Usage management device of passenger conveyor and usage management method of passenger conveyor

Abstract

To provide a usage management device of a passenger conveyor for reducing the congestion at an exit of a passenger conveyor without reducing the convenience of users.SOLUTION: A usage management device of a passenger conveyor according to an embodiment connected communicably to an output device to output information to users getting on the conveyor, comprises a congestion situation acquisition unit, a route identification unit, an output information generating unit, and an output control unit. The congestion situation acquisition unit acquires congestion situation information representing the congestion situation in the area where users of the passenger conveyor enter after getting off the passenger conveyor. The route identification unit identifies an advancement route after getting off the passenger conveyor recommended to the users of the passenger conveyor based on the congestion situation information. The output information generating unit generates output information including the advancement route information identified by the route identification unit. The output control unit makes the output device output the output information generated by the output information generating unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a passenger conveyor usage management device and a passenger conveyor usage management method. [Background technology]

[0002] When passenger conveyors installed in commercial facilities or stations become overcrowded, passengers may become stuck at the exits, preventing them from getting off the conveyor, or even if they are able to get off at the exits, they may be unable to move forward.

[0003] In view of this, technology has been developed to notify users of the congestion status at the exit side of a passenger conveyor (for example, Patent Document 1). By using this technology, users can check the congestion status at the exit side before boarding the passenger conveyor and consider whether or not to use the passenger conveyor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-94709 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When the above-mentioned technology is used, some passengers may realize that the exit is crowded and give up on using the passenger conveyor, which can reduce congestion by lowering the passenger conveyor occupancy rate, but there is a problem in that convenience is reduced for those passengers who give up on using the conveyor.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a passenger conveyor usage management device and a passenger conveyor usage management method that reduce congestion at passenger conveyor exits without reducing convenience for users. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to an embodiment for achieving the above object, a passenger conveyor usage management device is communicatively connected to an output device that outputs information to users boarding the passenger conveyor, and includes a congestion status acquisition unit, a route identification unit, an output information generation unit, and an output control unit. The congestion status acquisition unit acquires congestion status information indicating the congestion status within an area that passenger conveyor users enter after disembarking from the passenger conveyor. The route identification unit identifies a recommended route for passenger conveyor users after disembarking from the passenger conveyor based on the congestion status information. The output information generation unit generates output information including information on the travel route identified by the route identification unit. The output control unit causes the output device to output the output information generated by the output information generation unit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall view showing the configuration of an escalator system using a passenger conveyor usage management device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a usage management device according to an embodiment; [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart showing an information output process executed by the utilization management device according to an embodiment with respect to each floor. [Figure 4A] 10 is an example of second display information displayed on a display device by the usage management device according to an embodiment. [Figure 4B] 10 is an example of second display information displayed on a display device by the usage management device according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An escalator system that manages an escalator, which is an example of a passenger conveyor, will be described below as an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] <Configuration of an escalator system using a usage management device according to an embodiment> 1 is an overall view showing the configuration of an escalator system 1 according to this embodiment. The escalator system 1 includes an escalator 10, a camera device 101 and a display device 102 installed near the escalator 10, and a usage management device 20. The usage management device 20 is communicatively connected to the camera device 101 and the display device 102.

[0011] Escalator 10 is an upward escalator that allows users to board from entrance E1 on the first floor of a building and travel to exit E2 on the second floor. Escalator 10 has steps 11 that move from the first floor, which is the boarding floor, to the second floor, which is the disembarking floor, and an escalator control panel 12 that controls steps 11.

[0012] Camera device 101 is configured, for example, as a security camera device, and captures area AR2 on the second floor, which is the area that users of escalator 10 enter after getting off escalator 10. Display device 102 is installed above near entrance E1 so as to be visible to users getting on escalator 10, and outputs display information transmitted from usage management device 20, which will be described later.

[0013] 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the usage management device 20. The usage management device 20 has a storage unit 21 and a CPU 22. The storage unit 21 has a building information storage unit 211, a congestion information storage unit 212, and a congestion-related information storage unit 213.

[0014] The building information storage unit 211 stores building information including map information for each floor of the building where the escalator 10 is installed and guidance information for stores, etc. The congestion information storage unit 212 stores past congestion level information, for example, by day of the week and by time period. The congestion-related information storage unit 213 stores in advance information on the dates, times, and locations of events that are expected to cause congestion in the building, such as events held in the building where the escalator 10 is installed or in facilities adjacent to the building.

[0015] The location of the memory unit 21 is not limited to within the usage management device 20, but may be provided in another device, such as a management device installed in the management room of a building, and the usage management device 20 may obtain information from this device via a wireless or wired connection.

[0016] The CPU 22 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) provided in a general-purpose microcomputer, and by installing and executing a predetermined escalator usage management program, constitutes one or more information processing units described below. The CPU 22 has a congestion status acquisition unit 221, a route identification unit 222, an output information generation unit 223, and an output control unit 224.

[0017] The congestion status acquisition unit 221 acquires image information captured by the camera device 101 as congestion status information indicating the congestion status on the second floor, which is the area that users of the escalator 10 enter after getting off the escalator 10. The route identification unit 222 identifies a recommended route for users of the escalator 10 to take after getting off the escalator 10, based on the congestion status information acquired by the congestion status acquisition unit 221. The output information generation unit 223 generates output information including information on the route identified by the route identification unit. The output control unit 224 outputs the output information generated by the output information generation unit 223 to the display device 102.

[0018] Operation of the Escalator System According to an Embodiment The operation of the escalator system 1 according to one embodiment will be described below. Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the information output process executed by the usage management device 20 while the escalator system 1 is in operation.

[0019] While the escalator system 1 is in operation, the congestion status acquisition unit 221 of the usage management device 20 sequentially acquires image information of the area AR2 captured by the camera device 101, analyzes the acquired image information, and determines whether there is an area within the area AR2 where the congestion level is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (S1).

[0020] When the congestion status acquisition unit 221 determines that there is no area within area AR2 where the congestion level is equal to or greater than a predetermined value ("NO" in S1), the output information generation unit 223 acquires guidance information for stores and the like on the second floor, which is the disembarking floor, from the building information storage unit 211, and generates first display information as output information including the acquired guidance information. The output control unit 224 causes the display device 102 to display the first display information generated by the output information generation unit 223 (S2).

[0021] Thereafter, when the congestion status acquisition unit 221 determines based on the acquired imaging information that an area portion with a congestion level equal to or greater than a predetermined value has occurred within the area AR2 ("YES" in S3), it acquires position information of this area portion as current congestion status information (S4). When the congestion status acquisition unit 221 determines that there are multiple area portions with a congestion level equal to or greater than a predetermined value within the area AR2, it acquires congestion status information for each area portion.

[0022] The route identification unit 222 identifies a recommended route for users of the escalator 10 to take after getting off the escalator 10, based on the congestion status information acquired by the congestion status acquisition unit 221 (S5). Specifically, the route that is recommended for users of the escalator 10 is identified as a route from the exit E2 in a direction that avoids areas where the congestion level is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, or an optimal route to the exit.

[0023] At this time, the route identification unit 222 may also take into consideration the event information stored in the congestion-related information storage unit 213 and identify a route that avoids the direction of the event location as the travel route during the time period corresponding to the date and time the event is held.

[0024] The output information generation unit 223 acquires map information for the second floor, which is the disembarking floor, from the building information storage unit 211, and generates second display information that highlights the route portion identified by the route identification unit 222 within this map information. The output information generation unit 223 may include in this second display information the imaging information acquired by the congestion status acquisition unit 221. The output control unit 224 causes the display device 102 to display the second display information generated by the output information generation unit 223 (S6).

[0025] 4A and 4B are examples of second display information generated by the output information generation unit 223 and displayed on the display device 102. The second display information shown in Fig. 4A displays imaging information A1 acquired by the congestion status acquisition unit 221, map information A2 highlighting a route heading left after getting off the vehicle as a recommended travel route with an arrow R1, and message information A3 indicating that a detour route heading left is recommended because the route heading right after getting off the vehicle is congested. The output information generation unit 223 may highlight the arrow R1 by displaying an animation in which a predetermined mark or a blinking display unit or the like moves smoothly over the arrow R1 indicated as the recommended route in the map information A2.

[0026] 4B displays image information B1 acquired by the congestion status acquisition unit 221, map information B2 highlighting an arrow R2 as a recommended route for travel that takes the left exit after disembarking, and message information B3 indicating that the route that takes the left exit is recommended because the route going straight after disembarking is congested. The output information generation unit 223 may highlight arrow R2 by displaying an animation in which a predetermined mark or a blinking display unit or the like moves smoothly over arrow R2, which is indicated as the recommended route in map information B2.

[0027] The output information generating section 223 may add a circle or the like to correspond to the position of the crowded area portion in the captured image information of the second display information.

[0028] The output information generating unit 223 may also obtain information about an event having opening date and time information corresponding to the current time from the congestion-related information storage unit 213, and include the information in the second display information as information indicating the reason for the congestion on the escalator 10.

[0029] In addition, if the escalator control panel 12 changes the movement speed of the steps 11 depending on the congestion status of the escalator 10, the output information generation unit 223 may obtain information regarding this change in movement speed from the escalator control panel 12 and include it in the second display information.

[0030] By displaying this information on the display device 102, users can grasp information about the route they should take after getting off the escalator 10 and related information before getting on, and can move smoothly so as to avoid congestion at exit E2 of the disembarking floor as much as possible.

[0031] While the escalator system 1 is in operation, the usage management device 20 repeats the processes of steps S1 to S4 described above.

[0032] According to the above embodiment, the escalator usage management device includes a congestion status acquisition unit that acquires congestion status information indicating the congestion status within an area that an escalator user enters after dismounting from the escalator, a route identification unit that identifies a recommended route for the escalator user after dismounting from the escalator based on the acquired congestion status information, and an output information generation unit that generates output information including information on the route identified by the route identification unit.

[0033] This provides route information so that users can proceed smoothly after getting off the escalator, reduces congestion at the exit, and prevents falls and the like without reducing the convenience of users using the escalator.

[0034] In the above-described embodiment, the case has been described in which the congestion status acquisition unit 221 acquires, as congestion status information, information indicating the current congestion status of the area AR2 based on image information of the area AR2 captured by the camera device 101. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the congestion status acquisition unit 221 may acquire, as congestion status information, predicted information on the congestion status after a predetermined time has elapsed from the present.

[0035] In this case, congestion status information for each day of the week and each time period is generated in advance by analyzing image capture information of area AR2 previously acquired by the congestion status acquisition unit 221, and stored in the congestion information storage unit 212. Then, while the escalator system 1 is in operation, congestion status information for the day of the week and the time period corresponding to a time a predetermined time after the present is acquired from the congestion information storage unit 212, and used as predicted congestion status information for this time.

[0036] This allows the user to be provided with information on recommended routes according to the congestion situation when the user uses the escalator 10 to get off at the disembarking floor before getting on the escalator 10, or when the user travels through the area AR2 after getting off.

[0037] The congestion status acquisition unit 221 may also acquire, as congestion status information, both the current congestion status of the area AR2 and predicted information on the congestion status after a predetermined time has elapsed from the present.

[0038] In the above-described embodiment, the congestion status acquisition unit 221 may analyze image information of the area AR2 and acquire location information and a congestion level as congestion status information for each area portion whose congestion level is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. In this case, the route identification unit 222 displays a recommended route based on the congestion status information acquired by the congestion status acquisition unit 221, lowering the recommendation level as the congestion level increases among the area portions whose congestion level is equal to or greater than the predetermined value. For example, a route passing through a first area portion that is the most congested among the area portions whose congestion level is equal to or greater than the predetermined value may be displayed in red to indicate a low recommendation level, a route passing through a second area portion whose congestion level is equal to or greater than the predetermined value but lower than the first area may be displayed in yellow to indicate a medium recommendation level, and a route passing through an area whose congestion level is less than the predetermined value may be displayed in blue to indicate a high recommendation level.

[0039] By displaying the information in this manner, the user can appropriately select the direction of travel based on the displayed information and the direction to the destination.

[0040] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where one display device 102 is communicatively connected to the usage management device 20 has been described, but this is not limited thereto, and multiple display devices (not shown) installed near the escalator 10 may be connected to the usage management device 20. This allows the usage management device 20 to display information about a recommended route for users on these multiple display devices 102, allowing more users to become aware of this information about the route. The display information displayed on these multiple display devices may all be the same or different. For example, there may be a display device that displays information about a recommended route for users and a display device that displays guidance information for stores and the like on the disembarking floor.

[0041] In the above-described embodiment, the output information generating unit 223 generates display information as output information, and displays the information on a display device installed in a position visible to users getting on the escalator 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the output information generating unit 223 may generate, for example, audio information such as "After getting off, please turn left" as output information, and output the information from a speaker device (not shown), which is an output device installed near the entrance E1 of the escalator 10. This allows users to know the direction to go after getting off when getting on the escalator 10.

[0042] In the above-described embodiment, the passenger conveyor is an escalator, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be applied to a moving walkway.

[0043] Although several 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 embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1... escalator system, 10... escalator, 11... steps, 12... escalator control panel, 20... usage management device, 21... memory unit, 22... CPU, 101... camera device, 102... display device, 211... building information memory unit, 212... congestion information memory unit, 213... congestion-related information memory unit, 221... congestion status acquisition unit, 222... route identification unit, 223... output information generation unit, 224... output control unit

Claims

1. a communication device connected to an output device that outputs information to users who board the passenger conveyor; a congestion status acquisition unit that acquires congestion status information indicating a congestion status within an area into which a user of the passenger conveyor enters after getting off the passenger conveyor; a route specifying unit that specifies a route to be recommended to a user of the passenger conveyor after the user gets off the passenger conveyor based on the congestion status information; an output information generation unit that generates output information including information on the travel route identified by the route identification unit; an output control unit that causes the output device to output the output information generated by the output information generation unit; A passenger conveyor usage management device comprising:

2. The passenger conveyor usage management device according to claim 1 , wherein the output information generating unit generates the output information by further including the congestion status information.

3. 2. The passenger conveyor usage management device according to claim 1, wherein the congestion status acquisition unit acquires, as the congestion status information, image information of the area, location information of each area portion within the area where the congestion level is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, or information indicating the location information and congestion level of each area portion.

4. 2. The passenger conveyor usage management device according to claim 1, wherein the congestion status acquisition unit acquires, as the congestion status information, at least one of information indicating the current congestion status of the area and predicted congestion status after a predetermined time has elapsed from the present.

5. 2. The passenger conveyor usage management device according to claim 1, wherein the output information generation unit generates the output information by further including at least one of the reason for congestion on the passenger conveyor, guidance information related to the building in which the passenger conveyor is installed, and information related to changing the moving speed of the steps of the passenger conveyor depending on the congestion status of the passenger conveyor.

6. a communication device connected to a plurality of the output devices; The usage management device according to claim 1 , wherein the output control unit causes the output information to be output from the plurality of output devices.

7. Obtaining congestion status information indicating the congestion status within an area into which a passenger of the passenger conveyor enters after getting off the passenger conveyor; Identifying a recommended route for a user of the passenger conveyor after getting off the passenger conveyor based on the congestion status information; generating output information including information on the identified travel route; A passenger conveyor usage management method in which the output information is output from an output device that outputs information to users who board the passenger conveyor.

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