Crowdsourcing incentive based on shelf location

Abstract

A system for processing images may include a processor configured to receive one or more images captured in a retail store and depicting a plurality of products displayed on at least one store shelf. The processor may also be configured to analyze the one or more images to determine at least one task associated with a store shelf. The processor may further be configured to determine an incentive for completing the at least one task based on a property of the store shelf, wherein the incentive is intended for a non-employee individual associated with the retail store. The processor may also be configured to provide an offer to at least one individual non-employee individual associated with the retail store, the offer including receiving the incentive in response to completing the at least one task.

1 . A system for processing images captured in a retail store to determine tasks for non-employee individuals associated with the retail store, the system comprising:
 at least one processor configured to:
 receive one or more images captured in a retail store and depicting a plurality of products displayed on at least one store shelf; 
 analyze the one or more images to determine at least one task associated with a store shelf; 
 determine an incentive for completing the at least one task based on a property of the store shelf, wherein the incentive is intended for a non-employee individual associated with the retail store; and 
 provide an offer to at least one individual non-employee individual associated with the retail store, the offer including receiving the incentive in response to completing the at least one task. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the property of the store shelf is associated with a physical location of the store shelf in the retail store and at least one task is for maintaining planogram compliance of the store shelf. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine a more significant incentive for completing tasks associated with store shelves located in less-visited areas of the retail store than for completing similar tasks associated with store shelves located in well-visited areas. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine a more significant incentive for completing tasks associated with bottom store shelves than for completing similar tasks associated with store shelves located at eye level. 
     
     
         5 . A computer program product for processing images captured in a retail store to determine tasks for non-employee individuals associated with the retail store, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and being executable by at least one processor, the computer program product including instructions for causing the at least one processor to execute a method comprising:
 receiving one or more images captured in a retail store and depicting a plurality of products displayed on at least one store shelf;   analyzing the one or more images to determine at least one task associated with a store shelf;   determining an incentive for completing the at least one task based on a property of the store shelf, wherein the incentive is intended for a non-employee individual associated with the retail store; and   providing an offer to at least one non-employee individual associated with the retail store, the offer including receiving the incentive upon completing the at least one task.   
     
     
         6 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , wherein the method further includes:
 determining a more significant incentive for completing urgent tasks than to complete less urgent tasks.   
     
     
         7 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , wherein the property of the store shelf is associated with a type of products placed on the store shelf. 
     
     
         8 . The computer program product of  claim 7 , wherein the method further includes:
 determining a more significant incentive for completing tasks associated with frozen food than for completing tasks associated with canned food.   
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 7 , wherein the method further includes:
 determining a more significant incentive for completing tasks associated with heavy products than for completing tasks associated with light products.   
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , wherein the method further includes:
 determining the property of the store shelf based on an analysis of the one or more images.   
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one task includes at least one task for maintaining planogram compliance and is based on at least one of: product facing, product placement, planogram compatibility, price correlation, promotion execution, and product homogeneity. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one task includes at least one of capturing an additional image of the store shelf, providing information related to a set of products placed on the store shelf manually, and changing a height of the store shelf. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one task includes a task for returning a misplaced product from the store shelf to a remote store shelf, and wherein the determination of the incentive for completing the at least one task is further based on a property of the remote store shelf. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one task includes a task for restocking the store shelf with products from a particular storage area, and the determination of the incentive for completing the at least one task is based on a property of the particular storage area. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , wherein the method further includes:
 accessing at least one planogram describing a desired placement of products on the store shelf;   analyzing the one or more images to determine an actual placement of products on the store shelf; and   determining the at least one task based on detected differences between the desired placement and the actual placement of products on the store shelf.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , wherein the method further includes:
 accessing at least one image depicting previous placement of products on the store shelf;   analyzing the one or more images to determine current placement of products on the store shelf; and   determining the task based on detected differences between the previous placement and the current placement of products on the store shelf.   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , wherein the method further includes:
 using the property of the store shelf to select the at least one individual out of a plurality of alternative individuals.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , wherein the method further includes:
 receiving at least one additional image captured after the offer was provided to the at least one individual;   analyzing the at least one additional image to determine that the at least one task is still pending; and   based on the determination that the at least one task is still pending, updating the incentive for the task.   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , wherein the method further includes:
 receiving at least one additional image captured after the offer was provided to the at least one individual;   analyzing the at least one additional image to determine that the at least one task is still pending; and   based on the determination that the at least one task is still pending, providing an additional offer to at least one additional non-employee individual associated with the retail store.   
     
     
         20 . A method for processing images captured in a retail store to determine tasks for non-employee individuals associated with the retail store, the method comprising:
 receiving one or more images captured in a retail store and depicting a plurality of products displayed on at least one store shelf;   analyzing the one or more images to determine at least one task for maintaining planogram compliance of a store shelf;   determining an incentive for completing the at least one task based on a property of the store shelf, wherein the incentive is intended for a non-employee individual associated with the retail store; and   providing an offer to at least one non-employee individual associated with the retail store, the offer including receiving the incentive upon completing the at least one task.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein:
 when an existence of a misplaced product on the store shelf is identified in the one or more images, the method includes providing a non-employee individual associated with the retail store an offer associated with a task of removing the misplaced product;   when an existence of an expired promotional sign associated with the store shelf is identified in the one or more images, the method includes providing a non-employee individual associated with the retail store an offer associated with a task of removing the expired promotional sign;   when an existence of an unrecognized product placed on the store shelf is identified in the one or more images, the method includes providing a non-employee individual associated with the retail store an offer associated with a task of providing information regarding the unrecognized product;   when an existence of an incorrect label attached to the at least one store shelf is identified in the one or more images, the method includes providing a non-employee individual associated with the retail store an offer associated with a task of removing the incorrect label; and   when the one or more images are determined to be out of date, the method includes providing a non-employee individual associated with the retail store an offer associated with a task of capturing an additional image of the store shelf.   
     
     
         22 - 221 . (canceled)