Ncr Corporation

Sik Piu Kwan

Nathaniel Christopher Herwig

Yoshitaka Utsumi

Jun Jun Li

Christopher John Costello

Donald L Forsythe

Kenneth Joseph Fabian

John Peter Roquemore, Iii

William Douglas Poynter

Gary C Dalton

Richard G Bangs

Jeffrey E Scheb

Syuzoh Kato

Albertus M G Claessen

John E Wilson

John P Roquemore

A self-service terminal has a bin for storing media items. A mechanism is coupled to the bin that has a pathway for selectively conveying a media item from the bin to a dispenser. A heater device is mounted in the pathway for sanitizing the media item as it is conveyed to the dispenser. The heater device has a heating element set to a predetermined temperature and a roller driven by a motor set to move the media item past the heating element at a predetermined rate of speed. By selecting the predetermined temperature to 116&#xb0; C. and the predetermined rate of speed to 181 mm/sec, 99.9999% of the viral load of a known type pathogen, i.e., SARS-CoV-2, is eliminated from the media item by the sanitization process.

Sanitizing self-service terminal

Decentralized cameras perform video tracking on captured video. The cameras produce metadata representing tracking of objects from the captured video. The metadata is passed between the cameras as the object moves within the captured video. Final metadata from at least one of the cameras is sent to a server, the server processes the final metadata to produce a summary of the object tracking and process one or more automated actions based on the summary.

Decentralized video tracking

A method of optimizing a pick list using image data from a barcode scanner. An example method includes comparing a reference background image captured by a scanner to an image of a produce item to be purchased, calculating attributes from the image, comparing the calculated attributes to reference produce attributes in a produce database, selecting reference produce attributes associated with reference produce items that are closest to the calculated attributes as the top candidates in the pick list.

Pick list optimization method

An image is compared to a validation image to obtain a signal-to-noise ratio. The signal-to-noise ratio is used to determine validity of the image. According to an embodiment, the image includes a barcode. According to another embodiment, a minimum threshold value for the signal-to-noise ratio is set and the validity of the image is determined based on the minimum threshold value and the signal-to-noise ratio. The minimum threshold value can be determined by using respective signal-to-noise ratios resulting from comparing a valid image to a validation image and an invalid image to a validation image.

Signal-to-noise ratio image validation

Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, methods, software, and devices, such as product scanners e.g., barcode scanners) enabled to detect item substitution fraud during a checkout process at facilities, such as retail outlets. One method embodiment that may be performed in part on a product scanner, includes detecting, on a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, an event occurrence associated with at least one validation process. The method may then receive an image from each of at least one camera of a plurality of cameras of the product scanner. The method further includes processing at least one of the received images according to the at least one validation process to obtain a result and providing the result to the POS terminal.

Item substitution fraud detection

Methods and apparatus are provided for fast item identification. A plurality of sensors capture data for an unknown item that is moved past the sensors. The data is processed to produce a plurality of physical attributes related to the unknown item. The physical attributes are used to search a database of physical attributes for a large number of known items where the unknown item is one of the known items. A small set of known items are selected where the physical attributes of the known items match the physical attributes of the unknown item. Further processing of the selected set of known items identifies the unknown item as one of the set of known items.

Methods and apparatus for fast item identification

An optical code scanner is presented that includes image capture technology to read optical codes. The optical code scanner captures an image of an optical code and then generates multiple reduced resolution versions of the image. Multiple techniques are applied to the different images to identify a region of interest, enhance the contrast of the image, perform a non-linear local geometrical distortion correction and minimize the spatial resolution required to read the optical code. The techniques reduce the raw processing power and time required to identify and read an optical code.

Optical code scanner optimized for reading 2D optical codes

A apparatus, method, and system for reading an optical code using a multiple path image scanner. The image scanner captures a plurality of images using multiple optical image paths and a path directing device that directs the images to an image capture device. One or more of the captured images is then used to decode the optical code.

Method, system, and apparatus for a multiple path image scanner

Methods and apparatus are provided for low resolution item identification. An image of an unknown item is captured and quantized to greatly lower the resolution of the image. The quantized image data of the unknown item is compared to a plurality of the quantized image data for known items. The comparison includes using a signal-to-noise ratio calculated using the quantized image data for both the unknown and known items. A match is found when the calculated signal-to-noise ratio is above a predetermined threshold value.

Methods and apparatus for low resolution item identification

Systems and techniques for automated checkout verification. Product identification information is received and used as an index to retrieve a set of images associated with the identified product. The images may provide multiple views of the product. As the product is presented for purchase, an image of the product is captured and compared with the set of retrieved images. If it is determined that the captured image does not match the set of retrieved images, a security alert is issued.

Methods and apparatus for image recognition in checkout verification

An image capture device, method and system where pixel data captured by the image capture device is read from the device in logical pixel rows. A logical pixel row is an externally defined row of pixels where the pixels that comprise the logical pixel row are read from parts of multiple physical rows of pixels. Logical pixel rows are at an angle to the physical rows of pixels that comprise the pixel array of the image capture device.

Apparatus, method and system for extracting pixel data from an image capture device

An apparatus, system and method are presented for extending the depth of field of an optical code image scanner. The optical code image scanner comprises a lens and an image capture device where the lens is configured to create two distinct focal points using incoming light and the image capture device captures an image using light from the lens.

Apparatus, system and method for extending the depth of field of an optical code scanner

An apparatus, method and system to read a bar code or other optical code using a laser device and an image capture device. Using both devices improves the probability that a bar code is read on the first pass while still allowing a high pass by speed. In addition, using both devices improves the probability of reading a damaged or partially obscured bar code.

Method, device and system for a laser bar code scanner with imaging assist

A device, methods and system for improving the contrast ratio of an image of an optical code captured by an image capture device. A command implemented by the image capture device of the form 'shift and add' causes the image capture device to generate a modified row of pixel data having improved contrast from a plurality of pixel rows in the image capture device.

Growing community of inventors

Suwanee, GA, United States of America

Sik Piu Kwan