Control device and control method

Abstract

To facilitate securing an environment suitable for conferences in an area where sounds are generated.SOLUTION: A control device 20 includes a control unit that acquires information pertaining to the distribution of magnitudes of sounds in an area 11 where sounds are generated, and controls the movement of a mobility 30 moving inside the area 11 that comes attached with a conference room, on the basis of the acquired information pertaining to the distribution.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control device and a control method.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle that provides a user with a space that can be used as a mobile conference room or a soundproof facility such as a noise canceller, and a space that can be used as a private room.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Since the area where an event is held, such as an event venue, is noisy, it is difficult to ensure an environment suitable for a meeting.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to easily ensure an environment suitable for a meeting in an area where sound is generated.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The control device according to the present disclosure acquires information regarding the distribution of the sound volume in the area where sound is generated, and controls the movement of a mobility with a conference room that moves within the area based on the acquired information regarding the distribution. It includes a control unit.

[0007] The control method according to the present disclosure acquires, by a control unit, information regarding the distribution of the sound volume in the area where sound is generated, and Based on the acquired information regarding the distribution, the control unit controls the movement of the mobile device with a conference room that moves within the area. Includes. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this disclosure, it will become easier to secure an environment suitable for meetings in areas where noise is generated. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This figure shows the configuration of the mobility control system according to the embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] This is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device according to the embodiment of this disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, one embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to the figures.

[0011] In each figure, identical or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the description of this embodiment, the description of identical or corresponding parts will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0012] Referring to Figure 1, the configuration of the mobility control system 10 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0013] The mobility control system 10 comprises a control device 20 and a mobility device 30 equipped with a conference room. The control device 20 can communicate with the mobility device 30 via a network 40.

[0014] The control device 20 is a computer installed in a facility such as a data center. The control device 20 is, for example, a server belonging to a cloud computing system or other computing system. The control device 20 is operated, for example, by an event management company.

[0015] Mobility 30 with a conference room is any type of vehicle, such as a gasoline car, diesel car, hydrogen car, HEV, PHEV, BEV, or FCEV. "HEV" is an abbreviation for hybrid electric vehicle. "PHEV" is an abbreviation for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. "BEV" is an abbreviation for battery electric vehicle. "FCEV" is an abbreviation for fuel cell electric vehicle. Mobility 30 is an AV in this embodiment, but may be driven by a driver or may be automated to any level. "AV" is an abbreviation for autonomous vehicle. The level of automation is, for example, one of levels 1 to 5 in the SAE classification. "SAE" is an abbreviation for Society of Automotive Engineers. Mobility 30 may also be a vehicle dedicated to MaaS. "MaaS" is an abbreviation for Mobility as a Service.

[0016] Network 40 includes the Internet, at least one WAN, at least one MAN, or any combination thereof. "WAN" is an abbreviation for wide area network. "MAN" is an abbreviation for metropolitan area network. Network 40 may also include at least one wireless network, at least one optical network, or any combination thereof. Wireless networks are, for example, ad hoc networks, cellular networks, wireless LANs, satellite communication networks, or terrestrial microwave networks. "LAN" is an abbreviation for local area network.

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the outline of this embodiment will be described.

[0018] The control device 20 acquires second information 60 regarding the distribution of the sound volume in the area 11 where sound is generated, by the control unit 21. In this embodiment, the area 11 is an event venue where events such as exhibitions, trade fairs, food events, or product exhibitions are held. The event venue is, for example, an arena. The second information 60 is, for example, a noise heat map created by predicting the customer attraction to each booth in the event venue, but it may also be a noise heat map created by sensing the inside of the event venue. The mobility 30 with a conference room moves within the area 11. The control device 20 controls the movement of the mobility 30 based on the acquired second information 60, by the control unit 21.

[0019] According to this embodiment, it becomes easier to secure an environment suitable for a meeting in the area 11 where sound is generated. For example, when a user tries to hold an online meeting or a conference call using a mobile device such as a mobile phone, smartphone, or tablet, it may be noisy around. In such a case, by moving the mobility 30 to a quiet place suitable for a meeting, the user can avoid the noise in the conference room of the mobility 30 and conduct the meeting. The same applies when a plurality of users gather to hold a meeting. In this embodiment, even if the mobility 30 does not have soundproof equipment such as a noise canceller, it is possible to provide a simpler environment suitable for a meeting with a lower volume level, thus enabling cost reduction.

[0020] According to this embodiment, it is also possible to provide an on-demand mobile conference room. For the sake of convenience improvement, information regarding the position of the mobility 30, or information regarding whether the mobility 30 is full or empty may be displayed on the user's mobile device, or on the venue bulletin board installed in the event venue.

[0021] In this embodiment, the control device 20 acquires the second information 60 by predicting the distribution of the magnitudes of sounds that will occur in the area 11 in the future. Specifically, the control device 20 acquires the first information 50 regarding the event being held in the area 11 by the control unit 21, and predicts the distribution of the magnitudes of sounds that will occur in the area 11 based on the acquired first information 50. Therefore, the control device 20 can avoid moving the mobility 30 to a place where, although it is quiet now, it is predicted that people will gather later and it will become noisy.

[0022] In this embodiment, the first information 50 includes various types of information such as the event venue 51, the event time 52, the scale of the number of participants 53, or the content 54. The first information 50 desirably includes not only past and current information but also future information. That is, it is desirable for the control device 20 to predict the distribution of the magnitudes of sounds that will occur in the area 11 based on such future information.

[0023] As a modification of this embodiment, the control device 20 may acquire the second information 60 by observing the distribution of the magnitudes of sounds currently occurring in the area 11.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 2, the configuration of the control device 20 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0025] The control device 20 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a communication unit 23.

[0026] The control unit 21 includes at least one processor, at least one programmable circuit, at least one dedicated circuit, or any combination thereof. The processor is a general-purpose processor such as a CPU or GPU, or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process. "CPU" is an abbreviation for central processing unit. "GPU" is an abbreviation for graphics processing unit. The programmable circuit is, for example, an FPGA. "FPGA" is an abbreviation for field-programmable gate array. The dedicated circuit is, for example, an ASIC. "ASIC" is an abbreviation for application specific integrated circuit. The control unit 21 controls each part of the control device 20 and executes processes related to the operation of the control device 20.

[0027] The storage unit 22 includes at least one semiconductor memory, at least one magnetic memory, at least one optical memory, or any combination thereof. The semiconductor memory is, for example, RAM, ROM, or flash memory. "RAM" is an abbreviation for random access memory. "ROM" is an abbreviation for read-only memory. RAM is, for example, SRAM or DRAM. "SRAM" is an abbreviation for static random access memory. "DRAM" is an abbreviation for dynamic random access memory. ROM is, for example, EEPROM. "EEPROM" is an abbreviation for electrically erasable programmable read-only memory. Flash memory is, for example, SSD. "SSD" is an abbreviation for solid-state drive. Magnetic memory is, for example, HDD. "HDD" is an abbreviation for hard disk drive. The storage unit 22 functions, for example, as main memory, auxiliary memory, or cache memory. The storage unit 22 stores information used for the operation of the control device 20 and information obtained through the operation of the control device 20. In this embodiment, the storage unit 22 stores at least the first information 50 and the second information 60.

[0028] The communication unit 23 includes at least one communication module. The communication module is, for example, a module compatible with a wired LAN communication standard such as Ethernet® or a wireless LAN communication standard such as IEEE 802.11. "IEEE" is an abbreviation for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The communication unit 23 communicates with the mobility 30. The communication unit 23 receives information used for the operation of the control device 20 and transmits information obtained through the operation of the control device 20.

[0029] The functions of the control device 20 are realized by executing the program according to this embodiment on the processor acting as the control unit 21. In other words, the functions of the control device 20 are realized by software. The program causes the computer to perform the operations of the control device 20, thereby causing the computer to function as the control device 20. That is, the computer functions as the control device 20 by performing the operations of the control device 20 according to the program.

[0030] The program can be stored on a non-temporary computer-readable medium. Examples of non-temporary computer-readable media include flash memory, magnetic recording devices, optical discs, magneto-optical recording media, or ROM. The program can be distributed, for example, by selling, transferring, or lending portable media such as SD cards, DVDs, or CD-ROMs containing the program. "SD" is an abbreviation for Secure Digital. "DVD" is an abbreviation for digital versatile disc. "CD-ROM" is an abbreviation for compact disc read only memory. The program may also be distributed by storing it in server storage and transferring it from the server to other computers. The program may also be provided as a program product.

[0031] A computer, for example, stores a program stored on a portable medium or a program transferred from a server in its main memory. Then, the computer reads the program stored in the main memory with its processor and executes the processing according to the read program. The computer may also read the program directly from the portable medium and execute the processing according to the program. The computer may also execute the processing according to the received program sequentially each time a program is transferred to the computer from a server. Processing may also be performed by a so-called ASP-type service, which does not transfer programs from the server to the computer, but realizes its function only through execution instructions and result retrieval. "ASP" is an abbreviation for application service provider. A program includes information used for processing by an electronic computer that is equivalent to a program. For example, data that is not a direct instruction to the computer but has the nature of defining the computer's processing falls under "equivalent to a program".

[0032] Some or all of the functions of the control device 20 may be implemented by a programmable circuit or a dedicated circuit as the control unit 21. In other words, some or all of the functions of the control device 20 may be implemented by hardware.

[0033] Referring to Figure 3, the operation of the control device 20 according to this embodiment will be described. The operation of the control device 20 corresponds to the control method according to this embodiment. That is, the control method according to this embodiment includes steps S1 to S3 shown in Figure 3.

[0034] In S1, the control unit 21 acquires the first information 50. Specifically, the control unit 21 reads the first information 50 from the storage unit 22. The first information 50 is stored in the storage unit 22 in advance. Alternatively, the first information 50 may be acquired from external storage via the communication unit 23 and then stored in the storage unit 22.

[0035] In S2, the control unit 21 acquires second information 60. Specifically, the control unit 21 acquires second information 60 by predicting the distribution of sound levels that will occur in the area 11 in the future, based on the first information 50 acquired in S1. The control unit 21 stores the acquired second information 60 in the storage unit 22. For example, the control unit 21 predicts the number of visitors to each booth in the event venue according to the event venue 51, event time 52, number of participants 53, or content 54 included in the first information 50. The time when each booth in the event venue opens, the time when events start at each booth, or the reservation time in the case of booths or events that require reservations may be considered. The control unit 21 creates a noise heat map as second information 60 that shows that louder noises will be generated in booths where more visitors are predicted and in the vicinity of those booths. The control unit 21 may adjust the noise heat map to show that loud noises will be generated in booths where a certain level of noise is predicted to be generated even if the number of visitors is small, such as when an event using music is held, and in the vicinity of those booths.

[0036] In S3, the control unit 21 controls the movement of the mobility unit 30 with a conference room based on the second information 60 acquired in S2. Specifically, based on the second information 60, the control unit 21 detects a location within area 11 where a lower noise level is generated than the location of the mobility unit 30, and moves the mobility unit 30 to the detected location. For example, if the noise heat map created in S2 indicates that the noise level at the current location of the mobility unit 30 will increase in the future, the control unit 21 instructs the mobility unit 30 via the communication unit 23 to move to a location indicated on the noise heat map as a suitable place for a conference, where the noise level is lower than the current location.

[0037] Steps S1 through S3 are executed repeatedly. Therefore, the control device 20 can respond to changes in noise levels in real time.

[0038] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, two or more blocks described in the block diagram may be combined, or one block may be divided. Instead of executing two or more steps described in the flowchart in chronological order as described, they may be executed in parallel or in a different order, depending on the processing capacity of the device performing each step, or as necessary. Other modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0039] 10 Mobility control systems 11 Areas 20 Control device 21 Control Unit 22 Memory section 23 Communications Department 30 Mobility 40 Networks 50 1st information 51 Venue 52. Event time 53 Number of participants 54 Contents 60 Second information

Claims

1. We obtain information about the distribution of sound intensity within the area where the sound is generated. Based on the acquired information regarding the distribution, control the movement of the mobile device with a conference room within the area. Equipped with a control unit, The control unit is a control device that repeatedly performs the acquisition of information regarding the distribution and the control of the movement of the mobility.

2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit, based on the information regarding the distribution, moves the mobility to the detected location whenever it detects a location within the area where a sound smaller than that of the mobility is located is generated.

3. The control device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the control unit causes the user to display information regarding the location of the mobility on a mobile device or on a bulletin board installed in the area.

4. The control unit acquires information regarding the distribution of sound intensity within the area where the sound is generated, Based on the acquired information regarding the distribution, the control unit controls the movement of the mobile device with a conference room that moves within the area. Includes, A control method comprising repeatedly performing the acquisition of information regarding the distribution and the control of the movement of the mobility device.

5. The control method according to claim 4, further comprising displaying information relating to the location of the mobility on the user's mobile device or on a bulletin board installed in the area.

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