Program

Abstract

To provide a program capable of simulating human movement.SOLUTION: A program is for causing a computer to execute a step of receiving from a user a selection of movement information for some people included in movement information for a plurality of people measured in a space in a facility; acquisition steps S11 and S14 of acquiring the movement information for some people selected and post-change layout information; a simulation step S16 of simulating parameters related to movement of those people in the post-change layout on the basis of the acquired movement information and the acquired post-change layout; and an output step S17 of outputting the result of the simulation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a program for simulating the flow of people. [Background technology]

[0002] It is aimed to improve the efficiency of picking or stocking work in warehouses, etc. Patent Document 1 discloses a work management device that determines the work that each worker can perform to the best of their ability based on the work performance of the worker, and assigns the work to each worker based on the determined work. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-128268 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention provides a program capable of simulating the flow of people. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A program according to one aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the following steps: receiving from a user a selection of movement line information of some of the people from actually measured movement line information of a plurality of people in a space within a facility in which items and structures on which the items are placed or stored are arranged; a first acquisition step of acquiring the movement line information of the selected some of the people; a calculation step of calculating a first parameter related to the movement line of the some of the people in the space based on the acquired movement line information; a second acquisition step of acquiring changed layout information showing a changed layout of at least one of the items and the structures when it is assumed that the layout of at least one of the items and the structures has been changed, the changed layout information being manually input by the user; a simulation step of simulating a second parameter related to the movement line of the some of the people in the changed layout based on the acquired movement line information and the acquired changed layout information; and an output step of outputting the calculated first parameter and the second parameter which is a result of the simulation. Effect of the Invention

[0006] A program according to an aspect of the present invention can perform a simulation of a person's movement line. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a traffic line simulation system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a space within a facility that is the subject of a simulation by the traffic line simulation system according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an operation example 1 of the traffic line simulation system. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of area division. [Diagram 5]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing, in the form of a table, the calculation results of the number of times of movement between areas. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen showing a simulation result. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of the display screen showing the simulation results. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a second operation example of the traffic line simulation system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are all comprehensive or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, component arrangement and connection forms, steps, and order of steps shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, among the components in the following embodiments, components that are not described in the independent claims will be described as optional components.

[0009] In addition, each drawing is a schematic diagram and is not necessarily a precise illustration. In addition, in each drawing, the same reference numerals are used for substantially the same configuration, and duplicated explanations may be omitted or simplified.

[0010] (Embodiment) [composition] First, the configuration of a traffic line simulation system according to an embodiment will be described. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a traffic line simulation system 10 according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a space within a facility that is the subject of a simulation by the traffic line simulation system 10 according to an embodiment.

[0011] The traffic flow simulation system 10 is a system that can simulate the traffic flow of people based on time-series data of the positions of people in a space 50 within a facility that is actually measured by a positioning system 40. As shown in Fig. 2, the space 50 within the facility is, for example, a space for storing parts within a factory. In other words, this space 50 is a space in which parts (an example of an article) and shelves (an example of a structure) on which the parts are placed or stored are arranged.

[0012] The traffic line simulation system 10 specifically includes a simulation device 20, an information terminal 30, and a positioning system 40.

[0013] The simulation device 20 is a computer device installed inside or outside a facility, and specifically, is an edge server, a cloud server, etc. Specifically, the simulation device 20 includes a communication unit 21, an information processing unit 22, and a storage unit 23.

[0014] The communication unit 21 is a communication module (communication circuit) for the simulation device 20 to communicate with the information terminal 30 and the positioning system 40. The communication performed by the communication unit 21 is, for example, wired communication, but may be wireless communication. There is also no particular limitation on the communication standard used for the communication.

[0015] The information processing unit 22 acquires time series data of the positions of people in the space 50 in the facility actually measured by the positioning system 40, and performs a simulation of the movement of people in the space 50 in the facility based on the acquired time series data. The information processing unit 22 is realized by, for example, a microcomputer, but may be realized by a processor. The information processing unit 22 has an acquisition unit 24, a simulation processing unit 25, an output unit 26, and a generation unit 27 as functional components. The functions of the acquisition unit 24, the simulation processing unit 25, the output unit 26, and the generation unit 27 are realized by, for example, a microcomputer or a processor constituting the information processing unit 22 executing a computer program stored in the storage unit 23. The detailed functions of the acquisition unit 24, the simulation processing unit 25, the output unit 26, and the generation unit 27 will be described later.

[0016] The storage unit 23 is a storage device that stores information necessary for simulating a flow line, a computer program executed by the information processing unit 22, and the like. The storage unit 23 is realized by, for example, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), but may also be realized by a semiconductor memory or the like.

[0017] The information terminal 30 is a device that functions as a user interface for a user to simulate a flow line, and specifically, is a personal computer, a tablet terminal, etc. The information terminal 30 includes an operation receiving unit 31 and a display unit 32.

[0018] The operation reception unit 31 receives an operation of a user instructing a simulation of a flow line, etc. The operation reception unit 31 is realized by at least one of devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel.

[0019] The display unit 32 displays the simulation results of the flow lines, etc. The display unit 32 is realized by a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) panel.

[0020] The simulation device 20 and the information terminal 30 may be implemented by one server computer. For example, the functions of the simulation device 20 and the information terminal 30 may be implemented by software installed in a server computer for business use or the like.

[0021] The positioning system 40 measures the position of the first communication device 41, and provides time series data of the measured position to the simulation device 20 as movement line information of a person located in the space 50. Specifically, the positioning system 40 includes a plurality of first communication devices 41, a plurality of second communication devices 42, and a positioning server 43.

[0022] The first communication device 41 is a communication device carried by a person located in the space 50 in the facility. The first communication device 41 is, for example, a portable information terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The first communication device 41 measures the received signal strength of a beacon signal received from each of the multiple second communication devices 42, and transmits received signal strength information indicating the measured received signal strength to the positioning server 43. The first communication device 41 may be any device that functions as a receiver of a beacon signal, and may be a dedicated device for receiving a beacon signal. The beacon signal is an example of a wireless communication signal, and specifically, is a radio wave signal.

[0023] The second communication device 42 is a communication device that is distributed in a space 50 in the facility. The second communication device 42 is a device that functions as a transmitter of a beacon signal, and is, for example, a dedicated device for transmitting a beacon signal. The second communication device 42 may be built into another device, such as a lighting device, installed in the space 50.

[0024] The positioning server 43 is a computer device installed inside or outside a facility, and specifically, is an edge server or a cloud server.

[0025] The positioning server 43 receives received signal strength information from the first communication device 41, and measures the position of the first communication device 41 in the space 50 within the facility based on the received received signal strength information. Specifically, the positioning server 43 can determine the distance between each of the multiple second communication devices 42 and the first communication device 41 by converting the received signal strength indicated by the received signal strength information into distance.

[0026] Here, since the positioning server 43 manages the installation positions (coordinates in space 50) of each of the multiple second communication devices 42, it is possible to measure the current position (coordinates in space 50) of the first communication device 41 based on the above-specified distance and the installation positions of each of the multiple second communication devices 42.

[0027] The position of the first communication device 41 is measured periodically, and the storage unit of the positioning server 43 stores time-series data of the position of the first communication device 41 as movement line information. That is, the storage unit of the positioning server 43 stores movement line information of a person who holds the first communication device 41. Also, the received signal strength information transmitted from the first communication device 41 includes the ID of the first communication device 41. Therefore, the positioning server 43 can distinguish between a plurality of first communication devices 41, and the storage unit of the positioning server 43 stores time-series data of the positions of the respective first communication devices 41. That is, the storage unit of the positioning server 43 stores movement line information of a plurality of people located in the space 50.

[0028] Note that there is no particular limitation on the specific embodiment of the positioning system 40. For example, the positioning system 40 may include a plurality of first communication devices 41 each functioning as a beacon transmitter, a plurality of second communication devices 42 each functioning as a beacon receiver, and a positioning server 43, and the positioning server 43 may measure the position of the first communication device 41 based on the received signal strength of the beacon signal emitted by the first communication device 41 at each of the plurality of second communication devices 42. In other words, the positioning system 40 may have a configuration in which the relationship between the transmission and reception of the beacon signal is reversed to that described above.

[0029] In this way, the movement line information may be actually measured based on the received signal strength of a beacon signal (wireless communication signal) transmitted from one of a first communication device 41 carried by a person located in space 50 and a second communication device 42 installed in space 50 to the other.

[0030] Furthermore, the positioning system 40 may measure the current location of the first communication device 41 using the receiving angle (AoA: Angle of Arrival) of the beacon signal in addition to the receiving signal strength. In this case, the flow line information is actually measured based on the receiving signal strength and the receiving angle of the beacon signal.

[0031] The positioning system 40 may measure the current position of the first communication device 41 by combining the positioning method using the beacon signal with a positioning method called PDR (Pedestrian Dead Reckoning) using an acceleration sensor or the like (a sensor that detects changes in the position of the first communication device) provided in the first communication device 41. In this case, the movement line information is actually measured based on the absolute position of the first communication device 41 determined based on the received signal strength and the change in position detected by the above sensor.

[0032] The positioning system 40 may measure the current position of the first communication device 41 based on UWB (Ultra Wide Band) communication. In this case, the flow line information is actually measured based on the time difference between the arrival times of wireless communication signals (wireless communication signals used in UWB communication) transmitted from each of a plurality of second communication devices 42 installed in a space to the first communication device 41 and the receiving directions of the wireless communication signals.

[0033] [Example 1] Next, a description will be given of a first operational example of the flow line simulation system 10. FIG.

[0034] First, the communication unit 21 of the simulation device 20 receives the flow line information of a person located in the space 50 from the positioning system 40, and the acquisition unit 24 acquires the received flow line information (S11). This process is triggered, for example, by the operation acceptance unit 31 of the information terminal 30 accepting an operation instructing to import the flow line information. At this time, the user can select whether to import the flow line information of one person (the flow line information of one first communication device 41) or the flow line information of multiple people (the flow line information of multiple first communication devices 41). Here, the description will be given assuming that the flow line information of multiple people is imported.

[0035] Next, the simulation processing unit 25 calculates the number of times people move between areas in the space 50 in a predetermined period such as one day, one week, or one month, based on the acquired flow line information (S12).

[0036] First, an area will be described. An area is a space 50 in a facility that is virtually divided into a plurality of areas. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of area division. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, a space 50 in a facility is virtually divided into six areas A1 to A6. In each area, a shelf on which parts are placed or stored is installed. For the sake of simplicity of explanation, in FIG. 4, the area, the parts, and the shelves are in one-to-one correspondence, such as the shelf B1 on which the part C1 is placed or stored being installed in the area A1. Information indicating the positional relationship of such areas, parts, and shelves is stored in advance in the storage unit 23.

[0037] Next, the calculation result of the number of times of movement between areas will be explained. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the calculation result of the number of times of movement between areas in a table. The number of times of movement between areas is the total number of times that a person moves between areas in the above-mentioned specified period. For example, in Fig. 5, the total number of times of movement from area A1 to area A2 is 311, which is shown in the column where the column of area A1 on the FROM side intersects with area A2 on the TO side.

[0038] Next, the output unit 26 outputs calculation result information indicating the calculation result of the number of moves between the areas to the information terminal 30 (S13). As a result, the display unit 32 of the information terminal 30 displays the calculation result of the number of moves between the areas in Fig. 5. When the calculation result is displayed, it is easy for the user to grasp the number of moves by displaying in color a column with a relatively large number of moves (or a column with a relatively small number of moves).

[0039] Next, the communication unit 21 receives from the information terminal 30 changed layout information indicating the changed layout of at least one of the parts and the shelves when it is assumed that the layout of at least one of the parts and the shelves has been changed, and the acquisition unit 24 acquires the received changed layout information (S14). This process is triggered, for example, when the user performs an input operation of the changed layout information while looking at the calculation result displayed in step S14, and the operation acceptance unit 31 of the information terminal 30 accepts this input operation. In other words, the changed layout information is manually input by the user.

[0040] Next, the simulation processing unit 25 calculates the standard movement distance between areas in the changed layout indicated by the acquired changed layout information (S15). For example, the simulation processing unit 25 assumes that the movement between areas occurs due to a part, and when part C1 that was originally placed or stored on shelf B1 in area A1 is changed to be stored on shelf B2 in area A2, the simulation processing unit 25 corrects the movement distance in each column in the calculation result in Fig. 5 according to the change in the area in which part C1 is stored, thereby setting the standard movement distance per movement between areas after the layout change corresponding to each column in Fig. 5. Note that the movement distance between areas in the changed layout may be automatically determined using an algorithm.

[0041] Next, the simulation processing unit 25 calculates the total movement distance of the person in the layout before the change and the total movement distance of the person in the layout after the change (S16). The simulation processing unit 25 multiplies the number of movements and the standard movement distance in each column of Fig. 5 by each other, and sums up the multiplication results to calculate the total movement distance of the person in the layout before the change.

[0042] Next, the output unit 26 outputs simulation result information indicating the total movement distance before and after the layout change to the information terminal 30. That is, the output unit 26 outputs the result of the simulation (S17). As a result, the simulation result is displayed on the display unit 32 of the information terminal 30. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen showing the simulation result. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, the total movement distance before and after the layout change is displayed on the display unit 32.

[0043] The display unit 32 may display information visualizing the changed layout as a result of the simulation. The information visualizing the changed layout is, for example, map information of the space 50 showing the changed layout. This allows the user to grasp the total movement distance before and after the layout change while checking the changed layout.

[0044] As described above, the movement line simulation system 10 includes an acquisition unit 24 that acquires people's movement line information and changed layout information in the space 50 within the facility, a simulation processing unit 25 that simulates parameters related to people's movement lines in the changed layout based on the acquired movement line information and the acquired changed layout information, and an output unit 26 that outputs the results of the simulation.

[0045] Such a flow line simulation system 10 can obtain simulation results closer to reality than conventional systems that perform simulations using theoretical values ​​related to flow lines by simulating flow lines using actually measured flow line information. Note that the travel distance up to this point may be replaced by travel time.

[0046] In the above operation example 1, the total moving distance is simulated as a parameter related to the flow line of the person, but instead of or in addition to the total moving distance, the total moving time may be simulated. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of a display screen showing the simulation result. As shown in FIG. 7, the display unit 32 displays, for example, the total moving time before and after the layout change. For example, if the standard moving time per movement between areas is defined in each column of FIG. 5, the simulation processing unit 25 can multiply the number of movements by the standard moving time in each column of FIG. 5 and calculate the total moving time of the person in the layout before the change by summing up the multiplication results. Note that the standard moving time is defined as the moving distance divided by the standard moving speed. As a result, for example, the total moving time can be calculated as the total moving distance divided by the standard moving speed.

[0047] [Example 2] Next, a description will be given of a second operation example of the flow line simulation system 10. FIG.

[0048] First, the communication unit 21 of the simulation device 20 receives information on the movement of people located in the space 50 from the positioning system 40, the acquisition unit 24 acquires the received movement information (S21), and the simulation processing unit 25 calculates the number of times people move between areas in the space 50 during a predetermined period based on the acquired movement information (S22). The processes of steps S21 and S22 are similar to those of steps S11 and S12.

[0049] Next, the generation unit 27 generates (calculates) post-change layout information indicating the post-change layout of at least one of the parts and the shelves, assuming that the layout of at least one of the parts and the shelves has been changed, based on the calculation result information indicating the calculation result of the number of movements between areas (S23). The acquisition unit 24 acquires the generated post-change layout information (S24).

[0050] That is, the generating unit 27 generates changed layout information using AI (Artificial Intelligence). The generating unit 27 generates changed layout information that minimizes the moving distance or moving time, for example, by inputting calculation result information (information such as that in FIG. 5) into a machine learning model (trained model). The machine learning for constructing the machine learning model may be, for example, reinforcement learning or deep learning. The generating unit 27 may also generate changed layout information that minimizes the moving distance or moving time, using a stochastic gradient descent method or the like.

[0051] Next, the simulation processing unit 25 calculates the moving distance between the areas in the changed layout indicated by the acquired changed layout information (S25). The process in step S24 is the same as the process in step S15.

[0052] Next, the simulation processing unit 25 calculates the total movement distance of the person in the layout before the change and the total movement distance of the person in the layout after the change (S26). The process of step S26 is similar to the process of step S16.

[0053] Next, the output unit 26 outputs simulation result information indicating the total movement distance before and after the layout change to the information terminal 30. That is, the output unit 26 outputs the result of the simulation (S27). As a result, the simulation result is displayed on the display unit 32 of the information terminal 30. As in the first operational example, the display unit 32 displays, for example, the total movement distance before and after the layout change as shown in FIG.

[0054] The display unit 32 may display information visualizing the changed layout as a result of the simulation. The information visualizing the changed layout is, for example, map information of the space 50 showing the changed layout. This allows the traffic line simulation system 10 to propose the changed layout to the user.

[0055] As described above, the movement line simulation system 10 includes a generation unit 27 that generates changed layout information using movement line information and AI. The simulation processing unit 25 simulates people's movement line information in the space 50 within the facility and parameters related to people's movement lines in the layout after the generated changed layout information.

[0056] Such a traffic flow simulation system 10 can obtain simulation results that are closer to reality than conventional systems that perform simulations using theoretical values ​​regarding traffic flows by simulating traffic flows using actually measured traffic flow information.

[0057] In the above-mentioned operation example 2, the total moving distance is simulated as a parameter related to the flow line of people, but the total moving time may be simulated instead of or in addition to the total moving distance, as in the operation example 1. In this case, the display unit 32 displays the total moving time before and after the layout change as shown in FIG.

[0058] [Effects, etc.] As described above, a program executed by a computer such as the traffic flow simulation system 10 is a program that causes a computer to execute the following steps: a first acquisition step of acquiring actually measured traffic flow information of people in a space within a facility in which items and structures on which the items are placed or stored are arranged; a second acquisition step of acquiring changed layout information that shows the changed layout of at least one of the items and the structures when it is assumed that the layout of at least one of the items and the structures has been changed; a simulation step of simulating parameters related to people's traffic flow in the changed layout based on the acquired traffic flow information and the acquired changed layout information; and an output step of outputting the results of the simulation.

[0059] Such a flow line simulation system 10 can calculate an optimal layout based on the track record of people's flow lines, and can calculate the travel distance and travel time of people's flow lines after changing to the optimal layout.

[0060] In addition, in a program executed by a computer such as the flow line simulation system 10, the flow line information is information about the flow line of one person.

[0061] Such a flow line simulation system 10 can calculate an optimal layout based on the track record of one person's flow line, and can calculate the travel distance and travel time of the person's flow line after changing to the optimal layout.

[0062] In addition, in a program executed by a computer such as the flow line simulation system 10, the flow line information is information on the flow lines of a plurality of people.

[0063] Such a flow line simulation system 10 can calculate an optimal layout based on the track record of the flow lines of a plurality of people, and can calculate the travel distance and travel time of the flow lines of people after changing to the optimal layout.

[0064] In addition, in a program executed by a computer such as the flow line simulation system 10, in the second acquisition step, post-change layout information manually input by a user is acquired.

[0065] In this way, the flow line simulation system 10 can calculate the moving distance and moving time of the flow line of people in any layout set by the user.

[0066] In addition, the program executed by a computer such as the traffic line simulation system 10 further includes a generation step of generating changed layout information using the acquired traffic line information and AI (Artificial Intelligence), and in a second acquisition step, the generated changed layout information is acquired.

[0067] This allows the flow line simulation system 10 to use AI to calculate an optimal layout and calculate the travel distance and travel time of people's flow lines after changing to the optimal layout. This allows the flow line simulation system 10 to propose a layout that realizes more efficient flow lines.

[0068] Furthermore, in a program executed by a computer such as the flow line simulation system 10, parameters relating to people's flow lines include the total movement distance of people located in a space during a given period (for example, one day).

[0069] This allows the flow line simulation system 10 to calculate the total movement distance of the flow line of people, thereby enabling the flow line simulation system 10 to optimize the layout from the perspective of distance.

[0070] Furthermore, in a program executed by a computer such as the flow line simulation system 10, parameters relating to people's flow lines include the total movement time of people located in a space during a given period (for example, one day).

[0071] This allows the flow line simulation system 10 to calculate the total movement time of the flow line of people, thereby enabling the flow line simulation system 10 to optimize the layout from a time perspective.

[0072] In addition, in a program executed by a computer such as the traffic flow simulation system 10, the traffic flow information is actually measured based on the received signal strength of a wireless communication signal transmitted from one of a first communication device 41 carried by a person located in the space and a second communication device 42 installed in the space to the other.

[0073] This allows the flow line simulation system 10 to measure the positions of people in real time.

[0074] Furthermore, in a program executed by a computer such as the traffic flow simulation system 10, the first communication device 41 is equipped with a sensor that detects changes in the position of the first communication device 41, and the traffic flow information is actually measured based on the absolute position of the first communication device 41 determined based on the received signal strength and the change in position detected by the sensor.

[0075] This allows the flow line simulation system 10 to measure the position of a person with higher accuracy.

[0076] In addition, in a program executed by a computer such as the flow line simulation system 10, the flow line information is actually measured based on the received signal strength and the receiving angle of the wireless communication signal.

[0077] This allows the flow line simulation system 10 to measure the position of a person with higher accuracy, including the direction in which the person is present.

[0078] In addition, in a program executed by a computer such as the traffic flow simulation system 10, the traffic flow information is actually measured based on the time difference between the arrival times of wireless communication signals transmitted from each of multiple second communication devices 42 installed in the space to the first communication device 41, and the receiving direction of the wireless communication signals.

[0079] This allows the flow line simulation system 10 to measure the position of a person with higher accuracy.

[0080] (Other embodiments) Although the embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

[0081] For example, in the above embodiment, the traffic line simulation system is realized by a plurality of devices. In this case, the components (particularly, functional components) of the traffic line simulation system may be distributed in any manner among the plurality of devices.

[0082] The traffic flow simulation system may be realized as a single device. For example, the traffic flow simulation system may be realized as a single device that corresponds to the simulation device. The traffic flow simulation system may be realized as a single device that has the functions of both the simulation device and the information terminal.

[0083] The order of the processes described in the above embodiment is merely an example. The order of the processes may be changed, or the processes may be executed in parallel. Furthermore, the processes executed by a specific processing unit may be executed by another processing unit.

[0084] In the above embodiment, each component may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or a processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory.

[0085] Furthermore, each component may be realized by hardware. For example, each component may be a circuit (or an integrated circuit). These circuits may form a single circuit as a whole, or each may be a separate circuit. Furthermore, each of these circuits may be a general-purpose circuit, or a dedicated circuit.

[0086] Furthermore, the general or specific aspects of the present invention may be realized as a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM. Also, the present invention may be realized as any combination of a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a recording medium. For example, the present invention may be implemented as a flow line simulation method executed by a computer such as a flow line simulation system, or may be realized as a program for causing a computer to execute such a flow line simulation method. Also, the present invention may be realized as a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium on which such a program is recorded.

[0087] In addition, the present invention also includes forms obtained by applying various modifications to each embodiment that a person skilled in the art may think of, or forms realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of each embodiment within the scope that does not deviate from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 10 Traffic flow simulation system 20 Simulation Device 21 Communications Department 22 Information Processing Section 23 Memory section 24 Acquisition Department 25 Simulation processing section 26 Output section 27 Generation part 30 Information terminal 31 Operation reception section 32 Display section 40 Positioning System 41 First communication device 42 Second communication device 43 Positioning Server

Claims

1. receiving, from a user, a selection of information on the movement lines of a portion of people from among actually measured movement line information of a plurality of people in a space within a facility in which an item and a structure on which the item is placed or housed are arranged; A first acquisition step of acquiring the movement line information of the selected part of people; A calculation step of calculating a first parameter related to a flow line of the part of people in the space based on the acquired flow line information; a second acquisition step of acquiring changed layout information indicating a changed layout of at least one of the item and the structure when it is assumed that the layout of at least one of the item and the structure has been changed, the changed layout information being manually input by the user; a simulation step of simulating a second parameter related to the movement of the part of people in the changed layout based on the acquired movement line information and the acquired changed layout information; and an output step of outputting the calculated first parameter and the second parameter which is a result of the simulation. program.

2. The modified layout information manually input by the user indicates changes in the modified layout from the pre-modified layout corresponding to the first parameter. The program according to claim 1.

3. In the output step, the first parameter and the second parameter are output so as to be comparable. The program according to claim 1.

4. Each of the first parameter and the second parameter is a total moving distance of the part of people during a predetermined period of time. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. Each of the first parameter and the second parameter is a total travel time of the part of people in a predetermined period of time. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. The output step further includes outputting information for visualizing the layout after the change. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. The space is virtually divided into a plurality of areas, The output step further includes outputting information indicating a calculation result of the number of movements between the areas, the calculation result being determined based on the acquired flow line information. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

8. The flow line information is actually measured based on received signal strengths of wireless communication signals transmitted from one of a first communication device carried by a person located in the space and a second communication device installed in the space to the other. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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