Support device

Abstract

This device provides support for obtaining information on the usage status of toilet rooms. [Solution] The support device 50 for assisting in obtaining the usage status of the toilet room comprises a spatial information acquisition unit 61 that acquires information about the space of the toilet room 21, a usage status simulator 63 that simulates the usage status of the toilet room 21 based on the information acquired by the spatial information acquisition unit 61, and an output unit 65 that outputs the simulation results from the usage status simulator 63.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a support device for assisting in obtaining the usage status of a toilet room.

Background Art

[0002] In commercial facilities, entertainment facilities, etc. used by a large number of people, it is desirable to install an appropriate number of toilets, washbasins, etc. in the toilet room according to the use of the facility, the number of users, their attributes, etc. The number of toilets, washbasins, etc. to be installed in the toilet room is calculated using the appropriate fixture number calculation method summarized in the report of the Subcommittee on Appropriate Fixture Numbers of the Air Conditioning and Sanitary Engineering Society in 1983.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the above-mentioned appropriate fixture number calculation method was formulated more than 40 years ago and cannot cope with changes in the scale and use of buildings after that. For example, there is no formula for dealing with office buildings or complex facilities with 300 or more people. In addition, there has been no sufficient verification as to whether the number of toilets, washbasins, etc. calculated using the above-mentioned appropriate fixture number calculation method is appropriate in view of the usage status of the toilet room in the actually constructed facility, and no technology for verification has been established.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of such problems, and its object is to provide a technique for assisting in obtaining the usage status of a toilet room.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, a support device in one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a spatial information acquisition unit that acquires information about the space of a toilet room, a simulator that simulates the usage status of the toilet room based on the information acquired by the spatial information acquisition unit, and an output unit that outputs the simulation results from the simulator.

[0007] Another aspect of this disclosure is a support system, which comprises the support device described above.

[0008] Another aspect of this disclosure is a support method. This method causes a computer to perform the steps of: acquiring information about the space of a toilet room; simulating the usage of the toilet room based on the acquired information; and outputting the simulation results.

[0009] Furthermore, any combination of the above components, as well as any conversion of the expressions of this disclosure between methods, apparatus, systems, recording media, computer programs, etc., are also valid forms of this disclosure. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This diagram shows the configuration of the support system according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This flowchart shows the procedure for the support method according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] This diagram shows an example of a toilet room design. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of a simulation of toilet room usage. [Figure 5] This diagram shows the configuration of the support device according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] As an embodiment of this disclosure, we will describe a technology for assisting in obtaining the usage status of toilets installed in commercial facilities, entertainment facilities, and the like.

[0012] When a facility is constructed, the toilet rooms are usually designed to match the facility's purpose, the number and characteristics of its users. However, it is difficult to accurately predict the number and characteristics of users before construction, and these factors may change after construction. If the number and arrangement of toilets and other fixtures in a toilet room do not match the current number and characteristics of users, problems may arise such as queues forming in the toilet room or users being forced to travel long distances to reach the toilet. Depending on the severity of the problem, it may be necessary to modify the number, type, and layout of toilets, sinks, and other fixtures in the toilet room to match the actual usage of the toilet room.

[0013] However, in many cases, it is difficult for facility owners or managers (collectively referred to simply as "managers") to accurately grasp the usage status of the toilets installed in their facilities. Furthermore, even if they can grasp the usage status and problems of the toilets, it is difficult for facility managers to determine how to renovate the toilets to resolve the current problems.

[0014] To address these challenges, the support system of this embodiment simulates the usage of a toilet room according to the type, number, and layout of toilets and other fixtures installed in the toilet room, and outputs the simulation results. This allows for accurate determination of whether the type, number, and layout of toilets and other fixtures in the current toilet room or in the proposed design or renovation plan are appropriate. Furthermore, if the type, number, and layout of toilets and other fixtures are inappropriate, the toilet room can be modified as needed, or the existing toilet room can be renovated to improve its usage. In addition, the system can provide facility managers with information to help them decide whether or not to renovate the toilet room, thereby making renovation plans more persuasive and promoting toilet room renovations.

[0015] Figure 1 shows the configuration of the support system 10 according to the embodiment. The support system 10 includes a support device 50 that assists in analyzing the usage status of toilet rooms 21 installed in the facility 20, a staff terminal 40 used by a person in charge to present the usage status of toilet rooms 21 and renovation plans to the manager, a design support device 42 that assists in creating design plans and renovation plans for toilet rooms 21, a sensor 27 installed inside or outside the toilet room 21 to detect information about the current state of the toilet room 21, a communication device 22 that transmits the information detected by the sensor 27 to the support device 50, and the Internet 12, which is an example of a communication means for communication between these devices.

[0016] The sensor 27 may be, for example, a LiDAR, an imaging device, an imaging device with a distance measuring function, or a human presence sensor, which is a sensor capable of detecting information to acquire information such as the shape and usage status of the toilet room 21. The sensor 27 may be permanently installed, or it may be installed for a certain period (for example, about one week) in order to analyze the usage status of the toilet room 21.

[0017] Facility 20 is provided with one or more toilet rooms 21. Each toilet room 21 is provided with a door 23, a washbasin 26, one or more stalls 24, a door 25 for each stall 24, a toilet unit 30 installed in each stall 24, a controller 31 for the user of the toilet unit 30 to input operating instructions to the toilet unit 30, and a urinal 32 installed in the men's toilet room 21. The toilet unit 30 may be a Japanese-style toilet unit or a Western-style toilet unit. Hereinafter, the toilet unit 30, including the urinal 32, will be collectively referred to as "toilet unit 30".

[0018] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the support method according to the embodiment.

[0019] The support device 50 acquires information regarding the space of the toilet room 21 (S10). When analyzing the current usage status of the toilet room 21, the support device 50 acquires information such as the size, shape, layout of the current toilet room 21, the type of toilet device 30 (such as a toilet bowl, urinal, Japanese style, Western style, presence or absence of a cleaning device, type of cleaning device, etc.), number, shape, area, position, number of private rooms 24, shape, area, position, presence or absence of auxiliary equipment such as a child's chair, type, type of fixtures such as washbasin 26, number, shape, area, position, presence or absence of door 23, type, etc. The support device 50 may acquire the survey results from the person in charge who visited the toilet room 21 for on-site investigation from the person-in-charge terminal 40. The support device 50 may acquire information such as drawings of the toilet room 21, such as floor plans and elevation views, 2D CAD data, 3D CAD data, BIM (Building Information Modeling) data, and parts lists from the person-in-charge terminal 40. The support device 50 may acquire the information detected by the sensor 27 from the communication device 22. The support device 50 may acquire information such as point cloud data detected by LiDAR, still images or moving images captured by an imaging device, etc. from the communication device 22. In this case, the support device 50 may acquire information such as the size, shape, layout of the toilet room 21, the type, number, shape, area, position of the toilet device 30, the number, shape, area, position of the private rooms 24, the presence or absence and type of auxiliary equipment, the type, number, shape, area, position of fixtures such as washbasin 26, the presence or absence and type of door 23, etc. based on the acquired information.

[0020] When analyzing the usage status in the design plan or renovation plan of the toilet room 21, the support device 50 acquires information such as the size, shape, layout of the toilet room in the design plan or renovation plan of the toilet room 21, the type, number, shape, area, position of the toilet device 30, the number, shape, area, position of the private rooms 24, the presence or absence and type of auxiliary equipment, the type, number, shape, area, position of fixtures such as washbasin 26, the presence or absence and type of door 23, etc. from the design support device 42.

[0021] The support device 50 acquires the conditions for simulating the usage status of the toilet room 21 (S12). The support device 50 acquires information such as the type, scale, area of the facility where the toilet room 21 is installed, the number of users of the facility, time distribution, attributes, whether the toilet room 21 is for men or women, whether it is crowded or normal, the number of users and attributes during crowded times, the number of users and attributes during normal times, etc. When simulating the usage status of the toilet room 21 already installed in the facility 20, the support device 50 may acquire the number of current users of the toilet room 21, time distribution, attributes, etc. When simulating the usage status of the toilet room 21 at the design stage, the support device 50 may acquire the number of users, time distribution, attributes, etc. of the toilet rooms installed in facilities of the same type as the facility 20 where the toilet room 21 is to be installed.

[0022] Based on the acquired information, the support device 50 simulates the usage status of the toilet room 21 (S14). The support device 50 may execute a multi-agent simulation in which action rules are set for a plurality of users (agents), and the plurality of users act simultaneously while interfering (interacting) with each other according to their respective action rules. The action rules may be, for example, the type and conditions of the toilet device 30 and fixtures used by the user (do not use a Japanese-style toilet even if it is empty, do not use a Western-style toilet without a cleaning device even if it is empty, etc.), the time for the user to use the toilet device 30 and fixtures, whether to wait or move to another toilet room without waiting when a waiting line occurs, and the extent to which waiting is allowed for a waiting line.

[0023] Based on the results of the simulation by the simulator, the support device 50 generates the information to be output (S16). The information to be output includes the occurrence frequency of the waiting line, waiting time, usage rate of the toilet device 30 and fixtures, user flow line, animation display of the simulation, etc.

[0024] The support device 50 outputs the generated output information (S18). The support device 50 may also display the generated output information, reports containing the output information, etc., on a display device, print them using a printing device, or send them to the staff member's terminal 40. This makes it possible to accurately grasp and evaluate the usage status of the toilet room 21.

[0025] The support device 50 generates proposed changes to the toilet room 21 based on the simulation results (S20). The support device 50 may also generate proposed changes to the size, shape, and layout of the toilet room, the type, number, shape, area, and location of the toilet equipment 30, the number, shape, area, and location of the individual stalls 24, the presence and type of ancillary equipment, the type, number, shape, area, and location of installed items such as washbasins 26, and the presence and type of doors 23, based on the simulation results. For example, if a queue occurred in the simulation, the toilet room 21 may be made wider, the number of toilet equipment 30 and installed items may be increased, or the layout of the toilet equipment 30 and installed items may be changed to reduce wasted space. Conversely, if no queue occurred or the frequency of queue occurrence was less than a predetermined value in the simulation, the toilet room 21 may be made narrower, the number of toilet equipment 30 and installed items may be reduced, or the layout of the toilet equipment 30 and installed items may be changed to a layout with more space. The support device 50 may generate proposed changes, including a change in the layout of the toilet room 21, if the waiting lines for the individual stalls 24 and the waiting lines for the washbasins 26 interfere with each other in the toilet room 21. The support device 50 may also receive proposed changes to the toilet room 21 from an administrator or designer. The support device 50 transmits the proposed changes to the toilet room 21 to the design support device 42.

[0026] The design support device 42 modifies the design or renovation plan for the toilet room 21 according to the proposed changes generated by the support device 50 (S22).

[0027] The design support device 42 automatically generates the layout of the toilet equipment 30 and other fixtures in the revised design or renovation plan for the toilet room 21 based on spatial information such as the size and shape of the toilet room 21 (S24). If the support device 50 instructs the design support device 42 to change the number of toilet equipment 30 or other fixtures, the design support device 42 automatically generates a layout in which the instructed number of toilet equipment 30 and other fixtures are placed in the toilet room 21. The design support device 42 may also automatically generate the layout using an evolutionary algorithm in which the fitness is determined by an evaluation value calculated using evaluation criteria for evaluating the quality of the placement of the toilet equipment 30 and other fixtures. The evaluation criteria may include criteria that represent the convenience for the expected user when using the toilet equipment 30 and other fixtures. The design support device 42 transmits the revised design or renovation plan to the support device 50.

[0028] Returning to step S14, the support device 50 simulates the usage of the toilet room 21 in the design or renovation plan modified by the design support device 42. In this way, by repeatedly modifying the design or renovation plan of the toilet room 21 and simulating its usage, it is possible to create a design or renovation plan for the toilet room 21 that is suitable for actual usage.

[0029] Figure 3 shows an example of a toilet room 21 design. In this example, two design proposals (a) and (b) with different layouts of the toilet equipment 30 and other installed items are created for the same toilet room 21, and the usage conditions in each are simulated. The simulation results are then output in a comparable format.

[0030] The support device 50 generates agents (users) at the starting point 90 with a probability corresponding to the number of users in the toilet room 21, and sets behavioral rules for the agents with a probability corresponding to the attribute ratio of the users in the toilet room 21. The support device 50 moves the agents along the passage 91 leading from the starting point 90 to the toilet room 21. If a queue has formed in the passage 91, the support device 50 has the agents join the end of the queue. When an agent reaches the door 23 of the toilet room 21, the support device 50 moves the agent inside the toilet room 21. The support device 50 determines whether the toilet equipment 30 or other fixtures that the agent will use are available, according to the agent's behavioral rules, and if they are available, moves the agent to the toilet equipment 30 or fixtures. If they are not available, the agent waits in an available space inside the toilet room 21. The support device 50 has the agent use the toilet equipment 30 or fixtures for the usage time set in the agent's behavioral rules, and when use is finished, has the agent exit through door 23.

[0031] Figure 4 shows an example of a simulation of the usage of the toilet room 21. The support device 50 may also display an animation of how a user 92 uses the toilet room 21. This makes it possible to visualize the usage status of the toilet room 21, allowing for visual confirmation of the user's movement patterns and the occurrence of waiting lines. The support device 50 may also display the user 92 at a size that matches the scale of the toilet room 21. This allows for visual confirmation of the amount of available space in the toilet room 21.

[0032] The support device 50 may output the results of a simulator simulation of the usage of the same toilet room 21 under multiple different conditions. Figure 3 shows an example of comparing usage when the layout of the toilet equipment 30 and other installed items differs in the same toilet room 21, but usage during peak hours and normal hours may also be compared, or usage when the number of toilet equipment 30 and other installed items differs. This makes it possible to accurately grasp and evaluate the usage of the toilet room 21 under multiple different conditions.

[0033] The support device 50 may output the results of simulating the usage status of multiple different toilet rooms 21 under the same conditions using a simulator. For example, the usage status of multiple toilet rooms 21 with different sizes and shapes may be compared. This makes it possible to accurately grasp and evaluate the usage status of multiple different toilet rooms 21.

[0034] The support device 50 may simulate the behavior of users in part or all of the facility 20, including the toilet rooms 21. For example, in a facility where sports, events, concerts, etc., are held, the situation in which spectators sitting in the audience seats use multiple toilet rooms 21 installed in the facility may be simulated by multi-agent simulation. When events or concerts are held, a large number of spectators will use the toilet rooms 21 during the limited break time. According to the support device 50 of this embodiment, it is possible to evaluate the number of toilet rooms 21, toilet equipment 30, and other installed items necessary to allow spectators who use the toilet rooms 21 to return to their seats during the break time.

[0035] The support device 50 may learn the relationship between information and conditions related to the space of the toilet room 21 and information representing the usage status of the toilet room 21, and generate a usage status prediction algorithm for predicting the usage status of the toilet room 21. This usage status prediction algorithm may be artificial intelligence constructed by a neural network or the like, which takes information and conditions related to the space of the toilet room 21 as input and outputs information representing the usage status of the toilet room 21. The support device 50 may learn the usage status prediction algorithm using simulation results from a simulator or information representing the actual usage status of the toilet room 21 detected by sensors 27 or the like as learning data. For example, the usage status prediction algorithm may be learned by adjusting the intermediate layer of the neural network so that when information and conditions related to the space of the toilet room 21 are input, information representing the usage status of the toilet room 21 is output. This makes it possible to predict the usage status of the toilet room 21 more quickly and accurately.

[0036] Figure 5 shows the configuration of the support device 50 according to the embodiment. The support device 50 comprises a communication device 51, a storage device 80, and a processing device 60. The support device 50 may be a server device, a personal computer or other device, or a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone terminal, smartphone, or tablet terminal.

[0037] The communication device 51 controls communication with other devices. The communication device 51 may communicate using any communication method, whether wired or wireless.

[0038] The storage device 80 stores programs, data, etc., used by the processing device 60. The storage device 80 may be a semiconductor memory, a hard disk, or the like. Information acquired from the communication device 22, the staff terminal 40, etc., is stored in the storage device 80.

[0039] The processing unit 60 comprises a spatial information acquisition unit 61, a condition acquisition unit 62, a usage status simulator 63, an output information generation unit 64, an output unit 65, a usage status estimation AI learning unit 66, a usage status estimation unit 67, and a proposed change generation unit 68. These configurations can be realized in hardware terms by arbitrary circuits, a computer's CPU, memory, or other LSIs, and in software terms by programs loaded into memory, but here we are describing functional blocks realized through the cooperation of these components. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms, such as hardware only or a combination of hardware and software.

[0040] In step S10, the spatial information acquisition unit 61 acquires information about the space of the toilet room 21.

[0041] In step S12, the condition acquisition unit 62 acquires the conditions for simulating the usage status of the toilet room 21.

[0042] In step S14, the usage simulator 63 simulates the usage status of the toilet room 21 based on the information acquired by the spatial information acquisition unit 61 and the information acquired by the condition acquisition unit 62.

[0043] In step S16, the output information generation unit 64 generates output information based on the results of the simulation by the usage simulator 63.

[0044] In step S18, the output unit 65 outputs the output information generated by the output information generation unit 64.

[0045] In step S20, the proposed change generation unit 68 generates proposed changes to the toilet room 21 based on the simulation results from the usage simulator 63.

[0046] The usage status estimation AI learning unit 66 learns the relationship between information and conditions related to the space of the toilet room 21 and information representing the usage status of the toilet room 21, and generates a usage status estimation AI for estimating the usage status of the toilet room 21.

[0047] The usage status estimation unit 67 estimates the usage status of the toilet room 21 using the usage status estimation AI learned by the usage status estimation AI learning unit 66.

[0048] The present disclosure has been described above based on embodiments, but embodiments merely illustrate the principles and applications of the present invention. Furthermore, many modifications and changes in arrangement are possible in the embodiments, without departing from the spirit of the present invention as defined in the claims.

[0049] The support system of this embodiment can be applied not only to toilet rooms in facilities where a specific number of or unspecified users are expected, but also to acquiring usage information for toilets in ordinary homes, public toilets installed in parks or on streets, etc.

[0050] This disclosure includes the following technologies:

[0051] (Item 1) A spatial information acquisition unit that acquires information about the space of the toilet room, Based on the information acquired by the spatial information acquisition unit, a simulator is provided to simulate the usage status of the toilet room. An output unit that outputs the simulation results from the aforementioned simulator, A support device equipped with the following features.

[0052] (Item 2) The spatial information acquisition unit acquires at least one of the following as spatial information about the toilet room: the size, shape, and layout of the toilet room; the type, number, shape, area, and location of the toilets installed in the toilet room; the number, shape, area, and location of the individual stalls installed in the toilet room; the type, number, shape, area, and location of the fixtures installed in the toilet room; and the presence or absence and type of door to the toilet room. The support device described in item 1.

[0053] (Item 3) The simulator receives information acquired by the spatial information acquisition unit and outputs at least one of the following: the frequency of queues in the toilet room, the usage rate of the toilets in the toilet room, the waiting time, the usage rate of the installed items in the toilet room, the waiting time, the movement patterns of users in the toilet room, and an animation display of the simulation. Support devices as described in item 1 or 2.

[0054] (Item 4) The simulator further inputs at least one of the following: the type, size, and dimensions of the facility where the toilet room is installed; the number, time distribution, and attributes of users of the facility; the number, time distribution, and attributes of users of the toilet room; whether the toilet room is for men or women; and whether to simulate the usage situation when the toilet room is crowded or when it is in normal conditions. The simulator then simulates the usage situation of the toilet room according to the input information. Support devices as described in item 2 or 3.

[0055] (Item 5) The output unit outputs the results of simulating the usage status of the same toilet room under multiple different conditions using the simulator. A support device as described in any of items 1 through 4.

[0056] (Item 6) The output unit outputs the results of simulating the usage status of multiple different toilet rooms under the same conditions using the simulator. A support device as described in any of items 1 through 5.

[0057] (Item 7) Based on the simulation results from the aforementioned simulator, a proposed change in the information regarding the toilet room space is generated. A support device as described in any of items 1 through 6.

[0058] (Item 8) The output unit outputs the results of simulating the usage status of the toilet room, as modified according to the proposed changes, using the simulator. Support devices as described in item 7.

[0059] (Item 9) The device includes the support device described in any of items 1 to 8. Support system.

[0060] (Item 10) Computers, A spatial information acquisition unit that acquires information about the space of the toilet room, Based on the information acquired by the spatial information acquisition unit, a simulator is provided to simulate the usage status of the toilet room. An output unit that outputs the simulation results from the aforementioned simulator, A support program to enable it to function as such.

[0061] (Item 11) On the computer, Steps to obtain information about the space in the toilet room, Based on the acquired information, the steps include: simulating the usage status of the toilet room; Steps to output simulation results, A method to support the execution of this task. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0062] 10...Support system, 12...Internet, 20...Facility, 21...Toilet room, 22...Communication device, 23...Door, 24...Individual room, 25...Door, 26...Washbasin, 27...Sensor, 30...Toilet equipment, 31...Controller, 32...Urinal, 40...Person in charge terminal, 42...Design support device, 50...Support device, 51...Communication device, 60...Processing device, 61...Spatial information acquisition unit, 62...Condition acquisition unit, 63...Usage status simulator, 64...Output information generation unit, 65...Output unit, 66...Usage status estimation AI learning unit, 67...Usage status estimation unit, 68...Change proposal generation unit, 80...Storage device, 90...Starting point, 91...Passageway, 92...User.

Claims

[Claim 1] A spatial information acquisition unit that acquires information about the space of the toilet room, Based on the information acquired by the spatial information acquisition unit, a simulator is provided to simulate the usage status of the toilet room. An output unit that outputs the simulation results from the aforementioned simulator, A support device equipped with the following features.

Images