Waiting Person Detection Using Spatial Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies fail to accurately measure the number of users waiting for taxis or buses, as they count all persons, including passersby, leading to inaccurate data.
Innovation Solution
A waiting situation managing device and system that acquires position information from communication terminals within a monitored area and specifies waiting persons by judging individuals who stay in a designated waiting area and its vicinity, using detection devices and a communication network to differentiate between waiting persons and pedestrians.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If all persons near the stand are counted to estimate waiting demand, then the measurement coverage is comprehensive, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to inclusion of passersby
Solution Approach 1:
The monitored area is segmented into multiple zones: a first area (waiting area) where waiting persons are located, and a second area (passerby area) where passersby are located. By spatial segmentation, the system can distinguish and count only persons in the waiting area, improving measurement precision without requiring complex classification of all persons in the monitored area.
2Measurement precision
If camera-based image analysis is used to count persons, then the measurement coverage includes all visible persons, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to distinguish waiting persons from passersby
Solution Approach 1:
The camera's field of view is segmented into a first area and a second area. The system counts persons detected in the first area (waiting area) while excluding persons in the second area (passerby area). This spatial segmentation approach enables automatic distinction between waiting persons and passersby using standard image analysis, improving measurement precision without increasing detection difficulty.
3Measurement precision
If position information from communication terminals is used, then the measurement precision improves for identifying waiting persons, but the device complexity increases due to need for detection devices and communication networks
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses communication terminals (smartphones) as intermediaries to obtain position information. These terminals already possess GPS or other positioning capabilities, so the system leverages this existing functionality rather than deploying specialized detection devices. The terminal acts as a mediator between the user and the waiting situation management system, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A waiting situation of users is more accurately known. A waiting situation managing device 10 according to the present disclosure includes: a position information acquiring unit 11 configured to acquire position information about a person within a monitored area; and a waiting person specifying unit 12 configured to judge a person who stays in a waiting area within the monitored area, as a waiting person, and to further judge a person who stays in a predetermined range from the person judged as the waiting person, as a waiting person. The waiting person specifying unit 12 repeatedly performs the judgement of the waiting person until the person who stays in the predetermined range from the person judged as the waiting person is not found.