Using depth sensing cameras positioned overhead to detect and track a movement of a user within a materials handling facility

• Main Authors: Liberato, Jr., Frank Florian, Bibireata, Daniel, Kim, Jaechul, Xu, Chen, Ren, Xiaofeng
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 09.06.2020
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORYOR FORECASTING PURPOSES; IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL; PHYSICS; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE,COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTINGPURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

Described is a multiple-camera system and process for detecting a user within a materials handling facility and tracking a position of the user as the user moves through the materials handling facility. In one implementation, a plurality of depth sensing cameras are positioned above a surface of the materials handling facility and oriented to obtain an overhead view of the surface of the materials handling facility, along with any objects (e.g., users) on the surface of the materials handling facility. The depth information from the cameras may be utilized to detect objects on the surface of the materials handling facility, track a movement of those objects and determine if those objects are users.