JP2013188401A - Merchandise management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a merchandise management system capable of obtaining information for specifying a shoplifter and coping with a recommitment of a habitual shoplifter.SOLUTION: A merchandise management system includes: a merchandise pick-up detecting means 12 for detecting the pick-up or non-pick-up of a merchandise product from a showcase 10; a first imaging means 14 for imaging a person picking up the merchandise product when the merchandise pick-up detecting means 12 detects the pick-up of a merchandise product; a sales acquisition means 22 for acquiring sales information of the merchandise product on a register 20 when the merchandise pick-up detecting means 12 detects the pick-up of the merchandise product; a second imaging means 24 for imaging a person purchasing the merchandise product when the sales information is acquired by the sales acquisition means 22; a control means 30 for determining shoplifting based on imaging information of the first imaging means 14 and imaging information of the second imaging means 24; and an information storage means 40 for storing the imaging information.

Description

  The present invention relates to a merchandise management system that manages inventory information of merchandise displayed in showcases installed in stores such as convenience stores and supermarkets and sales information at cash registers, and in particular, has a function of collecting information on shoplifters Product management system.

  Conventionally, a merchandise management system for preventing shoplifting of merchandise displayed in a showcase is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, an RFID tag is attached to each product in advance, and a shoplifting action to take a product that has not been settled by receiving a signal from the RFID tag outside the store is monitored.

JP 2008-290848 A

  By the way, in the merchandise management system of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, it is necessary to attach RFID tags to all merchandise handled in the store, which takes time. In addition, the RFID tag has a problem that it is difficult to attach to a small product. Furthermore, because the conditions used to detect shoplifting actions are information obtained from tags such as product quantity, price, time zone, day of the week, product position, etc., it is difficult to obtain information for identifying shoplifters, making it a habitual It was difficult to deal with the re-offending of shoplifters.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides a merchandise management system capable of obtaining information for identifying a shoplifter and dealing with a recidivism of a regular shoplifter. For the purpose.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a product management system according to claim 1 of the present invention is a product management system that manages the inventory status of products displayed in a showcase using a computer. Product acquisition detecting means for detecting presence / absence of acquisition of products from the showcase, first imaging means for imaging an actor who acquires the product when the product acquisition detecting means detects that the product has been acquired, and product acquisition detection Sales acquisition means for acquiring sales information of the product at the cash register when the means detects the acquisition of the product, second imaging means for imaging the purchaser of the product when the sales information is acquired by the sales acquisition means, Control means for determining a shoplifting action based on imaging information by one imaging means and imaging information by the second imaging means, and information storage means for storing the imaging information Characterized in that it comprises.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the product management system according to the first aspect, the first imaging is performed in the imaging information captured by the second imaging unit within a predetermined period after the imaging by the first imaging unit. Only when there is no imaging information by the means, the information storage means holds the imaging information by the first imaging means.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the product management system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the control means is the first imaging means already held in the information storage means and the imaging information by the first imaging means. It is characterized by determining whether it is a shoplifting addict by comparing with past imaging information.

  In addition, in the product management system according to claim 4 of the present invention, in the above-described claim 3, when the control means determines that the shopkeeper is addicted to shoplifting, it sends an alarm to the product manager. Features.

  According to the present invention, in a merchandise management system that manages the inventory status of merchandise displayed in a showcase using a computer, merchandise acquisition detection means for detecting whether or not the merchandise is acquired from the showcase, and merchandise acquisition detection When the means detects the acquisition of the product, the first imaging means that images the person who acquires the product, and the sales that acquires the sales information of the product at the cash register when the product acquisition detection means detects the acquisition of the product Shoplifting action based on the acquisition means, the second imaging means for capturing the product purchaser when the sales information is acquired by the sales acquisition means, the imaging information by the first imaging means, and the imaging information by the second imaging means Control means for determining whether the image information is stored, and information storage means for storing the imaging information. Therefore, the shoplifting action is determined based on the imaging information. Since the imaging information includes information for identifying the shoplifter, it is possible to cope with the recidivism of the customary shoplifter.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a merchandise management system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an arrangement example of the product acquisition detection unit and the first imaging unit. FIG. 3 is an image diagram of the product acquisition state. FIG. 4 is an image diagram of a product acquisition state. FIG. 5 is a processing flowchart of the imaging process (showcase side). FIG. 6 is a processing flowchart of the imaging process (on the registration side). FIG. 7 is a process flow diagram of the imaging information extraction process habitually used.

  Embodiments of a merchandise management system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a merchandise management system 100 according to the present invention is a merchandise management system that manages the inventory status of merchandise displayed in a showcase using a computer (not shown), and merchandise provided in the showcase 10. The acquisition detection means 12, the first imaging means 14, the sales acquisition means 22 provided in the cash register 20, the second imaging means 24, the control means 30, and the information storage means 40 are provided.

  The product acquisition detection means 12 is for detecting whether or not a product has been acquired from the showcase 10, and can be constituted by, for example, a transmission sensor provided on a product shelf.

  The first imaging means 14 is provided in the vicinity of the merchandise shelf when the merchandise acquisition detection means 12 detects the acquisition of the merchandise and images the person who obtains the merchandise. The first imaging means 14 can be constituted by a video camera, for example.

  The sales acquisition means 22 is for acquiring the sales information of the product at the cash register 20 when the product acquisition detection means 12 detects the acquisition of the product.

  The second imaging means 24 is provided in the vicinity of the cash register 20 for imaging the product purchaser when sales information is acquired by the sales acquisition means 22. The second imaging means 24 can be constituted by a video camera, for example.

  The control means 30 is for determining whether the sales have occurred or the shoplifting action has occurred based on the imaging information by the first imaging means 14 and the imaging information by the second imaging means 24. In this determination, imaging by the second imaging unit 24 (registration side) is performed within a preset period after imaging by the first imaging unit 14 (showcase side) (for example, 1 hour after imaging or during the day of imaging). As a result, if it exists in the imaging information on the showcase side but not in the imaging information on the cash register side, it is determined that shoplifting has occurred, and if it exists in both imaging information, sales are generated. It is determined.

  Further, the control means 30 has an addictive determination processing unit 32. This habituation determination processing unit 32 compares the imaging information of the person to be determined by the first imaging unit 14 with the imaging information of the habituation target information 42 described later already held in the information storage unit 40. It is determined whether or not the person to be judged is a shoplifting person who has become a habitual person (addiction of shoplifting action).

  The information storage means 40 is for storing the imaging information imaged by the first imaging means 14 and the second imaging means 24 via the control means 30 and holds the habituation target information 42. This habituation target information 42 includes imaging information (imaging information by the first imaging unit 14) of the actor who has been determined to be a shoplifting actor who has been habituated by the addicting determination processing unit 32 of the control unit 30 in the past. And information such as an imaging position.

  Next, a specific configuration example and operation of the merchandise management system 100 according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the product shelf of the showcase 10 as seen from the front side.
As shown in FIG. 2, the commodity shelf 16 is inclined downward from the rear to the front. A plurality of product acquisition detection means 12 are provided at the front end of the product shelf 16, and the first imaging means 14 is provided above the front end of the product shelf 16.

3 and 4 are side sectional views of the commodity shelf 16.
As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of products P are placed on the product shelf 16 so as to be adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction, and the product P in the front row is positioned immediately above the product acquisition detection unit 12. ing. In the case of FIG. 3, since there is the foremost product P immediately above the product acquisition detection means 12, it is detected that no product has been acquired.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the foremost product P is obtained from the product shelf 16, the product P immediately behind the product P slides forward on the inclined upper surface of the product shelf 16. In this case, immediately before the product P is slid, an empty space with no product is temporarily created immediately above the product acquisition detection means 12. The product acquisition detection means 12 detects the presence of product acquisition by detecting this vacant space.

  Then, as shown in the processing flow of FIG. 5, when the product acquisition detection unit 12 detects the presence of product acquisition (Yes in step S <b> 1), the first imaging unit 14 installed in the showcase is used to acquire the product. An image of the area around the front of the product shelf 16 is collected, and imaging information of the person who acquires the product is collected (step S2). If no product is acquired (No in step S1), the process is terminated without passing through step S2 (step S3).

  On the other hand, as shown in the processing flow of FIG. 6, when the product acquisition detection unit 12 detects the presence of product acquisition (Yes in step S4), the sales information acquisition unit 22 acquires product sales information (step S4). S5). And when sales information is acquired by the sales acquisition means 22 (Yes in step S5), the said product purchaser is imaged by the 2nd imaging means 24 installed in the vicinity of a cash register, and the imaging information is collected ( Step S6). If there is no product acquisition (No in step S4) or no sales information (No in step S5), the process ends without passing through step S6 (step S7).

  Next, the control means 30 determines whether the event is an occurrence of sales or an occurrence of shoplifting. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the imaging information on the showcase side and the imaging information on the cash register side collected through the processing flows of FIGS. 5 and 6 are compared (step S8).

  As a result, if it exists in the imaging information on the showcase side but does not exist in the imaging information on the cash register side (that is, if there is no identical information) (No in step S9), it is determined that a shoplifting action has occurred. Imaging information by the first imaging unit 14 is stored in the information storage unit 40 (step S10). Here, since the imaging information by the first imaging means 14 includes information for specifying the shoplifter, this information is held as the habituation target information 42 in order to prepare for the shoplifter's return visit.

  If there is the same information in step S9 (Yes in step S9), it is determined that sales have occurred, and both pieces of imaging information are discarded without being stored in the information storage means 40 (step S13), and processing is performed. Is finished (step S12).

  Here, the habituation determination processing unit 32 of the control unit 30 extracts imaging information from the habituation target information 42 already held in the information storage unit 40, and the imaging information and the imaging information of the first imaging unit 14 are extracted. By comparing these, it is determined whether or not the determination target person is a shoplifter who has become a habitual (shoplifting addict). In this case, when the imaging information of the first imaging means 14 is present in the imaging information of the habituation target information 42, it can be determined that the determination target person is a shoplifting addict. It can be determined that it is not.

  If it is determined that the shoplifting addict is a shoplifting addict, it indicates that the shoplifting addict has revisited the shoplifting action. Therefore, in this case, an alarm warning (warning) indicating that the vigilance should be strengthened in the future is output (transmitted) to the product manager (step S11). In this way, the merchandise manager will be able to deal with the recidivism of regular shoplifters in the future.

  Thus, according to the present invention, based on the imaging information at the time of product acquisition and the imaging information at the time of sales occurrence, it has become a habit by collecting imaging information related to shoplifting actions that occur periodically (periodically). This makes it easier to identify shoplifters.

  In addition, when the product shelf 16 is installed horizontally, even if the product P in the front row is acquired from the product shelf 16, the product P immediately behind the product shelf 16 does not slide toward the front of the product shelf 16; A plurality of acquisition detection means 12 may be arranged before and after, or as many product acquisition detection means 12 as the number of products placed on the product shelf 16 may be provided.

  Moreover, the product acquisition detection means 12 may be provided below the front shelf of the product shelf 16 to detect the product P acquisition of the product shelf 16 in the lower stage.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in the merchandise management system that manages the inventory status of merchandise displayed in the showcase using a computer, the merchandise acquisition detection detects whether or not the merchandise is acquired from the showcase. And a first imaging unit that images the person who acquires the product when the product acquisition detection unit detects the acquisition of the product, and a product register at the cash register when the product acquisition detection unit detects the acquisition of the product. Sales acquisition means for acquiring sales information, second imaging means for imaging the product purchaser when sales information is acquired by the sales acquisition means, imaging information by the first imaging means, and imaging information by the second imaging means Control means for determining a shoplifting action based on the information and an information storage means for storing the imaging information. Therefore, the shoplifting action is determined based on the imaging information. That. Since the imaging information includes information for identifying the shoplifter, it is possible to cope with the recidivism of the customary shoplifter.

  As described above, the merchandise management system according to the present invention is useful for a merchandise management system that manages inventory information of merchandise displayed in a showcase installed in a store such as a convenience store or a supermarket and sales information at a cash register. Yes, especially for collecting shoplifter information.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Showcase 12 Goods acquisition detection means 14 First imaging means 16 Goods shelf 20 Cash register 22 Sales acquisition means 24 Second imaging means 30 Control means 32 Customization determination processing unit 40 Information storage means 42 Customization target information

Claims (4)

In a product management system that manages the inventory status of products displayed in a showcase using a computer,
Product acquisition detecting means for detecting whether or not the product is acquired from the showcase;
A first image pickup means for picking up an image of an acquisition person of the product when the product acquisition detection means detects the acquisition of the product;
Sales acquisition means for acquiring product sales information at the cash register when the product acquisition detection means detects that the product has been acquired; and
A second image pickup means for picking up an image of the product purchaser when sales information is acquired by the sales acquisition means;
Control means for determining a shoplifting action based on imaging information by the first imaging means and imaging information by the second imaging means;
A product management system comprising: information storage means for storing the imaging information.   The information storage means captures image information from the first imaging means only when there is no imaging information from the first imaging means in the imaging information captured by the second imaging means within a predetermined period after imaging by the first imaging means. The merchandise management system according to claim 1, wherein:   The control means determines whether or not the user is a shoplifting addict by comparing the imaging information obtained by the first imaging means with the past imaging information obtained by the first imaging means already held in the information storage means. The merchandise management system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:   4. The merchandise management system according to claim 3, wherein the control means sends an alarm to the merchandise manager when it is determined that the shoplifter is a regular shoplifter.

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