Terminal status information device

Abstract

The system displays the status of the peripheral device (information terminal 10) being operated while moving to the user of the portable information terminal 10, thereby alerting the user. [Solution] The information terminal 10 notifies the management server 100 of its location. The management server 100 determines whether the information terminal 10 is in a mobile usage state. The information terminal 10 is notified of the location of the mobile usage state of the information terminal 10 (peripheral terminal). The information terminal 10 calculates the density of the mobile usage state of the peripheral terminals. Guidance information is output according to the density.

Description

【Technical Field】 【0001】 The present invention relates to a terminal state guidance device. 【Background Art】 【0002】 Conventionally, when a user of a mobile phone terminal operates the mobile phone terminal or views the display while moving, the user may become distracted and inattentive. As a method for avoiding this, for example, there are technologies disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-60481 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-263262 (Patent Document 2). 【0003】 In the case of Patent Document 1, when the user of the mobile phone terminal is moving (walking), the display screen is made non-display, and when not moving, the display on the display screen is continued. Whether the user is moving (walking) is detected by acquiring the position information of the mobile phone terminal at predetermined intervals. 【0004】 In the case of Patent Document 2, when the user of the mobile terminal is moving (walking), the operation of the terminal is restricted. Whether the user is moving (walking) is detected by sending the position information of the terminal to the server and having the server side determine whether the terminal is moving. 【Prior Art Documents】 【Patent Documents】 【0005】 【Patent Document 1】 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-60481 【Patent Document 2】 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-263262 【Summary of the Invention】 【Problems to be Solved by the Invention】 【0006】 In the conventional technologies of Patent Documents 1 and 2, a user using a portable terminal device cannot grasp the usage status of other users around himself / herself. 【0007】 Therefore, one example of a problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a technology that can notify users of terminal devices of the surrounding terminal devices and the user's usage status. [Means for solving the problem] 【0008】 The present invention as described in claim 1 is a terminal status guidance device comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires location information of a plurality of terminal devices and usage status information indicating the usage status of the terminal devices while in motion; a density detection unit that detects that terminal devices in motion are densely clustered based on the location information and the usage status information; and an output unit that outputs guidance information based on the detection result of the density detection unit, wherein the terminal status guidance device has a navigation function that searches for a route from the current location to a destination and provides guidance to the destination, the navigation function searches for a route that avoids the area where terminal devices in motion are densely clustered based on the detection result of the density detection unit, and the output unit outputs the searched route as guidance information. The present invention as described in claim 3 is a terminal status guidance device comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires location information of a plurality of terminal devices and usage status information indicating the usage status of the terminal devices while in motion; a density detection unit that detects that terminal devices in motion and in use are densely clustered based on the location information and the usage status information; and an output unit that outputs guidance information based on the detection result of the density detection unit, wherein the acquisition unit further acquires information on the direction of movement of the plurality of terminal devices, and the density detection unit predicts the density using the information on the direction of movement of the terminal devices in motion and in use. The present invention as described in claim 4 is a guidance method performed by a computer, characterized in that it acquires location information of a plurality of terminal devices and usage status information indicating the usage status of the terminal devices while in motion, detects that terminal devices in motion are densely clustered based on the acquired location information and usage status information, searches for a route from the current location to the destination that avoids the area where terminal devices in motion are densely clustered based on the detection result, and outputs the searched route. The present invention as described in claim 5 is a program characterized by causing a computer to execute the guidance method described in claim 4. The present invention as described in claim 6 is a computer-readable recording medium characterized by storing the program described in claim 5. The present invention as described in claim 7 is a terminal status guidance method performed by a computer, characterized in that it acquires location information of a plurality of terminal devices, usage status information indicating the usage status of the terminal devices while they are moving, and information on the direction of movement of the terminal devices, detects that terminal devices in a usage status while moving are clustered together based on the acquired location information and usage status information, outputs guidance information based on the detection result, and predicts the clustering of terminal devices in a usage status while moving using the information on the direction of movement. The present invention as described in claim 8 is a program characterized by causing a computer to execute the terminal status guidance method described in claim 7. The present invention as described in claim 9 is a computer-readable recording medium characterized by storing the program described in claim 8. [Brief explanation of the drawing] 【0009】 [Figure 1] This is a functional block diagram showing the main components of an information terminal device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a functional block diagram showing the main components of the management server in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This diagram shows an overview of the communication operation between an information terminal and a management server in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4]This is a flowchart of the main part of the control program executed by the computer in the control unit of the information terminal in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart of the main parts of the control program executed by the computer of the control unit of the information terminal in the third embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention] 【0010】 One embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The terminal status guidance device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires location information of a plurality of terminal devices and usage status information indicating the usage status of the terminal devices while in motion; a density detection unit that detects that terminal devices in motion and in use are clustered together based on the location information and the usage status information; and an output unit that outputs guidance information based on the detection result of the density detection unit. 【0011】 Furthermore, the output unit outputs the guidance information to the terminal device while it is in use, and the guidance information is a terminal status guidance device that includes at least one of the following: guidance information that directs the user to a location with low density, or warning information that instructs the user to stop using the device while it is in use. 【0012】 Furthermore, the guidance information is dense area information indicating an area where terminal devices in use while moving are concentrated, and the output unit is a terminal status guidance device that outputs the dense area information superimposed on map data. 【0013】 Furthermore, the terminal status guidance device has a navigation function that searches for a route from the current location to the destination and provides guidance to that destination. The terminal status guidance device searches for a route that does not enter an area where terminal devices in use are densely concentrated, and outputs the searched route as guidance information. 【0014】 Furthermore, the acquisition unit acquires information on the direction of movement of the multiple terminal devices, and the congestion detection unit is a terminal state guidance device that predicts congestion using the information on the direction of movement of the terminal devices in use while moving. 【0015】 Also, a terminal state guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a terminal state guidance system including a plurality of terminal devices and a management device, the terminal state guidance system including an acquisition unit configured to acquire position information of the plurality of terminal devices and usage state information indicating a usage state during movement of the terminal devices, and a density detection unit configured to detect that terminal devices in a usage state during movement are concentrated based on the position information and the usage state information, the terminal state guidance system being configured to output guidance information based on a detection result of the density detection unit. 【0016】 Also, a terminal state guidance method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes acquiring position information of a plurality of terminal devices and usage state information indicating a usage state during movement of the terminal devices, detecting that terminal devices in a usage state during movement are concentrated based on the acquired position information and the usage state information, and outputting guidance information based on the detection result to the terminal devices. 【0017】 Also, it may be a program for causing a computer to execute the above-described terminal state guidance method. 【0018】 Also, the above-described program may be stored in a computer-readable recording medium. 【Example】 【0019】 Next, examples of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 5. 【0020】 (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a main configuration of a portable information terminal 10 as an example of a “terminal state guidance device” in the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a main configuration of a management server 100 as an example of a “management device” in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of a communication operation between the information terminal 10 and the management server 100. Each functional block shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a functional realization means obtained by a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer (not shown) executing a control program (software), and hardware resources such as a memory device. 【0021】 Furthermore, a state in which a user is operating the information terminal 10 while walking, or is not operating it but is intently watching the screen display, is defined as "use while moving" or "state of use while moving." In addition, information terminals 10 located within a certain distance (for example, a radius of 100m) from an information terminal 10 are also referred to as "peripheral terminals." 【0022】 As shown in Figure 1, the information terminal 10 consists of a control unit 1, a storage unit 2, a communication unit 3, a GPS receiver unit 4, and a liquid crystal display unit 5 as an example of a "display unit". The control unit 1 also consists of a display control unit 11, an operation control unit 12, a communication control unit 13, an execution unit 14, a recording control unit 15, a mobile usage detection unit 16, and a density calculation unit 17. 【0023】 As shown in Figure 2, the management server 100 consists of a control unit 101, a state management unit 102, a speed calculation unit 103, a storage unit 104, and the like. 【0024】 The outline of this first embodiment is as follows. As shown in Figure 3, first, if the information terminal 10 is being operated by a user or displaying a video, etc., it transmits its own location information to the management server 100 at regular intervals. The management server 100 manages multiple information terminals 10, and the control unit 101 determines whether each information terminal 10 is in a "moving usage state" based on the speed calculated by the speed calculation unit 103 based on the location information from the information terminal 10. The control unit 101 also notifies the status management unit 102 of the ID, speed, and location information of each information terminal 10, as well as information of peripheral terminals for each information terminal 10. The control unit 101 of the management server 100 then notifies each information terminal 10 of the usage status information (including location information) of all peripheral terminals of that information terminal 10 that are in a "moving usage state," as described later. 【0025】 The information terminal 10 calculates the density of surrounding terminals that have received notifications indicating they are in "mobile use mode," and displays a message corresponding to this density. In this first embodiment, the information terminal 10 also detects its own "mobile use mode" using the mobile use detection unit 16 and displays a message prompting the user to stop operating the device while walking, for example. 【0026】 In the information terminal 10, the control unit 1 primarily processes and outputs each input information, and the storage unit 2 stores the information necessary for processing. The communication unit 3 exchanges data with the outside, and the GPS receiver unit 4 acquires location information. The liquid crystal display unit 5 (an example of a display unit) outputs information to the screen. 【0027】 In the control unit 1, the display control unit 11, as an example of an "output unit," controls the information output to the screen, and the operation control unit 12 acquires user operation information. The communication control unit 13 determines the communication content, and the execution unit 14 performs overall operation control. The recording control unit 15 controls writing to and reading from the storage unit 2. The mobile usage detection unit 16 detects the state of the information terminal 10 from the information obtained via the communication control unit 13. Then, the density calculation unit 17 calculates the density of surrounding terminals in mobile usage state from the information obtained via the communication control unit 13. 【0028】 Furthermore, the execution unit 14 acquires the user's operation status from the operation control unit 12, and if the user is operating the device or displaying a video, it transmits location information indicating the location of the information terminal 10 acquired by the GPS receiver unit 4 to the management server 100 via the communication unit 3 at regular intervals. The method for acquiring the location information (latitude and longitude information) of the information terminal 10 is a well-known method using GPS, etc., and its explanation is omitted. 【0029】 In the management server 100, the control unit 101 controls the entire management server 100. The state management unit 102 manages the state of the information terminal 10 at the request of the control unit 101 and records the location information (latitude and longitude information) of the information terminal 10 obtained from the information terminal 10 in the storage unit 104. The speed calculation unit 103 calculates the change in the above location information of the information terminal 10 obtained from the information terminal 10 and converts it into information of the movement speed and direction of the information terminal 10 (user). The storage unit 14 stores data used within the management server 100. 【0030】 In the management server 100, the status management unit 102 determines whether each information terminal 10 is in a "moving usage state" based on the location information obtained from each information terminal 10 and the movement speed information calculated by the speed calculation unit 103. The status management unit 102 then stores and updates the information on whether it is in a "moving usage state," along with the location information, movement speed, and movement direction information (this is an example of "usage state information"), in the storage unit 104, associating it with the ID of the information terminal 10. Finally, it transmits this "usage state information" to the information terminal 10 via the network. 【0031】 The information terminal 10 notifies the communication control unit 13 of the "usage status information" received via the communication unit 3, and the recording control unit 15 stores this "usage status information" in the memory of the storage unit 2. The "usage status information" that the management server 100 transmits to the information terminal 10 is the "usage status information" of information terminals 10 (peripheral terminals) that are within a certain distance (for example, a radius of 100m) from the destination information terminal 10. 【0032】 In this way, the management server 100 stores (and updates) "usage status information" for all managed information terminals 10. In addition, the information terminal 10 has a control unit 1, which is an example of an "acquisition unit," that acquires "usage status information" (including location information, movement speed information, and movement direction information) of peripheral terminals (other information terminals 10) from the management server 100, and this acquired "usage status information" is stored in the memory of the storage unit 2. As a result, the information terminal 10 can detect the location of peripheral terminals that are in "moving usage status". 【0033】 The density calculation unit 17 of the information terminal 10 uses the location information of the device itself acquired by the GPS receiver 4 and the location information of other information terminals (other information terminals 10) in use while moving, recorded in the storage unit 2, to calculate the density of peripheral terminals in use while moving near the current location. In this embodiment, the area around the device is subdivided into multiple cells (areas with a unit area), and the density is calculated for each cell. The density is calculated by determining the number of peripheral terminals in use while moving per unit area, as shown in equation (1) below. 【0034】 【number】 Here, M1 is the density, S is the area of ​​the cell being calculated, and N is the number of units in use while moving within the cell being calculated. 【0035】 The display control unit 11 does not issue any special notification if the density of nearby terminals in use while moving, as notified by the density calculation unit 17, is low. If the density is high, it issues a notification to the user via the liquid crystal display unit 5, prompting them to move to a nearby location with lower density. In addition, it obtains the status of its own terminal from the use while moving unit 16, and if it was in use while moving, it also issues a notification prompting the user to stop using the terminal while moving. 【0036】 Figure 4 is a flowchart of the main part of the control program executed by the computer (its CPU) of the control unit 1 of the information terminal 10. In step S1, "usage status information" (location information, movement speed information, movement direction information) of peripheral terminals is obtained from the management server 100. Next, in step S2, the cell for which the density is to be calculated is determined, and in step S3, the density of peripheral terminals in that cell is calculated. Then, in step S4, it is determined whether there are any uncalculated cells. If there are uncalculated cells, the process returns to step S2; if there are no uncalculated cells, the process proceeds to step S5. 【0037】 In step S5, it is determined whether the density of cells near the player's unit is above a certain value. If it is not above a certain value, the process proceeds to step S7. If it is above a certain value, in step S6, information (guidance information) is displayed to direct the user to a low-density location, and the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, it is determined whether the player's unit is in a moving / using state. If the player's unit is not in a moving / using state, the process proceeds to step S9. If the player's unit is in a moving / using state, a warning is displayed in step S8 to stop using the unit while moving, and the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, other processing is performed and the process returns to step S1. 【0038】 (Second Embodiment) The information terminal and management server of the second embodiment have the same hardware configuration as the information terminal 10 and management server 100 of the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the functions of the second embodiment will be described below. In this second embodiment, the information terminal 10 stores map data in the storage unit 2, and the display control unit 11 displays a map of the surrounding area at the current time on the liquid crystal display unit 5 based on this map data. The control unit 1 also calculates the density of surrounding terminals, as in the first embodiment, and generates density range information (for example, display information that color-codes areas with high density) that shows the area where surrounding terminals in use while moving are densely concentrated. The display control unit 11 (an example of an output unit) then overlays this density range information on the map data and displays (outputs) it on the liquid crystal display unit 5. This makes it possible for the user to visually confirm whether or not to avoid areas with high density. 【0039】 Since the functionality of this second embodiment always requires communication when displaying the map, it is desirable to use it in conjunction with a mechanism that allows switching between displaying and hiding the map, or a mechanism that enables display only when there is sufficient communication capacity. 【0040】 (Third Embodiment) The information terminal and management server of the third embodiment have the same hardware configuration as the information terminal 10 and management server 100 of the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2. The functions of the third embodiment will be described below. 【0041】 In this third embodiment, the information terminal 10 stores map data in the storage unit 2, similar to the second embodiment, and the display control unit 11 displays a map of the surrounding area on the liquid crystal display unit 5 based on this map data. The control unit 1 also has a navigation function that searches for a route from the current location to a destination specified by the user and guides the user to that destination. Furthermore, similar to the second embodiment, the control unit 1 calculates the density of surrounding terminals and generates density range information indicating the area where surrounding terminals in use while moving are concentrated. If at least a part of the searched route falls within the density range indicated by the density range information, the control unit 1 searches for a route that does not fall within the density range. The display control unit 11 (an example of an output unit) then displays (outputs) this re-searched route as guidance information on the liquid crystal display unit 5. This makes it possible to provide guidance (navigation) along a route that avoids the density range where surrounding terminals in use while moving are concentrated. 【0042】 Figure 5 is a flowchart of the main part of the control program executed by the computer (its CPU) of the control unit 1 of the information terminal 10 in the third embodiment, showing the control when the navigation function is activated. First, in step S11, "usage status information" (location information, movement speed information, movement direction information) of peripheral terminals is obtained from the management server 100, and in step S12, candidate routes are searched. Next, in step S13, the cell for which density is to be calculated is determined, and in step S14, the density of peripheral terminals in that cell is calculated. Then, in step S15, it is determined whether there are any uncalculated cells, and if there are any uncalculated cells, the process returns to step S13, and if there are no uncalculated cells, the process proceeds to step S16. These cells are the same as in the first embodiment. 【0043】 In step S16, it is determined whether the density of cells on the candidate route is above a certain value. If it is not above a certain value, the process proceeds to step S17. If it is above a certain value, the process returns to step S12 to search for a route from the current location to the destination, and steps S13 onwards are repeated. If the density of cells on the candidate route is not above a certain value, navigation on the candidate route is started in step S17, other processing is performed in step S18, and the process returns to step S11. 【0044】 (Fourth Embodiment) The information terminal and management server of the fourth embodiment have the same hardware configuration as the information terminal 10 and management server 100 of the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2. The functions of the fourth embodiment will be described below. 【0045】 In this fourth embodiment, the control unit 1 (an example of an acquisition unit) of the information terminal 10 acquires information on the direction of movement of peripheral terminals from the management server 100. The density calculation unit 17 of the control unit 1 calculates the density by weighting the information on the direction of movement of peripheral terminals in use while moving. Then, the attention level corresponding to this density is displayed as "guidance information" on the liquid crystal display unit 5. 【0046】 As an example of a method for calculating the attention level as a density by weighting this information on the direction of movement, the attention level M2 is calculated as shown in equation (2) below. 【0047】 【number】 Here, S is the area of ​​the cell to be calculated, kj is a constant that depends on the direction of movement between the player and the j-th target peripheral terminal, and is a value such that k = θ / 2π + b when the difference in direction of movement is the angle θ (for example, b = 1), vj is the velocity of the j-th target peripheral terminal, and aj is the distance between the j-th target peripheral terminal and the calculation point. In the example above, b = 1, but the value of b should be such that k = 0 does not occur when θ = 0. 【0048】 In this way, by estimating a higher level of attention for surrounding terminals that are moving in a different direction from the main unit, moving at a higher speed, and being closer, it becomes possible to estimate the level of attention more accurately. That is, in equation (2) above, when calculating the level of attention based on density, weighting is applied not only to the number per unit area, but also to the speed and direction of movement of surrounding terminals that are in use while moving. Furthermore, it can be expected that this will have the effect of distinguishing users who are operating the information terminal 10 in places such as slow-moving vehicles. 【0049】 (Terminal Status Guidance System) As described above, each embodiment comprises a terminal status guidance system consisting of an information terminal 10, which is an example of a "multiple terminal devices," and a management server 100, which is an example of a "management device." The acquisition unit, which acquires location information of each information terminal 10 and usage status information indicating the usage status of each information terminal 10 while it is in motion, is configured in the control unit 1 of the information terminal 10. The information terminal 10 also includes a density calculation unit 17 that calculates the density, which is the number of terminal devices in use while in motion per unit area, based on the location information and usage status information acquired by the control unit 1. The information terminal 10 then outputs guidance information based on the density calculated by the density calculation unit 17. The "acquisition unit" may be located on the management server 100 (management device) side or on the information terminal 10 (terminal device) side. The "density calculation unit" may be located on the management server 100 (management device) side or on the information terminal 10 (terminal device) side. 【0050】 (Terminal status guidance method) As described above, each embodiment acquires location information of each information terminal 10, which is an example of "multiple terminal devices," and usage status information indicating the usage status of each information terminal 10 while it is in motion. Based on the acquired location information and usage status information, the density, which is the number of information terminals 10 in use while in motion per unit area, is calculated, and guidance information based on the calculated density is output to the information terminal 10. 【0051】 (Program, recording medium) The program shown in the flowcharts of Figures 4 and 5 is for the computer to execute the terminal status guidance method described above. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as the memory of the storage unit 2 of the information terminal 10. 【0052】 Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments, and any design changes, etc., that do not depart from the gist of the present invention are also included. The embodiments shown in each of the above figures can be combined as long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in their purpose and configuration. Furthermore, each figure can be an independent embodiment, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to a single embodiment that combines each figure. [Explanation of symbols] 【0053】 10. Information terminal (an example of a terminal status guidance device) 1. Control Unit (Example of an Acquisition Unit) 2 Storage section 5. LCD display unit (an example of an output unit) 11 Display Control Unit (Example of a Display Unit) 17 Density calculation part 100 Management Server (An example of a management device) 101 Control Unit 103 Speed ​​calculation section 104 Storage section

Claims

[Claim 1] An acquisition unit that acquires location information of multiple terminal devices and usage status information indicating the usage status of the terminal devices while they are in motion, A density detection unit detects that terminal devices in use while in transit are clustered together based on the location information and the usage status information, An output unit that outputs guidance information based on the detection results of the density detection unit, A terminal status guidance device equipped with, The terminal status guidance device has a navigation function that searches for a route from the current location to the destination and provides guidance to the destination. The navigation function searches for a route that avoids areas where terminal devices in use while moving are densely concentrated, based on the detection results of the density detection unit. The output unit outputs the searched route as the guidance information. A terminal status guidance device characterized by the following: [Claim 2] The aforementioned guidance information is dense area information indicating an area where terminal devices in use while moving are concentrated, and the output unit outputs the dense area information superimposed on map data. The terminal status guidance device according to feature 1. [Claim 3] An acquisition unit that acquires location information of multiple terminal devices and usage status information indicating the usage status of the terminal devices while they are in motion, A density detection unit detects that terminal devices in use while in transit are clustered together based on the location information and the usage status information, An output unit that outputs guidance information based on the detection results of the density detection unit, Equipped with, The acquisition unit further acquires information on the movement direction of the plurality of terminal devices, The density detection unit predicts the density using information on the direction of movement of the terminal device in use while it is in motion. A terminal status guidance device characterized by the following: [Claim 4] A method of guidance performed by a computer, The system acquires location information of multiple terminal devices and usage status information indicating the usage status of the terminal devices while they are in motion. Based on the acquired location information and usage status information, it is detected that terminal devices in use while on the move are densely clustered. Based on the detection results, the system searches for a route from the current location to the destination that avoids areas where terminal devices in use are densely concentrated. This shows the explored paths. A guidance method characterized by the following. [Claim 5] A program characterized by causing a computer to execute the guidance method described in claim 4. [Claim 6] A computer-readable recording medium characterized by storing the program described in claim 5. [Claim 7] A method for providing terminal status information, which is performed by a computer. The system acquires location information of multiple terminal devices, usage status information indicating the usage status of the terminal devices while they are moving, and information on the direction of movement of the terminal devices. Based on the acquired location information and usage status information, it is detected that terminal devices in use while on the move are densely clustered. Output guidance information based on the detection results. Using the aforementioned information on the direction of movement, we predict the density of terminal devices in use while in motion. A terminal status guidance method characterized by the present invention. [Claim 8] A program characterized by causing a computer to execute the terminal status guidance method described in claim 7. [Claim 9] A computer-readable recording medium characterized by storing the program described in claim 8.

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