Work management support device, work management support method, work management support program, and work management support system

Abstract

A work management support device 10 for supporting management of work contents of a user in a target area WA in which a plurality of beacons 4 are disposed, the work management support device 10 including a processor 12 that is configured to receive motion information from a worker terminal 3 carried by the user and signal strength information of the plurality of beacons 4, identify the location of the user of the worker terminal 3 in the target area WA on the basis of the signal strength information, and identify a work content of the user on the basis of the motion information and the location.

Description

Work management support device, work management support method, work management support program, and work management support system

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for supporting management of work content performed by a worker.

[0002] At sites such as logistics, retail, manufacturing, nursing care, and construction, behavioral data such as the location and work content of workers is sometimes collected, and cost management, on-site improvement, work efficiency, etc. are analyzed based on the behavioral data.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that estimates the distance between an identification information storage medium carried by a worker and a beacon based on a beacon signal provided for each piece of work equipment, determines whether the worker is working or not, and if it is determined that the worker is working, transmits work performance information that associates the identification information storage medium with the beacon terminal identification information, and identifies a surveillance camera that can capture footage of the worker working based on the work performance information.

[0004] JP 2023-37366 A

[0005] For example, if detailed behavioral data could be collected, more advanced analysis could be performed, but this could increase costs.On the other hand, if efforts are made to reduce costs, the amount of behavioral data that can be collected may be insufficient, making it impossible to perform highly accurate analysis.

[0006] The location information in the behavioral data can be obtained at a relatively low cost and with relatively high accuracy by using beacons as in Patent Document 1. On the other hand, it is difficult to collect appropriate information about the work content at a low cost.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that can appropriately estimate the work content performed by a worker.

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a work management support device according to a first aspect is a work management support device that supports managing the work content of a user in a target area in which multiple beacons are placed, and the work management support device includes a processor that receives motion information of a mobile device carried by the user and signal strength information of multiple beacons received by the mobile device from the mobile device, identifies the location of the mobile device in the target area of ​​the user based on the signal strength information, and identifies the work content of the user based on the motion information and the location.

[0009] The above-mentioned work management support device may include a storage device that stores target area information indicating the position of a beacon in the target area and the ranges of multiple partial areas in the target area, and the processor may identify a partial area in the user's target area based on the target area information and the signal strength information, and identify the user's work content based on the motion information and the partial areas.

[0010] In addition, the above-mentioned work management support device may have a state estimation model that inputs the motion information and outputs the state of the user, and the processor may use the state estimation model to estimate the state of the user and identify the work content of the user based on the partial area where the user is located and the state.

[0011] The work management support device may further include a storage device that stores work content information indicating the correspondence between partial areas and states and work content, and the processor may refer to the work content information to identify the work content of the user.

[0012] In addition, in the above work management support device, the processor may identify the work content of the user based on the motion information, the position, and information on the time when the motion information was acquired.

[0013] In the work management support device, the processor may output information on the work content of the user for a predetermined period of time based on the work content.

[0014] In the above task management assistance device, the processor may identify the position of the user based on the signal strength information and the motion information.

[0015] In addition, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a work management support method according to a second aspect is a work management support method using a work management support device that supports managing the work content of a user in a target area in which multiple beacons are placed, in which the work management support device receives motion information of the mobile device carried by the user and signal strength information of multiple beacons received by the mobile device, identifies the position of the mobile device in the target area of ​​the user based on the signal strength information, and identifies the work content of the user based on the motion information and the position.

[0016] In addition, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the work management support program relating to the third aspect is a work management support program executed by a computer that supports managing the work content of a user in a target area in which multiple beacons are placed, and causes the computer to receive motion information of the mobile device carried by the user and signal strength information of multiple beacons received by the mobile device from the mobile device, identify the position of the mobile device in the target area of ​​the user based on the signal strength information, and identify the work content of the user based on the motion information and the position.

[0017] In addition, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a work management support system relating to a fourth aspect is a work management support system that supports managing the work content of a user in a target area in which multiple beacons are placed, and includes a mobile terminal carried by the user and a work management support device, wherein the mobile terminal has a motion sensor that detects motion information including the acceleration, angular velocity, geomagnetism, and azimuth of the mobile terminal, receives signals from the beacons, and transmits the motion information and signal strength information about the signals from the beacons to the work management support device, and the work management support device receives the motion information of the mobile terminal and the signal strength information from the mobile terminal, identifies the user's position in the target area based on the signal strength information, and identifies the user's work content based on the motion information and the position.

[0018] According to the present invention, the work content performed by a worker can be appropriately estimated.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a work management support system according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a worker terminal according to one embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a storage device of a work management support device according to one embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of facility information according to one embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a work rule table according to one embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a work management table according to one embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a model learning process according to one embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a facility information setting screen according to one embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an area identification process according to one embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a walking estimation process according to one embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a work estimation process according to one embodiment. FIG. 12 is a first example of a work management screen according to one embodiment. FIG. 13 is a second example of a work management screen according to one embodiment.

[0020] The following description of the embodiments will be given with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed, and not all of the elements and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0021] In the following description, information may be described using the expression "AAA table," but the information may be expressed in any data structure. In other words, to indicate that the information does not depend on the data structure, the "AAA table" may be called "AAA information."

[0022] In the following description, processing may be described with a "program" as the operating entity. However, since a program is executed by a processor to perform a predetermined process using at least one of a storage unit and an interface unit as appropriate, the subject of the process may also be the processor (or a computer or system having a processor). A program may be installed on a computer from a program source. The program source may be, for example, a program distribution server or a computer-readable storage medium. In the following description, two or more programs may be realized as a single program, or one program may be realized as two or more programs. At least a portion of the processing realized by executing a program may be realized by a hardware circuit (for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array)).

[0023] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a work management support system according to an embodiment.

[0024] The work management support system 1 includes a work management support device 10, a manager terminal 2, a worker terminal 3, multiple beacons 4, and one or more wireless relay devices 5. The work management support device 10, the manager terminal 2, and the wireless relay device 5 are communicatively connected via a network 6. The worker terminal 3 is communicatively connected to the network 6 via the wireless relay device 5. The network 6 is, for example, a network such as a WAN (Wide Area Network).

[0025] The manager terminal 2 is a terminal used by a manager who manages the work of workers, and is, for example, a personal computer (PC). The manager terminal 2 has, for example, a browser and can exchange information with the work management support device 10 via the network 6.

[0026] The wireless relay device 5 is a device that relays between the worker terminal 3 and the network 6, and may be, for example, a router that can connect to the worker terminal 3 via a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), or a base station device that can connect to the worker terminal 3 via a mobile communication network.

[0027] The worker terminal 3 is a terminal (portable terminal) that can be carried by a worker who performs work at least within the target area WA.

[0028] The beacon 4 is installed at a predetermined position in the target area WA and transmits identification information unique to the beacon at predetermined time intervals. In this embodiment, the beacon 4 transmits, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) radio waves. The beacon 4 transmits, for example, identification information that identifies the beacon 4. The identification information of the beacon 4 may include, for example, a UUID, a major (major item code), and a minor (minor item code). For example, the UUID may be an ID uniquely assigned to beacons 4 used for the same service, the major may be a code indicating a group of beacons 4, and the minor may be the number of the beacon within the group. The identification information of the beacon 4 is not limited to this and may be any information that can identify each individual beacon 4.

[0029] The work management support device 10 is a device for managing the work content of workers based on information collected from the worker terminal 3. The work management support device 10 may be configured as a physical server (computer) such as a PC or a general-purpose server, or as a virtual server provided by the cloud. The work management support device 10 includes a communication interface (I / F) 11, a processor 12, memory 13, and a storage device 14. The communication I / F 11, processor 12, memory 13, and storage device 14 are connected via a bus 15.

[0030] The communication I / F 11 is an interface such as a wired LAN card or a wireless LAN card, and communicates with other devices (for example, the manager terminal 2 and the worker terminal 3) via the network 6.

[0031] The processor 12 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and executes various processes according to programs stored in the memory 13 and / or the storage device 14 .

[0032] The memory 13 is an example of a storage device, such as a RAM (random access memory), and stores programs executed by the processor 12 and necessary information.

[0033] The storage device 14 is an example of a storage device, such as a hard disk or flash memory, and stores programs executed by the processor 12 and data used by the processor 12 .

[0034] Next, the worker terminal 3 will be described in detail.

[0035] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a worker terminal according to an embodiment.

[0036] The worker terminal 3 includes a transmitter / receiver 31, a motion sensor 32, a processor 33, a memory 34, and an internal storage 35. The transmitter / receiver 31, the motion sensor 32, the processor 33, the memory 34, and the internal storage 35 are connected via a bus 36.

[0037] The transmitter / receiver 31 transmits and receives data wirelessly. In this embodiment, the transmitter / receiver 31 is capable of wireless communication via Bluetooth and wireless communication via a mobile communication network. The transmitter / receiver 31 receives a signal transmitted from a beacon 4, detects the strength of the received radio wave (received signal strength) of the received signal, and detects the identification information of the beacon 4 contained in the signal.

[0038] The motion sensor 32 detects motion information of the worker terminal 3. The detected motion information is, for example, acceleration, angular velocity, geomagnetism, and attitude angle in the local coordinate system of the worker terminal 3.

[0039] The processor 33 is, for example, a CPU, and executes various processes according to programs stored in the memory 34 and / or the internal storage 35 .

[0040] The memory 34 is an example of a storage device, such as a RAM, and stores the programs executed by the processor 33 and necessary information.

[0041] The internal storage 35 is an example of a storage device, such as a flash memory, and stores programs executed by the processor 33 and data used by the processor 33. In this embodiment, the internal storage 35 stores a worker terminal application 37. The worker terminal application 37 is executed by the processor 33 to receive a work start instruction from the worker, and upon receiving the work start instruction, continues processing to transmit predetermined information until it receives a work end instruction. In the processing to transmit the predetermined information, information on the received radio wave intensity of the signal from the beacon 4 received by the transmitter / receiver 31 (signal strength information), identification information of the beacon 4, and motion information detected by the motion sensor 32 are transmitted to the work management support device 10.

[0042] Next, the configuration of the storage device 14 of the work management support device 10 will be described in detail.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a storage device of a work management support apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0044] The storage device 14 stores a work management program 21 as an example of a work management support program, facility information 22, a work rule table 23, a work management table 24, and a state estimation machine learning model 25.

[0045] The work management program 21 is executed by the processor 12 to perform work management processing for managing the work of workers based on information received from the worker terminal 3. An overview of the work management processing will be described later. The facility information 22 is information about the facility for which the work of workers is to be managed. The facility information 22 includes, for example, the range of the facility, the range of obstacles in the facility, placement information of beacons, and the range of areas (partial areas) divided into sections within the facility. The facility information 22 is an example of target area information. Details of the facility information 22 will be described later. The work rule table 23 is an example of work content information, and is a table that stores rules for identifying the type of work (work content) of a worker. The work management table 24 is a table that manages information related to the work of workers. The state estimation machine learning model 25 is a machine learning model (an example of a state estimation model) that inputs the motion information of a worker and estimates the state of the worker.

[0046] Fig. 4 is a configuration diagram of facility information according to an embodiment. The facility information shown in Fig. 4 is an example of facility information in JSON (JavaScript (registered trademark) Object Notation) format.

[0047] The facility information 22 includes an id description portion 220 , a facilityid description portion 221 , a plan description portion 222 , a boundary description portion 223 , an obstacle description portion 224 , an installation description portion 225 , and an area description portion 226 .

[0048] The ID of the facility information 22 on the system is described in the id description portion 220. The facility id description portion 221 describes identification information of the facility corresponding to the facility information 22, for example, the facility number.

[0049] The plan description portion 222 includes a name that indicates the name of the facility (facility name) corresponding to the facility information 22, and a polygon that indicates the extent of the facility in a predetermined coordinate system (world coordinate system). For example, if the facility is a one-floor facility, the extent of the facility is expressed by the coordinates of a point cloud corresponding to the vertices of a polygon that corresponds to the extent of the facility on a two-dimensional plane. For example, if the facility is rectangular, the extent of the facility is expressed by the coordinates of the four vertices of the rectangle.

[0050] The boundary description portion 223 includes a description of a name indicating the outer boundary that defines the range within which the user moves, and a polygon indicating that range.

[0051] Information about obstacles in the facility that the user cannot enter is described in the obstacle description portion 224. The obstacle description portion 224 includes descriptions of an ID indicating identification information of the obstacle, a name indicating the name of the obstacle, and a polygon indicating the range of the obstacle.

[0052] Information about the multiple beacons 4 installed in the facility is described in the insularation description portion 225. The insularation description portion 225 includes descriptions of major indicating the major item code set in the beacon 4, minor indicating the minor item code, uuid indicating the uuid, and position indicating the coordinates of the installation position of the beacon 4.

[0053] Information about a plurality of areas (subareas) divided into the facility is described in the area description section 226. The area description section 226 includes descriptions of an id indicating identification information of the subarea, a name indicating the name of the subarea, and a polygon indicating the range of the subarea.

[0054] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a work rule table according to an embodiment.

[0055] The work rule table 23 is a table that stores rules for identifying work types, and stores a correspondence between the work type and at least one of the conditions for inferring (determining) that work type: area, worker status, and time. The work rule table 23 stores an entry for each work type. The entry in the work rule table 23 includes fields for work type 23a, area 23b, status 23c, and time 23d.

[0056] The task type 23a stores the task type corresponding to the entry. The area 23b stores the name of the area that is the condition for estimating the task type corresponding to the entry. If there are multiple candidate areas that are the condition, the names of the multiple areas are stored in area 23b. The status 23c stores the status of the worker that is the condition for estimating the task type corresponding to the entry. If there are multiple candidate states that are the condition, the status 23c stores multiple states, and if no candidate state is required, a value indicating that the condition is not required (for example, "-") is stored. The time 23d stores the time that is the condition for estimating the task type corresponding to the entry. If no time is required, a value indicating that the condition is not required (for example, "-") is stored.

[0057] According to the work rule table 23, for example, if the worker is in room A, room B, etc., the type of work the worker is doing is estimated to be room assistance; for example, if the worker is in a large hall, sitting (stationary (sitting)) or walking and moving (moving (walking)), and the time is between 11:00 and 13:00, the type of work the worker is doing is estimated to be meal assistance.

[0058] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a work management table according to an embodiment.

[0059] The work management table 24 is a table for managing the work of workers, and may be prepared for each worker, for example, or may be a single table if any field in the entry contains information that can identify the worker.

[0060] The work management table 24 stores entries for managing information about workers at each predetermined time point. The entries in the work management table 24 include fields for a measurement ID 24a, a number 24b, a time 24c, a position coordinate X 24d, a position coordinate Y 24e, an X-direction speed 24f, a Y-direction speed 24g, a direction 24h, a state 24i, an area 24j, a nearest obstacle 24k, and a work type 24l.

[0061] The measurement ID 24a stores a measurement ID that is assigned when a work start button is pressed on the application screen of the worker terminal application 37 on the worker terminal 3. The measurement ID may include identification information that can identify the worker of the worker terminal 3. The number 24b stores a number that is assigned to each entry after work is started on the worker terminal 3. The time 24c stores the time indicated by the entry.

[0062] The position coordinate X24d stores the X coordinate of the worker (more precisely, the worker terminal 3) at the time indicated by the entry. Here, the X coordinate is a coordinate on a predetermined X axis of a predetermined world coordinate system. The position coordinate Y24e stores the Y coordinate of the worker (more precisely, the worker terminal 3) at the time indicated by the entry. Here, the Y coordinate is a coordinate on the Y axis that intersects (for example, is perpendicular to) the X axis of a predetermined world coordinate system for the facility.

[0063] The X-direction speed 24f stores the speed of the worker (more precisely, the worker terminal 3) in the X-axis direction at the time indicated by the entry. The Y-direction speed 24g stores the speed of the worker (more precisely, the worker terminal 3) in the Y-axis direction at the time indicated by the entry.

[0064] Orientation 24h stores the angle of the worker (strictly speaking, the worker terminal 3) from the north direction at the time indicated by the entry. Status 24i stores the state of the worker at the time indicated by the entry. Area 24j stores the name of the area (partial area) in which the worker is located at the time indicated by the entry. Nearest obstacle 24k stores the name of the obstacle closest to the worker at the time indicated by the entry. Work type 24l stores the type of work that the worker is estimated to be performing at the time indicated by the entry.

[0065] Next, the processing operations in the work management support system 1 will be described.

[0066] First, the model learning process for learning the state estimation machine learning model 25 in the work management support system 1 will be described.

[0067] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a model learning process according to an embodiment.

[0068] The work management program 21 of the work management support device 10 (more precisely, the processor 12 that executes the work management program 21) receives pre-learning data from the manager terminal 2, which includes motion information indicating multiple states of the worker and labels (state labels) indicating each state (S11).

[0069] Here, the motion information is, for example, acceleration, angular velocity, geomagnetism, and attitude angle in the local coordinate system of the worker terminal 3, which are acquired from the motion sensor of the worker terminal 3 when the worker is in a predetermined state. The worker's state may be, for example, any of a plurality of states including a state of standing still in place (still (standing still)), a state of sitting still in place, a state of walking, a state of moving by brisk walking or running, a state of holding something in both hands, a state of moving in a vehicle, a state of moving something from one position to another (for example, in the case of a care area, a state of moving a caregiver from a bed to a wheelchair), etc.

[0070] Next, the work management program 21 uses the received pre-learning data to perform machine learning on the state estimation machine learning model 25, which inputs motion information and outputs the worker's state (S12), and ends the model learning process.

[0071] Next, the facility information preparation process for preparing the facility information 22 will be described.

[0072] The work management program 21 of the work management support device 10 displays a facility information setting screen 100 (see FIG. 8 ) on the manager terminal 2 and sets facility information 22 in accordance with input by the manager on the facility information setting screen 100. Note that the system may also be configured to accept input of a character string in the JSON format shown in FIG. 4 from the manager terminal 2 without using the facility information setting screen 100.

[0073] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a facility information setting screen according to one embodiment.

[0074] The facility information setting screen 100 displays a blueprint 101 of the facility that is the subject of the facility information 22. On the facility information setting screen 100, the administrator can use the input device of the administrator terminal 2 to input, on the blueprint 101, the ranges of multiple areas 102, the area names 103 for the areas 102, the installation positions of multiple beacons 104 and the identification information of the beacons 104, and the range of obstacles 105 that workers cannot enter.

[0075] The work management program 21 sets the facility information 22 in accordance with various information entered on the blueprint 101 of the facility information setting screen 100. For example, for the obstacle 105, the coordinates in the coordinate system of the facility information 22 for each vertex indicating the range of the obstacle 105 are calculated in accordance with the range of the obstacle 105 on the blueprint 101, and set these in the polygon of the obstacle description section 224. Furthermore, for the area 102, the area name 103 is set in the name of the area description section 226, and the coordinates in the coordinate system of the facility information 22 for each vertex indicating the range of the area 102 are calculated in accordance with the range of the area 102 on the blueprint 101, and set these in the polygon of the area description section 226. Furthermore, for the beacon 104, the identification information of the beacon 104 is set in the major, minor, and uuid fields of the installation description section 225, and the coordinates of the position of the beacon 104 in the coordinate system of the facility information 22 are calculated according to the position of the beacon 104 on the blueprint 101, and set in the position field of the installation description section 225.

[0076] Next, various processing operations executed in the work management support system 1 to estimate the type of work performed by a worker will be described.

[0077] First, the area identification process for identifying the area where the worker is located will be described.

[0078] 9 is a flowchart of an area identification process according to an embodiment. The area identification process is executed, for example, periodically and repeatedly. Note that when this process is executed, the worker terminal application 37 is launched on the worker terminal 3, and the worker has pressed the work start button. Therefore, the worker terminal 3 periodically transmits to the work management support device 10 the identification information and received radio wave intensity of the received beacon, as well as motion information detected by the motion sensor 32.

[0079] The work management program 21 of the work management support device 10 receives the motion information sent from the worker terminal 3 (S21), and converts the motion information into information in a global coordinate system that indicates the coordinate system for the facility (S22).

[0080] Next, the work management program 21 performs a gait estimation process (see FIG. 10) to estimate the gait of the worker based on the motion information converted into the global coordinate system (S23).

[0081] Next, the work management program 21 identifies the relative position from the predetermined position according to the walking details estimated in the walking estimation process (S24), and proceeds to step S28. Here, the predetermined position is the position where the absolute position of the worker was estimated immediately before, if any.

[0082] In addition, the work management program 21 of the work management support device 10 receives the identification information and received radio wave strength of the beacon 4 transmitted from the worker terminal 3 (S25), calculates the reception strength of the signal for each beacon 4 (S26), and calculates the position that is the weighted center of gravity of the multiple beacons 4, i.e., the position where the worker terminal 3 (worker) is estimated to be located, using the reception strength of the signals from the multiple beacons 4 as weights (S27), and proceeds to step S28.

[0083] In step S28, the work management program 21 determines the absolute position of the worker based on the relative position calculated in step S24 and the position calculated in step S27. Here, for example, if the received radio wave intensity from multiple beacons 4 can be obtained and the weighted center of gravity can be calculated in step S27, the position of the weighted center of gravity calculated in step S27 is determined as the worker's absolute position. If the received radio wave intensity from multiple beacons 4 cannot be obtained and the weighted center of gravity cannot be calculated in step S27, a position displaced by the relative position determined in step S24 from the previously estimated position is determined as the worker's absolute position. The absolute position of the worker may be determined by adjusting both the position of the weighted center of gravity and the relative position relative to a predetermined position according to the reliability of each position. Because the worker is not likely to be within an obstacle range, in step S28, the absolute position is determined so that the absolute position does not fall within the obstacle range.

[0084] Next, the work management program 21 refers to the facility information 22, identifies the area to which the identified absolute position belongs, adds one entry to the work management table 24, and stores the corresponding information in the field that can store the information in the added entry (S29).

[0085] Next, the walking estimation process in step S23 will be described.

[0086] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a gait estimation process according to an embodiment.

[0087] The work management program 21 detects acceleration peaks, i.e., situations where the feet are estimated to be touching the ground when walking, based on the motion information converted into information in the global coordinate system, and counts the number of peaks (S31).

[0088] Next, the work management program 21 detects the exercise mode the worker is in (S32). Specifically, the work management program 21 determines whether the worker is standing still or walking, and whether the worker is turning, based on the acceleration.

[0089] Next, the work management program 21 estimates the walking azimuth angle (S33). Specifically, the work management program 21 obtains the time between the acceleration peaks, and obtains the azimuth angle indicating the moving direction during the time between the peaks.

[0090] Next, the work management program 21 estimates the stride length of the worker based on the number of peaks (S34). Note that the stride length may be estimated or adjusted based on the worker's height data.

[0091] According to the above-described walking estimation process, when a person is walking, it is possible to appropriately estimate the walking details, such as the direction and distance walked.

[0092] Next, the task estimation process that is executed after the area identification process will be described.

[0093] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an operation estimation process according to an embodiment.

[0094] The work management program 21 acquires the motion information of the worker, the area where the worker is located, and the time (S41).

[0095] Next, the work management program 21 inputs the motion information of the worker into the state estimation machine learning model 25 and receives the worker's state estimated from the state estimation machine learning model 25 (S42).

[0096] Next, the work management program 21 references the work rule table 23 and estimates the work type based on the estimated worker's status, the area where the worker is located, and the time, and stores the estimated status in the status 24i of the corresponding entry in the work management table 24, as well as the estimated work type in the work type 24l (S43), and ends the processing. Note that if there is no corresponding work type in the work rule table 23, it may be determined that there is no work type.

[0097] According to the above-described task estimation process, the task management table 24 manages information on the types of tasks performed by workers.

[0098] The work management program 21 can refer to the work management table 24 to create a screen including various information related to the worker and display it on the manager terminal 2.

[0099] For example, the work management program 21 can display a timetable relating to work by a specific worker during a specific period by extracting entries for a specific worker within a specific period from the work management table 24 .

[0100] 12 is a first example of a work management screen according to an embodiment. The work management screen 200 is a screen that displays a timetable of work for worker A on March 8, 2024.

[0101] The work management screen 200 has a timetable display area 210. In the timetable display area 210, work time frames 211 to 215 for the work type and the area where the work was performed are displayed. This work management screen 200 makes it possible to easily and appropriately grasp when, where, and what kind of work the worker was performing.

[0102] In addition, the work management program 21 can extract entries for a specific worker within a specified period from the work management table 24, and display the work proportion for a specific worker within a specific period by aggregating the time spent on the same type of work based on the information in these entries.

[0103] 13 is a second example of a work management screen according to an embodiment. The work management screen 300 is a screen showing the work ratio for worker A as of March 8, 2024.

[0104] The work management screen 300 has a work proportion display area 310. A pie chart showing the proportions of multiple work types is displayed in the work proportion display area 310. This work management screen 300 makes it possible to easily and appropriately grasp what work a worker has performed and at what proportion.

[0105] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified appropriately without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0106] For example, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which the target area was a nursing care area where nursing care-related work was performed, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may target other areas, such as a retail area where work related to selling products is performed in a retail store, or a logistics area where work up to delivery of products is performed in a logistics warehouse.

[0107] For example, in the case of a retail area, the work content in the retail area may be associated with at least one of location, time, and worker status, and the work content may be estimated. Specifically, for example, when a worker is in the cash register area, the work content may be cash register work, when the worker is in the inventory area at a time when inventory organization is estimated, the work content may be inventory organization, when the worker is in the inventory area and in a carrying position at a time when goods are estimated to be received into the inventory area, the work content may be inventory receiving, when the worker is standing still in an area within the store, the work content may be customer service in the store, and when the worker is walking in an area within the store, the work content may be moving around in the store.

[0108] Furthermore, for example, in a logistics area, the work content in the logistics area may be associated with at least one of location, time, and worker status, and the work content may be estimated. Specifically, for example, if a worker is located in an area where products are to be picked and is moving at the time when picking is expected, the work content may be "moving in the picking area." If a worker is located in an area where products are to be picked and is standing still at the time when picking is expected, the work content may be "picking." If a worker is in a carrying position at the time when products are expected to be received in an inventory area, the work content may be "stocking in inventory." In addition to normal work content, the occurrence of abnormal conditions may also be estimated. For example, if a worker is walking in an area outside a facility, an abnormal condition may be estimated. If a worker is walking in a dangerous area that is expected to be dangerous, an entry into a dangerous area may be estimated. Furthermore, if a worker is in a fallen state in a predetermined area, a fall may be estimated.

[0109] In the above embodiment, the work type is estimated by referencing the work rule table 23, but the present invention is not limited to this. A machine learning model for work type estimation may be prepared that outputs a work type when a combination of state, area, and time is input, and the work type may be estimated using the machine learning model for work type estimation. Also, a machine learning model may be prepared that outputs a work type when a combination of motion information, area, and time is input, and the work type may be estimated using this machine learning model.

[0110] In addition, in the above embodiment, the absolute position of the worker is determined based on the position detected based on the strength of the radio waves received from the beacon 4 and the position detected based on the motion information, but the absolute position of the worker may also be determined based only on the position detected based on the strength of the radio waves received from the beacon 4.

[0111] Furthermore, although the above embodiment has been described using an example of a facility with one floor, the present invention can also be applied to a facility with multiple floors. In a facility with multiple floors, for example, areas and beacon positions can be set for each floor, and the areas and beacon positions can be converted into three-dimensional information including height information, so that the three-dimensional position of a worker can be identified.

[0112] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the area estimation process is performed by sequentially acquiring information from the worker terminal 3 and processing it in real time or near real time, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the information acquired by the worker terminal 3 may be stored in a storage device present within the work management support system 1, and the area estimation process may be performed as a batch process.

[0113] 1...Work management support system, 2...Administrator terminal, 3...Worker terminal, 4...Beacon, 5...Wireless relay device, 6...Network, 10...Work management support device, 11...Communication interface, 12...Processor, 13...Memory, 14...Storage device

Claims

1. A work management support device that supports the management of work content of a user in a target area in which multiple beacons are placed, the work management support device including a processor that receives, from a mobile device carried by the user, motion information of the mobile device and signal strength information of multiple beacons received by the mobile device, identifies the location of the mobile device in the target area of ​​the user based on the signal strength information, and identifies the work content of the user based on the motion information and the location.

2. The work management support device of claim 1, further comprising a storage device, wherein the storage device stores target area information indicating the position of a beacon in the target area and the range of multiple partial areas in the target area, and the processor identifies partial areas in the target area of ​​the user based on the target area information and the signal strength information, and identifies the work content of the user based on the motion information and the partial areas.

3. The work management support device according to claim 1, wherein the work management support device has a state estimation model that receives the motion information as input and outputs the state of the user, and the processor uses the state estimation model to estimate the state of the user and identifies the work content of the user based on the partial area in which the user is located and the state.

4. The work management support device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage device that stores work content information indicating the correspondence between partial areas and states and work content, and the processor refers to the work content information to identify the work content of the user.

5. The work management support device according to claim 1, wherein the processor identifies the work content of the user based on the motion information, the position, and information on the time when the motion information was acquired.

6. The work management support device according to claim 1, wherein the processor outputs information on the work content of the user for a predetermined period based on the work content.

7. The work management support device according to claim 1, wherein the processor identifies the location of the user based on the signal strength information and the motion information.

8. A work management support method using a work management support device that supports managing the work content of a user in a target area in which multiple beacons are placed, wherein the work management support device receives motion information of a mobile device carried by the user and signal strength information of multiple beacons received by the mobile device, identifies the location of the mobile device in the target area of ​​the user based on the signal strength information, and identifies the work content of the user based on the motion information and the location.

9. A work management support program executed by a computer that supports the management of user work content in a target area where multiple beacons are placed, the program causing the computer to receive, from a mobile device carried by a user, motion information of the mobile device and signal strength information of multiple beacons received by the mobile device, identify the location of the mobile device in the user's target area based on the signal strength information, and identify the user's work content based on the motion information and the location.

10. A work management support system that supports the management of work content of a user in a target area where multiple beacons are placed, comprising: a mobile terminal carried by the user; and a work management support device, wherein the mobile terminal receives signals from the beacons using a motion sensor that detects motion information including the acceleration, angular velocity, geomagnetism, and azimuth of the mobile terminal, and transmits the motion information and signal strength information about the signals from the beacons to the work management support device, and the work management support device receives the motion information and signal strength information of the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal, identifies the position of the user in the target area based on the signal strength information, and identifies the work content of the user based on the motion information and the position.

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