Output Device

Abstract

To allow a user to grasp a degree of congestion in a spot where no sensor is installed.SOLUTION: An output device includes: a receiving unit which receives a target spot and a target date; an acquisition unit which acquires a satellite image of the target spot captured on a certain date related to the target date; and an output unit which outputs a degree of congestion in the target spot on the target date predicted based on the satellite image.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to output devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a congestion prediction device. This congestion prediction device acquires information on the flow of people in a target area on a target day before the prediction time from a first sensor, and acquires information on the flow of people in facilities near the target area on the target day before the prediction time from a second sensor. Then, this congestion prediction device uses at least this information to predict the flow of people in the target area a predetermined time after the prediction time. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-034358 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The congestion prediction device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it cannot grasp the degree of congestion at points where sensors are not installed.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide an output device that can grasp the degree of congestion at a location where no sensor is installed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The output device according to the first aspect includes a reception unit that receives a target location and a target date, an acquisition unit that acquires a satellite image of the target location taken on a day related to the target date, and an output unit that outputs a predicted degree of congestion at the target location on the target date based on the satellite image.

[0007] In the output device according to the first aspect, the receiving unit receives a target location and a target date, the acquiring unit acquires a satellite image of the target location taken on a date related to the target date, and the output unit outputs a predicted congestion level of the target location on the target date based on the satellite image. The output device according to the first aspect makes it possible to grasp the congestion level of locations where no sensors are attached.

[0008] The output device of the second aspect is the output device of the first aspect, wherein the output unit outputs the predicted congestion degree based on the satellite image taken on a date that has at least one of the same day of the week and time as the target day.

[0009] According to the output device of the second aspect, the predicted congestion level can be grasped with high accuracy compared to when the prediction is not based on satellite images taken on a date on which at least one of the day of the week and time is the same as the target day.

[0010] An output device according to a third aspect is the output device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the reception unit further receives a target time, and the output unit outputs the degree of congestion at the target time predicted based on the satellite image taken during the same time period as the target time.

[0011] According to the output device of the third aspect, the predicted congestion level can be grasped with high accuracy compared to when the prediction is not based on satellite images taken in the same time period as the target time.

[0012] An output device according to a fourth aspect is an output device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the output unit outputs the congestion degree predicted based on vehicles shown in the satellite image.

[0013] According to the output device of the fourth aspect, it is possible to grasp the traffic congestion of vehicles.

[0014] An output device according to a fifth aspect is an output device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the output unit outputs a message encouraging a change of at least one of the target location and the target date when the congestion level is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

[0015] According to the output device of the fifth aspect, by prompting a user to change at least one of the target location and the target date, it is possible to guide the user to at least one of the location and date where the congestion level is less than a threshold. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to grasp the degree of congestion at points where sensors are not installed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of an output system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a user terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a center server according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a CPU in a center server according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of an output process according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] As shown in Fig. 1, the output system 100 of this embodiment includes a satellite server 10, a center server 20, and a user terminal 30. The center server 20 is an example of an output device. The number of user terminals 30 included in the output system 100 is not limited to the number shown in Fig. 1. The satellite server 10, the center server 20, and the user terminal 30 are connected to each other via a network CN1.

[0019] The satellite server 10 stores satellite images, which are images of the ground taken from the sky by artificial satellites, aircraft, etc. Specifically, the satellite server 10 stores the satellite images in association with the date and time when the satellite images were taken, the day of the week when the satellite images were taken, and the location where the satellite images were taken.

[0020] (user terminal) The user terminal 30 is a terminal such as a smartphone or a computer owned by a user.

[0021] 2, the user terminal 30 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 30A, a read-only memory (ROM) 30B, a random access memory (RAM) 30C, an input unit 30E, a display unit 30F, and a communication interface (I / F) 30G. The CPU 30A, ROM 30B, RAM 30C, input unit 30E, display unit 30F, and communication I / F 30G are connected to each other via an internal bus 30H so that they can communicate with each other. In addition to the ROM 30B, the user terminal 30 may also include a non-volatile memory such as an SD card.

[0022] The CPU 30A is a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls various parts. That is, the CPU 30A reads out programs from the ROM 30B and executes the programs using the RAM 30C as a working area.

[0023] The ROM 30B stores various programs and various data. The RAM 30C serves as a working area for temporarily storing programs or data.

[0024] The input unit 30E is, for example, a keyboard, a push-button numeric keypad, a touchpad, or the like, and is used to input various types of information with the user's fingers.

[0025] The display unit 30F is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays various types of information. The display unit 30F may be provided as a touch display that also serves as the input unit 30E.

[0026] The communication I / F 20G is an interface for connecting to the network CN1.

[0027] (Center server) 3, the center server 20 includes a CPU 20A, a ROM 20B, a RAM 20C, and a communication I / F 20G. The CPU 20A, the ROM 20B, the RAM 20C, and the communication I / F 20G are connected to each other via an internal bus 20H so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0028] The CPU 20A is a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls each part. That is, the CPU 20A reads out a program from the ROM 20B and executes the program using the RAM 20C as a work area.

[0029] The ROM 20B stores various programs and various data. The RAM 20C temporarily stores programs or data as a working area.

[0030] In this embodiment, the ROM 20B stores an output program.

[0031] The output program is a program for realizing each function that the center server 20 has.

[0032] The communication I / F 20G is an interface for connecting to the network CN1.

[0033] Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of CPU 20A. As shown in Fig. 4, CPU 20A has a reception unit 200, an acquisition unit 210, a prediction unit 220, and an output unit 230. Each functional configuration is realized by CPU 20A reading and executing an output program stored in ROM 20B.

[0034] The reception unit 200 has a function of receiving a target location and a target date. In this embodiment, the reception unit 200 receives the target location and the target date from the user terminal 30 via the communication I / F 20G.

[0035] The reception unit 200 also has a function of receiving a target time. In this embodiment, the reception unit 200 receives the target time from the user terminal 30 via the communication I / F 20G.

[0036] The reception unit 200 also receives a congestion level threshold from the user terminal 30. The congestion level threshold is a threshold for determining whether or not the output unit 230 (described later) should output a message urging the user to change at least one of the target location and the target date. However, this is not a limitation. For example, the reception unit 200 may receive a congestion level threshold from an administrator of the center server 20 or the like.

[0037] The acquisition unit 210 has a function of acquiring a satellite image of a target point taken on a date related to the target date (hereinafter simply referred to as a "satellite image"). Specifically, the acquisition unit 210 acquires the satellite image from the satellite server 10 via the communication I / F 20G.

[0038] In this embodiment, the acquisition unit 210 acquires satellite images of a target location that were taken on a date that is the same as the target date in at least one of the day of the week and the time. The time may be, for example, one week before or after the target date. For example, if the target date is Tuesday, August 15, 2023, the acquisition unit 210 acquires at least one of satellite images taken on Tuesday and satellite images taken from August 8, 2022 to August 22, 2022. Note that the time may be two weeks before or after the target date, one month, or the like. Furthermore, the date on which the acquisition unit 210 acquires satellite images that are taken on the same day of the week as the target date, the same time as the target date, or the same day of the week and time as the target date may be predetermined by the user terminal 30 or may be predetermined by an administrator of the center server 20.

[0039] The acquisition unit 210 may also acquire satellite images of the target location captured on a date that is the same as the target date in at least one of whether it is a holiday and when it is the same. Whether it is a holiday indicates whether it is a Saturday, Sunday, or a public holiday. For example, if the target date is August 15, 2023 (Tuesday), the target date is not a holiday. Therefore, the acquisition unit 210 acquires at least one of satellite images captured on weekdays, such as Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, and satellite images captured between August 8, 2022 and August 22, 2022.

[0040] Furthermore, if the reception unit 200 further receives a target time, the acquisition unit 210 acquires satellite images captured in the same time period as the target time received by the reception unit 200. The time period is, for example, 30 minutes before and after the target time received by the reception unit 200. For example, if the target time is 1:00 PM, the acquisition unit 210 acquires satellite images captured from 12:30 to 1:30 PM. Note that the time period may be one hour before or three hours before or after the target time received by the reception unit 200, for example.

[0041] In this embodiment, the acquisition unit 210 transmits the target location, target date, and target time received by the reception unit 200 to the satellite server 10. Then, the satellite server 10 transmits to the center server 20 a satellite image of the target location that was taken in the same time zone as the target time on a date that is the same as the target date in at least one of the day of the week and time of day. In this way, the acquisition unit 210 acquires a satellite image of the target location that was taken in the same time zone as the target time on a date that is the same as the target date in at least one of the day of the week and time of day.

[0042] The prediction unit 220 predicts the congestion level (hereinafter simply referred to as "congestion level") of a target location on a target day based on the satellite image acquired by the acquisition unit 210. In this embodiment, the prediction unit 220 predicts the congestion level based on vehicles captured in the acquired satellite image. Specifically, the prediction unit 220 predicts the congestion level as the average value of the number of vehicles captured in the acquired satellite image. Note that the prediction unit 220 may also predict the congestion level as the average value of the ratio of the area of ​​vehicles parked in a parking lot to the area of ​​the parking lot captured in the acquired satellite image. Furthermore, the prediction unit 220 may predict the congestion level by inputting the satellite image acquired by the acquisition unit 210 into a congestion level prediction model trained on the number of people who actually visited the target location or the number of vehicles actually parked in the parking lot at the target location, and the satellite image as a data set.

[0043] Furthermore, the prediction unit 220 may output the area of ​​the crowd of people as the congestion degree when a crowd of people is captured in the satellite image acquired by the acquisition unit 210. Furthermore, the prediction unit 220 may predict the congestion degree based on, in addition to the acquired satellite image, location information of multiple user terminals 30 on a date that is the same as the target day in at least one of the day of the week and the time of day.

[0044] The output unit 230 has a function of outputting the congestion degree of a target location on a target day predicted based on a satellite image. In this embodiment, the output unit 230 outputs the congestion degree predicted based on a satellite image taken on a date on which at least one of the day of the week and the time of day is the same as the target day. The output unit 230 also outputs the congestion degree at a target time predicted based on a satellite image taken in the same time period as the target time. The output unit 230 also outputs the congestion degree predicted based on vehicles captured in the satellite image. That is, the output unit 230 outputs the congestion degree predicted by the prediction unit 220. In this embodiment, the output unit 230 outputs the congestion degree to the user terminal 30.

[0045] Furthermore, the output unit 230 has a function of outputting a message urging the user to change at least one of the target location and the target date when the congestion level is equal to or greater than a threshold. Note that, when the congestion level is equal to or greater than a threshold, the output unit 230 may output a target date on which the congestion level at the target location is predicted to be less than the threshold. Furthermore, when the congestion level is equal to or greater than a threshold, the output unit 230 may output a target location on which the congestion level on the target date is predicted to be less than the threshold.

[0046] Next, the flow of the output process for outputting the congestion degree will be described with reference to Fig. 5. The output process is performed by the CPU 20A reading out an output program from the ROM 20B, expanding it into the RAM 20C, and executing it.

[0047] 5, the CPU 20A waits until it receives a target location, a target date, and a target time from the user terminal 30. When the CPU 20A receives the target location, the target date, and the target time (step S100: YES), the CPU 20A proceeds to step S101.

[0048] In step S101, the CPU 20A waits until it receives a congestion level threshold from the user terminal 30. When the CPU 20A receives a congestion level threshold (step S101: YES), the CPU 20A proceeds to step S102.

[0049] In step S102, CPU 20A transmits to satellite server 10 the target location, target date, and target time received in step S100.

[0050] In step S103, the CPU 20A acquires satellite images from the satellite server 10. Specifically, the CPU 20A acquires satellite images of the target location that were taken on a date that is the same as the target date accepted in step S100 in at least one of the day of the week and the time of day, and in the same time period as the accepted target time.

[0051] In step S104, the CPU 20A predicts the congestion level at the target location on the target date and time. Specifically, the CPU 20A predicts the congestion level based on the number of vehicles captured in the satellite image acquired in step S103.

[0052] In step S105, the CPU 20A outputs the congestion degree predicted in step S104 to the user terminal 30.

[0053] In step S106, CPU 20A determines whether the congestion level predicted in step S104 is equal to or greater than the threshold value received in step S101. If the predicted congestion level is equal to or greater than the threshold value received (step S106: YES), CPU 20A proceeds to step S107. On the other hand, if the predicted congestion level is less than the threshold value received (step S106: NO), CPU 20A ends this output process.

[0054] In step S107, the CPU 20A outputs a change promotion notification to the user terminal 30, and ends this output process. Specifically, the CPU 20A outputs a notification to the user terminal 30 urging the user to change at least one of the target location and the target date, and ends this output process.

[0055] [remarks] In the above embodiment, the center server 20 configured separately from the user terminal 30 is used as the output device. However, this is not limiting. A device built into the user terminal 30 may also be used as the output device.

[0056] In the above embodiment, satellite images are stored in the satellite server 10, which is configured separately from the center server 20. However, this is not limiting. Satellite images may be stored in a storage device such as the ROM 20B or storage included in the center server 20.

[0057] In the above embodiment, the center server 20 predicted the congestion degree. However, this is not limiting. A device other than the center server 20 may predict the congestion degree. In this case, the center server 20 outputs the congestion degree predicted by the device other than the center server 20.

[0058] Furthermore, the processing performed by the CPU after reading the software (program) in the above-described embodiments may be performed by various processors other than the CPU. Examples of such processors include programmable logic devices (PLDs) (such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)) whose circuit configuration can be changed after fabrication, and dedicated electrical circuits such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) that are processors with circuit configurations specifically designed to perform specific processing. The above-described processing may be performed by one of these various processors, or by a combination of two or more processors of the same or different types (e.g., multiple FPGAs, or a combination of a CPU and an FPGA). The hardware structure of these various processors is, more specifically, an electrical circuit that combines circuit elements such as semiconductor devices.

[0059] In the above embodiment, the programs are pre-stored (installed) in ROM, but the present invention is not limited to this. The programs may be provided in a form recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc Read Only Memory), or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. The programs may also be downloaded from an external device via a network.

[0060] The processing flow described in the above embodiment is also an example, and unnecessary steps may be deleted, new steps may be added, or the processing order may be changed within the scope of the gist of the invention.

[0061] Furthermore, the configurations of the satellite server 10, the center server 20, and the user terminal 30 described in the above embodiment are merely examples, and may be changed according to the situation within the scope of the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 20 Center server (output device) 200 Reception 210 Acquisition Department 230 Output section

Claims

1. a reception unit that receives a target location, a target date, and a congestion level threshold; an acquisition unit that acquires a satellite image of the target location taken on a date related to the target date; an output unit that outputs the congestion degree of the target point on the target day predicted based on the satellite image; Equipped with the output unit outputs, as the congestion degree, at least one of an average value of a ratio of an area of ​​vehicles parked in the parking lot to an area of ​​the parking lot captured in the satellite image and an area of ​​a crowd of people captured in the satellite image; When the congestion degree is equal to or greater than the threshold value received by the receiving unit, outputting a message prompting the user to change at least one of the target location and the target date. Output device.

2. The output device according to claim 1 , wherein the output unit outputs the congestion degree predicted based on the satellite image captured on a date that is the same as the target date in at least one of a day of the week and a time of day.

3. The reception unit further receives a target time, The output device according to claim 1 , wherein the output unit outputs the degree of congestion at the target time predicted based on the satellite image captured in the same time zone as the target time.

4. The output device according to claim 1 , wherein the output unit outputs the congestion degree predicted based on vehicles captured in the satellite image.

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