A computer-implemented augmented reality-based method provides a user device access to data content by processing of camera image captured by the user device to identify a candidate visual area, which are then processed to identify visual features indicative of available data content. The identified features are compared to visual features of database objects indicative of available data content, and a determination made regarding the object that corresponds to the identified features. Instructions are then generated to augment a display of the camera image with selectable image features. In response to a selection of one of the selectable image features, a determination is made regarding whether the user device has permission to access the data content associated with the selected image feature. If not, a payment settlement arrangement is implemented for the user device to gain access permission to the data content.

A method and a system for enabling in-store purchasing of security-tagged merchandise, avoiding going through the point of sale of a retailer, are provided herein. The method may include the following steps: identifying, using a user-coupled device, a security tag attached to specific item to be purchased, wherein the security-tag is unique to the specific identified item; initiating a purchase request of said item via the user-coupled device, wherein the request includes a price of the item and identifiers of: the item, the security-tag identification, the retailer, and the user; attempting a transaction based on the purchase request, wherein the transaction is capable of being authorised by a third party; and indicating at a data repository associated with an in-store security gate sensitive to said security tag, that the security tag is no longer capable of initiating an alarm.

Images are captured of a customer during a transaction at a transaction terminal along with images associated with items of the transaction and any bags or cart used to hold the items. The images are processed to track any movement and locations of the customer, items, bags, and cart relative to a known location of the transaction terminal. When a transaction payment is required for the transaction and movement is detected in a direction that is moving away from the transaction terminal before a payment notification is received for the transaction, one or more alerts are raised as an indication to staff and/or security systems of a potential in-progress walk-away theft.

An interactive shopping system, or smart cart. The system allows a user to select items in a store and complete a purchase without having to wait in lines or interact with store personnel. The system can have a container for holding products selected by at least one user, a user interface, a scanner in communication with the user interface, a processor in communication with the user interface, and a data storage comprising computer instructions executable by the processor. A user can select products, place them within the container, scan the products, and initiate a payment transaction to complete a purchase.

An information processing system includes an imaging unit that generates an image signal by imaging and an information processing device. The information processing device performs at least any one of plural kinds of image processing on a taken image corresponding to the image signal. The information processing device specifies an object corresponding to a partial image included in the taken image on the basis of a state of the object corresponding to the partial image included in the taken image or a degree of reliability given to a processing result of the performed image processing.

According to one embodiment, an information processing device for product registration and checkout systems includes, a communication interface and a memory unit storing one or more capture conditions. A processor of the device is configured to check whether a registration of a commodity in a sales transaction satisfies a capture condition stored in the memory unit and output an instruction for capturing an image of the commodity if the registration satisfies the capture condition. The processor acquires an image of the commodity that was captured based on the instruction, and outputs the acquired image to an external apparatus via the communication interface.

According to one embodiment, a wireless tag reading device includes a product placing portion on which a product is placed, an antenna which is installed in a vicinity of the product placing portion and emits radio waves toward a wireless tag attached to the placed product, and an antenna moving mechanism for moving the antenna along a locus of a concave curve.

Systems and methods for detecting potential shrink events via RFID technology are provided. The systems include a point of sale (POS) system that includes an optical scanner, an RFID transceiver arrangement, a user interface and a controller. The controller is configured to perform example methods disclosed herein. For example, the controller may detect that the optical scanner has decoded a barcode, trigger the RFID transceiver arrangement to write a data string to an RFID tag located within the object scanning area, conduct a detection operation to detect the RFID tag with the data string in the bagging area. Responsive to detecting the RFID tag with the data string, the method involves the user interface performing a first operation. Responsive to not detecting the RFID tag with the data string, the method involves the user interface performing a second operation.

Methods for rapid micro-payment transactions with deferred payments employ a network-connected AR device (“HMD”) having sensors for detecting a user's gaze/physical commands. Such methods comprise: receiving information from the HMD indicating a selected real-world/virtual content item for a potential transaction; causing the HMD to display a virtual transaction management widget (“TMW”) showing the selected item's cost, maximum threshold amount before triggering settlement; and any prior unsettled payment obligations; receiving further information from the HMD confirming the potential transaction based on the user's gaze/physical command; transmitting an authorization signal to a merchant offering the selected item without concurrently requiring payment when the selected item's cost and prior unsettled payment are less than the maximum threshold amount; and transmitting a signal to a payment system for settlement of the balance when the selected item's cost and any unsettled payment are equal/greater than the maximum threshold; and updating the displayed TMW accordingly.

In some embodiments, a user device may detect, via pattern recognition by a user application, a pattern (indicative of a given code type) presented on a physical object. The user device may cause, via the user application, a code scanning application to be launched based on the detection to scan the pattern. The user device may obtain, via the user application, a code (associated with a biller entity) of the given code type from the code scanning application based on the code scanning application's scan. The user device may cause, via the user application, the code or information derived from the code to be provided over the Internet to a computer system hosting accounts of a user of the user application. The code or the derived information may be used by the computer system to complete transactions between the biller entity and at least one of the accounts.