Information processing system, information processing method and program

Abstract

To enable a user to effectively utilize a plurality of locations within an area when the user uses any location of the plurality of locations.SOLUTION: An information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a first information medium for electromagnetically storing location identification information that identifies each of a plurality of locations within an area or for having the location identification information attached as an identification code; a storage unit for storing the location identification information in association with user information that identifies a user who uses each location; and a control unit for managing a usage state of the user for each of the plurality of locations. The control unit executes a first process for storing, in the storage unit, the location identification information received from a user terminal that stores first user information in association with the first user information, and executes a second process for cancelling the association between the location identification information and second user information when the second user information is stored in the storage unit in association with the location identification information corresponding to the first information medium read by the user terminal upon executing the first process.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in order to respond to changes in the social situation, there has been an increasing tendency for companies to shift from the conventional way of working where employees work at fixed seats to free addresses. A free address refers to a work style in which employees work at any place using a notebook computer or the like without having a fixed seat in the office, enabling effective utilization of the company's office space. In the case of free addresses, methods for managing the location information used by users have been proposed (Patent Document 1).

[0003] In the management system described in Patent Document 1, when a user reads a QR code (registered trademark) attached to a desk or a wall column in a free space with a smartphone, the smartphone transmits the user ID of the user, the user name, and the identification ID of the free space and the information of the name of the free space as the information embedded in the QR code (registered trademark) to the management support server, and a reservation for the free space is made. Based on the information transmitted to the management support server, for each reservation ID, in the free space management table, the user ID, the QR code (registered trademark) information (resource ID), the free space name, and the usage status are associated and stored and managed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In a conventional system for managing users at a free address, there are cases where users cannot effectively utilize a location (free space) at the free address. For example, if a user reads a QR code (registered trademark) attached to a predetermined location to reserve (or register) the location but does not actually use it, the location becomes wasted and cannot be used by other users.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable effective utilization of a plurality of locations within an area when a user uses an arbitrary location among the plurality of locations.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a first information medium that electromagnetically stores location identification information for identifying each of a plurality of locations within an area, or in which the location identification information is attached as an identification code, and a storage unit that stores the location identification information and user information for identifying a user who uses each location in association with each other, and a control unit that manages the usage status of users for each of the plurality of locations, and the control unit executes a first process of storing the location identification information received from a user terminal storing first user information and the first user information in the storage unit in association with each other, and when executing the first process, if second user information different from the first user information is stored in the storage unit in association with the location identification information corresponding to the first information medium read by the user terminal, a second process of releasing the association between the location identification information and the second user information is executed. It is an information processing system.

Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, when a user uses an arbitrary location among a plurality of locations within an area, the plurality of locations can be effectively utilized.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] The embodiments described below are not limited to the drawings described by the brief description of the drawings.

[0011] The first aspect of an aspect of the present invention is a first information medium that electromagnetically stores location identification information for identifying each of a plurality of locations within an area, or in which the location identification information is attached as an identification code, a storage unit that stores the location identification information in association with user information for identifying a user who uses each location, a control unit that manages the usage status of users for each of the plurality of locations, and the control unit executes a first process of storing, in the storage unit, the location identification information received from a user terminal storing first user information in association with the first user information, and When executing the first process, if second user information different from the first user information is stored in the storage unit in association with location identification information corresponding to the first information medium read by the user terminal, a second process for releasing the association between the location identification information and the second user information is executed. An information processing system. Here, storing location identification information electromagnetically means storing location identification information electronically or magnetically.

[0012] According to the first aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, when associating location identification information with first user information, in order to release the association between the location identification information and second user information, the location corresponding to the location identification information is effectively used. Therefore, when a user uses an arbitrary location among a plurality of locations within an area, the plurality of locations can be effectively utilized.

[0013] A second aspect of an embodiment of the present invention is the information processing system according to the first aspect, wherein the control unit receives a predetermined request from the user terminal in response to a predetermined operation on the user terminal, and when the user information corresponding to the user terminal is stored in the storage unit in association with location identification information corresponding to any first information medium, the association between the location identification information and the user information is released.

[0014] According to the second aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, since the user can release the association between the location identification information and the user information in response to a predetermined operation on the user terminal, the user can easily release the use for the user of the corresponding location anywhere.

[0015] A third aspect of an embodiment of the present invention further includes a third information medium that stores identification information electromagnetically or to which identification information is attached as an identification code. The control unit receives user information and identification information corresponding to a third information medium from a user terminal, and when the user information corresponding to the user terminal is stored in the storage unit in association with location identification information corresponding to any one of the first information media, the information processing system according to the first aspect releases the association between the location identification information and the user information.

[0016] According to a third aspect of an aspect of the present invention, a user can release the association between location identification information and user information by operating the user terminal to read the identification information of the third information medium, so that the release of use for the user at the corresponding location can be easily performed.

[0017] A fourth aspect of an aspect of the present invention further includes a second information medium that electromagnetically stores location identification information for specifying one location within an area, or to which the location identification information is attached as an identification code. The control unit stores in the storage unit in association with each other the location identification information stored in the second information medium received from the user terminal and the user information corresponding to each of the plurality of user terminals, which is the information processing system according to any one of the first to third aspects.

[0018] According to a fourth aspect of an aspect of the present invention, a plurality of users can use one location at the same time.

[0019] A fifth aspect of an aspect of the present invention is the information processing system according to the fourth aspect, wherein the control unit receives a predetermined request from the user terminal in response to a predetermined operation on the user terminal, and when the user information corresponding to the user terminal is stored in the storage unit in association with location identification information corresponding to any one of the second information media, the association between the location identification information and the user information is released.

[0020] According to a fifth aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the user can cancel the association between the location identification information and the user information in response to a predetermined operation on the user terminal, so that the user can easily cancel the use for the corresponding location user anywhere.

[0021] A sixth aspect of an embodiment of the present invention further includes a third information medium that electromagnetically stores identification information or to which the identification information is attached as an identification code. The control unit receives the user information and the identification information corresponding to the third information medium from the user terminal, and when the user information corresponding to the user terminal is stored in the storage unit in association with the location identification information corresponding to any of the second information media, the information processing system according to the fourth aspect, which cancels the association between the location identification information and the user information.

[0022] According to a sixth aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the user can cancel the association between the location identification information and the user information by operating the user terminal to read the identification information of the third information medium, so that the user can easily cancel the use for the corresponding location user.

[0023] A seventh aspect of an embodiment of the present invention is the information processing system according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the information medium is a wireless tag.

[0024] According to a seventh aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, it is easy to read the identification information from the information medium by the user terminal.

[0025] An eighth aspect of an embodiment of the present invention is the information processing system according to the seventh aspect, wherein the user terminal is configured to start a program that provides the control unit with the user information corresponding to the user terminal and the location identification information corresponding to the wireless tag that is the communication target when communicating with the wireless tag.

[0026] According to an eighth aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, when the user terminal is brought close to the wireless tag, communication is performed with the wireless tag and a program is started, so that it is not necessary for the user to perform an operation to start the program, and the operability is excellent.

[0027] A ninth aspect of an embodiment of the present invention is that when the control unit acquires information indicating that the user of the user terminal is outside the area from the user terminal in response to a predetermined operation on the user terminal, the user information corresponding to the user terminal and the information indicating that the user of the user terminal is outside the area are associated and stored in the storage unit, and the information processing system according to any one of the first to eighth aspects.

[0028] According to a ninth aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, even when the user is outside the area, the system can recognize that the user is outside the area by performing a simple operation on the user terminal.

[0029] A tenth aspect of an embodiment of the present invention further includes a fourth information medium that electromagnetically stores identification information or to which identification information is attached as an identification code. When the control unit receives the identification information stored in the fourth information medium from the user terminal, the user information corresponding to the user terminal and the information indicating that the user of the user terminal is outside the area are associated and stored in the storage unit, and the information processing system according to any one of the first to eighth aspects.

[0030] According to a tenth aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the user can cause the system to recognize that the user is outside the area by performing an operation of reading the identification information of the fourth information medium with the user terminal.

[0031] A 11th aspect of an embodiment of the present invention is the information processing system according to any one of the 1st to 10th aspects, wherein the control unit associates information on benefits given to the corresponding user with at least some of the user information targeted by the first process.

[0032] According to a 11th aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a user can be motivated to use a location using his or her own user terminal.

[0033] A 12th aspect of an embodiment of the present invention is an information processing method executed when electromagnetic storage of location identification information for identifying each of a plurality of locations within an area, or when a plurality of first information media with the location identification information attached as identification codes are arranged, When a user terminal storing first user information reads any one of the plurality of first information media, acquiring, from the user terminal, the location identification information corresponding to the first information media read by the user terminal and the first user information; executing a first process of associating and storing in a storage device the location identification information and the first user information acquired from the user terminal; When, in executing the first process, second user information different from the first user information is stored in the storage device in association with the location identification information corresponding to the first information media read by the user terminal, executing a second process of releasing the association between the location identification information and the second user information.

[0034] According to a 12th aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, when associating location identification information with first user information, the location corresponding to the location identification information is effectively used in order to release the association between the location identification information and second user information. Therefore, when a user uses an arbitrary location among a plurality of locations within an area, the plurality of locations can be effectively utilized.

[0035] A thirteenth aspect of an aspect of the present invention is a program that causes a computer to execute a predetermined method when storing location identification information for identifying each of a plurality of locations in an area electromagnetically, or when arranging a plurality of first information media to which the location identification information is attached as an identification code, The method is When a user terminal that stores first user information reads any one of the plurality of first information media, the location identification information corresponding to the first information media read by the user terminal and the first user information are obtained from the user terminal, Execute a first process of associating the location identification information and the first user information obtained from the user terminal and storing them in a storage device, When executing the first process, if second user information different from the first user information is stored in the storage device in association with the location identification information corresponding to the first information medium read by the user terminal, execute a second process of releasing the association between the location identification information and the second user information, A program including this.

[0036] According to the thirteenth aspect of an aspect of the present invention, when associating location identification information and first user information, the location corresponding to the location identification information is effectively used in order to release the association between the location identification information and the second user information. Therefore, when a user uses any one of a plurality of locations in an area, the plurality of locations can be effectively utilized.

[0037] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a user management system 1 as an embodiment of the information processing system of the present invention will be described in detail. In the following description, an NFC (Near field communication) tag is given as an example of a wireless tag, but it is not limited thereto, and a BLE tag using Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy or a UHF band RFID tag may also be used. That is, the wireless communication protocol between the user terminal and the wireless tag may have any specification.

[0038] The user management system 1 is a system that manages the location of users who can use at least any one of a plurality of locations provided within a predetermined area. In the following example, a free address is adopted for employees (users) working within a company. In the user management system 1 described below, employees can check the location of other employees in real time, promoting face-to-face communication among employees and enabling efficient utilization of locations such as desks and meeting rooms within the company.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows the layout of a floor of an exemplary company in the user management system 1 according to an embodiment. The floor shown in FIG. 1 is partitioned into a plurality of locations, but in FIG. 1, one location LC is shown as an example. A location is an area defined in advance on the floor, such as an office area, a quiet area, a meeting area, an event booth, etc. A plurality of seats ST and meeting rooms MR that can be used by employees are arranged on the floor. An NFC label NL described later is attached to the seat ST. Although not shown in FIG. 1, NFC labels NL are attached to all seats ST and all meeting rooms MR that can be used by employees on the floor. As will be described later, the NFC label NL is required when an employee uses a seat or a meeting room. Note that on the floor, an XY coordinate system based on a predetermined origin is defined, and the positions of the locations of each seat and each meeting room are determined by this XY coordinate system.

[0040] Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the usage mode of seats or meeting rooms by employees in the user management system 1 will be described. In the following description, an employee's start of using a specific location is referred to as "check-in", and an employee's end of using a specific location within the company, such as leaving work, is referred to as "check-out".

[0041] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a check-in method performed by an employee using the NFC label NL. As described above, the NFC label NL is attached to the seat ST on the floor. The NFC label NL incorporates an NFC tag (an example of a wireless tag). In one embodiment, two types of NFC labels NL (single check-in label, multi-check-in label) are adopted. The single check-in label (an example of the first information medium) is an NFC label NL attached to a location (mainly the seat ST) used by only one employee. The multi-check-in label (an example of the second information medium) is an NFC label NL attached to a location (mainly the meeting room MR) that can be used by a plurality of employees simultaneously. As shown in FIG. 2, each label displays a label ID (in the example of FIG. 2, "1032", "1093", etc.) for identifying the NFC label NL, and the label ID is written in the NFC tag incorporated in each label. The label ID is information for identifying the location where the NFC label NL is attached, and is an example of location identification information.

[0042] The employee performs a check-in by performing a scan operation of holding the user terminal 3 held by himself / herself in the company near the single check-in label or the multi-check-in label to read the label ID. The user terminal 3 is a communication terminal held by the employee as a user, and is a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a smartwatch, or other wearable devices.

[0043] In the following description, when an employee starts remote work at a location outside the company, it is also referred to as "check-in". When starting remote work, the employee performs a check-in (remote check-in) by performing a scan operation of holding the user terminal 3 held by himself / herself near the remote check-in label (an example of the fourth information medium; see FIG. 2) to read the label ID. The remote check-in label is, for example, lent to each employee in advance. The label ID (an example of identification information) for identifying the NFC label is written in the NFC tag incorporated in the remote check-in label.

[0044] In one embodiment, when an employee checks out, a checkout label (an example of the third information medium) is used. A label ID (an example of identification information) for identifying the NFC label is written in the NFC tag incorporated in the checkout label. FIG. 3 shows a usage mode of the checkout label. As shown in FIG. 3, the checkout label (NFC label NL) is arranged at the exit of the floor or the exit of the building where the floor is provided. For example, when an employee leaves the company, the employee performs a scan operation of holding the user terminal 3 he / she has and bringing it close to the checkout label to read the label ID, thereby performing checkout.

[0045] An NFC application for performing check-in and checkout using the NFC label NL is installed in the user terminal 3 held by the employee. The NFC application is programmed to communicate with the NFC label NL and communicate with a management server (described later) that manages the location of the employee.

[0046] In one embodiment, checkout is performed according to an operation of an employee in the NFC application. This checkout method will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing screen transitions by the NFC application when an employee performs checkout using the user terminal 3. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the screen g1 of the user terminal 3 is a screen displayed by the NFC application after the employee performs check-in, and includes a status display section 91 and a checkout button 92. The status display section 91 includes information on the "current status" and "check-in date and time" of the employee who holds the user terminal 3. Since the employee has already checked in, the current status (usage status) is "checked in". In the column of "check-in date and time" in the status display section 91, the date and time when check-in was performed is displayed. Here, when an employee operates the checkout button 92, the screen transitions from screen g1 to screen g2, and the current status becomes "checked out". In response to this operation, the user terminal 3 communicates with a management server described later, and the management server records that the employee has checked out.

[0047] Next, the system overview of the user management system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, the user management system 1 includes a user terminal 3 operated by an employee inside or outside the company, an NFC label NL to be read by the user terminal 3, an information processing terminal 4 operated by an employee inside or outside the company, and a management server 5. In the user management system 1, a large number of user terminals 3, a large number of NFC labels NL, and a large number of information processing terminals 4 may be included, but only one of each is shown in FIG. 5. The information processing terminal 4 is, for example, a computer terminal equipped with a web browser and is used by an employee to check the whereabouts of other employees in real time. The management server 5 manages the usage status of employees for each of a plurality of locations. The user terminal 3 and the information processing terminal 4 can each communicate with the management server 5 via a network NW. The network NW is not limited, but is, for example, the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), etc.

[0048] In the user management system 1, when a user performs a scan operation on the NFC label NL or a predetermined operation on the NFC application of the user terminal 3, the NFC application makes a check-in request or a checkout request to the management server 5. The management server 5 manages the usage status (check-in or checkout) of employees for each of a plurality of locations by performing check-in or checkout processing on the check-in request or checkout request from the NFC application. The management server 5 is configured to provide display data to the information processing terminal 4 in response to a request from the information processing terminal 4. When the web browser of the information processing terminal 4 acquires the display data from the management server 5, it displays information about the location of employees on each floor for each of a plurality of locations.

[0049] Next, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10, an example of a screen (a screen displayed based on display data) displayed by the web browser of the information processing terminal 4 will be described. FIG. 6 shows a home screen G1 displayed on the information processing terminal 4. The screen G1 includes map information 100 including a company location mark P, as well as each item of "Search for People" and "View Locations". The item "Search for People" corresponds to an employee search function. The employee search function is a function for an employee to search for the location of another employee. By inputting information such as the name or department of the employee to be searched in the input box 104, the location of the employee is configured to be displayed. The item "View Locations" corresponds to a location browsing function. The location browsing function is a function for an employee to browse each floor of the company. In the example shown in FIG. 6, links (hyperlinks) 101 to 103 are provided for each floor of the company. By operating any of the links, the floor map of the corresponding floor is displayed. For example, when the link 101 is operated on the screen G1, a screen G2 (FIG. 7) including the floor map 200 of the corresponding floor "Head Office 10F" is displayed.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 7, on the screen G2, the floor map 200 is displayed, and a user location mark M is displayed at the location where an employee is on the floor. The screen G2 includes a zoom button 201 and a filter setting section 202. The zoom button 201 is an operation button for enlarging or reducing the display of the floor map 200. The filter setting section 202 is an operation section for setting a filter for displaying the user position mark M according to the attributes of employees, such as the departments of employees. For example, if the viewer designates only a specific department through the filter setting section 202, only the user position marks M of the employees belonging to the designated department will be displayed.

[0051] When an operation of designating any one of the user position marks M displayed on the floor map 200 (for example, an operation of aligning the cursor with the user position mark M by a mouse operation of the information processing terminal 4) is performed, as shown in the screen G3 of FIG. 8, the employee information 205 of the corresponding user position mark M is displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 8, as the employee information 205, information on the name of the corresponding employee, the department of the employee, and the check-in time of the employee is displayed.

[0052] FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are each related to the employee search function. In the screen G4 of FIG. 9, a screen is shown when the name of the employee to be searched (for example, "Sawada") is input in the input box 104. In this example, a search result list 210 including information on one or more employees including the name of the employee to be searched is displayed. The search result list 210 includes information on each item of "employee number", "name", "base", "department", "check-in date and time", and "location" for each employee. "Base" indicates the location of each building of the company, such as the head office or branch. "Location" indicates the specific location of the employee when the employee is checking in.

[0053] In the screen G5 of FIG. 10, it shows the screen displayed when the department of the employee to be searched (for example, "Sales Department 1") is input into the input box 104. In this example, a search result list 211 including information on one or more employees within the department to which the employee to be searched belongs is displayed. The display format of the search result list 211 is the same as that of the search result list 210 on the screen G4. When the employee has checked out, "Checked Out" is displayed in the "Location" item, and when the employee is working remotely, "Remote Work" is displayed in the "Location" item.

[0054] In one embodiment, the NFC application is configured to enable input of an employee's comment (message). The input comment is managed by a check-in management table described later and is displayed in the employee information 205 (FIG. 8) and the search result lists 210, 211 (FIGS. 9 and 10). By displaying the employee's comment, other employees can be informed of matters such as contact information.

[0055] Next, with reference to FIG. 11, the configuration of each device in the user management system 1 of one embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 is a block diagram including the hardware configurations of the user terminal 3, the information processing terminal 4, and the management server 5 in the user management system 1 of the present embodiment.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 11, the user terminal 3 includes a control unit 31, an NFC reader / writer 32, an operation input unit 33, a display unit 34, and a communication unit 35. The control unit 31 is mainly composed of a CPU and controls the entire user terminal 3. For example, the CPU included in the control unit 31 loads and executes programs such as the NFC application and the web browser from the ROM, and displays the execution results on the display unit 34. The control unit 31 stores the user ID of the user who holds the user terminal 3, and the processing by the NFC application is executed in association with the user ID. The NFC reader / writer 32 is a communication interface for performing short-range wireless communication by NFC. For example, when the user terminal 3 is in the vicinity of the NFC label, the NFC reader / writer 32 performs communication with the NFC tag of the NFC label under the control of the NFC application.

[0057] When the control unit 31 performs communication with the NFC label via the NFC reader / writer 32 after unlocking the screen, it is configured to start the NFC application in order to provide the management server 5 with the user ID and the label ID corresponding to the NFC label to be communicated with. An application identifier (MIME-TYPE) corresponding to the NFC application is written in the NFC tag built into the NFC label. When the control unit 31 acquires the application identifier from the NFC label, it starts the NFC application. When an employee brings the user terminal 3 close to the NFC label, the NFC application starts, so there is no need for the employee to perform an operation to start the NFC application, and the operability is excellent.

[0058] The operation input unit 33 is, for example, a touch panel type input device provided on the display panel of the user terminal 3. The operation input unit 33 notifies the NFC application of the operation input to the display panel. The display unit 34 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL panel, and displays the execution result of the NFC application. The screens g1 and g2 in FIG. 4 are each an example of the execution result of the NFC application. The communication unit 35 is a communication interface for communicating with the management server 5. For example, the NFC application transmits a check-in request and a check-out request to the management server 5 via the communication unit 35. The check-in request includes the user ID corresponding to the user terminal 3 and the label ID acquired by scanning the NFC label NL.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 11, the information processing terminal 4 includes a control unit 41, an operation input unit 43, a display unit 44, and a communication unit 45. The control unit 41 is mainly composed of a CPU and controls the entire information processing terminal 4. For example, the CPU included in the control unit 41 displays the execution result of the web browser on the display unit 44. The operation input unit 43 includes, for example, a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse. The operation input unit 43 notifies the control unit 41 of the operation input by the operation input unit 43. The display unit 44 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL panel and displays the execution result of the web browser. The screens G1 to G5 in FIGS. 6 to 10 are each an example of the execution result of the web browser. The communication unit 45 is a communication interface for communicating with the management server 5. The communication with the management server 5 is performed, for example, by HTTPS.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 11, the management server 5 includes a control unit 51, a storage 52, and a communication unit 53. The control unit 51 is mainly composed of a CPU and controls the entire management server 5. For example, the CPU included in the control unit 51 manages the usage status of employees at each of a plurality of locations by executing a server program, and provides information regarding the usage status of the locations of employees to the information processing terminal 4. The storage 52 is a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores, in addition to the server program, a user database (user DB), a label management table, and a check-in management table. The user database and each table are appropriately accessed from the control unit 51 when the server program is executed. In addition, the storage 52 stores information on the floor maps of each floor for each company base. The communication unit 53 is a communication interface for communicating with each of the user terminal 3 and the information processing terminal 4.

[0061] Fig. 12 shows an example of the data configuration of the user database, label management table, and check-in management table managed by the management server 5. Each record in the user database shown in Fig. 12 includes the values of the fields "user ID", "employee number", "name", "department", "base", "email address". The user ID is assigned in advance for each employee, and the check-in request and check-out request sent from the NFC application of the user terminal 3 held by the employee to the management server 5 are associated with the user ID.

[0062] Each record in the label management table shown in Fig. 12 includes the values of the fields "label ID", "base", "floor", "location", "place", "coordinates", "multi flag", "remote flag", "check-out flag". Each record corresponds to one NFC label and includes information on the type of the NFC label and the location where the NFC label is placed (stuck). The value of the "place" field is a name (for example, seat C3) that specifies the location of a specific seat or meeting room. The value of the "coordinates" field indicates the XY coordinate value on the floor of the corresponding location.

[0063] As types of NFC labels, there are the single check-in label for check-in, multi-check-in label shown in Fig. 2, check-out label, and remote check-in label. In the record corresponding to the single check-in label, the value of the multi flag is "FALSE", the value of the remote flag is "FALSE", and the value of the check-out flag is "FALSE". In the record corresponding to the multi-check-in label, the value of the multi flag is "TRUE", the value of the remote flag is "FALSE", and the value of the check-out flag is "FALSE". In the record corresponding to the check-out label, the value of the multi flag is "FALSE", the value of the remote flag is "FALSE", and the value of the check-out flag is "TRUE". In the record corresponding to the remote check-in label, the value of the multi-flag is "FALSE", the value of the remote flag is "TRUE", and the value of the checkout flag is "FALSE". Therefore, by reading the value of each flag corresponding to the label ID, it is possible to determine the type of NFC label corresponding to the label ID.

[0064] The check-in management table shown in FIG. 12 is a table for managing the usage status of each of a plurality of locations of individual employees, and each record corresponds to one employee. Each record in the check-in management table includes the values of the fields of "label ID", "user ID", "check-in flag", "check-in time", and "remote work flag". The fact that the value of the "check-in flag" field is TRUE means that the employee corresponding to the user ID has checked in. The fact that the value of the "check-in flag" field is FALSE means that a checkout has been performed for the employee corresponding to the user ID. In one embodiment, the check-in management table is reset at a predetermined time (for example, 2:00 am, a time when it is considered that employees rarely check in), and all record contents are erased.

[0065] In each record of the check-in management table, the value of the "label ID" field is the label ID that identifies the NFC label attached to the location used by the corresponding employee. The value of the "check-in time" field is the value of the check-in time when the corresponding employee has checked in. The value of the check-in flag is "TRUE" when the corresponding employee has checked in, and "FALSE" when the employee has not checked in or has checked out. The value of the remote work flag is "TRUE" when the corresponding employee is performing remote work, and "FALSE" when the corresponding employee is not performing remote work.

[0066] FIG. 13 shows another example of the check-in management table. FIG. 13 shows information written in the check-in management table when a plurality of employees simultaneously use a place where a multi-check-in label is attached, such as a conference room. In this case, a plurality of user IDs are associated with one label ID corresponding to a specific multi-check-in label.

[0067] The control unit 51 discriminates a label of any type among a single-check-in label, a multi-check-in label, a remote check-in label, and a check-out label by reading each flag corresponding to the label ID included in the check-in request or the check-out request. The control unit 51 executes the following processing according to the type of the label.

[0068] When the user terminal 3 sends a check-in request based on a single-check-in label, the control unit 51 executes a first process of associating the user ID and the label ID included in the check-in request in the check-in management table. Further, when executing the first process, if another user ID different from the user ID that is the source of the check-in request is associated with the label ID to be processed in the check-in management table, the control unit 51 releases the association between the label ID to be processed and the other user ID. That is, in the check-in management table, there is only one user ID associated with the label ID corresponding to the single-check-in label and for which the corresponding check-in flag is "TRUE". When an employee checks in at a specific location, the check-in of other employees for that location is automatically cancelled (a check-out is performed for the other employees). Therefore, even if the check-in status of other employees continues even though they are not actually using a specific location, an employee can check in at the location if they know that there are no other employees at the location. Therefore, when an employee uses any of a plurality of locations within a floor, the plurality of locations can be effectively utilized.

[0069] FIG. 14A shows an example of processing for a check-in management table at check-in. In the check-in shown in FIG. 14A, the processing for the check-in management table is exemplified when an employee with "User ID: 0034" (hereinafter referred to as "Employee A") checks in at 13:10 using a single check-in label with "Label ID: 1234". In this example, it is assumed that another employee with "User ID: 6778" (hereinafter referred to as "Employee B") checks in using the same single check-in label at 9:00 am and then goes home without checking out during the morning. In this case, when Employee A performs a scan operation of the single check-in label at 13:10, two records are created in the check-in management table for each of Employee B and Employee A. In the record created corresponding to Employee B, the value of the "Check-in flag" field becomes FALSE, and in the record created corresponding to Employee A, the value of the "Check-in flag" field becomes TRUE. In the two created records, the value of the "Check-in time" field is the current time. Here, setting the check-in flag to TRUE in the record created corresponding to Employee A means associating the user ID corresponding to Employee A with Label ID: 1234. Setting the check-in flag to FALSE in the newly created record corresponding to Employee B means releasing the association between the user ID corresponding to Employee B and Label ID: 1234. Note that in the example shown in FIG. 14A, in the check-in management table, the association between the user ID corresponding to Employee B and Label ID: 1234 may be released by deleting the record created when Employee B checked in at 9:00 am.

[0070] When the user terminal 3 sends a check-in request based on the multi-check-in label, as shown in FIG. 13, the control unit 51 associates the label ID received from the user terminal 3 with the user ID corresponding to each of the user terminals 3 of a plurality of employees who are going to check in at the corresponding location in the check-in management table. Therefore, a plurality of employees can use one location such as a meeting room at the same time.

[0071] When the user terminal 3 sends a check-in request based on the remote check-in label, the control unit 51 associates the label ID received from the user terminal 3 with the remote work flag that is "TRUE" (that is, information indicating that the employee of the user terminal 3 is outside the company) in the check-in management table. Thereby, by performing an operation of reading the remote check-in label by the user terminal 3, the system can recognize that the user is outside the area. Thereby, for example, as shown in the screen G5 of FIG. 10, when an employee searches for the location of another employee, "remote work" can be displayed in the search result list 211 for the employee who has completed remote check-in.

[0072] When the user terminal 3 sends a check-out request based on the check-out label, if the user ID included in the check-out request is associated with any label ID in the check-in management table, the control unit 51 releases the association between the label ID and the user ID to be processed. Thereby, it is possible to easily perform the release of the use (that is, check-out) for the employee at the corresponding location.

[0073] FIG. 14B shows an example of the process for the check-in management table in check-out. In the example shown in FIG. 14A, in a specific location, when employee A checks in, employee B is automatically checked out. However, the process for the check-in management table when an employee voluntarily checks out is the same. In FIG. 14B, an example is assumed in which an employee with "user ID: 5667" (hereinafter "employee C") checks in at a location corresponding to "label ID: 0123" at 8:40, and then checks out (i.e., voluntarily checks out) by scanning the check-out label at 10:33. When employee C scans the check-out label at 10:33, one record is created for employee C in the check-in management table. The record newly created for employee C is a record that is different from the record created at check-in, in that the values ​​of the "check-in flag" and "check-in time" fields are set to FALSE and the current time, respectively. Here, setting the check-in flag to FALSE in the record newly created for employee C means that the association between the user ID corresponding to employee C and label ID: 0123 is released. This association may be released by deleting the record created at 8:40 in the check-in management table.

[0074] When the control unit 51 receives a check-out request from the user terminal 3 in response to a predetermined operation on the user terminal 3, if the user ID to be processed is associated with any label ID in the check-in management table, the control unit 51 cancels the association between the label ID and the user ID to be processed. This allows the employee to easily cancel the use of the corresponding location (i.e., check out) wherever he or she is. The process for the check-in management table when checking out in response to a predetermined operation on the user terminal 3 is the same as when using a check-out label. That is, as shown in FIG. 14B, a new record is created at the time of checking out. Alternatively, in this case, similar to the case where a check-out label is used, a process may be performed to delete the record created at the time of check-in in the check-in management table.

[0075] Next, with reference to FIGS. 15 to 17, the check-in process and check-out process of the user management system 1 will be described.

[0076] FIG. 15 is a sequence chart showing the process of the user management system 1 (check-in process) when an employee performs a check-in. In FIG. 15, it is assumed that an employee performs a check-in using an NFC label (single check-in label or multi-check-in label) attached to a location within the company, or a remote check-in label. When the employee performs a scan operation on the NFC label with the lock screen of the user terminal 3 unlocked, the label ID of the NFC label is read and the NFC application is launched, and a check-in request is sent to the management server 5 (step S2). The check-in request includes the user ID of the employee pre-assigned to the user terminal 3 and the label ID of the read NFC label. The user ID and label ID included in the check-in request are the processing targets of the check-in process.

[0077] When the management server 5 receives the check-in request, it collates the user ID and label ID included in the check-in request (step S4). This collation includes determining whether the received user ID is a legitimate ID included in the user database, and determining whether the received label ID is a legitimate ID included in the label management table. If the collation fails (step S4: NO), the management server 5 generates an error message (step S6).

[0078] When the verification is successful (step S4: YES), the management server 5 identifies the type of the NFC label based on the received label ID (step S8). The type of the NFC label is either a single check-in label, a multi-check-in label, or a remote check-in label. When identifying the type of the NFC label, the label management table is referred to. The management server 5 can identify the type of the NFC label by checking the multi-flag, remote work flag, and check-out flag of the record corresponding to the label ID obtained in step S2 in the label management table.

[0079] When the NFC label read by the employee is a single check-in label, the management server 5 determines whether the corresponding location has already been checked in by another employee. When the corresponding location has already been checked in by another employee, the management server 5 performs the check-out process for the other employee, and then performs the check-in process for the employee (user) to be processed (step S10).

[0080] Specifically, in the check-in management table, if a user ID different from the user ID to be processed is recorded in the record corresponding to the label ID to be processed, it means that it has already been checked in by another employee. In this case, the management server 5 rewrites the values of the "check-in flag" and "check-in time" fields in the record to FALSE and the current time, respectively, and updates the check-in management table by creating a new record corresponding to the user ID to be processed. Here, the values of the "label ID", "user ID", "check-in flag", "check-in time", and "remote work flag" fields of the newly created record are set to the label ID to be processed, the user ID to be processed, TRUE, the current time, and FALSE, respectively.

[0081] When the NFC label read by an employee is a multi-check-in label or a remote check-in label, the management server 5 only performs a check-in process for the employee (user) to be processed (step S12). That is, it is assumed that multiple employees use the location corresponding to the multi-check-in label simultaneously, and the remote check-in label is used when an employee performs remote work. Therefore, since there is no need to check out other employees, only the check-in process for the employee to be processed is performed.

[0082] Specifically, when the NFC label read by an employee is a multi-check-in label, a new record is created in the check-in management table. The values of each field of the "label ID", "user ID", "check-in flag", "check-in time", and "remote work flag" of the record are set to the label ID to be processed, the user ID to be processed, TRUE, the current time, and FALSE, respectively. Even when the NFC label read by an employee is a remote check-in label, a new record is created in the check-in management table. The values of each field of the "label ID", "user ID", "check-in flag", "check-in time", and "remote work flag" of the record are set to the label ID to be processed, the user ID to be processed, TRUE, the current time, and TRUE, respectively.

[0083] Next, the management server 5 sends, as a response to the NFC application of the user terminal 3, a message indicating that the check-in has been completed, or an error message in the case of a verification failure (step S14). When the NFC application receives the response, it performs a display according to the response (for example, the display of screen g1 in FIG. 4) (step S16).

[0084] In FIG. 15, the case where the NFC application transmits a check-in request by performing a scan operation on the remote check-in label when an employee is performing remote work has been described, but it is not limited to this. In one embodiment, a check-in request is transmitted in response to a predetermined operation in the NFC application of the user terminal 3.

[0085] For example, as shown in FIG. 16, a screen g3 displayed when the NFC application is launched includes a remote check-in button 93. When the remote check-in button 93 is operated, the NFC application transmits a check-in request to the management server 5. The check-in request transmitted here includes the user ID and information indicating that the employee is outside the company. When the control unit 51 of the management server 5 that has received the check-in request recognizes that it is a remote check-in request based on the information indicating that the employee is outside the company, a new record is created in the check-in management table based on the user ID to be processed.

[0086] As shown in FIG. 16, the values of each field of the "label ID", "user ID", "check-in flag", "check-in time", and "remote work flag" of the record are set to NULL (no value), the user ID to be processed, TRUE, the current time, and TRUE, respectively. That is, the control unit 51 associates the label ID received from the user terminal 3 with the remote work flag that is "TRUE" (that is, information indicating that the employee of the user terminal 3 is outside the company) in the check-in management table. Through the above processing, the system can recognize that the employee is performing remote work with a simple operation on the user terminal 3 by the employee.

[0087] FIG. 17 is a sequence chart showing the processing (check-out processing) of the user management system 1 when an employee performs a check-out. In FIG. 17, it is assumed that an employee checks out using a checkout label. When the employee performs a scan operation on the checkout label with the lock screen of the user terminal 3 unlocked, the label ID of the NFC label is read and the NFC application is launched, and a checkout request is sent to the management server 5 (step S20). The checkout request includes the user ID of the employee pre-assigned to the user terminal 3 and the label ID of the read NFC label. The user ID and the label ID included in the checkout request are the processing targets of the check-in process.

[0088] When the management server 5 receives the checkout request, it collates the user ID included in the checkout request (step S22). This collation includes determining whether the received user ID is a legitimate ID included in the user database and whether the received label ID is a legitimate ID included in the label management table. If the collation fails (step S22: NO), the management server 5 generates an error message (step S24).

[0089] If the collation is successful (step S22: YES), when the management server 5 recognizes that the NFC label corresponding to the received label ID is the checkout label, it performs a checkout process for the employee to be processed (the user corresponding to the user ID to be processed) (step S26). Specifically, the management server 5 performs a rewrite process on the record in the check-in management table that includes the user ID to be processed. Specifically, the values of the "check-in flag" and "check-in time" fields of the record are set to FALSE and the current time, respectively. Thereby, it is recognized on the system that the employee corresponding to the user ID to be processed has checked out. Next, as a response to the NFC application of the user terminal 3, the management server 5 transmits a message indicating that the checkout has been completed or an error message in the case of a collation failure (step S28). When the NFC application receives the response, it performs a display according to the response (for example, the display of screen g2 in FIG. 4) (step S30). As shown in FIG. 4, when the checkout button 92 is operated on the NFC application, the management server 5 also performs a rewrite process of the record including the user ID to be processed in the same manner as when a scan operation is performed on the checkout label.

[0090] Next, the display process by the web browser of the information processing terminal 4 will be described. As described above, the web browser of the information processing terminal 4 receives and displays information on the usage status of the location of the employee from the management server 5. When providing information on the usage status of the location of the employee, the server program of the management server 5 accesses the user database, label management table, and check-in management table in the storage 52 to acquire the necessary data and generate display data.

[0091] For example, when the information processing terminal 4 requests a display of a floor map for a specific floor, display data with a user position mark M attached to the floor map is generated. An example of the screen displayed by the web browser based on this display data is the screen G2 in FIG. 7. In the display data, the user position mark M is attached with reference to the label management table and the check-in management table. That is, the user position mark M is attached to the position of the location corresponding to the label ID for which the check-in flag is "TRUE" in the check-in management table (the coordinate position shown in the label management table). In the representation data, for each user position mark M, the information of the corresponding employee is associated based on the user database and the check-in management table. Therefore, when an operation of designating the user position mark M is performed on the screen, the employee information of the corresponding user position mark M is configured to be displayed (screen G3 in FIG. 8).

[0092] When using the employee search function, when the information processing terminal 4 makes a display request for the employee search result, the management server 5 refers to the user database to obtain the information of the employees that match the character strings such as the name and department entered in the input box 104 (see FIGS. 9 and 10). Information regarding check-in (presence or absence of check-in, check-in time, location where check-in was performed, etc.) corresponding to the employees (user IDs) specified based on the user database is specified based on the check-in management table and the label management table.

[0093] As described above, in the user management system 1, NFC labels that electromagnetically store the label IDs for specifying each of a plurality of locations within the floor are arranged at each location. Then, triggered by the user terminal 3 reading the label ID of the NFC label, the label ID and the user ID of the user terminal 3 are associated in the check-in management table of the management server 5, thereby managing the usage status of employees for each of a plurality of locations within the company. Therefore, even when a free address system is adopted, information regarding the whereabouts of each employee can be provided. In particular, when the user management system 1 performs a check-in process for a certain user ID, if another user ID is already associated with the label ID that is the target of the check-in process in the check-in management table, the user management system 1 releases the association between the other user ID and the label ID. Further, the user management system 1 associates the user ID to be processed with the label ID. Therefore, even if the check-in status of other employees continues even though a specific location is not actually being used, an employee can check in to the location if they know that there are no other employees at the location. Thus, when an employee uses any of a plurality of locations within a floor, the plurality of locations can be effectively utilized.

[0094] In one embodiment, a privilege may be given by lottery to the employees who have checked in. For example, every day, a privilege is given to a certain number of employees determined by lottery from among the employees who have checked in. The employees subject to the lottery may include those who have performed remote check-in. The privilege is not limited, but for example, it is a coupon that enables receipt of a predetermined beverage or food. Since there is a possibility of obtaining a privilege, employees can be motivated to check in to locations within the company using their user terminals 3. When a free address is adopted, it is physically possible for an employee to use a location without checking in, but the possibility of obtaining a privilege with check-in can encourage spontaneous check-in. In this embodiment, for example, at a predetermined time every day (for example, the time when the check-in management table is reset), the control unit 51 of the management server 5 aggregates the user IDs of the employees who have checked in, and for a certain number of user IDs selected by lottery from among the aggregated user IDs, specific information is associated in the user database. The NFC application receives a notification from the management server 5 when the corresponding user ID wins the privilege, and displays the notification when the employee checks in after the winning decision.

[0095] In one embodiment, an information processing method including the following steps (I) to (III) is disclosed. (I) When the user terminal 3 that stores the first user ID reads any one of a plurality of single check-in labels, the user terminal 3 obtains the label ID corresponding to the single check-in label read by the user terminal 3 and the first user ID from the user terminal 3. (II) Executing a first process of associating the label ID and the first user ID obtained from the user terminal 3 in the check-in management table. (III) When executing the first process, if a second user ID different from the first user ID is associated with the label ID corresponding to the single check-in label read by the user terminal 3 in the check-in management table, a second process of releasing the association between the label ID and the second user ID is executed.

[0096] In one embodiment, a program for causing a computer to execute the above steps (I) to (III) is disclosed.

[0097] In one embodiment, the management server 5 provides an administrator screen that can be viewed only by the administrator of the system. The administrator operating the information processing terminal 4 can display the administrator screen on the information processing terminal 4 after a predetermined authentication process. In one embodiment, it is preferable to access the management server 5 in response to a predetermined operation on the administrator screen and enable data management including data update of each of the user database, the label management table, and the check-in management table by input / output of files in CSV format or XLSX format.

[0098] In one embodiment, a user interface is provided for a system administrator to edit the arrangement for each location of the NFC label on the screen of the information processing terminal 4. For example, the administrator changes the position where the NFC label with a predetermined label ID within the floor is arranged by a drag-and-drop operation through the user interface on the screen. Also, a user interface may be provided to display or change the location, conference room, and seat names on the floor map.

[0099] In one embodiment, the administrator screen includes a heat map indicating the degree of congestion of a specific floor. A display example of a specific floor map is shown in FIG. 18. In the floor map illustrated in FIG. 18, the more employees there are, the darker it is displayed. When the management server 5 receives a display request for the heat map, it generates display data for the floor map. When generating the display data, the management server 5 identifies the positions of each employee within the floor with reference to the label management table and the check-in management table, and generates a heat map based on the position identification results of each employee. Note that a filter setting section (not shown) may be provided on the display screen of the heat map so that a heat map targeting only the employees of a specific department is displayed.

[0100] In one embodiment, the management server 5 provides vacancy information indicating the vacancy status of locations for each floor to employees and / or administrators. When identifying the vacancy information, artificial intelligence using a learned model can be utilized. For example, a learned model is constructed based on teacher data collected over a long period such as several months of the presence or absence of check-ins of employees at each location for weekdays and times. The management server 5 obtains vacancy information for an input for weekdays and times based on the learned model and outputs it in a format such as the heat map illustrated in FIG. 18, for example. When an employee and / or administrator inputs a weekday and a time on the web browser of the information processing terminal 4, the web browser displays the heat map acquired from the management server 5. Thereby, for example, an employee can obtain vacancy information of a location before coming to the office.

[0101] The above-described user management system 1 is a system for managing employees as users of a location, but it can also be used for other purposes. For example, it may be configured to manage the whereabouts of students as users of a location in a school. FIG. 19 shows an example of a screen display on a web browser of an information processing terminal when the user management system is used in a school. When the user management system is used in a school, an NFC label for storing a label ID for identifying the position of each desk in a classroom is attached to each desk, and each student checks in by performing a scan operation on the NFC label using their own user terminal when taking a seat. A single check-in label is applied as the NFC label.

[0102] In FIG. 19, on screen G6, which corresponds to screen G2 in FIG. 7, a floor map 200A of a specific classroom and a user position mark M at the location where a student is on the floor are displayed. When a part is enlarged by operating the zoom button 201 on screen G6, screen G7 is displayed. On screen G7, instead of the user position mark M, the name of the student (user) recorded in the user database is configured to be displayed. Therefore, an administrator such as a teacher operating the information processing terminal can grasp the attendance of each student and the position of a specific student in the classroom when using a free address that does not fix the position of the students in the classroom.

[0103] As described above, embodiments of the information processing system, information processing method, and program of the present invention have been described, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Also, the above embodiments can be variously improved and modified without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the individual technical features described in each of the above embodiments and each modification can be appropriately combined with some or all of other embodiments and other modifications as long as there is no technical contradiction.

[0104] In the above-described embodiments, the case where the web browser of the information processing terminal 4 provides the location browsing function and the employee search function has been described, but it is not limited thereto. When the user terminal 3 includes a web browser, the web browser may receive the display data from the management server 5 and display the screens G1 to G5 (FIGS. 6 to 10).

[0105] In the above-described embodiments, the case where the NFC application is installed in the user terminal has been described, but it is not limited thereto. When the communication standard when the user terminal communicates with the tag is different from NFC, an application corresponding to the communication standard is installed. For example, when the wireless tag incorporated in the label attached to each location is a BLE tag, a BLE application capable of communicating with each BLE tag is installed in the user terminal. Instead of the NFC tag, an RFID tag in the UHF band can also be used.

[0106] In the above-described embodiments, at least a part of the functions by the management server 5 may be realized by the software of the user terminal 3 and / or the information processing terminal 4, or at least a part of the functions by the user terminal 3 and / or the information processing terminal 4 may be realized by the software of the management server 5. The functions executed by the management server 5 may be distributed and executed by a plurality of devices. For example, a database or a table included in the storage 52 of the management server 5 may be arranged in another database server, and the management server 5 may access the database server.

[0107] In the above-described embodiments, the case where the wireless tag that stores the label ID in the label and the user terminal receives (reads) the label ID has been described, but it is not limited thereto. A label ID may be attached to the label, and the user terminal may be configured to read the label ID. Examples of the manner of attaching the label ID to the label include printing code information (such as a barcode or a two-dimensional code) corresponding to the label ID on the surface of the label, or attaching a sticker with the code information printed thereon to the surface of the label. In that case, the user terminal is provided with an imaging unit for imaging the code information, and acquires the label ID by decoding the imaged code information. In the above-described embodiment, the case where the NFC tag incorporated in the single check-in label and the multi-check-in label stores the label ID has been described, but it is not limited thereto. The NFC tag may store location information (for example, the value of the "location" field in the label management table (FIG. 12)) where the corresponding label is arranged, instead of the label ID.

Explanation of Signs

[0108] 1…User management system 3…User terminal 31…Control unit 32…NFC reader / writer 33…Operation input unit 34…Display unit 35…Communication unit 4…Information processing terminal 41…Control unit 43…Operation input unit 44…Display unit 45…Communication unit 5…Management server 51…Control unit 52…Storage 53…Communication unit 91…Status display unit 92…Check-out button 93…Remote check-in button 100…Map information 101~103…Link 104…Input box 200,200A…Floor map 201…Zoom button 202…Filter setting unit 205…Employee Information 210, 211…Search Result List LC…Location M…User Location Mark MR…Meeting Room NL…NFC Label NW…Network P…Company Location Mark ST…Seat

Claims

1. a first information medium that electromagnetically stores location identification information that identifies each of a plurality of locations within the area, or that has the location identification information attached thereto as an identification code; A storage unit that stores the location identification information and user information that identifies a user who uses each location in association with each other; a control unit that manages a usage state of a user for each of the plurality of locations, The control unit is execute a first process of storing the location identification information received from a user terminal storing first user information in the storage unit in association with the first user information; When executing the first process, if second user information different from the first user information is stored in the storage unit in association with location identification information corresponding to the first information medium read by the user terminal, execute a second process of canceling the association between the location identification information and the second user information. Information processing system.

2. the control unit accepts a predetermined request from the user terminal in response to a predetermined operation on the user terminal, and when user information corresponding to the user terminal is stored in the storage unit in association with location identification information corresponding to any one of the first information media, cancels the association between the location identification information and the user information.

2. An information processing system according to claim 1.

3. Further, a third information medium is provided which electromagnetically stores the identification information or which has the identification information attached thereto as an identification code, the control unit receives user information and identification information corresponding to a third information medium from the user terminal, and when the user information corresponding to the user terminal is stored in the storage unit in association with location identification information corresponding to any of the first information media, cancels the association between the location identification information and the user information.

2. An information processing system according to claim 1.

4. Further, a second information medium is provided in which location identification information for identifying one location within the area is electromagnetically stored or to which the location identification information is attached as an identification code; The control unit causes the location identification information stored in the second information medium received from the user terminal and the user information corresponding to each of the plurality of user terminals to be stored in the storage unit in association with each other.

2. An information processing system according to claim 1.

5. the control unit accepts a predetermined request from the user terminal in response to a predetermined operation on the user terminal, and when user information corresponding to the user terminal is stored in the storage unit in association with location identification information corresponding to any of the second information media, cancels the association between the location identification information and the user information.

5. An information processing system according to claim 4.

6. Further, a third information medium is provided which electromagnetically stores the identification information or which has the identification information attached thereto as an identification code, the control unit receives user information and identification information corresponding to a third information medium from the user terminal, and when the user information corresponding to the user terminal is stored in the storage unit in association with location identification information corresponding to any of the second information media, cancels the association between the location identification information and the user information.

5. An information processing system according to claim 4.

7. The information medium is a wireless tag.

7. An information processing system according to claim 1.

8. the user terminal is configured to start a program for providing the control unit with user information corresponding to the user terminal and location identification information corresponding to the wireless tag with which the user terminal is to communicate, when the user terminal communicates with the wireless tag; 8. An information processing system according to claim 7.

9. When the control unit acquires information from the user terminal in response to a predetermined operation on the user terminal, indicating that the user of the user terminal is outside the area, the control unit associates user information corresponding to the user terminal with information indicating that the user of the user terminal is outside the area and stores the information in the storage unit.

7. An information processing system according to claim 1.

10. Further, a fourth information medium is provided which electromagnetically stores the identification information or which has the identification information attached thereto as an identification code, When the control unit receives the identification information stored in the fourth information medium from the user terminal, the control unit stores in the storage unit user information corresponding to the user terminal and information indicating that the user of the user terminal is outside the area in association with each other.

7. An information processing system according to claim 1.

11. The control unit associates, with at least one of the pieces of user information that are the subject of the first process, information on a benefit to be given to a corresponding user.

7. An information processing system according to claim 1.

12. 1. An information processing method that is executed when location identification information that identifies each of a plurality of locations within an area is electromagnetically stored or a plurality of first information media to which the location identification information is assigned as an identification code are placed, comprising: When a user terminal storing first user information reads any one of the plurality of first information media, acquiring location identification information corresponding to the first information medium read by the user terminal and the first user information from the user terminal; executing a first process of associating the location identification information acquired from the user terminal with the first user information and storing them in a storage device; When executing the first process, if second user information different from the first user information is stored in the storage device in association with location identification information corresponding to the first information medium read by the user terminal, executing a second process to cancel the association between the location identification information and the second user information; An information processing method comprising:

13. A program for causing a computer to execute a predetermined method when location identification information for identifying each of a plurality of locations within an area is electromagnetically stored or a plurality of first information media to which the location identification information is attached as an identification code are placed, the program comprising: The method comprises: When a user terminal storing first user information reads any one of the plurality of first information media, location identification information corresponding to the first information medium read by the user terminal and the first user information are obtained from the user terminal; execute a first process of associating the location identification information acquired from the user terminal with the first user information and storing them in a storage device; When executing the first process, if second user information different from the first user information is stored in the storage device in association with location identification information corresponding to the first information medium read by the user terminal, execute a second process of canceling the association between the location identification information and the second user information. The program includes:

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