Display system, cooperation system, display method, and program

Abstract

The problem to be overcome by the present disclosure is to improve the user friendliness. A display system (2) includes a requester (251) that transmits a request signal to a disaster prevention system (1) to be introduced into a facility. The request signal requests that information about the disaster prevention system (1) should be transmitted. The display system (2) further includes: an acquirer (252) that acquires the information that the disaster prevention system (1) has transmitted in response to the request signal; and a display controller (253) that causes a display unit (51) of a display terminal (5) to display an on-screen image including an image representing a visualized version of the information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to a display system, an interlinked system, a display method, and a program. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a display system configured to display information detected by a disaster prevention system, an interlinked system, a display method, and a program.Background Art

[0002] Patent Literature 1 discloses fire alarm equipment including: a sensor line connected to a fire receiver; and a fire sensor connected to the sensor line which outputs a fire signal to the sensor line by performing a switching operation.

[0003] To collect information about fire alarm equipment (disaster prevention system) such as the one disclosed in Patent Literature 1, the user needs to operate the fire alarm equipment directly by him- or herself. Thus, such fire alarm equipment still has room for improvement in terms of user friendliness.Citation List Patent Literature

[0004] Patent Literature 1: JP 2013-109570 ASummary of Invention

[0005] In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a display system, an interlinked system, a display method, and a program, all of which contribute to improving the user friendliness.

[0006] A display system according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a requester that transmits a request signal to a disaster prevention system to be introduced into a facility. The request signal requests that information about the disaster prevention system should be transmitted. The display system further includes: an acquirer that acquires the information that the disaster prevention system has transmitted in response to the request signal; and a display controller that causes a display unit of a display terminal to display an on-screen image including an image representing a visualized version of the information.

[0007] An interlinked system according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes the display system described above, and the disaster prevention system described above.

[0008] A display method according to still another aspect of the present disclosure includes a requesting step including transmitting a request signal to a disaster prevention system to be introduced into a facility. The request signal requests that information about the disaster prevention system should be transmitted. The display method further includes: an acquiring step including acquiring the information that the disaster prevention system has transmitted in response to the request signal; and a display controlling step including causing a display unit of a display terminal to display an on-screen image including an image representing a visualized version of the information.

[0009] A program according to yet another aspect of the present disclosure is designed to cause one or more processors to perform the display method described above.Brief Description of Drawings

[0010] [FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an interlinked system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; [FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a disaster prevention system included in the interlinked system; [FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a facility, into which the disaster prevention system included in the interlinked system is introduced; [FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing how the interlinked system operates when any abnormality has occurred in a facility; [FIG. 5] FIG. 5 illustrates an on-screen image that a display system included in the interlinked system causes a display terminal to display; [FIG. 6] FIG. 6 shows a guidance message that the display system included in the interlinked system causes the display terminal to display; [FIG. 7] FIG. 7 illustrates a first route that the display system included in the interlinked system causes the display terminal to display; [FIG. 8] FIG. 8 shows an escape message that the display system included in the interlinked system causes the display terminal to display; [FIG. 9] FIG. 9 illustrates a second route that the display system included in the interlinked system causes the display terminal to display; [FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing how the interlinked system operates in a situation where an error has occurred in the disaster prevention system; [FIG. 11] FIG. 11 illustrates an on-screen image that the display system included in the interlinked system causes the display terminal to display; [FIG. 12] FIG. 12 shows an error message that the display system included in the interlinked system causes the display terminal to display; [FIG. 13] FIG. 13 illustrates a third route that the display system included in the interlinked system causes the display terminal to display; [FIG. 14] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing how the interlinked system operates when acquiring information about the disaster prevention system; [FIG. 15] FIG. 15 illustrates an on-screen facility selection image that the display system included in the interlinked system causes the display terminal to display; [FIG. 16] FIG. 16 illustrates an on-screen equipment selection image that the display system included in the interlinked system causes the display terminal to display; [FIG. 17] FIG. 17 illustrates an on-screen information selection image that the display system included in the interlinked system causes the display terminal to display; [FIG. 18] FIG. 18 illustrates an on-screen existent information display image that the display system included in the interlinked system causes the display terminal to display; and [FIG. 19] FIG. 19 illustrates an on-screen new information display image that the display system included in the interlinked system causes the display terminal to display. Description of Embodiments

[0011] A interlinked system 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and a display system 2 included in the interlinked system 100 will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the drawings to be referred to in the following description of embodiments are all schematic representations. Thus, the ratio of the dimensions (including thicknesses) of respective constituent elements illustrated on the drawings does not always reflect their actual dimensional ratio. Note that the embodiments and their variations to be described below are only exemplary ones of various embodiments of the present disclosure and their variations and should not be construed as limiting. Rather, the exemplary embodiments and their variations may be readily modified in various manners depending on a design choice or any other factor without departing from a true spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Note that the exemplary embodiments (including their variations) to be described below may be adopted in combination as appropriate.(1) Overview

[0012] First, an overview of an interlinked system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment and a display system 2 included in the interlinked system 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1-3.

[0013] The interlinked system 100 includes a disaster prevention system 1 and the display system 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0014] The disaster prevention system 1 is a system introduced into a facility 9 (refer to FIG. 3) to take an appropriate measure against any abnormality (such as a disaster) that has occurred in the facility 9. Examples of the facility 9 include non-dwelling facilities such as stores, offices, business establishments, factories, buildings, schools, welfare facilities, and hospitals, dwelling facilities such as single-family dwelling houses and multi-family dwelling houses, and dwelling units of a multi-family dwelling house. Examples of the non-dwelling facilities further include theaters, movie theaters, public halls, amusement facilities, complex facilities, restaurants, department stores, hotels, inns, kindergartens, libraries, museums, art museums, underground shopping malls, railway stations, and airports. Examples of the "disasters" as used herein include a fire, a gas leakage, an earthquake, and an inundation.

[0015] The display system 2 includes a requester 251, an acquirer 252, and a display controller 253 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0016] The requester 251 transmits a request signal to the disaster prevention system 1 to be introduced into the facility 9. The request signal requests that information about the disaster prevention system 1 should be transmitted.

[0017] The acquirer 252 acquires the information that the disaster prevention system 1 has transmitted in response to the request signal.

[0018] The display controller 253 causes a display unit 51 of a display terminal 5 to display an on-screen image including an image representing a visualized version of the information that the acquirer 252 has acquired from the disaster prevention system 1.

[0019] As used herein, the "display terminal 5" refers to a communications device with a display unit 51 such as a liquid crystal display. Examples of the display terminal 5 include smartphones, tablet computers, wearable devices, personal computers, digital signages, and car navigation systems. The user of the display terminal 5 (hereinafter referred to as a "terminal user") may be, for example, an employee of a security company serving as a security guard of the facility 9, an inspector in charge of inspecting the disaster prevention system 1, or an employee of a fire station.

[0020] Also, the facility 9 as used herein is supposed to be a small-scale facility which is not obliged to station a resident staff there by the Fire Service Act in Japan. That is to say, the facility 9 according to this embodiment may be empty and unattended on holidays and at midnight.

[0021] This embodiment allows information about the disaster prevention system 1 to be acquired from outside the facility 9 into which the disaster prevention system 1 is introduced, thus allowing for improving the user-friendliness.(2) Configuration

[0022] In this embodiment, the interlinked system 100 includes a plurality of (e.g., three) disaster prevention systems 1 and the display system 2 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0023] These three disaster prevention systems 1 are supposed to be introduced into three different facilities 9, respectively. In the following description, if the three disaster prevention systems 1 need to be distinguished from each other, the three disaster prevention systems 1 will be hereinafter designated by the reference signs 1A, 1B, and 1C, respectively. In addition, if the three facilities 9 need to be distinguished from each other, the facility 9 into which the disaster prevention system 1A is introduced will be hereinafter referred to as a "facility 9A," the facility 9 into which the disaster prevention system 1B is introduced will be hereinafter referred to as a "facility 9B," and the facility 9 into which the disaster prevention system 1C is introduced will be hereinafter referred to as a "facility 9C." Also, in the following description, these facilities 9A, 9B, and 9C are supposed to be three different stores, and the managerial names of the facilities 9A-9C are supposed to be a "first store," a "second store," and a "third store," respectively.(2.1) Disaster prevention system

[0024] Next, a configuration for the disaster prevention system 1 will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of embodiments, the "abnormality" that the disaster prevention system 1 needs to cope with is supposed to be a "fire" as an example.

[0025] The disaster prevention system 1 includes, for example, a plurality of sensors 3, and a receiver 4 having the ability to communicate with each of the plurality of sensors 3 as shown in FIG. 1. Note that the disaster prevention system 1 may include only one sensor 3.(2.1.1) Sensor

[0026] The plurality of sensors 3 are installed in respective ceilings of a plurality of sections included in the facility 9. As an example, the disaster prevention system 1A introduced into the facility 9A, which is a single-story store, for example, includes four sensors 3 (31-34) and one receiver 4 as shown in FIG. 3. The sensors 31-34 are respectively installed on the ceilings of first, second, third, and fourth sections D1, D2, D3, and D4 included in the facility 9A. In the following description, the managerial names of the sensors 31-34 are supposed to be a "first sensor," a "second sensor," a "third sensor," and a "fourth sensor," respectively. Meanwhile, the managerial name of the one receiver 4 included in the disaster prevention system 1A is supposed to be a "first receiver." Furthermore, the managerial names of the first to fourth sections D1-D4 are supposed to be a "sales floor," a "backyard," a "men's room," and a "ladies' room," respectively.

[0027] Each of the plurality of sensors 3 includes a temperature sensor 301, a smoke sensor 302, an alert unit 303, a communications unit 304, and a control unit 305 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0028] The temperature sensor 301 includes, for example, a thermosensor such as a thermistor and outputs detection data corresponding to the temperature of the surrounding environment.

[0029] The smoke sensor 302 includes, for example, a photoelectric smoke detection unit and outputs detection data corresponding to the smoke concentration in the surrounding environment.

[0030] The alert unit 303 activates its alarm by emitting at least one of light or sound.

[0031] The communications unit 304 is configured to be ready to communicate with the receiver 4. As used herein, the phrase "to be ready to communicate" means being able to transmit and receive information either directly or indirectly via a repeater or an internal network, for example, by an appropriate wired or wireless communication method.

[0032] The control unit 305 may be implemented as, for example, a computer system including one or more processors (microprocessors) and one or more memories. That is to say, the functions of the control unit 305 are performed by making the one or more processors execute one or more programs stored in the one or more memories. In this embodiment, the program is stored in advance in the memory of the control unit 305. Alternatively, the program may also be downloaded via a telecommunications line such as the Internet or distributed after having been stored in a non-transitory storage medium such as a memory card.

[0033] The control unit 305 receives the detection data from the temperature sensor 301 and the smoke sensor 302 at regular intervals and detects, based on the detection data provided by the temperature sensor 301 and the smoke sensor 302, the presence or absence of any fire in a section where the sensor 3 is installed. Specifically, the control unit 305 compares, based on the detection data provided by the smoke sensor 302, the concentration of the smoke detected by the smoke sensor 302 with a predetermined concentration threshold value. If the smoke concentration is less than the concentration threshold value, the control unit 305 determines that no smoke should have broken out. On the other hand, if the smoke concentration is equal to or greater than the concentration threshold value, then the control unit 305 determines that a fire should have broken out. In addition, the control unit 305 performs the processing of correcting the concentration threshold value based on the detection data provided by the temperature sensor 301. The control unit 305 corrects the concentration threshold value based on the temperature detection data such that the smoke concentration threshold value is decreased as the temperature increases (i.e., the higher the temperature is, the higher the sensitivity becomes). Note that this is only an exemplary method by which the control unit 305 determines whether any fire has broken out and should not be construed as limiting. Rather, the method may be modified as appropriate.

[0034] When detecting the outbreak of fire, the control unit 305 controls the respective alert units 303 of the plurality of sensors 3 installed in the facility 9 to cause the alert units 303 to perform an alert operation (i.e., activate their alarm). This allows for alerting a person present inside the facility 9 to the outbreak of the fire.

[0035] In addition, the control unit 305 acquires the detection data from the temperature sensor 301 and the smoke sensor 302 at regular intervals and make the communications unit 304 transmit the detection data to the receiver 4.(2.1.2) Receiver

[0036] The receiver 4 is a reception terminal for receiving notification about the occurrence of any abnormality (such as a fire) from the plurality of sensors 3.

[0037] The receiver 4 normally operates with the electric power supplied from an external power supply which may be, for example, an AC 100 V commercial power supply.

[0038] The receiver 4 may be installed inside the facility 9, for example. As an example, the receiver 4 is supposed to be installed in the second section D2, serving as a backyard, inside of the facility 9A as shown in FIG. 3.

[0039] Alternatively, as long as the receiver 4 is ready to communicate with the plurality of sensors 3, the receiver 4 may also be installed outside the facility 9 (e.g., in a facility other than the facility 9).

[0040] The receiver 4 includes a first communications unit 41, a second communications unit 42, an operating interface 43, an electrical storage device 44, a control unit 45, and a storage unit 46 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0041] The first communications unit 41 is configured to be ready to communicate with the plurality of sensors 3.

[0042] The second communications unit 42 is configured to be ready to communicate with the display system 2 (to be described later).

[0043] The electrical storage device 44 is a standby power supply which is provided to enable the receiver 4 to operate even when the commercial power supply (external power supply) is not available due to outage. The electrical storage device 44 includes: a storage battery 441 such as a nickel-cadmium storage battery, an alkali storage battery, a lithium-ion battery, or an all-solid-state battery; and a charger / discharger circuit 442 for controlling charging and discharging the storage battery 441. In a normal state (i.e., when the external power supply has caused no outage), the storage battery 441 is charged with electricity by the external power supply via the charger / discharger circuit 442.

[0044] The storage unit 46 is implemented as a device selected from the group consisting of, for example, a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), and an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). The storage unit 46 stores, for example, the detection data that the storage unit 46 has acquired from the plurality of sensors 3. In addition, the storage unit 46 also stores location information indicating the location of the facility 9 into which the disaster prevention system 1 is to be introduced. The location information includes, for example, the physical address of the facility 9 or coordinate information indicating the location of the facility 9 which is acquired by the Global Positioning System (GPS). That is to say, in this embodiment, the storage unit 46 of the receiver 4 included in each of the disaster prevention systems 1A-1C stores location information indicating the location of a corresponding one of the facilities 9A-9C. Alternatively, the location information indicating the location of the facility 9 may be held by the plurality of sensors 3 included in the disaster prevention system 1. In that case, the location information indicating the location of the facility 9 may be transmitted from the sensors 3 to the receiver 4 as appropriate.

[0045] In addition, the storage unit 46 further stores section information indicating which of the plurality of sections of the facility 9 each of the plurality of sensors 3 is installed in. For example, the storage unit 46 of the receiver 4 included in the disaster prevention system 1A stores information indicating that the sensors 31-34 are installed in the first to fourth sections D1-D4, respectively.

[0046] The operating interface 43 accepts an operating command entered by the user of the disaster prevention system 1. The operating interface 43 includes, for example, a plurality of physical buttons. For example, if the alarm has been activated by mistake by the sensor 3, the user of the disaster prevention system 1 may operate the operating interface 43 to cause the storage unit 46 to store information indicating that the sensor 3 has been activated by mistake. In addition, as a result of this operation, alarm activation frequency information indicating how many times the sensor 3 has activated its alarm is stored as accumulated information in the storage unit 46.

[0047] The control unit 45 may be implemented as a computer system including one or more processors (microprocessors) and one or more memories. That is to say, the functions of the control unit 45 are performed by making the one or more processors execute one or more programs stored in the one or more memories. In this embodiment, the program is stored in advance in the memory of the control unit 45. Alternatively, the program may also be downloaded via a telecommunications line such as the Internet or distributed after having been stored in a non-transitory storage medium such as a memory card.

[0048] The control unit 45 includes an acquirer 451, an outputter 452, an abnormality determiner 453, a failure estimator 454, and a charging / discharging controller 455. Note that these constituent elements 451-455 of the control unit 45 just represent respective functions to be performed by the control unit 45 and do not necessarily have substantive physical configurations.

[0049] The acquirer 451 acquires, from each of the plurality of sensors 3 installed in the facility 9, the detection data provided by the temperature sensor 301 and smoke sensor 302 included in the sensor 3.

[0050] The acquirer 451 transmits, at regular intervals, a transmission request that the detection data (i.e., the detection data provided by the temperature sensor 301 and the smoke sensor 302) be transmitted, to the plurality of sensors 3 via the first communications unit 41. The acquirer 451 acquires, via the first communications unit 41, the detection data that the respective sensors 3 have transmitted in response to the transmission request and stores the detection data in the storage unit 46. That is to say, the detection data about each of the plurality of sensors 3 is stored in the storage unit 46. In addition, the storage unit 46 further stores communication information about the status of communication between each of the plurality of sensors 3 and the receiver 4.

[0051] Also, if there is any sensor 3, from which the acquirer 451 has received no detection data after having transmitted the transmission request thereto, then the acquirer 451 determines that a communication error should have occurred between that sensor 3 and the receiver 4. Then, the acquirer 451 generates communication error information about the communication error that has occurred between the sensor 3 and the receiver 4 and stores the communication error information in the storage unit 46. The communication error information includes, for example, information that has been stored in advance in the storage unit 46 (such as the location information indicating the location of the facility 9 and the section information indicating the section in which the sensor 3 is installed in the facility 9).

[0052] The abnormality determiner 453 determines, based on the detection data provided by the temperature sensor 301 and the smoke sensor 302 that the acquirer 451 has acquired, whether any abnormality (e.g., fire in this embodiment) has occurred in the facility 9. The abnormality determiner 453 determines, by the same technique as the one employed by the sensor 3, for example, whether any fire had broken out.

[0053] The charging / discharging controller 455 controls the charger / discharger circuit 442 to cause the current (charging current) supplied from a commercial power supply to the storage battery 441 in a normal state to have a constant target value. In addition, the charging / discharging controller 455 also cuts off, when the commercial power supply has caused outage, a path along which electric power is supplied (hereinafter referred to as a "power supply path") from the commercial power supply to the storage battery 441. Furthermore, the charging / discharging controller 455 further controls the charger / discharger circuit 442 such that the current (discharging current) discharged from the storage battery 441 comes to have a certain target value when the commercial power supply has caused outage.

[0054] In addition, the charging / discharging controller 455 cuts off, in the normal state, the power supply path leading from the commercial power supply to the storage battery 441 at regular intervals (e.g., once a day) to measure the voltage (storage battery voltage) at the fully-charged storage battery 441 at a point in time when the storage battery 441 has just started discharging electricity. In this case, as the storage battery 441 deteriorates more and more significantly, the internal resistance of the storage battery 441 rises. Accordingly, the voltage (storage battery voltage) at the storage battery 441 at the point in time when the storage battery 441 has just started discharging electricity falls as the storage battery 441 deteriorates increasingly significantly. That is to say, the degree of deterioration of the storage battery 441 may be estimated based on the storage battery voltage.

[0055] The charging / discharging controller 455 stores, as condition information about the degree of deterioration of the storage battery 441, the storage battery voltage value thus measured in the storage unit 46.

[0056] Furthermore, when the storage battery voltage becomes lower than a predetermined voltage that has been set in advance, the charging / discharging controller 455 generates storage battery error information about the deterioration of the storage battery 441 and stores the storage battery error information in the storage unit 46. Examples of the storage battery error information include location information indicating the location of the facility 9, the value of the storage battery voltage, and the date and time when the storage battery voltage becomes lower than the predetermined voltage. Note that in this embodiment, the storage battery 441 is supposed to have a rated voltage of 24 V, for example, and the predetermined voltage is supposed to be 20.4 V, which is 85% of the rated voltage. That is to say, the charging / discharging controller 455 generates the storage battery error information when the storage battery voltage of the storage battery 441 becomes lower than 20.4 V.

[0057] When determining, by reference to the alarm activation frequency information of the sensors 3 which is stored in the storage unit 46, that the same sensor 3 should have activated its alarm more than a predetermined number of times (e.g., ten times) during a predetermined period (e.g., one month), the failure estimator 454 generates sensor error information about the chances of the sensor 3 causing failure and stores the sensor error information in the storage unit 46. Examples of the sensor error information include location information indicating the location of the facility 9 and section information indicating the section in which the sensor 3 in question that has activated its alarm more than the predetermined number of times is installed in the facility 9.

[0058] When the abnormality determiner 453 determines that any abnormality (such as a fire) should have occurred in the facility 9, the outputter 452 transmits event information, indicating that the abnormality (such as the fire) has occurred in the facility 9, to the display system 2 (to be described later) via the second communications unit 42. In this case, the event information includes location information indicating the location of the facility 9 where the fire has broken out. That is to say, in this embodiment, the event information includes information indicating in which of the facilities 9A-9C the fire has broken out.

[0059] In addition, the outputter 452 transmits error information about an error that has occurred in the disaster prevention system 1 to the display system 2 via the second communications unit 42. In this case, examples of the error information include communication error information about a communication error that has occurred between the sensor 3 and the receiver 4, the storage battery error information about the deterioration of the storage battery 441, and sensor error information about the chances of the sensor 3 having caused a failure. In this embodiment, immediately after the disaster prevention system 1 has generated the respective pieces of error information, the outputter 452 transmits those pieces of error information to the display system 2. However, the respective pieces of error information do not have to be transmitted to the display system 2 immediately after the respective pieces of error information have been generated but may also be transmitted to the display system 2 at a timing when the display system 2 instructs that those pieces of error information should be transmitted.(2.2) Display system

[0060] Next, a configuration for the display system 2 will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0061] The display system 2 may be, for example, a server provided outside the facility 9. Note that the display system 2 is preferably installed at a remote location distant from the facility 9.

[0062] The display system 2 includes a third communications unit 21, a fourth communications unit 22, a fifth communications unit 23, a storage unit 24, and a control unit 25 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0063] The third communications unit 21 is configured to be ready to communicate with the receiver 4 of each of the plurality of disaster prevention systems 1 (1A-1C).

[0064] The fourth communications unit 22 is configured to be ready to communicate with the display terminal 5 (to be described later).

[0065] The fifth communications unit 23 is configured to be ready to communicate with an external server 6. The external server 6 is a server managed by a company that provides information about a map, for example.

[0066] The storage unit 24 is implemented as a device selected from the group consisting of, for example, a ROM, a RAM, and an EEPROM. The storage unit 24 stores information that the storage unit 24 has acquired from the receiver 4, the display terminal 5, and the external server 6.

[0067] The control unit 25 may be implemented as a computer system including one or more processors (microprocessors) and one or more memories. That is to say, the functions of the control unit 25 are performed by making the one or more processors execute one or more programs stored in the one or more memories. In this embodiment, the program is stored in advance in the memory of the control unit 25. Alternatively, the program may also be downloaded via a telecommunications line such as the Internet or distributed after having been stored in a non-transitory storage medium such as a memory card.

[0068] The control unit 25 includes a requester 251, an acquirer 252, and a display controller 253. Specifically, the display controller 253 includes a map generator 254, a user recognizer 255, a route generator 256, a message generator 257, an information image generator 258, a first outputter 259, a second outputter 260, and a third outputter 261. Note that these constituent elements 251-261 of the control unit 25 just represent respective functions to be performed by the control unit 25 and do not necessarily have substantive physical configurations.

[0069] The requester 251 transmits a request signal via the third communications unit 21 to (the receiver 4 of) the disaster prevention system 1 to be introduced into a facility 9. The request signal requests that information about the disaster prevention system 1 should be transmitted. In this embodiment, the requester 251 transmits the request signal to at least one of the disaster prevention systems 1A-1C.

[0070] In this embodiment, the request signal includes an existent information request signal and a new information request signal.

[0071] The existent information request signal is a request signal requesting that maintenance information about the maintenance of the disaster prevention system 1 should be transmitted as a piece of information about the disaster prevention system 1. The maintenance information has been stored in advance in the disaster prevention system 1.

[0072] The new information request signal is a request signal requesting that the disaster prevention system 1 should generate maintenance information about the maintenance of the disaster prevention system 1 and should transmit, as the information about the disaster prevention system 1, the maintenance information generated by the disaster prevention system 1.

[0073] In this embodiment, the maintenance information about the maintenance of the disaster prevention system 1 includes, for example, condition information about the degree of deterioration of the storage battery 441 (storage battery voltage of the storage battery 441). The maintenance information also includes communication information about the status of communication between each of the plurality of sensors 3 and the receiver 4. The maintenance information further includes alarm activation frequency information indicating how many times the sensor 3 has activated its alarm during a predetermined period. Note that these are only exemplary pieces of maintenance information and should not be construed as limiting. Examples of other pieces of maintenance information include information about the memory space inside the receiver 4, information about a failure state of a board on which electronic components included in the receiver 4 are mounted, information about the failures of the temperature sensor 301 and smoke sensor 302 of the sensor 3, and information about a failure of a board on which electronic components of the sensor 3 are mounted.

[0074] The acquirer 252 acquires, via the third communications unit 21, event information about the abnormality to be detected by the disaster prevention system 1. In this embodiment, the event information is a piece of information indicating that a fire has broken out in the facility 9. The event information includes the location information indicating the location of the facility 9 where the fire has broken out as described above. It will be described in detail later in the "(3.1) Exemplary operation when abnormality occurs" section exactly how the acquirer 252 acquires the event information.

[0075] In addition, the acquirer 252 also acquires, via the third communications unit 21, error information about an error that has occurred in the disaster prevention system 1. As described above, examples of the error information include communication error information about a communication error that has occurred between the sensor 3 and the receiver 4, the storage battery error information about the deterioration of the storage battery 441, and sensor error information about the chances of the sensor 3 having caused a failure. Each of the communication error information, the storage battery error information, and the sensor error information includes the location information indicating the location of the facility 9. It will be described in detail later in the "(3.2) Exemplary operation when error occurs" section exactly how the acquirer 252 acquires the error information.

[0076] Furthermore, the acquirer 252 also acquires, via the third communications unit 21, information about the disaster prevention system 1 that the disaster prevention system 1 transmits in response to the request signal. It will be described in detail later in the "(3.3) Exemplary operation when information is acquired" section exactly how the acquirer 252 acquires the information about the disaster prevention system 1.

[0077] The acquirer 252 acquires, from the display terminal 5 via the fourth communications unit 22, information about the current location of the display terminal 5. In addition, the acquirer 252 also acquires attribute information of the terminal user from the display terminal 5. As used herein, the "attribute information of the terminal user" refers to a piece of information indicating whether the terminal user is a first user who needs to head toward the facility 9 when any abnormality such as a fire breaks out in the facility 9 (such as an employee of a security company serving as a security guard of the facility 9, an inspector in charge of inspecting the disaster prevention system 1, or an employee of a fire station) or a second user (such as an ordinary person) who had better not approach the facility 9 when any abnormality such as a fire breaks out in the facility 9.

[0078] The acquirer 252 acquires, from the external server 6 via the fifth communications unit 23, map information of the area surrounding the facility 9. Note that information may be transmitted and received between the display system 2 and the external server 6 through, for example, an application programming interface (API) installed in the external server 6.

[0079] The map generator 254 generates, based on the event information acquired by the acquirer 252, information indicating the current location of the display terminal 5, and the map information of the area surrounding the facility 9, a map including a marker indicating the location of the facility 9 where the fire has broken out and a marker indicating the current location of the display terminal 5.

[0080] In addition, the map generator 254 also generates, based on the error information acquired by the acquirer 252, information indicating the current location of the display terminal 5, and the map information of the area surrounding the facility 9, a map including a marker indicating the location of an error origin (e.g., the location of the facility 9 into which the disaster prevention system 1 where the error has occurred has been introduced) and a marker indicating the current location of the display terminal 5. Note that the location of the error origin may be the location of a section in the facility 9 where the sensor 3 serving as an error origin is installed if the error origin is the sensor 3 or the location of a section in the facility 9 where the receiver 4 is installed if the error origin is the receiver 4.

[0081] The user recognizer 255 determines, based on the attribute information of the terminal user that the acquirer 252 has acquired from the display terminal 5, whether the terminal user is the first user or the second user. As described above, the first user is a user who needs to head toward the facility 9 when any abnormality such as a fire breaks out in the facility 9 and the second user is a user who had better not approach the facility 9 when any abnormality such as a fire breaks out in the facility 9. Note that if the first user is an inspector in charge of inspecting the disaster prevention system 1, for example, then he or she also needs to head toward the facility 9 when an error has occurred in the disaster prevention system 1 to be introduced into the facility 9.

[0082] The route generator 256 generates at least one of a first route leading from the current location of the display terminal 5 to the location of the facility 9 where a fire has broken out or a second route leading from the current location of the display terminal 5 to a predetermined location different from the location of the facility 9 where the fire has broken out.

[0083] In addition, the route generator 256 further generates a third route leading from the current location of the display terminal 5 to the location of the error origin (e.g., the location of the facility 9 into which the disaster prevention system 1 where an error has occurred has been introduced).

[0084] The message generator 257 generates a message concerning the event information as a piece of information indicating that a fire has broken out.

[0085] The message concerning the event information includes either a guidance message M1 (refer to FIG. 6) guiding the terminal user to the location of the facility 9 or an escape message M2 (refer to FIG. 8) preventing the terminal user from approaching the location of the facility 9.

[0086] The message generator 257 further generates, based on the error information as a piece of information indicating that an error has occurred in the disaster prevention system 1, an error message M3 (refer to FIG. 12) indicating the specifics of the error.

[0087] The information image generator 258 generates an information image representing a visualized version of the maintenance information about the maintenance of the disaster prevention system 1.

[0088] The first outputter 259 causes the display unit 51 of the display terminal 5 to display an on-screen image showing a map that has been generated by the map generator 254 based on the event information, information about the current location of the display terminal 5, and the map information of the area surrounding the facility 9.

[0089] In addition, the first outputter 259 also causes the display unit 51 to display a message concerning the event information. More specifically, if the user recognizer 255 has recognized the terminal user to be the first user, the first outputter 259 causes the display unit 51 to display the guidance message M1. On the other hand, if the user recognizer 255 has recognized the terminal user as the second user, the first outputter 259 causes the display unit 51 to display the escape message M1. That is to say, the first outputter 259 determines, according to the attribute information of the terminal user, the message to be displayed on the display unit 51 to be either the guidance message M1 or the escape message M2.

[0090] The second outputter 260 causes the display unit 51 to display an on-screen image showing a map that has been generated by the map generator 254 based on the error information, information about the current location of the display terminal 5, and the map information of the area surrounding the facility 9. In addition, the second outputter 260 also causes the display unit 51 to display the error message M3.

[0091] Furthermore, the second outputter 260 also causes the display unit 51 to display an on-screen image showing a map including the third route leading from the current location of the display terminal 5 to the location of the error origin (e.g., the location of the facility 9 into which the disaster prevention system 1 where the error has occurred has been introduced).

[0092] The third outputter 261 causes the display unit 51 to display an on-screen image including an image representing a visualized version of the information about the disaster prevention system 1.(2.3) Display terminal

[0093] The display terminal 5 is a communications device to be used outside the facility 9. Specific examples of the display terminal 5 include communications devices such as smartphones, tablet computers, wearable devices, personal computers, digital signages, and car navigation systems.

[0094] In this embodiment, installing a dedicated application software program that allows the communications device to transmit and receive information to / from the display system 2 and to display the information that the display system 2 has transmitted to the communications device causes the communications device to serve as the display terminal 5.

[0095] The display terminal 5 includes the display unit 51, a communications unit 52, an operating interface 53, a storage unit 54, a location detection unit 55, and a control unit 56 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0096] The communications unit 52 is configured to be ready to communicate with the display system 2.

[0097] The display unit 51 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display which may display various types of information that the communications unit 52 has acquired from the display system 2.

[0098] The operating interface 53 accepts an operating command entered by the terminal user. The operating interface 53 may be implemented as, for example, a touchscreen panel for detecting a touch operation performed on the on-screen image displayed on the display unit 51. This allows the worker to enter an operating command into the display terminal 5 by performing a touch operation on the on-screen image on the display unit 51. For example, the terminal user may register his or her own attribute information (indicating whether the terminal user is the first user or the second user) in advance by operating the operating interface 53.

[0099] The storage unit 54 is implemented as a storage device selected from the group consisting of, for example, a ROM, a RAM, and an EEPROM. The storage unit 54 stores, for example, the information that the communications unit 52 has acquired from the display system 2.

[0100] The location detection unit 55 includes, for example, a GPS receiver for detecting the current location of the display terminal 5. The location detection unit 55 detects the current location of the display terminal 5 by receiving radio waves transmitted from a GPS satellite. Information about the current location of the display terminal 5 which has been detected by the location detection unit 55 is transmitted as appropriate to the display system 2.

[0101] The control unit 56 may be implemented as a computer system including one or more processors (microprocessors) and one or more memories. That is to say, the functions of the control unit 56 are performed by making the one or more processors execute one or more programs stored in the one or more memories. In this embodiment, the program is stored in advance in the memory of the control unit 56. Alternatively, the program may also be downloaded via a telecommunications line such as the Internet or distributed after having been stored in a non-transitory storage medium such as a memory card.

[0102] The control unit 56 controls the respective constituent elements (namely, the display unit 51, the communications unit 52, the operating interface 53, the storage unit 54, and the location detection unit 55) of the display terminal 5.(3) Exemplary operation of interlinked system

[0103] Next, an exemplary operation of the interlinked system 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1-19. Note that the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4, 10, and 14 each show only an exemplary operation of the interlinked system 100 according to this embodiment and should not be construed as limiting. Optionally, the processing steps shown in FIGS. 4, 10, and 14 may be performed in a different order from the illustrated one, some of the processing steps shown in FIGS. 4, 10, and 14 may be omitted as appropriate, and / or an additional processing step may be performed as needed.(3.1) Exemplary operation when abnormality occurs

[0104] First, it will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 and other drawings how the interlinked system 100 operates when any abnormality (such as a fire) occurs in the facility 9A, for example, out of the facilities 9A-9C.

[0105] If a fire has broken out in the facility 9A (in Step S1), then the outputter 452 of the receiver 4 included in the disaster prevention system 1A transmits event information, including the location information of the facility 9A, to the display system 2.

[0106] On acquiring the event information from the disaster prevention system 1A (in Step S2), the acquirer 252 of the display system 2 acquires information about the current location of the display terminal 5 from the display terminal 5 (in Step S3). The display terminal 5 is supposed to be, for example, a tablet computer that the terminal user carries with him or her.

[0107] The acquirer 252 acquires information about the current location of the display terminal 5 which is located, for example, within a predetermined range surrounding the facility 9A. Note that the predetermined range in which the acquirer 252 acquires information about the current location of the display terminal 5 may be changed, for example, by an administrator of the display system 2.

[0108] The acquirer 252 acquires not only information about the current location of the display terminal 5 but also the attribute information of the terminal user that has been registered in advance by the terminal user as well (in Step S4).

[0109] In addition, the acquirer 252 further acquires, from the external server 6, map information of the area surrounding the facility 9A (in Step S5). Note that the range of the map information that the acquirer 252 acquires from the external server 6 may be changed, for example, by the administrator of the display system 2.

[0110] Next, the map generator 254 generates, based on the event information, the information about the current location of the display terminal 5, and the map information of the area surrounding the facility 9A that have been acquired by the acquirer 252, a map Mp1 including a marker Mk1 indicating the location of the facility 9A where the fire has broken out and a marker Mk2 indicating the current location of the display terminal 5.

[0111] The first outputter 259 causes the display unit 51 of the display terminal 5 to display an on-screen image P1 showing the map Mp1 that has been generated by the map generator 254 as shown in FIG. 5 (in Step S5). Note that on the map Mp1, a marker Mk3 indicating the outbreak of the fire is superimposed on the marker Mk1 indicating the location of the facility 9A.

[0112] Next, the user recognizer 255 determines, based on the attribute information of the terminal user that the acquirer 252 has acquired, whether the terminal user is the first user or the second user (in Step S7). Alternatively, the user recognizer 255 may recognize the terminal user before the map generator 254 generates the map Mp1.

[0113] If the user recognizer 255 recognizes the terminal user to be the first user (if the answer is Yes in Step S7), then the message generator 257 generates a guidance message M1 guiding the terminal user to the location of the facility 9A.

[0114] When a predetermined amount of time passes since the first outputter 259 caused the display unit 51 to display the on-screen image P1 showing the map Mp1, the first outputter 259 causes the display unit 51 to display the guidance message M1 as a superimposed message on the map Mp1 as shown in FIG. 6 (in Step S8). Alternatively, the first outputter 259 may cause the display unit 51 to display the guidance message M1 when the terminal user taps on the on-screen image P1. Also, the guidance message M1 does not have to be displayed to be superimposed on the map Mp1 but may also be displayed beside the map Mp1.

[0115] The guidance message M1 may be, for example, a character string such as "Fire has broken out in first store; head toward the spot." Optionally, the guidance message M1 may include a character string indicating the location of the facility 9A (such as its physical address).

[0116] Also, if the user recognizer 255 recognizes the terminal user to be the first user (if the answer is Yes in Step S7), then the route generator 256 generates a first route R1 leading from the current location of the display terminal 5 to the location of the facility 9A. Note that the first route R1 is preferably the shortest route from the current location of the display terminal 5 to the location of the facility 9A.

[0117] In addition, the route generator 256 also estimates the time it would take (hereinafter referred to as the "duration") the terminal user to travel, along the first route R1, from the current location to the location of the facility 9A. Specifically, the route generator 256 estimates the duration based on the distance to travel along the first route R1, the traveling speed of the terminal user, and traffic information (e.g., indicating whether any traffic jam has occurred) on the first route R1. Note that the distance to travel along the first route R1 and the traffic information on the first route R1 may be acquired, for example, by the acquirer 252 from the external server 6. Meanwhile, the traveling speed of the terminal user may be calculated based on, for example, the rate of change of the current location of the display terminal 5 as acquired from the location detection unit 55 of the display terminal 5.

[0118] When a predetermined amount of time passes since the first outputter 259 caused the display unit 51 to display the guidance message M1, for example, the first outputter 259 causes the display unit 51 to display an on-screen image P2 showing a map Mp2 including the first route R1 as shown in FIG. 7 (in Step S9). Alternatively, the first outputter 259 may cause the display unit 51 to display the on-screen image P2 when the terminal user taps on the guidance message M1 displayed on the display unit 51.

[0119] In addition, at this time, the first outputter 259 causes the display unit 51 to display the information about the duration that has been estimated by the route generator 256. Specifically, the first outputter 259 causes the display unit 51 to display, as, for example, a superimposed image on the map Mp2, an image Im1 including the information about the duration that has been estimated by the route generator 256. For example, the image Im1 may include a character string "estimated duration: 5 minutes." Optionally, the image Im1 may include a sign or an icon, for example. Note that the image Im1 including the information about the duration does not have to be displayed to be superimposed on the map Mp2 but may also be displayed beside the map Mp2.

[0120] Having the interlinked system 100 perform these processing steps allows the terminal user who is the first user to head quickly toward the facility 9A that is the place where the fire has broken out, thus reducing the chances of causing a delay in taking an appropriate measure against the fire.

[0121] On the other hand, if the user recognizer 255 recognizes the terminal user to be the second user (if the answer is No in Step S7), then the message generator 257 generates an escape message M2 to warn the terminal user not to approach the location of the facility 9A.

[0122] When a predetermined amount of time passes since the first outputter 259 caused the display unit 51 to display the on-screen image P1 showing the map Mp1, the first outputter 259 causes the display unit 51 to display the escape message M2 as a superimposed message on the map Mp1 as shown in FIG. 8 (in Step S10). The escape message M2 may be, for example, a character string such as "Fire has broken out in first store; leave the spot ASAP." Alternatively, the first outputter 259 may cause the display unit 51 to display the escape message M2 when the terminal user taps on the on-screen image P1 showing the map Mp1. Also, the escape message M2 does not have to be displayed to be superimposed on the map Mp1 but may also be displayed beside the map Mp1.

[0123] Also, if the user recognizer 255 recognizes the terminal user to be the second user (if the answer is No in Step S7), then the route generator 256 generates a second route R2 leading from the current location of the display terminal 5 to a predetermined location different from the location of the facility 9A. That is to say, the second route R2 is a route not including the location of the facility 9. In this case, the predetermined location different from the location of the facility 9A may be, for example, a destination that has been registered in advance with the display terminal 5 by the terminal user who is the second user or a destination (such as his or her home, school, or a workplace) presumed from the history of movement of the terminal user who is the second user, whichever is appropriate. Note that information about the predetermined location may be acquired by the acquirer 252 from the display terminal 5 when the second route R2 is generated by the route generator 256.

[0124] When a predetermined amount of time passes since the first outputter 259 caused the display unit 51 to display the escape message M2, the first outputter 259 causes the display unit 51 to display an on-screen image P3 showing a map Mp3 including the second route R2 as shown in FIG. 9 (in Step S11). The map Mp3 includes not only the markers Mk1-Mk3 but also a marker Mk4 indicating a predetermined location different from the location of the facility 9A. Alternatively, the first outputter 259 may cause the display unit 51 to display the on-screen image P3 when the terminal user taps on the escape message M2 displayed on the display unit 51.

[0125] Having the interlinked system 100 perform these processing steps allows the terminal user who is the second user to avoid approaching the facility 9A that is the place where the fire has broken out.(3.2) Exemplary operation when error occurs

[0126] Next, it will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10 and other drawings how the interlinked system 100 operates when an error occurs in, for example, the disaster prevention system 1A to be introduced into the facility 9A among the facilities 9A-9C. More specifically, in this exemplary operation, the sensor 33 installed in the third section D3 (men's room) of the facility 9A is supposed to have caused a failure, thereby causing a communication error between the sensor 33 and the receiver 4.

[0127] If a communication error has occurred between the sensor 33 and the receiver 4 (in Step S10), then the outputter 452 of the receiver 4 included in the disaster prevention system 1A transmits error information (communication error information) to the display system 2. In this case, the communication error information includes information about the location of the facility 9A and information about the section (i.e., the third section D3 where the men's room is located) of the facility 9A where the sensor 33 is installed.

[0128] On acquiring the error information from the disaster prevention system 1A (in Step S12), the acquirer 252 of the display system 2 acquires information about the current location of the display terminal 5 from the display terminal 5 (in Step S13). In this processing step, the acquirer 252 acquires information about the current location of the display terminal 5 which is located, for example, within a predetermined range surrounding the facility 9A. Note that the predetermined range in which the acquirer 252 acquires information about the current location of the display terminal 5 may be changed, for example, by an administrator of the display system 2.

[0129] The acquirer 252 acquires the attribute information of the terminal user of the display terminal 5 (in Step S14).

[0130] The user recognizer 255 determines, based on the attribute information of the terminal user that has been acquired by the acquirer 252, whether the terminal user is the first user or the second user (in Step S15).

[0131] If the user recognizer 255 recognizes the terminal user to be the first user (if the answer is Yes in Step S15), then the acquirer 252 acquires the map information of the area surrounding the facility 9A from the external server 6 (in Step S16). On the other hand, if the user recognizer 255 recognizes the terminal user to be the second user (if the answer is No in Step S15), then the display system 2 ends the process.

[0132] The map generator 254 generates, based on the error information, the information about the current location of the display terminal 5, and the map information of the area surrounding the facility 9A that have been acquired by the acquirer 252, a map Mp4 including a marker Mk1 indicating the location of the facility 9A into which the disaster prevention system 1A where the error has occurred is introduced and the marker Mk2 indicating the current location of the display terminal 5.

[0133] The second outputter 260 causes the display unit 51 of the display terminal 5 to display an on-screen image P4 showing the map Mp4 that has been generated by the map generator 254 as shown in FIG. 11 (in Step S17). Note that on the map Mp4 shown in the on-screen image P4, a marker Mk5 indicating that the error has occurred is superimposed on the marker Mk1 indicating the location of the facility 9A.

[0134] Next, the message generator 257 generates, based on the error information, an error message M3 indicating the type of the error. When a predetermined amount of time passes since the second outputter 260 caused the display unit 51 to display the on-screen image P4 showing the map Mp4, the second outputter 260 causes the display unit 51 to display the error message M3 as a superimposed message on the map Mp4 as shown in FIG. 12 (in Step S18). Alternatively, the second outputter 260 may cause the display unit 51 to display the error message M3 when the terminal user taps on the on-screen image P4 showing the map Mp4. Also, the error message M3 does not have to be displayed to be superimposed on the map Mp4 but may also be displayed beside the map Mp4.

[0135] The error message M3 includes first to fifth pieces of information A1-A5 as shown in FIG. 12. The first piece of information A1 is a character string indicating the type of the error ("error type: sensor communication error"). The second piece of information A2 is a character string including the name of the facility 9 (9A) into which the disaster prevention system 1 (1A) where the error has occurred is introduced ("facility in question: first store"). The third piece of information A3 is a character string including the name of the section of the facility 9A where the sensor 3 (33) in which the error has occurred is installed ("place in question: men's room"). The fourth piece of information A4 is a character string including the name of the sensor 3 (33) where the error has occurred ("sensor's name: third sensor").

[0136] The fifth piece of information A5 is guide information about how to cope with the error. In this case, the guide information includes information indicating a link to a site that provides data about the operating instructions of at least one of the sensor 3 or the receiver 4. In this exemplary operation, the guide information is a character string ("link to operating instructions") indicating a link to a site that provides data about the operating instructions of the sensor 33 ("third sensor"). Note that the character string indicating a link to the site that provides data about the operating instructions is displayed in an easily recognizable form (e.g., underlined) to indicate that a tap operation may be performed by the terminal user. Note that to indicate that a tap operation may be performed by the terminal user, the character string does not have to be displayed in the underlined form but may also be displayed in a different color or format, for example.

[0137] That is to say, the error message M3 further includes the guide information about how to cope with the error. In other words, the message generator 257 generates, based on the error information, the guide information about how to cope with the error and the second outputter 260 causes the display unit 51 to display the guide information.

[0138] The terminal user may gain access to the data about the operating instructions of the sensor 33 by tapping on an area of the display unit 51 where the guide information (fifth piece of information A5) is displayed. Note that the data about the operating instructions of the sensor 33 may be stored in either the storage unit 24 of the display system 2 or an external server, whichever is appropriate. If an error (such as deterioration of the storage battery 441) has occurred in the receiver 4, then the guide information may be a piece of information indicating a link to a site that provides the data about the operating instructions of the receiver 4. On the other hand, if errors have occurred in both the sensor 3 and the receiver 4, then the guide information may be a piece of information indicating a link to the site that provides data about the operating instructions of both the sensor 3 and the receiver 4.

[0139] Also, if the user recognizer 255 recognizes the terminal user to be the first user (if the answer is Yes in Step S15), then the route generator 256 generates a third route R3 leading from the current location of the display terminal 5 to the location of the facility 9A.

[0140] When a predetermined amount of time passes since the second outputter 260 caused the display unit 51 to display the error message M3, for example, the second outputter 260 causes the display unit 51 to display an on-screen image P5 showing a map Mp5 including the third route R3 as shown in FIG. 13 (in Step S19). Alternatively, the second outputter 260 may cause the display unit 51 to display the on-screen image P5 when the terminal user taps on the error message M3 displayed on the display unit 51.

[0141] Having the interlinked system 100 perform these processing steps allows the terminal user who is the first user to head quickly, when any error has occurred, toward the facility 9A even if the terminal user is distant from the place where the error has occurred (i.e., the facility 9A), thus reducing the chances of causing a delay in coping with the error. In addition, the error message M3 allows the terminal user to recognize the type of the error in advance and head toward the facility 9A while carrying, with him or her, an article (such as a replacement part) required to cope with the error, thus allowing for reducing the number of times of visits to the facility 9A.(3.3) Exemplary operation when information is acquired

[0142] Next, it will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 14 and other drawings how the interlinked system 100 operates, for example, when the user of the display terminal 5 (i.e., the terminal user) who is the first user acquires information about the disaster prevention system 1A to be introduced into the facility 9A out of the disaster prevention systems 1A-1C.

[0143] First, in accordance with a predetermined operation performed by the terminal user on the operating interface 53 of the display terminal 5, the third outputter 261 causes the display unit 51 to display an on-screen facility selection image P6 (refer to FIG. 15) (in Step S21). Note that in this exemplary operation, the display terminal 5 is supposed to be a tablet computer that the terminal user carries with him or her.

[0144] The on-screen facility selection image P6 is an on-screen image showing a map Mp6 including not only the marker Mk1 indicating the location of the facility 9A but also markers Mk6, Mk7 indicating the respective locations of the facilities 9B, 9C.

[0145] On the map Mp6, markers Mk8, Mk9, and Mk10, each indicating that the marker Mk8, Mk9, Mk10 may be selected by tapping, are displayed to be superimposed on the markers Mk1, Mk6, and Mk7, respectively. Note that the map Mp6 may be, for example, stored in advance in the storage unit 24 of the display system 2 or generated by the map generator 254 in accordance with pieces of location information indicating the respective locations of the facilities 9A-9C that the respective receivers 4 of the disaster prevention systems 1A-1C have transmitted, whichever is appropriate. Also, the on-screen facility selection image P6 does not have to be an on-screen image including the map Mp6 but may also be displayed such that any one of the names ("first store," "second store," and "third store") of the facilities 9A-9C may be selected by the terminal user (by tapping).

[0146] When the marker Mk1 indicating the location of the facility 9A on the map Mp6, for example is tapped on by the terminal user, the facility 9A is selected (in Step S22).

[0147] When the facility 9A is selected, the third outputter 261 causes the display unit 51 to display, as a superimposed image on the map Mp6, an equipment selection image Im2 (refer to FIG. 16) for use to select the equipment of the disaster prevention system 1A to be introduced into the facility 9A.

[0148] The equipment selection image Im2 is an image including, for example, the name of the facility 9A (i.e., "first store"), the respective names of the sensors 31-34 included in the disaster prevention system 1A (namely, "first sensor," "second sensor," "third sensor," and "fourth sensor"), and the name of the receiver 4 included in the disaster prevention system 1A (namely, "first receiver"). Note that the respective names of the sensors 31-34 included in the disaster prevention system 1A and the name of the receiver 4 included in the disaster prevention system 1A are displayed in an easily recognizable form (e.g., underlined) to indicate that a tap operation may be performed by the terminal user. Note that to indicate that a tap operation may be performed by the terminal user, these names do not have to be displayed in the underlined form but may also be displayed in a different color or format, for example. Optionally, the equipment selection image Im2 may include signs or icons, for example, representing the sensors 31-34 and receiver 4 included in the disaster prevention system 1A.

[0149] The equipment selection image Im2 may be, for example, stored in advance in the storage unit 24 of the display system 2 and displayed on the display unit 51 by the third outputter 261.

[0150] That is to say, when the marker Mk1 indicating the location of the facility 9A on the map Mp6 is tapped on by the terminal user, the third outputter 261 causes the display unit 51 to display an on-screen image (on-screen equipment selection image) P7 including the equipment selection image Im2 and the map Mp6 as shown in FIG. 16 (in Step S23).

[0151] If the terminal user wants to acquire condition information (maintenance information) about the degree of deterioration of the storage battery 441 included in the receiver 4, for example, then he or she taps on a part of the equipment selection image Im2 where the name of the receiver 4 ("first receiver") is displayed. On the other hand, if the terminal user wants to acquire communication information about the status of communication between any one of the sensors 31-34 and the receiver 4, for example, then he or she needs to tap on any of the parts where "first sensor," "second sensor," "third sensor," and "fourth sensor" are displayed.

[0152] When the part of the on-screen equipment selection image P7 where the name of the receiver 4 is displayed is tapped on by the terminal user, the receiver 4 is selected (in Step S24).

[0153] When the receiver 4 is selected, the third outputter 261 causes the display unit 51 to display an information selection image Im3 (refer to FIG. 17) as a superimposed image on the map Mp6.

[0154] The information selection image Im3 is an image for use to select either existent information or new information. The existent information is a piece of maintenance information stored in advance in the disaster prevention system 1 and is condition information about the degree of deterioration of the storage battery 441 in this case. The new information is a piece of maintenance information to be newly generated by the disaster prevention system 1 and is a piece of condition information about the degree of deterioration of the storage battery 441.

[0155] The information selection image Im3 includes, for example, a character string indicating the name of the facility 9A ("first store"), a character string indicating the name of the receiver 4 ("first receiver"), a character string indicating the maintenance information to acquire ("condition information of storage battery"), a character string for use to select acquisition of existent information ("acquisition of existent information"), and a character string for use to select acquisition of new information ("acquisition of new information"). Note that the character string for use to select the acquisition of existent information and the character string for use to select the acquisition of new information are displayed in an easily recognizable form (e.g., underlined) to indicate that a tap operation may be performed by the terminal user. Note that to indicate that a tap operation may be performed by the terminal user, the character strings do not have to be displayed in the underlined form but may also be displayed in a different color or format, for example.

[0156] The information selection image Im3 may, for example, have been stored in advance in the storage unit 24 of the display system 2 and displayed on the display unit 51 by the third outputter 261.

[0157] That is to say, when the part of the on-screen equipment selection image P7 where the name of the receiver 4 is displayed is tapped on by the terminal user, the display unit 51 displays an on-screen image (on-screen information selection image) P8 including the information selection image Im3 and the map Mp6 as shown in FIG. 17 (in Step S25).

[0158] In this case, if the terminal user wants to acquire existent condition information, for example, then he or she taps on a part of the information selection image Im3 where the character string "acquisition of existent information" is displayed.

[0159] When the part where the character string "acquisition of existent information" is displayed is tapped on by the terminal user (if the answer is Yes in Step S26), the requester 251 of the display system 2 transmits an existent information request signal, requesting that the condition information stored in advance in the disaster prevention system 1A about the degree of deterioration of the storage battery 441 should be transmitted, to the receiver 4 included in the disaster prevention system 1A (in Step S27). Note that if the terminal user has tapped on the part of the equipment selection image Im2 where "first sensor" is displayed, then the requester 251 transmits, to the receiver 4, an existent information request signal requesting that the communication information stored in advance in the disaster prevention system 1A about the status of communication between the sensor 31 and the receiver 4 should be transmitted.

[0160] When second communications unit 42 of the receiver 4 receives the existent information request signal, the outputter 452 of the receiver 4 transmits the existent condition information stored in the storage unit 46 about the degree of deterioration of the storage battery 441 to the display system 2. In this case, the existent condition information includes a value of the storage battery voltage of the storage battery 441 which has been measured just lately by the charging / discharging controller 455.

[0161] When the acquirer 252 of the display system 2 acquires the existent condition information (in Step S28), the information image generator 258 of the display system 2 generates, based on the existent condition information, an existent information image Im4 representing a visualized version of the existent condition information and the third outputter 261 causes the display unit 51 to display the existent information image Im4 (refer to FIG. 18) as a superimposed image on the map Mp6.

[0162] The existent information image Im4 includes, for example, a character string indicating the name of the facility 9A ("first store"), a character string indicating the name of the receiver 4 ("first receiver"), a character string indicating that the existent information is displayed ("existent information"), a character string indicating the value of the storage battery voltage of the storage battery 441 that has been measured just lately by the charging / discharging controller 455 ("storage battery voltage: 21 V"), and a character string indicating the degree of deterioration of the storage battery 441 ("storage battery condition: normal"). In this embodiment, the value of the storage battery voltage of the storage battery 441 that has been measured just lately is supposed to be 21 V, which is higher than a predetermined value of 20.4 V.

[0163] That is to say, when the acquirer 252 of the display system 2 acquires the existent condition information, the third outputter 261 causes the display unit 51 to display an on-screen image (on-screen existent information display image) P9 including a map Mp6 including the existent information image Im4 and the marker Mk1 indicating the location of the facility 9A as shown in FIG. 18 (in Step S29).

[0164] Having the interlinked system 100 perform these processing steps allows the terminal user to acquire information about the disaster prevention system 1 at a remote location distant from the facility 9 into which the disaster prevention system 1 is introduced.

[0165] On the other hand, if the terminal user wants to acquire the new information, then he or she taps on a part of the information selection image Im3 where the character string "acquisition of new information" is displayed.

[0166] When the part where the character string "acquisition of new information" is displayed is tapped on by the terminal user (if the answer is No in Step S26), the requester 251 transmits, to the receiver 4, a new information request signal requesting that condition information about the degree of deterioration of the storage battery 441 should be generated and the condition information thus generated should be transmitted (in Step S30). Note that if the terminal user has tapped on the part of the equipment selection image Im2 where "first sensor" is displayed, for example, then the requester 251 transmits, to the receiver 4, a new information request signal requesting that communication information about the status of communication between the sensor 31 and the receiver 4 should be generated and the communication information thus generated should be transmitted.

[0167] When the second communications unit 42 of the receiver 4 receives the new information request signal, the charging / discharging controller 455 cuts off the power supply path from the commercial power supply to the storage battery 441 to measure the storage battery voltage of the storage battery 441 that has just started discharging electricity.

[0168] In this case, suppose the storage battery voltage of the storage battery 441 is 20 V, for example, which is lower than a predetermined voltage of 20.4 V. In that case, the charging / discharging controller 455 generates storage battery error information about the deterioration of the storage battery 441. As described above, the storage battery error information includes information about the value (20 V) of the storage battery voltage of the storage battery 441. That is to say, the storage battery error information transmitted in response to the new information request signal includes new condition information (i.e., a newly measured value of the storage battery voltage).

[0169] Next, the outputter 452 of the receiver 4 transmits the storage battery error information thus generated to the display system 2. That is to say, the information that the disaster prevention system 1A transmits to the display system 2 in response to the request signal includes error information about the error that has occurred in the disaster prevention system 1A (e.g., storage battery error information in this exemplary operation).

[0170] When the acquirer 252 acquires the storage battery error information including the new condition information (in Step S31), the information image generator 258 generates a new information image Im5 based on the storage battery error information.

[0171] When the information image generator 258 generates the new information image Im5, the third outputter 261 causes the display unit 51 to display the new information image Im5 (refer to FIG. 19) as a superimposed image on the map Mp6.

[0172] The new information image Im5 includes, for example, a character string indicating the name of the facility 9A ("first store"), a character string indicating the name of the receiver 4 ("first receiver"), a character string indicating that the new information is displayed ("new information"), a character string indicating the value of the storage battery voltage of the storage battery 441 that has been measured by the charging / discharging controller 455 ("storage battery voltage: 20 V"), and a character string indicating the degree of deterioration of the storage battery 441 ("storage battery condition: abnormal (needs replacement)"). Optionally, part of the new information image Im5 (e.g., the character string indicating the degree of deterioration of the storage battery 441) may be displayed in a different mode from the rest of the new information image Im5 to call the terminal user's attention. For example, part of the new information image Im5 may be displayed in a different color or font from the rest of the new information image Im5.

[0173] That is to say, when the acquirer 252 of the display system 2 acquires the new condition information, the third outputter 261 causes the display unit 51 to display an on-screen image (on-screen new information display image) P10 including the new information image Im5 and the map Mp6 as shown in FIG. 19 (in Step S32).

[0174] Having the interlinked system 100 perform these processing steps allows the terminal user to acquire up-to-date information about the disaster prevention system 1 at a remote location distant from the facility 9 into which the disaster prevention system 1 is introduced.(4) Variations

[0175] Note that the embodiment described above is only an exemplary one of various embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting. Rather, the exemplary embodiment may be readily modified in various manners depending on a design choice or any other factor without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Also, the functions of the display system 2 may also be implemented as, for example, a display method, a computer program, or a non-transitory storage medium on which the program is stored.

[0176] A display method according to an aspect includes a requesting step, an acquiring step, and a display controlling step. The requesting step includes transmitting a request signal to a disaster prevention system 1 to be introduced into a facility 9. The request signal requests that information about the disaster prevention system 1 should be transmitted. The acquiring step includes acquiring the information that the disaster prevention system 1 has transmitted in response to the request signal. The display controlling step includes causing a display unit 51 of a display terminal 5 to display an on-screen image including an image representing a visualized version of the information that the disaster prevention system 1 has transmitted in response to the request signal.

[0177] A (computer) program according to another aspect is designed to cause one or more processors to perform the display method described above.

[0178] Next, variations of the exemplary embodiment will be enumerated one after another. Note that the variations to be described below may be adopted in combination as appropriate.

[0179] In the exemplary embodiment described above, if the acquirer 252 has acquired error information from the disaster prevention system 1, then the second outputter 260 causes the display unit 51 to display either the on-screen image P4 (refer to FIG. 11) or the on-screen image P5 (refer to FIG. 13) as already described in the "(3.2) Exemplary operation when error occurs" section. In this case, even in a situation where either the on-screen image P4 or the on-screen image P5 is displayed on the display unit 51, if the acquirer 252 has acquired the event information, the second outputter 260 may cause the display unit 51 to display the on-screen image P1 (refer to FIG. 5) preferentially based on the event information. The on-screen image P1 includes information about the origin of the abnormality (such as a fire) as already described in the "(3.1) Exemplary operation when abnormality occurs" section. Note that the event information is a piece of information about the abnormality to be detected by the disaster prevention system 1 which is different from the error information. This allows the terminal user who is the first user to cope with the abnormality preferentially before the error in the disaster prevention system 1, thus reducing the chances of causing a delay in taking an appropriate measure against the abnormality.

[0180] In the exemplary embodiment described above, the user recognizer 255 of the display system 2 determines, based on the attribute information that the terminal user of the display terminal 5 has registered in advance, the attribute of the terminal user (i.e., whether the terminal user is the first user or the second user). Alternatively, the attribute of the terminal user may also be determined by unique ID information assigned to the display terminal 5. In that case, information about the correspondence between the ID information unique to the display terminal 5 and the attribute of the user of the display terminal needs to be stored in the display terminal 5. This eliminates the need for the terminal user to register the attribute information.

[0181] The information selection image Im3 may include not only the character string for use to select acquisition of existent information ("acquisition of existent information") and the character string for use to select acquisition of new information ("acquisition of new information") but also a character string for use to generate new information (e.g., "generation of new information"). When the terminal user taps on the character string for use to generate new information, the requester 251 transmits, to the receiver 4, a new information generation request signal requesting that new information (such as condition information about the degree of deterioration of the storage battery 441) should be generated. The information generated at this time may be acquired by having the terminal user tap on the character string "acquisition of existent information" at any timing convenient for him or her.

[0182] The display system 2 according to the present disclosure includes a computer system. The computer system includes a processor and a memory as principal hardware components thereof. The computer system performs the functions of the display system 2 according to the present disclosure by making the processor execute a program stored in the memory of the computer system. The program may be stored in advance in the memory of the computer system. Alternatively, the program may also be downloaded through a telecommunications line or be distributed after having been recorded in some non-transitory storage medium such as a memory card, an optical disc, or a hard disk drive, any of which is readable for the computer system. The processor of the computer system may be made up of a single or a plurality of electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI). As used herein, the "integrated circuit" such as an IC or an LSI is called by a different name depending on the degree of integration thereof. Examples of the integrated circuits such as an IC or an LSI include integrated circuits called a "system LSI," a "very-large-scale integrated circuit (VLSI)," and an "ultra-large-scale integrated circuit (ULSI)." Optionally, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) to be programmed after an LSI has been fabricated or a reconfigurable logic device allowing the connections or circuit sections inside of an LSI to be reconfigured may also be adopted as the processor. Those electronic circuits may be either integrated together on a single chip or distributed on multiple chips, whichever is appropriate. Those multiple chips may be aggregated together in a single device or distributed in multiple devices without limitation. As used herein, the "computer system" includes a microcontroller including one or more processors and one or more memories. Thus, the microcontroller may also be implemented as a single or a plurality of electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit or a large-scale integrated circuit.

[0183] In the embodiment described above, the plurality of functions of the display system 2 are integrated together in a single housing. However, this is not an essential configuration for the display system 2. Alternatively, those constituent elements of the display system 2 may be distributed in multiple different housings. Still alternatively, at least some functions of the display system 2 may be implemented as, for example, a cloud computing system as well.(5) Recapitulation

[0184] As can be seen from the foregoing description, a display system (2) according to a first aspect includes a requester (251) that transmits a request signal to a disaster prevention system (1) to be introduced into a facility (9). The request signal requests that information about the disaster prevention system (1) should be transmitted. The display system (2) further includes: an acquirer (252) that acquires the information that the disaster prevention system (1) has transmitted in response to the request signal; and a display controller (253) that causes a display unit (51) of a display terminal (5) to display an on-screen image including an image representing a visualized version of the information.

[0185] This aspect allows information about the disaster prevention system (1) to be acquired from outside the facility (9) into which the disaster prevention system (1) is introduced, thus allowing for improving the user friendliness.

[0186] In a display system (2) according to a second aspect, which may be implemented in conjunction with the first aspect, the requester (251) transmits, as the request signal, an existent information request signal to the disaster prevention system (1). The existent information request signal requests that maintenance information about maintenance of the disaster prevention system (1) should be transmitted. The maintenance information has been stored in advance in the disaster prevention system (1).

[0187] This aspect allows existent maintenance information about the maintenance of the disaster prevention system (1) to be acquired from outside the facility (9) into which the disaster prevention system (1) is introduced, thus allowing for improving the user friendliness.

[0188] In a display system (2) according to a third aspect, which may be implemented in conjunction with the first or second aspect, the requester (251) transmits, as the request signal, a new information request signal to the disaster prevention system (1). The new information request signal requests that the disaster prevention system (1) should generate maintenance information about maintenance of the disaster prevention system (1) and should transmit, as the information about the disaster prevention system (1), the maintenance information generated by the disaster prevention system (1).

[0189] This aspect allows new maintenance information about the maintenance of the disaster prevention system (1) to be acquired from outside the facility (9) into which the disaster prevention system (1) is introduced, thus allowing for improving the user friendliness.

[0190] In a display system (2) according to a fourth aspect, which may be implemented in conjunction with any one of the first to third aspects, the on-screen image including an image representing a visualized version of the information about the disaster prevention system (1) includes a map (Mp6) covering the location of the facility (9).

[0191] This aspect allows the user to visually check the location of the facility (9), into which the disaster prevention system (1) is introduced, along with the information about the disaster prevention system (1), thus allowing for improving the user friendliness.

[0192] In a display system (2) according to a fifth aspect, which may be implemented in conjunction with any one of the first to fourth aspects, the disaster prevention system (1) includes a sensor (3) and a receiver (4) which is ready to communicate with the sensor (3). The receiver (4) includes a storage battery (441) to be charged with electricity by an external power supply. The information about the disaster prevention system (1) includes condition information about a degree of deterioration of the storage battery (441).

[0193] This aspect allows condition information about the degree of deterioration of the storage battery (441) to be acquired from outside the facility (9) into which the disaster prevention system (1) is introduced, thus allowing for improving the user friendliness.

[0194] In a display system (2) according to a sixth aspect, which may be implemented in conjunction with any one of the first to fifth aspects, the disaster prevention system (1) includes a sensor (3) and a receiver (4) which is ready to communicate with the sensor (3). The information about the disaster prevention system (1) includes communication information about a status of communication between the sensor (3) and the receiver (4).

[0195] This aspect allows communication information about the status of communication between the sensor (3) and the receiver (4) to be acquired from outside the facility (9) into which the disaster prevention system (1) is introduced, thus allowing for improving the user friendliness.

[0196] In a display system (2) according to a seventh aspect, which may be implemented in conjunction with any one of the first to sixth aspects, the information about the disaster prevention system (1) includes error information about an error that has occurred in the disaster prevention system (1).

[0197] This aspect allows error information to be acquired from outside the facility (9) into which the disaster prevention system (1) is introduced, thus allowing for improving the user friendliness.

[0198] In a display system (2) according to an eighth aspect, which may be implemented in conjunction with any one of the first to seventh aspects, the disaster prevention system (1) includes a sensor (3) and a receiver (4) which is ready to communicate with the sensor (3). The information about the disaster prevention system (1) includes alarm activation frequency information indicating how many times the sensor (3) has been activated an alarm thereof during a predetermined period.

[0199] This aspect allows alarm activation frequency information to be acquired from outside the facility (9) into which the disaster prevention system (1) is introduced, thus allowing for improving the user friendliness.

[0200] In a display system (2) according to a ninth aspect, which may be implemented in conjunction with any one of the first to eighth aspects, the requester (251) transmits the request signal to at least one of a plurality of the disaster prevention systems (1).

[0201] This aspect allows information about any desired one of the plurality of disaster prevention systems (1) to be acquired from outside the facility (9).

[0202] An interlinked system (100) according to a tenth aspect includes the display system (2) according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, and the disaster prevention system (1).

[0203] This aspect allows information about the disaster prevention system (1) to be acquired from outside the facility (9) into which the disaster prevention system (1) is introduced, thus allowing for improving the user friendliness.

[0204] A display method according to an eleventh aspect includes a requesting step including transmitting a request signal to a disaster prevention system (1) to be introduced into a facility (9). The request signal requests that information about the disaster prevention system (1) should be transmitted. The display method further includes: an acquiring step including acquiring the information that the disaster prevention system (1) has transmitted in response to the request signal; and a display controlling step including causing a display unit (51) of a display terminal (5) to display an on-screen image including an image representing a visualized version of the information that the disaster prevention system (1) has transmitted.

[0205] This aspect allows information about the disaster prevention system (1) to be acquired from outside the facility (9) into which the disaster prevention system (1) is introduced, thus allowing for improving the user friendliness.

[0206] A program according to a twelfth aspect is designed to cause one or more processors to perform the display method according to the eleventh aspect.

[0207] This aspect allows information about the disaster prevention system (1) to be acquired from outside the facility (9) into which the disaster prevention system (1) is introduced, thus allowing for improving the user friendliness.

[0208] Note that the constituent elements according to the second to ninth aspects are not essential constituent elements for the display system but may be omitted as appropriate.Reference Signs List

[0209] 1Disaster Prevention System 2Display System 3Sensor 4Receiver 5Display Terminal 9Facility 51Display Unit 251Requester 252Acquirer 253Display Controller 441Storage Battery Mp6Map

Claims

1. A display system comprising: a requester configured to transmit a request signal to a disaster prevention system to be introduced into a facility, the request signal requesting that information about the disaster prevention system be transmitted; an acquirer configured to acquire the information that the disaster prevention system has transmitted in response to the request signal; and a display controller configured to cause a display unit of a display terminal to display an on-screen image including an image representing a visualized version of the information.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the requester is configured to transmit, as the request signal, an existent information request signal to the disaster prevention system, the existent information request signal requesting that maintenance information about maintenance of the disaster prevention system be transmitted, the maintenance information having been stored in advance in the disaster prevention system.

3. The display system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the requester is configured to transmit, as the request signal, a new information request signal to the disaster prevention system, the new information request signal requesting that the disaster prevention system generate maintenance information about maintenance of the disaster prevention system and transmit, as the information, the maintenance information generated by the disaster prevention system.

4. The display system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the on-screen image includes a map covering a location of the facility.

5. The display system of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the disaster prevention system includes a sensor and a receiver configured to be ready to communicate with the sensor, the receiver includes a storage battery to be charged with electricity by an external power supply, and the information includes condition information about a degree of deterioration of the storage battery.

6. The display system of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the disaster prevention system includes a sensor and a receiver configured to be ready to communicate with the sensor, and the information includes communication information about a status of communication between the sensor and the receiver.

7. The display system of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the information includes error information about an error that has occurred in the disaster prevention system.

8. The display system of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the disaster prevention system includes a sensor and a receiver configured to be ready to communicate with the sensor, and the information includes alarm activation frequency information indicating how many times the sensor has been activated an alarm thereof during a predetermined period.

9. The display system of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the requester is configured to transmit the request signal to at least one of a plurality of the disaster prevention systems.

10. An interlinked system comprising: the display system of any one of claims 1 to 9; and the disaster prevention system.

11. A display method comprising: a requesting step including transmitting a request signal to a disaster prevention system to be introduced into a facility, the request signal requesting that information about the disaster prevention system be transmitted; an acquiring step including acquiring the information that the disaster prevention system has transmitted in response to the request signal; and a display controlling step including causing a display unit of a display terminal to display an on-screen image including an image representing a visualized version of the information.

12. A program designed to cause one or more processors to perform the display method of claim 11.

Images