JP6666143B2 - Automatic ticket gates, automatic ticket gate systems, ticket vending machines, and server devices - Google Patents

Description

  An embodiment of the present invention relates to an automatic ticket gate, an automatic ticket gate system, a ticket vending machine, and a server device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an automatic ticket gate that processes a ticket for using transportation such as a railway has been known. As the ticket, a magnetic ticket, an IC ticket, or a paper ticket on which encoded code information is displayed is used. When processing a ticket with code information displayed, it is often the case that information is not written on the ticket from the automatic ticket gate, so it is necessary to take measures to prevent users from using the ticket illegally. Was.

JP 2009-59319 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an automatic ticket gate, an automatic ticket gate system, a ticket vending machine, and a server device that can suppress unauthorized use.

The automatic ticket gate according to the embodiment has an imaging unit and an image processing unit. The imaging unit captures an image of a display object displayed on the ticket presented by the user. The image processing unit reads section information and the date and time of issuance of the ticket from the display object based on the image captured by the imaging unit. The automatic ticket gate is configured to perform a first determination process of determining whether or not the user can enter based on the section information read by the image processing unit, and to issue the ticket read by the image processing unit. and issue date including time, the information of the information and participate station entrance station included in the section information read by the image processing unit, the information indicating the operation status of the train towards the participating stations from said entrance station A second determination process for determining whether the user can enter based on the current time and the determined entry permission time based on the current time and the determined entry permission time. If it is determined that the user can participate in both the first determination process and the second determination process , the passage of the user is permitted.

The figure which looked at the automatic ticket gate 10 from the upper part. The figure which looked at the reader 12 from the upper part. The figure which shows the functional structure of the automatic ticket gate 10. The figure which shows the structure of the ticket vending machine 100. The figure which shows an example of the ticket information generated by the information generation part 126. The figure which shows an example of the ticket TIX issued to the ticket issuing part 114. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the automatic ticket gate 10. The figure which shows an example of the image displayed on the upper surface display part 20. The figure which shows an example of the ticket TIX1 of 2nd Embodiment. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the automatic ticket gate 10 according to the second embodiment. The figure which shows the relationship between the server apparatus 200 and the portable terminal device 300 of 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of a structure of the server apparatus 200. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing a process in which the server device 200 transmits image information for displaying the display object OB to the mobile terminal device 300. The figure which shows an example of the image IM1 regarding the ticket purchase displayed on the display part of the portable terminal device 300. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed on a display unit of the mobile terminal device 300. The figure which shows the relationship between the automatic ticket gate 10, the ticket vending machine 100, and the server apparatus 200A of 4th Embodiment. The figure which shows the function structure of the control part 50A of the automatic ticket gate 10. The figure which shows the function structure of 200 A of server apparatuses of 4th Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process of the entrance processing or entrance processing performed by the automatic ticket gate 10 and server apparatus 200A of the entrance station side or the exit station side. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an entrance determination process. The figure which shows an example of the ticket information table 226 stored in the server side storage part 220. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a participation determination process executed by the server device 200. The block diagram of the payment machine 400. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of a process executed by the checkout machine 400.

  Hereinafter, an automatic ticket gate, an automatic ticket gate system, a ticket vending machine, and a server device of an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The automatic ticket gate is provided at the ticket gate of the station. The automatic ticket gate permits or prohibits the passage of the user by a ticket TIX issued by the ticket vending machine. The ticket TIX is used when a user enters the station premises or goes out of the station premises. The ticket TIX is a paper ticket in which a display object such as a one-dimensional code such as a bar code or a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark) is printed on a medium such as paper. The display object may be in any form as long as the content can be recognized by a machine and the content cannot be recognized by a human being.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram of the automatic ticket gate 10 viewed from above. The automatic ticket gate 10 includes a housing 11, a reader 12, passing sensors 18-1 to 18-4, a top display unit 20, a front display unit 22, door units 24A and 24B, and a control unit 50. It may include, but is not limited to.

  The reader 12 of the automatic ticket gate 10 reads the display object displayed on the ticket TIX held by the user who is going to pass in the direction a in FIG. 1 and supplies the read information to the control unit 50.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram of the reader 12 as viewed from above. The reader 12 may include, but is not limited to, the touch detection sensor St, the optical reading unit 14, and the light 16. The touch detection sensor St is formed in a panel shape and has a detection surface that detects whether or not a part (for example, a hand) of a user's body has been touched. The touch detection sensor St generates a detection signal indicating that the detection surface is touched when the user touches the detection surface of the panel when the user holds the ticket TIX over the reader 12. Thereby, the touch detection sensor St detects that the ticket TIX has been held over the reader 12 by the user.

  The touch detection sensor St is, for example, a touch panel of a resistance film type, a surface acoustic wave type, an electromagnetic induction type, a capacitance type, or the like. The touch detection sensor St is a transparent (or translucent) panel that can transmit visible light, and can capture an image of a display object that has passed through the panel. In the automatic ticket gate 10, the ticket TIX is held by the user over the reader 12 by an approach detection sensor that detects the approach of an object (for example, a hand) instead of the touch detection sensor St (the user's hand). May be detected within a predetermined distance). The approach detection sensor is realized by, for example, an infrared sensor, a stereo camera, or the like.

  The optical reading unit 14 includes a camera provided with a solid-state imaging device such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS). Further, the optical reading unit 14 may include a light receiving element, an amplifier, an information decoding unit (decoding unit), and the like, like a bar code reader.

  The optical reading unit 14 captures an image of a display object displayed on the ticket TIX presented by the user with the display surface facing the reader 12. The optical reading unit 14 supplies the captured image to the control unit 50. The light 16 emits light toward the ticket TIX when the optical reading unit 14 captures an image of the ticket TIX.

  A plurality of passage sensors 18-1 to 18-4 are provided, for example, on the side surface of the automatic ticket gate 10 on the passage side. The plurality of passage sensors 18 detect a user in a passage formed by the automatic ticket gate 10. The passage sensor 18 is realized by, for example, an infrared sensor or an optical sensor. The passage sensor 18 may detect a user in a passage in cooperation with a passage sensor provided in an auxiliary device facing the passage sensor 18. Note that the automatic ticket gate 10 may include an arbitrary number of pass sensors. Hereinafter, in the case where the passage sensor is not distinguished from other passage sensors, the sign after the hyphen (-) is omitted, and the passage sensor 18 is simply described.

  The top display unit 20 displays the result processed by the control unit 50 when the ticket TIX is held over the reader 12. The front display unit 22 displays a mark, a figure, a character, or the like indicating whether or not it is possible to pass in the direction a in FIG. The display content of the front display unit 22 or the presence or absence of the display is determined by the control unit 50. The automatic ticket gate 10 may include an information output unit (not shown) that outputs information by voice or light. In this case, the control unit 50 controls the information output unit to cause the information output unit to output information by sound or lighting of light.

  The control unit 50 of the automatic ticket gate 10 permits the user trying to pass in the direction a in FIG. 1 by controlling the door 24A and the door 24B of the opposing auxiliary machine to the open state or the closed state. Or prohibit. Hereinafter, when the doors 24A and 24B are not distinguished from each other, the reference numeral A or B is omitted, and the door 24 is simply referred to as the door 24.

  Although FIG. 1 illustrates the automatic ticket gate 10 as a dedicated ticket machine, the automatic ticket gate 10 can process both an IC card, a magnetic ticket, or both of them and a paper ticket. A combination machine may be used. In addition, the automatic ticket gate 10 is not limited to one that permits only one-way passage of the user, and may be one that allows two-way passage of the user.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the automatic ticket gate 10. The control unit 50 of the automatic ticket gate 10 may include, but is not limited to, a ticket gate storage unit 52, an image processing unit 58, a determination processing unit 60, and a passage control unit 70. The image processing unit 58, the determination processing unit 60, and the passage control unit 70 may be realized by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a program. Some or all of these functional units may be realized by hardware such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array).

  The ticket gate storage unit 52 includes, for example, a non-volatile storage medium such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and an SD card, and a volatile storage such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a register. Storage medium. The ticket gate storage unit 52 stores a program executed by the processor, a charge table 54 storing charges between stations (or for each use distance), identification information of a station where the own device is installed, and The identification information of the machine, the distance between stations, and the like are stored.

  The image processing unit 58 performs processing such as decoding on the image captured by the optical reading unit 14 and converts the image into information that can be recognized by a computer and represented by a bit string or the like. The image processing unit 58 reads the content of the information encoded in the display object. The image processing unit 58 recognizes section information indicating sections that can be used by the user, and entry permission times at which the user is allowed to enter the outside of the station. The optical reading unit 14 may have such an image analysis function. The section information is information indicating a station (entrance station) at which the ticket TIX was issued, an entry station, a distance that can be used from the station at which the ticket TIX was issued, and the like.

  The determination processing unit 60 includes a first determination unit 62, a second determination unit 64, and a permission determination unit 66. The first determination unit 62 determines whether or not the user can participate based on the section information recognized by the image processing unit 58. The second determination unit 64 determines whether or not the user can participate based on the participation permission time recognized by the image processing unit 58. The permission determination unit 66 permits the user to pass when both the first determination unit 62 and the second determination unit 64 determine that the user can participate.

  The passage control unit 70 executes control for permitting or prohibiting the passage of the user based on the determination result of the permission determination unit 66. In addition, when the display object is not recognized by the image processing unit 58 or the recognized display object is not decoded, and when the pass sensor 18 detects the user, the pass control unit 70 prohibits the pass of the user. Perform control. When performing control to prohibit the passage of the user, the passage control unit 70 closes the door 24 or makes the upper surface display unit 20 display that the passage is not permitted. When performing control to permit the passage of the user, the passage control unit 70 sets the door 24 to the open state or causes the upper surface display unit 20 to display a message indicating that the passage is permitted.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the ticket vending machine 100. The ticket vending machine 100 includes, for example, an input unit 102, a purchase screen display unit 104, a cash slot 106, a change outlet 108, a ticket outlet 110, a check unit 112, and a ticket issuing unit 114. , A ticket vending machine side control unit 120 and a ticket vending machine side storage unit 140.

  The input unit 102 is an input device such as a button, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, and a touch panel. When the purchase screen display unit 104 is a touch panel, the input unit 102 is formed integrally with the purchase screen display unit 104. The input unit 102 receives, for example, an input instructing a purchase of a ticket TIX from a user.

  The purchase screen display unit 104 includes a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display. The purchase screen display unit 104 displays an image for purchasing a ticket TIX based on information output by the ticket vending machine side control unit 120. Hereinafter, the purchase screen display unit 104 will be described as a touch panel unit having a function integrated with the input unit 102 described above.

  Bills and coins are inserted into the cash slot 106. The change is discharged from the change discharge port 108. The ticket TIX is discharged from the ticket exit 110.

  The check unit 112 counts money inserted into the cash slot 106, and outputs the counting result to the ticket vending machine side control unit 120. The ticket issuing unit 114 forms (prints) a display object as an image on a preset stamp under the control of the ticket vending machine side control unit 120. For example, the ticket issuing unit 114 forms a display object on a stamp using a thermal transfer method or an inkjet method. The ticket issuing unit 114 discharges the stamp forming the display object, that is, the ticket TIX from the ticket exit 110. As a result, the ticket issuing unit 114 issues the ticket TIX.

  The ticket vending machine side control unit 120 may include a ticket vending machine side display control unit 124, an information generation unit 126, and an issuance control unit 128, but is not limited thereto. Some or all of these functional units are realized by a processor such as a CPU executing a program stored in the vending machine-side storage unit 140. The information generation unit 126 is an example of a permission time derivation unit of a ticket vending machine. The issuance control unit 128 and the ticket issuing unit 114 are examples of a ticket vending unit.

  The ticket vending machine side storage unit 140 is realized by, for example, a non-volatile storage medium such as a ROM, a flash memory, an HDD, and an SD card, and a volatile storage medium such as a RAM and a register. The ticket vending machine-side storage unit 140 stores a program executed by the processor, and also stores operation plan information 142, which is a train schedule, and a fee table 144. The operation plan information 142 stores information indicating a railway operation plan, a distance between stations, and information on facilities at each station. The information on the facilities at each station includes the distance (or travel time) between each platform in the station, the distance (or travel time) from the platform to the place where the automatic ticket gate 10 is installed, and the like. The ticket vending machine side storage unit 140 stores the processing result of the ticket vending machine 100 or the ticket information (described later) of the issued ticket TIX.

  The ticket vending machine-side display control unit 124 displays a purchase screen for the ticket TIX on the touch panel unit. The ticket TIX purchase screen is a screen for allowing the user to input a section where the user gets on the railroad (a fee for a target station or a section to be used). For example, the ticket vending machine-side display control unit 124 refers to the fee table 144 stored in advance in the ticket vending machine-side storage unit 140, and displays a screen on the touch panel unit for selecting a fee determined for each target station or section. Let it. As a result, a ticket TIX that can be used from the station where the ticket vending machine 100 is installed is issued.

  The information generator 126 generates ticket information. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the ticket information generated by the information generating unit 126. The ticket information includes a series of numbers (ticket identification information) that are incremented (or decremented) each time the ticket TIX is issued, section information, information indicating the date and time of issuance of the ticket TIX, and entry permission. This is information including the time. The section information may include the identification information of the station where the own device is installed and the identification information of the participating stations, or the identification information of the station where the own device is installed and fee information such as “Y section from X station”. May be.

  The information generation unit 126 derives an estimated arrival time from the entrance station to the destination station specified by the user based on the section information, the current time, and the operation plan information 142 input by the user. . The entrance station is, for example, a station provided with a ticket vending machine 100 for issuing a ticket TIX, but an input may be received at another station as an entrance station. When the user needs to change trains at a stopover station and head for the target station, the information generation unit 126 moves the waiting time when changing trains, moves between platforms, and moves between platforms and the automatic ticket gate 10. The estimated time of arrival is derived by adding the time of the arrival. In addition, the information generation unit 126 derives a time obtained by adding a predetermined margin time to the derived estimated arrival time as the entry permission time.

  Note that, when the ticket vending machine 100 receives the input of the fee information as described above as the section information, the information generation unit 126 sets the farthest distance from the entrance station in the section that can be used at the rate input by the user. The arrival time is derived with a certain station as the participating station, and the participation permitted time is derived.

  The issuance control unit 128 derives a purchase price required for issuing the ticket TIX based on the section information input to the touch panel unit. At this time, the ticket vending machine side display control unit 124 causes the touch panel unit to display the purchase amount derived by the issuance control unit 128. As a result, money corresponding to these is inserted into the money input port 106. The issuance control unit 128 determines whether or not the derived purchase price is satisfied by referring to the counting result by the check unit 112. When the counting result satisfies the purchase price, the issuance control unit 128 causes the ticket issuing unit 114 to issue the ticket TIX in accordance with the ticket TIX issuance pattern input to the touch panel unit. For example, the issuance control unit 128 encodes the ticket information generated by the information generating unit 126 to generate a two-dimensional code, and outputs the image information of the two-dimensional code to the ticket issuing unit 114 as printing information. I do.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the ticket TIX issued by the ticket issuing unit 114. On the ticket TIX, for example, a display object OB, entry permission time, section information (entrance station and entry station), date and time of issue of the ticket TIX, and ticket identification information are printed.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the automatic ticket gate 10. This flowchart is an example of the processing of the automatic ticket gate 10 installed at the participating station. First, the automatic ticket gate 10 waits until the ticket TIX (more precisely, any object) is held over the reader 12 by the user (step S100). When the ticket TIX is held over the reader 12 by the user, the optical reading unit 14 images the ticket TIX held over the reader 12 by the user while the light 16 irradiates the ticket TIX with the light 16. (Step S102). Next, the image processing unit 58 acquires the image captured in step S102, and analyzes the acquired image (step S104).

  Next, the image processing unit 58 determines whether or not the display object OB has been recognized (Step S106). When the display object OB is not recognized and the user is detected by the passage sensor 18, the passage control unit 70 controls the door unit 24 to be closed (Step S108).

  When the display object OB is recognized, the first determination unit 62 determines whether or not the station is included in the section indicated by the section information based on the information indicating the section information encoded in the display object OB (step S110). The station is a station where the automatic ticket gate 10 is installed.

  When the station is not included in the section indicated by the section information, the permission determination unit 66 causes the upper surface display unit 20 to display information indicating that the user is prompted for a settlement process (step S122), and causes the door unit 24 to operate for a predetermined time. During this time, it is closed (step S124).

  When the station falls within the section indicated by the section information, the first determination unit 62 determines whether the station is a stopover station based on the information indicating the section information encoded in the display object OB. (Step S112).

  When the station is a stopover station, the second determination unit 64 determines based on the information on the entrance station encoded in the display object OB and the information on the distance between the stations stored in the ticket gate storage unit 52, The entry permission time of the stopover station is derived (step S114). The second determination unit 64 changes the entry permission time when the station is a stopover station to a time earlier than the entry permission time when the station is an entry station. The second determination unit 64 derives the entry permission time based on, for example, the ratio of the distance from the entry station to the stopover station to the distance from the entry station to the entry station (distance in the section information). More specifically, the second determination unit 64 derives a correction time by multiplying the difference between the time at which the ticket TIX was issued and the entry permission time by the derived distance ratio. Then, the second determination unit 64 derives the time obtained by adding the correction time to the time at which the ticket TIX was issued as the entry permission time at the stopover station. If the station is not a stopover station (a destination station), the process proceeds to step S116.

  Next, the second determination unit 64 determines that the current time is earlier than the entry permission time based on the entry permission time encoded in the display object OB or the entry permission time for the stopover station changed in step S114. Is determined (step S116). If the current time is before the entry permission time, the permission determination unit 66 sets the door 24 to the open state (step S118).

  If it is not before the participation permission time (after the participation permission time), the permission determination unit 66 causes the upper surface display unit 20 to display information indicating that it is necessary to inquire the attendant (step S120). FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the image IM displayed on the upper surface display unit 20. As shown in the figure, information indicating that the entry permission time has passed or that the user is to go to the window where a clerk is present is displayed on the upper surface display unit 20. In addition, the permission determination unit 66 closes the door 24 for a predetermined time (step S124). Thus, the processing of one routine of this flowchart ends.

  In the process of step S114, the second determination unit 64 may derive the entry permission time at the stopover station based on the operation plan information stored in the ticket gate storage unit 52. For example, the second determination unit 64 derives the time of arrival at the stopover station from the entrance station based on the operation plan information, and derives a time obtained by adding a margin time to the derived time as the entry permission time for the stopover station. You may. In this case, the ticket gate storage unit 52 stores a train operation plan (railway schedule), information on equipment at each station, and the like.

  In addition, instead of “entry permitted time”, “entry permitted time” may be encoded in the display object OB. The participation permission time is a time during which it is permitted to participate in the participating station from the issuance of the ticket. In this case, the second determination unit 64 derives, as the entry permission time, the time obtained by adding the entry permission time to the date and time information indicating the issue date and time of the ticket TIX encoded in the display object OB.

  According to the first embodiment described above, the ticket TIX is determined by determining whether the user can enter based on the entry permission time encoded in the display object OB displayed on the ticket TIX. Unauthorized use can be suppressed. For example, a user goes from station A to station B, returns from station B to station A, and then travels again from station A to station B with the same ticket TIX, or goes from station A to station B. It is possible to suppress unauthorized use such as a user handing luggage to someone at station B and participating in station C which is closer to station A than station B.

(Second embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment will be described. Here, the description will focus on differences from the first embodiment, and a description of functions and the like common to the first embodiment will be omitted. In the first embodiment, the ticket vending machine 100 derives the entry permission time and encodes it into the display object OB of the ticket TIX. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the issue date and time of the ticket TIX are encoded and / or directly printed on the display object of the ticket TIX, and the second determination unit 64 of the automatic ticket gate 10 checks this The entry permission time is derived based on the information.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a ticket TIX1 according to the second embodiment. When the ticket TIX1 is compared with the ticket TIX of the first embodiment, the entry permission time is not described.

  Also, unlike the ticket information of the ticket TIX of the first embodiment, the ticket information encoded in the display object OB of the ticket TIX1 does not include the entry permission time. The ticket vending machine 100 issues a ticket TIX in which such information is encoded and displayed.

  The ticket gate storage unit 52 of the automatic ticket gate 10 according to the second embodiment includes, in addition to the information stored in the ticket gate storage unit 52 of the first embodiment, operation plan information that is a train schedule. And information on equipment at each station. The second determination unit 64 of the second embodiment includes a date and time at which the ticket TIX encoded in the display object OB read by the image processing unit 58 is issued, information on the entrance station included in the section information, and a ticket gate. Based on the information stored in the machine-side storage unit 52, the entry permission time at the entry station where the user participates is derived.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing executed by the automatic ticket gate 10 according to the second embodiment. This flowchart is an example of the processing of the automatic ticket gate 10 installed at the participating station.

  First, the automatic ticket gate 10 waits until the ticket TIX1 is held over the reader 12 by the user (step S150). When the ticket TIX1 is held by the user over the reader 12, the optical reading unit 14 captures the ticket TIX1 held by the user over the reader 12 while the light 16 irradiates the ticket TIX1 with light. (Step S152). Next, the image processing unit 58 acquires the image captured in step S102, and analyzes the acquired image (step S154).

  Next, the image processing unit 58 determines whether or not the display object OB has been recognized (Step S156). If the display object OB is not recognized and the user is detected by the passage sensor 18, the passage control unit 70 controls the door unit 24 to be in the closed state (step S158).

  When the display object OB is recognized, the first determination unit 62 determines whether or not the station is included in the section indicated by the section information based on the information indicating the section information encoded in the display object OB (step S160).

  If the station is not included in the section indicated by the section information, the permission determination unit 66 causes the upper surface display unit 20 to display information indicating that the user is prompted to perform the settlement process (step S166), and causes the door unit 24 to operate for a predetermined time. During this time, it is closed (step S170).

  When the station falls within the section indicated by the section information, the second determination unit 64 determines whether the ticket TIX1 encoded in the display object OB was issued, the information on the admission station included in the section information, and the ticket gate. Based on the operation plan information stored in the machine side storage unit 52 and the information on the equipment at each station, the entry permission time at the station where the user participates is derived (step S162). The second determination unit 64 derives the entry permission time by a process similar to the process executed by the information generation unit 126 of the ticket vending machine 100 according to the first embodiment. Note that the entry permission time deriving process may be performed in parallel with the process of step S160.

  Next, the second determination unit 64 determines whether or not the current time is before the participation permission time based on the participation permission time derived in step S162 (step S164). If the current time is before the entry permission time, the permission determination unit 66 sets the door 24 to the open state (step S172).

  If it is not before the entry permission time (it is later than the entry permission time), the permission determination unit 66 causes the upper surface display unit 20 to display information indicating that it is necessary to inquire the attendant (step S168). Next, the permission determination unit 66 closes the door 24 for a predetermined time (S170). Thus, the processing of one routine of this flowchart ends.

  According to the second embodiment described above, the second determination unit 64 of the automatic ticket gate 10 determines the date and time when the ticket TIX1 encoded in the display object OB was issued and the information on the admission station included in the section information. Based on the operation plan information stored in the ticket gate storage unit 52 and the information on the equipment at each station, the entry permission time is derived, and if the current time is before the entry permission time, the entry of the user is permitted. By doing so, illegal use of the ticket TIX can be suppressed.

(Other examples of derivation method of participation permission time)
The information generation unit 126 of the ticket vending machine 100 in the first embodiment or the second determination unit 64 of the automatic ticket gate 10 in the second embodiment may derive the entry permission time by the following method. Further, the second determination unit 64 of the first embodiment may derive the participation permission time by the following method when the user gets off the vehicle halfway. In this case, "participating station" is replaced with "stop station".

  Hereinafter, the process of the information generating unit 126 will be described as an example. The information generation unit 126 may derive the entry permission time based on, for example, the distance from the entry station to the entry station. In this case, when the distance from the entry station to the entry station increases, the information generation unit 126 increases the margin time so that the entry permission time is delayed. The information generating unit 126 derives the time from the entry permission time with reference to, for example, table information in which the range of the distance divided stepwise and the time from the current time to the entry permission time are associated with each other. Then, the information generating unit 126 derives the participation permission time by adding the derived time to the current time.

  Further, the information generating unit 126 may derive the entry permission time based on the running speed of the train used when traveling from the entry station to the entry station. For example, the information generation unit 126 increases the margin time and makes the entry permission time later when a train with a slower traveling speed is used than when a train with a faster traveling speed is used. Thereby, the ticket vending machine 100 can derive the participation permission time with higher accuracy. In this case, the speed of the train corresponding to the route from the entry station to the entry station is stored in the ticket vending machine side storage unit 140 (or the ticket gate machine side storage unit 52).

  In addition, the information generation unit 126 may set the above-mentioned margin time to be less than 0.5 times, 1 time, 2 times, or 3 times the shortest time from arrival at the entry station to the entry station. The information generation unit 126 adds the extra time to the entry permission time so that entry is permitted even if the user misses the train on which he / she is going to ride or does shopping at the station yard. it can. In addition, the information generation unit 126 sets the margin time to be less than three times the time from arrival at the entry station to the entry station, for example, so that the user uses the ticket from the entry station to the entry station and then again. Unauthorized use such as using a ticket at an entrance station can be suppressed.

  Further, the information generating unit 126 may derive the margin time based on the operation frequency of the train used to travel from the entrance station to the exit station. For example, the information generation unit 126 sets a longer spare time so that the entry permission time is later when a train with a low operation frequency is used than when a train with a high operation frequency is used. For example, the information generation unit 126 may derive the time of the train operation interval used to travel from the entrance station to the exit station as a margin time. Thus, even if the user misses the train, the user can arrive at the participating station before the participation permission time by using the next train.

  In addition, the information generation unit 126 may generate the entry permission time by combining any of the above-described entry permission time derivation methods. For example, the information generation unit 126 may determine the average time of the participation permission times derived based on each method as the participation permission time. Further, for example, the information generation unit 126 may determine the latest time among the participation permission times derived based on each method as the participation permission time.

(Third embodiment)
Hereinafter, a third embodiment will be described. Here, the description will focus on differences from the first embodiment, and a description of functions and the like common to the first embodiment will be omitted. In the first embodiment, the ticket vending machine 100 generates the display object OB. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, image information for displaying the display object OB is generated by the server device 200, and the generated image information is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 300 and displayed by the mobile terminal device 300. The object OB is displayed. The second determination unit 64 of the automatic ticket gate 10 according to the third embodiment determines whether or not the user can enter based on the information encoded in the display object OB displayed on the mobile terminal device 300.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the server device 200 and the mobile terminal device 300 according to the third embodiment. For example, the mobile terminal device 300 communicates with the server device 200 via the wireless base station 310. For example, the user operates the mobile terminal device 300, accesses a website where a ticket can be purchased, and purchases the ticket electronically. Thus, the display object OB can be displayed on a screen such as a display provided in the mobile terminal device 300. The server device 200 of the third embodiment may be a server device that does not communicate with the automatic ticket gate 10.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the server device 200. The server device 200 includes a server-side communication unit 210, a server-side control unit 212, and a server-side storage unit 220.

  The server-side communication unit 210 receives the information transmitted by the mobile terminal device 300. Further, server-side communication section 210 transmits the processing result of server-side control section 212 to portable terminal device 300.

  When the transmission of the image for purchasing the ticket transmitted from the portable terminal device 300 is requested, the server-side control unit 212 transmits the image for prompting the user to input information necessary for the purchase of the ticket. Send to 300. Further, the server-side control unit 212 generates image information for displaying the display object OB based on the information necessary for purchasing the ticket transmitted from the mobile terminal device 300, and controls the server-side communication unit 210. To cause the portable terminal device 300 to transmit. The server-side storage unit 220 stores programs executed by the processor, as well as a fee table 222, operation plan information 224, information on facilities at each station, and the like.

  FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process in which server device 200 transmits image information for displaying display object OB to portable terminal device 300. First, when the user operates the mobile terminal device 300, the mobile terminal device 300 transmits the identification information of the mobile terminal device 300 and the purchase request signal to the server device 200 (step S200). The purchase request signal is a signal requesting transmission of an image relating to the purchase of a ticket. Next, server device 200 transmits an image relating to the purchase of a ticket to portable terminal device 300 based on the acquired identification information of portable terminal device 300 and the purchase request signal (step S202).

  Next, the portable terminal device 300 displays an image related to the purchase of a ticket on the display unit of the own device based on the information transmitted from the server device 200 in step S202 (step S204). FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image IM1 related to ticket purchase displayed on the display unit of the mobile terminal device 300. The display unit of the mobile terminal device 300 includes, for example, a departure station, which is a station where the user starts using the railway, a transit station, through which the user travels to the destination, and a destination station, which is a station that the user aims at ( Hereinafter, these are referred to as “input information”.) An image IM1 relating to the purchase of a ticket for inputting the information is displayed.

  Next, the mobile terminal device 300 transmits the input information input by the user to the server device 200 (Step S206). Next, the server-side control unit 212 of the server device 200 receives the input information (Step S208), and transmits information indicating that the purchase of the ticket has been accepted to the portable terminal device 300 (Step S210). At this time, the server device 200 performs a settlement process for the purchase price of the ticket. The server-side control unit 212 of the server device 200 derives a fee based on input information, for example, by referring to the fee table 222. The server device 200 performs a payment process of adding a fee to the payment of the communication fee of the mobile terminal device 300 and charging the user based on the section information, the current time, and the operation plan information 224 input by the user. Or execute a payment process using a credit card owned by the user. For example, when executing a payment process using a credit card, the server device 200 requests the user to enter a credit card number or a password, and the credit card number or the password transmitted from the mobile terminal device 300 is requested. The settlement processing is executed based on the. Thus, the ticket purchase process ends.

  Hereinafter, the ticket TIX1 is purchased in advance by the processing of steps S200 to S210, and when the user arrives at the station, an input operation indicating "to get on the board" is performed on the portable terminal device 300. As a result, the mobile terminal device 300 generates a display request signal for requesting transmission of image information for displaying the display object OB based on the operation of the user (step S212), and the server device 200 identifies itself. A display request signal is transmitted to the server device 200 together with the information (step S214).

  Next, the server device 200 displays the display object OB based on the identification information of the mobile terminal device 300 transmitted in step S214 and the time when the display request signal was transmitted in step S214, triggered by the display request signal. Then, image information to be generated is generated (step S216). The server-side control unit 212 refers to, for example, the operation plan information 224 and the time at which the display request signal was acquired, and derives the participation permission time based on the section information of the user included in the input information. The server-side control unit 212 derives the participation permission time by a process similar to the process executed by the information generation unit 126 of the ticket vending machine 100 described above. The server-side control unit 212 generates image information for displaying the display object OB including the section information and the entry permission time.

  Server device 200 transmits image information for displaying display object OB to portable terminal device 300 (step S218). Next, the mobile terminal device 300 acquires the image information transmitted in step S218, and displays the display object OB on the display unit of the own device based on the acquired image information (step S220).

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed on the display unit of the mobile terminal device 300. On the display unit of the mobile terminal device 300, for example, a display object OB, an entry permission time, a ticket issuance date and time, section information (entry station, entry station), and ticket identification information are displayed. The user places the display object OB displayed on the display unit of the portable terminal device 300 over the automatic ticket gate 10 at the entrance station and enters the station premises. Then, when the display object OB is held over the automatic ticket gate 10 before the entry permission time at the entry station, entry of the user is permitted. The automatic ticket gate 10 at the participating station executes the same processing as the processing of the automatic ticket gate 10 of the first embodiment described above.

  Note that the server device 200 may allow the user to input the date and time at which the ticket is to be used when purchasing the ticket. In this case, the server device 200 transmits to the mobile terminal device 300 image information for displaying the display object OB that can be used from the date and time of using the ticket input by the user. In addition, the server device 200 transmits image information for displaying the display object OB to the mobile terminal device 300 a predetermined time (for example, one hour before) the date and time when the user intends to use the ticket TIX, and Is also good. In this case, the user does not need to operate the portable terminal device 300 to transmit a display request signal to the server device 200.

  In addition, after transmitting the image information for displaying the display object OB to the mobile terminal device 300, the server device 200 may accept a change in the date and time of using the ticket from the user within a predetermined number of times. . The server device 200 transmits image information for displaying the display object OB having the changed date and time of using the ticket to the portable terminal device 300 every time the change of the date and time of using the ticket is received.

  According to the third embodiment described above, the server device 200 displays the display object OB in which the section information input by the user and the entry permission time generated based on the operation plan information 224 are encoded. Is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 300. The user can use the railway by holding the display object OB displayed on the mobile terminal device 300 over the automatic ticket gate 10, so that the user can obtain the same effect as that of the first embodiment, and The convenience for the user can be improved.

(Fourth embodiment)
Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment will be described. Here, the description will focus on differences from the first embodiment to the third embodiment, and a description of functions and the like common to the first embodiment to the third embodiment will be omitted. In the first to third embodiments, it is determined whether or not the automatic ticket gate 10 can permit the participation of the user. On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment, a function of determining whether or not entry and exit of a user can be permitted is also provided on the server device 200A side. However, if the automatic ticket gate 10 does not receive the determination result from the server device 200A within a predetermined time after transmitting the ticket information to the server device 200A, the automatic ticket gate 10 must permit entry and exit of the user. Is determined. Hereinafter, a description will be given focusing on differences from the first embodiment to the third embodiment.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the automatic ticket gate 10, the ticket vending machine 100, and the server device 200A according to the fourth embodiment. The automatic ticket gate 10 and the ticket vending machine 100 communicate with the server device 200A via the relay device RL and the network NW, respectively. Note that the ticket vending machine 100 of the present embodiment includes a communication unit that communicates with the server device 200A.

  The relay device RL communicates with the automatic ticket gate 10 and the ticket vending machine 100 via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). In addition, the relay device RL transmits information received from the automatic ticket gate 10 or the ticket vending machine 100 to the server device 200A via the network NW. Also, the relay device RL transmits the information received from the server device 200A to the automatic ticket gate 10. The network NW includes, for example, a LAN, a WAN (Wide Area Network), and the like.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the control unit 50A of the automatic ticket gate 10. The determination processing unit 60A of the control unit 50A further includes a ticket gate-side communication unit 56 and a third determination unit 68 in addition to the functional configuration of the control unit 50 of the first embodiment.

  The ticket gate-side communication unit 56 transmits the processing result of the image processing unit 58 or the processing result of the determination processing unit 60A to the server device 200A via the relay device RL together with, for example, the identification information of the station and the identification information of the own device. I do. Further, the ticket gate-side communication unit 56 receives the information transmitted via the relay device RL, and supplies the received information to the determination processing unit 60A.

  When the third determination unit 68 obtains a determination result indicating whether or not the user can enter or exit from the server device 200A within a predetermined time after transmitting the ticket information to the server device 200A, Adopts the determination result of the server device 200A. On the other hand, if the third determination unit 68 has not obtained the determination result indicating whether the user can enter or exit from the server device 200A within the predetermined time, the third determination unit 68 and the second determination unit 68 The determination result of the determination unit 64 is adopted. The passage control unit 70 controls the top surface display unit 20 or the door unit 24 based on the determination result of the third determination unit 68.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a server device 200A according to the fourth embodiment. The server device 200A may include, but is not limited to, the server-side communication unit 210A, the server-side first determination unit 214, the server-side second determination unit 216, and the server-side permission determination unit 218.

  The server-side communication unit 210 </ b> A acquires the processing result of the automatic ticket gate 10 and the information held by the automatic ticket gate 10 from the automatic ticket gate 10. In addition, the server-side communication unit 210 </ b> A acquires the processing result of the ticket vending machine 100 or the information held by the ticket vending machine 100 from the ticket vending machine 100.

  The server-side first determination unit 214 determines whether or not the user can participate based on the section information stored in the server-side storage unit 220. The server-side second determination unit 216 determines, based on the information acquired from the automatic ticket gate 10, whether or not the user's entry at the entry station is before the entry permission time. The server-side permission determination unit 218 permits the user to pass when both the server-side first determination unit 214 and the server-side second determination unit 216 determine that the user can participate. The server-side storage unit 220 stores the processing results of the ticket vending machine 100 and the automatic ticket gate 10 as a ticket information table 226 (described later). The server device 200A according to the fourth embodiment that determines entry / exit may function as an integral unit with the server device 200 according to the third embodiment.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a process of an entrance process or an exit process executed by the automatic ticket gate 10 and the server device 200A on the entrance station side or the exit station side. The ticket is either the ticket on which the display object OB described in the first embodiment is displayed or the mobile terminal device 300 on which the display object OB described in the third embodiment is displayed on the display unit. You may.

[Entry and exit processing]
First, the automatic ticket gate 10 waits until the ticket is held over the reader 12 by the user (step S300). When the ticket is held over the reader 12 by the user, the automatic ticket gate 10 acquires information encoded in the display object OB displayed on the ticket (step S302). The automatic ticket gate 10 acquires the information encoded in the display object OB displayed on the ticket by executing the processes of steps S102 and S104 described above. Next, the automatic ticket gate 10 transmits the information acquired in the process of step S302 and the identification information of the own device to the server device 200A (step S304).

  Next, the server device 200A acquires the information transmitted in step S304 (step S306). Next, the server device 200A executes an entry / exit determination process (step S308). When the entry of the user is determined, the process of FIG. 20 described later is executed, and when the entry of the user is determined, the process of FIG. 22 described later is executed.

  Next, the third determination unit 68 of the automatic ticket gate 10 determines whether or not the result of the entry / exit determination processing of the server device 200A has been acquired within a predetermined time (step S310). If the result of the entry / exit determination processing of the server device 200A has been acquired within the predetermined time, the third determination unit 68 makes an entry / exit determination based on the determination result of the server device 200A (step S312).

  When the result of the entry / exit determination processing of the server device 200A has not been obtained within the predetermined time, the determination processing unit 60A executes the entry / exit determination processing on its own device (step S314). In this case, the first determination unit 62 of the automatic ticket gate 10 determines whether or not the station is included in the section indicated by the section information included in the information acquired in step S302. When the station is included in the section indicated by the section information included in the information acquired in step S302, the first determination unit 62 determines that the user is allowed to enter or exit. When the station is not included in the section indicated by the section information included in the information acquired in step S302, the automatic ticket gate 10 determines that the user is not permitted to enter or exit. At the time of participation, the automatic ticket gate 10 may execute the above-described processing of steps S110 to S124 based on the information acquired in step S302.

  Next, the determination processing unit 60A of the automatic ticket gate 10 determines whether or not the user can be allowed to enter or exit based on the result of the entry / exit determination processing in step S312 or step S314 (step S312). S316). If the entry or entry of the user can be permitted, the determination processing unit 60A opens the door 24 (step S318). When it is not possible to permit entry or exit of the user, the determination processing unit 60A closes the door 24 for a predetermined time (step S320). Thus, one routine of the present process ends.

[Entry process judgment]
FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the entrance determination process. The server-side control unit 212 determines whether the identification information of the ticket TIX included in the information acquired from the automatic ticket gate 10 is identification information associated with the ticket TIX issued by the ticket vending machine 100. (Step S400).

  FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of the ticket information table 226 stored in the server-side storage unit 220. The ticket information table 226 includes information indicating whether or not the identification information of the ticket is the display object OB on which the entry processing has been performed, the entry time, and whether or not the display object OB has been subjected to the entry processing. The information indicating whether or not, the entry time, the starting time (the purchase time of the ticket TIX, or the time when the portable terminal device 300 has acquired the display object OB), the entry permission time, the station where the ticket TIX is issued, and the section information correspond. It is attached. The server-side control unit 212 refers to the ticket information table 226 and determines whether or not the acquired information is identification information associated with the ticket TIX issued by the ticket vending machine 100. If the identification information is not the identification information associated with the ticket TIX issued by the ticket vending machine 100, the process proceeds to step S408.

  If the identification information is associated with the ticket TIX issued by the ticket vending machine 100, the server-side first determination unit 214 refers to the ticket information table 226, and the entrance station falls within the section indicated by the section information. It is determined whether or not there is (step S402). If the entrance station is not included in the section indicated by the section information, the process proceeds to step S408. If the entrance station falls within the section indicated by the section information, the server-side control unit 212 refers to the ticket information table 226 and determines whether the ticket TIX is unused (step S404).

  If all of the determination results from step 400 to step S404 are positive, the server-side permission determination unit 218 determines that the user is allowed to enter the ticket TIX. In this case, the server-side permission determination unit 218 transmits the determination result of the admission permission to the automatic ticket gate 10 (step S406). If any of the determination results from step 400 to step S404 is negative, the server-side permission determination unit 218 determines that entry of the user with the ticket TIX is not permitted. In this case, the server-side permission determination unit 218 transmits the result of the determination that the entrance is not permitted to the automatic ticket gate 10 (step S408). Thus, one routine of the entrance determination processing ends.

[Entry process judgment]
FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the participation determination process performed by the server device 200A. First, the server-side control unit 212 refers to the ticket information table 226, and determines whether the ticket TIX held by the user is a ticket TIX for which the entry processing determination has been performed (step). S600). If the ticket TIX has not yet been subjected to the entry processing determination, the server-side permission determination unit 218 transmits the determination result of the entry non-permission to the automatic ticket gate 10 (step S612).

  If the ticket TIX has already been subjected to the entry processing determination, the server-side first determination unit 214 refers to the ticket information table 226 to determine whether the station falls within the section indicated by the section information. (Step S602). When the station is not included in the section indicated by the section information, the server-side permission determination unit 218 transmits a determination result of participation non-permission to the automatic ticket gate 10 (step S612).

  If the station falls within the section indicated by the section information, the server-side first determination unit 214 refers to the ticket information table 226 to determine whether the station is a stopover station (step S604). ). If the station is a stopover station, the server-side second determination unit 216 derives an entry permission time for the station (step S606). The server-side second determination unit 216 derives the participation permission time of the stopover station by the same processing as the second determination unit 64.

  If the station is not a stopover station, the process proceeds to step S608. Next, the server-side second determination unit 216 determines that the time at which the user will participate in the participating station is before the participation permitted time stored in the ticket information table 226 or the participation permitted time derived in step S606. It is determined whether or not (step S608). The server-side permission determination unit 218 determines that all of the determination results in step 600 and step S602 described above are affirmative and that the time at which the user will enter the participating station is before the participation permission time, and that the ticket TIX is not used. It is determined that the participation of the user is permitted. In this case, the server-side permission determination unit 218 transmits the participation permission determination result to the automatic ticket gate 10 (step S610). The server-side permission determination unit 218 determines that the participation of the user in the ticket TIX is not permitted when any of the determination results in step S600, step S602, or step S608 is negative. In this case, the server-side permission determination unit 218 transmits the participation rejection determination result to the automatic ticket gate 10 (step S612). Thus, the processing of this flowchart ends.

  When the ticket is the ticket TIX1 in which the information indicating the entry permission time is not encoded as described in the second embodiment, the server-side second determination unit 216 of the server device 200A and the automatic ticket gate The second determination unit 64 is, like the second determination unit 64 of the automatic ticket gate 10 of the second embodiment, the date and time when the ticket TIX1 encoded in the display object OB is issued, and the admission included in the section information. Based on the station information and the operation plan information stored in the ticket gate storage unit 52, a function to derive the entry permission time is provided.

  According to the fourth embodiment described above, the server device 200A performs the determination process, so that the determination process can be performed more accurately. On the other hand, if the response from the server device 200A is delayed due to an increase in the processing load or the communication load of the server device 200A, the automatic ticket gate 10 performs the determination process. The traffic jam in front of the ticket gate 10 can be suppressed.

  In addition, the automatic ticket gate 10 may request the server device 200A for the determination processing at the time of entry, and may perform the processing of determination at the time of entry by itself. For example, the automatic ticket gate 10 and the server device 200A used when the user enters the entrance execute the above-described processing from step S300 to step S320. The automatic ticket gate 10 used when the user participates executes the above-described processing from step S100 to step S124. By requesting the server device 200A to make a determination at the time of entry, it is possible to more accurately determine whether or not the ticket TIX is a legitimate ticket TIX. In addition, at the time of participation, fraud can be suppressed based on the participation permission time. Thus, fraud can be suppressed while suppressing the communication load.

  Further, the process of requesting the server device 200A to make a determination at the time of entry or entry may be changed for each preset time zone. For example, during a time period when there are many users who use the automatic ticket gate 10 (for example, from 7:00 to 10:00, or from 17:00 to 20:00), the first determination unit 62 and the second determination unit 64 of the automatic ticket gate 10 determine. The process may be executed, and the request for the determination process may be requested to the server device 200A in other time zones. As a result, when smooth entry / exit processing is required, entry / exit determination processing can be quickly performed, and when accurate entry / exit processing is not required, accurate entry / exit determination processing is executed. I do. As a result, the automatic ticket gate 10 can execute the entry / exit determination processing quickly and accurately.

  In addition, the automatic ticket gate 10 may request the server device 200A to perform a determination process when the second determination unit 64 determines that the time to enter the participating station is within a predetermined time from the entry permission time. In this case, the server device 200A can execute the determination processing based on the user's railroad use history stored in the server-side storage unit 220. As a result, the automatic ticket gate 10 can more accurately determine whether the user is permitted to participate in the participating station at the participating station.

  In addition, the automatic ticket gate 10 may request the server device 200A to perform a determination process when the second determination unit 64 determines that the time to enter the participating station is a predetermined time or more before the entry permission time. . The time before entering the participating station by a predetermined time or more from the entry permission time is before the time when the train arrives on the shortest route from the entering station to the participating station by rail. In this case, the user may be using an illegal ticket TIX. The server device 200A executes the determination process based on the user's railroad use history stored in the server-side storage unit 220. For example, if the time at which the user enters the participating station is earlier than the time assumed from the railway operation status, the server device 200A denies the user's participation. Thereby, unauthorized use of the ticket TIX can be suppressed with higher accuracy.

  In addition, the second determination unit 64 or the server-side second determination unit 216 determines the criterion of the determination process as to whether or not the user can pass through the participating station when there is a delay in the operation of the railway. May be loosened. For example, the second determination unit 64 or the server-side second determination unit 216 may allow the user to enter the participating station within a predetermined time after the entry permission time has elapsed.

(Fifth embodiment)
Hereinafter, a fifth embodiment will be described. The fifth embodiment relates to a checkout machine in which a user setstles for a ride.

  FIG. 23 is a configuration diagram of the checkout machine 400. The payment machine 400 includes, for example, an input unit 402, a purchase screen display unit 404, a money input unit 406, a money discharge unit 408, a check unit 410, a payment machine reader 412, and a payment machine image processing unit. 414, an entry ticket issuing unit 416, an entry ticket discharge unit 418, a checkout unit control unit 420, and a checkout unit storage unit 440, but are not limited thereto.

  The input unit 402 is a user interface such as a button, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, and a touch panel. When the purchase screen display unit 404 is a touch panel, the input unit 402 is formed integrally with the purchase screen display unit 404. The input unit 402 receives, for example, an input instructing a settlement process from a user.

  The purchase screen display unit 404 includes a display device such as an LCD and an organic EL display, for example. The purchase screen display unit 404 displays an image for receiving an instruction for a payment process based on the information output by the payment controller-side control unit 420. Hereinafter, the purchase screen display unit 404 will be described as a touch panel unit having a function integrated with the input unit 402 described above.

  Bills and coins are inserted into the cash slot 406. The change is discharged from the money discharge port 408. The payment machine-side reader 412 includes, for example, a touch detection sensor, an optical reading unit, and a light. When the optical reading unit of the checkout machine-side reader 412 detects that the ticket TIX is held over the checkout machine-side reader 412 by the touch detection sensor, it captures an image of the display object OB displayed on the ticket TIX. The light irradiates light toward the ticket TIX when the optical reading unit captures the ticket TIX. The function of the touch detection sensor of the reader 412 of the checkout machine and the touch detection sensor of the reader 12 of the automatic ticket gate 10, the function of the optical reading unit of the reader 412 of the payment gate and the function of the optical reading unit 14 of the automatic ticket gate 10, and The functions of the light 16 of the ticket gate 10 and the light of the payment machine-side reader 412 are the same, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  The checkout machine-side image processing unit 414 recognizes the display object OB from the image captured by the optical reading unit of the checkout machine-side reader 412, decodes the recognized display object OB, and recognizes the computer represented by a bit string or the like. Convert to possible information.

  The check section 410 counts money inserted into the cash slot 406 and outputs the counting result to the checkout controller 420. The participation ticket issuing unit 416 forms (prints) the display object OB as an image on a preset stamp under the control of the checkout machine-side control unit 420. The participation ticket issuing unit 416 discharges the stamp on which the display object OB is formed, that is, the participation ticket from the participation ticket outlet 418. Thereby, the participation ticket issuing unit 416 issues a participation ticket for participating from the station. The participation ticket discharging unit 418 discharges the participation ticket.

  The payment machine-side control unit 420 includes, for example, a payment machine-side display control unit 424, a payment machine-side first determination unit 426, a payment machine-side second determination unit 428, a payment processing unit 430, and a payment machine-side issue control. Unit 432, but is not limited to this.

  The settlement machine-side display control unit 424 causes the touch panel unit to display a settlement processing screen, which is a processing result of the settlement processing unit 430. The payment processing unit 430 refers to the information stored in the payment machine-side storage unit 440, and calculates the section information encoded in the display object OB displayed on the ticket TIX, the station where the payment machine 400 is installed, and Based on the station where the ticket TIX was issued, the amount required to enter from the station is derived. At this time, the payment controller-side display controller 424 causes the touch panel to display the amount derived by the payment processor 430. When the user inserts the corresponding money into the cash slot 406, the settlement processing unit 430 refers to the counting result by the check unit 410 and determines whether or not the derived purchase amount is satisfied. When the count result satisfies the purchase price, the settlement processing unit 430 causes the settlement machine-side issuance control unit 432 to issue an entry ticket.

  The payment machine-side first determination unit 426 determines whether or not the user can participate based on the section information read by the payment machine-side image processing unit 414. The payment machine-side second determination unit 428 determines whether the user can participate based on the participation permission time read by the payment machine-side image processing unit 414. The settlement processor 430 determines whether the user is not allowed to participate by both the settlement machine-side first determination unit 426 and the settlement machine-side second determination unit 428. The settlement amount is derived based on the determination result of the second determination unit 428, and information indicating the derived settlement amount is displayed on the touch panel unit. When the money input by the user satisfies the purchase price, the settlement processing unit 430 generates entry ticket information for the user to enter from the station, encodes the generated entry ticket information, and generates a two-dimensional ticket. Generate code. The settlement processing unit 430 outputs the two-dimensional code to the settlement machine-side issuance control unit 432 as a display object OB for printing.

  The checkout machine-side storage unit 440 stores a program to be executed by the processor, and also stores operation plan information 442 and a fee table 444. The operation plan information 442 stores information indicating a railway operation plan. The checkout machine-side storage unit 440 may store a railway operation plan, a distance between stations, information on equipment at each station, and the like.

  FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the flow of the process executed by the payment machine 400. First, the payment machine 400 waits until the ticket TIX is held by the user (step S700). When the ticket TIX is held by the user over the payment machine reader 412, the ticket TIX held by the user is imaged in a state where the light is applied to the ticket TIX by a light (step S702). Next, the checkout machine-side image processing unit 414 acquires the image captured in step S702, and analyzes the acquired image (step S704).

  Next, the checkout machine-side image processing unit 414 determines whether or not the display object OB has been recognized (step S706). If the display object OB is not recognized, the checkout device-side display control unit 424 causes the touch panel unit to display information indicating that the reception is not possible (step S708).

  When the display object OB is recognized, the checkout machine-side first determination unit 426 determines whether or not the station is included in the section indicated by the section information based on the information indicating the section information encoded in the display object OB. (Step S710).

  When the station is not included in the section indicated by the section information, the payment controller-side display control unit 424 causes the user to display information indicating the payment amount on the touch panel (step S712). When the user inserts money into the cash slot 406, the payment controller-side issuance control unit 432 causes the display object OB to be printed on a medium and issued as a participation ticket (step S714).

  If the station falls within the section indicated by the section information, the checkout machine-side first determination unit 426 determines whether the station is a stopover station based on the information indicating the section information encoded in the display object OB. Is determined (step S716).

  If the station is a stopover station, the checkout machine side second determination unit 428 derives the participation permission time of the stopover station (step S718). The checkout machine-side second determination unit 428 derives the entry permission time by using the entry permission time derivation method of the stopover station described in the first embodiment. If the station is not a stopover station (it is a destination station), the process proceeds to step S720.

  Next, based on the information indicating the entry permission time encoded in the display object OB or the entry permission time derived in step S718, the current time before the entry permission time is determined. It is determined whether or not there is (step S720). If the current time is before the entry permission time, the settlement processing unit 430 causes the touch panel unit to display information indicating that entry is permitted (step S722).

  If the current time is not before the entry permission time, the settlement processing unit 430 causes the touch panel to display information indicating that it is necessary for the user to make an inquiry to the staff (step S724). Thus, the processing of one routine of this flowchart ends.

  According to the fifth embodiment described above, the payment processing unit 430 of the payment apparatus 400 determines that the user cannot participate in both the payment apparatus-side first determination unit 426 and the payment apparatus-side second determination unit 428. In this case, based on the determination result of the settlement machine-side first determination unit 426 or the settlement machine-side second determination unit 428, the information indicating permission or non-permission of the user's passage is displayed on the touch panel unit. Thus, the convenience for the user can be improved.

  If the entry permission time is not encoded in the display object OB, the settlement machine side second determination unit 428 of the settlement machine 400 determines whether the ticket TIX encoded in the display object OB was issued and the section information. The entry permission time may be derived based on the included information on the entry station, the operation plan information and the information on the facilities stored in the ticket gate storage unit 52.

  According to at least one embodiment described above, an imaging unit that captures a display object displayed on a medium presented by a user, and encoded on the display object based on an image captured by the imaging unit An image processing unit that reads the section information and the entry permission time outside the station premises, and a first determination unit that determines whether the user can enter based on the section information read by the image processing unit. A second determination unit that determines whether or not the user can participate based on the current time and the entry permission time read by the image processing unit; the first determination unit and the second determination. If both of the sections determine that the user can participate, the apparatus has a permission determination section that allows the user to pass, thereby suppressing unauthorized use. That.

The embodiment described above can be expressed as follows.
An imaging unit for imaging a display object displayed on a medium presented by a user;
An image processing unit that performs a decoding process on a pixel signal of an image captured by the imaging unit, reads section information encoded in the display object, and entry permission time outside the station yard,
A first determination unit that determines that the user can participate when the own station is included in the section information read by the image processing unit;
If the current time is before the entry permission time read by the image processing unit, a second determination unit that determines that the user can enter,
And a permission determining unit that permits the user to pass when both the first determining unit and the second determining unit determine that the user can enter.

The embodiment described above can be expressed as follows.
An imaging unit for imaging a display object displayed on a medium presented by a user;
An image processing unit that performs a decoding process on a pixel signal of an image captured by the imaging unit, and reads section information encoded in the display object, and a date and time of medium issuance,
A first determination unit that determines that the user can participate when the own station is included in the section information read by the image processing unit;
With reference to the information indicating the operation status of the railway, based on the issuance date and time of the medium read by the image processing unit and the information of the entrance station included in the section information read by the image processing unit, A second determination unit that determines an entry permission time outside the station premises, and determines that the user can enter if the current time is before the determined entry permission time;
And a permission determining unit that permits the user to pass when both the first determining unit and the second determining unit determine that the user can enter.

The embodiment described above can be expressed as follows.
A display object encoded with section information indicating a railway use section used for determination of participation permission and entry permission time at which the section information entry station that can enter from the section information entry station to the section information entry station is used. The displayed ticket.

The embodiment described above can be expressed as follows.
An imaging unit for imaging a display object displayed on a medium presented by a user,
Section information encoded in a display object imaged by the imaging unit, and an image processing unit that reads time information for determining an entry permission time outside the station premises,
A payment machine-side first determination unit that determines whether the user can participate based on the section information read by the image processing unit;
A payment machine-side second determination unit that determines whether the user can participate based on time information for determining the participation permission time read by the image processing unit;
When it is determined that the user is not allowed to participate by both the payment machine-side first determination unit and the payment machine-side second determination unit, the payment machine-side first determination unit or the payment machine-side second determination. A control unit that outputs information indicating permission or non-permission of the passage of the user to an output unit that outputs information based on a determination result of the unit;
Checkout machine equipped with.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automatic ticket gate, 12 ... Reader, 14 ... Optical reading part, 50, 50A ... Control part, 52 ... Ticket gate machine side storage part, 54 ... Charge table, 56 ... Ticket gate machine side communication part, 58 ... Image processing part, Reference numeral 60: determination processing unit, 62: first determination unit, 64: second determination unit, 66: permission determination unit, 68: third determination unit, 70: passage control unit, 100: ticket vending machine, 102: input unit, 114 ... Ticket issuing unit, 120 ... Ticket vending machine side control unit, 124 ... Ticket vending machine side display control unit, 126 ... Information generation unit, 128 ... Issuance control unit, 140 ... Ticket vending machine side storage unit, 200, 200A ... Server device, 212: server-side control unit, 214: server-side first determination unit, 216: server-side second determination unit, 218: server-side permission determination unit, 220: server-side storage unit, 300: portable terminal device, TIX: ticket

Claims (14)

An imaging unit for imaging a display object displayed on the ticket presented by the user;
Based on the image captured by the imaging unit, section information from the display object, and and an image processing unit for reading the issue date of the ticket,
First determination processing for determining whether or not the user can participate based on section information read by the image processing unit ;
And issue date, including the issuance time of the ticket read by the image processing unit, and the information of entrance station included in the section information read by the image processing unit and the contestants station information, said from the entrance station Based on the information indicating the operation status of the train heading to the participating station, the entry permission time to the outside of the station is determined, and based on the current time and the determined entry permission time, it is determined whether the user can enter. And a second determination process of determining whether
When it is determined that the user can participate in both the first determination process and the second determination process , the passing of the user is permitted.
Automatic ticket gate. In the second determination process, if the current time is earlier than the time assumed from the information indicating the operation status, the entry of the user is not permitted.
The automatic ticket gate according to claim 1. In the second determination process, further, the entry permission time is determined based on information indicating an operation frequency of a train traveling from the entry station to the entry station,
The automatic ticket gate according to claim 1 or 2 . In the second determination process, further, the entry permission time is determined based on information indicating an operation speed of a train traveling from the entry station to the entry station,
The automatic ticket gate according to claim 1 or 2 . In the second determination process, it is determined whether or not the user will drop off on the basis of the section information read by the image processing unit. Change to a time earlier than if not,
The automatic ticket gate according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . In the second determination process, based on the distance from the entrance station to the exit station included in the section information read by the image processing unit and the distance from the entrance station to the station to get off, the entry permission time To an earlier time than if you do not drop off,
The automatic ticket gate according to claim 5 . In the second determination process, based on the information indicating the operation status of the train from the entrance station included in the section information read by the image processing unit to the station to get off, the exit permission time, the stopover Change to a time earlier than if not,
The automatic ticket gate according to claim 5 or 6 . Wherein the image processing unit, the display Obujukuto displayed on the ticket presented by the user, read-more identification information associated with the display object,
Transmitting the identification information read by the pre-Symbol image processing unit to the server device, on the basis of the information received from the server apparatus, further perform a third determination process of determining whether the user can participate ,
If the user in both of the first determination process and the second determination process is determined to be played, or when the user in the third determination process is determined to be played, the Allow the passage of users,
Automatic ticket gate of any one of claims 1乃optimum claim 7. After the identification information read by the image processing unit is transmitted to the server device, when a determination result of determining whether the user can participate is not received from the server device within a predetermined time. Performing the first determination process and the second determination process,
After the identification information read by the image processing unit is transmitted to the server device, within a predetermined time, when the determination result is received from the server device, the third determination process is performed.
An automatic ticket gate according to claim 8 . An automatic ticket gate according to claim 8 or 9 ,
Server-side first determination processing for determining whether or not the user can participate, based on section information associated with the identification information acquired from the automatic ticket gate,
A server-side second determination process that determines whether the user can participate based on the entry permission time associated with the identification information acquired from the automatic ticket gate,
And when said Oite the user on both the server side first determination process and the server-side second determination process is determined to be played, the server-side permission determination process that permits the passage of the user,
A server device for executing
Automatic ticket gate system equipped with. An input unit that receives input of section information that is a section of a railway used by a user;
The section information input by the input unit, the current time, the information of the entry station and the information of the entry station included in the section information, and the information indicating the operation status of the train from the entry station to the entry station A permission time deriving unit that derives an entry permission time that is one of the criteria that is allowed to pass by the automatic ticket gate when the user passes from inside the station to outside the station,
An issuing unit that issues a ticket on which a display object that can read the section information input by the input unit and the entry permission time derived by the permission time derivation unit is printed,
Ticket vending machine equipped with. The permission time deriving unit further derives the entry permission time based on the operation frequency of a train to be boarded when heading from the entry station to the entry station,
The ticket vending machine according to claim 11 . The permission time deriving unit further derives the entry permission time based on the operating speed of the train traveling from the entry station to the entry station,
The ticket vending machine according to claim 11 . From a terminal device used by a user, a server-side communication unit that acquires section information that is a section of a railway used by the user by communication,
The information on the entry station and the information on the entry station included in the section information acquired by the server-side communication unit, the current time or the use start time, and the information indicating the operation status of the train traveling from the entry station to the entry station Based on the above, when the user passes from inside the station yard to outside the station yard, the entry permission time which is one of the criteria that the automatic ticket gate is allowed to pass is derived, and the section acquired by the server side communication unit Information, and the terminal device generates image information for displaying the display object capable of reading the derived participation permission time, and controls the server-side communication unit to transmit the generated image information to the terminal device. A server-side control unit to be transmitted,
Server device comprising:

Images