Produce identification and pricing system for checkouts

• US 7,319,990 B1
• Filed: 03/25/2002
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ITAB SCANFLOW AB
• Original Assignee: David L. Henty
• Inventors: Henty, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu; Rutao
• Application Number:
  US10/105,756
• Time in Patent Office: 2,122 Days
• Field of Search: 705/400, 356/326, 356/328
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4144 for controlling weight of goods in commercial establishments, e.g. supermarket, P.O.S. systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/68 Food, e.g. fruit or vegetables
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles

Abstract

A produce identification and pricing system and method for a supermarket checkout or other retail outlet where produce is handled. The produce identification and pricing system and method determines produce type and grade. A price database contains price information based on produce type and grade. Price is calculated using the produce type and grade.

Claims

1. A method for the automatic identification and pricing of produce at checkout, comprising:

receiving image data from the produce presented at the checkout;

determining the produce type using the image data;

determining the produce grade using the image data;

accessing a price information database and retrieving price information for the identified produce type and grade, wherein said price information database comprises a plurality of price vs. grade profiles corresponding to different produce types;

computing the price of the produce based on the price information for the identified produce; and

outputting the price.

2. A method for identification and pricing of produce as set out in claim 1, further comprising determining if the identified produce price is based on weight and retrieving the weight of the produce from a scale if the price is based on weight.

3. A method for identification and pricing of produce as set out in claim 1, wherein said determining the produce grade comprises employing the image data to derive produce ripening information and using the ripening information to determine produce grade.

4. A method for identification and pricing of produce as set out in claim 1, wherein said determining the produce grade comprises employing the image data to derive produce bruising information and using the bruising information to determine produce grade.

5. A method for identification and pricing of produce as set out in claim 1, wherein said plural profiles comprise discrete tables.

6. A method for identification and pricing of produce as set out in claim 1, wherein said plural profiles comprise continuous price to grade curves.

14. A method for the automatic identification and pricing of produce as set out in claim 1, wherein outputting the price comprises displaying the price.

15. A method for the automatic identification and pricing of produce as set out in claim 1, further comprising adding the price to the total checkout bill.

7. A method for the automatic identification and pricing of produce presented at a checkout, comprising:

receiving image data from the produce presented at checkout;

transforming the image data to a first signature vector characterizing the produce;

comparing the first signature vector to stored signature vectors representing a target set of produce types and identifying the produce based on the best match with the stored signature vectors;

transforming the image data to a second signature vector characterizing the produce;

comparing the second signature vector to stored signature vectors representing a target set of produce grades and determining the produce grade on the best match with the stored signature vectors;

accessing a price information database and retrieving price information for the identified produce type and grade;

computing the price of the produce based on the price information for the identified produce; and

outputting the price.

8. A method for identification and pricing of produce as set out in claim 7, wherein transforming the image data to a second signature vector comprises employing the identified produce type.

9. A method for identification and pricing of produce as set out in claim 7, wherein transforming the image data to a second signature vector comprises employing different image characteristics than said first signature vector.

10. A method for identification and pricing of produce as set out in claim 7, wherein said price information database comprises different price vs. grade profiles for different produce types.

11. A method for identification and pricing of produce as set out in claim 10, wherein said accessing the price information database comprises accessing the profile for the identified produce type and determining the price for the produce grade.

12. A method for identification and pricing of produce as set out in claim 7, further comprising displaying the produce grade.

16. A method for the automatic identification and pricing of produce as set out in claim 7, wherein outputting the price comprises displaying the price.

17. A method for the automatic identification and pricing of produce as set out in claim 7, further comprising adding the price to the total checkout bill.

13. A produce identification and pricing system, comprising:

at least one imager for providing image data from produce to be identified;

an image processor for receiving the image data and obtaining a best match identification of the produce type and grade of the imaged produce;

a database storing price information for the target produce types and grades, wherein said database comprises a plurality of price vs. grade profiles; and

a register processor for calculating the total price of the produce based on the price information of the identified produce type and grade and outputting the price.

18. A produce identification and pricing system as set out in claim 13, further comprising a display and wherein outputting the price comprises displaying the price.

19. A produce identification and pricing system as set out in claim 13, wherein said register processor adds the price to the total checkout bill.