JP2021081279A - Estimation device, estimation method, and estimation program - Google Patents

Abstract

To easily estimate congestion of users.SOLUTION: An estimation device comprises an acquisition unit and an estimation unit. The acquisition unit acquires intensity information indicating an intensity of an electric wave transmitted by a prescribed transmission device when a prescribed reception device receives the electric wave. The estimation unit estimates a degree of congestion in a region in which the transmission device and the reception device are installed on the basis of the intensity indicated by the intensity information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an estimation device, an estimation method, and an estimation program.

Conventionally, a technique for estimating the position of a user based on the intensity of propagation transmitted and received from various devices has been proposed. As an example of such a technique, when radio waves transmitted by a plurality of beacons are received from a terminal, a technique for estimating the position of a user based on the radio wave intensity of each received radio wave is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-082363

However, it cannot be said that the above-mentioned technology can easily estimate the congestion of users.

For example, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, the position of a user can be estimated, but when estimating the congestion in a certain area, the position of each user must be estimated, which is troublesome.

The present application has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present application is to easily estimate the congestion of users.

The estimation device according to the present application is based on an acquisition unit that acquires strength information indicating the intensity of radio waves when a predetermined receiving device receives a radio wave transmitted by a predetermined transmitting device and the intensity indicated by the intensity information. It is characterized by having an estimation unit for estimating the degree of congestion in the area where the device and the receiving device are installed.

According to one aspect of the embodiment, the congestion of users can be easily estimated.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of processing executed by the information providing device according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing variations in processing in which the information providing device according to the embodiment measures congestion. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the information providing device according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information registered in the reference strength database according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of processing executed by the information providing device according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration.

Hereinafter, the estimation device, the estimation method, and the embodiment for carrying out the estimation program (hereinafter referred to as “the embodiment”) according to the present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that this embodiment does not limit the estimation device, estimation method, and estimation program according to the present application. In addition, each embodiment can be appropriately combined as long as the processing contents do not contradict each other. Further, in each of the following embodiments, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description is omitted.

[1. Information provider]
First, with reference to FIG. 1, an example of processing executed by the information providing device 10 which is an example of the estimation device will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of processing executed by the information providing device according to the embodiment. FIG. 1 describes an example of a process of estimating the degree of congestion in predetermined areas A1 and A2 as a process executed by the information providing device 10.

Any region can be applied to the regions A1 and A2 (hereinafter, may be collectively referred to as "region A") described below. For example, the area A may be various facilities such as a restaurant, a gym, and a workplace, or may be a predetermined room in the facility. Further, the area A may be an area composed of a plurality of rooms. Further, the area A may be an area where the user is located in a moving body such as a bus or a train. Further, the area A may be an area not only indoors such as a room but also outdoors such as a station, a park, or an event venue.

[1-1. Overview of information providing equipment]
The information providing device 10 is an information processing device capable of communicating with various devices via a predetermined network N (see, for example, FIG. 3) such as the Internet. For example, the information providing device 10 may be collectively referred to as a transmitting device T1 and T2 (hereinafter, may be collectively referred to as a “transmitting device T”) and a receiving device R1 and R2 (hereinafter, collectively referred to as a “receiving device R”), which will be described later. It is possible to communicate with the terminal devices 101 and 102 (see, for example, FIG. 2; hereinafter, may be collectively referred to as "terminal device 100") used by the user. For example, the information providing device 10 is realized by a server device, a cloud system, or the like. The information providing device 10 may be able to communicate with an arbitrary number of transmitting devices T, receiving devices R, and terminal devices 100 via the network N.

The transmitting device T is a device having a function of transmitting a predetermined radio wave, and is, for example, a transponder arranged at a predetermined position in the area A. For example, the transmitting device T transmits radio waves of ultra wide band (UWB) at predetermined time intervals (for example, 1 second intervals). More specifically, the transmitter T transmits radio waves in a predetermined band having a frequency higher than 500 MHz or 1.5 GHz at predetermined time intervals. Further, for example, the transmitter T transmits radio waves with a predetermined radio wave intensity of about −90 decibels. The transmitting device T may transmit a predetermined radio wave according to an instruction from the information providing device 10.

The receiving device R is a receiving device that receives radio waves transmitted by the transmitting device T, and is, for example, a predetermined terminal device having a receiving antenna. For example, when the receiving device R receives a radio wave having a frequency preset as a radio wave transmitted by the transmitting device T, the receiving device R measures the radio wave intensity of the received radio wave. Then, the receiving device T generates intensity information indicating the measured radio wave intensity, and transmits the generated intensity information and the intensity information indicating the date and time when the radio wave is received to the information providing device 10.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the transmitting device T1 and the receiving device R1 are arranged at a predetermined position in the area A1, and the transmitting device T2 and the receiving device T2 are arranged at a predetermined position in the area A2. Shall be. Here, the frequencies of the radio waves transmitted by the transmitting device T1 and the transmitting device T2 may be the same frequency or different frequencies. For example, when the area A1 and the area A2 are adjacent to each other, or when the receiving device R1 is arranged at a position where the radio waves of the transmitting devices T1 and T2 can be received, the frequency of the radio waves transmitted by the transmitting devices T1 and T2. May be set to be different.

[1-2. About the outline of estimation processing]
Here, when the degree of congestion of the users in the area A is estimated, for example, the degree of congestion can be notified in advance to the users who visit the area A. As a result, the user who visits the area A can change the destination to a more vacant facility, change the visit timing, adjust the state timing to the train, and so on. However, when estimating the degree of congestion of facility R by the technology of specifying (estimating) the current position of each user, the positions of all users are specified, and based on the specific result, the users located in facility R It takes time and effort because it is necessary to count the number. In addition, not all users have the terminal device required to specify the current position, so that the estimation accuracy may decrease.

Therefore, the information providing device 10 executes the following estimation process. First, the information providing device 10 acquires intensity information indicating the strength of the radio wave when the predetermined receiving device R receives the radio wave transmitted by the predetermined transmitting device T. Then, the information providing device 10 estimates the degree of congestion in the area where the transmitting device T and the receiving device R are installed, based on the strength indicated by the strength information.

For example, radio waves used in conventional wireless communication such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) have the property of penetrating the human body and walls. On the other hand, radio waves in UWB have the property of being easily attenuated by the human body, walls, and the like. Therefore, the information providing device 10 estimates the degree of congestion of the user in the area based on the degree of attenuation of the radio wave intensity indicated by the intensity information. For example, the information providing device 10 may estimate a higher degree of congestion as the intensity indicated by the intensity information is weaker. Further, the information providing device 10 estimates the degree of radio waves attenuated by an object located in the region among the radio waves transmitted by the transmitting device T based on the intensity indicated by the intensity information, and is congested based on the estimated degree. The degree may be estimated.

For example, the information providing device 10 determines the intensity of the radio wave received by the receiving device R1 (for example, -50 decibels) when the transmitting device T1 transmits a radio wave of −90 decibels in a state where there is no user in the area A1. Hold as standard strength. In such a case, it is estimated that the intensity of the radio wave received by the receiving device R1 decreases as the number of users located in the area A1 increases. Therefore, the information providing device 10 estimates the degree of congestion in the region A1 according to the width in which the intensity of the radio wave received by the receiving device R1 is reduced from the reference intensity. For example, the information providing device 10 estimates that the user is not present or is not congested when the intensity of the radio wave indicated by the intensity information received from the receiving device R1 is -50 decibels to -40 decibels. When the intensity of the radio wave indicated by the intensity information received from the receiving device R1 is -40 decibels to -20 decibels, it is estimated that the congestion is moderate, and the intensity of the radio wave indicated by the intensity information received from the receiving device R1 is high. When it is -20 dB to -10 dB, it may be estimated that the degree of congestion is high.

Further, the information providing device 10 may calculate a numerical value indicating the degree of congestion from the value of the radio wave intensity by using a predetermined equation. For example, when the intensity of the radio wave indicated by the intensity information received from the receiving device R1 is −50 dB, the information providing device 10 calculates the degree of congestion “0” (a numerical value indicating that there is no congestion at all). When the intensity of the radio wave indicated by the intensity information received from the receiving device R1 is -30 decibels, the degree of congestion "50" (a numerical value with moderate congestion) is calculated, and the intensity information received from the receiving device R1 indicates. When the strength of the radio wave is 0 decibel, the degree of congestion "100" (a numerical value indicating that it is extremely congested) may be calculated.

In this way, the information providing device 10 specifies the degree of attenuation of the radio wave based on the intensity information in the predetermined region, and estimates the congestion in the predetermined region based on the specified attenuation concrete. As a result of such processing, the information providing device 10 can estimate the congestion in the region from the radio wave intensity measured by a single device without measuring the position of each user, so that the information providing device 10 is easily and accurately congested. The degree can be estimated.

[1-3. About an example of estimation processing]
Hereinafter, an example of the estimation process executed by the information providing device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the distance between the transmitting terminal T1 installed in the area A1 and the receiving device R1 and the distance between the transmitting terminal T2 installed in the area A2 and the receiving device R2 are 5 meters, respectively. Suppose there is. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that seven users U1 to U7 are located in the area A1 and two users U8 and U9 are located in the area A2. Further, it is assumed that the area A1 and the area A2 have the same size. In the following description, users U1 to U9 may be collectively referred to as user U.

First, the transmitter T1 installed in the area A1 outputs UWB radio waves at predetermined time intervals (step S1). In such a case, when the receiving device R1 receives the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting device T1, the receiving device R1 measures the radio wave intensity of the received radio wave (step S2). Further, the transmitter T2 installed in the area A2 outputs UWB radio waves at predetermined time intervals (step S3). In such a case, when the receiving device R2 receives the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting device T2, the receiving device R2 measures the radio wave intensity of the received radio wave (step S4).

In such a case, the information providing device 10 acquires intensity information indicating the radio wave intensity received by each receiving device R (step S6). Then, the information providing device 10 estimates the degree of congestion in each region A based on the intensity indicated by each radio wave information (step S7).

Here, more users U are located in the area A1 than in the area A2. As a result, there is a high possibility that many users U are located on the path from the transmitting device T1 to the receiving device R1, and it is considered that the area A1 is more likely to be attenuated than the area A2. Therefore, for example, the receiving device R1 receives a radio wave having a weaker intensity than when the user U is not located in the area A1. In other words, the receiving device R1 receives the same intensity of propagation as when propagating a distance of 10 meters, which is longer than the distance of 5 meters between the transmitting terminal T1 and the receiving device R1.

On the other hand, there are not many users U in the area A1. As a result, the possibility that the user U is located on the path from the transmitting device T2 to the receiving device R2 is low, and it is considered that the area A2 is less likely to be attenuated than the area A1. Therefore, for example, the receiving device R2 receives a radio wave having a strength stronger than that of the region A1. In other words, the receiving device R2 is longer than the distance of 5 meters between the transmitting terminal T2 and the receiving device R2, but is stronger than the strength of the radio wave received by the receiving device R1, for example, a distance of 6 meters. Will receive the same intensity of propagation as when it propagated.

Therefore, for example, the information providing device 10 maintains the radio wave intensity when propagating a distance of 5 meters as the reference intensity of the area A1 and the area A2. Then, the information providing device 10 estimates that the area A is not congested when the reception intensity is the radio wave intensity when propagating the distance of 5 meters, and when the reception intensity propagates the distance of 6 meters. If it is weaker than the radio field strength of, it is estimated that the congestion degree of the area A is medium. For example, if the reception strength is weaker than the radio wave strength when propagating a distance of 10 meters, the congestion degree of the area A is low. Estimated to be high. To give a more specific example, the information providing device 10 estimates that the degree of congestion in the area A1 is high, and that the degree of congestion in the area A2 is low.

Then, the information providing device 10 notifies the user OP, which is the notification destination, of the estimated degree of congestion (step S8). As a result, the user OP can determine that the area A1 is congested and therefore heads for the more vacant area A2.

[1-4. About radio waves]
In the above-mentioned example, the information providing device 10 uses the same radio field strength as the reference strength for each of the regions A1 and A2. However, the embodiment is not limited to this.

For example, when the area A1 is wider than the area A2, or when the distance between the transmitting device T1 and the receiving device R1 is longer than the distance between the transmitting device T2 and the receiving device T2, the reference strength of the area A1 is set as the reference strength of the area A2. A strength lower than the reference strength may be set. Further, in the information providing device 10, the distance between the transmitting device T1 and the receiving device R1 is about the same as the distance between the transmitting device T2 and the receiving device T2, but when the area A1 is wider than the area A2, the area A1 As the reference strength of, a strength lower than the reference strength of the region A2 may be set. Further, the information providing device 10 may set a reference intensity in consideration of the degree of attenuation of radio waves according to the wall material in each region A, the shape of the region A, and the like.

Further, the information providing device 10 may adopt radio waves having different frequencies in the area A1 and the area A2. For example, the transmitting device T1 and the receiving device R1 may transmit and receive radio waves of the first frequency, and the transmitting device T2 and the receiving device R2 may transmit and receive radio waves of the second frequency. Here, in consideration of the fact that the degree of attenuation of radio waves changes according to the frequency, the information providing device 10 may set the reference intensity according to the frequency of the radio waves used in each of the regions A1 and A2.

[1-5. Radio field strength used for estimation]
Further, the information providing device 10 may estimate the degree of congestion in the area A based on one intensity information, or may estimate the degree of congestion in the area A based on a plurality of intensity information. For example, the information providing device 10 may set the reference intensity based on the average value of the radio wave intensity of the radio wave received by the receiving device R1 in one minute, and is congested based on such an average value. The degree may be estimated. Further, the information providing device 10 may install a plurality of receiving devices R in the area A1 and estimate the degree of congestion based on the average value of the radio wave intensities of the radio waves received by each receiving device R.

Further, the information providing device 10 may estimate the degree of congestion according to the distribution instead of the average value of the received radio wave intensities. For example, the information providing device 10 acquires the distribution of radio wave intensities as a reference distribution from a plurality of radio wave intensities measured when there is no user in the area A. Then, the information providing device 10 may estimate the degree of congestion based on the comparison result between the distribution of the radio wave intensity at the time of estimation and the reference distribution. For example, the information providing device 10 may presume that there is a user in the region A when the radio wave intensity at the peak of the distribution is weaker than the radio wave intensity at the peak of the reference distribution. Further, the information providing device 10 may estimate that the larger the difference between the peaks, the higher the degree of congestion.

[1-6. About the standard]
Here, the information providing device 10 may adopt a reference intensity or a reference distribution based on the radio wave intensity received in an arbitrary state. For example, the information providing device 10 holds the radio wave intensity acquired when a standard number of users are present and the average value thereof as a reference intensity. Then, the information providing device 10 estimates that the measured radio wave intensity is weaker than the standard strength, and is more crowded than the standard, and when the measured radio wave strength is stronger than the standard strength, the information providing device 10 is more congested than the standard. It may be estimated that it is not crowded. Further, for example, the information providing device 10 holds the distribution of the radio wave intensity acquired when a standard number of users are located as a reference distribution. Then, the information providing device 10 may estimate whether or not it is more congested than the standard based on the comparison result between the measured radio wave intensity distribution and the reference distribution.

[1-7. About transmitter and receiver]
Here, in the above description, the information providing device 10 estimates the degree of congestion by using the transmitting device T and the receiving device R installed in the facility. However, the embodiment is not limited to this.

In recent years, a function of transmitting or receiving UWB radio waves has been added to a terminal device used by a user U such as a smart device. The information providing device 10 uses such a terminal device as a transmitting device T or a receiving device. By using it as R, the degree of congestion may be estimated.

For example, the information providing device 10 acquires the radio wave strength when the receiving device R1 receives the UWB radio wave transmitted by the terminal device 101 owned by the user U1 in the area A1. Then, the information providing device 10 may estimate the degree of congestion in the region A1 based on, for example, the average value or distribution of the received radio wave intensities.

Further, for example, the information providing device 10 acquires the radio wave intensity when the terminal device 101 of the user U1 transmits the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting device T1 in the area A1. Then, the information providing device 10 may estimate the degree of congestion in the region A1 based on, for example, the average value or distribution of the received radio wave intensities.

Further, the information providing device 10 is a terminal device used by the first user located in the area A, and the radio wave transmitted by the first terminal device operating as the transmitting device T is used in the second use located in the area A. It is a terminal device used by a person, and may acquire intensity information indicating the intensity of the radio wave received by the second terminal device operating as the receiving device R.

For example, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing variations in processing in which the information providing device according to the embodiment measures congestion. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of users U1 to U7 are located in the area A3. Further, the users U1 and U2 own the terminal devices 101 and 102, respectively.

Here, the terminal device 100 is a smart device such as a smartphone or tablet, and is a mobile terminal capable of communicating with an arbitrary server device via a wireless communication network such as 3G (Generation) or LTE (Long Term Evolution). It is a device. Further, the terminal device 100 is a screen of a liquid crystal display or the like and has a screen having a touch panel function, and the user can tap, slide, scroll, or the like with a finger or a stylus to display data such as contents. Accepts various operations.

Further, the terminal device 100 has an antenna for transmitting UWB radio waves with a predetermined intensity and an antenna for receiving UWB radio waves. Further, it is assumed that the terminal device 100 has a function for measuring the radio wave intensity of the received radio wave.

In the case shown in FIG. 2, the terminal device 102 outputs UWB radio waves at predetermined time intervals, similarly to the transmitting device T (step S1). On the other hand, the terminal device 101 continuously measures the radio wave intensity of the radio wave transmitted by the terminal device 102 (step S2). Then, the terminal device 101 transmits the intensity information indicating each measured radio wave intensity to the information providing device 10 (step S3).

Here, the user U1 who uses the terminal device 101 and the user U2 who uses the terminal device 102 freely move in the area A3. Therefore, it is considered that the radio wave intensity of the radio wave received by the terminal device 101 changes each time. Therefore, the information providing device 10 estimates the degree of congestion based on the comparison result between the intensity distribution indicated by the intensity information and the reference distribution (step S4).

For example, the information providing device 10 acquires the radio field intensity measured by the terminal device 100 located in the area A3 at a predetermined timing (for example, when the area A3 is a standard congestion condition). To give a more specific example, the information providing device 10 is based on the degree of congestion in the area A3 at a predetermined timing, and when the degree of congestion becomes the reference, the terminal device 100 of the user U located in the area A3 , Acquires the radio wave strength when receiving the radio wave transmitted from the other terminal device 100. Then, the information providing device 10 uses the acquired distribution of the radio wave intensity as a reference intensity. In the information providing device 10, when the transmitting device T is installed in the area A3, the radio wave strength when the terminal device 100 of the user U located in the area A3 receives the radio wave transmitted from the transmitting device T. The distribution of may be used as the reference intensity. Further, in the information providing device 10, when the receiving device R is installed in the area A3, the radio wave intensity when the receiving device R receives the radio wave transmitted by the terminal device 100 of the user U located in the area A3. The distribution may be used as the reference intensity.

Then, the information providing device 10 compares the distribution of the radio field intensity acquired at the time of estimation with the reference distribution, and the distribution of the radio wave intensity acquired at the time of estimation has a weaker intensity distribution as compared with the reference distribution. If it is, it is estimated that the area A3 is more crowded than the reference time. Further, in the information providing device 10, when the distribution of the radio wave intensity acquired at the time of estimation is a weaker distribution than the reference distribution, the area A3 is less congested than at the time of reference ( It is estimated that it is vacant).

The information providing device 10 may estimate the degree of congestion based on the shift amount PSH of the peak in the distribution. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the peak of the distribution at the time of estimation shown by the solid line is shifted to a lower radio field intensity than the peak of the reference distribution shown by the dotted line. In such a case, the information providing device 10 may estimate how much the information providing device 10 is more crowded than the reference time based on the shift amount PSH. For example, the information providing device 10 is an equation that outputs a linear or non-linear value as the degree of congestion with respect to the shift amount PSH, and the radio wave intensity at which the peak of the distribution at the time of estimation is located is the radio wave where the peak of the reference distribution is located. The degree of congestion may be estimated based on a predetermined equation that outputs a higher value of the degree of congestion as it is weaker than the intensity.

Then, the information providing device 10 notifies the user OP of the estimated degree of congestion (step S5). As a result of such processing, the information providing device 10 can easily and accurately estimate the degree of congestion in the region A3.

[1-8. About processing considering the reference distance]
Here, when the terminal device 100 is freely movable, it is considered that the radio wave intensity changes significantly. Therefore, the terminal device 100 may set a reference distance (or reference intensity) from the measured radio wave intensity and estimate the degree of congestion from the set reference distance (or reference intensity).

For example, the information providing device 10 specifies the strongest radio wave strength among the radio wave strengths measured by the terminal device 100 at the time of reference generation as the reference time reference strength. Subsequently, the information providing device 10 specifies the strongest radio wave strength among the radio wave strengths measured by the terminal device 100 as the measurement reference strength at the time of estimation. Then, when the estimated time reference strength is stronger than the reference time reference strength, the information providing device 10 estimates that the region A is vacant than the reference time, and when the estimated time reference strength is weaker than the reference time reference strength. May be estimated that the area A is more crowded than the reference time.

Further, for example, the information providing device 10 estimates the distance between the terminal devices 100 as the reference time distance from the reference time reference strength, and estimates the distance between the terminal devices 100 as the estimated time distance from the estimation time reference strength. .. Then, when the estimated time distance is longer than the reference time distance, the information providing device 10 estimates that the area A is more congested than the reference time, and the estimated time distance is shorter than the reference time distance. In this case, it may be estimated that the area A is more vacant than the reference time.

Further, the information providing device 10 uses the strongest intensity of the radio waves received by the receiving device R in the region A as a reference, and estimates the congestion specific based on the comparison result between the reference intensity and other intensities. You may. For example, the information providing device 10 specifies the strongest intensity of the radio waves received by the receiving device R and the terminal device 100 in the facility A as a reference intensity. Then, the information providing device 10 generates a distribution of the intensity of the radio waves received by the receiving device R and the terminal device 100 in the facility A, and the narrower the difference between the peak and the reference intensity in the generated distribution, the more congested. May be presumed.

[1-9. About processing considering distance]
Here, the information providing device 10 may acquire the distance between the terminal devices 100 and estimate the degree of congestion based on the acquired distance and the radio wave intensity. For example, the information providing device 10 acquires intensity information indicating the intensity of the radio wave received by the terminal device 101 from the terminal device 101, and the position measured by the terminal device 101 using a positioning system such as GPS (Global Positioning System). Acquire the position information indicating. In addition, the information providing device 10 acquires position information indicating a position when the terminal device 102 transmits a radio wave.

Then, the information providing device 10 calculates the distance between the terminal device 101 and the terminal device 102 based on each position information. Further, the information providing device 10 estimates the distance between the terminal device 101 and the terminal device 102 from the strength indicated by the strength information. For example, the information providing device 10 estimates the distance from the radio wave strength, assuming that there is no user between the terminal device 101 and the terminal device 102. Various known techniques and equations can be used to estimate such a distance.

Then, when the distance estimated from the radio wave intensity is longer than the distance specified from the position information, the information providing device 10 may estimate that the area A is congested. Further, the information providing device 10 may estimate that the greater the difference between the distances, the higher the degree of congestion in the area A. Further, the information providing device 10 estimates the distance from each of the plurality of intensity information and specifies the distribution of the distance. Then, the information providing device 10 may estimate the degree of congestion according to the distribution of the distance.

[1-10. About estimation using the position between terminals]
In the above example, the information providing device 10 estimates the degree of congestion in the region A based on the distribution of the intensity of the radio waves transmitted and received between the terminal devices 100. Here, the information providing device 10 uses various positioning methods to connect the transmitting device T (or the terminal device 100 operating as the transmitting device T) and the receiving device R (or the terminal device 100 operating as the receiving device R). The degree of congestion may be estimated based on the distance between them.

For example, the information providing device 10 acquires the distance between the transmitting device T (or the terminal device 100 operating as the transmitting device T) and the receiving device R (or the terminal device 100 operating as the receiving device R). To give a more specific example, the information providing device 10 operates as a transmitting device T (or a terminal device 100 operating as a transmitting device T) and a receiving device R (or a receiving device R) based on a positioning system such as GPS. Position information indicating the position with the terminal device 100) is specified from the transmission / reception device TR (or the terminal device 100), and the distance between the specified positions is calculated as the transmission / reception distance.

Further, in another example, the information providing device 10 communicates between the transmission / reception device TR and the terminal device 100 by using a communication method such as BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) in which the attenuation of radio waves is not easily affected by the degree of congestion. Acquires the signal strength during communication. Then, the information providing device 10 calculates the distance between the transmission / reception device TR and the terminal device 100 as the transmission / reception distance based on the acquired radio wave intensity.

Subsequently, the information providing device 10 acquires strength information indicating the radio wave strength when the transmission / reception device TR and the terminal device 100 communicate with each other via UWB, and based on the acquired strength information, the transmission / reception device TR and the terminal device 100 The distance between them is calculated as the comparison distance. Here, as the number of users located in the area A increases, the radio field intensity during communication by UWB tends to be attenuated. As a result, the higher the degree of congestion, the larger the value of the comparison distance as compared with the transmission / reception distance.

Therefore, the information providing device 10 may estimate the degree of congestion in the area A as a comparison result between the transmission / reception distance and the comparison distance. For example, the information providing device 10 may estimate the degree of congestion of a higher value as the value obtained by subtracting the transmission / reception distance from the comparison distance is larger. As a result of such processing, the information providing device 10 can appropriately estimate the degree of congestion in the area A.

[1-11. Others]
When three or more terminal devices 100 are present in the area A3, the information providing device 10 may use one terminal device 100 as the transmitting device T and the other terminal device 100 as the receiving device R, and may use a plurality of terminals. The device 100 may be the transmitting device T, and the other terminal device 100 may be the receiving device R. Further, the information providing device 10 may use the terminal device 100 as the transmitting device T and the receiving device R. For example, the information providing device 10 causes each terminal device 100 to emit radio waves of different frequencies, and measures the intensity of the radio waves received by each terminal device 100 for each frequency. Then, the information providing device 10 may estimate the degree of congestion in the region A3 based on the intensity of the radio wave measured by each terminal device 100 for each frequency.

Further, the information providing device 10 may estimate the degree of congestion by using various models such as a neural network and a support vector machine that have learned the relationship between the radio wave intensity and the degree of congestion. For example, the information providing device 10 acquires a set of the degree of congestion in the area A and the radio wave intensity acquired at the time of the degree of congestion as learning data. In such a case, the information providing device 10 learns the model so as to output the degree of congestion when the radio wave intensity is input to the model. Then, when the information providing device 10 inputs the degree of congestion acquired at the time of estimation into the model, the degree of congestion output by the model may be used as the estimation result.

Further, the information providing device 10 may use a set of radio wave intensities measured by the plurality of terminal devices 100 and the receiving device R as a learning model, and input a plurality of radio wave intensities acquired at the time of estimation into the model. Further, the information providing device 10 may estimate the degree of congestion by using the distribution of the radio wave intensity measured in advance as learning data and inputting the distribution of the radio wave intensity acquired at the time of estimation into the model.

Further, the information providing device 10 may consider the transmission intensity, which is the intensity of the radio waves transmitted by the terminal device 100 and the transmitting device T. For example, the information providing device 10 uses the difference between the transmission intensity and the reception intensity at the time of estimation as the reference intensity difference, and calculates the difference between the transmission intensity and the reception intensity at the time of estimation as the estimated intensity difference. Then, when the estimated intensity difference is larger than the reference intensity difference, the information providing device 10 may estimate that the region A is congested.

Further, the information providing device 10 may improve the accuracy of the degree of congestion by combining various methods described above. For example, the information providing device 10 may individually estimate the degree of congestion by any of the above-mentioned methods, and estimate the degree of congestion based on the comparison of the estimation results.

[2. Configuration of information providing device]
Hereinafter, an example of the functional configuration of the information providing device 10 described above will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the information providing device according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the information providing device 10 includes a communication unit 20, a storage unit 30, and a control unit 40.

The communication unit 20 is realized by, for example, a NIC (Network Interface Card) or the like. Then, the communication unit 20 is connected to the network N by wire or wirelessly, and information is provided between the terminal device 100, the transmission device T, and the reception device R (hereinafter, may be collectively referred to as “transmission / reception device TR”). Send and receive.

The storage unit 30 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a flash memory (Flash Memory), or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk. Further, the storage unit 30 stores the reference intensity database 31.

In the reference intensity database 31, the radio wave intensity at which the degree of congestion in the area A is measured in a predetermined state, that is, the reference intensity and the reference distribution which is the distribution thereof are registered for each region A. For example, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information registered in the reference strength database according to the embodiment.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, information such as "region ID (Identifier)", "region information", "transmission strength", "reference strength", and "reference distribution" is registered in the reference strength database 31. There is. The "area ID" is an identifier for identifying an area. Further, the "area information" is various information related to the area such as the location, area, and name of the area identified by the "area ID". Further, the "transmission intensity" is information indicating the intensity of the radio wave transmitted by the transmitter T installed in the associated area. Further, the "reference intensity" is an average value of the intensity of the radio wave received by the receiving device R installed in the area associated with the reference time. Further, the "reference distribution" is information indicating the distribution of the intensity of the radio waves received by the receiving device R installed in the area associated with the reference time.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, conceptual values such as "area information # 1" and "distribution information # 1" are described, but in reality, various data related to the area, numerical values indicating the distribution, etc. are registered. Will be done. In addition to the information shown in FIG. 4, various information related to each area may be registered in the reference strength database 31.

Returning to FIG. 3, the explanation will be continued. The control unit 40 is a controller, and for example, various programs stored in a storage device inside the information providing device 10 by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) are stored in a RAM or the like. Is realized by executing as a work area. Further, the control unit 40 is a controller, and may be realized by, for example, an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 40 includes a collection unit 41, a registration unit 42, an acquisition unit 43, an estimation unit 44, and a notification unit 45.

The collecting unit 41 collects the reference intensity and the reference distribution. For example, the collecting unit 41 outputs a radio wave having a predetermined intensity from the transmitting device T installed in the area A, and acquires the intensity of the radio wave received by the receiving device R. The collecting unit 41 may output radio waves of a predetermined intensity a plurality of times from the transmitting device T installed in the area A, and acquire the average value of the intensity of the radio waves received by the receiving device R.

The collecting unit 41 identifies the terminal device 100 located in the area A by using, for example, various positioning systems. Then, the collecting unit 41 may acquire the radio wave intensity of the radio wave received from the transmitting device T by the specified terminal device 100, and acquires the radio wave intensity of the radio wave received by the receiving device R from the specified terminal device 100. May be good. Further, the collecting unit 41 may acquire the radio wave intensity of the radio wave output by the first terminal device 100 located in the area A and received by the second terminal device 100 located in the area A. In addition, the collecting unit 41 may generate distribution information indicating the distribution of radio wave intensities.

The registration unit 42 registers the reference intensity and the reference distribution in the storage unit 30. For example, the registration unit 42 uses the intensity of the radio wave acquired by the collection unit 41 and its average value as the reference intensity, and registers the distribution information generated by the collection unit 41 in the reference intensity database 31 as information indicating the reference distribution.

The acquisition unit 43 acquires intensity information indicating the intensity of the radio wave when the predetermined receiving device R receives the radio wave transmitted by the predetermined transmitting device T. More specifically, the estimation unit 44 estimates and estimates the degree of the radio wave attenuated by an object such as a person located in the area among the radio waves transmitted by the transmitting device T based on the intensity indicated by the intensity information. Estimate the degree of congestion based on the degree. For example, when the acquisition unit 43 receives the designation of the facility R to be estimated from the terminal device (not shown) used by the user OP, the acquisition unit 43 causes the transmitting device T of the received facility R to transmit radio waves. Then, the acquisition unit 43 acquires the intensity information indicating the intensity of the radio wave received by the receiving device R.

The acquisition unit 43 is a terminal device 100 used by the user U located in the area A, and the receiving device R installed in the area A transmits radio waves transmitted by the terminal device 100 operating as the transmitting device T. Intensity information indicating the intensity at the time of reception may be acquired. For example, the acquisition unit 43 acquires position information from each terminal device 100 and identifies the terminal device 100 located in the area A. Then, the acquisition unit 43 may transmit the radio wave of a predetermined frequency to the specified terminal device 100 with a predetermined intensity, and acquire the intensity information indicating the intensity of the radio wave received by the receiving device R in the area A.

Further, the acquisition unit 43 may acquire intensity information indicating the intensity of the radio wave received by the terminal device 100, which is the terminal device 100 used by the user U located in the area A and operates as the receiving device R. .. For example, the acquisition unit 43 acquires position information from each terminal device 100 and identifies the terminal device 100 located in the area A. Then, the acquisition unit 43 causes the transmitting device T in the area A to transmit a radio wave of a predetermined frequency with a predetermined intensity, and acquires intensity information indicating the intensity of the radio wave received by the terminal device 100 from the specified terminal device 100. May be good.

Further, the acquisition unit 43 is a terminal device 100 used by the first user located in the area A, and the radio wave transmitted by the first terminal device operating as the transmitting device T is used for the second use located in the area. In the terminal device 100 used by a person, the intensity information indicating the intensity of the radio wave received by the second terminal device operating as the receiving device R may be acquired. For example, the acquisition unit 43 identifies a plurality of terminal devices 100 located in the area A by using the position information. Then, the acquisition unit 43 transmits a radio wave of a predetermined frequency to a part or all of the specified terminal device 100, and acquires intensity information indicating the intensity of the radio wave received by each terminal device 100 from each terminal device 100. You may.

The acquisition unit 43 may acquire a plurality of intensity information indicating the intensity of each radio wave periodically received by the receiving device R or the terminal device 100. Further, the acquisition unit 43 may further acquire distance information indicating the distance between the transmission device T and the reception device R.

The estimation unit 44 estimates the degree of congestion in the area where the transmitter T and the receiver R are installed, based on the intensity indicated by the intensity information. For example, the estimation unit 44 estimates the degree of congestion as the intensity indicated by the intensity information is weaker.

For example, the estimation unit 44 acquires the reference intensity in the region A to be estimated from the reference intensity database 31. Then, the estimation unit 44 compares the strength and its average value indicated by the strength information acquired by the acquisition unit 43 with the reference strength, and the strength indicated by the strength information acquired by the acquisition unit 43 and its average value are higher than the reference strength. If it is also low, it is estimated that the area A is more congested than the standard.

The estimation unit 44 may calculate a numerical value indicating the degree of congestion according to the difference between the reference strength and the acquired strength. For example, the estimation unit 44 may estimate that the weaker the acquired intensity is, the more crowded it is as compared with the reference intensity. Further, the estimation unit 44 calculates a numerical value indicating the degree of congestion in the region A from the values of the intensity and the average value indicated by the intensity information acquired by the acquisition unit 43, for example, using various equations set for each region. You may. The parameters of such an equation may be set based on the reference intensity.

Further, the estimation unit 44 may estimate the degree of congestion based on the intensity distribution. For example, the estimation unit 44 may generate a distribution of the intensity acquired by the acquisition unit 43, and estimate the degree of congestion from the generated distribution, the reference distribution, and the comparison result. For example, the estimation unit 44 may estimate that the region A is congested when the intensity at which the peak is present in the acquired intensity distribution is lower than the intensity at which the peak is present in the reference distribution.

Further, the estimation unit 44 estimates the congestion specific based on the strength of the radio wave received by the receiving device R in the region A as a reference, and based on the comparison result between the reference strength and other strengths. May be good. For example, the estimation unit 44 specifies the strongest intensity of the acquired radio waves as the reference intensity, and estimates that the narrower the difference between the peak and the reference intensity in the distribution of the acquired radio waves, the more congested. You may.

Further, the estimation unit 44 determines the degree of congestion based on the strength indicated by the strength information and the distance from the terminal device 100 serving as the transmitting device T or the transmitting device T to the terminal device 100 serving as the receiving device R or the receiving device R. You may estimate. For example, the estimation unit 44 may estimate the degree of congestion with a higher value as the distance indicated by the distance information becomes longer.

For example, the estimation unit 44 specifies the distance from the terminal device 100, which is the transmitting device T, to the terminal device 100, which is the receiving device R, based on the position information acquired from each terminal device 100. Subsequently, the estimation unit 44 calculates the intensity of the radio wave received when the radio wave propagates the specified distance as the reference intensity, assuming that there is no obstacle. Then, the estimation unit 44 may estimate the degree of congestion based on the difference between the calculated reference intensity and the actually measured intensity.

The notification unit 45 notifies the user OP of the estimation result. For example, the notification unit 45 outputs various contents including numerical values and texts indicating the degree of congestion estimated by the estimation unit 44 for the area A designated by the user OP to the terminal device used by the user OP.

[3. An example of the flow of processing executed by the information providing device]
Subsequently, the flow of processing executed by the information providing device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of processing executed by the information providing device according to the embodiment.

First, the information providing device 10 acquires the radio wave strength of the UWB received by the receiving device R (step S101). Subsequently, the information providing device 10 compares the acquired radio wave intensity with the reference intensity corresponding to the reference degree of congestion (step S102). Then, the information providing device 10 estimates the degree of congestion based on the comparison result (step S103), notifies the estimation result (step S104), and ends the process.

[4. Modification example]
In the above, an example of processing by the information providing device 10 has been described. However, the embodiment is not limited to this. Hereinafter, variations of the processing executed by the information providing device 10 will be described.

[4-1. About standard strength and standard distribution]
The information providing device 10 does not have to manage the reference strength database 31 by its own device. Further, even if the information providing device 10 does not generate a reference strength or a reference distribution from the measured values, for example, the presence or absence of obstacles in the region, the material of the wall, the size of the region A, the transmitting device T to the receiving device R. The reference intensity and the reference distribution may be estimated from the distance, the frequency of the radio wave used for processing, and the like. Further, when the information providing device 10 estimates the degree of congestion only from the intensity of radio waves acquired at the time of estimation by using various equations or the like, the information providing device 10 does not have to hold the reference intensity database 31.

[4-2. Others]
Further, among the processes described in the above-described embodiment, all or a part of the processes described as being automatically performed can be manually performed, and conversely, the processes described as being manually performed. It is also possible to automatically perform all or part of the above by a known method. In addition, the processing procedure, specific name, and information including various data and parameters shown in the above document and drawings can be arbitrarily changed unless otherwise specified. For example, the various information shown in each figure is not limited to the illustrated information.

Further, each component of each of the illustrated devices is a functional concept, and does not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown in the figure. That is, the specific form of distribution / integration of each device is not limited to the one shown in the figure, and all or part of the device is functionally or physically distributed / physically in arbitrary units according to various loads and usage conditions. Can be integrated and configured.

In addition, the above-described embodiments can be appropriately combined as long as the processing contents do not contradict each other.

[4-3. program〕
Further, the information providing device 10 according to the above-described embodiment is realized by, for example, a computer 1000 having a configuration as shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration. The computer 1000 is connected to the output device 1010 and the input device 1020, and the arithmetic unit 1030, the primary storage device 1040, the secondary storage device 1050, the output IF (Interface) 1060, the input IF 1070, and the network IF 1080 are connected by the bus 1090. Has.

The arithmetic unit 1030 operates based on a program stored in the primary storage device 1040 or the secondary storage device 1050, a program read from the input device 1020, or the like, and executes various processes. The primary storage device 1040 is a memory device that temporarily stores data used by the arithmetic unit 1030 for various calculations, such as a RAM. Further, the secondary storage device 1050 is a storage device in which data used by the arithmetic unit 1030 for various calculations and various databases are registered, such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and a flash memory. Is realized by.

The output IF 1060 is an interface for transmitting information to be output to an output device 1010 that outputs various information such as a monitor and a printer. For example, USB (Universal Serial Bus), DVI (Digital Visual Interface), and the like. It is realized by a connector of a standard such as HDMI (registered trademark) (High Definition Multimedia Interface). Further, the input IF 1070 is an interface for receiving information from various input devices 1020 such as a mouse, a keyboard, a scanner, and the like, and is realized by, for example, USB.

The input device 1020 includes, for example, an optical recording medium such as a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or a PD (Phase change rewritable Disk), a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MO (Magneto-Optical disk), or a tape. It may be a device that reads information from a medium, a magnetic recording medium, a semiconductor memory, or the like. Further, the input device 1020 may be an external storage medium such as a USB memory.

The network IF1080 receives data from another device via the network N and sends it to the arithmetic unit 1030, and also transmits the data generated by the arithmetic unit 1030 to the other device via the network N.

The arithmetic unit 1030 controls the output device 1010 and the input device 1020 via the output IF 1060 and the input IF 1070. For example, the arithmetic unit 1030 loads a program from the input device 1020 or the secondary storage device 1050 onto the primary storage device 1040, and executes the loaded program.

For example, when the computer 1000 functions as the information providing device 10, the arithmetic unit 1030 of the computer 1000 realizes the function of the control unit 40 by executing the program loaded on the primary storage device 1040.

[5. effect〕
As described above, the information providing device 10 acquires intensity information indicating the intensity of the radio wave when the predetermined receiving device R receives the radio wave transmitted by the predetermined transmitting device T. Then, the information providing device 10 estimates the degree of congestion in the area A in which the transmitting device T and the receiving device R are installed, based on the strength indicated by the strength information. As a result of such processing, the information providing device 10 can estimate the degree of congestion in the area A without specifying the user located in the area A, so that the degree of congestion can be easily and accurately estimated. Can be done. Further, since the information providing device 10 can estimate the degree of congestion without specifying the position of each user, the privacy of each user can be protected.

Further, the information providing device 10 estimates a higher degree of congestion as the intensity indicated by the intensity information is weaker. For example, the information providing device 10 estimates that the area A is congested when the intensity indicated by the intensity information is weaker than the threshold value corresponding to the area A. As a result of such processing, the information providing device 10 can appropriately estimate the degree of congestion in the area A.

Further, the information providing device 10 is intensity information indicating the intensity when the receiving device R arranged at the predetermined position of the area A receives the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting device T arranged at the predetermined position of the area A. To get. The information providing device 10 is a terminal device 100 used by a user located in the area A, and the radio wave transmitted by the terminal device 100 operating as the transmitting device T is transmitted by the receiving device R installed in the area A. You may acquire the intensity information which shows the intensity at the time of receiving. Further, the information providing device 10 may be a terminal device 100 used by a user located in the area A, and may acquire intensity information indicating the intensity of radio waves received by the terminal device 100 operating as the receiving device R. .. Further, the information providing device 10 is a terminal device 100 used by the first user located in the area A, and the radio wave transmitted by the first terminal device 100 operating as the transmitting device T is located in the area A. The terminal device 100 used by the second user may acquire intensity information indicating the intensity of the radio wave received by the second terminal device 100 operating as the receiving device R. In this way, the information providing device 10 can estimate the degree of congestion in the area A even if the transmitting device T, the receiving device R, or both of them are not installed in the area A.

Further, the information providing device 10 may acquire a plurality of intensity information and estimate the degree of congestion based on the intensity distribution indicated by each intensity information. As a result of such processing, the information providing device 10 can improve the estimation accuracy.

Further, the information providing device 10 uses the strongest intensity of the radio waves received by the receiving device R in the region A as a reference, and estimates the congestion specific based on the comparison result between the reference intensity and other intensities. .. As a result, the information providing device 10 can estimate the degree of congestion in the area A without measuring the reference intensity of the area A in advance.

In addition, the information providing device 10 acquires strength information indicating the strength of radio waves used for ultra-wideband wireless communication. In this way, the information providing device 10 estimates the degree of congestion in the region A by using radio waves that are easily attenuated, so that the estimation accuracy can be improved.

Further, the information providing device 10 further acquires distance information indicating the distance between the transmitting device T and the receiving device R, and estimates the degree of congestion based on the intensity indicated by the intensity information and the distance indicated by the distance information. .. Therefore, the information providing device 10 can estimate the degree of congestion in the area A without measuring the reference strength of the area A in advance.

Further, the information providing device 10 estimates the degree of the radio wave attenuated by the object in the region A among the radio waves transmitted by the transmitting device T based on the intensity indicated by the intensity information, and is congested based on the estimated degree. Estimate the degree. Therefore, the information providing device 10 can estimate the degree of congestion in the area A.

Although some of the embodiments of the present application have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, these are examples, and various modifications are made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, including the embodiments described in the disclosure column of the invention. It is possible to practice the present invention in other improved forms.

Further, the above-mentioned "section, module, unit" can be read as "means" or "circuit". For example, the imparting unit can be read as a specific means or a specific circuit.

10 Information providing device 20 Communication unit 30 Storage unit 31 Reference strength database 40 Control unit 41 Collection unit 42 Registration unit 43 Acquisition unit 44 Estimate unit 45 Notification unit 100-102 Terminal device T, T1, T2 Transmitter R, R1, R2 Reception Device TR transmitter / receiver U, U1 to U9 users

Claims (14)

Based on the acquisition unit that acquires the intensity information indicating the intensity of the radio wave when the predetermined receiving device receives the radio wave transmitted by the predetermined transmitting device, and the intensity indicated by the intensity information, the transmitting device and the receiving device An estimation device characterized by having an estimation unit that estimates the degree of congestion in the installed area. The estimation device according to claim 1, wherein the estimation unit estimates a higher degree of congestion as the intensity indicated by the intensity information is weaker. The estimation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the estimation unit estimates that the region is congested when the strength indicated by the strength information is weaker than the threshold value corresponding to the region. .. The acquisition unit acquires intensity information indicating the intensity when the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting device arranged at a predetermined position in the region is received by the receiving device arranged at a predetermined position in the region. The estimation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The acquisition unit is a terminal device used by a user located in the area, and determines the intensity when a receiving device installed in the area receives a radio wave transmitted by the terminal device operating as the transmitting device. The estimation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the strength information shown is acquired. The acquisition unit is a terminal device used by a user located in the area, and is characterized in that it acquires intensity information indicating the intensity of radio waves received by the terminal device operating as the receiving device. The estimation device according to any one of ~ 3. The acquisition unit is a terminal device used by the first user located in the area, and the radio wave transmitted by the first terminal device operating as the transmitting device is used by the second user located in the area. The estimation according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the terminal device is to acquire intensity information indicating the intensity of the radio wave received by the second terminal device operating as the receiving device. apparatus. The acquisition unit acquires a plurality of strength information and obtains a plurality of strength information.
The estimation device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the estimation unit estimates the degree of congestion based on the intensity distribution indicated by each intensity information. The estimation unit is characterized in that the strength of the radio waves received by the receiving device in the region is used as a reference, and the degree of congestion is estimated based on the result of comparison between the reference strength and other strengths. The estimation device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The estimation device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the acquisition unit acquires intensity information indicating the intensity of radio waves used for ultra-wideband wireless communication. The acquisition unit further acquires distance information indicating the distance between the transmitting device and the receiving device.
The estimation device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the estimation unit estimates the degree of congestion based on the intensity indicated by the intensity information and the distance indicated by the distance information. .. The estimation unit estimates the degree of radio waves attenuated by an object located in the region among the radio waves transmitted by the transmitter based on the intensity indicated by the intensity information, and the congestion is based on the estimated degree. The estimation device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the degree is estimated. This is the acquisition method executed by the acquisition device.
Based on the acquisition step of acquiring the intensity information indicating the intensity of the radio wave when the predetermined receiving device receives the radio wave transmitted by the predetermined transmitting device and the intensity indicated by the intensity information, the transmitting device and the receiving device An estimation method including an estimation process for estimating the degree of congestion in an installed area. Based on the acquisition procedure for acquiring the intensity information indicating the intensity of the radio wave when the predetermined receiving device receives the radio wave transmitted by the predetermined transmitting device and the intensity indicated by the intensity information, the transmitting device and the receiving device An estimation program for causing a computer to perform an estimation procedure for estimating the degree of congestion in an installed area.

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