JP7225155B2 - Determination device, determination method, and determination program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a determination device, a determination method, and a determination program.

Conventionally, techniques for performing various estimations based on user behavior are known. As an example of such technology, there is known a technology for estimating the strength of connection between users based on the amount of communication between users using SNS (Social Network Service). Also, there is known a technique for estimating whether the user was accompanying the user based on the user's location information.

Japanese Patent No. 6590972 JP 2015-005103 A

However, the above-described technique may not be able to properly estimate the relationship between users.

For example, if the strength of the connection between users is estimated based on the amount of communication between users, the strength of the connection between users in the real world, such as whether they frequently hold meetings cannot be said to be properly estimated. In addition, if it is estimated whether the user accompanied the user based on the user's location information, for example, it is estimated that there is a strong relationship between users who sit close to each other in the office but do not interact much. there is a risk of it happening.

The present application has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present application is to improve the accuracy of estimating relationships between users.

A determination device according to the present application includes an acquisition unit that acquires position information indicating the positions of a plurality of users, and a determination unit that determines whether or not a plurality of users have gathered and then dispersed based on the position information. and

According to one aspect of the embodiment, it is possible to improve the estimation accuracy of the relationship between users.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing executed by an information providing device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information providing device according to the embodiment; FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of information registered in a communication history database according to the embodiment; FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of information registered in an AP database according to the embodiment; FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of information registered in a location history database according to the embodiment; FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of information registered in the relationship database according to the embodiment; FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of processing executed by the information providing device according to the embodiment; FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration;

Modes for carrying out the determination device, determination method, and determination program according to the present application (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the determination device, determination method, and determination program according to the present application are not limited to this embodiment. Further, each embodiment can be appropriately combined within a range that does not contradict the processing contents. Also, in each of the following embodiments, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions are omitted.

[1. About the information providing device]
First, an example of processing executed by an information providing device 10, which is an example of a determination device, will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing executed by an information providing device according to an embodiment. In FIG. 1, a plurality of users U1 to U6 (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as "users") are judged whether or not they have gathered and dispersed, and based on the judgment result, An example of estimation processing for estimating the relationship between is described.

[1-1. Overview of Information Providing Device]
In the example shown in FIG. 1, the determination system 1 includes an information providing device 10, a plurality of terminal devices 101 to 106 (hereinafter collectively referred to as a terminal device "100"), a plurality of access points AP1 to AP4 (hereinafter , may be collectively referred to as an “access point AP”) and an operator terminal 200 . Note that the determination system 1 may have not only one but also a plurality of information providing devices 10 and operator terminals 200 . Also, the determination system 1 may have any number of access points AP, any number of terminal devices 100 , any number of information providing devices 10 and operator terminals 200 . Note that the access point AP and the terminal device 100 may belong to a system different from the determination system 1 .

The information providing device 10 is an information processing device capable of communicating with various devices via a predetermined network N such as the Internet (see, for example, FIG. 2), and is realized by, for example, a server device, a cloud system, or the like. be. For example, the information providing device 10 can communicate with the terminal device 100, the access point AP, and the operator terminal 200 via the network N. The information providing device 10 then executes determination processing and estimation processing, which will be described later.

The terminal devices 100 and T are smart devices such as smartphones and tablets, and are portable terminal devices capable of communicating with any server device via a wireless communication network such as 3G (Generation) or LTE (Long Term Evolution). is. Note that the terminal device 100 may be an information processing device such as a PC (Personal Computer). Here, it is assumed that the terminal device 100 has a function capable of connecting to various networks N through various wireless communications such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) and WiFi (registered trademark). For example, the terminal device 100 can connect to an access point AP via WiFi and perform various information communications.

In the following description, each terminal device 100 is assumed to be a terminal device used by different users. For example, terminal device 101 is a terminal device used by user U1, terminal device 102 is a terminal device used by user U2, terminal device 103 is a terminal device used by user U3, A terminal device 104 is a terminal device used by user U4, a terminal device 105 is a terminal device used by user U5, and a terminal device 106 is a terminal device used by user U6. . Here, the distinction between the terminal devices 101 to 106 may be determined by hardware. It may be the terminal device 102 .

The operator terminal 200 is a terminal device used by the operator OP who wants to know the relationship between each user, and is, for example, an information processing device such as various smart devices or a PC. For example, the operator terminal 200 can present the relationship between each user to the operator OP by displaying the relationship report generated by the information providing device 10 .

[1-2. About an example of determination processing]
In recent years, there has been an increase in free-address offices in which each user can change the seat used for work at any time. In such an office, users in the same department may work in separate areas or on different floors, and users in different departments may work in nearby areas.

On the other hand, when a meeting is held in such a free-address office, it is thought that the meeting will be held using a table or room for the meeting. In order to optimize the number and placement of tables and rooms for such meetings, it is necessary to determine the meeting Aspects need to be analyzed. However, in the conventional technology, since users who act together with users who are located in the vicinity are simply estimated, there are cases where it cannot be said that the meeting mode is properly determined in an office with a free address. There is

On the other hand, when users hold a meeting in an office in the real world, it is conceivable that they gather at a certain predetermined location, hold the meeting, and then disperse again. By tracking a series of behaviors such as gathering and dispersing of users, it is possible to appropriately estimate information about how users conduct meetings. Therefore, the information providing apparatus 10 acquires position information of each user, and determines whether or not a plurality of users have gathered and then dispersed based on the acquired position information.

An example of determination processing executed by the information providing apparatus 10 will be described below with reference to FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 1, for example, it is assumed that users U1 to U4 gather at desk D1 (timing M1), hold a meeting, and then disperse to different seats (timing M2). . In the example shown in FIG. 1, user U5 joins the meeting midway (timing M3), and then leaves the meeting before other users U1 to U4 (timing M4). Access points AP1 to AP4 are installed in the area A1 where the users U1 to U6 are located, and the terminal devices 101 to 106 used by the users U1 to U6 are connected to any of the access points AP1 to AP4. It is assumed that various communications are performed via Wifi by connecting to AP4.

First, the information providing apparatus 10 collects connection logs from each access point AP installed in an area A1 such as an office (step S1). For example, the information providing device 10 acquires the identifier of the terminal device 100 connected to each access point AP, the date and time of communication with the terminal device 100, and the radio wave intensity in the communication as a connection log. Note that the identifier of the terminal device 100 is, for example, an IP (Internet Protocol) address or MAC (Media Access Control address) address of the terminal device 100, a login ID of a user who logs in to the terminal device 100, or the like. Any information can be used as long as it can be identified.

Subsequently, the information providing device 10 estimates the location history of each user based on the radio wave intensity in the connection log (step S2). For example, the information providing device 10 selects a user (for example, user U1) whose position is to be estimated. In such a case, the information providing apparatus 10 checks the connection log between the terminal device 101 used by the user U1 and each access point AP within a predetermined period (for example, 10 seconds before and after the predetermined date and time). A connection log of communications performed with three or more access points AP is extracted. Then, the information providing apparatus 10 estimates the position of the user U1 at a predetermined date and time based on the radio wave intensity in the extracted connection log and the position of each access point AP based on the three-point survey method. Any known technique can be adopted as such a position estimation technique.

Subsequently, the information providing apparatus 10 repeats the above-described processing to estimate the location history of each user at each date and time. Then, based on the position history, the information providing apparatus 10 determines whether or not a plurality of users are scattered afterward (step S3). For example, the information providing apparatus 10 may determine whether or not a plurality of users have gathered for a predetermined period or longer and then disbanded, or whether or not a plurality of users have gathered within a predetermined range and then disbanded. It may be determined whether

For example, the information providing device 10 divides the area A1 into a plurality of areas, and identifies the area where each user was located in each time slot from the position history. Then, based on the identification result, the information providing apparatus 10 identifies a plurality of users U who have gathered within a predetermined range in the same time zone as the gathered users U. For example, when the users U1 to U4 are gathered near the desk D1 at the timing M1, the information providing device 10 determines that the users U1 to U4 have gathered.

In such a case, the information providing apparatus 10 determines whether or not a plurality of users U who have gathered within a predetermined range have been present in the same area for a predetermined period of time or longer, and then the users have dispersed. . For example, when users U1 to U4 move to different areas at timing M2, the information providing apparatus 10 calculates the period from timing M1 to timing M2. Then, for example, when the calculated period exceeds a predetermined threshold (for example, between 15 minutes and 60 minutes), the information providing apparatus 10 determines that the users U1 to U4 have gathered and then dispersed. Then, the information providing apparatus 10 registers information indicating that the users U1 to U4 gathered from the timing M1 and dispersed at the timing M2 as discrete aggregation information. By repeating such processing, the information providing apparatus 10 generates discrete set information indicating the set and the discreteness of each user.

Subsequently, the information providing device 10 generates a relationship report indicating the relationship between users based on the determination result (step S4). For example, based on the determination result, the information providing apparatus 10 estimates the relationship between a plurality of users who have gathered and then dispersed. The information providing device 10 then generates a relationship report indicating the estimated relationship.

For example, if the location where multiple users gather is a meeting table or a conference room, the users who gather and then disperse (hereinafter referred to as "aggregated discrete users") hold a meeting. Presumed to be related users. Also, if the location where a plurality of users gather is the company cafeteria, etc., it is presumed that the gathered discrete users are users who have a relationship of having lunch together. In this way, the attribute of the location where each user gathers is an index of the purpose for which each user gathers. Therefore, the information providing device 10 estimates the relationship between the users based on the location where the users gather. More specifically, the information providing apparatus 10 determines the purpose of the location where the discrete set of users gather, that is, based on the attribute of the location where the discrete set of users gathers. Estimate the relationship between people. It should be noted that such estimation can be realized, for example, by various types of associative memory or rule-based processing.

In addition, if the time from the time each user gathered to the time they dispersed exceeded 60 minutes, it was presumed that an important meeting was held, and if the time was less than 30 minutes, a less important meeting was held. You might also say that. Also, if it takes a few minutes from the time the users gather to the time they disperse, it is conceivable that they were talking while standing, for example, during a break. In this way, the time from when each user gathers to when they disperse is considered to be an index of the purpose for which each user gathered. Therefore, the information providing apparatus 10 estimates the relationship between the users according to the length of time during which the users have gathered. It should be noted that such an estimation can be realized, for example, by using a table that associates in advance the range of the period from gathering to scattering with the user's purpose that can be estimated.

Also, when the same users frequently hold meetings, these users are considered to be working on the same project or to be on good terms with each other. In this way, the number of times each set discrete user gathers and then disperses can be an index showing the relationship between each user. Therefore, the information providing apparatus 10 estimates the relationship between a plurality of users according to the number of times that a plurality of users gather and then disperse. For example, when the number of times the users U1 to U4 gather and then disperse exceeds a predetermined threshold, or when the number of times the users U1 to U4 gather and then disperse within a predetermined period exceeds a predetermined threshold , it may be assumed that the users U1 to U4 are working on the same project.

Then, the information providing device 10 generates information indicating various estimation results, that is, a relationship report indicating the relationship between users, and provides the generated relationship report to the operator terminal 200 (step S5). . As a result of such processing, the operator OP decides, for example, that the users U1 to U4 frequently hold meetings, and that a conference room should be set up near the users U1 to U4. In addition, various measures can be taken to improve office efficiency. In other words, the information providing apparatus 10 can provide the operator OP with various indicators for improving office efficiency.

In this way, the information providing apparatus 10 does not simply determine the user group, but determines whether or not the users have gathered and then dispersed. As a result of such processing, the information providing apparatus 10 can detect the users who have gathered to appropriately hold a meeting or the like. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 determines that after the users U1 to U4 have gathered, the user U5 has gathered, and after the user U5 has dispersed first, the users U1 to U4 have dispersed. As a result of such processing, the information providing apparatus 10 can generate a report indicating that users U1 to U5 have held a meeting, and that user U5 has joined and left the meeting halfway through. Further, the information providing device 10 can provide a report indicating that the user U6 has not participated in the meeting, even if the user U6 is located within a predetermined distance from the user U4.

[1-3. Concrete examples of judgment contents]
Next, in the determination processing executed by the information providing apparatus 10, a specific example will be described in which state it is determined that the users have gathered and in what state it is determined that the users have dispersed.

[1-3-1. Regarding the judgment of the set]
For example, the information providing device 10 may determine a group of users based on arbitrary conditions. For example, when the information providing apparatus 10 calculates the distance between each user and a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) elapses after the calculated distance becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value (for example, 2 meters) may determine that the users have gathered. Further, the information providing apparatus 10 divides the area A1 into a plurality of areas, and determines that the users have gathered when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since a plurality of users were located in the same area. good. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 may divide the area A1 for each conference room, and may regard the area within a predetermined range from the position where the meeting table is located as one area. That is, the information providing apparatus 10 may divide the area A1 into a plurality of areas each having a size corresponding to the purpose of each area.

The information providing apparatus 10 may also determine whether or not other users have gathered at a place where two or more users have gathered. For example, when the user U5 moves to the same position as the users U1 to U4 gathered at the timing M2 at the timing M3 after the timing M2, and a predetermined time has passed since then, It may be determined that the user U5 gathered from the middle.

Further, the information providing apparatus 10 may determine a group of users using additional information. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 may determine a group of users based on wearable devices worn by users or information on users detected by the terminal device 100 . To give a more specific example, the information providing apparatus 10 is used by a wearable device worn by the user or the terminal device 100 when the users U1 and U2 are present within a predetermined range for one minute or more at a certain date and time. It may be determined that the users U1 and U2 have gathered when the conversation of the users U1 and U2 is detected.

In addition to the above voice, the information providing apparatus 10 determines a group of users according to information on the network such as various biometric information that can be detected from users, location histories, user schedules, and the like. may For example, the information providing apparatus 10 estimates the purpose (various contexts) for the users U1 and U2 to move from various types of information, and when the estimated purpose satisfies a predetermined condition, the users U1 and U2 gather. It may be determined that To give a more specific example, when the users U1 and U2 are estimated to have moved within the same range for conversation such as a meeting, the information providing apparatus 10 determines that the users U1 and U2 have gathered. can be determined.

[1-3-2. Discrete Judgment]
Further, the information providing device 10 may determine whether the users are discrete based on any condition. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 treats a plurality of users determined to have gathered in a predetermined range as a set user, and sets the range of the set as a set range. Then, the information providing apparatus 10 may determine that the users have dispersed when the collective users have moved to a range other than the collective range.

Here, the information providing device 10 may determine the discreteness of some of the collective users. For example, the information providing device 10 may specify that the user U5, who gathered at the timing M3, left the gathering at the timing M4 earlier than the timing M2. In such a case, the information providing apparatus 10, for example, collects discrete information indicating that the users U1 to U4 gathered and dispersed between the timings M1 to M2, and may be generated together with aggregated discrete information to the effect that is aggregated and discrete. In addition, the information providing apparatus 10 determines that the users U1 to U4 gather between the timings M1 and M2 and A relationship report may be generated indicating that the user U5 joined in the middle of the meeting and the meeting ended at the timing M2.

Here, there are cases where a phone call is received during the meeting, or some users leave the meeting midway through for a break. Therefore, even if some of the group users move from the group range to another range, the information providing device 10 moves to the group range again within a predetermined time, and if the predetermined time has passed, the group user may be determined to be non-discrete. Further, the information providing apparatus 10 may determine that the collective users have dispersed, for example, when a majority of the collective users have moved from the collective range to another range.

Also, for example, users U1 to U5 may hold a meeting in a first time period, and then, in a second time period, only users U1 and U2 may continue to hold a meeting at the same place. In such a case, the information providing apparatus 10 may determine that users U1 to U5 gather and disperse in the first time period, and that users U1 and U2 gather and then disperse in the second time period. . For example, the information providing apparatus 10 allows some of the collective users U1 to U5 who have gathered at the first timing to move from the collective range to another range at the second timing, and then At three timings, it is determined that the collective users U1 and U2 are dispersed. In such a case, the information providing device 10 generates a relationship report to the effect that the collective users U1 to U5 held meetings between the first timing and the second timing, and regarding the collective users U1 and U2, A relationship report may be generated to the effect that a continuous meeting was held from the second timing to the third timing.

[1-4. Concrete examples of estimation contents]
Next, a specific example of what kind of relationship between users is estimated in the estimation process executed by the information providing apparatus 10 will be described.

For example, when it is determined that the users U1 to U5 have gathered and dispersed, the information providing device 10 presumes that the users U1 to U5 have had a meeting, and determines that the users U1 to U5 have had a meeting. relationship report may be generated. In addition, if the users U1 to U5 have held meetings more than a predetermined number of times, or if the period during which the users U1 to U5 have held meetings exceeds a predetermined threshold, the information providing apparatus 10 A relationship report may be generated stating that ~U5 has frequent meetings.

Further, the information providing apparatus 10 sets a node corresponding to each user, generates graph information in which the node corresponding to the user who frequently holds meetings is connected by a link, and uses the generated graph information as a link. may be provided as a sex report. The information providing device 10 may also generate a list of other users who have had meetings with the user U1 and a relationship report indicating the number of times other users have had meetings with the user U1.

In addition, the information providing apparatus 10 may generate a relationship report indicating the number of meetings held by each user, the location of meetings, and the number of meetings held at each location. Further, the information providing apparatus 10 may generate a heat map indicating the relationship between the location and the number of meetings as a relationship report.

In addition, the information providing apparatus 10 may estimate the relationship according to the movement history of each user who has held a meeting. For example, the information providing device 10 calculates the distance traveled by the user for the meeting. For example, if the information providing apparatus 10 determines that the user U1 and the user U2 have gathered at a predetermined gathering position and then dispersed, The starting position is specified as a position where the user has been there for longer than a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes). The information providing device 10 then calculates the distance between the starting position and the gathering position (for example, the straight-line distance or the actual moving distance of the user U1).

Such a distance serves as an index of the importance of the meeting for user U1 and the relationship with user U2. Therefore, the information providing device 10 estimates the relationship between the user U1 and the user U2 based on the calculated distance. For example, when the distance traveled by the user U1 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the information providing apparatus 10 indicates that the meeting with the user U2 is important or that the user U2 is favored. information, that is, the relationship with the user U2 based on the subjectivity of the user U1 may be estimated. Further, the information providing apparatus 10 may estimate the relationship between uses based on the number of floors each user has moved to. For example, the information providing device 10 may estimate that the greater the number of floors to which it moves, the closer the relationship.

The information providing device 10 may also estimate the relationship between groups of users. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 can determine the length and number of meetings held by users belonging to the first department and users belonging to the second department, the distance traveled by each user for the meeting, and the number of floors. A relationship between the first department and the second department may be estimated based on the number of .

In addition, the information providing apparatus 10 may generate information indicating the number of meetings held in each conference room, the time zone, and the length of the meeting as a relationship report. In addition, the information providing device 10 may generate information indicating the number of meetings held on each floor as a relationship report. Furthermore, the information providing device 10 may generate graph information indicating the relationship between floors to which each user has moved for a meeting, and provide the generated graph information as a relationship report.

In addition, the information providing apparatus 10 estimates the type of meeting for which each user has gathered, based on the length of time during which a plurality of users have gathered, the number of people who have gathered, and the place where the users have gathered. You may For example, when users U1 and U2 gather in a hot water supply room or the like for 15 to 20 minutes, the information providing apparatus 10 determines that the users U1 to U5 are standing and chatting instead of having a meeting. If people gather in a conference room or work area for about an hour, it can be assumed that they have had a meeting. In addition, such an estimation may be performed by previously associating the purpose of the meeting with, for example, the range of the length of the gathering period, the range of the number of users gathered, and the location of the gathering. is possible.

[1-5. Regarding the use of transmitted information]
Further, the information providing apparatus 10 may estimate the relationship between users based on the transmitted information, which is information transmitted between users, in addition to the location information of each user. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 identifies speeches made by each user to other users in a meeting from sounds detected by the terminal device 100 or various wearable devices. Then, the information providing apparatus 10 may generate information indicating to whom each user has spoken, the number of times each user has spoken to other users, etc., as a relationship report. . For example, the information providing device 10 may generate a directed graph showing statements from each user to other users.

In addition, the information providing apparatus 10 analyzes the contents of messages and emails sent and received between the users who have held the meeting, and identifies the user who proposed the meeting. Then, the information providing apparatus 10 may generate, as a relationship report, a directed graph or the like indicating that the specified user has held a meeting with other users.

[1-6. Regarding processing using the model]
Here, the information providing apparatus 10 may use a model to determine whether or not the users have gathered and then dispersed. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 acquires the location history of users who actually had a meeting as positive learning data. More specifically, the information providing apparatus 10 stores the location history from the time when the users who actually had the meeting start moving to gather, the meeting, and then the time when the users disperse and complete the movement. get. In addition, the information providing apparatus 10 acquires the location history of users who did not hold a meeting but who gathered in the vicinity and dispersed afterward as learning data of negative examples. Then, the information providing apparatus 10 causes various models such as a DNN (Deep Neural Network) to learn the characteristics of the acquired learning data. You may generate a model that determines whether

In addition to the meeting, the information providing apparatus 10 may generate a model that learns the characteristics of the position history of users who meet by chance, talk while standing, and then disperse. , and then generate a model that has learned the features of discrete user location histories. That is, the information providing apparatus 10 generates a model for each user's purpose of gathering and then dispersing.

After that, the information providing apparatus 10 inputs the location history of each user to each model to estimate whether or not each user gathered and subsequently dispersed, and the purpose of the gathering of users. good. Further, the information providing apparatus 10 may estimate the relationship between the users based on the estimation result, ie, for what purpose each user gathers.

[1-7. Regarding movement after gathering]
In the above-described example, the information providing apparatus 10 has been described as an example in which users gather at a predetermined position such as a meeting and then disperse at that position. However, embodiments are not so limited.

For example, when users go out to lunch with colleagues or travel, users gather at one of the departure locations (e.g., company entrance or station) and It is also possible to scatter at discrete positions (for example, a station near the destination) after moving to the destination. Therefore, the information providing apparatus 10 may determine whether or not a plurality of users gather, move in a gathered state, and disperse at the destination.

For example, in the information providing apparatus 10, a plurality of users gather in a predetermined area, move to any position while the positions of these users are within a predetermined range, and then each user It is determined whether or not it is no longer within a predetermined range. Then, if the position history of each user satisfies such a condition, the information providing apparatus 10 can also consider a mode in which the location history is dispersed at stations near the ground. Therefore, the information providing apparatus 10 may determine that a plurality of users gather, move together, and then disperse at the destination. In addition, the information providing apparatus 10 determines whether the users have traveled or not, according to such determination results, the location at which the users gathered, the distance traveled, the destination, the period from the time they gathered until they dispersed, and the like. It is also possible to estimate the purpose of each user, such as whether or not he or she has visited the city, and estimate the relationship between the users based on the result of the estimation.

It should be noted that when such processing is performed, for example, each user may freely act at a travel destination. Therefore, although the information providing apparatus 10 is dispersed at the destination, the users gather again within a predetermined period (for example, several hours), and when they move after that, the users continue to gather without scattering. It may be determined that there is

Further, when the gathering position and the discrete positions are different, the information providing apparatus 10 may estimate the purpose of each user's gathering based on the discrete positions, and estimate the relationship of each user from the estimated purpose. good. For example, the information providing device 10 may estimate whether or not the users have traveled as a group, depending on whether or not the gathering position and the discrete positions are in the vicinity of different stations.

[1-8. Location history]
In the example described above, the information providing apparatus 10 acquires the position history of each user based on the radio wave intensity between the terminal apparatus 100 of each user and the access point AP. However, embodiments are not so limited. For example, the information providing device 10 may acquire a history of positions detected by each terminal device 100 using a positioning system such as GPS (Global Positioning System). Further, the information providing device 10 may acquire the position history based on information such as beacons acquired by each terminal device 100 .

[2. Configuration of Information Providing Device]
An example of the functional configuration of the information providing apparatus 10 described above will be described below. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information providing device according to the embodiment; As shown in FIG. 2, the information providing device 10 has a communication section 20, a storage section 30, and a control section 40. FIG.

The communication unit 20 is realized by, for example, a NIC (Network Interface Card) or the like. The communication unit 20 is connected to the network N by wire or wirelessly, and transmits and receives information to and from various devices.

The storage unit 30 is implemented by, for example, a semiconductor memory device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk. The storage unit 30 also stores a communication history database 31, an AP database 32, a position history database 33, and a relationship database .

An example of information registered in each database will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. FIG.

First, an example of information registered in the communication history database 31 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of information registered in a communication history database according to the embodiment; As shown in FIG. 3, the communication history database 31 includes information items such as "terminal ID", "communication strength", "communication date and time", and "APID". Information about the history of communication between is registered.

Here, the “terminal ID” is information for identifying the terminal device 100 that has communicated with the access point AP. The "communication strength" is information indicating the average radio field strength when communicating with the terminal device 100 indicated by the "terminal ID". "Communication date and time" is information indicating the date and time of communication with the terminal device 100 indicated by the "terminal ID". "APID" is information for identifying the access point AP that communicated with the terminal device 100 indicated by the "terminal ID".

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, terminal ID "T1", communication strength "-40db", communication date and time [2020/02/01/10:25:10], and APID "AP1" are associated and registered. there is Such information is communicated between the terminal device 100 indicated by the terminal ID "T1" and the access point AP indicated by the APID "AP#1" at the communication date and time [2020/02/01/10:25:10]. is performed, indicating that the radio wave intensity at that time was "-40db".

Although conceptual values such as “T1” and “AP1” are described in the example shown in FIG. Information indicating the point AP is registered. In addition to the information shown in FIG. 3, the communication history database 31 may register various information related to communication, such as the amount of communication data.

Next, an example of information registered in the AP database 32 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of information registered in an AP database according to the embodiment; Information having items such as "APID" and "installation position" is registered in the AP database 32 .

Here, "installation position" is information indicating the position where the access point AP indicated by "APID" is installed. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, information such as APID "AP1" and installation position "position #1" are associated and registered. Such information indicates that the access point AP indicated by the APID "AP1" is installed at the location indicated by the installation location "location #1". In the example shown in FIG. 4, a conceptual value such as "position #1" is described, but in reality, latitude and longitude indicating the position, various numerical values, and the like are registered. In addition to the information shown in FIG. 4, the AP database 32 may also have various information related to the access point AP registered therein.

Next, an example of information registered in the position history database 33 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of information registered in a location history database according to the embodiment; The location of each terminal device 100 estimated from the communication history is registered in the location history database 33 . For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5 , information such as “terminal ID”, “estimated date and time”, and “position information” is registered in the position history database 33 . “Position information” is information indicating the position of the terminal device 100 indicated by the associated “terminal ID”. The "estimated date and time" is information indicating the estimated date and time when the terminal device 100 indicated by the associated "terminal ID" was located at the position indicated by the associated "position information". .

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the terminal ID "T1", the estimated date and time "2020/02/01/10:25", and the location information "P1" are associated and registered. Such information indicates that the terminal device 100 indicated by the terminal ID "T1" is presumed to have been located at the position indicated by the location information "P1" at the estimated date and time "2020/02/01/10:25". indicates Various types of information may be registered in the position history database 33 in addition to the information shown in FIG.

Next, an example of information registered in the relationship database 34 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of information registered in the relationship database according to the embodiment; In the relationship database 34, relationship information is registered that indicates the relationship between the terminal devices that have been aggregated and then dispersed and the corresponding users.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 6 , “estimated ID”, “target terminal”, “meeting date and time”, “discrete date and time”, and “relationship information” are registered in the relationship database 34 . Here, the "presumed ID" is information for identifying the presumed relationship information. A “target terminal” is a terminal ID of the terminal device 100 used by a group of dispersed users. The "meeting date and time" is the estimated date and time when the users of each terminal device 100 gathered. The “discrete dates and times” are dates and times when it is estimated that the users using each terminal device 100 are discrete. Also, “relationship information” is information indicating the relation between users who use each terminal device 100 .

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the estimated ID "E1", the target terminals "T1, T2, T3, T4, T5", the meeting date and time "2020/02/01/10:25", the discrete date and time "2020/02/ 01/11:25” and the relationship information “meeting” are associated and registered. Such information is such that the users who use the terminal devices 100 indicated by the target terminals "T1, T2, T3, T4, T5" as the relationship information indicated by the estimated ID "E1" can use the meeting date and time "2020/02/ 01/10:25” and then dispersed at the discrete date and time “2020/02/01/11:25”, so it is estimated that the users are the users who had the “meeting”. In addition to the information shown in FIG. 6, the relationship database 34 may also register various kinds of information that occupies the relationship of each user.

Returning to FIG. 2, the description is continued. The control unit 40 is a controller, and various programs stored in a storage device inside the information providing apparatus 10 are transferred to a RAM or the like by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). is executed as a work area. Also, the control unit 40 is a controller, and may be implemented by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

As shown in FIG. 2 , the control unit 40 has a collection unit 41 , an acquisition unit 42 , a determination unit 43 , an estimation unit 44 and a provision unit 45 .

The collection unit 41 collects communication histories between the terminal device 100 and the access point AP. For example, the collection unit 41 receives the ID of the terminal device 100 that performed communication, the date and time of communication, and the radio wave intensity as the communication history from the access point AP. In such a case, the collection unit 41 adds the APID of the access point AP to the received communication history and registers it in the communication history database 31 . Note that the collection unit 41 may collect communication histories from various log servers that manage communication histories between each access point AP and the terminal device 100, for example.

The acquisition unit 42 acquires position information indicating positions of a plurality of users. For example, the acquisition unit 42 refers to the communication history database 31 and identifies a plurality of access points AP that have communicated with the same terminal device 100 within a predetermined period (for example, several minutes) based on a predetermined date and time. do. Subsequently, the acquisition unit 42 refers to the AP database 32 and identifies the position of the identified access point AP. Then, the acquisition unit 42 estimates the position of the terminal device 100 based on the principle of three-point surveying based on the identified position of each access point AP and the radio wave intensity received by each access point. In addition, the acquisition unit 42 associates the position of the terminal device 100 with a predetermined date and time and registers them in the position history database 33 .

Note that the acquisition unit 42 may acquire the position detected by the terminal device 100 using GPS or the like, and the position indicating the position detected by various detection servers that detect the position of the terminal device 100 from the communication history. may be obtained.

Further, the acquisition unit 42 may acquire information indicating a conversation between users from each terminal device 100 or a wearable device worn by each user. You may acquire it as transmission information. It may be a person estimated by the acquisition unit 42 from such transmitted information or various types of information, or may be obtained from an external server that manages various types of transmitted information.

The determination unit 43 determines whether or not a plurality of users gathered and then dispersed based on the position information. For example, the determination unit 43 determines whether or not a plurality of users have gathered for a predetermined period or longer and then disbanded. Note that the determination unit 43 may determine whether or not a plurality of users have gathered within a predetermined range and then disbanded.

For example, the determination unit 43 refers to the location history database 33 and identifies users who have been in a predetermined area for a predetermined period of time or more at the same time as collective users. In addition, the determination unit 43 identifies the date and time when the collective users gather as the collective date and time, and identifies the date and time when the position of each collective user moves out of the predetermined area as the discrete date and time. Then, the determination unit 43 calculates the period from the meeting date and time to the discrete date and time, and determines whether or not the calculated period exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Note that the determination unit 43 may determine whether or not a plurality of users gather, and then move in a state where the plurality of users have gathered, and then separate at the destination. Further, the determination unit 43 may further determine whether or not new users gather after a plurality of users gather, and then separate. Moreover, the determination unit 43 may further determine whether or not one of the plurality of users who have gathered has left. Then, the determination unit 43 provides various determination results to the estimation unit 44 .

The estimating unit 44 estimates relationships between multiple users based on the determination result. For example, when it is determined that a plurality of users have gathered and then dispersed, the estimation unit 44 may estimate that each user has a meeting.

Moreover, the estimation unit 44 may further estimate the relationship between the users based on the location where the users gather. For example, the estimation unit 44 may estimate that each user has a meeting when the place where the group discrete users have gathered is a conference room. In addition, the estimating unit 44 may estimate that, when the place where the group discrete users have gathered is the hot water supply room, each user stands and talks.

Also, the estimation unit 44 may estimate the relationship between a plurality of users based on the discrete positions of the users. For example, when the set discrete users move after gathering and then disperse at a place different from the meeting place, the estimation unit 44 determines whether the discrete users are at a station, a restaurant, or the like. It may be inferred whether the discrete user is a user who travels or a user who eats together.

Also, the estimation unit 44 may estimate the relationship between the users according to the length of the period during which the users gathered. For example, if the time from the meeting date and time to the discrete date and time is about 5 minutes to 15 minutes, the estimation unit 44 estimates that the user is standing and talking, and if it is 30 minutes or more, the usage for holding a meeting. may be presumed to be

Also, the estimation unit 44 may estimate the relationship between a plurality of users according to the number of times that a plurality of users gather and then disperse. For example, the estimation unit 44 may estimate that when a plurality of users gather in the same combination multiple times and then disperse, these users are related to a common project.

Also, the estimation unit 44 may estimate the relationship between multiple users based on the movement histories of multiple users. For example, the estimation unit 44 may estimate that the longer the distance traveled to the gathering place, the better the relationship or the importance of the meeting. Also, the estimation unit 44 may estimate relationships between a plurality of users based on the transmitted information. For example, the estimating unit 44 may estimate the user who is the main participant in the meeting or the user who hosted the meeting from the contents of various voices and messages.

In addition, when a certain user gathers in the middle or a certain user disperses in the middle, the estimation unit 44 may estimate that such a user participated in the meeting until the middle. Also, the estimation unit 44 may estimate the closeness between the users according to the timing at which each user gathers or the timing at which the users disperse. For example, the estimating unit 44 assumes that user U5 often leaves a meeting in which user U6 is present, or that user U6 participates in a meeting in which user U6 participates. If there is a large number of times that the user leaves halfway through, it may be inferred that the user U5 dislikes the user U6. Then, the estimation unit 44 registers the estimation results and the like in the relationship database 34 .

The provision unit 45 provides the determination result by the determination unit 43 and the estimation result by the estimation unit 44 . For example, the providing unit 45 may provide information indicating the relationship registered in the relationship database 34, meeting place, discrete place, number of people in the meeting, date and time of meeting, time of meeting, date and time of the meeting, travel distance until meeting, Generate various relationship reports such as graphs that schematically link users who have had meetings. Note that the provision unit 45 may generate such a relationship report based on the determination result of the determination unit 43 . The provision unit 45 then provides the relationship report to the operator terminal 200 .

[3. Example of flow of processing executed by information providing device]
Next, the flow of processing executed by the information providing device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of processing executed by the information providing device according to the embodiment;

First, the information providing device 10 acquires the position history from the communication history (step S101). Then, the information providing apparatus 10 determines whether or not it is predetermined determination timing (step S102), and if it is predetermined determination timing (step S102: Yes), based on the position history, the information providing apparatus 10 determines whether or not the plurality of users are gathered and then dispersed (step S103).

Subsequently, the information providing apparatus 10 determines whether or not it is the predetermined estimated timing (step S104), and if it is the estimated timing (step S104: Yes), based on the determination result, The gender is estimated (step S105). After that, the information providing device 10 provides a relationship report indicating the estimated relationship (step S106), and ends the process. Note that the information providing apparatus 10 executes step S101 when it is not the determination timing (step S102: No) or when it is not the estimation timing (step S104: No).

[4. Modification]
An example of processing by the information providing apparatus 10 has been described above. However, embodiments are not so limited. Variations of processing executed by the information providing apparatus 10 will be described below.

[4-1. About estimation target]
In the example described above, the information providing device 10 estimated the relationship between a set of discrete users. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and the information providing apparatus 10 may estimate arbitrary targets based on the determination result of whether or not they are a group of discrete users.

For example, the information providing apparatus 10 may estimate a user who is excellent at communication based on the transmitted information. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 can identify users who frequently speak to other users and users who frequently converse with other users based on the information transmitted by the set of discrete users. You may presume and presume the user who presumed to be a user who excelled in communication.

In addition, the information providing device 10 may estimate users related to the performance of the team and generate a relationship report indicating such user behavior. For example, the information providing device 10 identifies a highly profitable group, and identifies a meeting in which the users of the identified group have participated as a set of discrete users. Then, the information providing device 10 identifies users who frequently participate in the identified meetings as users related to the performance of the team. In addition, the information providing apparatus 10 generates a relationship report summarizing other meetings in which the specified user participates, other users who have a relationship with the specified user, movement histories of such users, and the like. and may provide the relationship report it generates.

Further, the information providing apparatus 10 may estimate users who make decisions in the meeting based on the transmitted information. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 identifies a user who made a summary remark in a meeting or gave an instruction to another user, or a user who gave an instruction to another user with a message. Various relationship reports may be provided.

Also, the information providing apparatus 10 may estimate the occurrence of an event such as a guerrilla live, instead of estimating the relationship between users. For example, the information providing device 10 estimates that, when users moving in the city gather and then disperse, an unexpected event such as a guerrilla live or an accident occurs at the location where they gathered and dispersed. good too. Further, the information providing apparatus 10 may estimate the content of these unexpected events based on the demographic attributes and psychographic attributes of the discrete user group.

[4-2. others〕
Further, among the processes described in the above embodiments, all or part of the processes described as being automatically performed can be manually performed, and conversely, the processes described as being performed manually can be performed manually. can also be performed automatically by known methods. In addition, information including processing procedures, specific names, various data and parameters shown in the above documents and drawings can be arbitrarily changed unless otherwise specified. For example, the various information shown in each drawing is not limited to the illustrated information.

Also, each component of each device illustrated is functionally conceptual, and does not necessarily need to be physically configured as illustrated. In other words, the specific form of distribution and integration of each device is not limited to the one shown in the figure, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in arbitrary units according to various loads and usage conditions. Can be integrated and configured.

Moreover, each of the embodiments described above can be appropriately combined within a range that does not contradict the processing contents.

[4-3. program〕
Also, the information providing apparatus 10 according to the above-described embodiment is implemented by a computer 1000 configured as shown in FIG. 8, for example. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration; A computer 1000 is connected to an output device 1010 and an input device 1020, and an arithmetic device 1030, a primary storage device 1040, a secondary storage device 1050, an output IF (Interface) 1060, an input IF 1070, and a network IF 1080 are connected via a bus 1090. have

The arithmetic device 1030 operates based on programs stored in the primary storage device 1040 and the secondary storage device 1050, programs read from the input device 1020, and the like, and executes various processes. The primary storage device 1040 is a memory device such as a RAM that temporarily stores data used by the arithmetic device 1030 for various calculations. The secondary storage device 1050 is a storage device in which data used for various calculations by the arithmetic device 1030 and various databases are registered. It is realized by

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

Note that the input device 1020 includes, for example, optical recording media such as CDs (Compact Discs), DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs), PDs (Phase change rewritable discs), magneto-optical recording media such as MOs (Magneto-Optical discs), and tapes. It may be a device that reads information from a medium, a magnetic recording medium, a semiconductor memory, or the like. Also, the input device 1020 may be an external storage medium such as a USB memory.

Network IF 1080 receives data from other devices via network N and sends the data to arithmetic device 1030, and also transmits data generated by arithmetic device 1030 via network N to other devices.

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

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

[5. effect〕
As described above, the information providing apparatus 10 acquires position information indicating the positions of a plurality of users, and determines whether or not a plurality of users have gathered and then dispersed based on the position information. As a result of such processing, the information providing apparatus 10 can appropriately determine, for example, users who have gathered for a predetermined purpose such as a meeting, or users who have suddenly gathered. can be properly estimated.

Also, the information providing apparatus 10 determines whether or not a plurality of users have gathered for a predetermined period or longer and then disbanded. The information providing apparatus 10 also determines whether or not a plurality of users gathered within a predetermined range and then dispersed. As a result of such processing, the information providing apparatus 10 can appropriately determine users having a predetermined relationship.

Also, the information providing apparatus 10 estimates the relationship between the users based on the determination result. For example, the information providing device 10 estimates the relationship between multiple users based on the location where the multiple users gather. As a result of such processing, the information providing apparatus 10 can appropriately estimate the relationship between users.

In addition, the information providing apparatus 10 determines whether or not a plurality of users gather, and then move in a state where the plurality of users gather and then disperse at the destination. Then, the information providing device 10 further estimates the relationship between the users based on the discrete positions of the users. As a result of such processing, the information providing apparatus 10 can appropriately estimate the relationship, for example, whether the user is going out to eat or having a meeting.

In addition, the information providing device 10 estimates the relationship between the users according to the length of time during which the users have gathered. In addition, the information providing apparatus 10 estimates the relationship between a plurality of users according to the number of times that a plurality of users gather and then disperse. In addition, the information providing device 10 estimates relationships between multiple users based on the movement histories of the multiple users. As a result of such processing, the information providing apparatus 10 can appropriately estimate the relationship of each user according to the actions of the gathered and then dispersed users.

In addition, the information providing device 10 further acquires transmission information transmitted between a plurality of users determined to have gathered and then dispersed, and estimates the relationship between the plurality of users based on the transmission information. . Therefore, the information providing device 10 can estimate the relationship of each user in more detail.

Further, the information providing apparatus 10 further determines whether or not new users have gathered after a plurality of users have gathered and then dispersed. In addition, the information providing apparatus 10 further determines whether or not any one of the gathered users has left. As a result of such processing, the information providing apparatus 10 can appropriately determine whether or not the user joined the meeting in the middle or left the meeting in the middle, and can appropriately estimate the relationship between the users based on the result of such determination. .

In addition, the information providing device 10 acquires position information indicating the position detected by the detection device that detects the position of the terminal device used by the user. Therefore, the information providing device 10 can determine whether users are aggregated or discrete.

Further, the information providing device 10 provides information based on the determination result. For example, the information providing device 10 provides information regarding a plurality of users determined to have separated after gathering together. In addition, the information providing apparatus 10 determines at least the number of users determined to have dispersed after gathering, the location at which the plurality of users gathered, or the time at which the plurality of users gathered. Provide information indicating which one. In addition, the information providing apparatus 10 provides a graph that schematically associates a plurality of users determined to have separated after gathering. As a result of such processing, the information providing apparatus 10 can provide information indicating the relationship between each user.

As described above, some of the embodiments of the present application have been described in detail based on the drawings. It is possible to carry out the invention in other forms with modifications.

Also, the "section, module, unit" described above can be read as "means" or "circuit". For example, the assigning unit can be read as specifying means or a specifying circuit.

10 information providing device 20 communication unit 30 storage unit 31 communication history database 32 AP database 33 position history database 34 relationship database 40 control unit 41 collection unit 42 acquisition unit 43 determination unit 44 estimation unit 45 provision unit 100 terminal device 200 operator terminal AP access point

Claims (19)

an acquisition unit that acquires position information indicating the positions of a plurality of users;
a determination unit that determines whether or not a plurality of users have gathered and then dispersed based on the position information ;
an estimating unit for estimating the relationship between the plurality of users based on the determination result of the determining unit;
A determination device characterized by comprising: 2. The determination device according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not the plurality of users have gathered for a predetermined period or longer and then disbanded. The determination device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not the plurality of users gathered within a predetermined range and then dispersed. 4. The determination device according to claim 3 , wherein the estimation unit further estimates the relationship between the plurality of users based on the location where the plurality of users gather. The estimating unit determines whether the plurality of users gather, then moves while the plurality of users gather, and then separates at the destination.
The determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The determination device according to claim 5 , wherein the estimating unit further estimates the relationship between the plurality of users based on the discrete positions of the plurality of users. The estimating unit estimates the relationship between the plurality of users according to the length of the period during which the plurality of users gathered together. The determination device according to . According to any one of claims 1 to 7 , the estimating unit estimates the relationship between the plurality of users according to the number of times the plurality of users gather and then disperse. Determination device as described. The determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the estimating unit estimates relationships between the plurality of users based on movement histories of the plurality of users. The acquisition unit further acquires transmission information transmitted between a plurality of users determined to be gathered and then dispersed,
10. The determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the estimation unit estimates relationships between the plurality of users based on the transmitted information. 10. Any one of claims 1 to 10 , wherein the judging unit further judges whether or not new users have gathered after the plurality of users have gathered and then dispersed. 1. The determination device according to 1. The determination unit according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the determining unit further determines whether or not any one of the plurality of users who have gathered has left. judgment device. The acquisition unit acquires position information indicating a position detected by a detection device that detects the position of the terminal device used by the user. Determination device as described. The determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 13 , further comprising a providing unit that provides information based on the determination result by the determination unit. The determination device according to claim 14 , wherein the providing unit provides information about a plurality of users determined to be dispersed after gathering. The provision unit selects at least one of the number of users determined to have dispersed after gathering, the location where the users gathered, or the time the users gathered. 6. The determination device according to claim 15 , wherein information indicating one is provided. The determination device according to claim 16 , wherein the providing unit provides a graph in which a plurality of users who are determined to be dispersed after gathering are schematically linked. A determination method executed by a determination device,
an acquisition step of acquiring position information indicating the positions of a plurality of users;
a determination step of determining whether or not a plurality of users have gathered and then dispersed based on the position information ;
an estimating step of estimating the relationship between the plurality of users based on the determination result of the determining step;
A determination method comprising: an acquisition procedure for acquiring location information indicating the locations of a plurality of users;
a determination procedure for determining whether or not a plurality of users have gathered and then dispersed based on the position information ;
an estimation procedure for estimating the relationship between the plurality of users based on the determination result of the determination procedure;
Judgment program for causing a computer to execute

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