Gate device

Abstract

To assist appropriate and easy holding of an image of a two-dimensional code or the like to a camera.SOLUTION: A gate device according to an embodiment comprises photographing means, display means, determination means and forming means. The photographing means photographs a photographing range to acquire an image. The display means displays the image acquired by the photographing means. The determination means determines that a passage permission condition holds on the basis of the image acquired by the photographing means. The forming means generates a passage permission state in accordance with the determination of the determination means that the passage permission condition holds.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a gate device.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a gate device that controls entry and exit by reading an image such as a two-dimensional code optically formed on the screen of a smartphone or a ticket surface with a camera. A person attempting to pass through this gate device needs to properly shade the image with respect to the camera so that the image such as the two-dimensional code is well photographed by the camera. Under such circumstances, it has been desired to assist a passerby so as to facilitate properly shading the image with respect to the camera.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a gate device that can assist a passerby so as to facilitate properly shading an image such as a two-dimensional code with respect to a camera.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The gate device according to the embodiment includes a photographing unit, a display unit, a determination unit, and a forming unit. The photographing unit photographs a photographing range to obtain an image. The display unit displays the image obtained by the photographing unit. The determination unit determines that a passage allowable condition is satisfied based on the image obtained by the photographing unit. The forming unit forms a passage allowable state in response to the determination unit determining that the passage allowable condition is satisfied.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0007] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a gate device for controlling the entry and exit of customers to and from a store will be described as an example. FIG. 1 is an overhead view showing the appearance of a gate device 1 according to this embodiment. The gate device 1 includes a first unit 100 and a second unit 200.

[0008] The first unit 100 includes a housing 101, a flap 102, an outside store camera 103, and an outside store display 104. The second unit 200 includes a housing 201 and a flap 202. The housings 101 and 201 have the outer shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with a chamfered horizontal plane shape. The height of the housings 101 and 201 is an appropriate height such that it is easy for a customer to shade their hand on the upper surface. And the housings 101 and 201 are arranged facing each other with the longitudinal directions of their respective horizontal plane shapes parallel to each other. The separation distance between the housings 101 and 201 is determined to such an extent that a customer can pass between them. Thus, the housings 101 and 201 form a passage AIA through which a customer can pass between them. In this embodiment, customers entering the store are assumed to proceed from the front side to the back side of passage AIA in FIG. 1. Customers leaving the store are assumed to proceed from the back side to the front side of passage AIA in FIG. 1. Therefore, hereinafter, the front side in FIG. 1 will be referred to as the outside of the store, and the back side will be referred to as the inside of the store.

[0009] The flaps 102 and 202 protrude from the housings 101 and 201 in a state of blocking passage AIA. The flaps 102 and 202 can accommodate part or all of them inside the housings 101 and 201, and in the accommodated state, they do not block passage AIA. That is, the flaps 102 and 202 correspond to opening and closing members that selectively form a state of closing and opening passage AIA. The outside-of-store camera 103 is provided near the outside-of-store end of the upper surface of the housing 101 so that the upward direction is the shooting direction. The outside-of-store camera 103 shoots the space above its mounting position as the shooting range. Then, the outside-of-store camera 103 generates image data representing the image obtained by shooting. In this embodiment, a camera capable of shooting a moving image will be used as the outside-of-store camera 103. However, as the outside-of-store camera 103, a camera that shoots a still image may be used. The outside-of-store camera 103 is an example of a shooting means.

[0010] The outside-of-store display 104 is provided near the outside-of-store end of the upper surface of the housing 101. The display surface of the outside-of-store display 104 is tilted so as to be easily visible to customers located outside the store. The outside-of-store display 104 displays various screens for presenting information to customers located outside the store. The outside-of-store display 104 is an example of a display means. Note that the outside-of-store camera 103 and the outside-of-store display 104 may be provided in the second unit 200. That is, for example, the outside-of-store camera 103 and the outside-of-store display 104 may be provided in the same positional relationship as described above near the outside-of-store end of the upper surface of the housing 201.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main circuit configuration related to the electrical configuration of the gate device 1. Note that the same elements as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. In addition to the outside store camera 103 and the outside store display 104, the gate device 1 includes, as electrical elements, an outside store sensor 105, an opening / closing mechanism 106, an entrance sensor 107, an inside store camera 203, an inside store display 204, an inside store sensor 205, an opening / closing mechanism 206, an exit sensor 207, a processor 301, a main storage unit 302, an auxiliary storage unit 303, and a transmission path 304.

[0012] The outside store sensor 105, the opening / closing mechanism 106, and the entrance sensor 107 are provided in the first unit 100. However, the outside store sensor 105 and the entrance sensor 107 may be provided in the second unit 200. The outside store sensor 105 detects the approach of a person to the gate device 1 outside the store. As the outside store sensor 105, various well-known human presence sensors such as an infrared method can be used.

[0013] The opening / closing mechanism 106 moves the flap 102 to a protruding state or a housed state as shown in FIG. 1. The entrance sensor 107 detects that a person has moved from the outside to the inside of the store through the passage AIA. As the entrance sensor 107, a well-known configuration using a plurality of transmissive optical sensors can be used.

[0014] The inside store camera 203, the inside store display 204, the inside store sensor 205, the opening / closing mechanism 206, and the exit sensor 207 are provided in the second unit 200. However, the inside store camera 203, the inside store display 204, the inside store sensor 205, and the exit sensor 207 may be provided in the first unit 100. The in-store camera 203 is provided near the in-store end of the upper surface of the housing 201 so that the upward direction is the shooting direction. The in-store camera 203 shoots with the space above its mounting position as the shooting range. Then, the in-store camera 203 generates image data representing the image obtained by shooting. In this embodiment, a camera capable of shooting a moving image is used as the in-store camera 203. However, as the in-store camera 203, a camera that shoots still images may be used. The in-store camera 203 is an example of a shooting means.

[0015] The in-store display 204 is provided near the in-store end of the upper surface of the housing 201. The display surface of the in-store display 204 is tilted so as to be easily visible to the customers located inside the store. The in-store display 204 displays various screens for presenting information to the customers located inside the store. The in-store display 204 is an example of a display means.

[0016] The in-store sensor 205 detects the approach of a person to the gate device 1 inside the store. As the in-store sensor 205, various well-known human presence sensors such as an infrared method can be used. The opening and closing mechanism 206 moves the flap 202 to a protruding state or a housed state as shown in FIG. 1. The exit sensor 207 detects that a person has moved from the inside of the store to the outside of the store through the passage AIA. As the exit sensor 207, for example, a well-known configuration using a plurality of transmissive optical sensors can be used.

[0017] The processor 301, the main storage unit 302, and the auxiliary storage unit 303 are provided in either the first unit 100 or the second unit 200. However, a third unit may be provided, and the processor 301, the main storage unit 302, and the auxiliary storage unit 303 may be provided in this third unit. The processor 301, the main storage unit 302, and the auxiliary storage unit 303 are connected via the transmission path 304 to constitute a computer for controlling the gate device 1.

[0018] The processor 301 corresponds to the central part of the above computer. The processor 301 executes information processing for controlling each part in order to realize various functions of the gate device 1 based on various information processing programs such as an operating system, firmware, and application programs stored in the main storage unit 302 and the auxiliary storage unit 303.

[0019] The main storage unit 302 corresponds to the main storage part of the above computer. The main storage unit 302 includes a read-only memory area and a rewritable memory area. The main storage unit 302 stores a part of the above information processing program in the read-only memory area. Also, the main storage unit 302 may store data necessary for the processor 301 to execute processing for controlling each part in the read-only memory area or the rewritable memory area. The main storage unit 302 uses the rewritable memory area as a work area by the processor 301.

[0020] The auxiliary storage unit 303 corresponds to the auxiliary storage part of the above computer. As the auxiliary storage unit 303, for example, well-known storage devices such as EEPROM (electric erasable programmable read-only memory), HDD (hard disc drive), or SSD (solid state drive) are provided. The auxiliary storage unit 303 stores data used by the processor 301 to perform various processes and data generated by the processes in the processor 301. The auxiliary storage unit 303 may also store application programs. In the present embodiment, the auxiliary storage unit 303 stores the control program PRA. The control program PRA is an application program that describes the processing procedure for controlling the gate device 1. A part of the storage area of the auxiliary storage unit 303 is used as an area for storing the authentication database DBA. The authentication database DBA is a set of data referred to for authenticating whether a customer attempting to pass through the passage AIA from the outside of the store to the inside of the store is an authorized customer.

[0021] The control program PRA is typically stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303 when the gate device 1 is transferred. However, after the transfer of the gate device 1, the control program PRA may be written into the auxiliary storage unit 303 by the processor 301 in response to an operation by an arbitrary operator. However, in this case, a program of the same type with a different version from the control program PRA may be stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303 of the transferred gate device 1, or such a program may not be stored. In the former case, the program written into the auxiliary storage unit 303 later is used instead of the program of the same type with a different version. Note that the transfer of the control program PRA can be performed by recording it on a removable recording medium such as a magnetic disk, magneto-optical disk, optical disk, semiconductor memory, or the like, or by communication via a network.

[0022] The transmission path 304 includes an address bus, a data bus, control signal lines, etc. The transmission path 304 transmits data and signals exchanged among the outdoor camera 103, the outdoor display 104, the outdoor sensor 105, the opening / closing mechanism 106, the entry sensor 107, the indoor camera 203, the indoor display 204, the indoor sensor 205, the opening / closing mechanism 206, the exit sensor 207, the processor 301, the main storage unit 302, and the auxiliary storage unit 303. Note that the transmission path 304 may be used in combination with a communication network such as a LAN (local area network).

[0023] Next, the operation of the gate device 1 configured as described above will be explained. When the gate device 1 is in an operation state of controlling the entry and exit of customers in the store, the processor 301 executes information processing (hereinafter referred to as control processing) based on the control program PRA. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the control processing. Note that FIG. 3 shows the characteristic operations in the present embodiment, and some processes are omitted. Also, the content of the processes described below is an example, and it is possible to appropriately change the order of some processes, omit some processes, or add other processes.

[0024] As ACT11, the processor 301 causes the outdoor display 104 and the indoor display 204 to display standby screens, respectively. The standby screen is a screen for guiding customers who are about to pass through the passage AIA.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the standby screen to be displayed on the outdoor display 104. Note that various display screens shown in FIG. 4 and subsequent figures may omit the illustration of some display elements. The standby screen shown in FIG. 4 represents a character message MEA that guides the customer to perform an action for covering the entry identifier with the outdoor camera 103. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the standby screen to be displayed on the indoor display 204. The standby screen shown in Fig. 5 represents a character message MEB that guides the customer to perform an action to block the exit identifier from the in-store camera 203.

[0026] As ACT12 in Fig. 3, the processor 301 checks whether a customer is approaching outside the store. If the processor 301 cannot confirm the corresponding event, it determines NO and proceeds to ACT13. As ACT13, the processor 301 checks whether a customer is approaching inside the store. If the processor 301 cannot confirm the corresponding event, it determines NO and returns to ACT12. Thus, as ACT12 and ACT13, the processor 301 waits for a customer to approach either outside or inside the store.

[0027] To enter the store, the customer approaches the outside of the gate device 1. Then, the customer displays an optically readable code representing the entry identifier on the screen of the information terminal they possess and blocks the said code from the outside camera 103. Alternatively, the customer blocks an optically readable code formed on the card surface of the card they possess and representing the entry identifier from the outside camera 103. For example, a membership code assigned by a store or the like through membership registration is used as the entry identifier. Also, a two-dimensional code is used as the optically readable code.

[0028] However, as the entry identifier, an identifier commonly assigned to a plurality of customers or all customers may be used. As the entry identifier, a one-time code that is valid only for a certain period may be used. As the optically readable code, another code such as a one-dimensional barcode may be used.

[0029] When a customer outside the store approaches the gate device 1 and enters the detection range of the outside sensor 105, the outside sensor 105 turns on. In response, the processor 301 determines YES at ACT12 assuming that a customer is approaching outside the store and proceeds to ACT14. As ACT14, the processor 301 activates the outside store camera 103.

[0030] As ACT15, the processor 301 starts displaying on the outside store display 104 an image obtained by the outside store camera 103 (hereinafter referred to as the outside store camera image). Thereafter, the processor 301 continuously displays in real time on the outside store display 104 the moving image obtained by the outside store camera 103.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen representing an outside store camera image. The processor 301 represents the in-store camera image within the display area ARA. That is, in the example of FIG. 6, although the smartphone on which the two-dimensional code is displayed on the screen is blocked by the outside store camera 103, this is an example of a situation where the two-dimensional code is shifted outside the store and its entirety is not reflected in the outside store camera image. In the example of FIG. 6, the processor 301 represents, overlaid on the outside store camera image, a mark MAA representing the outer edge of the area of the two-dimensional code reflected in the outside store camera image. Note that the two-dimensional code is typically displayed on the screen of the information terminal in black. And the mark MAA is preferably a color different from the color of the two-dimensional code, such as orange, so that the customer can easily recognize that it is the mark MAA.

[0032] Thus, with the screen shown in FIG. 6, the customer can be made to recognize that the smartphone should be shifted slightly forward when viewed from the customer. Also, since the mark MAA is out of the screen, the customer can easily recognize how the two-dimensional code is shifted from the shooting range. As a result, the customer can easily adjust the position and inclination of the information terminal when blocking the two-dimensional code. That is, the customer does not need to, for example, stop and block the two-dimensional code multiple times because the two-dimensional code cannot be properly read.

[0033] In a state where such moving image display is being performed, the processor 301 shifts to the standby states of ACT16 and ACT17 in FIG. 3. As ACT16, the processor 301 checks whether a two-dimensional code is reflected in the outside-store camera image and whether an entry identifier can be determined based on this two-dimensional code. That is, the processor 301 cuts out the image of the area in the outside-store camera image where the two-dimensional code is reflected, analyzes the image, and obtains the data represented by the two-dimensional code. Further, the processor 301 checks whether the obtained data contains an entry identifier. If the processor 301 fails to confirm through the above processing that the entry identifier is included, it determines NO and proceeds to ACT17. Note that the processor 301 may also extract the entry identifier from the character string recognized by OCR (optical character recognition) for the outside-store camera image.

[0034] As ACT17, the processor 301 checks whether the state of the customer being in the vicinity continues. If the outside-store sensor 105 remains on, the processor 301 determines YES and returns to ACT16. Thus, in the waiting states of ACT17 and ACT18, the processor 301 waits for whether the entry identifier can be obtained or for the customer who has been detected in the vicinity to leave.

[0035] When the customer leaves the gate device 1 without passing through the passage AIA, the processor 301 determines NO, considering that it cannot confirm that the customer is in the vicinity outside the store in response to the outside-store sensor 105 being turned off, and returns to ACT11, repeating the subsequent processing in the same manner as described above. Note that the outside-store sensor 105 detects the proximity of a person, and the processor 301 cannot distinguish whether the person in the vicinity when the outside-store sensor 105 is on is a customer. However, a person who is not a customer usually leaves the gate device 1 as it is. That is, when the processor 301 proceeds to ACT16 and ACT17 in response to the outside-store sensor 105 being turned on by a person who is not a customer, it will determine NO in ACT17.

[0036] On the one hand, if the processor 301 can confirm that the entry identifier is included in the above processing in ACT16, it determines YES and proceeds to ACT18. Note that although a two-dimensional code representing data similar to but different from the entry identifier may be reflected in the outside-store camera image, in ACT16, the processor 301 does not distinguish that data from the entry data and treats it as the entry identifier.

[0037] As ACT18, the processor 301 performs an authentication process to authenticate whether the obtained entry identifier is a regular entry identifier defined to prove that entering the store is permitted. This authentication process is assumed to be, for example, a process of confirming whether the obtained entry identifier meets a predetermined condition. As an example, the condition is that it is described in the authentication database DBA that the customer identified by the membership code as the obtained entry identifier is a customer permitted to enter the store.

[0038] As ACT19, the processor 301 checks whether the authentication was successful. If the authentication fails, the processor 301 determines NO and proceeds to ACT20. As ACT20, the processor 301 causes an error screen to be displayed on the outside-store display 104. The error screen is, for example, a screen predetermined to notify the customer that entry into the store is not permitted. Then, the processor 301 waits for a predetermined condition regarding the end of the display of the error screen to be satisfied, returns to ACT11, and repeats the subsequent steps in the same manner as described above. The condition for the end of the display of the error screen is assumed to be, for example, when the time for continuously displaying the error screen reaches a predetermined time.

[0039] On the one hand, if the processor 301 succeeds in authentication through the authentication process in ACT18, it determines YES in ACT19 and proceeds to ACT21. At this time, it is determined that the passage permission condition is satisfied. Thus, by the processor 301 executing information processing based on the control program PRA, the computer with the processor 301 as the central part functions as a determination means.

[0040] As ACT21, the processor 301 causes the guidance screen to be displayed on the outside store display 104. The guidance screen is a screen for guiding the customer that entering the store is permitted. The guidance screen may be a screen common to all customers or a different screen according to the customer authenticated in ACT18.

[0041] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the guidance screen. The guidance screen shown in FIG. 7 guides the customer that entering the store is permitted by showing the character message MEC welcoming the visit. Also, the guidance screen shown in FIG. 7 is a screen adapted to the customer authenticated in ACT18 by including, for example, the character string CSA representing the name described in the authentication database for the customer authenticated in ACT18. Note that the guidance screen may represent an advertisement or a notice according to the customer authenticated in ACT18.

[0042] As ACT22 in FIG. 3, the processor 301 opens the gate. The processor 301 requests, for example, the opening / closing mechanisms 106 and 206 to accommodate the flaps 102 and 202 respectively. In response thereto, the opening / closing mechanisms 106 and 206 move the flaps 102 and 202 so as to be accommodated in the housings 101 and 201. In the state where the gate is thus opened, a state where passing through the passage AIA is permitted is formed. Thus, the functions as a forming means are realized by the cooperation of the flaps 102 and 202, the opening / closing mechanisms 106 and 206, and the computer with the processor 301 as the center.

[0043] Then, with the flaps 102 and 202 stored and the passage AIA opened, the processor 301 proceeds to the waiting states of ACT23 and ACT24. As ACT23, the processor 301 checks whether a customer has passed from the outside to the inside of the store. If the processor 301 cannot confirm this event, it determines NO and proceeds to ACT24.

[0044] As ACT24, the processor 301 checks whether the state of a customer being in the vicinity continues. If the outside sensor 105 remains on, the processor 301 determines YES and returns to ACT23. Thus, in the waiting states of ACT23 and ACT24, the processor 301 waits for a passing customer or for a detected customer in the vicinity to leave.

[0045] If the customer leaves the gate device 1 without passing through the passage AIA, in response to the outside sensor 105 turning off, the processor 301 determines NO at ACT24, assuming that it cannot confirm that a customer is in the vicinity outside the store, returns to ACT11, and repeats the subsequent processing in the same manner as described above.

[0046] On the other hand, when a customer passes from the outside to the inside of the store through the opened passage AIA and this is detected by the entry sensor 107, the processor 301 determines YES at ACT23 and proceeds to ACT25. As ACT25, the processor 301 closes the gate. For example, the processor 301 requests the opening / closing mechanisms 106 and 206 to project the flaps 102 and 202 respectively. In response, the opening / closing mechanisms 106 and 206 move to make the flaps 102 and 202, which were stored in the housings 101 and 201, protrude as shown in FIG. 1. Thereby, the passage AIA is closed by the flaps 102 and 202. After this, the processor 301 returns to ACT11 and repeats the subsequent processing in the same manner as described above.

[0047] In order to leave the store, the customer holds a two-dimensional code representing the exit identifier in front of the in-store camera 203. For example, a two-dimensional code representing a predetermined exit identifier is included in the receipt issued to the customer after checkout by a cash register or the like. In this case, the customer holds the two-dimensional code in front of the in-store camera 203.

[0048] When a customer inside the store approaches the gate device 1 and enters the detection range of the in-store sensor 205, the in-store sensor 205 is turned on. In response, the processor 301 determines YES at ACT13 assuming that a customer is approaching inside the store, and proceeds to ACT26. As ACT26, the processor 301 executes an exit response process for handling the customer's exit. The exit response process is the same as the processes of ACT14 to ACT25. However, in the exit response process, the processor 301 uses the in-store camera 203, the in-store display 204, the in-store sensor 205, and the out sensor 207 instead of the out-store camera 103, the out-store display 104, the out-store sensor 105, and the in sensor 107. Also, in ACT16 and ACT18, the processor 301 targets the exit identifier instead of the entry identifier and checks whether the exit identifier is valid. Further, in ACT21, the guidance screen to be displayed is a screen representing a character message such as "Thank you for your purchase" instead of the character message MEC in FIG. 7. Then, when the processor 301 determines NO in a determination corresponding to ACT17 or ACT24, or when the process corresponding to ACT20 or ACT25 is completed, the exit response process is ended and the processor returns to ACT11, and the subsequent operations are repeated in the same manner as described above.

[0049] As described above, the gate device 1 causes the out-store display 104 and the in-store display 204 to display the images obtained by the out-store camera 103 and the in-store camera 203, respectively. Thereby, the actions that the customer should take to correctly reflect the two-dimensional code in the images obtained by the out-store camera 103 and the in-store camera 203 can be easily and accurately recognized by the customer.

[0050] In addition, the gate device 1 displays moving images in real time. As a result, the customer can recognize the change in the reflection state of the two-dimensional code according to the movement of the customer's hand without time lag, and the customer's operation can be accurately supported.

[0051] In addition, the gate device 1 positions the outside store display 104 and the inside store display 204 around the outside store camera 103 and the inside store camera 203. As a result, the customer can check the display on the outside store display 104 or the inside store display 204 while checking the positional relationship between a smartphone or the like and the outside store camera 103 or the inside store camera 203.

[0052] In addition, the gate device 1 positions the outside store camera 103 and the inside store camera 203 in front of the flaps 102, 202 for a customer trying to pass through the passage AIA. As a result, after the customer holds the two-dimensional code in front of the outside store camera 103 and the inside store camera 203, the processes of ACT18 to ACT22 in FIG. 3 can be performed until the customer moves to the positions of the flaps 102, 202, and the customer can smoothly pass through the passage AIA without significantly reducing the walking speed. Note that since it takes a certain amount of time for the flaps 102, 202 to open after the processes of ACT18 to ACT22 are performed, it is preferable to appropriately determine the distances between the flaps 102, 202 and the outside store camera 103 and the inside store camera 203 in consideration of the distance the customer moves within that time.

[0053] Also, for the gate device 1, the outside store display 104 and the inside store display 204 are positioned deeper in the passing direction of the customer with respect to the shooting ranges of the outside store camera 103 and the inside store camera 203. That is, for a customer attempting to pass through the passage AIA, the outside store camera 103 and the inside store camera 203 are positioned in front of the outside store display 104 and the inside store display 204. As a result, when a customer obscures a smartphone or the like from the outside store camera 103 and the inside store camera 203, the customer's hand does not cover the outside store display 104 and the inside store display 204, and the customer can easily view the display on the outside store display 104 or the inside store display 204.

[0054] Also, as an example, the gate device 1 permits the passage of a customer who is identified based on a member code represented as an entry identifier in a two-dimensional code when the customer has the right to pass. In this case, it is possible to manage the passers. And in the above-described embodiment, since a guidance screen corresponding to the passer is displayed on the outside store display 104 and the inside store display 204, it is possible to provide guidance tailored to each passer at the time of passage.

[0055] This embodiment can be variously modified as follows. The entry response processing in ACT14 to ACT25 and the exit response processing in ACT26 in FIG. 3 may be parallel processed as separate processes. In this case, for example, instead of the waiting states of ACT12 and ACT13, in the entry response processing, only the proximity to the outside of the store is waited for, and in the exit response processing, only the proximity to the inside of the store is waited for. And for example, in the entry response processing, when the proximity to the outside of the store is detected, the inside store sensor 205 is turned off so that the proximity to the inside of the store cannot be detected in the exit response processing, and in the exit response processing, when the proximity to the inside of the store is detected, the outside store sensor 105 is turned off so that the proximity to the outside of the store cannot be detected in the entry response processing.

[0056] The positional relationship between the outside store camera 103 and the outside store display 104, or the positional relationship between the inside store camera 203 and the inside store display 204, may be changed as appropriate.

[0057] As the forming means, the passage AIA may be physically opened / closed by a member in a form different from the flaps 102 and 202. Alternatively, as the forming means, it may be configured to notify whether passage is permitted or not by screen display on a display device, the lighting state of a lamp, or sound, etc.

[0058] It may also be realized as a gate device that permits passage only in one direction. In this case, for example, it is assumed that the configuration omits the inside store camera 203, the inside store display 204, the inside store sensor 205, and the exit sensor 207. Alternatively, it may be configured to omit the second unit 200.

[0059] If it is to control the passage of people, it may be realized as a gate device used for a purpose different from the above-described embodiment. And the passage permission conditions may be determined as appropriate according to the purpose.

[0060] Each function realized by the processor 301 through information processing may be realized in part or in whole by hardware that executes information processing not based on a program such as a logic circuit. Also, each of the above functions can be realized by combining software control with the above-described hardware such as a logic circuit.

[0061] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and its equivalent scope.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0062] 1... gate device, 100... first unit, 101... housing, 102... flap, 103... outside store camera, 104... outside store display, 105... outside store sensor, 106... opening / closing mechanism, 107... entrance sensor, 200... second unit, 201... housing, 202... flap, 203... inside store camera, 204... inside store display, 205... inside store sensor, 206... opening / closing mechanism, 207... exit sensor, 301... processor, 302... main memory unit, 303... auxiliary memory unit, 304... transmission path.

Claims

1. Imaging means for imaging a shooting range to obtain an image, Display means for displaying the image obtained by the imaging means, Determination means for determining that a passage allowable condition is satisfied based on the image obtained by the imaging means, Forming means for forming a passage allowable state in response to the determination means determining that the passage allowable condition is satisfied, A gate device comprising:

2. The imaging means obtains a moving image, The display means displays the moving image obtained by the imaging means in real time, The gate device according to Claim 1.

3. The display means is provided around the shooting range, The gate device according to Claim 1.

4. The display means is provided in a state of being located on the back side in the passing direction with respect to the shooting range, The gate device according to Claim 1.

5. The determination means identifies a passerby based on identification information reflected in the image obtained by the imaging means, and determines that the passage allowable condition is satisfied when the passerby has a passage right, The gate device according to Claim 1.

6. Further comprising a housing forming a passage, The forming means includes an opening / closing member that selectively forms a state of closing and a state of opening the passage, and forms the passage allowable state by setting the opening / closing member to the open state, The display means is provided in front of the opening / closing member for a passerby in the passage, The imaging means is provided in front of the display means for a passerby in the passage, The gate device according to Claim 5.

Images