FRICTIONLESS SHOPPING USING EMITTED LIGHT SIGNALS

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a system and method for providing a frictionless shopping experience. The method includes detecting that an item was removed from a first area and detecting, by a camera, a light signal emitted from a cart. The method also includes identifying the cart based on the light signal and determining, based on the identified cart, a shopper linked to the cart. The method further includes determining, based at least in part on a location of the camera in the space, that the shopper removed the item from the first area and assigning the item to the shopper.

Description

Claims

1. A method comprising: detecting that an item was removed from a first area;detecting, by a camera, a light signal emitted from a cart;identifying the cart based on the light signal;determining, based on the identified cart, a shopper linked to the cart;determining, based at least in part on a location of the camera in the first area, that the shopper removed the item from the first area; andassigning the item to the shopper.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the light signal is an infrared light signal emitted by a light emitting diode attached to the cart.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the light signal comprises a light pattern that identifies the cart.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a scanned code from a device of the shopper; andlinking the shopper to the cart based on the scanned code.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first area is a shelf, and wherein detecting that the item was removed comprises detecting, by a weight sensor, that a weight of the shelf was reduced.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a video of the shopper, wherein determining that the shopper removed the item from the first area is further based on the video.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein tracking the shopper based on the video is in response to the item being removed from the first area.

8. A system comprising: a cart with a light arranged to emit a light signal;an item;a camera arranged to detect the light signal;a memory; anda hardware processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the hardware processor configured to: detect that the item was removed from a first area;identify the cart based on the light signal detected by the camera;determine, based on the identified cart, a shopper linked to the cart;determine, based at least in part on a location of the camera, that the shopper removed the item from the first area; andassigning the item to the shopper.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the light is a light emitting diode attached to the cart and the light signal is an infrared light signal.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the light signal comprises a light pattern that identifies the cart.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to: receive a scanned code from a device of the shopper; andlink the shopper to the cart based on the scanned code.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first area is a shelf, and wherein detecting that the item was removed comprises detecting, by a weight sensor, that a weight of the shelf was reduced.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to receive a video of the shopper, wherein determining that the shopper removed the item from the first area is further based on the video.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein tracking the shopper based on the video is in response to the item being removed from the first area.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a hardware processor, cause the hardware processor to: detect that an item was removed from a first area;receive, from a camera, an indication of a light signal emitted from a cart;identify the cart based on the light signal;determine, based on the identified cart, a shopper linked to the cart; andassign, based at least in part on a location of the camera, the item to the shopper.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the light signal is an infrared light signal emitted by a light emitting diode attached to the cart.

17. The medium of claim 15, wherein the light signal comprises a light pattern that identifies the cart.

18. The medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the hardware processor to further: receive a scanned code from a device of the shopper; andlink the shopper to the cart based on the scanned code.

19. The medium of claim 15, wherein the first area is a shelf, and wherein detecting that the item was removed comprises detecting, by a weight sensor, that a weight of the shelf was reduced.

20. The medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the hardware processor to further receive a video of the shopper, wherein determining that the shopper removed the item from the first area is further based on the video.