Lost and suspicious object detection system

Abstract

To provide a technology for detecting an article left behind or a suspicious object placed on a seat.SOLUTION: An article left behind and suspicious object detection system 100 detects an article left behind or a suspicious object placed on each seat in a reserve seat vehicle of a passenger train. The system includes: a ticket issuing information acquisition part 101 mounted on the train; a ranging sensor 6 and a micro switch 7 installed in each seat; an on-board server 102 mounted on the train; and a display unit 103, which is a portable terminal held by a conductor. The on-board server 102 determines whether a seat is empty, occupied by a person, or occupied by an object based on a detection result by the ranging sensor 6 and a detection result by the micro switch 7. The on-board server 102 also determines whether or not an object placed on a seat is an article left behind or suspicious object based on the occupancy status of each seat and ticket issuing information for each seat acquired from the ticket issuing information acquisition part 101, and outputs the determination result to the display unit 103.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for detecting items left behind or suspicious objects placed on seats in railway carriages, etc. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, on Shinkansen and limited express trains, conductors regularly patrol the train to check seat occupancy status against ticket information, whether there is any suspicious baggage, etc., and these tasks have placed a heavy burden on the conductor. As a technology to reduce the burden on the conductor mentioned above, Patent Document 1 discloses a system that performs ticket inspection work automatically. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-176201 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The ticket inspection system in Patent Document 1 can detect whether a passenger occupying a seat has a seat reservation ticket, i.e., whether the passenger is sitting illegally, but it cannot detect items left behind or suspicious objects left on the seat. When an object is left on a seat, it is almost always the baggage of a passenger sitting in a nearby seat, but in some cases it may be an item left behind by a passenger who has disembarked, or a dangerous object that has been intentionally left there. It is desirable to find such items left behind or suspicious objects as quickly as possible.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a technology for detecting items left behind or suspicious objects placed on seats. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides Installed in reserved seat cars on passenger trainsA lost property / suspicious object detection system that detects lost property or suspicious objects placed on seats, comprising: a seat occupancy detection unit that detects whether a seat is vacant, whether a person is seated, or whether an object is placed on the seat; a ticket issuance information acquisition unit that acquires ticket issuance information for the seat; and a determination unit that determines whether an object placed on the seat is a lost property / suspicious object based on the seat occupancy status and the ticket issuance information for the seat. If an object is detected on a seat and ticket information is available for the seat or the adjacent seat, the object is determined to be neither a lost item nor a suspicious item. It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to detect lost or suspicious items left on seats without the need for a person (such as a crew member) to make rounds, thereby improving work efficiency. In addition, it is possible to quickly find lost or suspicious items, which can be useful for improving service and safety. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of a lost item / suspicious object detection system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a seat on which the distance measuring sensor and the microswitch shown in FIG. 1 are installed. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a seat on which the distance measuring sensor and the microswitch shown in FIG. 1 are installed. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an algorithm for determining the seat occupancy status of the seats in FIGS. [Figure 5] 2 is an example of information displayed on the display unit of FIG. 1. [Figure 6] 2 is an example of information displayed on the display unit of FIG. 1. [Figure 7] 2 is an example of information displayed on the display unit of FIG. 1. [Figure 8] 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a determination process performed by the on-board server of FIG. 1.

[0009] A "lost property / suspicious object detection system" according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0010] The lost article / suspicious object detection system 100 shown in Fig. 1 is a system that detects lost articles or suspicious objects placed on each seat 5 (see Figs. 2 and 3) installed in a reserved seat car of a passenger train. This lost article / suspicious object detection system 100 comprises a ticketing information acquisition unit 101 installed on the train, a distance measurement sensor 6 and a microswitch 7 installed on each seat 5, an on-board server 102 installed on the train, and a display unit 103.

[0011] The ticketing information acquisition unit 101 receives ticketing information (information indicating that a reserved seat ticket or the like has been purchased) for each seat 5 transmitted from a station building or the like.

[0012] The display unit 103 is, for example, a mobile terminal carried by the conductor or a terminal installed in the conductor's room.

[0013] The on-board server 102 is connected to the ticket issuance information acquisition unit 101, the distance measurement sensor 6, the microswitch 7, and the display unit 103. Based on the detection results of the distance measurement sensor 6 and the microswitch 7, the on-board server 102 determines whether a seat 5 is vacant, whether a person is seated therein, or whether an object has been placed thereon, and outputs the determination result, i.e., the occupancy status of the seat 5, to the display unit 103 (see FIGS. 5 to 7). Furthermore, based on the occupancy status of each seat 5 and the ticket issuance information of each seat 5 acquired from the ticket issuance information acquisition unit 101, the on-board server 102 determines whether an object placed on a seat 5 is a lost item or a suspicious item, and outputs the determination result to the display unit 103 (see FIGS. 5 to 7).

[0014] The distance measuring sensor 6, the microswitch 7, and the on-board server 102 correspond to the "seat occupancy detection unit" described in the claims. The on-board server 102 also corresponds to the "determination unit" described in the claims.

[0015] The seat 5 in this example is a two-seater type in which two seats 5 are arranged side by side and supported by a single frame. Pedals are attached to the bases supporting these two seats 5, and by stepping on the pedals, the orientation of the seats 5 can be changed by 180 degrees. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, each seat 5 comprises a seat portion 2, a backrest 3, and a pair of armrests 4a, 4b.

[0016] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the distance measuring sensor 6 is disposed on the armrest 4a of the seat 5 and detects the presence of an object on the seat portion 2. In Figure 2, reference numeral 61 denotes a light-transmitting window of the distance measuring sensor 6, reference numeral 62 denotes a light-emitting element, and reference numeral 63 denotes a light-receiving element. The light-transmitting window 61 is provided on the inner surface of the armrest 4a. Light from the light-emitting element 62 passes through the light-transmitting window 61 and is projected toward the armrest 4b. When an object is present on the seat portion 2, light from the light-emitting element 62 is reflected by the object, passes through the light-transmitting window 61, and is received by the light-receiving element 63. This detects the presence of an object on the seat portion 2.

[0017] Furthermore, in this example, in order to minimize costs and maximize the detection range, only one distance measuring sensor 6 is used, as shown in FIG. 3, and the distance measuring sensor 6 is installed so that light L is projected from the light-emitting element 62 in a diagonally rearward direction. More specifically, the single distance measuring sensor 6 is disposed at the lower front end of one armrest 4a, and light L from the light-emitting element 62 is projected diagonally from near the front left corner of the seat 2 to near the rear right corner. Note that the front, back, left, and right directions mentioned above are directions seen from the perspective of a person sitting in the seat 5. Such a distance measuring sensor 6 can reliably detect when a person is seated, and can also almost always detect when a bag 11, shown by the dashed line in FIG. 3, or a bag 12, shown by the dashed line in FIG. 3, is placed on the seat.

[0018] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the microswitch 7 is disposed inside the backrest 3 of the seat 5 and detects when the backrest 3 is being pressed. In this example, the microswitch 7 is disposed at a higher position than the distance measurement sensor 6. This arrangement allows the microswitch 7 to detect the pressure state when the backrest 3 is being pressed by a person's back, and to prevent the microswitch 7 from reacting when luggage is hitting a low part of the backrest 3. The microswitch 7 includes a case 71, a contact portion 72 disposed within the case 71, and an actuator 73 that protrudes from the case 71 and transmits the pressure on the backrest 3 to the contact portion 72.

[0019] The backrest 3 is composed of a back frame 31 and a cushioning material 32 that covers the back frame 31. The microswitch 7 is fixed to the back frame 31, and when the backrest 3 is pressed by a person's back or the like, the actuator 73 is displaced, opening and closing the contact part 72. This detects that the backrest 3 is being pressed. Furthermore, in this example, to improve the response of the microswitch 7, a plate 9 is provided between the actuator 73 and the cushioning material 32, and this plate 9 presses the actuator 73.

[0020] The table in Figure 4 shows the algorithm for determining the occupancy status of each seat 5. The on-board server 102 determines that a person is sitting in the seat 5 if there is an object on the seat 2 (distance measurement sensor: ○) and the backrest 3 is pressed (microswitch: ○). Also, if there is an object on the seat 2 (distance measurement sensor: ○) and the backrest 3 is not pressed (microswitch: ×), it determines that an object has been placed on the seat 5. The basis for this determination is that, although people normally lean on the backrest 3 immediately after sitting in the seat 5, if an object is placed on the seat 5, gravity applies a downward load and no force is applied to press the backrest 3 backward. Also, if there is no object on the seat 2 (distance measurement sensor: ×) and the backrest 3 is not pressed (microswitch: ×), it determines that the seat 5 is vacant. In addition, since it is normally impossible for the backrest 3 to be pressed (microswitch ○) when there is no object on the seat 2 (distance sensor ×), in reality, if there is no object on the seat 2, the seat 5 is determined to be vacant.

[0021] 5 to 7 are examples of information displayed on the display unit 103, including ticketing information and occupancy status for each seat 5, and information on lost items and suspicious items placed on the seats 5. As described above, these are output from the on-board server 102. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, a seating chart made up of marks resembling seats is displayed on the display unit 103. The reference numerals 51 to 56 attached to each seat mark are seat numbers.

[0022] In Figure 5, the backrests and armrests of seats 51, 53, and 55 are displayed in blue. This means that ticketing information is available for these seats 51, 53, and 55. In Figure 5, the backrests and armrests of seats 52, 54, and 56 are displayed in white (no coloring). This means that ticketing information is not available for these seats 52, 54, and 56.

[0023] Seats 51 and 56 in Figure 5 are shown with the seat area in white (no mark displayed). This means that seats 51 and 56 are vacant. Seat 53 in Figure 5 has a blue person mark displayed on the seat area. This means that a person is sitting in seat 53, and that this is a legitimate seating arrangement and not an illegal one. If a person is illegally sitting in a seat for which there is no ticket information, a red person mark is displayed on the seat area.

[0024] Seats 52, 54, and 55 in Figure 5 have a bag mark displayed in blue on the seat. This means that an object has been placed on these seats 52, 54, and 55, and that the object is not a lost or suspicious item. If the object placed on a seat is a lost or suspicious item, a bag mark will be displayed in red on the seat. The determination of whether or not the object is a lost or suspicious item is based on whether or not there is ticket information for the seat on which the object is placed or the seat next to it.

[0025] For example, seat 55 in Figure 5 is a seat for which ticket information is available, so it is highly likely that an item placed on seat 55 is the baggage of a passenger holding a seat reservation ticket for seat 55. Therefore, the item placed on seat 55 is determined not to be a lost item or a suspicious item.

[0026] Seat 54 in Figure 5 is a seat for which there is no ticket information, but adjacent seat 53 has ticket information and is occupied, so there is a high possibility that the item placed on seat 54 is the baggage of the passenger sitting in seat 53. Therefore, the item placed on seat 54 is determined not to be a lost item or suspicious item.

[0027] Seat 52 in Figure 5 has no ticket information, but adjacent seat 51 has ticket information, so it is highly likely that the item placed on seat 52 is the baggage of a passenger holding a seat reservation ticket for seat 51. Also, although seat 51 is vacant, it is common for seated passengers to temporarily leave their seats to use the restroom, make a phone call, etc. Therefore, the item placed on seat 52 is determined not to be a lost item or suspicious item.

[0028] Figure 6 is an example of a display after time has passed since the situation in Figure 5 and the ticket issuing zone has been passed. Because the ticket issuing zone has been passed, the backrests and armrests of seats 51, 53, and 55 have changed from blue to white (uncolored). The items that were placed on seats 52, 54, and 55 in the situation in Figure 5 are still there in the situation in Figure 6, but the bag marks on seats 52, 54, and 55 are displayed in blue for a predetermined time (e.g., 3 minutes) after the ticket issuing zone has been passed (i.e., from the time when seats 51, 53, and 55 no longer have ticket issuing information).

[0029] Then, after the predetermined time has elapsed, the item placed on seats 52, 54, and 55 is determined to be a lost or suspicious item, and the bag mark on seats 52, 54, and 55 changes from blue to red, as shown in Figure 7. When this red bag mark is displayed, the conductor actually goes to seats 52, 54, and 55 to check the item that has been determined to be a lost or suspicious item. The reason why the item is determined to be a lost or suspicious item after the ticket information changes from present to absent and a predetermined time has passed is that it is assumed that a passenger will realize that they have left their baggage behind and return to retrieve it, and this is to avoid confusing the conductor's work by detecting lost or suspicious items too many times.

[0030] Although not shown in the figure, even if an object is placed in either of two adjacent vacant seats that originally had no ticket information, it is assumed that the object is a temporary placement of a passenger's baggage, and the object is determined not to be a lost or suspicious item within a specified time period (for example, 3 minutes), and is then determined to be a lost or suspicious item after the specified time has elapsed.

[0031] In this way, the lost item / suspicious object detection system 100 of this example detects that an object has been placed on a seat 52, 54, 55, and if there is ticket information for the seat 52, 54, 55 or the adjacent seat 51, 53, 56, it determines that the object is not a lost item / suspicious object (see FIG. 5).Furthermore, when it detects that one 51, 53, 56 of two adjacent seats 51 to 56 with no ticket information is vacant and an object has been placed on the other 52, 54, 55, it determines that the object is not a lost item / suspicious object for a predetermined time from the time of detection (see FIG. 6), and if, after the predetermined time has elapsed, one 51, 53, 56 of the two adjacent seats 51 to 56 remains vacant and an object has been placed on the other 52, 54, 55, it determines that the object is a lost item / suspicious object (see FIG. 7).

[0032] The flow of the determination process performed by the on-board server 102 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0033] 8, the on-board server 102 determines whether or not there is ticket issuance information for each seat 5. If it determines that there is ticket issuance information, it proceeds to step S2, determines that there is no abnormality (no lost item or suspicious item), and returns to step S1. If it determines that there is no ticket issuance information, it proceeds to step S3.

[0034] In step S3, it is determined whether the distance measurement sensor 6 has detected an object on the seat 2 of the seat 5 (whether it is an empty seat or a person or object). If the distance measurement sensor 6 has not detected an object on the seat 2, the process proceeds to step S4, where it is determined that there is no abnormality (the seat 5 is empty and there is no left-behind or suspicious object), and the process returns to step S1. If the distance measurement sensor 6 has detected an object on the seat 2, the process proceeds to step S5.

[0035] In step S5, it is determined whether the microswitch 7 in the seat 5 has detected a press on the backrest 3 (whether by a person or an object). If the microswitch 7 detects a press on the backrest 3, the process proceeds to step S6, where it is determined that there is an abnormality (a person is illegally sitting in a seat 5 for which no ticket issuance information exists). If the microswitch 7 does not detect a press on the backrest 3, the process proceeds to step S7.

[0036] In step S7, it is determined whether or not there is ticket issuance information for the seat 5 adjacent to the seat 5 on which the object has been placed. If there is ticket issuance information, the process proceeds to step S8, where it is determined that there is no abnormality (an object has been placed on the seat 5, but it is not a lost item or suspicious item), and the process returns to step S1. If it is determined that there is no ticket issuance information, the process proceeds to step S9.

[0037] In step S9, it is determined whether n minutes have passed since it was detected in step S5 that an object was placed on seat 5. If n minutes have not passed, the process proceeds to step S10, where it is determined that there is no abnormality (an object has been placed on seat 5, but it is not a lost item or a suspicious item), and the process returns to step S1. If n minutes have passed, the process proceeds to step S11, where it is determined that there is an abnormality (the object placed on seat 5 is a lost item or a suspicious item).

[0038] In addition, the on-board server 102 transmits the determination results in steps S2, S4, S6, S8, S10, and S11 to the display unit 103.

[0039] As described above, according to the lost article / suspicious object detection system 100 of this embodiment, the conductor can be informed of the presence of a lost article / suspicious object placed on a seat 5 by looking at the display unit 103 without having to patrol the inside of the train, thereby improving work efficiency. Furthermore, lost articles and suspicious objects can be discovered early, which can be useful for improving service and safety.

[0040] In the above-described embodiment, a two-seater seat has been described as an example, but the lost property / suspicious object detection system of the present invention can also be applied to a three-seater seat. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the seat occupancy detection unit is made up of the distance sensor 6, the microswitch 7, and the on-board server 102, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a pressure-sensitive element or the like can be used instead of the microswitch 7.

[0041] The above-described embodiment merely shows a typical form of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various modifications without departing from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 5 seats 100 Lost and suspicious object detection system 101 Ticketing Information Acquisition Department 102 On-board server (judgment unit)

Claims

1. A lost property / suspicious object detection system that detects lost property or suspicious objects placed on seats installed in reserved seat cars of passenger trains, a seat occupancy detection unit that detects whether a seat is vacant, whether a person is seated, or whether an object is placed on the seat; a ticketing information acquisition unit that acquires seat ticketing information; a determination unit that determines whether an object placed on a seat is a lost item or a suspicious item based on the seat occupancy status and seat ticket information, If an object is detected on a seat and there is ticket information for that seat or the seat next to it, the object is determined not to be a lost item or suspicious item. A lost item / suspicious object detection system characterized by:

2. When it is detected that one of two adjacent seats with no ticket information is vacant and an object is placed on the other, it is determined that the object is not a lost item or a suspicious item within a predetermined time from the time of detection, If one of the two adjacent seats remains vacant and an object is placed on the other seat after the predetermined time has elapsed, the object is determined to be a lost item or a suspicious item.

2. The system for detecting lost property and suspicious objects according to claim 1.

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