JP2024016690A - Information processor, method for processing information, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly control a facility by using a system for managing a usage situation in real time.

SOLUTION: An information processor for managing the usage situation of seats in a facility holds seat information in which area information showing an area and facility information showing a facility are related to each other and facility information showing whether separate control of facilities is to be accepted, secures one of the seats in response to a request from a user terminal, and sends facility information regarding a facility which can be controlled by the user terminal while the seat is secured of facilities around the secured seat, to the user terminal.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

COPYRIGHT: (C)2024,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present disclosure relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and an information processing program.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, methods are known for controlling equipment to create a more comfortable environment in an environment used by multiple people, such as an office. Patent Document 1 discloses a method of determining the distribution of people using a sensor and controlling air conditioning equipment based on the determined distribution of people.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-85077

However, it may be difficult to determine the distribution state of people using sensor detection information from the viewpoint of sensor cost and accuracy. Therefore, one aspect of the present disclosure aims to appropriately control equipment by utilizing a system that manages real-time usage status.

An information providing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing device that manages the usage status of seats in a facility, and for each seat, associates area information indicating an area and equipment information indicating a facility. It holds seat information and equipment information indicating whether control can be accepted for each equipment, secures one of the seats in response to a request from a user terminal, and informs the user terminal of the reserved seat. The present invention is characterized by transmitting equipment information regarding equipment that can be controlled from the user terminal while securing a seat among equipment near the seat.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to appropriately control equipment by utilizing a system that manages usage status in real time.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a management system according to an embodiment. It is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a management server. FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of a management server, a tablet terminal, and a user terminal. It is a figure showing an example of a seat table. It is a figure which shows an example of a user table and an equipment table. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram regarding the use of seats and air conditioning control in an office. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an office layout image. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a user interface on a user terminal. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the layout of an office. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a user interface on a tablet terminal. It is a flowchart of display control processing in a tablet terminal. It is a flowchart of the determination process which determines the necessity of equipment confirmation in a management server. It is a flowchart of equipment confirmation processing in a tablet terminal. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a user interface on a tablet terminal. It is a flowchart of the determination process for managing the terminal which accepts equipment control in a management server. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a user interface on a tablet terminal. It is a flowchart of the notification process performed by the management server. This is an example of a notification displayed on the tablet terminal 40.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the technology of the present disclosure, and not all combinations of features described in the present embodiments are essential for solving the above problems.

[First embodiment]
<Example of configuration of management system 10>
In the first embodiment, in a system that manages real-time seat usage in an office, a user terminal is used to secure a seat and check-in, and while the user terminal is securing a seat, equipment such as an air conditioner is controlled from the user terminal. We will explain how this can be done. In this embodiment, a tablet terminal is installed at each seat, and when a user checks in to a seat, the equipment near the seat can be controlled from the tablet terminal of the checked-in seat. Note that securing a seat means keeping an empty seat for a predetermined period of time from the time the reservation of a seat is accepted in response to a request from a user terminal. Further, check-in means updating a reserved seat or a vacant seat from vacant to currently occupied.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a management system 1 according to an embodiment. The management system 10 is a system that controls the usage status of seats and equipment in the office 30. As shown in FIG. -n, an air conditioner 50, a smart remote control 60, a lighting 70, and a user terminal 20. The management server 10, the tablet terminals 40-1 to 40-n, the smart remote controller 60, and the user terminal 20 are each communicably connected via a network 80. Network 80 is any wired or wireless communication network. The network 80 is, for example, the Internet, a public line network, a private line network, or the like.

On each seat in the office 30, one of the tablet terminals 40-1 to 40-n is installed. Note that the plurality of tablet terminals will be collectively referred to as tablet terminal 40 or any one of them will be referred to as tablet terminal 40. The tablet terminal 40 is a seat terminal that displays seat usage status, check-in images, and the like. Furthermore, the office 30 is installed with one or more air conditioners 50 and lighting 70. One or more smart remote controllers 60 can control the air conditioner 50 and lights 70 through infrared communication.

The smart remote controller 60 is installed at a position where it can communicate with the air conditioner 50 and the lighting 70 in infrared rays. It is also assumed that the tablet terminal 40 can control equipment installed in advance (air conditioner 50 and lighting 70). The method of controlling the air conditioner 50 and the lighting 70 from the tablet terminal 40 is well known, so a detailed explanation will be omitted, but for example, the method is controlled via a smart remote control 60 that is communicatively connected. However, since the air conditioner 50 and the lighting 70 themselves have a communication function, a configuration without the smart remote controller 60 can also be used. The tablet terminal 40 displays check-in information, information about the user who is checking in (the user who is using the seat), and information about controllable equipment. Although only one office 30 and one user terminal 20 are shown in FIG. 1, multiple offices 30 and multiple user terminals 40 may exist.

The management server 10 is an information processing device that manages the usage status of each seat in the office 30 and executes seat reservation processing and check-in processing received from the user terminal 20. The management server 10 also executes various determination processes in connection with the seat reservation process and the check-in process.

The user terminal 20 is an information processing device owned by a user who uses the services provided by the management system 10. The user terminal 20 is assumed to be a smartphone carried by the user, but it may also be a portable terminal such as a tablet, or another terminal such as a desktop PC or a notebook PC. A web browser for viewing websites and the like is installed in the user terminal 20, and congestion information transmitted from the management server 10 is displayed by the web browser.

<Example of hardware configuration of management server 10>
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the management server 10. The management server 10 is an information processing device, and can be a general-purpose server computer, a personal computer, or the like. It is also possible to configure the management server 10 using multiple computers. As shown in the figure, the management server 10 physically includes one or more CPUs (Central Processing Units) 110 that are processors, a memory 120, a storage 130, a communication interface for communicating with a network N, etc. It has a communication section 140 and an input/output section 150. Each hardware component of the management server 200 is interconnected via a bus.

The CPU 110 executes programs to be described later that are stored in advance in the storage 130, so that each piece of hardware operates under the control of the CPU 110, and each function of the management server 10 shown in FIG. 3 is realized. The memory 120 temporarily stores programs loaded from the storage 130 and provides a work area for the CPU 110. The memory 120 also temporarily stores various data generated while the CPU 110 is executing a program. The memory 120 includes, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. Storage 130 stores various programs. The storage is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The communication unit 140 transmits and receives various data to and from an external information processing device via the network 80. The communication may be performed by wire or wirelessly, and any communication protocol may be used as long as mutual communication can be performed.

The input/output unit 150 includes an input device that receives input from various operations on the management server 10 and transmits information related to the input to the CPU 110, and an output device that outputs processing results of the CPU 110. The input device is realized by a touch panel, a mouse, a keyboard, etc., a microphone, and the like. Further, the output device is a display, a speaker, etc. The input/output unit 150 may have an input device and an output device integrated together like a touch panel display, or may be separated into an input device and an output device.

Although the hardware configuration of the management server 10 has been described, the hardware configurations of the tablet terminal 40 and the user terminal 20 are also similar to the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 2.

<Example of functional configuration of management system>
FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of a management system including the management server 10, the tablet terminal 40, and the user terminal 20. The functional configuration of the management server 10 will be explained first. The management server 10 includes a receiving section 11, a managing section 12, a transmitting section 13, and a holding section 14 as software modules executed by the CPU 110 (functions configured by loading various programs into the internal memory of the CPU 110). For convenience of description, these modules will be described below as the operating entity, but since it is the CPU 110 that actually executes these modules, the CPU 110 may also be the operating entity.

The holding unit 14 stores a database regarding the office 30. The database includes a seat table 141, a user table 142, and an equipment table 143. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the database is represented in a table format, but the database is not limited to this format, and may be constructed in any format as long as each piece of data is linked.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a seat table. The seat table 141 is a data set that stores information regarding seats for each office 30 (hereinafter also referred to as seat information). As an example, one seat information (that is, one record) includes seat ID, name, area ID, usage status, usage start time, scheduled end time, seat reservation reception time, seat reservation deadline, terminal ID, icon ID, equipment This is information associated with. “Seat ID” is identification information for uniquely identifying one seat in the office 30. “Name” is the name of the seat specified by the seat ID.

The area ID is identification information indicating to which of the areas set for the office 30 the office 30 belongs. "Usage status" is information that indicates the status of the seat, such as whether it is vacant, occupied, or reserved. be done.

"Usage start time" and "expected end time" are information recorded when the seat is in use, and indicate the time when check-in is accepted and the time when the use of the seat entered at check-in ends. Indicates scheduled time. "Seat reservation time" and "Seat reservation deadline" are information recorded when the usage status is seat reservation, and the time when seat reservation is accepted and the predetermined time set in advance are added to the seat reservation time. (the end time for securing a seat).

“Terminal ID” is identification information for uniquely identifying the tablet terminal 40 installed on the seat specified by the seat ID. As the terminal ID, for example, the MAC address of the communication unit 140 built into the facility terminal 30 is registered in advance. The "icon ID" is identification information for first identifying the icon in the office layout image. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a layout image of the office 30. In the example shown in FIG. 7, four desk groups (islands) each consisting of ten seats are installed in the office 30, and a circular icon is installed at each desk. The "icon ID" is information indicating which icon it corresponds to in the office layout image as shown in FIG. "Two-dimensional code" is a two-dimensional code displayed on the display screen of a tablet terminal for check-in, and is information that allows access to a specific URL set in advance. “Equipment” is information indicating equipment that affects the seat specified by the seat ID.

5(a) shows the user table 142, and FIG. 5(b) shows the equipment table 143. The user table 142 is a table in which information about users who can use the office 20 is stored. The user table 142 includes a "user ID" indicating identification information for specifying a user's location, an email address, an "icon image" indicating image data to be used for an icon, and "authentication information" for authenticating user information such as a password. '', ``Affiliation'' indicates the department to which the user belongs, ``Used'' indicates the seat in use if the user is currently using the seat, ``Secured'' indicates the reserved seat if the seat is currently reserved. Consisting of ``medium''.

The equipment table 143 is a table showing a group of equipment installed in the office 20 and to be managed by the management system 1. Information regarding each piece of equipment (hereinafter referred to as equipment information) is written. First, the equipment table 143 records "equipment ID" which is identification information for uniquely identifying equipment, "area ID" which shows the area affected by the equipment, and "name" which shows the name of the equipment. In addition, "seat secured" is seat secured control availability information indicating whether or not to accept control from the user terminal 20 that has held the seat when the seat in the corresponding area is kept. ” or “Not possible” is stored. "In use" is in-use control availability information indicating whether or not to accept control from the seat's tablet terminal 40 when the seat in the corresponding area is in use. Stored. Moreover, whether the power is ON or OFF is stored in the "operating status".

As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the equipment to be managed by the management system 1 is two air conditioners (air conditioners 1 and 2) and four lights (lights 1, 2, 3, and 4). . Air conditioners and lighting each have different areas of influence. Here, lighting 1 is area 1 (area ID "001"), lighting 2 is area 2 (area ID "002"), lighting 3 is area 3 (area ID "003"), and lighting 4 is area 4 (area ID "003"). It is a device that adjusts the brightness for "004". Air conditioner 1 is a device that adjusts the temperature of area 1 and area 2, and air conditioner 2 is a device that adjusts the temperature of area 3 and area 4. Therefore, for example, if the seat ID is 001 It can be seen that the seat is included in area 1 with area ID 001 and is in use, and that the lighting 1 and air conditioner 1 can be controlled from the tablet installed on the seat.

Returning to the explanation of FIG. 3. The receiving unit 11 in the management server 10 receives various information from the tablet terminal 40, the user terminal 20, and the smart remote controller 60 via the network 80. The management unit 12 manages each table in the holding unit 14. The management unit 12 updates the usage status of the seat table 141 in response to a request from the user terminal 20, and updates the operating status of the equipment table 143 in response to data from the smart remote controller 60. The transmitter 13 transmits various information to the tablet terminal 40, user terminal 20, and smart remote control 60 via the network 80.

Next, the functional configuration of the tablet terminal 40 will be explained. The tablet terminal 40 includes a receiving section 41, a display control section 42, and a transmitting section 43. Each function or process of the tablet terminal 40 is realized by a CPU included in the tablet terminal 40 executing various programs.

The receiving unit 41 communicates with the management server 10 and receives various information from the management server 10. Specifically, the receiving unit 41 receives information regarding the user who has secured a seat and information indicating that the check-in process has been completed. The display control unit 42 generates and displays a GUI screen according to information received from the management server 10. The display control unit 42 also accepts user operations on the GUI screen. The transmitter 43 transmits information input via the GUI screen to the management server 10 together with the terminal ID.

The functional configuration of the user terminal 20 will be explained. The user terminal 20 shakes the receiving section 21, display control section 22, and transmitting section 23. Each function or process of the user terminal 20 is realized by a CPU included in the user terminal 20 executing various programs.

The receiving unit 21 receives seat usage information in the office 20 from the management server 10 . The display control unit 22 controls the display screen based on usage information received from the management server 10. Further, in this embodiment, the user terminal 20 is a smartphone, and the display screen is also a device that receives user operations. Therefore, the display control unit 22 also functions as a reception unit that receives requests for inquiries about facility usage information, seats to be reserved, and equipment control in response to operations on the display screen. The transmitter 23 transmits to the management server 10 a request for information regarding the office, information about seats to be reserved, information regarding controlled equipment, and the like.

<Sequence regarding seat use and equipment control>
FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram regarding the use of seats and air conditioning control in an office by the user terminal 20, the management server 10, and the tablet terminal 40. Here, after securing a seat in the office 30 from the user terminal 20, and before arriving at the office 30, the air conditioner near the reserved seat is controlled, and the user terminal 20 is used to check in the seat (begin using the seat). ) Explain the process. Note that each process (step) will be expressed as "S" below.

In S<b>601 , the user terminal 20 receives a request for office usage information via the GUI displayed on the display screen by the display control unit 21 , and the transmission unit 23 transmits a request for office 30 usage information to the management server 10 . The image shown in FIG. 8(a) is an example of a GUI that is initially displayed. The user terminal accepts a request for usage information when "Confirm & Secure Seat" is tapped by the user.

In S602, the transmitting unit 13 of the management server 10 transmits the use information of the office 30 obtained by referring to the seat table 141, the layout image of the office 30 saved in advance, etc. to the user terminal 20.

In S603, the display control unit 21 of the user terminal 20 generates a UI of a layout image including office use information based on the information acquired from the management server 10, and displays it on the display screen. Here, the layout image shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. The layout image shown in FIG. 7 shows the seat groups installed in the office, the usage status of each seat, the installed equipment, etc. An icon image corresponding to the user is displayed on the icon of a seat that is in use, and a white circle indicates a seat that is not in use.

In S604, when the user terminal 20 receives selection of any one seat (here, a tap operation) through a user operation on the UI displayed in S603, the user terminal 20 transitions to the image shown in FIG. 8(b). In the image shown in FIG. 8(b), an area for inputting the scheduled end time of use and a reserve button including the text "Secure a seat" are displayed. When the expected usage end time is entered from the pull-down menu as the usage time, the reserve button becomes active (tapable). In this case, when the management system 1 receives a seat reservation request, the management system 1 secures the target seat for 30 minutes. When the reserve button is tapped, the transmitter 23 transmits a seat reserve request to the management server 10 along with the selected seat ID and scheduled end time. In addition, if a seat that is currently in use is selected by the user, the text "In use" will be displayed instead of "Vacant", and you will not be able to enter an indication of when the seat will end, or the reserve button will be inactive. An image is displayed with the information.

In S605, the receiving unit 11 in the management server 10 receives the seat reservation request, and the management unit 12 executes the seat reservation process. The seat reservation process is a process of updating the usage status of one seat on the seat table 141. The management unit 12 searches the seat table 141 by referring to the seat ID received as the seat reservation request, and updates the usage status of the target seat ID from "vacant" to "seat secured". Note that at this time, the real-time usage status of the office 30 is updated as shown in the layout image shown in FIG. In the layout image shown in FIG. 9, one of the seats is in a reserved state, and the white circle is changed to a circle with diagonal lines drawn.

In S606, the management server 10 transmits seat reservation completion information to notify the user terminal 20 and the tablet terminal 40 corresponding to the seat for which the seat reservation process has been completed that the seat reservation process has been completed. At this time, the seat reservation completion information transmitted by the management server 10 transmits equipment information regarding the equipment corresponding to the secured seat (including information indicating whether or not the equipment accepts control while the seat is being secured).

The tablet terminal 40 that has received the seat reservation completion information in S607 changes the initial screen displayed on the display screen (for example, the image shown in FIG. 10(a)) to an image (seat reservation UI) corresponding to the seat reservation process. . FIG. 10(b) is a diagram illustrating an example of the seat reservation UI. A two-dimensional code for check-in is displayed on the seat reservation UI.

In S608, the display control unit 22 of the user terminal 20 generates and displays a seat reservation completion UI based on the seat reservation completion information received by the receiving unit 23. The image shown in FIG. 8(c) is the seat reservation completion UI. The seat reservation completion UI displays the name of the seat that has been secured, text indicating that the seat is being secured, the remaining period for which the seat can be secured, and buttons that include the names of the equipment that can be controlled. In this embodiment, the setting is such that while a seat is being reserved, control of the air conditioner 50 can be accepted, but control of the lighting 70 cannot be accepted. Therefore, the only equipment that the user terminal 20 can control while securing a seat is the air conditioner near the secured seat.

In S609, the display control unit 22 in the user terminal 20 accepts control for controllable equipment (here, the air conditioner 1). FIG. 8(d) shows a UI image for accepting control of the air conditioner 1. In the image shown in FIG. 8(d), buttons for adjusting the power ON/OFF, mode (cooling, heating, fan), temperature, and air volume are displayed as parameters that can be instructed to the air conditioner 1. There is. When any button is selected (tapped), the transmitter 23 transmits instruction information (hereinafter referred to as air conditioning control information) according to the selected user operation to the management server 10.

In S610, the receiving unit 11 of the management server 10 acquires air conditioning control information from the user terminal 20 and executes air conditioning control processing. A known method can be applied to remotely control the air conditioner 1 from the user terminal 20. For example, the transmitter 13 transmits air conditioning control information to the smart remote controller 60 and controls the air conditioner 1 using the infrared communication function of the smart remote controller 60.

In S611, when the user who is the holder of the user terminal 20 arrives at his seat in the office 30, he scans the two-dimensional code displayed on the tablet terminal 40 on the seat with the user terminal 20, and the user terminal 20 reads the two-dimensional code. Access the corresponding URL. Thereby, the user terminal 20 accepts check-in. Note that the URL corresponding to the two-dimensional code is information set in advance for each seat.

In S612, the management unit 12 of the management server 10 acquires the information of the user terminal 20 that has accessed the predetermined URL set in advance, and compares it with the user terminal 20 that secured the seat in S605. The usage status of the target seat in 141 is updated from "seat secured" to "currently in use."

In S613, the transmitting unit 13 of the management server 10 transmits check-in completion information indicating that the check-in process is completed to the user terminal 20 and the tablet terminal 40 of the seat whose usage status has been updated. Furthermore, the check-in completion information transmitted by the transmitter 13 to the tablet terminal 40 includes information regarding equipment that can be controlled during use.

When the receiving unit 21 of the user terminal 20 receives the check-in completion information in S614, the display control unit 22 displays the check-in completion UI. The check-in completion UI is, for example, an image containing text such as "Check-in for office area D03 has been completed."

In S615, when the reception unit 41 of the tablet terminal 40 at the checked-in seat receives the check-in completion information, the display control unit 42 generates and displays an in-use UI. FIG. 10(c) is a diagram showing an example of the UI in use. Contains check-in user information and a check-out button (a button that includes the text "Terminate use"). In addition, buttons indicating equipment that can be controlled during use (here, a button labeled "Air conditioner 1" and a button labeled "Lighting 1") are displayed on the in-use UI.
Up to this point, the flow from securing a seat to executing the check-in process is completed.

<Display control processing during use on tablet terminals>
Here, a display control process on the tablet terminal for a checked-in seat (that is, a seat currently in use) will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of display control processing on the tablet terminal in use. The following processing is realized by the CPU of the tablet terminal 40 executing a program that can realize the flowchart shown in FIG.

In S1101, the display control unit 42 displays the above-mentioned in-use UI on the display screen. Subsequently, in S1102, the display control unit 42 determines whether the equipment designation has been accepted. Here, since the tablet terminal 40 is used, it is determined that the equipment designation has been accepted when the button labeled "Air conditioner 1" and the button labeled "Lighting 1" are selected by the tap operation. If the equipment designation is not accepted, the process returns to S1101, and if it is accepted, the process goes to S1103.

In S1103, the display control unit 23 displays an equipment control UI corresponding to the selected equipment. FIG. 10(d) is an image showing an example of the equipment control UI. Here, it is assumed that the button labeled "Lighting 1" has been selected, and the button labeled "ON" and the button labeled "OFF" are displayed in parallel on the equipment control UI. There is. The user can turn on (ON) or turn off (OFF) the light of the seat in use by operating the tablet terminal 40 placed on the seat in use.

In S1104, the display control unit 42 determines whether the equipment control operation has been accepted or not. If not, the process returns to S1103, and if the operation has been performed, the process proceeds to S1105.
In S1105, the transmitter 43 transmits the received equipment control information to the smart remote controller 60. For example, the equipment control information includes information specifying the target equipment and information indicating the content to be controlled (ON or OFF).

In S1106, the display control unit 23 returns to S1101 if the return operation is accepted, and returns to S1103 if the return operation is not accepted.

In parallel with the above processing, in S1107, the display control unit 23 refers to the scheduled usage end time included in the seat reservation completion information acquired from the management server 10 and determines whether it is the end time. If the scheduled use end time has been reached, the process advances to S1108, and if the scheduled end time has not been reached, the process of S1107 is periodically executed based on S1101.

In S1108, the display control unit 23 displays an end UI to be displayed when use ends. The end UI uses an image that includes text such as "Usage has ended. Thank you for your hard work."
This completes the display control process on the tablet terminal of the seat in use.

<Summary of the first embodiment>
As described above, it is possible to view the real-time usage information of seats in the office 30 from the user terminal 20 and secure a vacant seat. Furthermore, among the equipment near the secured seats, the user terminal 20 can be used to remotely turn on the power and adjust the temperature of the air conditioner. On the other hand, among the equipment near the secured seats, the lighting cannot be controlled remotely. This has the effect of avoiding unnecessary use of lighting since there is no point in controlling the brightness from users who have not yet arrived at their seats. Regarding air conditioning, it takes time for the environment around the air conditioner to reach the desired air condition after the power is turned on, so by accepting remote control, it is possible to provide a more comfortable environment for Office 30 users. .

Furthermore, once you have checked in (began using your seat), you can control the air conditioning and lighting from a tablet device installed at your seat. This is because if a seat user uses the seat without completing the check-in process, the management server 10 will not be able to accurately manage the usage status. On the other hand, if the user performs the check-in process, the ability to control the equipment from the tablet terminal 40 becomes a motivation for the check-in process, and the user can be prompted to perform the check-in process.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, a method was described in which the equipment can be controlled from the tablet terminal 40 after checking in to a seat, but not only the tablet terminal 40 but also the user terminal 20 that executed the check-in process can be controlled in the same manner. It may also be possible to control the equipment. In this case, from the user terminal 20, only the air conditioner near the seat can be controlled while the seat is being reserved, and both the air conditioner and the lighting near the seat can be controlled while the seat is being used.

Further, although omitted in the above description, in order to view usage information of the office 30, it is desirable to perform user information authentication processing such as login on the user terminal 20. The user information (address, password, etc.) input into the user terminal 20 is transmitted to the management server 10 and compared with user information pre-registered in the management server 10. When verification (authentication processing) is successful, the request in S601 can be transmitted.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the air conditioner and the lighting were explained as an example, but the invention is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the equipment may include a music playback device, a device with an aromatic function, and the like. In that case, for each device, it is set in advance whether or not it can be controlled by the user terminal that is securing the seat and whether or not it can be controlled by the tablet terminal that is currently in use. In the case of a music reproducing device, since there is no effect of reproducing music if there is no user at the seat, it is desirable to set the control while the seat is being secured to "no" and to set the control to "possible" while the seat is in use. In addition, in consideration of the fact that devices with an aroma function take time for the emitted aroma function to spread throughout the environment, similar to air conditioners, both controls while securing a seat and while in use are allowed. It is desirable to leave it there.

In the above example, the air conditioner and lighting areas are expressed using a common divided area, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be set so that area divisions for air conditioners and area divisions for lighting coexist.

<Modified example of the first embodiment>
In addition to the first embodiment, when a checkout process is received from the tablet terminal 40, a display may be displayed to remind the user not to forget to turn off the air conditioner. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the determination process after the checkout process executed by the management server 10.

In S1201, the receiving unit 11 receives checkout information indicating that checkout has been accepted from the tablet terminal 40 in use. The checkout process is started by selecting (tap operation) the checkout button in the image shown in FIG. 10(c) displayed on the tablet terminal 40 in use. When the display control unit 42 of the tablet terminal 40 detects the touch of the checkout button, it transmits checkout information including the terminal ID to the management server 10.

In S1202, the management unit 12 refers to the seat table 141 and obtains the seat ID for executing the checkout process based on the terminal ID included in the checkout information.
In S1203, the management unit 12 further specifies the air conditioner corresponding to the seat for which the checkout process has been accepted.
In S1204, the management unit 12 refers to the equipment table 143 and identifies the area ID to which the air conditioner identified in S1203 belongs.

In S1205, the management unit 12 refers to the seat table 141 and determines whether there is another seat that is being checked in in the area ID specified in S1204. If there is, the process advances to S1207, and if there is no seat, the process advances to S1206, where the management unit 12 acquires information indicating the operating status of equipment with no seats in use within the area.

In S1207, the management unit 12 determines whether all of the equipment (here, air conditioners) identified in S1203 has been targeted for processing. Once everything has been confirmed, the process advances to S1208, and if there is any equipment to be processed, the process returns to S1203 to execute the confirmation process.

In S1208, the management unit 12 determines whether there is any equipment that is in operation (ON) among the equipment whose operating status has been acquired. If there is any equipment in operation, the process advances to S1209, and if there is no equipment in operation, the process is completed.

In S1209, the transmitting unit 13 transmits a confirmation request to the tablet terminal 40 that accepted the checkout. At this time, the transmitter 13 of the management server 10 also transmits to the tablet terminal 40 information indicating equipment that is being operated even though there are no seats in use within the area.

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of display control processing in the tablet terminal 40 that has received the confirmation request. As a result of the execution of the display control process of the management server 10 shown in FIG. 12, when the receiving unit 41 of the tablet terminal 40 receives a confirmation request in S1301, the process advances to S1302.

In S1302, the display control unit 42 generates and displays a confirmation UI. FIG. 14(a) shows an example of a confirmation UI. The confirmation UI displays a message asking whether to turn off the equipment that is being operated even though there are no seats in the area on the tablet terminal 40, along with a text that calls for attention. By doing so, it can be expected to have the effect of preventing people from forgetting to turn off the air conditioner.

In S1303, the display control unit 42 advances to S1304 when receiving a request to turn off the air conditioner, and completes the process when receiving a selection not to turn off the air conditioner.
In S1304, the display control unit 42 derives the effect of turning off the air conditioner. For example, as a simple method, you can register in advance the average amount of electricity used each hour of the day, and use it from the time when the request to turn off the air conditioner is received until the preset closing time of office 30. The reduction effect is calculated by calculating the expected amount of electricity used for air conditioning (estimated amount of electricity), dividing the expected amount of electricity by the total amount of electricity used each hour of an average day, and multiplying by 100. .

In S1305, the display control unit 42 uses the derived reduction effect to generate and display an air conditioning OFF completion report UI. FIG. 14(b) shows an example of a UI for reporting completion of air conditioning OFF. In this way, when the last user to leave the area at that time turns off the air conditioner, a message is displayed to inform the user of the effect.
As described above, in the modified example of the first embodiment, if there are no seats in use in the area after the checkout process, by prompting the user who has completed the checkout process to turn off the air conditioner, It is possible to suppress wasteful power usage in the office 30 and promote power reduction.

<Second embodiment>
In the first embodiment, a method has been described in which the equipment can be controlled from the user terminal 20 or the tablet terminal 40 when seat reservation or check-in is accepted. In the second embodiment, a method for automatically controlling the air conditioning once reservation of a seat is accepted will be described.

FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram regarding the use of seats and air conditioning control in an office. The difference from the first embodiment is that there is no step of air conditioning control instruction S609 from the user end 20 after securing a seat, and the process of S1519 in the management server 10. Here, the process of S1519 will be mainly explained without repeating the explanation.

FIG. 16 is a detailed flowchart of the process of S1519 in the second embodiment. When the seat reservation process is completed, the management unit 12 acquires the seat ID of the reserved seat in S1601, and in S1602 specifies the area corresponding to the seat ID acquired in S1601.
In S1603, the management unit 12 determines whether or not there is a seat in the area obtained in S1602 that is currently being checked in or is being reserved in addition to the seat ID obtained in S1601. The process is complete if there is at least one seat being checked in or reserved; if there is no seat being checked in or reserved (that is, all other seats in the area are "vacant") If so, proceed to S1604.

In S1604, the transmitter 13 transmits information to turn on the air conditioner corresponding to the area acquired in S1602 to the smart remote controller 60.
In this way, by automatically activating the air conditioning when a seat is first secured in the area, by the time the user arrives, the area around the seat that has already been secured can be created in an environment that is easy to work in. .

<Third embodiment>
In the third embodiment, a system will be described in which, after receiving control of the air conditioner from a tablet terminal 40, control of the air conditioner is not accepted from other tablet terminals 40 in the same area for a predetermined period of time.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a notification process executed by the management server 10 after receiving air conditioning control information from the tablet terminal 40 in use.
When the receiving unit 11 receives air conditioning control information from one tablet terminal 40 in S1701 (at this time, the air conditioning settings are actually changed by the smart remote control 60), the management unit 12 in S1702 receives air conditioning control information from one tablet terminal 40. The area to which the tablet terminal 40 belongs is specified. In S1703, the management unit 12 obtains the terminal ID of another tablet terminal corresponding to the area obtained in S1702.

In S1704, the transmitting unit 13 notifies each terminal of the terminal ID acquired in S1703 that the target equipment change has been stopped. FIG. 18 shows an example of an image displayed on a tablet terminal that has been notified of the target equipment change stoppage. As a notice of air conditioning change, the name of the target equipment, updated parameters, and a message indicating that the target equipment cannot be changed for a predetermined period of time (for example, 5 minutes) are displayed.

If a single air conditioner can be controlled from multiple tablet terminals, updating the parameters too frequently may prevent the air conditioner from performing air conditioning, which may lead to malfunctions. Therefore, once air conditioning control is executed, it is not possible to control it from other tablet terminals for several minutes, thereby achieving control suitable for air conditioners.

<Other embodiments>
In the above description, securing a seat and checking in at the office 30 have been described as an example. This assumes an office with a free address system. However, it can also be applied to other facilities such as co-working spaces.
Although the management server 10 described above has been described as one information processing device, it may be realized by combining a plurality of information processing devices.

Note that the disclosed technology is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the gist of the disclosed technology. For example, each of the above-mentioned processing steps can be arbitrarily changed in order or executed in parallel as long as there is no inconsistency in the processing contents.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Management system, 10... Management server, 110... CPU, 120... Memory, 130... Storage, 140... Communication unit, 150... Input/output unit, 11... Receiving unit, 12... Management unit, 13... Transmitting unit, 14... Holding part

Claims (3)

An information processing device that manages the usage status of seats in a facility,
For each of the seats, seat information that associates area information indicating the area and equipment information indicating the equipment, equipment information that indicates whether or not control can be accepted for each of the equipment, and information that indicates the usage status of each of the seats. hold,
securing one vacant seat among the seats for a predetermined time in response to a request from a user terminal;
An information processing apparatus characterized in that equipment information regarding equipment that can be controlled from the user terminal during seat reservation among equipment near the secured seat is transmitted to the user terminal. An information processing method for receiving a designation of a seat in a facility from a user terminal using an information processing device, the method comprising:
The information processing device includes:
transmitting usage information indicating real-time usage status of seats in the facility in response to a request from the user terminal;
receiving a request from the user terminal to reserve a seat for one of the seats that is vacant;
The usage information of the requested seat is updated to a status indicating that it is being secured, and information on equipment that can accept control from the user terminal among the equipment corresponding to the secured seat is set as equipment information. An information processing method characterized by transmitting information to the user terminal. A program for causing a computer to function as the information processing device according to claim 1.