Smart shelf system
The present invention describes a shelf system for monitoring items coupled with support utilities. The system is configured to detect item change caused by customer actions and optimize the camera system and computing resources of a remote server. The system also is configured to sense certain visual indicators with customer actions.
1. A shelf system, comprising:
at least one smart shelf, wherein a set of load sensors are placed on each corner of the at least one smart shelf, wherein the set of load sensors are configured to measure load data placed at the each corner of the at least one smart shelf;
a data processing device coupled to the set of load sensors, wherein the data processing device is configured to calculate weight and change in weight by combining the load data from the each corner of the at least one smart shelf, wherein the data processing device is configured to determine location of an item removed or placed by calculating the location based on changes of load data at the each corner of the at least one smart shelf;
a set of cameras coupled to the shelf system, wherein the set of cameras is configured to capture video information of the item on the at least one smart shelf;
a set of indicators coupled to the shelf system, wherein each of the set of indicators is placed under each item coupled to the shelf system, wherein the each of the set of indicators is configured to blink when the each item above the each of the set of indicators is removed; and
a remote server coupled to the data processing device and the set of cameras via a network, wherein the remote server is configured to use computational resources to process the video information from the set of cameras, wherein the remote server is configured to receive information of the location of the item removed or placed from the data processing device, wherein the remote server is configured to prioritize computational resources to any cameras of the set of cameras with a view of the location of the item removed or placed from the data processing device.
2. The shelf system of claim 1 , wherein the network is connected by Ethernet.
3. The shelf system of claim 1 , wherein the set of load sensors, the set of cameras and the set of cameras are using power over Ethernet.
4. A shelf system, comprising:
at least one smart shelf, wherein a set of load sensors are placed on each corner of the at least one smart shelf, wherein the set of load sensors are configured to measure load data placed at the each corner of the at least one smart shelf;
a data processing device coupled to the set of load sensors, wherein the data processing device is configured to calculate weight and change in weight by combining the load data from the each corner of the at least one smart shelf, wherein the data processing device is configured to determine location of an item removed or placed by calculating the location based on changes of load data at the each corner of the at least one smart shelf;
a set of cameras coupled to the shelf system, wherein the set of cameras is configured to capture video information of the item on the at least one smart shelf;
a remote server coupled to the data processing device and the set of cameras via a network, wherein the remote server is configured to use computational resources to process the video information from the set of cameras, wherein the remote server is configured to receive information of the location of the item removed or placed from the data processing device, wherein the remote server is configured to prioritize computational resources to any cameras of the set of cameras with a view of the location of the item removed or placed from the data processing device;
a set of visual indicators coupled to the at least one smart shelf, wherein the set of visual indicators are coupled to blink to identify the geo-location of the at least one smart shelf, wherein the set of visual indicators are configured to blink pre-determined patterns to convey digital data to the remote server via the set of cameras, wherein one type of the digital data is unique ID of the at least one smart shelf, wherein the unique ID is related to the physical location of the at least one smart shelf, wherein the set of visual indicators are configured to direct a shopper to a specific item the shopper has purchased before, or an item on the shopper's request, or an item that has a special discount.
5. The shelf system of claim 4 , wherein the network is connected by Ethernet.
6. The shelf system of claim 5 , wherein the set of load sensors, the set of cameras and the set of cameras are using power over Ethernet.
7. A shelf system, comprising:
at least one smart shelf, wherein a set of load sensors are placed on each corner of the at least one smart shelf, wherein the set of load sensors are configured to measure load data placed at the each corner of the at least one smart shelf;
a data processing device coupled to the set of load sensors, wherein the data processing device is configured to calculate weight and change in weight by combining the load data from the each corner of the at least one smart shelf, wherein the data processing device is configured to determine location of an item removed or placed by calculating the location based on changes of load data at the each corner of the at least one smart shelf;
a set of cameras coupled to the shelf system, wherein the set of cameras is configured to capture video information of the item on the at least one smart shelf, whereas another shelf contains a mirror on the another shelf's bottom, where the at least one smart shelf has a camera of the set of cameras pointing up at the mirror of the another shelf, with a field of view of any items on the at least one smart shelf;
a remote server coupled to the data processing device and the set of cameras via a network, wherein the remote server is configured to use computational resources to process the video information from the set of cameras, wherein the remote server is configured to receive information of the location of the item removed or placed from the data processing device, wherein the remote server is configured to prioritize computational resources to any cameras of the set of cameras with a view of the location of the item removed or placed from the data processing device, wherein a video image processing algorithm is used to identify the products removed, added or misplaced, wherein changes in weight are used to increase the confidence of identification of the products removed, added or misplaced;
a set of visual indicators coupled to the at least one smart shelf, wherein the set of visual indicators are coupled to blink to identify the geo-location of the at least one smart shelf, wherein the set of visual indicators are configured to blink pre-determined patterns to convey digital data to the remote server via the set of cameras, wherein one type of the digital data is unique ID of the at least one smart shelf, wherein the unique ID is related to the physical location of the at least one smart shelf, wherein the set of visual indicators are configured to direct a shopper to a specific item the shopper has purchased before, or an item on the shopper's request, or an item that has a special discount.
8. The shelf system of claim 7 , wherein the network is connected by Ethernet.
9. The shelf system of claim 8 , wherein the set of load sensors, the set of cameras and the set of cameras are using power over Ethernet.