A temperature control device controls power supplied to a heater based on a temperature estimate value estimated over time so that a temperature control target to which heat propagates from the heater of the fixing unit reaches a preset target temperature. The temperature control device includes a temperature sensor, first and second storage circuits, a temperature difference detection circuit, and a target temperature correction circuit. The temperature sensor detects a temperature of the heater. The first storage circuit stores the temperature estimate value. The second storage circuit stores a sensor temperature. The temperature difference detection circuit calculates an actual temperature rise amount from a temperature difference between the temperature estimate value and the temperature of the heater from the respective storage circuits. The temperature correction circuit performs control such that a target temperature is lowered in accordance with the actual temperature rise amount.
Methods and systems of a point of sale controlling system are disclosed. In some aspects, a first musical note tone is assigned to a first checkout system and the first musical note tone is different from a second musical note tone assigned to a second checkout system. Next, in response to a first sound event has occurred for the first checkout system, the first musical note tone is only played for the first checkout system so that the first musical note tone is not played on the second checkout system and the second musical note is not played on the first checkout system.
A temperature control device controls power supplied to a heater based on a temperature estimate value estimated over time so that a temperature control target to which heat propagates from the heater of the fixing unit reaches a preset target temperature. The temperature control device includes a temperature sensor, first and second storage circuits, a temperature difference detection circuit, and a target temperature correction circuit. The temperature sensor detects a temperature of the heater. The first storage circuit stores the temperature estimate value. The second storage circuit stores a sensor temperature. The temperature difference detection circuit calculates an actual temperature rise amount from a temperature difference between the temperature estimate value and the temperature of the heater from the respective storage circuits. The temperature correction circuit performs control such that a target temperature is lowered in accordance with the actual temperature rise amount.
According to one embodiment, a printing apparatus includes a shaft on which an ink ribbon roll with a wireless tag can be mounted. The ink ribbon roll rotates about the shaft. An antenna for communication with the wireless tag is on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft. A wiring is on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft and connects to the antenna. A protective sleeve is provided to be between the shaft and the mounted ink ribbon roll. The protective sleeve covers an end portion of the shaft and the wiring at the end portion. A bearing is outside the protective sleeve. The bearing is rotatable about the protective sleeve. A printing unit is configured to perform printing on a medium to be printed with ink ribbon drawn out of the ink ribbon roll.
B41J 3/407 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
B41J 2/325 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet
5.
INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD
According to one embodiment, an information processing system includes a network, a workflow creation server accessible to a plurality of user terminals via the network, and a user setting server storing user settings for users of the user terminals. The workflow creation server creates a workflow plan in response to an operation of a workflow creator at a creator terminal. The workflow plan includes a step or process involving accessing a cloud service using a first cloud service account. The user setting terminal registers a second cloud service account for accessing the cloud service in response to an instruction from a user at a user terminal. The second cloud service account is associated with the user. When the workflow plan is executed by the user via the network, the second cloud service account is used for accessing the cloud service instead of the first cloud service account.
According to one embodiment, a commodity sales data processing apparatus includes a communication interface, a storage unit, and a control unit. The control unit receives a commodity code of an item being registered for purchase, extracts commodity information associated with the commodity code, registers the commodity code and the extracted commodity information in a transaction file, and causes commodity information related to the item to be displayed on a commodity registration screen. When the control unit receives a cancelation request for removing an item from the sales transaction, it outputs a cancelation notification to a clerk terminal and then indicates a deletion of the item from the transaction file after receiving a clerk confirmation. The control unit is configured to continue to receive commodity codes of other items being registered in the sales transaction after the cancelation notification has been output but before receiving of the clerk confirmation.
According to one embodiment, an information processing system includes a first storage unit that stores user information for each notification destination user and a creation unit that creates a workflow plan including a notification destination user to be used for notifications required in the workflow plan. The workflow plan is executable by a system user without requiring the user to provide user information. A second storage unit stores the workflow plan created by the creation unit. An execution unit is provided such that, when execution of the workflow plan stored in the second storage unit begins, user information of the notification destination user set in the workflow plan as the notification destination is acquired from the first storage unit and a notification to the notification destination user is sent in accordance with the acquired user information and the workflow plan.
According to one embodiment, an information processing system includes a receiving unit, an OCR execution unit, a management unit, an extraction unit, a correction candidate output unit, an accuracy information output unit, and a correction acceptance unit. The receiving unit receives image information. The OCR execution unit performs character recognition on the image information using OCR. The management unit stores definition data that defines a workflow based on the image information. The extraction unit extracts a usage item handled in the workflow from the definition data. The correction candidate output unit extracts a value corresponding to the usage item from a recognition result obtained by the OCR execution unit and outputs the value as a correction candidate. The accuracy information output unit outputs information based on accuracy when the OCR execution unit recognizes the correction candidate. The correction acceptance unit accepts a correction for the correction candidate.
G06V 10/94 - Hardware or software architectures specially adapted for image or video understanding
G06V 10/96 - Management of image or video recognition tasks
G06V 10/98 - Detection or correction of errors, e.g. by rescanning the pattern or by human interventionEvaluation of the quality of the acquired patterns
G06V 30/262 - Techniques for post-processing, e.g. correcting the recognition result using context analysis, e.g. lexical, syntactic or semantic context
9.
INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD FOR INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM
According to one embodiment, an information processing system includes a receiving unit, an OCR execution unit, a management unit, an extraction unit, a correction candidate output unit, and a correction acceptance unit. The receiving unit receives image information. The OCR execution unit performs character recognition on the image information using OCR. The management unit stores definition data that defines a workflow based on the image information. The extraction unit extracts a usage item handled in the workflow from the definition data. The correction candidate output unit extracts a value corresponding to the usage item from a recognition result obtained by the OCR execution unit and outputs the value as a correction candidate. The correction acceptance unit accepts a correction for the correction candidate.
According to one embodiment, a printer includes: a printing unit configured to print on a medium (such as a sheet); an optical sensor configured to receive reflected light from the medium irradiated with a predetermined light before printing; and a concentration setting unit configured to set a print concentration of a group corresponding to a type of the medium on the basis of an output value which is output by the optical sensor receiving the reflected light.
Systems and methods for providing store intelligence. The methods involve: receiving, from the camera, image data of a person selecting the article and receiving, from a reader, tag data associated with the article; determining that a potential theft event has occurred using both the tag data and the image data while the item is in the selling area of the store but before the item is proximate to a checkout area of the store; selectively performing first operations facilitating facility security in response to determining that the article and tag is currently being manipulated in an abnormal manner.
G06V 20/52 - Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects
G06V 40/20 - Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition
G08B 13/24 - Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
G06K 7/14 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensingMethods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light
12.
PRINTER APPARATUS, ARTICLE MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, AND ARTICLE MANAGEMENT METHOD FOR ARTICLE MANAGEMENT APPARATUS
According to an embodiment, a printer apparatus controls a tag reader or a wireless communication module that receives information from a wireless tag located nearby to acquire a search result based on search information for each node of a communication path of a mesh network from its own node toward a terminal node. The printer apparatus controls a printing device to print the search result for each node of the communication path of the mesh network from its own node toward the terminal node.
According to an embodiment, a power supply management circuit of a printer includes a first switch, a second switch, a logic circuit, a power supply management integrated circuit, and a control circuit. When the first switch is switched, the logic circuit closes the second switch, and the power supply management integrated circuit starts sequence control of power supply startup in accordance with the closing. Further, when the first switch is long-pressed, the power supply management integrated circuit starts sequence control of power supply shutdown, and the control circuit causes the logic circuit to output a control signal to open the second switch.
H04N 1/00 - Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmissionDetails thereof
H03K 17/296 - Modifications to provide a choice of time-intervals for executing more than one switching action and automatically terminating their operation after the programme is completed
According to an embodiment, a machine operating state monitoring system measures a current flowing through a signal light attached to a machine to be monitored. The machine operating state monitoring system determines an operating state of the signal light on the basis of a measurement result of the current. The machine operating state monitoring system stores in advance a relationship between the operating state of the signal light and the operating state of the machine to be monitored. Furthermore, the machine operating state monitoring system determines an operating state of a machine to be monitored corresponding to the determined operating state of the signal light on the basis of the stored relationship.
According to embodiments, an attendant terminal computer is configured to monitor a plurality of transaction processing apparatuses, the attendant terminal computer comprising: a display panel; a communication circuit configured to communicate with the plurality of transaction processing apparatuses; and a processing circuit configured to execute a program stored in memory of the attendant terminal computer to perform steps for managing the display panel, wherein the steps include: determining group identifiers associated with groups to which the plurality of transaction processing apparatuses are assigned; determining, based on the determined group identifiers, visual features for displaying monitoring information received via the communication circuit from the plurality of transaction processing apparatuses; and updating, for each of the groups, the display panel to display the monitoring information for one or more of the plurality of transaction processing apparatuses assigned to the group, in a manner that includes a determined visual feature of the group.
H04L 41/22 - Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
According to one embodiment, a retail transaction processing system includes a point-of-sale terminal and a detection apparatus. The detection apparatus receives images from a camera positioned to image operations at the point-of-sale terminal and a transaction start/end indication from the point-of-sale terminal when a user begins and ends a transaction checkout operation. Upon receiving the transaction start indication, the detection apparatus begins detecting items in the received image and creates a detected item list. Upon receiving the checkout operation end indication, the detection apparatus stops detecting items in the received images and receives a registered item list from the point-of-sale terminal. The detection apparatus then compares the detected item list to the registered item list and outputs a notification when an item on the detected item list has no corresponding item on the registered item list.
A printer apparatus includes: a printing portion configured to perform printing while pulling out and conveying strip-shaped paper from roll paper wounded the paper with a first surface facing outward; a cutting portion provided downstream of the printing portion in a paper conveying direction to cut the paper; a support portion provided downstream of the cutting portion in the paper conveying direction to come into contact with a second surface that is a back surface of the first surface to support the paper, the support portion having a pair of recesses located apart from each other in a paper width direction and a protrusion located between the pair of recesses; and a holding portion provided downstream of the cutting portion in the paper conveying direction at a position where the holding portion faces the pair of recesses and presses the first surface of the paper supported by the support portion.
B41J 13/10 - Sheet holders, retainers, or stationary guides
B41J 3/407 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
B41J 11/00 - Devices or arrangements for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
B41J 11/70 - Applications of cutting devices cutting perpendicular to the direction of paper feed
According to one embodiment, an electronic receipt server includes a communication interface, a storage device, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive advertisement setting information from a setter terminal via the communication interface, store the advertisement setting information in the storage device, store electronic receipt information in the storage device, and receive a request for an electronic receipt from a user terminal via the communication interface. The processing circuit identifies a company code associated with the requested electronic receipt, then acquires the advertisement setting information associated with the company code in the storage device and determines whether the advertisement setting information indicates company-specific advertisements are enabled for the company code. The processing circuit then acquires a company-specific advertisement when the advertisement information indicates company-specific advertisements are enabled for the company code and outputs the acquired company-specific advertisement with the electronic receipt to the user terminal.
Systems and methods of performing item detection at point of sale are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a method is performed by a POS system device having a terminal station apparatus and a bagging station apparatus. The terminal station apparatus includes an optical scanner. The bagging station apparatus includes a bagging area. Further, the POS system device is operationally coupled to an optical sensor device having a field of view that includes a region about the POS system device with the POS region having a set of POS subregions. The method includes applying an artificial intelligence model to a set of interacted object track characteristics to enable a determination that one of a set of detected objects is transferred to the POS subregion associated with the bagging area without being scanned.
A printer that makes it less likely for cut and discharged paper to fall by a structure that can be formed by a wear-resistant component. The printer includes: a printing portion configured to perform printing while pulling out and conveying strip-shaped paper; a cutting portion configured to cut the paper; a support portion provided downstream of the cutting portion in the paper conveying direction and configured to come into contact with a second surface that is a back surface of the first surface to support the paper, the support portion being inclined such that a leading end portion of the paper, which moves along with conveyance, is displaced in a direction from the second surface toward the first surface; and a holding portion provided downstream of the cutting portion in the paper conveying direction and configured to press the first surface of the paper supported by the support portion.
B41J 13/10 - Sheet holders, retainers, or stationary guides
B41J 3/407 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
B41J 11/70 - Applications of cutting devices cutting perpendicular to the direction of paper feed
According to one embodiment, a printer apparatus includes: a printing portion configured to perform printing while pulling out and conveying strip-shaped paper from roll paper wounded the paper with a first surface facing outward; a cutting portion provided downstream of the printing portion in a paper conveying direction and configured to cut the paper; a support portion provided downstream of the cutting portion in the paper conveying direction and configured to come into contact with a second surface that is a back surface of the first surface to support the paper, the support portion having a pair of protrusions located apart from each other in a paper width direction; and a holding portion provided downstream of the cutting portion in the paper conveying direction and configured to press the first surface of the paper supported by the support portion between the pair of protrusions.
In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus performs, in a case where recognition processing for a target wireless tag has failed, at least one of stepwisely decreasing a reception threshold of radio signal strength to be returned from the target wireless tag or stepwisely increasing radio signal strength to be transmitted to the target wireless tag and reads data prestored by the wireless tag communication apparatus. The image forming apparatus performs re-recognition processing for recognizing the target wireless tag on the basis of the read data. The image forming apparatus notifies a user that the medium having the target wireless tag recognized in the re-recognition processing is a re-recognized medium whose target wireless tag has been recognized in the re-recognition processing.
H04N 1/00 - Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmissionDetails thereof
G03G 15/00 - Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
G03G 15/01 - Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for producing multicoloured copies
G03G 15/22 - Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern involving the combination of more than one step according to groups
G03G 21/16 - Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
G06K 7/10 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensingMethods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation
H04N 1/32 - Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver
24.
RECEIPT SERVER, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING RECEIPT SERVER, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS
A graphical user interface (GUI) includes a user interface for managing delivery of sales promotional information with electronic receipts. The user interface includes a first section for specifying sales promotions, a second section for specifying details about the sales promotions, a third section for specifying target locations for the sales promotions, a fourth section for specifying companies whose sales promotions are to be excluded, and a fifth section for specifying a display channel for the sales promotions. A control device stores information about the sales promotions that were specified through the GUI, stores receipt data of a receipt related to a transaction of a commodity purchased by the customer, transmits in response to a request from an information processing apparatus of the customer, the receipt data and the sales promotions based on the information about the sales promotions that have been specified through the GUI to the information processing apparatus.
According to one embodiment, a management device for a retail transaction processing system has a first connection interface for connecting to a merchandise registration unit, a second connection interface for connecting to a first checkout unit, a third connection interface for connecting to a second checkout unit, a processor. The processor is configured to control the merchandise registration unit via the first connection interface to perform a merchandise registration process of a sales transaction, select between the first checkout unit and the second checkout out unit for a settlement process of the sales transaction, and then control the selected one of the first and second checkout units to perform the settlement process for the sales transaction. Control of the first or second checkout units may be provided in some examples by a virtual checkout machine or the like established by the management device.
Systems and methods of performing item detection at point of sale are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a method is performed by a POS system device having a terminal station apparatus and a bagging station apparatus. The terminal station apparatus includes an optical scanner. The bagging station apparatus includes a bagging area. Further, the POS system device is operationally coupled to an optical sensor device having a field of view that includes a region about the POS system device with the POS region having a set of POS subregions. The method includes applying an artificial intelligence model to a set of interacted object track characteristics to enable a determination that one of a set of detected objects is transferred to the POS subregion associated with the bagging area without being scanned.
G06V 10/26 - Segmentation of patterns in the image fieldCutting or merging of image elements to establish the pattern region, e.g. clustering-based techniquesDetection of occlusion
Systems and methods of performing item detection at point of sale are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a method is performed by a POS system device having a terminal station apparatus and a bagging station apparatus. The terminal station apparatus includes an optical scanner. The bagging station apparatus includes a bagging area. Further, the POS system device is operationally coupled to an optical sensor device having a field of view that includes a region about the POS system device with the POS region having a set of POS subregions. The method includes applying an artificial intelligence model to a set of interacted object track characteristics to enable a determination that one of a set of detected objects is transferred to the POS subregion associated with the bagging area without being scanned.
Systems and methods of performing item detection at point of sale are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a method is performed by a POS system device having a terminal station apparatus and a bagging station apparatus. The terminal station apparatus includes an optical scanner. The bagging station apparatus includes a bagging area. Further, the POS system device is operationally coupled to an optical sensor device having a field of view that includes a region about the POS system device with the POS region having a set of POS subregions. The method includes applying an artificial intelligence model to a set of interacted object track characteristics to enable a determination that one of a set of detected objects is transferred to the POS subregion associated with the bagging area without being scanned.
A method for running a diagnostics web application for a peripheral device within a root web application running on a point of sale system operatively coupled to the peripheral device includes: loading, by the root web application, the diagnostics web application into a first iFrame of the root web application and loading an interface web application for the peripheral device into a second iFrame of the root web application; issuing, by the root web application, a command to the peripheral device using the interface web application; responsive to the command, receiving, at the interface web application, data from the peripheral device indicating occurrence of an error; and causing, by the root web application, a webpage of the diagnostics web application to display within a webpage of the root web application based on the data indicating occurrence of the error.
A computer system is configured to remotely manage technical support for a plurality of computer peripherals, by performing the steps of: monitoring network connections between the computer system and the plurality of computer peripherals to collect usage information and error information; and in response to detecting that a first error occurred in a computer peripheral of the plurality of computer peripherals: storing, in an entry of a database, error information describing an occurrence of the first error; generating a first support code and storing the first support code in the entry of the database in association with the error information; transmitting the first support code to the computer peripheral to be displayed thereby; reading the error information from the entry of the database in response to receiving the first support code from a user device; and displaying the error information on a user interface (UI) of a customer support technician.
A self-checkout system and techniques for illuminating one or more items placed within a predefined zone of the self-checkout system are provided. In one aspect, a self-checkout system includes one or more cameras, a light source, and a computing device. The computing device is configured to implement an operation, including: receiving one or more images of one or more items placed within the predefined zone, the images being captured by the cameras; determining an identity of the one or more items placed within the predefined zone, based at least in part on the captured images; and causing the light source to project an illuminated indicator onto at least one item of the one or more items placed within the predefined zone, based on the identity of the at least one item.
G06V 10/75 - Organisation of the matching processes, e.g. simultaneous or sequential comparisons of image or video featuresCoarse-fine approaches, e.g. multi-scale approachesImage or video pattern matchingProximity measures in feature spaces using context analysisSelection of dictionaries
H04N 23/56 - Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensorsControl thereof provided with illuminating means
A method for running a diagnostics web application for a peripheral device within a root web application running on a point of sale system operatively coupled to the peripheral device includes: loading, by the root web application, the diagnostics web application into a first iFrame of the root web application and loading an interface web application for the peripheral device into a second iFrame of the root web application; issuing, by the root web application, a command to the peripheral device using the interface web application; responsive to the command, receiving, at the interface web application, data from the peripheral device indicating occurrence of an error; and causing, by the root web application, a webpage of the diagnostics web application to display within a webpage of the root web application based on the data indicating occurrence of the error.
A self-checkout system and techniques for illuminating one or more items placed within a predefined zone of the self-checkout system are provided. In one aspect, a self-checkout system includes one or more cameras, a light source, and a computing device. The computing device is configured to implement an operation, including: receiving one or more images of one or more items placed within the predefined zone, the images being captured by the cameras; determining an identity of the one or more items placed within the predefined zone, based at least in part on the captured images; and causing the light source to project an illuminated indicator onto at least one item of the one or more items placed within the predefined zone, based on the identity of the at least one item.
According to one embodiment, a surveillance apparatus has a processor, a communication interface, a storage unit, and an output interface connected to an output unit in a checkout waiting area. The processor identifies whether customers are waiting in different lines in the checkout waiting area based on an image of the checkout waiting area, then identifies whether any of a plurality of checkout terminals in a checkout area are available. When a checkout terminal is identified as available, the processor selects one of the different lines when a settlement type available at the checkout terminal corresponds to at least one of the lines at which a customer is waiting. Guidance information is then output to indicate that a customer in the selected line should proceed to the available checkout terminal.
According to one embodiment, the commodity sales data processing device provides a registration unit, a price calculation unit, a reception unit, a first application unit, and a second application unit. The registration unit registers items being purchased in a sales transaction. The price calculation unit calculates a transaction price to be paid for the registered items. The reception unit receives information of coupons to be used in the sales transaction. When a received coupon is a first-type coupon, the first application unit applies a coupon benefit associated with the first-type coupon to a registered item. When the received coupon is a second-type coupon, the second application unit applies a coupon benefit associated the second-type coupon to the transaction price after a preliminary transaction price is calculated. The preliminary price reflects coupon benefits associated with any applied first-type coupons.
According to one embodiment, a cart-type terminal includes an operator terminal for registration of merchandise, a battery that supplies electric power to the operator terminal, a charging board configured to charge the battery from an external power source connected to a first coupling terminal, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to switch an operating mode of the cart-type terminal apparatus from a normal mode to a power saving mode when the cart-type terminal apparatus is determined to be within a charging area.
G06K 7/14 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensingMethods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light
B60R 16/033 - Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided forArrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for electric for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries
B62B 3/14 - Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheelsSteering devices thereforEquipment therefor characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys
B62B 5/00 - Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
The present disclosure provides techniques for tracking and verifying items that are scanned multiple times in a self-checkout system. A plurality of inputs indicating more than one scan of an item are received at a self-checkout machine. An image of a bagging area is captured. A CNN is trained to recognize the item based on a training dataset and a selected training algorithm. One or more units of the item are detected in the bagging area from the image using the CNN. A number of the detected units of the item in the bagging area is compared with a number of times the item has been scanned. Upon determining that there is no match, a shopping list displayed on the self-checkout machine is adjusted to reflect the number of the detected units of the item in the bagging area.
A image forming apparatus is configured to manage parallel printing of a print job, by performing the steps of: retrieving a request to print the print job; determining a network availability of one or more other image forming apparatuses connected to a network; generating a workplan for distributing the print job across a plurality of image forming apparatuses based on (1) print job information, including one or more of: the number of pages, the storage size, and a speed requirement assigned to the print job, and (2) image forming apparatus information, including one or more of: respective loads on, print speeds of, specific capabilities of, and failure rates of the plurality of image forming apparatuses; dividing, according to the workplan, the print job into a plurality of constituent print jobs; and transmitting one of the plurality of constituent print jobs to one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses.
In accordance with an embodiment, a wireless tag communication apparatus according to the embodiment receives radio waves transmitted from a wireless tag by an antenna. The wireless tag communication apparatus changes a relative position of the antenna with respect to the wireless tag. The wireless tag communication apparatus reads tag data of the wireless tag at a plurality of relative positions of the antenna with respect to the wireless tag on the basis of the received radio waves and infers an arrangement region of the wireless tag from the tag data. The wireless tag communication apparatus sets a change speed of the relative position of the antenna with respect to the wireless tag.
G06K 7/10 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensingMethods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation
41.
WIRELESS TAG COMMUNICATION APPARATUS AND WIRELESS TAG COMMUNICATION METHOD
According to an embodiment, a wireless tag communication apparatus checks an identification code of a wireless tag read by a reading device against a box list that is a list of identification codes of wireless tags attached to shipping boxes to identify a shipping box to which the wireless tag read by the reading device is attached. Further, the wireless tag communication apparatus creates a shipping list that is a list of the identification code of the wireless tag attached to the identified shipping box and identification codes of wireless tags attached to articles put in the shipping box.
G06K 7/10 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensingMethods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation
42.
WIRELESS TAG COMMUNICATION APPARATUS AND WIRELESS TAG COMMUNICATION METHOD
According to an embodiment, a wireless tag communication apparatus reads, on the basis of a radio wave received by an antenna, tag data of a wireless tag including an identification code of an article. The wireless tag communication apparatus performs, on the basis of a scheduled list that is a list of identification codes of articles to be disposed in a disposed region and a read list that is a list of read identification codes of articles, warning processing indicating a possibility that an article disposed in the disposed region is different from any of the articles corresponding to the identification codes in the scheduled list.
G06K 7/10 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensingMethods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation
G01S 5/02 - Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinationsPosition-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using radio waves
G06K 19/07 - Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards with integrated circuit chips
43.
WEIGHING SYSTEM, WEIGHING DEVICE, AND WEIGHING METHOD
According to one embodiment, a transaction processing system for weighed commodities includes a server device and a weighing device. The weighing device has a communication unit connected to the server device and a weighing unit to detect a change in weight of items in a container on the weighing unit. When the weighing unit detects a reduction in the weight of items in the container, the weighing device transmits a weight change notice to the server device via the communication unit. The weight change notice includes a weight change value corresponding to the reduction in weight and a weighing device code identifying the weighing unit. Upon receiving the weight change notice, the server device calculates a registered item price according to the weight change value and an item unit weight associated with the weighing device code in the server device.
G01G 19/414 - Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in groups with provisions for indicating, recording, or computing price or other quantities dependent on the weight using electromechanical or electronic computing means using electronic computing means only
G01G 19/415 - Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in groups with provisions for indicating, recording, or computing price or other quantities dependent on the weight using electromechanical or electronic computing means using electronic computing means only combined with recording means
According to an embodiment, an information processing apparatus stores, for each workflow that defines an assignment order of tasks to be executed in sequence by a plurality of operators, a task history in which a type of the task executed by each of the operators and a date and time at which the task has been executed are associated with each other. The information processing apparatus calculates an average time for each type of the task from a time when an order is assigned to the operator to a time when the operator executes the task, on the basis of the stored task history. Further, the information processing apparatus sends a notification to an operator who has not performed the task at a timing based on the average time corresponding to the type of the task.
Methods and apparatus for automated order placement and fulfillment monitoring are provided. An order is received from a Point of Sale (PoS) device. One or more items in the order are identified. Responsive to receiving a confirmation of the order, a status of each item, among the one or more items in the order, is monitored. A graphical element rendered in a display interface is updated, the graphical element displaying changes in the status of each item within the order.
A monitoring apparatus includes a camera interface, a terminal interface, a communication interface, and a processor. The processor is configured to recognize actions of a settler at a point-of-sale terminal based on images from a camera, recognize input operations performed at the point-of-sale terminal by the settler based on information from the point-of-sale terminal and detect fraudulent acts based on a recognized action and a recognized input operation at the point-of-sale terminal. The processor outputs a fraud detection image corresponding to a detected fraudulent act to at least one of the point-of-sale terminal and an attendant terminal.
G06Q 20/40 - Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentialsReview and approval of payers, e.g. check of credit lines or negative lists
A store monitoring system includes a tag reader disposed in or near a shelf on which items with wireless tags are displayed, a point-of-sale terminal configured to acquire tag information from wireless tags attached to items and perform checkout processing on the items using the acquired tag information, and a store monitoring apparatus configured to acquire tag information from the tag reader, upon determining that first tag information previously received by the tag reader at a particular time has not been received by the tag reader for a predetermined time period since the particular time, store the first tag information in a memory, acquire tag information from the POS terminal, and upon determining that the first tag information is not in the tag information acquired by the tag reader within the predetermined time period, output an alert indicating an item associated with the first tag information.
According to one embodiment, a monitoring system includes an exit gate and a sales data processing device that does checkout processing for merchandise items in a sales transaction and generates a transaction receipt that can be read at the exit gate. A processor acquires an identifier from the transaction receipt at the exit gate, receives an image of a lower tier of a shopping cart at the exit gate and identifies whether an object is on the lower tier. The processor determines whether a merchandise item corresponding to the object on the lower tier was registered in the sales transaction associated with the acquired identifier and opens the exit gate when the object on the lower tier corresponds to a merchandise item included in the sales transaction but otherwise keeps the exit gate closed when the object is identified as being on the lower tier.
An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to receive a first electronic file, and acquire metadata of a second electronic file. The second electronic file being the same as the first electronic file or being a file generated based on the first electronic file. processor is also configured to transmit the second electronic file and the metadata of the second electronic file based on information associated with linking a type of the metadata and data defined in an external service.
G06F 16/908 - Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually using metadata automatically derived from the content
51.
PAPER DISCHARGE APPARATUS AND PAPER DISCHARGE UNIT
According to one embodiment, a paper discharge apparatus includes a conveyance unit configured to convey paper printed by a printer and discharge the printed paper to an outside, a conveyance stop unit configured to stop the conveyance of the paper by the conveyance unit during printing of the paper, a loop mechanism configured to selectively loop the paper printed while conveyance is stopped from a conveyance path provided upstream of the conveyance unit in a conveyance direction of the paper toward any one of a printing surface side of the paper and a non-printing surface side of the paper, and a paper discharge unit configured to drive the stopped conveyance unit and discharge the looped paper when printing of the paper is completed.
According to one embodiment, an information processing device includes a communication interface and a control unit that receives an inquiry sentence from a user, classifies the inquiry sentence by submitting the inquiry sentence to a classification model, generates a prompt from the inquiry sentence, then inputs the prompt to a generative AI to receive a response sentence. The control unit then classifies the response sentence by submitting the response sentence to the classification model, then determines whether the inquiry sentence classification matches the response sentence classification. The control unit outputs the response sentence to the user via the communication interface when the classifications are determined to be similar, but generates another prompt from the inquiry sentence to be input to the generative AI when the classifications are dissimilar.
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a storage unit, a communication unit, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to receive a query text via the communication unit, then generate a prompt based on the query text. The control unit also acquires present load status information corresponding to a current workload of the control unit. The number of generative AI models to which the generated prompt is to be input is determined based at least in part on the present load status information. The control unit receives a response text to the prompt from the determined number of generative AI models, and then outputs a query response text via the communication unit. The query response text reflects each received response text. In some examples, the number of times the prompt is input to a generative AI model may be set based on the current workload.
A print system includes a client terminal, a printer, and a server. The client terminal includes a first communication interface, a scanner, and a first processor configured to control the first communication interface to transmit a print job to the server. The server includes a second communication interface and a second processor configured to, in response the print job, obtain an unlock code associated with the printer and control the second communication interface to transmit the unlock code to the printer. The printer includes a display, a print engine, and a third processor configured to, in response to the unlock code, control the display to display an optically-readable code representing the unlock code and a server identifier. The first processor is configured to transmit a first request including the unlock code. The second processor verifies the unlock code and transmits a second request to the printer and the print job.
According to one embodiment, a settlement terminal includes a control unit which forecasts which one of the plurality of reading units will be used to perform settlement using a credit card, identifies which reading units are presently in a ready state, then cancels or turns off the ready state of the reading units other than the forecasted one. In general, the forecast may be provided by analysis of a picture of the customer at the settlement terminal holding the credit card prior to operation of the settlement terminal. The control unit may implement machine learning, such as a neural network for analysis of the picture and providing of the forecast.
G06Q 20/34 - Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
G06V 10/82 - Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding using pattern recognition or machine learning using neural networks
According to one embodiment, a printer includes a first motor, a printing unit, a second motor, a charging circuit, and a connection unit. The first motor feeds a sheet. The printing unit forms an image on the sheet. When a rotational force is applied, the second motor converts the applied rotational force into electric power, and when electric power is applied, the second motor converts the applied electric power into a rotational force. The charging circuit holds the electric power converted from a rotational force of the first motor by the second motor, and supplies the held electric power when the printing unit forms an image. The connection unit receives electric power supplied via USB power delivery.
According to one embodiment, a customer guidance system includes a camera, a checkout apparatus, and a store server. The store server has a storage unit, a communication unit, and a control unit configured to identify and store a degree of congestion for different regions of the store, determine a current status of a customer in the store, select a region of the store as a suggested destination for the customer based on congestion degrees and the customer's current status. The control unit generates a prompt including the suggested destination and inputs the prompt to a generative AI trained to generate a customer guidance response for guiding the customer to the suggested destination. The customer guidance response is then supplied to the customer.
Systems and methods of providing sign-in at entry to a retail store are performed. In one exemplary embodiment, a method is performed by a wireless device operationally coupled to a network node device and having processing circuitry operable to execute an application that is associated with both a certain user account of a set of user accounts and a set of retail stores. The method includes sending, to the network node device, an indication that includes both the current location of the wireless device and information associated with the certain user account to enable the network node device to initiate sending, to the wireless device over the network, a user account-specific, location-based notification that includes an optically machine readable code, displayed through the application executed by the processing circuitry of the wireless device, to enable entry to a certain retail store of the set of retail stores.
G06K 7/14 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensingMethods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light
H04W 4/021 - Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
Methods and systems of a point of sale controlling system are disclosed. In some aspects, a first item is scanned and the weight of the first item is verified. In response to the weight of the first item being verified, the following occurs: a counter is incremented by a first amount associated with the first item; a second item is scanned while the first item remains on the weighting system, a weight of the first and second items on the weighting system is verified; in response to the weight of the first and second items being verified, a triggering event using the counter is determined to have occurred; in response to determining that the triggering event has occurred, all items on the weighting system is moved to a bagging area and resetting the counter; otherwise all items remain on the weighting system and additional items can be scanned and weighed.
Methods and systems of an intelligent shopping cart apparatus are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a method is performed by an apparatus configured to be mechanically coupled to a cart. Further, the apparatus includes a coupling mechanism configured to suspend a container from the apparatus and a processing circuitry operationally coupled to a weight sensor operable to measure the weight of an object disposed in the container while suspended from the apparatus by the coupling mechanism. The method includes sending, by the processing circuitry, an indication associated with a weight-related price of an object based on the weight measurement of the object disposed in the container while suspended from the apparatus by the coupling mechanism and a price per unit of weight of a selected retail item corresponding to the object.
According to one embodiment, a printer includes a first motor, a printing unit, a second motor, and a charging circuit. The first motor feeds a sheet. The printing unit forms an image on the sheet. When a rotational force is applied, the second motor converts the applied rotational force into electric power, and when electric power is applied, the second motor converts the applied electric power into a rotational force. The charging circuit holds the electric power converted from a rotational force of the first motor by the second motor, and supplies the held electric power when the printing unit forms an image.
According to one embodiment, an information processing terminal includes a checkout device, a printer, and at least one of a scanner, a card reader, and a display unit. The checkout device includes a power source circuit that outputs a first voltage. The printer includes a first motor, a printing unit, a second motor, a charging circuit, and a connection unit. The first motor feeds a printing sheet. When a rotational force is applied, the second motor converts the applied rotational force into electric power. The charging circuit holds the electric power converted from a rotational force of the first motor by the second motor, and supplies the held electric power when the printing unit forms an image. The connection unit receives the first voltage. The scanner, the card reader, and the display unit are operated by upon receiving the first voltage.
B41J 2/32 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
B41J 3/46 - Printing mechanisms combined with apparatus providing a visual indication
B41J 29/00 - Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for
H02P 5/68 - Arrangements specially adapted for regulating or controlling the speed or torque of two or more electric motors controlling two or more DC dynamo-electric motors
63.
IMAGE DATA RETENTION ASSOCIATED WITH A COMPUTER VISION SYSTEM
Systems and methods of performing image data retention associated with a computer vision system are described. In one exemplary embodiment, a method is performed by a network node operationally coupled to a set of optical sensor devices positioned about a retail space. Further, each optical sensor device has a field of view towards a certain region about the retail space and is operable to capture sequential images that correspond to the certain region. The method includes storing, in non-volatile memory, data that corresponds to the sequential images captured the optical sensor devices of a subject as that subject traverses about the retail space. The method also includes selecting a portion of the stored image data that corresponds to a physical view of the subject or a certain activity performed by the subject while about the retail space to retain in the non-volatile memory.
Methods and systems of an intelligent shopping cart apparatus are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a method is performed by an apparatus configured to be mechanically coupled to a cart. Further, the apparatus includes a coupling mechanism configured to suspend a container from the apparatus and a processing circuitry operationally coupled to a weight sensor operable to measure the weight of an object disposed in the container while suspended from the apparatus by the coupling mechanism. The method includes sending, by the processing circuitry, an indication associated with a weight-related price of an object based on the weight measurement of the object disposed in the container while suspended from the apparatus by the coupling mechanism and a price per unit of weight of a selected retail item corresponding to the object.
G07G 1/14 - Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit
B62B 3/14 - Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheelsSteering devices thereforEquipment therefor characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys
B62B 5/00 - Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
G01G 19/414 - Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in groups with provisions for indicating, recording, or computing price or other quantities dependent on the weight using electromechanical or electronic computing means using electronic computing means only
A shopping cart system includes a shopping cart that includes an input connector that receives, from the power supply device or a previous stage cart, a charging current and a DC voltage of a DC power supply different from a supply power supply of the charging current, a first resistor connected in series to an input line of the DC voltage, and a first output connector that outputs the DC voltage via the first resistor and a part of the charging current received by the input connector. The power supply device includes a second output connector that outputs a charging current and a DC voltage via a second resistor connected in series to an output line of the DC power supply, and an energization control unit that stops the charging current when a current flowing through the second resistor falls below a predetermined value.
B62B 5/00 - Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
B62B 3/14 - Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheelsSteering devices thereforEquipment therefor characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
A shopping cart system includes a shopping cart that includes an input connector that receives a charging current and a DC voltage of a DC power supply different from a supply power supply of the charging current, a first resistor connected in parallel to an input line of the DC voltage, and a first output connector that outputs, to an input connector of another cart connected to a subsequent stage of the cart, the DC voltage across the first resistor and a part of the charging current received by the input connector. The power supply device includes a second output connector that outputs a charging current and a DC voltage via a second resistor connected in series to an output line of the DC power supply, and an energization control unit that stops the charging current when a voltage across the second resistor exceeds a predetermined value.
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
B62B 3/14 - Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheelsSteering devices thereforEquipment therefor characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys
According to one embodiment, an information processing system includes an information processing device and a structured database accessible by a specialized query language. The information processing device receives a natural language query related to information in the structured database and provides a natural language response to the natural language query by supplying the natural language query to a large language model (LLM) accessing a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) database incorporating information from the structured database. The information processing device is configured to automatically update information in the RAG database by retrieving information from the structured database by executing a predefined query in the specialized query language to access the structured database, converting results from the predefined query into natural language text according to a predefined conversion rule associated with the predefined query, and storing the natural language text in the RAG database.
According to an embodiment, an information processing apparatus is an apparatus that is not accessible to a storage device. The information processing apparatus includes a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver receives a first electronic file. The transmitter transmits a second electronic file, which is the same electronic file as the first electronic file or an electronic file generated based on the first electronic file, and storage destination information indicating a storage area of the storage device as a storage destination of the second electronic file to a communication device accessible to the storage device.
According to one embodiment, a printer device according to an embodiment includes: an accommodation portion configured to accommodate paper wound in a roll shape; a conveyance unit configured to pull out the paper from the accommodation portion and convey the paper; a printing unit configured to print on the paper conveyed by the conveyance unit; a damper unit provided between the accommodation portion and the printing unit and configured to abut against the paper from a winding outer surface side of the paper to apply an elastic force to the paper; and a guide unit facing the damper unit and configured to form, between the guide unit and the damper unit, a conveyance path of the paper having a curved surface opposite to the curling tendency of the paper.
B41J 11/00 - Devices or arrangements for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
B41J 2/32 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
A self-service POS terminal (a money depositing and dispensing apparatus) is capable of performing at least cash settlement and includes a denomination identification unit (an identification unit) configured to identify a denomination of money deposited to a coin depositing port (a depositing port) or a bill depositing port (a depositing port), a deposited money information storage unit (a storage unit) configured to store denominations, numbers, and depositing order of pieces of money deposited during one checkout, an operator determination unit configured to determine whether the self-service POS terminal is being operated by a customer or being operated by a store clerk, and a money return unit configured to, on condition that it is determined that the self-service POS terminal is being operated by the customer, if pieces of money exceeding a predetermined value in number were deposited, return the money deposited in excess of the predetermined number.
According to one embodiment, an edge device includes a communication interface connectable to an edge server, a storage unit for storing a dialogue LLM trained to interact with a user for setting a function of the edge device and a database storing reference information related to functions of the edge device. A controller unit receives request text input indicating a user's desired process to be provided using the edge device, then inputs the request text input to a generative AI that is based on the dialogue LLM and can access the database to identify a function of the edge device that can provide the user's desired process. The controller unit outputs confirmation question text to confirm the identified function corresponds to the user's desired process, and then sets the edge device to execute the identified function if confirmed.
According to an embodiment cart-type commodity registration apparatus includes a cart, a battery, and a commodity registration device, such as a barcode scanner, that is on the cart and receives power from the battery. A movement sensor and an information processing terminal are also on the cart. The information processing terminal is configured to determine whether the cart is moving based on movement signals from the movement sensor indicating whether the cart is moving or stopped and control the commodity registration device to be in a reduced power mode when a received movement signal indicates the cart is moving above a threshold speed. The terminal can also be configured to place the commodity registration device in a sleep mode after a stopped signal has been continuously received from the movement sensor for a predetermined length of time.
A sheet processing apparatus in an embodiment includes a processing unit, a tray, alignment members, and a supporting member. The processing unit processes regular size sheets. The regular size sheets can be placed on a first surface of the tray. The alignment members are capable of coming into contact with end portions in a first direction, in which a line of intersection of the first surface and a horizontal plane extends, further in an upward direction than a center of gravity of a largest regular size sheet present in an initial position where the regular size sheet entering the tray is placed first. The supporting member supports a lower end portion of the largest regular size sheet and extends from inner sides to outer sides of end portions of the largest regular size sheet in the first direction.
A store monitoring device includes a memory that stores first information indicating self-service and staffed checkout devices, and a processor configured to: acquire from cameras first images of customers and containers or carts used thereby, second images of a checkout waiting area, identify a first customer and first items to be purchased thereby, determine whether the first customer is in the checkout waiting area, upon determining that the first customer is in the waiting area, determine whether a line is formed in the checkout waiting area, upon determining that a line is formed, determine a first quantity of the first items, when the first quantity is greater than or equal to a threshold, output first information for guiding the first customer to a staffed checkout device, and when the first quantity is less than the threshold, output second information for guiding the customer to a self-service checkout device.
G06Q 90/00 - Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus for a store system includes a communication interface connected to a network, a storage unit, and a processor. The processor receives, via the communication interface, a customer request from a customer in a store, then generate a reply text in response to the customer request. The reply text is generated using a generative AI based on a prompt corresponding to the customer request. The processor then supplies a customer response to the customer based on the generated reply text, and then receives customer behavior information and tracks a behavior of the customer in the store after the customer response has been supplied. The processor records, in the storage unit, the customer behavior information representing the tracked behavior of the customer in correlation with the customer response supplied to the customer.
According to an embodiment, an image forming system includes a host computer and an image forming apparatus. The host computer above transmits to the image forming apparatus print information including raster data of an image to be printed by the image forming apparatus and auxiliary data used for print control apparatus. The image forming apparatus holds the raster data included in the print information and controls the driving of the print device based on the raster data and the auxiliary data.
B41J 2/325 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet
B41J 3/407 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment determines whether or not it is necessary to check for malfunctions on a basis of a priority setting for each image region in a print image. Further, the image forming apparatus executes a malfunction check using a check circuit on a heating element that has been determined to need to be subjected to a malfunction check.
B41J 2/355 - Control circuits for heating-element selection
B41J 3/407 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
79.
INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, AND METHOD
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus can include an acquirer, a reader, a comparer, and a controller. The acquirer can obtain a target file. The reader can read information related to the target file from the target file. The comparer can compare information related to at least one executed file for which a workflow was executed on stored in a storage with the information related to the target file. The controller can control the workflow for the target file based on the comparison result.
Methods and systems of providing need-to-know information to a user are disclosed. In some aspects, when a user, via the user device (e.g., a mobile phone), has entered a predetermined geographic zone associated with a predefined location (e.g., a grocery store, concert/sporting venue, festival, etc.) (or when the user has entered the location to travel to into the user device), data is retrieved, from a database over the network, that relates to policies and information associated with the location being traveled to. The policies and information associated with that location are then sent to the user so that the user will have need-to-know information with the location he/she is traveling to.
Methods and apparatus for performing artificial intelligence (AI)-based scanning verification for a self-checkout transaction using a self-checkout system are described. In an example method, a first image of multiple items within a shopping cart is displayed on a display system of the self-checkout system. A scanning of a first item of the multiple items with a handheld scanner associated with the self-checkout system is detected. A second image of at least a second item of the multiple items within the shopping cart is generated. The second image lacks an indication of the first item. The second image is displayed on the display system.
A self-service computing device detects a first weight for an item positioned on a sensory platform and determines a stabilized weight and a weight-based item count. Responsive to determining the stabilized weight, the device causes image capture devices to capture images of the item, identifies a visual characteristic of the item, and retrieves, from memory, a second weight of the item. To generate an image-based item count, the device compares the identified visual characteristic of the item with the second weight of the item and validates the presence of the item. The device causes or blocks a self-service transaction operation at the self-service computing device depending respectively on whether or not the image-based item count and the weight-based item count correspond.
G06Q 20/32 - Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices using wireless devices
G06Q 20/40 - Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentialsReview and approval of payers, e.g. check of credit lines or negative lists
A point-of-sale terminal includes a table, a weight sensor, a camera, a memory storing commodity information each indicating a commodity and a weight range and a preset image thereof, and a processor configured to: determine whether an operation for registering a first commodity is input, upon determining that the operation is input, search the memory for first commodity information corresponding to the first commodity, determine whether a weight measured by the sensor increases, upon determining that the weight increases, determine whether an increase in the weight is within a first range indicated by the first commodity information, and upon determining that the increase is not within the range, determine whether an image captured by the camera shows the first commodity based on a first preset image indicated by the first commodity information, and upon determining that the image shows the first commodity, register the first commodity.
G06V 10/764 - Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding using pattern recognition or machine learning using classification, e.g. of video objects
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques for associating a camera with a POS system, and providing a user access to a stream of the camera's feed. The present disclosure provides an improvement to technology associated with cameras at POS systems. The improved technology includes using barcodes to communicate with a CMS via a camera's stream. Such communication enables improvement in efficiency and accuracy when assigning cameras to POS systems, and when configuring or performing diagnostics on the camera.
Method and apparatus for node identifier assignment for shared communication mediums are provided. A node identifier (ID) is selected for communication via a network. A broadcast delay is determined, and a set of received messages received prior to expiration of the broadcast delay is evaluated to determine that none of the set of received messages comprise the node ID. In response to determining that none of the set of received messages comprises the node ID, a set of broadcast messages comprising the node ID is broadcasted. In response to determining, based on the set of broadcast messages, that the node ID is nonconflicting in the network, the node ID is used for one or more subsequent communications.
H04W 4/06 - Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]Services to user groupsOne-way selective calling services
H04W 76/11 - Allocation or use of connection identifiers
87.
ASSOCIATING AND CONFIGURING A NETWORK-ATTACHED CAMERA
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques for associating a camera with a POS system, and providing a user access to a stream of the camera's feed. The present disclosure provides an improvement to technology associated with cameras at POS systems. The improved technology includes using barcodes to communicate with a CMS via a camera's stream. Such communication enables improvement in efficiency and accuracy when assigning cameras to POS systems, and when configuring or performing diagnostics on the camera.
H04N 7/18 - Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
G06K 7/14 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensingMethods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light
According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a reading unit, a detection unit, a determination unit, and a processing unit. The reading unit reads an image printed based on predetermined test image data by a thermal printer that performs thermal control according to a thermal history table. The detection unit detects a difference between the image read by the reading unit and a test image represented by the test image data. The determination unit determines a thermal history table for compensating for the difference detected by the detection unit. The processing unit performs a predetermined process for setting the thermal history table determined by the determination unit in the thermal printer.
According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus communicates with a predetermined number of wireless tags of one or more supplied media on a basis of a printing job, and forms images on a predetermined number of printing regions corresponding to the wireless tags. The image forming apparatus outputs information for checking whether or not retry processing, which is executed in accordance with a failure to write tag information to the one or more wireless tags of the one or more media, is necessary and receives a request for the retry processing.
An image forming apparatus can include a first memory configured to store at least one program. The image forming apparatus can include a second memory configured to store a whitelist comprising one or more listed programs and unique information for each listed program. The image forming apparatus can include a processor configured to, when the first program requesting to be executed is different than the unique information in the whitelist, rewrite the first program with an original program and restart the image forming apparatus.
An image forming apparatus includes a first conveyance driving unit, a second conveyance driving unit, an image forming unit, a tag communication unit, and a control unit. The image forming unit forms the image with respect to the sheet conveyed through the first conveyance path or the second conveyance path. The tag communication unit writes data or reads data to a wireless tag of the sheet located in the first conveyance path or the second conveyance path. The control unit reads the data from the wireless tag of the sheet after writing the data to the wireless tag, and determines whether or not the data was normally written to the wireless tag based on the read data.
A shopping terminal that is used in a store includes a memory that stores labels indicating environmental conditions each in association with sensor data, and a processor configured to execute a program that is stored in the memory to perform the steps of: acquiring a query indicating a question input by a user, acquiring sensor data from a sensor, searching the memory for a label corresponding to the acquired sensor data, generating a prompt based on the query and the label, inputting the prompt to a computer model, which generates in response thereto an answer to the question, the computer model having learned relationships and connections between human perceptions under different environmental conditions, and data of items sold in the store, and converting the answer into audio data, and outputting the audio data.
According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a conveying unit, a tag communication unit, and a control unit. The conveying unit conveys the sheet. The tag communication unit performs a first communication with a radio tag brought close to a reading position different from the conveying unit and a second communication with the radio tag provided on the sheet being conveyed by the conveying unit. The control unit acquires setting information used in the second communication pre-associated with information that is read in the first communication and causes the tag communication unit to perform the second communication in accordance with the acquired setting information.
An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment for point-of-sale systems includes a communication interface for connecting to a communication network and a processor. The processor is configured to acquire an image of an inside of a shopping basket via the communication interface, detect a commodity in the shopping basket in the acquired image, receive a commodity identification for a registered commodity in a sales transaction, and, if the commodity identification for the registered commodity is received within a preset time period around the detection of the commodity in the shopping basket, generate a screen image by superimposing commodity information associated with the commodity identification for the registered commodity on the image of the inside of the shopping basket for enabling a user to identify the commodity in the shopping basket in conjunction with the superimposed commodity information.
G06V 10/26 - Segmentation of patterns in the image fieldCutting or merging of image elements to establish the pattern region, e.g. clustering-based techniquesDetection of occlusion
Systems, methods, and apparatuses related to an image forming apparatus are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a controller and a display. The controller detects a malfunction of the image forming apparatus and calculates an amount of carbon dioxide emitted in a visit of a service engineer for maintenance work for the malfunction detected by the detection unit. The display displays the amount of carbon dioxide calculated by the controller.
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a communication processing unit and a setting unit. The communication processing unit receives information regarding issuing of a second account associated with a first account input by a terminal. The setting unit sets one or both of an issuing authority of a printing job in the second account and an execution authority for the printing job related to the second account based on the information received by the communication processing unit.
In accordance with an embodiment, a printing apparatus includes a shaft and an antenna. The shaft is arranged to be inserted into a tubular material including a wireless tag and rotatably supports the tubular material. The antenna performs data communication with the wireless tag. The antenna has an antenna element group and the antenna element group is arranged to cover an area in a circumferential direction of the shaft.
B41J 29/393 - Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine
B41J 2/325 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet
B41J 3/407 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
B41J 33/00 - Apparatus or arrangements for feeding ink ribbons or like character-size impression-transfer material
B41J 33/16 - Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms with drive applied to spool or spool spindle
A printer includes a first casing including a first engaged part and a second casing including a second engaged part. The printer also includes an engagement position adjustment mechanism and an engagement position indicator. The engagement position adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust a first position of at least one of the first engaged part and the second engaged part to a second position, where the first engaged part and the second engaged part engage with each other at the second position. The engagement position indicator is configured to indicate the second position of the at least one the first engaged part and the second engaged part.
B41J 25/308 - Bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface with print gap adjustment mechanisms
B41J 2/325 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet
B41J 3/407 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
According to one embodiment, a server includes a communication unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The communication unit communicates with a printer. The storage unit stores a first value which is the number of executed jobs per day associated with a user, and a second value which is a battery voltage consumption per job associated with the user. The control unit receives a battery voltage of the printer via the communication unit when the user logs in to the printer, predicts a printable state of the printer based on the first value, the second value, and the battery voltage, and transmits a result of the prediction to the printer via the communication unit.
