Support device, support method, and program

Abstract

To reduce the time required for office setup work when relocating or establishing a new office. [Solution] The support device is an office layout design support device comprising: a concept acquisition unit that acquires the design concept of the office to be designed; an instruction text generation unit that generates instruction text to be input to a generation AI based on the design concept; an inference result acquisition unit that acquires the type of room, the number of rooms, and the area ratio of rooms in accordance with the design concept as a result of inputting the instruction text generated by the instruction text generation unit to the generation AI; and a proposal unit that proposes office zoning based on the information obtained by the inference result acquisition unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a support device, a support method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, when considering an office layout, there has been a technique of using a chatbot or the like to interactively receive user requests and performing inference using a generative AI based on the received requests to generate an optimal layout plan (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Even if an office layout could be generated using such a technique, it usually took about a month for office relocation, such as selecting wallpaper, floor materials, furniture, ICT equipment, obtaining estimates from multiple vendors, and grasping the reasonableness of the amount. The same was true for new office construction, such as when starting a business. That is, there has been a demand for shortening the time required for office installation work during office relocation and new construction.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a support device, a support method, and a program capable of shortening the time required for office installation work during office relocation and new construction.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] (1) One aspect of the present invention is an office layout design support device comprising: a concept acquisition unit that acquires a design concept for an office to be designed; an instruction text generation unit that generates instruction text to be input to a generation AI based on the design concept; an inference result acquisition unit that acquires the type of room, the number of rooms, and the area ratio of rooms in accordance with the design concept as a result of inputting the instruction text generated by the instruction text generation unit to the generation AI; and a proposal unit that proposes office zoning based on the information obtained by the inference result acquisition unit. The design concept acquired by the concept acquisition unit includes the company philosophy and information extracted from the person in charge, and the concept acquisition unit further comprises a company philosophy acquisition unit that extracts the company philosophy from the target company's web page. It is a support device.

[0009] ( 2 ) Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned ( 1 In the support device of the ), the concept acquisition unit further comprises a user acquisition unit that extracts requests from the person in charge regarding the design of the office layout or requests regarding the office's challenges.

[0010] ( 3 ) Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned ( 2 In the support device of the ), the user acquisition unit extracts information by asking questions to the person in charge through a chat function.

[0011] ( 4 ) Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned (1) to ( 3 In the support device of the ), the instruction statement generation unit generates the instruction statement based on the total area and number of employees of the office whose layout is to be designed.

[0012] ( 5 ) Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned (1) to ( 4 The support device further includes a feedback acquisition unit that obtains feedback from the person in charge regarding the office zoning proposed by the proposal unit, and the proposal unit proposes the office zoning again based on the acquired feedback.

[0013] (6 ) Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned (1) to ( 5 In the support device of the above, the instruction statement includes an instruction to the generation AI to generate multiple options, the inference result acquisition unit acquires the multiple options inferred by the generation AI, and the proposal unit proposes multiple office zoning options acquired by the inference result acquisition unit.

[0014] ( 7 Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention is a support method for assisting in the design of an office layout performed using a computer, comprising: a concept acquisition step in which the computer acquires a design concept for the office to be designed; an instruction text generation step in which the computer generates instruction text to be input to a generating AI based on the design concept; an inference result acquisition step in which the computer acquires the type, number, and area ratio of rooms in accordance with the design concept as a result of inputting the instruction text generated in the instruction text generation step to the generating AI; and a proposal step in which the computer proposes office zoning based on the information obtained in the inference result acquisition step. Furthermore, the design concept acquired in the concept acquisition process includes the company philosophy and information extracted from the person in charge, and the concept acquisition process further includes a company philosophy acquisition process in which the company philosophy is extracted from the target company's web page. This is a method of support.

[0015] ( 8 )Another aspect of the present invention is a program that causes a computer to perform processing to assist in designing an office layout, the program to perform: a concept acquisition step of acquiring a design concept for an office to be designed; an instruction text generation step of generating instruction text to be input to a generating AI based on the design concept; an inference result acquisition step of acquiring the types, number, and area ratios of rooms in accordance with the design concept as a result of inputting the instruction text generated in the instruction text generation step to the generating AI; and a proposal step of proposing office zoning based on the information obtained in the inference result acquisition step. The program further includes a corporate philosophy acquisition step in which the design concept acquired in the concept acquisition step includes the corporate philosophy and information extracted from the person in charge, and the concept acquisition step further includes a corporate philosophy acquisition step in which the corporate philosophy is extracted from the target company's web page. That is the case. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, an effect can be obtained that a support device, a support method, and a program capable of shortening the time required for office installation work at the time of office transfer and new establishment can be provided.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing an outline of the system according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a functional configuration diagram showing an example of a functional configuration used when the support device according to this embodiment provides a zoning proposal function. [Figure 3] It is a functional configuration diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of a concept acquisition unit according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a flowchart showing a series of processes when providing a zoning proposal function by the support method according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a first diagram showing an example of a screen configuration of a display screen presented in the zoning proposal function according to this embodiment. [Figure 6] It is a second diagram showing an example of a screen configuration of a display screen presented in the zoning proposal function according to this embodiment. [Figure 7] It is a third diagram showing an example of a screen configuration of a display screen presented in the zoning proposal function according to this embodiment. [Figure 8] It is a fourth diagram showing an example of a screen configuration of a display screen presented in the zoning proposal function according to this embodiment. [Figure 9] It is a functional configuration diagram showing an example of a functional configuration used when the support device according to this embodiment provides a layout proposal function. [Figure 10] It is a diagram showing an example of correspondence information in which furniture used in the layout proposal function according to this embodiment is associated with an image. [Figure 11] It is a first diagram showing an example of a screen configuration of a display screen presented in the layout proposal function according to this embodiment. [Figure 12]This is the second figure, which shows an example of the screen configuration of the display screen presented in the layout proposal function according to this embodiment. [Figure 13] This flowchart shows a series of steps when providing a layout suggestion function using the support method according to this embodiment. [Figure 14] This is a functional configuration diagram showing an example of the functional configuration used when the support device according to this embodiment provides a cost calculation function. [Figure 15] The first figure shows an example of the screen configuration of the display screen presented in the cost calculation function according to this embodiment. [Figure 16] The first figure shows an example of the screen configuration of the display screen presented in the cost calculation function according to this embodiment. [Figure 17] This flowchart shows a series of steps when providing a cost calculation function using the support method according to this embodiment. [Figure 18] This is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the support device according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] [Embodiment] The support device, support method, and program according to aspects of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings, with reference to preferred embodiments. It should be noted that the aspects of the present invention are not limited to these embodiments, and include various modifications and improvements. In other words, the components described below include those that are easily conceivable to those skilled in the art, and those that are substantially the same, and the components described below can be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, or modifications of components can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Also, in the following drawings, the scale and number of components in each structure may differ from the scale and number of components in the actual structure in order to make each structure easier to understand.

[0019] [System Overview] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the schematic of the system according to this embodiment. First, System 1 will be described with reference to this figure. System 1 supports multiple users in designing office layouts. In the following description, a user is someone who takes the lead in designing the office layout. A user may be the organization itself that is considering moving offices, or the person in charge of office relocation within that organization. The office layout design supported by System 1 is intended to be a broad definition of design, encompassing everything from setting the concept of the destination office to generating zoning, layout generation, and calculating estimated costs. In the following description, the term "layout design" may refer to layout design in a broad sense or in a narrow sense. Layout design in a narrow sense refers to selecting furniture and equipment (including ICT equipment) to be placed in an already determined floor plan, and then arranging the selected furniture.

[0020] System 1 comprises a support device 10 and a plurality of user terminal devices 30. The figure shows, as an example of the plurality of user terminal devices 30, user terminal device 30-1, user terminal device 30-2, ..., user terminal device 30-n (where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1). Hereafter, when the plurality of user terminal devices 30 are not distinguished, they may simply be referred to as user terminal device 30.

[0021] The support device 10 and the user terminal device 30 are connected to each other via a predetermined communication network NW. The predetermined communication network NW is a communication network configured using circuits. An example of a communication network NW is the internet. The communication network NW is an open network, and devices connected to the communication network NW can communicate with each other using predetermined protocols. Communication using the Internet Protocol (IP), etc., takes place in the internet layer of the communication network NW.

[0022] The support device 10 is connected separately and independently to multiple user terminal devices 30. The support device 10 acquires information from each user terminal device 30 and assists in office layout design based on the acquired information. When assisting with layout design, the support device 10 may access various other information on the internet in addition to the information acquired from the user terminal devices 30.

[0023] The support device 10 comprises a communication unit 11, an arithmetic unit 12, and a storage unit 13. Each of these functional units is implemented, for example, using electronic circuits. Each functional unit may also be equipped with internal storage means such as semiconductor memory or magnetic hard disk drives, as needed. Furthermore, each function may be implemented by a computer with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and software. In addition, all or part of each functional unit may be implemented using hardware (e.g., circuitry) such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). Furthermore, all or part of each functional unit may be implemented by a combination of software and hardware.

[0024] The memory unit 13 stores the support program P. The support program P has a zoning suggestion function F1, a layout suggestion function F2, and a cost calculation function F3. Each of these functions, and an example of the functional unit for realizing each of these functions, will be described later. Note that the figure shows an example in which the service provided by system 1 is realized by a web application. When realized by a so-called native application, each of the functions of the information processing program P, or a part thereof, may be distributed to, installed on, and executed on the user terminal device 30. In this case, the user terminal device 30 on which the support program P is installed can also be called the support device 10.

[0025] The user terminal device 30 is a terminal device operated by the user. The user proceeds with the office layout design by operating the user terminal device 30. Examples of user terminal devices 30 include information processing devices such as personal computers, tablets, and smartphones. The user terminal device 30 comprises a communication unit 31, a calculation unit 32, a storage unit 33, an operation unit 34, and a display unit 35. The communication unit 31 communicates information with the support device 10, etc. The calculation unit 32 performs processing based on information stored in the storage unit 33. The storage unit 33 stores predetermined information. The operation unit 34 accepts user input. The display unit 35 presents predetermined information to the user.

[0026] [Zoning suggestion function] Figure 2 is a functional configuration diagram showing an example of the functional configuration used when the support device according to this embodiment provides a zoning proposal function. The zoning proposal function F1 will be explained with reference to this figure. First, zoning is the division of office space into work zones, meeting zones, exchange zones, etc., according to work style and activity content. The zoning proposal function F1 provided by System 1 makes an optimal room allocation based on the design concept. The design concept will be described later. The zoning proposal function F1 proposes a room allocation that solves the office's problems and achieves its objectives. The office's problems include issues related to Information and Communication Technology (ICT). To provide the zoning proposal function F1, the support device 10 includes a concept acquisition unit 111, an instruction statement generation unit 112, an inference result acquisition unit 113, a proposal unit 114, and a feedback acquisition unit 115 as functional units.

[0027] The concept acquisition unit 111 acquires the design concept of the office to be designed. In the following explanation, "design concept" refers to a design concept in a broad sense. A design concept in a broad sense includes not only concepts aimed at designing the layout of an office, but also information that, at first glance, does not seem directly related to a design concept, such as a company philosophy. However, a company philosophy is preferable to be reflected in the office layout design and is therefore included in a design concept in a broad sense. Concepts aimed at designing the layout of an office may be acquired from users. For example, it is conceivable to acquire user requests using a chatbot or the like. Furthermore, a company philosophy may be acquired from publicly available information, such as the target company's website. A design concept in a broad sense can also be said to be a concept that integrates information acquired from users and the company philosophy (i.e., an integrated concept).

[0028] The instruction text generation unit 112 generates an instruction text (prompt) to be input to the generation AI based on the design concept acquired by the concept acquisition unit 111. Preferably, the instruction text includes the design concept acquired by the concept acquisition unit 111, in addition to basic information of the target organization, the characteristics of the work, and information about space. Basic information of the target organization includes quantitative information such as the number of employees (total number, number of employees who are always in the office, percentage of remote work, etc.), organizational structure, and future expandability. Characteristics of the work include qualitative information such as whether the organization has many meetings or whether it is an organization where people work mostly individually, and if the organization is divided into departments, etc., which departments have the most meetings. Information about space includes quantitative information such as the total area and shape of the office. The design concept acquired by the concept acquisition unit 111 includes both quantitative and qualitative information. In this way, the instruction text generation unit 112 generates an instruction text based on quantitative and qualitative information. The trained model 21 shown in Figure 2 is an example of a generation AI that receives instruction sentences generated by the instruction sentence generation unit 112 as input. The instruction sentence generation unit 112 inputs the generated instruction sentences into the trained model 21.

[0029] The inference result acquisition unit 113 inputs the instruction generated by the instruction generation unit 112 into the trained model 21 and obtains the result of a zoning plan that conforms to the design concept. The zoning plan includes the type of room, the number of rooms, and the area ratio of the rooms. The area ratio is the area of ​​the rooms relative to the total area, and may also represent the size itself.

[0030] The proposal unit 114 proposes office zoning to the user based on the information obtained by the inference result acquisition unit 113. This proposal is implemented by transmitting information to the user terminal device 30 and displaying the information on the display unit 35 provided on the user terminal device 30. This proposal may be made by displaying the types of rooms, the number of rooms, and the area ratio of the rooms numerically. Alternatively, this proposal may be made by displaying a diagram containing two-dimensional or three-dimensional information in a manner that is easy to recognize and understand visually.

[0031] Here, the proposal unit 114 may output a proposal that does not meet the user's wishes. Furthermore, the user may want to modify part of the proposed plan. To address such requests, the support device 10 includes a feedback acquisition unit 115. The feedback acquisition unit 115 obtains feedback regarding the office zoning proposed by the proposal unit 114 from the design engineer (hereinafter broadly including company employees, and sometimes simply referred to as the engineer). This feedback may be in natural language or in the form of selecting from a set of options. After receiving the feedback, the instruction generation unit 112 generates a new instruction based on the feedback. The trained model 21 performs inference again based on the new instruction. The inference result acquisition unit 113 obtains the inference results again. Based on the new inference results, the proposal unit 114 proposes the office zoning to the user again.

[0032] The proposal unit 114 may propose multiple zoning plans to the user. The proposal unit 114 can also propose multiple plans to the user simultaneously. Simultaneously means without performing further inference considering feedback. In this case, the instruction generated by the instruction generation unit 112 includes an instruction to the trained model 21 to generate multiple plans. The calculation unit 32 infers the multiple plans. The inference result acquisition unit 113 acquires the multiple plans inferred by the trained model 21. The proposal unit 114 proposes the office zoning acquired by the inference result acquisition unit 113 to the user, with multiple plans.

[0033] Figure 3 is a functional configuration diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the concept acquisition unit according to this embodiment. Referring to the figure, an example of a specific configuration of the concept acquisition unit 111 will be described. As shown in the figure, the concept acquisition unit 111 comprises a corporate philosophy acquisition unit 111A, a user acquisition unit 111B, and an integrated concept acquisition unit 111C. By having these configurations, the concept acquisition unit 111 acquires a design concept that includes the corporate philosophy and information extracted from the user (i.e., the person in charge of office layout design).

[0034] The Corporate Philosophy Acquisition Unit 111A acquires the corporate philosophy of the target company or organization. The Corporate Philosophy Acquisition Unit 111A may, for example, extract the corporate philosophy from the target company's webpage. The Corporate Philosophy Acquisition Unit 111A may also extract the corporate philosophy based on various other publicly available information. Furthermore, the Corporate Philosophy Acquisition Unit 111A may acquire the corporate philosophy from the user.

[0035] The user acquisition unit 111B extracts requests from the user regarding office layout design or office challenges. The user acquisition unit 111B may also extract information by asking questions to the user through a chat function. User requests may be expressed in natural language, or they may be operations selected by the user from multiple options or operations entered in multiple checkboxes.

[0036] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the sequence of steps when providing a zoning proposal function using the support method according to this embodiment. The sequence of steps for the zoning proposal function F1 provided by the support device 10 will be explained with reference to this figure.

[0037] (Step S11) The Corporate Philosophy Acquisition Unit 111A acquires the corporate philosophy of the target company by referring to the target company's website and other publicly available information.

[0038] (Step S12) The user acquisition unit 111B acquires concepts regarding office layout design through chat with the user.

[0039] (Step S13) The integrated concept acquisition unit 111C acquires an integrated concept, which is information obtained by integrating the information acquired in step S11 and the information acquired in step S12.

[0040] (Step S14) The instruction generation unit 112 generates an instruction to be input into the trained model 21 based on the total area of ​​the destination office and the number of employees of the target company (i.e., the number of people working in the new office).

[0041] (Step S15) The inference result acquisition unit 113 acquires the results inferred by the trained model 21.

[0042] (Step S16) The proposal unit 114 proposes to the user the inference result obtained by the inference result acquisition unit 113, i.e., the office zoning plan.

[0043] (Step S17) If the feedback acquisition unit 115 has received feedback from the user as a result of proposing a zoning plan to the user in step S16 (i.e., step S17; YES), it returns to step S15 and performs inference again. If no feedback is received from the user (i.e., step S17; NO), it terminates the process.

[0044] (Step S18) The instruction generation unit 112 generates an instruction based on user feedback for performing further reasoning.

[0045] Figure 5 is the first diagram showing an example of the screen configuration of the display screen presented in the zoning suggestion function according to this embodiment. The display screen D10 shown in the figure is an example of information operated by the user and transmitted to the support device 10. The user transmits information about the destination office to the support device 10 by operating the screen. Specifically, the display screen D10 includes reference numerals D11 and D12 as screen components.

[0046] The symbol D11 comprises the symbols D111 and D112 as components of the screen. Symbol D111 is the "Import Data Below" button. By operating this button, the user imports a diagram showing the shape and dimensions of the destination office. Symbol D12 shows an example of a display unit that shows the information after the shape and dimensions of the office have been imported. After importing the diagram, the user may make modifications by operating symbol D12. Symbol D13 is the "Input Complete" button. By operating this button, the user completes the input of the data below and proceeds to the next step.

[0047] Figure 6 is a second diagram showing an example of the screen configuration of the display screen presented in the zoning proposal function according to this embodiment. The display screen D20 shown in the figure is an example of a display screen that is displayed when the user acquisition unit 111B extracts information from the user using the chat function. The speech bubble coming from the left of the screen is a statement from the support device 10, and the statement coming from the right of the screen is a statement from the user.

[0048] Code D21 is a question from the support device 10 to the user asking about the reason for the relocation, specifically, "Hello, Mr. / Ms. XX. I understand you are considering relocating your office. First, could you tell me the reason for the relocation?" The user responds in natural language, specifically, "Our current office has become too small due to an increase in the number of employees, so we need more space." This kind of natural language information is an example of the requirements for office layout design that can be elicited from the design team. Code D23 is a confirmation report from the support device 10 to the user that the information has been obtained, specifically, "Thank you, Mr. / Ms. XX. The reason is 'our current office has become too small due to an increase in the number of employees, so we need more space.' Let's move on." The user can object if they disagree.

[0049] Code D24 is a question from the support device 10 to the user asking about their goals in the new office, specifically, "What do you want to achieve in the new office?" The display screen D20 shown in the figure shows the screen at the stage where the user answers this question. The user is presented with options in response to this question. Specifically, the options are shown as code D25, and there are three options: (1) I want to eliminate the walls between departments and create a space where natural communication can occur, (2) I want to balance both quiet, focused spaces with spaces where people can talk casually, and (3) I want to create a highly designed office that employees can be proud of. The user selects the desired option by operating the cursor 26. In the example shown, option (2) is selected. The result of the user's selection is entered into input box D27. The information entered into input box D27 can also be edited. If there are no desired options, the user can directly enter their answer into input box D27. Once the user has finished entering their answer, they submit their answer by operating code D28.

[0050] Figure 7 is a third diagram showing an example of the screen configuration of the display screen presented in the zoning proposal function according to this embodiment. Display screen D30 is an example of a display screen that is shown when the user acquisition unit 111B extracts information from the user using the chat function, and can be said to be a continuation of the display screen D20 described above.

[0051] Code D21 is a question from the support device 10 to the user asking about the image of the office the user desires, specifically asking, "Which office atmosphere best matches your image?" Furthermore, the support device 10 presents the user with two images as code D32. Code D32 is the first image and is labeled A. Code D33 is the second image and is labeled B. These images may be actual photographs of an office, other imagery, or illustrations.

[0052] The display screen D30 shown in the figure shows the screen at the stage where the question is answered. The question presents the user with options. Specifically, the options are indicated by code D33, and there are three options: (1) Proceed with A, (2) Proceed with B, and (3) Add a modern element. The user selects the desired option by manipulating cursor 34. In the illustrated example, option (1) is selected. The user's selection is entered into input box D35. The information entered in input box D35 can also be edited. If there are no desired options, the user can directly enter their answer into input box D35. Once the user has finished entering their answer, they submit it by manipulating code D36.

[0053] Figure 8 is a fourth figure showing an example of the screen configuration of the display screen presented in the zoning suggestion function according to this embodiment. Display screen D40 is an example of the display screen when the suggestion unit 114 suggests zoning to the user in step S16 described above. The support device 10 transmits information to the user terminal device 30, causing the display screen D40 to be displayed on the display unit 35 of the user terminal device 30. Specifically, the display screen D40 includes reference numerals D41 and D42 as screen components.

[0054] The symbol D41 comprises the symbols D411 and D412 as components of the screen. Symbol D411 is a "Regenerate" button. By operating this button, the user causes the support device 10 to execute the zoning plan again. Before the second execution, the user may be given an opportunity to provide feedback. This feedback may be provided using, for example, the chat function described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Symbol D42 shows an example of a zoning plan that the support device 10 actually proposes to the user. After confirming the zoning plan, the user decides on the zoning by operating symbol D412 and proceeds to the narrow-sense layout design provided by the layout proposal function F2.

[0055] [Summary of Zoning Proposal Function F1] As described above, the support device 10 assists in the design of an office layout using the zoning proposal function F1. The support device 10 includes a concept acquisition unit 111 to acquire the design concept of the office to be designed, an instruction text generation unit 112 to generate instruction text to be input to the generation AI based on the acquired design concept, an inference result acquisition unit 113 to acquire the room types, number of rooms, and area ratios of the rooms in accordance with the design concept as a result of inputting the instruction text generated by the instruction text generation unit 112 to the generation AI, and a proposal unit 114 to propose office zoning based on the information obtained by the inference result acquisition unit 113. By adopting this configuration, it becomes possible to suitably generate zoning, which is a preliminary stage to office layout. By suitably generating office zoning, it becomes possible to suitably generate office layout. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the time required for office setup work when relocating or establishing a new office can be shortened.

[0056] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the design concept acquired by the concept acquisition unit 111 includes the corporate philosophy and information extracted from the design staff. By first designing the design concept based on the corporate philosophy and information extracted from the design staff, it becomes possible to generate zoning that better matches the corporate culture. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent situations in the broader office layout design process where work has to be redone after progressing to downstream processes, and the time required for office setup work during office relocation and new office construction can be shortened.

[0057] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the concept acquisition unit 111 further includes a corporate philosophy acquisition unit 111A to extract the corporate philosophy from the target company's web page. By adopting such a configuration, the user can avoid the trouble of manually entering the corporate philosophy. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the time required for office setup work during office relocation and new office establishment can be easily reduced.

[0058] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the concept acquisition unit 111 further includes a user acquisition unit 111B to elicit requests from the design engineer regarding office layout design or office issues. By directly eliciting requests from the design engineer, the designer's intentions can be clearly understood. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent situations where work has to be redone after progressing to downstream processes in the broader office layout design process, and the time required for office setup work during office relocation and new office construction can be shortened.

[0059] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the user acquisition unit 111B extracts information by asking questions to the design engineer through the chat function. By adopting such a configuration, the support device 10 can easily and accurately obtain the design engineer's requests.

[0060] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the instruction text generation unit 112 generates instruction texts based on the total area and number of occupants of the office whose layout is to be designed. Here, the total area and number of occupants of the office whose layout is to be designed are quantitative information. The design concept includes at least qualitative information. In other words, according to this embodiment, instruction texts are generated based on quantitative information and qualitative information. By adopting such a configuration, the support device 10 can generate zoning with high accuracy.

[0061] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, by including a feedback acquisition unit 115, feedback regarding the office zoning proposed by the proposal unit 114 is obtained from the design engineer. The proposal unit 114 then proposes the office zoning again based on the acquired feedback. In this way, by acquiring and incorporating feedback at the zoning stage, it is possible to prevent situations where the work has to be redone after progressing to downstream processes. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the time required for office setup work during office relocation and new office construction can be shortened.

[0062] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the instruction generated by the instruction generation unit 112 includes an instruction to the generation AI to generate multiple options, the inference result acquisition unit 113 acquires the multiple options inferred by the generation AI, and the proposal unit 114 proposes multiple office zoning options acquired by the inference result acquisition unit 113. In this way, the support device 10 allows the user to select the desired zoning from many options by proposing multiple options. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent situations where the process has to be redone after proceeding to the downstream process. Thus, according to this embodiment, the time required for office setup work during office relocation and new office construction can be shortened.

[0063] [Layout suggestion function] Figure 9 is a functional configuration diagram showing an example of the functional configuration used when the support device according to this embodiment provides a layout proposal function. The layout proposal function F2 will be explained with reference to this figure. First, the layout provided by the layout proposal function F2 is a layout in the narrow sense, which refers to arranging furniture and other items in an already determined (zoned) space. In order to provide the layout proposal function F2, the support device 10 includes, as functional units, a concept acquisition unit 121, a corresponding information acquisition unit 122, an instruction statement generation unit 123, an inference result acquisition unit 124, a proposal unit 125, and a feedback acquisition unit 126.

[0064] The concept acquisition unit 121 acquires the design concept of the office to be designed. In the description of the layout proposal function F2, the concept acquisition unit 121 may have the same configuration as the concept acquisition unit 111 described above. In the detailed description of the concept acquisition unit 121 in the layout proposal function F2, the explanation of matters that are the same as those of the concept acquisition unit 111 will be omitted.

[0065] Unlike the zoning proposal function F1, the layout proposal function F2 designs each room individually, so each room may have its own design concept. For example, the design concepts for the office area, the free space, and the conference room may be different from each other. For instance, the design concept for the office area could be "classic," the free space "cafe-style," and the conference room "modern." In this case, the concept acquisition unit 121 can acquire the characteristics of each room based on the design concept.

[0066] The correspondence information acquisition unit 122 acquires correspondence information that associates elements installed in the office with images of those elements. Elements installed in the office include, for example, furniture such as chairs and desks. The images of those elements may be "modern style," "cafe style," "classic style," etc. The images of those elements may use words that are combined with the design concept for each room as described above, or they may use different words.

[0067] The instruction statement generation unit 123 generates an instruction statement (prompt) to be input to the generation AI based on the design concept acquired by the concept acquisition unit 111 and the corresponding information acquired by the corresponding information acquisition unit 122. Preferably, the instruction statement includes information necessary to determine which furniture to place in the designated area. This information includes the design concept. The trained model 222 shown in Figure 9 is an example of a generation AI to which the instruction statement generated by the instruction statement generation unit 123 is input. The instruction statement generation unit 123 inputs the generated instruction statement to the trained model 233.

[0068] Furthermore, when the instruction statement generation unit 123 generates an instruction statement, the result of the zoning suggestion function F1 described above may be referenced. In other words, the layout suggestion function F2 may exist as a process after the zoning suggestion function F1 has been executed. However, this embodiment is not limited to this example, and the layout suggestion function F2 may exist as a separate and independent function separate from the zoning suggestion function F1.

[0069] The inference result acquisition unit 124 inputs the instruction generated by the instruction generation unit 123 into the trained model 222 and obtains a proposed office layout. The proposed office layout includes the types, number, and arrangement of furniture and equipment (including ICT equipment) to be placed in each room. The proposed office layout may also include two-dimensional or three-dimensional images of the actual furniture arrangement.

[0070] The proposal unit 125 proposes an office layout to the user based on the information obtained by the inference result acquisition unit 124. This proposal is executed by transmitting information to the user terminal device 30 and displaying the information on the display unit 35 of the user terminal device 30. This proposal is made by referring to correspondence information that associates elements to be installed in the office (e.g., furniture, etc.) with images of those elements. Furthermore, this proposal is made using elements that conform to the design concept acquired by the concept acquisition unit 121.

[0071] Here, the proposal unit 114 may output a proposal that does not meet the user's wishes. Furthermore, the user may want to modify part of the proposed layout. To address such requests, the support device 10 includes a feedback acquisition unit 126. The feedback acquisition unit 126 obtains feedback from the design engineer regarding the office layout proposed by the proposal unit 125. This feedback may be in natural language or in the form of a selection from a set of options. After receiving the feedback, the instruction generation unit 123 generates a new instruction that takes the feedback into consideration. The trained model 222 performs inference again based on the new instruction. The inference result acquisition unit 124 obtains the inference results. Based on the new inference results, the proposal unit 125 proposes an office layout to the user again.

[0072] The correspondence information generation unit 127 generates correspondence information and stores it in the correspondence information storage unit 221. The correspondence information is generated using a generation AI, with at least product information of the element (for example, product information obtainable from the fixture manufacturer's website or product catalog) as input information, to identify the image of the element. The correspondence information generation unit 127 generates correspondence information by associating the element with the identified image. It is preferable that the image of the element be identified mechanically (automatically) by the correspondence information generation unit 127, but human judgment may also be involved.

[0073] Figure 10 shows an example of correspondence information in which furniture and images are associated in the layout suggestion function according to this embodiment. The figure shows an example of correspondence information stored in the correspondence information storage unit 221. As shown in the figure, the correspondence information associates furniture (an example of an element) with an image. In the example shown, the image corresponding to the furniture "desk 1" is "natural (wood cafe style)", the image corresponding to the furniture "desk 2" is "natural (green x cafe style)", the image corresponding to the furniture "desk 3" is "classic (European classic)", and the image corresponding to the furniture "desk 4" is "natural (Japanese classic)".

[0074] In the example shown here, the corresponding information can be described as having a hierarchical structure of images. For example, the image "Natural" is a higher-level structure, and "Wood Cafe Style" or "Green x Cafe Style" are lower-level structures. In this case, with a hierarchical structure, it is conceivable to first propose "Wood Cafe Style" under "Natural" to the user, and then propose "Green x Cafe Style," which has a similar higher-level structure. In other words, when the proposal unit 125 proposes an office layout again based on the feedback results from the feedback acquisition unit 126, it can also propose an office layout using elements that are suitable at the same or a higher level.

[0075] Figure 11 is a first diagram showing an example of the screen configuration of a display screen presented in the layout proposal function according to this embodiment. The display screen D50 shown in the figure is an example of a case in which the result of the layout design performed by the support device 10 is presented to the user on a two-dimensional information display screen. Specifically, the display screen D50 includes reference numerals D51 and D52 as screen components.

[0076] The symbol D51 comprises the symbols D511, D512, D513, and D514 as components of the screen. Symbol D511 is a button for recreating the proposed layout. The proposed layout is displayed in symbol D52. Note that there may be cases where some of the proposed layouts are to be adopted and others are not. In such cases, it is possible to lock (confirm) each room. In this case, the user can also recreate only the rooms that are not locked (not confirmed) by operating symbol D511.

[0077] The symbol D512 transitions to the three-dimensional information display screen. An example of the three-dimensional information display screen will be described later with reference to Figure 12. Note that display screen D50 shows an example of the two-dimensional information display screen. The symbol D513 is the "Save button". The user saves the layout by operating this button. The symbol D514 is a button that transitions to a screen for checking the reasonableness of costs or checking building regulations, etc.

[0078] The symbol D52 displays the results of the layout design performed by the support device 10 in a two-dimensional information display. Symbol D52 shows an example of how furniture and other items are arranged in each room. The user can zoom in on the screen to see details, or zoom out to see the whole picture. The user can also check the details of the furniture that has been placed.

[0079] Figure 12 is a second figure showing an example of the screen configuration of a display screen presented in the layout proposal function according to this embodiment. The display screen D60 shown in the figure is an example of a case in which the results of the layout design performed by the support device 10 are presented to the user on a three-dimensional information display screen. Specifically, the display screen D60 includes reference numerals D61 and D62 as screen components.

[0080] The symbol D61 comprises the symbols D611, D612, D613, and D614 as screen components. The screen configuration of symbol D51 is the same as that of symbol D51 described above, but differs from symbol D51 in that symbol D612 is a button for transitioning to a two-dimensional information display screen. An example of a two-dimensional information display screen has already been explained with reference to Figure 11.

[0081] The symbol D62 displays the results of the layout design performed by the support device 10 in a three-dimensional information display. Symbol D62 shows an example of how furniture and other items are arranged in each room. The user can zoom in on the screen to see details, or zoom out to see the whole picture. The user can also check the details of the furniture that has been placed.

[0082] Figure 13 is a flowchart showing the sequence of steps when providing a layout suggestion function using the support method according to this embodiment. The sequence of steps for the layout suggestion function F2 provided by the support device 10 will be explained with reference to this figure.

[0083] (Step S21) The concept acquisition unit 121 acquires the design concept for the office. Step S21 may include steps S11 to S13 described above.

[0084] (Step S22) The proposal unit 125 refers to the corresponding information stored in the corresponding information storage unit 221 and proposes an office layout to the user that matches the design concept.

[0085] (Step S23) If the feedback acquisition unit 126 has received feedback from the user as a result of proposing the layout to the user in step S22 (i.e., step S23; YES), it proceeds to step S24. If it does not receive feedback from the user (i.e., step S23; NO), it terminates the process.

[0086] (Step S24) If user feedback is obtained, the feedback is added to the considerations and the layout design is revised.

[0087] [Summary of Layout Suggestion Function F2] As described above, the support device 10 assists in the design of an office layout using the layout proposal function F2. The support device 10 includes a concept acquisition unit 121 to acquire the design concept of the office to be designed, a proposal unit 125 to refer to correspondence information that associates elements to be installed in the office with images of those elements, and proposes an office layout using elements that conform to the design concept acquired by the concept acquisition unit 121, and a feedback acquisition unit 126 to obtain feedback from the design engineer regarding the office layout proposed by the proposal unit 125. Furthermore, the proposal unit 125 proposes an office layout again based on the feedback results from the feedback acquisition unit 121. By adopting such a configuration, it becomes possible to suitably carry out office layout design. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the time required for office installation work when relocating or establishing a new office can be shortened.

[0088] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, the support device 10 further includes a corresponding information generation unit 127, which uses product information of an element as input information, identifies the image of the element using a generation AI, and generates corresponding information by associating the element with the identified image. The input information may include, for example, the homepage or product catalog of a furniture manufacturer. According to this embodiment, layout design can be performed for furniture provided by various furniture manufacturers, so a layout design that meets the user's needs can be created. By creating a layout design that meets the user's needs, the number of revisions can be reduced. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the time required for office setup work when relocating or establishing a new office can be shortened. In addition, according to this embodiment, it becomes possible to respond flexibly even when a furniture manufacturer releases a new product or when the sale of an old product is discontinued.

[0089] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the corresponding information has a hierarchical structure of images, and when the proposal unit 125 proposes an office layout again based on the feedback results from the feedback acquisition unit 126, it proposes an office layout using suitable elements in the same or higher hierarchical levels. By using such a hierarchical structure, even if the user does not like the current layout, they can easily find the next candidate. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the time required for office setup work during office relocation and new office establishment can be reduced.

[0090] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the concept acquisition unit 121 acquires the design concept of the office to be designed from the design engineer. The concept acquisition unit 121 extracts information by, for example, asking questions to the design engineer through a chat function. By adopting such a configuration, the support device 10 can easily and accurately elicit the design engineer's requests.

[0091] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the concept acquisition unit 121 acquires the design concept of the office to be designed based on the corporate philosophy and information extracted from the design staff. By first designing the design concept based on the corporate philosophy and information extracted from the design staff, it becomes possible to implement a layout design that better matches the corporate culture. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent situations in the broader office layout design process where work has to be redone after progressing to the downstream processes, and the time required for office setup work during office relocation and new office construction can be shortened.

[0092] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the concept acquisition unit 121 acquires the characteristics of each room based on the design concept. By adopting such a configuration, it becomes possible to implement a suitable layout design for each room.

[0093] [Cost calculation function] Figure 14 is a functional configuration diagram showing an example of the functional configuration used when the support device according to this embodiment provides a cost calculation function. The cost calculation function F3 will be explained with reference to the same figure. The cost calculation function F3 calculates the cost related to moving the office by summing up the costs of furniture, ICT-related expenses, and interior design expenses determined in the layout design. In order to provide the cost calculation function F3, the support device 10 includes a concept acquisition unit 131, an element cost acquisition unit 132, a presentation unit 133, an operation acquisition unit 134, and a cost calculation unit 135 as functional units.

[0094] The concept acquisition unit 131 acquires the design concept of the office to be designed. In the description of the cost calculation function F3, the concept acquisition unit 131 may have the same configuration as the concept acquisition unit 111 described above. In the detailed description of the concept acquisition unit 131 in the cost calculation function F3, the explanation of matters that are the same as those of the concept acquisition unit 111 is omitted.

[0095] The element cost acquisition unit 132 first acquires element cost information stored in the element cost information storage unit 231. Element cost information includes information about the cost of an element, and may be information obtainable from, for example, the website or product catalog of a furniture manufacturer. Alternatively, element cost information may be information that associates information identifying an element with the cost of that element. This cost information may also be information obtained from a distributor of furniture, etc. The element cost acquisition unit 132 identifies the elements to be installed in the office and acquires the cost corresponding to that element from the element cost information. Specifically, the elements to be installed in the office may be those determined by the layout proposal function F2. That is, the cost calculation function F3 may exist as a process after the layout proposal function F2 has been executed. However, this embodiment is not limited to this example, and the cost calculation function F3 may exist as a separate and independent function separate from the layout proposal function F2. Based on the identified elements, the element cost acquisition unit 132 acquires a plurality of elements to be installed in the office and the total cost of those plurality of elements.

[0096] The presentation unit 133 presents the designer with a list of several importance levels for each of several items, including at least items related to the office design concept. The importance level of an item may specifically be expressed in monetary terms. For example, some users may want to significantly reflect their design concept in the office layout, even if it costs more, while others may have a general design concept but want to keep costs down. Therefore, the presentation unit determines which rank to adopt by allowing the user to select the importance level. For example, there may be three levels, such as pine, bamboo, and plum, and the presentation unit 133 may present a display screen allowing the user to select whether the cost per tsubo (a unit of area) should be 30,000 yen, 40,000 yen, or 50,000 yen. A specific example will be described later with reference to Figure 15.

[0097] The operation acquisition unit 134 acquires the operation of which option the designer selects from the options presented by the presentation unit 133 if the designer wishes to change something. For example, if the presentation unit 133 presents multiple options and the user makes an operation to select one of them, the operation acquisition unit 134 acquires that operation.

[0098] The cost calculation unit 135 calculates the cost corresponding to each of the multiple items based on the results obtained by the operation acquisition unit 134, and then adds these costs together with the costs obtained by the element cost acquisition unit 132 to calculate the total cost.

[0099] Figure 15 is the first diagram showing an example of the screen configuration of the display screen presented in the cost calculation function according to this embodiment. An example of the information presented to the user by the presentation unit 133 will be explained with reference to this figure. Figure 15(A) shows an example of items presented to the user. This diagram includes the items "Interior," "AV equipment," "Next-generation ICT," "Existing ICT," and "Design." Other items may include costs for network construction work, consulting / PM fees, furniture, moving expenses, B-type construction (electrical / air conditioning / fire prevention), server construction / PC distribution, etc. Each item includes a unit price per tsubo [yen]. The unit price per tsubo [yen] can also be rephrased as importance. The presentation unit 133 can also present the importance of the item in monetary terms. The user can arbitrarily determine the unit price per tsubo [yen] for each item.

[0100] Figure 15(B) shows an example where the user arbitrarily determines the unit price per tsubo [yen] for each item. In this figure, the user makes a decision for each item by manipulating cursor C. Specifically, in this figure, three options are displayed for the "Design" item: "30,000", "40,000", and "50,000". Of these, the user selects the middle option, "40,000". In this way, the user can make decisions for each item.

[0101] In addition, initial values ​​may be set according to the user. As an example of user-specific initial values, they may be set according to the concept acquired by the concept acquisition unit 131. In other words, the presentation unit 133 may present one of several options as the initial value, and this initial value may differ depending on the design concept acquired by the concept acquisition unit 131. In addition to the initial value, the options themselves may be set to be different.

[0102] Furthermore, initial values ​​for specific items may be set according to the design concept. For example, if the design concept is related to a smart office, it is assumed that ICT-related costs will inevitably be high (that high ICT-related costs can be tolerated). In other words, if the presentation unit 133 has acquired a design concept related to a smart office by the concept acquisition unit 131, it may set a high ICT-related cost and present options.

[0103] Figure 16 is a second diagram showing an example of the screen configuration of the display screen presented in the cost calculation function according to this embodiment. An example of the information presented to the user by the presentation unit 133 will be described with reference to this figure. Note that the display screen D80 may be displayed by operating the reference numeral D514 or reference numeral D614 as described with reference to Figures 11 and 12. The display screen D80 displays the estimated cost and the reasonableness of the amount. The support device 10 transmits the information to the user terminal device 30, causing the display screen D80 to be displayed on the display unit 35 of the user terminal device 30. Specifically, the display screen D80 includes reference numeral D81 and reference numeral D82 as screen components.

[0104] Code D81 shows the reasonableness of the amount on a graph using plotted data. The horizontal axis of the graph represents the office area [square meters], and the vertical axis represents the amount [yen]. By referring to this graph, users can get an idea of ​​the average cost for offices of similar size. For example, the cost calculated by the cost calculation function F3 may be highlighted and displayed within the plotted data. Alternatively, the price range for offices of similar size may be shown numerically. In the example shown, it is displayed that "The price range for office relocation of the same size is [11 million to 19 million yen]."

[0105] Code D82 displays estimated costs and other information using numerical data. Specifically, the diagram shows that the estimated cost is "15 million yen (excluding tax)" and the required number of seats is "270 (considering free addressing)." Code D82 also includes codes D821, D822, and D823 as components of the screen.

[0106] The symbol D821 is the "Return to 2D" button. When this button is pressed, the screen transitions to display screen D50, which was explained with reference to Figure 11. The symbol D822 is the "Change Taste" button. When this button is pressed, the screen transitions to a screen where the taste can be changed. The symbol D823 is the "Save Data" button. When this button is pressed, the data is saved and the screen transitions to the next screen as needed.

[0107] Figure 17 is a flowchart showing the sequence of steps when providing a cost calculation function using the support method according to this embodiment. The sequence of steps for the cost calculation function F3 provided by the support device 10 will be explained with reference to this figure.

[0108] (Step S31) The concept acquisition unit 131 acquires the design concept of the office. Step S31 may include steps S11 to S13 described above.

[0109] (Step S32) The element cost acquisition unit 132 acquires the element costs. Element costs are the total costs of multiple pieces of furniture stored in the office. The element cost acquisition unit 132 acquires the element costs based on the element cost information stored in the element cost information storage unit 231 and the information of multiple elements stored in the office. If the cost calculation function F3 is performed after the layout proposal function F2, the element cost acquisition unit 132 may refer to the layout information determined by the layout proposal function F2.

[0110] (Step S33) The presentation unit 133 presents the design engineer with options for each item. The options may be presented in three stages, such as pine, bamboo, and plum. A specific example is explained with reference to Figure 15(B).

[0111] (Step S34) The operation acquisition unit 134 obtains the importance level of each item from the design engineer. The importance level may be expressed in monetary terms. However, some design engineers may not be able to directly set monetary values ​​(because monetary values ​​may not convey the scale of the project). Therefore, instead of directly setting monetary values, other easily recognizable terms may be used.

[0112] (Step S35) The cost calculation unit 135 calculates the estimated costs related to office relocation and new office setup based on the element costs obtained in step S32 and the amount set by the design engineer in step S34.

[0113] (Step S36) The operation acquisition unit 134 presents the cost calculated in step S35 to the design engineer.

[0114] [Summary of Cost Calculation Function F3] As described above, the cost calculation function F3 enables the support device 10 to assist in the design of an office layout. The support device 10 includes a concept acquisition unit 131 to acquire the design concept of the office to be designed, an element cost acquisition unit 132 to acquire the costs of multiple elements to be installed in the office and the total costs of those elements, a presentation unit 133 to present to the designer which of several levels of importance to assign to each of several items, each of which includes at least an item related to the office design concept, if the designer wishes to change from the options presented in the presentation unit 133, an operation acquisition unit 134 to acquire the operation of the designer to select one of the options presented in the presentation unit 133 if the designer wishes to change it, and a cost calculation unit 135 to calculate the cost corresponding to each of the multiple items based on the results acquired by the operation acquisition unit 131, and to calculate the total cost by adding it to the cost acquired by the element cost acquisition unit 132. By adopting this configuration, it is possible to calculate an estimated cost that appropriately reflects the office design concept. Based on this estimated cost, the designer can then design the office layout in a broad sense. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent setbacks in the process and shorten the time required for office setup work during office relocation and new office establishment.

[0115] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the presentation unit 133 presents one of several options as an initial value, and this initial value differs depending on the design concept acquired by the concept acquisition unit 131. By adopting such a configuration, the effort required for the user to make a selection can be reduced.

[0116] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the presentation unit 133 displays the importance of each item in monetary terms. By adopting this configuration, users can easily determine how much they should allocate to each item.

[0117] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the multiple items presented by the presentation unit 133 further include interior design costs and ICT-related costs. By adopting such a configuration, it becomes possible to set details for multiple items, and to calculate estimated costs that accurately reflect the user's intentions.

[0118] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, if a design concept for a smart office is acquired by the concept acquisition unit 131, a larger amount is set for ICT-related expenses. By adopting such a configuration, it becomes possible to individually and specifically apply the costs to items other than furniture, such as ICT expenses, according to the specific design concept.

[0119] [Internal structure] Figure 18 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the support device according to this embodiment. The computer shown in the figure shows an example of a specific hardware configuration for realizing the support device 10. The computer consists of a central processing unit (processor) 901, RAM 902, input / output ports 903, input / output devices 904 and 905, etc., and a bus 906. The computer itself can be realized using existing technology. The central processing unit 901 executes instructions contained in programs read from RAM 902, etc. The central processing unit 901 writes data to RAM 902, reads data from RAM 902, and performs arithmetic and logical operations according to each instruction. RAM 902 stores data and programs. Each element contained in RAM 902 has an address and can be accessed using that address. RAM stands for "Random Access Memory". Input / output ports 903 are ports for the central processing unit 901 to exchange data with external input / output devices, etc. Input / output devices 904 and 905 are input / output devices. Input / output devices 904 and 905 exchange data with the central processing unit 901 via input / output ports 903. Bus 906 is a common communication channel used within the computer. For example, the central processing unit 901 reads and writes data to RAM 902 via bus 906. Also, for example, the central processing unit 901 accesses input / output ports via bus 906. Furthermore, all or part of the support device 10 may be implemented using hardware such as ASICs, PLDs, or FPGAs. Furthermore, all or part of each functional unit may be implemented by a combination of software and hardware.

[0120] Furthermore, the above-described embodiment makes it possible to "propose a suitable office layout and shorten the time required for office setup work during relocation and new construction." The suitable office layout includes matters related to ICT. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), "Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and expand innovation."

[0121] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and design modifications and the like are also included within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0122] Alternatively, computer programs for realizing the functions of each of the above-mentioned devices may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the programs recorded on this recording medium may be loaded into a computer system and executed. Note that the term "computer system" here may include hardware such as an operating system and peripheral devices. Furthermore, "computer-readable recording media" refers to writable non-volatile memory such as flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, and flash memory, portable media such as DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs), and storage devices such as hard disks built into computer systems.

[0123] Furthermore, "computer-readable recording media" also includes volatile memory (e.g., DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)) within a computer system that acts as a server or client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, which retains the program for a certain period of time. In addition, the above program may be transmitted from the computer system that stores the program in a storage device, etc., to another computer system via a transmission medium or by transmission waves within the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" for transmitting the program refers to a medium that has the function of transmitting information, such as a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. Furthermore, the above program may be for the purpose of realizing a part of the above-mentioned functions. Moreover, it may be a so-called differential file (differential program) that can realize the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0124] 1...System, 10...Support device, 11...Communication unit, 12...Calculation unit, 13...Storage unit, P...Support program, F1...Zoning proposal function, F2...Layout proposal function, F3...Cost calculation function, 30...User terminal device, 31...Communication unit, 32...Calculation unit, 33...Storage unit, 34...Operation unit, 35...Display unit, 111...Concept acquisition unit, 112...Instruction statement generation unit, 113...Inference result acquisition unit, 114...Proposal unit, 115...Feedback acquisition unit, 21...Learning Trained model, 111A... Corporate philosophy acquisition unit, 111B... User acquisition unit, 121... Concept acquisition unit, 122... Corresponding information acquisition unit, 123... Instruction text generation unit, 124... Inference result acquisition unit, 125... Proposal unit, 126... Feedback acquisition unit, 221... Corresponding information storage unit, 222... Trained model, 131... Concept acquisition unit, 132... Element cost acquisition unit, 133... Presentation unit, 134... Operation acquisition unit, 135... Cost calculation unit, 231... Element cost information storage unit

Claims

1. An assistive device for designing office layouts, The Concept Acquisition Department acquires the design concept for the office to be designed, Based on the aforementioned design concept, an instruction text generation unit generates instruction text to be input to the generation AI, An inference result acquisition unit obtains, as a result of inputting the instruction text generated by the instruction text generation unit into the generation AI, the type of room, the number of rooms, and the area ratio of the rooms in accordance with the design concept. Based on the information obtained by the aforementioned inference result acquisition unit, a proposal unit proposes office zoning, Equipped with, The design concept acquired by the aforementioned concept acquisition unit includes the company philosophy and information extracted from the person in charge. The aforementioned concept acquisition unit further comprises a corporate philosophy acquisition unit that extracts the corporate philosophy from the target company's web page. Support equipment.

2. The aforementioned concept acquisition unit further comprises a user acquisition unit that extracts requests from the person in charge regarding the design of the office layout or requests regarding the challenges of the office. The support device according to claim 1.

3. The user acquisition unit extracts information by asking questions to the person in charge through the chat function. The support device according to claim 2.

4. The instruction generation unit generates the instruction based on the total area and number of employees of the office whose layout is to be designed. The support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The system further includes a feedback acquisition unit that obtains feedback from the person in charge regarding the office zoning proposed by the aforementioned proposal unit. Based on the feedback received, the proposal department will propose a revised office zoning plan. The support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. The instruction statement includes an instruction to the generating AI to generate multiple options. The inference result acquisition unit acquires the multiple options inferred by the generating AI, The proposal unit proposes multiple office zoning plans obtained by the inference result acquisition unit. The support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. A method for assisting in the design of office layouts performed using a computer, The aforementioned computer performs a concept acquisition process to acquire the design concept of the office to be designed, The computer performs an instruction generation process that generates instruction sentences to be input to the generating AI based on the design concept, The computer inputs the instruction generated in the instruction generation step into the generating AI, and as a result, obtains an inference result acquisition step that acquires the type, number, and area ratio of rooms in accordance with the design concept. The computer, based on the information obtained in the inference result acquisition step, proposes an office zoning step, It has, The design concept acquired in the aforementioned concept acquisition process includes the company philosophy and information extracted from the person in charge. The aforementioned concept acquisition process further includes a corporate philosophy acquisition process, which involves extracting the corporate philosophy from the target company's webpage. How to help.

8. A program that causes a computer to perform processes to assist in designing an office layout, Concept acquisition step to obtain the design concept for the office to be designed, Based on the aforementioned design concept, the instruction text generation step generates an instruction text to be input to the generation AI, The inference result acquisition step involves inputting the instruction generated in the instruction generation step into the generating AI, and obtaining the type, number, and area ratio of rooms in accordance with the design concept. Based on the information obtained in the aforementioned inference result acquisition step, a proposal step is made to propose office zoning, A program that executes, The design concept acquired in the aforementioned concept acquisition step includes the company philosophy and information extracted from the person in charge. The aforementioned concept acquisition step further includes a corporate philosophy acquisition step, which involves extracting the corporate philosophy from the target company's webpage. program.

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