JP2007265290A - Queue information notification system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a queue information notification system enabling a user to determine time and a place to receive service without registering personal information and notifying the user of the queue situation in a form of protecting privacy of the user who lines up a queue. <P>SOLUTION: The queue information notification system comprising a notification part for notifying the user of the queue situation in order that the user may avoid a queue and enjoy service, includes a photographing device for photographing the queue situation; a number-of-queuers extraction part for extracting the number of queuers which shows the number of queuing users from an image photographed by the photographing device; a substitute image preparing part for preparing a substitute image which expresses substituting for the extracted number of queuers; and a distribution part for distributing the prepared substitute image to the notification part. The notification part comprises a display means for displaying the substitute image upon acquiring the substitute image from the distribution part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a queue information notification system that notifies a user of a queue status so that a user can enjoy a service while avoiding the queue.

  Conventionally, when the institutions such as financial institutions, hospitals, retail stores, and theme parks are congested, users have created long queues to enjoy services and spend valuable time waiting. Therefore, each institution has introduced a system that allows the user to enjoy the service while avoiding the queue, and in some institution, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is accepted by the user. A numbered ticket printed with a number and a waiting time is distributed, and a service is provided in which the number of the terminal in charge of the reception number is displayed on a monitor or the like provided in the store of the institution.

As another example of the above system, when another user registers personal information in a reception server in a store and can enjoy the service of the user, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, for example, Provides a service to notify the user's mobile phone.
JP 2000-11074 A JP 2003-259007 A

  However, in the above system, the service providing time and the terminal (location) are determined by the engine side and cannot be determined by the user himself, so it is difficult to use the time effectively. And in the said system which concerns on patent document 2, since a user needs to register personal information in a reception server, there was a concern about the information leakage which may occur by disclosing personal information easily.

  As a solution to these problems, images obtained by queuing the queue are displayed on a monitor in real time, or the user holds the images based on a request from the user without registering personal information. A method of delivering to a mobile terminal capable of communication is conceivable. However, the above method has a problem in that the user's privacy is not protected because the images of the users in the queue are used as they are.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention relates to a queue information notification system that notifies a user of the status of a queue so that the user can avoid the queue and enjoy the service. It is possible to decide the time and place to receive, and to notify the user of the queue status in a form that protects the privacy of the queued user without registering personal information. A queue information notification system.

The present invention adopts the following configuration in order to solve the above points.
<Configuration 1>
The queue information notification system of the present invention includes a notifying unit for notifying the user of the queue status so that the user can enjoy the service while avoiding the queue, and an imaging device for shooting the queue status; Created a queue number extraction unit that extracts the number of people in the queue indicating the number of users in the queue from the image taken by the imaging device, a substitute image creation unit that creates a substitute image that represents the extracted number of queues A distribution unit that distributes the substitute image to the notification unit, and the notification unit includes a display unit that displays the substitute image when the substitute image is acquired from the distribution unit.

  In the above configuration, the display means provided in the notification unit is a terminal having a screen such as a monitor.

  The distribution unit includes an input unit that receives a distribution switching instruction from an administrator, and distributes the photographed image to the notification unit based on the input instruction.

  The display means provided in the notification unit is a user terminal having a screen held by the user.

  The user terminal is a communication terminal such as a mobile phone having a display or a PHS (Personal Handyphone System).

  When the number of people in a matrix is extracted by the number of people in the matrix, a matrix number storage unit that stores the number of people in the matrix is provided.

  When the matrix number of people is extracted by the matrix number of people extraction unit, a prediction information creating unit for calculating a prediction matrix number of people based on past data stored in the matrix number of people storage unit is provided.

  When the prediction information creation unit calculates the number of prediction matrices, the distribution unit creates terminal distribution image information based on the calculated predicted number of people and the substitute image, and distributes the created terminal distribution image information to the user terminal. It is characterized by that.

<Configuration 2>
The queue information notification system of the present invention includes a distribution server that acquires position information of a user terminal upon receiving a queue status inquiry from the user terminal, and a plurality of queue detection devices provided in each store. Each queue detection device extracts a queue that captures the queue status, and the number of queues indicating the number of users queued from the image captured by the shooting unit, and the extracted queue number is used as store identification information. A queue number information creation unit for outputting the associated queue number information for each store, and further, a queue number information storage unit for each store for storing the number of queue information for each store output from a plurality of queue detection devices; , A near-store store queue number search unit that searches the store-by-store queue number information storage unit for store-by-store queue number information of at least one store at a short distance from the location information acquired by the distribution server, and for each searched store A substitute image creating unit that creates a substitute image that expresses the number of people in the row represented by the row number information and outputs the substitute image to the delivery server, and the delivery server uses the created substitute image together with information indicating the store position to the user terminal It is characterized by transmitting to.

  In the above configuration, the user terminal is a mobile phone with a GPS (Global Positioning System) function.

  According to the present invention, since an alternative image such as an animation based on an image obtained by photographing the queue status is notified to the user as queue information, it is possible to protect the privacy of the users who are queued and The user can enjoy the service while avoiding the queue at a time and place convenient for the user.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Configuration of Example 1>
As shown in FIG. 1, the queue information notification system according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a photographing apparatus 1, an image acquisition unit 10, an image analysis unit 20, a queue number extraction unit 30, and a substitute image creation unit 40. A content storage unit 50, a distribution unit 60, and an image display unit 70. Here, the above system is installed in, for example, a retail store, and is used for notifying a user at a distant location from a clearing cash register shopping in the store about the status of the clearing cash register queue.

  The imaging device 1 is an optical device such as a CCD camera, for example, and is installed near a counter and captures a queue status of a user who is waiting for service at the counter. Then, the imaging device 1 captures the queue status and generates a captured image.

  When the photographing apparatus 1 generates a photographed image, the image acquisition unit 10 obtains the photographed image at a certain period and photographing time preset by a memory control program (not shown). Here, an image acquired by the image acquisition unit 10 is a queue real image. FIG. 4 shows an example of a queue real image.

  The image analysis unit 20 is a unit that analyzes the queue real image, and detects a time-series change region from the queue real image using a background difference method. Here, the background subtraction method is one of methods for detecting a moving object from a moving image, and a moving image without a moving object that has been captured in advance by an imaging device is stored in a storage unit as a background image from the imaging device. If a moving image in which a moving object to be transmitted is present is analyzed based on the background image, a moving object showing a difference between the two images can be detected.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image analysis unit 20 includes a current image storage unit 21, a background image storage unit 22, a background image update unit 23, and a difference image extraction unit 24.

  When the image acquisition unit 10 acquires the queue real image, the image analysis unit 20 stores the queue real image in the current image storage unit 21.

  The background image storage unit 22 is a unit that stores, as a background image, an image near a counter that has been previously captured by the photographing apparatus 1 and does not have a user. Here, the background image is photographed by the photographing device 1 according to the setting of a memory control program (not shown) when the queue information notification system is activated, and stored in the background image storage unit 22. FIG. 3 shows an example of the background image.

  When the current image storage unit 21 stores the actual queue image, the background image update unit 23 compares the actual queue image with the background image held in the background image storage unit 22 and starts shooting the background image. The background image is updated based on a change in the pixel due to an environmental change, such as a change in illumination near the counter and a change in the arrangement of the installation, in the actual queue image.

  That is, the background image update unit 23 compares the queue actual image and the background image in units of pixels at the same coordinate position, and if the pixel difference value is larger than a value set in advance in a memory (not shown), The background image is updated by replacing the pixel value of the background image with the pixel value of the queue real image. Thereby, the background image update part 23 can construct | assemble the background image which followed the queue real image, even when environmental conditions, such as illumination, change gradually.

  When the background image update unit 23 updates the background image, the difference image extraction unit 24 analyzes the actual queue image held in the current image storage unit 21 based on the background image, and creates a queue that is the difference between the two images. A person area (difference image) indicating the users in line is extracted. FIG. 5 shows an example of a person area (difference image).

  The matrix number extracting unit 30 is a unit that extracts the number of users indicating the number of users lined up in the matrix from the person area, and parameters (pixel area, barycentric position, pixel) set in advance for calculating the number of users in the matrix. A storage area for storing the aspect ratio of the block).

  The queue number extracting unit 30 includes a storage area for storing the coordinate position of the detection area corresponding to the queue in advance, such as the detection area 41 shown in FIG. I do. Thereby, the queue number extraction unit 30 does not calculate the number of queued persons and users who are not in the queue. Here, when there are a plurality of the detection areas, the queue number extraction unit 30 extracts the number of queues for each detection area.

  In addition, when the number of people in the matrix extraction unit 30 extracts a pixel block larger than the preset aspect ratio of the pixel block from the detection area, the matrix number extraction unit 30 determines that a plurality of users have detected overlapping pixel blocks, and The number of users in the pixel block is extracted from the size of the aspect ratio.

  When the difference image extraction unit 24 extracts the person region (difference image), the matrix number of people extraction unit 30 extracts the number of people in the matrix based on the parameters from the detection region.

  The substitute image creating unit 40 creates a substitute image based on the person area (difference image) in order to notify the user of the status of the queue in a form that protects the privacy of the users in the queue. It is.

  The content storage unit 50 stores, for example, icons representing users in a queue and a reference image corresponding to a background portion, which are used by the substitute image creation unit 40 to create a substitute image.

  Then, when the queue number extraction unit 30 extracts the number of queues, the substitute image creation unit 40 acquires a reference image and icons for the number of queues from the content storage unit 50, and creates a substitute image based on the number of queues To do. FIG. 6 shows an example of a substitute image. The substitute image in FIG. 6 represents the number of people in each counter using a circular icon 42. Here, it is assumed that the counter represented by the square in FIG. 6 is included in the reference image.

  The image display unit 70 is a unit that displays the substitute image to notify the user of the queue status, and includes a monitor 71. By the way, for simple explanation, FIG. 1 shows a single monitor 71, but the image display unit 70 is provided with a number of terminals having the same functions as the monitor 71. And

  When the substitute image creation unit 40 creates a substitute image, the distribution unit 60 delivers the substitute image to the monitor 71 provided in the image display unit 70.

  When the monitor 71 acquires the substitute image from the distribution unit 60, the monitor 71 displays the substitute image on the screen on the monitor.

<Operation of Example 1>
Next, the operation of the queue information notification system of the present invention will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Here, the description will be made on the premise that the system is a queue information notification system for notifying a user far away from a clearing register shopping in the store about the status of the clearing register queue in the retail store.

  When the opening time of the retail store is, for example, 10 minutes before, the administrator of the queue information notification system turns on a system activation switch (not shown) of the system. When the administrator turns on the switch, power is supplied to a power supply unit (not shown) of the queue information notification system, and the system is activated.

  When the queue information notification system is activated, the photographing device 1 installed near the clearing register in the retail store captures an image of the clearing register that has not yet been used by the user by setting a memory control program (not shown). A background image as shown in FIG. 3 is generated (step S101). Here, it is assumed that the photographing time by the photographing apparatus 1 is, for example, two minutes depending on the setting of a memory control program (not shown).

  When the imaging device 1 generates the background image, the background image is stored in the background image storage unit 22 of the image analysis unit 20 according to the setting of a control program in a memory (not shown).

  When the retail store opening time is reached, the photographing apparatus 1 starts photographing the status of the clearing cashier queue and generates a photographed image (step S102) by setting a memory control program (not shown).

  When the imaging device 1 generates a captured image, the image acquisition unit 10 acquires the captured image for 2 minutes, for example, every 5 minutes set in advance by a memory control program (not shown). Here, the image acquired by the image acquisition unit 10 is set as a queue real image (step S103).

  When the image acquisition unit 10 acquires a queue real image as shown in FIG. 4, for example, the image analysis unit 20 stores the queue real image in the current image storage unit 21.

  When the current image storage unit 21 stores the queue actual image, the background image update unit 23 compares the queue actual image with the background image held in the background image storage unit 22 in units of pixels at the same coordinate position. If the difference value of the pixel is larger than a value set in advance in a memory (not shown), the background image is updated by replacing the pixel value of the background image with the pixel value of the queue real image (step S104).

  When the background image update unit 23 updates the background image, the difference image extraction unit 24 analyzes the actual queue image held in the current image storage unit 21 based on the background image, and creates a queue that is the difference between the two images. A person region (difference image) indicating the lined users is extracted (step S105).

  When the difference image extraction unit 24 extracts the person area (difference image) as shown in FIG. 5, the matrix number extraction unit 30 is a detection position preset in a memory (not shown), for example, from the detection area 41 in FIG. 5. The number of queues for counter A is extracted as 5, the number of queues for counter B is 2, and the number of queues for counter C is 3 (step S106).

  When the queue number extraction unit 30 extracts the number of queues for each counter, the substitute image creation unit 40 calls the reference image and the circular icon for the total number of queues from the content storage unit 50, and sets the number of queues for each counter. Based on the above, a substitute image as shown in FIG. 6 is created (step S107).

  When the substitute image creation unit 40 creates the substitute image, the delivery unit 60 delivers the substitute image to the monitor 71 installed at a recognized place in the retail store provided in the image display unit 70 (step S108).

  When the monitor 71 acquires the substitute image from the distribution unit 60, the monitor 71 displays the substitute image as shown in FIG. 6 on the screen on the monitor (step S109).

  A user shopping in a retail store confirms the queue status from the substitute image displayed on the monitor 71, judges the timing and counter with few queues, avoids the queue and pays at the clearing register. Do.

  And if the imaging device 1 produces | generates a picked-up image, the image acquisition part 10 will acquire a queue real image again. Each time a new substitute image is generated and the substitute image is distributed from the distribution unit 60, the monitor 71 provided in the image display unit updates the substitute image displayed on the screen.

  When the retail store's business end time is reached, the photographing apparatus 1 terminates the photographing of the queue status and the generation of the photographed image according to the setting of the control program in the memory (not shown) (step S110). When the imaging apparatus 1 finishes generating the captured image, the queue information notification system ends the process.

<Effect of Example 1>
According to the queue information notification system of the first embodiment, by displaying, for example, an animated substitute image based on the actual image of the queue on the monitor as the queue information, the user can grasp the status of the queue. , Avoid the queue and enjoy the service at the counter.

<Configuration of Example 2>
As shown in FIG. 8, the queue information notification system according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a photographing apparatus 1, an image acquisition unit 10, an image analysis unit 20, a queue number extraction unit 30, and a substitute image creation unit 40. A content storage unit 50, a distribution unit 60a, an image display unit 70a, an input unit 80, an administrator information storage unit 90, and an authentication determination unit 100.

  In the second embodiment, in the queue information notification system according to the first embodiment, a function of distributing a photographed image photographed by the photographing apparatus 1 to a monitoring monitor provided in the image display unit 70, and using the monitoring monitor for monitoring. The function to be set is added. Here, the system is introduced into, for example, a retail store as in the first embodiment, and notifies the user at a distant place from the clearing cash register who performs shopping in the store, and the status of the queue. The photographed image is displayed on a monitor in the management center, so that the manager can monitor the users who are queued.

  The image display unit 70 a includes a monitor 71 and a monitor 72 for monitoring. Here, the monitor 71 displays a substitute image for the user, and the monitoring monitor 72 displays a captured image for the administrator or the like. That is, it is assumed that the monitoring monitor 72 is installed in the management center.

  When the imaging device 1 captures the queue status and generates a captured image, the captured image is transmitted to the distribution unit 60a according to the setting of a memory control program (not shown).

  The distribution unit 60a is a unit that distributes the substitute image to the monitor 71 and distributes the captured image to the monitoring monitor 72, and has distribution management information indicating the distribution status to all the monitors included in the image display unit 70a. FIG. 9 shows an example of distribution management information. In FIG. 9, the distribution unit 60 a displays the monitor number of the distribution flag 1. In 001, the captured image is distributed, and the monitor No. of distribution flag 0 is set. 002 and 003 indicate that the setting is to distribute a substitute image.

  And the delivery part 60a will change the delivery flag of the said monitor number of the said delivery management information from 0, if the delivery flag change signal mentioned later and a monitor number are acquired. Here, it is assumed that the distribution management information is initialized when the system is started, and all distribution flags = 0.

  The input unit 80 is a keyboard and a mouse provided in a terminal in the management center, for example, a PC (Personal Computer), and is used to receive an input instruction from the administrator. The input unit 80 is a biometric information reading terminal in the management center, and reads biometric information from an administrator. Here, the biological information reading terminal includes various sensors and cameras.

  The administrator inputs a monitor number set for monitoring and an administrator number from the input unit 80. Then, the administrator inputs administrator authentication information such as a password or biometric information from the input unit 80.

  The administrator information storage unit 90 is a unit that stores administrator information (administrator number, password, biometric information, etc.) of an administrator acquired in advance in a database. Here, the biometric information includes palm veins, fingertip veins, irises, and the like.

  Upon obtaining the monitor number, administrator number, and administrator authentication information set for monitoring from the input unit 80, the authentication determination unit 100 searches the administrator information storage unit 90 based on the administrator number, It is determined whether or not the authentication information registered in advance for the administrator number and the acquired administrator authentication information match, and if determined to match, a distribution flag change signal is generated, the distribution flag change signal, and the monitor number Is transmitted to the distribution unit 60a.

  On the other hand, when the authentication determination unit 100 determines that there is a mismatch, a display unit (not shown) displays a notification screen for notifying the administrator that the administrator authentication is mismatched on a screen provided in the display unit. Here, the display unit is, for example, a monitor provided in the PC.

  Other configurations are the same as the configuration of the queue information notification system according to the first embodiment.

<Operation of Example 2>
Next, the operation of the queue information notification system of the present invention will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Here, description will be made on the assumption that the queue information notification system is installed in a retail store as in the first embodiment.

  When the opening time of the retail store is, for example, 10 minutes before, the administrator of the queue information notification system turns on a system activation switch (not shown) of the system. When the administrator turns on the switch, power is supplied to a power supply unit (not shown) of the queue information notification system, and the system is activated.

  Then, the administrator inputs the administrator number and the monitor number of the monitoring monitor 72 used for monitoring purposes, for example, “001” from the input unit 80, for example, a keyboard provided in the PC in the management center, for iris imaging. Stare at the camera.

  When the administrator number, the monitor number “001”, and the iris are input from the input unit 80, the authentication determination unit 100 searches the administrator information storage unit 90 based on the administrator number, and the administrator It is determined whether or not the registered iris of the number registered in advance and the acquired iris match, and if it is determined to match, a distribution flag change signal is generated, and the distribution flag change signal and the monitor number “001” are transmitted to the distribution unit To 60a.

  When the distribution unit 60a acquires the distribution flag change signal and the monitor number “001”, the distribution unit 60a changes the distribution flag of the monitor number held in the distribution management information from 0 to 1 (step S201).

  The operations in steps S202 to S208 in the second embodiment are the same as the operations in steps S101 to S107 in the first embodiment.

  When the substitute image creation unit 40 creates the substitute image, the delivery unit 60a searches the delivery management information provided in the delivery unit 60a to find whether the delivery flag is 0 or 1 (step S209). The photographed image is installed in a management center provided in the image display unit 70a and distributed to the monitoring monitor 72 (step S210).

  On the other hand, when the distribution flag held in the distribution management information is 0, the distribution unit 60a distributes the substitute image to the monitor 71 installed at a recognized location in the retail store provided in the image display unit 70a (step S211). .

  A user shopping in a retail store confirms the queue status from the substitute image displayed on the monitor 71, judges the timing and counter with few queues, avoids the queue and pays at the clearing register. Do. On the other hand, the administrator in the management center monitors users queued from the captured image displayed on the monitor 72 for monitoring.

  The operation in step S212 in the second embodiment is the same as the operation in step S110 in the first embodiment.

<Effect of Example 2>
According to the queue information notification system of the second embodiment, information for monitoring and queue status notification is obtained by notifying a queue state using a captured image for an administrator and a substitute image for a user. Since distribution can be performed using one system, it is not necessary to newly provide a management system for monitoring, and a low-cost system can be configured.

<Configuration of Example 3>
As shown in FIG. 11, the queue information notification system according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a photographing device 1, an image acquisition unit 10a, an image analysis unit 20, a queue number extraction unit 30a, and an alternative image creation unit 40. A content storage unit 50, a distribution unit 60b, a queue number information management unit 110, a queue number information storage unit 120, a prediction information creation unit 130, a user terminal 140, and a communication network 150. Yes.

  In the queue information notification system according to the first embodiment, the third embodiment has a function of delivering a substitute image to the user terminal 140 instead of the image display unit 70, and the number of queues extracted by the queue number extraction unit 30. A function of predicting the future queue status from the past queue number information and the current queue number stored in the storage unit 120 and held in the queue number information storage unit 120 and notifying the user is added.

  Here, the queue information notification system according to the first and second embodiments is used to notify a queue to a user who is already shopping in a retail store, for example. It is used to visit a financial institution's store and notify the queue to users who are not yet in the store that is planning to conduct financial transactions at ATMs.

  The image acquisition unit 10a acquires a queue image and acquires a date and time indicated by a timer (not shown) as a queue actual image acquisition date and time.

  When the substitute image creation unit 40 creates a substitute image and the prediction information creation unit 130 calculates a prediction matrix number described later, the distribution unit 60b determines the terminal distribution image information based on the substitute image and the number of prediction matrixes. Is generated. Here, the terminal distribution image information is content information in an HTML format composed of a substitute image, the number of prediction matrixes, and comments such as store information. FIG. 12 shows an example of image information for terminal distribution.

  When the distribution unit 60b acquires a distribution request (to be described later) from the user terminal 140, the distribution unit 60b distributes the generated terminal distribution image information to the user terminal 140.

  When the number of queues is extracted, the queue number extraction unit 30a instructs the queue number information management unit 110 to store the number of queues.

  When the queue number information management unit 110 receives an instruction to store the number of queues, the queue number information management unit 110 generates queue number information that associates the acquired queue real image acquisition date and time with the calculated number of queues. Is stored in the queue number information storage unit 120.

  The queue number information storage unit 120 is a unit that stores a queue number information DB in which the number of queues for each queue real image is databased. FIG. 13 shows an example of the queue number information DB.

  The prediction information creation unit 130 is a unit that calculates the number of queues after a preset time from the queue actual image acquisition date and time based on the past queue number information held in the queue number information storage unit 120. For example, a plurality of queue numbers are acquired from the queue number information of a plurality of different dates 30 minutes after the queue real image acquisition date and time, an average value thereof is calculated, and the queue number of the queue real image acquisition date and time is calculated. By calculating the difference, the predicted matrix number indicating the increase / decrease tendency of the number of queues in the future is calculated.

  When the matrix number information management unit 110 stores the matrix number information in the matrix number information storage unit 120, the prediction information creation unit 130 calculates the prediction matrix number.

  The user terminal 140 is a communication terminal such as a mobile phone and PHS (Personal Handyphone System) held by the user. When the user makes a queue information distribution request from the user terminal 140, the user terminal 140 issues the distribution request. It transmits to the delivery part 60b.

  When the user terminal 140 acquires the terminal distribution image information from the distribution unit 60b, the user terminal 140 displays the terminal distribution image information on a display included in the user terminal 140.

  The communication network 150 is a public network or the like, and exchanges information between the distribution unit 60b and the user terminal 140a via a base station (not shown).

  Other configurations are the same as the configuration of the queue information notification system according to the first embodiment.

<Operation of Example 3>
Next, the operation of the queue information notification system of the present invention will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Here, the third embodiment will be described on the premise that it is a queue information notification system for notifying a user of an ATM queue status introduced in each store of a financial institution.

  When the opening time of the store A of the financial institution is, for example, 10 minutes before, the administrator of the queue information notification system turns on a system activation switch (not shown) of the system. When the administrator turns on the switch, power is supplied to a power supply unit (not shown) of the queue information notification system, and the system is activated.

  When the queue information notification system is activated, the photographing device 1 installed near the ATM of the store A captures an image of an ATM that has not yet been used by the user by setting a memory control program (not shown) and a background image. Is generated (step S301). Here, it is assumed that the photographing time by the photographing apparatus 1 is, for example, two minutes depending on the setting of a memory control program (not shown).

  When the imaging device 1 generates the background image, the background image is stored in the background image storage unit 22 of the image analysis unit 20 according to the setting of a control program in a memory (not shown).

  When the business hours of the store A are reached, the photographing apparatus 1 starts photographing the status of the ATM queue and generates a photographed image by setting a memory control program (not shown) (step S302).

  When the imaging device 1 generates a captured image, the image acquisition unit 10a acquires the captured image for 2 minutes, for example, every 5 minutes set in advance by a memory control program (not shown). Here, the image acquired by the image acquisition unit 10a is defined as a queue real image. Then, the image acquisition unit 10a acquires a queue real image and acquires, for example, a queue real image acquisition date and time “2006.036.1500” that is date and time information of a timer (not shown) (step S303).

  The operations in steps S304 to S306 in the third embodiment are the same as the operations in steps S104 to S106 in the first embodiment.

  For example, when the number of queue people “7 people” is extracted, the queue number extraction unit 30a instructs the queue number information management unit 110 to store the number of rows.

  In response to an instruction to store the number of queues, the queue number information management unit 110 generates queue number information in which the actual matrix image acquisition date and time and the calculated number of rows “7” are associated with each other. Is stored in the queue number information storage unit 120 (step S307).

  When the procession number extraction unit 30a extracts the procession number “7 people”, the substitute image creation unit 40 calls the reference image and the seven circular icons for the procession number “7 people” from the content storage unit 50 and substitutes them. An image is created (step S308).

  When the queue number information management unit 110 stores the queue number information (queue real image acquisition date and time “2006.036.1500”, queue number “7 people”) in the queue number information storage unit 120, the prediction information creation unit 130 For example, a plurality of queue numbers in a plurality of past queue number information such as “2006.0309.1530” is acquired as the number of queues 30 minutes after the actual queue acquisition date and time, and an average value thereof is calculated. By calculating the difference between the queue actual image acquisition date and time and the queue number, the predicted queue number, for example, “7 people” is calculated (step S309).

  When the substitute image creation unit 40 creates a substitute image and the prediction information creation unit 130 calculates the number of prediction matrixes “7”, the distribution unit 60b, for example, as shown in FIG. And HTML-format content information composed of the comments (step S310).

  A user who is going to go to a store A and plans to conduct a financial transaction using an ATM provided in the store A makes a queue information distribution request from a user terminal 140, for example, a mobile phone on a Web page disclosed by the store A. When this is done, the user terminal 140 transmits the distribution request to the distribution unit 60b via the communication network 150.

  When the distribution unit 60b acquires the distribution request (step S311), the distribution unit 60b distributes the generated terminal distribution image information to the user terminal 140 via the communication network 150 (step S312).

  When the user terminal 140 such as a mobile phone acquires the terminal distribution image information, the user terminal 140 displays the terminal distribution image information on a display included in the user terminal 140.

  Then, when the terminal distribution image information is displayed on the user terminal 140 held by the user, for example, the display of the mobile phone, the user refers to the terminal distribution image information and the queue status and future The timing with few queues is judged from the prediction information, the queue is avoided and the store A is visited, and the ATM is operated to perform financial transactions.

  The operation in step S313 in the third embodiment is the same as the operation in step S110 in the first embodiment.

<Effect of Example 3>
According to the queue information notification system of the third embodiment, the terminal delivery image based on the substitute image and the prediction matrix number of people is transmitted to the user's mobile terminal based on the access from the user, Even if the user is at a long distance from the store where the queue is generated, it is possible to grasp the current status of the queue and the future forecast status. It is possible to visit the store at good timing and enjoy the service avoiding the queue.

<Configuration of Example 4>
As shown in FIG. 15, the queue information notification system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention includes stores A and B each including a photographing device 1, an image acquisition unit 10a, an image analysis unit 20, and a queue number extraction unit 30b. A call center including a substitute image creation unit 40a, a content storage unit 50, a store-by-store queue number information management unit 160, a store-by-store queue number information storage unit 170, and a distribution server 180, a user terminal 140a, A communication network 150.

  In the queue information notification system of the first embodiment, the fourth embodiment is a store-by-store queue number information storage unit 170 that stores the number of queues for each store, and a user terminal 140a having terminal position information instead of the image display unit 70. , A function of acquiring the terminal location information from the user terminal 140a, and a matrix for each store of a nearby store within a certain distance from the current location of the user based on the terminal location information A function of retrieving the number of persons from the store-by-store queue number information storage unit 170 and a function of distributing the queue status of a nearby store to the user terminal 140a using a substitute image are added.

  Here, the queue information notification system according to the fourth embodiment is similar to the third embodiment, for example, from a current location of the user to a user who is going to visit a financial institution store and conducts a financial transaction at an ATM. Used to notify the queue status of stores.

  When the queue number extraction unit 30b in the store A extracts the number of queues, a control unit (not shown) in the store A generates store identification information, and the store identification information, the number of queues, and the image acquisition unit 10a The acquired queue real image acquisition date and time are transmitted to the call center via a network (not shown). Here, the process performed in the store B is the same as the process performed in the store A.

  When the control unit (not shown) in the call center acquires the store identification information, the queue real image acquisition date / time, and the queue number from the store A, it instructs the store-specific queue number information management unit 160 to store the queue number.

  When the store queue number information management unit 160 receives an instruction to store the queue number from the store A, the store queue number corresponding to the store identification information, the queue real image acquisition date and time, and the queue number are associated with each other. Information is generated, and the store line number information is stored in the store line number information storage unit 170. When the store-by-store queue number information management unit 160 receives an instruction to store the number of queues from the store B, it performs the same processing as the instruction from the store A.

  When the store-by-store queue number information management unit 160 receives an instruction to search for store-by-store queue number information of nearby stores, which will be described later, from the distribution server 180, the radius based on the terminal position information described later is within a certain distance. The current store queue number of nearby stores is searched from the store queue number information storage unit 170 for each store.

  Here, the store-by-store queue number information storage unit 170 stores and stores the store-by-store queue number information indicating the current number of queues at all stores of the financial institution. When stored, the store queue number information of the past store A is overwritten by the stored store queue number information.

  When the store-by-store queue number information management unit 160 searches the store-by-store queue number for each store, the substitute image creating unit 40a acquires the reference image and the icons for the store-by-store queue number from the content storage unit 50, An alternative image for each store is created based on the number of queues per store.

  The user terminal 140a is a communication terminal such as a mobile phone with a GPS (Global Positioning System) function held by the user.

  When the user makes a queue information distribution request to the call center using the user terminal 140a, the distribution server 180 acquires terminal position information indicating the position of the user terminal 140a via the communication network 150. To do.

  When the user terminal 140a obtains terminal delivery near-field store image information, which will be described later, from the distribution server 180 by making a distribution request, the user terminal 140a is based on the terminal delivery near-field store image information on a display provided in the user terminal 140a. To display the store position.

  On the other hand, when the distribution server 180 acquires the terminal position information from the user terminal 140a, the distribution server 180 instructs the store-by-store queue number information management unit 160 to search for the store-by-store queue number information of nearby stores.

  Then, when the substitute image creation unit 40a to which the store-by-store queue number information of the searched nearby stores is supplied creates a substitute image for each store, the distribution server 180 uses the substitute image for each store for terminal distribution. The near store image information is generated. Here, the near-field store image information for terminal distribution includes an alternative image indicating the queue status for each store within a certain distance from the terminal position information, an image indicating the store position, and comments such as each store information The content information in the HTML format is configured.

  When the delivery server 180 generates the terminal delivery nearby store image information, as described above, the delivery server 180 transmits the terminal delivery nearby store image information to the user terminal 140a.

  Other configurations are the same as the configuration of the queue information notification system according to the first embodiment.

<Operation of Example 4>
Next, the operation of the queue information notification system of the present invention will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Here, the explanation will be given on the assumption that the fourth embodiment is a queue information notification system for notifying the user of the ATM queue status for each store of a financial institution within a radius of 1 km from the current position of the user. Do.

  The operations in steps S401 to S406 in the fourth embodiment are the same as the operations in steps S301 to S306 in the third embodiment.

  When the queue number extraction unit 30b in the store A extracts the number of queues, a control unit (not shown) in the store A generates store identification information, for example, “A”, the store identification information “A”, and the number of queues “7 people” and the actual queue acquisition date acquired by the image acquisition unit 10a, for example, “2006.036.1500” are transmitted to the call center via a network (not shown). Here, the processing operation performed in the store B is the same as the processing operation performed in the store A.

  When the control unit (not shown) in the call center acquires the store identification information “A” from the store A, the queue real image acquisition date and time, and the number of people in the queue “7”, the queue is sent to the store-by-store queue number information management unit 160. Instruct to store the number of people.

  When the store queue number information management unit 160 receives an instruction to store the queue number from the store A, the store identification information “A”, the queue actual image acquisition date and time, and the queue number “7 people” Is stored in the store-by-store queue number information storage unit 170 (step S407). Here, if the store-by-store queue number information management unit 160 receives an instruction to store the number of queues from the store B, it performs the same processing operation as the instruction from the store A.

  When a user near the stores A and B makes a request to distribute ATM queue information from a Web page disclosed by the call center using a user terminal 140a such as a mobile phone with a GPS function, the communication network 150 is The distribution server 180 acquires terminal position information indicating the position of the user terminal 140a.

  When the distribution server 180 acquires the terminal position information (step S408), the distribution server 180 instructs the store-by-store queue number information management unit 160 to search for the store-by-store queue number information of nearby stores.

  When the store queue number information management unit 160 receives an instruction from the distribution server 180 to search for store queue number information of nearby stores, the radius of the stores A and B whose radius based on the acquired terminal position information is within 1 km, for example. The current queue number for each store is searched from the store queue number information storage unit 170 for each store (step S409).

  When the store-by-store queue number information management unit 160 obtains, for example, the store-by-store queue number “7 people” of the store A and the store-by-store queue number “2 people” at the store B, the substitute image creating unit 40 a acquires the content storage unit 50. From the reference image and seven circular icons corresponding to the number of queues for each store in the store A, an alternative image of the store A based on the number of queues for the store “7 people” for the store A is created (step S410). And the substitute image preparation part 40a produces the substitute image of the shop B similarly.

  When the substitute image creating unit 40a creates substitute images for the stores A and B, the distribution server 180 is an HTML terminal configured with, for example, substitute images for each store, an image indicating the position of each store, and the comments. Generate a local store image for distribution.

  And the delivery server 180 will transmit the said terminal delivery near store image information to the user terminal 140a, if the said terminal delivery near store image information is produced | generated (step S411).

  When the user terminal 140a, for example, a mobile phone with a GPS function, obtains the terminal distribution near-field store image information from the distribution server 180 by requesting distribution, the terminal distribution near-field store is displayed on the display provided in the user terminal 140a. The store position is displayed based on the image information.

  When the store position is displayed on the display of the user terminal 140a, for example, a mobile phone with a GPS function, based on the terminal delivery nearby store image information, the user can store the store based on the terminal delivery nearby store image information. With reference to the position, the store A and B go from the queue status to the store B with less queue, and operate the ATM of the store B to perform financial transactions.

  The operation in step S412 in the fourth embodiment is the same as the operation in step S110 in the first embodiment.

<Effect of Example 4>
According to the queue information notification system of the third embodiment, when a user accesses using a mobile phone with a GPS function having terminal location information, the current location of the user is changed from the current location of the user based on the terminal location information. Since the queue status and store location are notified, the user judges the queue status of a nearby store, visits the store with the fewest number of users in the queue, and enjoys the service by avoiding the queue can do.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the substitute image creation unit creates a substitute image that represents the users in the queue using icons. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, a substitute image expressed using the substitute symbol may be created.

  In the above configuration, the substitute image creation unit may create a substitute image in which the queue status is represented by a graph such as a bar graph. Furthermore, the substitute image creation unit may be configured to create a substitute image that changes the shape and color of the icon based on the congestion situation in the store.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the queue status is notified using the substitute image. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the queue status may be notified using voice. In this case, the number of queues extracted by the queue number extraction unit can be input to a text-to-speech converter that is a conventionally known technique and distributed to a user terminal such as a mobile phone held by the user. .

  Further, in the fourth embodiment, the current position of the user is acquired from the mobile phone with GPS function held by the user. However, the present invention is not limited to this. You may make it the structure input from the web page which an organization discloses.

  In the above-described embodiments, the queue information notification system in retail stores and financial institutions has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be used for queue information notification systems such as medical institutions, theme parks, and transportation facilities. .

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the queue information notification system of Example 1 which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image analysis part which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the background image which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the queue real image which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the person area | region (difference image) which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the alternative image which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the queue information notification system of Example 1 which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the queue information notification system of Example 2 which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the delivery management information which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the queue information notification system of Example 2 which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the queue information notification system of Example 3 which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the image information for terminal delivery which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the queue number information DB which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the queue information notification system of Example 3 which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the queue information notification system of Example 4 which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the queue information notification system of Example 4 which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image pick-up device 10 Image acquisition part 20 Image analysis part 21 Current image storage part 22 Background image storage part 23 Background image update part 24 Difference image extraction part 30 Matrix number of people extraction part 40 Alternative image creation part 50 Content storage part 60 Distribution part 70 Image Display unit 71 Monitor 72 Monitor 80 Input unit 90 Administrator information storage unit 100 Authorization determination unit 110 Matrix number information management unit 120 Matrix number information storage unit 130 Predictive information creation unit 140 User terminal 150 Communication network 160 Number of queues per store Information management section 170 Store line number information storage section by store 180 Distribution server

Claims (10)

In a queue information notification system including a notification unit that notifies a user of a queue status so that the user can avoid the queue and enjoy the service,
An imaging device that captures the queue status;
A queue number extracting unit that extracts the number of queues indicating the number of users queued from an image captured by the imaging device;
An alternative image creation unit for creating an alternative image that represents the extracted number of people in the matrix;
A delivery unit that delivers the created substitute image to the notification unit;
The notification unit
A queue information notification system comprising: a display unit that displays the substitute image when the substitute image is acquired from the distribution unit.   The queue information notification system according to claim 1, wherein the display means provided in the notification unit is a terminal having a screen such as a monitor.   3. The queue according to claim 1, wherein the distribution unit includes an input unit that receives a distribution switching instruction from an administrator, and distributes the captured image to the notification unit based on the input instruction. Information notification system.   The queue information notification system according to claim 1, wherein the display unit provided in the notification unit is a user terminal having a screen held by the user.   5. The queue information notification system according to claim 1, wherein the user terminal is a communication terminal such as a mobile phone having a display or a PHS (Personal Handyphone System).   The queue information notification system according to claim 1, further comprising a queue number storage unit that stores the extracted number of queues when the number of queues is extracted by the queue number extraction unit.   7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a prediction information creating unit that calculates a predicted matrix number based on past data stored in the matrix number storage unit when the matrix number is extracted by the matrix number extraction unit. Queue information notification system.   When the distribution information is calculated by the prediction information creation unit, the distribution unit creates terminal distribution image information based on the calculated predicted number of people and the substitute image, and the created terminal distribution image information is 8. The queue information notification system according to claim 1, wherein the queue information notification system is distributed to a user terminal. In a queue information notification system comprising a distribution server that acquires position information of the user terminal and a plurality of queue detection devices provided in each store when receiving an inquiry about the queue status from the user terminal,
Each of the queue detection devices is
A shooting section to shoot the queue status;
A queue number information creation unit that extracts the number of queues indicating the number of users queued from the image captured by the shooting unit, and outputs the queue number information for each store that associates the extracted number of queues with store identification information. And
Furthermore, the queue number information storage unit for each store that stores the queue number information for each store output from a plurality of queue detection devices,
A near-store store queue number search unit that searches the store-by-store queue number information storage unit for store-by-store queue number information of at least one or more stores at a short distance from the acquired location information of the distribution server;
An alternative image creation unit that creates an alternative image that represents the number of people in the queue indicated by the searched queue number information by store and outputs the substitute image to the distribution server,
The distribution server
A queue information notification system, wherein the created substitute image is transmitted to the user terminal together with information indicating a store position. 10. The queue information notification system according to claim 9, wherein the user terminal is a mobile phone with a GPS (Global Positioning System) function.

Images