SUPPORT STRUCTURES WITH PEG REGIONS

BACKGROUND

[0001] Environments in which objects are managed, such as retail facilities, warehousing and distribution facilities, and the like, may store such objects in regions such as aisles of support structures (e.g. shelf modules). For example, a retail facility may include objects such as products for purchase, and a distribution facility may include objects such as parcels or pallets. A mobile automation apparatus may be deployed within such facilities to perform tasks at various locations. For example, a mobile automation apparatus may be deployed to capture data representing an aisle in a retail facility for use in identifying product status information. The support structures in the facility may have varying structural features, however, which may reduce the accuracy of product status determination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments.

[0003] FIG. l is a schematic of a mobile automation system.

[0004] FIG. 2 depicts a mobile automation apparatus in the system of FIG. 1.

[0005] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of certain internal components of the mobile automation apparatus in the system of FIG. 1.

[0006] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method of detecting gaps on support structures in the system of FIG. 1.

[0007] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating example input data to the method of FIG. 4.

[0008] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method of performing block 410 of the method of FIG. 4. [0009] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating performances of blocks 610, 615 and 620 of the method of FIG. 6.

[0010] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method of performing block 415 of the method of FIG. 4.

[0011] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating example performances of the method of FIG. 8.

[0012] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a set of results from the method of FIG. 8.

[0013] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a method of performing block 420 of the method of FIG. 4.

[0014] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a performance of the method of FIG. 11.

[0015] Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

[0016] The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Examples disclosed herein are directed to a method of detecting gaps on a support structure, the method comprising: obtaining, at an imaging controller, (i) a plurality of depth measurements representing the support structure according to a common frame of reference, and (ii) a plurality of label indicators each defining a label position in the common frame of reference; for each of the label indicators: classifying the label indicator as either a peg label or a shelf label, based on a portion of the depth measurements selected according to the label position and a portion of the depth measurements adjacent to the label position; generating an item search space in the common frame of reference according to the class of the label indicator; and determining, based on a subset of the depth measurements within the item search space, whether the item search space contains an item. [0018] Additional examples disclosed herein are directed to a computing device comprising: a memory storing (i) a plurality of depth measurements representing a support structure according to a common frame of reference, and (ii) a plurality of label indicators each defining a label position in the common frame of reference; an imaging controller configured, for each of the label indicators, to: classify the label indicator as either a peg label or a shelf label, based on a portion of the depth measurements selected according to the label position and a portion of the depth measurements adjacent to the label position; generate an item search space in the common frame of reference according to the class of the label indicator; and determine, based on a subset of the depth measurements within the item search space, whether the item search space contains an item.

[0019] FIG. 1 depicts a mobile automation system 100 in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. The system 100 includes a server 101 in communication with at least one mobile automation apparatus 103 (also referred to herein simply as the apparatus 103) and at least one client computing device 104 via communication links 105, illustrated in the present example as including wireless links. In the present example, the links 105 are provided by a wireless local area network (WLAN) deployed via one or more access points (not shown). In other examples, the server 101, the client device 104, or both, are located remotely (i.e. outside the environment in which the apparatus

103 is deployed), and the links 105 therefore include wide-area networks such as the Internet, mobile networks, and the like. The system 100 also includes a dock 106 for the apparatus 103 in the present example. The dock 106 is in communication with the server 101 via a link 107 that in the present example is a wired link. In other examples, however, the link 107 is a wireless link.

[0020] The client computing device 104 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as a mobile computing device, such as a tablet, smart phone or the like. In other examples, the client device

104 is implemented as another type of computing device, such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, another server, a kiosk, a monitor, and the like. The system 100 can include a plurality of client devices 104 in communication with the server 101 via respective links 105. [0021] The system 100 is deployed, in the illustrated example, in a retail facility including a plurality of support structures such as shelf modules 110-1, 110-2, 110-3 and so on (collectively referred to as shelf modules 110 or shelves 110, and generically referred to as a shelf module 110 or shelf 110 - this nomenclature is also employed for other elements discussed herein). Each shelf module 110 supports a plurality of items, also referred to herein as products 112. Each shelf module 110 includes a shelf back 116-1, 116-2, 116-3 and a support surface (e.g. support surface 117-3 as illustrated in FIG. 1) extending from the shelf back 116 to a shelf edge 118-1, 118-2, 118-3. As will be discussed below, the shelf modules 110 can also include areas in which the products 112 are supported on pegs extending from the shelf back 116 rather than support surfaces 117.

[0022] The shelf modules 110 (also referred to as sub-regions of the facility) are typically arranged in a plurality of aisles (also referred to as regions of the facility), each of which includes a plurality of modules 110 aligned end-to-end. In such arrangements, the shelf edges 118 face into the aisles, through which customers in the retail facility, as well as the apparatus 103, may travel. As will be apparent from FIG. 1, the term“shelf edge” 118 as employed herein, which may also be referred to as the edge of a support surface (e.g., the support surfaces 117) refers to a surface bounded by adjacent surfaces having different angles of inclination. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the shelf edge 118-3 is at an angle of about ninety degrees relative to the support surface 117-3 and to the underside (not shown) of the support surface 117-3. In other examples, the angles between the shelf edge 118-3 and the adjacent surfaces, such as the support surface 117-3, is more or less than ninety degrees.

[0023] The apparatus 103 is equipped with a plurality of navigation and data capture sensors 108, such as image sensors (e.g. one or more digital cameras) and depth sensors (e.g. one or more Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensors, one or more depth cameras employing structured light patterns, such as infrared light, or the like). The apparatus 103 is deployed within the retail facility and, via communication with the server 101 and use of the sensors 108, navigates autonomously or partially autonomously along a length 119 of at least a portion of the shelves 110. [0024] While navigating among the shelves 110, the apparatus 103 can capture images, depth measurements and the like, representing the shelves 110 (generally referred to as shelf data or captured data). Navigation may be performed according to a frame of reference 102 established within the retail facility. The apparatus 103 therefore tracks its pose (i.e. location and orientation) in the frame of reference 102.

[0025] The server 101 includes a special purpose controller, such as a processor 120, specifically designed to control and/or assist the mobile automation apparatus 103 to navigate the environment and to capture data. The processor 120 is also specifically designed, as will be discussed in detail herein, to process image data and depth measurements captured by the apparatus 103 representing the shelf modules 110, in order to detect gaps on the shelf modules 110 where products 112 should appear, but currently do not appear (i.e. indicating that a product may be out of stock). The resulting detected gaps can be provided to product status processing mechanisms (which may also be implemented by the processor 120 itself).

[0026] The processor 120 is interconnected with a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, such as a memory 122. The memory 122 includes a combination of volatile memory (e.g. Random Access Memory or RAM) and non-volatile memory (e.g. read only memory or ROM, Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory or EEPROM, flash memory). The processor 120 and the memory 122 each comprise one or more integrated circuits. In some embodiments, the processor 120 is implemented as one or more central processing units (CPUs) and/or graphics processing units (GPUs).

[0027] The memory 122 stores computer readable instructions for performing various functionality, including control of the apparatus 103 to navigate the modules 110 and capture shelf data, as well as post-processing of the shelf data. The execution of the above-mentioned instructions by the processor 120 configures the server 101 to perform various actions discussed herein. The applications stored in the memory 122 include a gap detection application 124 (also simply referred to as the application 124). In general, via execution of the application 124 or subcomponents thereof and in conjunction with other components of the server 101, the processor 120 performs various actions to detect, in depth measurements representing the shelves 110 (e.g. data captured by the apparatus 103), gaps indicative of products 112 that are out of stock, for use in downstream processing to detect and act upon product status information.

[0028] Certain example components of the application 124 are shown in FIG. 1, including a label classifier 126. The label classifier 126 assigns classifications to label indicators received as input to the application 124. Specifically, the classifier 126 determines whether each label indicator corresponds to a shelf-mounted label or to a peg-mounted label. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the placement of products 112 relative to corresponding labels in the facility varies depending on whether the products 112 are supported on support surfaces 117 or on pegs. Classifying labels as peg or shelf labels enables the server 101 to select appropriate regions of the captured data associated with each label to detect gaps.

[0029] The application 124 also includes a search space generator to select the above- mentioned regions in which the server 101 is to search for gaps, and a gap detector 130 to determine whether gaps are present in the regions. In other embodiments, the application 124 may be implemented as a suite of logically distinct application, each implementing a suitable portion of the functionality discussed below. For example, the classifier 126, search space generator 128, and the gap detector 130 may be implemented as separate applications.

[0030] The memory 122 can also store data for use in the above-mentioned control of the apparatus 103, such as a repository 132 containing a map of the retail environment and any other suitable data (e.g. operational constraints for use in controlling the apparatus 103, data captured by the apparatus 103, and the like).

[0031] The processor 120, as configured via the execution of the control application 128, is also referred to herein as an imaging controller 120, or simply as a controller 120. As will now be apparent, some or all of the functionality implemented by the imaging controller 120 described below may also be performed by preconfigured special purpose hardware controllers (e.g. one or more logic circuit arrangements specifically configured to optimize the speed of image processing, for example via FPGAs and/or Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) configured for this purpose) rather than by execution of the application 124 by the processor 120. [0032] The server 101 also includes a communications interface 134 interconnected with the processor 120. The communications interface 134 includes suitable hardware (e.g. transmitters, receivers, network interface controllers and the like) allowing the server 101 to communicate with other computing devices - particularly the apparatus 103, the client device 104 and the dock 106 - via the links 105 and 107. The links 105 and 107 may be direct links, or links that traverse one or more networks, including both local and wide-area networks. The specific components of the communications interface 134 are selected based on the type of network or other links that the server 101 is required to communicate over. In the present example, as noted earlier, a wireless local-area network is implemented within the retail facility via the deployment of one or more wireless access points. The links 105 therefore include either or both wireless links between the apparatus 103 and the mobile device 104 and the above-mentioned access points, and a wired link (e.g. an Ethernet-based link) between the server 101 and the access point.

[0033] The processor 120 can therefore obtain data captured by the apparatus 103 via the communications interface 134 for storage (e.g. in the repository 132) and subsequent processing (e.g. to detect product facings, as noted above). The server 101 may also transmit status notifications (e.g. notifications indicating that products are out- of-stock, in low stock or misplaced) to the client device 104 responsive to the determination of product status data. The client device 104 includes one or more controllers (e.g. central processing units (CPUs) and/or field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and the like) configured to process (e.g. to display) notifications received from the server 101.

[0034] Turning now to FIG. 2, the mobile automation apparatus 103 is shown in greater detail. The apparatus 103 includes a chassis 201 containing a locomotive assembly 203 (e.g. one or more electrical motors driving wheels, tracks or the like). The apparatus 103 further includes a sensor mast 205 supported on the chassis 201 and, in the present example, extending upwards (e.g., substantially vertically) from the chassis 201. The mast 205 supports the sensors 108 mentioned earlier. In particular, the sensors 108 include at least one imaging sensor 207, such as a digital camera. In the present example, the mast 205 supports seven digital cameras 207-1 through 207-7 oriented to face the shelves 110. [0035] The mast 205 also supports at least one depth sensor 209, such as a 3D digital camera capable of capturing both depth data and image data. The apparatus 103 also includes additional depth sensors, such as LIDAR sensors 211. In the present example, the mast 205 supports two LIDAR sensors 211-1 and 211-2. In other examples, the mast 205 can support additional LIDAR sensors 211 (e.g. four LIDARs 211). As shown in FIG. 2, the cameras 207 and the LIDAR sensors 211 are arranged on one side of the mast 205, while the depth sensor 209 is arranged on a front of the mast 205. That is, the depth sensor 209 is forward-facing (i.e. captures data in the direction of travel of the apparatus 103), while the cameras 207 and LIDAR sensors 211 are side-facing (i.e. capture data alongside the apparatus 103, in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel). In other examples, the apparatus 103 includes additional sensors, such as one or more RFID readers, temperature sensors, and the like.

[0036] The mast 205 also supports a plurality of illumination assemblies 213, configured to illuminate the fields of view of the respective cameras 207. That is, the illumination assembly 213-1 illuminates the field of view of the camera 207-1, and so on. The cameras 207 and LIDARs 211 are oriented on the mast 205 such that the fields of view of the sensors each face a shelf 110 along the length 119 of which the apparatus 103 is traveling. As noted earlier, the apparatus 103 is configured to track a pose of the apparatus 103 (e.g. a location and orientation of the center of the chassis 201) in the frame of reference 102, permitting data captured by the apparatus 103 to be registered to the frame of reference 102 for subsequent processing.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 3, certain components of the mobile automation apparatus 103 are shown, in addition to the cameras 207, depth sensor 209, LIDARs 211, and illumination assemblies 213 mentioned above. The apparatus 103 includes a special- purpose controller, such as a processor 300, interconnected with a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, such as a memory 304. The memory 304 includes a suitable combination of volatile memory (e.g. Random Access Memory or RAM) and non-volatile memory (e.g. read only memory or ROM, Electrically Erasable

Programmable Read Only Memory or EEPROM, flash memory). The processor 300 and the memory 304 each comprise one or more integrated circuits. The memory 304 stores computer readable instructions for execution by the processor 300. In particular, the memory 304 stores an apparatus control application 308 which, when executed by the processor 300, configures the processor 300 to perform various functions related to navigating the facility and controlling the sensors 108 to capture data, e.g. responsive to instructions from the server 101. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the functionality implemented by the processor 300 via the execution of the application 308 may also be implemented by one or more specially designed hardware and firmware components, such as FPGAs, ASICs and the like in other embodiments.

[0038] The memory 304 may also store a repository 312 containing, for example, a map of the environment in which the apparatus 103 operates, for use during the execution of the application 308. The apparatus 103 also includes a communications interface 316 enabling the apparatus 103 to communicate with the server 101 (e.g. via the link 105 or via the dock 106 and the link 107), for example to receive instructions to navigate to specified locations and initiate data capture operations.

[0039] In addition to the sensors mentioned earlier, the apparatus 103 includes a motion sensor 318, such as one or more wheel odometers coupled to the locomotive assembly 203. The motion sensor 318 can also include, in addition to or instead of the above- mentioned wheel odometer(s), an inertial measurement unit (IMU) configured to measure acceleration along a plurality of axes.

[0040] The actions performed by the server 101, and specifically by the processor 120 as configured via execution of the application 124, to classify label indicators and detect gaps from captured data representing the shelves 110 (e.g. depth measurements captured by the apparatus 103) will now be discussed in greater detail with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 illustrates a method 400 of detecting gaps. The method 400 will be described in conjunction with its performance in the system 100, and in particular by the server 101, with reference to the components illustrated in FIG. 1. As will be apparent in the discussion below, in other examples, some or all of the processing described below as being performed by the server 101 may alternatively be performed by the apparatus 103.

[0041] Beginning at block 405, the server 101 obtains a plurality of depth measurements (that is, a point cloud) representing a support structure such as one or more of the above-mentioned shelf modules 110. The depth measurements can be retrieved from the memory 122 (e.g. from the repository 132), having been previously stored at the server 101 following their receipt from the apparatus 103. The depth measurements represent the position, in three dimensions (e.g. according to the frame of reference 102), of a plurality of locations on the support structure.

[0042] The server 101 also obtains, at block 405, a plurality of label indicators. The label indicators define positions (e.g. bounding boxes), also according to the frame of reference 102, of labels on the support structure depicted by the point cloud mentioned above. More specifically, the label indicators typically define bounding boxes indicating the extent of each label. The label indicators can be generated via a variety of mechanisms, whether at the server 101 itself or at another computing device. For example, the label indicators may be generated by detecting label features (e.g. barcodes, text, gradients and the like) in images captured by the apparatus 103.

[0043] Turning to FIG. 5, an example point cloud 500 is shown depicting a support structure that includes both support surfaces 117 (having shelf edges 118) and a number of pegs 502. As seen in FIG. 5, each peg 502 extends outwards from the shelf back 116, and one or more products 112 can be suspended from the peg 502. Also illustrated in FIG. 5 are label indicators 504. Specifically, label indicators 504-1, 504-2 and 504-3 indicate the positions of labels placed on a shelf edge 118, while label indicators 504- 4, 504-5, 504-6, 504-7 and 504-8 indicate the positions of labels mounted at the ends of respective pegs 502. Each label is associated with a space on the corresponding support surface 117 or peg 502 that supports a given product, typically identified by the label itself. As seen in FIG. 5, some pegs 502 support products 112, while other pegs 502 are empty. Similarly, some portions of the shelf surface 117 support products 112, while others (such as the portion of the shelf surface 117 above the label indicator 504- 3) are empty. Through the label classification and gap detection process discussed herein, the server 101 determines which pegs 502 and/or shelf regions are empty (i.e. which portions of the support structure have gaps where products 112 are expected).

[0044] Returning to FIG. 4, at block 410 the server 101, and in particular the label classifier 126, classifies the label indicators 504. Each label indicator 504 is classified as either a shelf label (i.e. corresponding to a label mounted on a shelf edge 118) or a peg label (i.e. corresponding to a label mounted on a peg 502). As will be discussed below, the label indicators 504 are classified based on subsets of the depth measurements, selected according to the location of the label indicators 504.

[0045] Turning to FIG. 6, a method 600 of classifying label indicators 504 (i.e. of performing block 410 of the method 400) is illustrated. The method 600 is performed for each label indicator 504 obtained at block 405. Upon completion of the method 600 for every label indicator 504, the server 101 returns to the method 400 itself (specifically, to block 415).

[0046] At block 605, prior to beginning classification of the label indicators 504, the server 101 can perform one or more pre-processing actions on the label indicators 504. For example, the server 101 can remove erroneous label indicators 504 and/or adjust the position of the label indicator 504. Detection of labels, e.g. from image data as mentioned above, may occasionally result in minor positional errors, in which the label indicator 504 deviates to a degree from the actual label whose position it indicates. The server 101, at block 605, attempts to correct such deviations by generating a set of candidate adjusted label indicators 504. For example, eight candidate adjusted label indicators can be generated, each shifted in a different direction (e.g. left, left and up, up, right and up, right, right and down, down, left and down) by a predefined distance (e.g. 5 mm). The label classifier 126 then determines a variability measurement for the depth measurements within each candidate (as well as within the original indicator 504). That is, for each candidate, the label classifier 126 selects all depth measurements having coordinates on the X and Z axes (as shown in FIG. 5) that fall within the relevant candidate indicator. The variability measurement may be, for example, the standard deviation of the depth measurements. The label classifier 126 selects the one of the candidates or the original indicator 504 with the lowest variability. Low variability indicates that the candidate indicator encompasses a substantially flat surface (i.e. a label) rather than part of label and part of some other structure, such as a product 112, the shelf back 116, or the like.

[0047] Other pre-processing operations can also be performed at block 605. For example, the label classifier 126 may also discard any label indicators 504 with dimensions that exceed a configurable maximum threshold, as well as any label indicators 504 with dimensions that do not exceed a configurable minimum threshold. In another example, in some embodiments the label indicators received at block 405 may not yet have been checked for duplicate detections of the same physical labels. The label classifier 126 can therefore also determine whether each label indicator 504 overlaps with another label indicator 504 (e.g. with any degree of overlap, or meeting at least a minimum overlap threshold). Label indicators 504 that overlap sufficiently are combined into a single label indicator 504, either by discarding all but one of the overlapping indicators 504, computing a new label indicator centered at an average of the centers of the overlapping indicators 504, or the like. In other examples, block 605 may simply be omitted.

[0048] At block 610, the label classifier 126 determines whether the label indicator 504 being classified is located within a configurable threshold distance of an adjacent label indicator 504. Specifically, the distance assessed at block 610 is the distance to the adjacent label indicator 504 to the left and/or right (rather than to indicators 504 above or below the indicator 504 being processed). The threshold distance may be, for example, a distance equal to the expected width of a label in the facility where the point cloud 500 was captured. A wide variety of other threshold distances may also be applied, however. When the determination at block 610 is negative (i.e. the label indicator 504 is sufficiently spaced from its neighbors), performance of the method 600 proceeds to block 615. When the determination at block 610 is affirmative, performance of the method 600 proceeds to block 620. Blocks 615 and 620 will be discussed below, with reference to FIG. 7.

[0049] FIG. 7 illustrates an example performance of block 615, and an example performance of block 620. In the first example, during the processing of the label indicator 504-4, the label classifier 126 identifies the label indicator 504-5 as the nearest neighbor to the left or right (as seen in FIG. 5, the label indicator 504-4 has no indicators to the left). The label classifier 126 determines the distance 800 between the indicators

504-4 and 504-5, and compares the distance 800 to a threshold, such as the width W of the indicator 504-4 itself. The width W is smaller than the distance 800, and the label classifier 126 therefore proceeds to block 615. At block 615, the label classifier 126 selects depth measurements according to a label window 804-4, as well as left and right neighboring windows 808-L and 808-R. The window 804-4 has the same size and location as the label indicator 504-4, and the windows 808-L and 808-R have the same size as the label indicator 504-4, but locations that are immediately adjacent to the label indicator 504-4.

[0050] Each of the windows 804 and 808, as seen in FIG. 7, defines a column extending from the window itself to the shelf back 116. Thus, the label classifier 126 is configured to select three subsets of the depth measurements at block 615: one subset contained in the column defined by the window 808-L, and additional subsets contained in the columns defined by the windows 804-4 and 808-R.

[0051] The lower section of FIG. 7 illustrates the assessment at block 610 for the label indicator 504-7. As illustrated, a distance 810 between the label indicator 504-7 and the label indicator 504-8 is smaller than the width W, and the determination at block 610 is therefore negative. If windows were selected for the label indicator 504-7 in the same way as illustrated for block 615, the right neighboring window would include a substantial portion of the depth measurements within the label indicator 504-8. As will be discussed below, the classification of label indicators 504 is based on differences in depth between the label indicator 504 and the surrounding area. Specifically, peg labels are expected to have substantially different depths than their surrounding areas, while shelf labels are expected to have substantially the same depth as their surrounding areas (because such surrounding areas are expected to contain shelf edges 118). Closely- spaced label indicators 504, such as the indicators 504-7 and 504-8, are therefore vulnerable to being may be mis-classified as shelf labels.

[0052] To mitigate such mis-classification, at block 620, the label classifier 126 selects four subsets of depth measurements rather than the above-mentioned three subsets. In particular, the label classifier 126 selects a label subset that consists of two columns of depth measurements, defined by label windows 804-7 and 804-8. The label classifier 126 also selects a left window 818-L adjacent to the window 804-7, and a right window 818-R adjacent to the window 804-8. Finally, the label classifier selects a gap window 818-G between the windows 804-7 and 804-8. In other words, the subsets selected at block 620 result in both of the adjacent label indicators 504 being processed simultaneously, and also in the selection of a smaller window 818-G between the windows 804-7 and 804-8. The performance of block 620 may also encompass more than two adjacent label indicators 504. [0053] Returning to FIG. 6, at block 625 the label classifier 126 generates a depth metric for each of the selected subsets of depth measurements (i.e. each of the windows 804, 808, 818 discussed above). In the present example, the depth metrics are one dimensional vectors. Specifically, a depth vector is generated at block 625 for each selected window. The depth vector for a given window contains one or more depth- related measurements derived from the depth measurements within that window. Examples of such measurements are (a) a number of depth measurements in the window, (b) a minimum depth represented in the window, (c) a maximum depth represented in the window, (d) a mean of the depth measurements in the window, (e) a first quartile depth in the window, (f) a third quartile depth in the window, (g) a median of the depth measurements in the window, (h) a range (i.e. a difference between the above-mentioned minimum and maximum depths), and (i) a standard deviation.

[0054] At block 630, the label classifier 126 compares the metrics generated at block 625 by generating error measurements between various pairs of the metrics. When block 615 was performed, an error measurement is generated between the metric for the left window (e.g. 808-L) and the label window (e.g. 804-4), and another error measurement is generated between the metric for the label window and the right window (e.g. 808-R). The error measurement may be, for example, a root-mean-square error (RMSE) value computed for each of the above-mentioned pairs.

[0055] When block 620 was performed, three error measurements are generated. The error measurements include a first error measurement between the metric for the label windows (e.g. 804-7 and 804-8) and the metric for the left window (e.g. 818-L) and a second error measurement between the metric for the label windows and the metric for the right window (e.g. 818-R). The error measurements also include a third error measurement between the metric for the label windows and the metric for the gap window (e.g. 818-G).

[0056] The determination at block 630 is affirmative when all of the above-mentioned error measurements exceed a configurable threshold. As will now be apparent, error measurements that exceed the threshold indicate substantially different depth profiles between the various windows, which in turn indicates that the area surrounding the label indicator 504 (or plural indicators 504, in the case of block 620) is in a substantially different plane than the label indicator 504 itself. The label indicator 504 is therefore likely to represent a peg label, and is classified as a peg label at block 635. When at least one of the above-mentioned error measurements does not exceed the threshold, the determination at block 630 is negative, and the label indicator 504 is classified as a shelf label at block 640.

[0057] At block 645, the label classifier 126 can optionally reclassify each label indicator 504, once all label indicators 504 have been classified, based on the nearest neighbors of the label indicator 504. The performance of block 645 reflects an assumption that peg labels tend to be grouped together, as do shelf labels. That is, it is assumed to be unlikely that a sole peg label is surrounded by shelf labels. Therefore, at block 645 the classes of the nearest neighbors (e.g. one to three neighbors to the left, and one to three neighbors to the right) of an indicator 504 can be retrieved, and the label indicator can be reclassified with the class of the majority of the neighboring indicators 504. In other examples, however, block 645 can be omitted.

[0058] Following completion of the method 600 for each label indicator 504, the server 101 returns to the method 400 (specifically, to block 415). At block 415, the search space generator 128 defines item search spaces for each label indicator 504, based on the class assigned to the label indicator 504 at block 410. The item search spaces defined at block 415 represent, for each label indicator 504, a region in the point cloud 500 in which a product 112 corresponding to the label indicator 504 is expected to appear. The location of a given product 112 relative to the corresponding label, however, varies depending on the nature of the support structure where the product 112 and the label are located.

[0059] Specifically, as noted earlier, pegs 502 support labels at the ends thereof and support products 112 underneath the pegs 502. That is, products 112 are typically expected to appear below the corresponding label indicators 504 when the label indicators 504 are classified as peg labels. Shelf labels, on the other hand, are supported on shelf edges 118, and the corresponding products appear on the support surface 117 immediately above the shelf edge 118. Products 112 are therefore expected to appear above the corresponding label indicators 504 when the label indicators 504 are classified as shelf labels. [0060] Turning to FIG. 8, a method 800 of generating item search spaces (i.e. of performing block 415 of the method 400) is illustrated. The method 800 is performed for each label indicator 504. The search space generator 128 determines, at block 805, whether the label indicator 504 is classified as a shelf label or a peg label. When the label indicator is classified as a peg label, the search space generator 128 defines boundaries of a search space for the label indicator at blocks 810, 815 and 820, which need not be performed in the order shown in FIG. 8.

[0061] At block 810, an upper boundary is defined based on the label indicator itself. In particular, as shown in FIG. 9, upper boundaries for peg labels are placed in line with the lower edge of the label indicator 504. Thus, an upper boundary 900 of a search space 904-5 corresponding to the label indicator 504-5 is in line with the lower edge of the label indicator 504-5. Similarly, an upper boundary 910 of a search space 904-7 corresponding to the label indicator 504-7 is in line with the lower edge of the label indicator 504-7.

[0062] Returning to FIG. 8, at block 815 side boundaries are defined based on the left and right neighbors of the label indicator 504. In particular, as shown in FIG. 9, side boundaries 906-1 and 906-2 of the search space 904-5 are placed at a predefined fraction (half-way, in the present example) of the distance between the label indicator 504-5 and neighboring label indicators 504-4 and 504-6. A side boundary 914-2 of the search space 904-7 is assigned in a similar manner. The opposing side boundary 914-1 of the search space 904-7, however, is placed in line with the left edge of the label indicator 504-7, because the label indicator 504-7 does not have a neighboring label indicator 504 to the left. In other embodiments, in the absence of the relevant neighbor boundaries may be placed according to various other criteria (e.g. at a predefined distance from the corresponding side of the label indicator 504).

[0063] At block 820, a lower boundary is defined according to the classification of the nearest label indicator 504 below (i.e. the lower neighbor) the label indicator 504 being processed. Specifically, the lower boundary is placed in line with the upper edge of the lower neighbor if the lower neighbor is a peg label, or at a predefined fraction of a distance between the label indicator 504 and the lower neighbor, if the lower neighbor is a shelf label. Referring again to FIG. 9, a lower boundary 908 of the search space 904-5 is placed in line with the upper edge of the label indicator 504-7. The label indicator 504-7 is the lower neighbor of the label indicator 504-5, and is classified as a peg label. In contrast, a lower boundary 918 of the search space 904-7 is placed half way between the label indicator 504-7 and the lower neighbor of the label indicator 504-7, which is classified as a shelf label.

[0064] When the label indicator 504 for which a search space is to be generated is a shelf label, the boundaries of the search space are generated by the search space generator 128 according to blocks 825, 830 and 835 (although as noted above, blocks 825, 830 and 835 need not be performed in the order shown).

[0065] At block 825, a lower boundary of the search space is generated based on the label indicator 504. In particular, referring to FIG. 9, the lower boundary is placed in line with the upper edge of the label indicator 504. For example, lower boundaries 928 and 938 of the search spaces 904-3 and 904-2, respectively, are placed in line with the upper edges of the label indicators 504-3 and 504-2. At block 830, side boundaries are placed based on the label indicator 504 itself, and on the left-hand neighbor label indicator 504. Turning again to FIG. 9, right boundaries 924-2 and 934-2 of the search spaces 904-3 and 904-2, respectively, are placed in line with the right-hand edges of the label indicators 504-3 and 504-2. Left boundaries 924-1 and 934-1, on the other hand, are placed in line with the right edges of the neighboring label indicators 504-2 and 504-1, respectively. Finally, at block 835 an upper boundary is generated based on the classification of the upper neighbor (i.e. the nearest label indicator 504 above the label indicator 504 being processed via the method 800).

[0066] Referring once again to FIG. 9, the upper neighbor of the label indicator 504-3 (the label indicator 504-7) is a peg label, and an upper boundary 920 of the search space 904-3 is therefore placed at a predefined fraction (e.g. half-way) of the distance between the label indicators 504-3 and 504-7. The upper neighbor of the label indicator 504-2, on the other hand (the label indicator 504-10), is classified as a shelf label. An upper boundary 930 of the search space 904-2 is therefore placed at the lower edge of the label indicator 504-10.

[0067] FIG. 10 illustrates a set of search spaces generated via the method 800 for each of the label indicators 504. In addition to the search spaces 904 mentioned above, FIG. 10 illustrates search spaces 1004-1, 1004-4-, 1004-6, 1004-8, 1004-9 and 1004-10. As will be apparent in FIG. 10, certain search spaces (e.g. the search spaces 1004-1 and 1004-9) extend to the boundaries of the shelf module 110 itself, when the relevant neighboring label indicators 504 are not present. When the search spaces for each label indicator 504 have been generated via the method 800, performance of the method 400 continues at block 420.

[0068] Returning to FIG. 4, at block 420 the gap detector 130 determines, based on the depth measurements within the search space for each label indicator 504, whether an item (i.e. a product 112, in the illustrated example) is present in the search space corresponding to that label indicator 504. Various mechanisms are contemplated for performing block 420. In some examples, at block 420 the gap detector 130 generates a depth metric such as the previously mentioned depth vector, based on the depth measurements within the search space. The gap detector 130 can then determine a magnitude of the depth vector (e.g. by computing the norm of the depth vector) and compare the magnitude to a predefined threshold. A depth vector for a search space that does not contain any products 112 typically has greater minimum and maximum depths, greater mean and median depths, and greater first and third quartile depths, than a depth vector for a search space that does contain products 112. Therefore, if the norm of the depth vector exceeds the threshold, the determination at block 420 is negative (i.e. the search space does not contain any products 112). Following a negative determination at block 420, the gap detector 130 reports a gap at block 425. For example, the gap detector 130 can generate a gap indicator defining a location in the frame of reference 102 of the detected gap. The location may, for example, be defined by the same bounding box as the search space evaluated at block 420.

[0069] When the determination at block 420 is affirmative (i.e. when the above- mentioned depth vector does not exceed the threshold), the gap detector proceeds to block 430. At block 430, the gap detector 130 may report an item indicator. The item indicator may include a bounding box equivalent to the search space, and may also include the depth vector.

[0070] In other embodiments, the gap detector 130 can perform a segmentation operation on the depth measurements in the search space to identify items (e.g. products 112) therein. FIG. 11 illustrates a method 1100 of performing block 420 in such embodiments. At block 1105, the gap detector 130 can fit a three-dimensional surface to the depth measurements in the search space, according to any suitable surface-fitting operation (e.g. a mesh-based interpolation operation). In some examples, block 1105 can be omitted, e.g. if the search space contains a minimum density of depth measurements.

[0071] At block 1110 the gap detector 130 generates a two-dimensional depth map from the surface of block 1105 (or directly from the depth measurements in the search space, if block 1105 is omitted). The depth map projects the depth measurements, or portions of the fitted surface, to two dimensions and assigns an intensity value to each portion or depth measurement based on the depth of that portion or depth measurement. FIG. 12 illustrates a depth map 1200 generated from the depth measurements in the search space 904-5.

[0072] At block 1115, the gap detector 130 generates a plurality of binary masks from the depth map, by applying a series of intensity thresholds (which are therefore effectively depth thresholds) to the depth map. For each intensity threshold, all pixels in the depth map with intensities below the threshold (i.e. representing greater depths) are given a first intensity in the binary mask, while all remaining pixels are given a second intensity in the binary mask. The intensity thresholds are selected, for example, as fractions of a maximum depth in the search space. For example, a series of intensity thresholds can be generated from 95% of the maximum depth to 50% of the maximum depth, at 5% intervals. A wide variety of other series of intensity thresholds may also be employed, however.

[0073] FIG. 12 illustrates a set of four binary masks 1204, 1208, 1212 and 1216. The binary mask 1204 corresponds to an intensity threshold of 50% of the maximum depth in the search space 904-5. The maximum depth is the depth of the shelf back 116, and in the illustrated example it is assumed that 50% of the maximum depth is in front of the product 112. Therefore, no pixels in the depth map 1200 are below the threshold, and the binary mask 1204 consists entirely of“zero” pixels, indicating that no item is present. [0074] The masks 1208, 1212 and 1216 correspond to progressively greater thresholds (e.g. terminating at 95% of the maximum depth). Each binary mask therefore includes a region (shown in black) of high intensity, corresponding to pixels in the depth map with intensities below the corresponding threshold. The gap detector 130, for each binary mask, determines whether any contiguous regions of high intensity are present, according to any suitable blob detection operation. Such contiguous regions represent potential items (e.g. products 112) within the search space.

[0075] At block 1120, the gap detector 130 determines whether the contiguous regions detected in the binary masks indicate the present of a product 112. The gap detector 130 can, for example, determine whether any of the regions satisfies dimensional criteria such as a minimum width and/or a minimum height. The gap detector 130 can also determine whether any of the regions satisfies a detection criterion, such as a minimum number of overlapping regions from adjacent binary masks. Turning to FIG. 12, it is apparent that the masks 1208, 1212 and 1216 each contain overlapping regions (the region from the mask 1208 is shown in dashed white lines in the mask 1212, and the regions from the masks 1208 and 1212 are shown in dashed white lines in the mask 1216). Thus, the regions in the masks 1208, 1212 and 1216 likely correspond to the same physical item, which has therefore been detected in three masks.

[0076] When the determination at block 1120 is affirmative, the gap detector 130 proceeds to block 430 as discussed above. When the determination at block 1120 is negative, on the other hand, the gap detector 130 proceeds to block 425 as discussed above.

[0077] The server 101 is enabled, via the methods discussed above, to distinguish between portions of a support structure that suspend products 112 from pegs 502, and portions of the support structure that support products 112 on surfaces 117. The server 101 is further enabled to determine, based on the above distinction, to define search spaces in which to search for products 112 and return either item indicators or gap indicators accordingly. The item or gap indicators are stored in the memory 122 (e.g. in the repository 132) for use in further processing, e.g. to out-of-stock generate alerts for transmission to the client device 104. The item or gap indicators may also be transmitted to other computing devices, presented on a display connected to the server 101, or the like.

[0078] In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings.

[0079] The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.

[0080] Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising,"“has”, “having,”“includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises ... a”,“has ... a”,“includes ... a”,“contains ... a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms“a” and“an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms“substantially”,“essentially”,“approximately� ��,“about” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term“coupled” as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

[0081] It will be appreciated that some embodiments may be comprised of one or more specialized processors (or“processing devices”) such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, customized processors and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and unique stored program instructions (including both software and firmware) that control the one or more processors to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of the method and/or apparatus described herein. Alternatively, some or all functions could be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certain of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be used.

[0082] Moreover, an embodiment can be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code stored thereon for programming a computer (e.g., comprising a processor) to perform a method as described and claimed herein. Examples of such computer-readable storage mediums include, but are not limited to, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flash memory. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation.

[0083] The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.