Authors:
Susan Brosnan, Jessica Snead, Patricia Hogan, Daniel Goins
Abstract:
A design that enhances the utilization of shopping carts by leveraging computer vision to detect and alert shoppers of malicious activities towards their that cart.
Background:
Have you ever had personal, or merchandise items stolen from your cart without noticing? This is a major issue many shoppers experience, especially while looking away to browse a display of merchandise or stepping away to use the restroom. Merchandise and personal items can be maliciously removed (stolen) from a shopping cart without noticing. Worst of all, an entire shopping cart can be displaced and looted when a shopper simply steps away for a brief moment. These types of malicious activities and experiences negatively affect the entire shopping experience, forcing shoppers to become more focused on protecting merchandise and personal items rather than shopping.
There are some existing patents that address similar issues, but not in the same manner as this solution.
Of the existing solutions, many fail to alert shoppers of malicious actions towards non-purchased merchandise and personal items in a cart. The only solution that does do alerts leverages RFID and a personal shopping system that requires shoppers to scan items before placing them in the cart to detect removal of items, adding another layer of complexity to the shopping journey.
Description:
My proposed solution leverages AI and computer vision to detect and classify interactions that alter the state of the cart and alert a shopper when possible malicious activities are detected. The shopper will have the ability to connect with a cart via their mobile device (app on their phone) to configure specific security settings and receive alerts. There are three main features the solution supports, including:
1. Item Removal Alert: When the removal of an item is detected, a notification and a short clip of the event is sent to the shopper. (Can be used without Guard Mode active)
2. Cart Movement Alert: When the cart detects movement, a notification is sent to the shopper (Used only when Guard Mode is active).
3. Guard Mode: When a shopper steps away, a shopper can enable Guard Mode, which leverages Item Removal Alert and Cart Moving Alert to notify the shopper. Shoppers can then leverage their mobile device to find the location of their cart if it was displaced or even alert the store of the activity as it is happening.
Beyond the basic features, thresholds for how sensitive an alert is can be configured.
Supporting Art:
There are some existing patents that address similar issues, but not in the same way manner as this solution addresses them, including:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20080074260A1 System for inhibiting movement of car from designated area
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20160185375A1 Shopping Container Safes
https://patents.google.com/patent/US7944354B2 System for Securing Purchased Items
TGCS Reference 3702
