TIME-IN-STORE ESTIMATION USING FACIAL RECOGNITION
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring the amount of time spent in a specified area by an individual, the method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of entrance images, each entrance image containing a face of an entering individual that passes a first location;
storing each entrance image in a database along with a corresponding entrance time that the entering individual passes the entrance location;
receiving an exit image containing a face of an exiting individual that passes a second location;
storing the exit image along with a corresponding exit time that the exiting individual passes the exit location;
comparing the exit image to the entrance images in the database;
identifying a matching entrance image containing the same face as the exit image; and
determining a stay time for the exiting individual by determining the difference between the entrance time corresponding to the matching entrance image and the exit time.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of monitoring the amount of time spent in a specified area by an individual comprises employing a first camera to automatically create one or more entrance images, each entrance image containing a face of an entering individual that passes a first location, and storing each entrance image in a database along with a corresponding entrance time that the entering individual passed the entrance location. A second camera is also employed to automatically create an exit image of a face of an exiting individual that passes a second location, and the exit image is recorded along with the corresponding exit time that the exiting individual passed the exit location. The exit image is then compared to the entrance images in the database to identify a matching entrance image containing the same face as the exit image. A stay time is then determined for the exiting individual by determining the difference between the entrance time corresponding to the matching entrance image and the exit time.
49 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring the amount of time spent in a specified area by an individual, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of entrance images, each entrance image containing a face of an entering individual that passes a first location; storing each entrance image in a database along with a corresponding entrance time that the entering individual passes the entrance location; receiving an exit image containing a face of an exiting individual that passes a second location; storing the exit image along with a corresponding exit time that the exiting individual passes the exit location; comparing the exit image to the entrance images in the database; identifying a matching entrance image containing the same face as the exit image; and determining a stay time for the exiting individual by determining the difference between the entrance time corresponding to the matching entrance image and the exit time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for monitoring time spent in a location by an individual, the system comprising:
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a first camera positioned to record images of individuals passing a first location; a first image processing module configured to; process the recorded images from the first camera using a face detection algorithm to detect faces within the recorded image; create an entrance image of each detected face; and determine an entrance time for each entrance image, wherein the entrance time is the time that the individual in the entrance image passed the first location; a database configured to receive and store each entrance image and the corresponding entrance time; a second camera positioned to record individuals passing a second location; a second image processing module configured to; process the recorded images from the second camera using a face detection algorithm to detect faces within the recorded image; create an exit image of each detected face; and determine an exit time for each exit image, wherein the exit time is the time that the individual in the exit image passed the second location; an image matching module configured to compare the exit image to the entrance images in the database using a facial recognition algorithm to identify a matching entrance image containing the same face as the exit image; and a stay time calculator module configured to calculate a stay time for the exiting individual by determining the difference between the entrance time corresponding to the matching entrance image and the exit time. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of monitoring a time-in-store for an individual, the method comprising:
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recording an image of an entrance location with a first camera; recording an entrance time associated with the image of the entrance location; detecting one or more faces in the image of the entrance location using a face detection algorithm; creating an entrance image of the one or more faces detected in the image of the entrance location; storing the entrance image and the entrance time together in an entrance image database; recording an image of an exit location with a second camera; recording an exit time associated with the image of the exit location; and detecting one or more faces in the image of the exit location using the face detection algorithm; creating an exit image of the one or more faces detected in the image of the exit location; storing the exit image and the exit time together; comparing the exit image to images in the entrance image database using a facial recognition algorithm; detecting a matching entrance image, wherein the matching entrance image contains a facial match to the exit image; calculating a stay time by determining the difference between the exit time and the entrance time associated with the matching entrance image. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification