FLOW LINE ANALYSIS APPARATUS AND PROGRAM RECORDING MEDIUM

• US 20090257624A1
• Filed: 04/07/2009
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Iwase, Yoshinori, Ikumi, Tomonori, Takahata, Masami, Narahashi, Masaki, Koiso, Takashi
• Application Number:
  US12/419,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20090257624A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/113
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A control section edits a complete flow line as an entire trajectory in a sales area for each customer, based on data for a flow line generated from a camera image obtained by shooting the sales area. The complete flow line is reproduced as trajectories of customers by a display section. The control section accepts input of information on transaction settlements by the customers. When the information is input through an input section, it is added to the complete flow line data of the customers being reproduced and is stored into a complete flow line database. The control section matches the complete flow line data stored in the complete flow line database with transaction data specified by the information on the transaction settlements added to the complete flow line data.

Claims

1. A flow line analysis apparatus comprising:

flow line generating means for generating a flow line indicative of a trajectory of a person from a camera image obtained by shooting a sales area;

complete flow line editing means for editing a complete flow line, as an entire trajectory within a predetermined range in the sales area, for each customer who makes a purchase in the sales area, based on data for the flow line generated by the flow line generating means;

flow line reproduction means for reproducing trajectories of customers moving in the sales area, based on complete flow line data edited for each customer by the complete flow line editing means;

settlement information acceptance means for accepting input of information on transaction settlements by the customers whose trajectories of movement in the sales area are reproduced by the flow line reproduction means;

complete flow line data storage means for adding the information on the transaction settlements of which input is accepted by the settlement information acceptance means to the complete flow line data of the customers and storing the information into a complete flow line data storage section; and

flow line matching means for accessing a transaction database stored with transaction data indicative of contents of transactions with the customers and matching the complete flow line data stored in the complete flow line data storage section with transaction data specified by the information on the transaction settlements added to the complete flow line data.

2. A flow line analysis apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising matching data output means for outputting data indicative of a combination of the complete flow line data and the transaction data matched by the flow line matching means.

3. A flow line analysis apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising filter condition acceptance means for accepting condition input for filtering the complete flow line data.

4. A flow line analysis apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising flow line data extraction means for extracting complete flow line data corresponding to a condition of which input is accepted by the filter condition acceptance means from the complete flow line data storage section.

5. A flow line analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the complete flow line editing means accepts alternative input of flow line data as a coupling source or flow line data as a coupling destination, out of the flow line data generated by the flow line generating means, and edits a trajectory from a start point of a selected coupling source flow line to an end point of a selected coupling destination flow line.

6. A flow line analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flow line reproduction means includes camera image reproduction means for reproducing a camera image, in which a flow line being reproduced is generated, as the flow line moves.

7. A flow line analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the settlement information acceptance means accepts input of date/time data for settlements as the information on transaction settlements.

8. A flow line analysis apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the flow line matching means matches the complete flow line data with transaction data with date/time data with a minimum difference from the date/time data accepted by the settlement information acceptance means.

9. A flow line analysis apparatus comprising:

a controller having a function to generate a flow line indicative of a trajectory of a person from a camera image obtained by shooting a sales area and edit a complete flow line, as an entire trajectory within a predetermined range in the sales area, for each customer who makes a purchase in the sales area, based on data for the generated flow line, a function to reproduce trajectories of customers moving in the sales area, based on complete flow line data edited for each customer, a function to accept input of information on transaction settlements by the customers whose trajectories of movement in the sales area are reproduced, add the information on the transaction settlements of which input is accepted to the complete flow line data of the customers, and store the information into a complete flow line database, and a function to access a transaction database stored with transaction data indicative of contents of transactions with the customers and match the complete flow line data stored in the complete flow line database with transaction data specified by the information on the transaction settlements added to the complete flow line data;

an interface accessing the transaction database;

a display displaying the trajectories of the customers reproduced by the controller;

an input section for inputting the information on the transaction settlements by the customers whose trajectories of movement in the sales area are reproduced; and

a memory storing the complete flow line database.

10. A flow line analysis apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the controller further has a function to output data indicative of a combination of the matched complete flow line data and transaction data.

11. A flow line analysis apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the function to output the data indicative of the combination of the matched complete flow line data and transaction data serves to output a matching table, which is stored with the data indicative of the combination of the matched complete flow line data and transaction data.

12. A flow line analysis apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the controller further has a function to accept condition input for filtering the complete flow line data and a function to extract complete flow line data corresponding to a condition of which input is accepted from the complete flow line database.

13. A computer-readable recording medium stored with a program for supporting a flow line analysis made by a computer system, the program being configured to enable the computer system to fulfill the following functions:

a function to generate a flow line indicative of a trajectory of a person from a camera image obtained by shooting a sales area;

a function to edit a complete flow line, as an entire trajectory within a predetermined range in the sales area, for each customer who makes a purchase in the sales area, based on data for the generated flow line;

a function to reproduce trajectories of customers moving in the sales area, based on complete flow line data edited for each customer;

a function to accept input of information on transaction settlements by the customers whose trajectories of movement in the sales area are reproduced;

a function to add the information on the transaction settlements of which input is accepted to the complete flow line data of the customers and store the information into a complete flow line data storage section; and

a function to access a transaction database stored with transaction data indicative of contents of transactions with the customers and match the complete flow line data stored in the complete flow line data storage section with transaction data specified by the information on the transaction settlements added to the complete flow line data.

14. A recording medium according to claim 13, wherein the program is configured to enable the computer system to further fulfill a function to output data indicative of a combination of the matched complete flow line data and transaction data.

15. A recording medium according to claim 13, wherein the program is configured to enable the computer system to further fulfill a function to accept condition input for filtering the complete flow line data and a function to extract complete flow line data corresponding to a condition of which input is accepted from the complete flow line data storage section.