Method and apparatus for detecting fraud attempts in reverse vending machines
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting fraud attempts in a reverse vending machine, the reverse vending machine comprising at least one image sensor and at least one data processing unit, the method comprising:
- using said at least one image sensor to obtain a set of one or more images of a returned item inserted into the reverse vending machine;
using at least one data processing unit to apply a first feature extraction algorithm to extract a first feature from at least a first subset of said set of one or more images;
using at least one data processing unit to apply a second feature extraction algorithm to extract a second feature from i) at least a second subset of said set of one or more images or ii) data received from an additional sensor; and
using at least one data processing unit to determine whether a position or a motion of said first feature is inconsistent with a position or motion of said second feature.
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Abstract
A reverse vending machine, including: a chamber adapted to receive an object returned to the reverse vending machine; a plurality of cameras arranged around the perimeter of the chamber for viewing said object; a transparent or translucent plate arranged such that the cameras in use view the object obliquely through the transparent or translucent plate; and means adapted to couple light into the plate such that the light undergoes total internal reflection in the plate. Also, a method of detecting dirt in a reverse vending machine.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for detecting fraud attempts in a reverse vending machine, the reverse vending machine comprising at least one image sensor and at least one data processing unit, the method comprising:
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using said at least one image sensor to obtain a set of one or more images of a returned item inserted into the reverse vending machine; using at least one data processing unit to apply a first feature extraction algorithm to extract a first feature from at least a first subset of said set of one or more images; using at least one data processing unit to apply a second feature extraction algorithm to extract a second feature from i) at least a second subset of said set of one or more images or ii) data received from an additional sensor; and using at least one data processing unit to determine whether a position or a motion of said first feature is inconsistent with a position or motion of said second feature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A reverse vending machine with an opening through which items can be inserted into the interior of said machine, at least one image sensor configured to obtain images of at least a part of an inserted item, and at least one data processing unit, the reverse vending machine comprising:
- at least one data processing unit configured to receive a set of one or more images of a returned item inserted into the reverse vending machine from said at least one image sensor;
at least one feature extraction unit configured to apply a first feature extraction algorithm to extract a first feature from at least a first subset of said set of one or more images and apply a second feature extraction algorithm to extract a second feature from i) at least a second subset of said set of one or more images, or ii) data received by said at least one data processing unit from an additional sensor; and at least one data processing unit configured to determine whether a position or a motion of said first feature is inconsistent with a position or a motion of said second feature. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
- at least one data processing unit configured to receive a set of one or more images of a returned item inserted into the reverse vending machine from said at least one image sensor;
Specification