IMAGE-BASED PRODUCT MAPPING

• US 20130036043A1
• Filed: 07/06/2012
• Published: 02/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Faith, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US13/542,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20130036043A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/583 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for image-based product mapping are presented. In some embodiments, a server computer may receive, from a first computing device, a first image and information identifying a first location at which the first image was captured. The first image may include a first product. Subsequently, the server computer may receive, from a second computing device, a second image and information identifying a second location at which the second image was captured. The second image may include a second product, and the second location may be different from the first location. The server computer then may analyze the first image to identify the first product and the second image to identify the second product. Thereafter, the server computer may store, in at least one database, first information associating the first product with the first location, and second information associating the second product with the second location.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a server computer, from a first computing device, a first image and information identifying a first location at which the first image was captured, the first image including a first product;

receiving, by the server computer, from a second computing device, a second image and information identifying a second location at which the second image was captured, the second image including a second product, the second location being different from the first location;

analyzing, by the server computer, the first image to identify the first product;

analyzing, by the server computer, the second image to identify the second product;

storing, by the server computer, in at least one database, first information associating the first product with the first location; and

storing, by the server computer, in the at least one database, second information associating the second product with the second location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, by the server computer, based on information stored in the at least one database, mapping data describing locations of one or more products located at the first location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the mapping data is used in navigating a first user of the first computing device to a particular product located at the first location.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first location is a first store operated by a first entity, and

wherein the second location is a second store operated by a second entity different from the first entity.

5. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first computing device is used by a first user, and

wherein the second computing device is used by a second user different from the first user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one database is configured to store crowd-sourced product information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computing device is a mobile device used by a customer at the first location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computing device is a surveillance camera deployed at the first location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computing device is a robotic device deployed at the first location.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the server computer, payment information associated with a transaction completed at the first location, the payment information including a transaction amount and information identifying a payor;

determining, based on information stored in the at least one database and the payment information, one or more products purchased by the payor in the transaction; and

storing, by the server computer, in the at least one database, third information associating the payor with the one or more products purchased by the payor in the transaction.

11. A method comprising:

capturing, by a computing device, a first image at a first location, the first image including a first product; and

providing, by the computing device, the first image and information identifying the first location to at least one server computer,

wherein the at least one server computer is configured to analyze the first image, identify the first product, and store information identifying the first product and the information identifying the first location in at least one database.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, by the computing device, from the at least one server computer, mapping data describing locations of one or more products located at the first location; and

displaying, by the computing device, based on the mapping data, a map of the first location.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving, by the computing device, a query for a second product;

determining, by the computing device, based on the mapping data, a location of the second product; and

providing, by the computing device, navigation instructions from a current location to the location of the second product.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein capturing the first image at the first location includes determining a current location of the computing device based on sensor data received from one or more sensors included in the computing device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more sensors include at least one accelerometer, at least one gyroscope, at least one magnetometer, and at least one Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

prior capturing the first image at the first location, providing, by the computing device, at least one incentive to a user of the computing device to capture the first image.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one incentive is a coupon.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one incentive is associated with a scavenger hunt.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

in response to capturing the first image at the first location, providing, by the computing device, a coupon for the first product.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

in response to capturing the first image at the first location, providing, by the computing device, a coupon for a second product, wherein the coupon is configured to steer a user of the computing device to a second location different from the first location.

21. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

in response to capturing the first image at the first location, providing, by the computing device, a payment interface configured to enable a user of the computing device to purchase the first product.

22. A server computer comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the server computer to;

receive, from a first computing device, a first image and information identifying a first location at which the first image was captured, the first image including a first product;

receive, from a second computing device, a second image and information identifying a second location at which the second image was captured, the second image including a second product, the second location being different from the first location;

analyze the first image to identify the first product;

analyze the second image to identify the second product;

store, in at least one database, first information associating the first product with the first location; and

store, in the at least one database, second information associating the second product with the second location.

23. The server computer of claim 22,

wherein the first location is a first store operated by a first entity, and

wherein the second location is a second store operated by a second entity different from the first entity.

24. The server computer of claim 22, wherein the memory stores additional computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the server computer to:

receive payment information associated with a transaction completed at the first location, the payment information including a transaction amount and information identifying a payor;

determine, based on information stored in the at least one database and the payment information, one or more products purchased by the payor in the transaction; and

store, in the at least one database, third information associating the payor with the one or more products purchased by the payor in the transaction.