Toilet and toilet management system

Abstract

To provide a toilet and a toilet management system capable of easily grasping the accumulation state of filth in a filth container even at a remote place.SOLUTION: The information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire at least one of image data obtained by capturing an image of the waste container and the number of times of use of the toilet bowl, a determination unit configured to determine whether a predetermined amount or more of the waste has been accumulated in the waste container based on an acquisition result of the acquisition unit, and a communication unit configured to notify a manager of information on the waste based on a determination result of the determination unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to toilets and toilet management systems with replaceable waste receptacles. [Background technology]

[0002] Portable toilets that are temporarily installed at construction sites and the like have been known. This type of toilet is described, for example, in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 describes a knockdown toilet that can be easily installed and removed in a short time, comprising a toilet seat, an X-link toilet seat support, and a gap expansion restrictor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2024-004610 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Temporarily installed toilets require periodic checking to see if waste has accumulated in the waste receptacle. However, the toilet manager is not always present at the toilet's location. Therefore, checking the status of waste accumulation in the waste receptacle is a burden. Conventional technology leaves room for improvement in terms of improving the efficiency of management work for temporary toilets.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above situation, and aims to provide a toilet and toilet management system that allows users to easily grasp the accumulation status of waste in waste containers even from remote locations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the present invention is a toilet comprising a toilet bowl, a replaceable waste container for collecting waste through the toilet bowl, and an information processing device, wherein the information processing device comprises an acquisition means for acquiring at least one of image data of the waste container and the number of times the toilet bowl has been used, a judgment means for judging whether or not a predetermined amount of waste has accumulated in the waste container based on the acquisition result of the acquisition means, and a communication means for notifying a manager of information regarding the waste based on the judgment result of the judgment means.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is a toilet management system comprising a toilet bowl, a replaceable waste container for collecting waste through the toilet bowl, an information processing device, and a receiving terminal for receiving notifications from the information processing device, wherein the information processing device comprises an acquisition means for acquiring at least one of image data of the waste container and the number of times the toilet bowl is used, a judgment means for judging whether or not a predetermined amount of waste has accumulated in the waste container based on the acquisition result of the acquisition means, and a communication means for notifying an administrator of information regarding the waste based on the judgment result of the judgment means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a toilet and a toilet management system that allows the accumulation of waste in a waste container to be easily grasped even in a remote location. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a toilet management system to which a toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a server that manages the toilet management system. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration for performing management processing of the toilet according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of toilet management processing according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] <System configuration> Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a toilet management system 100 to which a toilet 30 according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[0011] First, the overall system configuration will be described. As shown in Figure 1, the restroom management system 100 of this embodiment includes a restroom 30 equipped with an information processing device 1, and a management terminal 2. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the information processing device 1 is equipped in the restroom 30, but this is not limited to this, and the information processing device 1 may also be provided separately from the restroom 30, or may be provided as an external server.

[0012] The information processing device 1 is connected to the management terminal 2 and the toilets 30 via a communication network such as the Internet, and provides various information related to toilet management to the management terminal 2. The information processing device 1 has a database (for example, a management DB 51 described below) constructed therein for managing management information such as identification information such as an ID that identifies the toilet 30 to be installed, the installation location corresponding to the identification information, and information about the administrator who manages the toilet 30.

[0013] The management terminal 2 is an information processing device used by a manager (e.g., a construction company employee) who manages the toilet 30. The management terminal 2 is typically a personal computer, tablet, smartphone, etc. The management terminal 2 may exchange various types of information with the information processing device 1 using a pre-installed program, or may exchange various types of information via a web browser.

[0014] The toilet 30 is a simple toilet that is temporarily installed at high-rise building construction sites, residential detached house construction, renovation work, event plazas, etc. Although only one management terminal 2 and one toilet 30 are shown in FIG. 1, multiple toilets 30 to be managed may be registered for one management terminal 2. Furthermore, the number of management terminals 2 for managing the toilets 30 is not limited to one, and multiple terminals may be used.

[0015] <Hardware configuration> Next, we will explain an example of hardware that makes up the information processing device 1. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing device 1 that manages the toilet management system 100 (toilet 30). The information processing device 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 as a processor, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a bus 14, an input / output interface 15, an output unit 16, an input unit 17, a storage unit 18, a communication unit 19, and a drive 20.

[0016] The CPU 11 executes various processes in accordance with programs recorded in the ROM 12 or programs loaded from the storage unit 18 into the RAM 13. The RAM 13 also stores data and the like required for the CPU 11 to execute various processes. The CPU 11, the ROM 12, and the RAM 13 are interconnected via a bus 14. An input / output interface 15 is also connected to this bus 14.

[0017] The input / output interface 15 is connected to an output unit 16, an input unit 17, a storage unit 18, a communication unit 19, and a drive 20. The output unit 16 is composed of a display, a speaker, etc., and outputs various information as images and sounds. The input unit 17 is composed of a keyboard, a mouse, etc., and inputs various information. The storage unit 18 is composed of a hard disk, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), an SSD (Solid State Drive), etc., and stores various data. The communication unit 19 communicates with other devices via a network including the Internet.

[0018] Removable media 21, such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, or semiconductor memory, is appropriately attached to the drive 20. Programs read from the removable media 21 by the drive 20 are installed in the storage unit 18 as needed. The removable media 21 can also store various data stored in the storage unit 18 in the same way as the storage unit 18.

[0019] The hardware configuration described here is merely an example. The computer described in this embodiment, including the information processing device 1, may have a configuration similar to that described in FIG. 2, or may have a different configuration. The management terminal 2 in FIG. 1 is, for example, a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer having the same hardware configuration as that shown in FIG. 2. The computer may be composed of two or more computers.

[0020] <Toilet configuration> Next, an example of the configuration of the toilet 30 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the toilet 30 according to this embodiment. Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration for performing management processing of the toilet 30 according to this embodiment.

[0021] The toilet 30 mainly comprises a toilet bowl 31, a housing 32, an opening / closing door 33, a top cover 34, a flush water tank 35, a flushing device 36, a waste container 37, a camera 38, an indicator light 39, and a stain prevention panel 40. In this embodiment, the toilet 30 will be described as a men's urinal, but is not limited to this.

[0022] The toilet bowl 31 is fixed to the housing 32 via a support member or the like. In this embodiment, a urinal will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. The housing 32 holds the toilet bowl 31 as well as other components such as a waste container 37. The opening and closing door 33 is a double door that switches between a closed state in which the front side of the toilet bowl 31 is separated from the outside and an open state in which the front side of the toilet bowl 31 is exposed to the outside. The top lid 34 is an openable / closable lid that can be switched between a closed state in which the top of the toilet bowl 31 is isolated from the outside, and an open state in which the top of the toilet bowl 31 is exposed to the outside. Flush water tank 35 is a tank that stores flush water (flushing liquid) for flushing toilet bowl 31. In this embodiment, flush water tank 35 is located on the underside of top lid 34 when it is closed. For example, flush water tank 35 should have a capacity that can withstand more than 135 uses.

[0023] Flush device 36 supplies flush water stored in flush water tank 35 to toilet bowl 31. Flush device 36 in this embodiment is an electrical device with an operation button, and a user of toilet 30 operates the button on flush device 36 (or various sensors detect use of toilet bowl 31), causing flush water to be supplied from flush water tank 35 through a tube to toilet bowl 31. Flush device 36 is powered by power from a dry cell, battery, or the like. Note that in this embodiment, flush device 36 transmits information indicating that it has flushed to information processing device 1 via wired or wireless communication. Furthermore, in addition to the configuration in which flushing occurs in response to pressing a button as described above, flushing may also occur in response to a person leaving the area after use, using a human presence sensor or the like.

[0024] The waste container 37 is a container that stores waste sent from the toilet bowl 31 through piping or the like together with flush water. The waste container 37 may have a capacity of, for example, 20 liters. There may be one waste container 37, or multiple waste containers 37 may be arranged. In this embodiment, two waste containers 37 are arranged below the toilet bowl 31 in the housing 32. The two waste containers 37 may be connected to each other by connecting either one of the two waste containers 37, or by connecting both waste containers 37 simultaneously. In this embodiment, urine flowing in from the above-mentioned toilet bowl 31 (for example, a urinal) will be used as an example of waste.

[0025] The camera 38 is an imaging device for capturing an image of the waste container 37. The camera 38 is installed in a position where it can capture an image of the waste container 37. By constructing the waste container 37 from a transparent material, the amount of waste can be confirmed from the outside of the waste container 37 using the camera 38. For example, by adding a scale indicating a predetermined position (e.g., a scale indicating 50% or 80% of the total capacity) to the waste container 37, the determination unit 42 (described below) can determine, based on the imaging device, whether the amount of waste accumulated in the waste container 37 has exceeded the predetermined amount. Note that the scale on the waste container 37 is not essential, and the amount of waste in the waste container 37 may be determined using various existing image processing methods.

[0026] The indicator light 39 is a display unit that is arranged at a location where the toilet bowl 31 is used and that displays an indication that the toilet 30 cannot be used based on the determination result of the determination unit 42. The indicator light 39 is, for example, configured as a red indicator light. The indicator light 39 is preferably installed in a position that is easily visible from the outside even when the opening / closing door 33 or the top cover 34 is closed. The indicator light 39 may be arranged on the housing 32 as shown in FIG. 3, or on the opening / closing door 33 or the top cover 34. Alternatively, it may be arranged in a position separated from the toilet 30. Note that instead of the indicator light 39, a device that displays images, such as an LCD display, may be used as the display unit. The indicator light 39 is arranged at a location where the toilet bowl 31 is used and can also be considered as display means that displays whether the toilet 30 can be used or not based on the determination result of the determination unit 42, which will be described later.

[0027] The stain prevention panel 40 is disposed between the toilet bowl 31 and the waste container 37. The stain prevention panel 40 prevents waste generated when the toilet bowl 31 is used from scattering into the waste container 37.

[0028] <Functional configuration> 4 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the information processing device 1 according to this embodiment. In the CPU 11 of the information processing device 1, an acquisition unit 41, a determination unit 42, and a communication unit 43 function during operation. In addition, a storage unit 18 of the information processing device 1 is provided with a management DB 51 and a count DB 52.

[0029] ≪Acquisition part 41≫ The acquisition unit 41 (acquisition means) acquires image data of the waste container 37 from the camera 38 (connected for wired or wireless communication). The acquisition unit 41 also acquires the number of times the toilet 31 has been used from the flushing device 36. The acquired number of times of use may be stored in the number of times DB 52. The count of the number of times of use may be reset, for example, when the amount of waste in the waste container 37 decreases (when the waste container 37 is emptied) by image processing, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the acquisition unit 41 acquires the image data and the number of uses described above, but it may acquire only one of them. The acquisition unit 41 may also acquire in advance the number of workers in the location where the toilet 31 will be used and / or the temperature on the work day.

[0030] ≪Judgment section 42≫ The determination unit 42 (determination means) determines, based on the result acquired by the acquisition unit 41, whether or not waste has accumulated in the waste container 37 to a predetermined amount or more.

[0031] For example, the determination unit 42 determines whether or not the amount of waste has accumulated to a predetermined amount or more by image processing based on image data captured by the camera 38. Specifically, the determination unit 42 may determine that the amount of waste has accumulated to a predetermined amount or more when the amount of waste accumulated in the waste container 37 is 80% or more (a predetermined value). The judgment unit 42, for example, analyzes the position of the waste from an image captured by the camera 38, and determines whether the amount of accumulated waste has reached a predetermined level based on the positional relationship between the waste and a reference position set in the waste container 37 as a judgment criterion. Specifically, for example, a scale indicating a predetermined position (e.g., a scale indicating 80%) is added to the waste container 37, and when the upper limit value (e.g., the color boundary) of the waste in the waste container 37 reaches or exceeds that scale, it is determined that the amount of waste accumulated is above a predetermined level.

[0032] Furthermore, for example, the determination unit 42 determines whether or not a predetermined amount of waste has accumulated in the waste container based on the number of times the toilet 31 has been used. Specifically, for example, if the total capacity of the two waste containers 37 is 40 liters, the amount of urination per use is 300 cc, and the amount of flushing water per use is 15 cc, the judgment unit 42 will judge that a predetermined amount of waste has accumulated in the waste container when the number of uses reaches 101 times (≦40000 ÷ 315 × 0.8) or more. It should be noted that flush water does not have to be flushed every time the toilet 31 is used. For example, flush water may be flushed at predetermined time intervals (e.g., once every five minutes). In this case, the determination unit 42 may count the number of times the toilet 31 is used using various methods (e.g., a motion sensor, an infrared sensor, etc.), and determine that a predetermined amount of waste has accumulated in the waste container 37 when the estimated volume of the waste container 37 described below exceeds 32 liters (80% of the tank capacity). Estimated volume of waste container 37 = number of uses x 300cc + amount of flushing water used

[0033] Furthermore, the determination unit 42 acquires frequency information, which is information indicating the frequency of use of the toilet 30, and changes the determination criteria based on the frequency information. For example, if the number of workers (frequency information) is greater than a predetermined number, the determination unit 42 changes the predetermined value from 80% to 50% (lowers the predetermined value). This makes it possible to prevent the waste container 37 from becoming full in advance, even if the number of workers increases on the same day or the next day (including the following week, etc.). The frequency information may be, for example, information indicating the type of work (work process) to be performed (on the same day or the next day, etc.) at the location where the toilet 31 is used. In this case, the number of workers is set in advance depending on the type of work (e.g., reinforcement work for the building frame, electrical wiring work, interior work, etc.). Then, if the number of workers using the toilet 30 is extracted according to the type of work, and the standard number of workers per day is set to, for example, 30, the determination process is performed using the normal determination standard (e.g., 80%) for work that is expected to be performed by fewer than 30 people. On the other hand, for work that is expected to be performed by more than 30 people, the determination process may be performed based on a modified determination standard (e.g., 50%) that allows for early detection of a predetermined amount of waste accumulation. The frequency information is not limited to the above, and may be, for example, temperature (of the current day or the following day, etc.). For example, if the temperature is within a predetermined range (e.g., 10°C to 30°C), the determination process is performed using the normal determination criterion (e.g., 80%). On the other hand, if the temperature is outside the predetermined range (e.g., below 10°C or above 30°C), the determination process may be performed based on a modified determination criterion (e.g., 50%) that allows for early detection of a predetermined amount of waste accumulation. This makes it possible to prevent the waste container 37 from becoming full even if the number of times the worker uses the toilet increases on the current day or the following day (including the following week, etc.).

[0034] An example of changing the judgment criterion will be described. Assume that the reference position as the judgment criterion is normally set to a position where the waste container 37 is 80% of its maximum capacity. In this case, when the judgment unit 42 acquires frequency information indicating that the toilet 30 is used frequently, it changes the reference position to a position where it is 60% or 50%, which is lower than normal. Then, the judgment unit 42 judges whether or not a predetermined amount of waste has accumulated in the waste container 37 based on the changed reference position. For example, the judgment unit 42 stores information indicating the reference position corresponding to the content of the work in a table or the like, and when the content of the work is input from the information processing device 1 or the management terminal 2, the judgment unit 42 changes the reference position (judgment criterion) by referring to the table. Note that the frequency information may not be the content of the work, but may be information that directly indicates the frequency of use as a numerical value.

[0035] Furthermore, when a preset alert condition is met, the determination unit 42 of this embodiment performs processing to notify the manager of alert information indicating that an abnormality may have occurred in the toilet 30. The alert condition is, for example, that a determination result indicating that a predetermined amount of waste has accumulated in the waste container 37 has not been obtained even after a set period has elapsed, which is set starting from the replacement of the waste container 37.

[0036] Communications Department 43 The communication unit 43 (communication means) notifies the manager's management terminal 2 of information regarding the dirt based on the judgment result of the judgment unit 42. In this embodiment, the communication unit 43 transmits the information regarding the dirt based on the judgment result to the information processing device 1 via the Internet, for example, using Wi-Fi (registered trademark) available at the installation location.

[0037] <Management process flow> Next, the flow of the process for determining whether or not a predetermined amount of waste has accumulated will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the management process of the toilet 30 according to this embodiment.

[0038] In step S1, the acquisition unit 41 acquires image data for detecting the amount of waste accumulated in the waste container 37.

[0039] In step S2, the acquisition unit 41 acquires frequency information indicating the frequency of use of the toilet 31. As described above, the frequency information may be information that indirectly indicates the frequency of use of the toilet 31, such as the work process in the place where the toilet 30 is used.

[0040] In step S3, based on the acquired frequency information, the determination unit 42 sets a determination criterion for the amount of accumulated waste in the waste container 37. For example, the determination unit 42 sets the determination criterion to 80% depending on the number of workers.

[0041] In step S4, the judgment unit 42 executes a judgment process based on the image data and a judgment criterion set based on the frequency information to judge whether or not a predetermined amount of waste has accumulated in the waste container 37. If the result of the judgment process indicates that a predetermined amount of waste has accumulated in the waste container 37, the judgment unit 42 proceeds to step S5 (step S4; Yes).

[0042] In step S5, the judgment unit 42 outputs a judgment result indicating that a predetermined amount of waste has accumulated in the waste container 37 to the communication unit 43, and the communication unit 43 executes a notification process to notify the management terminal 2 that waste has accumulated. The manager who receives the notification makes arrangements to replace the waste container 37. This makes it possible to replace the waste container 37 on the same day or the day after it becomes clear that a predetermined amount of waste has accumulated.

[0043] The determination result indicating that waste has accumulated is transmitted to, for example, the information processing device 1. The determination result transmitted to the information processing device 1 includes information for identifying the location of the toilet 30, such as the identification information of the toilet 30 and the floor of the building on which it is located. The information processing device 1 identifies the toilet 30 that sent the information, and transmits information to the manager of the toilet 30 indicating that a predetermined amount of waste has accumulated. The method of notification from the information processing device 1 to the management terminal 2 is not particularly limited, but may be a format in which an email is sent to the email address of the person in charge, or a format in which notification is sent using a pop-up function of an application or the like resident on the management terminal 2.

[0044] In step S6, the determination unit 42 outputs a lighting command to the indicator light 39, and the indicator light 39 lights up to indicate that the toilet 30 is unavailable. After the process of step S6, the process ends.

[0045] A case will be described where, as a result of the determination process in step S4, the predetermined amount of dirt has not accumulated in the dirt container 37. In this case, the determination unit 42 advances the process to step S7 (step S4; No).

[0046] In step S7, the judgment unit 42 judges whether the alert condition is met. If the set period has not elapsed and the alert condition is not met, the judgment unit 42 returns the process to step S1 (step S7; No). If the set period has elapsed and the alert condition is met, the judgment unit 42 proceeds to step S8 (step S7; Yes).

[0047] In step S8, the judgment unit 42 outputs a judgment result indicating that the alert condition has been satisfied to the communication unit 43, and the communication unit 43 executes a notification process to notify the manager of alert information indicating that an abnormality may have occurred in the toilet 30. The alert information is transmitted to, for example, the information processing device 1. The alert information also includes information for identifying the toilet 30 and the location of the toilet 30, such as the toilet 30's identification information and the floor on the building on which it is located. The information processing device 1 identifies the toilet 30 that sent the information and transmits information indicating that an abnormality may have occurred to the manager of the toilet 30. The method of notification from the information processing device 1 to the management terminal 2 is not particularly limited, and may include sending an email to the email address of the person in charge, or notifying via a pop-up function of an application or the like resident on the management terminal 2. After the processing of step S8, the process returns to step S1.

[0048] (others) (1) As described above, the toilet 30 of this embodiment is a toilet comprising a toilet bowl 31, a replaceable waste container 37 that collects waste through the toilet bowl 31, and an information processing device 1, and the information processing device 1 comprises an acquisition unit 41 (acquisition means) that acquires at least one of image data of the waste container 37 and the number of times the toilet bowl 31 has been used, a judgment unit 42 (judgment means) that judges whether or not a predetermined amount of waste has accumulated in the waste container 37 based on the acquisition result of the acquisition unit 41, and a communication unit 43 (communication means) that notifies an administrator of information regarding the waste based on the judgment result of the judgment unit 42. As a result, a manager who manages a portable toilet 30 that has been temporarily installed and that needs to replace the waste container 37 can easily grasp the status of waste accumulation in the waste container 37 through information from the communication unit 43, even if the manager is away from the installation location of the toilet 30. The manager can grasp the timing for replacing the waste container 37, thereby streamlining the management work of the service that installs temporary toilets 30.

[0049] (2) In addition, in this embodiment, the acquisition unit 41 acquires image data of the waste container, and the judgment unit 42 judges whether or not the waste has accumulated in the waste container 37 to a predetermined amount or more based on the image data acquired by the acquisition unit 41. This allows the camera 38 for detecting the amount of dirt to be positioned away from the dirt, preventing the camera 38 from becoming soiled with dirt.

[0050] (3) The acquisition unit 41 acquires the number of times the toilet 31 has been used, and the judgment unit 42 determines whether or not a predetermined amount of waste has accumulated in the waste container 37 based on the number of times the toilet 31 has been used. This allows the waste container 37 to be managed even when the volume of the waste container 37 cannot be accurately obtained.

[0051] (4) In addition, in this embodiment, the acquisition unit 41 acquires information on the frequency of use of the toilet 31, and the judgment unit 42 lowers a predetermined value for determining whether or not the waste has accumulated to a predetermined amount or more based on the frequency information. Even if it is determined that the waste container 37 has accumulated to a predetermined amount, it takes time before the waste container 37 is actually replaced. It is possible to set the criteria by providing a buffer to take into account the time required for replacement, but depending on the frequency of use, the time from when the waste container 37 accumulates to when it becomes unusable may be shorter. In this regard, according to the configuration of this embodiment, the criteria are changed depending on the frequency of use, so that management according to the usage status is possible, such as setting the criteria lower when the frequency of use is high and replacing the waste container earlier. This allows, for example, a manager to set information indicating frequency of use in the toilet 30 simply by setting the details of the work. Even if the manager does not have the knowledge to set the frequency, he or she can easily manage the toilets according to usage conditions without having to go through the trouble of calculating the frequency.

[0052] (5) In addition, in this embodiment, if the judgment means does not output the judgment result indicating that the amount of dirt has accumulated to a predetermined level or more even after a predetermined set period has elapsed, the communication unit 43 may output alert information indicating an abnormality to the manager (or his / her terminal). If a predetermined amount of waste has not accumulated in the waste container 37 for a certain period of time, it may be that the toilet 30 has become unusable for some reason, or that an abnormality has occurred in the configuration related to the detection unit such as the camera 38. In this regard, with the configuration of this embodiment, if a determination result indicating that a predetermined amount of waste has accumulated in the waste container 37 is not output even after the set period has elapsed, alert information is notified, so the manager can quickly grasp the possibility that an abnormality has occurred in the toilet 30.

[0053] (6) In addition, in this embodiment, it is preferable to further include a display means that is arranged at the location where the toilet 31 is used and that displays whether the toilet 1 can be used or not based on the judgment result of the judgment unit 42. This allows users of the toilet 30 to easily know from the indicator light 39 whether the toilet 30 is available for use or not, without checking the waste container 37. This effectively prevents the toilet 30 from accumulating more waste than the predetermined amount and then being used again, resulting in further accumulation of waste.

[0054] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications, improvements, etc. within the scope of achieving the object of the present invention are included in the present invention.

[0055] For example, in the above embodiment, the determination unit 42 may be a weighing scale that detects the weight of the waste container 37. In this configuration, the determination unit 42 determines that a predetermined amount of waste has accumulated when the weight of the waste container 37 becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined amount.

[0056] In addition to the configuration of the above embodiment, the information processing device 1 or the toilet 30 may be provided with a process for periodically checking with the manager, such as every Tuesday, whether the waste container 37 needs to be replaced, or a process for suggesting to the manager that an additional toilet 30 be added if the waste container 37 is being replaced frequently.

[0057] Furthermore, an identification code such as a two-dimensional code (registered trademark) may be placed on the toilet bowl 31, the housing 32, the door 33, or the top cover 34, etc., so that a user of the toilet 30 can notify the manager that an abnormality has occurred in the toilet 30. For example, the information processing device 1 may be configured to notify the manager's management terminal 2 that a user of the toilet 30 has provided information, such as that the amount of waste has exceeded a certain level or that the toilet 30 cannot be used, based on access from a terminal with a reading function, such as a smartphone, that reads the identification code.

[0058] In some cases, the process of changing the judgment criteria may be omitted from the above embodiment, and the judgment process may be performed based on preset judgment criteria, or the process of transmitting alert information based on the alert conditions and the indicator light 39 may be omitted.

[0059] Furthermore, the above-described series of processes can be executed by hardware or software. In other words, the above-described functional configuration is merely an example and is not particularly limited. That is, it is sufficient for the toilet 30 to be equipped with the functionality to execute the above-described series of processes as a whole, and the type of functional block used to realize this functionality is not particularly limited to the above-described example. Furthermore, the location of the functional block is not particularly limited and may be arbitrary. For example, in the toilet management system 100, a functional block such as the judgment unit 42 of the toilet 30 may be transferred to another device such as the information processing device 1. Furthermore, one functional block may be configured as hardware alone, software alone, or a combination thereof.

[0060] When a series of processes is executed by software, the programs constituting the software are installed onto a computer or the like from a network or a recording medium. The computer may be a computer incorporated into dedicated hardware. The computer may also be a computer capable of executing various functions by installing various programs, such as a server, a general-purpose smartphone, or a personal computer.

[0061] The recording medium containing such a program may be configured as not only a removable medium (not shown) that is distributed separately from the device main body in order to provide the program, but also a recording medium that is provided in a state that it is pre-installed in the device main body, etc. Since the program can be distributed via a network, the recording medium may be installed in or accessible to a computer that is connected or connectable to the network.

[0062] In this specification, the steps describing the program recorded on the recording medium include not only processes that are performed in chronological order, but also processes that are not necessarily performed in chronological order but are performed in parallel or individually. Also, in this specification, the term "system" means an overall device composed of multiple devices or multiple means, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 30 Toilet 31 Toilet 32 Case 33 Opening and closing doors 34 Top lid 35 Cleaning water tank 36 Cleaning equipment 37 Waste container 38 Camera 39 Indicator light 40 Anti-fouling panel 100 Toilet Management System

Claims

1. Toilet bowl and a replaceable waste container for receiving waste through the toilet bowl; An information processing device, The information processing device includes: an acquisition means for acquiring at least one of image data of the waste container and the number of times the toilet is used; a determination means for determining whether or not the waste has accumulated in the waste container to a predetermined amount based on the result of acquisition by the acquisition means; a communication means for notifying a manager of information relating to the waste based on the determination result of the determination means; A toilet equipped with:

2. the acquiring means acquires image data of the waste container; The determination means determines whether or not the waste has accumulated in the waste container to a predetermined amount or more based on the image data acquired by the acquisition means. The toilet of claim 1.

3. The acquisition means acquires the number of times the toilet has been used, The determination means determines whether or not the waste has accumulated in the waste container to a predetermined amount based on the number of times the toilet has been used. The toilet of claim 1.

4. The acquisition means acquires information about the frequency with which the toilet is used, the determining means reduces a predetermined value for determining whether or not the amount of waste accumulated is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, based on the frequency information; The toilet of claim 1.

5. When the determination means does not output the determination result indicating that the amount of waste has accumulated to a predetermined amount or more even after a preset period of time has elapsed, the communication means outputs alert information indicating an abnormality to the manager. The toilet of claim 1.

6. The toilet further includes a display means that is disposed at a location where the toilet is used and that displays whether the toilet is usable or not based on the determination result of the determination means. The toilet of claim 1.

7. Toilet bowl and a replaceable waste container for receiving waste through the toilet bowl; an information processing device; a receiving terminal that receives a notification from the information processing device; A toilet management system comprising: The information processing device includes: an acquisition means for acquiring at least one of image data of the waste container and the number of times the toilet is used; a determination means for determining whether or not the waste has accumulated in the waste container to a predetermined amount based on the result of acquisition by the acquisition means; a communication means for notifying a manager of information relating to the waste based on the determination result of the determination means; A toilet management system comprising:

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