Labor time management system

Abstract

The present invention automatically detects clothing time on the basis of an objective index without depending on a declaration or a mechanical operation of a wearer. An information processing system comprises: clothing worn by a wearer, the clothing having a color change part including a photochromic material faded by visible light; an ultraviolet irradiation unit for irradiating the color change part of the clothing with ultraviolet rays; an imaging unit for imaging the color change part of the clothing; and an information processing unit. The information processing unit includes: an image acquisition means for acquiring an image obtained as a result of imaging by the imaging unit; a color detection means for detecting the color and the pattern of the color change part included in the image; a change recording control means for executing control for recording, in a predetermined storage medium, a change over time in the color and the pattern that are detected by the color detection means; and a clothing time calculation means for calculating the clothing time of the wearer on the basis of the change over time in the color and the pattern.

Description

Working Hours Management System

[0001] The present invention relates to a working time management system.

[0002] A system for managing the working hours of workers has been proposed. One system has been disclosed that includes a working hour management database that associates and stores working hour management data including a project number, a worker number, a work start time, a work finish time, and the working hours (the difference between the finish time and the start time). When a worker is operating a computer to perform a task, the data can be automatically stored by receiving input information from the computer, including the project number, the worker number, and time information indicating the start or end of the task (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] JP 2010-92218 A

[0004] In recent years, excessive work has become a problem, and there is a demand for technology to reliably manage working hours. However, conventional technologies, including the one disclosed in Patent Document 1, are unable to meet this demand.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to reliably manage working hours.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an information processing system of one embodiment of the present invention includes work clothes worn by a worker, the work clothes having a color-changing portion containing a photochromic material that fades in response to visible light, an ultraviolet irradiation unit that irradiates ultraviolet light onto the color-changing portion of the work clothes, an imaging unit that images the color-changing portion of the work clothes, and an information processing unit, wherein the information processing unit includes an image acquisition means that acquires an image obtained as a result of imaging by the imaging unit, a color detection means that detects the color and pattern of the color-changing portion included in the image, a change recording control means that executes control to record changes over time of the color and the pattern detected by the color detection means in a specified storage medium, and a work hour calculation means that calculates the work hours of the worker based on the changes over time of the color and the pattern.

[0007] An information processing method and a program according to one aspect of the present invention are respectively an information processing method and a program corresponding to the information processing device according to the above-described one aspect of the present invention.

[0008] According to the present invention, working hours can be reliably managed.

[0009] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an overview of the service to which an information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a photochromic layer according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the absorbance of the photochromic material according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 and the spectrum of a germicidal lamp. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the color change of the work clothes according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of an information processing device in the information processing system shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of an information processing system including the information processing device with the hardware configuration of FIG.

[0010] The principles of an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It is possible for workers to conceal the actual state of excessive work by altering their reporting, such as by intentionally registering different work start and end times. For this reason, there is a demand for a technology that reliably manages working hours. To achieve this technology, the inventors came up with the idea of ​​automatically detecting a worker's excessive work based on objective indicators, without relying on the worker's reporting or machine operation. Based on this idea, the inventors came up with a method for objectively managing workers' working hours using a photochromic material by providing a photochromic layer containing a photochromic material that fades in response to visible light on work clothes and monitoring the fading of this photochromic layer over time to determine working hours. This method will be described in detail below.

[0011] Specifically, at the start of work, the photochromic layer is colored by an ultraviolet irradiation unit, and the image capture unit continuously monitors the color fading caused by visible light during work. The information processing unit detects the color and pattern of the photochromic layer from the captured image, records the changes over time, and calculates working hours. The photochromic layer is divided into multiple areas, and by placing photochromic materials with different fading characteristics in each area, more detailed working hours can be determined. For example, by forming a Y-shaped pattern and varying the fading time of each area, working hours can be determined in stages.

[0012] Furthermore, the system of this embodiment (the information processing system in FIG. 1 described later) has a function to notify workers when working hours exceed a predetermined threshold, contributing to the early detection of overwork. When workers take a break from work, they can store their work clothes in a place that is not exposed to visible light (e.g., a locker), preventing fading during breaks. This allows accurate measurement of only actual working hours.

[0013] Furthermore, the system of this embodiment also has the effect of sterilizing the work clothes by irradiating them with ultraviolet light. Furthermore, the fading state of the photochromic layer also functions as an indicator of how long the work clothes have been used, so it can also be used to determine when to replace the work clothes.

[0014] In this way, by using an objective indicator such as a physical color change, this embodiment can automatically detect overwork of a worker based on the objective indicator, without relying on the worker's report or machine operation. A service (hereinafter referred to as "this service") to which an information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention based on such a principle is applied will be described below.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an overview of this service to which an information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied, and explains the configuration for objectively and automatically managing the working hours of workers.

[0016] The information processing system S shown in Figure 1 comprises an information processing device 1 installed in the work environment, a surveillance camera 2 that monitors the work area, special work clothes 3 worn by workers, and an ultraviolet lamp 4 that irradiates ultraviolet light when work begins, and these components work together to manage work time.

[0017] The information processing device 1 is installed in the work environment and functions as a central control system for the entire system, analyzing in real time image data transmitted from the surveillance camera 2 to track color changes in the work clothes 3. The surveillance camera 2 is a dedicated imaging device with a highly accurate color recognition function, and can capture an overall image of the work clothes 3 worn by the worker P while also capturing detailed images of color changes in the photochromic layer in particular.

[0018] The work clothes 3 have three strategically placed photochromic layers 31, 32, and 33 with different fading characteristics, which allows for the gradual determination of working hours. The ultraviolet lamp 4 irradiates the work clothes 3 with ultraviolet light of the appropriate wavelength and energy at the start of work, ensuring that each photochromic layer 31, 32, and 33 is colored to its initial state. The photochromic layers 31, 32, and 33 are designed to have different fading rates and gradually fade when exposed to visible light in the work environment.

[0019] By wearing the work clothes 3 equipped with the photochromic layers 31, 32, and 33, the worker P's working hours are automatically recorded, which helps prevent overwork. The information processing device 1 analyzes the fading pattern of the photochromic layers 31, 32, and 33 based on the image data obtained from the surveillance camera 2, and can calculate the actual working hours of the worker P with high accuracy from the results.

[0020] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a photochromic layer according to one embodiment of the present invention. The photochromic layer 22 in this embodiment is made of a diarylethene-based photochromic material.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, this diarylethene-based photochromic material has a basic skeleton consisting of two thiophene rings and a five-membered ring connecting them. The thiophene rings each have a phenyl group and a cyclohexyl group as substituents, and four fluorine atoms (F2) are introduced into the five-membered ring. The methyl groups (Me1, Me2) on the thiophene ring play an important role in the photoreactivity and thermal stability of the molecule.

[0022] This photochromic material undergoes a reversible structural change from the open-ring form shown on the left to the closed-ring form shown on the right upon irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) light. This structural change is accompanied by a change in the molecular absorption spectrum, which is observed as a visible color change. Furthermore, upon irradiation with visible light (VIS), a reverse reaction occurs, from the closed-ring form shown on the right to the open-ring form shown on the left, returning to the original state. This photoisomerization reaction is repeatable, and the reaction rate can be controlled by environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a graph showing the absorbance of a photochromic material according to one embodiment of the present invention and the spectrum of a germicidal lamp.

[0024] In Figure 3, there is a wavelength range where the spectrum of the ultraviolet lamp 4 overlaps with the absorption spectrum of the photochromic material before coloring. This overlap allows the photochromic material to efficiently absorb ultraviolet light and color it. In particular, the wavelength range with a high sterilizing effect is designed to overlap with the absorption wavelength range of the photochromic material, achieving the two functions of sterilizing and coloring work clothes simultaneously.

[0025] In this embodiment, three types of photochromic materials are used: cyan, magenta, and yellow, each of which has the property of fading at a different rate when irradiated with visible light from the interior light 5. The absorption spectrum of each photochromic material corresponds to a specific wavelength range in the visible light region, which allows selective color expression.

[0026] Combining these three colors makes it possible to express a variety of colors, such as blue (magenta + cyan), green (yellow + cyan), and red (yellow + magenta). By appropriately designing the molecular structure of each photochromic material, the fading speed can be individually controlled, and by adjusting the compounding ratio of the materials, the hue and saturation can also be precisely controlled.

[0027] Each photochromic material is designed to have adequate sensitivity to the wavelength range common to indoor lighting and is optimized for use in a normal working environment, allowing for stable fading behavior without the need for special changes to the working environment.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the color change of the workwear according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1. In step S01, ultraviolet light 4 irradiates the workwear 3 with ultraviolet light, causing the photochromic material having the properties shown in FIG. 3 to be colored to its initial state. The photochromic material is arranged to form a Y-shaped pattern, consisting of three regions from bottom to top: the tip, middle, and V-shaped portions. In the initial state, the tip portion is colored blue (magenta + cyan), the middle portion is colored green (yellow + cyan), and the V-shaped portion is colored red (yellow + magenta). The colors of each region are achieved by combining the three types of photochromic materials described in FIG. 3.

[0029] In step S02, visible light from the interior light 5 begins to be irradiated, and fading of each region begins. The fading time of each region is designed to be shortest at the tip, followed by the middle and V-shaped regions, in accordance with the properties of each photochromic material shown in Figure 3. The difference in fading speed is due to the molecular structure of each photochromic material and the difference in its photoreaction mechanism.

[0030] In step S03, the blue color at the tip fades and disappears first, and the Y-shaped pattern turns into a V-shaped pattern. After this, the green color in the middle also gradually fades. This gradual color change allows the user to visually grasp the progress of the work time.

[0031] In step S04, the green color in the middle part completely fades, leaving only the red V-shaped part. This red display serves to warn the worker that the specified work time is approaching, and the highly visible red color enhances the attention-grabbing effect.

[0032] Finally, in step S05, the red V-shaped portion fades and the entire pattern disappears. This final stage indicates that the worker's working hours have reached the management reference value. This gradual fade pattern allows the worker to visually and quantitatively confirm the working hours.

[0033] If work is divided into multiple sessions, work clothes 3 are stored in a dark place (locker, etc.) during breaks. The fading reaction stops in an environment where visible light is blocked, so a fading pattern that reflects only actual working hours is obtained. This makes it possible to calculate pure working hours, excluding breaks and periods when work is interrupted.

[0034] The surveillance camera 2 continuously captures these color and pattern changes and transmits them to the information processing device 1. The information processing device 1 calculates the worker's working hours by analyzing the fading status of each area, and if excessive work is suspected, registers warning information along with the worker's ID in a database. This automatic detection system enables objective recording and management of working hours.

[0035] In this way, this embodiment makes good use of the properties of photochromic materials to achieve objective work hour management without relying on worker reporting. Furthermore, coloring with ultraviolet light also has the effect of sterilizing the work clothes, making it useful for hygiene management. Furthermore, the visual warning function of the color change makes it easy for workers to manage their own work hours.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of an information processing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] The information processing device 1 is a device that performs various processes to analyze color changes in work clothes 3 and manage working hours, and is equipped with a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a bus 14, an input / output interface 15, an input unit 16, an output unit 17, a memory unit 18, a communication unit 19, and a drive 20.

[0038] The CPU 11 is an arithmetic processing unit that executes various processes in accordance with the work hour management program, such as analyzing image data received from the surveillance camera 2, detecting color and pattern changes in the photochromic layers 31, 32, and 33, and calculating work hours based on the fading state.

[0039] Basic programs are stored in the ROM 12. Data necessary for image processing and work hour calculation by the CPU 11 is temporarily stored in the RAM 13. This data includes information on the initial color of the photochromic layer, data on color change over time, and the cumulative work hours of each worker.

[0040] The CPU 11, ROM 12, and RAM 13 are interconnected via a bus 14. An input / output interface 15 is also connected to this bus 14, and various peripheral devices are connected via the input / output interface 15.

[0041] The input unit 16 is composed of a keyboard, a mouse, etc., and is used to register worker information and input various parameters such as threshold settings for working hours.

[0042] The output unit 17 is composed of a display, a speaker, etc., and is used to display the worker's working hours data and to warn the worker about overwork. The display also shows the current color state of the photochromic layer and the progress of working hours so far.

[0043] The storage unit 18 is comprised of a hard disk or the like, and stores long-term data on working hours for each worker, color change history data, overwork warning records, etc. It also stores characteristic data on photochromic materials and a table showing the correspondence between color change patterns and working hours.

[0044] The communication unit 19 transmits and receives image data to and from the surveillance camera 2. It also cooperates with other management systems and transmits data to a higher-level database as necessary.

[0045] A removable medium 30 can be attached to the drive 20, and is used for installing system update programs, backing up work time data, and the like.

[0046] The information processing device 1 configured in this manner makes it possible to continuously monitor the color change of the photochromic layer of the work clothes 3 and to objectively and reliably manage the working hours of workers.

[0047] FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of an information processing system including the information processing apparatus having the hardware configuration shown in FIG.

[0048] 6 , the information processing system includes an information processing device 1, a surveillance camera 2, work clothes 3, and an ultraviolet lamp 4. The surveillance camera 2 captures an image of the photochromic layer 31 of the work clothes 3 and transmits the image data via a communication unit 19 of the information processing device 1.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 6, an image acquisition unit 101, a color detection unit 102, a change recording control unit 103, a work hour calculation unit 104, and a notification unit 105 function in the CPU 11 of the information processing device 1.

[0050] The image acquisition unit 101 has the function of continuously acquiring image data of the work clothes 3 transmitted from the surveillance camera 2. The acquired image data includes color information and pattern information of the photochromic layer attached to the work clothes 3. The image acquisition unit 101 also checks the quality of the acquired image data, checking for image quality degradation due to changes in lighting conditions or deviations in the shooting angle. Furthermore, when multiple surveillance cameras 2 are installed, the image data from each camera can be integrated to enable the acquisition of more accurate color information. Furthermore, the unit manages the image acquisition process for the entire system by controlling the timing of image capture and temporarily saving image data.

[0051] The color detection unit 102 has the function of extracting color information and pattern information of the photochromic layer from the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit 101. Specifically, it analyzes the color intensity and distribution in each region of the Y-shaped pattern (tip, middle, and V-shaped portions) and quantitatively evaluates the fading state of each region. The color detection unit 102 also has the function of correcting for variations in lighting conditions, enabling stable color detection even when the brightness of the work environment changes. It also works in conjunction with a database of the characteristics of each photochromic material to accurately calculate the degree of fading from the detected color information. It also has an advanced image processing function that removes noise factors such as pattern distortion and partial stains.

[0052] The change recording control unit 103 has a function of executing control to record the changes over time in the color information and pattern information detected by the color detection unit 102 in a predetermined storage medium. The recorded data is sent to the work hour calculation unit 104. The change recording control unit 103 records the change state of each photochromic layer in chronological order and manages the data, including situations such as when work is interrupted or restarted.

[0053] The work hour calculation unit 104 has the function of calculating the worker's work hours from the changes over time in the color information and pattern information recorded by the change recording control unit 103. The work hour calculation unit 104 achieves more accurate work hour calculations by taking into account the differences in the fading speed of each photochromic layer and combining the fading states of multiple areas. It also performs corrections that take into account work interruptions (such as breaks) and calculates the cumulative work time spanning multiple days. Furthermore, if the calculated work hours exceed a predetermined threshold, it determines that there is a possibility of overwork and sends this information to the notification unit 105. The work hour calculation unit 104 also manages historical data on work hours for each worker, enabling long-term work hour trend analysis.

[0054] The notification unit 105 has the function of issuing necessary warnings and notifications based on the calculation results by the work hour calculation unit 104. Specifically, it issues a warning when a worker's cumulative work hours approach a certain threshold. Furthermore, if excessive work is detected, it notifies the manager and records the information in a database. The notification unit 105 has multiple notification methods (screen display, audio warning, email notification, etc.), and can select the appropriate method depending on the situation. It also generates reports that visualize worker work hour data and creates statistical data. This ensures transparency in work hour management and enables effective labor management.

[0055] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications, improvements, etc. within the scope of achieving the object of the present invention are considered to be included in the present invention.

[0056] Note that the present invention is not limited to work clothes and work hour management, but can also be applied to a broader range of clothing and clothing time management. In this specification, "work clothes" is not limited to clothing worn by workers, but also includes "clothing" as a broader concept that encompasses all clothing worn for specific purposes, such as swimsuits, medical clothing, nursing clothing, and prison uniforms. Similarly, "working hours" is not limited to the time a worker is working, but also includes "clothing time" as a broader concept that encompasses all time spent wearing specific clothing, such as swimsuits, medical / nursing clothing, and prison uniforms.

[0057] For example, when the present invention is applied to swimsuits, incorporating a photochromic layer containing a photochromic material into the swimsuit makes it possible to objectively manage the user's time spent in water and their exposure to ultraviolet rays, thereby reducing the risk of skin damage due to sunburn and heatstroke and contributing to the health management of people who enjoy swimming and sea bathing.

[0058] Furthermore, when the present invention is applied to clothing worn by a person with a disability, the state of the photochromic layer can be used to visually check the state of the clothing and the length of time it has been worn, allowing caregivers to objectively determine when it is necessary to change the clothing, contributing to improving the wearer's comfort and health.

[0059] Furthermore, when this invention is applied to prison uniforms and other clothing worn by people under supervision, it becomes possible to objectively record the time spent wearing the uniform and the activity status of the prisoners, which will facilitate ensuring appropriate exercise time and monitoring of health conditions, thereby contributing to the realization of humane treatment.

[0060] In this way, the technology of the present invention can be applied not only to work hour management but also to dressing time management for various purposes, and can widely contribute to health care and safety management of people in various fields. In particular, by objectively recording and analyzing dressing time, management that previously relied on self-reporting and visual confirmation can be carried out more scientifically and efficiently.

[0061] Although the information processing device has been described above, it is not limited to a personal computer or a server device, and can be realized as a chip, which is an electronic component, and can be easily incorporated into various conventional devices.

[0062] For example, the system configuration shown in FIG. 1 and the hardware configuration of the information processing device 1 shown in FIG. 5 are merely examples for achieving the object of the present invention, and are not particularly limited.

[0063] Furthermore, the functional block diagram shown in Fig. 6 is merely an example and is not particularly limited. That is, it is sufficient that the information processing system S in Fig. 1 is provided with a function that can execute the above-described series of processes as a whole, and the functional blocks and databases used to realize this function are not particularly limited to the example in Fig. 5.

[0064] Furthermore, the locations of the functional blocks are not limited to those shown in Fig. 6 and may be arbitrary. For example, at least some of the functional blocks arranged on the information processing device 1 side may be provided in another information processing device.

[0065] The above-described series of processes can be executed by hardware or software, and each functional block can be configured by hardware alone, software alone, or a combination of both.

[0066] When a series of processes is executed by software, the programs constituting the software are installed onto a computer or the like from a network or a recording medium. The computer may be a computer incorporated into dedicated hardware. The computer may also be a computer capable of executing various functions by installing various programs, such as a server, a general-purpose smartphone, or a personal computer.

[0067] The recording medium containing such a program may be composed not only of a removable medium (not shown) that is distributed separately from the device main body in order to provide the program to the user, but also of a recording medium that is provided to the user in a state that is pre-installed in the device main body.

[0068] In this specification, the steps describing the program to be recorded on the recording medium include not only processes that are performed in chronological order, but also processes that are not necessarily performed in chronological order but are performed in parallel or individually.

[0069] To sum up, the information processing system and information processing device to which the present invention is applied are only required to have the following configuration, and can take on a variety of different embodiments.

[0070] The information processing system includes clothing (e.g., work clothes 3 in FIG. 1) worn by a wearer and having a color-changing portion (e.g., photochromic layers 31, 32, 33 in FIG. 1) containing a photochromic material that fades in response to visible light, an ultraviolet irradiation unit (e.g., ultraviolet lamp 4 in FIG. 1) that irradiates the color-changing portion of the clothing with ultraviolet light, an imaging unit (e.g., surveillance camera 2 in FIG. 1) that images the color-changing portion of the clothing, and an information processing unit (e.g., information processing device 1 in FIG. 1). The information processing unit includes an image acquisition unit (e.g., the image acquisition unit 101 in FIG. 6 ) that acquires an image captured by the imaging unit, a color detection unit (e.g., the color detection unit 102 in FIG. 6 ) that detects the color and pattern of the color-changing portion included in the image, a change recording control unit (e.g., the change recording control unit 103 in FIG. 6 ) that controls recording of changes over time in the color and pattern detected by the color detection unit in a predetermined storage medium, and a dressing time calculation unit (e.g., the work time calculation unit 104 in FIG. 6 ) that calculates the wearer's dressing time based on the changes over time in the color and pattern. Thus, by combining clothing having a color-changing portion containing a photochromic material with an ultraviolet irradiation unit, an imaging unit, and an information processing unit, dressing time can be automatically detected based on objective indicators without relying on the wearer's report or mechanical recording operations. In particular, by capturing the changes over time in the color-changing portion as an image and analyzing both the color and pattern, more accurate dressing time can be determined.

[0071] Furthermore, the information processing system can also determine whether the wearer is a worker (e.g., worker P in FIG. 1 ), whether the clothing is work clothes (e.g., work clothes 3 in FIG. 1 ), and whether the time spent wearing the clothes is working hours. When this system is applied to a work environment, it can objectively manage the working hours of workers, contributing to the prevention of overwork and appropriate labor management. In particular, it can achieve highly reliable working hour management that eliminates subjective elements such as workers' own time reporting and time-stamping.

[0072] Furthermore, the information processing system may further include a notification means (e.g., the notification unit 105 in FIG. 6 ) that issues a predetermined notification when the dressing time calculated by the dressing time calculation means (e.g., the work time calculation unit 104 in FIG. 6 ) exceeds a predetermined threshold. By issuing a notification when the dressing time exceeds the predetermined threshold, problems related to the wearer's health and safety can be detected early and necessary measures can be taken promptly. For example, this can contribute to health management of the wearer in various situations, such as notifying the risk of heatstroke when wearing a swimsuit for a long period of time or notifying the need to change medical clothing. Furthermore, in a work environment, issuing a notification when working hours exceed a predetermined threshold can detect excessive work loads early and encourage necessary rest or shift changes. This can improve the effectiveness of worker health management and work hour management, and contribute to the prevention of work-related accidents.

[0073] Furthermore, the information processing system may include a configuration in which the color change portion (e.g., photochromic layers 31, 32, and 33 in FIG. 1 ) is divided into multiple regions, the color detection means (e.g., color detection unit 102 in FIG. 6 ) individually detects the color and pattern of each of the multiple regions of the color change portion, the change recording control means (e.g., change recording control unit 103 in FIG. 6 ) individually records the changes in color and pattern over time for each of the multiple regions, and the dressing time calculation means (e.g., work hour calculation unit 104 in FIG. 6 ) calculates the fading time of each of the multiple regions based on the records of the changes over time for each of the multiple regions, and derives the wearer's cumulative dressing time from a combination of the fading times of at least two of the multiple regions. Thus, by dividing the color change portion into multiple regions and individually detecting the fading time of each region, more detailed dressing time can be determined. In particular, using a combination of the fading times of multiple regions improves detection accuracy compared to detection using a single region, enabling more accurate dressing time management. Furthermore, combining areas with different fading characteristics can be used as a graded visual warning function. Furthermore, using multiple fading areas on work clothes in a work environment allows for more accurate measurement of actual working hours, taking into account breaks and periods of interruption. In particular, combining multiple fading patterns can enable more advanced labor management, such as weighting working hours according to the intensity and type of work.

[0074] Furthermore, an information processing device (e.g., information processing device 1 in FIG. 1 ) may also include an image acquisition unit (e.g., image acquisition unit 101 in FIG. 6 ) that acquires an image obtained by capturing an image of clothing worn by a wearer and having a color-changing portion (e.g., photochromic layers 31, 32, 33 in FIG. 1 ) containing a photochromic material that fades in response to visible light; a color detection unit (e.g., color detection unit 102 in FIG. 6 ) that detects the color and pattern of the color-changing portion included in the image; a change recording control unit (e.g., change recording control unit 103 in FIG. 6 ) that controls recording changes over time in the color and pattern detected by the color detection unit in a predetermined storage medium; and a dressing time calculation unit (e.g., work time calculation unit 104 in FIG. 6 ) that calculates the amount of time the wearer spends wearing the clothing based on the changes over time in the color and pattern. This configuration allows for easy implementation in various existing environments by configuring the information processing device. Furthermore, since a series of processes from image acquisition to dressing time calculation can be performed by a single device, system construction and operation become easier. Furthermore, it will be easy to link the recorded clothing time data with other systems, making it possible to build more comprehensive systems such as health management systems and safety management systems.

[0075] 1: Information processing device, 2: Surveillance camera, 3: Work clothes, 4: Ultraviolet lamp, 5: Indoor lamp, 11: CPU, 12: ROM, 13: RAM, 14: Bus, 15: Input / output interface, 16: Input unit, 17: Output unit, 18: Memory unit, 19: Communication unit, 20: Drive, 30: Removable media, 31: Photochromic layer (tip portion), 32: Photochromic layer (middle portion), 33: Photochromic layer (V-shaped portion), 101: Image acquisition unit, 102: Color detection unit, 103: Change recording control unit, 104: Work hour calculation unit, 105: Notification unit, P: Worker

Claims

1. An information processing system comprising: clothing worn by a wearer, the clothing having a color-changing portion containing a photochromic material that fades in response to visible light; an ultraviolet irradiation unit that irradiates ultraviolet light onto the color-changing portion of the clothing; an imaging unit that images the color-changing portion of the clothing; and an information processing unit, wherein the information processing unit comprises: image acquisition means that acquires an image obtained as a result of imaging by the imaging unit; color detection means that detects the color and pattern of the color-changing portion included in the image; change recording control means that executes control to record changes over time of the color and pattern detected by the color detection means in a specified storage medium; and clothing time calculation means that calculates the length of time the wearer is wearing the clothing based on the changes over time of the color and the pattern.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the wearer is a worker, the clothing is work clothes, and the time during which the clothing is worn is working hours.

3. The information processing system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a notification means for issuing a predetermined notification when the dressing time calculated by the dressing time calculation means exceeds a predetermined threshold.

4. An information processing system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the color change portion is divided into a plurality of regions, the color detection means detects the color and pattern of each of the plurality of regions of the color change portion individually, the change recording control means executes control to record the changes over time of the color and pattern for each of the plurality of regions individually, and the dressing time calculation means calculates the fading time of each of the plurality of regions based on the record of the changes over time of each of the plurality of regions, and derives the cumulative dressing time of the wearer from a combination of the fading times of at least two or more of the plurality of regions.

5. An information processing device comprising: an image acquisition means for acquiring an image obtained by capturing an image of clothing worn by a wearer, the clothing having a color-changing portion containing a photochromic material that fades in response to visible light; a color detection means for detecting the color and pattern of the color-changing portion contained in the image; a change recording control means for executing control to record changes over time in the color and pattern detected by the color detection means in a specified storage medium; and a clothing time calculation means for calculating the length of time the wearer is wearing the clothing based on the changes over time in the color and pattern.

6. An information processing method executed by an information processing device, comprising: an image acquisition step of acquiring an image obtained by capturing an image of clothing worn by a wearer, the clothing having a color-changing portion containing a photochromic material that fades in response to visible light; a color detection step of detecting the color and pattern of the color-changing portion contained in the image; a change recording control step of executing control to record changes over time in the color and pattern detected by the color detection step in a specified storage medium; and a clothing time calculation step of calculating the length of time the wearer is wearing the clothing based on the changes over time in the color and the pattern.

7. A program for causing a computer to execute control processing including: an image acquisition step for acquiring an image obtained by capturing an image of clothing worn by a wearer, the clothing having a color-changing portion containing a photochromic material that fades in response to visible light; a color detection step for detecting the color and pattern of the color-changing portion contained in the image; a change recording control step for executing control to record changes over time in the color and pattern detected by the color detection step in a specified storage medium; and a clothing time calculation step for calculating the length of time the wearer is wearing the clothing based on the changes over time in the color and pattern.

Images