communicated to user 120 to take the necessary steps. This
information may additionally or alternatively be used to update the
inventory, check planogram compliance, check other product related
data, update confidence levels, update thresholds, etc.
[0389] According to the present disclosure, system 100 may detect
bottles missing or an empty shelf space based on the received
image. In response to this determination, system 100 may take any
of the actions discussed above. For example, system 100 may detect
that bottles are missing from a shelf. In response to this
determination, system 100 may check the inventory or alert the user
120 or update the inventory database, or take any other relevant
action. According to the present disclosure, system 100 may be able
to determine the number of bottles missing from the shelf based on
image analysis. System 100 may receive an image of the entire shelf
with multiple bottles of different products placed on the shelf.
System 100 may compare the received image to the image for that
shelf stored in database 140. Based on this comparison, system 100
may determine if a product may be missing or out of stock and
perform any of the actions discussed above.
[0390] In accordance with the present disclosure, system 100 may
additionally receive an image of a shelf and products placed on the
shelf with a time-stamp. System 100 may request for location data
of the received image. System 100 may receive temporally separate
images of the same shelf at the same location. System 100 may
analyze the two temporally separated images. System 100 may also
compare both the images with the stored planogram. Based on the
analysis, system 100 may determine if a product may be missing or
misplaced and send a notification to user 120 or perform any of the
actions discussed above.
[0391] According to the present disclosure, a system for processing
images captured in a retail store and differentiating between
products with similar visual appearances is disclosed. The system
may include at least one processor. By way of example, FIG. 1
illustrates system 100, which may include image processing unit
130, which in turn may include server 135. As discussed above,
server 135 may include processing device 202, which may include at
least one processor. System 100 may use price as an input for
visual product recognition. Price may be used to differentiate
between products with similar visual characteristics. For example,
on a shelf containing heads of lettuce and heads of cabbage, the
visual characteristics of the lettuce and of the cabbage may be
very similar. If the lettuce is sold at a first price range and the
cabbage is sold at a second price range, then determining which of
the products are associated with the first price range and which of
the products are associated with the second price range may be an
effective way for differentiating between the lettuce and the
cabbage. Price may also be used to differentiate between different
tiers of products within the same category of product. For example,
price may be an effective way to differentiate between premium or
brand name products (e.g., a bottle of TYLENOL.RTM.) and generic or
store brand products (e.g., a bottle of acetaminophen), which may
appear visually similar in low resolution images. In another
example, price may be an effective way to differentiate between
regular produce, associated with a first price range, and organic
produce, associated with a second price range. While the present
disclosure provides examples of the products which may be
differentiated based on price, it should be noted that aspects of
the disclosure in their broadest sense, are not limited to the
disclosed products.
[0392] Price may also be used to differentiate between products
when characteristics of the products or contextual information
relating to the products is not visibly captured in an image of a
product shelf. For example, a product may be partially obscured
from the view of capturing device 125 when the image is captured,
the result being that system 100 receives only a portion of the
image data needed to identify the product based on the
characteristics of the product. By identifying a price associated
with the product, system 100 may identify the product by
determining that the price falls within a price range associated
with a product of a specific type.
[0393] Price may be used in conjunction with any of the identifying
characteristics or contextual information disclosed herein to
differentiate between products identified in an image. For example,
system 100 may use characteristics of products, e.g. the size and
shape of the product, to differentiate between categories of
products and further use the price of the products to differentiate
between products within a category. For example, system 100 may
receive an image of a refrigerated shelf containing orange juice
cartons and milk cartons. The size and shape of the cartons may be
used to differentiate between the orange juice and the milk. Once
system 100 has determined which of the products are milk products,
for example, prices of milk can be used to further differentiate
between, for example, organic milk, pasteurized milk, and flavored
milk, the organic milk being associated with a first price range,
the pasteurized milk being associated with a second price range,
and the flavored milk being associated with a third price
range.
[0394] In some aspects, system 100 may differentiate between
products based on a brand name associated with a product, a logo
associated with the product, a text associated with the product, a
color associated with the product, a position of the product, and
so forth and further differentiate between the products based on
price ranges in which the products fall. For example, continuing
with the milk example, a system may determine that a subset of the
milk is associated with a particular supplier, e.g., Hiland
Dairy.RTM., by detecting a logo or brand name associated therewith
and further determine that there are products in four different
price ranges included in the image. Those four price ranges may
represent the different price ranges between, for example, skim
milk, whole milk, organic milk, and chocolate milk.
[0395] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to perform a method for processing
images captured in a retail store. By way of example, system 100
may perform a method for processing images captured in a retail
store. It is also contemplated that the method, or a portion
thereof, may be performed by any component of system 100 consistent
with this disclosure, including, for example, the at least one
processor. The method for processing images may include determining
whether the product is of a first type or a second type. The
disclosed method may determine the type of the product based on
determining whether the price of the product falls within an
associated price range.
[0396] FIG. 21A illustrates an exemplary method 2100 for
determining whether a product is of a first type or of a second
type based on a determination that a price associated with the
product falls within a first or second price range. As will be
appreciated from this disclosure, method 2100 is exemplary only and
modifications may be made by, for example, adding, combining,
removing, and/or rearranging one or more steps of process 2100.
[0397] According to the present disclosure the at least one
processor may be configured to receive at least one image depicting
a store shelf having a product displayed thereon. Further,
according to the present disclosure the method for processing
images captured in a retail store may include receiving at least
one image depicting a store shelf having a product displayed
thereon. By way of example, method 2100 may include a step of
receiving an image depicting a shelf (step 2110). The at least one
image may be received from capturing device 125, over network 150,
or in any other manner disclosed herein. The at least one image may
be received by system 100 or any component thereof configured to
receive an image. As also discussed above, the image may include
image data. By way of example, FIG. 23 illustrates an exemplary
image 2300 that may be received by system 100 during step 2110 of
method 2100. As illustrated in FIG. 23, image 2300 may include one
or more shelves 2301, 2302, 2303, with one or more products 2312,
2314, 2322, 2324, 2332, etc. positioned on shelves 2301, 2302,
2303. While the present disclosure provides examples of the images
captured in a retail store, it should be noted that aspects of the
disclosure in their broadest sense, are not limited to the
disclosed images.
[0398] In accordance with this disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to analyze the at least one image to
detect the product represented in the at least one image. Further,
according to the present disclosure the method for processing
images captured in a retail store may include analyzing the at
least one image to detect the product represented in the at least
one image. For example, method 2100 may include a step of analyzing
the image to detect a product positioned on the shelf (step 2112).
The product may be detected according to any method or embodiment
disclosed herein. By way of example, during step 2112, system 100
may detect any of the plurality of products in image 2300, for
example, product 2332. Product 2332 may be detected in image 2300
based any one or more distinctive characteristic of product 2332,
for example, its color, size, shape, orientation, or other
characteristic that distinguishes it from the background of the
image and from surrounding products. Contextual information may
also be used to detect a product. For example, system 100 may
detect product 2332 by a determination that it is on shelf 2302 or
that it is associated with, for example, product 2334, or that it
is associated with, for example, price label E2. Further, system
110 may detect a product using one or more algorithms similar to
those discussed in connection with image processing unit 130. For
example, the product may be detected using object detection
algorithms, using machine learning algorithms trained to detect
products using training examples, using artificial neural networks
configured to detect products, and so forth. While the present
disclosure provides exemplary methods of detecting one or more
products, it should be noted that aspects of the disclosure in
their broadest sense, are not limited to the disclosed methods.
[0399] In accordance with this disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to analyze the at least one image to
determine a price associated with the detected product. Further,
according to the present disclosure the method for processing
images captured in a retail store may include analyzing the at
least one image to determine or identify a price associated with
the detected product. The price may be determined or identified by
any method consistent with this disclosure. For example, the at
least one image may be analyzed to detect a label associated with
the product. The detected label may include one or more price
labels, such as for example, A1, B1, B2, C3, etc. A label may be
associated with a product based on its proximity to the product,
its attachment to the product itself, and/or its attachment to a
shelf associated with the product, etc. The word label as used in
this disclosure should be interpreted to include any label of any
shape or size and in any orientation (e.g., stickers, flags, etc.)
and may be presented in any type of media (e.g., printed,
electronically displayed, hand-written, etc.). Consistent with this
disclosure, system 100 may detect price labels in an image by
detecting common symbols (e.g., $, , , etc.) or phrases (e.g.,
"sale," "buy now," etc.) associated with price labels. In other
embodiments, system 100 may detect a label using one or more
algorithms similar to those discussed above in connection with
image processing unit 130. For example, the label may be detected
using object detection algorithms, using machine learning
algorithms trained to detect labels using training examples, using
artificial neural networks configured to detect labels, and so
forth.
[0400] A detected label may be further analyzed to identify a price
indicator printed on the price label (e.g., by using an OCR
algorithm, using an artificial neural network configured to
identify printed price indicators, and so forth). The price
indicator may be any string of numerical, alphabetical, or
alphanumeric characters that identifies the price of an item (e.g.,
"$2.49," "2 for $10," "50 cents," "Two-Dollars," etc.). The price
indicator may also include, for example, promotional or temporary
pricing information (e.g., "50% off," "1/2 Off," "Buy 1 get 2
Free," etc.). By way of example, with reference to box 2310 of FIG.
23, system 100 may detect price label A3 and price label B3 and
further analyze both price label A3 and price label B3 to identify
a price indicator present on each label A3, B3. In some cases, only
part of the price of an item may be identified (for example, due to
low resolution, poor image quality, occlusions, and so forth). For
example, in a two digits price the tens digit may be identified
while the units digit may be too blurred to be recognized, and the
price may be identified with a partial accuracy. In another
example, the cents of a price may be printed in a small font that
may be unrecognizable by the system, while the full dollars may be
printer in a larger font size that is recognizable, and the price
may be identified with a partial accuracy. In yet another example,
part of the pricing information may be occluded, and the images may
depict only part of the pricing information, for example depicting
"Half" and "Off" from a label saying "Half Price Off". The system
may identify the depicted words or letters, and may use the
identified parts to estimate the actual price. While the present
disclosure provides exemplary techniques for detecting labels
associated with a product, it should be noted that aspects of the
disclosure in their broadest sense, are not limited to the
disclosed techniques for detecting labels.
[0401] According to the present disclosure, the determination of
the price associated with the detected product includes detecting a
label attached to the store shelf, and the at least one processor
is further configured to analyze the at least one image to
recognize a price indicator on the detected label. A method for
processing images according to the present disclosure may further
include detecting a label attached to the product, and analyzing
the at least one image to recognize a price indicator on the
detected label. As an example, in FIG. 23, price labels A3, B3, C3,
D3, E3, and F2 are visible on the top shelf 2303. System 100, upon
receiving the image of FIG. 23, may detect, for example, price
label A3 and may further detect a price indicator on price label
A3. The price determined from the price indicator may then be
associated with product 2312 based on, for example, product 2312
being positioned directly above price label A3. It should be
appreciated that system 100 may first detect product 2312 (e.g., by
performing step 2112) and then detect the price label A3 (e.g., by
performing step 2114), system 100 may first detect the price label
A3 (e.g., by performing step 2114) and then detect product 2312
(e.g., by performing step 2112), or system 100 may detect price
label A3 and product 2312 simultaneously, for example using an
artificial neural network configured to detect both products and
labels. In either scenario, the end result is a determined price
associated with product 2312.
[0402] In accordance with the present disclosure, the determination
of the price associated with the detected product may include
detecting a label attached to the product, and the at least one
processor may further be configured to analyze the at least one
image to recognize a price indicator on the detected label. A
method for processing images according to the present disclosure
may further include analyzing the at least one image to recognize a
price indicator on the detected label. As an example, in FIG. 23, a
price label may be detected on product label 2338, which is
physically attached to product 2337. System 100 may detect a price
indicator on label 2338 and associate the determined price with
product 2337 based on product label 2338 being attached to product
2337. It should be appreciated that system 100 may first detect
product 2337 (e.g., by performing step 2112) and then detect the
price indicator on product label 2338 (e.g., by performing step
2114), system 100 may first detect the price indicator on product
label 2338 (e.g., by performing step 2114) and then detect product
2337 (e.g., by performing step 2112), or system 100 may detect
product 2337 and product label 2338 simultaneously, for example
using an artificial neural network configured to detect both
products and labels. In either scenario, the end result is a
determined price associated with product 2337.
[0403] According to the present disclosure, the determination of
the price associated with the detected product may include
detecting a label in close proximity to the product, and the method
may further comprise analyzing the at least one image to recognize
a price indicator on the detected label. As an example, in FIG. 23,
system may detect product 2334 on the middle shelf 2302. As
illustrated in FIG. 23, product 2334 may lack a price indictor on
its own label and may not be positioned directly above any shelf
label. For example, product 2334 may be positioned between price
label E2* and F2. In this example, system 100 may determine that
product 2334 is associated with price label E2* based on product
2334 being in slightly closer proximity to price label E2* than to
price label F2. In another example, system 100 may determine that
product 2334 is associated with price label E2* rather than price
label F2 due to a brand name or logo appearing on price label E2*
and product 2334 and not appearing on price label F2. In yet
another example, system 100 may determine that product 2334 is
associated with price label E2* due to a brand name or logo
appearing on price label F2 that differs from a second brand name
or a second logo appearing on product 2334. In another example,
system 100 may determine that product 2334 is associated with price
label E2* rather than price label F2 due to a product size
specified on price label E2* that corresponds to the size of
product 2334, or due to a product size specified on price label F2
that do not match the size of product 2334. In yet another example,
system 100 may determine that price label E2* corresponds to a
first product category while price label F2 corresponds to a second
product category (for example from an image or text appearing on
the price label), and based on the category of product 2334 (for
example as determined by analyzing the images) matching the first
product category, system 100 may determine that product 2334 is
associated with price label E2* rather than price label F2. While
the present disclosure provides exemplary techniques for
determining a price associated with a product, it should be noted
that aspects of the disclosure in their broadest sense, are not
limited to the disclosed techniques for determining prices.
[0404] In accordance with this disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine that the detected product
is either a first type of product or a second type of product.
Further, according to the present disclosure the method for
processing images captured in a retail store may include
determining that the detected product is either a first type of
product or a second type of product, wherein the first type of
products and the second type of products may have similar visual
appearances. Each of the first type of product and the second type
of product may be associated with a different price range. For
example, method 2100 may contain step 2116 of determining that the
product is of a first type or a second type based on the price
falling within a first or second price range. In some examples, the
type of a detect product may be determined to be of a plurality of
alternative types of products (for example, of two alternative
types of products, of three alternative types of products, of four
alternative types of products, of more than four alternative types
of products, and so forth).
[0405] As used in this disclosure, the term "type of product"
should be interpreted broadly. For example, if an image to be
processed contains products from different categories, a type of
product may be interpreted as a classification of the category in
which the product falls. As an example, an image may contain a
visual representation of a shelf in an electronics store and there
may be televisions, projectors, audio systems, and other categories
or products present. In that circumstance, the products may be
differentiated into a first type comprised of televisions, a second
type comprised of projectors, and a third type comprised of audio
systems. Additionally or alternatively, in the same example, the
products may be differentiated into a first category comprising
video equipment, into which both televisions and projectors may
fall, and a second category comprising audio equipment, into which
the audio systems may fall. In another example, image 2300 may
contain beverages of different types, each type representing a
category of drink. For example, the first type of product may be
soft drinks and the second type of product may be sports
drinks.
[0406] Consistent with this disclosure, a type of product may also
refer to a specific name brand of a product or otherwise may be
used to differentiate between products within the same or similar
categories. By way of example, image 2300 of FIG. 23 contains
several different beverage products. When system 100, for example,
analyzes image 2300, it may use a narrow definition of "type of
product" such that it may differentiate between, for example,
product 2322 and product 2324, which are within the same category
(e.g., beverages) and have a similar visual appearance. As used in
this disclosure two products may be deemed to have a similar visual
appearance if they have similarity of one or more of shapes, sizes,
colors, color schemes, text or logos on the products, etc. It is
contemplated, however, that products having similar shapes may be
deemed to have a similar visual appearance even if they have
different sizes, colors, logos, etc. Likewise, for example,
products having similar logos may be deemed to have a similar
visual appearance even if they include different sizes, colors,
shapes, etc.
[0407] A first type of product (represented by product 2322) may
be, for example, a first brand of beverage and a second type of
product (represented by product 2324) may be, for example, a second
brand of beverage. For example, product 2322 may be a soda
distributed by Company A and product 2324 may be a soda distributed
by Company B.
[0408] Consistent with this disclosure, a first type of product and
a second type of product may be associated with different
ingredients. For example, the first type of product might be gluten
free bread and the second type of product might be regular bread
that includes gluten. As illustrated in FIG. 23, product 2336 and
product 2337 are examples of two products that appear identical or
similar, but that may have different ingredients. For example,
product 2336 may be a strawberry sports drink distributed by
Company X and may be determined to be of a first type whereas
product 2337 may be a grape sports drink distributed by Company X
and may be determined to be of a second type. As another example,
product 2336 may be a sugar-free beverage and product 2337 may be a
regular beverage, which includes sugar. Product 2336 may be
determined to be associated with a price detected on price label E2
whereas product 2337 may be determined to be associated with a
price detected on product label 2338.
[0409] Consistent with this disclosure, a first type of product and
a second type of product may be associated with different sizes.
For example, the first type of product might be a container (e.g.,
a bottle) containing one liter of soda, whereas the second type of
product might be a bottle containing two liters of soda. Product
2340 and product 2342 of FIG. 23 provide an example of two types of
products that have similar appearances except for their difference
in sizes. Product 2340 may be, for example, a first type of product
and product 2342 may be a second type of product. As another
example, there may be packages of different sizes (volumes,
weights, etc.) of the same product (e.g., cookies, sugar, salt,
etc.) that system 100 may detect in image 2300. System 100 may
classify the different sizes of packages as corresponding to
different types of product.
[0410] It is contemplated that the scope of the term "type of
product" may also be set by user 120, or may be based on any other
input, to meet the needs of the user. For example, a store manager
may define the term narrowly, such that it can facilitate
differentiating between brand names. Alternatively the store
manager may define the term broadly, such that it may facilitate
grouping products by category (e.g., audio vs. video equipment,
soft drinks vs. sports drinks, etc.). While the present disclosure
provides exemplary product characteristics that may be used to
classify products into different types of products, it should be
noted that aspects of the disclosure in their broadest sense, are
not limited to the disclosed characteristics or methods of
classifying products into types of products.
[0411] A price range may be associated with a type of product in
any manner consistent with this disclosure. It is contemplated that
the price range for a type of product may be provided, for example,
by user 120, or may be determined by system 100, or by some
combination thereof. A price range may be stored in database 140,
elsewhere in memory device 226.
[0412] In some exemplary embodiments, the price range for a type of
product may be provided by input from user 120 or supplier 115. For
example, user 120 or supplier 115 input of price ranges associated
with various products may be received as a response to a request
through output devices 145, as an initial input when setting up
system 100, or in any manner consistent with this disclosure. For
example, the first price range associated with the first type of
product may be input by an employee or manager of a store. The
employee or manager may additionally provide the second price range
associated with the second type of product. As an example, an
employee may provide that gluten free bread is sold at a price of
$4 to $7 per loaf and that regular bread is sold at a price of $2
to $4 per loaf.
[0413] In another example, supplier 115 may provide the price range
associated with a product. In this example, supplier 115 of the
first type of product and the second type of product may provide a
first price range for the first type of product and a second price
range for the second type of product. It is also contemplated that
first supplier 115A may provide a first price range for a first
type of product and second supplier 115B may provide a second price
range for a second type of product. Supplier 115 may provide price
ranges in association with a planogram.
[0414] It is also contemplated that a price range may be associated
with a type of product in response to a determination that a
detected product (i.e. product detected in, for example, image
2300) does not fall within a known price range. For example, system
100 may perform all or part of method 2100 and determine that a
determined price associated with a detected product is not
associated with a first price range or a second price range. In
response, system 100 may use the determined price associated with
the detected product to establish a price range for products of
that type. Additionally or alternatively, system 100 may, in
response to the determination, request input of a price range to be
associated with the detected product. These examples are discussed
further below in relation to FIG. 21B and FIG. 22B.
[0415] A price range may also be associated with a type of product
absent any input from, for example user 120 or supplier 115. For
example, a system may employ any of the methods disclosed herein to
analyze an image to determine that a product is of a first type
(e.g., by identifying product characteristics) and further analyze
the image to identify a price associated with that product (e.g.,
by detecting a label and detecting a price indicator on that
label). As an example, step 2114 of method 2100 may be performed to
determine the price associated with a known product type and the
price determined in step 2114 may be stored in association with
that product type. After performing this analysis a number of
times, a range of prices at which a type of product was sold may be
determined. This range may be stored as a first price range. This
exemplary embodiment may allow for the first price range to be
adjusted over time as the price at which the first type of product
is sold changes over time. The same steps can be performed with
respect to the second type of product.
[0416] As another example, a system may access stored transaction
data to identify a range of prices at which a product of a known
type has been sold to determine a price range associated with the
type of product. For example, system 100 may determine a type of
product by any method consistent with this disclosure, including by
using identifying characteristics of the product or contextual
information related to the product. System 100 may access stored
transaction data, for example from memory 226 or database 140, to
determine the historical sale price of the product. System 100 may
determine a price range associated with the product based on the
transaction history and store it in association with the product,
for example in database 140.
[0417] As another example, system 100 may be configured to access
catalog data 244, contract-related data 242, product-type model
data 240, or other data stored in memory 226 to determine a present
price for a product and to determine a price range associated with
the product based on that present price. For example, system 100
may be configured to access database 140 and identify a first
catalog price for a first type of product and a second catalog
price for a second type of product. As used in this disclosure the
term "catalog price" may refer to a price of a product determined
from any of catalog data 244, contract-related data 242,
product-type model data 240, or other data stored in memory 226.
Based on the first and second catalog price, system 100 may be
configured to determine a first and second price range. In another
example, system 100 may identify a first catalog price for a first
type of product at a first time and identify a second catalog price
for the first type of product at a second time and determine a
price range for the first type of product based on the first and
second catalog price. The first and second times may refer to a
time of the day, a time of the week, a time of the month, a time of
the year, a season, a time of the year associated with a particular
event, festival, or celebration, etc.
[0418] In some examples, system 100 may access online catalogs to
determine a price range for a selected product type, for example,
in similar retail stores, in the geographical area of the retail
store, and so forth. In some examples, system 100 may receive
information about price range for a selected product type in other
retail stores, for example based on an analysis of images captured
in the other retail stores to determine the price from a label
associated with the product type in the other retail stores, based
on transactions of sales of the selected product type in the other
retail stores, and so forth.
[0419] In some embodiments, system 100 may obtain a plurality of
prices for a selected product type and use the plurality of prices
to calculate a price range for the selected product type. For
example, the plurality of prices may be obtained from catalogs,
from image analysis determining the price of the product type from
labels in one or more retail stores as described above, from a
database, from transactions of sales of the selected product type
in one or more retail stores, and so forth. In one example, the
price range may be selected to include the entire plurality of
prices, for example by selecting the lowest and highest prices from
the plurality of prices and using them as the boundaries defining
the price range. In another example, a subset of the plurality of
prices may be selected, for example by removing outliers from the
plurality of prices using an outliers removal algorithm, and the
price range may be selected according to the selected subset of the
plurality of prices. In some examples, a distribution of the
plurality of prices may be estimated, and the price range may be
selected according to the distribution. For example, the estimated
distribution may include a normal distribution, and the price range
may be selected as a function of the distribution mean and variance
or the standard deviation of the distribution, for example the
price range may be selected to be a range of a selected number (for
example 1, 2, 3, etc.) of standard deviations around the mean. In
another example, the estimated distribution may include a histogram
of the plurality of prices, and the price range may be selected to
include all bins of the histogram that are above a selected
threshold.
[0420] While the present disclosure provides examples of ways to
determine price ranges for products, it should be noted that
aspects of the disclosure in their broadest sense, are not limited
to the disclosed methods of determining price ranges. It is also to
be understood that there is no limit as to how broad or narrow a
price range may be. For example, a price range may be a single
number (e.g., a catalog price) or it may be any range of numbers.
For example, a first price range may include all prices below a
select first threshold price. In another example, a second price
range may include all prices above a selected second threshold
price. In yet another example, a third price range may include all
prices between two selected prices. Additionally, a first and
second price range my overlap and there may be more than a first
and second price range (e.g., a third price range, a fourth price
range, etc.).
[0421] A price range provided by a user, such as supplier 115 or
user 120, or determined in any manner disclosed herein, may be
stored in association with a type of product in, for example,
product type model data 240, contract-related data 242, (e.g., in a
planogram relating to the product type), catalog data 244,
inventory data 246, or any other data consistent with this
disclosure and may be stored in database 140, memory device 226, or
any other type of storage media.
[0422] In accordance with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine that the detected product
is of the first type of product when the determined price falls
within a first price range associated with the first type of
product. Further, according to the present disclosure the method
for processing images captured in a retail store may include
determining that the detected product is of the first type of
product when the determined price falls within the first price
range. For example, a determined price associated with a detected
product may fall within a first price range associated with a first
type of product, in which instance, the detected product may be
determined to be of the first type. In one example, a price may be
deemed to fall within a price range if the price is greater than or
equal to the lowest price in the price range and if the price is
less than or equal to the highest price in the price range. In
another example, a price may be deemed to fall within a price range
if the price is greater than or equal to the lowest price in the
price range. In yet another example, a price may be deemed to fall
within a price range if the price is less than or equal to the
highest price in the price range. As an example, system 100 may
determine a price associated with a product, as discussed in
relation to step 2114 of method 2100, and further determine that
the determined price falls within a first price range. Determining
whether a determined price falls within a first price range may
comprise any means for comparing a determined price with the first
price range. For example, determining whether a determined price
falls within a first price range may comprise the operation
represented by step 2125 of process 2102 and process 2104 (FIG.
21C), which asks whether the determined price falls within a first
price range. If the determined price does fall within the first
price range at step 2125 ("YES"), then the product may be
determined to be a product of the first type as shown by
determination 2130.
[0423] As an example, product 2312 of FIG. 23 may be associated
with a determined price of $3.99, as discussed in relation to step
2114. System 100 may, for example, determine that a first price
range is from $2.99 to $3.99 and a second price range is from, for
example, $1.99 to $2.99. Based on this information, system 100 may
determine that product 2312 is of the first type because the
determined price (e.g., $3.99) falls within the first price range
(i.e., is greater than or equal to $2.99 and is less than or equal
to $3.99).
[0424] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine that the type of the
detected product is the first type of product when the determined
price is greater than the first price range. Further, according to
the present disclosure the method for processing images captured in
a retail store may include determining that the type of the
detected product is of the first type of product when the
determined price is higher than the first price range. For example,
the first price range associated with the first type of product may
be higher than the second price range associated with the second
type of product. For example, a determined price may be higher than
a first price range, which may also be higher than a second price
range. System 100 may determine, therefore, that the detected
product associated with the determined price is of the first type
of product. As an example, product 2332 of FIG. 23 may be
associated with a determined price of $4.99, as discussed in
relation to step 2114. System 100 may, for example, determine that
the highest price range, the first price range, is a range from
$2.99 to $3.99 and a second price range is a range from, for
example, $1.99 to $2.99. Based on this information, system 100 may
determine that product 2332 is of the first type, even though the
determined price (e.g., $4.99) for product 2332 does not fall
within the first price range (e.g., $2.99 to $3.99).
[0425] In accordance with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine that the detected product
is of the second type of product when the determined price falls
within a second price range associated with the second type of
product. Further, according to the present disclosure the method
for processing images captured in a retail store may include
determining that the detected product is of the second type of
product when the determined price falls within the second price
range. For example, a determined price associated with a detected
product may fall within a second price range associated with a
second type of product, in which instance, the detected product may
be determined to be of the second type. As an example, system 100
may determine a price associated with a product, as discussed in
relation to step 2114 of method 2100, and further determine that
the determined price falls within a second price range. Determining
whether a determined price falls within a second price range may
comprise any means for comparing a determined price with the second
price range. Determining whether a determined price falls within a
second price range may comprise substantially the same steps as
determining whether a determined price falls within a first price
range, as discussed above. For example, determining whether a
determined price falls within a second price range may comprise the
operation represented by step 2135 of process 2102 and process
2104, which asks whether the determined price falls within a second
price range. If the determined price does fall within the second
price range at step 2135 ("YES"), then the product may be
determined to be a product of the first type as shown by
determination 2140.
[0426] As an example, product 2314 of FIG. 23 may be associated
with a determined price of $1.99, as discussed in relation to step
2114. System 100 may, for example, determine that a first price
range is a range from $2.99 to $3.99 and a second price range is a
range from, for example, $1.99 to $2.99. Based on this information,
system 100 may determine that product 2314 is of the second type
because the determined price (e.g., $1.99) falls within the second
price range (e.g., $1.99 to $2.99).
[0427] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine that the type of the
detected product is the second type of product when the determined
price is less than the second price range. Further, according to
the present disclosure the method for processing images captured in
a retail store may include determining that the type of the
detected product is of the second type of product when the
determined price is lower than the second price range. For example,
the first price range associated with the first type of product may
be higher than the second price range associated with the second
type of product. For example, a determined price may be lower than
a second price range, which may also be lower than a first price
range. System 100 may determine, therefore, that the detected
product associated with the determined price is of the second type
of product. As an example, product 2334 of FIG. 23 may be
associated with a determined price of $0.99, as discussed in
relation to step 2114. System 100 may, for example, determine that
the highest price range, the first price range, is a range from
$2.99 to $3.99 and a second price range is a range from, for
example, $1.99 to $2.99. Based on this information, system 100 may
determine that product 2334 is of the second type, even though the
determined price for product 2334 does not fall within but is
instead lower than the second price range.
[0428] It is contemplated that the at least one processor may be
configured to determine that the detected product is of the first
type of product when the determined price falls within a first
price range associated with the first type of product; and
determine that the detected product is of the second type of
product when the determined price falls within a second price range
associated with the second type of product. For example, system 100
may be configured such that it compares a determined price to both
a first price range and a second price range. As an example, system
100 may be configured to perform step 2125 and step 2135 of process
2102 and process 2104. In step 2125, for example, system 100 may
determine whether the determined price falls within a first price
range. As indicated by step 2130, when a determined price does fall
within a first price range, then system 100 may determine the
product to be of the first type. When the determined price does not
fall within the first price range, however, system 100 may
determine whether the determined price falls within the second
price range as illustrated at step 2135. As indicated by step 2140,
when a determined price does fall within the second price range,
system 100 may determine the product to be of the second type. It
is contemplated that step 2125 and step 2135 may be performed in
any order, the order presented in FIGS. 21A and 21B are exemplary
only. It is also contemplated that step 2125 and step 2135 may be
performed at substantially the same time.
[0429] It is also contemplated that step 2125 and step 2135 be
performed regardless of a prior positive determination at an
earlier step. For example, following the order illustrated in
process 2102, system 100 may determine, by performing step 2125,
that a determined price falls within a first price range. Rather
than proceeding to step 2130, system 100 may proceed to step 2135
to ascertain the determined price also falls within the second
price range. This may be particularly advantageous when, for
example, the first price range and the second price range
overlap.
[0430] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine that the type of the
detected product is of the first type of product when the
determined price is higher than the first price range; and
determine that the type of the detected product is of the second
type of product when the determined price is lower than the second
price range. For example, it is contemplated that in any one image
received by a system configured to perform this method, there may
be multiple products detected and multiple prices determined, each
determined price corresponding to one or more products, and any one
price may be higher than a first price range or lower than a second
price range.
[0431] For example, system 100 may perform steps 2125 and 2135 of
process 2102, for example, and determine that the determined price
does not fall within either the first or second price range (e.g.,
"NO" at step 2125 and "NO" at step 2135). Process 2102 may then
proceed to step 2122 to ascertain whether the determined price is
higher than the first price range. When the determined price is
higher than the first price range ("YES" at step 2122) then system
100 may determine that the product may be of the first type at step
2130. When, however, the determined price is not higher than the
first price range ("NO" at step 2122) then system 100 may proceed,
for example, to step 2124 to ascertain whether the determined price
is lower than the second price range. When the determined price is
higher than the first price range ("YES" at step 2142) then the
product may be determined to be of the second type at determination
2140.
[0432] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be further configured to access a database including
a first catalog price for a first type of product and a second
catalog price for a second type of product. In accordance with this
disclosure, a determined price associated with a product may be
used to determine that a product is of a first type if the
determined price matches a first catalog price. As an example,
system 100 may access catalog data 244, for example, from database
140 or another memory device to access catalog prices for a number
of products. In situations where a determined price is the same as
a catalog price, system 100 may determine that the product is of
the type associated with that catalog price. This manner of
determining a type of a product may be used in association with or
instead of the method of determining a type of a product based on
its price falling within a first or second price range.
[0433] Further, in accordance with this disclosure, the determined
price may be different from the first catalog price and a second
catalog price. In accordance with this disclosure, in circumstances
where a determined price does not match a catalog price (e.g., the
determined price is different from a first catalog price and a
second catalog price), a type of the product may still be
determined based on its relation to the catalog prices. According
to the present disclosure, the at least one processor may be
configured to determine that the type of the detected product is
the first type of product when the determined price is closer to a
first catalog price than to a second catalog price.
[0434] System 100 may determine whether the determined price is
closer to the first or second catalog price, for example, by
determining differences between the determined price and one or
more of the first and second catalog prices. System 100 may
determine that the determined price is closer to the first catalog
price if the difference of the price from the first catalog price
is smaller than the difference of the price from the second catalog
price. System 100 may use other methods or algorithms of
determining whether the determined price is closer to the first or
second catalog price. When system 100 determines that the
determined price is closest to the first catalog price, at step
2146 of exemplary process 2104 (FIG. 21C), system may determine
that the product may be of the first type at step 2130. Method 2100
may then proceed to step 2118. Conversely, when system 100
determines that the determined price is closest to the second
catalog price, at step 2148, system 100 may determine that the
product may be of the second type at step 2140. Method 2100 may
then proceed to step 2118.
[0435] By way of example, system 100 may perform the exemplary
process 2104 to determine whether a determined price falls within a
first or second price range and how the determined price compares
to a first and second catalog price. As shown in process 2104,
system 100 may first determine whether a determined price falls
within either a first or second price range as discussed with
regard to steps 2125 and 2135 in process 2102 above. If the
determined price does not fall within either the first or second
price range, system 100 may, at step 2142, access database 140 to
identify a first and second catalog price stored therein. System
100 may proceed at step 2144 to determine the catalog price (e.g.,
first or second catalog price) to which the determined price is the
closest. For example, at step 2112, system 100 may determine that
product 2336 of FIG. 23 is associated with a determined price of
$2.50. A first price range associated with a first type of product
may be $0.99 to $1.99, for example, and a second price range
associated with a second type of product may be $2.99 to $3.99, for
example. In this example, system 100 would determine at step 2125
and step 2135 that product 2336 is within neither the first price
range nor the second price range. System 100 may the access
database 140, for example, to locate a first and second catalog
price. The first catalog price associated with the first type of
product may be, for example, $1.50 and the second catalog price
associated with the second type of product may be, for example,
$2.99. In this example, system 100 would proceed to step 2144 to
determine whether the determined price is closer to the first
catalog price or the second catalog price and determine that the
determined price ($2.50) is closer to the second catalog price
($2.99) than to the first catalog price ($1.50). Based on this
determination, system 100 may determine that the detected product
is of the second type, as illustrated by steps 2148 and 2140.
[0436] It is to be understood that steps 2122, 2124, 2142, and 2144
are exemplary only and are not necessary to perform method 2100 or
step 2116 thereof. Additionally, the steps disclosed in process
2102 and process 2104 may be performed in any order.
[0437] In accordance with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine that the type of the
detected product is either the first type of product or the second
type of product based on at least one of: a visual appearance of
the detected product, a brand associated with the detected product,
a logo associated with the detected product, text associated with
the detected product, and a shape of the detected product. Further,
according to the present disclosure the method for processing
images captured in a retail store may include determining that the
type of the detected product is either the first type of product or
the second type of product based on at least one of: a visual
appearance of the detected product, a brand associated with the
detected product, a logo associated with the detected product, text
associated with the detected product, and a shape of the detected
product. For example, as discussed above, a product type may be
determined based on the physical characteristics of the product. As
an example, system 100 may, when analyzing image 2300,
differentiate between product 2314 and product 2332 based on, for
example, product 2312 being of a larger size than product 2332.
[0438] It is contemplated that the method for differentiating
between products based on a product's price as well as
differentiating between products based on physical characteristics
or contextual information may be performed for any one analysis of
an image. For example, referring to FIG. 22C, system 100 may
analyze an image to detect characteristics of a product at step
2230 of exemplary process 2204, and to detect contextual
information relating to the product at step 2232, and use the
characteristics and contextual information to determine the type of
the product at step 2234. System 100 may then proceed to perform
method 2100 to determine a price of the product and a type of the
product based on the price. It is also contemplated that method
2100 may be performed prior to or at substantially the same time as
process 2204. This may be advantageous when there are multiple
similar objects that are sold at a given price range but do not
have similar characteristics or when there are several objects of
similar characteristics that are not sold at the same price
range.
[0439] As an example, the products in box 2330 of FIG. 23 may have
very similar visual and physical characteristics. Their
characteristics may, for example, be distinctive enough to
differentiate them from the products in box 2310, all of which may
be of larger size than those in box 2330. System 100 may determine
product 2314 is different from product 2332 based on this
characteristic. System 100 may, however, be unable to differentiate
between product 2332 and 2336 based on physical characteristics of
the products. System 100 may additionally perform method 2100 to
determine, for example, that product 2332 is associated with price
label E2 and product 2336 is associated with price label F2. System
100 may then determine that product 2332 is of a first type and
product F2 is of a second type, for example, based on their
different price points.
[0440] In another example, system 100 may detect several types of
basketballs, some of which are sold at a first price range and some
of which are sold at a second price range. This may be sufficient,
for example, to differentiate between a generic basketball and a
Nike.RTM. basketball, the generic basketball being sold at the
second price range, but not sufficient to differentiate between,
for example, a Nike.RTM. basketball and a Wilson.RTM. basketball,
both the Nike.RTM. and Wilson.RTM. basketballs being sold at the
first price range. System 100 may additionally detect, for example,
the distinctive Nike.RTM. logo to further differentiate between the
basketballs sold at the first price range.
[0441] In accordance with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to analyze the at least one image to
detect a promotion associated with the detected product. Further,
according to the present disclosure the method for processing
images captured in a retail store may include analyzing the at
least one image to detect a promotion associated with the detected
product. Analyzing an image to detect a promotion may include steps
similar to those discussed above with respect to, for example, step
2114. A promotional price may be associated with a detected product
in any manner consistent with this disclosure, including directly
associating a promotion indicator with a product or associating a
promotion indicator with a price indicator associated with a
product.
[0442] For example, a detected label may include promotional price
information (e.g., 50% off). The disclosed method may include
associating the promotional price information with the price
information of another detected label. By way of example, system
100 may detect both price label C2 and promotional label P1 within
area 2320 of FIG. 23. Label C2 may contain, for example, the
regular price for product 2322 and promotional label P1 may
contain, for example, a sale price for product 2322. System 100 may
detect both price label C2 and promotional label P1 and determine
that the price associated with product 2322 is the price indicated
on C2 as modified by promotional label P1. The association between
price label C2 and promotional label P1 may be based on the
proximity of the labels or other information on each of price label
C2 and promotional label P1. As an example, suppose the original
price of product 2322 is $4.00, price label C2 may contain the
price indicator "$4.00" and promotional label P1 may contain the
price indicator "$4.00, Now $2.99!" Based on, for example, each
label being in proximity to product 2322 and each label containing
some form of the text "$4.00," system may determine that
promotional price "$2.99" is associated with product 2322.
Continuing this example, system 100 may determine that product
2324, which is located slightly further from promotional label P1,
is associated with the original price reflected in price label C2
(i.e. $4.00) based, for example, on a proximity of the price label
C2 to product 2324. Proximity between labels and/or between labels
and products may be determined, for example, based on a
determination of a distance between the labels or between the
products and labels based on analysis of the image. It is
contemplated that information such as dimensions of the retail
store and/or of the shelves used to display the product may be
provided to system 100 or may be obtained by system 100 from
database 140 to determine the distances.
[0443] In accordance with this disclosure, the at least one
processor may be further configured to, based on the detected
promotion, determine that the type of the detected product is the
first type of product even when the identified price does not fall
within the first price range. For example, a price range may
encompass a promotional price, and a determined price, not based on
the promotional price, may be outside of the price range even
though the product is of the type represented by the price
range.
[0444] It is contemplated that system 100 may determine that both
the original price and the promotional price are associated with a
product. For example, system 100 may determine that the price
indicator of price label C2 and the price indicator of promotional
label P1 are associated with product 2322. In this embodiment,
system 100 may proceed with method 2100, for example, and compare
both the original price and the promotional price to a first and
second price range to determine whether product 2322 is of a first
type of product or a second type of product.
[0445] It is further contemplated that a promotional price may be
detected upon an initial analysis of a received image, as part of
step 2114, or that detection of a promotional price may be the
result of an additional analysis, prompted, for example, by a
determination that a determined price does not fall within a first
or second price range.
[0446] FIG. 22A provides an exemplary process 2200 for determining
the type of a product based on a promotional price in response to a
determination that an originally determined price does not fall
within a first or second price range. For example, system 100 may
be configured to perform process 2200 to further analyze an image
to detect a promotion at step 2212 in response to a determination
that a previously determined price does not fall within a first or
second price range, as represented at step 2210. A promotion may be
detected, and a promotional price may be determined (at step 2214),
in substantially the same manner as an initial price label, as
discussed above with respect to, for example, FIG. 23 and step
2112. System 100 may compare the promotional price to the first and
second price range to determine whether the product is of the first
or second type. At step 2216, system 100 may perform processes
substantially similar to discussed with respect to, for example,
step 2116 and processes 2102 and 2104. In response to a
determination that the product is either the first or second type,
process 2200 may proceed to step 2218 and system 100 may initiate
an action based on the determination. The action may be any action
consistent with this disclosure, including those discussed, for
example, with respect to step 2118.
[0447] As an example, a first price range may be between $25 and
$30 a second price range may be between $15 and $20. System 100 may
perform method 2100 to detect a product and determine the price
associated with the product to be $50, based on, for example, a
price label affixed to the product and a price indicator on the
price label, as discussed above. System 100, not employing optional
process 2102 in this example, may further analyze the image in
accordance with step 2212 to detect a promotion indicating that the
product is on sale for $25, based on, for example, a flag
indicating a half-off sale in proximity to the product in
accordance with step 2214. System 100 may proceed to step 2216 to
determine that the product is one of the first type based on the
determined price, as modified by the promotional information,
falling within the first price range.
[0448] It should be understood that process 2200 may be performed
even if method 2100 determines that a product is, for example, a
second type of product based on a determined price falling within a
second price range. Modifying the example above, system 100 may
determine the price of the product to be $20 in step 2114, which is
within the second price range of $15 to $20. System may then
further analyze the image in step 2212 to determine that the
determined price of $20 is a promotional price, based on, for
example, a second price label in proximity to the product that
contains the original, non-promotional price. In this example, the
price determined initially may be reflecting a discount of 20% and
the actual price of the product may be $25. Based on the detected
promotional information, the system may determine that the product
is of the first type, based on its original, non-promotional price
of $25 falling within the first price range despite the promotional
price of $20 falling within the second price range.
[0449] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to provide a visual representation of
the detected product to a user. The at least one processor may be
configured to perform this step when, for example, a determined
price does not fall within the price ranges of a first type of
product or a second type of product. Further, according to the
present disclosure, the method for processing images captured in a
retail store may include providing a visual representation of the
detected product to a user. The method may include this step when,
for example, a determined price does not fall within the price
ranges of a first type of product or a second type of product.
[0450] A visual representation may be provided to a user in any
manner consistent with this disclosure, such as a display on a
device, an alert transmitted to a device, an email, a text message,
or any other means of providing a visual representation. For
example, system 100 may provide a visual representation of a
product to output device 145 and the visual representation may be
displayed to user 102 via a display on GUI 500. It is contemplated
that a visual representation may be sent to any of, for example,
market research firm 110, supplier 115, or user 120, and may be
presented via any means disclosed herein, including a display on
output devices 145A, 145B, 145C, 145D, and through any GUI 500
disclosed herein. While the present disclosure provides examples
providing a visual representation of a product, it should be noted
that aspects of the disclosure in their broadest sense, are not
limited to the disclosed examples.
[0451] A visual representation of a detected product may be any
identifying information relating to a product. For example, a
visual representation may be an image of a product, a schematic of
a product, a description of a product, a location of a product, or
any other information that would facilitate identification of the
product by a user. For example, system 100 may analyze image 2300
to detect product 2324 and may transmit a visual representation to,
for example, output device 145A, the visual representation may
comprise box 2320. In the same example, the visual representation
of 2324 may comprise a description of product 2324, including any
physical characteristics of product 2324 (e.g., its shape and size)
and any contextual information relating to product 2324 (e.g.,
product 2324's proximity to price label C2, product 2324's to
product 2322, product 2324's proximity to shelf 2302, etc.). While
the present disclosure provides examples of the identifying
information constituting visual representation, it should be noted
that aspects of the disclosure in their broadest sense, are not
limited to the disclosed examples of the identifying
information.
[0452] A visual representation may be provided to a user in
response to a determination that a product is of a first or second
type. For example, system 100 may perform method 2100 and determine
that a detected product is of a first type based on its determined
price falling within a first price range. In response to this
determination, system 100 may, for example, provide a visual
representation of the product to any output device 145A, 145B,
145C. The visual representation may include any identifying
information relating to the product, as described above. By way of
example, the visual representation may be transmitted to supplier
115 and supplier 115 may use the visual representation to ensure
that the retail store in which the product was detected is
complying with, for example, a planogram provided by supplier 115
that relates to the determined product type. Such a visual
representation may be generated as a response to any process or
method disclosed herein, such as a successful determination in
method 2100, a determination in process 2102 (e.g., determination
2130, 2140), or a determination in process 2104 (e.g.,
determination 2130, 2140). In addition, the visual representation
may be provided to a user as an action associated with any process
disclosed herein, for example, as part of the action initiated in
step 2218 of process 2200 or the action initiated in step 2224 of
process 2202.
[0453] Additionally, consisted with the present disclosure, a
visual representation may be provided to a user as a response to a
determination that a type of a product cannot be determined by a
method herein. For example, in process 2102, system 100 may
determine that a product does not fall within a first or second
price range and that a determined price is neither higher that a
first price range nor lower than a second price range. As a
response, process 2102 may include step 2126 for initiating an
action based on the determination that the price does not fall
within either the first or second price range. It is contemplated
that providing a visual representation of the product to a user may
be part of the action initiated in step 2126. By way of example,
FIG. 22B may provide process 2202, in which, in response to a
determination that a price associated with a product does not fall
within either a first or second price range (step 2210), system
100, for example, may provide a visual representation of the
product to a user (step 2220). While the present disclosure
provides exemplary situations in which a visual representation may
be provided to a user, it should be noted that aspects of the
disclosure in their broadest sense, are not limited to the
disclosed situations.
[0454] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may further be configured to receive input from the user
indicative of a correct type of the detected product. The at least
one processor may be configured to perform this step when, for
example, a determined price does not fall within the price ranges
of a first type of product or a second type of product. Further,
according to the present disclosure the method for processing
images captured in a retail store may include receiving input from
the user indicative of a correct type of the detected.
[0455] An input indicative of a correct type of product of a
detected product may be received in any manner disclosed herein,
such as by a response to a display on a device, an alert
transmitted to a device, an email, a text message, or any other
means of providing input. For example, user 120 may provide an
input through device 145 and the input may be provided by user
through a GUI 500 configured to receive an input relating to the
type of device. It is contemplated that the input may be received
from any of, for example, market research firm 110, supplier 115,
or user 120, and may be received via any means disclosed herein,
including a display on output devices 145A, 145B, 145C, 145D, and
through any GUI 500 disclosed herein.
[0456] An input indicative of a correct type of product may be any
input that identifies the product as being of a certain type. For
example, an input may comprise a word corresponding with a type of
product, a number associated with a product (e.g., a number
associated with an inventory system or a SKU of the product), a
phrase containing a description of a product, an image of a product
of the same type, any combination of the above, or any other means
for identifying a product. By way of example, user 120 may provide
input relating to product 2337 and the input may comprise a word
identifying a type of product to which product 2337 belongs (e.g.,
"soda"), a phrase describing the type of product (e.g., "product
2337 is a diet, cherry flavored soda"), or any other identifying
information. It is also contemplated that the input may not
directly identify the correct type of a product, by may provide
additional information that may be used to correctly identify the
type of a product. Continuing the example, user 120 may provide an
input relating to product 2337 and the input may comprise, for
example, an image of product 2336 and system 100 may use the image
of 2336 to determine that product 2337 is of the same or a
different type than product 2336. In another example, user 120 may
provide, for example, information relating to product label 2338,
which is associated with product 2337, to identify product 2337.
The information may comprise an image of product label 2338, a
textual description of product label 2338, or some combination of
the above.
[0457] The form that an input takes may be determined by GUI 500 or
otherwise determined by the method of input. For example, GUI 500
may be configured to contain a text box in which a user can input
textual identifying information. GUI may also be configured to
receive an image as an input. GUI 500 may also be configured with a
predetermined list of product types and user input may be a
selection from the list. While the present disclosure provides
examples of inputs and exemplary ways of providing inputs, it
should be noted that aspects of the disclosure in their broadest
sense, are not limited to the disclosed examples of inputs or to
the disclosed ways of providing inputs.
[0458] An input may be received in response to an action or request
for input. For example, an input may be received in response to the
display of a visual representation of a detected product, as
described above. In this example, the visual display may include a
request for user input relating to the product represented in the
visual representation. A system, such as system 100, may also
transmit an alert, email, text message, or other indicator of a
request for user input and the input may be received in response to
the request for input. The request for input may be transmitted in
response to a determination that a determined price of a product
does not fall within a first or second price range. For example,
process 2202 may include both providing a visual representation of
a detected product to a user at step 2220 and receiving input from
the user indicating a correct type of the product at 2222. It is
also contemplated that the input received from a user may include a
correct price range associated with the product type. For example,
system 100 may request a price range from user 120 or supplier 115,
for example, when it detects a product but cannot determine a type
of the product because a price associated with the product does not
fall within a first or second price range. The received input may
then be stored, as discussed above, as a price range associated
with a product type and may be used in future analyses. A request
for input may also be transmitted in response to a determination
that a product does fall within a first or second price range. For
example, as part of an action initiated in step 2218 of process
2200, system 100 may request input regarding the type of the
product. In this example, system 100 may use the user input to
confirm that, for example, a step of method 2100 correctly detected
a product and determined the type of the product based on its
price.
[0459] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may further be configured to initiate an action based on
the received input and the identified price. The at least one
processor may be configured to perform this step when, for example,
a determined price does not fall within the price ranges of a first
type of product or a second type of product. Further, according to
the present disclosure the method for processing images captured in
a retail store may include initiating an action based on the
received input and the identified price. The method may include
this step when, for example, a determined price does not fall
within the price ranges of a first type of product or a second type
of product.
[0460] An action initiated in response to a received input may be
any action disclosed herein. As is clear from this disclosure, the
action may depend upon the received input and other factors
relating to the image processing. For example, if an input provides
a correct price range for a type of product, as discussed above,
the action initiated may be to update database 140, for example,
with the correct information such that the correct price range may
be used in future image processing. Further, if the input is an
input of a correct type of product for which system 100, for
example, was able to determine a price associate with the product
in step 2114, the action initiated in response to the input may be
to store the input product type in association with the price and
to derive a price range based on the correctly identified type of
product and the determined price, as described above.
[0461] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to perform an action including updating
at least one of the first or second price ranges. Further,
according to the present disclosure the method for processing
images captured in a retail store may include updating at least one
of the first or second price ranges. By way of example, an input
from a user may be a correct price range associated with a product
type or a single price associated with the product type and this
information may be used to determine that either a first or second
price range is incorrect and to update the incorrect price range.
For example, system 100 may analyze image 2300 to detect product
2314 and determine (for example, by step 2114) that the price
associated with product 2314 is $2.59. System 100 may further
identify a first price range of $3.49 to $4.99, for example, and a
second price range of $0.99 to $1.99. With this information, system
100 may determine that product 2314 is not of the first or the
second type. System 100 may, for example, provide a visual
representation of product 2314 to a user, as described above in
relation to step 2220, and receive user input relating to product
2314, as described above in relation to step 2222. The input may
include a correct identification of product 2314 as, for example,
being of the second type. The input may or may not include a
correct price range for product 2314. Based on the input, system
100 may, for example, update the second price range to include the
determined price of product 2314. In this example, the second price
range may be updated from $0.99 to $1.99 to, for example, $1.99 to
$2.99, which includes $2.59, the determined price of product 2314.
It is contemplated that system 100, for example, may automatically
update the first or second price range or it may seek additional
input as to which price range is incorrect and what the proper
price range should be. The price range may be adjusted in any
manner and by any degree. For example, in the above example, system
100 may adjust the second price range to $0.99 to $2.59, $0.99 to
$2.70. $0.99 to $3.00, etc., or otherwise adjust the price range to
include the determined price.
[0462] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to perform an action including
informing the user about a mismatch between a price of the correct
type of the detected product and the identified price. Further,
according to the present disclosure the method for processing
images captured in a retail store may include informing the user
about a mismatch between a price of the correct type of the
detected product and the identified price. A user may be informed
of a mismatch between a determined price and a price of the correct
type of the detect product by any means disclosed herein. For
example, the information may be transmitted to any device, such as
user device 145, and in any form, such as by email, alert, text,
display on GUI 500, etc. The information pertaining to the mismatch
may be transmitted and presented in substantially the same manner
as the visual representation of a product, as described above in
relation to step 2220. While the present disclosure provides
exemplary methods of providing information regarding a mismatch, it
should be noted that aspects of the disclosure in their broadest
sense, are not limited to the disclosed methods.
[0463] Providing information to a user about a mismatch between a
determined price and a correct price may allow the user to correct
either price. For example, system 100 may have properly determined
a price associated with a product at step 2114, but the determined
price may not match a price of the correct type for several
reasons. Such reasons may include a misplaced price label,
erroneous price information on a label, etc. System 100 may have
properly identified the price, the price being incorrect. The user,
provided with the information about the mismatch, may then take
action to correct the misplaced or mislabeled price label.
Similarly, system 100, for example, may have correctly identified a
price associated with a product at step 2114, but the price range
saved in database 140 may be incorrect. A user provided with
information about the mismatch between prices may take action to
correct the price range in the database, either by directly
updating the information or authorizing system 100 to update the
price range.
[0464] Providing information about a mismatch between a determined
price and a correct price to, for example, supplier 115 may allow
supplier 115 to monitor a retail store's compliance with a
planogram or other requirements of the supplier. Providing
information about a mismatch between a determined price and a
correct price to, for example, market research entity 110 may allow
market research entity 120 to use the information in preparing
various reports and other market research products. While the
present disclosure provides examples of actions that may be taken
in response to receiving information regarding a mismatch, it
should be noted that aspects of the disclosure in their broadest
sense, are not limited to the disclosed actions.
[0465] The present disclosure relates to a system for processing
images captured in a retail store and automatically identifying
misplaced products. The system may analyze the captured images and
identify that a product has been misplaced. For example, the
product may have been moved by a potential purchaser who did not
return the product to its appropriate location, such as a shelf
containing similar products or products of the same brand.
Moreover, the system may provide a notification to a store employee
when a product has been misplaced. The notification may specify an
appropriate location for the misplaced product. Further, in some
embodiments, the notification may include one of the captured
images depicting the misplaced product in order to speed the
employee's task of relocating the product to its proper location.
Still further, in some embodiments, notifications of misplaced
products may be selectively provided to store employees based on an
urgency level of restoring the misplaced product to its proper
location. For example, certain products (milk, ice cream, etc.) may
spoil if they are not located in a proper storage location, such as
a refrigerated area.
[0466] According to the present disclosure, the system may include
at least one processor. While the present disclosure provides
examples of the system, it should be noted that aspects of the
disclosure in their broadest sense, are not limited to a system for
processing images. Rather, the system may be configured to process
information collected from a retail store. System 100, illustrated
in FIG. 1 and discussed above, is one example of a system for
processing images captured in a retail store and automatically
identifying misplaced products, in accordance with the present
disclosure.
[0467] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to receive one or more images captured
by one or more image sensors from an environment of a retail store
and depicting a plurality of products displayed on at least one
store shelf. For example, image processing unit 130 may receive raw
or processed image data from capturing device 125, as described
above. The one or more images may depict one or more environments
of a retail store, such as, FIGS. 24 and 25, discussed below. In
some embodiments, image sensors may include capturing device 125,
digital cameras, camera modules, night vision equipment, thermal
imaging devices, radar, sonar, LIDAR, or the like.
[0468] FIG. 24 is an exemplary image received by the system,
consistent with the present disclosure. The image may depict
multiple aisles and shelves with many different types of products
displayed thereon. For example, image 2400 depicts three aisles
with signs 2401, 2409, and 2413; promotions 2403, 2411, and 2415.
After receiving the image, server 135 may be configured to
distinguish the different types of products. Based on image
analysis described herein, server 135 may determine that misplaced
product 2405 is not in its correct display location. Specifically,
misplaced product 2405 is of product type oatmeal (identical to
product type of products 2407), which has a correct display
location of aisle twelve, which is the cereal, cookies, crackers,
and bread section.
[0469] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to detect in the one or more images a
first product. The first product may have an associated first
correct display location. For example, image processing unit 130
may analyze an image to detect the product(s) in the image, for
example as described above.
[0470] Consistent with the present disclosure, the detected first
product may have an associated first correct display location. For
example, when "Head & Shoulders Shampoo" is detected in the
image, image processing unit 130 may obtain location information
associated with "Head & Shoulders Shampoo." Such location
information may be stored in a "Head & Shoulders Shampoo"
digital record in database 140 associated with the product type and
the retail store. The location information may include an
indication of a correct display location in the retail store (e.g.,
cleaning section, soft drink section, dairy product shelves,
apparel section, etc.), an indication of the floor (e.g., 2nd
floor), an indication of the aisle (e.g., 4th aisle), an indication
of the shelf (e.g., the bottom shelf, the second shelf to the top,
etc.), an address, a position coordinate, a coordinate of latitude
and longitude, an area in a planogram, and/or an area on a map,
etc. Moreover, in some cases a product type may have more than one
correct display location in a retail store (for example, a shelf
and a promotional display), and the digital record may include
information about one or more correct display locations for the
product type in the retail store.
[0471] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine, based on analysis of the
one or more images, that the first product is not located in the
first correct display location. For example, when the one or more
images contain one or more shelves, image processing unit 130 may
analyze the one or more images to identify the shelves in the
image, as described above. For example, image processing unit 130
may determine that the shelf is for soft drinks, the shelf is for
cleaning products, the shelf is for personal products, and/or the
shelf is for books, or the like. Based on the identification of the
shelf, image processing unit 130 may determine the location
depicted in the image. For example, when image processing unit 130
identifies that the shelf is for soft drinks, image processing unit
130 may determine a location of the shelf depicted in the image,
such as, the third aisle, second floor, soft drink section, etc. In
some aspects, image processing unit 130 may determine the location
depicted in the one or more images by recognizing text on a sign or
a promotion material depicted in the image. In some aspects, image
processing unit 130 may determine the location depicted in the one
or more images by analyzing the lighting in the image. For example,
the lighting may be brighter in certain areas of a retail store,
and the color of the light may be different from one section to
another in the retail store. In some aspects, image processing unit
130 may determine the location depicted in the one or more images
by analyzing the background in the one or more images. For example,
some shelves may be located next to a window, some shelves may be
located in a corner, some shelves may be located against a green
wall, etc. In some aspects, position and/or orientation of an image
sensor capturing one or more images may be known (for example, from
a positioning system, from user input, etc.), possibly together
with other capturing parameters, and the location of an object
depicted in the one or more images may be calculated based on the
position and/or orientation of the image sensor and/or the
capturing parameters. For example, in 2D images, each pixel may
correspond to a cone or a pyramid in the real world, and the
location may be determined to be within that cone or pyramid. In
another example, in a 3D camera, each pixel of a range image or
each point in a point cloud may correspond directly to a position
in the real world. In some aspects, image processing unit may
determine the location depicted in the one or more images by
recognizing the environment in the one or more images. For example,
image processing unit 130 may recognize the environment to be near
the cashier, by using the image analysis method described above.
Image processing unit 130 may identify the cashier depicted in the
one or more images, using object recognition method. In some
examples, image processing unit 130 may recognize the environment
to be near storage room, by recognizing the text on the sign and/or
other methods described above. While the present disclosure
provides examples of techniques and analysis for determining a
location, it should be noted that aspects of the disclosure in
their broadest sense, are not limited to the disclosed
examples.
[0472] While the present disclosure provides examples of techniques
and analysis for determining the location where the one or more
images are captured, it should be noted that aspects of the
disclosure in their broadest sense, are not limited to the
disclosed examples.
[0473] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine whether the first product
is located in the first correct display location. Determining
whether the first product is located in the first correct display
location may include comparing the location depicted in the one or
more images with the first correct display location. If the
locations do not match, the at least one processor may determine
that the first product is not located in the first correct display
location. In some aspects, the correct display location may be in a
backroom storage area. For example, a type of product that is
expired or is not supposed to be displayed, the correct display
location associated with the type of product may be "backroom
storage." In some aspects, the correct display location may include
more than one location within a retail store (for example, a shelf
and a promotional display), and determining that the first product
is located in the correct display location may include determining
that the first product is located in at least one of the locations
included in the correct display location.
[0474] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine an indicator of a first
level of urgency for returning the first product to the first
correct display location. The term "level of urgency for returning
the first product to the first correct display location" refers to
any indication, numeric or otherwise, of a level (e.g., within a
predetermined range) indicative of an urgency to remove the
misplaced product to the correct location. For example, the level
of urgency may have a value between 1 and 10. Image processing unit
130 may store the determined level of urgency in database 140. A
level of urgency may be used, for example, to determine whether to
send a notification to a user for removing the misplaced product.
Image processing unit 130 may comprise an algorithm to determine a
level of urgency, based on the identified characteristics. For
example, the misplaced product depicted in the image is identified
as "frozen food," image processing unit 130 may assign 10 points to
the level of urgency for returning the product to the correct
display location. When the misplaced product in the image is
identified as "canned food," image processing unit 130 may assign 1
point to the level of urgency for returning the product to the
correct display location. Further, different characteristics or
different types of product may be assigned different point values.
For example, "frozen food" may have greater point value than
"canned food." While the present disclosure provides examples of
characteristics, it should be noted that aspects of the disclosure
in their broadest sense, are not limited to the disclosed examples.
In some examples, the level of urgency may be determined according
to an area of the retail store (for example, an aisle, a shelf,
etc.) that the misplaced product is currently placed on. For
example, the retail store may have contractual obligations with
respect to a first group shelves (for example, with respect to
shelves associated with a specific brand, a specific supplier, and
so forth), and may have no contractual obligations or less strict
contractual obligations with respect to a second group of shelves.
As a result, the level of urgency may be determined to be higher
when the first product is currently placed on the first group of
shelves, and may be determined to be lower when the first product
is currently placed on the second group of shelves. In some
examples, the level of urgency may be determined according to
context information (which may be obtained as described below). For
example, the context information may indicate that a misplaced
product is blocking a passageway in the retail store, and as a
result, a higher level of urgency may be determined. In another
example, the context information may indicate that a shelf
associated with the product type of the first product is properly
stocked, and as a result a lower level of urgency may be
determined.
[0475] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to cause an issuance of a
user-notification associated with the first product. The
user-notification may be issued within a first period of time from
when the first product was determined not to be located in the
first correct display location. For example, once the first product
is determined not to be located in the first correct display
location, server 135 may cause an issuance of a user-notification
on an output device, for example using I/O system 210 and
peripherals interface 208. Output device (e.g., a display screen, a
speaker, etc.) may receive the user-notification and display the
user-notification to a user. The user-notification may include a
text message, audio recording, image, map, indication of the
correct location (such as an image depicting the correct location,
map identifying the correct location, etc.), indication of the
misplaced location (such as an image depicting the misplaced
location, map identifying the misplaced location, etc.), indication
of the misplaced product (such as an image depicting the misplaced
product, product type of the misplaced product, etc.), and/or the
indicator of the level of urgency, etc. Consistent with the present
disclosure, server 135 may be configured to determine a first
period of time starting from when the first product was determined
not to be located in the first correct display location. In some
aspects, server 135 may determine a first period of time based on
the level of urgency. In some aspects, server 135 may determine a
first period of time based on the identified one or more
characteristic of the product. For example, when "fresh food"
and/or "frozen food" are identified, server 135 may determine a
first period of time to be shorter than other products. Image
processing unit 130 may also include a timer configured to measure
a specific time interval, that may be, the determined period of
time.
[0476] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to detect in the one or more images a
second product. The second product may have an associated second
correct display location. For example, image processing unit 130
may detect a second product in the one or more images, based on
image analysis and using the product models, as described
above.
[0477] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine, based on analysis of the
one or more images, that the second product is not located in the
second correct display location. For example, image processing unit
130 may determine that the second product is not located in the
second correct display location in similar manners to the
corresponding determination for the first product and the first
correct display location described above. If image processing unit
130 determines that the second product is not located in the second
correct display location, server 135 may generate an issuance of a
user-notification that may be displayed using an output device.
Server 135 may withhold the issuance and store the issuance in
memory device 226.
[0478] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine an indicator of a second
level of urgency for returning the second product to its associated
second correct display location. As described above, image
processing unit 130 may execute an algorithm to determine a second
level of urgency, based on the identified characteristics of the
second product. Image processing unit 130 may store the determined
level of urgency in database 140. A level of urgency may be used,
for example, to determine a time duration before sending a
notification for removing the misplaced product to the user.
[0479] Consistent with the present disclosure, after determining
that the second product is not located in the second correct
display location and when the second urgency level is lower than
the first urgency level, the at least one processor may be
configured to withhold issuance of a user-notification associated
with the second product within a time duration equal to the first
period of time. Consistent with the present disclosure, image
processing unit 130 may be configured to compare and/or rank the
first and second level of urgency for returning the product to its
associated correct display location. When the second level of
urgency is determined to be lower than the first level of urgency,
image processing unit 130 may withhold issuance of a
user-notification associated with the second product. As described
above, image processing unit 130 may also include a timer
configured to measure a specific time interval. Image processing
unit 130 may withhold the issuance of the user-notification
associated with the second product for a time duration equal to the
first period of time, by using the timer. For example, when the
first identified misplaced product is a "frozen food," and the
second identified misplaced product is a "canned food," image
processing unit 130 may determine that the second misplaced product
to have a lower level of urgency for returning to the correct
location than for the first misplaced product, so image processing
unit 130 may withhold the issuance of the user-notification
associated with the second misplaced product until the
user-notification associated with the first misplaced product is
sent to the output device. This may help one or more system users
to prioritize which misplaced product should be return to its
correct location first. In some examples, delaying the
user-notification associated with the second misplaced product may
allow the second misplaced product event (which may be less urgent
than the first misplaced product event) to be resolved naturally,
without an initiated intervention, for example by a customer
picking the misplaced product for purchase, by a customer returning
the misplaced product to the correct display location, by an
employee picking the misplaced product, by an employee returning
the misplaced product to the correct display location, and so
forth. In some embodiments, user-notification associated with a
second misplaced product may be permanently forgone, for example
for a second misplaced product associated with a level of urgency
lower than a selected threshold. In some embodiments,
user-notification associated with a second misplaced product may be
withheld to a more suitable time (for example, a time with lower
work load, a time when more employees are in the retail store, a
time when a selected employee is in the retail store, a time when
less customers are within the retail store or within an area of the
retail store associated with the misplaced product, and so forth).
For example, the user-notification may be withheld until a suitable
time arrives and/or is detected by the system. In another example,
the system may predict when a more suitable time will arrive, and
schedule the user-notification to the predicted time.
[0480] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to cause an issuance of a
user-notification associated with the second product within a
second period of time from when the second product was determined
not to be located in the second correct display location. The
second period of time may be longer than the first period of time
when the second level of urgency is lower than the first level of
urgency. For example, as described above, if the second product is
determined not to be located in the second correct display
location, image processing unit 130 may cause an issuance of a
user-notification in similar manners to the issuance of the
corresponding user notification for the first misplaced product
described above.
[0481] Consistent with the present disclosure, image processing
unit 130 may be configured to determine a second period of time
starting from when the second product was determined not to be
located in the second correct display location. The second period
of time may be determined based on the second level of urgency. For
example, when the second level of urgency is lower than the first
level of urgency, image processing unit 130 may determine the
second period of time is longer than the first period of time. In a
case where the first level of urgency is determined to be 8 and the
second level of urgency is determined to be 2, and image processing
unit 130 has determined the first period of time to be 30 seconds,
image processing unit 130 may determine the second period of time
to be 10 minutes. For example, when "canned food" is determined to
be the second product that is not located in its correct display
location and "fresh food" is the first product that has a greater
level of urgency, image processing unit 130 may issue the
user-notification associated with the "canned food" within a longer
time period than the time period for "fresh food." As discussed
earlier, image processing unit 130 may also include a timer
configured to measure a specific time interval.
[0482] Consistent with the present disclosure, the
user-notification may be included in a product-related task
assigned to a store employee. The user-notification may include at
least one of: information about a correct display location of a
misplaced product, information about a store shelf associated with
the misplaced product, information about a product type of the
misplaced product, or a visual depiction of the misplaced product.
For example, shown in FIG. 11D, GUI 1130 may include a first
display area 1132 for showing a list of notifications or text
messages indicating several in-store execution events that require
attention. The execution events may include one or more task to
return the misplaced product to its correct display location. The
notifications may include text messages and a link to an image (or
the image itself). The image may depict the misplaced product. The
notifications may also include information about the correct
display location of the misplaced product, such as information
related to the correct display location, a map indicating the
correct display location, an image of the correct display location,
and so forth. For example, the notification may include text
message, such as, "Please return the product below to second aisle,
soft drink section, 3rd floor." The notifications may also include
information about a store shelf associated with the misplaced
product, such as a location of the shelf, image of the shelf, and
so forth. For example, the notification may include a link to image
2400 or image 2400 itself. As shown in FIG. 24, image 2400 depicts
a misplaced product 2405 in aisle eleven. Additionally or
alternatively, the notification may include a text message
describing the misplaced product and/or the correct display
location, such as "the shelf on the end of aisle eleven contains a
misplaced product," "the shelf in the cleaning product section,"
"the shelf under the promotion sign of $4.99," or the like. The
notifications may also include product information about the
product type of the misplaced product. For example, the
notification may include a text message that contains "a Coca-Cola
Zero is currently misplaced." In some examples, the correct display
location may include multiple locations, and the notification may
include information about one or more locations selected of the
multiple locations (for example, based on proximity, based on need
for restock associated with at least one of the multiple locations,
and so forth), or may include information about all locations
included in the correct display location.
[0483] In another example, shown in FIG. 11D, GUI 1140 may include
a first display area 1142 for displaying a real-time video stream
captured by output device 145C with real-time augmented markings
indicting a status of planogram compliance for each product (e.g.,
correct place, misplaced, not in planogram, and empty). GUI 1140
may also include a second display area 1144 displaying a summary of
the planogram compliance for all the products identified in the
video stream captured by output device 145C. Consistent with the
present disclosure, server 135 may rapidly generate (e.g., within
seconds or minutes) actionable tasks to improve store execution.
These tasks may help employees of retail store 105 to quickly
address situations that can negatively impact revenue and customer
experience in the retail store 105. Such tasks may include
returning the one or more misplaced product to its correct display
location.
[0484] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to detect in the one or more images the
second product at a time within the first period of time from when
the first product was determined not to be located in the first
correct display location. For example, when the first period of
time is determined to be 30 seconds, image processing unit 130 may
detect a second misplaced product in the 30 seconds after the first
product was determined to not be located in the first correct
display location.
[0485] Consistent with the present disclosure, the indicator of the
first level of urgency for returning the first product to the first
correct display location may be associated with a product type of
the first product. For example, when "frozen yogurt" is detected
and determined not to be in the first display location (e.g., the
fridge), image processing unit 130 may determine the level of
urgency for returning frozen yogurt to be 10, which is the
greatest. In another example, when "canned tuna" is determined to
be not in its correct display location, image processing unit 130
may determine the level of urgency for returning canned tuna to be
2. Accordingly, each product type may have a pre-determined level
of urgency for returning the product to an appropriate shelf or
storage location. Further, the pre-determined level of urgency may
be stored in product models associated to the product types.
[0486] Consistent with the present disclosure, when the product
type includes frozen food, the first period of time may be shorter
than when the product type includes fresh produce. For example,
when "frozen yogurt" is detected and determined not to be in the
first display location (e.g., the fridge), because "frozen yogurt"
falls in a "frozen food" product type, image processing unit 130
may determine the first period of time to be 5 minutes. In another
example, when "fresh tuna" is determined to be not in the first
correct display location, and because "fresh tuna" falls in a
"fresh food" product type, image processing unit 130 may determine
the first period of time to be 15 minutes.
[0487] Consistent with the present disclosure, when the product
type includes canned goods, the first period of time may be longer
than when the product type includes fresh produce. For example,
when "fresh tuna" is determined to be not in the first correct
display location, and because "fresh tuna" falls in a "fresh food"
product type, image processing unit 130 may determine the first
period of time to be 15 minutes. In another example, when "canned
tuna" is determined to be not in the first correct display
location, and because "canned tuna" falls in a "canned food"
product type, image processing unit 130 may determine the first
period of time to be 60 minutes to 240 minutes. This may help
prioritize the task to return the most urgent misplaced
product.
[0488] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be further configured to determine, based on context
information derived through analysis of the one or more images,
whether the first product determined not to be located in the first
correct display requires repositioning. For example, the context
information may indicate that the first product determined not to
be located in the first correct display is located within a cart,
and therefore do not requires repositioning. In another example,
the context information may indicate that the first product
determined not to be located in the first correct display is
located within a cart, and that the cart did not move for a select
threshold amount of time, and therefore the first product requires
repositioning. In yet another example, the context information may
indicate that the first product determined not to be located in the
first correct display is held by a customer, and therefore do not
requires repositioning. In another example, the context information
may indicate that the first product determined not to be located in
the first correct display is in a checkout area, and therefore do
not requires repositioning. In yet another example, the context
information may indicate that the first product determined not to
be located in the first correct display is in an area dedicated for
damaged or otherwise defective products, and therefore do not
requires repositioning. In another example, the context information
may indicate that the first product determined not to be located in
the first correct display is in motion, and therefore do not
requires repositioning. In some examples, the context information
may be determined by analyzing the one or more images, for example
using a machine learning model trained using training examples to
determine contextual situations from images, using an artificial
neural network configured to determine contextual situations from
images, and so forth. Any other examples of determining context
information and/or using context information to determine whether
the first product determined not to be located in the first correct
display requires repositioning may be implemented.
[0489] Consistent with the present disclosure, image processing
unit 130 may be configured to determine whether the first product
is located in the first correct display location. Determining
whether the first product is located in the first correct display
location may include comparing the location depicted in the one or
more images with the first correct display location. If the
locations do not match, image processing unit 130 may determine
that the first product is not located in the first correct display
location. For example, misplaced product 2405 may have its correct
display location of "at the end of aisle 12, cereal and oatmeal
section." After comparison, image processing unit 130 may determine
that misplaced product 2405 is not located in its correct display
location.
[0490] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to forego causing the issuance of the
user-notification after determining that the first product does not
require repositioning. For example, after first determining that
the first product is not located in the first correct display
location and before the issuance of the user-notification
associated with the first product, the first product may be removed
from the original misplaced location (for example, by a customer
picking the first product for purchase, by a customer returning the
first product to the first correct display location, by an employee
picking the first product, by an employee returning the misplaced
product to the first correct display location, and so forth) or the
situation of the first product may change (for example, context
associated with the first product may change, for example a cart
holding the first product may move). The change in the situation of
the first product or the removal of the first product from the
original misplaced location may be detected, for example by
analyzing images of the first product or of the original misplaced
location using any of the image analysis techniques described
above. In response to the detected change in the situation of the
first product or the detected removal of the first product from the
original misplaced location, the system may determine that the
first product does not require repositioning any longer, and the
system may forego causing the issuance of the
user-notification.
[0491] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine that the first product
does not require repositioning when the context information derived
from analysis of the one or more images indicates that the first
product is located in the hand of a person. For example, a product
may be determined to be in a hand of a person, such as an employee
repositioning the product and/or returning the misplaced product, a
customer considering a purchase of the product, and so forth. In
such cases, image processing unit 130 may be configured to
determine that the product does not require repositioning. To
determine whether the product is in a person's hand, image
processing unit 130 may use any suitable image analysis technique.
For example, a machine learning model trained using training
examples to determine whether a product is held from images may be
used to determine that the first product is located in the hand of
a person. In another example, an artificial neural network
configured to determine whether a product is held from images may
be used to determine that the first product is located in the hand
of a person.
[0492] In some embodiments, notifications may be provided in
response to the detection of misplaced products. In order to reduce
false notifications, the system may ignore temporarily misplaced
products. For example, the notification may be withheld when the
product is misplaced for less than selected time duration, when a
person associated with the product (for example, the person placing
the product) is still present, when the product is in motion, when
the product is in a cart, and so forth. In some embodiments, one or
more images captured from a retail store may be analyzed to
identify a misplaced product, as described above. For example, a
product may be detected on a store shelf, the product type of the
detected product may be obtained by analyzing the one or more
images, the product types associated with the store shelf may be
obtained (for example, by analyzing the one or more images to
identify labels attached to the store shelf that identify the
product types associated with the store shelf, from a store map,
from a database, and so forth), and the detected product may be
identified as misplaced if the product type of the detected product
is not within the product types associated with the store shelf.
The images may be analyzed further to determine that a misplacement
of the misplaced product is a long-term misplacement, and
notification may be provided to a user based on said determination,
as described above. For example, the notification provided to the
user may comprise information related to a location associated with
the misplaced product, information related to a store shelf
associated with the misplaced product, information related to a
type of the misplaced product, information related to a time
duration in which the product has been misplaced, a visual
depiction of the misplaced product, and so forth. In some examples,
the determination that the misplacement of the misplaced product is
a long-term misplacement may be based on a time duration associated
with the misplaced product. For example, it may be determined that
the misplacement of the misplaced product is a long-term
misplacement when the product is misplaced for a time duration
longer than a selected time duration, when the misplaced product is
stationary for at least a selected time duration, and so forth. In
some examples, the determination that the misplacement of the
misplaced product is a long-term misplacement may be based on an
absence of a person associated with the misplaced product from at
least part of the one or more images. In some examples, the
determination that the misplacement of the misplaced product is a
long-term misplacement may be based on a motion of the misplaced
product in the at least one image, for example, determining that
the misplacement is a long-term when the product is not moving. In
some examples, the determination that the misplacement of the
misplaced product is a long-term misplacement may be based on a
location of the misplaced product, for example, using one selected
minimal time duration for one location and another minimal time
duration for another location, or in another example, determining
that a misplacement is a long-term when the location of the product
is not in selected areas, and so forth. In some examples, the
determination that the misplacement of the misplaced product is a
long-term misplacement may be based on a type of the misplaced
product, for example, using one selected minimal time duration for
one product type and using another selected minimal time duration
for another product type. In some examples, the determination that
the misplacement of the misplaced product is a long-term
misplacement may be based on a determination that the misplaced
product is not within a cart. In one example, the minimal time
duration may be determined per product type. For example, canned
food may have a first minimal time duration greater then a second
minimal time duration of product types that need refrigeration.
[0493] FIG. 25 is another exemplary image received by the system,
consistent with the present disclosure. Image 2500 may be one of a
plurality of images that together depict a person moving with a
cart. For example, comparing the images, server 135 may be
configured to determine that both the person and the cart are
moving toward the left. Further, as described below in further
detail, server 135 may be configured to determine the person to be
a customer based on at least one visual characteristic of the
person in the images.
[0494] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine that the first product
does not require repositioning when the context information derived
from analysis of two or more captured images indicates that the
first product is moving. For example, in FIG. 25, image processing
unit may recognize the moving cart in the two or more images 2500.
As described above, to determine whether the product is in a moving
cart and/or the direction of the motion, image processing unit 130
may use any suitable image analysis technique including, for
example, motion detection algorithms, object tracking algorithms,
and so forth.
[0495] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine that the first product
requires repositioning when the context information derived from
analysis of the one or more images indicates an absence of people
located in a vicinity of the first product. Additionally, the at
least one processor may be configured to determine that the first
product does not require repositioning when the context information
derived from analysis of the one or more images indicates a
presence of at least one person located in a vicinity of the first
product. For example, the person may be a customer or an employee
who may return the product to its correct display location. Thus,
when a person is detected in the one or more images, image
processing unit 130 may determine that the product does not require
repositioning. As described above, image processing unit 130 may
use any of the above described methods to detect a person in the
one or more images.
[0496] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
person may be determined, based on an analysis of the one or more
images, to have at least one characteristic associate with a
customer. To determine whether the person is a customer, image
processing unit 130 may use any suitable image analysis technique.
For example, a machine learning model trained using training
examples to classify a person as a customer or as a retail store
employee based on images of a person may be used to determine
whether the person is a customer or an employee, for example based
on at least one visual characteristic depicted in the images. In
another example, an artificial neural network configured to
distinguish between customers and retail store employees by
analyzing images of people may be used to determine whether a
person is a customer or an employee, for example based on at least
one visual characteristic depicted in the images. Some examples of
the at least one characteristic may include wearing a retail store
uniform, not wearing a uniform, moving slowly, having many products
of different product types in a cart associated with the person,
having many products of a single product type in a cart associated
with the person, wearing an employee tag name, and so forth.
Further, characteristics associated with a customer may be store in
database 140.
[0497] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine, after the time duration,
that the second product remains in a location other than the second
correct display location, and cause issuance of a user-notification
associated with the second product. For example, when the employee
did not perform the task of returning the misplaced product to its
correct display location, image processing unit 130 may be
configured to cause issuance of another user-notification. This may
alert the user and remind the user to perform the task.
[0498] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine the first and second
correct display locations based on product types for the first and
second products determined based on analysis of the one or more
images. For example, when the first product, "Head & Shoulders
Shampoo," is detected in the image, image processing unit 130 may
obtain location information associated with "Head & Shoulders
Shampoo." Such location information may be stored in the "Head
& Shoulders Shampoo" digital record in database 140. For
example, the first correct display location may be "personal care
product section, 2nd floor, aisle four, on the bottom shelf." The
second product may be "Coca-Cola Zero," which may also have a
correct display location associated with it stored in database 140.
Thus, the second correct display location may be "soft drink
section, 3rd floor, aisle three, on top on the shelf."
[0499] Consistent with the present disclosure, the first and second
correct display locations may be determined based on information
including at least one of: a planogram, a store map, a database, a
label associated with the at least one store shelf, other products
associated with the at least one store shelf, and an aisle
associated with at least one store shelf. For example, a correct
display location associated to a product may be stored in the
digital records in database 140, as described above. In another
example, the correct display location may be represented by a pin
on a graphic map and/or a string of location information "personal
care section," "2nd floor," and "aisle four." Further, the correct
display location may also be an address, such as "B building, 2F,
personal care section, top shelf." In some aspects, the correct
display location may be in a backroom storage area. In some
aspects, the correct display location may be depicted in the
planogram, which may contain an indication of the specific
location. Such an indication may be a red circle and an arrow on
the planogram.
[0500] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine the first correct display
location for the first product and to include in the
user-notification associate with the first product an instruction
for use in re-locating the first product to the associated first
correct display location. For example, server 135 may cause an
issuance of a user-notification on an output device, for example
using I/O system 210 and peripherals interface 208. Output device
(e.g., a display screen, a speaker, AR system, etc.) may receive
the user-notification and display the user-notification to a user.
The user-notification may include text message, audio recording,
image, map, indication of the correct location, indication of the
misplaced location, indication of the misplaced product, and/or the
indicator of the level of urgency, etc. For example, the
notification may include text instructions, such as, "please return
misplaced Coca-Cola Zero from the cleaning section, third aisle,
third floor to the second aisle, soft drink section, third floor
within 10 minutes." The notifications may also include information
about a store shelf associated with the misplaced product. For
example, the notification may include a link to image 2400 or
simply image 2400 itself. In some aspects, the notifications may
also include a map that depicts the location of the misplaced
product and its correct display location. The map may also include
a determined route from the location of the misplaced product to
its correct display location. Additionally or alternatively, the
notification may include a text message that says "the shelf on the
end of aisle eleven contains a misplaced product," "the shelf in
the cleaning product section," "the shelf under the promotion sign
of $4.99," or the like. The notifications may also include product
information about the product type of the misplaced product. For
example, the notification may include a text message that contains
"a Coca-Cola Zero is currently misplaced." In some embodiments, the
instructions may be provided using an Augmented Reality (AR)
system, such as AR headset, AR display on a mobile device, and so
forth. In the AR system, navigation guidance to the misplaced
product and/or to the correct display location may be provided, for
example as arrows directing the user where to go, as a path to
follow, and so forth. Further, the misplaced product may be marked
in the AR display, for example with a circle, an arrow, by
displaying the misplaced product in a modified color scheme, and so
forth.
[0501] FIG. 26 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method
2600 for processing images captured in a retail store and
automatically identifying misplaced products, in accordance with
the present disclosure. The order and arrangement of steps in
method 2600 is provided for purposes of illustration. As will be
appreciated from this disclosure, modifications may be made to
method 2600 by, for example, adding, combining, removing, and/or
rearranging one or more steps of method 2600.
[0502] In step 2601, consistent with the present disclosure, method
2600 may include receiving one or more images captured by one or
more image sensors from an environment of a retail store and
depicting a plurality of products displayed on at least one store
shelf. For example, server 135 may be configured to receive one or
more images, as described above. The one or more images may depict
an environment in a retail store. For example, as described above
in connection with FIG. 24, the one or more images may depict
aisles of shelves with different categories of products displayed
thereon, and as described above in connection with FIG. 25, the one
or more images may depict a customer passing by the shelves with a
cart. Additionally or alternatively to step 2601, the processor may
receive readings from detection elements attached to store shelves
in the plurality of retail stores, as described above in relation
to FIGS. 8A, 8B and 9.
[0503] In step 2603, consistent with the present disclosure, method
2600 may include detecting in the one or more images a first
product. The first product may have an associated first correct
display location. For example, server 135 may detect a first
product in the one or more images using product models stored in
database 140, as described above Additionally or alternatively to
step 2603, the processor may analyze the received readings from the
detection elements, alone or in combination with the image data, to
determine the location of the first product and/or to identify a
product type of the first product, for example as described
above.
[0504] Consistent with the present disclosure, a correct display
location associated to a product may be stored in the digital
records in database 140, as described above.
[0505] In step 2605, consistent with the present disclosure, method
2600 may include determining, based on analysis of the one or more
images, that the first product is not located in the first correct
display location. For example, server 135 may be configured to
determine whether the first product is located in the first correct
display location, as described above.
[0506] In step 2607, consistent with the present disclosure, method
2600 may include determining an indicator of a first level of
urgency for returning the first product to the associated first
correct display location. Server 135 may use an algorithm for
determining a level of urgency based on the identified
characteristics, as described above.
[0507] In step 2609, consistent with the present disclosure, method
2600 may include causing an issuance of a user-notification
associated with the first product, wherein the user-notification is
issued within a first period of time from when the first product
was determined not to be located in the first correct display
location. For example, if the first product is determined not to be
located in the first correct display location, server 135 may cause
an issuance of a user-notification on an output device, as
described above. Consistent with the present disclosure, server 135
may be configured to determine the first period of time, as
described above.
[0508] In step 2611, consistent with the present disclosure, method
2600 may include detecting in the one or more images a second
product, wherein the second product has an associated second
correct display location. As described above, server 135 may detect
a second product in the one or more images, based on image analysis
and using the product models. Also, as described above, the
detected second product may have an associated correct display
location. Additionally or alternatively to step 2609, the processor
may analyze the received readings from the detection elements,
alone or in combination with the image data, to determine the
location of the second product and/or to identify a product type of
the second product, for example as described above.
[0509] In step 2613, consistent with the present disclosure, method
2600) may include determining, based on analysis of the one or more
images, that the second product is not located in the second
correct display location. For example, based on image analysis of
the one or more images, server 135 may be configured to determine
that the second product is not located in the second correct
display location, as described above.
[0510] In step 2615, consistent with the present disclosure, method
2600 may include determining an indicator of a second level of
urgency for returning the second product to its associated second
correct display location. For example, server 135 may use an
algorithm to determine a level of urgency, as described above.
[0511] In step 2617, consistent with the present disclosure, after
determining that the second product is not located in the second
correct display location and when the second urgency level is lower
than the first urgency level, method 2600 may include withholding
issuance of a user-notification associated with the second product
within a time duration equal to the first period of time, as
described above.
[0512] Consistent with the present disclosure, method 2600 may also
include causing an issuance of a user-notification associated with
the second product within a second period of time from when the
second product was determined not to be located in the second
correct display location. The second period of time may be longer
than the first period of time when the second level of urgency is
lower than the first level of urgency, for example as described
above.
[0513] Consistent with the present disclosure, method 2600 may also
include determining, based on context information derived through
analysis of the one or more images, whether the first product
determined not to be located in the first correct display requires
repositioning, wherein the context information indicates at least
one of: the first product is located in a hand of a person, the
first product is moving, or the first product is located in a
vicinity of at least one person, for example as described
above.
[0514] The present disclosure relates to a system for processing
images to automatically identify occlusions in a field of view of
one or more cameras in retail stores. According to the present
disclosure, the system may include at least one processor. While
the present disclosure provides examples of the system, it should
be noted that aspects of the disclosure in their broadest sense,
are not limited to a system for processing images. Rather, the
system may be configured to process information collected from a
retail store. System 100, illustrated in FIG. 1 and described
above, is one example of a system for processing images captured in
a retail store and automatically identifying occlusion events, in
accordance with the present disclosure.
[0515] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to receive one or more images captured
by one or more image sensors from an environment of a retail store
and depicting a plurality of products displayed on at least one
store shelf. For example, image processing unit 130 may receive raw
or processed image data as described above.
[0516] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to detect in the one or more images a
first occlusion event, wherein the first occlusion event is
associated with a first occluding object in the retail store. An
"occlusion event" may occur when an occluding object blocks the
view of an image capturing device (i.e., camera), when an occluding
object prevents customers from seeing and/or accessing products,
shelves, and/or displays, and so forth. Image processing unit 130
may detect an occlusion event and determine the object causing the
occlusion. Many different types of occlusions may be identified by
the disclosed systems and methods. For example, the disclosed
systems and methods may identify occlusions that prevent stationary
and/or moving cameras from monitoring products, shelves, and/or
displays. Additionally or alternatively, for example, the disclosed
systems and methods may identify occlusions and/or blockages that
prevent customers from seeing and/or accessing products, shelves,
and/or displays. By way of another example, the disclosed systems
and methods may identify blockages that may prevent robots and/or
personnel from traveling within the store.
[0517] For example, image processing unit 130 may detect an
occlusion event by detecting a significant change in the brightness
in the received images. As another example, image processing unit
130 may detect an occlusion event by recognizing a partially
obscured product and/or a partially obscured sign. By way of
another example, image processing unit 130 may recognize that a
product is obscured by recognizing that a logo of the partially
obscured product may not be displayed properly, the entire package
of the partially obscured product may not be shown, and/or text on
the partially obscured product may be cut out, etc. Image
processing unit 130 may recognize that a sign is obscured by
recognizing that the entire sign is not shown, and/or the text on
the sign is not fully displayed, etc. In addition, image processing
unit 130 may recognize the occluding object by analyzing the one or
more images. Image processing unit 130 may use any suitable image
analysis technique including, for example, object recognition,
image segmentation, feature extraction, optical character
recognition (OCR), object-based image analysis, shape region
techniques, edge detection techniques, pixel-based detection, etc.
In addition, image processing unit 130 may use classification
algorithms to distinguish between the different objects in the
retail store. In some embodiments, image processing unit 130 may
utilize machine learning algorithms and models trained using
training examples to detect occlusion events in images and/or to
identify occluding objects from images. In some embodiments, an
artificial neural network configured to detect occlusion events in
images and/or to identify occluding objects from images may be
used. In some embodiments, image processing unit 130 may identify
the object in the image based at least on visual characteristics of
the occluded object (e.g., size, shape, text, color, etc.).
[0518] It is contemplated that the disclosed system may use
significant different method to identify occlusions of different
types. For example, to identify occlusions of the first type (that
prevent stationary and/or moving cameras from monitoring products,
shelves, and/or displays) the system may use any of the following
methods or other methods, as well. These may include, for example,
monitoring the images to detect a (partial) disappearance of a
shelf and/or display that is supposed to be in (a known location
within) the field of view of the camera. In some cases, the system
may further analyze input from another camera that monitors the
disappearing shelf and/or display from a different angle to
determine that the shelf and/or display was not physically removed.
Additionally or alternatively, the disclosed system may monitor the
field of view of the camera (or part of the field of view) to
determine that an object entered the (part of) the field of view
that monitors products, shelves and/or displays and occludes at
least part of them. Additionally, the images may be analyzed to
determine a type of the occluding object.
[0519] It is contemplated that to identify occlusions and/or
blockages of the second type (that prevent customers from seeing or
accessing products, shelves, and/or displays) the system may use
any of the following methods or other methods. By way of example,
the disclosed system may monitor the images to estimate position
and/or size of an object, and use a rule to determine if the object
is an occluding object based on the estimated position and/or size.
For example, the rule may be manually programmed. Additionally or
alternatively, the disclosed system may monitor the images to
estimate the size of an object and the relative position of the
object with respect to a product, shelf and/or display. The
disclosed system may further calculate an occluded area based on
the estimated size and the relative position, and may determine
whether the occluded area comprises an area designed for a customer
to pass through. As another example, the disclosed system may
monitor the images to estimate the position and/or size of an
object, estimate position and/or height of a customer depicted in
the image, and determines whether the object is positioned between
the customer (body part of the customer, e.g., head, eyes, hands,
body, etc.) and a product, shelf and/or display. By way of yet
another example, the disclosed system may analyze the movement
pattern of the customers to identify irregular motion due to an
object (for example, irregular walking trajectory, irregular
grabbing movement, etc.), and identify an object as an occluding
object based on the identified irregular motion.
[0520] It is further contemplated that to identify blockages of the
third type (that prevent robots from traveling within the store)
the system may use any of the following methods or other methods as
well. By way of example, the disclosed system may monitor the
images to determine a present of an object in a predefined area,
monitor the images to determine that at least a selected amount of
a passage is blocked, and/or monitor the images to determine that
the open area for movement is below a selected threshold.
[0521] In some embodiments, image processing unit 130 may include a
machine learning module that may be trained using supervised
models. Supervised models are a type of machine learning that
provides a machine learning module with training data, which pairs
input data with desired output data. The training data may provide
a knowledge basis for future judgment. The machine learning module
may be configured to receive sets of training data, which comprises
data with an "object name" tag and data with tag "no object". For
example, the training data comprises images of boxes with "box"
tags and other images with tag "no object". The machine learning
module may learn to identify "box" by applying a learning algorithm
to the set of training data. The machine learning module may be
configured to receive sets of test data, which are different from
the training data and may have no tag. The machine learning module
may identify the test data that contains the object. For example,
receiving sets of test images, the machine learning module may
identify the images with a box in them, and tag them as "box." This
may allow the machine learning developers to better understand the
performance of the training, and thus make some adjustments
accordingly.
[0522] In additional or alternative embodiments, the machine
learning module may be trained using unsupervised models.
Unsupervised models are a type of machine learning using untampered
data which are not labelled or selected. Applying algorithms, the
machine learning module identifies commonalities in the data. Based
on the presence and the absence of the commonalities, the machine
learning module may categorize future received data. For example,
the machine learning module may identify commonalities of a ladder.
When a future received image has the commonalities, the machine
learning module may determine that the image contains a ladder.
Image processing unit 130 may store the commonalities associated to
an object in database 140.
[0523] Consistent with the present disclosure, image processing
unit 130 may recognize the occluding objects in the image, based on
the one or more identified characteristic. For example, when image
processing unit 130 determined that an image has some
characteristics of "ladder," such as, "rungs", "side rails",
"foot", etc., image processing unit 130 may recognize "ladder" in
the image.
[0524] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to analyze the plurality of images to
determine an indicator of a first level of urgency for resolving
the first occlusion event. The term "level of urgency for resolving
the first occlusion event" refers to any indication, numeric or
otherwise, of a level (e.g., within a predetermined range)
indicative of an urgency to resolve the occlusion event, for
example by removing the occluding object that causes the occlusion
event. For example, the level of urgency may have a value between 1
and 10. Image processing unit 130 may store the determined level of
urgency in database 140. A level of urgency may be used, for
example, to determine whether to send the users a notification for
resolving the first occlusion event. Image processing unit 130 may
comprise an algorithm to determine a level of urgency, at least
based on the detected occluding object. For example, when the
occluding object in the one or more images is identified as
"human," image processing unit 130 may assign 2 points to the level
of urgency for resolving the occlusion event. When the occluding
object in the one or more images is identified as "ladder," image
processing unit 130 may assign 5 points to the level of urgency for
resolving the occlusion event, for example due to the danger might
be caused by the ladder. In some examples, different types of
occluding objects may be assigned different point values. While the
present disclosure provides examples of occluding objects, it
should be noted that aspects of the disclosure in their broadest
sense, are not limited to the disclosed examples.
[0525] In addition, when the one or more images contain one or more
shelves, image processing unit 130 may analyze the one or more
images to identify the shelves in the image, as described above.
Based on the identification of the shelves, image processing unit
130 may determine the level of urgency for resolving the occlusion
event. For example, when the shelf is identified to be for high
profit margin (e.g., drugs, dairy products, etc.), image processing
unit 130 may determine the level of urgency to be 10. In another
example, when the shelf is identified to be of fast turnover
products, the level of urgency may be determined to be 8.
[0526] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to cause issuance of a
user-notification associated with the first occlusion event,
wherein the user-notification is issued within a first period of
time from when the first occlusion event was detected. Image
processing unit 130 may compare the determined first level of
urgency for resolving the first occlusion event to a selected
threshold (such as a pre-determined threshold, a threshold
determined according to other pending tasks, and so forth). For
example, once the first level of urgency is determined to be above
the selected threshold, server 135 may cause an issuance of a
user-notification on an output device, for example using I/O system
210 and peripherals interface 208. Output device (e.g., a display
screen, a speaker, etc.) may receive the user-notification and
display the user-notification to a user. The user-notification may
include text message, audio recording, image, map, indication of
the occluding object (such as an image depicting the occluding
object, type of the occluding object, etc.), indication of the
occlusion event location (such as image depicting the occlusion
event location, map identifying the occlusion event location,
etc.), indication of tools required to resolve the occlusion event,
and/or the indicator of the level of urgency, etc.
[0527] Consistent with the present disclosure, server 135 may be
configured to determine a first period of time starting from when
the first occlusion event was detected. In some aspects, server 135
may determine a first period of time based on the level of urgency.
For example, the higher the level of urgency is, the shorter the
first period of time may be. In some aspects, server 135 may
determine a first period of time based on the identified occluding
object. For example, when "ladder" is identified to be the
occluding object, server 135 may determine a first period of time
to be shorter than for some other occluding objects. Image
processing unit 130 may also include a timer configured to measure
a specific time interval, that may be, the determined period of
time. The timer may be implemented in software language, a hardware
timer, and so forth. The timer may be configured to receive an
indication first period of time from processing device 202. The
timer may be configured to count down from the time when the first
occlusion event was first detected.
[0528] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to detect in the one or more images a
second occlusion event, wherein the second occlusion event is
associated with a second occluding object in the retail store. As
described above, image processing unit 130 may detect a second
occlusion event in the one or more images, based on image analysis,
for example in similar manners to the detection of the first
occlusion event as described above.
[0529] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to analyze the plurality of images to
determine an indicator of a second level of urgency for resolving
the second occlusion event. As described above, image processing
unit 130 may comprise an algorithm to determine a second level of
urgency, for example, in similar manners to the detection of the
first occlusion event as described above. Image processing unit 130
may store the determined level of urgency in database 140. A level
of urgency may be used, for example, to determine a time duration
before sending a notification for resolving the second occlusion
event to the user. A practical problem in the system described
above is that products shelves and/or displays are repeatedly
occluded or blocked temporary. To avoid an abundance of unnecessary
notifications due to temporary occlusions and/or blockages, the
system may withhold notifications due to temporary occlusions
and/or blockages. In order to avoid false or unnecessary alerts,
the system may withhold alerts due to temporary occlusions. For
example, the system may withhold alerts based on the type of
occluding object, based on the type of occlusion (occlusion to
customer, camera, etc.), based on an amount of the occlusion, due
to occlusions for short time periods, due to occlusions which are
manned (that is, the person placing the occluding object is still
in the vicinity), and so forth. Optionally, the parameters may
depend on the type of product on the shelf, the location of the
shelf, etc.
[0530] Consistent with the present disclosure the received images
may be analyzed to identify a store shelf occlusion event, and/or
to determine whether the store shelf occlusion event is temporary.
Upon a determination that the store shelf occlusion event is
temporary, notification to a user regarding the store shelf
occlusion may be withheld. Upon a determination that the store
shelf occlusion event is not temporary, notification to a user
regarding the store shelf occlusion may be provided. By way of
example, the notification may include information related to the
store shelf, information related to a location associated with the
occlusion event, information related to a type of the occlusion
event, information related to an occluding object associated with
the occlusion event, visual depiction of the occlusion event, a
timer showing the time from the first detection of the occlusion
event, and so forth.
[0531] As another example, the determination whether the store
shelf occlusion event is temporary may be based on time duration
associated with the occlusion event (for example, determining that
the event is not temporary when the occlusion is present for at
least a selected time duration), on the presence of a person
associated with the occlusion event (for example, determining that
the occlusion event is temporary when the person that placed the
object causing the occlusion is in the vicinity of the occluding
object), on a motion of an occluding object associated with the
occlusion event (for example, determining that the event is
temporary when the object is moving), on a location of an occluding
object associated with the occlusion event (for example, in the
determination process, using one threshold for one location and a
second threshold for a second location), on a type of an occluding
object associated with the occlusion event (for example, ignoring
occlusions caused by some types of objects, and/or, in the
determination process, using one threshold for one type of object
and a second threshold for a second type of object), on a type
associated with the store shelf (for example, in the determination
process, using one threshold for one store shelf and a second
threshold for a second store shelf, for example, based on the
impotency and/or value of the store shelf), etc. By way of example,
a temporarily occluding object may include a person (customer,
employee, etc.) moving through the store and/or a cart positioned
temporarily in the store. As another example, a temporarily
occluding object may include an object positioned near the person
that positioned it (which might indicate that the person may still
move the object), for example where the person is still in the
field of view or a selected part of the field of view of the
camera, where the distance (in pixels or in the physical world)
between the person and the object is less than a selected
threshold, etc.
[0532] Consistent with the present disclosure, when the second
urgency level is lower than the first urgency level, the at least
one processor may be configured to withhold issuance of a
user-notification associated with the second occlusion event within
a time duration equal to the first period of time. In some
examples, delaying the user-notification associated with the second
occlusion event may allow the second occlusion event (which may be
less urgent than the first occlusion event) to be resolved
naturally, without an initiated intervention. Image processing unit
130 may be configured to compare and/or rank the first and second
levels of urgency for resolving the occlusion events. When the
second level of urgency is determined to be lower than the first
level of urgency, image processing unit 130 may withhold issuance
of a user-notification associated with the second occlusion event.
As described above, image processing unit 130 may also include a
timer configured to measure a specific time interval. Image
processing unit 130 may withhold the issuance of the
user-notification associated with the second occlusion event for a
time duration equal to or longer than the first period of time, for
example by utilizing the timer. It is also contemplated that a
temporarily occlusion event may be detected based on an occlusion
and/or blockage time period shorter than a selected threshold. Such
thresholds may be selected based on the occluding and/or blocking
object type, type of occluded product, occluded product category,
occluded brand, occluded shelf, height of the occluded shelf,
occluded display, occluded aisle, location within the store, the
store, the retail chain, and so forth. For example, the first
identified occluding object is a "ladder," and the second
identified occluding object is a "human." Image processing unit 130
may determine that the second occlusion event to have a lower level
of urgency than the first occlusion event, so image processing unit
130 may withhold the issuance of the user-notification associated
with the second occlusion event until the user-notification
associated with the first occlusion event is sent to the output
device. This may help the users to prioritize which occlusion event
should be resolved first. In some embodiments, user-notification
associated with some second occlusion events (such as occlusion
events where the identified occluding object is a "human") may be
permanently forgone.
[0533] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to cause an issuance of a
user-notification associated with the second occlusion event within
a second period of time from when the occlusion event was detected,
wherein the second period of time is longer than the first period
of time when the second level of urgency is lower than the first
level of urgency. The at least one processor may issue alerts in
response to occlusion (to customer, to camera, etc.) of retail
store shelves. For example, as described above, once the second
occlusion event is detected, image processing unit 130 may cause an
issuance of a user-notification on an output device, for example
using I/O system 210 and peripherals interface 208, and the output
device (e.g., a display screen, a speaker, etc.) may receive the
user-notification and display the user-notification to a user. The
user-notification may include text message, audio recording, image,
map, indication of the correct location, indication of the
occlusion event location, indication of the occluding object,
indication of the occluded object, and/or the indicator of the
level of urgency, etc.
[0534] Consistent with the present disclosure, image processing
unit 130 may be configured to determine a second period of time
starting from when the second occlusion event was detected. The
second period of time may be determined based on the second level
of urgency. For example, when the second level of urgency is lower
than the first level of urgency, image processing unit 130 may
determine the second period of time to be longer than the first
period of time. In a case where the first level of urgency is
determined to be 8 and the second level of urgency is determined to
be 2, and image processing unit 130 has determined the first period
of time to be 30 seconds, image processing unit 130 may determine
the second period of time to be 10 minutes.
[0535] Consistent with the present disclosure, the
user-notification may be part of a product-related task assigned to
a store employee and may include at least one of: information about
a type of an occlusion event, information about an identify of an
occluding object, information about an identify of an occluded
product, information about a location associated with an occlusion
event, and a visual depiction of the occlusion event. After the
identification of an occlusion and/or a blockage, the system may
create a task for removing the occluding and/or blocking objects,
assign the task to an employee (for example, as described below in
relation to FIGS. 33-35), guide the employee in the performance of
the task (for example, navigating the employee to the occluding
object, marking the occluding object in augmented reality (AR),
guiding the employee using AR, etc.), and monitor the performance
of the task. For example, shown in FIG. 11D, GUI 1130 may include a
first display area 1132 for showing a list of notifications or text
messages indicating several in-store execution events that require
attention. The execution events may include one or more task to
resolve an occlusion event. The notifications may include text
messages and a link to an image (or the image itself). The image
may depict the occlusion event. The notifications may also include
information about the location of the occlusion event. For example,
the notification may include text message, such as, "Please resolve
the occlusion event at second aisle, soft drink section, 3rd
floor." The notifications may also include information about a
store shelf that is obscured. For example, the notification may
include a link to FIG. 27 or 28 or simply FIG. 27 or 28 themselves,
that depict occlusion events. Additionally or alternatively, the
notification may include a text message that describes the
occlusion event and/or the occluding object, such as "a ladder is
blocking the view of camera number 23," "the shelf in the cleaning
product section is blocked," "an employee is blocking the view of
the camera on the 5th aisle," "a ladder is occluding the camera on
aisle 14," or the like.
[0536] In another example, shown in FIG. 11D, GUI 1140 may include
a first display area 1142 for showing a real-time display of a
video stream captured by output device 145C with real-time
augmented markings indicting a status of planogram compliance for
each product (e.g., correct place, misplaced, not in planogram, and
empty). GUI 1140 may also include a second display area 1144 for
showing a summary of the planogram compliance for all the products
identified in the video stream captured by output device 145C.
Consistent with the present disclosure, server 135 may generate
within minutes actionable tasks to improve store execution (for
example, in less than a second, less than 10 seconds, less than a
minute, less than 10 minutes, more than 10 minutes, and so forth).
These tasks may help employees of retail store 105 to quickly
address situations that can negatively impact revenue and customer
experience in the retail store 105. Such tasks may include
resolving the occlusion event. GUI 1140 may also display the
user-notifications as described above. It is also contemplated that
the disclosed systems and methods may determine that the occlusion
and/or blockage was moved (for example, by a customer, by another
employee, etc.) without an intervention of the employee, and cancel
the task or update the task accordingly (for example, in the case
the customer repositioned the occluding object so that it occlude
another location in the store).
[0537] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to detect in the one or more images the
second occlusion event at a time within the first period of time
from when the first occlusion event was detected. For example, when
the first period of time is determined to be 30 seconds, image
processing unit 130 may detect a second occlusion event in the 30
seconds after the first occlusion event was detected. This may help
better allocate the resources, and help focus on the area that
contains greater level of urgency and shorter period of time before
causing user-notification.
[0538] Consistent with the present disclosure, the indicator of the
first level of urgency for resolving the first occlusion event may
be associated with an occlusion type of the first occlusion event.
Occlusion type may describe the cause of the occlusion event and
the seriousness of the occlusion. Three exemplary occlusion types
may be as follows: First, "human caused occlusion event" type
describes occlusion events that are resulted from one or more
persons (e.g., a customer, an employee, etc.) Image processing unit
130 may be configured to distinguish the person in the one or more
images. For example, based on image analysis, image processing unit
130 may recognize the person is an employee by identifying at least
one "employee characteristic," such as, wearing a uniform, and/or
wearing employee identification. Image processing unit 130 may
further categorize the occlusion events into "customer caused
occlusion event" and "employee caused occlusion event." As
illustrated, for example, in FIG. 27, employee 2703 may cause an
occlusion event, and thus, will be categorized as "human caused
occlusion." Second, "object caused occlusion event" type describes
occlusion events that are resulted from one or more occluding
objects. As illustrated, for example, in FIG. 28, ladder 2805 and
box 2803 may cause the occlusion event, and thus, will be
categorized as "object caused occlusion." Third, "robot caused
occlusion event" type describes occlusion events that are resulted
from one or more robots (e.g., cleaning robot, product-sorting
robot, and/or autonomous vehicle, etc.) When an occlusion event is
detected and the occluding object is determined to be an employee,
image processing unit 130 may determine the level of urgency for
resolving the human caused occlusion event to be 1, which may be
the lowest. In another example, when a ladder is determining to be
the occluding object, the occlusion event is categorized as "object
caused occlusion event" type, and image processing unit 130 may
determine the level of urgency for resolving the occlusion event to
be 10. In some examples, each occlusion event type may have a
pre-determined level of urgency for resolving it. The
pre-determined level of urgency may be stored in database 140.
[0539] Consistent with the present disclosure, when the occlusion
type of the first occlusion event is a customer occlusion event,
the first period of time may be shorter than when the occlusion
type of the first occlusion event is an object occlusion event. For
example, when a customer is detected and determined to be the
occluding object, image processing unit 130 may determine the first
period of time to be 5 minutes, at least because it may be more
urgent to resolve such occlusion. In some aspects, the first period
of time may be a random value from 0-10 minutes. In another
example, when a ladder is detected and determined to be the
occluding object, and because a ladder falls in "object caused
occlusion event" type, image processing unit 130 may determine the
first period of time to be 15 minutes. In some aspects, the first
period of time may be a random value from 10-60 minutes.
[0540] Consistent with the present disclosure, when the occlusion
type of the first occlusion event is a robot occlusion event, the
first period of time may be longer than when the occlusion type of
the first occlusion event is an object occlusion event. For
example, when a robot is detected and determined to be the
occluding object, and because a robot falls in "robot caused
occlusion event" type, image processing unit 130 may determine the
first period of time to be 120 minutes. In some aspects, the first
period of time may be a random value from 61-180 minutes. Further,
as described above, the period of time may be longer for "robot
caused occlusion event" type than for "object caused occlusion
event," at least because robots may have more predictable behaviors
than other inanimate objects, and/or because objects may cause
danger to the customers.
[0541] Consistent with the present disclosure, when the first
occlusion event and the second occlusion event are associated with
a same occlusion type, the at least one processor may be configured
to determine the indicator of a second level of urgency for
resolving the second occlusion event based on information
determined about the second occluding object. For example, both
first and second occlusion events may be determined to be
associated with "human caused occlusion event" type. Image
processing unit 130 may further categorize the same type of
occlusion events into "customer caused occlusion event" and
"employee caused occlusion event." For example, based on image
analysis, image processing unit 130 may recognize the person is an
employee as described above. Image processing unit 130 may further
categorize the occlusion events into "customer caused occlusion
event" and "employee caused occlusion event." In another example,
image processing unit 130 may recognize different occluding objects
(e.g., a box, a ladder, a cart, a display stand, etc.) using object
recognition methods described above. Image processing unit 130 may
further categorize "object caused occlusion event" type into
"ladder caused occlusion event," "cart caused occlusion event,"
etc., based on the occluding objects. Each occlusion event
associated with an occluding object may have different level of
urgency for resolving the occlusion event. For example, a ladder
may have a higher level of urgency than a box. Further, a customer
may have a higher level of urgency than an employee. While the
present disclosure provides examples of techniques and analysis for
determining the occluding object and the level of urgency, it
should be noted that aspects of the disclosure in their broadest
sense, are not limited to the disclosed examples.
[0542] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be further configured to determine the indicator of
the first level of urgency for resolving the first occlusion event
based on a type of the first occluding object and to determine the
indicator of the second level of urgency for resolving the second
occlusion event based on a type of the second occluding object. For
example, as shown in FIG. 28, ladder 2805 may be determined to be
the first occluding object and box 2803 may be determined to be the
second occluding object. Image processing unit 130 may determine
different levels of urgency associated with different occluding
objects. For example, the level of urgency associated with ladder
2805 may be determined to be 8, and the level of urgency associated
with box 2803 may be determined to be 2.
[0543] Consistent with the present disclosure, when the first and
second occluding objects are persons, and when the at least one
processor may be further configured to: determine the indicator of
the first level of urgency for resolving the first occlusion event
based on a determined identity of the first occluding object, and
determine the indicator of the second level of urgency for
resolving the second occlusion event based on a determined identity
of the second occluding object. For example, a customer may be
determined to be the first occluding object and an employee may be
determined to be the second occluding object. Based on image
analysis, image processing unit 130 may recognize the person is an
employee as described above. Image processing unit 130 may
determine different levels of urgency associated with different
occluding objects. For example, an employee may be an occluding
object while re-stocking shelves or determining and/or verifying
the prices of one or more products on the store shelves. In
contrast a customer may be an occluding object as the customer
browses the products on the store shelves. Image processing unit
130 may determine different levels of urgency associated with the
occluding object depending on whether the occluding object is a
customer or a store employee. For example, the level of urgency
associated with the customer may be determined to be 4, and the
level of urgency associated with the employee may be determined to
be 2.
[0544] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be further configured to: determine the indicator of
the first level of urgency for resolving the first occlusion event
based on detected motion of the first occluding object, and
determine the indicator of the second level of urgency for
resolving the second occlusion event based on detected motion of
the second occluding object. For example, in FIG. 25, image
processing unit may recognize a moving cart and a customer in two
or more images 2500. As described above, to determine whether the
product is in a moving cart, image processing unit 130 may use any
suitable image analysis technique.
[0545] In another example, where the customer is not moving, and
the cart is moving towards the right. The customer may be
determined to be the first occluding object and the cart may be
determined to be the second occluding object. The level of urgency
associated with customer may be determined to be 8, and the level
of urgency associated with the moving cart may be determined to be
2.
[0546] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be further configured to: determine the indicator of
the first level of urgency for resolving the first occlusion event
based on a determined location of the first occluding object, and
determine the indicator of the second level of urgency for
resolving the second occlusion event based on a determined location
of the second occluding object. For example, image processing unit
130 may determine the location depicted in the one or more images
as described above. Image processing unit 130 may determine the
indicator of level of urgency based on the determined location of
the occlusion events. Thus, for example, a level of urgency for an
occlusion event near a cashier may be higher than a level of
urgency for an occlusion event near a storage location, because,
for example, an occlusion near the cashier may impede a smooth flow
of traffic through the store.
[0547] Consistent with the present disclosure, wherein the at least
one processor may be further configured to: determine the indicator
of the first level of urgency for resolving the first occlusion
event based on a determined lack of people in proximity to the
first occluding object, and determine the indicator of the second
level of urgency for resolving the second occlusion event based on
an identification of people in proximity of the second occluding
object. It is contemplated that occlusion events that occur without
the presence of a person may be more detrimental than those that
occur in the presence of a person. For example, when image
processing unit 130 detects a cart with no person near it, image
processing unit 130 may determine the level of urgency associated
with cart to be high, to notify an employee to resolve the
occlusion as soon as possible. By way of another example, when
image processing unit 130 detects a cart with a person near it,
image processing unit 130 may determine the level associated with
the cart to be low or even 0, that may not be identified as an
occlusion event. This is because, it may be expected that a person
moving through the store may be accompanied by a cart in which the
person may place any items and/or products for purchase. Thus, a
cart with a person near it may cause a temporary occlusion until
the person moves the cart and therefore may not be detrimental to
the detection of objects in the store.
[0548] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be further configured to determine, after the time
duration, that the second occluding object continues to cause the
second occlusion event, and, in response, cause issuance of a
user-notification associated with the second occlusion event. As
discussed above, the disclosed systems and methods may withhold
issuance of a user notification for a period of time depending on
the urgency level. However, upon expiry of the period of time, if
the occlusion event still remains and/or persists, the disclosed
systems and methods may issue the user notification. By way of
another example, when a user may not have performed the task of
resolving an occlusion event, image processing unit 130 may be
configured to cause another issuance of user-notification. This may
alert the user and remind the user to perform the task.
[0549] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be further configured to detect in the plurality of
images a change associated with the second occlusion event;
determine the indicator of the second level of urgency for
resolving the second occlusion event based on the change associated
with the second occlusion event; and cause issuance of a
user-notification associated with the second occlusion within the
time duration equal to the first period of time. The disclosed
systems and methods may detect a change associated with an
occlusion event. For example, an occluded portion of the image may
have increased and/or changed in shape or size. The disclosed
systems and methods may issue a user-notification based on
detection of the change in the occlusion event. For example, the
occluding object may be a box of apples that are piled up neatly.
If the piled apples fall on the ground, image processing unit 130
may detect that one or more apples is not at its original position,
using image analysis methods described above. Thus, image
processing unit 130 may determine that a change in the occlusion
event happened. Based on the detected change, image processing unit
130 may determine the level of urgency associated to the box of
apples to be high. Such a change may trigger image processing unit
130 to issue a user-notification to inform the users, regarding a
change in the occlusion event.
[0550] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be further configured to determine a location of the
first occlusion event and to direct an employee to the determined
location. Image processing unit 130 may determine a location of an
occlusion event depicted in the one or more images by recognizing
the location depicted in the one or more images (for example, next
to the detected occlusion event) as described above. After the
location is determined, image processing unit 130 may send the
location information to a user, for example using I/O system 210
and peripherals interface 208. An output device (e.g., a display
screen, a speaker, AR system, etc.) may receive the information and
display to the user. Such location information may be an address
(e.g., second aisle, soft drink section, 3rd floor) and/or a map
that shows the location.
[0551] FIG. 27 illustrates an exemplary image received by the
system, consistent with the present disclosure. The image may
depict an occlusion event. For example, in image 2700 an occlusion
event may be caused by person 2703. After receiving the image,
server 135 may be configured to detect an occlusion event. Based on
image analysis described above, server 135 may detect the occluding
object (i.e., customer 2703) that obscures at least one product
2701. Further, as described above, server 135 may be configured to
determine the person to be a customer based on at least one
characteristic.
[0552] FIG. 28 is another exemplary image received by the system,
consistent with the present disclosure. Image 2800 may be one of
many images that together depict, for example, box 2803 and ladder
2805 that may block the field of view of the capturing device that
took the images. Further, products 2801 may be blocked entirely or
partially by box 2803 and/or ladder 2805. Based on image analysis,
server 135 may be configured to recognize box 2803 and/or ladder
2805. Additionally or alternatively, by comparing images captured
in sequence, server 135 may determine that both box 2803 and ladder
2805 are not moving for a certain period of time.
[0553] FIG. 29 is a flow chart, illustrating an exemplary method
2900 for processing images to automatically identify occlusions in
a field of view of one or more cameras in retail stores, in
accordance with the present disclosure. The order and arrangement
of steps in method 2900 is provided for purposes of illustration.
As will be appreciated from this disclosure, modifications may be
made to process 2900 by, for example, adding, combining, removing,
and/or rearranging one or more steps of process 2900. Consistent
with the present disclosure, a computer program product for
processing images captured in retail stores embodied in a
non-transitory computer-readable medium and executable by at least
one processor may be provided. The computer program product may
include instructions for causing the at least one processor to
execute a method (e.g. process 2900) for processing images to
automatically identify occlusions in a field of view of one or more
cameras in retail stores.
[0554] In step 2901, consistent with the present disclosure, the
method may include receiving one or more images captured by one or
more image sensors from an environment of a retail store and
depicting a plurality of products displayed on at least one store
shelf. For example, server 135 may be configured to receive one or
more images depicting an environment in a retail store, as
described above.
[0555] In step 2903, consistent with the present disclosure, the
method may include detecting in the one or more images a first
occlusion event, wherein the first occlusion event is associated
with a first occluding object in the retail store. For example,
server 135 may detect an occlusion event and determine and/or
identify the object causing the occlusion as described above.
[0556] In step 2905, consistent with the present disclosure, the
method may include analyzing the plurality of images to determine
an indicator of a first level of urgency for resolving the first
occlusion event. For example, server 135 may determine the level of
urgency and/or the indicator of the level of urgency as described
above.
[0557] In step 2907, consistent with the present disclosure, the
method may include causing issuance of a user-notification
associated with the first occlusion event, wherein the
user-notification is issued within a first period of time from when
the first occlusion event was detected. As described above, once
the first level of urgency is determined not to be above a
pre-determined threshold, sever 135 may cause an issuance of a
user-notification as described above. Consistent with the present
disclosure, server 135 may be configured to determine a first
period of time starting from when the first occlusion event was
detected, as described above. Server 135 may also include a timer
configured to measure a specific time interval, that may be, the
determined period of time.
[0558] In step 2909, consistent with the present disclosure, the
method may include detecting in the one or more images a second
occlusion event, wherein the second occlusion event is associated
with a second occluding object in the retail store. As described
above, server 135 may detect a second occlusion event in the one or
more images, based on image analysis, for example in similar
manners to the detection of the first occlusion event as described
above.
[0559] In step 2911, consistent with the present disclosure, the
method may include analyzing the plurality of images to determine
an indicator of a second level of urgency for resolving the second
occlusion event. For example, server 135 may determine the second
level of urgency and/or the indicator of the second level of
urgency as described above.
[0560] Consistent with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine an indicator of a second
level of urgency for resolving the second occlusion event. As
described above, server 135 may comprise an algorithm to determine
a second level of urgency, based on the identified characteristics
of the second occlusion event. Further, server 135 may store the
determined level of urgency in database 140. A level of urgency may
be used, for example, to determine a time duration before sending a
notification for resolving the occlusion event to the user.
[0561] In step 2913, consistent with the present disclosure, when
the second urgency level is lower than the first urgency level, the
method may include withholding issuance of a user-notification
associated with the second occlusion event within a time duration
equal to the first period of time. Consistent with the present
disclosure, server 135 may be configured to compare and/or rank the
first and second level of urgency for resolving the occlusion
events. When the second level of urgency is determined to be lower
than the first level of urgency, server 135 may withhold issuance
of a user-notification associated with the second occlusion event.
As described above, image processing unit 130 may also include a
timer configured to measure a specific time interval. Server 135
may withhold the issuance of the user-notification associated with
the second occlusion event for a time duration equal to the first
period of time, by utilizing the timer. For example, when the first
identified occluding object is a "ladder," and the second
identified occluding object is a "human," server 135 may determine
that the second occlusion event to have a lower level of urgency
than the first occlusion event. For example, the level of urgency
for resolving the first occlusion event may be 10 and the level of
urgency for resolving the second occlusion event may be 2. Further,
the first period of time may be determined to be 30 seconds, that
is, the user-notification associated with the first occluding
object will be send within 30 seconds starting from when the first
occlusion event is detected. Because the level of urgency for
resolving the second occlusion event has a lower value, server 135
may withhold issuance of a user-notification associated with the
second occlusion event within a time duration equal to the first
period of time. In some examples, server 135 may withhold at least
another 30 seconds after the second occlusion event is detected. It
is contemplated that when the second level of urgency is determined
to be higher than the first level of urgency, server 135 may not
withhold issuance of a user-notification associated with the second
occlusion event and instead may issue the user-notification
immediately.
[0562] Consistent with the present disclosure, the method may also
include determining the indicators of the first and second levels
of urgency based on at least one of: determined types of one or
more of the first and second occluding objects, determined
identities of one or more of the first and second occluding
objects, detected motion associated with one or more of the first
and second occluding objects, determined locations of one or more
of the first and second occluding objects, or identification of
people in proximity to one or more of the first and second
occluding objects. For example, image processing unit 130 may
determine a level of urgency as described above.
[0563] Consistent with the present disclosure, the method may also
include determining, after the time duration, that the second
occluding object continues to cause the second occlusion event,
and, in response, causing issuance of a user-notification
associated with the second occlusion event. For example, when the
employee did not perform the task of resolving the occlusion event,
server 135 may be configured to cause another issuance of
user-notification. This may alert the user and remind the user to
perform the task. While the present disclosure provides examples of
the situations, it should be noted that aspects of the disclosure
in their broadest sense, are not limited to the disclosed
examples.
[0564] In some embodiments, captured images may be analyzed to
determine whether at least one additional product of a selected
product type may be inserted to a store shelf, and a notification
may be provided to a user based on the determination. In some
examples, the determination may be based on whether a rearrangement
of the plurality of products may enable the insertion of the at
least one additional product on the store shelf. In some cases, the
notification provided to the user may comprise a visualization of
the rearrangement.
[0565] In some examples, the captured images may be analyzed to
identify a plurality of spaces in between the plurality of products
on the store shelves and/or on one or two sides of the plurality of
products. The images may be analyzed to measure/determine the
lengths of the spaces (or any other indicator of the sizes of
available openings on a shelf). The determination may be based on
lengths of the spaces and a length of the product (for example, as
measured by analyzing the image or by accessing a catalog of
products together with their measurements). The spaces in between
the plurality of products on the store shelves may include
horizontal spaces between products in a shelf and/or vertical
spaces between shelves. For example, the sum of lengths of the
spaces may be calculated and compared with the length of the
product, and if the length of a product is smaller by at least a
selected length (which may be zero, constant, depend on the number
of products, depend on the number of spaces, etc.) from the sum of
lengths, it may be determined that an additional product may be
inserted. In another example, the sum of lengths of the spaces may
be calculated after applying a function on the lengths of the
spaces (such as subtracting from at least some of the lengths of
the spaces a selected length, choosing the lower value between a
selected minimal length and a function of the measured length, and
so forth). Additionally, the system may determine that an
additional shelf may be included when the sum of lengths of the
vertical spaces between a plurality of shelves is higher than a
threshold.
[0566] Consistent with the present disclosure, server 115 may
access a predetermined planogram. The predetermined planogram may
be associated with contractual obligations and/or other preferences
related to the retailer methodology for placement of products on
the store shelves. Moreover, server 115 may use the predetermined
planogram and the calculated sum of lengths of the spaces to
determine whether a rearrangement of the plurality of products may
enable the insertion of the at least one additional product on the
store shelf.
[0567] Consistent with the present disclosure, a rearrangement
event may be determined. A rearrangement event may exist when one
or more product arrangement conditions on at least one shelf are
determined to be present, where altering at least one of the one or
more of the product arrangement conditions may improve service
(e.g., by product rearrangement). Consistent with the present
disclosure, a product-related task may be generated. The
product-related task may include directions for a human or machine
to rearrange, re-orient, or otherwise manipulate a product, a
plurality of products, a shelf, a plurality of shelves, a shelving
unit, a plurality of shelving units, or a combination thereof such
that a vacant space is reduced or eliminated.
[0568] According to the present disclosure, a system for processing
images captured in a retail store is disclosed. The system may
include at least one processor. By way of example, FIG. 1
illustrates a system 100, which may include image processing unit
130, which in turn may include server 135. As discussed above,
server 135 may include processing device 202, which may include at
least one processor. System 100 may detect vacant spaces between
products on a shelf in a retail environment and determine that, by
rearranging the products, additional products may fit on the shelf
if the vacant spaces are reduced or eliminated. System 100 may also
detect vacant spaces between products and use that information to
determine, for example, whether a retail store is in compliance
with a planogram or other standard for displaying a product. For
example, system 100 may detect two groups of products on a shelf,
each product of a first group being a different size than the
products of the other group, and determine that at least one
additional product of one of the groups may be displayed on a shelf
if the products are rearranged. Additionally or alternatively,
system 100 may detect products on one or more shelves within a
shelving unit and determine that by rearranging the shelves or the
products or both, at least one additional shelf may be added to the
shelving unit.
[0569] Vacant spaces on retail stores may be detected by any
suitable image analysis technique. For example, an image of a
shelf, multiple shelves, or a shelving unit may be analyzed to
detect vacant spaces between products depicted in the image.
Additionally or alternatively, pressure sensors placed on shelves
may be used to detect vacant spaces on a shelf. It is also
contemplated that other sensing modalities (e.g., light sensors or
LIDAR systems) may be used to detect vacant spaces. One or more
dimensions associated with a vacant space may be determined based
on analysis of one or more images and/or based on input provided by
pressure sensors or other types of sensors. For example, in one
embodiment, edges of product packaging may be determined and
associated with product bodies. Spaces between product bodies may
be interpreted as vacant spaces. Widths, depths, and/or heights
associated with detected vacant spaces may be determined, for
example, based on a scaling analysis, which may include, for
example, comparing a recognized vacant space dimension with another
dimension of known, such as a known dimension associated with a
particular product package or portion of a product package. Such an
analysis may be performed based solely on received image data or
may be based solely on other types of received information (e.g.,
outputs or pressure sensitive pads, light sensors, etc.). The
dimensional analysis may also be accomplished based on a
combination of received information.
[0570] Detected vacant spaces may be reduced by rearranging
products currently displayed on a shelf, swapping a product type
for a different product type of a different size or shape, by
changing the orientation of a product on a shelf, by rearranging
the shelves within a shelving unit, by any combination of the
above, or by any other means. The present disclosure provides
examples of the products which may be detected and rearranged to
reduce or eliminate vacant spaces, however, it should be noted that
aspects of the disclosure in their broadest sense, are not limited
to the disclosed products.
[0571] Information relating to the detected vacant spaces may be
provided to users. Retail stores may use detected vacant space
information to optimize the layout of the products on shelves
throughout the store and to manage tasks, such as stocking or
arranging shelves. Suppliers of products may use the information to
determine whether a retail store is complying with guidelines for
displaying products, such as guidelines provided in a planogram.
Market research entities may use the detected vacant space
information when compiling statistics relating to retail store
efficiency, compliance, aesthetics, or other metrics. Other users
may have additional uses for the information relating to detected
vacant spaces.
[0572] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to perform a method for processing
images captured in a retail store. By way of example, system 100
may perform a method for processing images captured in a retail
store. It is also contemplated that the method, or a portion
thereof, may be performed by any component of system 100 consistent
with this disclosure, including, for example, the at least one
processor. The method for processing images may include determining
whether the product is of a first type or a second type. The at
least one processor may determine the type of the product by any
means consistent with this disclosure. For example, a type of a
product may be determined based on determining whether the price of
the product falls within a price range associated with products of
the first type or within a price range of products of the second
type. Of course, a product type may also be determined based on
more than two different price ranges. In another example, a type of
a product may be determined by detecting identifying
characteristics of the product or contextual information related to
the product.
[0573] According to the present disclosure the at least one
processor may be configured to receive at least one image depicting
at least part of at least one store shelf having a plurality of
products displayed thereon. The at least one image received may
depict at least part of a shelving unit with a plurality of store
shelves having a plurality of products displayed thereon. It is
contemplated that the image may represent a shelf present in a
retail store and may be captured by a device located within the
retail store. The at least one image may be received from capturing
device 125, over network 150, or in any other manner disclosed
herein. The at least one image may be received by system 100 or any
component thereof configured to receive an image. The image may
include image data. By way of example, an exemplary image 3020
represented in FIG. 30A or image 3010, represented in FIG. 30B, may
be received by system 100. As illustrated in FIG. 30A and FIG. 30B,
the image received may include, for example, a single shelf with a
plurality of products, as represented by image 3020, or a plurality
of shelves with a plurality of products on the shelves, as
represented by image 3010. It is contemplated that the image may
contain any portion of a shelf or a shelving unit, and images 3010,
3020 are exemplary only. In some examples, the received image may
include only a single type of products (for example, image 3001),
two types of products, three types of product, more than three
types of products, and so forth. While the present disclosure
provides examples of the images captured in a retail store, it
should be noted that aspects of the disclosure in their broadest
sense, are not limited to the disclosed images.
[0574] In some cases, the at least one processor may be configured
to receive a plurality of images. Each of the plurality of images
may contain a representation of an area of a shelf that is distinct
from the area represented in any other of the plurality of images
or each of the plurality of images may contain a representation of
an area that is at least partially depicted in another of the
plurality of images. For example, system 100 may receive image
3001, image 3002, and image 3003, all of which depict a portion of
the shelving unit represented in image 3010. In this example,
system 100 may process the images 3001, 3002, 3003, to determine
that they contain the same subject matter and combine them in a
manner that generates image 3010 or, system 100 may process images
3001, 3002, 3003 separately without first generating image 3010. As
another example, system 100 may receive image 3010 in the first
instance. It is contemplated that the plurality of images need not
contain the same subject matter. For example, system 100 may
receive image 3020 and image 3010.
[0575] The plurality of images may be received from the same device
or from different devices. The plurality of images may also be
received by any means disclosed herein. For example, referring to
FIG. 4C, system 100 may receive one or more images from imaging
device 125A, 125B, 125C, or any combination thereof.
[0576] The plurality of products depicted in an image may include a
group of first products and a group of second products. Further,
the group of first products may be associated with a first product
size and the group of second products may be associated with a
second product size, the second product size differing from the
first product size. It is also contemplated that the first group of
products and the second group of products may be of a different
shape. The products depicted on the shelf may be any product
capable of being displayed on a shelf. By way of example, the first
group of products may be any product packaged in a first kind of
box, bottle, can, cap, bag, etc., and a second group of products
may be any group of products packed in a different kind of box,
bottle, can, cap, bag, etc. FIG. 30B represents an example wherein
a first group of products and a second group of products are
depicted in image 3010. In image 3010, the first group of products
is represented by the dark shading and the second group of products
are represented by the light shading. As can be seen in image 3010,
the first group of products is of a first size, and the second
group of products is of a second size. In image 3010, each product
of the first group of products and each product of the second group
of products are roughly of the same height, but the products of the
first group of products are noticeably wider than the products of
the second group of products.
[0577] In the FIG. 30A example, the first group of products is
represented by dark shading and the second group of products is
represented by light shading. As can be seen in image 3020, it is
also possible, for example, that the products of the first group of
products may be taller than the second group of products. The
products of the first group of products may be different from those
of the second group of products in any manner, including height,
width, depth, shape, or orientation.
[0578] In accordance with this disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to analyze the at least one image to
detect the plurality of products. The plurality of products may be
detected according to any means consistent with this disclosure.
For example, a product may be detected by recognition in the image
data of a distinctive characteristic of the product (e.g., its
size, shape, color, brand, etc.) or by contextual information
relating to a product (e.g., its location on a shelf, etc.). A
product may be detected using object detection algorithms, using
machine learning algorithms trained to detect products using
training examples, using artificial neural networks configured to
detect products, and so forth. Detecting products may include first
detecting a background of an image and then detecting items
distinct from the background of the image. By way of example,
system 100 may detect products as discussed relative to step 2112
of FIG. 21.
[0579] Consistent with this disclosure, the dimensions of products
may also be determined. For example, system 100 may detect the
first group of products in image 3020 and further determine that
the width of each product of the first group of products is W1. The
same may be true for the second group of products. System 100 may
determine that each product of the second group of products has a
width of W2. For example, a depth image or other kind of three
dimensional images of the products may be analyzed to determine the
dimensions of the products (such as width, height, depth, and so
forth) from the three dimensional structure of the products
depicted in the image. In another example, a two dimensional image
of the products may be analyzed to determine the dimensions of the
products (such as width, height, depth, and so forth), for example
based on known dimensions of other objects in the image (such as
shelves, labels, other products, and so forth). In yet another
example, the image may be analyzed to identify the type of a
product depicted in the image (as described above), and known
dimensions of the product may be retrieved using the identified
type of product, for example from a memory, a database, an online
catalog, and so forth. In yet another example, data received from
sensors positioned on retail shelves (for example, from detection
elements described in relation to FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 9) may be
analyzed to determine the dimensions of the products (such as
width, depth, and so forth). The capability to determine dimensions
of products may be used to detect and/or identify products in a
first instance and for grouping products into appropriate groups.
For example, system 100 may detect four objects of width W1 in
image 3020 and five objects of width W2 and use this information to
determine that the first four objects with width W1 are products of
a first group of products and that the five objects with width W2
are products of a second group or products. While the width of an
object is used as an example here, it is understood that any of a
width, height, depth, or other dimension may be used to detect a
product and to determine to which group it belongs.
[0580] The ability to determine the dimension of a product may also
be used for determining whether another product may be displayed on
a shelf or whether another shelf may be included in a shelving
unit. For example, system 100 may determine a width of available
vacant space and, if the width of vacant space exceeds a width of
at least one product from a first group or a different product from
a second group, the processor may determine that the products can
be rearranged to accommodate at least one additional product of
either the first or second group of products.
[0581] In accordance with this disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to analyze the at least one image to
identify that at least some of the group of first products are
displayed in a nonstandard orientation. A nonstandard orientation
may include any orientation that does not conform to a specified
planogram or other standard for display of a product. A nonstandard
orientation may also include any orientation of a product that is
not shared by products of the same type. For example, a supplier of
a group of products may specify in a planogram that each product of
that group be displayed in a particular configuration. System 100
may detect one or more products and determine whether those
products are displayed in the manner provided in the planogram.
System 100 may make a determination that one or more individual
products of a group of products is presented in a nonstandard
orientation if there is a detected deviation from a specified
planogram. Additionally or alternatively, system 100 may determine
that an entire group of products is displayed in a nonstandard
orientation. This may happen when, for example, a retail store
receives products packed in rectangular boxes and displays them,
for example, in a vertical orientation rather than in a horizontal
orientation when a planogram requires display in a horizontal
orientation. In this instance, the entire group of products may be
determined to be displayed in a nonstandard orientation. In another
example, one or more images of the products may be analyzed to
determine that text depicted on at least some of the products is in
a nonstandard orientation (for example, when the text comprises
letters depicted in a vertical orientation), and based on the
determination that the text depicted on the at least some of the
products is in a nonstandard orientation, determining that the at
least some of the products are displayed in a nonstandard
orientation. In some examples, a product may comprise two segments
of text in different orientations, and the determination regarding
the product orientation may be based on an orientation of the text
in the first segment, while in some cases the orientation of the
text in the second segment may be ignored. For example, the
determination regarding the product orientation may be based on an
orientation of the text in the segment comprising larger font size,
while in some cases the orientation of the text in the segment
comprising the smaller font size may be ignored.
[0582] As another example, a product may be displayed in a
nonstandard orientation if, for example, it has fallen over or is
otherwise not in the same orientation detected for other products
of the same group. FIG. 30C provides an example of image 3050
depicting this type of nonstandard orientation. By way of example,
system 100 may receive image 3050 and detect the first group of
products represented by the dark shade and the second group of
products represented by the lighter shade. System 100 may analyze
image 3050 to detect product 3055 and determine that it is
displayed in a nonstandard orientation. The determination that
product 3055 is in a nonstandard orientation may include detecting
that the height of product 3055, as displayed, is different from
that of either the first or second group of products but detecting
that the width of product 3055, as displayed, matches the height of
the first group of products, for example, product 3052. Based on
the relation of the dimensions of the products (or based on any
other criteria, such as text recognition, product color
recognition, detected surface area, etc.), system 100 may determine
that product 3055 is of the first type but is presently displayed
in a nonstandard orientation. In another example, system 100 may
determine that product 3055 is of the first group of products based
on a brand name, logo, or distinctive characteristic of the product
and further determine that product 3055 is in a nonstandard
orientation based on, for example, the orientation of the brand
name, logo, or distinctive characteristic.
[0583] Detected planogram compliance may also depend upon other
product orientation variations. For example, in some cases, the
processor may recognize that one or more products are rotated by an
angle not in compliance with a planogram, for example by analyzing
one or more images of the one or more products, by analyzing data
received from sensors positioned on retail shelves (for example,
from detection elements described in relation to FIGS. 8A, 8B and
9), and so forth. Such rotation, for example, may cause a front
face of a product label (e.g., of a canned good item, soda bottle,
etc.) to face in a direction other than normal to a longitudinal
direction of the shelf. In such cases, the product labels may be
obscured or difficult for a consumer to read.
[0584] According to the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to identify an area of the retail store
displaying products from at least one product type associated with
at least one of: a product category, a brand of products, and a
region of the retail store. An area of a store may include an area
of any size. For example, an area of a store may be a portion of a
shelf, a single shelf, a shelving unit, a display, an aisle, a row
of shelves, a row of shelving units, several aisles, a department
within a store, an entire store, or any other portion of a retail
store. Rather than defined by size or location, an area of a store
may include an area associated with a product category, a brand of
product, or any other factor. For example, an area of a store may
comprise an aggregate area where products from a single supplier
are displayed. For example, an area of a store may comprise a shelf
where milk from a particular distributor is displayed, a shelf
where cheese from the same distributor is displayed, and a shelf
where yogurt from the same distributor is displayed. In another
example, an area of a store may include the area where milk from
all distributors is displayed. In another example, an area of a
store may be where oranges are displayed, where orange juice is
displayed, and where canned oranges are displayed. In another
example, an area of a store may be any area selected by a user of a
system, such as a manager of a grocery store, who desires to
identify vacant space in an area of his or her choosing.
Additionally or alternatively, a store map, a planogram, labels on
shelves, or other identifiers may be used to determine an area of a
store to be analyzed.
[0585] In some examples, the area of the retail store may be
identified by analyzing one or more images of the retail store to
identify in the one or more images regions corresponding to the
desired area, by analyzing a store map to identify in the one or
more images regions corresponding to the desired area, and so
forth. For example, the area may be identified based on the
products detected in images depicting a store shelf. For example,
system 100 may receive images 3010 and 3020 and determine an area
of a retail store associated with each of image 3010 and 3020. As
an example, based on the size and shape of the products in the
first group of products depicted in image 3010, system 100 may
determine that the first group of products are cereal boxes. Based
on this determination, system 100 may determine that image 3010
represents an area of, for example, the breakfast-foods isle of a
grocery store. A similar determination may be made, for example, if
system detects a logo, brand name, or other identifying feature of
a product. Contextual information identified in an image may also
aid in determining an area of a retail store depicted in a received
image. For example, an image may receive signage or symbols
indicative of an area, such as markings on shelves, products,
fixtures, structures, and so forth. System may access database 140,
for example, to access data indicating where products of a certain
type, category, brand, etc. are located in a retail store and use
that information to determine where an area represented in an
image, for example, image 3020, is located within a retail store.
The area identified may be an area of any scope. For example, the
area may be identified as an aisle within a store, as a certain
shelf within an aisle, as a certain shelving unit within an aisle,
as a certain shelf within a shelving unit, or any other unit of
measure.
[0586] When a plurality of images is received, the plurality of
images may be used to identify the area of the store where the
products are displayed. For example, if system 100 receives image
3002 and image 3003, it may determine an area associated with image
3003 by any means disclosed herein and further determine an area of
the store associated with image 3002 based on the relation between
image 3002 and image 3003, which contain subject matter that
partially overlap. It is also contemplated that an area of a store
may be identified based on contextual information captured in the
image. For example, an image received by system 100 may include a
representation of an aisle indicator (e.g., "aisle 7") either in
the background of the image or on shelving units and other fixtures
of the retail store.
[0587] The at least one processor may be configured to identify one
or more vacant spaces associated with the plurality of products on
the at least one store shelf. A vacant space may be identified by
any means consistent with this disclosure, including by processing
an image depicting a retail store shelf, by processing data
received from sensors positioned on retail shelves (for example,
from detection elements described in relation to FIGS. 8A, 8B and
9), or processing data relating to a retail shelf, the data
obtained by any other means. The vacant spaces may include areas
between individual products, areas between a first group of
products and a second group of products, areas where a product or
products should be displayed but there is nothing occupying the
area, areas between a product or products and a shelf, area between
one or more shelves, or any other space that is not occupied by an
object. A vacant space may include any detected spaces not occupied
by shelving, products, fixtures, or other objects commonly found in
a retail environment.
[0588] The vacant spaces may be associated with a product or a
group of products based on proximity to a product or any other
metric indicating a relationship between a product and a vacant
space. For example, vacant space 3027 of image 3020 may be
associated with the second group of products or with each of the
products in the second group of products or with any of the
products of the second group of products. A vacant space may be
associated with more than one product or group of products. For
example, vacant space 3014 of image 3010 may be associated with the
first group of products or with the second group of products or
both based on its location being between the first group of
products and the second group of products.
[0589] The identified vacant spaces associated with the plurality
of products on the at least one store shelf may include at least
one of: vertical spaces between first products and a frame
associated with the at least one store shelf, and vertical spaces
between second products and a frame associated with the at least
one store shelf. By way of example, if image 3020 depicts one
shelf, the vacant space may include a vertical space between a
first product and the top of the shelf (vacant space 3025) or a
vertical space between a second product and the top of the shelf
(vacant space 3027). Of course, it is contemplated that the
identified vacant spaces associated with the plurality of products
on the at least one store shelf may include at least one of:
horizontal spaces between adjacent first products, horizontal
spaces between adjacent second products, a horizontal space between
a first and a second product, a horizontal space between a first
product and a frame associated with the at least one store shelf,
and a horizontal space between a second product and a frame
associated with the at least one store shelf. By way of example, a
vacant space may include a space between two products of the same
type (e.g., vacant spaces 3024, 3026), a space between a product
and an edge of a shelf (e.g., vacant space 3022), a space between
two products of different types, or any combination thereof.
[0590] A vacant space may be identified directly or may be
identified by identifying products and other objects. For example,
with reference to FIG. 30A, to determine the total vacant space on
the shelf depicted in image 3020, system 100 may first determine
the width 3028 of the shelf, then subtract the width W1 of each of
the products in the first group of products and the width W2 of
each of the products in the second group of products. In this
example, the vacant space would be the total width 3028 of the
shelf, minus four times the width W1 of the products of the first
group, and minus five times the width W2 of the products of the
second group. Additionally or alternatively, vacant spaces may be
detected directly. For example, widths or sizes of vacant spaces
3022, 3024, 3026, 3025, 3027 may be identified without first
identifying the total width 3028 of the shelf or any other
products. Direct identification of vacant spaces may be
accomplished in substantially the same manner as detecting
products, as described above. It is contemplated that, for example,
individual vacant spaces may be detected or that the aggregate
amount of vacant space may be detected. For example, system 100 may
analyze image 3020 and detect a first horizontal vacant space 3022,
a second vacant space 3024, and a third vacant space 3026 or system
may analyze image 3020 and detect a total vacant space comprising
the sum of the first vacant space 3022, the second vacant space
3024, and the third vacant space 3026.
[0591] The detected vacant spaces may constitute horizontally
oriented spaces between product, vertical spaces between products
and shelving, for example, or may have any other orientation. The
vacant spaces may be identified in any manner disclosed herein. The
vacant space may include a detected area between a first shelf and
a second shelf, between a first shelf and another object (e.g., a
product on a shelf, a ceiling, another shelving unit, a retail
store fixture), between a part of the shelving unit and a second
part of the shelving unit (e.g., between a shelf and a support
structure of the shelving unit, between a first and second shelf),
or between any other object associated with the shelving unit. By
way of example, referring to FIG. 30B, if image 3010 represents a
single shelving unit, an identified vacant space may be identified
as the space between a product and a shelf of the shelving unit
(vacant spaces 3012, 3014, 3016). A vacant space associated with a
shelving unit may be identified directly or indirectly. For
example, to identify vacant space 3016, system 100 may first detect
the height H3 of the shelf on which the products sit and then
derive vacant space 3016 by subtracting the height (not shown) of
the products of the second group or system 100 may detect vacant
space 3016 without first detecting height H3. As discussed, a
vacant space may also be a space between components of the shelving
unit. For example, if the middle shelf of the shelving unit of
image 3010 were empty, the vacant space may be height H2, which is
the distance between the middle and top shelf of the shelving
unit.
[0592] The at least one processor may identify vacant spaces across
a plurality of shelves in an area of a retail store. Vacant spaces
may be identified for an area of a store by, for example,
identifying vacant spaces on a first shelf, identifying vacant
spaces on a second shelf, and aggregating the vacant spaces.
Additionally or alternatively, vacant spaces may be identified for
an area by identifying vacant spaces in a plurality of images
representing the area of the store. The vacant spaces, throughout
an area or in a subset of the area, may be identified by any means
disclosed herein. Identifying vacant spaces across an area of a
store may be useful for determining whether areas of a store are in
compliance with efficiency goals, planograms, or other metrics or
for determining areas where products from areas that are
overstocked may be relocated. The multi-area vacant space
identifications may be based on, for example, images received from
multiple different cameras positioned at different locations in a
retail store, data received from sensors positioned on multiple
retail shelves (for example, from detection elements described in
relation to FIGS. 8A, 8B and 9), and so forth.
[0593] The size of a vacant space may be determined and quantified
by any suitable technique. A vacant space may be characterized by a
linear measurement (e.g., inches, centimeters, etc.), a unit of
area (e.g., square millimeters, square inches, etc.), or a unit of
volume (e.g., cubic centimeters, cubic inches, etc.). Additionally
or alternatively, a vacant space may be quantified in relation to
its surroundings, for example, in relation to surrounding products
(e.g., the vacant space is 1/3 the width of an adjacent product,
the vacant space is 2 centimeters shorter than a first product,
etc.) in relation to a shelf or shelving unit (e.g., 4% of the
shelf area is vacant space, 1/16 of the shelf length is vacant
space, etc.), in pixels, and so forth. A vacant space may also be
quantified by comparison to a pre-determined metric, such as a
requirement set forth in a planogram or selected by a user (e.g.,
the vacant space is twice as wide as required by a planogram, the
vacant space is half as tall as required by a store standards). A
size of a vacant space may be determined in isolation or as part of
an aggregate of vacant space within a shelf, shelving unit, or area
of a store. For example, vacant space 3026 may be quantified
individually according to any means disclosed herein, or it may be
quantified in relation to vacant spaces 3024, 3022. As an example
of the latter, vacant space 3026 may be quantified as half as wide
as vacant space 3022 or as one-fourth of the aggregate vacant space
comprised of vacant spaces 3022, 3024, and 3026.
[0594] As noted, the at least one processor may be configured to
identify vacant spaces based on input from one or more sensors. The
one or more sensors may be of the same type or may be comprised of
several types of sensors. A sensor may detect a vacant space
directly or indirectly. For example, a sensor system may be
configured such that the total width of a shelf is known and the
sensor may be configured to detect the presence of and dimension of
products; the vacant space may then be determined by subtracting
the dimensions of the detected products from the known dimensions
of the shelf. Additionally or alternatively, a sensor system may be
configured to detect the absence of products, thereby directly
detecting a vacant space. The sensor or sensor system may be any
device capable of detecting the presence or absence of a product.
The one or more sensors may include cameras positioned on shelves
of a retail store. The sensors may also include pressure detectors.
The input from a pressure detector or pressure detectors may be
indicative of pressure levels detected by the pressure detectors
when one or more products are placed on the at least one store
shelf. The pressure sensors may be placed over a large area of a
store shelf or each shelf may contain a single pressure sensor.
Pressure sensors may take any form consistent with the present
disclosure. In embodiments with several pressure sensors, vacant
spaces may be identified based on a determination that a pressure
sensor or a plurality of pressure sensors are detecting no
pressure. For example, pressure sensors may be configured to detect
the presence of a product (e.g., by transmitting a signal when a
weight is detected), in which case, any pressure sensor not
transmitting a signal will be associated with a vacant space. In
another example, pressure sensors may be configured such that they
detect the absence of a product (e.g., by transmitting a signal
when no weight is detected), in which case, any pressure sensor
transmitting a signal will be associated with a vacant space.
[0595] Pressure sensors may be integrated within shelves to detect
the presence or absence of a product on the shelf. Additionally or
alternatively, pressure sensors may be incorporated into one or
more pads configured to rest on a surface of a shelf. Products
placed on the pad may be detected by the incorporated sensors. One
or more pressure sensors may also be associated with a rigid or
semi-rigid sheet or plate of material that may be positioned on top
of the one or more sensors, with the products being placed on top
of the sheet or plate. This arrangement may be advantageous in that
fewer sensors may be required to detect products placed on a shelf.
In such cases, a number of products placed on the sheet may be
determined via weight measurements associated with the sensor
output and known weights of expected products to be placed on the
sheets/plates.
[0596] As an example, there may be six sensors located under a
rectangular plate. Four sensors may be placed at the corners of the
plate, one at each corner, while two may be placed at midpoints of
the two long edges of the rectangular plate, one along each edge.
As products are placed on the plate, the sensors will detect the
added weight and determine that products are located on the plate.
If the weight of a single product is known, the total weight may be
used to determine the number of products placed on the plate at any
given moment in time. Further, if the dimensions of a product and
of the plate are known, then the total area occupied by the
products associated with the detected weight may be determined.
Based on the determination, the vacant space present above the
plate may be determined by subtracting the area occupied by the
products from the total area of the plate. Additionally or
alternatively, if less weight is detected by one of the sensors
under the plate as compared to the other sensors, then it may be
determined that vacant space is associated with the area above that
sensor.
[0597] It is contemplated that pressure sensors may be used in
conjunction with image processing, as disclosed above and
throughout the disclosure, to detect vacant spaces. For example,
pressure sensors may detect a plurality of products as described
above and image processing may provide the dimension of the
products by detecting products displayed on the shelf containing
the pressure sensors. System 100 may then use the data from the
pressure sensor and the data from the image processor to determine
the vacant space present on the shelf.
[0598] The one or more sensors may include light detectors. The
input from a light detector may be indicative of light measurements
made with respect to one or more products placed on the at least
one shelf. The light detector may take any form consistent with
this disclosure. The light detectors may be permanently or
semi-permanently affixed to a shelf, a shelving unit, structures
adjacent to shelves or shelving units, positioned on, within,
and/or under a shelf, or any combination thereof. The light
detectors may be configured to detect vacant spaces by detecting
the presence of products on a shelf or by detecting the absence of
products on the shelf or a combination thereof. For example, as
described above in relation to FIGS. 8A, 8B and 9, products placed
on a shelf may block at least some of the ambient light from
reaching light detectors positioned on, within, and/or under a
shelf. Further, as described above, readings from the light
detectors may be analyzed to determine positions of products on the
shelf, orientation of products, dimensions of products (such as
width and height), movement of products, vacant spaces on the
shelf, and so forth. For example, light detectors positioned under
vacant shelf space may provide readings corresponding to ambient
light, while light detectors positioned under objects (such as
products) may provide readings indicating that at least some of the
ambient light is blocked. The readings from the light detectors may
be analyzed to identify regions where the ambient light reaches the
light detectors (for example, identify that the readings from the
light detector are above a selected threshold), and identify these
regions as vacant shelf space. The examples herein are exemplary
only and it is understood that any light detector may be configured
to detect vacant spaces directly or indirectly. It is contemplated
that light detectors may be used alone or in combination with other
means for detecting vacant spaces. For example, a light detector
may be used in conjunction with pressure sensors, image processing
units, or both.
[0599] In accordance with this disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to measure a metric associated with the
identified vacant spaces related to at least one product type
across a plurality of shelves in the retail store. A metric
associated with the identified vacant spaces may be any metric
useful for identifying or comparing vacant spaces, and may be
measured according to measuring criteria useful for identifying or
comparing the vacant spaces. As described above, a vacant space may
be quantified by, for example, a unit of measure, a comparison to
other vacant spaces, a portion of a total area, or any other
quantifying measurement. It is also contemplated that a vacant
space may be quantified in relation to a group of products or a
product type and the vacant space may be quantified by a given
area, such as on a shelf-by-shelf basis or across a plurality of
shelves. Measuring criteria associated with a product or product
type may be any desired or realized measuring criteria and may be
provided by any user or determined by system 100. For example, a
supplier of a product may provide, in a planogram or otherwise,
that for each product of a certain type there should be a set
amount of vacant space between a first product and a second product
or between a first product and a store fixture. By way of example,
for the product of the first type in image 3020, a planogram may
provide that the vacant space 3025 between the top of the product
and the shelf above must be between, for example, two and four
inches. In another example, the measuring criteria provided for the
second type of product in image 3020 may dictate that each
horizontal vacant space 3022, 3024, 3026 must be substantially the
same size as the other horizontal vacant spaces 3022, 3024, 3026
and not more than, for example, 10% of the total space of any shelf
when considered in aggregate. The metric may measure a degree of
compliance with such measuring criteria. The examples are not
limiting, and the measuring criteria and metric may be any
measuring criteria and metric useful for monitoring a display of
products.
[0600] A metric may be determined over time by establishing an
average vacant space associated with a product or a desired vacant
space associated with the product, or by measuring a degree of
compliance with a set of measuring criteria as described above. For
example, system 100 may, at a first time, determine the size of
vacant space 3024 and vacant space 3026 and, at a second time,
determine the size of vacant space 3024 and vacant space 3026. By
aggregating the size of the vacant spaces 3024, 3026 and dividing
by the number of identified vacant spaces and/or the number of
instances when the vacant space was detected and/or the elapsed
time at which the vacant space was detected, a metric may be
measured. For example, if the vacant space 3026 was 1 inch at a
first time and 0.5 inches at a second time, system 100 may
determine that the average of 0.75 inches is the metric associated
with the products surrounding vacant space 3026. In another
example, if vacant space 3026 is 1 inch and vacant space 3024 is
1.5 inches at the same time, system 100 may determine that the
average space of 1.25 inches should be the metric associated with
the second group of products in image 3020. In another example, if
vacant space 3026 is 1 inch and vacant space 3024 is 1.5 inches at
a first time, and vacant space 3026 is 0.5 inches and vacant space
3024 is 1.25 inches at a second time, system 100 may determine that
the average of 1.063 inches should be the metric associated with
the second group of products. In the same example, system 100 may
determine the average space at the first time, which is 1.25
inches, and the average space at the second time, which is 0.875,
and determine that the metric associated with the second group of
products is a range from 0.875 inches to 1.25 inches. In another
example, system 100 may have a calibration means controlled by a
user, such as a manager of a retail store, which instructs system
100 to store the present vacant space as the metric for group of
products.
[0601] The measuring criteria and metric may be stored on a client
device, on a database, or accessed over a network. For example,
measuring criteria provided to a retail store by a product
distributor may be stored on client device 145 or in database 140
or on another memory device not database 140.
[0602] When measuring criteria and/or a metric is quantified by a
product type, the at least one product type may be associated with
at least one of a product category, a brand of products, or a
region of the retail store. For example, system 100 may determine a
product is of a first or second type by any means disclosed herein
and may associate a vacant space with products of the first or
second type based on, for example, the vacant space's proximity to
a product. By way of example, system 100 may received a plurality
of images, each depicting a shelf or a portion of a shelf similar
to image 3020 of FIG. 30A. As discussed above, system 100 may
detect vacant spaces 3022, 3024, 3026 by any means disclosed
herein. System 100 may also determine that the products with a
width W2 are of the second type and are associated with the vacant
spaces 3022, 3024, 3026. System 100 may then access measuring
criteria relating to the second type of products, the measuring
criteria stored, for example, in database 140, and may use the
accessed measuring criteria to measure the metric.
[0603] Consistent with this disclosure, the at least one processor
may be further configured to compare the measured metric with
metrics associated with identified vacant spaces for the at least
one product type in other retail stores. The comparison between a
presently determined metric associated with identified vacant
spaces and metrics associated with a product are useful for
determining whether a retail store is in compliance with guidelines
for presenting a product, such as guidelines provided by a
planogram or those known in the industry, and for tracking the
efficiency of the retail store, for example by determining whether
the store may rearrange products to make more efficient use of the
space in the retail store. The comparison may include comparing
retail stores that deal in a type of product with other retail
stores that deal in the same type of product or with comparing each
retail store to an ideal or a minimal metric provided, for example,
by a planogram or contractual obligation. The comparison data may
be transmitted, for example, to a store manager, to a supplier of a
product, or to a market research entity.
[0604] The comparison may be performed in any manner consistent
with this disclosure. The output of such a comparison may be a
quantified amount or a binary determination and may be a comparison
of the aggregate vacant space or individual vacant spaces. For
example, if a metric associated with the second group of products
is a vacant space of 1.0 to 1.25 inches between each product of the
second group of products, system 100 may determine that the first
vacant space 3022 is 1.5 inches wide, the second vacant space 3024
is 1.0 inch wide, and the third vacant space 3026 is 0.75 inches
wide. Based on the detected vacant spaces, system 100 may determine
that the average vacant space is 1.08 inches and, therefore, the
retail store is in compliance with the metric. Additionally or
alternative, system 100 may determine that the first vacant space
3022 and the third vacant space are not in compliance with the
metric, while the second vacant space is in compliance with the
metric. The output of such determination may be, for example, "2 of
3 vacant spaces are not in compliance" or "the average vacant space
is in compliance" or "vacant space 3022 is 0.25 inches too wide,
vacant space 3026 is 0.25 inches too narrow, vacant space 3024 is
in compliance" or any other display of the results of the
comparison. The results of the comparison may be transmitted to a
client device 145A, 145B, 145C and may be transmitted to any
interested party, including supplier 115, market research entity
110, or user 120.
[0605] Consistent with this disclosure, the at least one processor
may be further configured to rank a retail store based on the
comparison. As an example, the metrics associated with a product
type may be used to determine whether a particular retail store is
in compliance with the measuring criteria. The comparison may also
allow a supplier or market research entity, for example, to compare
a first retail store with another retail store. By way of example,
system 100 may determine vacant spaces associated with a first
group of products at a first retail store and determine vacant
spaces associated with the first group of products at a second
retail store. System 100 may then compare the data from the first
retail store with that of the second retail store and rank the
stores based on the amount of vacant space determined at each
store. Additionally or alternatively, system 100 may first compare
each store to a metric to determine each store's compliance with
the measuring criteria and then compare each store's compliance
with the measuring criteria. The comparison may be any comparison
disclosed herein.
[0606] The ranking may be provided as a list, for example,
identifying the retail store that is closest to complying with the
measuring criteria to the retail store that is furthest from
compliance with the measuring criteria. Additionally or
alternatively, the ranking may comprise data and representations of
each retail store's compliance, displayed, for example, as a
percentage or unit of measure.
[0607] Consistent with this disclosure, the at least one processor
may be configured to determine that by rearranging the group of
second products on the at least one store shelf to at least
partially eliminate the one or more identified vacant spaces, at
least one additional first product may be displayed on the at least
one store shelf next to the group of first products. The
determination may be based on one or more vacant spaces identified
in any manner disclosed above. For example, the determination may
be based on a determination that an identified vacant space or an
aggregate of a plurality of identified vacant spaces are of a size
equal to or larger than a dimension of a product. In another
example, the determination may be based on a determination that an
identified vacant space or an aggregate of a plurality of
identified vacant spaces, minus the required the vacant spaces (for
example, according to a planogram), are of a size equal to or
larger than a dimension of a product.
[0608] It is contemplated that the vacant space may be associated
with a first group of products, a second group of products, or a
combination thereof and that by rearranging the first group of
products, the second group of products, or a combination thereof,
(for example, according to required vacant spaces, for example by a
planogram) at least one additional product of the first group of
products, or the second group of products, or a third group of
products may be added to a shelving unit. For example, the vacant
spaces may be associated with a first group of products and by
rearranging the first group of products, an additional product of
the second group of products may be displayed. Additionally or
alternatively, the vacant spaces may be associated with a first
group of products and by rearranging the first group of products,
an additional product of the first group of products may be
displayed. Additionally or alternatively, the vacant spaces may be
associated with a first group of products and by rearranging the
first group of products, an additional product of a third group of
products may be displayed. The examples are not limiting and any
combination of products or groups of products of any type may be
rearranged to accommodate an additional product or group or
products of any type.
[0609] The determination may be based on a size of a first or
second product and a size of the identified vacant space. For
example, a width associated with first products may be narrower
than a width associated with second products, and the widths may be
compared to the width of the identified vacant space. The vacant
space and/or width associated with a product may be identified by
any suitable technique. For example, the width associated with
products may be an average width of the products, a maximal width
of the products, a minimal width of the products, a function of any
of the above (such as a function adding a constant, a function
multiplying by a constant, etc.), and so forth. In some examples, a
plurality of widths associated with products may be identified (for
example by analyzing images of the products, by analyzing data
received from sensors positioned on retail shelves for example from
detection elements described in relation to FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 9,
etc.), and the width associated with the products may be calculated
using the distribution of the plurality of widths. For example, the
width associated with the products may be calculated as a function
of at least one of the mean of the distribution, the median of the
distribution, the maximum of the distribution, the minimum of the
distribution, the standard deviation of the distribution, the
variance of the distribution, the coefficient of variation of the
distribution, the coefficient of dispersion of the distribution,
the Fano factor of the distribution, and so forth). Consistent with
this disclosure, the at least one processor may be configured to
determine that a first product may be added horizontally to the
group of first products based on identified horizontal spaces
between two or more second products. The determination that at
least one additional product may be displayed on a shelf may
include a determination that a first product may be added
horizontally to a group of first products based on horizontal
spaces identified between two or more second products being larger
than the width of a product of the first type, for example, after
accounting to required vacant spaces (for example according to a
planogram). For example, system 100 may detect a vacant space that
is wider than an average, median, minimal, or maximal width of a
product and determine that, by rearranging the products to
eliminate the vacant space, an additional product may be displayed
on the shelf.
[0610] Consistent with this disclosure, the at least one processor
may be configured to aggregate identified horizontal spaces between
two or more second products and compare the aggregated spaces to
the width associated with first products to identify a potential
for rearrangement. When an aggregate amount of vacant space is
larger than a dimension of a product, then a potential for
rearrangement may be identified. The potential for rearrangement
may be, for example, a determination that a first product may be
added horizontally to the group of first products. For example, in
image 3020, system 100 may aggregate the identified vacant spaces
3022, 3024, 3026 and determine that the aggregate width is greater
than width W1 associated with the products of first group of
products. Based on this determination, system 100 may then
determine that by rearranging the second products to eliminate or
reduce at least one of vacant spaces 3022, 3024, 3026, an
additional first product may be added to shelf, as is depicted in
image 3040. Additionally or alternatively, system 100 may determine
that the aggregate width of vacant spaces 3022, 3024, 3026 is
greater than width W2 associated with the products of the second
group of products. In this circumstance, system 100 may determine
that by rearranging the second products to eliminate or reduce at
least one of vacant spaces 3022, 3024, 3026 either an additional
product of the first type or an additional product of the second
type may be added to the shelf. It is also contemplated that the
determination may be based on a single identified vacant space of
sufficient size to accommodate a product. For example, system 100
may determine that single vacant space is larger than width W1 of a
product of the first group of products and determine that by
reducing or eliminating that vacant space, an additional product of
the first type may be added to a shelf.
[0611] The width associated with a product may be known by a system
or may be determined by a system in any manner consistent with this
disclosure. For example, if the product is identified by a logo or
the type of the product is otherwise determined in any manner
disclosed herein, system 100 may access database 140 to locate a
width associated with that type of product, or a width of a product
may be determined by system 100, for example by detecting the
dimensions of a product in an image of the product, by detecting
the dimensions of a plurality of products of a select product type
in one or more images of the plurality of products and calculating
a function of the resulting plurality of dimensions (such as
average, median, maximum, minimum, etc.), by retrieving the
dimensions from a database, etc.
[0612] Consistent with this disclosure, the at least one processor
may be configured to determine that by rearranging the plurality of
products, at least one shelf may be added to a shelving unit. The
determination may be based on horizontal or vertical spaces
identified by any manner disclosed herein. The determination may be
based on a determination that, for example, the vertical vacant
space identified on a shelving unit is sufficient to accommodate
the height of an additional shelf and a product or group of
products placed on the additional shelf. The height of a product or
group of products may be known or may be determined by system 100
by any means disclosed herein.
[0613] The determination that an additional shelf may be added to a
shelving unit may be based on a determination that additional
products of the type or types presently displayed on the shelving
unit may be displayed if a shelf is added or that a product not
presently displayed on the shelving unit may be displayed if a
shelf is added. For example, system 100 may detect vertical vacant
spaces, such as vacant space 3016, and determine that while the
vacant space is not sufficiently large to accommodate additional
products of the first or second group, it may accommodate
additional products of a third group, the products of the third
group of products having a height less than that of the products of
the first or second group.
[0614] Consistent with this disclosure, the at least one processor
may be configured to aggregate identified vertical spaces
associated with a plurality of store shelves and compare the
aggregated space to an average height of the products to identify a
potential for rearrangement. The product may be one presently
located on the shelving unit or one from a related category or type
or products. The height of the product may be known, for example,
if the product is identified by a logo or the type of the product
is otherwise known, system 100 may access database 140 to locate a
height associated with that type of product, or a height of a
product may be determined by system 100, for example by detecting
the dimensions of a product. The height may be an average height, a
median height, a minimum height, a maximum height, etc. The
determination may be a determination that the aggregated height of
the vacant spaces is larger than the height of the first
product.
[0615] For example, system 100 may receive image 3010 and detect
vacant spaces 3012, 3014, 3016, each existing between the top of a
row of products and the bottom of an adjacent shelf. System 100 may
then determine that the aggregate height of vacant spaces 3012,
3014, 3016 is more than height HP of a first product (e.g., a max
height) and, based on that determination, determine that an
additional shelf containing products of the first type may be added
to the shelving unit, as depicted in image 3030. It is also
contemplated that the determination that a shelf may be added to a
shelving unit may be based on a determination that a single vacant
space is large enough to accommodate an additional shelf and an
additional row of products, possibly with a vertical vacant space
according to a requirement from, for example, a planogram or a
retail store guidelines.
[0616] Consistent with this disclosure, the at least one processor
may be configured to identify that at least some products are
displayed in a nonstandard orientation and determine that by
rearranging the group of second products on the at least one store
shelf at least one additional first product may be displayed in a
standard position. The determination may be based on a
determination that at least one product is displayed in a
nonstandard orientation. As described above, a nonstandard
orientation may include any orientation of a product that is not
preferred or desired by a retail store or supplier of a product or
any orientation of a product that does not match that of other
products in the same group of products. By way of example,
referring to FIG. 30C, system 100 may receive image 3050 and
determine that product 3055 is in a nonstandard orientation based
on, for example, a determination that the dimensions of product
3055 match that of product 3052 but are in a different orientation.
System 100 may then detect vacant spaces 3052, 3054, 3056 and the
space occupied by the product displayed in a nonstandard
orientation, here space 3058. System 100 may then, for example,
aggregate the vacant spaces 3052, 3054, 3056 and the space 3058
occupied by product 3055 to determine whether additional products
may be displayed on the shelf. Here, the aggregate space is
sufficiently wide to accommodate two additional products of the
second product type and product 3055 in a standard orientation, as
depicted in image 3060.
[0617] A determination that at least one additional first product
may be displayed in a standard orientation may be based on a
determination of vacant space that would be created if a product of
nonstandard orientation is removed or displayed in a standard
orientation. The additional product to be displayed may be of the
same group or a different group than that of the product displayed
in nonstandard orientation. For example, system 100 may detect
product 3055, which belongs to the first group of products, and
determine that an additional product of the first group or an
additional product of the second group, or a combination thereof,
may be displayed on the shelf if product 3055 is displayed in a
standard orientation and vacant spaces 3052, 3054, 3056 are reduced
or eliminated. In another example, system 100 may determine that a
product or a plurality of products of a third group of products may
be displayed on a shelf if product 3055 is displayed in standard
orientation and vacant spaces 3052, 3054, 3056 are reduced or
eliminated.
[0618] In accordance with this disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to identify a plurality of possible
rearrangements of the plurality of products based on the identified
vacant spaces. The plurality of possible rearrangements may be
determined by any means disclosed herein. By way of example, system
100 may receive image 3050 and detect vacant spaces 3052, 3054,
3056 and the space 3058 occupied by product 3055. As discussed
above, one of the possible rearrangements is to place product 3055
in a standard orientation and to eliminate vacant spaces 3052,
3054, 3056 to make room for two additional products of the second
type. In addition, system 100 may determine that it is possible to
reduce or eliminate the vacant spaces 3052, 3054, 3056 in different
ways to accommodate additional products. For example, if system 100
determines that vacant space 3052, 3054, 3056 when considered in
aggregate is larger than, for example, the width W1 of the first
products, then one possible rearrangement may be to leave product
3055 in a nonstandard orientation and add one addition first
product. In another example, system 100 may determine that the
vacant spaces 3052, 3054, 3056 when combined with the space 3058
occupied by product 3055 is wide enough to accommodate three of the
second products (e.g., the aggregate space is larger than three
times the width W2 of the second products), another possible
rearrangement, in this instance, is to remove product 3055 and add
three products from the first group of products.
[0619] The at least one processor may be configured to identify a
plurality of possible rearrangements and then choose one possible
rearrangement to implement or configured to report the plurality of
possible rearrangements to a user. For example, system 100 may
determine several possible rearrangements for a shelf or shelving
unit any may transmit each of the possible rearrangements to, for
example, client device 145. A user, such as supplier 115, user 120,
or market research entity 145, may then use the transmitted
possible rearrangements to determine which rearrangement to
implement.
[0620] The at least one processor may be further configured to
suggest a recommended or preferred rearrangement from the plurality
of possible rearrangements. The preferred rearrangement may be, for
example, the rearrangement that leaves the least vacant space on a
shelf. The preferred rearrangement may also be informed by, for
example, a planogram or other stored data. For example, if a first
possible rearrangement is to display two additional products of a
first type and a second possible rearrangement is to display one
additional product of a first type and one additional product of a
second type, system 100 may access stored data to determine which
possible rearrangement would be preferred by, for example, supplier
115 or user 120. For example, system 100 may access database 140,
locate transaction history, and determine that products of the
first type sell better than those of the second type. Based on this
determination, system 100 may recommend the first possible
rearrangement as the preferred rearrangement, because it displays
more of the first product than the second possible rearrangement.
In another example, system 100 may access database 140, locate
inventory data, and determine that there are more products of a
second type than of the first type in storage. Based on this
determination, system 100 may select the second possible
rearrangement, which includes displaying more of the second product
type than the first possible rearrangement, as the preferred
rearrangement. Selection of a preferred rearrangement may be based
on any other criteria determined by system 100 or provided by
external input, for example, from a planogram or store
guidelines.
[0621] The at least one processor may be configured to access
product assortment rules associated with the plurality of products
and determine a recommended rearrangement based on the product
assortment rules. When a recommended rearrangement is determined,
information may be provided to a user as part of a product-related
task assigned to a store employee and may include details of the
recommended rearrangement. The recommended rearrangement may be
provided to a user in isolation or along with the plurality of
other possible rearrangements.
[0622] The assortment rules may include any rules or guidelines for
displaying a product, group of products, product type, or other
category of product. The assortment rules may be provided, for
example, by a supplier in a planogram or a contractual agreement
with a retail store. Assortment rules may be accessed form a
storage device, such as database 140, storage on client device 145,
or other memory device, or accessed over a network, for example
communications network 150. For example, an assortment rule may
include a rule limiting the number of vacant spaces on a shelf,
defining a percentage of a shelf that may be devoted to vacant
space, limiting the number of products on a shelf, limiting the
size of any one vacant space, limiting the aggregate vacant space
on a shelf, limiting the vacant space that may be present on a
shelving unit, limiting the number of products of a given type that
may be displayed on a shelf, or any other rule associated with a
product or with a vacant space. It is also contemplated that there
may be a plurality of assortment rules associated with a product, a
product type, or a vacant space.
[0623] For example, system 100 may receive, for example, image 3050
and, as discussed above, determine a plurality of possible
rearrangements that may be implemented on the shelf to reduce the
vacant space. System 100 may then access, for example, database 140
to locate an assortment rule associated with the first group of
products or the second group of products or both. For example, an
assortment rule provided by supplier 115 in a planogram and stored
on database 140 may provide that a product of a first group of
products may only be displayed in a standard orientation, as
defined by the planogram. System 100 may then apply the assortment
rule to determine that the shelf depicted in image 3050 should be
rearranged by orienting product 3055 in a standard orientation.
There may be a plurality of possible rearrangements of the shelf
depicted in image 3050 after product 3055 is oriented in a standard
position. For example, the vacant space may be reduced to
accommodate two of the second products or two of the first products
or one of the first products and one of the second products. System
100 may identify a second assortment rule to apply. For example,
the second rule may dictate that no more than five products of the
first type of product may be displayed on any one shelf, in which
case, system 100 may determine that the shelf depicted in image
3050 should be rearranged such that product 3055 is oriented in a
standard position and that two additional products of the second
type of product may be added to the shelf, as depicted in image
3060.
[0624] A plurality of assortment rules may apply to a single shelf
to eliminate vacant spaces identified on the shelf. System 100 may
access a product assortment rule or a plurality of product
assortment rules, for example, by accessing rules stored on
database 140. System 100 may select an assortment rule to apply to
the identified vacant spaces. By way of example, an assortment rule
may be selected if it corresponds to one of the identified
plurality of possible rearrangements, to at least one product
displayed on the shelf, or to the vacant spaces identified on the
shelf. An assortment rule may be selected, for example, if it would
eliminate the vacant spaces. If no one assortment rule would fully
eliminate the vacant spaces, system 100 may select additional
assortment rules to apply until the vacant space is eliminated or
reduced to the full extent possible. For example, if after
selecting a first assortment rule to apply, there would be vacant
space remaining on a shelf, system 100 may select a second
assortment rule that is consistent with the first assortment rule
and will further reduce the vacant space on the shelf. This may be
repeated until all of the vacant space is eliminated, until there
are no more assortment rules to apply, or until the remaining
vacant space is insufficient to allow rearrangement according to
the remaining assortment rules. System 100 may then recommend a
rearrangement consistent with the selected assortment rule or
assortment rules.
[0625] As disclosed above, vacant spaces may be determined for an
area of a retail store. Consistent with this disclosure, the at
least one processor may be configured to determine that by
rearranging products in an area of a retail store, at least two or
more additional products from at least one product type may be
displayed in the area of the retail store. The determination may be
base on a determination that products may be rearranged, or that a
shelving unit may be rearranged, or that both products and shelving
units may be rearranged. For example, system 100 may receive a
plurality of images and detect a plurality of products located on a
plurality of shelves across a plurality of shelving units. System
100 may then identify vacant spaces associated with each of the
products, shelves, shelving units, or a combination thereof. The
vacant spaces may be identified by the any means disclosed herein.
System 100 may then determine that, for example, by rearranging a
first group of products on a first shelf and rearranging a second
group of products on a second shelf, a third group of products may
be places on the first and second shelves. It is contemplated that
the recommended rearrangement may comprise rearranging any portion
of the area of the retail store. The recommended rearrangement may
also comprise rearranging any group of products, any shelf, any
group of shelves, any shelving unit, or any group of shelving
units. The recommended rearrangement may also comprise rearranging
a group of products or a shelf to make room for an additional
product, an additional plurality of products, an additional shelf,
an additional plurality of shelves, or a combination thereof.
[0626] The at least one processor may be configured to provide
information to a user indicative of the identified vacant spaces.
The information may be provided based on a determination that at
least one shelf may be added to a shelving unit or that at least
one additional product may be displayed on a shelf. Additionally or
alternatively, the information may be provided based on one or more
identified vacant spaces. The information may be provided by any
means disclosed herein. For example, information may be provided to
a client device 145 and may be provided over communications network
150 via an alert, text-message, email, or other notification, or
the information may be displayed as part of GUI 500. The
information may be provided to any user, including user 120,
supplier 115, or market research entity 110. It is contemplated
that the information provided comprises data relating to the
identified vacant spaces (e.g., the size and location of a vacant
space), any determined rearrangement possibility, or any determined
rearrangement event. The information provided may be tailored to
the needs of the user to whom it is being provided. For example,
supplier 115 may intend to use the information to monitor
compliance with a planogram or other guideline and system 100 may
provide only the information necessary to facilitate this function.
Similarly, market research entity 110 may intend to use the
information to rank retail stores or otherwise determine the
efficiency of a retail store or group of retail stores and system
100 may provide only the information necessary for this purpose.
Market research entity 110 or retail store 105 may use the
information to monitor product sales or turn-over (e.g.,
correlating vacant space with a product being out-of-stock) and
system 100 may provide information necessary for this
monitoring.
[0627] The information may include any data obtained by system 100
relating to an image processed by image processing unit 130, such
as a representation or description of the received image or any
other data associated with the received image, a representation or
description of the products detected in the received image or any
other data relating to the detected products, data relating to the
size, shape, orientation, or location of a vacant space or any
other information relating to the identified vacant spaces, data
relating to a determination that an additional product may be
displayed if a rearrangement occurs and data relating to the
rearrangement, or any other data obtained or determined by system
100. As discussed above, the information may include a recommended
rearrangement, a plurality of possible rearrangements, at least one
assortment rule, or any combination thereof.
[0628] In accordance with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to generate a product-related task
associated with an identified potential for product rearrangement.
A product-related task may be any tasks performable by an employee
or automated system to achieve a reduction in the vacant space
identified by the methods disclosed herein. For example, identified
vacant space may be associated with a misplaced or out-of-stock
product and the product-related task may comprise returning the
misplaced product to the correct display. In another example, as
discussed above, a product may be determined to be in a nonstandard
orientation, in which case the product-related task may comprise
reorienting products to their desired orientation.
[0629] In accordance with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be configured to generate a visualization of a
recommended rearrangement. The visualization may include the image
received in, for example, step 3102 of method 3100. The
visualization may contain a visual representation of how a shelf
should be arranged. For example, system 100 may generate a visual
representation of a desired arrangement of a shelf or a shelving
unit, the visualization may be substantially the same as image 3030
or image 3040, for example.
[0630] Consistent with the present disclosure, the information
provided to the user may be part of a product-related task assigned
to a store employee and may include details of the recommended
rearrangement. For example, when product assortment rules
associated with a plurality of products are used to determine a
recommended rearrangement, as discussed in relation to process 32A,
the information provided to a user may include a product-related
task assigning a store employee the task of rearranging the
plurality of products. The information, in this example, may also
include the assortment rule or rules that were used to develop the
recommended rearrangement. The product-related task may comprise
instructions on how to rearrange products, how to rearrange
shelves, how to rearrange shelving units, or a combination thereof.
The product-related task may be communicated as written
instructions, a diagram, an image, a series of images, a
combination thereof, or any other means of communicating the
task.
[0631] In accordance with the present disclosure, the information
provided to a user may be part of a product-related task assigned
to a store employee and may include the generated visualization of
the recommended rearrangement. The information provided to a user
may contain any combination of a description and visualization of a
product-related task. For example, when a task includes rearranging
the shelf depicted in image 3050, system 100 may provide image 3060
to a user. In another example, system 100 may prove a visualization
of both the present state of a shelf, as depicted in image 3050,
and the desired arrangement, as depicted in image 3060. The
visualization may additionally include detailed instructions as to
how to arrange the products to achieve the desired arrangement.
[0632] In accordance with the present disclosure, the information
provided to a user may include identification of a location of the
at least one store shelf where the potential for product
rearrangement exists. For example, the information may contain an
indication of an area of a store in which a potential product
rearrangement was detected. The location may include a description
of a location, a map depicting a location, directions leading one
to a particular location, or any other information that may
facilitate navigation of a human or robotic system to the
location.
[0633] It is contemplated that the location may be provided,
possibly along with a visualization of a recommended rearrangement.
For example, the location may be provided along with image 3020
when the shelf depicted in image 3020 is to be rearranged into the
configuration depicted in image 3040.
[0634] System 100 may detect vacant spaces and determine a
recommended rearrangement according to any means disclosed herein.
For example, vacant spaces may be detected and a rearrangement
possibility may be determined by a method for processing images
captured in a retail store. FIG. 31A provides a flowchart
representative of an exemplary method 3100 for processing images
captured in a retail store to detect vacant spaces and determine
that at least one additional product may be displayed on a shelf
based on the detected vacant spaces. Similarly, FIG. 31B provides a
flowchart representation of an exemplary method 3102 for processing
images captured in a retail store to detect vacant spaces and
determine that at least one additional shelf may be added to a
shelving unit based on the detected vacant spaces. As will be
appreciated with from this disclosure, method 3100 and method 3102
are exemplary only and modifications may be made by, for example,
adding, combining, removing, and/or rearranging one or more steps
of any process consistent with this disclosure.
[0635] According to the present disclosure the method for
processing images captured in a retail store may include receiving
at least one image depicting at least part of at least one store
shelf having a plurality of products displayed thereon. The image
may be received by system 100 by any means disclosed herein. The
image may depict any portion of a shelf or a plurality of shelves.
By way of example, method 3100 may include a step 3110 of receiving
an image depicting a part of a shelf, the shelf containing a
plurality of products. The plurality of products may include a
group of first products associated with a first product size and a
group of second products associated with a second product size, the
second product size differing from the first product size. The
plurality of products may additionally or alternatively include a
group of first products of a first type and a group of second
products of a second type.
[0636] According to the present disclosure the method for
processing images captured in a retail store may include receiving
at least one image depicting at least part of at least one shelving
unit having a plurality of products displayed thereon. The image
may depict any portion of a shelving unit or a plurality of
shelving units. By way of example, method 3101 may include a step
3120 for receiving at least one image depicting a part of a
shelving unit.
[0637] Further, in accordance with this disclosure, the method for
processing images captured in a retail store may include receiving
a plurality of images. The plurality of images may depict a shelf,
a shelving unit, a portion of a shelf, a portion of a shelving
unit, a plurality of shelves, a plurality of shelving units, or any
combination thereof.
[0638] Further, according to the present disclosure the method for
processing images captured in a retail store may include analyzing
the at least one image to detect the plurality of products. The
image may be processed in any manner disclosed herein. For example,
method 3100 may include a step 3112 for analyzing an image to
detect the products depicted in the image of a portion of a shelf
received at step 3110. Similarly, method 3101 may include a step
3122 for analyzing an image to detect the products located on the
portion of a shelving unit depicted in the image received at step
3120.
[0639] Further, according to the present disclosure the method for
processing images captured in a retail store may include
identifying that at least some of the group of first products are
displayed in a nonstandard orientation. This step may be performed
at substantially the same time as the step for detecting products
depicted in the image. This step may be performed in substantially
the same manner as described above with regard to FIG. 30C.
[0640] Further, according to the present disclosure the method for
processing images captured in a retail store may include
identifying one or more vacant spaces associated with the plurality
of products on the at least one store shelf. By way of example,
method 3100 may include step 3114 for identifying one or more
vacant spaces associated with products displayed on a retail shelf.
In any implementation of the method, the identified vacant spaces
may be horizontal, vertical, or a combination thereof and may be
located between a first and second product, between a product and
an object, or between two objects. For example, the vacant spaces
identified in step 3114 may include horizontal vacant spaces 3022,
3024, 3026 and may be identified in substantially the same manner
as discussed above in relation to FIG. 30A.
[0641] Further, according to the present disclosure the method for
processing images captured in a retail store may include
identifying one or more vacant spaces associated with a shelving
unit. By way of example, method 3101 may include step 3124 for
identifying one or more vacant spaces associated with the products
displayed on a shelving unit. The vacant spaces may be vertical,
horizontal, or a combination thereof. For example, the vacant
spaces identified in step 3124 may include vertical vacant spaces
3012, 3014, 3016 and may be identified in substantially the same
manner as discussed above in relation to FIG. 30B.
[0642] Further, the method for processing images captured in a
retail store may include identifying vacant spaces across a
plurality of shelves in an area of a retail store. By way of
example, when a plurality of images is received, the analysis of
the images may include identifying vacant spaces on each of a
plurality of shelved depicted in the plurality of images. In
another example, when a single image is received, it may be
analyzed to detect vacant spaces on the shelf or shelving unit
depicted therein and the vacant spaces identified may be associated
with an area of a retail store to which the shelf or shelving unit
belongs.
[0643] Further, according to the present disclosure, the method for
processing images captured in a retail store may include measuring
a metric associated with the identified vacant spaces for at least
one product type across a plurality of shelves in the retail store.
The metric may be according to any measuring criteria disclosed
herein, including a total quantification of the identified vacant
space, a comparison of the identified vacant space to a
predetermined or input metric, or any other measuring criteria
disclosed above. For example, the method for processing images
captured in a retail store may include comparing the measured
metric with metrics associated with identified vacant spaces for
the at least one product type. As discussed above, the measuring
criteria associated with the identified vacant spaces may be
previously determined by system 100, provided by a user or
supplier, or otherwise stored in association with the product type
or product types associated with the vacant space.
[0644] Further, the method for processing images captured in a
retail store may include aggregating identified horizontal spaces
between two or more second products and comparing the aggregated
spaces to the width associated with first products to identify a
potential for rearrangement. By way of example, FIG. 32B provides a
flowchart representation of an exemplary process 3201 illustrates a
method for determining that an additional product may be displayed
on a shelf. Process 3201 may include step 3212 for identifying
vacant spaces associated with a group of products, such as a second
group of products. The vacant spaces may be identified by any means
disclosed herein, including those discussed in relation to step
3114. Process 3201 may include step 3214 for aggregating the vacant
space associated with the second product type. Process 3201 may
include step 3216 for comparing the aggregate space with the width
of a product of a first type. The comparison may be any comparison
disclosed herein, including a comparison of the width associated
with a product of the first type with the total aggregate width of
the identified vacant spaces. Process 3201 may include step 3218
for determining, based on the comparison of step 3216, that a first
product may be added to a shelf. The determination may be a
determination that the aggregated width of the vacant spaces,
determined in step 3214, is larger than the width of the first
product. Based on the determination, process 3201 may include a
step 3220 for recommending a rearrangement event comprising a
recommendation to rearrange the second group of products such that
an addition first product may be displayed. As an example, the
rearrangement event may comprise assigning a user, based on the
identified potential for arrangement, a product-related task for
rearranging the group of second products to add an additional first
product horizontally to the group of first products. Process 3201
may be incorporated in method 3100, for example, as part of step
3114 or part of step 3116, or may be performed in isolation.
[0645] Further, the method for processing images captured in a
retail store may include aggregating identified vertical spaces
associated with a plurality of store shelves and compare the
aggregated space to an average height of the products to identify a
potential for rearrangement. The potential for rearrangement may
include a potential to add an additional shelf to a shelving unit,
to add additional products to the shelving unit, or a combination
thereof. By way of example, process 3203 (FIG. 32C) illustrates an
exemplary method for determining that an additional shelf may be
added to a shelving unit. Process 3203 may contain step 3222 for
identifying vertical vacant spaces on a shelving unit. The vacant
spaces may be identified by any means disclosed herein, including
those discussed in relation to step 3124 of method 3101. Process
3203 may include step 3224 for aggregating the vertical vacant
space associated with the shelving unit and step 3226 for comparing
the aggregate vertical vacant space with the height of a first
product. The height of the first product may be stored in system
100 or may be detected or determined by any means disclosed herein.
The comparison may be performed in substantially the same manner as
discussed above. Process 3203 may include step 3228 for
determining, based on the comparison of step 3226, that an
additional shelf and at least one product may be added to the
shelving unit. Based on the determination, process 3203 may include
a step 3230 for recommending a rearrangement event comprising a
recommendation to rearrange the shelving unit such that addition
shelves and/or additional products may be added to the shelving
unit. As an example, the rearrangement event may comprise assigning
a user a product-related task for rearranging the shelving unit to
add the at least one shelf. Process 3203 may be incorporated into
method 3101, for example, as part of step 3124 or 3126, or may be
performed in isolation.
[0646] Further, the method for processing images captured in a
retail store may include determining that by rearranging a group of
second products on the at least one store shelf to at least
partially eliminate the one or more identified vacant spaces, at
least one additional first product may be displayed on the at least
one store shelf next to the group of first products. The identified
vacant spaces may be associated with the second group of products
or the first group or products or a combination thereof. By way of
example, method 3100 may include the step 3116 for determining that
at least one additional product may be displayed on a shelf if the
products identified in step 3112 are rearranged such that the
vacant spaces identified in step 3114 are reduced or eliminated.
The vacant space to be reduced or eliminated may an individual
vacant space or an aggregate vacant space, such as that determined
in step 3214 of process 3201. The products to be rearranged and the
additional product or products to be displayed may be of the same
or of different types. The determination may be performed according
to any means disclosed herein, including those discussed with
relation to FIG. 30A, FIG. 30B, FIG. 30C, or a combination thereof.
The determination may also be based on the outcome of process 3201,
or a portion thereof.
[0647] Further, the method for processing images captured in a
retail store may include determining that by rearranging the
plurality of products, at least one shelf may be added to a
shelving unit. By way of example, method 3101 may include step 3126
for determining that at least one additional shelf may be added to
a shelving unit based on a determination that the vacant spaces
identified at step 3124 may be reduced or eliminated to make room
for an additional shelf on the shelving unit depicted in the image
received at step 3210. The vacant space to be eliminated or reduced
may be an individual vacant space or an aggregate vacant space,
such as that determined in step 3224 of process 3203.
[0648] Further, consistent with this disclosure, the method of
processing images captures in retail stores may include identifying
a plurality of possible rearrangements of the plurality of products
based on the identified vacant spaces. The plurality of possible
rearrangements may comprise rearrangements of products, shelves,
shelving units, or a combination thereof. Each of the plurality of
possible rearrangements may include a rearrangement determined by
step 3116 of method 3100, step 3126 of method 3101, step 3218 of
process 3201, step 3228 of process 3203, or any other rearrangement
determined by any means disclosed herein.
[0649] Further, the method for processing images captured in a
retail store may include accessing product assortment rules
associated with the plurality of products and determining a
recommended rearrangement based on the product assortment rules. By
way of example, process 3200 (FIG. 32A) illustrates a method for
selecting a plurality of assortment rules to recommend applying to
rearrange a plurality of products. Process 3200 may include an
initial step 3202 of identifying vacant space associated with a
plurality of products and a plurality of possible rearrangements of
products. The vacant space may be identified by any means disclosed
herein, including as discussed with relation to step 3114 of method
3100 or step 3124 of method 3101. The plurality of possible
rearrangements may be determined by any means disclosed herein,
including by the determination of step 3116 of method 3100, step
3126 of method 3101, step 3218 of process 3201, step 3228 of
process 3203, or a combination thereof. Process 3200 may include a
step 3204 for accessing a product assortment rule or a plurality of
product assortment rules, for example, by accessing rules stored on
database 140. The assortment rules may comprise any parameter or
guideline for arranging products or shelved within a retail store.
Process 3200 may include a step 3206 for selecting an assortment
rule to apply to the identified vacant spaces. By way of example,
an assortment rule may be selected if it corresponds to one of the
plurality of possible rearrangements or the identified products.
The assortment rule may be selected based on any criteria, such as
selecting the rule that reduces the vacant space to the greatest
extent, selecting the rule that allows for the most products to be
displayed, selecting a rule given priority by a user, or any other
rule criteria. Process 3200 may include step 3208, which ask
whether any vacant space would remain on the shelf or shelving unit
if the assortment rule selected in step 3206 is applied. If vacant
space would not remain after applying the assortment rule selected
at step 3206 ("NO" at step 3208), then process 3200 proceeds to
step 3210 for recommending to a user a rearrangement event in
accordance with the selected assortment rule. If vacant space would
remain after applying the assortment rule selected at step 3206
("YES" at step 3208), then process 3200 proceeds by reverting to
3202 to identify a plurality of possible rearrangements based on
the vacant space remaining after the assortment rule selected at
3206 is applied. Process 3200 may then repeat steps 3202 through
3208 until there is no vacant space remaining, until there are no
assortment rules remaining, or until there the vacant space
remaining is insufficient to allow application of additional
assortment rules. At the end of process 3200, a recommendation is
sent to a user, at step 3210, the recommendation comprising a
rearrangement event recommending rearranging the plurality of
products, shelves, or a combination thereof in accordance with the
assortment rule or assortment rules selected at step 3206. It is,
of course, possible to perform the steps of process 3200 in any
order or in combination with any other process or method disclosed
herein. The step of accessing assortment rules to determine a
recommended rearrangement may be incorporated into other methods
for determining possible rearrangements or may be performed in
isolation.
[0650] Further, the method for processing images captured in a
retail store may include generating a product-related task
associated with an identified potential for product rearrangement.
Further, the method for processing images captured in a retail
store may include generating a visualization of a recommended
rearrangement. For example, the product-related task may comprise a
description of a preferred rearrangement of the products or shelves
and a positioning of the additional products or shelves that may be
added after the rearrangement. The visualization of a recommended
rearrangement may include any diagram, map, description, schematic
or other visual representation of a rearrangement. When multiple
possible rearrangements are determined, the product-related task
and visual representation of rearrangements may include a task and
a representation of each possible rearrangement. The tasks or
visualizations or both may be transmitted to a user by any means
disclosed herein.
[0651] Further, the method for processing images captured in a
retail store may include providing information to a user indicative
of the identified vacant spaces. By way of example, method 3100 may
include step 3118 for providing information relating to the method
to a user. Similarly, method 3101 may include step 3128 for
providing information relating to the method to a user. The
information may include any data obtained during steps 3110 or
3120, such as a representation or description of the received image
or any other data associated with the received image. The
information may also include any data obtained during step 3112 or
3122, such as a representation or description of the products
detected in the received image or any other data relating to the
products. The information may also include data obtained during
step 3114 or 3124, including data relating to the size, shape,
orientation, or location of a vacant space or any other information
relating to the identified vacant spaces, including an aggregate
value of the vacant space as determined in step 3214 of process
3201 or step 3224 of process 3203. The information may also include
any data relating to step 3116 or 3126, including any data relating
to a determination that an additional product or shelf may be
displayed if a rearrangement occurs and data relating to the
rearrangement. As discussed above, other processes, such as process
3200, process 3201, or process 3203 may be included in method 3100
or method 3101, in which case, any data relating to processes 3200,
3201, 3203 may also be included in the information. The information
may also include any product-related tasks or visualizations of
recommended rearrangements generated during any of method 3100,
method 3101, process 3200, process 3201, or process 3203.
[0652] Consistent with the present disclosure, a computer program
product for processing images captured in retail stores embodied in
a non-transitory computer-readable medium and executable by at
least one processor is disclosed. The computer program product may
include instructions for causing the at least one processor to
execute a method consistent with the above disclosure. For example,
the computer program product may be configured to perform all or a
portion of method 3100, method 3101, process 3200, process 3201,
process 3203, or a combination thereof.
[0653] The present disclosure provides systems and methods for
automatic prioritization of shelf-oriented tasks based on
processor-based image analysis of images captured by one or more
cameras or image capture devices. More specifically, the present
disclosure relates to systems, methods, and computer product
programs for processing images captured in a retail store and
automatically addressing detected conditions within the retail
store. The systems, methods, and computer product programs for
processing images captured in a retail store and automatically
addressing detected conditions within the retail store may be
implemented in system 100 for analyzing information collected from
retail stores 105 discussed above. Additionally, the systems,
methods, and computer product programs for processing images
captured in a retail store and automatically addressing detected
conditions within the retail store may utilize image processing
unit 130, server 135, database 140, network 150, and processing
device 202, as described above.
[0654] FIG. 33 illustrates an exemplary system 3300 for processing
images captured in a retail store and automatically addressing
detected conditions within the retail store. System 3300 may
include an imaging processing unit 130 (illustrated in FIG. 1) to
execute the analysis of images captured by the one or more
capturing devices (e.g. capturing devices 125). Image processing
unit 130 may include a server 135 operatively connected to a
database 140.
[0655] In some embodiments, processing device 202 included in
server 135 (as described above with relation to FIG. 2) may be
configured to execute a plurality of steps 3308, as will be
discussed in further detail below.
[0656] In accordance with the present disclosure, a system for
processing images captured in a retail store and automatically
addressing detected conditions within the retail store is
disclosed. The system may include at least one processor configured
to receive a plurality of images captured from one or more retail
stores. In some examples, the plurality of images may depict a
plurality of products displayed on a plurality of store shelves.
The system may process images captured in one or more retail stores
and automatically address detected conditions within the one or
more retail stores (e.g. retail stores 105A, 105B, 105C). The
plurality of images may be captured by a user (e.g. user 120)
and/or by a capturing device (e.g. capturing device 125).
Processing device 202 may be configured to execute steps 3308
including step 3310 where server 135 receives a plurality of images
3312 captured from one or more retail stores. Images 3312 may
depict a plurality of products displays on a plurality of store
shelves.
[0657] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure,
the at least one processor may be configured to detect in the
plurality of images an indicator of a first service-improvement
condition (for example, a first service-improvement condition
relating to the plurality of products) and detect in the plurality
of images an indicator of a second service-improvement condition
(for example, a second service-improvement condition relating to
the plurality of products). In some embodiments, the types of
outputs that image processing unit 130 can generate may include
indicators of service-improvement conditions (e.g., a cleaning
event, a restocking event, a rearrangement event, an occlusion
event, etc.), various reports indicative of the performances of
retail stores 105, and so forth. A service-improvement condition
may include any condition or state of an environment (e.g., a
retail store environment) in which at least one aspect of the
environment differs from a desired or specified state of the
environment. According to embodiments of this disclosure, the first
service-improvement condition and the second service-improvement
condition each may include at least one of: a need for cleaning, a
need for product restocking, a need for product rearrangement, a
need for product re-orienting, a need for product recall, a need
for labeling, a need for updated pricing, a promotion-related need,
an identified misplaced product, and an occlusion event. In some
examples, service improvement conditions may be detected by
analyzing one or more images depicting the service improvement
conditions and/or by analyzing readings from detection elements
attached to store shelves as described above. In some examples,
image data and/or readings from the detection elements may be
analyzed to detect the service improvement conditions, for example
using machine learning models trained using training examples to
detect service improvement conditions, using an artificial neural
network configured to detect service improvement conditions, and so
forth. For example, a cleaning event may be detected when a spill,
break, etc. appears in the plurality of images. In another example,
a restocking event may be detected when a part of a shelf is
determined to be empty, when an amount of products on a part of a
shelf is determined to be below a threshold associated with the
part of the shelf and/or with the product type of the products (for
example, according to a planogram), and so forth. In yet another
example, a rearrangement event may be detected when an item or
items are out of planogram compliance, when products are out of or
near out of shelf, when facings of a product are below a desired
requirement (for example, according to a planogram), among others.
In another example, a need for product re-orienting may be detected
when products are detected to be in an undesired orientation, as
described above. In yet another example, a need for labeling may be
detected when a label is missing, when a label is inaccurate, when
pricing is inaccurate, when intended promotions are absent, and so
forth. In another example, a need for product recall may be
detected when products of a specific product type are identified in
the retail store, when there is an indication that the specific
product type should not be in the retail store (for example,
according to the retail store's master file, according to a recall
indication received from a supplier, and so forth). In yet another
example, a need for updated pricing may be detected when a price
associated with a product as identified in the image data (for
example, by determining price information on a label associated
with the product as described above) differs from a price
associated with the product in a pricing database. In another
example, a promotion-related need may be detected, for example,
when a promotion that is not supposed to be in the store (for
example, according to promotions database) is identified in the
image data (for example, as a label depicting information
associated with the promotion, a stand, a discount, and so forth),
when a promotion that is supposed to be in the store (for example,
according to promotions database) is not identified in the image
data, when details of a promotion identified in the retail store
differs from the details of the promotion according to a promotions
database, and so forth. In yet another example, a misplaced product
and/or an occlusion event may be detected as described above. In
some embodiments, indications of service improvement conditions may
be received from other systems. For example, an indication of a
need for product recall may be received from a retail chain system,
in response to an update to the retail store's master file, and so
forth. In another example, an indication of a need for updated
pricing may be received in response to a change of price in a
pricing database. In yet another example, an indication of a
promotion-related need may be received in response to a change in
promotion policy of a retail store, a retail chain, a supplier,
etc., for example as recorded in a promotions database. In another
example, an indication of a service improvement condition may be
received from users, such as store employees, customers, and so
forth. Processing device 202 may be configured to execute step 3314
to detect an indicator of a first service-improvement condition and
execute step 3316 to detect an indicator of a second
service-improvement condition, for example to execute step 3314 to
detect an indicator of a first service-improvement condition
relating to a plurality of products and execute step 3316 to detect
an indicator of a second service-improvement condition relating to
the plurality of products. The first service-improvement condition
and the second service-improvement condition may be service
improvement conditions of different types or service-improvement
condition of the same type. In a non-limiting example, the first
service-improvement condition may be a cleaning event while the
second service-improvement condition may be a restocking event. In
another non-limiting example, the first and second
service-improvement events may be occlusion events.
[0658] The at least one processor may detect an indicator of a
service-improvement condition using various techniques. In one
example, the at least one processor may analyze images captured by
cameras (e.g., capturing devices 125) to detect at least one
indicator of a service-improvement condition. Captured images may
be analyzed to determine product placement characteristics (e.g.,
rotational orientation about one or more axes, product facing
orientation, product packing density, product similarity to
surrounding products, etc.) in order to detect whether a product is
placed on a shelf properly or as intended, whether a product
complies with a specified planogram, whether undesirable or
unintended empty space exists in a product area (e.g., suggesting a
need for restocking), whether a product is misplaced and needs to
be repositioned among like products, etc. Captured images may also
be analyzed to determine the presence of spills, broken containers,
soiled floors, soiled products or product areas, etc.
[0659] Such conditions may be recognized based on predetermined
algorithms for monitoring characteristics of products captured in
an image or for monitoring a physical status of shelves, floors,
ceilings, or other physical infrastructure in an environment. In
one example, edges of products, such as a certain type of canned
good item, may be detected through image analysis (e.g., using
pixel comparison techniques, etc.). Bounding boxes may be defined
relative to areas of a captured image determined to represent each
canned good product. Minor and major axes may be assigned, and an
orientation of the canned good item (e.g., whether the item is
standing upright or resting on its side) may be determined. Spacing
between the detected products may be determined. OCR techniques or
text-identification techniques may be employed relative to captured
images to identify labels of products and to determine a rotational
orientation of the products based on detected, exposed text.
Unexpected color variation detected on a floor of an environment
(e.g., through pixel comparison techniques) may indicate the
presence of a spill. Multiple other algorithms may be employed for
detecting indicators of service-improvement conditions expected in
a particular type of environment, such as a retail environment.
[0660] Additionally or alternatively, trained machine learning
systems may also be employed to identify indicators of
service-improvement conditions. For example, a machine learning
model may be trained based on training images of various
conditions. Training the system, for example, using reward
functions and predetermined conditions represented in a series of
images, may enable the system to "learn" about those conditions and
correctly identify such conditions in practice, even where an
encountered condition does not exactly match or resemble a
condition on which the system was trained.
[0661] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure,
the at least one processor may be configured to determine a first
product-related task for addressing the first service-improvement
condition and determine a second product-related task for
addressing the second service-improvement condition. In some
embodiments, the product related tasks may be associated with the
detected service-improvement conditions. For example, a cleaning
task may be generated in response to a detected condition
indicative of a need for cleaning; a restocking task may be
generated in response to a detected condition indicating that one
or more products needs restocking; a rearrangement task may be
generated in response to a detected condition indicating that one
or more products are misplaced, misarranged, or otherwise out of
compliance with a predetermined planogram, etc.; and an occlusion
removal task may be generated in response to a detected occlusion
event where one or more products is blocked from view of a customer
or a camera, etc. Additional non-limiting examples of
product-related tasks may include cleaning, restocking shelves,
restocking displays, rearranging shelves or displays according to
planograms, returning misplaced product to the correct shelf or
display, re-orienting products to have a desired orientation,
removing products from the store (e.g. expired products, products
that are no longer sold in the store, in response to a product
recall, etc.), labeling, relabeling, or removing labels of
products, shelves, or displays, pricing or re-pricing of products,
positioning or re-positioning, removing displays, shelf units, or
promotion signs, removing occlusions that prevent stationary
cameras from monitoring products, shelves, or displays, removing
occlusions that prevent customers from seeing and/or accessing
products, shelves, or displays, removing occlusions that prevent
robots from traveling within the store, assisting customers,
manning positions such as a checkout station, a promotional
display, etc., ordering supply (e.g. for out of stock or near out
of stock products), among others.
[0662] Processing device 202 may be configured to execute step 3318
to determine a first product related task for addressing the first
service-improvement condition and step 3320 to determine a second
product related task for addressing the second service-improvement
condition. As discussed above, the first service-improvement
condition and the second service-improvement condition may be
service improvement conditions of different types or
service-improvement condition of the same type. Accordingly, the
first product related task and the second product related task may
be different product related tasks or the same product related
task. In a non-limiting example, the first service-improvement
condition may be a cleaning event, and the first product related
task may be a cleaning task while the second service-improvement
condition may be a restocking event, and the second product related
task may be a restocking task.
[0663] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure,
the at least one processor may be configured to access a database
storing information indicative of a first employee and a second
employee on duty during a time interval over which the plurality of
images was received. Processing device 202 may be configured to
execute step 3322 to access a database 3324 that stores employee
information, which in some examples may include employee schedules
and/or real-time updates of on-duty employees. Database 3324 may
include time data associated with employees who are on-duty, and
processing device 202 may use this time data to determine that at
least a first employee 3328 and a second employee 3330 are on duty
during the time interval over which the plurality of images was
received and/or at another desired time point and/or at another
desired time interval. First employee 3328 may have employee data
3332 and second employee 3330 may have employee data 3334, the
employee data 3332 and 3334 may be shared with and stored in
database 3324.
[0664] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure,
the at least one processor may be configured to assign the first
product-related task to the first employee and assign the second
product-related task to the second employee. Processing device 202
may be configured to execute step 3326 to assign a first product
related task to first employee 3328 and the second product related
task to second employee 3330. Although first employee 3328 is
illustrated as a human and second employee 3330 is illustrated as a
robot, first employee 3328 and second employee 3330 may each be
human or robot. Accordingly, both first employee 3328 and second
employee 3330 may be robot concurrently or human concurrently.
[0665] In accordance with the present disclosure, when the first
service-improvement condition and the second service-improvement
condition include identified misplaced products, the at least one
processor may be configured to assign the first product-related
task to the first employee and the second product-related task to
the second employee based on product categories associated with the
identified misplaced products. Accordingly, product categories may
be identified by analyzing the images, by the location of the
shelf, using a planogram, applying a product model, etc. as
described above. Processing device 202 may be configured to execute
steps 3318 and 3320 to determine the first and second product
related tasks, respectively. Processing device 202 may also be
configured to execute step 3326 to assign the first product related
task to first employee 3328 and the second product-related task to
second employee 3330 based on the product categories identified
with relation to the identified misplaced products. For example,
some product categories may require a human employee, a robotic
employee, a stronger employee, a smaller employee, etc. In some
examples, first employee 3328 may have an expertise in a first
product category, while second employee 3330 may not have expertise
in the first product category or may have a lesser level of
expertise in the first product category. Further, the first
service-improvement condition may be connected to products of the
first product category, while the second service-improvement
condition may not be connected to products of the first product
category or may have a lesser degree of connection to products of
the first product category. In response, the first product-related
task may be assigned to the first employee while the second
product-related task may be assigned to the second employee. Some
examples of service-improvement conditions connected to products of
a first product category may include misplaced product of a first
product category, misplaced product placed on a shelf associated
with the first product category, restocking and/or rearrangement of
products and/or shelf associated with the first product category,
modifying or removing or placing labels associated with the first
product category, changing price of products of a first product
category, and so forth. The expertise of an employee in a first
product category may be determined by accessing employee data (such
as skills recorded in employee data 3332 and 3334), analyzing past
performances of the employee in past tasks related to the first
product category (for example, performances recorded in employee
data 3332 and 3334), analyzing past image data to determine the
past performances of the employee in past tasks related to the
first product category, and so forth. In some examples, first
employee 3328 may have higher physical abilities compared to second
employee 3330, for example as recorded in employee data 3332 and
3334. Further, the first service-improvement condition may be
connected to products of the first product category associated with
heavier weight than a second product category, and the second
service-improvement condition may be connected to products of the
second product category. In response, the first product-related
task may be assigned to the first employee while the second
product-related task may be assigned to the second employee.
[0666] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure,
when the first service-improvement condition and the second
service-improvement condition are occlusion events, the at least
one processor may be configured to assign the first product-related
task to the first employee and the second product-related task to
the second employee based on occlusion categories associated with
the occlusion events. Processing device 202 may be configured to
execute steps 3318 and 3320 to determine the first and second
product related tasks are respective occlusion events. Processing
device 202 may be configured to execute step 3326 to assign the
first product related task to first employee 3328 and the second
product-related task to second employee 3330 based on the occlusion
categories assigned to the occlusion events. For example, some
occlusion categories may require a human employee, a robotic
employee, a stronger employee, a smaller employee, etc. In some
examples, first employee 3328 may have higher physical abilities
compared to second employee 3330, for example as recorded in
employee data 3332 and 3334. Further, the first service-improvement
condition may be connected to occlusion event of the first
occlusions category associated with heavier weight than a second
occlusions category, and the second service-improvement condition
may be connected to occlusion event of the second occlusions
category. In response, the first product-related task may be
assigned to the first employee while the second product-related
task may be assigned to the second employee.
[0667] In accordance with some embodiments of the present
disclosure, when the first service-improvement condition is a need
for cleaning, and the second service-improvement condition is a
need for product rearrangement, the at least one processor may be
configured to assign the first product-related task to a robot
employee and assign the second product-related task to a human
employee. Processing device 202 may be configured to execute steps
3314 and 3316 to determine the first service-improvement condition
is a need for cleaning and second service-improvement condition is
a need for product rearrangement. Processing device 202 may be
configured to execute step 3326 to assign the first product related
task to a robot employee and the second product-related task to a
human employee. In some cases, such assignments may be based on the
perceived capabilities of individuals available to assist. For
example, a robot unit may be more efficient at removing a spill
than, for example, rearranging a group of products according to a
planogram--a task that may require more dexterity and
problem-solving skills than may be available from certain robotic
units.
[0668] According to embodiments of this disclosure, when the first
employee is a robot employee, the at least one processor may be
further configured to determine that the first service-improvement
condition can be resolved by the robot employee, before assigning
the first product-related task to the first employee. Accordingly,
processing device 202 may access the capabilities (e.g.
performance, skills) from the employee information 3334 via
database 3324 to ensure the robot employee is capable of resolving
the first service-improvement condition by completing the first
product-related task. Such an approach may increase efficiency and
maximize robot resources by first checking to determine if a robot
unit is available that can complete a required task before
assigning the task to a human employee. In accordance with the
present disclosure, the at least one processor may be further
configured to obtain data indicative of a current physical
condition of the robot employee for determining that the first
service-improvement condition can be resolved by the robot
employee. Accordingly, processing device 202 may access the
physical conditions (e.g. battery charge, remaining supplies, level
of remaining cleaning liquid, dexterity capability, mobility range,
etc.) from the employee information 3334 via database 3324 to
ensure the robot employee is capable of resolving the first
service-improvement condition by completing the first
product-related task.
[0669] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the at least
one processor may be further configured to receive location data
indicative of current locations of the first employee and the
second employee within the retail store, and assign the first
product-related task to the first employee and the second
product-related task to the second employee based on the received
location data and identified locations of the first
service-improvement condition and the second service-improvement
condition. Accordingly, processing device 202 may access the
location data from the employee information 3332, 3334 via database
3324 at step 3322 to execute step 3326 to assign the first
product-related task to the first employee and the second
product-related task to the second employee based on the received
location data and identified locations of the first
service-improvement condition and the second service-improvement
condition. For example, based on a captured image indicating a
service-improvement condition, the at least one processor may
determine a location in an environment of the service-improvement
condition (e.g., based on a known location of a camera that capture
the image).
[0670] The processor may determine locations of store employees or
assets, for example, based on captured image data from one or more
image capture devices, based on tracked RFID tags, based on images
from overhead cameras, based on GPS tracking applications, based on
a database lookup, or based on any other suitable techniques for
monitoring employee location within an environment. The processor
may use the location information in assigning product-related
tasks. For example, the processor may determine locations of the
various available employees relative to the determined locations of
the detected service-improvement conditions. Based on these
determinations, the processor may schedule product related tasks
among the available employees to reduce or eliminate inefficiencies
in addressing the product related tasks. For example, the processor
may determine that a first employee is closer to a first
service-improvement condition than to a second service-improvement
condition. As a result, the first employee may be assigned a
product related task associated with the first service-improvement
condition. The processor may also determine that a second employee
is closer to the second service-improvement condition than to the
first service improvement condition. In response, the processor may
assign a product related task associated with the second
service-improvement condition to the second employee. In some
cases, the processor may determine that the first employee is
closer than a second employee to a first detected
service-improvement condition. As a result, the first employee,
rather than the second employee, may be assigned a product related
task to address the first service-improvement condition. Various
other location based metrics may also be used in scheduling
product-related tasks relative to available employees or robotic
assets.
[0671] In accordance with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be further configured to access pending assignment
data indicative of product-related tasks assigned to the first
employee and the second employee, and assign the first
product-related task to the first employee and the second
product-related task to the second employee based on at least one
pending product-related task previously assigned to the first
employee and at least one pending product-related task previously
assigned to the second employee. Accordingly, processing device 202
may access the pending assignments data from the employee
information 3332, 3334 via database 3324 at step 3322 to execute
step 3326 to assign the first product-related task to the first
employee and the second product-related task to the second
employee. The assignments may be based on employee availability
indicators, such that each product related task is assigned to the
next available employee from a list of available employees. As an
additional layer, employee proximity to the location of a
service-improvement may also be taken in account, as described
above. If there are not enough available employees to address all
service-improvement conditions, the product related tasks may be
scheduled based on the types of pending product related tasks
assigned to an employee and/or based on the status of pending
product related tasks assigned to an employee. For example, the
processor may access a database to determine that a first employee
has been assigned a product-related task having a shorter expected
completion time than a product-related task assigned to a second
employee. Based on that information, the processor may determine
when each of the first and second employees is expected to become
available (e.g., by accessing a database indicating when the
employees were assigned the respective product-related tasks, when
the employees arrived on site to the service-related conditions
associated with the pending tasks, the expected completion times of
the pending tasks, current status update information input by the
employees during completion of the pending product-related tasks,
etc.). The at least one processor may then assign new
product-related tasks to employees based on an estimate of when
those employees will become available after completion of their
pending product-related tasks.
[0672] The processor may also pull one or more employees from their
currently assigned product-related tasks and re-assign those
employees to new product-related tasks. The new assignments, for
example, may be made based on a determination that a new
product-related task has a higher priority than a product-related
task being addressed by an employee. In one example, an employee
may be working on restocking canned goods on a certain shelf in
response to a service-improvement condition indicating that the
shelf contained fewer than a planogram-specified minimum number of
products or minimum product density, etc. While the employee is
restocking the shelf another service-improvement condition may be
detected. The new service-improvement condition may involve a glass
jar of pasta sauce that has fallen from the shelf and broken within
an aisle. The processor may determine (e.g., based on a
predetermined, stored hierarchy of expected service-improvement
conditions) that required clean-up of the broken pasta jar is more
important to complete than restocking of canned goods on a shelf.
As a result, the processor may issue an instruction for the
employee working on the restocking task to suspend that task and go
to the aisle to complete the new task of cleaning up the broken jar
of pasta sauce. Upon completion of the new clean-up task, the
employee may be reassigned to complete the task of restocking the
shelf.
[0673] An assignment list for each employee may be updated based on
newly received service-improvement condition information. For
example, as outlined in the example above, an employee may be
pulled from an ongoing product-related task in order to address a
higher priority task. Additionally, a list of pending
product-related task assignments for an employee may be
automatically ordered according to priority levels associated with
the respective service improvement conditions. Thus, as new
service-improvement conditions are detected, the corresponding
product-related tasks need not be simply appended to the end of a
task list for an employee (assuming no other employees are
available or able to take on the new task). Rather, each new
product-related task may be inserted into a pending assignment list
for an employee based on its priority. As a result, an employee may
address the highest priority tasks first before moving on to lower
priority tasks.
[0674] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure,
the at least one processor may be further configured to access
employment data indicative of skill sets associated with each of
the first and second employees, and assign the first
product-related task to the first employee and the second
product-related task to the second employee based on the skill sets
of the first employee and the second employee and a type of the
first service-improvement condition and a type of the second
service-improvement condition. For example, processing device 202
may access skill sets data from the employee information 3332, 3334
via database 3324 at step 3322 to execute step 3326 to assign the
first product-related task to the first employee and the second
product-related task to the second employee based on the skill sets
of the first employee the second employee, and based on the type of
first service-improvement condition and the type of the second
service-improvement condition. In a non-limiting example,
processing device 202 may be configured to execute steps 3314 and
3316 to determine the first service-improvement condition is a need
for cleaning and second service-improvement condition is a need for
product rearrangement. Processing device 202 may be configured to
execute step 3326 to assign the first product related task to a
robot employee and the second product-related task to a human
employee based on the skill sets of the respective employees.
[0675] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the at
least one processor may be further configured to access employment
ranking data associated with past performances of the first
employee and the second employee and assign the first
product-related task to the first employee and the second
product-related task to the second employee based on the employment
ranking data. For example, processing device 202 may access the
performance data from the employee information 3332, 3334 via
database 3324 and determine an employment ranking based on the
performance data at step 3322 to execute step 3326 to assign the
first product-related task to the first employee and the second
product-related task to the second employee based on the employment
ranking data acquired from the performance data of the first
employee the second employee.
[0676] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the at
least one processor may be further configured to determine
prioritization of the first product-related task and the second
product-related task based on urgency of the first
service-improvement condition and the second service-improvement
condition, and assign the first product-related task to the first
employee and the second product-related task to the second employee
based on the determined prioritization of the first product-related
task and the second product-related task. Processing device 202 may
analyze the urgency of the first service-improvement condition and
the second service-improvement condition before assigning the first
product related task and second product related task at step 3326.
In a non-limiting example, the processing device 202 may determine
the first service-improvement condition is more urgent than the
second service-improvement condition and may access the location
data from the employee information 3332, 3334 via database 3324 and
determine the employee that is closest in proximity to the first
service-improvement condition to expedite the resolution of the
first product-related task. In another non-limiting example, the
processing device 202 may also prioritize the service-improvement
conditions based on importance of the at least two
service-improvement events. In such a case, a need for cleaning
near a high traffic area of the store (e.g. the cashier) may be
more important than a need for cleaning in a lower-traffic area of
the store (e.g. near the bathroom).
[0677] In accordance with embodiments of this disclosure, the at
least one processor may be further configured to, after assigning
the first product-related task to the first employee first, analyze
the plurality of images to determine that there is a need for a
third product-related task to resolve a third service-improvement
condition. Based on the plurality of images, the at least one
processor may be configured to determine that the third
service-improvement condition is more urgent than the first
service-improvement condition and assign the third product-related
task to the first employee and inform the first employee that the
third product-related task has priority over the first
product-related task. Processing device 202 may analyze the urgency
of the first service-improvement condition and the third
service-improvement condition after assigning the first product
related task at step 3326 and determine the third
service-improvement condition is more urgent than the first
service-improvement condition. Accordingly, the processing device
202 may assign the third product-related task to the first employee
and inform the first employee that the third product-related task
has priority over the first product related task. In such a case,
the first product related task may be shifted into the first
employee's pending assignments of the employee data 3332.
[0678] In accordance with the present disclosure, the at least one
processor may be further configured to analyze the plurality of
images to determine that the first service-improvement condition
had been resolved prior to the arrival of the first employee and
inform the first employee that the first product-related task has
been cancelled. Processing device 202 may continuously analyze the
plurality of images and/or to continuously receive real-time images
3312 at step 3310. Processing device 202 may determine the first
service-improvement condition previously detected at step 3314 has
been resolved before the first employee arrives at the first
service-improvement (for example, by an action of another employee,
by an action of a customer, and so forth). Processing device 202
may inform the first employee that the first product-related task
has been cancelled. According to embodiments of this disclosure,
the at least one processor may be further configured to: analyze
the plurality of images to identify that the first product-related
task has been completed by the first employee, and update a
repository of product-related tasks associated with the first
employee based on the identification of the completion of the first
product-related task. For example, processing device 202 may update
the pending assignments of the employee data 3332 to remove the
first product-related task. In another example, performance records
in the employee data 3332 may be updated to include the completed
task. It should be noted that communications with employees (e.g.,
for purposes of assigning tasks, directing employees to locations
of service-improvement conditions, re-assigning employees to new,
higher priority tasks, cancelling tasks, etc.) may be accomplished
via any suitable techniques. Such techniques may include audio
instructions delivered, e.g., via a wireless earpiece; visual
instruction, e.g., delivered via AR glasses, etc.; visual
instructions delivered via one or more mobile devices (e.g.,
smartphones, tablets, etc.); machine instructions (e.g., control
signals) delivered to robotic units via a wireless communication
link, or any other mode of communication with employees.
[0679] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the at
least one processor may be further configured to analyze the
plurality of images to automatically determine a performance
quality level associated with the completion of the first
product-related task; and update a performance record associated
with the first employee based on the determined performance quality
level. Processing device 202 may analyze the plurality of images
3312 after the first product-related task has been completed and
determine a performance quality level associated with the task. The
performance quality level may be determined based on the
completeness of the product-related task. Non-limiting examples
include: whether upon completion of a task there is a remaining
need for cleaning, remaining need for product restocking, remaining
need for product rearrangement, remaining need for product
re-orienting, remaining need for product recall, remaining need for
labeling, remaining need for updated pricing, remaining
promotion-related need, remaining identified misplaced product,
remaining occlusion event, lack of planogram compliance, time to
completion of the task, among others. The performance quality level
may be added to the performance record of the employee and the
performance record in the employee data 3332 and/or 3334 may be
updated with each task performed.
[0680] FIG. 34 illustrates an exemplary method 3400 for processing
images captured in a retail store and automatically addressing
detected conditions within the retail store. In some embodiments,
method 3400 may be executed by one or more processors (e.g.
processing device 202).
[0681] In accordance with the present disclosure, a method for
processing images captured in a retail store and for automatically
addressing detected conditions within the retail store is provided.
The method may include receiving a plurality of images depicting a
plurality of products displayed on a plurality of store shelves
(step 3410) and detecting in the plurality of images an indicator
of a first service-improvement condition relating to the plurality
of products and detecting in the plurality of images an indicator
of a second service-improvement condition relating to the plurality
of products (step 3414). Processing device 202 may be configured to
execute step 3414 to detect an indicator of a first
service-improvement condition relating to a plurality of products
and step 3416 to detect an indicator of a second
service-improvement condition relating to the plurality of
products. The first service-improvement condition and the second
service-improvement condition may be different service improvement
conditions or the same service-improvement condition relating to
the plurality of products. In a non-limiting example, the first
service-improvement condition may be a cleaning event while the
second service-improvement condition may be a restocking event. In
another non-limiting example, the first and second
service-improvement events may be occlusion events.
[0682] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure,
the method may include determining a first product-related task for
addressing the first service-improvement condition and determining
a second product-related task for addressing the second
service-improvement condition (steps 3418 and 3420). In some
embodiments, the product related tasks may be associated with the
service-improvement conditions. For example, a cleaning task may be
the product related task associated with a cleaning event, a
restocking task may be the product related task associated with a
restocking event, a rearrangement task may be the product related
task associated with a rearrangement event, and an occlusion
removal task may be the product related task associated with an
occlusion event.
[0683] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure,
the method may include accessing a database storing information
indicative of a first employee and a second employee on duty during
a time interval over which the plurality of images was received
(step 3422). Processing device 202 may be configured to execute
step 3422 to access a database (e.g. database 3324) that stores
employee information including employee schedules and real-time
updates of on-duty employees. The database may include time data
associated with employees who are on-duty that allows the
processing device 202 to determine at least a first employee (e.g.
first employee 3328) and a second employee (e.g. second employee
3330) on duty during the time interval over which the plurality of
images was received.
[0684] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure,
the method may include assigning the first product-related task to
the first employee and assigning the second product-related task to
the second employee (step 3424). Processing device 202 may be
configured to execute step 3424 to assign a first product related
task to the first employee and the second product related task to
the second employee.
[0685] In accordance with the present disclosure, when the first
service-improvement condition and the second service-improvement
condition include identified misplaced products, the method may
include assigning the first product-related task to the first
employee and the second product-related task to the second employee
based on product categories associated with the identified
misplaced products. Accordingly, product categories may be
identified by analyzing the images, by the location of the shelf,
using a planogram, applying a product model, etc. as described
above. Processing device 202 may be configured to execute steps
3418 and 3420 to determine the first and second product related
tasks, respectively.
[0686] FIG. 35 illustrates an example method 3500 for assigning
product-related tasks to employees. For example, method 3500 may
follow steps 3418, 3420, and 3422 as described above relative to
FIG. 34. According to method 3500, processing device 202 may be
configured to execute step 3502 to determine if the first service
improvement condition and the second improvement condition include
identified misplaced products and to execute step 3504 to assign
the first product related task to the first employee and the second
product-related task to the second employee based on the product
categories assigned to the identified misplaced products. For
example, some product categories may require a human employee, a
robotic employee, a stronger employee, a smaller employee, etc. If
the first service improvement condition and the second improvement
condition do not include identified misplaced products, the method
continues to step 3424 to assign a first product related task to
the first employee and the second product related task to the
second employee.
[0687] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure,
when the first service-improvement condition and the second
service-improvement condition are occlusion events, the method may
include assigning the first product-related task to the first
employee and the second product-related task to the second employee
based on occlusion categories associated with the occlusion events.
Processing device 202 may be configured to execute steps 3418 and
3420 to determine the first and second product related tasks.
Processing device 202 may be configured to execute step 3506 to
determine if the first and second service-improvement conditions
are occlusion events. If the first and second service-improvement
conditions are occlusion events, processing device 202 may execute
step 3508 to assign the first product related task to the first
employee and the second product-related task to second employee
based on the occlusion categories assigned to the occlusion events.
For example, some occlusion categories may require a human
employee, a robotic employee, a stronger employee, a smaller
employee, etc. If the first service improvement condition and the
second improvement condition do not include occlusion events, the
method continues to step 3424 to assign a first product related
task to the first employee and the second product related task to
the second employee.
[0688] When the first service-improvement condition is a need for
cleaning and the second service-improvement condition is a need for
rearrangement, the method may further include assigning the first
product-related task to a robot employee and assigning the second
product-related task to a human employee. Processing device 202 may
be configured to execute steps 3314 and 3316 to determine the first
service-improvement condition and the second service-improvement
condition. Processing device 202 may be configured to execute step
3510 to determine whether the first service-improvement condition
is a need for cleaning and the second service-improvement condition
is a need for product rearrangement. Processing device 202 may be
configured to execute step 3512 to assign the first product related
task to a robot employee and the second product-related task to a
human employee. If the first service improvement condition is not a
need for cleaning and the second improvement condition is not a
need for product rearrangement, the method continues to step 3424
to assign a first product related task to the first employee and
the second product related task to the second employee.
[0689] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, when the
first employee is a robot employee, the method may include
obtaining data indicative of a current status of the robot employee
for determining that the first service-improvement condition can be
resolved by the robot employee, and based on the obtained data,
determining that the first service-improvement condition can be
resolved by the robot employee, before assigning the first
product-related task to the first employee. Processing device 202
may access the capabilities (e.g. performance, skills)(e.g. from
the employee information 3334 via database 3324) to ensure the
robot employee is capable of resolving the first
service-improvement condition by completing the first
product-related task. Processing device 202 may also access the
physical conditions (e.g. battery charge, remaining supplies, level
of remaining cleaning liquid) to ensure the robot employee is
capable of resolving the first service-improvement condition by
completing the first product-related task before assigning the
first-product related task to the first employee.
[0690] According to embodiments of this disclosure, a computer
program product for processing images captured in a retail store
and for automatically addressing detected conditions within the
retail store is provided. The computer program product may be
embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and being
executable by at least one processor. The computer program product
for processing images captured in a retail store and automatically
addressing detected conditions within the retail store may be
implemented, for example in system 100, for analyzing information
collected from retail stores 105 discussed above. Additionally, the
systems, methods, and computer product programs for processing
images captured in a retail store and automatically addressing
detected conditions within the retail store may utilize image
processing units 130, servers 135, databases 140, 3324, network
150, and processing device 202 as described above. The computer
program product may include instructions for causing the at least
one processor (e.g. processing device 202) to execute any or all of
the method steps described above.
[0691] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure,
systems 100, 3300 may further rely on: manual input (e.g. from a
user such as a shift manager), inventory information (e.g. from
backroom or nearby warehouses), pricing database, promotions
database, planograms, store master file (catalog), checkout
information (such as sales and/or returns), calendar (e.g.
predicting demand based on calendar events and rearranging shelves
accordingly), employee records (e.g. past performance records,
expertise, etc.), shifts roster, and opening hours information.
Additional inputs may be from pressure sensors and/or light sensors
and may be used in tasks creation, monitoring, and performance
quality ranking.
[0692] In some embodiments, the task may become redundant without
an action from the employee. For example, an action of a customer
may solve an issue (as described above) or render the problem
irrelevant. In other cases, a task may change due to an action of a
customer. The system may identify such cases and delete
tasks/update tasks/reprioritize tasks accordingly.
[0693] Consistent with the present disclosure, the system may
analyze images to determine tasks associated with shelves, assign
the tasks to employees (and optionally prioritizing the tasks), and
to monitor the execution of the tasks by analyzing images of the
shelves. Optionally, the system may rank employees based on their
performances, and/or assign tasks based on employees past
performances.
[0694] In some embodiments, images may be analyzed to identify
tasks associated with store shelves (for example, a first task
associated with a first group of at least one store shelf and a
second task associated with a second group of at least one store
shelf). A database of store employees (for example, comprising at
least a first employee and a second employee) may be accessed, and
the tasks may be assigned to employees (for example, the first task
may be assigned to the first employee and the second task may be
assigned to the second employee). In some examples, the assignment
of tasks to employees may be based on locations of the shelves
associated with the tasks (for example, a location associated with
the first group of at least one shelf and on a location associated
with the second group of at least one shelf) and/or on locations
associated with the plurality of store employees, for example, by
preferring to assign the task associated with store shelves closer
to an employee to the employee. In some examples, the assignment of
tasks to employees is based on types of product associated with the
tasks (for example, based on the types of product associated with
the shelves that are associated with the task). For example, an
employee may have an expertise related to some product types and/or
a better past performances when dealing with some product types,
and the system may prefer assigning tasks associated with those
product types to that employee. In another example, tasks
associated with product types that are more important and/or have
more value to the store may be assigned to a more experienced
employee and/or to an employee with better past performances. In
some examples, the assignment of tasks to employees may be based on
the types of tasks (for example, on a type of task associated with
the first task and on a type of task associated with the second
task). For example, an employee may have an expertise related to
some types of tasks and/or a better past performances when dealing
with some types of tasks, and the system may prefer assigning tasks
of those types to that employee. In another example, tasks of a
type that is more important and/or has more value to the store may
be assigned to a more experienced employee and/or to an employee
with better past performances. In some examples, the assignment of
tasks to employees may be based on the plurality of tasks already
assigned to employees (for example, on a first plurality of tasks
already assigned to the first employee and on a second plurality of
tasks already assigned to the second employee). For example, tasks
that are more important and/or have more value to the store may be
assigned to employee more available and/or predicted to get to the
tasks sooner. In some examples, the assignment of tasks to
employees may be based on past performances of the employees, for
example, as described above. In some examples, the images may be
analyzed to assign priorities to tasks (for example, a first
priority to the first task and a second priority to the second
task), and the assignment of tasks to employees may be based on the
assigned priorities. In some examples, the images may be analyzed
to prioritize the tasks assigned to an employee, and the
prioritization of the tasks may be provided to the employee, for
example, visually, textually, audibly, and so forth. In some
examples, the images may be analyzed to identify a completion of
the tasks. In some cases, a repository of tasks (that may be
associated with employees) may be updated based on the
identification of the completion of the first task. In some cases,
the images may be further analyzed to determine a performance
quality associated with the completed tasks, and a performances
record associated with the employees may be updated based on the
determined quality.
[0695] In some embodiments, recommended tasks may be selected to
improve a scoring function, possibly under constraints related to
possible arrangement of shelves, to price associated with different
properties of shelves, to predict work time associated with the
recommended tasks, and so forth.
[0696] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a
system for processing images captured in a retail store is
provided. The system may include at least one image sensor
configured to capture at least one image of a plurality of products
located on a plurality of store shelves, and at least one
processing unit. The processing unit may be configured to analyze
the at least one image to identify a first task associated with a
first group of at least one shelf and a second task associated with
a second group of at least one shelf; access a database of store
employees comprising at least a first employee and a second
employee; assign the first task to the first employee; and assign
the second task to the second employee.
[0697] In some embodiments, the assignment of tasks to employees
may be based on a location associated with the first group of at
least one shelf and on a location associated with the second group
of at least one shelf. The assignment of tasks to employees may be
based on a location associated with the first store employee and on
a location associated with the second store employee. The
assignment of tasks to employees may be based on a type of product
associated with the first group of at least one shelf and on a type
of product associated with the second group of at least one shelf.
The assignment of tasks to employees may be based on a type of the
first task and on a type of the second task. The assignment of
tasks to employees may be based on a first plurality of tasks
already assigned to the first employee and on a second plurality of
tasks already assigned to the second employee. The assignment of
tasks to employees may be based on past performances of the first
employee and on past performances of the second employee.
[0698] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the at least
one processing unit may be further configured to analyze the at
least one image to assign a first priority to the first task;
analyze the at least one image to assign a second priority to the
second task; and base the assignment of tasks to employees on the
first priority and the second priority.
[0699] In some embodiments, the at least one processing unit may be
further configured to: analyze the at least one image to identify a
third task associated with a third group of at least one shelf;
assign the third task to the first employee; analyze the at least
one image to prioritize the first task and the third task; and
provide the information associated with the prioritization to the
first employee. The at least one processing unit may further
configured to: analyze the at least one image to identify a
completion of the first task. The at least one processing unit may
be further configured to update a repository of tasks associated
with the first employee based on the identification of the
completion of the first task. The at least one processing unit may
be further configured to analyze the at least one image to
determine a performance quality associated with the first task and
update a performances record associated with the first employee
based on the determined quality.
[0700] In one embodiment, a monitoring system and method for
identifying products in retail stores based on analysis of image
data and for automatically generating performance indicators
relating to the identified products is provided. In a retail store,
a product may be offered in more than one position and location in
the store. For example, the same product may be positioned on a
regular shelf in a region corresponding to the category of the
product but may also be present on a promotional shelf or a display
presenting the product on sale. While an analysis of checkout and
sales data may show the flow of products out of an entire store,
this data may not provide information about the flow of products
within the store itself. For example, when looking at sales data
for a product that is placed on both a regular and promotional
shelf, a user looking at overall sales data would not be able to
determine whether more units of the product were sold from the
promotional shelf or from the regular shelf, when those sales
occurred, who was more likely to buy from one shelf or the other,
etc.
[0701] Consistent with the disclosed embodiments, the system
described herein may analyze images of the different positions in a
retail store that hold the same product type to determine the flow
of the product from different locations in the store. The flow of
products may be associated with the different locations of the
product in the store and may be automatically compared and/or
analyzed to generate performance indicators and/or placement
recommendations. For example, the system may determine the
contribution or correlation of a specific product position within
the store to sales, and may determine a recommendation (e.g.,
canceling or moving a display or shelving unit, enlarging or
decreasing the viewing area of the shelving unit, and so forth) in
order to increase product turnover. In some embodiments, future
behavior of the inventory on the shelf and/or on the display may be
predicted by the system.
[0702] FIG. 36 provides a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary
system environment 3600 for capturing image data (e.g., sets of
images, video, information derived by analyzing images and/or
video, etc.) from various locations in a retail store 3601 to
determine product turnover data and associated performance
indicators.
[0703] Consistent with the disclosed embodiments, the system may
receive a first set of images (e.g., captured by any of the image
capture devices described above) depicting a first plurality of
products associated with selected product types (e.g., with a
single product type, with a product category) displayed on a first
shelving unit in a retail store. With reference to FIG. 36, a first
shelving unit 3603 located in retail store 3601 may contain a first
plurality of products 3607A. The system may analyze the first set
of images of first shelving unit 3603 to determine first product
turnover data associated with the first shelving unit 3603. For
example, over a plurality of images, at least one processor may
monitor events such as removal of a product from shelving unit 3603
(e.g., by a customer), restocking of the products on the shelves,
etc. Based on one or more of the monitored events, the at least one
processor may determine a rate at which the first plurality of
products are removed from shelving unit 3603 for purchase. For
example, the first set of images may be analyzed with a machine
learning model trained using training examples to determine first
product turnover data from a set of images. In another example, the
first set of images may be analyzed with an artificial neural
network configured to determine first product turnover data from a
set of images.
[0704] In some embodiments, the plurality of products may be
associated with a plurality of product types. For example, the
plurality product types may correspond to a certain category of
products. For example, in a grocery store, the category of products
may include soft drinks; in an electronics store, the category of
products may include cell phones; and so forth. In some cases, the
plurality of product types may include a generic category of
products (e.g., soft drinks, cereals, shampoos, produce, etc.). In
other cases, the plurality of product types being monitored may
correspond to a more particular category of products (e.g., bottled
soft drinks, canned soft drinks, fruit yogurt, skim milk, etc.) In
some embodiments, the plurality of products may be associated with
a single product type, such as 16 oz, bottles of Coca Cola Zero,
1-gallon containers of skim milk, cherry tomatoes, etc.
[0705] The system may also receive a second set of images depicting
a second plurality of products also associated with the selected
product types. For example, where the first set of images depict a
first plurality of products associated with a single product type,
the second set of images may depict a second plurality of products
also associated with the same single product type. In another
example, where the first set of images depict a first plurality of
products associated with a category of products, the second set of
images may depict a second plurality of products also associated
with the same category of products. This second set of images may
be acquired of the second plurality of products as those products
are displayed on a second shelving unit in the retail store
nonadjacent to the first shelving unit. For example, with reference
to FIG. 36, a second shelving unit 3605 located in retail store
3601 may contain a second plurality of products 3607B. In some
examples, first plurality of products 3607A and second plurality of
products 3607B both belong to and are associated with the same
category of products (e.g., cellular phones, soft drinks, etc.). In
some examples, first plurality of products 3607A and second
plurality of products 3607B both belong to and are associated with
a single product type (e.g., 6-pack of 16 oz. Coca-Cola Zero,
cucumbers, and so forth). The system may analyze the second set of
images of second shelving unit 3605 to determine second product
turnover data associated with the second shelving unit 3605 (e.g.,
in a manner similar to the process described above for determining
the product turnover data for the similar products located on
shelving unit 3603).
[0706] In some embodiments, the first shelving unit 3603 may be
located in a different area of the retail store 3601 than the
second shelving unit 3605. As shown in FIG. 36, the first shelving
unit 3603 may be located in the front portion of retail store 3601,
while second shelving unit 3605 may be located in the back corner
of retail store 3601.
[0707] In some embodiments, after receiving and analyzing the first
and second set of images and determining first product turnover and
second product turnover data, the system may automatically generate
a performance indicator associated with the selected product types
using the first product turnover data and the second product
turnover data. For example, the selected product types may be a
product category, and the first product turnover data and the
second product turnover data may be used to automatically generate
a performance indicator associated with the product category. In
another example, the selected product types may be a single product
type, and the first product turnover data and the second product
turnover data may be used to automatically generate a performance
indicator associated with the single product type. In some
embodiments, the performance indicator may account for a
contribution of each of the first shelving unit 3603 and the second
shelving unit 3605 to overall sales of the selected product types
(e.g., the single product type, the product category, etc.) by the
retail store 3601. For example, the performance indicator may
include information about the percentage of product sales for a
product category or a single product type from first shelving unit
3603 as compared to second shelving unit 3605. Such information may
enable the at least one processor to determine, among other things,
which of the locations is more effective in generating sales of the
selected product types.
[0708] In some embodiments, the processor may be further configured
to store records of the performance indicator associated with a
period of time and generate a report of the contribution of each of
the first shelving unit 3603 and the second shelving unit 3605 to
the overall sales of the single product type during the period of
time. For example, the performance indicator may be generated and
viewed for a single product type over various time periods, such as
a day, week, month, and the like, and additionally or
alternatively, may be viewed for certain operating hours of a day
for retail store 3601 over similar periods of time.
[0709] In some embodiments, the processor may be further configured
to determine, based on image analysis of the first and second set
of images, demographics of customers that picked up the single
product type. For example, various capture devices 125 that are
placed throughout retail store 3601 may be further configured to
capture face images to be included in the first and second set of
images. The system may then determine/estimate the age and gender
of customers 120 that picked up the single product type discussed
herein. Such a determination may be made, for example, by a machine
learning system trained to estimate the age of a person based on
facial features, hair color, or any other visible characteristics,
by an artificial neural network configured to estimate the age of a
person from face images, and so forth. The processor may further
generate a report showing the demographics of a first group of
customers that picked up the single product type from the first
shelving unit 3603 and the demographics of a second group of
customers that picked up the single product type from the second
shelving unit 3605. For example, age and/or gender distributions
may be determined for the first group of customers and the second
group of customers. Further, the distributions for the first group
of customers and the distribution for the second group of customers
may be compared. For example, a statistical distance (such as
f-divergence, Kullback-Leibler divergence, Hellinger distance,
Total variation distance, Renyi's divergence, Jensen-Shannon
divergence, Levy-Prokhorov metric, Bhattacharyya distance,
Kantorovich metric, Tsallis divergence, etc.) between the two
distributions may be computed. In some examples, the computed
statistical distance may be included in the generated report. In
some examples, the computed statistical distance may be compared
with a selected threshold, and one report may be generated in
response to a first result of the comparison, while a different
report may be generated in response to a different result of the
comparison. Similar analysis may be conducted by the system for
other demographic characteristics. In yet further embodiments, the
processor may also determine other types of products that customers
buy in addition to the selected product types (for example, in
addition to the single product type, in addition to the product
category, and so forth), and may generate a report listing types of
products that a first group of customers picked up and types of
products that a second group of customers picked up. For example,
the set of images may be analyzed to identify products in a cart
associated with a customer, and the other types of products that
the customer buy may be determined based on the products identified
in the customer's cart. In another example, a customer may be
tracked in the set of images as she moves through the retail store
(for example, using a visual tracking algorithm, using face
recognition, and so forth), products that the customer picks may be
identified (for example, as described above), and the other types
of products that the customer buy may be determined based on the
identified products that the customer picked. In yet another
example, face recognition algorithms may be used to identify the
customer and access a loyalty program information associated with
the customer, where the loyalty program information may include
information about the other types of products that the customer
purchases. This information may be used by the processor to
automatically generate a report correlating purchases of a
particular product or product type with factors such as product
location in a store, customer demographics, product types commonly
purchased together with the particular product or product type,
etc.
[0710] In some embodiments, the processor may receive performance
indicators from multiple retail stores and generate a report
showing an average contribution of each of the first shelving unit
3603 and the second shelving unit 3605 to the overall sales of the
single product type. For example, information from multiple retail
stores may be aggregated, analyzed, and/or compared, to obtain
various insights about the single product type. The multiple stores
from which information is analyzed may correspond to certain
parameters, such as: geographical areas, store chains, business
units, store categories, and the like. In other embodiments, the
system may identify and produce lists of performance indicators
from the multiple retail stores to identify those shelving unit
displays that are both effective and ineffective in producing
turnover the single product type and may provide recommendations to
the retail stores to enhance effectiveness of the shelving unit
displays.
[0711] In some embodiments, the processor may identify an existence
of promotions for a single product type in proximity to each of the
first shelving unit 3603 and the second shelving unit 3605, based
on image analysis of the first and second set of images. The
processor may generate a report showing promotional effectiveness
on the overall sales of the single product type at each of the
first shelving unit 3603 and the second shelving unit 3605 as a
result of a nearby promotion. For example, product kiosk 3611 may
contain promotional information and/or employee representatives of
retail store 3601 who are promoting a sale for the single product
type stored on first shelving unit 3603 and second shelving unit
3605. Such a promotion may also include more passive elements, such
as an endcap or product display featuring a particular product or
indicating a sale or other promotional aspect relative to the
particular product.
[0712] In some embodiments, the processor may use image data to
identify a plurality of sell events where customers picked up
products associated with the single product type. In such
embodiments, the performance indicator may be determined based on a
number of sell events associated with the first shelving unit 3603
and a number of sell events associated with the second shelving
unit 3605. For example, the system may track the movement of user
120 throughout the retail store 3601 (e.g., based on sequential
appearances of the user in a plurality of images captured at
different locations throughout the retail store, using face
recognition, and so forth). The processor may automatically detect
sell events based on detected actions (represented in a plurality
of captured images) associated with user 120 picking up a first
product type at either first shelving unit 3603 or second shelving
unit 3605, and eventually proceeding to the point-of-sale area
3609, where the first product type is purchased by the user 120.
Such detected actions may be determined to constitute sell
events.
[0713] In some embodiments, the processor may use image data to
identify a plurality of near-sell events where customers showed
interest in the single product type but did not pick up a product.
In such embodiments, the performance indicator may be determined
based on a number of identified near-sell events associated with
the first shelving unit 3603 and a number of identified near-sell
events associated with the second shelving unit 3605. For example,
the image data may be analyzed to identify near-sell events using a
machine learning model trained to detect near-sell events from a
sequence of images, using an artificial neural network configured
to detect near-sell events from a sequence of images, and so forth.
In some embodiments, the system may track the movement of user 120,
and determine a length of time a user 120 spends in front of either
first shelving unit 3603 or second shelving unit 3605. In some
examples, the performance indicator may be determined based on this
length of time, which may be automatically determined. For example,
the length of time may correspond to the amount of time that a user
faces the shelving unit, the amount of time that a user is in
proximity to the shelving unit, and so forth.
[0714] In some embodiments, the processor may use image data to
identify a return event where a customer placed a product on at
least one of the first shelving unit 3603 and the second shelving
unit 3605. In such embodiments, the performance indicator may be
determined based on a number of return events detected relative to
the first shelving unit 3603 and a number of return events detected
relative to the second shelving unit 3605. For example, the system
may track the movement of user 120, and may capture images of first
shelving unit 3603 and second shelving unit 3605 to determine when
a user 120 has picked up a product, but later returned the same
product to any shelving unit located in the retail store 3601,
including shelving unit 3603 and 3605 (among others), rather than
taking the product to point-of-sale area 3609 for purchase.
Further, properties of a return event may be identified by
analyzing the image data and used to determine the performance
indicator. Some examples of such properties may include the amount
of time that the customer picked up the product that was later
returned, the amount of time that the customer returned the
product, the elapsed time between picking up the product and
returning the product, the location from which the product was
picked up from (such as first shelving unit 3603, second shelving
unit 3605, etc.), the location to which the product was returned
to, whether the product was returned to the same location it was
picked up from, and so forth. In some examples, the product of the
return event may be associated with the single product type. In
other examples, the product of the return event may be associated
with a product type other than the single product type. In other
embodiments, the system may identify a user 120 picking up a
product from a single location, and replacing the product on a
shelf, while taking an alternative product of the same product
type. For example, with reference to FIG. 38, a user 120 may
initially take a product from first shelving unit 3803 but may
later return the product by placing it on second shelving unit 3805
and may take an alternative product of the same type from second
shelving unit 3805. Information about such events may be recorded
by the system and may be used to determine the performance
indicator.
[0715] FIG. 37 provides an additional diagrammatic illustration of
an exemplary system environment 3700 for capturing sets of image
data about retail store 3701 to determine product turnover data and
associated performance indicators. In some embodiments, the
processor may provide a recommendation to increase the overall
sales of a single product type by changing a display parameter
associated with at least one of the first shelving unit and the
second shelving unit. For example, with reference to FIG. 37, first
shelving unit 3703 may be of a different type than second shelving
unit 3705. As shown in FIG. 37, first shelving unit 3703 is a
promotional shelving square shelving unit, where the single product
type may be displayed on all sides of the first shelving unit 3703,
while second shelving unit 3705 may be a typical row shelving unit.
The at least one processor may determine sales metrics for a
product type (e.g., total sales, rate of sales, etc.) placed on
shelving unit 3703 and shelving unit 3705. Based on this
information, along with characteristics associated with shelving
unit 3703 and shelving unit 3705, the processor may generate a
report or other indicator of which shelving type and/or what
shelving characteristics may be most effective in encouraging sales
of a particular product. Such information may also be useful in
generating recommendations for increasing product sales, for
example by recognizing in captured images one or more shelving
characteristics (e.g., stocking density, shelf configuration, shelf
placement, shelf highest, shelf size, facings, color scheme, or any
other shelving/product characteristic) and making a recommendation
for changing at least one shelving/product characteristic to more
closely match other configurations known to be associated with
higher sales volumes. For example, the recommendation may be based
on statistics gathered from other retail stores, which may be used
to identify configurations associated with higher sales volume and
configurations associated with lower sales volumes.
[0716] In some embodiments, the display parameter associated with a
recommended change may also include at least one of a display
location, a display size, and adjacent product types. As shown in
FIG. 37, first shelving unit 3703 includes a central display
location in retail store 3701, while second shelving unit 3705 is
maintained at the back corner of the store. First shelving unit
3703 and second shelving unit 3705 may be of different display
sizes, of different heights, and may also contain different
adjacent product types. As described herein, the processor may
analyze the sales and flow of the single product type from first
shelving unit 3703 and second shelving unit 3705 to determine
preferred display parameters for the single product type within
retail store 3701.
[0717] FIG. 38 provides a diagrammatic illustration of different
types of shelving units 3803 and 3805 to assist in determining
product turnover data and associated performance indicators. In
some embodiments, the processor may analyze a first set of images
to recognize a first price listed on a label associated with the
first shelving unit 3803 and may analyze the second set of images
to recognize a second price listed on a label associated with the
second shelving unit 3805. The processor may further inform a user
when there is a price mismatch between the first price and the
second price. For example, if the products placed on first shelving
unit 3803 contain a sale price indicator, but the same products
placed on second shelving unit 3805 do not contain the sale price,
the user may be informed of the price mismatch. The prices may be
recognized based on labels on products located on shelving units
3803 and 3805 or may be recognized based on price tags displayed
directly on shelving units 3803 and 3805.
[0718] In some embodiments, the first shelving unit 3803 may have a
different display size than the second shelving unit 3805. As shown
in FIG. 38, first shelving unit 3803 is a square shelving unit that
can display the product on all sides of the shelving unit. Second
shelving unit 3805 is a traditional row-based shelving unit.
Further, the first shelving unit 3803 may be located adjacent to at
least one product type that is different from product types
adjacent to the second shelving unit 3805. For example, assuming
the single product type is soft drinks, first shelving unit 3803
may be located adjacent to snack foods (e.g., potato chips), while
shelving unit 3805 may be located adjacent to other beverages
(e.g., water, juice). The system may analyze the performance of
first shelving unit 3803 and second shelving unit 3805 by analyzing
the sales of the single product type, as well as the adjacent
product types, to determine a performance indicator. Such a
performance indicator may be automatically correlated with the size
of the shelving units or based on any other characteristics of the
shelving units or products placed on the shelving units.
[0719] In some embodiments, additional information about the
product flow may be determined by the system. For example, the
image sets may be analyzed to determine additional information
about product flow, such as: the direction the customer approached
the display or shelving unit (e.g., by using of a tracking
algorithm applied to a series of captures images captured at
different times); other products a customer possesses when deciding
to pick up a unit of a single product type (e.g., by detecting in
one or more captured images representations of products carried in
a hand of a customer or in a cart or basket associated with the
customer); whether the customer is part of a loyalty plan at the
retail store (i.e., based on facial recognition, or alternatively
by tracking the buyer throughout the store and comparing checkout
data), and the like.
[0720] FIG. 39 is an example of identification method 3900,
consistent with the disclosed embodiments. Method 3900 may, for
example, be executed by the at least one processor configured to
receive sets of captured images (e.g., image processing unit 130)
or any other appropriate hardware and/or software. Further, when
executing method 3900, the at least one processor may execute
instructions and any of the concepts described above within the
server 135 (which may include memory device 226 and database 140)
and/or over communications network 150.
[0721] In step 3901, the at least one processor may receive a first
set of images depicting a first plurality of products associated
with a single product type displayed on a first shelving unit in a
retail store. As described herein, image data may be captured by
stationary cameras, by automated devices that patrol the store, by
mobile devices of store employees, or by a combination these.
[0722] In step 3903, the processor may analyze the first set of
images to determine first product turnover data associated with the
first shelving unit. As described herein, the set of images may be
analyzed to detect a display shelf associated with the single
product type. The image data may be further analyzed to determine
at least one characteristic of a flow of products of the product
type associated with the shelf (e.g., a rate products are picked up
from the shelf by customers, or any other appropriate metric
indicative of product turnover). In some examples, the at least one
characteristic may comprise a pattern indicating a need to restock
the shelf.
[0723] In other embodiments, the set of images may be further
analyzed to determine other information, such as a facing area of
the shelf associated with the product type, a height of the shelf,
a location of the shelf, and so forth. In some cases, a
recommendation to increase or decrease the facing area of the shelf
associated with the product type may be provided, for example based
on the determined facing area and/or the at least one property of a
flow of products of the product type associated with the shelf. In
some cases, a recommendation to change at least one aspect of the
shelf (such as height, location, etc.) may be provided, for example
based on the determined properties of the shelf (such as height,
location, etc.) and/or the at least one property of a flow of
products of the product type associated with the shelf
[0724] In step 3905, the processor may receive a second set of
images depicting a second plurality of products also associated
with the single product type displayed on a second shelving unit in
the retail store nonadjacent to the first shelving unit. For
example, as shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, the first shelving units
(3603 and 3703) may be placed in a separate area of the retail
store that is not adjacent to the second shelving units (3605 and
3705).
[0725] In step 3907, the processor may analyze the second set of
images to determine second product turnover data associated with
the second shelving unit. In step 3909, the processor may
automatically generate a performance indicator associated with the
product type using the first product turnover data and the second
product turnover data.
[0726] In the retail world, an order from a virtual store is often
fulfilled from a physical retail store close to the location of the
customer. To fulfill the order, an employee of the retail store may
go through the retail store and collect products listed in the
order. The collected products may then be delivered to the
customer's home or be prepared for pick-up by the customer. One of
the challenges of online shopping is assuring that the goods
offered to the customer at the time of purchase match the actual
inventory available in the physical store. This challenge is
heightened for virtual stores that sell products with a high
turnover rate and limited shelf life, such as food products. Other
than inaccuracies in the inventory records of the physical store,
there is an inevitable gap between the time that customers order
the products and the time the store employees collect the products
listed in the orders. Communicating with customers while the
products are being collected is one example of a current solution
that retail stores use to resolve inconsistencies between the
customers' orders and the actual inventory in the store. The
present disclosure suggests a different solution that uses
deployment of stationary image capturing devices (e.g., capturing
devices 125) throughout the retail store to improve the online
shopping experience.
[0727] Reference is now made to FIG. 40A, which illustrates a
timeline associated with the exemplary solution of the present
disclosure. Initially, the suggested method includes receiving
image data 4000 to determine a current inventory in retail store
105, and receiving product supply information 4002 to determine a
predicted inventory. Thereafter, at the end of a first time period,
a customer 4004 of a virtual store may complete an online order.
The online order may be fulfilled by an employee 4006 of retail
store 105 during a second time period, and delivered to customer
4004 at the end of a third time period. The term "time period,"
includes, but is not limited to, an amount of time including a
single point in time or a duration (for example, range of time)
that extends from a first point in time to a second point in time.
In a first example embodiment, the suggested method may include
using image data 4000 and supply information 4002 to predict the
inventory during the second time period and present to customer
4004 the predicted inventory at the time of ordering the products
(e.g., during the first time period). In a second example
embodiment, the suggested method may include using image data 4000
to estimate the quality of products during the third time period
and presenting at the time of ordering the products (e.g., during
the first time period) to customer 4004 an indicator of the
estimated quality of the products.
[0728] The following demonstrates the two example embodiments.
Assume customer 4004 is considering buying avocados online. At the
time customer 4004 is ordering products from a virtual store (i.e.,
during the first time period), she wants to know if the store has
avocados. Independently from or in connection with the activities
of customer 4004, the virtual store may receive information
indicating that at the time the order of customer 4004 is expected
to be collected (i.e., during the second time period), retail store
105 is expected to have avocados in-stock but their quality is
estimated to be below average (e.g., based on a determined average
shelf time for in stock avocados and based on predetermined metrics
such as average time to ripeness, based on predicted future
restocking events, etc.). According to the first embodiment, the
virtual store may present to customer 4004 at the first time period
an indication that avocados are in-stock. According to the second
embodiment, the virtual store may present to customer 4004 at the
first time period an indication that the avocados' quality is
estimated to be below average. Armed with this knowledge, customer
4004 can complete her online shopping and decide whether to buy or
not to buy avocados at the virtual store.
[0729] FIG. 40B depicts an exemplary method 4010 in accordance with
the first example embodiment. Method 4010 is used for identifying
products and tracking inventory in retail store 105 based on
analysis of image data 4000. For purposes of illustration, in the
following description, reference is made to certain components of
system 100. It will be appreciated, however, that other
implementations are possible and that other components may be
utilized to implement the exemplary method. It will also be readily
appreciated that the illustrated method can be altered to modify
the order of steps, delete steps, or further include additional
steps.
[0730] At step 4012, a processing device (e.g., processing device
202) may receive image data 4000 associated with the at least one
product type in retail store 105. In one embodiment, image data
4000 may be acquired by any one of capturing devices 125
illustrated in FIG. 4A-4C. For example, image data 4000 may be
acquired by a plurality of image sensors mounted in retail store
105. Details of capturing devices mounted in retail store 105 and
configured to acquire image data 4000 are described with references
to FIGS. 5A-5C, for example. The acquired image data may include
images captured by one or more capturing devices 125 (e.g., raw
images, cropped images, video streams, and more) or processed data
derived from captured images (e.g., data about products identified
in captured images, data that may be used to construct a 3D image,
and more). In one embodiment, the processing device may
periodically receive image data that corresponds with the current
inventory of the products on the shelf. For example, the processing
device may receive image data 4000 at predetermined time intervals
(e.g., every minute, every 5 minutes, every 15 minutes, every 30
minutes, etc.). In another embodiment, the processing device may
receive image data 4000 in response to a detection of a certain
identified event. In one example, the processing device may receive
image data 4000 after an event, such as a detected lifting of a
product from the retail shelving unit. In another example, the
processing device may receive image data 4000 after receiving an
indication that customer 4004 has entered a website associated with
the virtual store, after customer 4004 has navigated to a
particular inventory item, searched for a particular product,
etc.
[0731] At step 4014, the processing device may analyze image data
4000 to estimate a current inventory of at least one product type
in retail store 105. Consistent with the present disclosure, the
current inventory of at least one product type in retail store 105
may include an estimation of the quantity of products from the at
least one product type, in one example, the estimated quantity may
be a number that corresponds to the number of products from the at
least one product type (e.g., 37 units of 12 fl oz bottles of
Coca-Cola Zero). In another example, the estimated quantity may be
an indicator of the existing quantity of the at least one product
type relative to the desired quantity of the at least one product
type as identified in the relevant planogram (e.g., 65% of
planogram inventory of 12 fl oz bottles of Coca-Cola Zero). In one
embodiment, the processing device may estimate the current
inventory of the at least one product type using a combination of
image data 4000 and data from one or more additional sensors
configured to detect a number of products placed on a store shelf.
For example, the one or more additional sensors may include weight
sensors, pressure sensors, touch sensors, light sensors, detection
elements as described in relation to FIGS. 8A, 8B and 9, and so
forth. Such sensors may be used alone or in combination with
capturing devices 125, for example, to determine the area of the
shelf covered by products. For example, the processing device may
analyze the data received from the detection elements attached to
store shelves as described above, alone or in combination with
images captured from the retail store, to estimate current
inventory of one or more product types. In another embodiment, the
processing device may analyze image data 4000 to estimate the
current inventory of one or more product types in retail store 105.
The one or more of product types may include, for example, a
plurality of product types, more than 50 product types, more than
100 product types, more than 250 product types, etc.
[0732] At step 4016, the processing device may receive product
supply information 4002 associated with the at least one product
type in retail store 105. Consistent with the present disclosure,
the term "product supply information" may refer to any information
indicative of future changes in the inventory of at least one
product in retail store 105. For example, product supply
information 4002 may include at least one of: a schedule of
arrivals of additional products (e.g., dates, times, updates from a
supplier, etc.), known orders of products (e.g., quantity of
scheduled products), inventory records (e.g., the quantity of
products that the retail store has in storage), checkout data
(e.g., the number of sold items of the at least one product type),
calendar data (e.g., holidays, sport games, etc.), historical
product turnover data (e.g., the number of turkeys sold per day
during the three weeks prior to Thanksgiving of last year), average
turnover (e.g., per hour in a day, per day in a week, per special
events). In one embodiment, product supply information 4002 may be
obtained from multiple sources (e.g., market research entity 110,
supplier 115, and multiple retail stores 105) and may include
different types of parameters. In another embodiment, product
supply information 4002 may be derived from image data 4000. For
example, product supply information 4002 may include analytics of
the turnover of the at least one product based on past image data
4000. In some embodiments, product supply information 4002 may be
stored digitally in memory device 226, stored in database 140,
obtained using network interface 206 through communication network
150, obtained from a user, and so forth.
[0733] At step 4018, the processing device may determine that an
online order from a virtual store made during a first time period
will be fulfilled by an employee of the retail store during a
second time period. Different retail stores may have different
policies regarding the times that online orders are being
collected. For example, in some retail stores, online orders may be
collected at predetermined times (e.g., between 11:00 AM to 2:00
PM), and in other retail stores, online orders may be collected
only by certain employees. Consistent with the present disclosure,
the processing device may access information about retail store 105
(e.g., store policies, employees' data, historical data, etc.). The
processing device may use the information to estimate when future
online orders will be collected. For example, the processing device
may determine the following times listed in table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Online order time Order fulfillment time
(the first period) (the second period) Max time difference
06:00-10:00 10:30-12:00 6:00 10:00-14:00 13:00-15:30 5:30
14:00-18:00 18:00-19:30 5:30 18.00-06:00 06:00-08:00 14:00
[0734] The times in the table may be updated periodically (e.g.,
once week, once a month, etc.) or updated in real-time or near
real-time. For example, a retail store with several employees that
called in sick may not be able to fulfill online orders according
to the original schedule, and the times in the table may be updated
in response to such call. In one embodiment, the processing device
may determine the second time period based on a schedule associated
with retail store 105. In one example, the schedule may be
associated with the orders' delivery schedule.
[0735] At step 4020, the processing device may determine, based on
the current inventory estimated by analyzing image data 4000 and
product supply information 4002, a predicted inventory of the at
least one product type during the second time period. Consistent
with the present disclosure, the predicted inventory may include a
quantity estimation of the at least one product type or just an
indication that the at least one product type is estimated to be
above a certain threshold (e.g., more than 25% of the number of
products identified in the planogram). In one embodiment, the
processing device may determine the turnover rate using product
supply information 4002 (e.g., past image data). Thereafter, the
processing device may calculate the predicted inventory of the at
least one product type during the second time period from the
current inventory and determined turnover rate. In another
embodiment, the processing device may train a regression model (for
example, an artificial neural network, a support vector regression,
a linear regression, etc.) to calculate the predicted inventory of
the at least one product type during the second time period. In
some examples, the predicted inventory may include an
in-stock/out-of-stock prediction, a predicted quantity of the at
least one product type during the second time period, a confidence
level, a range of possible future quantities, with corresponding
probabilities, and so forth.
[0736] In some embodiments, step 4020 may further include
determining, based on inputs as described above, probabilities that
the quantity of the at least one product type during the second
time period will be a certain amount or within a certain range of
amounts. For example, step 4020 may provide a predicted probability
that the quantity of the at least one product type during the
second time period will be at at least a selected amount. In
another example, step 4020 may provide a distribution of predicted
quantities (i.e., assigning probabilities to a number of different
quantities) of the at least one product type during the second time
period. Some examples of such distributions may include normal
distribution. Fisher's noncentral hypergeometric distribution,
Wallenius' noncentral hypergeometric distribution. Poisson
distribution, and so forth. In some examples, such probabilities
and/or distributions may be estimated using a machine learning
model trained to predict the probabilities and/or distributions
from the inputs described above. In other examples, such
probabilities and/or distributions may be estimated using an
artificial neural network configured to predict the probabilities
and/or distributions from the inputs described above.
[0737] At step 4022, the processing device may provide information
to the virtual store regarding the predicted inventory of the at
least one product type during the second time period. With
reference to table 1 above, listing the order fulfillment times for
retail store 105, table 2 below depicts an example of the
information that may be provided to the virtual store regarding the
predicted inventory of different products.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 List of products 10:30-12:00 13:00-15:30
18:00-19:30 06:00-08:00 Product A In-stock Low Out-of-stock
In-stock Product B In-stock In-stock Low Out-of-stock Product C
Out-of-stock Out-of-stock In-stock In-stock Product D In-stock
In-stock In-stock In-stock
[0738] Using the information provided, the virtual store can
present (during the first time period) an inventory indicator for
the at least one product, for example, assuming customer 4004 is
making an order at 14:15 for products A, B, C, and D. At 14:15
customer 4004 may see in the virtual store that product A is
out-of-stock, that product B may be out-of-stock, and that products
C and D are in-stock. The virtual store may show these results
based on the predicted inventory of these products between 18:00 to
19:30, which is the time store employee 4006 may be expected to
fulfill the order of customer 4004 (i.e., the second time period).
In this case, the predicted inventory may be based on the
calculated turnover rate of products A, B, and D and the shipment
schedule of product C. Additionally or alternatively to steps 4016,
4018, 4020 and 4022, the virtual store may show current inventory
of at least one product type in the retail store to a user of the
virtual store, such as the current inventory information estimated
by step 4014 by analyzing images of products in the retail store
and/or by analyzing sensor readings from detection elements
attached to store shelves as described above with relation to
methods 1000 and 1050.
[0739] According to one embodiment, the processing device may
determine at least two predicted inventories of a group of product
types, where each predicted inventory may be associated with a
different second time period. For example, some retail stores may
offer a VIP service and a regular service. In this example, a VIP
online order from a virtual store made during a first time period
may be fulfilled by an employee of the retail store during a first
second-time-period. A regular online order from the virtual store
made during the first time period may be fulfilled by an employee
of the retail store during a second second-time-period. The second
second-time-period may be later than the first second-time-period.
With reference to the example above, assume customer 4004 is making
an order at 14:15 for products A, B, C, and D and selects the VIP
service. At 14:15 customer 4004 may see in the virtual store that
product A may be out-of-stock, that product B is in-stock, that
product C is out-of-stock, and that product D is in-stock. The
virtual store may show these results based on the predicted
inventory of these products within an hour from the time customer
4004 is making the VIP order. Consistent with this embodiment, the
virtual store may receive a selection of service types from
customer 4004 and present the predicted inventory of the products
based on the selected service.
[0740] In some embodiments, step 4020 may include determining
probabilities that the quantity of the at least one product type
during the second time period will be a certain amount or within a
certain range of amounts, as described above. For example, the
system may provide, e.g., to the virtual store a distribution of
predicted quantities of the at least one product type during the
second time period. In some embodiments, the virtual store may show
an indicator based on the probabilities or the distribution of
predicted quantities provided by step 4020. For example, the
indicator may comprise a function of the distribution, such as
mean, median, standard deviation, variance, coefficient of
variation, coefficient of dispersion, Fano factor, any function of
the above. In another example, the distribution may be a Fisher's
noncentral hypergeometric distribution, and the indicator may
comprise a parameter of the Fisher's noncentral hypergeometric
distribution (such as the odds ratio).
[0741] FIG. 41 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a memory 4100
containing software modules consistent with the present disclosure.
In particular, as shown, memory 4100 may include a retail store
communication module 4102, a current inventory determination module
4104, a predicted inventory determination module 4106, a virtual
store communication module 4108, an employee guiding module 4110, a
database access module 4112, and a database 4114. Modules 4102,
4104, 4106, 4108, 4110, and 4112 may contain software instructions
for execution by at least one processor (e.g., processing device
202), included with image processing unit 130. Retail store
communication module 4102, current inventory determination module
4104, predicted inventory determination module 4106, virtual store
communication module 4108, employee guiding module 4110, database
access module 4112, and database 4114 may cooperate to perform
multiple operations. For example, retail store communication module
4102 may receive image data 4000 from a plurality of image
capturing devices 125, current inventory determination module 4104
may use the received image data 4000 to determine the current
inventory of at least one product, predicted inventory
determination module 4106 may use information (e.g., product supply
information 4002) stored in database 4114 to determine the turnover
rate of the at least one product, virtual store communication
module 4108 may provide information to virtual store 4116 regarding
the predicted inventory of the at least one product type, and
employee guiding module 4110 may generate a path for employee 4006
for collecting the products listed in the online order.
[0742] In some embodiments, memory 4100 may be included in, for
example, memory 226. Alternatively, memory 4100) may be stored in
an external database or an external storage communicatively coupled
with server 135, such as one or more databases or memories
accessible over network 150. Further, in other embodiments, the
components of memory 4100 may be distributed in more than one
server and more than one memory device.
[0743] In some embodiments, retail store communication module 4102
may receive information associated with retail store 105. For
example, retail store communication module 4102 may receive image
data 4000 and/or information derived by analyzing image data 4000
from a plurality of image sensors associated with retail store 105,
receive product supply information 4002 associated with at least
one product type in retail store 105, and receive data from one or
more additional sensors configured to detect a number of products
placed on a store shelf. In one embodiment, retail store
communication module 4102 may receive product supply information
4002 from a memory device associated with a retail store. For
example, the memory device may be associated with central
communication device 630 located in retail store 105. In another
embodiment, retail store communication module 4102 may receive
product supply information 4002 from at least one memory device
associated with multiple retail stores 105. For example, the at
least one memory device may be associated with market research
entity 110 or supplier 115. Retail store communication module 4102
may collect the information from the different entities and use
database access module 4112 to store at least some of the received
information in database 4114.
[0744] In some embodiments, current inventory determination module
4104 may process the information collected by retail store
communication module 4102. In one embodiment, the current inventory
determination module 4104 may estimate the current inventory of at
least one product type solely based on image data received from
capturing device 125. In another embodiment, the current inventory
determination module 4104 may estimate the current inventory of at
least one product type using a combination of image data and data
from one or more additional sensors configured to detect a number
of products placed on a store shelf (e.g., pressure sensitive pads,
light detectors configured to be placed on shelves, etc.). For
example, the current inventory determination module 4104 may
analyze the data received from the detection elements attached to
store shelves as described above, alone or in combination with
images captured from the retail store, to estimate current
inventory of the at least one product type. In some cases,
determining the current inventory of at least one product type may
require aggregating data from two or more locations in retail store
105. For example, in one embodiment, current inventory
determination module 4104 may monitor the inventory of at least one
product type displayed on a first shelving unit and on a second
shelving unit. The processing device may predict the current
inventory of at least one product type in the retail store based on
aggregated data from the first shelving unit and the second
shelving unit. For example, the first shelving unit may be located
in a specific aisle and the second shelving unit may be located in
a display next to the cashier.
[0745] In some embodiments, predicted inventory determination
module 4106 may determine a predicted inventory of the at least one
product type at a future time. Consistent with some embodiments of
the disclosure, predicted inventory determination module 4106 may
determine the predicted inventory before customer 4004 makes her
order (i.e., the determination is made before the first time
period). In one embodiment, predicted inventory determination
module 4106 may determine the predicted inventory at different
times (i.e., a plurality of second time periods) to match the time
period customer 4004 makes her order (i.e., the first time period).
In another embodiment, predicted inventory determination module
4106 may determine that an online order of customer 4004 from
virtual store 4116 made during a first time period will be
fulfilled by employee 4006 of retail store 105 during a second time
period. In some cases, the first and the second time periods may
overlap. In other cases, the first and the second time periods may
not overlap. For example, the second time period may be at least 15
minutes after the first time period, the second time period may be
at least 45 minutes after the first time period, the second time
period may be at least 1.5 hours after the first time period, the
second time period may be at least 3 hours after the first time
period, the second time period may be less than 5 hours after the
first time period, the second time period may be less than 2 hours
after the first time period, the second time period may be between
5 minutes to 150 minutes after the first time period. Additionally,
in one embodiment, predicted inventory determination module 4106
may use product supply information 4002 from retail store 105 to
determine at least one rate of product turnover, and to determine
the predicted inventory for different products in retail store 105
using the at least one rate of product turnover. In another
embodiment, predicted inventory determination module 4106 may use a
regression model on data obtained from multiple retail stores 105
to determine the predicted inventory. Predicted inventory
determination module 4106 may also calculate a confidence level
associated with the predicted inventory and may initiate a first
automated action (e.g., updating virtual store 4116, adjust a
price, etc.) when the confidence level is above a threshold.
Predicted inventory determination module 4106 may also initiate a
second automated action (e.g., sending a store employee to
investigate, initiate additional data capturing, etc.) when the
confidence level is below a threshold.
[0746] In other embodiments, predicted inventory determination
module 4106 may determine a predicted quality of a product type at
a third time period when the products of the online order are
estimated to be delivered to customer 4004 (or at a second time
period when the certain product is estimated to be collected from
retail store 105). For example, predicted inventory determination
module 4106 may obtain product quality information associated with
the product type and may determine the quality of the product type
during the third time period (or at the second time period) based
on the product quality information, for example using a regression
model on the product quality information (and possibly additional
inputs described below) to predict the quality of the product type
during the third time period (or at the second time period). In one
embodiment, the product quality information may be determined by
analyzing image data 4000 (e.g., via image analysis techniques
allowing for an assessment of product freshness, current status,
etc.). In another embodiment, the product quality information may
be determined from at least one of: textual information derived
from image data 4000, visual appearance of products from the at
least one product type, a duration of products from the product
type on a shelf, turnover of products from the product type on the
shelf, and storage requirements associated with the at least one
product type. In some embodiments, image analysis techniques (such
as artificial neural networks, convolutional neural networks,
machine learning models, image regression models, etc.) may be used
on image data 4000 to predict the quality of the product type
during the third time period (or at the second time period).
Consistent with the present disclosure, predicted inventory
determination module 4106 may initiate at least one action when the
predicted quality of the at least one product is below a threshold.
In one example, when the predicted quality of the product type is
below the threshold, the at least one processor may prevent virtual
store 4116 from selling the at least one product type. In another
example, when the predicted quality of the product type is below
the threshold, the at least one processor may cause virtual store
4116 to adjust a price of the product type based on the predicted
quality. In another example, when the predicted quality of the
product type is below the threshold, the at least one processor may
cause virtual store 4116 to present a quality indicator when
offering the at least one product type. FIGS. 42A and 42B include
user interfaces of virtual store 4116 that illustrate the different
scenarios.
[0747] In some embodiments, virtual store communication module 4108
may communicate with virtual store 4116. Consistent with the
present disclosure, virtual store communication module 4108 may
receive queries from virtual store 4116 about specific products
and/or a predicted inventory at specific times. Virtual store
communication module 4108 may also provide information to virtual
store 4116 about the inventory of retail store 105 and the quality
of products in retail store 105. For example, virtual store
communication module 4108 may provide information to virtual store
4116 regarding the predicted inventory of the at least one product
type during the second time period. The provided information may
enable virtual store 4116 to present during the first time period
an inventory indicator and/or a quality indicator for the at least
one product to customer 4004. In one embodiment, virtual store
communication module 4108 may provide information to virtual store
4116 indicative of the predicted quality of the certain product
type at a third time period when the certain product is estimated
to be delivered to customer 4004 (or at a second time period when
the certain product is estimated to be collected from retail store
105). In another embodiment, virtual store communication module
4108 may provide information to virtual store 4116 indicative of
the inventory of the certain product type at a second time period
when the certain product is estimated to be collected by employee
4006. In one example, when predicted inventory determination module
4106 determines that a certain product type will be available
during the second time period, virtual store communication module
4108 may provide information to virtual store 4116 indicating that
the at least one product type can be offered for sale. In another
example, when predicted inventory determination module 4106
determines that a certain product type will be out of stock during
the second time period, virtual store communication module 4108 may
provide information to virtual store 4116 indicating that the at
least one product type cannot be offered for sale. In one
embodiment, in case predicted inventory determination module 4106
determines that a certain product type will be out of stock during
the second time period, virtual store communication module 4108 may
provide information to virtual store 4116 that includes an
estimation indicating an expected time when the certain product
type will be available for online orders.
[0748] In some embodiments, employee guiding module 4110 may
receive the online order and generate a recommended path for
collecting the items in the online order. In one embodiment, the
recommended path may be provided to employee 4006, for example, as
a series of navigation instructions, as a series of directions to
move (for example, in a form of an arrow, in a form of an audible
navigation guidance, in a form of a textual navigation guidance,
etc.), as a visual indication displayed in an augmented reality
system (for example, directing the store employee to a particular
shelf or location identifying the product to pick up for inclusion
in the online order), and so forth. Consistent with the present
disclosure, the path for collecting the items in the online order
may be based on image data indicative of the current inventory in
retail store 105. For example, when products from the at least one
product type are normally included on a first and a second shelving
unit, the at least one processor may guide the employee to the
second shelving unit when the at least one product type is
predicted to be (or is currently) out-of-stock on the first
shelving unit. Additionally, the at least one processor may guide
the employee to the second shelving unit when the quality of
products from the at least one product type is predicted to be (or
is currently) better than the quality of products found on the
first shelving unit.
[0749] In some embodiments, database access module 4112 may
cooperate with database 4114 to retrieve product supply
information. In some embodiments, database 4114 may include
separate databases, including, for example, a vector database,
raster database, tile database, viewport database, and/or a user
input database, configured to store data. The data stored in
database 4114 may be received from modules 4102-4112, server 135,
from any communication device associated with retail stores 105,
market research entity 110, suppliers 115, and users 120. Moreover,
the data stored in database 4114 may be provided as input using
data entry, data transfer, or data uploading. In one embodiment,
the data stored in database 4114 may include product supply
information, for example, a schedule of arrivals of additional
products, inventory records, checkout data, calendar data, and
historical product turnover data.
[0750] Modules 4102-4112 may be implemented in software, hardware,
firmware, a mix of any of those, or the like. For example, if the
modules are implemented in software, the modules may be stored in a
server (e.g., server 135) or distributed over a plurality of
servers. In some embodiments, any one or more of modules 4102-4112
and data associated with database 4114 may be stored in database
140 and/or located on server 135, which may include one or more
processing devices. Processing devices of server 135 may be
configured to execute the instructions of modules 4102-4112. In
some embodiments, aspects of modules 4102-4112 may include
software, hardware, or firmware instructions (or a combination
thereof) executable by one or more processors, alone, or in various
combinations with each other. For example, modules 4102-4112 may be
configured to interact with each other and/or other modules of
server 135 to perform functions consistent with disclosed
embodiments.
[0751] FIG. 42A depicts a flowchart of an example process 4200
executed by a processing device of system 100 (e.g., processing
device 202) for providing information to virtual store 4116. The
provided information may relate to the predicted inventory of at
least one product type during a second time period, such that
virtual store 4116 can present to customer 4004 (during a first
time period) an inventory indicator for the at least one product
type. FIG. 42A also includes an example GUI 4220 showing different
examples of inventory indicators (e.g., first inventory indicator
4222, second inventory indicator 4224, third inventory indicator
4226, and fourth inventory indicator 4228) that virtual store 4116
may output in response to the provided information.
[0752] Example process 4200 begins when the processing device
receives image data 4000 from a plurality of image sensors mounted
in a retail store (block 4202). Thereafter, the processing device
may analyze image data 4000 to estimate a current inventory of a
product type in retail store 105 (block 4204) and determine if the
product type is available in the current inventory (decision block
4206). When the product type is currently in-stock, the processing
device may determine if the product type is predicted to be
available during a second time period in which employee 4006
expects to collect the items in the online order of customer 4004
(decision block 4208). When the product type is currently available
and also is expected to be available during the second time period,
the processing device may provide virtual store 4116 information
that may cause virtual store 4116 to issue a first inventory
indicator 4222 (block 4212). When the product type is currently
available but expected to be out-of-stock during the second time
period, the processing device may provide virtual store 4116
information that may cause virtual store 4116 to issue a second
inventory indicator 4224 (block 4214). When the product type is
currently out-of-stock, the processing device may still determine
if the product type is predicted to be available during the second
time period (decision block 4210). When the product type is
currently out-of-stock but expected to be available during the
second time period, the processing device may provide virtual store
4116 information that may cause virtual store 4116 to issue a third
inventory indicator 4226 (block 4216). When the product type is
currently out-of-stock and expected to remain out-of-stock during
the second time period, the processing device may provide virtual
store 4116 information that may cause virtual store 4116 to issue a
fourth inventory indicator 4228 (block 4218).
[0753] GUI 4220 may be similar to GUI 1150 illustrated in FIG. 1E.
It also may include first display area 1152 for showing the near
real-time display and second display area 1154 for showing a
product list including product types identified in the near
real-time display. In the illustrated example, customer 4004 is
virtually located at the produce section of retail store 105.
Consistent with the present disclosure, virtual store 4116 may
present one or more inventory indicators based on information
received from a processing device of system 100 (e.g., processing
device 202). The term "inventory indicator" means a displayed item
or representation of information about the availability of products
in retail store 105. The inventory indicator may include, for
example, text, icons, graphics, or a combination thereof. In one
embodiment, the inventory indicator may be overlaid on the acquired
image data or in proximity to an identifier of the product (e.g.,
text, an image, an icon, etc.). In some embodiments, the inventory
indicators in first display area 1152 may be partially transparent
to avoid obscuring areas of interest in image data 4000. Further,
the inventory indicators may include an indication that more
information may be available upon interaction with GUI 4220, for
example, using a clickable link.
[0754] As shown, first inventory indicator 4222 may include a text
stating "Available" in second display area 1154 and a check mark in
first display area 1152. Second inventory indicator 4224 may
include a text stating "Available in the VIP service" in second
display area 1154 and a half check mark in first display area 1152.
Third inventory indicator 4226 may include text stating "Scheduled
to arrive soon" in second display area 1154 and a check mark in
first display area 1152. Fourth inventory indicator 4228 may
include text stating "Will be available tomorrow" in second display
area 1154 and an X mark in first display area 1152. Consistent with
the present disclosure, the processing device may estimate, based
on product supply information 4002, when the at least one product
type will be available for online orders and provide information to
virtual store 4116 such that virtual store 4116 can present an
estimation when the at least one product type will be available for
online orders (for example, fourth inventory indicator 4228).
[0755] Consistent with the present disclosure, the received image
data may be analyzed to identify the condition and quality of fresh
products, and the identified condition and quality may be used to
provide information to a user. In some examples, the identified
condition may include a spoiled condition. In some embodiments,
image data 4000 may be analyzed to determine the duration that the
fresh products stay on the store shelf. In some cases, a time
threshold may be selected (for example, based on a type of the
fresh product the condition of the fresh product, etc.), and a
notification may be provided to virtual store 4116 when the fresh
products stay on the shelf for a duration longer than the selected
time threshold. In some cases, statistics about the duration that
the products stay on the store shelf may be generated and provided
to an employee of the retail store (e.g., employee 4006) or to an
online customer of a virtual store (e.g., customer 4004). In one
embodiment, image data 4000 may be analyzed to determine a quantity
associated with customers returning fresh products to the pile or
product grouping (e.g., after picking the fresh products from the
pile). In this embodiment, the ratio of products returned to the
pile of the products picked may be determined to estimate the
quality of the at least one product. The ratio of products returned
to the pile or product grouping may be determined, based on a type
of product, shelf, time of day, condition of the fresh products,
and so forth. In yet another example, the number of products
returned to the pile or product grouping may be calculated for
selected time duration. In some examples, a notification (e.g., a
quality indicator) may be provided to employee 4006 or customer
4004 when the number and/or ratio of products returned to the pile
or product grouping exceed a selected threshold. For example, the
notification to a store employee may include a suggestion to remove
some of the fresh products that are of poor condition from the
pile.
[0756] FIG. 42B depicts a flowchart of an example process 4250
executed by a processing device of system 100 (e.g., processing
device 202) for providing information to virtual store 4116
regarding the quality of at least one product type, such that
virtual store 4116 can present customer 4004 a quality indicator
for the at least one product type during the first time period.
FIG. 42B also includes an example GUI 4270 showing examples of
quality indicators (e.g., first quality indicator 4272, second
quality indicator 4274, third quality indicator 4276, and fourth
quality indicator 4278) that virtual store 4116 may output in
response to the received information.
[0757] Example process 4250 begins when the processing device
obtains product quality information associated with the at least
one product type (block 4252). Thereafter, the processing device
may determine the quality of products from the at least one product
type based on the product quality information (block 4254).
Consistent with the present disclosure, the product quality
information may be determined by analyzing image data 4000. For
example, the product quality information may be determined from at
least one of: textual information derived from image data 4000,
visual appearance of products from the at least one product type, a
duration of products from the at least one product type on a shelf,
turnover of products from the at least one product type on the
shelf, and storage requirements associated with the at least one
product type. In one embodiment, the determined quality of products
from the at least one product type reflects the current quality of
products from the at least one product type. In another embodiment,
the determined quality of the at least one product type reflects
the predicted quality of products from the at least one product at
the third time period when the products of the online order are
estimated to be delivered to customer 4004. In one example, the
third period of time may correspond to or be the same as the second
period of time (e.g., such as in the case of picking up the online
order directly from retail store 105).
[0758] Example process 4250 continues when the processing device
determines if the quality of products from the at least one product
type is below a threshold (decision block 4256). For example, the
determination may include whether the average quality of products
from the at least one product type is below the threshold. When the
quality of products from the at least one product type is above a
threshold, processing device may initiate an action of providing
information to virtual store 4116 regarding the quality of products
from at least one product type (block 4258). The provided
information may allow virtual store 4116 to present customer 4004 a
first quality indicator 4272 informing that products from the at
least one product type are of a high quality, fresh quality, etc.
If the quality of products from the at least one product is below a
threshold, processing device may initiate one of several actions.
In one embodiment, processing device may initiate an action of
causing virtual store to 4116 to adjust a price of the at least one
product type (block 4260). For example, processing device may
provide information to virtual store 4116 regarding the quality of
at least one product type such that virtual store 4116 can present
customer 4004 a second quality indicator 4274 indicative of price
adjustment due to the quality of products from at least one product
type. In another embodiment, processing device may initiate an
action to prevent virtual store 4116 from selling the at least one
product type (block 4262). For example, processing device may
provide information to virtual store 4116 regarding the quality of
at least one product type such that virtual store 4116 can present
customer 4004 a third quality indicator 4276 indicating that the at
least one product type is unavailable due to low quality of at
least one product type. In another embodiment, processing device
may initiate an action of informing customer 4004 about the actual
condition of products from the at least one product type (block
4264). For example, processing device may provide image data of the
at least one product type to virtual store 4116 such that virtual
store 4116 can present customer 4004 a fourth quality indicator
4278 when offering the at least one product type. Fourth quality
indicator 4278 may be a near real-time image of the at least one
product type.
[0759] GUI 4270 is another GUI example of virtual store 4116. GUI
4270 shows two lines of product types. The first line includes
product types and their associated inventory indicators as
discussed above with reference to FIG. 42A. The second line
includes additional product types and their associated quality
indicators. The term "quality indicator" means a displayed item or
representation of information about the quality of products in
retail store 105. Consistent with the present disclosure, when the
predicted quality of products from the at least one product type is
below the threshold, the processing device may use the estimated
current inventory of retail store 105 to select at least one
alternative product. Thereafter, the processing device may cause
virtual store 4116 to present information about the selected at
least one alternative product in proximity to a descriptor of the
at least one product type. In one embodiment, the processing device
may obtain product quality information associated with a plurality
of alternative products and use the product quality information
associated with the plurality of alternative products to select the
at least one alternative product of the plurality of alternative
products. An example of the presentation of the at least one
alternative product is shown in next to third quality indicator
4276. In one embodiment, the product quality information associated
with the plurality of alternative products may be determined by
analyzing image data 4000. In addition, the product quality
information may be used to determine a predicted quality of the
plurality of alternative products at a third time period when the
products of the online order are estimated be delivered to customer
4004.
[0760] In one embodiment, a method and system are disclosed for
identifying products and monitoring planogram compliance using
analysis of image data is provided. As used in the present
disclosure, the term "planogram" may refer to any kind of specified
diagram, model, or visual representation of a store's products on a
display or shelving unit. In many situations, it may be desirable
for a retail store to track or otherwise monitor its product
placement as compared to one or more planograms in order to track
planogram compliance. There may also be an interest in determining
and tracking effects of planogram compliance or non-compliance on
product sales. By analyzing various characteristics of planogram
compliance, described in greater detail below, and comparing
planogram compliance characteristics to checkout data (e.g.,
product sales data at one or more retail stores), the systems and
methods described herein may estimate the impact of planogram
compliance. The systems and methods may also identify actions that
can be taken relative to planogram compliance to potentially
improve sales.
[0761] Planogram compliance may be desirable for many reasons. In
some cases, for example, a chain of retail stores may desire to
have consistent product placement across a variety of stores and
geographic locations in order to maintain a consistent look and
feel of the retail space. Such a consistent look and feel may be
affected by planogram compliance. In some cases, planograms
represent contractual obligations of the retail store or the retail
chain (for example, to suppliers 115), and non-compliance may
represent a breach of the contractual obligations. Additionally,
some planograms may be developed based on indicators suggesting
such planograms may be more effective at promoting sales relative
to other planograms or products arrangements. In such cases,
planogram compliance may take advantage of the sales benefits the
designed planogram is intended to have. On the other hand,
non-compliance with such planograms may disrupt the intended sales
benefits of the designed planogram.
[0762] In some cases, two or more different planograms may be
compared and/or analyzed to determine or estimate their effects on
product sales. For example, different planogram configurations for
a common product may be evaluated at different locations with a
retail store or at different retail stores to determine which
configurations may bolster sales volume. Additionally or
alternatively, product location may be evaluated separate from
planogram variation. For example, similar planograms may be
evaluated at different locations within a store or at different
locations in different stores in order to determine which locations
may bolster sales volume. The provided systems and methods
described may compare planogram compliance across one or more
retail stores.
[0763] Additionally, the systems and methods may monitor planogram
compliance and take one or more actions in response to product
displays determined to be out of compliance with relevant
planograms. For example, the disclosed system may track when a
planogram at a retail store goes out of compliance and may provide
alerts and recommendations to a store administrator or employee of
the store to correct the non-compliant product placement.
[0764] The disclosed system may access at least one planogram
(e.g., in a database stored in a memory, whether locally saved or
available via a network connection, etc.) describing a desired
placement of a plurality of product types on shelves of a plurality
of retail stores. As shown in FIG. 43, which provides a
diagrammatic representation of a planogram-based product
arrangement system useful in comparing planogram compliance to
checkout data across multiple retail locations, a planogram 4301
describing desired placement of a plurality of products on a shelf
may be provided. Planogram 4301 may specify product
placement/arrangement for a plurality of different products (e.g.,
where different products are provided by a common manufacturer or
supplier) or may specify product placement/arrangement for a single
product. Planogram 4301 may also specify a placement/arrangement of
one or more products relative to one or more different products.
For example, planogram 4301 may specify which products are to
appear at eye level, which product is to appear on a higher shelf
relative to one or more other products, which product is to be
located nearer to an end of a shelf as compared to one or more
other products, minimal quantity of products of a selected product
type to be on a shelf at selected times or at all times, minimal
number of facings of a selected product type at selected times or
at all times, spacing (amount of space between products) of
products of a selected product type, etc. Planogram 4301 may depict
and describe a desired product placement location for certain
retail stores, such as retail stores 4303A, 4303B, and 4303C.
[0765] In operation, the system may receive image data 4305A,
4305B, and 4305C from the plurality of retail stores 4303A, 4303B,
and 4303C, and may analyze the image data 4305A, 4305B, and 4305C
to determine an actual placement of a plurality of product types on
shelves of the plurality of retail stores 4303A, 4303B, and 4303C.
At least one processor may analyze the captured images showing
actual product placement at the various retail stores (as described
above) and may compare the actual product placements to one or more
planograms to determine planogram compliance. For example, the at
least one processor may compare planogram 4301 to actual product
placements as represented by the captured image data 4305A, 4305B,
and 4305C from retail stores 4303A, 4303B, and 4303C,
respectively.
[0766] The at least one processor may determine at least one
characteristic of planogram compliance based on detected
differences between the at least one planogram 4301 and the actual
placement of the plurality of product types on the shelves of the
plurality of retail stores 4303A, 4303B, and 4303C. Any suitable
characteristic of planogram compliance may be employed to determine
a degree of compliance. Such characteristics or planogram
compliance subfactors may include, for example, a total number of
products, a number of products of certain product types, product
packing density, product rotational orientation, product facing,
product alignment, product stacking arrangement, product shelf
location, location of a product within a particular retail
environment (e.g., near the front of a store or back of a store,
etc.), store aisle number, height of a shelf from a store floor, or
any other characteristic. Planogram compliance may be determined as
a binary quantity (e.g., in compliance or not in compliance) or may
be quantified in terms of degree of compliance (e.g., as a
percentage of satisfied elements of an ideal planogram, an amount
of time of compliance versus an amount of time of non-compliance
with respect to the entire planogram or with respect to one or more
sub-factors, a calculated compliance factor, a compliance quality
score, etc.). A degree of compliance may be determined based on a
set of products compared to a planogram as a whole. Alternatively,
planogram compliance may be determined and/or expressed relative to
any one or more relevant planogram compliance subfactors (e.g., as
listed above).
[0767] Planogram compliance metrics may be correlated with sales
data to determine an effect of planogram compliance on sales or to
identify potential product placement recommendations for
potentially increasing sales. For example, after automatically
determining or quantifying planogram compliance of one or more
products, the system may receive checkout data 4307A, 4307B, and
4307C from a plurality of retail stores 4303A, 4303B, and 4303C
reflecting sales of at least one product type from a plurality of
product types. Based on the determined at least one characteristic
of planogram compliance and based on the received checkout data
4307A, 4307B, and 4307C, the system may estimate an impact of the
at least one characteristic of planogram compliance on the sales of
at least one product type. As example, the system may determine by
analyzing the image data 4305A, and comparing the image data to
planogram 4301, whether retail store 4303A is out of compliance
with a planogram 4301 specifying a product arrangement for 16 oz
bottles of Coca Cola Zero and, if so, a degree of compliance with
the planogram. Additionally, if a store is determined to be out of
compliance with respect to a particular planogram, the at least one
processor may determine and store the specific aspects of
non-compliance (e.g., a lack of a specified number of product units
on a shelf or display, a non-compliant product density, etc.). The
system may then analyze checkout data 4307A from retail store 4303A
to determine the impact of the detected non-compliance. Such an
impact may be determined, for example, by comparing checkout data
4307A from retail store 4303A to checkout data 4307B from retail
store 4303B, where retail store 4303B is in compliance with
planogram 4301 or where retail store 4303B is more compliant with
planogram 4301 than store 4303A. In some cases (e.g., where there
may be a single aspect of non-compliance with a planogram or a
small number of non-compliant aspects), the at least one processor
may correlate the non-compliant aspects with sales information to
determine a potential impact on sales of one or more particular
non-compliance aspects.
[0768] Based on the estimated impact of planogram non-compliance
(e.g., as a whole or relative to any particular characteristic of
planogram non-compliance), the at least one processor of the system
may identify an action, associated with the at least one
characteristic of planogram compliance, for potentially increasing
future sales of the at least one product type. For example, the
system may determine that retail store 4303A is out of compliance
relative to a planogram for 32 oz Pantene shampoo because the
Pantene product display includes one or more bottles rotated such
that their labels are at least partially obscured. The system may
further determine that this non-compliance has negatively impacted
sales of Pantene at store 4303A. Or, the system may already
understand (e.g., based on previously correlated aspects of
non-compliance with negative sale impacts) that the detected
non-compliant display of Pantene shampoo is likely reducing sales
of Pantene at store 4303A. In either case, the at least one
processor may recommend an action to correct the product placement.
For example, the processor may generate a recommendation that the
Pantene bottles be aligned such that their labels face outward
according to a relevant planogram. The generated recommendation may
be automatically forwarded to retail store 4303A such that store
employees can rearrange the products detected to be not in
compliance with relevant planograms. For example, the generated
recommendations may be provided in a similar way to what described
above in relation to FIGS. 33-35.
[0769] In addition to providing the non-compliance information
and/or product arrangement recommendations to an affected retail
store, the at least one processor of the system may also provide
the non-compliance information and/or the recommended actions to
one or more other types of entity. In some embodiments, such
entities may include a manufacturer or supplier of at least one
product determined to be non-compliant with a relevant planogram.
The information provided to such manufacturers or suppliers may
include a recommendation for execution of at least one product
rearrangement action in at least one retail store. In other cases,
the system may provide alerts and product rearrangement
recommendations to a manager of a retail store selling the at least
one non-compliant product. Such alerts or recommendations may
include any suitable format for conveying the non-compliance
information to a particular entity. In some cases, the provided
information may include at least one of: an image depicting an
example of product/planogram non-compliance, a video depicting an
example of product-planogram non-compliance, details relating to an
employee determined to as responsible for the product-planogram
non-compliance, details of a retail store associated with the
planogram non-compliance, location within a retail store associated
with the planogram non-compliance, etc.
[0770] In addition to the planogram compliance factors described
above, which the at least one processor may analyze in determining
planogram compliance for a particular product, various other
characteristics of planogram compliance that may be considered may
include at least one of: product facing (e.g., the outward
appearance and neatness of product placement on a shelf), product
placement (e.g., the actual placement and organization of products
on a shelf), planogram compatibility (e.g., a comparison of the
image data to the planogram), price correlation (e.g., the prices
of the various products on the shelf), promotion execution (e.g.,
whether a product is on sale), product homogeneity (e.g., whether
non-homogenous products are present on the shelf), restocking rate
(e.g., how quickly product turnover and restocking occurs),
planogram compliance of adjacent products (e.g., whether other
products adjacent to the target product are in compliance with a
separate planogram), etc.
[0771] In embodiments where the characteristic of planogram
compliance is product facing, the at least one processor of the
system may determine at least one value indicative of product
facing compliance for the at least one product type. The at least
one value of product facing compliance may be determined through
image analysis and may be associated with a number of products of
the at least one product type determined to be positioned
differently than the desired placement described in at least one
planogram. For example, as shown in FIG. 44, by comparing the
planogram 4401 to image data 4403 (which may be collected from a
retail store), the at least one processor may determine that the
product placement in image data 4403 is not in compliance with
planogram 4401. In further embodiments, the method may identify a
retail store where the at least one value indicative of product
facing compliance of the at least one product type is lower than a
compliance threshold and the sales of the at least one product type
are lower than a sales threshold.
[0772] A compliance threshold and a sales threshold may be
determined in various ways. For example, a compliance threshold may
correspond to a certain number of products (or percentage of
products) misplaced relative to a particular planogram, such as
planogram 4401. Similarly, a sales threshold may correspond to a
certain volume of sales expected for a particular product
associated with a planogram over a certain time period (e.g.,
daily, weekly, monthly). In some cases, the compliance threshold
and sales threshold may be determined based on aggregated
information across a plurality of retail stores. For example, the
compliance threshold may be determined or set based on a function
of values (e.g., an average of multiple values, weighted averaged,
etc.) indicative of a certain aspect of planogram compliance (e.g.,
product facing compliance, etc.) of the at least one product type
across a plurality of retail stores. Similarly, the sales threshold
may be based on a function of the sales (e.g., average sales etc.)
of the at least one product type across the plurality of retail
stores. In other embodiments, the compliance threshold may be based
on a contractual agreement of a retail store (e.g., that the
products must be displayed such that a minimum compliance threshold
(either overall or relative to any one or more planogram compliance
aspects) is maintained), and the sales threshold may be based on
marketing goals associated with the at least one product type
(e.g., that a certain number of products shown in planogram 4401
must be sold, for example during selected time durations, to meet
the sales threshold).
[0773] In another example, the characteristic of planogram
compliance may be product placement. In such cases, the at least
one processor may determine at least one value indicative of
product placement compliance for the at least one product. The at
least one value indicative of product placement compliance may be
automatically determined by the processor through image analysis
and may be associated with a number of products of the at least one
product type determined to be placed differently than the desired
placement described in the at least one planogram. For example, the
system may determine that 8 instances of a product 4405 are placed
incorrectly relative to planogram 4401.
[0774] In another example, the characteristic of planogram
compliance may include planogram compatibility. In such cases, the
at least one processor may determine at least one value indicative
of planogram compatibility compliance for the at least one product
type, where the at least one value indicative of planogram
compatibility compliance may be automatically determined by the
processor through image analysis and may be associated with a
structural difference between a shelf size in the at least one
planogram and physical dimensions of a shelf associated with the at
least one product type. For example, the system may determine from
image data 4407 that a different type and size of shelving unit is
being used in a retail store as compared to planogram 4401.
[0775] In another example, the characteristic of planogram
compliance may include price correlation. In such cases, the at
least one processor may determine at least one value indicative of
price correlation compliance for the at least one product type. The
at least one value indicative of price correlation compliance may
be automatically determined by the processor through image analysis
and may be associated with a difference between a displayed price
for the at least one product type and a price identified in the at
least one planogram. For example, the system may determine from
image data 4403 that product 4405 has a different displayed price
than what is specified for that product in planogram 4401.
[0776] In another example, the characteristic of planogram
compliance may include promotion execution. In such cases, the at
least one processor may further determine at least one value
indicative of promotion execution compliance for the at least one
product type. The at least one value indicative of promotion
execution compliance may be automatically determined by the
processor through image analysis and may be associated with
promotions for the at least one product type other than a promotion
plan included in the at least one planogram. For example, the
system may determine from image data 4403 that product 4405 should
have a sale price, or that the entire shelving unit should have a
"SALE" sign placed on it, or that a certain number of promotional
indicators are required by comparing to planogram 4401.
Non-compliance may be determined based on a number of promotional
items included or excluded relative to a relevant planogram, based
on the ratio of items included or excluded, based on the accuracy
of the items, and so forth.
[0777] In another example, the characteristic of planogram
compliance may include product homogeneity. The at least one
processor may determine at least one value indicative of product
homogeneity compliance for the at least one product type. The at
least one value indicative of product homogeneity compliance may be
automatically determined by the processor through image analysis
and may be associated with a number of products other than the at
least one product type found in at least one shelf associated with
the at least one product type. For example, as shown in image data
4409, misplaced products 4411, which are not homogenous with the
other products placed on a shelf, may be, advertently or
inadvertently, placed on a shelf where they do not belong. Due to
the presence of misplaced products 4411 in image data 4409, the
system may identify image data 4409 as including one or more
product displays out of compliance with planogram 4401. The degree
of non-compliance may depend on the number of misplaced products
detected, the ratio of misplaced products, and so forth. In some
examples, the distribution of product types of products placed on a
selected area of a shelf may be estimated, for example, based on
products identified by analyzing one or more images depicting the
products placed on the selected area of the shelf. For example, the
estimated distributions may include one or more histograms. Some
other examples of the estimated distribution may include a normal
distribution, Fisher's noncentral hypergeometric distribution,
Wallenius' noncentral hypergeometric distribution, Poisson
distribution, and so forth. In some examples, such probabilities
and/or distributions may be estimated using a machine learning
model (such as regression models, density estimation models, etc.)
trained using training examples to estimate the distribution from
the inputs described above and/or from images depicting the
products, using an artificial neural network configured to estimate
the distribution from the inputs described above and/or from images
depicting the products, and so forth. Further, the at least one
value indicative of product homogeneity compliance may include a
function of the distribution, such as mean, median, mode, standard
deviation, variance, coefficient of variation, coefficient of
dispersion, Fano factor, any function of the above, and so forth.
In another example, the distribution may be a Fisher's noncentral
hypergeometric distribution, and the at least one value indicative
of product homogeneity compliance may be a function of a parameter
of the Fisher's noncentral hypergeometric distribution (such as the
odds ratio).
[0778] In some cases, the characteristic of planogram compliance
evaluated may include a restocking rate. In such cases, the at
least one processor may determine at least one value indicative of
restocking rate compliance for the at least one product type. The
at least one value indicative of restocking rate compliance may be
automatically determined by the processor through image analysis
(e.g., through analysis of a stream of images enabling a
determination of a number of products added to a shelf location
over a particular time period). The at least one value indicative
of a restocking rate may also be associated with a detected product
vacancy level and how that vacancy level is changing over a period
of time, which may reflect a restocking rate of at least one shelf
associated with the at least one product type. For example, the at
least one processor may continually monitor image data 4403 in real
time to determine the rate of product turnover for a product type
on a shelf and the restocking rate of the product (i.e., how
quickly the sold product is replaced on a shelf).
[0779] Product-planogram compliance may be based not only on a
certain product type in isolation, but may also be based on other
product types (e.g., adjacently located product types) in
combination with a particular product type. For example, the at
least one processor may determine a characteristic of planogram
compliance for a product type based on a level of planogram
compliance of products located adjacent to the product type in the
at least one planogram. For example, as shown in FIG. 44, products
adjacent to the single type of product (e.g., adjacent products
4413) may also be analyzed and compared with a planogram for
compliance. In some cases, a planogram may specify that a certain
product type is to be located adjacent to one or more particular
types of specified products, which themselves may be governed by
the same or different planogram.
[0780] Other product-compliance metrics may also be determined. For
example, in some embodiments, the at least one processor may
determine a characteristic of planogram compliance for at least one
product type based on a rate that the at least one planogram goes
out of compliance. For example, by analyzing a series of captured
images a product display governed by a particular planogram may be
monitored over time. As a result, not only may the processor
determine whether there exists product-planogram compliance (or a
certain degree of product-planogram compliance) at a particular
time, but a rate of change of product-planogram compliance may also
be determined. For example, in some cases, through normal
interaction of customers with a product display, one or more
aspects of the product display (e.g., product facing, product
placement, etc.) may be disrupted such that the product display
goes out of compliance with the relevant planogram. The rate at
which the product display goes out of compliance may be determined
by monitoring the change in compliance (e.g., a degree of
compliance or non-compliance) over time, as represented by a
plurality of captured images. Conversely, a rate that the at least
one planogram returns to compliance after having been out of
compliance may also be determined by monitoring a change in
compliance (e.g., increasing compliance as products are rearranged,
restocked, etc.) over a period of time represented by a plurality
of captured images.
[0781] Planograms for a particular product may differ across retail
stores, and those differences may be taken into account when
comparing compliance information to sales information. For example,
in some embodiments, the at least one processor may access a
plurality of planograms for different retail stores and account for
differences in the plurality of planograms when determining the
characteristic of planogram compliance for at least one retail
store. In other words, a planogram for a particular product may be
specific to a particular retail store, and other retail stores may
have different planograms for the same product. So that
correlations between product-planogram compliance and sales data
may be meaningful, product-planogram compliance for a particular
product may be evaluated relative to a specific planogram for a
specific retail store. Then, the particular product-planogram
compliance figures from multiple retail stores may be aggregated,
etc., as each of the product-planogram compliance figures may be
normalized relative to differences in planogram for the particular
product at different retail stores.
[0782] Product-planogram compliance may be monitored or determined
at any suitable time interval. In some cases, product-planogram
compliance may be determined at predetermined intervals (e.g.,
monthly, weekly, daily, hourly, every 10 minutes, every 5 minutes,
every 1 minute, every 10 seconds, etc.). In some embodiments, the
at least one processor may receive real-time image data from a
plurality of image sensors fixedly mounted to store shelves and
determine real-time (or nearly real-time) planogram compliance for
at least one product type.
[0783] As noted above, product-planogram compliance may be
determined based on more than one planogram compliance
characteristic. For example, in determining product-planogram
compliance, such compliance may be expressed in terms of multiple
product-planogram compliance characteristics simultaneously. Each
product-planogram compliance characteristic may separately impact
sales. Thus, in some embodiments, the at least one processor may
determine a plurality of characteristics of planogram compliance
for the at least one product type. And based on analysis of the
checkout data, the one or more processor may determine or estimate
an impact of each of the plurality of characteristics of planogram
compliance on the sales of the at least one product type. Based on
the determined or estimated impact, the at least one processor may
further rank an importance to product sales of each of the
plurality of characteristics of planogram compliance for the at
least one product type. For example, the at least one processor may
analyze and rank any of the various characteristics of planogram
compliance described above (e.g., product facing, product
placement, planogram compatibility, price correlation, promotion
execution, product homogeneity, restocking rate, planogram
compliance of adjacent products, etc.) relative to checkout data.
For example, the system may determine that product placement has a
greater impact on sales than product facing, or that promotion
execution has a greater impact that product homogeneity, and the
like. In some embodiments, the provided information may include
data for prioritizing actions associated with planogram compliance
based on the ranking of the plurality of characteristics of
planogram compliance for the at least one product type. For
example, the characteristics of planogram compliance described
herein may be ranked in a list in order of importance, and actions
may be determined based on the ranking. For example, if the system
determines that product placement has the greatest impact on sales
for a given retail store, the system may determine actions to
enhance product placement in the retail store. In such embodiments,
the actions associated with planogram compliance may include at
least two of: rearranging products to change product facing,
rearranging products to change product placement, rearranging
products to change product homogeneity, rearranging products to
change adjacent products compliance, changing restocking rate,
changing promotion execution, and changing price labels.
[0784] FIG. 45 is a flowchart representative of a method 4500,
consistent with the disclosed embodiments. Method 4500 may, for
example, be executed by the at least one processor configured to
receive the sets of images depicting a plurality of products
associated with a single product type. Such a processor may be
included, for example, in an image processing unit (e.g., image
processing unit 130) or any other appropriate hardware. When
executing method 4500, the at least one processor may execute
instructions stored locally and/or accessed from a remote location,
for example, via communications network 150.
[0785] In step 4501, the at least one processor may access at least
one planogram describing a desired placement of a plurality of
product types on shelves of a plurality of retail stores.
[0786] In step 4503, the processor may receive image data from the
plurality of retail stores in order to perform the remaining steps
of the method. Additionally or alternatively to step 4503, the
processor may receive readings from detection elements attached to
store shelves in the plurality of retail stores, as described above
in relation to FIGS. 8A, 8B and 9.
[0787] In step 4505, the processor may analyze the image data to
determine an actual placement of the plurality of product types on
the shelves of the plurality of retail stores, for example as
described above. Additionally or alternatively to step 4505, the
processor may analyze the received readings from the detection
elements, alone or in combination with the image data, to determine
the actual placement of the plurality of product types on the
shelves of the plurality of retail stores, for example as described
above.
[0788] In step 4507, the processor may determine at least one
characteristic of planogram compliance based on detected
differences between the at least one planogram and the actual
placement of the plurality of product types on the shelves of the
plurality of retail stores. Additionally or alternatively to step
4505 and/or step 4507, the processor may analyze the image data
and/or the received readings from the detection elements to
determine the at least one characteristic of planogram compliance.
The estimated at least one characteristic of planogram compliance
may include any of the various characteristics of planogram
compliance described above (e.g., product facing, product
placement, planogram compatibility, price correlation, promotion
execution, product homogeneity, restocking rate, planogram
compliance of adjacent products, and so forth). For example, the
image data and/or the received readings from the detection elements
may be analyzed by a machine learning model trained using training
examples to determine the at least one characteristic of planogram
compliance from images and/or from readings from detection elements
attached to store shelves. In another example, the image data
and/or the received readings from the detection elements may be
analyzed by an artificial neural network configured to determine
the at least one characteristic of planogram compliance from images
and/or from readings from detection elements attached to store
shelves.
[0789] In step 4509, the processor may receive checkout data from
the plurality of retail stores reflecting sales of at least one
product type from the plurality of product types.
[0790] In step 4511, the processor may estimate, based on the
determined at least one characteristic of planogram compliance and
based on the received checkout data, an impact of the at least one
characteristic of planogram compliance on the sales of the at least
one product type.
[0791] In step 4513, the processor may, based on the estimated
impact, identify an action, associated with the at least one
characteristic of planogram compliance, for potentially increasing
future sales of the at least one product type.
[0792] In step 4515, the processor may provide information
associated with the identified action to an entity
[0793] The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of
illustration. It is not exhaustive and is not limited to the
precise forms or embodiments disclosed. Modifications and
adaptations will be apparent to those skilled in the art from
consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed
embodiments. Additionally, although aspects of the disclosed
embodiments are described as being stored in memory, one skilled in
the art will appreciate that these aspects can also be stored on
other types of computer readable media, such as secondary storage
devices, for example, hard disks or CD ROM, or other forms of RAM
or ROM, USB media, DVD, Blu-ray, or other optical drive media.
[0794] Computer programs based on the written description and
disclosed methods are within the skill of an experienced developer.
The various programs or program modules can be created using any of
the techniques known to one skilled in the art or can be designed
in connection with existing software. For example, program sections
or program modules can be designed in or by means of .Net
Framework, .Net Compact Framework (and related languages, such as
Visual Basic, C, etc.), Java, C++, Objective-C, HTML, HTML/AJAX
combinations, XML, or HTML with included Java applets.
[0795] Moreover, while illustrative embodiments have been described
herein, the scope of any and all embodiments having equivalent
elements, modifications, omissions, combinations (e.g., of aspects
across various embodiments), adaptations and/or alterations as
would be appreciated by those skilled in the art based on the
present disclosure. The limitations in the claims are to be
interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims
and not limited to examples described in the present specification
or during the prosecution of the application. The examples are to
be construed as non-exclusive. Furthermore, the steps of the
disclosed methods may be modified in any manner, including by
reordering steps and/or inserting or deleting steps. It is
intended, therefore, that the specification and examples be
considered as illustrative only, with a true scope and spirit being
indicated by the following claims and their full scope of
equivalents.
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