RETAIL LOSS PREVENTION USING BIOMETRIC DATA

• US 20140214568A1
• Filed: 01/29/2013
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores Texas LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Argue, Stuart, Marcar, Anthony Emile
• Granted Patent: US 8,874,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4016 involving fraud or risk level assessment in transaction processing
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/003 Anti-theft control theft alarms G08B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19613 Recognition of a predetermined image pattern or behaviour pattern indicating theft or intrusion

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for estimating the risk of criminal activity in a retail setting. Using video data, biometric data for an individual may be obtained. A baseline biometric measurement is taken upon enqueuing of an individual, which may include entry of the individual into the field of view of a camera having a point of sale (POS) in its field of view. A biometric measurement is also taken when the individual is adjacent the POS. According to an analysis of these measurements, an estimate of risk is calculated, such as by comparing the baseline measurement to a POS measurement. Based on this risk assessment, an alert may be generated. The alert may be a graphical indicator displayed on the POS or transmitted to a device operated by a store representative. The risk assessment may also be used to select transactions for auditing in a self-checkout system.

Claims

1. A method for detecting shoplifting, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computer system, a video feed from one or more cameras viewing one or more locations within a store;

detecting, by the computer system from the video feed, first biometric data comprising a baseline measurement of one or more biological functions of an individual while the individual occupies a first position with respect to a point-of-sale (POS) region within the store;

detecting, by the computer system from the video feed, second biometric data comprising a subsequent measurement of the one or more biological functions of the individual while the individual occupies a second position with respect to the point-of-sale (POS) region, the second position being spaced from the first position;

comparing, by the computer system, the baseline measurement and the subsequent measurement to identify a change in the one or more biological functions; and

generating, by the computer system, a risk assessment in accordance with the change.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the computer system, an alert to a device of a merchant representative if the risk assessment is above a threshold.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting the alert occurs while the individual is in the POS region.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting the alert comprises displaying the alert on a screen of a POS device corresponding to the POS region.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

identifying, by the computer system, a time at which the individual is positioned adjacent a POS terminal, the POS terminal being a self checkout POS terminal; and

correlating, by the computer system, a self-checkout transaction of the individual to the risk assessment using the identified time;

wherein transmitting the alert to the device of the merchant representative if the risk assessment is above the threshold further comprises selecting the self-checkout transaction for inspection and transmitting the selection to the merchant representative.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more biological functions comprise one or more of heart rate, respiration rate, blinking rate, and temperature.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving, by the computer system, an inspection result corresponding the self-checkout transaction; and

updating, by the computer system, the risk model according to the inspection result.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first position corresponds to the individual being spaced from a POS terminal; and

the second position corresponds to the individual being directly adjacent the POS terminal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more biological functions comprise a heart rate.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more biological functions comprise a respiration rate.

11. A system for detecting shoplifting, the system comprising one or more processors and one or more memory devices operably coupled to the one or more processors, the one or more memory devices storing executable and operational code effective to cause the one more processors to:

receive a video feed from one or more cameras viewing one or more locations within a store;

detect, using the video feed, first biometric data comprising a baseline measurement of one or more biological functions of an individual while the individual occupies a first position with respect to a point-of-sale (POS) region within the store;

detect, using the video feed, second biometric data comprising a subsequent measurement of the one or more biological functions of the individual while the individual occupies a second position with respect to the point-of-sale (POS) region, the second position being spaced from the first position;

compare the baseline measurement and the subsequent measurement to identify a change in the one or more biological functions; and

generate a risk assessment in accordance with the change.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the executable and operational data are further effective to cause the one or more processors to transmit an alert to a device of a merchant representative if the risk assessment is above a threshold.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the executable and operational data are further effective to cause the one or more processors to transmit the alert while the individual is in the POS region.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the executable and operational data are further effective to cause the one or more processors to transmit the alert by displaying the alert on a screen of a POS device corresponding to the POS region.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the executable and operational data are further effective to cause the one or more processors to:

identify a time at which the individual is positioned adjacent a POS terminal, the POS terminal being a self checkout POS terminal;

correlate a self-checkout transaction of the individual to the risk assessment using the identified time; and

transmit the alert to a device of the merchant representative if the risk assessment is above the threshold further comprises selecting the self-checkout transaction for inspection and transmitting the selection to the merchant representative.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more biological functions comprise one or more of heart rate, respiration rate, blinking rate, and temperature.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the executable and operational data are further effective to cause the one or more processors to:

receive an inspection result corresponding the self-checkout transaction; and

update the risk model according to the inspection result.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the first position corresponds to the individual being spaced from a POS terminal; and

the second position corresponds to the individual being directly adjacent the POS terminal.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more biological functions comprise a heart rate.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more biological functions comprise a respiration rate.