JP2001167307A - Wait time notification system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wait time notification system which gives notice of the wait time for an object such as an attraction of an amusement park by a notification device. SOLUTION: An acquisition device comprising, for example, information input terminal devices 1a and 1b, a host device 4, etc., obtains information regarding how many persons are waiting to use an object by acquiring means of the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b and transmits the obtained information on the number of the persons or the wait time for the object to be use calculated from the information on the number of the persons by radio from base station devices 3a to 3c by a transmitting means of the host device 4. Notification devices 6a to 6d receives the information or wait time sent by radio from the acquisition device by a receiving means and a notifying means notify users of the information or wait time. Here, the notification devices can be so constituted that the user can carry them.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a waiting time notifying system for notifying a waiting time of an object, such as an amusement park attraction, by an alarming device, and to such an alarming device. The present invention relates to a waiting time notification system for calculating and notifying a waiting time from information on the number of people waiting, and a notification device that can be carried by a user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when a customer tries to use an attraction in an amusement park (for example, a ferris wheel or a roller coaster), he or she must wait a long time before the customer can use the attraction. There are many. In addition, there are many attractions that are not limited to attractions in amusement parks and cannot be used without waiting in order. However, it is physically and mentally painful for human beings to wait for a long time without knowing how long to wait for a desired attraction or the like.

[0003] Further, taking the above-mentioned attraction of an amusement park as an example, it is possible to know how much the desired attraction is crowded unless the customer actually goes to the place where the attraction exists. It is not possible at present. Moreover, it is difficult to determine as a specific time how long the customer can actually use the attraction simply by visiting the location where the attraction exists. However, at present, customers look at how crowded people are (for example, the length of a queue of people waiting to use an attraction)
I anticipate how long the wait will be.

[0004] In particular, for example, when an amusement park is large, a large number of attractions are usually scattered in a wide area, so that a customer goes to a place where a desired attraction exists and checks the degree of crowding of the attraction. Attempting to confirm would take a considerable amount of time just to get to each attraction. Moreover, even though the customer moved to the place where the desired attraction was located,
The attraction may not be operating due to some trouble.

[0005]

As shown in the above-mentioned conventional example, for example, in a conventional amusement park, in order for a customer to predict the waiting time of a desired attraction, the customer moves to a place where the attraction exists. Have to do
Moreover, it is difficult to predict the waiting time simply by moving, which is very inconvenient for customers. For example, it may be necessary for a customer to go to a location with many attractions and check the crowded condition before finding an attraction with low waiting time, which is extremely wasteful for the customer. There was a problem such as that.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and is based on information on the number of people who are waiting to use an object, such as the amusement park attraction described above. An object of the present invention is to provide a waiting time notification system that can improve the convenience of a user (for example, an amusement park customer) by calculating and notifying the waiting time. Further, the present invention provides a notification device that can be carried by a user (for example, a customer at an amusement park) and that can further improve the convenience of the user by notifying the waiting time of the use target. Aim.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, in a waiting time notification system according to the present invention, information on the number of people waiting to use an object is obtained by an obtaining device as follows. Then, the notification unit notifies the waiting time of the use target calculated from the number of persons information. That is, in the acquisition device, the acquisition unit acquires information about the number of people waiting to use the target, the transmission unit transmits the acquired number of people information or the waiting time calculated from the number of people information, and the notification unit receives the information. Receives the waiting time information or the waiting time transmitted from the acquisition device, and notifies the user of the waiting time calculated from the waiting time information or the received waiting time.

Therefore, the waiting time is calculated from the information on the number of persons waiting to use the object, and the waiting time is notified and output to the user by the notification device. Even if the user does not go, the user can receive the notification output and know, for example, the waiting time of the object he wants to use, which is very convenient for the user.

Further, the notification device according to the present invention is portable by a user, and the notification device calculates the information from the information on the number of persons waiting to use the object acquired by the acquisition device in the following manner. The waiting time of the used object is notified. That is, the receiving unit receives the number information or the waiting time wirelessly transmitted from the acquisition device, and notifies the user of the waiting time calculated from the received number information or the received waiting time to the user.

[0010] Therefore, for example, the waiting time of the object to be used is notified and output to the user while being carried by the user, so that the user can be at any time and anywhere (more precisely, anywhere in the range where wireless communication is possible). Receiving the notification output, it is possible to know, for example, the waiting time of the object that the user intends to use, thereby further improving the user's convenience compared to the case where, for example, an installation type notification device is used. It is possible to do.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this example, the wait time notification system according to the present invention is applied to a wait time display system that displays wait times of a plurality of attractions in a large-scale amusement park using a display terminal device, and the present invention is applied to the display terminal device. 2 shows a case in which the notification device according to (1) is applied.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a waiting time display system according to the present embodiment. This system includes information (hereinafter, referred to as the number of people waiting to use each of the attractions A and B in an amusement park). A plurality of information input terminal devices 1a and 1b for inputting various information such as number of people information, a slave station device 2 connected to the information input terminal device 1a having no wireless communication function, and the slave station device 2 Input terminal device 1b having a wireless communication function and slave station devices 5a and 5b to be described later.
Terminal devices 6c and 6 having a wireless communication function described later and
d and a plurality of base station devices 3a to 3c that perform wireless communication with
A host device 4 that collects and collectively manages information received by the plurality of base station devices 3a to 3c, and display terminal devices 6a and 6b having no wireless communication function described later.
, And a plurality of display terminal devices 6a to 6d for displaying and outputting information and the like collectively managed by the host device 4.

In this embodiment, the above-mentioned slave station devices 2, 5
a and 5b are mobile terminal units (for example, a mobile telephone terminal device or a PHS terminal device) provided in a wireless data communication system such as a mobile telephone system or a PHS system, and the base station device 3a described above.
3c use base station devices provided in the wireless data communication system.

Each of the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b is provided, for example, for each of the attractions A and B, and an operator (such as operating each of the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b) inputs information such as the number of persons at each of the attractions A and B. Have the function of calculating the waiting time of the attraction A or B from the received number information. Note that in FIG.
The location where one attraction A and B are present is illustrated by a dotted line, and in this example, the attraction A and B will be described as an example. However, the total number of attractions is not particularly limited and may be arbitrary. In this example, the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b are provided at the locations where the attractions A and B are located.
a and 1b may be movable, for example, or may be fixedly installed.

For example, the information input terminal device 1a having no wireless communication function is provided with a slave station device 2 having a wireless communication function.
Is connected, and the information input terminal device 1a has a function of wirelessly communicating information with the base station devices 3a to 3c via the slave station device 2. That is, the slave station device 2
Has a function of communicating information with the information input terminal device 1a and wirelessly communicating the information with the base station devices 3a to 3c. The information input terminal device 1b having a wireless communication function (for example, a device integrated with a slave station device) 1b has a function of wirelessly communicating information with the base station devices 3a to 3c. ing.

The information input terminal devices 1a and 1b of the present embodiment transmit the waiting time calculated from the number of people information and other information to the base station devices 3a to 3c by using the functions described above.
Here, a specific example of the number-of-person information received by the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b provided in each of the attractions A and B and a specific example of a method of calculating the waiting time from the number-of-person information will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, at each of the attractions A and B of the present embodiment, a certain interval is set in an area where a person (in this example, a customer at an amusement park) waits in order to use the attractions A and B. A pole is set up every time. Here, the number of the first pole for waiting for a turn is set to “0”, and the numbers of subsequent poles are set to “1”, “2”,.
.., “N”,..., The waiters start to line up from the top of the pole with the number “0”, and as the number of poles increases, the people gradually line up to the pole with the larger number. In FIG. 2 described above, the head of the pole of the number “n” (ie, the tail of the pole of the number “n−1”)
It shows a state in which people waiting in order are lined up.

For example, the number of people who can line up at the unit distance with the separation distance between adjacent poles (for example, between the pole of number “0” and the pole of number “1”) (the number of people per unit distance) ) Is p1, and currently “n”
Assuming that the people are lined up to the top of the pole, the number of people who can use the attraction at one time (the number of people who can use at one time) is p2, and it is necessary to use the attraction at one time. Time (time required per time)
Let t be the number of people currently waiting in line (the number of people waiting) P is given by equation 1. Also, if the people who are waiting in line next to each other have to wait until they can use the attraction, The time (waiting time) T that must not occur is expressed by Equation 2.

[0019]

(Equation 1)

[0020]

(Equation 2)

The number of persons p1 per unit distance is as follows:
It may be set commonly to each attraction A, B, or may be different for each attraction A, B.
In addition, the number of available persons p2 per time and the required time t per time are usually set according to the contents of each of the attractions A and B.

Since the number of waiting persons P calculated by the above equation 1 and the waiting time T calculated by the above equation 2 are theoretical values, they always exactly match the actual number of waiting persons and the actual waiting time. However, in this example, the calculated number of waiting persons P and the calculated waiting time T may be slightly different from the actual values as long as they are practically effective and close to reality. Therefore, the parameter values p1, p2, t, and n used in the calculation may be slightly different from the actual values.

The information input terminal devices 1a and 1b of this embodiment have a function of receiving the input of the above-mentioned parameter values p1, p2 and t from the operator, for example, and calculating the waiting time T in accordance with the above-mentioned equations (1) and (2). are doing. As the parameter value n, for example, the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b may be configured to accept the value n from the operator. For example, the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b may use the sensor n It can also be configured to automatically detect by using this.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a procedure of a waiting time calculation process performed by the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b of the present embodiment. That is, the information input terminal device 1a,
In 1b, the input of the number of persons p1 per unit distance, the number of available persons p2 per time, and the required time t per time is received from the operator (Step S1, Step S2, Step S1).
3) The number of waiting persons P is calculated from the received number of persons per unit distance p1 and the number “n” of the pole reached by the person waiting in turn (step S4), and the calculated number of waiting persons P
The waiting time T is calculated from the received number of available persons p2 and the required time t per time (step S).
5).

In this embodiment, each information input terminal 1
Although a and 1b are configured to calculate the waiting time from the number of people information received from the operator, for example, the operator predicts the waiting time by looking at the crowdedness of each attraction A, B, etc. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the information is input to the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b. In such a configuration, it is not necessary for the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b and the like to perform the waiting time calculation process.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a procedure of a data transmission process such as a waiting time performed by the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b of the present embodiment. That is, each time the information such as the waiting time is updated for each attraction, the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b store the updated information in, for example, a storage area provided in an internal memory (step S11). . The update timing may be arbitrary, for example, at regular time intervals.

In the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b,
For example, when the above update is performed, a call is made to the host device 4 via the base station devices 3a to 3c accommodating itself (step S12), whereby the line to the host device 4 is normal. Is confirmed (step S13), and if it is confirmed that the connection is normally made, data including additional information such as a waiting time and an attraction code is transmitted to the host device 4 (step S13). Step S14). The attraction code is identification information for identifying each of the attractions A and B.
In this example, information on the operating status, for example, that each of the attractions A and B is out of order, is also input to the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b by the operator and transmitted to the host device 4. In addition, the information input terminal device 1a having no wireless communication function makes the above-mentioned call and the like via the slave station device 2 connected to itself.

When the data transmission is completed, the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b disconnect the line connected to the host device 4 (step S15).
The data transmission process ends. If the line with the host device 4 is not properly connected (step S13), the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b re-call to the host device 4 and transmit the same data as described above. Execute the process.

Each of the base station devices 3a to 3c is in its own communicable area (that is, accommodated by itself), the information input terminal device 1b having a wireless communication function, the wireless communication function. Terminal devices 6c and 6d having
Has the function of wirelessly communicating information with the
It has a function of communicating the information with the host device 4. The base station devices 3a to 3c and the host device 4 are connected using, for example, a LAN, a public line, or a dedicated line.

The base station apparatuses 3a to 3c of the present embodiment wirelessly receive information such as the waiting time transmitted from the information input terminal apparatuses 1a and 1b using the above-described functions, and receive the information such as the received waiting time. The information is transmitted to the host device 4. Further, the base station devices 3a to 3c of the present example also relay information communication performed between the host device 4 and each of the display terminal devices 6a to 6d described later, which will be described later.

The host device 4 includes information input terminal devices 1a,
The function of receiving the information such as the waiting time of each attraction A, B transmitted from 1b via the base station devices 3a to 3c, and collectively managing the information such as the received waiting time of each attraction A, B. Function and each attraction A, B
By wirelessly transmitting information such as the waiting time of each of the display terminal devices 6a to 3c via the base station devices 3a to 3c.
6d. As will be described later, the wireless communication performed between the display terminal devices 6a and 6b having no wireless communication function and the base station devices 3a to 3c is performed by the slave station devices connected to the display terminal devices 6a and 6b. 5a,
5b.

Here, FIG. 5 shows an example of a procedure of a data updating process and a data distribution process performed by the host device 4 of the present embodiment. Note that, in the host device 4 of this example,
When information such as the waiting time of each of the attractions A and B transmitted from each of the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b is received, the information is always firstly stored in the temporary data storage area. In addition, information such as the waiting time of all attractions in the amusement park is stored in the distribution data storage area and managed collectively. here,
The temporary data storage area and the distribution data storage area are provided, for example, in a memory provided inside the host device 4.

That is, in the host device 4 of the present embodiment, for example, a certain time is repeatedly measured by a timer started inside the device, and every time the timer expires (ie, the certain time elapses). (Step S2
1) It is confirmed whether or not the information (reception data) such as the waiting time received from the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b is stored in the temporary data storage area (step S22).
As a result, when it is confirmed that the received data is stored in the temporary data storage area, the host device 4
By copying the contents of the received data into the distribution data storage area by overwriting, the information such as the waiting time of each of the attractions A and B stored in the distribution data storage area is updated with the received data (step S2).
3).

Then, after performing the above update,
The host device 4 connects a line to each of the display terminal devices 6a to 6d, and transmits information stored in the distribution data storage area, such as waiting time for all attractions, to the base station devices 3a to 3c. Through each display terminal device 6a-
6d, the information is transmitted to each display terminal device 6.
The content is distributed to a to 6d (step S24). Here, with respect to the display terminal devices 6a and 6b having no wireless communication function, the host device 4 connects the lines with the slave station devices 5a and 5b connected to the display terminal devices 6a and 6b. A line is connected to the display terminal devices 6a and 6b via the slave station devices 5a and 5b.

If the timer has not expired (step S21), or if the reception data has not been stored in the temporary data storage area when the timer has expired (step S22), the host device 4 Then, the execution of these processes is waited until the timer times out and the received data is stored in the temporary data storage area without performing the data updating process or the data distribution process as described above.

Each of the display terminal devices 6a and 6b has, for example, a display screen, and is transmitted from the host device 4 to the base station devices 3a to 3b.
It has a function of receiving information such as the waiting time of each attraction A, B transmitted via the 3c, and displaying and outputting the latest received information of the waiting time of each attraction A, B on a display screen. .

Here, for example, slave station devices 5a and 5b having a wireless communication function are connected to the respective display terminal devices 6a and 6b having no wireless communication function, and the respective display terminal devices 6a and 6b are connected to the respective display terminal devices 6a and 6b. It has a function of wirelessly communicating information with the base station devices 3a to 3c via the slave station devices 5a and 5b. That is, each of the slave station devices 5a and 5b has a function of communicating information with each of the display terminal devices 6a and 6b and a function of wirelessly communicating the information with the base station devices 3a to 3c.

Also, for example, a display terminal device having a wireless communication function (for example, a device integrated with a slave station device) 6c, 6d
Has a function of wirelessly communicating information with the base station devices 3a to 3c by itself. Display terminal device 6 of this example
a to 6d use the functions as described above,
Receives information such as the waiting time of each attraction A and B transmitted via the base station devices 3a to 3c from the base station device 3a to 3c, and outputs the received latest information on a display screen.

Further, the display terminal devices 6a to 6d may be configured so as to be installed, for example, to display and output information such as the waiting time to a large number of people (in this example, customers in an amusement park).
Further, for example, a configuration may be adopted in which information such as waiting time is displayed and output while being carried by each customer and being carried by the customer. In addition, as a place where the installation type display terminal device is installed, any location may be used.
It is convenient for the customer to install it inside or outside a restaurant in the park, near a resting place in the park, or in a passage on the way without any attractions (for example, between attractions).

Here, FIG. 6 shows the display terminal devices 6a-6
An example of a screen display when information such as the waiting time of each of the attractions A and B is displayed and output on the display screen d is shown. The screen display shown in FIG. 3 is realized by, for example, unilaterally transmitting information such as a waiting time from the host device 4 to the display terminal devices 6a to 6d. Attractions A, B, ...
Information is displayed while automatically switching display contents (here, attractions to be displayed) on the screen at regular time intervals, for example.

In the example of the screen display shown in the figure, the waiting time of the attraction A is 15 minutes, the waiting time of the attraction B is 0 minutes, the waiting time of the attraction C is 60 minutes, and the attraction of the attraction C is 60 minutes. D indicates a failure, and information on other attractions is displayed by switching the display content of the screen.
Also, in the screen display of this example, the waiting time for each attraction is displayed as a numerical value, and for example, the waiting time for each level is displayed using different colors by dividing each waiting time by the value. (Note that the color is omitted in the figure). The use of such color-coded display is preferable because the waiting time (the degree of congestion) for each attraction can be easily visually recognized by the customer.

Also, for example, the display terminal devices 6a to 6d
It is also possible to have a function of receiving input of instruction information from a customer or the like and switching the contents of the screen display according to the instruction information. In addition, such switching of the screen display content,
For example, it is possible to realize only by the internal processing of the display terminal devices 6a to 6d. Further, for example, the instruction information received by the display terminal devices 6a to 6d is transmitted to the host device 4, and the host device 4 responds according to the instruction information. Information to be displayed may be transmitted to the display terminal devices 6a to 6d, and the display terminal devices 6a to 6d may display and output the information received from the host device 4 to the customer. is there.

Here, for example, FIG.
An example of a screen display when menu information is displayed and output on the display terminal devices 6a to 6d when a to 6d are configured to be able to accept the instruction information as described above is shown. In the screen display shown in the figure, for example, “attraction congestion status”, “area MAP”, “HEL
Items such as "P" are displayed, and when a customer or an operator (a person who operates each of the display terminal devices 6a to 6d) selects a desired item, the display content on the screen is switched to information on the selected item. There is no particular limitation on the manner in which the customer or the like selects an item, and for example, the customer or the like may select an item by pressing a key on a keyboard or clicking a mouse button. For example, the display screen may be configured by a touch panel, and may be selected by a customer or the like touching the display screen with a finger, or may be selected by a method using a pen touch, for example.

With the above configuration and operation, in the waiting time display system of this example, each of the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b obtains information on the number of people waiting to use each of the attractions A and B, and obtains the information. The information such as the waiting time of each of the attractions A and B calculated from the number of people information is transmitted to the host device 4, and each of the display terminal devices 6a to 6d is
And information such as the waiting time transmitted from the server is received and displayed and output to the customer.

Therefore, in the waiting time display system of the present embodiment, for example, a visitor of an amusement park goes to a place where the attractions A and B that he / she intends to use are present, and the waiting time is determined based on how crowded the attractions A and B are. Even if the customer does not anticipate, the customer can know the information such as the waiting time and the operation status of the desired attractions A and B by looking at the contents of the screen display of the display terminal devices 6a to 6d. It is convenient. Further, in this example, information such as the waiting time of all attractions is stored in the host device 4.
The information is easily managed because the information is collectively managed by the user. Further, since the information such as the waiting time of the plurality of attractions is collectively displayed and output by each of the display terminal devices 6a to 6d, the information is not displayed to the customer. Easy to use and preferred.

In the present embodiment, the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b, the host device 4, and the display terminal device 6 are connected by wireless communication.
a to 6d are configured to communicate information. As a preferred embodiment, if the display terminal devices 6a to 6d are configured to be small and light, for example, and can be carried by a customer, the customer can be located anytime and anywhere ( To be precise, while walking (anywhere in a range where wireless communication with the base station devices 3a to 3c is possible), while watching the contents of the screen display of the display terminal devices 6a to 6d, waiting for desired attractions A and B Time can be known.

As described above, if the display terminal devices 6a to 6d are configured to be portable by customers, for example,
It is possible to further improve customer convenience as compared with the case where a to 6d are of a stationary type configuration. Note that, specifically, each of the portable display terminals 6a to 6d (for example, having a configuration such as a mobile phone terminal, a PHS terminal, or a pager) that the amusement park visits to the amusement park. It is also possible to lend it to a customer, for example, by wirelessly transmitting information such as waiting time from the base station devices 3a to 3c to a mobile phone terminal device or the like owned by each customer personally. The information can also be displayed on a display screen of a device or the like (that is, a display terminal device in this case).

Here, in this example, the information input terminal 1
a, 1b, the slave station device 2 connected to the information input terminal device 1a having no wireless communication function, and the base station devices 3a to 3c.
In addition, an acquisition device according to the present invention is constituted by the host device 4. In this example, the information input terminal devices 1a, 1b
Is transmitted to the notification device (in this example, the display terminal devices 6a to 6d) via the host device 4. For example, when the acquisition device is a single device, the device directly transmits information such as the waiting time. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the information is transmitted to the notification device. In this example, the display terminal device 6a
To 6d and the display terminal device 6a to which the wireless communication function is not provided.
The notification device according to the present invention includes the slave station devices 5a and 5b connected to 6d.

In this example, each of the attractions A and B in the amusement park corresponds to the object of use according to the present invention. As described above, the number of objects to be used is not particularly limited, and may be various numbers. Further, as the use target, various objects may be used as long as a user (a person who intends to use the target) stands by to use the target. Further, in this example, the information input terminal devices 1a and 1b obtain information (number information) on the number of people waiting to use the target according to the present invention by the function of obtaining the parameter value n and the like. Acquisition means is configured.

The number-of-people information may be, for example, the number of waiting people themselves, or may be, for example, the length of a queue of waiting people. Any information can be used as long as the information can be used for the execution. Further, as described above, the acquisition of the number of people information may be realized by, for example, receiving an input from the operator, or may be realized by using, for example, detection by a sensor or the like. May be realized in combination.

Further, as described above, the number of people information and the waiting time calculated from the number of people information do not necessarily have to exactly match the actual value. In short, the user (for example, a customer at an amusement park) It is sufficient if the user can be notified of the waiting time of a value close to the actuality (of course, a value that matches the actuality) to the extent that is useful.

In this example, the information input terminal device 1a,
The host device 4 determines the waiting time of the attractions A and B calculated from the number of people information acquired in 1b by the base station devices 3a to 3b.
The transmission means for transmitting the waiting time calculated from the (acquired) number of people information referred to in the present invention is configured by the function of wirelessly transmitting via 3c. Here, in this example, wireless transmission is used as a preferable mode, but wired transmission may be used according to, for example, the configuration of the acquisition device or the notification device.

In this example, the information input terminal device 1a,
1b calculates the waiting time from the number of people information.
In the case where the acquisition device is composed of a plurality of devices as in this example, the calculation may be performed by any device that configures the acquisition device. Specifically, for example, the calculation is performed by the host device. 4 may be performed, or the calculation may be performed by two or more devices. Further, in this example, the configuration is such that the acquisition device calculates the waiting time of the use target from the number of people information, but, for example, the transmission device of the acquisition device transmits the number of people acquired, and the notification device receives the waiting time from the number of people information received. It is also possible to adopt a configuration for calculating time.

In this example, the display terminal devices 6a to 6d
The function of receiving the waiting time transmitted from the host device 4 constitutes a receiving means for receiving the waiting time (transmitted from the acquisition device (wirelessly)) according to the present invention. Further, in the present embodiment, the waiting time received by the display terminal devices 6a to 6d is displayed and output to the user (for example, an amusement park customer), so that the received waiting time according to the present invention is reported to the user. Notification means for performing the notification.

Here, the user is, for example, a person who intends to use the object of use. Specifically, in the case of this example, as described above, a user who intends to use the attractions of the amusement park is referred to as a user. That is. In this example,
Although the information such as the waiting time is displayed and output, the information is notified, but it is also possible to perform the notification by voice, for example.

In this embodiment, the acquisition device calculates the waiting time of the object to be used from the number of people information. For example, as described above, the acquisition device transmits the number of people acquired by the acquisition device. Means from acquisition device (wireless)
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the transmitted number information is received, and the waiting time calculated from the received number information by the notification means of the notification device is output to the user.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment, the waiting time notification system according to the present invention is provided to a waiting time display system for displaying the waiting time of a plurality of attractions in a large-scale amusement park by a display terminal device. A case is shown in which the system is applied and the notification device according to the present invention is applied to the display terminal device.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the waiting time display system according to the present embodiment.
, A plurality of maintenance terminal devices 11a and 11b having the same function as the information input terminal device 1b, and a plurality of base station devices 12a to 12c having the same function as the base station devices 3a to 3c shown in FIG. 12c, a host device 13 having the same function as the host device 4 shown in FIG. 5, a slave station device 14 having the same function as the slave station devices 5a and 5b shown in FIG. A display terminal device 15a having the same functions as the display terminal devices 6a and 6b shown in FIG.
A plurality of display terminal devices 15 having the same functions as those of c and 6d
b to 15d. In FIG. 8, the flow of data to be communicated is indicated by arrows, so that the flow can be easily understood.

As described above, the maintenance terminal devices 11a and 11b referred to in this example are devices corresponding to the information input terminal device shown in the first embodiment, and each of the maintenance terminal devices 11a and 11b
11b is provided for each of the attractions A and B, for example. Also, in FIG. 8, as in FIG. 1, the location where the two attractions A and B exist is illustrated by a dotted line, and in this example, the attraction A and B will be described as an example. As in the case of the first embodiment, the maintenance terminal device and the display terminal device may be configured separately from, for example, a slave station device having a wireless communication function. May be configured as a portable terminal device (for example, a device integrated with a slave station device).

Here, the configuration and operation of the waiting time display system of the present example are, for example, how the host device 13 acquires information such as the waiting time of each of the attractions A and B, and how the host device 13 updates the waiting time. The first embodiment is different from the first embodiment except that the method of transmitting the information (update information) to the display terminal devices 15a to 15d and the manner in which the display terminal devices 15a to 15d display and output information such as the waiting time are different. It is the same as that shown by. Therefore, only the different points will be described below.

First, the manner in which the host device 13 of this embodiment acquires information such as the waiting time of each of the attractions A and B will be described with reference to FIG. That is, the host device 1 of the present embodiment
3, for example, periodically transmits information request data to each base station device 12;
a to 12c (step S31), and each of the base station devices 12a to 12c wirelessly transmits the information request data to, for example, the maintenance terminal devices 11a and 11b whose current location is registered (step S32).

On the other hand, each of the maintenance terminal devices 11a and 11b
When receiving the information request data wirelessly transmitted from the base station apparatuses 12a to 12c accommodating the information processing apparatus, it waits for each of the attractions A and B currently held for the base station apparatuses 12a to 12c that transmitted the information request data. Information such as time is wirelessly transmitted (step S33), and each base station device 12a
12c transmits the information such as the waiting time received from the maintenance terminal devices 11a and 11b to the host device 13 (step S34). Then, the host device 13 communicates with each base station device 1
The information such as the waiting time transmitted from 2a to 12c is received, and the information such as the waiting time of each of the attractions A and B managed by itself is updated with the acquired information (received data) (step S35).

Next, with reference to FIG. 10, a method of transmitting information (update information) such as the waiting time of each attraction A, B updated by the host device 13 of this embodiment to the display terminal devices 15a to 15d will be described. I do. That is, the host device 1 of the present embodiment
For example, when the information is updated as described above, each of the base station devices 12a to 12
c (step S41), and each of the base station apparatuses 12a to 12c receiving the data update request returns an ACK to the host apparatus 13 when data communication is possible.

Next, the host device 13 sends the ACK
Are received from the base station apparatuses 12a to 12c,
The base station apparatus 12a to 12c transmits the update data (updated information such as the waiting time of each of the attractions A and B) to the base station apparatuses 12a to 12c that transmitted K (step S42). For example, the update data is wirelessly transmitted to the display terminal devices 15a to 15d for which the current position is registered (step S43). Each of the display terminal devices 15a to 15d transmits information such as the waiting time of each of the attractions A and B held by itself to the base station device 12a.
The update is performed using the update data received from 〜12c, and information such as the waiting time after the update is displayed and output on the display screen (step S44).

Next, the display terminal devices 15a to 15d of this embodiment
Will display and output information such as the waiting time of each of the attractions A and B. FIG. 11 shows the display terminal device 15.
An example of a screen display when information such as the waiting time of each attraction A and B is displayed and output on the display screens a to 15d is shown. In the screen display shown in the figure, for example, the name of each attraction (“AAAAAAAAA” or the like), the waiting time (“30” (minutes) or the like), the operation status (for example, “operation” or “pause”) are displayed. Are displayed in association with each other.

The contents of the above-mentioned screen display are updated each time information such as the waiting time of each of the attractions A and B is updated at regular time intervals. Also, for example, when the number of attractions is large and the waiting time of all attractions cannot be displayed on one screen, for example, the screen is automatically switched to the next screen every predetermined time, and the waiting time of all the attractions is changed. Time is announced to amusement park customers.

As described in the first embodiment, for example, the display terminal devices 15a to 15d may be configured to receive input of instruction information from a customer or the like using a mouse or a touch panel. FIG. 12 shows an example of a screen display for receiving such instruction information. Specifically, FIG. 12A shows an area where the customer desires to obtain information among all areas of the amusement park. An example of a screen display that can be selected is shown, and FIG. 2B shows information of a customer among a plurality of attractions existing in a selected area (in the example of FIG. 2B, area 1). An example of a screen display on which an attraction desired to be acquired can be selected is shown. FIG. 3C shows a plurality of pieces of information on a selected attraction (in the example of FIG. 3C, attraction A). Shows an example of a screen display on which a customer can select information desired to be acquired.

As in the case of the first embodiment, the information is not limited to the waiting time of each attraction A, B, but may be, for example, information on the operating status of each attraction A, B, information on restaurants, and information on the current location. By displaying and outputting information and information useful for customers in the amusement park, such as information on the start time of the show, by the display terminal devices 15a to 15d, the convenience of the customers can be further improved.

In the waiting time display system of the present embodiment described above, similarly to the system shown in the first embodiment, for example, the places where the attractions A and B which the customers of the amusement park intend to use are located. Without going to
It is very convenient for the customer because the customer can know the desired waiting time of the attractions A and B from the contents of the screen display of the display terminal devices 15a to 15d. Further, similarly to the case of the first embodiment, for example, the display terminal device can be configured to be carried by each customer, so that the convenience of the customer can be further improved.

Here, the configuration of the waiting time notification system according to the present invention and the configuration of the notification device according to the present invention are not necessarily limited to the configurations shown in the first and second embodiments, but may be various. Configurations may be used. As an example,
In the present invention, the various processes performed by the acquisition device constituting the waiting time notification system and the various processes performed by the notification device include, for example, a processor stored in a ROM in a hardware resource including a processor and a memory. The configuration may be controlled by executing a control program, or each functional unit for executing the processing may be configured as an independent hardware circuit. Further, the present invention can be understood as a computer-readable recording medium such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM storing the above-described control program, and the control program is input from the recording medium to the computer and executed by the processor. By doing
The processing according to the present invention can be performed.

[0071]

As described above, according to the waiting time notification system according to the present invention, the acquisition device acquires information on the number of people waiting to use the target, and acquires the acquired number of people information or the number of people. The wait time of the use target calculated from the information is transmitted, and the notification device receives the wait time of the use target or the wait time of the use target transmitted from the acquisition device. Because the waiting time of the use target is notified to the user, for example, even if the user does not bother to go to the place where the target exists, the user receives the notification output and, for example, sets the waiting time of the target that the user intends to use. It is very convenient for the user.

Further, according to the notifying device according to the present invention, it is possible to carry the number of persons or the waiting time of the object of use, which is portable by the user and wirelessly transmitted from the acquisition device, and calculates the number of use of the object of use calculated from the received number of people. Because the waiting time or the waiting time of the received use target is output to the user, for example, the user receives the notification output while carrying the notification device, and sets the waiting time of the target that he or she intends to use. It is possible to know and it is possible to further improve the convenience of the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a waiting time display system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of calculation of the number of waiting persons.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a procedure of a waiting time calculation process performed by the information input terminal device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a procedure of a data transmission process performed by the information input terminal device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a procedure of a data update process and a data distribution process by the host device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of the display terminal device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen display of the display terminal device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a waiting time display system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure when a host device acquires data.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure when a host device transmits update data.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of the display terminal device.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of an input to a display terminal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a, 1b ... information input terminal device, 2, 5a, 5b,
14 slave station devices, 3a to 3c, 12a to 12c base station devices, 4, 13 host devices, 6a to 6d, 1
5a to 15d display terminal device, 11a, 11b maintenance terminal device,

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 2F081 AA00 CC00 GG01 GG02 3E038 AA01 BA01 BA11 CA02 CA03 CA06 CA07 CB02 CB04 DA02 DB06 EA04 GA02 HA06 JA10 JB10 5C083 AA03 BB10 CC30 DD20 EE04 EE05 EE10 H18 GG17 EG17

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A waiting time notification system for obtaining information on the number of people waiting to use an object by an acquisition device, and notifying the waiting time of the use target calculated from the number of people information by a notification device, The acquisition device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires information about the number of people waiting to use the target; and a transmission unit that transmits the acquired number of people information or a waiting time calculated from the number of people information. Receiving means for receiving the number information or the waiting time transmitted from the acquisition device, and notifying means for notifying and outputting to the user the waiting time or the received waiting time calculated from the received number information. Characteristic wait time notification system. 2. A notifying device for notifying a waiting time of a use target calculated from information on the number of people waiting to use the target obtained by the obtaining device, the notification device being portable by a user, and Receiving means for receiving the number information or waiting time transmitted wirelessly, and notifying means for notifying and outputting to the user the waiting time or the received waiting time calculated from the received number information. Notification device.