Abstract: The method and system evaluates the effectiveness of a display location within a store based on a behavioral response analysis of shoppers in the vicinity. The effectiveness of a display location is measured by tracking shoppers in-store, extracting and processing shopper attributes, and extracting metrics based on the processed attributes. The metrics of one location is compared to the metrics of another location to determine overall effectiveness.

Abstract: An event of interest may be tracked using a distributed intelligence video surveillance system. The distributed intelligence video surveillance system includes a lead video camera and a plurality of child video cameras that are configured to communicate with the lead video camera. One of the plurality of child video cameras may receive a video image and perform analytics and event generation for any events of interest found within the video image. The child video camera extracts metadata for any found events of interest and communicates the extracted metadata to the lead video camera. The lead video camera communicates the extracted metadata to others of the plurality of child video cameras so that the others of the plurality of child video cameras can be alerted to track the found events of interest.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for evaluating relative effectiveness of content in a digital signage network, using a series of measurements to compare and evaluate different contents. The measurements are performed on a plurality of input images of the people captured by a plurality of means for capturing images in the vicinity of at least a digital signage. The present invention is a content rating system based on how the audience responds to the digital content in the intended context of digital media network in-store or in other public viewing areas. The present invention allows the measurement of the response to the content for different segments, further allowing for better planning of the content and optimizing the advertising dollars.

Abstract: A method and system for creating an anonymous shopper panel based on multi-modal sensor data fusion. The anonymous shopper panel can serve as the same traditional shopper panel who reports their household information, such as household size, income level, demographics, etc., and their purchase history, yet without any voluntary participation. A configuration of vision sensors and mobile access points can be used to detect and track shoppers as they travel a retail environment. Fusion of those modalities can be used to form a trajectory. The trajectory data can then be associated with Point of Sale data to form a full set of shopper behavior data. Shopper behavior data for a particular visit can then be compared to data from previous shoppers' visits to determine if the shopper is a revisiting shopper. The shopper's data can then be aggregated for multiple visits to the retail location. The aggregated shopper data can be filtered using application-specific criteria to create an anonymous shopper panel.

Abstract: A contact tracing system and method identifies which persons at a facility may have been exposed to a possibly contagious person. In some examples, multiple sensors, such as access card readers and cameras with video and thermographic imaging, monitor individuals at the facility. For each person, the system collects data pertaining to an individual's location and/or temperature at discrete points in time. In addition to collecting data throughout the day, data is also collected over an extended period of days or weeks. Based on data recorded during the extended periods, the system determines each person's typical schedule and travel pattern through the facility. When one or more sensors detect a possibly contagious person by sensing a fever, or even a gradually rising body temperature, the system searches for person's whose typical schedule and travel patterns overlap with those of the contagious person. The system then automatically notifies people accordingly.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for capturing a dataset over time that represents the response of shoppers to a set of marketing and merchandising stimuli or “elements”. The response includes exposure metrics, engagement metrics and conversion metrics for different shopper segments. The shopper segments may be defined by demographics such as gender, age and ethnicity or by the type of trip, such as a quick trip or a fill-up trip. The system comprises a plurality of means for capturing images, such as cameras, covering the area of interest in the vicinity of the marketing or merchandising element. The method comprises automated and semi-automated analysis of the video to extract the shopper behavior and demographics data for computing the defined metrics. The captured data can be further combined with information such a promotions and advertisement outside the store to further enhance the applications of the data collected in-store from the invention.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for detecting shopping groups based on the dynamic relation between shoppers' trajectories. First, shopper trajectories are generated using video images or positioning devices. Then, group behavior features are extracted from a candidate shopping group trajectory pair. The group behavior features of a given pair of trajectories are typically the changes in positional differences and the average speed of these trajectories. From a model of shopping group behavior, a given pair of candidate shopping group trajectories is analyzed to determine the group score—the likelihood of the pair of shoppers indeed belonging to the same group. Lastly, the system utilizes graph segmentation framework to find clusters where trajectories belonging to each cluster have tight group scores with each other.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the hierarchical purchase decision process of a shopper in front of a product category in a retail store. Shopping consideration and the decision path the shopper can be obtained by combining behavior data with the category layout and transaction data. The hierarchical decision process can be determined based on observed actual in-store purchase behavior using a set of video cameras and processor implemented instructions for extracting the sequence and timing of the shopper's decision process. The hierarchical decision process, obtained by the clustering of shopper behavior data over multiple shopping trips, can not only identify the sequence of the decision, but can also quantify the volume of shopping trips at each level in the decision process and the amount of time spent by the shopper for making each decision. The decisions of the shopper for each product group can be captured down to the product attribute level.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having a core. A header is on a side of the core, and a tank is brazed to the header. A connector is brazed to an outer surface of the tank. A welding aperture is defined by the tank beneath the connector. A weld at the welding aperture secures the connector to the tank prior to brazing of the connector and the tank together.

Abstract: A heat exchange system including a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger arranged in parallel with the first heat exchanger with respect to flow of refrigerant through the heat exchange system. A flow control assembly is at an outlet of the first heat exchanger. The flow control assembly is configured to allow refrigerant to flow out of the first heat exchanger through the flow control assembly, and restrict refrigerant that has passed through the second heat exchanger from flowing through the flow control assembly and into the first heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system having a condenser, an evaporator, a heater, a compressor, and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is in an auxiliary case that is spaced apart from the heater and the evaporator. The heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the condenser and the compressor. In a heating mode, refrigerant warmed by the compressor circulates through the heat exchanger to warm airflow moving across the heat exchanger. In a cooling mode, refrigerant cooled by the condenser circulates through the heat exchanger to cool airflow moving across the heat exchanger.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system to provide correspondences between point-of-sale data registered at the store checkout and shopper behavior data observed at point-of-purchase through video analysis. The point-of-sale data include the list of shoppers and purchase items, and the shopper behavior data include the purchase events along with observed purchase items. The correspondence in the form of checkout shopper IDs matched to purchase event IDs is derived based on the algebraic constraint among the point-of-sale data and the purchase event data. Additional constraint based on shopper tracks and checkout/event times can also be incorporated to the correspondence problem. Uncertainties due to the video measurement can be systematically handled utilizing a Bayesian model.

Abstract: A method and system for associating a mobile device carried by a shopper with Point-of-Sale (PoS) data from that shopper's transaction at a retail location. Specifically, the association can utilize face data that was associated with the mobile device to match face data that was generated by association with PoS data. The association with a mobile device can also include the calculation of a mobile trajectory to enable the generation of a shopper profile including shopper behavior. The mobile to PoS association can include tracking of the mobile device throughout a retail location to form a trajectory. The association of a face to a mobile device can utilize the device's MAC address and repeat visit analysis to determine a match. The association of a face to PoS data can utilize the aligning of event time series based on a dynamic time disparity to match checkout events with PoS events.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for measuring viewership of people for a displayed object. The displayed object can be specific in-store marketing elements, such as static signage, POP displays, and other forms of digital media, including retail TV networks and kiosks. In the present invention, the viewership comprises impression level, impression count of the viewers, such as how many people actually viewed said displayed object, average length of impression, distribution of impressions by time of day, and rating of media effectiveness based on audience response. The viewership of people is performed automatically based on the 3-dimensional face pose estimation of the people, using a plurality of means for capturing images and a plurality of computer vision technologies on the captured visual information.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a vehicle. The HVAC system includes an HVAC case. A first heat exchanger is within the HVAC case along a first airflow path defined by the HVAC case directing airflow to a driver side of the vehicle. A second heat exchanger is within the HVAC case along a second airflow path defined by the HVAC case directing airflow to a passenger side of the vehicle. Varying flowrate of heating medium through the first heat exchanger varies temperature of airflow to the driver side of the vehicle, and varying flowrate of heating medium through the second heat exchanger varies temperature of airflow to the passenger side of the vehicle.

Abstract: A modulator for a sub-cool condenser assembly including a condenser. The modulator includes a plurality of extruded tubes positioned to convey liquid refrigerant towards an outlet of the modulator.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having a core. A header is on a side of the core, and a tank is brazed to the header. A connector is brazed to an outer surface of the tank. A welding aperture is defined by the tank beneath the connector. A weld at the welding aperture secures the connector to the tank prior to brazing of the connector and the tank together.

Abstract: A method and system for analyzing product strength or brand strength by determining shopper decision behavior during a shopping trip. Specifically, shopper behavior can be analyzed to determine whether a shopper's decision to purchase an item occurred at-shelf or pre-shelf. Aggregating decision data across many shoppers over time can then be used to generate analytics regarding the strength of a product or brand. The analysis can then be used to make recommendations to manufacturers or retailers about how to strengthen the product or brand. A deployment of cameras and mobile signal sensors can be utilized to recognize shoppers and track their behavior. Demographics information can also be estimated about the tracked shoppers. The visual and mobile signal trajectories can be fused to form a single shopper trajectory, then associated with Point of Sale (PoS) data. This results in a dataset describing the shopping trip for each tracked shopper.

Abstract: A desirable feature of a SERDES design is power savings. One way to achieve power savings is by keeping the CDR circuit OFF during most of the time when a link is active between a transmitter and a receiver. However, due to voltage supply noise, temperature fluctuations and uncorrelated crosstalk, the receiver data may shift and/or the eye may collapse if the CDR is not turned ON to take care of these modulations. To address such disadvantages, it is proposed to generate a CDR profile that can specify optimum CDR ON and OFF time so that link stability may be maintained while saving power.

Abstract: A method and system for analyzing shopper switching behavior over multiple shopping trips. Specifically, shopper behavior can be analyzed to generate a shopper behavior profile. Aggregating profile data across many shopping trips over time can then be used to generate analytics regarding the shopper's behavior regarding switching between products or brands and whether the shopper's purchase decisions occurred at-shelf or pre-shelf. Further, the data can be aggregated across many shoppers The analysis can then be used to make recommendations to manufacturers or retailers about how to influence shoppers to switch to a brand from a competitor, or to prevent a shopper from switching to a competitor. A deployment of cameras and mobile signal sensors can be utilized to recognize shoppers and track their behavior. Demographics information can also be estimated about the tracked shoppers.