Image processing apparatus, image processing system, and control method
According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a camera controller to acquire a camera image of a display location where commodities are displayed. A communication interface is provided to communicate with an information terminal. A processor in the apparatus is configured to calculate an empty area in the camera image corresponding to a portion of the display location that is revealed when commodities are removed from the display location, detect a shortage in the number of the commodities at the display location based on the calculated empty area, and send a notification, via the communication interface, to the information terminal when the shortage in the number of the commodities at the display location is detected.
1. An image processing apparatus, comprising:
a camera controller to acquire a camera image of a display location where commodities are displayed;
a communication interface configured to communicate with an information terminal; and
a processor configured to:
calculate an empty area in the camera image corresponding to a portion of the display location that is revealed when commodities are removed from the display location,
detect a shortage in the number of the commodities at the display location based on the calculated empty area, and
send a notification, via the communication interface, to the information terminal when the shortage in the number of the commodities at the display location is detected, wherein
the shortage in the number of the commodities at the display location is detected when a ratio of the calculated empty area to a total area of the display location exceeds a threshold value.
2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the notification includes an estimated number of commodities necessary to restock the display location, the estimated number being based on a value of the calculated empty area.
3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the notification also indicates a position for the display location within a store.
4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a camera connected to the camera controller, the camera being positioned to provide the camera image of the display location.
5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the camera is connected to the camera controller by a dedicated cable.
6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an image memory to store the acquired camera image.
7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the display location includes a plurality of sub-regions, and
the processor is configured to detect the location of each sub-region of the display location based on color similarity in the captured image.
8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the display location is a display table, and
the portion of the display location that is revealed when commodities are removed is an upper surface of the display table.
9. A product stocking level monitoring system for a retail store, the system comprising:
an image capture device configured to capture a camera image of a display location at which commodities are displayed in a store; and
an image processing apparatus including:
a camera controller to acquire the camera image from the image capture device;
a communication interface configured to communicate with an information terminal; and
a processor configured to:
calculate an empty area in the camera image corresponding to a portion of the display location that is revealed when commodities are removed from the display location,
detect a shortage in the number of the commodities at the display location based on the calculated empty area, and
send a notification, via the communication interface, to the information terminal when the shortage in the number of the commodities at the display location is detected.
10. The product stocking level monitoring system according to claim 9 , wherein the notification includes an estimated number of commodities necessary to restock the display location, the estimated number being based on a value of the calculated empty area.
11. The product stocking level monitoring system according to claim 10 , wherein the notification also indicates a position in the store for the display location.
12. The product stocking level monitoring system according to claim 9 , wherein the shortage in the number of the commodities at the display location is detected when a ratio of the calculated empty area to a total area of the display location exceeds a threshold value.
13. The product stocking level monitoring system according to claim 9 , wherein
the display location includes a plurality of sub-regions, and
the processor is configured to detect the location of each sub-region of the display location based on color similarity in the captured image.
14. The product stocking level monitoring system according to claim 13 , wherein the empty area is calculated for each of the detected sub-regions in turn.
15. A method of controlling an image processing apparatus for product stocking level monitoring, the method comprising:
acquiring a camera image from an image capture device positioned to image a display location for commodities in a store;
calculating an empty area in the camera image corresponding to a portion of the display location that is revealed when commodities are removed from the display location;
detecting a shortage in the number of the commodities at the display location based on the calculated empty area; and
sending a notification, via a communication interface, to an information terminal when the shortage in the number of the commodities at the display location is detected.
16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein
the display location is a display table, and
the portion of the display location that is revealed when commodities are removed is an upper surface of the display table.
17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the notification includes an estimated number of commodities necessary to restock the display location, the estimated number being based on a value of the calculated empty area.
18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the notification also indicates a position in the store for the display location.
19. An image processing apparatus, comprising:
a camera controller to acquire a camera image of a display location where commodities are displayed;
a communication interface configured to communicate with an information terminal; and
a processor configured to:
calculate an empty area in the camera image corresponding to a portion of the display location that is revealed when commodities are removed from the display location,
detect a shortage in the number of the commodities at the display location based on the calculated empty area, and
send a notification, via the communication interface, to the information terminal when the shortage in the number of the commodities at the display location is detected, wherein
the display location includes a plurality of sub-regions, and
the processor is configured to detect the location of each sub-region of the display location based on color similarity in the captured image.
20. The image processing apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the empty area is calculated for each of the detected sub-regions in turn.