Patents by Inventor Ken Hanazawa
Ken Hanazawa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 12327429Abstract: A customer analysis apparatus (10) includes an image acquisition unit (110) and an image processing unit (120). The image acquisition unit (110) acquires a first image generated by a first image capture unit (22) and a second image generated by a second image capture unit (24). The image processing unit (120) processes the first image and the second image. More specifically, the image processing unit (120) generates product information indicating a product (50) taken out from a product shelf (40), by processing the first image and the second image. Further, the image processing unit (120) generates customer attribute information of a customer taking out the product (50), by processing the first image. Then, the image processing unit (120) causes a result storage unit (130) to store the product information and the customer attribute information in association with each other.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2023Date of Patent: June 10, 2025Assignee: NEC CORPORATIONInventors: Makiko Akiguchi, Azusa Furukawa, Kei Shibuya, Kan Arai, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Ken Hanazawa
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Patent number: 12314967Abstract: In a familiarity degree estimation apparatus, a first video process unit calculates a time while a hand being viewed, which is a time when a customer is viewing the hand. A second video process unit calculates a time while an item being held, which is a time when the customer is holding an item. A familiarity degree estimation unit calculates a time while the item being viewed based on the time while a hand being viewed and the time while the item being held, and estimates that the longer the time while the item being viewed, the lower the degree of familiarity of the customer with respect to the item.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2020Date of Patent: May 27, 2025Assignee: NEC CORPORATIONInventors: Azusa Furukawa, Kan Arai, Kei Shibuya, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Ken Hanazawa, Makiko Akiguchi
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Patent number: 12211313Abstract: A customer analysis apparatus (10) includes an image acquisition unit (110) and an image processing unit (120). The image acquisition unit (110) acquires a first image generated by a first image capture unit (22) and a second image generated by a second image capture unit (24). The image processing unit (120) processes the first image and the second image. More specifically, the image processing unit (120) generates product information indicating a product (50) taken out from a product shelf (40), by processing the first image and the second image. Further, the image processing unit (120) generates customer attribute information of a customer taking out the product (50), by processing the first image. Then, the image processing unit (120) causes a result storage unit (130) to store the product information and the customer attribute information in association with each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: NEC CORPORATIONInventors: Makiko Akiguchi, Azusa Furukawa, Kei Shibuya, Kan Arai, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Ken Hanazawa
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Patent number: 12210593Abstract: The present invention provides a processing apparatus (10) including: a classification execution unit (12) that executes class classification, based on an inference device; a computation unit (13) that computes a precision of a class determined by the class classification; a processing unit (14) that outputs a class determined by the class classification and accepts a correct/incorrect input from an operator when the precision is less than a reference value; and a registration unit (15) that registers a product determined by the class classification as a purchase target when the precision is equal to or more than the reference value, and registers a product determined by a correct/incorrect input from the operator as a purchase target when the precision is less than the reference value.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: NEC CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroshi Hashimoto, Kan Arai, Kei Shibuya, Ken Hanazawa, Azusa Furukawa, Makiko Akiguchi
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Publication number: 20240289799Abstract: The present invention provides a processing apparatus (10) including: a registration unit (12) that recognizes, based on image processing, product discrimination information of a product picked up from a product placing space, and registers the recognized product discrimination information in association with customer discrimination information; and a settlement unit (13) that executes, when it is detected, based on image processing, that a customer having picked up the product performs a predetermined action, a settlement based on a registration content resulting from the registration unit (12).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2024Publication date: August 29, 2024Applicant: NEC CorporationInventors: Kan Arai, Azusa Furukawa, Kei Shibuya, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Makiko Akiguchi, Ken Hanazawa
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Patent number: 12014370Abstract: The present invention provides a processing apparatus (10) including: a registration unit (12) that recognizes, based on image processing, product discrimination information of a product picked up from a product placing space, and registers the recognized product discrimination information in association with customer discrimination information; and a settlement unit (13) that executes, when it is detected, based on image processing, that a customer having picked up the product performs a predetermined action, a settlement based on a registration content resulting from the registration unit (12).Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2020Date of Patent: June 18, 2024Assignee: NEC CORPORATIONInventors: Kan Arai, Azusa Furukawa, Kei Shibuya, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Makiko Akiguchi, Ken Hanazawa
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Publication number: 20240104587Abstract: In a familiarity degree estimation apparatus, a first video process unit calculates a time while a hand being viewed, which is a time when a customer is viewing the hand. A second video process unit calculates a time while an item being held, which is a time when the customer is holding an item. A familiarity degree estimation unit calculates a time while the item being viewed based on the time while a hand being viewed and the time while the item being held, and estimates that the longer the time while the item being viewed, the lower the degree of familiarity of the customer with respect to the item.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: NEC CorporationInventors: Azusa FURUKAWA, Kan ARAI, Kei SHIBUYA, Hiroshi HASHIMOTO, Ken HANAZAWA, Makiko AKIGUCHI
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Publication number: 20240095671Abstract: An item management apparatus manages the number of items displayed on an item shelf. An acquisition unit acquires an ideal quantity indicating an ideal number of items to be displayed, and a current quantity indicating the number of items being actually displayed on the item shelf. A detection unit detects the number of times of taking out and placing back an item with respect to the item shelf. An ideal quantity correction unit corrects the ideal quantity based on the current quantity and the number of times of taking out and placing back the item.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: NEC CorporationInventors: Azusa FURUKAWA, Kan ARAI, Kei SHIBUYA, Hiroshi HASHIMOTO, Ken HANAZAWA, Makiko AKIGUCHI
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Publication number: 20240087359Abstract: A customer analysis apparatus (10) includes an image acquisition unit (110) and an image processing unit (120). The image acquisition unit (110) acquires a first image generated by a first image capture unit (22) and a second image generated by a second image capture unit (24). The image processing unit (120) processes the first image and the second image. More specifically, the image processing unit (120) generates product information indicating a product (50) taken out from a product shelf (40), by processing the first image and the second image. Further, the image processing unit (120) generates customer attribute information of a customer taking out the product (50), by processing the first image. Then, the image processing unit (120) causes a result storage unit (130) to store the product information and the customer attribute information in association with each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Applicant: NEC CorporationInventors: Makiko AKIGUCHI, Azusa FURUKAWA, Kei SHIBUYA, Kan ARAI, Hiroshi HASHIMOTO, Ken HANAZAWA
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Publication number: 20240086946Abstract: In a familiarity degree estimation apparatus, a first video process unit calculates a time while a hand being viewed, which is a time when a customer is viewing the hand. A second video process unit calculates a time while an item being held, which is a time when the customer is holding an item. A familiarity degree estimation unit calculates a time while the item being viewed based on the time while a hand being viewed and the time while the item being held, and estimates that the longer the time while the item being viewed, the lower the degree of familiarity of the customer with respect to the item.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Applicant: NEC CorporationInventors: Azusa FURUKAWA, Kan ARAI, Kei SHIBUYA, Hiroshi HASHIMOTO, Ken HANAZAWA, Makiko AKIGUCHI
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Publication number: 20230154039Abstract: The present invention provides a processing apparatus (10) including: an acquisition unit (11) that acquires an image of a product held in a hand of a customer; an image analysis unit (12) that generates time-series information on a position of the product, based on the image; a determination unit (13) that determines whether the customer has performed a specific action for the product, based on a movement status of the product indicated by the generated time-series information; and a registration unit (14) that registers that the customer has performed the specific action.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2020Publication date: May 18, 2023Applicant: NEC CorporationInventors: Hiroshi HASHIMOTO, Soma SHIRAISHI, Takami SATO, Yu NABETO, Kan ARAI, Kei SHIBUYA, Azusa FURUKAWA, Ken HANAZAWA, Makiko AKIGUCHI
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Publication number: 20230140512Abstract: The present invention provides a processing apparatus (10) including: a classification execution unit (12) that executes class classification, based on an inference device; a computation unit (13) that computes a precision of a class determined by the class classification; a processing unit (14) that outputs a class determined by the class classification and accepts a correct/incorrect input from an operator when the precision is less than a reference value; and a registration unit (15) that registers a product determined by the class classification as a purchase target when the precision is equal to or more than the reference value, and registers a product determined by a correct/incorrect input from the operator as a purchase target when the precision is less than the reference value.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2020Publication date: May 4, 2023Applicant: NEC CorporationInventors: Hiroshi HASHIMOTO, Kan ARAI, Kei SHIBUYA, Ken HANAZAWA, Azusa FURUKAWA, Mekiko AKIGUCHI
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Publication number: 20230099665Abstract: In a familiarity degree estimation apparatus, a first video process unit calculates a time while a hand being viewed, which is a time when a customer is viewing the hand. A second video process unit calculates a time while an item being held, which is a time when the customer is holding an item. A familiarity degree estimation unit calculates a time while the item being viewed based on the time while a hand being viewed and the time while the item being held, and estimates that the longer the time while the item being viewed, the lower the degree of familiarity of the customer with respect to the item.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2020Publication date: March 30, 2023Applicant: NEC CorporationInventors: Azusa FURUKAWA, Kan ARAI, Kei SHIBUYA, Hiroshi HASHIMOTO, Ken HANAZAWA, Makiko AKIGUCHI
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Publication number: 20230092638Abstract: Provided is a delivery management device for determining the delivery skill of a worker who delivers products in a specific store such as a labor-saving store. A delivery management device 30 equipped with an authentication unit 31 for authenticating a deliverer of a product on the basis of a captured image, and a skill determination unit 32 for determining the skill of the deliverer by using skill information which includes one or more elements among the number of products displayed, the time required by displaying and the product display state level on the product shelf, which are calculated on the basis of an image in which the authenticated deliverer displays one or more products on a product shelf.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2020Publication date: March 23, 2023Applicant: NEC CorporationInventors: Kei Shibuya, Kan Arai, Azusa Furukawa, Makiko Akiguchi, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Ken Hanazawa
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Publication number: 20230080815Abstract: A customer analysis apparatus (10) includes an image acquisition unit (110) and an image processing unit (120). The image acquisition unit (110) acquires a first image generated by a first image capture unit (22) and a second image generated by a second image capture unit (24). The image processing unit (120) processes the first image and the second image. More specifically, the image processing unit (120) generates product information indicating a product (50) taken out from a product shelf (40), by processing the first image and the second image. Further, the image processing unit (120) generates customer attribute information of a customer taking out the product (50), by processing the first image. Then, the image processing unit (120) causes a result storage unit (130) to store the product information and the customer attribute information in association with each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2020Publication date: March 16, 2023Applicant: NEC CorporationInventors: Makiko AKIGUCHI, Azusa FURUKAWA, Kei SHIBUYA, Kan ARAI, Hiroshi HASHIMOTO, Ken HANAZAWA
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Publication number: 20230069523Abstract: The present invention provides a processing apparatus (10) including: a registration unit (12) that recognizes, based on image processing, product discrimination information of a product picked up from a product placing space, and registers the recognized product discrimination information in association with customer discrimination information; and a settlement unit (13) that executes, when it is detected, based on image processing, that a customer having picked up the product performs a predetermined action, a settlement based on a registration content resulting from the registration unit (12).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2020Publication date: March 2, 2023Applicant: NEC CorporationInventors: Kan Arai, Azusa Furukawa, Kei Shibuya, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Makiko Akiguchi, Ken Hanazawa
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Publication number: 20230063863Abstract: An item management apparatus manages the number of items displayed on an item shelf. An acquisition unit acquires an ideal quantity indicating an ideal number of items to be displayed, and a current quantity indicating the number of items being actually displayed on the item shelf. A detection unit detects the number of times of taking out and placing back an item with respect to the item shelf. An ideal quantity correction unit corrects the ideal quantity based on the current quantity and the number of times of taking out and placing back the item.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2020Publication date: March 2, 2023Applicant: NEC CorporationInventors: Azusa FURUKAWA, Kan ARAI, Kei SHIBUYA, Hiroshi HASHIMOTO, Ken HANAZAWA, Makiko AKIGUCHI
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Publication number: 20230027388Abstract: A price information determination apparatus (10) includes an information acquisition unit (110), a price information determination unit (120), and an output unit (130). The information acquisition unit (110) acquires customer information of a customer when the customer selects a specific product (50) out of products (50) placed in a product shelving unit (40). The price information determination unit (120) generates price information of the selected product (50) by using the customer information acquired by the information acquisition unit (110). The output unit (130) outputs the customer information generated by the price information determination unit (120) to, for example, a display apparatus (30).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2020Publication date: January 26, 2023Applicant: NEC CorporationInventors: Kan Arai, Kei Shibuya, Azusa Furukawa, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Makiko Akiguchi, Ken Hanazawa
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Patent number: 9972336Abstract: An apparatus of this invention is directed to a speech input apparatus for obtaining a piece of high-quality speech with included noise reduced. The speech input apparatus includes a sound insulating block attached to a ceiling member in a vehicle, a first microphone that is attached to a side surface of the sound insulating block or the ceiling member in the vicinity of the sound insulating block on a side close to a passenger of the vehicle, inputs a sound mixture including the voice of the passenger and noise in the vehicle, and outputs a first signal to a noise suppressor configured to output an enhanced speech signal, and a second microphone that is attached to a side surface of the sound insulating block or the ceiling member in the vicinity of the sound insulating block on a side far from the passenger, inputs the noise in the vehicle, and outputs a second signal to the noise suppressor.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2013Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: NEC CORPORATIONInventors: Masanori Tsujikawa, Ken Hanazawa, Akihiko Sugiyama
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Patent number: 9905243Abstract: A system of this invention is directed to a speech processing system that efficiently performs noise suppression processing for a plurality of noise sources spreading in a lateral direction with respect to a speaker of interest.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2014Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: NEC CORPORATIONInventors: Masanori Tsujikawa, Ken Hanazawa, Akihiko Sugiyama