The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 27, 2001
Filed:
May. 27, 1999
Jianzhong Huang, Snellville, GA (US);
Dinei A. F. Florencio, Plainsboro, NJ (US);
NCR Corporation, Dayton, OH (US);
Abstract
A system and method are provided for detecting, collecting information about, and analyzing a queue. A video camera is positioned to view the queue, and a sequence of video images from the camera may be processed in order to perform the functionality of the present invention. The present invention may be implemented at checkout lanes in a retail establishment, in a bank, at customer service desks, at self-service kiosks, at banks, or any other location where a queue (line) of people or other objects may form. After detecting the queue, the present invention, may collect multi-dimensional information regarding the queue, including the number of people, etc., in the queue, the average service time for each person in the queue, as well as various other types of information regarding the queue. The present invention may thereafter analyze the collected information in various ways, based upon various criteria. For example, a retailer may use the analyzed information to minimize service time for people in a checkout line, in a way which makes economic sense.