Information provision program

Abstract

We will provide information programs that take into account the estimated time for evacuation completion. The information provision program provides evacuation routes from each of the one or more departure areas in the route guidance target to one or more destination areas in the route guidance target. The information provision program performs a calculation step to identify one evacuation route group from the two or more candidate evacuation route groups based on first information regarding personnel deployment for each departure area, second information regarding two or more candidate evacuation route groups for each disaster location and each of the two or more candidate evacuation route groups, third information regarding the estimated time of evacuation completion for each disaster location and each of the two or more candidate evacuation route groups, calculated based on the first and second information, and fourth information regarding at least the location of the disaster.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information providing program and the like.

Background Art

[0002] An evacuation information providing system has been proposed in Patent Document 1 and the like.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the predicted evacuation completion time is not sufficiently considered.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information providing program and the like that take into account the predicted evacuation completion time.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The information providing program according to the present invention guides an evacuation route from each of one or more departure areas in a route guidance target to one or more arrival areas in the route guidance target. The information providing program includes first information regarding the personnel arrangement for each departure area, second information regarding candidates for two or more evacuation route groups including evacuation routes for each disaster occurrence location and for each departure area, and third information regarding the predicted evacuation completion time for each disaster occurrence location and for each candidate for the two or more evacuation route groups, which is calculated based on the first information and the second information, and fourth information regarding at least the location of the disaster. Based on these, a calculation step for specifying one evacuation route group from the candidates for the two or more evacuation route groups is executed.

[0007] Based on information such as personnel deployment, estimated completion times for each of the two or more candidate evacuation route groups, and the location of the disaster, the optimal single evacuation route group can be identified from the two or more candidate evacuation route groups and used for guiding evacuation routes.

[0008] Preferably, the information provision program performs an output step in which it causes an output device provided for each group of departure areas that includes at least one of the departure areas to be guided to output the evacuation route corresponding to the group of departure areas where the output device is provided in the one group of evacuation routes identified in the calculation step.

[0009] An evacuation route included in the optimal group of evacuation routes identified in the calculation process, which matches the area where the output device is installed, can be output by the output device and used for evacuation route guidance.

[0010] More preferably, in the output step, at least a portion of the evacuation route is highlighted in a first way, and at least a portion of the traffic restriction area that is not used as an evacuation route is highlighted in a second way different from the first way.

[0011] The output device allows anyone viewing it to easily identify the correct evacuation route and the incorrect (undesirable) evacuation route.

[0012] Preferably, the route guidance target includes at least a first departure area and a second departure area as one or more departure areas. At least the first group of starting regions, which includes the first starting region, is provided with a first output device as one of the output devices. At least the second group of starting regions, which includes the second starting region, is provided with a second output device as one of the output devices. In the output step, the first output device outputs a first evacuation route for at least one person in the first departure area that is included in the group of evacuation routes. The second output device outputs, in the output step, a second evacuation route for at least one person in the second departure area that is included in the one group of evacuation routes.

[0013] Preferably, the transmission of information to the output device provided for each group of starting regions in the output process is performed via wired communication, and separately via wireless communication.

[0014] Even if some wired communications are cut off during a disaster, wireless communication can be used to easily maintain information transmission and reception, and under normal circumstances, wired communications can be used to easily maintain information transmission and reception.

[0015] Preferably, the calculation of the predicted evacuation completion time for each of the one or more candidate evacuation route groups is performed by a program that performs discrete event analysis, which is included in the information provision program or is configured separately from the information provision program.

[0016] By precisely setting information about the target of route guidance, such as personnel deployment, to match the actual situation, it becomes possible to obtain highly accurate predictions (estimated time for evacuation completion).

[0017] Preferably, the predicted evacuation completion time is the time required for all persons in the one or more departure areas to complete their movement from the one or more departure areas to one or more of the one or more arrival areas. In the calculation process described above, among the two or more candidate evacuation route groups, the one evacuation route group that results in the shortest predicted evacuation completion time, corresponding to the fourth information, is selected as the single evacuation route group.

[0018] More preferably, the information provision program performs a warning step before the calculation step, which prompts the setting of at least one of the following: setting up another evacuation route group or changing the layout of the departure area, if the predicted evacuation completion time for each of the two or more candidate evacuation route groups corresponding to a predetermined disaster location in the second information is greater than or equal to a time threshold.

[0019] In the previous stage of the calculation process, it becomes possible to prepare the second information while ensuring the minimum evacuation completion prediction time that can be adopted as guidance for the evacuation route.

[0020] The information providing system according to the present invention guides an evacuation route from each of one or more departure areas in the route guidance target to one or more arrival areas in the route guidance target. The information providing system includes first information regarding the personnel arrangement for each departure area, second information regarding candidates for two or more evacuation route groups including evacuation routes for each disaster occurrence location and for each departure area, third information regarding the predicted evacuation completion time for each disaster occurrence location and for each candidate of the one or more evacuation route groups calculated based on the first information and the second information, and fourth information regarding at least the location of the disaster. Based on these, a control unit that executes a calculation process for specifying one evacuation route group from the candidates of the two or more evacuation route groups, and a short-range wireless communication device provided for each departure area group including the one or more departure areas and performing short-range wireless communication with a mobile terminal. The control unit causes the mobile terminal to output an evacuation route corresponding to the departure area group including the position information of the mobile terminal in the one evacuation route group via the short-range wireless communication device.

[0021] An evacuation route included in the optimal one evacuation route group specified in the calculation process and suitable for an area including the position information of a mobile terminal capable of communicating by short-range wireless communication is output to the mobile terminal and can be used for guiding the evacuation route.

[0022] The information providing system according to the present invention guides an evacuation route from each of one or more departure areas in the route guidance target to one or more arrival areas in the route guidance target. The information providing system includes a control unit that executes a calculation step of identifying one evacuation route group from the candidates of the two or more evacuation route groups based on first information regarding personnel allocation for each departure area, second information regarding candidates of two or more evacuation route groups including evacuation routes for each disaster occurrence location and for each departure area, third information regarding predicted evacuation completion times for each disaster occurrence location and for each candidate of the two or more evacuation route groups calculated based on the first information and the second information, and fourth information regarding at least the location of the disaster, and a communication unit that receives the position information of the mobile terminal. The control unit causes the mobile terminal to output, via the communication unit, an evacuation route corresponding to the departure area including the position information of the mobile terminal in the one evacuation route group.

[0023] The evacuation route included in the optimal one evacuation route group identified in the calculation step and that matches the area including the position information of the mobile terminal that emits its own position information is output to the mobile terminal and can be used for guiding the evacuation route.

Advantages of the Invention

[0024] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information providing program or the like that takes into account the predicted evacuation completion time.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] [Figure 1] It is a configuration diagram of the information providing system in the present embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view for each floor of the route guidance target. [Figure 3] It is a configuration diagram of the fourth floor of the route guidance target. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing the configuration of the first database. [Figure 5] It is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the information providing program. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing an example of the content of the 11th data area. [Figure 7] It is a diagram showing an example of the content of the 12th data area. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example of content in the 13th data area. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of a warning process display. [Figure 10] This figure shows a first example of the output process in the output device on the third floor. [Figure 11] This figure shows a first example of the output process in the output device on the 4th floor. [Figure 12] This figure shows a second example of the output process in the output device on the third floor. [Figure 13] This figure shows a second example of the output process in the output device on the 4th floor. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0026] The following description of this embodiment will be illustrated with reference to the figures. The information provision system 1 in this embodiment comprises an information server 10 and a user terminal 30 (see Figure 1). In this embodiment, the information provision program of the information provision system 1 provides evacuation routes from each of the one or more departure areas in the route guidance target B1 to one or more destination areas in the route guidance target B1.

[0027] (Route guidance target B1) In this embodiment, the target of route guidance B1 is described as a six-story commercial facility (see Figure 2). However, the six-story commercial building and its internal structure are merely examples, and other buildings and their internal structures may also be used.

[0028] To explain the directions, we will define one of the horizontal directions of the route guidance target B1 (left-right direction) as the x-direction, one of the horizontal directions that is perpendicular to the x-direction (front-back direction) as the y-direction, and the height direction that is perpendicular to both the x and y directions as the z-direction. Furthermore, in Figures 2 and 3, the directions indicated by the arrows on the x, y, and z axes are defined as the right, forward, and upward directions, respectively.

[0029] For each floor of B1, which is the target of route guidance, the area to the right in the x-direction is defined as the first starting area, the area to the front in the y-direction is defined as the second starting area, the area to the left in the x-direction is defined as the third starting area, the area to the rear in the y-direction is defined as the fourth starting area, and the area in the center in both the x-direction and the y-direction is defined as the fifth starting area. The first to fifth starting regions on the first floor are defined as the eleventh starting region A11 to the fifteenth starting region A15, respectively. The first to fifth starting regions of the second floor are defined as the 21st starting region A21 to the 25th starting region A25, respectively. The 1st to 5th starting regions on the 3rd floor are defined as the 31st starting region A31 to the 35th starting region A35, respectively. The 1st to 5th starting regions on the 4th floor are defined as the 41st starting region A41 to the 45th starting region A45, respectively (see Figure 3). The 5th floor's 1st to 5th starting regions are defined as the 51st starting region A51 to the 55th starting region A55, respectively. The 1st to 5th starting regions on the 6th floor are defined as the 61st starting region A61 to the 65th starting region A65, respectively.

[0030] For each group of starting regions that includes one or more starting regions, a detection device and an output device are provided. In this embodiment, an example is described in which a detection device and an output device are provided in each departure region (11th departure region A11 to 15th departure region A15, 21st departure region A21 to 25th departure region A25, 31st departure region A31 to 35th departure region A35, 41st departure region A41 to 45th departure region A45, 51st departure region A51 to 55th departure region A55, 61st departure region A61 to 65th departure region A65). However, a configuration in which one detection device and one output device are provided for a group of starting regions that includes multiple starting regions is also possible.

[0031] The detection device is installed on the ceiling of the corresponding departure area and detects the personnel distribution (population density, degree of crowding), the presence or absence of a disaster, and the type of disaster in that departure area. The information detected by the detection device is transmitted to the information server 10 via the user terminal 30 and the network. The output device is installed on the floor of the corresponding departure area and outputs information regarding evacuation routes to people in that departure area. The information output by this output device is transmitted from the information server 10 via the user terminal 30 and the network. The output device may be used for digital signage in facilities included in the route guidance target B1 when not performing the output process described later (see step S6 in Figure 5).

[0032] The transmission of information from each of the detection devices to the user terminal 30, and the transmission of information from the user terminal 30 to each of the output devices, is preferably carried out via wired communication, and separately via wireless communication. In this case, wired communication is usually prioritized, and if wired communication cannot be maintained due to a broken cable or other reasons, it will switch to wireless communication.

[0033] At least one of the detection device and the output device includes a short-range wireless device such as a beacon, which communicates within a predetermined range with a mobile terminal that has predetermined application software (communication application software) installed. The short-range wireless device may be configured as an integral part of at least one of the detection device and the output device, or it may be configured as a separate unit. Alternatively, the detection device and output device may be omitted, and a short-range wireless device may be provided instead.

[0034] (Definition of detection devices on the first floor, etc.) The detection devices for the 11th departure region A11 to the 15th departure region A15 are defined as the 11th detection device A11a to the 15th detection device A15a, respectively. The output devices for the 11th starting region A11 to the 15th starting region A15 are defined as the 11th output device A11b to the 15th output device A15b, respectively.

[0035] (Definition of detection devices on the second floor, etc.) The detection devices for the 21st departure region A21 to the 25th departure region A25 are defined as the 21st detection device A21a to the 25th detection device A25a, respectively. The output devices for the 21st starting region A21 to the 25th starting region A25 are defined as the 21st output device A21b to the 25th output device A25b, respectively.

[0036] (Definition of detection devices on the 3rd floor, etc.) The detection devices for the 31st departure region A31 to the 35th departure region A35 are defined as the 31st detection device A31a to the 35th detection device A35a, respectively. The output devices for the 31st departure region A31 to the 35th departure region A35 are defined as the 31st output device A31b to the 35th output device A35b, respectively.

[0037] (Definition of detection devices on the 4th floor, etc.) The detection devices for the 41st departure region A41 to the 45th departure region A45 are defined as the 41st detection device A41a to the 45th detection device A45a, respectively. The output devices for the 41st starting region A41 to the 45th starting region A45 are defined as the 41st output device A41b to the 45th output device A45b, respectively.

[0038] (Definition of detection devices on the 5th floor, etc.) The detection devices for the 51st departure region A51 to the 55th departure region A55 are defined as the 51st detection device A51a to the 55th detection device A55a, respectively. The output devices for the 51st departure region A51 to the 55th departure region A55 are defined as the 51st output device A51b to the 55th output device A55b, respectively.

[0039] (Definition of detection devices on the 6th floor, etc.) The detection devices for the 61st departure region A61 to the 65th departure region A65 are defined as the 61st detection device A61a to the 65th detection device A65a, respectively. The output devices for the 61st starting region A61 to the 65th starting region A65 are defined as the 61st output device A61b to the 65th output device A65b, respectively.

[0040] (Examples of detection device applications) In this embodiment, an example in which the detection device and the output device are configured separately has been described, but the detection device and the output device may also be configured as an integrated unit.

[0041] Route guidance target B1 includes the first staircase B1a, the second staircase B1b, the third staircase (emergency staircase) B1c, the escalator B1d, and the elevator B1e. The first staircase B1a is located on the right side in the x-direction and on the front side in the y-direction. The second staircase B1b is located on the left side in the x-direction and on the front side in the y-direction. The third staircase B1c is located on the right side in the x-direction and on the rear side in the y-direction. Escalator B1d is located at the center in both the x and y directions. Elevator B1e is located in the first departure area, on the right side in the x-direction and on the front side in the y-direction.

[0042] (Information Server 10) The information server 10 includes a server communication unit 11, a server recording unit 13, and a server control unit 15 (see Figure 1).

[0043] (Server communication section 11) The server communication unit 11 communicates with the user-side communication unit 31 of the user terminal 30 via the network.

[0044] (Server recording section 13) The server recording unit 13 is equipped with the information provision program according to this embodiment. The server recording unit 13 records the first database D1.

[0045] (First database D1) The first database D1 includes the 11th data area DA11 to the 13th data area DA13 (see Figure 4). The 11th data area DA11 to the 13th data area DA13 may consist of a single data area or they may consist of separate data areas. Details of the first database, D1, will be described later.

[0046] (Server control unit 15) The server control unit 15 executes the information provision program and controls each part of the information server 10. The information provision program executes the processing on the information server 10 side for the database generation process, warning process, input process, calculation process, transmission process, and output process, which will be described later (see steps S1 to S6 in Figure 5).

[0047] (User terminal 30) The user terminal 30 includes a user-side communication unit 31, a user-side recording unit 33, a user-side control unit 35, a user-side input unit 36, and a user-side output unit 37 (see Figure 1).

[0048] (User side communication department 31) The user-side communication unit 31 communicates with the server communication unit 11 via the network.

[0049] (User-side recording unit 33) The user-side recording unit 33 has a user-side information provision program installed.

[0050] (User-side control unit 35) The user-side control unit 35 executes the user-side information provision program and controls various parts of the user terminal. In this embodiment, an example is described in which the user-side control unit 35 executes a user-side information provision program installed in the user-side recording unit 33. However, the user terminal may access the information server 10 via a network and use the information provision program installed in the server recording unit 13. The user-side information provision program executes the processing on the user terminal 30 side of the database generation process, warning process, input process, calculation process, transmission process, and output process, which will be described later.

[0051] (User-side input section 36) The user-side input unit 36 ​​is used for inputting content for the 11th data area DA11 in the database generation process.

[0052] (User-side output unit 37) The user-side output unit 37 displays warnings during the warning process, etc.

[0053] (First database D1) The first database D1 includes the 11th data area DA11 to the 13th data area DA13. The 11th data area DA11 to the 13th data area DA13 may consist of a single data area or they may consist of separate data areas.

[0054] (Data area 11 DA11) The 11th data area DA11 shows information (first information) regarding personnel allocation for each time period and for each departure area of ​​the route guidance target B1 (see Figure 6). The content of the 11th data area DA11 is input via the user-side input unit 36.

[0055] However, the 11th detection device A11a or the like may acquire the degree of congestion for each past time period and for each departure area, and the information provision program may generate the content of the 11th data area DA11 based on the acquired information. Figure 6 shows an example where the population density is high in the first departure area (11th departure area A11) on the first floor and low in the second departure area (21st departure area A21) on the first floor during the weekday hours of 10:00 to 12:00. In this embodiment, an example is described in which one of three levels—high, medium, or low—is set as information regarding personnel allocation for each departure area, based on population density (degree of congestion). However, specific numerical values ​​may also be used. Furthermore, as information regarding personnel allocation, the arrangement of people in the departure area (for example, whether a man is sitting in the front right seat) may be recorded in detail.

[0056] (Data area 12 DA12) The 12th data area, DA12, contains information (second information) about two or more candidate evacuation route groups, including evacuation routes for each disaster location and type of disaster (see Figure 7). The content of the 12th data area DA12 is input via the user-side input unit 36.

[0057] Figure 7 shows an example where three evacuation route groups 4311-4313 are set up in the event of a small fire in departure area A43 of the 43rd departure zone, and three evacuation route groups 4321-4323 are set up in the event of a large fire.

[0058] Evacuation route group 4311 includes: (1) an evacuation route that uses the third staircase B1c to descend for people in the first and fourth departure areas on the third floor or below; (2) an evacuation route that uses the first staircase B1a to descend for people in the second departure area on the third floor or below; (3) an evacuation route that uses the second staircase B1b to descend for people in the third departure area on the third floor or below; (4) an evacuation route that uses the stopped escalator B1d to descend for people in the fifth departure area on the third floor or below; (5) an evacuation route that uses the third staircase B1c to descend for people in the first and fourth departure areas on the fourth floor or above; (6) an evacuation route that uses the first staircase B1a to descend for people in the second departure area on the fourth floor or above; and (7) an evacuation route that uses the stopped escalator B1d to descend for people in the third and fifth departure areas on the fourth floor or above.

[0059] Evacuation route group 4312 includes an evacuation route (1) that uses the second staircase B1b to guide people in the first to fifth departure areas on the third floor and below down; an evacuation route (2) that uses the first staircase B1a to guide people in the first to fifth departure areas (fourth departure area A41 to fourth departure area A45) on the fourth floor down; an evacuation route (3) that uses the third staircase B1c to guide people in the first to fifth departure areas (fifth departure area A51 to fifth departure area A55) on the fifth floor down; and an evacuation route (4) that uses the stopped escalator B1d to guide people in the first to fifth departure areas (sixth departure area A61 to sixth departure area A65) on the sixth floor down.

[0060] (Data area 13 DA13) The 13th data area, DA13, shows information (third information) regarding the predicted time of evacuation completion for each time period and for each of two or more candidate evacuation route groups (see Figure 8). The information provision program performs discrete event analysis based on the contents of the 11th data area DA11 and the 12th data area DA12 to generate the contents of the 13th data area DA13.

[0061] This discrete event analysis is performed taking into account the internal structure of the route guidance target B1 (size and layout of facilities such as shops, width of passageways, location of evacuation routes such as stairs), and the speed of people moving according to the personnel allocation in each departure area (population density, degree of crowding, etc.). The movement of people used in calculating the estimated time for evacuation completion may include not only walking by people themselves, but also movement by vehicles such as wheelchairs and bicycles.

[0062] This discrete event analysis calculates the time from when disaster information is input until all people inside the target B1 have completed their evacuation to the outside via the destination area, for each time period and for each group of evacuation routes (estimated evacuation completion time: the time from all of the departure area to the completion of movement to the destination area). The discrete event analysis may be included in the information provision program of this embodiment, or it may be performed by another program.

[0063] Figure 8 shows an example where, based on congestion information from the 11th data area DA11, if a disaster occurs in the 43rd departure area A43 during the weekday time period of 10:00 to 12:00, the estimated evacuation completion time for evacuation route group 4311 is calculated to be 5 minutes, and if a disaster occurs in the 43rd departure area A43 during the weekday time period of 12:00 to 14:00, the estimated evacuation completion time for evacuation route group 4311 is calculated to be 8 minutes.

[0064] (Operating Procedure) Next, we will explain the operating procedure of the information provision program. Information regarding the internal structure of the route guidance target B1, the content of the 11th data area DA11, and the content of the 12th data area DA12 are input via the user-side input unit 36 ​​of the user terminal 30 (database generation process, see step S1 in Figure 5). Information regarding the internal structure of the route guidance target B1, the content of the 11th data area DA11 (first information), and the content of the 12th data area DA12 (second information) are recorded in the server recording unit 13 of the information server 10. Based on information regarding the internal structure of the route guidance target B1, the content of the 11th data area DA11, and the content of the 12th data area DA12, the server control unit 15 of the information server 10 generates the content of the 13th data area DA13 (third information) and records it in the server recording unit 13.

[0065] In the 13th data area DA13, if the estimated time to complete evacuation for all candidate evacuation routes set in a predetermined time period and a predetermined departure area is equal to or greater than a time threshold (e.g., 20 minutes), the server control unit 15 of the information server 10 displays a warning message on the user-side output unit 37 of the user terminal 30 prompting the user to "set a different evacuation route" and "change the layout of the departure area" (warning step, see step S2 in Figure 5).

[0066] The warning message includes the following: "No suitable evacuation route group has been formed during that time period and in that departure area," and "At least one of the following: establish a different evacuation route group or change the layout of the departure area" (see Figure 9). Figure 9 shows a diagram of the second floor including the 21st departure area A21, and an example of text displaying that "if a fire occurs in the 21st departure area A21 between 4 PM and 6 PM on weekdays, the estimated completion times for the two or more candidate evacuation route groups set up are above the time threshold and are therefore inappropriate," and "a different evacuation route group should be set up, or the layout of the 21st departure area A21 (such as the arrangement of passageways) should be changed."

[0067] Steps S1 and S2 are performed in the stages prior to the actual occurrence of a disaster such as a fire.

[0068] In the event of an actual disaster such as a fire, information regarding the location and type of the disaster (at least the fourth piece of information regarding the location of the disaster) is manually entered via the user-side input unit 36 ​​of the user terminal 30 (input process, see step S3 in Figure 5). The fourth piece of information may be automatically input by the user-side control unit 35 of the user terminal 30 based on information detected by one of the detection devices (such as the 11th detection device A11a).

[0069] Furthermore, the information provision system 1 of this embodiment may be linked with a fire alarm system installed on the route guidance target B1. In this case, the detection device (such as the 11th detection device A11a) or the user-side communication unit 31 of the user terminal 30 receives information from the fire alarm system, and the user-side control unit 35 inputs the 4th information based on the received information.

[0070] (Extraction of candidate evacuation route groups) The server control unit 15 of the information server 10 extracts candidate evacuation route groups corresponding to the location and type of disaster from the 12th data area DA12. For example, if the location of the disaster included in the fourth piece of information is the 43rd departure area A43, and the type of disaster is a small-scale fire, then evacuation route group 4311, evacuation route group 4312, and evacuation route group 4313 are extracted as candidate evacuation route groups.

[0071] (Identification of one evacuation route group) The server control unit 15 of the information server 10 identifies one evacuation route group (the optimal evacuation route group) from among the identified candidate evacuation route groups that corresponds to the time period in which the current time is included (calculation process, see step S4 in Figure 5).

[0072] In other words, in the calculation process, one evacuation route group is identified from the candidates based on the following: first information regarding personnel allocation for each departure area; second information regarding two or more candidate evacuation route groups including evacuation routes for each disaster site and each departure area; third information regarding the estimated evacuation completion time for each disaster site and each candidate evacuation route group, calculated based on the first and second information; and fourth information regarding at least the location of the disaster.

[0073] For example, if a small fire occurs in the 43rd departure area A43 at 11:00 AM on a weekday, evacuation route group 4313 will be identified as a single evacuation route group from among evacuation route group 4311, evacuation route group 4312, and evacuation route group 4313, as it has the shortest estimated evacuation completion time.

[0074] (Specific application example of a single evacuation route group) The identification of a single evacuation route group is not limited to being based on the time period in which the current time is included; it may also be carried out by other methods. Specifically, the detection device (such as the 11th detection device A11a) detects the current number of people in each departure area of ​​the route guidance target B1. The server control unit 15 of the information server 10 calculates the population density (degree of congestion) for each departure area from the number of people detected. Based on information regarding the internal structure of the route guidance target B1, the calculated population density for each departure area, and the content of the 12th data area DA12, the server control unit 15 of the information server 10 calculates the estimated evacuation completion time for each candidate evacuation route group corresponding to the disaster location and type of disaster, and based on the calculation results, identifies one evacuation route group from among the candidate evacuation route groups.

[0075] (An example of application for determining the number of people in each starting region) The identification of the number of people in each departure area is not limited to being based on information from detection devices (such as the 11th detection device A11a), but may also be done by other methods.

[0076] For example, the number of people in the departure area including the short-range wireless device may be calculated based on the number of mobile terminals that are able to communicate via communication application software with a short-range wireless device provided on at least one of the detection device (such as the 11th detection device A11a) and the output device (such as the 11th output device A11b), and the penetration rate of said communication application software.

[0077] Furthermore, the number of people in a given departure area may be calculated based on the number of mobile devices that have location information application software installed that transmits their own location information to the information server 10, and whose location information is included in any of the departure areas in the route guidance target B1, and the penetration rate of said location information application software.

[0078] The server control unit 15 of the information server 10 transmits information about the evacuation route group to each of the output devices (such as the 11th output device A11b) (transmission process, see step S5 in Figure 5). Furthermore, the server control unit 15 of the information server 10 may transmit information regarding the single evacuation route group to a mobile terminal that is in a state where it can communicate with a short-range wireless device such as a beacon.

[0079] Each output device (such as the 11th output device A11b) outputs information about evacuation routes based on the information about the given evacuation route group (output process, see step S6 in Figure 5). In the output process, as information regarding evacuation routes, the evacuation routes included in the group of evacuation routes that correspond to the departure area where the output device is installed are displayed on the output device. Furthermore, at least a portion of the evacuation route corresponding to the departure area where the output device is installed is highlighted in the first method, and at least a portion of the traffic restriction area not used as part of the evacuation route is highlighted in a second method different from the first method. The first method is, for example, an arrow indicating the direction of travel, and the second method is, for example, an "X" mark indicating no entry.

[0080] When evacuation route group 4313 is set as the one evacuation route group, output device A33b 33 displays the following information for people in departure area A33 33: "A fire has broken out on the 4th floor," "They should descend using the second staircase B1b, which is indicated by an arrow as the first direction in the 3rd floor configuration diagram," and "They should not use the first staircase B1a, etc., which is indicated by an "X" as the second method in the 3rd floor configuration diagram" (see Figure 10). Furthermore, if evacuation route group 4313 is set as one of the evacuation route groups, output device A43b 43 displays the following information as an evacuation route for people in departure area A43 43: "A fire has broken out on the 4th floor," "They should use the stopped escalator B1d, which is indicated by an arrow as the first direction on the 4th floor layout diagram, to go downstairs," and "They should not use the first staircase B1a, etc., which is indicated by an "X" as the second method on the 4th floor layout diagram" (see Figure 11).

[0081] Furthermore, if evacuation route group 4313 is set as one of the evacuation route groups, a mobile terminal that is in a state where it can communicate with the short-range wireless device of the 33rd departure area A33 will display the following information, in the same way as the 33rd output device A33b: "A fire has broken out on the 4th floor," "You should descend using the second staircase B1b, which is indicated by an arrow as the first method in the 3rd floor configuration diagram," and "Do not use the first staircase B1a, etc., which is indicated by an X as the second method in the 3rd floor configuration diagram." Furthermore, if evacuation route group 4313 is set as one of the evacuation route groups, a mobile terminal that is in a state where it can communicate with the short-range wireless device in the 43rd departure area A43 will display the following information, in the same way as the 43rd output device A43b: "A fire has broken out on the 4th floor," "You should use the stopped escalator B1d, which is indicated by an arrow as the first method on the 4th floor layout diagram, to go downstairs," and "Do not use the first staircase B1a, etc., which is indicated by an X as the second method on the 4th floor layout diagram."

[0082] Furthermore, if evacuation route group 4313 is set as one of the evacuation route groups, a mobile terminal that contains its own location information in the 33rd departure area A33 and has the location information application software installed will display the following, in the same way as the 33rd output device A33b: "A fire has broken out on the 4th floor," "You should descend using the second staircase B1b, which is indicated by an arrow as the first method in the 3rd floor configuration diagram," and "Do not use the first staircase B1a, etc., which is indicated by an X as the second method in the 3rd floor configuration diagram." Furthermore, if evacuation route group 4313 is set as one of the evacuation route groups, a mobile terminal that contains its own location information in the 43rd departure area A43 and has the location information application software installed will display the following, in the same way as the 43rd output device A43b: "A fire has broken out on the 4th floor," "You should use the stopped escalator B1d, which is indicated by an arrow as the first method in the 4th floor configuration diagram, to go downstairs," and "Do not use the first staircase B1a, etc., which is indicated by an X as the second method in the 4th floor configuration diagram."

[0083] (Examples of display applications) Figures 10 and 11 show an example that includes a floor plan containing the departure area, but other floors, particularly the floor containing the departure area and floors below that floor, may also be included (see Figures 12 and 13).

[0084] (The effect of identifying a single evacuation route group in the calculation process) Based on information such as personnel deployment, estimated completion times for each of the two or more candidate evacuation route groups, and the location of the disaster, the optimal single evacuation route group can be identified from the two or more candidate evacuation route groups and used for guiding evacuation routes. Furthermore, evacuation route guidance can be used not only for guiding people in the event of an actual disaster such as a fire, but also for simulated guidance in situations where no actual disaster has occurred, such as evacuation drills and evacuation simulations.

[0085] (The effect of outputting evacuation routes included in a single evacuation route group during the output process) An evacuation route included in the optimal group of evacuation routes identified in the calculation process, which matches the area where the output device is installed, can be output by the output device and used for evacuation route guidance.

[0086] (The effect of highlighting evacuation routes, restricted traffic areas, etc.) The output device allows anyone viewing it to easily identify the correct evacuation route and the incorrect (undesirable) evacuation route.

[0087] (The effects of using both wired and wireless communication) Even if some wired communications are cut off during a disaster, wireless communication can be used to easily maintain information transmission and reception, and under normal circumstances, wired communications can be used to easily maintain information transmission and reception.

[0088] (The effect of calculating the predicted evacuation completion time using discrete event analysis) By precisely setting information about the target of route guidance, such as personnel deployment, to match the actual situation, it becomes possible to obtain highly accurate predictions (estimated time for evacuation completion).

[0089] (Effects of performing a warning process) In the preliminary stages of the calculation process, it becomes possible to prepare the second piece of information while ensuring the minimum estimated evacuation completion time that can be used as guidance for evacuation routes.

[0090] (The effect of using short-range wireless communication to output evacuation routes included in a single group of evacuation routes to a mobile device) An evacuation route included in the optimal group of evacuation routes identified in the calculation process, which matches the area containing the location information of a mobile device capable of short-range wireless communication, can be output to the mobile device and used for evacuation route guidance.

[0091] (The effect of having a mobile device that transmits its own location information output evacuation routes included in a group of evacuation routes) An evacuation route included in the optimal group of evacuation routes identified in the calculation process, which matches the area containing the location information of the mobile device that emits its own location information, can be output to the mobile device and used for evacuation route guidance.

[0092] (Application examples of data area 11 DA11 and data area 13 DA13) In this embodiment, an example was described in which the 11th data area DA11 shows information (first information) regarding personnel allocation for each time period and for each departure area of ​​the route guidance target B1, and the 13th data area DA13 shows information (second information) regarding the predicted evacuation completion time for each time period and for each of two or more candidate evacuation route groups. However, the 11th data area DA11 may show information (first information) regarding the allocation of personnel for each departure area of ​​the route guidance target B1 without considering the time of day, and the 13th data area DA13 may show information (second information) regarding the estimated time of completion of evacuation for each of two or more candidate evacuation route groups without considering the time of day.

[0093] (Examples of applications of discrete event analysis) In this embodiment, an example was described in which the content of the 13th data area DA13 is generated by discrete event analysis. However, the discrete event analysis may further generate content for the 12th data area DA12 (candidate groups of two or more evacuation routes, each including evacuation routes for each disaster location and type of disaster) from the internal structure of the route guidance target B1.

[0094] (Example of application of route guidance target B1) In this embodiment, an example was described in which the route guidance target B1 is a building that includes multiple starting areas. However, the route guidance target B1 may be a region that includes multiple departure areas.

[0095] (Examples of application in disaster areas) In this embodiment, an example was described in which a disaster such as a fire occurs inside the route guidance target B1, and evacuation routes for people inside the route guidance target B1 to escape to the outside are guided for each departure area. Therefore, each of the areas obtained by dividing the floor of B1, which is the target of route guidance, corresponds to a departure area, and the one or more exits on the first floor of B1, the target of route guidance, correspond to an arrival area. However, if a disaster such as a tsunami occurs outside of the route guidance target B1, the system may also provide evacuation routes for people inside the route guidance target B1 to evacuate to a designated area of ​​the route guidance target B1 (for example, a high floor), guiding them through each departure area. In this case, each of the regions obtained by dividing each floor of the route guidance target B1 corresponds to a departure region, and one or more departure regions located on the upper floors of the route guidance target B1 (for example, the 6th floor) correspond to a destination region.

[0096] (Application example of Information Provision System 1) In this embodiment, the information provision system 1 has been described as having an information server 10 and a user terminal 30 as separate entities. However, the device corresponding to the information server 10 and the device corresponding to the user terminal 30 may be configured as an integrated unit, for example, the user terminal 30 may also perform the functions of the information server 10.

[0097] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be carried out in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0098] 1. Information Provision System 10 Information Server 11 Server Communications Section 13 Server Recording Section 15 Server Control Unit 30 User terminals 31 User side communication department 33 User-side recording section 35 User-side control unit 36 User-side input section 37 User-side output section A11-A15: Departure Zone 11-15 A11a~A15a 11th detection device~15th detection device A11b~A15b 11th Output Device~16th Output Device A21-A25: Departure Zone 21-25 A21a~A25a Detector No. 21~Detector No. 25 A21b~A25b 21st output device~26th output device A31-A35 Departure Area 31-35 A31a~A35a Detector No. 31~Detector No. 35 A31b~A35b 31st output device~36th output device A41-A45: Departure Area 41-45 A41a~A45a Detector No. 41~Detector No. 45 A41b~A45b Output Unit 41~Output Unit 46 A51-A55 Departure Zone 51-55 A51a~A55a Detector No. 51~Detector No. 55 A51b~A55b 51st output device~56th output device A61-A65 Departure Zone 61-65 A61a~A65a Detector No. 61~Detector No. 65 A61b~A65b Output Unit 61~Output Unit 66 B1 Route guidance target B1a~B1c 1st stairs~3rd stairs B1d Escalator B1e Elevator D1 First Database DA11~DA13 Data Area 11~Data Area 13

Claims

1. An information provision program that provides evacuation routes from each of one or more departure areas within a route guidance target to one or more destination areas within the said route guidance target, An information provision program that performs a calculation step of identifying one evacuation route group from the two or more candidate evacuation route groups based on first information regarding personnel allocation for each departure area, second information regarding two or more candidate evacuation route groups including evacuation routes for each disaster site and each departure area, third information regarding the estimated evacuation completion time for each disaster site and each of the two or more candidate evacuation route groups calculated based on the first information and the second information, and fourth information regarding at least the location of the disaster.

2. The information provision program according to claim 1, which performs an output step of causing an output device provided for each group of departure areas that includes at least one of the departure areas to be guided to output an evacuation route corresponding to the group of departure areas where the output device is provided in the one group of evacuation routes identified in the calculation step.

3. The information provision system according to claim 2, wherein in the output step, at least a portion of the evacuation route is highlighted in a first way, and at least a portion of the traffic restriction area not used as an evacuation route is highlighted in a second way different from the first way.

4. As the one or more departure areas, the route guidance target includes at least a first departure area and a second departure area. At least the first group of starting regions, which includes the first starting region, is provided with a first output device as one of the output devices. At least the second group of starting regions, which includes the second starting region, is provided with a second output device as one of the output devices. The first output device, in the output step, outputs a first evacuation route for at least one person in the first departure area that is included in the group of evacuation routes, The information provision program according to claim 2, wherein the second output device outputs a second evacuation route for at least one person in the second departure area that is included in the one group of evacuation routes, in the output step.

5. The information provision program according to claim 2, wherein the transmission of information to the output device provided for each of the starting region groups in the output step is performed via wired communication, and separately from the wired communication, it is also performed via wireless communication.

6. The information provision program according to claim 1, wherein the calculation of the predicted time for completion of evacuation for each of the one or more candidate evacuation route groups is performed by a program that performs discrete event analysis, which is included in the information provision program or is configured separately from the information provision program.

7. The estimated time for completion of evacuation is the time required for all persons in the one or more departure areas to complete their movement from the one or more departure areas to one or more of the one or more arrival areas. The information provision program according to claim 1, wherein in the calculation step, among the two or more candidate evacuation route groups, the one evacuation route group that results in the shortest predicted evacuation completion time in correspondence with the fourth information is selected.

8. The information provision program according to claim 7, wherein, prior to the calculation step, if the predicted evacuation completion time for each of the two or more candidate evacuation route groups corresponding to a predetermined disaster location in the second information exceeds a time threshold, a warning step is performed to prompt the setting of another evacuation route group and to change the layout of the departure area.

9. An information provision system that provides evacuation routes from each of one or more departure areas within a route guidance target to one or more destination areas within the said route guidance target, A control unit performs a calculation step of identifying one evacuation route group from the two or more evacuation route group candidates based on first information relating to personnel allocation for each departure area, second information relating to two or more candidate evacuation route groups including evacuation routes for each disaster location and each departure area, third information relating to the estimated evacuation completion time for each disaster location and each of the one or more candidate evacuation route groups calculated based on the first information and the second information, and fourth information relating to at least the location of the disaster. Each group of departure areas, including the one or more departure areas, is provided with a short-range wireless communication device that communicates with a mobile terminal. The control unit is an information provision system that causes the mobile terminal to output an evacuation route corresponding to the departure area group, including the location information of the mobile terminal in the one evacuation route group, via the short-range wireless communication device.

10. An information provision system that provides evacuation routes from each of one or more departure areas within a route guidance target to one or more destination areas within the said route guidance target, A control unit performs a calculation step of identifying one evacuation route group from the two or more candidate evacuation route groups based on first information relating to personnel allocation for each departure area, second information relating to two or more candidate evacuation route groups including evacuation routes for each disaster location and each departure area, third information relating to the estimated evacuation completion time for each disaster location and each of the two or more candidate evacuation route groups calculated based on the first information and the second information, and fourth information relating to at least the location of the disaster. It comprises a communication unit that receives location information of a mobile device, The control unit, via the communication unit, causes the mobile terminal to output an evacuation route corresponding to the departure area, including the location information of the mobile terminal within the group of evacuation routes, as an information provision system.

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