Method, computer program product, and system for providing a sensor-based environment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016110786-A1
Application number	US-201514674776-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 31, 2015
Priority date	Oct 15, 2014
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Method, computer program product, and system to facilitate an audit of a checkout transaction, where the checkout transaction is associated with a virtual transaction record reflecting interactions of a person with a first set of one or more items of a plurality of items within an environment. The method includes acquiring image information including a shopping receptacle associated with the checkout transaction, and identifying a second set of one or more items of the plurality of items that are included in the shopping receptacle using the acquired image information. The method further includes comparing the first and second sets of items, and determining, based on the comparison, whether to perform an audit of the checkout transaction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computer-implemented method to facilitate an audit of a checkout transaction, the checkout transaction associated with a virtual transaction record reflecting interactions of a person with a first set of one or more items of a plurality of items within an environment, the method comprising:
acquiring image information including a shopping receptacle associated with the checkout transaction; identifying, using the acquired image information, a second set of one or more items of the plurality of items that are included in the shopping receptacle; comparing the first and second sets; and determining, based on the comparison, whether to perform an audit of the checkout transaction.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the audit is determined to be performed when the items of the second set match the items of the first set in an amount less than a threshold value.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein acquiring the image information is performed by one or more visual sensors disposed at a checkout area of the environment.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
acquiring, using a visual sensor disposed at a pre-audit area of the environment, second image information including the shopping receptacle; identifying, using the acquired second image information, a third set of one or more items of the plurality of items that are included in the shopping receptacle; and comparing the second and third sets, wherein determining whether to perform the audit is further based on the comparison of the second and third sets.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether to perform the audit includes:
determining a weight of the shopping receptacle; and comparing the weight of the shopping receptacle with an estimated weight based on the first set of items.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the acquired image information also includes the person, the method further comprising:
validating, based on the acquired image information, the identity of the person associated with the virtual transaction record.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether to perform the audit is further based on a determined route of the person through the environment and a trust level included in a personal profile associated with the person.

8 . A computer program product to facilitate an audit of a checkout transaction, the checkout transaction associated with a virtual transaction record reflecting interactions of a person with a first set of one or more items of a plurality of items within an environment, the computer program product comprising:
a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied therewith, the computer-readable program code executable by one or more computer processors to perform an operation that includes:
acquiring image information including a shopping receptacle associated with the checkout transaction;
identifying, using the acquired image information, a second set of one or more items of the plurality of items that are included in the shopping receptacle;
comparing the first and second sets; and
determining, based on the comparison, whether to perform an audit of the checkout transaction.

9 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the audit is determined to be performed when the items of the second set match the items of the first set in an amount less than a threshold value.

10 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein acquiring the image information is performed by one or more visual sensors disposed at a checkout area of the environment.

11 . The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the operation further includes:
acquiring, using a visual sensor disposed at a pre-audit area of the environment, second image information including the shopping receptacle; identifying, using the acquired second image information, a third set of one or more items of the plurality of items that are included in the shopping receptacle; and comparing the second and third sets, wherein determining whether to perform the audit is further based on the comparison of the second and third sets.

12 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein determining whether to perform the audit includes:
determining a weight of the shopping receptacle; and comparing the weight of the shopping receptacle with an estimated weight based on the first set of items.

13 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the acquired image information also includes the person, wherein the operation further includes:
validating, based on the acquired image information, the identity of the person associated with the virtual transaction record.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein determining whether to perform the audit is further based on a determined route of the person through the environment and a trust level included in a personal profile associated with the person.

15 . A system to facilitate an audit of a checkout transaction, the checkout transaction associated with a virtual transaction record reflecting interactions of a person with a first set of one or more items of a plurality of items within an environment, the system comprising:
one or more computer processors; at least one visual sensor disposed within the environment and communicatively coupled with the one or more computer processors; and a memory containing program code which, when executed by the one or more computer processors, performs an operation comprising:
acquiring image information including a shopping receptacle associated with the checkout transaction;
identifying, using the acquired image information, a second set of one or more items of the plurality of items that are included in the shopping receptacle;
comparing the first and second sets; and
determining, based on the comparison, whether to perform an audit of the checkout transaction.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the audit is determined to be performed when the items of the second set match the items of the first set in an amount less than a threshold value.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein acquiring the image information is performed by one or more visual sensors disposed at a checkout area of the environment.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the operation further includes:
acquiring, using a visual sensor disposed at a pre-audit area of the environment, second image information including the shopping receptacle; identifying, using the acquired second image information, a third set of one or more items of the plurality of items that are included in the shopping receptacle; and comparing the second and third sets, wherein determining whether to perform the audit is further based on the comparison of the second and third sets.

19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein determining whether to perform the audit includes:
determining a weight of the shopping receptacle; and comparing the weight of the shopping receptacle with an estimated weight based on the first set of items.

20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the acquired image information also includes the person, wherein the operation further includes:
validating, based on the acquired image information, the identity of the person associated with the virtual transaction record.

Assignees

• Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corp

Inventors

• Herring Dean Frederick
• Johnson Brad Matthew
• Rodriguez Adrian Xavier
• Singh Ankit
• Smith Jeffrey John

Classifications

• G06Q30/016

  After-sales · CPC title

• G01S19/13

  Receivers · CPC title

• G06Q30/0235

  constrained by time limit or expiration date · CPC title

• G01B11/00

  Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques · CPC title

• G06T7/66

  of image moments or centre of gravity · CPC title