Automated store system and server

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11367285-B2
Application number	US-201916575189-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2019
Priority date	Oct 9, 2018
Publication date	Jun 21, 2022
Grant date	Jun 21, 2022

Abstract

A store management server configured to communicate with a first gate control device that controls a first gate installed in a store includes a network interface, and a processor configured to identify a customer entering the store, acquire customer information about the detected customer, detect that the customer is holding a commodity in the store, acquire sales restriction information about the commodity held by the customer, determine whether the customer is eligible to buy the commodity held by the customer based on the acquired customer information and sales restriction information, and control the network interface to transmit, when it is not determined that the customer is eligible to buy the commodity, a first command to the first gate control device. The first command causes the first gate control device to close the first gate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A store management server configured to communicate with a first gate control device that controls a first gate installed in a store, the server comprising:
a network interface; and
a processor configured to
identify a customer entering the store,
acquire customer information about the identified customer,
detect that the customer is holding a commodity in the store,
acquire sales restriction information about the commodity held by the customer,
determine whether the customer is eligible to buy the commodity held by the customer based on the acquired customer information and sales restriction information, and
control the network interface to transmit, when it is not determined that the customer is eligible to buy the commodity, a first command to the first gate control device and a second command to an alert device, wherein the first command causes the first gate control device to close the first gate, and the second command causes the alert device to output an alert.

2. The server according to claim 1 , wherein
the processor is further configured to
store, in a memory, information about the commodity held by the customer,
control the network interface to transmit, when it is determined that the customer is eligible to buy the commodity, a third command to the first gate control device, the third command causing the first gate control device to open the first gate, and
after the first gate is opened, perform a checkout process based on the information stored in the memory.

3. The server according to claim 1 , wherein
the second command causes the alert device to output the alert on a display.

4. The server according to claim 1 , wherein
the second command causes the alert device to output the alert from a speaker.

5. The server according to claim 1 , wherein
the alert device is installed at an exit of the store, and
the processor is further configured to
detect the customer approaching the exit of the store, and
control the network interface to transmit, when the customer approaches the exit, the first command to the alert device to output the alert.

6. The server according to claim 1 , wherein
the alert device is installed on a wall or a ceiling of the store, and
the processor is further configured to
control the network interface to transmit, when the customer holds the commodity, the first command to the alert device to output the alert.

7. The server according to claim 1 , wherein
if the processor fails to acquire the customer information about the detected customer, the processor controls the network interface to transmit a fourth command to a second gate control device that controls a second gate, and
the fourth command causes the second gate control device to close the second gate.

8. The server according to claim 7 , wherein
the first gate is installed at an exit of the store, and
the second gate is installed at an entrance of the store.

9. The server according to claim 1 , wherein
the sales restriction information indicates an age of a customer who is eligible to buy the corresponding commodity.

10. A store management system comprising:
an alert device configured to output an alert;
a first gate control device configured to control a first gate installed in a store; and
a store management server configured to communicate with the first gate control device, wherein
the store management server comprises
a network interface, and
a processor configured to
identify a customer entering the store,
acquire customer information about the identified customer,
detect that the customer is holding a commodity in the store,
acquire sales restriction information about the commodity held by the customer,
determine whether the customer is eligible to buy the commodity held by the customer based on the acquired customer information and sales restriction information, and
control the network interface to transmit, when it is not determined that the customer is eligible to buy the commodity, a first command to the first gate control device and a second command to an alert device, wherein

upon receipt of the first command, the first gate control device controls the first gate to close, and
upon receipt of the second command, the alert device outputs an alert.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein
the processor is further configured to
store, in a memory, information about the commodity held by the customer, and
control the network interface to transmit, when it is determined that the customer is eligible to buy the commodity, a third command to the first gate control device,

upon receipt of the second third command, the first gate control device controls the first gate to open, and
after the first gate is opened, the processor performs a checkout process based on the information stored in the memory.

12. The system according to claim 10 , wherein
the alert device outputs the alert on a display.

13. The system according to claim 10 , wherein
the alert device outputs the alert from a speaker.

14. The system according to claim 10 , wherein
the alert device is installed at an exit of the store, and
the processor is further configured to
detect the customer approaching the exit of the store, and
control the network interface to transmit, when the customer approaches the exit, the first command to the alert device to output the alert.

15. The system according to claim 10 , wherein
the alert device is installed on a wall or a ceiling of the store, and
the processor is further configured to
control the network interface to transmit, when the customer holds the commodity, the first command to the alert device to output the alert.

16. The system according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a second gate control device configured to control a second gate, wherein
if the processor fails to acquire the customer information about the detected customer, the processor controls the network interface to transmit a fourth command to the second gate control device, and
upon receipt of the fourth command, the second gate control device controls the second gate to close.

17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein
the first gate is installed at an exit of the store, and
the second gate is installed at an entrance of the store.

18. A store management method comprising:
detecting a customer entering a store;
acquiring customer information about the identified customer;
detecting that the customer is holding a commodity in the store;
acquiring sales restriction information about the commodity held by the customer;
determining whether the customer is eligible to buy the commodity held by the customer based on the acquired customer information and sales restriction information; and
when it is not determined that the customer is eligible to buy the commodity, transmitting a first command that causes a gate control device to close a gate of the store and transmitting a second command that causes an alert device to output an alert.

Assignees

• Toshiba Tec Kk

Inventors

• Kakino Tomonari

Classifications

• G07F9/026

  for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty · CPC title

• G06Q20/20 Primary

  Point-of-sale [POS] network systems · CPC title

• G06Q20/4014

  Identity check for transactions · CPC title

• G07G1/0036 Primary

  Checkout procedures · CPC title

• G06Q30/02

  Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising · CPC title