US 12,033,481 B2
Shopping basket monitoring using computer vision and machine learning
Narayanan V. Ramanathan, Lake Forest, CA (US); Scott J. Carter, Seal Beach, CA (US); Stephen E. Hannah, Placentia, CA (US); Jesse M. James, Santa Ana, CA (US); Jack L. Johnson, San Diego, CA (US); and Robert M. Harling, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to Gatekeeper Systems, Inc., Foothill Ranch, CA (US)
Filed by Gatekeeper Systems, Inc., Foothill Ranch, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 5, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/561,950.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/728,583, filed on Sep. 7, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0079412 A1, Mar. 12, 2020
Int. Cl. G08B 13/196 (2006.01); B62B 3/14 (2006.01); B62B 5/00 (2006.01); B62B 5/04 (2006.01); G06F 18/214 (2023.01); G06N 20/00 (2019.01); G06Q 20/20 (2012.01); G06V 10/147 (2022.01); G06V 20/52 (2022.01); G06V 20/64 (2022.01); G08B 13/194 (2006.01); H04N 23/51 (2023.01)
CPC G08B 13/19613 (2013.01) [B62B 3/14 (2013.01); B62B 5/0096 (2013.01); B62B 5/0423 (2013.01); G06F 18/214 (2023.01); G06N 20/00 (2019.01); G06Q 20/202 (2013.01); G06V 10/147 (2022.01); G06V 20/52 (2022.01); G06V 20/64 (2022.01); G08B 13/194 (2013.01); G08B 13/19608 (2013.01); G08B 13/19652 (2013.01); H04N 23/51 (2023.01)] 31 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An anti-theft system comprising:
a computer vision unit (CVU) configured to image a region of a facility, the region on a path between a pay point and an exit of the facility, the CVU comprising:
a camera;
a radio frequency (RF) communication node; and
an image processor; and
a human-propelled, wheeled cart comprising:
a basket configured to hold merchandise;
a wheel comprising a brake configured to inhibit movement of the cart when the brake is actuated; and
an RF cart transceiver configured to communicate with the RF communication node of the CVU and the brake,
wherein the anti-theft system, using the image processor, is programmed to analyze images of the region of the facility obtained by the camera to detect a pushout theft condition, wherein detecting the pushout theft condition comprises:
determining that the basket of the cart is at least partially loaded with merchandise; and
determining that the cart is approaching an exit of the facility;
wherein the anti-theft system is further programmed to generate, based at least partly on sensed motion of the cart in said region, data that distinguishes the cart from other carts in the facility;
wherein, at least partly in response to detecting the pushout theft condition, the anti-theft system, using the RF communication node, is configured to use the data that distinguishes the cart from other carts to communicate an anti-theft command to the RF cart transceiver of the cart.