Get-on location guiding system, automatic ticket examination machine, get-on location guiding method, and program

Abstract

To provide a get-on location guiding system, an automatic ticket examination machine, a get-on location guiding method, and a program that can present, to a user, guidance information indicating a location of a platform from which a train the user intends to get on departs even though destination information such as a destination station is not acquired by an entry automatic ticket examination machine at the time of entry.SOLUTION: In a guidance display system, when user identification information is acquired from a portable recording medium via a reader writer when a user enters (S2), a route search history corresponding to the user identification information is acquired from a route search system (S4, S5), and then, a destination station of the user is estimated based on the route search history (S6). Then, guidance information indicating a location of a get-on platform in an entry station from which a train bound for the estimated station departs is output to a position that can be recognized by the user (S9, S10).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a boarding location guidance system, an automatic ticket gate, a boarding location guidance method, and a program that can guide railroad users to boarding locations at an entrance station where they enter. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, an automatic ticket gate is known that, when the information acquired from a ticket includes information specifying a train, acquires information on the departure platform of the train and displays it on a display means (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] In recent years, automated ticket gates have become known that perform entrance and exit gate processing at station ticket gates using, instead of traditional tickets, contactless IC cards with a registered user ID that identifies the user, smartphones equipped with contactless IC memory that includes the user ID, information codes such as two-dimensional codes that include the user ID, or contactless credit cards.

[0004] For example, when exiting an arrival station, a user can have the information on the contactless IC card, the contactless IC memory, the information code, or the credit card read by an automatic ticket gate, thereby paying the fare (fare) for the section used (boarding section). In either payment method, the fare is not finalized when passing through the automatic ticket gate at the entrance station, but is finalized and paid when exiting the automatic ticket gate at the arrival station, so it is a so-called deferred payment method. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-107951 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, when using a deferred payment method, even if the information on the contactless IC card is read by an automatic ticket gate upon entry, the contactless IC card does not contain information indicating the user's destination, such as the destination station. Therefore, conventional automatic ticket gates cannot provide users who have passed through the automatic ticket gate at the entrance station with information on the location of the platform from which their train departs or the direction to that location.

[0007] To provide a boarding location guidance system, an automatic ticket gate, a boarding location guidance method, and a program that can present a user with guidance information indicating the location of the platform from which the train the user plans to board departs, even if destination information such as the destination station is not acquired by the entrance automatic ticket gate at the time of entry. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A boarding location guidance system according to one aspect of the present invention is a boarding location guidance system including an entrance automated ticket gate installed at an entrance station where railway users enter. The boarding location guidance system is provided at the entrance automated ticket gate and includes: an identification information acquisition unit that is provided at the entrance automated ticket gate and acquires user identification information of the user used for payment of railway fares using a post-payment payment method; a search history acquisition unit that acquires a search history of route searches made by the user using a route search system that can search for routes from a scheduled departure station to a scheduled arrival station; a destination station estimation unit that estimates a destination station of the user based on the search history; and a guidance output processing unit that outputs guidance information indicating the location of a platform within the entrance station from which a train bound for the estimated station estimated by the destination station estimation unit departs.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automated ticket gate installed at an entrance station where railway passengers enter, the automated ticket gate including: an identification information acquisition unit that acquires user identification information of the user used for payment of railway fares using a deferred payment method; a search history acquisition unit that acquires a search history of a route search performed by the user using a route search system capable of searching for a route from a scheduled departure station to a scheduled arrival station; a destination station estimation unit that estimates a destination station of the user based on the search history; and a guidance output processing unit that outputs guidance information indicating the location of a platform within the entrance station from which a train bound for the estimated station estimated by the destination station estimation unit departs.

[0010] A boarding location guidance method according to another aspect of the present invention is a method executed by one or more processors, which includes the following steps: an identification information acquisition step of acquiring user identification information of a railway user, which is used for paying railway fares using a post-payment payment method, via an identification information acquisition unit provided in an entrance automatic ticket gate installed at an entrance station where the railway user enters; a search history acquisition step of acquiring a search history of route searches made by the user using a route search system capable of searching for a route from a scheduled departure station to a scheduled arrival station; a destination station estimation step of estimating the user's destination station based on the search history; and a guidance output step of outputting guidance information indicating the location of the platform within the entrance station from which a train bound for the estimated station estimated by the destination station estimation step departs.

[0011] A program relating to another aspect of the present invention is a program for causing one or more processors to execute the following steps: an identification information acquisition step for acquiring user identification information of a railway user, which is used for paying railway fares using a post-payment payment method, via an identification information acquisition unit provided in an entrance automatic ticket gate installed at an entrance station where the railway user enters; a search history acquisition step for acquiring a search history of a route search made by the user using a route search system capable of searching for a route from a scheduled departure station to a scheduled arrival station; a destination station estimation step for estimating the user's destination station based on the search history; and a guidance output step for outputting guidance information indicating the location of the platform within the entrance station from which a train bound for the estimated station estimated by the destination station estimation step departs.

[0012] The present invention can also be understood as an invention of a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which the program is stored. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, even if destination information such as the destination station is not acquired by the automatic ticket gate at the time of entry, it is possible to present the user with guidance information indicating the location of the platform from which the train the user plans to board departs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network configuration of a guidance display system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the vicinity of an automatic ticket gate and a ticket gate to which the guidance display system according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an automatic ticket gate to which the guidance display system according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an automatic ticket gate to which the guidance display system according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a station server to which the guidance display system according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a guidance display process executed in the guidance display system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a first processing example of a destination station estimation process executed in the guidance display system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a second processing example of the destination station estimation processing executed in the guidance display system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a third processing example of the destination station estimation processing executed in the guidance display system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a fourth processing example of the destination station estimation processing executed in the guidance display system according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are merely examples of the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0016] [Guide display system 100] FIG. 1 is a network diagram showing a guidance display system 100 (an example of a boarding location guidance system of the present invention) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The guidance display system 100 is applied to a plurality of automatic ticket gates 1 installed at ticket gates 7 of a railway station 8 operated and managed by a railway operator, and as shown in FIG. 1, is composed of at least the automatic ticket gates 1 and a station server 2. FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration in which a plurality of automatic ticket gates 1 are installed at ticket gates 7 installed at the railway station 8, but the number of automatic ticket gates 1 installed does not have to be multiple, and may be just one.

[0017] Station 8 is equipped with a plurality of station service devices, specifically, a plurality of automatic ticket gates 1, station staff terminal devices (not shown) such as information processing devices installed in station office 90 or the like and mobile terminal devices carried by station staff, a station server 2 installed in a server room within the station, and a guide display device 3 (an example of the second display unit of the present invention, see FIG. 2) such as a liquid crystal panel. These station service devices are communicatively connected to each other via network N1, such as a LAN, which is an in-station network of station 8, and are also communicatively connected via network N1 to a central management device 5, which is a server device managed by the railway operator (railroad company). Furthermore, station server 2 of station 8 is communicatively connected to a route search system 200 (described below) via network N2, such as a dedicated line or public line.

[0018] The automatic ticket gate 1 is installed at the ticket gate 7 of the station 8. A plurality of automatic ticket gates 1 are installed at the ticket gate 7. FIG. 2 is a floor plan (layout) showing the area around the ticket gate 7. In FIG. 2, the platform 6 located on the floor below is shown by a dashed line. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of ticket gate passages 9 are defined at the ticket gate 7, specifically, six ticket gate passages 9 are defined.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, the automatic ticket gate 1 has an entrance automatic ticket gate 1A (hereinafter referred to as the entrance ticket gate 1A) and an exit automatic ticket gate 1B (hereinafter referred to as the exit ticket gate 1B) arranged facing each other. The entrance ticket gate 1A and the exit ticket gate 1B are arranged facing each other. A ticket gate passage 9 is a space formed between the entrance ticket gate 1A and the exit ticket gate 1B, and connects the inside and outside of the ticket gate 7. One of the entrance ticket gates 1A is responsible for performing ticket gate processing (entrance gate processing) for users (entrants) entering from the outside to the inside of the ticket gate 7 along the direction of travel at the time of entry (the direction of arrow D10). The other exit ticket gate 1B is responsible for performing ticket gate processing (exit gate processing) for users (entrants) exiting from the inside to the outside of the ticket gate 7 along the direction of travel at the time of exit (the direction of arrow D11). In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the automatic ticket gate 1 includes an entrance ticket gate 1A and an exit ticket gate 1B, and is described as having both entrance and exit ticket gate functions.

[0020] When entering a station 8 equipped with such an automatic ticket gate 1, the user has the entrance ticket gate 1A contactlessly read the user identification information (user ID number) used for post-payment of the fare (railway fare) as they pass through the ticket gate passageway 9. Specifically, the user holds the portable recording medium 4 equipped with a contactless IC memory storing the user identification information over the reader / writer 16 (see FIG. 3) of the entrance ticket gate 1A. This causes the entrance ticket gate 1A to obtain the user identification information stored in the contactless IC memory via the reader / writer 16, and writes the entrance station information indicating the departure station into the contactless IC memory.

[0021] Furthermore, when a user exits a station 8 after arriving by train, the user holds the portable recording medium 4 over the reader / writer 16 of the exit ticket gate 1B as he or she passes through the ticket gate passage 9. This causes the exit ticket gate 1B to obtain the user identification information and the entrance station information stored in the contactless IC memory via the reader / writer 16, calculate the fare from the entrance station to the exit station, and settle the fare using a payment method according to the user identification information and the portable recording medium 4.

[0022] The portable recording medium 4 corresponds to, for example, a contactless IC card equipped with the contactless IC memory, a portable terminal device such as a smartphone equipped with the contactless IC memory, or the like.

[0023] The portable recording medium 4 may be a contactless credit card equipped with the contactless IC memory, or a portable terminal device such as a smartphone equipped with a contactless IC memory that stores credit card payment information. In this case, to enable the automatic ticket gate 1 to accept credit card payments, a credit card information reading unit (not shown) is provided on the top surface of the housing 10 of the automatic ticket gate 1. When a user enters the station, the credit card information reading unit reads the credit card payment information, including user identification information identifying the user, the available credit card credit limit, and the expiration date of the credit card, from the credit card or the portable terminal device, and writes the entrance station information to the contactless IC memory.

[0024] Furthermore, the portable recording medium 4 may be a recording sheet on which an information code such as a two-dimensional code containing the user identification information and a payment method (payment information) for post-payment of the fare is recorded. In this case, to enable the automatic ticket gate 1 to perform ticket gate processing and fare payment processing using the recording sheet, an information code reading unit (not shown) is provided on the top surface of the housing 10 of the automatic ticket gate 1. When a user enters, the information code reading unit reads information such as user identification information indicating the user and the payment method (payment information) from the recording sheet, and then the entrance station information is transmitted together with the user identification information and the payment information to a central management unit 5 described below, where they are managed.

[0025] When traveling by train from a departure station to a destination station, after passing through entrance ticket gate 1A, a user checks the platform and line number from which the train bound for the destination station departs, and then heads toward that platform. However, if a station has multiple platforms, users may not be able to immediately determine which platform or line number to head to. While information boards are installed within stations to provide information about destination stations on each platform, the user's destination station is not necessarily displayed on those boards. Furthermore, in recent years, digital signage has been installed within stations to provide detailed information such as line and destination information, but users who are unsure of which platform to head to must repeatedly use the digital signage to check the location and directions, which is a hassle.

[0026] The guidance display system 100 of this embodiment is configured to be able to present the user with guidance information indicating the location of the platform from which the train the user plans to board departs, even if destination information such as the destination station is not acquired by the entrance ticket gate 1A at the time of entry.

[0027] The configurations of the automatic ticket gate 1, station server 2, guidance display device 3, and central management device 5 to which the guidance display system 100 is applied will be described below.

[0028] [Automatic ticket gate 1] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the automatic ticket gate 1, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the automatic ticket gate 1. As shown in FIG.

[0029] The automatic ticket gate 1 is installed at a ticket gate 7 of a station 8 and performs ticket screening processing for a user passing through the ticket gate 7. As shown in FIG. 3 , the automatic ticket gate 1 includes an entrance ticket gate 1A and an exit ticket gate 1B that are installed facing each other. The automatic ticket gate 1 acquires information necessary for ticket screening processing, such as the user identification information and payment method (payment information), from the portable recording medium 4, such as the contactless IC card or the smartphone, and performs ticket screening processing based on this information. The automatic ticket gate 1 allows the user to pass if the acquired information is valid, and prohibits the user from passing if the acquired information is invalid. If the user is permitted to pass, the automatic ticket gate 1 opens the flap door 15 and opens the ticket gate passage 9, allowing the user to pass. On the other hand, if the user is prohibited from passing, the automatic ticket gate 1 keeps the flap door 15 closed and closes the ticket gate passage 9, preventing the user from passing.

[0030] If the portable recording medium 4 has the contactless IC memory, information about the station where the user entered (entry station information) is written to the contactless IC memory during ticket gate processing at the time of entry and is used to calculate the fare when the user exits. On the other hand, if the portable recording medium 4 is a recording sheet on which an information code such as a two-dimensional code is written or a smartphone on which the information code is displayed on the screen, the entry station information is sent to the central management device 5 described below along with the acquired user identification information and managed by the central management device 5. When the user exits, the entry station information is read from the central management device 5 and used to calculate the fare when the user exits.

[0031] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the automatic ticket gate 1 includes a control unit 11, a memory unit 12, a display unit 13 (an example of the first display unit of the present invention), a communication unit 14, a flap door 15 (15A, 15B), a reader / writer 16, a projection device 17, and a human presence sensor 19, all of which are provided in a housing 10 of the automatic ticket gate 1 (see Figure 3).

[0032] The storage unit 12 is a non-volatile storage medium including an HDD or SSD that stores various types of information. The storage unit 12 stores control programs for causing the control unit 11 to execute various arithmetic processes executed by the automatic ticket gate 1, various types of data used in the various arithmetic processes, and the like.

[0033] The display unit 13 displays messages and information for users passing through the ticket gate passage 9. The display unit 13 has, for example, a liquid crystal panel. As shown in FIG. 3, the display unit 13 is provided on the top surface of the housing 10 of the automatic ticket gate 1. In this embodiment, the display unit 13 displays guidance information indicating the location of the boarding platform to which a user should head after completing the entrance and ticket gate process. The boarding platform is the platform from which the train that the user plans to board departs to travel to their destination station.

[0034] The guidance information may be, for example, the name of the estimated station estimated by the destination station estimation unit 213 (see Figure 5) described below, an arrow mark indicating the direction of the boarding platform location from which the train heading to the estimated station departs from the entrance station, and the track number of the train heading to the estimated station.

[0035] The display unit 13 is disposed on the top surface of the housing 10, at the front side in the direction of travel of the user in the ticket gate passage 9 (see FIG. 3 ) (the direction of arrow D10 or arrow D11). When the user is permitted to pass, the display unit 13 displays a message indicating that the user is permitted to pass. Furthermore, when the display unit 13 receives the guidance information transmitted from the station server 2 as described below, the display unit 13 displays the guidance information. The guidance information is displayed, for example, from when entry is permitted until the user passes through the passage 9A on the inner side of the ticket gate.

[0036] Furthermore, if the user is not permitted to pass, a message indicating that passage is not permitted (prohibited) is displayed on the display unit 13. When the automatic ticket gate 1 is used for exiting, the display unit 13 may display, for example, a message indicating that the fare is insufficient or a message urging the user to pay at a fare adjustment terminal device (not shown).

[0037] The communication unit 14 is a communication interface that connects the automatic ticket gate 1 to the network N1 via a wired or wireless connection and performs data communication in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol with station service equipment such as the station server 2 and the central management unit 5 via the network N1.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 3, the human presence sensor 19 is provided in the housing 10, and more specifically, is provided on the side of the housing 10 facing the ticket gate passage 9. The human presence sensor 19 is a sensor that detects a user who has entered the ticket gate passage 9, and is, for example, an optical proximity sensor that detects the user without contact. The human presence sensors 19 are provided in the ticket gate passage 9 on the near side (entrance side) in the direction of travel D10 when entering, and on the forward side of the direction of travel (exit side).

[0039] For example, if a user is detected in the ticket gate passage 9 by the human presence sensor 19 on the front side in the direction of travel before the ticket is read, it is determined that the user has entered the ticket gate passage 9 without undergoing ticket screening processing, and if the user is detected further by the human presence sensor 19 on the front side in the direction of travel, it is determined that the user has passed through the ticket gate passage 9 without undergoing ticket screening processing.

[0040] The flap doors 15 are provided near the entrances 9A and 9B on both sides of the ticket gate passage 9 of the automatic ticket gate 1. The flap doors 15 open and close by receiving driving force from a drive unit (not shown) such as a motor. The drive unit is controlled and driven by a door drive control unit 114 (see FIG. 4) of the control unit 11, causing the flap doors 15 to move between an open position and a closed position. The flap doors 15 are opened when an entrance ticket gate process or an exit ticket gate process is performed and the user is permitted to pass through. This allows the user to pass through the ticket gate passage 9 of the automatic ticket gate 1. On the other hand, when the user is not permitted to pass through, the flap doors 15 are closed or maintained in the closed position.

[0041] The flap door 15 is not limited to a physical door, but may be, for example, a door that appears as a three-dimensional image projected into space by a spatial projection device. Also, instead of the flap door 15, a voice gate that allows or prohibits the passage of users by voice may be used.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the projection device 17 is provided on the side of the housing 10 of the automatic ticket gate 1 in the direction of travel of the user. The projection device 17 is provided on each of the side facing the direction of travel when entering and the side facing the direction of travel when exiting. FIG. 3 shows the projection device 17 provided on the side facing the direction of travel when exiting. The projection device 17 is, for example, a projector. When the projection device 17 receives the guidance information transmitted from the station server 2 as described below, it projects the guidance information onto a projection area 81 (see FIG. 2) defined on the floor of the station 8 on the direction of travel of the ticket gate passage 9. The guidance information is projected, for example, from the time entry is permitted until the user passes through the passage 9A on the inner side of the ticket gate.

[0043] For example, if the projection device 17 is provided on the side of the housing 10 facing the ticket gate passage 9, the projection device 17 may project the guidance information onto a projection area 91 (see FIG. 2) defined on the floor of the ticket gate passage 9.

[0044] The projection device 17 does not have to be provided in the automatic ticket gate 1, and may be provided, for example, on the ceiling of the station 8. In this case, information regarding entry permission by the automatic ticket gate 1, the detection results of the human presence sensor 19, the identification number of the automatic ticket gate 1, etc. are transmitted to the station server 2, and the control unit 21 of the station server 2 controls the projection of the guidance information by the projection device 17.

[0045] The reader / writer 16 is provided on the top surface of the housing 10, on the front side in the direction of travel. The reader / writer 16 reads information recorded on the portable recording medium 4 in a contactless manner. For example, the reader / writer 16 performs a process of contactlessly reading the user identification information and the payment method (payment information) stored in the contactless IC memory of the portable recording medium 4 by short-range communication, or a process of contactlessly writing predetermined information such as the entrance station information to the contactless IC memory. Furthermore, when the user exits the train, the reader / writer 16 performs a process of deducting a predetermined amount (fare) from the amount charged to the portable recording medium 4 and writing the remaining amount to the contactless IC memory.

[0046] The information read by the reader / writer 16 is transmitted to the control unit 11, which then executes the ticket gate process based on the information. A user using the portable recording medium 4 holds the portable recording medium 4 over the reader / writer 16, causing the reader / writer 16 to read the user identification information and the like.

[0047] Although not provided in the automatic ticket gate 1 shown in Figure 3, as described above, the automatic ticket gate 1 may be provided with a credit card information reading unit (not shown) or an information code reading unit (not shown).

[0048] The control unit 11 controls the operation of each part of the automatic ticket gate 1. The control unit 11 has control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The ROM is a non-volatile storage medium in which control programs such as a BIOS and an OS for causing the CPU to execute various arithmetic processes are pre-stored. The RAM is a volatile or non-volatile storage medium for storing various information, and is used as a temporary storage memory (work area) for the various arithmetic processes executed by the CPU. The control unit 11 controls the automatic ticket gate 1 by having the CPU execute various control programs pre-stored in the ROM or the memory unit 12.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 11 includes various processing units such as a reading processing unit 111 (an example of an identification information acquisition unit of the present invention), a recording processing unit 112, a passage control unit 113, a door drive control unit 114, and a first guidance output unit 115 (an example of a guidance output processing unit of the present invention).

[0050] The control unit 11 functions as the various processing units by the CPU executing various arithmetic processes in accordance with the control program. In other words, the CPU functions as processing units such as a reading processing unit 111, a recording processing unit 112, a passage control unit 113, a door drive control unit 114, and a first guidance output unit 115 by executing the control program. Some or all of the processing units included in the control unit 11 may be configured with electronic circuits. The control program may also be a program for causing multiple processors to function as the various processing units. The control unit 11 or the CPU is an example of a computer that executes the control program.

[0051] The reading processing unit 111 acquires information such as the user identification information and the payment method (payment method) stored in the portable recording medium 4 via the reader / writer 16.

[0052] When the reading processing unit 111 acquires the user identification information and the like from the portable recording medium 4, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the information is valid. If it is determined to be valid, the recording processing unit 112 causes the reader / writer 16 to write the entrance station information to the contactless IC memory of the portable recording medium 4. Furthermore, when the portable recording medium 4 is held over the reader / writer 16 at the time of exiting, the recording processing unit 112 deducts a predetermined amount (fare) from the amount charged to the portable recording medium 4 and writes the remaining amount after the deduction to the contactless IC memory.

[0053] When predetermined conditions are met, the passage control unit 113 permits or prohibits the user from passing through the ticket gate passage 9. For example, when the passage control unit 113 determines that the information such as the user identification information read from the portable recording medium 4 is valid, the passage control unit 113 permits the user to pass through the ticket gate passage 9. On the other hand, when the passage control unit 113 determines that the information such as the user identification information is invalid, the passage control unit 113 prohibits the user from passing through the ticket gate passage 9.

[0054] The door drive control unit 114 controls the operation (opening and closing operation) of the flap door 15. For example, when a user is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage 9, the door drive control unit 114 controls a drive unit (not shown) such as a motor to displace the flap door 15 to an open position, thereby opening the ticket gate passage 9. On the other hand, when a user is prohibited from passing through the ticket gate passage 9, the door drive control unit 114 controls the drive unit to displace the flap door 15 to a closed position or to maintain the closed state, thereby closing the ticket gate passage 9.

[0055] The first guidance output unit 115 performs a process of outputting the guidance information transmitted from the station server 2 to a predetermined output destination. Specifically, the first guidance output unit 115 performs a process of displaying the guidance information on the display unit 13. The first guidance output unit 115 also performs a process of outputting the guidance information to the projection device 17 and causing the projection device 17 to project the guidance information. The guidance information projected by the projection device 17 is shown in a projection area 81 (see FIG. 2) on the floor surface of the station 8 on the travel direction side of the ticket gate passage 9.

[0056] In this embodiment, the first guidance output unit 115 displays the guidance information on the display unit 13 or causes the projection device 17 to project it until a time has passed during which a user passing through the ticket gate passage 9 can confirm the content of the guidance information. For example, the first guidance output unit 115 outputs the guidance information after the user is permitted to enter until the user passes through the passage 9A, which is located more internally than the ticket gate 7. Specifically, when a first set time has passed since the user was detected by the motion sensor 19 on the passage 9A side, the first guidance output unit 115 stops outputting the guidance information, stops displaying it on the display unit 13, and stops projection by the projection device 17. The first set time is set arbitrarily depending on the distance from the position of the motion sensor 19 to the passage 9A, the average speed of the user passing through the ticket gate passage 9, and the like, and is set within a range of, for example, 1 to 3 seconds.

[0057] [Station Server 2] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the station server 2. The station server 2 is a server device installed in a server room or the like within the station 8. The station server 2 controls or manages multiple station equipment such as automatic ticket gates 1 and information display devices 3 connected to the network N1. Note that the station server 2 is not limited to a single computer, but may be a computer system in which multiple computers operate in cooperation. Furthermore, the various processes executed by the station server 2 may be distributed and executed by multiple processors.

[0058] The station server 2 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a communication unit 23.

[0059] The communication unit 23 is a communication interface that connects the station server 2 to networks N1 and N2 via wired or wireless connections, and performs data communication with devices such as the automatic ticket gate 1, the information display device 3, and the central management device 5 via network N1 in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol, and performs data communication with the route search system 200 (see Figure 1) via network N2.

[0060] The storage unit 22 is a non-volatile storage medium including an HDD or SSD for storing various types of information. The storage unit 22 stores control programs for causing the control unit 21 to execute various arithmetic processes, control programs used for the guidance display process (see FIG. 6) described below executed by the station server 2 and the destination station estimation process (see FIGS. 7 to 10) described below, and data used for each process. The storage unit 22 also stores the number of automatic ticket gates 1 and guidance display devices 3 installed, identification information (ticket gate ID number) and location information of the automatic ticket gates 1, identification information (display device ID number) and location information of the guidance display device 3, and the like.

[0061] In this embodiment, the storage unit 22 is provided in the station server 2, but for example, some or all of the various information in the storage unit 22 may be stored in an external device such as another server device capable of data communication with the station server 2 via the networks N1, N2, etc., or a storage device connectable to the network. Also, the train information storage unit 221 described below may be provided in the external device.

[0062] The storage unit 22 is provided with storage areas such as a train information storage unit 221.

[0063] The train information storage unit 221 stores train information about all trains entering or arriving at station 8. The control unit 21 of the station server 2 periodically requests the train information corresponding to station 8 from the central management device 5 that manages operation information for the lines on which trains run, stores the received train information in the train information storage unit 221, and periodically updates the information. The train information includes train identification information (train ID number) that identifies the train, information about the train's initial departure station, information about the train's final arrival station, information about stations where the train will stop, information about the platform and line number when the train enters or arrives at station 8, information about the platform and line number when the train departs from station 8, etc.

[0064] The control unit 21 controls the operation of each unit of the station server 2. The control unit 21 has control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The ROM is a non-volatile storage medium in which control programs such as a BIOS and an OS for causing the CPU to execute various arithmetic processes are pre-stored. The RAM is a volatile or non-volatile storage medium for storing various information, and is used as a temporary storage memory (work area) for the various arithmetic processes executed by the CPU. The control unit 21 controls the station server 2 by having the CPU execute various control programs pre-stored in the ROM or the memory unit 22.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 21 includes various processing units, such as an entrance information acquisition unit 211 (an example of an identification information acquisition unit of the present invention), a search history acquisition unit 212 (an example of a search history acquisition unit of the present invention), a destination station estimation unit 213 (an example of a destination station estimation unit of the present invention), a train information extraction unit 214, and a second guidance output unit 215 (an example of a guidance output processing unit of the present invention). The control unit 21 functions as the various processing units by the CPU executing various arithmetic processing in accordance with the control program and the payment program. The control unit 21 or the CPU is an example of a computer that executes the control program and the payment program. Note that some or all of the processing units included in the control unit 21 may be configured with electronic circuits. The control program may also be a program that causes multiple processors to function as the various processing units.

[0066] The entrance information acquisition unit 211 acquires entrance information from the automatic ticket gate 1, which is obtained when a user passes through the automatic ticket gate 1 to enter. Specifically, when the automatic ticket gate 1 reads information such as the user identification information from the portable recording medium 4 when the user enters the station 8, the control unit 11 of the automatic ticket gate 1 transmits the entrance information, which includes the user identification information, the date and time of entry, and the ticket gate identification information indicating the automatic ticket gate 1, to the station server 2. The entrance information acquisition unit 211 acquires the entrance information through the communication unit 23. Note that, upon acquiring the entrance information including the user identification information, the control unit 21 stores the entrance information in the memory unit 22 or the like.

[0067] The search history acquisition unit 212 performs processing to acquire a route search history in which a user searches for a route using the route search system 200, which will be described later. Specifically, the search history acquisition unit 212 transmits a request signal including the acquired user identification information to the route search system 200, and requests confirmation of the presence or absence of a route search history corresponding to the transmitted user identification information and transmission of that route search history. When the route search history is transmitted from the route search system 200, the search history acquisition unit 212 acquires the route search history via the communication unit 23.

[0068] The route search system 200 is a so-called third-party system, and is a conventionally known system that provides web services and application services that enable users to search for routes from a scheduled departure station to a scheduled arrival station, as input by the user. By using such a route search service, a user can input information about the scheduled departure date and time before using a train, and obtain information in advance, such as the optimal route from the scheduled departure station to the scheduled arrival station for the scheduled departure date and time, as well as travel time, fare, and number of transfers. To use the route search service, the user must register the user identification information used for using the train in the route search system 200 in advance. The route search system 200 stores and preserves the user's route search history for each registered user identification information in a route history database (storage device) within the route search system 200.

[0069] Examples of route search services include "Transfer Navitime" provided by Navitime Japan Co., Ltd., "Yahoo! Transit Guide" provided by Yahoo Japan Corporation, "Transfer Guide" provided by Jorudan Co., Ltd., "Ekitan Transit Guide" provided by Ekitan Co., Ltd., "Ekispert" provided by Val Research Institute Co., Ltd., "Google Maps" provided by Google Inc., and "Apple Maps" provided by Apple Inc.

[0070] The destination station estimation unit 213 performs processing to estimate the destination station of a user entering through the entrance ticket gate 1A based on the route search history. The destination station is a destination station to which the user, who is the target of the entrance ticket gate processing, will travel by train from this entrance station. Since the entrance information obtained from the entrance ticket gate 1A does not include information regarding the destination station, in this embodiment, the route search information is obtained from the route search system 200, and the destination station estimation unit 213 refers to this route search history and estimates a station that is likely to be the destination station of the user as the destination station.

[0071] Specifically, the destination station estimation unit 213 extracts a specific search route (hereinafter referred to as the specific search route) from the route search history, in which the entrance station where the user entered is the scheduled departure station, and estimates the scheduled arrival station included in the specific search route as the user's destination station.

[0072] The destination station estimation unit 213 may also extract the specific search route from the route search history whose search execution date and time is a predetermined period before the entry date and time of the user at the entry station, and estimate the expected arrival station included in the specific search route as the user's destination station. Furthermore, the destination station estimation unit 213 may estimate the expected arrival station included in the specific search route as the user's destination station if the search execution date and time of the specific search route is within a predetermined range up to the predetermined period before the entry date and time. Here, the entry date and time is the acquisition date and time when the user identification information is acquired by the entrance ticket gate 1A.

[0073] The predetermined period can be set arbitrarily, for example, up to 24 hours before the entry date and time. Furthermore, if the entry date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday, it can be the period from the day before the entry date to the entry date. Of course, the predetermined period is not limited to 24 hours or the day before, but can be a shorter period (for example, one hour before the entry date and time), or a longer period such as several days, one week, or one month.

[0074] Alternatively, the search history acquisition unit 212 may request only the route search history for the specified period from the route search system 200, and the destination station estimation unit 213 may extract the specific search route from the acquired route search history for the specified period.

[0075] If there are multiple extracted specific search routes, the estimated station by the destination station estimation unit 213 may be the expected arrival station included in the specific search route whose search execution date and time is closest to the user's entry date and time, or if there is a common route among the multiple specific search routes where both the expected departure station and the expected arrival station are the same, the expected arrival station included in that common route. Note that the common route is a line where both the expected departure station and the expected arrival station are the same, and all or part of the route from the expected departure station to the expected arrival station may be different.

[0076] In addition, the destination station estimation unit 213 may extract from the entire route search history the specific search route whose search execution date and time is closest to the user's entry date and time, and estimate the expected arrival station included in that specific search route as the user's destination station.

[0077] The destination station estimation unit 213 may also extract from the search history the specific search route for which the scheduled departure date and time entered by the user when using the route search service is within an allowable range determined based on the user's entry date and time, and estimate the scheduled arrival station included in the specific search route as the user's destination station. The allowable range may be set, for example, to a range from the entry date and time to a predetermined time before, or a predetermined time range before or after the entry date and time. The allowable range may also be set to the same day as the entry date and time.

[0078] The train information extraction unit 214 performs a process of extracting, from the train information storage unit 221, train information related to trains heading from the entrance station where the user entered to the estimated station estimated by the destination station estimation unit 213. The train information extraction unit 214 extracts the train information that the entered user is likely to board later. For example, the train information extraction unit 214 extracts train information about trains that depart from the entrance station within a predetermined time from the user's entrance time. Furthermore, the train information extraction unit 214 may extract train information about trains that depart from the entrance station within a predetermined time from the user's entrance time and that have the shortest ride time to arrive at the estimated station.

[0079] The second guidance output unit 215 performs processing to generate the guidance information and output it to a predetermined output destination based on the train information extracted by the train information extraction unit 214. The guidance information generated by the second guidance output unit 215 includes at least one or more of the name of the estimated station estimated by the destination station estimation unit 213 (see FIG. 5), an arrow mark indicating the direction of the boarding platform location from which the train heading to the estimated station departs from the entrance station, and the track number of the train heading to the estimated station.

[0080] Specifically, the second guidance output unit 215 transmits the guidance information to the automatic ticket gate 1 that transmitted the user identification information. Upon receiving this guidance information, the automatic ticket gate 1 outputs the guidance information to the display unit 13 or the projection device 17 by the above-mentioned first guidance output unit 115.

[0081] Furthermore, the second guidance output unit 215 performs processing to output the guidance information to a guidance display device 3 installed in the station 8 and display the guidance information on the guidance display device 3. As will be described later, the station 8 is equipped with the same number of guidance display devices 3 as the number of ticket gate passages 9, and a guidance display device 3 is arranged in a position corresponding to each ticket gate passage 9. In this embodiment, the second guidance output unit 215 outputs the guidance information to a guidance display device 3 arranged in a position corresponding to the automatic ticket gate 1 that transmitted the user identification information.

[0082] If a projection device is provided on the ceiling or the like of station 8, second guidance output unit 215 may output the guidance information to the projection device and cause the projection device to project the guidance information onto projection area 81 defined on the floor of station 8 on the travel direction side of ticket gate passage 9, projection area 91 defined on the floor of ticket gate passage 9 (see FIG. 2 ), or a projection area (not shown) defined on a wall surface of the station. Furthermore, if address information of a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone of the user is stored and managed in association with the user identification information, second guidance output unit 215 may transmit the guidance information to the mobile terminal device of the user.

[0083] In this embodiment, the second guidance output unit 215 displays the guidance information on the guidance display device 3 until a time has passed during which a user passing through the ticket gate passage 9 can confirm the content of the guidance information displayed on the guidance display device 3. Specifically, when a second set time has passed since a user was detected by the human presence sensor 19 on the passage 9A side, the second guidance output unit 215 stops outputting the guidance information and stops displaying it on the guidance display device 3. The second set time is set arbitrarily depending on the distance from the position of the human presence sensor 19 to the guidance display device 3, the average walking speed of the user, etc., and is set within a range of 3 to 5 seconds, for example.

[0084] [Guide display device 3] As shown in FIG. 2, the guidance display device 3 is provided inside the ticket gate 7 within the station 8. Specifically, the guidance display device 3 is provided on the wall surface on the travel direction D10 side of the ticket gate passage 9 of the entrance ticket gate 1A. In this embodiment, the same number of guidance display devices 3 as the number of ticket gate passages 9 are provided. A corresponding guidance display device 3 is located at the end of each of the multiple ticket gate passages 9 in the travel direction D10. This makes it easier for users passing through the ticket gate passage 9 to notice the guidance display device 3 ahead, and to easily notice the content displayed on that guidance display device 3.

[0085] [Central management device 5] The central management device 5 is a server device managed by a railway operator that operates a railway business including multiple stations 8. The central management device 5 manages the train operation status on each line, train arrival and departure times at each station, route change information, and the like.

[0086] [Guide display processing, destination station estimation processing] Hereinafter, with reference to Fig. 6 to Fig. 10, an example of the procedure of the guidance display processing and the destination station estimation processing executed in the guidance display system 100 will be described, and the boarding place guidance method of the present invention will be described. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the guidance display processing. Fig. 7 to Fig. 10 are flowcharts showing an example of the procedure of the destination station estimation processing. In each figure, S1, S1, ... indicate the number (step number) of the processing procedure.

[0087] Note that one or more steps included in the guidance display process and the destination station estimation process described below may be omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, the steps in the guidance display process and the destination station estimation process may be executed in a different order as long as the same effects are achieved. Furthermore, the following describes an example of a process in which the steps in the guidance display process and the destination station estimation process are executed by the control unit 11 of the automatic ticket gate 1 or the control unit 21 of the station server 2, but other embodiments may also include a process in which the steps in the guidance display process and the destination station estimation process are executed in a distributed manner by multiple processors.

[0088] [Guide display processing] As shown in Fig. 6, first, in step S1, the control unit 11 of the automatic ticket gate 1 determines whether or not it has detected a portable recording medium 4 held over the reader / writer 16 by a user attempting to enter the station 8. When the portable recording medium 4 is detected, the control unit 11 acquires the user identification information from the portable recording medium 4 and transmits the user identification information to the station server 2 (S2). Thereafter, when it is determined that the portable recording medium 4 is usable and that the user identification information is valid, the control unit 11 writes the entry station information to the contactless IC memory of the portable recording medium 4 via the reader / writer 16 (S3). Note that step S2 is an example of an identification information acquisition step of the present invention.

[0089] When the control unit 21 of the station server 2 receives the user identification information, it requests the route search system 200 to transmit a route search history corresponding to the user identification information (S4). Specifically, the control unit 21 transmits a request signal including the user identification information to the route search system 200, requesting that the system check whether or not there is a route search history corresponding to the transmitted user identification information and to transmit that route search history. Note that step S4 and step S5 described below are examples of a search history acquisition step of the present invention.

[0090] When the route search system 200 receives the request signal, it refers to the route history database managed by the system and searches for a route search history that matches the user identification information, and if a matching route search history is found, it extracts that route search history and sends it to the station server 2. If there is no route search history that matches the user identification information, it sends a no-history signal to the station server 2 to indicate this.

[0091] In step S5, when the control unit 21 receives the route search history transmitted from the route search system 200, the control unit 21 proceeds to the next step S6, where it executes a destination station estimation process to estimate the destination station of the user based on the route search history. If the route search history is not received, the series of processes ends without displaying the guidance information. Note that step S6 is an example of a destination station estimation step of the present invention.

[0092] When the destination station of the user is estimated in step S6, the control unit 21 extracts train information related to the train heading to the estimated station from the entry station where the user entered from the train information storage unit 221 (S7). Then, based on the extracted train information, the control unit 21 generates the guidance information including the name of the estimated station, an arrow mark indicating the direction of the boarding platform location from which the train heading to the estimated station departs from the entry station, and the track number of the train heading to the estimated station (S8).

[0093] Once the guidance information is generated, the control unit 21 performs processing to output the guidance information to a predetermined output destination (S9). Specifically, the control unit 21 transmits the guidance information to the entrance ticket gate 1A from which the user identification information was obtained. The control unit 21 also outputs the guidance information to the guidance display device 3 installed in the station 8, causing the guidance display device 3 to display the guidance information. Note that step S9 is an example of a guidance output step of the present invention.

[0094] In the automatic ticket gate 1 that has received the guidance information, the control unit 11 outputs the guidance information to the display unit 13 and the projection device 17, displays the guidance information on the display unit 13, and causes the projection device 17 to project the guidance information onto a projection area 81 (see FIG. 2) on the floor (S10). Step S10 is an example of a guidance output step of the present invention. The guidance information displayed on the display unit 13 or the projection area 81 on the floor may be at least either an arrow mark indicating the location of the boarding platform or the number of the line from which a train that the user is likely to board departs.

[0095] [Destination station estimation process] The destination station estimation process in step S6 of FIG. 6 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0096] [Destination station estimation process (first processing example)] First, a first processing example of the destination station estimation processing will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the first processing example of the destination station estimation processing.

[0097] When the route search history is acquired in step S5 (see FIG. 6), as shown in FIG. 7, first, in step S61, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the specific search route is included in the acquired route search history. If it is determined that the specific search route is not included, the series of processes ends without displaying the guidance information. On the other hand, if it is determined that the specific search route is included, the control unit 21 proceeds to the next step S62.

[0098] In step S62, the control unit 21 determines whether the search date and time for the specific search route is within a predetermined range up to the predetermined period before the date and time of entry of the user into the entrance station. In other words, the control unit 21 determines whether the specific search route was searched within the predetermined period. If it is determined that the search date and time for the specific search route is outside the predetermined period, the series of processes ends without displaying the guidance information. On the other hand, if it is determined that the search date and time for the specific search route is within the predetermined period, the control unit 21 proceeds to the next step S63.

[0099] In step S63, the control unit 21 determines whether there are multiple specific search routes. If there are multiple specific search routes, the control unit 21 extracts the specific search route whose search execution date and time is closest to the user's entry date and time from the multiple specific search routes (S64), and then proceeds to step S65. On the other hand, if there is only one specific search route, the extraction process of step S64 is not performed and the process proceeds to step S65.

[0100] In step S65, the control unit 21 estimates that the expected arrival station included in the specific search route is the destination station of the user.

[0101] As described above, in the guidance display system 100 according to this embodiment, when the user identification information of the user is acquired from the portable recording medium 4 via the reader / writer 16 when the user enters, the route search history corresponding to the user identification information is acquired from the route search system 200, and then the destination station of the user is estimated based on the route search history. Then, the guidance information indicating the location of the boarding platform in the entrance station from which the train bound for the destination station (estimated station) departs is output in a position recognizable by the user.

[0102] As a result, even if destination information such as the destination station is not acquired by entrance ticket gate 1A at the time of entry, guidance information indicating the location of the boarding platform from which the train the user plans to board departs is presented to the user. As a result, when passing through entrance ticket gate 1A, the user can easily understand the direction they should go by referring to the guidance information, and can reach the boarding platform without getting lost.

[0103] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, in step S62, the search date and time is narrowed down to the specific search route within a specified range up to the specified period before the date and time of entry of the user into the entry station, thereby improving the accuracy of estimating the destination station.

[0104] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, when there are multiple specific search routes, in step S64, the specific search route whose search execution date and time is closest to the entry date and time is extracted, thereby further improving the accuracy of estimating the destination station.

[0105] In the above embodiment, the process of step S62 may be omitted.

[0106] [Destination station estimation process (second processing example)] Next, a second processing example of the destination station estimation process will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the second processing example of the destination station estimation process. The second processing example differs from the first processing example in that steps S621 to S623 are added. In the following description, the same step numbers are assigned to processes equivalent to those in the first processing example of the destination station estimation process described above, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0107] 8, if it is determined in step S62 that the search execution date and time is outside the predetermined range, the control unit 21 determines whether or not there is a common route in which both the scheduled departure station and the scheduled arrival station are the same, if there is a plurality of specific search routes (S622). Note that if there is only one specific search route, the series of processes ends without displaying the guidance information.

[0108] If it is determined in step S621 that the common route exists, the control unit 21 determines whether the number of common routes is equal to or greater than a predetermined number if there are multiple common routes (S622). If the number of common routes is less than the predetermined number, the process ends without displaying the guidance information.

[0109] If it is determined in step S622 that the number of common routes is equal to or greater than the set number, the control unit 21 extracts the common routes, i.e., the specific search routes that have the same scheduled departure station and scheduled arrival station (S623). Then, in step S65, the control unit 21 estimates that the scheduled arrival station included in the common route is the user's destination station.

[0110] In this way, even if the search date and time of the specific search route is outside the predetermined range, as described above, if both the scheduled departure station and the scheduled arrival station are the same common route and there are more than the set number of common routes, it is considered that the estimation accuracy is sufficiently high even if the scheduled arrival station included in the common route is estimated as the user's destination station. Therefore, even if the user's destination station is estimated using the specific search route identified by this procedure, the user's destination station can be estimated with high accuracy.

[0111] In the above embodiment, an example of a process in which the processes from step S623 onward are performed when the number of common routes is equal to or greater than the set number has been described, but the processes of steps S622 and S623 may be omitted. In this case, for example, when there is only one common route, the control unit 21 estimates the expected arrival station included in that common route as the user's destination station. Also, when there are multiple common routes, for example, the control unit 21 may extract the common route whose search date and time is closest to the entry date and time from among the multiple common routes, and estimate the expected arrival station included in that common route as the user's destination station.

[0112] In the second processing example, step S62 may also be omitted. In this case, if it is determined in step S61 that there are multiple specific search routes, the processing from step S621 onwards is executed.

[0113] [Destination station estimation process (third processing example)] Next, a third processing example of the destination station estimation processing will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the third processing example of the destination station estimation processing. The third processing example differs from the first processing example and the second processing example in that step S624 is added after step S62. In the following description, the same step numbers are assigned to processes equivalent to those in the first processing example and the second processing example of the destination station estimation processing described above, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0114] 9, if it is determined in step S62 that the search execution date and time is within the predetermined range, the control unit 21 proceeds to step S624. In step S624, the control unit 21 determines whether the planned departure date and time input by the user when using the route search service is within the allowable range determined based on the entry date and time of the user.

[0115] The specific search route for which the scheduled departure date and time is within the allowable range is considered to be a route that the user has previously searched for, which is a route from the entrance station on a date close to the entrance date and time. In other words, in this case, it is considered to be a high probability that the scheduled arrival station included in the specific search route is the user's destination station.

[0116] If it is determined in step S624 that the scheduled departure date and time is within the allowable range, the control unit 21 proceeds to step S63 and executes the processes from step S62 onwards.

[0117] In this way, even when the destination station of the user is estimated using the specific search route whose scheduled departure date and time is within the allowable range, the destination station of the user can be estimated with high accuracy. Note that the narrower the allowable range is set, the higher the accuracy of the destination station estimation.

[0118] [Destination station estimation process (4th processing example)] Next, a fourth processing example of the destination station estimation processing will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the fourth processing example of the destination station estimation processing. The fourth processing example differs from the first to third processing examples in that step S60, which is substantially the same processing as step S62, is performed before step S61. In the following description, the same step numbers are assigned to processes equivalent to those in the first and second processing examples of the destination station estimation processing, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0119] 10, if it is determined in step S62 that the search execution date and time is within the predetermined range, the control unit 21 proceeds to step S624. In step S624, the control unit 21 determines whether the planned departure date and time input by the user when using the route search service is within the allowable range determined based on the entry date and time of the user.

[0120] When the route search history is acquired in step S5 (see FIG. 6), as shown in FIG. 10, first, in step S60, the control unit 21 determines whether the acquired route search history includes a route search history whose search implementation date falls within the predetermined period. The processing of step S60 is processing for narrowing down the acquired multiple route search histories to those whose search implementation date falls within the predetermined period. Here, if it is determined that there is a route search history whose search implementation date falls within the predetermined period, in step S61, the control unit 21 determines whether the specified search route is included in the narrowed-down route search history (S61), and then performs the processing of step S63 and subsequent steps.

[0121] Even in this processing example, the same effects as those of the first to third processing examples described above can be achieved.

[0122] In the above-described embodiment, the guidance display system 100 is configured by the automatic ticket gate 1 and the station server 2, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the control unit 11 of the automatic ticket gate 1 may have at least one or more of the processing units of the search history acquisition unit 212, the destination station estimation unit 213, the train information extraction unit 214, and the second guidance output unit 215 that are included in the control unit 21 of the station server 2.

[0123] Furthermore, when the control unit 21 of the automatic ticket gate 1 has the search history acquisition unit 212, the destination station estimation unit 213, and the train information extraction unit 214, the present invention can also be considered as an invention of the automatic ticket gate 1 alone.

[0124] [Notes on the Invention] The following is a summary of the invention extracted from the above-described embodiment. Note that the configurations and processing functions described in the following supplementary notes can be selected and combined as desired.

[0125] <Appendix 1> A boarding location guidance system including an entrance automatic ticket gate installed at an entrance station where railway users enter, an identification information acquisition unit that is provided in the entrance automatic ticket gate and acquires user identification information of the user that is used for payment of railway fares by a deferred payment method; a search history acquisition unit that acquires a search history of the user's route search using a route search system that can search for a route from a scheduled departure station to a scheduled arrival station; a destination station estimation unit that estimates a destination station of the user based on the search history; a guidance output processing unit that outputs guidance information indicating the location of a platform in the entrance station from which a train bound for the estimated station estimated by the destination station estimation unit departs; A boarding location guidance system equipped with:

[0126] <Appendix 2> the search history acquisition unit, when the user identification information is acquired by the identification information acquisition unit, acquires the search history associated with the user identification information from the route search system; the destination station estimation unit extracts a specific search route having the entrance station as the scheduled departure station from the search history, and estimates the scheduled arrival station included in the specific search route as the destination station of the user. The boarding location guidance system described in Appendix 1.

[0127] <Appendix 3> The destination station estimation unit extracting the specific search path from the search history whose search execution date and time is a predetermined period before the acquisition date and time of the user identification information; 3. The boarding location guidance system according to claim 1 or 2.

[0128] <Appendix 4> The destination station estimation unit extracting from the search history the specific search route whose search execution date and time is closest to the acquisition date and time of the user identification information; 4. A boarding location guidance system according to any one of appendices 1 to 3.

[0129] <Appendix 5> The destination station estimation unit extracting from the search history the specific searched route, the planned departure date and time input when using the route search system being within an allowable range determined based on the acquisition date and time of the user identification information; 5. A boarding location guidance system according to any one of appendixes 1 to 4.

[0130] Appendix 6 The guidance output processing unit outputting the guidance information for the platform facing the track from which the train departs within a predetermined time from the acquisition date and time of the user identification information; 6. A boarding location guidance system according to any one of appendixes 1 to 5.

[0131] Appendix 7 The guidance output processing unit displays the guidance information on a first display unit provided in the entrance automatic ticket gate, a second display unit provided on the passageway side of the entrance automatic ticket gate in the direction of travel, or a mobile terminal of the user. 7. A boarding location guidance system according to any one of appendixes 1 to 6.

[0132] Appendix 8 The guidance output processing unit projects the guidance information onto a floor surface of a passage of the entrance automatic ticket gate or a floor surface in the entrance station on the traveling direction side of the passage. 8. A boarding location guidance system according to any one of appendixes 1 to 7.

[0133] Appendix 9 An automatic ticket gate installed at an entrance station where railway users enter, an identification information acquisition unit that acquires user identification information of the user used for payment of railway fares by a deferred payment method; a search history acquisition unit that acquires a search history of the user's route search using a route search system that can search for a route from a scheduled departure station to a scheduled arrival station; a destination station estimation unit that estimates a destination station of the user based on the search history; a guidance output processing unit that outputs guidance information indicating the location of a platform in the entrance station from which a train bound for the estimated station estimated by the destination station estimation unit departs; An automatic ticket gate equipped with

[0134] Appendix 10 an identification information acquisition step of acquiring user identification information of the user, which is used for payment of a railway fare by a deferred payment method, via an identification information acquisition unit provided in an entrance automatic ticket gate installed at an entrance station where the railway user enters; a search history acquisition step of acquiring a search history of the user's route search using a route search system capable of searching for a route from a scheduled departure station to a scheduled arrival station; a destination station estimation step of estimating a destination station of the user based on the search history; a guidance output step of outputting guidance information indicating the location of the platform within the entrance station from which a train bound for the estimated station estimated by the destination station estimation step departs,

[0135] Appendix 11 an identification information acquisition step of acquiring user identification information of the user, which is used for payment of a railway fare by a deferred payment method, via an identification information acquisition unit provided in an entrance automatic ticket gate installed at an entrance station where the railway user enters; a search history acquisition step of acquiring a search history of the user's route search using a route search system capable of searching for a route from a scheduled departure station to a scheduled arrival station; a destination station estimation step of estimating a destination station of the user based on the search history; A guidance output step that outputs guidance information indicating the location of the platform within the entrance station from which a train bound for the estimated station estimated by the destination station estimation step departs. A program for causing one or more processors to execute the above steps, or a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which the program is stored. [Explanation of symbols]

[0136] 1: Automatic ticket gate 2: Station Server 3: Guidance display device 4: Portable recording media 5: Central management device 6: Platform 7: Ticket gate 8: Station 9: Ticket gate passage 10: Housing 11: Control section 13: Display section 16: Reader / writer 17: Projection device 19: Human sensor 21: Control unit 81,91: Projection area 100: Guidance display system 111: Reading processing unit 112: Recording processing unit 113: Traffic control unit 114: Door drive control unit 115: First guidance output unit 200: Route search system 211: Admission information acquisition department 212: Search history acquisition unit 213: Destination station estimation section 214:Train information extraction part 215: Second guidance output unit 221: Train information storage unit

Claims

1. A boarding location guidance system including an entrance automatic ticket gate installed at an entrance station where railway users enter, an identification information acquisition unit that is provided in the entrance automatic ticket gate and acquires user identification information of the user that is used for payment of railway fares by a deferred payment method; a search history acquisition unit that acquires a search history of the user's route search using a route search system that can search for a route from a scheduled departure station to a scheduled arrival station; a destination station estimation unit that estimates a destination station of the user based on the search history; a guidance output processing unit that outputs guidance information indicating the location of a platform in the entrance station from which a train bound for the estimated station estimated by the destination station estimation unit departs; A boarding location guidance system equipped with:

2. the search history acquisition unit, when the user identification information is acquired by the identification information acquisition unit, acquires the search history associated with the user identification information from the route search system; the destination station estimation unit extracts a specific search route having the entrance station as the scheduled departure station from the search history, and estimates the scheduled arrival station included in the specific search route as the destination station of the user. The boarding location guidance system according to claim 1.

3. The destination station estimation unit extracting the specific search path from the search history whose search execution date and time is a predetermined period before the acquisition date and time of the user identification information; The boarding location guidance system according to claim 2.

4. The destination station estimation unit extracting from the search history the specific search route whose search execution date and time is closest to the acquisition date and time of the user identification information; The boarding location guidance system according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The destination station estimation unit extracting from the search history the specific searched route, the planned departure date and time input when using the route search system being within an allowable range determined based on the acquisition date and time of the user identification information; The boarding location guidance system according to claim 2 or 3.

6. The guidance output processing unit outputting the guidance information for the platform facing the track from which the train departs within a predetermined time from the acquisition date and time of the user identification information; The boarding location guidance system according to claim 1 or 2.

7. the guidance output processing unit displays the guidance information on a first display unit provided in the entrance automatic ticket gate, a second display unit provided on the passageway side of the entrance automatic ticket gate in the direction of travel, or a mobile terminal of the user; The boarding location guidance system according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The guidance output processing unit projects the guidance information onto a floor surface of a passage of the entrance automatic ticket gate or a floor surface in the entrance station on the traveling direction side of the passage. The boarding location guidance system according to claim 1 or 2.

9. An automatic ticket gate installed at an entrance station where railway users enter, an identification information acquisition unit that acquires user identification information of the user that is used for payment of railway fares using a deferred payment method; a search history acquisition unit that acquires a search history of the user's route search using a route search system that can search for a route from a scheduled departure station to a scheduled arrival station; a destination station estimation unit that estimates a destination station of the user based on the search history; a guidance output processing unit that outputs guidance information indicating the location of a platform in the entrance station from which a train bound for the estimated station estimated by the destination station estimation unit departs; An automatic ticket gate equipped with:

10. an identification information acquisition step of acquiring user identification information of the user, which is used for payment of a railway fare by a deferred payment method, via an identification information acquisition unit provided in an entrance automatic ticket gate installed at an entrance station where the railway user enters; a search history acquisition step of acquiring a search history of the user's route search using a route search system capable of searching for a route from a scheduled departure station to a scheduled arrival station; a destination station estimation step of estimating a destination station of the user based on the search history; a guidance output step of outputting guidance information indicating the location of the platform within the entrance station from which a train bound for the estimated station estimated by the destination station estimation step departs,

11. an identification information acquisition step of acquiring user identification information of the user, which is used for payment of a railway fare by a deferred payment method, via an identification information acquisition unit provided in an entrance automatic ticket gate installed at an entrance station where the railway user enters; a search history acquisition step of acquiring a search history of the user's route search using a route search system capable of searching for a route from a scheduled departure station to a scheduled arrival station; a destination station estimation step of estimating a destination station of the user based on the search history; A program for causing one or more processors to execute a guidance output step that outputs guidance information indicating the location of the platform within the entrance station from which a train bound for the estimated station estimated by the destination station estimation step departs.

Images