Ticket gate system and entry / exit control method

Abstract

Identifying the terminal device from among multiple terminal devices owned by a user that is subject to processing related to passing through the ticket gate. [Solution] The ticket gate system according to the embodiment comprises a ticket gate and a plurality of terminal devices. The ticket gate includes an entry detection unit that detects a user entering the ticket gate, a terminal detection unit that detects each of the plurality of terminal devices owned by the user detected by the entry detection unit, an identification unit that identifies the terminal device among the plurality of terminal devices detected by the terminal detection unit that is the target of processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate, and a ticket gate passage processing unit that performs processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate for the terminal device identified by the identification unit. Each of the plurality of terminal devices has a transmission unit that transmits to the ticket gate information of the terminal device which has been set in advance to be the target of processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate by the ticket gate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a ticket checking system and an entry / exit control method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, touchless gates that do not require users to hold an IC card or communication terminal in front of a ticket checking housing when passing through ticket checking, such as at railway or airplane boarding gates, have been installed. The touchless gate uses technologies such as biometric authentication and frequency beams to authenticate users and make entry / exit decisions.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the prior art, there are cases where it is impossible to identify the terminal device that is the target of the process related to passing through the ticket gate from a plurality of terminal devices owned by the user. For example, in the prior art, when a user who has entered the ticket gate has a plurality of terminal devices capable of performing the process related to passing through the ticket gate, it is impossible to identify which of the detected plurality of terminal devices is the terminal device that is the target of the process related to passing through the ticket gate.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objective, the present invention provides a ticket gate system comprising a ticket gate that controls the entry and exit of users, and a plurality of terminal devices owned by users, wherein the ticket gate includes an entry detection unit that detects a user's entry into the ticket gate area, a terminal detection unit that detects each of the plurality of terminal devices owned by the user detected by the entry detection unit, a specification unit that identifies the terminal device among the plurality of terminal devices detected by the terminal detection unit that is subject to processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate, and a ticket gate passage processing unit that performs processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate for the terminal device specified by the specification unit, and each of the plurality of terminal devices includes a transmission unit that transmits to the ticket gate information of the terminal device that has been set in advance to be subject to processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate by the ticket gate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to identify the terminal device that is subject to processing related to passing through the ticket gate from among multiple terminal devices owned by the user. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an example of a ticket gate system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 illustrates the user entry detection process in the touchless processing according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 illustrates the process of selecting an antenna to communicate with a terminal device in a touchless process according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 illustrates the process of establishing a wireless connection in the touchless processing according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 illustrates the ticket gate passage process in the touchless processing according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 illustrates the process for determining whether a user has passed through a ticket gate in the touchless processing according to the embodiment. [Figure 7]Figure 7 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a ticket gate system according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows an example of the process for identifying the terminal device to be communicated according to this embodiment. [Figure 9] Figure 9 shows an example of the process that takes place when multiple paired terminal devices are detected. [Figure 10] Figure 10 shows an example of the process that takes place when multiple unpaired terminal devices are detected. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a flowchart showing the processing flow performed by the ticket gate according to this embodiment. [Figure 12] Figure 12 shows an example of a computer running a program. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The following describes in detail, with reference to the drawings, an embodiment of the ticket gate system and entry / exit control method according to the present application. Note that this embodiment does not limit the ticket gate system and entry / exit control method according to the present application. Furthermore, in the drawings, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted as appropriate.

[0009] [Introduction] (Overview of ticket gate system 10) First, an overview of the ticket gate system 10 according to this embodiment will be described. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the ticket gate system according to this embodiment. The ticket gate system 10 shown in Figure 1 shows an example in which a ticket gate 100 that manages the entry and exit of users by touchless processing and a plurality of terminal devices 200-1 and terminal devices 200-2 possessed by users passing through the ticket gate are each connected in a manner that enables communication.

[0010] The ticket gate 100 is a ticket gate device that manages the entry and exit of users by authenticating the users passing through the ticket gate and determining whether they can enter the ticket gate. For example, the ticket gate 100 realizes a touchless ticket passing process for users by establishing a wireless connection with the terminal device 200 owned by the user who has entered the ticket gate and performing information transmission and reception.

[0011] The terminal device 200 is an information processing terminal owned by the user passing through the ticket gate, and is realized by a dedicated terminal device having a function that enables a communication connection with the ticket gate 100 by wireless communication, a smartphone having such a function, a tablet terminal, and the like. For example, the terminal device 200 establishes wireless communication with the ticket gate 100 and realizes the transmission and reception of information related to the ticket passing process using the corresponding IC card. Note that the terminal device 200 can mediate the ticket passing process between the ticket gate 100 and the IC card and realize a touchless process, for example, by capturing the function information of the IC card targeted for the ticket passing process.

[0012] Here, the number of terminal devices 200 included in the ticket gate system 10 shown in FIG. 1 is not particularly limited. For example, when it is detected that a user has entered the ticket gate, all of the terminal devices 200 detected by the ticket gate 100 can be made the processing targets of the ticket gate system 10.

[0013] (Mechanism of Touchless Processing by Ticket Gate 100)<0000​​​​First, the ticket gate machine 100 detects a user who has entered the ticket gate. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the user entry detection process in the touchless processing according to the embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the ticket gate machine 100 detects that a user has entered the ticket gate by means of a human presence sensor provided on the entrance side of the ticket gate machine 100. Here, when the ticket gate machine 100 detects that a user has entered the ticket gate, it can notify the user of the state of the ticket gate machine 100 by displaying the fact that the user is in the ticket gate entry state on the monitor. In addition to displaying on the monitor, the ticket gate machine 100 can also output sounds, lights, etc. to notify the user that the user is in the ticket gate entry state.

[0015] Next, simultaneously with the detection of the user's entry, the ticket gate machine 100 transmits beacon signals in sequence at individual timings between a plurality of antennas installed in the ticket gate machine 100 and the terminal device possessed by the user, and selects the antenna that is optimal for establishing wireless communication. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the antenna selection process for communicating with the terminal device in the touchless processing according to the embodiment.

[0016] The ticket gate machine 100, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, transmits a beacon signal from the antenna simultaneously with the detection of the user's entry into the ticket gate. Then, the ticket gate machine 100 detects the terminal device 200 possessed by the user who has entered the ticket gate by receiving the beacon response from the terminal device 200.

[0017] For example, the ticket gate machine 100 transmits and receives beacon signals in sequence between the plurality of antennas and the terminal device 200, measures the reception intensity between each antenna and the terminal device 200, and selects the antenna with the highest average value of the measurement results of the reception intensity for multiple times as the antenna with the optimal communication state with the terminal device 200.

[0018] Next, the ticket gate 100 establishes a wireless connection between the antenna with the optimal communication state selected in the aforementioned process and the terminal device 200, and enters a communication-ready state (link up). Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the wireless connection establishment process in the touchless process according to the embodiment. In the example shown in Figure 4, the ticket gate 100 establishes a wireless connection between the antenna selected as the antenna with the optimal communication state and the terminal device 200.

[0019] The ticket gate 100 transmits and receives data related to the ticket gate passage process via an antenna and terminal device 200 with which a wireless connection has been established. Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the ticket gate passage process in the touchless processing according to this embodiment.

[0020] As shown in Figure 5, the ticket gate 100 performs a ticket gate passage process for the terminal device 200 held by the user by transmitting and receiving packet data that can be transmitted and received within a certain period (for example, 100 msec) via wireless communication between an antenna with an established wireless connection and the terminal device 200.

[0021] Here, if, for example, the communication status deteriorates due to the movement of a user and the ticket gate passage process is not completed within a certain period of time, the ticket gate 100 can return to the process of selecting the optimal antenna based on the aforementioned communication status and perform the process sequentially to establish a wireless connection with the newly selected antenna and complete the ticket gate passage process.

[0022] Subsequently, when the ticket gate 100 completes the ticket gate passage process within a certain period, it determines whether the user is permitted to pass through and disconnects the connection between the antenna and the terminal device 200. Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the process for determining whether a user has passed through the ticket gate in the touchless processing according to this embodiment.

[0023] As shown in Figure 6, the ticket gate 100, for example, disconnects communication between the antenna and the terminal device 200 when the transmission and reception of communication data is completed within a certain period of time, and determines whether the user with the terminal device 200 is permitted to pass through the ticket gate. The ticket gate 100 then notifies the gate control device of the permission to pass through the ticket gate and opens the gate. The ticket gate 100 also displays the permission to pass through the ticket gate on a monitor it has, allowing the user to know that they have been permitted to pass through the ticket gate. In addition to displaying on the monitor, the ticket gate 100 can also notify the user that they have been permitted to pass through the ticket gate by outputting sound, light, etc., associated with the permission to pass through the ticket gate.

[0024] Through the series of processes described above, the ticket gate 100 can appropriately establish a wireless connection with the terminal device 200 held by the user moving within the ticket gate area and send and receive communication data related to the ticket gate passage process, thereby enabling it to determine whether or not the user is allowed to pass through the ticket gate via touchless processing. Furthermore, by selecting the antenna with the optimal communication status from multiple antennas, the ticket gate 100 can complete the ticket gate passage process within a certain period of time, regardless of the orientation of the terminal device 200 held by the user, its location, and any other circumstances related to the user's possession of the terminal device 200, such as body shielding.

[0025] (Challenges of conventional technology) Next, we will describe the problems of the conventional technology regarding the touchless processing of ticket gates according to this embodiment. Conventionally, there are ticket gates that can determine whether or not a user can pass through the gate by touchless processing, without requiring the user to touch the gate.

[0026] However, with conventional technology, if a user who has entered the ticket gate area has multiple terminal devices capable of performing the process related to passing through the ticket gate, it is not possible to identify which of the detected terminal devices is the one that is subject to the process related to passing through the ticket gate.

[0027] In other words, while conventional touch-based ticket gates accept only one IC card or terminal device at a time based on the user's touch operation, touchless ticket gates automatically detect the IC cards and terminal devices held by users entering the gate area, resulting in the detection of multiple IC cards and terminal devices. As a result, it becomes impossible to determine which of the detected IC cards and terminal devices is the terminal device that will be processed for passing through the ticket gate.

[0028] (Overview of the processing in ticket gate system 10) Next, the processing details of the ticket gate system 10 according to this embodiment will be described. In view of the aforementioned problems, the ticket gate system 10 according to this embodiment first detects the user's entry into the ticket gate area and detects each of the user's multiple terminal devices 200. The ticket gate system 10 then identifies the terminal device 200 that is the target of processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate from among the multiple detected terminal devices 200 and performs the processing related to passing through the ticket gate. The terminal devices 200 of the ticket gate system 10 transmit information to the ticket gate 100 about the terminal devices 200 that have been pre-configured to be the target of processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate by the ticket gate 100.

[0029] For example, the ticket gate system 10 detects a user entering the ticket gate area using a motion sensor installed on the entrance side of the ticket gate 100. The ticket gate system 10 then detects multiple terminal devices 200 owned by the user using multiple antennas installed on the ticket gate 100. The ticket gate system 10 then transmits pairing information to the ticket gate 100, which includes information about each of the detected terminal devices 200 that has been pre-configured to be subject to the ticket gate passage process.

[0030] The ticket gate system 10 then identifies, for example, a terminal device 200 from among the detected terminal devices 200 that matches the information of a terminal device 200 that has been pre-configured to be subject to the ticket gate passage process. The ticket gate system 10 then performs ticket gate passage-related processing on the identified terminal device 200, such as collecting fares related to passing through the ticket gate and updating the balance information of the IC card.

[0031] As a result, the ticket gate system 10 can use pre-configured pairing information on multiple terminal devices 200 owned by a user who has entered the ticket gate area to identify the terminal device that is the target of the ticket gate passage process from among the multiple terminal devices 200 owned by the user.

[0032] [Configuration of ticket gate system 10] The following describes an example of the functional configuration of the ticket gate system 10 described above. Figure 7 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of the ticket gate system according to the embodiment. As shown in Figure 7, the ticket gate system 10 includes, for example, a ticket gate 100, terminal device 200-1, and terminal device 200-2. Note that the ticket gate system 10 shown in Figure 7 is merely an example, and the number of terminal devices 200 is not particularly limited.

[0033] (Configuration of ticket gate 100) The ticket gate 100 includes a communication unit 110, a control unit 120, and a storage unit 130. The communication unit 110 controls processes such as transmitting beacons using an antenna installed on the ticket gate 100 and establishing a wireless connection between the ticket gate 100 and the terminal device 200. The communication unit 110 establishes a wireless connection with the communication unit 210 of the terminal device 200 (described later) and controls the transmission and reception of information related to the ticket gate passage process.

[0034] The memory unit 130 is implemented by a storage device such as RAM (Random Access Memory) or a hard disk. The memory unit 130 stores data and programs necessary for various processes performed by the control unit 120. The storage device may be implemented by a storage system installed outside the ticket gate 100. The memory unit 130 stores, for example, information about the terminal device 200 detected by the terminal detection unit 122 (described later) and pairing information transmitted from the terminal device 200.

[0035] The control unit 120 is implemented by a processor such as an integrated circuit (CPU), MPU, ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) executing various programs stored in the memory device inside the ticket gate 100 using RAM or the like as the working area. In the example shown in Figure 7, the control unit 120 includes an entry detection unit 121, a terminal detection unit 122, a specification unit 123, and a ticket gate passage processing unit 124.

[0036] The entry detection unit 121 detects when a user enters the ticket gate 100. For example, the entry detection unit 121 determines that a user has entered the ticket gate 100 when a human presence sensor installed on the entrance side of the ticket gate 100 detects a human body.

[0037] Furthermore, the entry detection unit 121 acquires information regarding the number of users entering the ticket gate area. For example, in addition to the aforementioned human presence sensor, the entry detection unit 121 acquires the number of users entering the ticket gate area from information obtained through analysis of image data captured by a camera and P2P distance measurement technology. In addition to the number of users, the entry detection unit 121 can also acquire characteristics of users passing through the ticket gate by analyzing image data of users, for example, whether they are accompanied by a young child and pushing a stroller, or whether they are overweight.

[0038] The terminal detection unit 122 detects each of the multiple terminal devices 200 owned by the user detected by the entry detection unit 121. For example, when the entry detection unit 121 detects a user's entry into the ticket gate 100, the terminal detection unit 122 transmits beacon signals from multiple antennas installed in the ticket gate 100 and detects each of the terminal devices 200 that respond to the beacon signals.

[0039] Furthermore, the terminal detection unit 122 changes the detection cycle for the terminal device 200 according to the number of users detected by the intrusion detection unit 121. For example, the more people detected by the intrusion detection unit 121, the shorter the cycle for transmitting the beacon signal, thereby increasing the number of attempts to detect the terminal device 200.

[0040] Here, the terminal detection unit 122 can, for example, avoid detecting terminal devices 200 that have already completed the ticket gate passage process, by saving the power of the beacon signal until a user who has already completed the ticket gate passage process has passed outside the ticket gate.

[0041] Furthermore, the terminal detection unit 122 can also change the detection cycle for the terminal device 200 according to the characteristics of the user acquired by the entry detection unit 121, for example. For example, if the terminal detection unit 122 acquires characteristics such as being accompanied by a child, carrying a stroller, or being overweight, it can determine that the interval between users entering the ticket gate area will be relatively long and adjust the cycle for transmitting the beacon signal to be relatively long.

[0042] The identification unit 123 identifies the terminal device 200 that is the target of processing related to a user passing through a ticket gate, from among the multiple terminal devices 200 detected by the terminal detection unit 122. For example, the identification unit 123 uses pairing information transmitted from the transmission unit 221 of the terminal device 200 (described later) to compare the identification number of the main terminal that is the target of the ticket gate passage processing, which has been set in advance by the user, with the identification number of the detected terminal device 200. The identification unit 123 then identifies the terminal device 200 whose identification number matches that of the main terminal as the terminal device 200 that is the target of the ticket gate passage processing.

[0043] Furthermore, if the identification unit 123 cannot identify a terminal device 200 that has been pre-configured to be the subject of processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate for a predetermined period of time or longer, it identifies a terminal device 200 selected from among the user's sub-terminal devices 200 as the terminal device 200 that will be the subject of processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate.

[0044] For example, if the identification unit 123 cannot identify a terminal device 200 that matches the identification number of the main terminal to be used for the ticket gate passage process, as set in advance by the user, from among the detected terminal devices 200 for a predetermined period of time, it compares the identification number of a sub-terminal arbitrarily selected from the sub-terminals included in the pairing information described later with the identification number of the detected terminal device 200. Then, the identification unit 123 identifies the terminal device 200 whose identification number matches that of the selected sub-terminal as the terminal device 200 to be used for the ticket gate passage process.

[0045] The predetermined time in the aforementioned process is a pre-set arbitrary time, for example, 50 msec. Furthermore, if multiple terminal devices 200 are registered as pairing information for sub-terminals, the identification unit 123 can, for example, select the sub-terminal registered at the highest level, or select the sub-terminal with the strongest received signal among the detected sub-terminals.

[0046] The ticket gate passage processing unit 124 performs processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate for the terminal device 200 identified by the identification unit 123. For example, the ticket gate passage processing unit 124 performs the ticket gate passage processing for the terminal device 200 identified by the identification unit 123 by sending and receiving communication data related to determining whether the user is allowed to pass through the ticket gate and collecting fares and admission fees.

[0047] Here, the terminal device 200 has a built-in IC card that can be used by the user for touch processing, and the ticket gate 100 can perform ticket gate passage processing similar to conventional touch processing via the NFC (Near Field Communication) chip of the IC card. The ticket gate passage processing includes, for example, user authentication using the IC card's identification number, updating the user's entry and exit records, and updating the remaining balance of SF (Stored Fare) after deduction of fares and admission fees.

[0048] Furthermore, the ticket gate passage processing unit 124 stops processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate if the terminal devices 200 detected by the terminal detection unit 122 include terminal devices 200 other than the main terminal device 200 and sub-terminal device 200 owned by the user. For example, the ticket gate passage processing unit 124 uses the pairing information transmitted from each of the detected terminal devices 200 to compare the identification numbers of the main terminal and sub-terminal registered in the pairing information with the identification numbers of each detected terminal device 200.

[0049] Then, if the ticket gate passage processing unit 124 detects a terminal device 200 with an identification number other than the identification number of the terminal device 200 registered in the pairing information, it stops the ticket gate passage process and determines that an error has occurred in the user's passage through the ticket gate.

[0050] (Configuration of terminal device 200) The terminal device 200 includes a communication unit 210, a control unit 220, and a storage unit 230. Note that terminal devices 200-1 and 200-2 shown in Figure 7 have similar components.

[0051] The communication unit 210, for example, receives beacon transmissions from an antenna installed on the ticket gate 100 and controls processes such as responding to the beacon and establishing a wireless connection between the ticket gate 100 and the terminal device 200. The communication unit 210 establishes a wireless connection with the communication unit 110 of the ticket gate 100, which will be described later, and controls the transmission and reception of information related to the ticket gate passage process.

[0052] The memory unit 230 is implemented by a storage device such as RAM (Random Access Memory) or a hard disk. The memory unit 230 stores data and programs necessary for various processes performed by the control unit 220. The storage device may be implemented by a storage system installed outside the terminal device 200. The memory unit 130 stores pairing information, which will be described later, for example.

[0053] The control unit 220 is implemented by a processor such as an integrated circuit (CPU), MPU, ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) executing various programs stored in the memory device inside the terminal device 200 using RAM or the like as the working area. In the example shown in Figure 7, the control unit 220 has a transmission unit 221.

[0054] The transmitting unit 221 transmits to the ticket gate 100 information about terminal devices 200 that have been pre-configured to be subject to processing related to a user's passage through the ticket gate. For example, when connected to the ticket gate 100, the transmitting unit 221 transmits to the ticket gate 100 the identification number of terminal devices 200 that have been pre-configured by the user as the main terminal subject to the ticket gate passage processing.

[0055] Furthermore, the transmitting unit 221 transmits to the ticket gate 100 information about the main terminal device 200 that is the target of the processing related to passing through the ticket gate, and the sub-terminal device 200 that serves as a backup for the main terminal device 200, which are pre-configured for each of the multiple terminal devices 200 owned by the user. For example, when connected to the ticket gate 100, the transmitting unit 221 transmits to the ticket gate 100 pairing information that includes the information about the main terminal and sub-terminal, which are individually configured for each of the multiple terminal devices 200 owned by the user.

[0056] Furthermore, the aforementioned pairing information is shared across all terminal devices 200 that the user possesses when passing through the ticket gate, and the pairing information for the main terminal and sub-terminals set on terminal devices 200 owned by the same user will be identical.

[0057] Here, we will describe the process of identifying the terminal device 200 that is the target of the ticket gate passage process using pairing information. Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of the process of identifying the terminal device to be communicated according to the embodiment. In Figure 8, user A has a total of two devices, terminal 1 and terminal 2, when entering the ticket gate, and an example of the process is shown when terminal 1 is the main terminal and terminal 2 is the sub-terminal and they are paired.

[0058] As shown in Figure 8, each of the user's devices, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, is pre-configured with pairing information consisting of the user's own terminal ID, the main terminal ID, and the sub-terminal ID. For example, Terminal 1, whose ID is ○○○○○, is configured with the registered pairing information "User terminal ID: ○○○○○", "Main terminal ID ○○○○○, Sub-terminal ID: ×××××".

[0059] In this situation, terminal 1 and terminal 2 each transmit pairing information to the ticket gate 100 with which they are connected, as shown in Figure 8(1). Upon receiving the pairing information, the ticket gate 100 identifies terminal 1, which matches the ID of the terminal set as the main terminal, as shown in Figure 8(2), and continues the communication process. The ticket gate 100 then stops communication with terminal 2, which has the ID ××××× and is set as a sub-terminal.

[0060] [Specific examples] Next, the overall processing flow of the ticket gate system 10 according to the embodiment will be described. Below, using Figures 9 and 10, we will sequentially explain examples of processing when multiple paired terminal devices 200 are detected and examples of processing when multiple unpaired terminal devices 200 are detected.

[0061] Figure 9 shows an example of processing when multiple paired terminal devices are detected. In Figure 9, user A possesses two terminals, terminal 1 and terminal 2, when passing through the ticket gate, and the processing example is shown when terminal 1 is paired as the main terminal and terminal 2 as the sub-terminal.

[0062] First, the ticket gate 100 searches for the terminal device 200 owned by user A, whose entry into the ticket gate area has been detected (Figure 9(1)). Then, terminal 1, which has responded to the beacon transmitted from the ticket gate 100, transmits pairing information to the ticket gate 100, designating terminal 1 as the main terminal and terminal 2 as the sub-terminal (Figure 9(2)). The ticket gate 100 then identifies terminal 1, which has been set as the main terminal, as the terminal to be processed for passing through the ticket gate, and continues the communication process (Figure 9(3)).

[0063] The ticket gate 100 then continues to communicate with terminal 1, sending and receiving information, while simultaneously searching for other terminal devices 200 (Figure 9(4)). Terminal 2, which has responded to the beacon transmitted from the ticket gate 100, transmits pairing information to the ticket gate 100, designating terminal 1 as the main terminal and terminal 2 as the sub-terminal (Figure 9(5)). The ticket gate 100 then identifies the responding terminal 2 as the sub-terminal and suspends communication with terminal 2 for a predetermined period (Figure 9(6)).

[0064] The ticket gate 100 then completes the ticket gate passage process for user A by sending and receiving information related to the ticket gate passage process with terminal 1 (Figure 9(7)). Through the series of processes described above, if user A owns multiple paired terminal devices 200, the ticket gate system 10 can identify the main terminal and sub-terminals from the pairing information transmitted from each terminal and perform the ticket gate passage process for the main terminal.

[0065] Figure 10 shows an example of processing when multiple unpaired terminal devices are detected. In Figure 10, user A has two terminals, terminal 1 and terminal 2, when passing through the ticket gate, and terminal 1 is paired as the main terminal and terminal 2 as the sub-terminal, and the processing example is shown when user B's terminal 3 is detected.

[0066] First, the ticket gate 100 searches for the terminal device 200 owned by user A, whose entry into the ticket gate area has been detected (Figure 10(1)). Then, terminal 1, which has responded to the beacon transmitted from the ticket gate 100, transmits pairing information to the ticket gate 100, designating terminal 1 as the main terminal and terminal 2 as the sub-terminal (Figure 10(2)). The ticket gate 100 then identifies terminal 1, which has been set as the main terminal, as the terminal to be processed for passing through the ticket gate, and continues the communication process (Figure 10(3)).

[0067] Then, the ticket gate 100 continues to communicate with terminal 1, sending and receiving information, while simultaneously searching for other terminal devices 200 (Figure 10(4)). Terminal 3, owned by user B, responds to the beacon transmitted from the ticket gate 100 and transmits pairing information to the ticket gate 100, designating terminal 3 as the main terminal (Figure 10(5)). The ticket gate 100 then detects terminal 3, which is not present in the pairing information of terminal 1 with which it has established a wireless connection, and stops the ticket gate passage process for terminal 1 (Figure 10(6)).

[0068] Through the series of processes described above, if the ticket gate system 10 detects the terminal of another user B while processing user A's passage through the ticket gate, it can determine that multiple users have entered the ticket gate area and that an error has occurred in the ticket gate passage process.

[0069] In the example above, the ticket gate 100 established a wireless connection with the user's terminal device 200 before obtaining pairing information. However, the process is not limited to this. For example, if the packet contains a field for adding pairing information before establishing a wireless connection, the process can be substituted by sending the packet, and a wireless connection does not need to be established.

[0070] 〔flowchart〕 Next, an example of processing performed by the ticket gate 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 11. Figure 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by the ticket gate according to this embodiment. Note that each step in the flowchart shown in Figure 11 can be executed in a different order, and additional or omitted processing may also be performed.

[0071] First, the ticket gate 100 detects the user's entry into the ticket gate area (S101). Then, the ticket gate 100 detects the terminal device 200 that the user possesses (S102). Finally, the ticket gate 100 determines whether or not multiple terminal devices 200 have been detected (S103).

[0072] If no multiple terminal devices 200 are detected (S103; No), the ticket gate 100 performs the ticket gate passage process on the detected terminal devices 200 (S104) and terminates the process. On the other hand, if multiple terminal devices 200 are detected (S103; Yes), the ticket gate 100 determines whether or not terminal devices 200 other than the paired terminal devices 200 have been detected (S105).

[0073] If a terminal device 200 other than the paired terminal device 200 is detected (S105; Yes), the ticket gate 100 stops the ticket gate passage process (S106) and terminates the process. On the other hand, if no terminal device 200 other than the paired terminal device 200 is detected (S105; No), the ticket gate 100 identifies the terminal device 200 set as the main terminal (S107). Then, the ticket gate 100 performs the ticket gate passage process for the terminal device 200 identified as the main terminal (S108) and terminates the process.

[0074] 〔effect〕 The ticket gate system 10 according to this embodiment includes a ticket gate 100 and a plurality of terminal devices 200. The ticket gate 100 includes an entry detection unit 121 that detects when a user enters the ticket gate 100, a terminal detection unit 122 that detects each of the plurality of terminal devices 200 owned by the user detected by the entry detection unit 121, a specification unit 123 that identifies the terminal device 200 that is the target of processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate from among the plurality of terminal devices 200 detected by the terminal detection unit 122, and a ticket gate passage processing unit 124 that performs processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate for the terminal device 200 identified by the specification unit 123. Each of the plurality of terminal devices 200 has a transmission unit 221 that transmits information of the terminal device 200 that has been pre-configured to be the target of processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate by the ticket gate 100 to the ticket gate 100.

[0075] As a result, the ticket gate system 10 can use information pre-configured on multiple terminal devices owned by a user who has entered the ticket gate area to identify the terminal device that is subject to processing related to passing through the ticket gate from among the multiple terminal devices owned by the user.

[0076] Furthermore, the transmitting unit 221 of the terminal device 200 transmits to the ticket gate 100 information regarding the main terminal device 200 that is the target of the processing related to passing through the ticket gate, and the sub-terminal device 200 that serves as a backup for the main terminal device 200, which are pre-configured for each of the multiple terminal devices 200 owned by the user.

[0077] As a result, the ticket gate system 10 can use the information of the main terminal and sub-terminal that the user has set in advance and which has been transmitted to the ticket gate machine 100 to perform the ticket gate passage process for the main terminal identified from among the detected terminal devices.

[0078] Furthermore, if the identification unit 123 of the ticket gate 100 cannot identify a terminal device 200 that has been pre-configured to be the target of processing related to a user's passage through the ticket gate for a predetermined period of time or longer, it will identify a terminal device 200 selected from among the user's sub-terminal devices 200 as the terminal device 200 that will be the target of processing related to a user's passage through the ticket gate.

[0079] As a result, if the ticket gate system 10 is unable to establish wireless communication with the main terminal for a certain period of time or longer, it can establish a wireless connection with a sub-terminal paired with the main terminal and perform the ticket gate passage process.

[0080] Furthermore, the ticket gate passage processing unit 124 of the ticket gate 100 stops processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate if the terminal devices 200 detected by the terminal detection unit 122 include terminal devices 200 other than the main terminal device 200 and sub-terminal device 200 owned by the user.

[0081] As a result, the ticket gate system 10 can determine that multiple users have entered the ticket gate area if it detects terminal devices other than the main terminal and sub-terminal registered by the user who has entered the ticket gate area, and can stop the ticket gate passage process. Consequently, the ticket gate system 10 can determine that an error has occurred in the ticket gate passage process if multiple users have entered the ticket gate area.

[0082] Furthermore, the entry detection unit 121 of the ticket gate 100 acquires information regarding the number of users entering the ticket gate area, and the terminal detection unit 122 changes the detection cycle of the terminal device 200 according to the number of users detected by the entry detection unit 121.

[0083] As a result, the ticket gate system 10 changes the detection cycle of the terminal device according to the spacing between users entering the ticket gate area, so that even when the ticket gate area is crowded, the detection of users' terminal devices can be carried out without fail.

[0084] 〔others〕 Furthermore, among the processes described in the above embodiments, all or part of those described as being performed automatically may be performed manually. Conversely, all or part of those described as being performed manually may be performed automatically by known methods. In addition, the processing procedures, specific names, and various data and parameters shown in the above documents and drawings may be changed at will unless otherwise specified.

[0085] Furthermore, each component of the illustrated device is a functional concept and does not necessarily have to be physically or functionally configured as shown. In other words, the specific forms of distribution and integration of each device and functional configuration are not limited to those shown, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit according to various loads and usage conditions. In addition, the embodiments described above and the processes carried out in each embodiment may be combined as appropriate, as long as the processing content is not contradictory.

[0086] 〔program〕 Furthermore, the ticket gate 100 and terminal device 200 according to the above-described embodiment are implemented by a computer 1000 having a configuration such as that shown in Figure 12. Figure 12 is a diagram showing an example of a computer that executes a program. The computer 1000 is connected to an output device 1010 and an input device 1020, and has a configuration in which a central processing unit 1030, memory 1040, storage 1050, output IF (Interface) 1060, input IF 1070, and communication interface 1080 are connected by a bus 1090.

[0087] The central processing unit 1030 operates based on programs stored in the memory 1040 and storage 1050, as well as programs read from the input device 1020, and executes various processes. The memory 1040 is a memory device, such as RAM, that temporarily stores data used by the central processing unit 1030 for various calculations. The storage 1050 is a storage device where data used by the central processing unit 1030 for various calculations and various databases are registered, and is implemented using ROM (Read Only Memory), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), flash memory, etc.

[0088] Output IF1060 is an interface for transmitting information to be output to output devices 1010 that output various types of information, such as monitors and printers. It can be implemented using connectors of standards such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), DVI (Digital Visual Interface), or HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface). Input IF1070 is an interface for receiving information from various input devices 1020, such as mice, keyboards, and cameras. It can be implemented using USB, for example. Input devices 1020 may also be devices that read information from optical recording media, magneto-optical recording media, tape media, magnetic recording media, or semiconductor memory, or external storage media such as USB memory.

[0089] The communication interface 1080 receives data from other devices via the network N and sends it to the central processing unit 1030, and also transmits data generated by the central processing unit 1030 to other devices via the network N. The central processing unit 1030 controls the output device 1010 and input device 1020 via the output IF 1060 and input IF 1070. For example, the central processing unit 1030 loads a program from the input device 1020 or storage 1050 into memory 1040 and executes the loaded program.

[0090] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, these are illustrative examples, and the present invention may be implemented in various modified and improved forms based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, starting with the embodiments described in the disclosure section of the invention. Furthermore, the terms "section, module, unit" used above can be read as "means" or "circuit," etc. For example, the "applying part" can be read as the "applying means" or "applying circuit." [Explanation of Symbols]

[0091] 10 Ticket gate system 100 ticket gates 110, 210, 210-1, 210-2 Communications Department 120, 220, 220-1, 220-2 Control Unit 121 Intrusion detection unit 122 Terminal detection unit 123 Specific part 124 Ticket Gate Passage Processing Unit 130, 230, 230-1, 230-2 Storage section 200, 200-1, 200-2, 200-3 Terminal devices 221, 221-1, 221-2 Transmitter

Claims

1. A ticket gate system comprising a ticket gate that controls the entry and exit of users, and a plurality of terminal devices owned by the users, The aforementioned ticket gate is An entry detection unit that detects the user entering the ticket gate area, A terminal detection unit that detects each of the multiple terminal devices owned by the user that have been detected by the entry detection unit, A terminal detection unit identifies the terminal device among the multiple terminal devices detected by the terminal detection unit that is subject to processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate, A ticket gate passage processing unit that performs processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate for the terminal device identified by the specified unit, It has, Each of the aforementioned multiple terminal devices is The terminal device has a transmission unit that transmits to the ticket gate information that has been pre-configured to be subject to processing by the ticket gate regarding the passage of the user through the gate. A ticket gate system characterized by the following features.

2. The ticket gate system according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmitting unit transmits to the ticket gate information to the ticket gate machine, which is set in advance for each of the plurality of terminal devices owned by the user, information about the main terminal device that is the target of processing related to passing through the ticket gate and the sub terminal device that serves as a backup for the main terminal device.

3. The ticket gate system according to claim 2, characterized in that, if the identifying unit cannot identify the terminal device that has been pre-set to be the subject of processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate for a predetermined period of time or longer, it identifies a terminal device selected from the sub-terminal devices owned by the user as the terminal device that is the subject of processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate.

4. The ticket gate system according to claim 2, wherein the ticket gate passage processing unit stops processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate when the terminal device detected by the terminal detection unit includes terminal devices other than the main terminal device and the sub-terminal device owned by the user.

5. The entry detection unit acquires information regarding the number of users entering the ticket gate area. The ticket gate system according to claim 1, characterized in that the terminal detection unit changes the period for detecting the terminal device according to the number of users detected by the entry detection unit.

6. An entry and exit control method executed by a ticket gate system having a ticket gate that manages the entry and exit of users and a plurality of terminal devices owned by the user, The aforementioned ticket gate is An entry detection step for detecting the entry of the user, A terminal detection step that detects each of the multiple terminal devices owned by the user that were detected by the intrusion detection step, A selection step to identify the terminal device among the plurality of terminal devices detected by the terminal detection step that is subject to processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate, A ticket gate passage processing step which performs processing related to the user's passage through the ticket gate for the terminal device identified by the specified step, Includes, Each of the aforementioned multiple terminal devices is The process includes transmitting information of the terminal device, which has been pre-configured to be subject to processing by the ticket gate regarding the passage of the user through the gate, to the ticket gate. An entry / exit control method characterized by the following:

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