Shelf space allocation management device and shelf space allocation management method

A shelf space allocation management method for managing a plurality of products allocated on a shelf among a plurality of shelves using a mobile imaging device movable in a store, the shelf space allocation management method comprising:

• acquiring a first image taken by the mobile imaging device configured to move in a store under an automatic tracking mode configured to track a clerk;
• determining whether the clerk located in the store and captured in the first image has performed a predetermined action on the shelf;
• specifying position information of the shelf for a product allocation inspection, wherein the position information is assumed to be changed in product allocation due to the predetermined action on the shelf;
• changing the automatic tracking mode to a position control mode directing movement according to position information of the mobile imaging device and a target position determined in advance after specifying the position information of the shelf;
• moving a drone having the mobile imaging device and configured to automatically track a person located in the store to an image-capture position in a direction calculated according to the position information of the shelf in the position control mode;
• adjusting the direction of the mobile imaging device upon determining that the mobile imaging device arrives at the image-capture position in the position control mode;
• controlling the mobile imaging device to capture a second image on the shelf at the image-capture position;
• determining whether a type and an allocation status of a plurality of products reflected in the second image match a predetermined type and a predetermined allocation status of the plurality of products;
• and
• executing the product allocation inspection based on a determination result of the type and the allocation status of the product.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein a shelf space allocation management program causing a computer to perform a shelf space allocation management process for managing a plurality of products allocated on a shelf among a plurality of shelves using a mobile imaging device movable in a store, the shelf space allocation management process comprising:

• acquiring a first image taken by the mobile imaging device configured to move in a store under an automatic tracking mode configured to track a clerk;
• determining whether the clerk located in the store and captured in the first image has performed a predetermined action on the shelf;
• specifying position information of the shelf for a product allocation inspection, wherein the position information is assumed to be changed in product allocation due to the predetermined action on the shelf;
• changing the automatic tracking mode to a position control mode directing movement according to position information of the mobile imaging device and a target position determined in advance after specifying the position information of the shelf;
• moving a drone having the mobile imaging device and configured to automatically track a person located in the store to an image-capture position in a direction according to the position information of the shelf in the position control mode;
• adjusting the direction of the mobile imaging device upon determining that the mobile imaging device arrives at the image-capture position in the position control mode;
• controlling the mobile imaging device to capture a second image on the shelf at the image-capture position;
• determining whether a type and an allocation status of a plurality of products reflected in the second image match a predetermined type and a predetermined allocation status of the plurality of products;
• and
• executing the product allocation inspection based on a determination result of the type and the allocation status of the product.