Scanner with control logic for resolving package labeling conflicts
An automatic object identification scanner is equipped with recognition units that provide detection results for objects and a controller that resolves potential conflicts in the results. One form of recognition unit detects product identifiers and flags in a digital payload that is encoded redundantly across packaging or labels applied to packaging. The controller gets detection results and evaluates them relative to a state data structure, which maintains state for identifiers obtained within a time interval, such as a timeout interval or waiting period after a detection result. Identifiers are reported to a POS system depending on logic that evaluates code priority and pending waiting periods.
1. In a POS system a method of automatic product identification, the method executing within a processor, and comprising:
obtaining a first detection result from a first recognition unit, the first recognition unit configured to detect a digital payload from a two-dimensional code in which the digital payload is encoded within an image captured of a first object in a view volume of a scanner;
obtaining a second detection result from a second recognition unit, the second recognition unit configured to detect a digital payload from a one-dimensional barcode within an image captured of the first object;
determining presence of a conflict among the two-dimensional and one-dimensional code by proximity of the two-dimensional code to the one-dimensional barcode in time or location on the first object; and
determining identity of the first object to use in associating price with the first object in a POS system based on the determining of the presence of the conflict.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the two-dimensional code encodes a first identifier and the one-dimensional barcode encodes a second identifier; and further comprising: dynamically generating a blacklist by adding the first or second identifier to a blacklist of identifiers when the first and second identifiers are detected to be proximate and not matching.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the two-dimensional code and one-dimensional barcode encode a source identifier and determining the presence of the conflict comprises determining whether the source identifiers encoded in the two-dimensional code and one-dimensional barcode are likely from a common source.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first object comprises a family pack, and the two-dimensional code identifies one of a member of the family pack or the family pack, and the one-dimensional barcode identifies the other of the member of the family pack or the family pack.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein one of the two-dimensional code or the one-dimensional barcode is sensed from an overwrap of the family pack, and the other of the two-dimensional code or one-dimensional barcode is sensed from packaging of a member of the family pack.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first object has a price change label, and one of the two-dimensional code or the one-dimensional barcode is on the price change label, and the other of the two-dimensional code or one-dimensional barcode comprises a separate product identifier on the first object to which the price change label is applied.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the two-dimensional code comprises contiguous image signal tiles in which a digital payload is redundantly encoded.
8. A point of sale system for automatic recognition of objects, the system comprising:
at least one processor in communication with an imager and plural recognition units;
the at least one processor configured to execute a controller process, the controller process comprising instructions executed by the at least one processor to:
obtain detection results from the plural recognition units based on at least one frame captured by the imager of at least one object in a view volume of the imager; wherein the detection results include a first identifier from a one-dimensional barcode and a second identifier in a two-dimensional code, each detected from a first object by different types of recognition units;
determine presence of a conflict among the two-dimensional and one-dimensional code by proximity of the two-dimensional code to the one-dimensional barcode in time or location on the first object; and
determine identity that the point of sale system uses for the first object based on evaluation of the presence of the conflict.
9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:
dynamically generating a blacklist by adding the first or second identifier to a blacklist of identifiers when the first and second identifiers are detected to be proximate and not matching.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein the two-dimensional code and one-dimensional barcode encode a source identifier and the at least on processor is configured to determine the presence of the conflict by determining whether the source identifiers encoded in the two-dimensional code and the one-dimensional barcode are likely from a common source.
11. The system of claim 8 wherein the first object comprises a family pack, and the two-dimensional code identifies one of a member of the family pack or the family pack, and the one-dimensional barcode identifies the other of the member of the family pack or the family pack.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein one of the two-dimensional code or the one-dimensional barcode is sensed from an overwrap of the family pack, and the other of the two-dimensional code or one-dimensional barcode is sensed from packaging of a member of the family pack.
13. The system of claim 8 wherein the first object has a price change label, and one of the two-dimensional code or the one-dimensional barcode is on the price change label, and the other of the two-dimensional code or one-dimensional barcode comprises a separate product identifier on the first object to which the price change label is applied.
14. The system of claim 8 wherein the two-dimensional code comprises contiguous image signal tiles in which a digital payload is redundantly encoded.
15. A non-transitory computer readable medium on which is stored instructions, which when executed on a processor, perform the acts of:
obtaining a first detection result from a first recognition unit, the first recognition unit configured to detect a digital payload from a two-dimensional code in which the digital payload is encoded within an image captured of a first object in a view volume of a scanner;
obtaining a second detection result from a second recognition unit, the second recognition unit configured to detect a digital payload from a one-dimensional barcode within an image captured of the first object;
determining presence of a conflict among the two-dimensional and one-dimensional code by proximity of the two-dimensional code to the one-dimensional barcode in time or location on the first object; and
determining identity of the first object to use in associating price with the first object in a POS system based on the determining of the presence of the conflict.
16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the two-dimensional code encodes a first identifier and the one-dimensional barcode encodes a second identifier; and further comprising instructions to configure a processor to perform the act of: dynamically generating a blacklist by adding the first or second identifier to a blacklist of identifiers when the first and second identifiers are detected to be proximate and not matching.
17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the two-dimensional code and one-dimensional barcode encode a source identifier and determining the presence of the conflict comprises determining whether the source identifiers encoded in the two-dimensional code and one-dimensional barcode are likely from a common source.
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the first object comprises a family pack, and the two-dimensional code identifies one of a member of the family pack or the family pack, and the one-dimensional barcode identifies the other of the member of the family pack or the family pack.
19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein one of the two-dimensional code or the one-dimensional barcode is sensed from an overwrap of the family pack, and the other of the two-dimensional code or one-dimensional barcode is sensed from packaging of a member of the family pack.
20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the first object has a price change label, and one of the two-dimensional code or the one-dimensional barcode is on the price change label, and the other of the two-dimensional code or one-dimensional barcode comprises a separate product identifier on the first object to which the price change label is applied.