JP2008059133A - Information providing system, method, and device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing system, an information providing method, an information providing device and a program, capable of presenting the congestion circumstances of an accessory facility as well as a main facility, and presenting the level of the congestion of the main facility and/or the accessory facility. <P>SOLUTION: This information providing system includes a main facility using circumstance measuring means 130 for measuring main facility using circumstances, and notifying an information providing device 100 of the main facility using circumstance information and an accessory facility using circumstance measuring means 140 for measuring accessory facility using circumstances, and notifying the information providing device 100 of the accessory facility using circumstance information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a service for providing information on congestion in a restroom and the like, and more particularly, to a service for providing information on the usage status of main facilities and auxiliary facilities.

  As a conventional information providing system, there is a system that detects whether an open / close state of a door of a private room of a restroom is in use and displays whether it is in use (for example, see Patent Document 1). In addition, there is a toilet device in which a seating sensor is provided to detect a use situation, and this information is transmitted to a centralized management device and displayed on a display device (for example, see Patent Document 2).

JP 2005-305123 A JP2002-21149

  However, this conventional information provision system only shows the current usage status of the private room, which is the main equipment, and information on the congestion situation when only the washstand and diaper changing bed, which are auxiliary equipment other than the private room, are used. Could not get. Further, the conventional information providing system cannot obtain information on the degree of congestion, that is, how much waiting time is required.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an information providing system, an information providing method, an information providing apparatus, and a program capable of presenting a congestion status of an attached facility in addition to a main facility.

  The first information providing system of the present invention is an information providing system that provides information on the congestion status, and measures the main facility usage status and notifies the information providing device of the main facility usage status information. And an accessory equipment usage status measuring means for measuring the usage status of the auxiliary equipment and notifying the information providing apparatus of the information on the usage status of the auxiliary equipment.

  The second information providing system of the present invention is characterized in that in the first information providing system, there is facility arrival number measuring means for measuring the number of people arriving at the facility and notifying the information providing device of the facility arrival number information. And

  In the second information providing system, the information providing apparatus of the third information providing system of the present invention refers to the means for measuring the number of inquiries of the congestion status and the prepared number of inquiries vs. arrival number correspondence table. And means for calculating a predicted arrival number from the number of inquiries.

  In the first information providing method of the present invention, the main equipment usage status measuring means measures the main equipment usage status and notifies the information providing apparatus of the main equipment usage status information, and the auxiliary equipment usage status measuring means It is characterized by measuring the usage status and notifying the information providing device of the usage status information of the attached equipment.

  The second information providing method of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first information providing method, the facility arrival number measuring means measures the number of arrivals at the facility and notifies the information providing apparatus of the facility arrival number information. And

  In the second information providing method, the information providing apparatus of the third information providing method of the present invention measures the number of inquiries of the congestion status, and refers to the inquiry number versus arrival number correspondence table prepared in advance. The predicted arrival number is calculated from the number.

  The first information providing apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the number of inquiries in a congestion situation is measured, and a predicted number of arrivals is calculated from the number of inquiries by referring to a preliminarily prepared inquiry number vs. arrival number correspondence table. .

  The first program of the present invention is configured to measure the number of inquiries of the congestion status in the information providing device, and calculate the predicted number of arrivals from the number of inquiries by referring to the inquiry number / arrival number correspondence table prepared in advance. It is made to perform.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to determine a substantial congestion situation of a private room, a washstand, etc. in a restroom. The reason is that the waiting time can be predicted by detecting the usage status of each of the main equipment and the auxiliary equipment, and measuring the number of people arriving at the facility having these equipment and the number of inquiries regarding the congestion status.

  Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the first embodiment of the present invention includes a main facility usage status measuring unit 130, an attached facility usage status measuring unit 140, and an information providing apparatus 100.

  The main facility usage status measuring means 130 is provided for each main facility of the target facility that is to provide congestion information. The main equipment usage status measuring means 130 has a sensor or a switch for detecting whether each main equipment is in use or unused. The main facility usage status measuring unit 130 transmits information on whether the detected main facilities are in use or unused to the information providing apparatus 100 as main facility usage status information.

  The accessory facility usage status measuring means 140 is provided for each accessory facility of the target facility for which congestion information is to be provided. The accessory equipment usage status measuring means 140 has a sensor or a switch for detecting whether each accessory equipment is in use or unused. The accessory facility usage status measuring means 140 transmits information about whether each of the detected accessory facilities is in use or unused to the information providing apparatus 100 as accessory facility usage status information.

  The information providing apparatus 100 is an information processing apparatus such as a workstation installed in a predetermined management center, and operates under program control. The information providing apparatus 100 includes a main facility usage status information receiving unit 103, an attached facility usage status information receiving unit 104, a congestion information generating unit 107, a communication processing unit 101, and a storage unit 102.

  The main equipment usage status information receiving means 103 receives the main equipment usage status information from the main equipment usage status measuring means 130 and stores it in the equipment status A table 511.

  The accessory facility usage status information receiving unit 104 receives the accessory facility usage status information from the accessory facility usage status measuring unit 140 and stores it in the facility status A table 511.

  The congestion information generation unit 107 generates main facility congestion information from the main facility usage status information stored in the facility status A table 511, and the accessory facility congestion is determined from the accessory facility usage status information stored in the facility status A table 511. Generate information.

  The communication processing unit 101 is connected to an external network (not shown) and presents congestion information in response to an inquiry from an external device (not shown). The external network is a public line, the Internet, and the like, and the external device is a mobile phone or a PC connected to the external network.

  The storage unit 102 stores at least an equipment status A table 511, a congestion status A table 512, and an arrival number B table 522.

  Next, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to specific examples. In this embodiment, an information providing system for presenting congestion information of a department store's restroom in response to a request from a mobile phone or the like will be described.

  The department store is a two-story building with a restroom on each floor. In the restroom on each floor, there are five private rooms as main facilities and two wash basins as accessory facilities.

  Referring to FIG. 4, the main facility usage status measuring unit 130 includes a protrusion 135, a gap 134, a light emitting unit 131, a light receiving unit 132, and a control unit A 133. The protrusion 135 is provided above the door. The gap 134 is provided at the same height as the protrusion 135 on the side of the doorway facing the side of the door. In a state where the door is closed, the protrusion 135 fills the gap 134 with a sufficient gap. The light emitting part 131 is attached to the upper surface of the gap part 134, emits light when the light emission signal from the control part A133 is on, and is extinguished when the light emission signal is off. The light receiving part 132 is attached to the lower surface of the gap part 134 so as to face the light emitting part 131. The light receiving unit 132 turns on the light reception signal to the control unit A 133 only while receiving the light emission from the light emitting unit 131. The controller A133 repeats turning on and off the light emission signal at a constant interval sufficiently short with respect to the usage time of the private room. The control unit A133 determines that the door is closed when it is detected that the light reception signal does not turn on for a time exceeding 5 times the predetermined interval. In response to the inquiry from the information providing apparatus 100, the control unit A133 sends information indicating whether the door is open or closed.

  Referring to FIG. 5, the attached facility usage status measuring unit 140 includes a human body detection sensor 141 and a control unit B142. The human body detection sensor 141 is configured by a generally known infrared sensor or ultrasonic sensor, and turns on the presence signal to the control unit B 142 only while the user is present at a position where the accessory equipment is used. The control unit B142 determines that there is a user when detecting that the presence signal is ON. In response to the inquiry from the information providing apparatus 100, the control unit B142 transmits information indicating whether or not the user exists.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information providing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of this invention. The time waiting means 109 checks whether or not the time measured by the time measuring means (not shown) has reached a predetermined update interval time. Then, if the time being measured has reached the update interval time, the time waiting unit 109 resets the time measuring unit and starts re-timer, and then proceeds to step S412. Further, the time waiting unit 109 proceeds to step S415 if the measured time has not reached the update interval time (step S411).

  In the processing when the update interval time is reached, first, the main equipment usage status information receiving means 103 is used by the main equipment usage status measuring means 130 in the private rooms A to E of the first floor restroom and the private rooms A to E of the second floor restroom. Main equipment usage status information is acquired from the data and stored as the status of the equipment status A table 511 as shown in FIG. 10 (see step S412, FIG. 10).

  Next, the attached equipment usage status information receiving means 104 acquires the attached equipment usage status information from the attached equipment usage status measuring means 140 of the first-floor restrooms A to B and the second-floor restrooms A to B. As shown in FIG. 10, it is stored as the status of the equipment status A table 511 (see step S413, FIG. 10).

  Next, the congestion information generation unit 107 refers to the facility status A table 511 shown in FIG. 10 to generate a congestion level and stores it as the congestion level in the congestion status A table 512 as shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 10, since all private rooms in the first-floor restroom are in use, the degree of congestion is 100%, and in the first-floor restroom, one out of two is in use, so the degree of congestion is 50%. Since 3 out of 5 rooms are in use, the degree of congestion is 60%, and the washroom in the second floor vanity room is in use because 1 out of 2 is in use (step S414, see FIG. 11).

  In the processing in the case where the update interval time has not been reached, first, the communication processing unit 101 checks whether or not there is a congestion status inquiry, and if there is the congestion status inquiry, the process proceeds to step S416. If there is no congestion status inquiry, the process returns to step S411 (step S415).

  In the processing when there is a congestion status inquiry, the communication processing unit 101 refers to the congestion status A table 512 shown in FIG. 11 and sends the presentation information as shown in FIG. Return to (step S415).

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the congestion information is generated from the information on the usage status of the main equipment and the usage status of the auxiliary equipment, so that not only the main equipment but also the auxiliary equipment is crowded. It has the effect of being able to know the situation.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the second embodiment of the present invention is the first in that a facility arrival number measuring means 250 is added and a facility arrival number information receiving means 205 is added to the information providing apparatus 100. Different from the embodiment. Below, a different part from 1st Embodiment is demonstrated.

  The main equipment usage status information receiving means 103 receives the main equipment usage status information from the main equipment usage status measuring means 130 and stores it in the equipment status B table 521.

  The accessory facility usage status information receiving unit 104 receives the accessory facility usage status information from the accessory facility usage status measuring unit 140 and stores it in the facility status B table 521.

  The facility arrival number measuring means 250 is provided in a target facility that is to provide congestion information. The facility arrival number measuring means 250 has a sensor or a switch for detecting a person arriving at the target facility. The facility arrival number measuring means 250 transmits information on the number of people who have arrived at the target facility to the information providing apparatus 100 as facility arrival number information.

  The facility arrival number information receiving unit 205 receives the facility arrival number information from the facility arrival number measuring unit 250 and stores it in the arrival number B table 522.

  The congestion information generating unit 107 generates an average usage time for each facility from the main facility usage status information stored in the facility status B table 521 and the attached facility usage status information stored in the facility status B table 521. The congestion information generating means 107 generates main facility congestion information from the main facility usage status information stored in the facility status B table 521 and the facility arrival number information stored in the arrival number B table 522, and the facility status B table. Attached facility congestion information is generated from the attached facility usage status information stored in 521 and the facility arrival number information stored in the arrival number B table 522.

  The storage unit 102 stores at least an equipment status B table 521, a congestion status B table 523, and an arrival number B table 522.

  Referring to FIG. 6, the facility arrival number measuring means 250 includes an object passage detection sensor 251 and a control unit C252. The object passage detection sensor 251 is configured by a generally known infrared sensor or ultrasonic sensor, and sends a passage detection signal to the control unit C252 when a person passes through the entrance of the facility. The control unit C252 adds 1 to the count every time the passage detection signal is received. The control unit C252 sends facility arrival number information in response to a request from the information providing apparatus 100, and resets the count to “0”.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information providing apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The time waiting means 109 checks whether or not the time measured by the time measuring means (not shown) has reached a predetermined update interval time. Then, if the time being measured has reached the update interval time, the time waiting unit 109 resets the time measuring unit and starts re-timer, and then proceeds to step S422. Further, the time waiting unit 109 proceeds to step S425 if the measured time has not reached the update interval time (step S421).

  In the processing when the update interval time is reached, first, the main equipment usage status information receiving means 103 is used by the main equipment usage status measuring means 130 in the private rooms A to E of the first floor restroom and the private rooms A to E of the second floor restroom. Main equipment usage status information is acquired from the data and stored as the status of the equipment status B table 521 as shown in FIG. 13 (see step S422, FIG. 13).

  Next, the attached equipment usage status information receiving means 104 acquires the attached equipment usage status information from the attached equipment usage status measuring means 140 of the first-floor restrooms A to B and the second-floor restrooms A to B. As shown in FIG. 13, it is stored as the status of the equipment status B table 521 (see step S423, FIG. 13).

  Next, the facility arrival number information receiving means 205 acquires facility arrival number information from the facility arrival number measurement means 250 in the first floor restroom and the second floor restroom, as shown in FIG. It stores as the number of arrivals for each (see step S427, FIG. 14).

  Next, the congestion information generation means 107 updates the average usage time record per time in the equipment status B table 521 as shown in FIG. The average usage time record records the status of the equipment status B table 521 stored at each update interval time, and the status is “used” for a continuous time, and the status is “unused” to “used”. It can be easily calculated by counting the number of times of change. Further, the congestion information generation means 107 generates a congestion level and an average waiting time with reference to the equipment status B table 521 in FIG. 13 and the arrival number B table 522 in FIG. 14, and the congestion status B as shown in FIG. Stored as the congestion degree and average waiting time in the table 523. Referring to FIG. 13, the private rooms in the first-floor restroom are 100% congested because all the private rooms in the first-floor restroom are in use, and one out of two washstands in the first-floor restroom are in use, so the congestion is 50%. Since 3 out of 5 rooms are in use, the degree of congestion is 60%, and the washroom in the second-floor restroom is in use, because 1 out of 2 is in use. The average waiting time can be calculated based on, for example, the queue M / M / s formula shown in FIG. 22 from the average usage time per time in FIG. 13 and the arrival number B table 522 in FIG. The calculation method of the average waiting time is not an essential part of the present invention, and other calculation methods or the average of past waiting times themselves may be used (see step S424, FIG. 15).

  In the process in the case where the update interval time has not been reached, first, the communication processing unit 101 checks whether or not there is a congestion status inquiry, and if there is the congestion status inquiry, the process proceeds to step S426. If there is no inquiry about the congestion status, the process returns to step S421 (step S425).

  In the processing when there is a congestion status inquiry, the communication processing means 101 reads the congestion status B table 523 of FIG. 15 from the storage means 102 and sends it to the inquiry source (not shown) as presentation information as shown in FIG. The process returns to step S421 (step S426).

  As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the congestion information is generated from the usage status of the main equipment, the usage status of the auxiliary equipment, and the information on the number of people arriving at the equipment. This has the effect of knowing the average waiting time as well as the current usage status of the equipment.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  Referring to FIG. 3, the third embodiment of the present invention is different from the second embodiment in that an inquiry number measuring unit 306 is added to the information providing apparatus 100. Below, a different part from 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated.

  The inquiry number measuring means 306 receives a notification that there is a congestion information inquiry from the communication processing means 101, measures the number of times of the congestion information inquiry, generates inquiry number information, and stores it in the inquiry number table 531. .

  The facility arrival number information receiving unit 205 receives the facility arrival number information from the facility arrival number measuring unit 250 and stores it in the arrival number C table 534.

  The congestion information generating unit 107 generates an average usage time for each facility from the main facility usage status information stored in the facility status B table 521 and the attached facility usage status information stored in the facility status B table 521. The congestion information generation unit 107 calculates the predicted arrival number from the inquiry number information stored in the inquiry number table 531 and the correspondence table 532 and stores it in the arrival number C table 533. The congestion information generation unit 107 includes the main facility usage status information stored in the facility status B table 521, the facility arrival number information stored in the arrival number C table 533, and the inquiry number information stored in the inquiry number table 531. Main facility congestion information is generated from the attached facility usage status information stored in the facility status B table 521, the facility arrival number information stored in the arrival number C table 533, and the inquiry stored in the inquiry number table 531 Attached equipment congestion information is generated from the number information.

  The communication processing unit 101 notifies the inquiry number measuring unit 306 that there has been an inquiry about the congestion information.

  The storage unit 102 stores at least an equipment status B table 521, a congestion status C table 534, an arrival number C table 533, an inquiry count table 531, and a correspondence table 532.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information providing apparatus 100 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  The time waiting means 109 checks whether or not the time measured by the time measuring means (not shown) has reached a predetermined update interval time. Then, if the time being measured has reached the update interval time, the time waiting means 109 resets the time measuring means and starts re-timer, and then proceeds to step S432. Further, the time waiting means 109 proceeds to step S435 if the measured time has not reached the update interval time (step S431).

  In the processing when the update interval time is reached, first, the main equipment usage status information receiving means 103 is used by the main equipment usage status measuring means 130 in the private rooms A to E of the first floor restroom and the private rooms A to E of the second floor restroom. Main equipment usage status information is acquired from the data and stored as the status of the equipment status B table 521 as shown in FIG. 13 (see step S432, FIG. 13).

  Next, the attached equipment usage status information receiving means 104 acquires the attached equipment usage status information from the attached equipment usage status measuring means 140 of the first-floor restrooms A to B and the second-floor restrooms A to B. As shown in FIG. 13, it is stored as the status of the equipment status B table 521 (see step S433, FIG. 13).

  Next, the facility arrival number information receiving means 205 obtains facility arrival number information from the facility arrival number measuring means 250 in the first-floor restroom and second-floor restroom, and arrives every five minutes as shown in FIG. The number is stored in the number-of-people C table 533 (see step S437, FIG. 19).

  Next, the congestion information generation means 107 updates the average usage time record per time in the equipment status B table 521 as shown in FIG. The specific implementation of this is the same as that described in the second embodiment. Further, the congestion information generating means 107 calculates the predicted arrival number from the inquiry number table 531 in FIG. 17 and the correspondence table 532 in FIG. 18 and adds it to the arrival number C table 533 as shown in FIG. Then, the congestion information generation means 107 generates a congestion degree and an average waiting time with reference to the equipment status B table 521 in FIG. 13 and the arrival number C table 533 in FIG. 19, and the congestion status C as shown in FIG. Stored as the congestion degree and average waiting time in the table 534. Referring to FIG. 13, the private rooms in the first-floor restroom are 100% congested because all the private rooms in the first-floor restroom are in use, and one out of two washstands in the first-floor restroom are in use, so the congestion is 50%. Since 3 out of 5 rooms are in use, the degree of congestion is 60%, and the washroom in the second-floor restroom is in use, because 1 out of 2 is in use. The average waiting time is based on the formula of the queue M / M / s shown in FIG. 22, as in the second embodiment, based on the average usage time per time in FIG. 13 and the arrival number C table 533 in FIG. Can be calculated. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, the average waiting time after 5 minutes as shown in FIG. 20 based on the prediction of the number of arrivals at the unit time after 5 minutes as shown in FIG. The average waiting time prediction after 10 minutes is calculated (see step S434, FIG. 20).

  In the processing in the case where the update interval time has not been reached, first, the communication processing unit 101 checks whether or not there is a congestion status inquiry, and if there is the congestion status inquiry, the process proceeds to step S438. If there is no inquiry about the congestion status, the process returns to step S431 (step S435).

  In the processing when there is a congestion status inquiry, the communication means notifies the inquiry count measuring means 306 that the congestion information has been inquired. The inquiry number measuring means 306 stores the inquiry number of the congestion information as an inquiry number table 531 as shown in FIG. 17 (see step S438, FIG. 17). Next, the communication processing unit 101 reads the congestion status C table 534 of FIG. 20 from the storage unit 102 and sends it to the inquiry source (not shown) as presentation information as shown in FIG. 21, and then returns to step S431 (step S436).

  As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to know the future average waiting time by measuring the number of inquiries for congestion information and predicting the number of people arriving at the facility. have.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used by a company or facility having a restroom, such as a department store, to disclose the congestion status of the restroom in the facility. For example, a company publishes this information on the Internet through an information provider, and a customer who wants to use a restroom uses an Internet communication device such as a mobile phone, Check the congestion status of the restroom in the neighboring facilities of the current location. The customer specifies the location of the restroom that is close to her current location and is not crowded on the homepage, and uses this restroom. As a result, a company or facility having a restroom can guide customers to its own store through the use of the restroom, which can lead to an increase in the number of customers and, in turn, an increase in service sales. In addition, companies that publish information on the use of bathrooms at companies and facilities on the WEB homepage can collect information posting fees from each company and facility and collect usage fees from users (customers) on the website periodically. New business can be realized.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the main equipment usage condition measuring device in the first, second and third embodiments of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the accessory equipment usage condition measuring device 140 in the first, second, and third embodiments of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the facility arrival number measuring device 250 in the second and third embodiments of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the installation condition A table 511 in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the congestion condition A table 512 in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the image of the presentation information in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the installation condition B table 521 in the 2nd and 3rd embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the arrival number B table 522 in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the congestion condition B table 523 in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the image of the presentation information in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the inquiry number table 531 in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the correspondence table 532 in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the arrival number C table 533 in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the congestion condition C table 534 in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the image of the presentation information in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the formula of average waiting time calculation in the 2nd and 3rd embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Information provision apparatus 101 Communication processing means 102 Storage means 103 Main equipment usage status information receiving means 104 Attached equipment usage status information receiving means 107 Congestion information generating means 109 Time waiting means 130 Main equipment usage status measuring means 140 Attached equipment usage status measuring means 131 Light Emitting Unit 132 Light Receiving Unit 133 Control Unit A
134 Gap part 135 Projection part 141 Human body detection sensor 142 Control part B
205 Facility Arrival Number Information Receiving Unit 250 Facility Arrival Number Measuring Unit 306 Inquiry Number Measuring Unit 251 Object Passing Detection Sensor 252 Control Unit C
511 Equipment Status A Table 512 Congestion Status A Table 521 Equipment Status B Table 522 Arrival Number B Table 523 Congestion Status B Table 531 Inquiry Number Table 532 Correspondence Table 533 Arrival Number C Table 534 Congestion Status C Table

Claims (8)

It is an information provision system that provides information on the congestion status, and measures the main equipment usage status and measures the main equipment usage status measurement means for notifying the information providing device of the main equipment usage status information, and measures the usage status of the attached equipment An information providing system comprising: an accessory facility usage status measuring means for notifying the information providing device of accessory facility usage status information. 2. An information providing system for providing information on a congestion state, comprising facility arrival number measuring means for measuring the number of people arriving at a facility and notifying the information providing apparatus of facility arrival number information. Information providing system described. The information providing apparatus includes means for measuring the number of inquiries about the congestion situation and means for calculating a predicted arrival number from the number of inquiries by referring to a prepared correspondence table between the number of inquiries and the number of arrivals. The information providing system according to claim 2. The main equipment usage status measuring means measures the main equipment usage status and notifies the information providing apparatus of the main equipment usage status information, and the auxiliary equipment usage status measuring means measures the auxiliary equipment usage status and notifies the information providing apparatus. A method of providing information characterized by notifying accessory equipment usage status information. 5. The information providing method according to claim 4, wherein the facility arrival number measuring means measures the number of arrivals at the facility and notifies the information providing apparatus of the facility arrival number information. 6. The information providing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the information providing device measures the number of inquiries of the congestion status, and calculates a predicted arrival number from the number of inquiries by referring to a preliminarily prepared inquiry number / arrival number correspondence table. Information provision method. An information providing apparatus characterized in that the number of inquiries in a congestion situation is measured, and a predicted arrival number is calculated from the number of inquiries by referring to a preliminarily prepared inquiry number vs. arrival number correspondence table. A program for causing an information providing apparatus to measure the number of inquiries of a congestion situation and to calculate a predicted arrival number from the number of inquiries by referring to a preliminarily prepared inquiry number vs. arrival number correspondence table.

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