Registry verification for a mechanized store

• US 9,886,827 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2017
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Standard Cognition Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bernd Schoner
• Inventors: Schoner, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D
• Application Number:
  US15/495,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20170309136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 235383, 235385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0081 the reader being a portable scanner or data reader G07G1/009 takes precedence

Abstract

Registry verification is used in a mechanized store. A camera is used to count a first number of items taken by a user. The items are scanned to determine a second number of items. The first number of items is compared to the second number of items to reduce a likelihood of errors.

Claims

1. A system using registry verification for a mechanized store with permitted access, the system comprising:

a structure enclosing an area, wherein the structure is configured to permit access to a user, of a plurality of potential users, to the area;

one or more displays in the area;

a plurality of items for sale located at the one or more displays, wherein the plurality of items are mapped to a code configured to be read by a scanning device;

one or more cameras configured to count a number of items in a registry removed by a user from the one or more displays; and

one or more processors configured to;

receive a number of items scanned from the scanning device;

receive the number of items removed counted by the one or more cameras;

compare the number of items scanned to the number of items removed to obtain a result; and

saving the result to a record of the user.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the one or more displays comprises a first display and a second display;

a first item of the plurality of items is located at the first display;

a second item of the plurality of items is located at the second display;

the one are more cameras are further configured to;

record that the first item was removed from the first display; and

record that the second item was removed from the second display.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to update a first electronic basket and a second electronic basket;

the first electronic basket corresponds to the number of items scanned; and

the second electronic basket corresponds to the number of items in the registry.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more cameras are configured to count the number of items without identifying the user.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more cameras are configured to count the number of items without identifying items.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more cameras are configured to count the number of items by identifying movement of a hand and determining if the hand is holding an item.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the structure is configured to permit only one user at a time access to the area.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the area is a volume less than 3.5 meters wide by 3.5 meters long by 3.5 meters tall.

9. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the area is a volume less than 1.5 cubic meters.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the structure lacks climate control to control a climate of the area.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a Bluetooth receiver configured to unlock doors of the structure based on a received Bluetooth signal.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, the cameras are configured to use artificial intelligence for determining if an item was taken from a display of the one or more displays.

13. A method for using registry verification for a mechanized store, the method comprising:

permitting a user access to a structure enclosing an area;

counting, using one or more cameras, a number of items removed from one or more displays by a user;

tracking, in a registry, the number of items removed;

receiving a number of items scanned by a scanner;

comparing the number of items in the registry to the number of items scanned to obtain a result; and

saving the result to a record of the user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving the number of items scanned comprises receiving a list of items scanned and counting the number of items on the list.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the scanner is a mobile device belonging to the user.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising alerting a store owner, store employee, independent contractor, and/or law enforcement based on the result being a negative number, such that the number of items removed is greater than the number of items scanned.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising tracking the user in the area.

18. One or more memory devices comprising instructions that cause one or more processors to perform the following steps:

permitting a user access to a structure enclosing an area by unlocking a lock;

counting, using one or more cameras, a number of items removed from one or more displays by a user;

tracking, in a registry, the number of items removed;

receiving a number of items scanned by a scanner;

comparing the number of items in the registry to the number of items scanned to obtain a result; and

saving the result to a record of the user.

19. The one or more memory devices as recited in claim 18, wherein counting the number of items removed from one or more displays by a user is performed without identifying items removed.

20. The one or more memory devices as recited in claim 18, the instructions when executed further cause one or more processors to transmit an indication to the user that the result is zero, such that the number of items removed equals the number of items scanned.