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  System and method for monitoring retail store performanceUSPTO Application #: 20060095317Title: System and method for monitoring retail store performance Abstract: A system for monitoring the performance of at least one task associated with operation of a retail store. The system includes at least one monitoring device positioned and adapted to provide images of at least one location within the retail store, with each image showing at least one factor related to performance of the at least one task. A controller is adapted to obtain and store images from the at least one monitoring device. An interface is adapted to enable a user to selectively view stored images and to manually analyze the at least one factor shown in the viewed images to evaluate the performance of the at least one task. (end of abstract)
Agent: Dicke, Billig & Czaja, P.l.l.c. - Minneapolis, MN, US Inventors: Robert Kruger Brown, Gregory Allen McDonald, Caroline Louise Slettedahl, Robert Francis Foster, Richard Scott Post USPTO Applicaton #: 20060095317 - Class: 705011000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Data Processing: Financial, Business Practice, Management, Or Cost/price Determination, Automated Electrical Financial Or Business Practice Or Management Arrangement, Operations Research, Job Performance Analysis The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060095317. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] As the retail industry continues to become more competitive, customer satisfaction is of paramount importance in establishing and maintaining customers. Customer satisfaction depends on a variety of factors such as a customer's perception of price, product availability, well-stocked shelves, ease of finding products within a retail store, cleanliness of the store, and friendliness of employees. [0002] However, perhaps the most important factor regarding customer satisfaction is customer service. Of primary concern with regard to customer service is the amount of time a customer must wait when requiring assistance from a store employee. This includes, for example, time spent waiting for assistance at a customer service counter, at a merchandise counter and, of course, time spent waiting in check-out lanes. Generally speaking, the less time spent waiting for assistance, the more satisfied the customer. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003] One embodiment of the present invention relates to a system for monitoring the performance of at least one task associated with operation of a retail store. The system comprises at least one monitoring device positioned and adapted to provide images of at least one location within the retail store, with each image showing at least one factor related to performance of the at least one task. The system further includes a controller and an interface. The controller is adapted to obtain and store images from the at least one monitoring device. The interface is configured to enable a user to selectively view stored images and to manually analyze the at least one factor shown in the viewed images to evaluate the performance of the at least one task. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0004] Embodiments of the invention will be described with respect to the figures, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, and in which: [0005] FIG. 1 is block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a performance monitoring system according to the present invention. [0006] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a performance monitoring system according to the present invention. [0007] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a performance monitoring system according to the present invention. [0008] FIG. 4A is an illustration of a graphical user interface for use with one embodiment of a performance monitoring system according to the present invention. [0009] FIG. 4B illustrates in greater detail a portion of the graphical user interface of illustrated in FIG. 4A. [0010] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a process for monitoring the performance of a retail store according to the present invention. [0011] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a process for determining staffing requirements of a retail store according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram generally illustrating one embodiment of a performance monitoring system 10 according to the present invention for monitoring the performance of at least one task associated with operation of a retail store 12. Performance monitoring system 10 includes a plurality of monitoring devices 14, each positioned to view a corresponding location 16 within retail store 12 and adapted to provide images of the corresponding location 16, each image showing at least one factor related to performance of at the at least one task. In one embodiment, monitoring devices 14 comprise cameras. In one embodiment, monitoring devices 14 comprise analog video cameras adapted to provide analog video of corresponding locations 16. In one embodiment, monitoring devices 14 comprise digital video cameras adapted to provide digital video of corresponding locations 16. As illustrated, analog video cameras 14a through 14f respectively correspond to store locations indicated as checkout lanes 14a, customer service desk 14b, electronics counter 14c, jewelry counter 14d, stockroom 14e, and receiving area 14f. Although illustrated as having analog video cameras 14a through 14f, monitoring system 10 can include more or fewer cameras 14 at locations other than locations 16 indicated by FIG. 1. Additionally, multiple cameras may be used to monitor a single store location, such as check lanes 16a. [0013] Performance monitoring system 10 further includes a controller 18 and an interface 20. Controller 18 is adapted to automatically obtain and store still images from each of the monitoring devices 14 at selectable intervals. In one embodiment, controller 18 is adapted to obtain still images in a digital format, such as JPG format, for example, from analog video cameras 14 at selected intervals. In one embodiment, the selectable intervals are regular intervals, such as every fifteen minutes, for example. [0014] Interface 20 is adapted to enable a user, such as a store manager, to selectively view the stored images and to manually analyze the at least one factor shown in the viewed images to evaluate the performance of the at least one task. Examples of such factors include number of employees and an amount of unloading time required when evaluating the task of unloading an incoming shipment of products at receiving dock 16f, and a number of customers awaiting service when evaluating the tasks of processing customers at check lanes 16a or assisting customers at customer service area 16b, electronics counter 16c, and jewelry counter 16d. Any number of other tasks associated with operation of retail store 12 can be similarly monitored by providing and positioning cameras 14 at other locations within retail store 12 as required. [0015] By providing monitoring of selected areas of a retail store, performance monitoring system 10 enables a user, such as a store manager, to evaluate performance of selected tasks associated with the operation of the retail store. Based on such evaluations, performance of certain tasks can be adjusted to improve the store's performance. For example, staffing requirements at certain store locations, particularly at check lanes, can be evaluated and adjusted in order to minimize customer wait times and thereby likely improve customer satisfaction. Furthermore, by storing the images, monitoring system 10 enables a user, such as a store manager, to evaluate the performance of tasks at any suitable time and does not require real-time monitoring. [0016] Components of the present invention can be implemented in hardware via a microprocessor, programmable logic, or state machine, in firmware, or in software with a given device. In one aspect, at least a portion of the software programming is web-based and written in HTML and JAVA programming languages, including links to user interfaces, such as a Windows based operating system, and each of the main components may communicate via a network using a communication protocol. For example, the present invention may or may not use a TCP/IP protocol for data transport. Other programming languages and communication protocols suitable for use with the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the present application. Components of the present invention may also reside in software on one or more computer-readable mediums, which is defined herein to include any kind of memory, volatile or non-volatile, such as floppy disks, hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), CD-ROMs, flash memory, and random access memory (RAM). [0017] FIG. 2 is a block and schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of performance monitoring system 10 for retail store 12 as illustrated generally by FIG. 1. Performance monitoring system 10 includes a plurality of analog video cameras 14, such as analog video cameras 14a through 14e. Each camera 14 is coupled to a digital video recorder (DVR) 30 via a corresponding link 32. Each camera 14 is configured as a unique channel and provides an analog video signal of its associated store location 16 via corresponding link 32 to DVR 30. DVR 30 includes an analog-to-digital converter (A/D) 34 which converts the analog video signal of each camera (or channel) 14 to a corresponding digital video having a digital video format, such as AVI, for example. DVR 30 is configured to store a predetermined amount of the digital video for each camera 14. In one embodiment, for example, DVR 30 stores a day's worth of digital video for each camera 14, with the stored digital video being replaced with the digital video for each subsequent day. [0018] A server 40 is coupled to DVR 30 via a link 42. In one embodiment, controller 18 comprises a monitoring system application (MSA) comprising an electronically readable code which is installed and operating on server 40. In one embodiment, in addition to MSA 18, store server 40 includes various other applications 44 related to operation of retail store 12. MSA 18 is adapted to automatically retrieve digital still images for each camera 14 at regular intervals from DVR 30 via link 42. In one embodiment, MSA 18 is adapted to retrieve the digital still images for each camera by selecting a single frame from a selectable time period of the digital video of each camera stored in DVR 30 and by converting the selected digital video frame from a digital video from, such as AVI, to a digital still picture format, such as JPG. In one embodiment, MSA 18 stores the retrieved digital still images for each camera in a memory 46 according to a directory and file naming convention. In an alternate embodiment, MSA 18 stores the retrieved digital still images in a database 48. Although illustrated as being within server 40, in other embodiments, database 48 could be located external to server 40. [0019] In one embodiment, interface 20 comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) adapted to display the digital still photos stored in database 46 and which is viewable via a personal computer (PC) 50 coupled to server 40 via a link 52. Although illustrated as being viewed via PC 50, in other embodiments, GUI 20 may be viewed via other electronic viewing devices, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) or Blackberry device, for example. [0020] In one embodiment, DVR 30 comprises a portion of a security system 60 which further includes a plurality of analog video cameras 62 providing surveillance video of retail store 12 for purposes of assets protection. Surveillance system 60 is controlled by a security system application (SSA) 64 comprising a computer readable code which is installed and operating on store server 40. In one embodiment, analog video cameras 16 are dedicated for use as surveillance cameras for assets protection and analog video cameras 14 are employed both as surveillance cameras by security system 60 and as monitoring cameras by performance monitoring system 10. Security system 60 utilizes the entire video signal of analog video cameras 14 and 62 stored in DVR 30, while performance monitoring system 10 utilizes the digital images obtained by controller 18 and stored in database 46. Continue reading... Full patent description for System and method for monitoring retail store performance Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this System and method for monitoring retail store performance patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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