Agent Simulation for Sign Influence Evaluation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current people flow simulation technologies fail to accurately evaluate the influence of different display modes of signs on pedestrians, as they treat the impact of signs uniformly across all agents, lacking differentiation in agent-specific responses.

Innovation Solution

A simulation method and apparatus that control agents in a virtual space to simulate their behavior under various signs, determining the influence of each sign based on its display mode attributes and agent attributes, allowing for precise evaluation of sign system plans.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If uniform influence of signs on all agents is assumed, then simulation complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of sign influence on different agents deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimulation complexityVSAvoidmeasurement precision of sign influence
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the sign influence parameter agent-specific rather than uniform. Each agent has individual attributes (age, gender, purpose of visit) that modify how they respond to signs. The influence calculation incorporates agent-specific parameters β1, β2, β3 that represent different sensitivities to display modes, creating localized quality in the interaction between signs and different agent types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes parameters by introducing agent-specific influence parameters (β1, β2, β3) that modify the base influence values. These parameters vary according to agent attributes such as age, gender, and purpose of visit, allowing the system to dynamically adjust the strength and nature of sign influence based on the specific agent being simulated, thereby improving measurement precision without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If agent-specific attributes are considered in sign influence, then measurement precision of display mode evaluation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precision of display mode evaluationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by tailoring the sign influence calculation to each agent's specific attributes. Different agent types (children, adults, elderly, different genders, different purposes of visit) have customized influence parameters that reflect their unique characteristics. This allows precise evaluation of how different display modes affect different agent groups while maintaining a structured approach that manages complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent manages device complexity by using parameter changes rather than completely different calculation models. The base influence framework remains the same, but agent-specific parameters (β1, β2, β3) are applied as modifiers based on agent attributes. This approach improves measurement precision by capturing individual differences while avoiding the complexity of entirely separate simulation models for each agent type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If detailed agent attributes and display mode attributes are used to determine influence, then reliability of sign system plan evaluation is improved, but calculation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of sign system plan evaluationVSAvoidcalculation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent improves reliability while managing calculation time by using parameter changes with a focus on the most influential factors. The agent attributes (age, gender, purpose of visit) and display mode attributes (display area, information amount, presence of drawings) are converted into weighted parameters that capture the essential variations in influence. This allows detailed and reliable evaluation without requiring computation of every possible attribute interaction, thus balancing reliability with acceptable calculation time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11238191B2Simulation program, simulation method, and simulation apparatus
Publication Date: 2022.02.01 FUJITSU LTD
  • US11238191B2 patent drawing
  • US11238191B2 patent drawing
  • US11238191B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A simulation method is performed by a computer by using an agent disposed in a virtual space. The method includes: controlling the agent so that the agent behaves in the virtual space under influence of each of a plurality of signs disposed in the virtual space; and determining the influence of each of the plurality of signs on the agent in accordance with an attribute relating to a display mode of the sign and an attribute of the agent.