JP7463224B2 - Point determination device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a point determination device that determines the points to be distributed to users.

Patent Document 1 describes a points-assignment system that includes a road operator device that grasps the degree of congestion of road facilities and a points-assignment device. This points-assignment system adjusts the points-assignment rate according to the degree of congestion based on congestion information that indicates the degree of congestion of facilities used by users of vehicles traveling on the road, and assigns points to users.

Publication No. 2017-215792

However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 only awards points according to the congestion rate, and users who enter a store when it is crowded cannot receive points uniformly. Therefore, it is not possible to motivate users who are in a crowded facility to leave the store early and alleviate the congestion rate.

The technology described in Patent Document 1 targets facilities such as service areas on expressways, so there is the option of simply passing by a crowded facility, but when it comes to facilities that are used daily, such as supermarkets, there is no option to avoid using the facility just because it is crowded, and in many cases, there is no choice but to use it.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a point determination device that can alleviate congestion in areas such as facilities.

The point determination device of the present invention includes a congestion rate acquisition unit that acquires the congestion rate in a specified area where a user stays, a distribution point acquisition unit that acquires distribution points according to the congestion rate in the specified area and the user's stay time in the specified area, and a distribution processing unit that performs distribution processing of the distribution points.

This configuration allows for appropriate point distribution based on congestion rate and length of stay. Therefore, points can be distributed to guide users so that congestion can be alleviated.

This invention makes it possible to distribute points appropriately based on length of stay, thereby easing congestion.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration including a point determination device according to the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a specific example of Wi-Fi management information. FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a specific example of customer information. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a specific example of resident information. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a database of stay times of each user terminal 700. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing point management information. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing a point distribution process. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing a point distribution process in another embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a point determination device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Whenever possible, the same parts are given the same reference numerals and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration including a point determination device according to the present disclosure. This point determination device 100 is configured to be capable of communicating with a Wi-Fi management device 200, a store information device 300 (area information device), a customer information management device 400 (contract information management device), a resident information management device 500, a point distribution device 600, and a cash register device 600a.

The point determination device 100 acquires Wi-Fi management information, store information, customer information, and resident information from the Wi-Fi management device 200, store information device 300, customer information management device 400, and resident information management device 500, calculates the congestion rate based on that information, and calculates a reference point according to that congestion rate. Furthermore, it adjusts the reference point according to the length of stay, calculates distribution points, and distributes them to users who are visitors to the store via the point distribution device 600.

The Wi-Fi management device 200 is a device that stores Wi-Fi management information. This Wi-Fi management information associates the connected user identification number with each access point installed in each store. Figure 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of Wi-Fi management information. In Figure 2, the AP identification number indicates the identification information of the access point, and each is associated with a user identification number.

The store information device 300 is a device that stores store information, and is an external server located in a supermarket (store) or a local government. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing store information. The store information is information that associates the store name, the recommended number of visitors, the location, and the maximum distribution point for each store. The store name is the name of the store and is information for identifying the store. The store name may be replaced with an identification number for the store. The recommended number of visitors is information set by the store manager and is information that is set in advance based on the size of the store and the estimated number of past visitors. The location indicates the city or town in which the store is located. The maximum distribution point is information set by the store manager and indicates the maximum points that can be distributed to users depending on the congestion rate.

The customer information management device 400 is a device that stores customer information. For example, it is a server operated by a mobile phone carrier. Figure 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of customer information. The customer information associates the number of subscribers of the carrier with each city, ward, town, or village. Note that the number of subscribers is stored for each city, ward, town, or village, but this is not limited to this, and may be for a specified area. In that case, the location of the store information is also information corresponding to the specified area.

The resident information management device 500 is a device that stores resident information, and is a server operated by a city, town, or village. Figure 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of resident information. As shown in the figure, the resident information is associated with cities, wards, towns, or villages, and their populations. If a specific area is used instead of a city, ward, town, or village in the above customer information, the resident information will also be associated with a population for each specific area.

The point distribution device 600 performs a process of distributing the distribution points determined by the point determination device 100 to the users to whom the points are to be distributed. Although the points are sent directly to the user terminal 700, this is of course not limited to this, and the points may be distributed by updating information in a database (not shown) that associates user identification numbers with the points they possess.

The cash register 600a is a payment processing device located in a store, and is a device that accepts payment processing when a user attempts to purchase an item. The user displays the identification number of the user terminal 700 as a QR code on the user terminal 700, or presents a point card, etc., and the cash register 600a obtains the user identification number and enables processing for distributing points. The cash register 600a may distribute points by updating information in a database (not shown) that associates user identification numbers with the points they hold.

This database may be stored in the point distribution device 600 or the cash register device 600a, or in another database server (not shown).

Next, the functions of the point determination device 100 will be described. The point determination device 100 of the present disclosure includes an information receiving unit 101, a congestion rate estimating unit 102, a stay time memory unit 103, a point management information memory unit 104, a distribution point calculation unit 105, and an information transmitting unit 106.

The information receiving unit 101 is a part that receives various information from the Wi-Fi management device 200, the store information device 300, the customer information management device 400, and the resident information management device 500.

The congestion rate estimation unit 102 is a part that calculates the congestion rate of a store based on Wi-Fi management information, store information, customer information, and resident information. Specifically, it calculates the congestion rate based on the following formula (1).

Crowding rate = number of users connected to the access point × population of the store location / number of mobile phone subscribers in the location ÷ recommended number of visitors... (1)
This formula (1) estimates the actual number of customers by calculating the ratio of the actual number of customers to the number of mobile phone subscribers in the area and the population of the area, and multiplying this ratio by the number of subscribers who visited the store.The congestion rate is then calculated based on the ratio of the estimated number of actual customers to the recommended number of customers.

The stay time storage unit 103 is a unit that stores the stay time of each user terminal 700. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific database. As shown in the diagram, the stay time storage unit 103 stores the connection time and exit time for each user identification number. The connection time is the time when the connection is initiated by the user terminal 700, and the exit time is the time when the connection with the user terminal 700 is interrupted. The connection time and exit time are obtained by the information receiving unit 101 from the Wi-Fi management device 200.

When a user terminal 700 carried by a user accesses an access point 800 (enters its range), the Wi-Fi management device 200 acquires the connection time. The access point 800 periodically communicates with the user terminal 700, and the Wi-Fi management device 200 acquires the time of communication immediately before communication was lost as the exit time. The stay time memory unit 103 stores the information acquired from the Wi-Fi management device 200.

The point management information storage unit 104 is a part that stores point management information that indicates the maximum distribution points for each store. Figure 7 is a diagram showing point management information. As shown in the figure, the point management information is information that combines store information, customer information, and resident information. In other words, it associates the store name, the recommended number of visitors, the location, the maximum distribution points, the number of subscribers, and the population. Note that store information is updated daily, and customer information and resident information are updated monthly, so the recommended number of visitors and maximum distribution points are updated daily, and the number of subscribers and population are updated monthly. The above update timing is one example and is not limited to this.

The distribution point calculation unit 105 is a unit that calculates points to be distributed to a user based on the congestion rate estimated by the congestion rate estimation unit 102 and the stay time stored in the stay time storage unit 103. The distribution point calculation unit 105 calculates a reference point according to the congestion rate, and further calculates a distribution point from the reference point based on the user's stay time. For example, when the congestion rate is 1 or more, the distribution point calculation unit 105 sets the reference point to 0, and when the congestion rate is less than 1, the distribution point calculation unit 105 applies the following formula (2) to calculate the reference point within a range that does not exceed the maximum distribution point.

Reference point = maximum distribution point × 0.1 ÷ congestion rate (2)
Furthermore, when the congestion rate is equal to or higher than a predetermined value (congested), and the stay time is equal to or shorter than a predetermined time (short), the distribution point calculation unit 105 calculates the distribution point by multiplying the reference point by a predetermined coefficient (greater than 1) within a range equal to or shorter than the maximum distribution point. When the congestion rate is equal to or higher than a predetermined value and the stay time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, the distribution point calculation unit 105 calculates the distribution point by multiplying the reference point by a predetermined coefficient (a value less than 1). Note that when the congestion rate is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, adjustment based on the stay time may not be performed.

The information transmission unit 106 transmits the points calculated by the distribution point calculation unit 105 to the point distribution device 600 together with the user identification information of the user who has left the range of the access point 800. The point distribution device 600 distributes the points to the user terminal 700 of that user identification information. The information transmission unit 106 may also transmit the information to the cash register 600a, and distribute the points during the settlement process at the cash register 600a.

In this disclosure, the congestion rate is calculated for a store, but it is not limited to a store, and may be an area divided by a predetermined criterion, such as a museum, art gallery, zoo, amusement park, other public or private facility, or an unbuilt plaza, park, other tourist attraction, etc. The recommended number of people to enter this area is set by the area manager.

Figure 7 is a sequence diagram showing the point distribution process. As shown in Figure 7, in the point determination device 100, the information receiving unit 101 obtains the number of subscribers from the customer information management device 400 and the population from the resident information management device 500 (S101, S102). Note that since the number of subscribers and the population fluctuate, the update frequency is set to once a month.

The information receiving unit 101 also receives the recommended number of visitors, location, and maximum distribution points as store information from the store information device 300 (S103). The point management information storage unit 104 then stores the point management information (S104). Note that the number of subscribers and population are updated monthly, and the recommended number of visitors and maximum distribution points are updated daily. Up to this point, this is the advance preparation process of the point determination device 100.

Next, the point determination device 100 performs a point distribution process. When the user (user terminal 700) enters the store, he/she accesses the access point 800 located there (S105). In this disclosure, one access point is shown, but a store usually has multiple access points. In this disclosure, even if there are multiple access points, they are collectively expressed as one access point. The Wi-Fi management device 200 obtains the user identification number and connection time from the access point 800 and stores them (S106).

The Wi-Fi management device 200 transmits the number of users connected to the access point 800, their user identification numbers, and their connection times to the point determination device 100 (S107).

In the point determination device 100, the congestion rate estimation unit 102 calculates the congestion rate of the store based on the number of users (S108). That is, the congestion rate estimation unit 102 uses the store name sent from the Wi-Fi management device 200 as a key to derive the recommended number of visitors, maximum distribution points, number of subscribers, and population from the point management information, and calculates the congestion rate based on these.

The distribution point calculation unit 105 calculates a reference point according to the congestion rate (S109). The distribution point calculation unit 105 further acquires the user identification number and the time when access to the access point 800 was no longer made from the Wi-Fi management device 200 (S110), and calculates the user's stay time (S111). The distribution point calculation unit 105 then calculates a distribution point by adjusting the calculated reference point according to the stay time (S112).

The information transmission unit 106 transmits the user identification number and the distribution points to the point distribution device 600 (S113). The point distribution device 600 transmits the distribution points to the user terminal 700 corresponding to the user identification number, so that the user can obtain the points (S114).

In the sequence diagram of FIG. 8, the point distribution device 600 transmits the distribution points to the user terminal 700, but this is not limited to this. For example, the cash register device 600a may determine the time when the user performs the settlement process as the user's exit time, and calculate the user's stay time in the store based on that exit time. FIG. 9 is a processing sequence diagram of this system. Processes S101 to S109 are the same as those in FIG. 8, and a description thereof will be omitted.

When a user performs a settlement process at the cash register 600a, the point determination device 100 is notified of the user identification number and the settlement time (S110). At the cash register 600a, the user identification number of the user terminal 700 can be obtained by presenting a QR code, a point card, or the like. The obtained time is regarded as the settlement time.

In the point determination device 100, the information receiving unit 101 acquires the settlement time at the cash register 600a (S110a). The stay time storage unit 103 stores the connection time and the exit time (settlement time) (S111). The distribution point calculation unit 105 calculates the distribution points by adjusting the calculated reference points according to the stay time (S112). The information sending unit 106 sends the user identification number and the distribution points to the cash register 600a (S113). The cash register 600a distributes the points to the user during the settlement process. The points are distributed to the user by adding them to the points associated with the user identification number in a known point database (not shown).

Next, the effect of the point determination device 100 configured in this manner will be described. In the point determination device 100 of the present disclosure, the congestion rate estimation unit 102 acquires the congestion rate in the area (store) where the user stays. The distribution point calculation unit 105 calculates distribution points according to the user's stay time in the store. The information transmission unit 106 transmits the calculated points and the user identification number to the point distribution device 600 or the cash register device 600a, thereby distributing the distribution points to the user.

This process makes it possible to calculate points to be distributed to a user based on the user's time spent in a store and the store's congestion level. For example, if the store is crowded and the user's time spent is short, the points to be distributed will be increased. Conversely, if the store is crowded and the user's time spent is long, the points to be distributed will be set to 0 or reduced. Therefore, the user's behavior can be induced to reduce the congestion level of the store.

The congestion rate estimation unit 102 performs its own calculation process to estimate the congestion rate based on these various pieces of information, but may also acquire the congestion rate calculated by another processing unit, and function as a congestion rate acquisition unit.

The distribution point calculation unit 105 calculates the distribution points by itself, but may also obtain distribution points calculated by other processing units, and function as a distribution point acquisition unit.

In addition, the information transmission unit 106 transmits the distribution points and the user identification number to which they are to be distributed to the point distribution device 600 or the cash register device 600a, and functions as a distribution processing unit.

In addition, in the point determination device 100 of the present disclosure, the distribution point calculation unit 105 functions as a reference point acquisition unit that calculates a reference point based on the congestion rate. This process makes it possible to calculate the distribution point in stages, facilitating the calculation process. It also makes it easy to change and adjust the distribution point based on the duration of stay.

In this point determination device 100, the distribution point calculation unit 105 functions as a stay time acquisition unit that calculates the stay time based on the time the user enters and exits a specified store. The distribution point calculation unit 105 then acquires distribution points based on the stay time. The time of entry into the store is acquired as the start time of access to an access point 800 located in the store. The time of exit is determined as the time access to the access point 800 ceases or the time of settlement at the cash register device 600a.

When performing distribution processing at the cash register 600a, the cash register 600a is notified of the distribution points and the cash register 600a performs the point distribution processing.

The congestion rate estimation unit 102 also acquires the user identification number of the user terminal 700 that accessed the access point 800 and the number of accesses, and calculates the congestion rate based on the number of accesses and the recommended number of people at the store. The distribution process distributes points based on the user identification number of the user terminal 700 acquired from the access point 800.

In this disclosure, a maximum distribution point is defined for each store. Then, when a user is staying at a specific store, the distribution point calculation unit 105 calculates the distribution point so as not to exceed the maximum distribution point at that specific store.

This allows each store to set an upper limit on the points burden. Generally, the points burden is borne by the store, which makes it possible to stabilize point management at the store.

In the present disclosure, the congestion rate estimation unit 102 acquires the user identification number and the number of accesses of each user terminal 700 that has accessed the access point 800, and calculates the congestion rate based on the number of accesses and the recommended number of people in the store. The recommended number of people is set by the store manager.

With this configuration, the store manager sets the recommended number of customers and calculates the congestion rate based on that, so the store manager can manage the congestion rate calculation. Since the store is responsible for the points, it is considered best for the store manager to also manage the congestion rate.

The point determination device 100 disclosed herein is configured to be able to communicate with a store information device 300 that stores store information (area information) including the recommended number of people to visit a store, a customer information management device 400 that stores subscriber information including the number of subscribers to a telecommunications carrier of user terminals 700 in a specified area including the store, and a resident information management device 500 that stores population information of the specified area. The store information is set by the store manager.

The congestion rate estimation unit 102 then estimates the actual number of visitors to the store from the subscriber information and population information, and obtains the congestion rate based on the actual number and the estimated number of people entering the store.

This configuration allows for more accurate calculation of actual numbers of customers, including users who do not have a user terminal 700, and therefore allows for accurate estimation of congestion rates.

This store information further includes a maximum distribution point, and the distribution point calculation unit 105 obtains distribution points that do not exceed the maximum distribution point.

Distribution points are often borne by the store, and by having the store manage the maximum distribution points, it stabilizes store operations and enables operations that distribute points appropriately and reduce congestion.

In the above disclosure, the number of visitors is estimated based on the number of user terminals 700 that access the access point 800, but this is not limited thereto. For example, the number of visitors may be estimated by analyzing video footage taken by a camera.

Although points are distributed using the user identification number of the user terminal 700, the user identification number may be converted to an identification number managed by another point system and managed. This is because the identification number of the user terminal 700 is usually not used as is as the identification number of a point card. In this case, a management database of identification numbers is required in the point determination device 100.

The block diagrams used to explain the above embodiments show functional blocks. These functional blocks (components) are realized by any combination of at least one of hardware and software. Furthermore, the method of realizing each functional block is not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be realized using one device that is physically or logically coupled, or may be realized using two or more devices that are physically or logically separated and directly or indirectly connected (e.g., using wires, wirelessly, etc.). The functional blocks may be realized by combining the one device or the multiple devices with software.

Functions include, but are not limited to, judgement, determination, judgment, calculation, computation, processing, derivation, investigation, search, confirmation, reception, transmission, output, access, resolution, selection, selection, establishment, comparison, assumption, expectation, regard, broadcasting, notifying, communicating, forwarding, configuring, reconfiguring, allocating, mapping, and assignment. For example, a functional block (component) that performs the transmission function is called a transmitting unit or transmitter. As mentioned above, there are no particular limitations on the method of realization for either of these.

For example, the point determination device 100 in one embodiment of the present disclosure may function as a computer that performs processing of the point determination method of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the point determination device 100 in one embodiment of the present disclosure. The above-mentioned point determination device 100 may be physically configured as a computer device including a processor 1001, memory 1002, storage 1003, a communication device 1004, an input device 1005, an output device 1006, a bus 1007, etc.

In the following description, the term "apparatus" may be interpreted as a circuit, device, unit, etc. The hardware configuration of the point determination device 100 may be configured to include one or more of the devices shown in the figure, or may be configured to exclude some of the devices.

Each function of the point determination device 100 is realized by loading a specific software (program) onto hardware such as the processor 1001 and memory 1002, causing the processor 1001 to perform calculations, control communication via the communication device 1004, and control at least one of the reading and writing of data in the memory 1002 and storage 1003.

The processor 1001, for example, operates an operating system to control the entire computer. The processor 1001 may be configured with a central processing unit (CPU) including an interface with peripheral devices, a control device, an arithmetic unit, a register, etc. For example, the congestion rate estimation unit 102 and the distribution point calculation unit 105 described above may be realized by the processor 1001.

The processor 1001 also reads out programs (program codes), software modules, data, etc. from at least one of the storage 1003 and the communication device 1004 into the memory 1002, and executes various processes according to these. The programs used are those that cause a computer to execute at least a part of the operations described in the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, the congestion rate estimation unit 102 of the point determination device 100 may be realized by a control program stored in the memory 1002 and running on the processor 1001, and other functional blocks may be similarly realized. Although the above-mentioned various processes have been described as being executed by one processor 1001, they may be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more processors 1001. The processor 1001 may be implemented by one or more chips. The programs may be transmitted from a network via a telecommunications line.

The memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium, and may be composed of, for example, at least one of a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The memory 1002 may also be called a register, a cache, a main memory (primary storage device), etc. The memory 1002 can store executable programs (program codes), software modules, etc. for implementing a point determination method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Storage 1003 is a computer-readable recording medium, and may be, for example, at least one of an optical disk such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc ROM), a hard disk drive, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disk), a smart card, a flash memory (e.g., a card, a stick, a key drive), a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a magnetic strip, and the like. Storage 1003 may also be referred to as an auxiliary storage device. The above-mentioned storage medium may be, for example, a database, a server, or other suitable medium including at least one of memory 1002 and storage 1003.

The communication device 1004 is hardware (transmission/reception device) for communicating between computers via at least one of a wired network and a wireless network, and is also called, for example, a network device, a network controller, a network card, a communication module, etc. The communication device 1004 may be configured to include a high-frequency switch, a duplexer, a filter, a frequency synthesizer, etc., to realize at least one of, for example, Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD). For example, the above-mentioned information receiving unit 101, information transmitting unit 106, etc. may be realized by the communication device 1004. The information receiving unit 101 and information transmitting unit 106 may be implemented as a transmitting unit and a receiving unit that are physically or logically separated.

The input device 1005 is an input device (e.g., a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a switch, a button, a sensor, etc.) that accepts input from the outside. The output device 1006 is an output device (e.g., a display, a speaker, an LED lamp, etc.) that performs output to the outside. Note that the input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may be integrated into one configuration (e.g., a touch panel).

In addition, each device, such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002, is connected by a bus 1007 for communicating information. The bus 1007 may be configured using a single bus, or may be configured using different buses between each device.

The point determination device 100 may also be configured to include hardware such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and some or all of the functional blocks may be realized by the hardware. For example, the processor 1001 may be implemented using at least one of these pieces of hardware.

The notification of information is not limited to the aspects/embodiments described in the present disclosure, and may be performed using other methods. For example, the notification of information may be performed by physical layer signaling (e.g., Downlink Control Information (DCI), Uplink Control Information (UCI)), higher layer signaling (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling, broadcast information (Master Information Block (MIB), System Information Block (SIB))), other signals, or a combination of these. In addition, the RRC signaling may be called an RRC message, and may be, for example, an RRC Connection Setup message, an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message, etc.

The processing steps, sequences, flow charts, etc. of each aspect/embodiment described in this disclosure may be reordered unless inconsistent. For example, the methods described in this disclosure present elements of various steps using an example order and are not limited to the particular order presented.

Information, etc. may be output from a higher layer (or a lower layer) to a lower layer (or a higher layer). It may also be input/output via multiple network nodes.

The input and output information may be stored in a specific location (e.g., memory) or may be managed using a management table. The input and output information may be overwritten, updated, or added to. The output information may be deleted. The input information may be transmitted to another device.

The determination may be based on a value represented by one bit (0 or 1), a Boolean (true or false) value, or a comparison of numerical values (e.g., a comparison with a predetermined value).

Each aspect/embodiment described in this disclosure may be used alone, in combination, or switched depending on the execution. In addition, notification of specific information (e.g., notification that "X is the case") is not limited to being done explicitly, but may be done implicitly (e.g., not notifying the specific information).

Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The present disclosure can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of the present disclosure is intended as an illustrative example and does not have any limiting meaning on the present disclosure.

Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

Software, instructions, information, etc. may also be transmitted and received via a transmission medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using wired technologies (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)), and/or wireless technologies (such as infrared, microwave), then these wired and/or wireless technologies are included within the definition of a transmission medium.

The information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

Note that the terms described in this disclosure and the terms necessary for understanding this disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings. For example, at least one of the channel and the symbol may be a signal (signaling). Also, the signal may be a message. Also, a component carrier (CC) may be called a carrier frequency, a cell, a frequency carrier, etc.

As used in this disclosure, the terms "system" and "network" are used interchangeably.

As used in this disclosure, the terms "determining" and "determining" may encompass a wide variety of actions. "Determining" and "determining" may include, for example, judging, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up, searching, inquiring (e.g., searching in a table, database, or other data structure), ascertaining, and the like. "Determining" and "determining" may also include receiving (e.g., receiving information), transmitting (e.g., sending information), input, output, accessing (e.g., accessing data in memory), and the like. Additionally, "judgment" and "decision" can include considering resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, comparing, etc., to have been "judged" or "decided." In other words, "judgment" and "decision" can include considering some action to have been "judged" or "decided." Additionally, "judgment (decision)" can be interpreted as "assuming," "expecting," "considering," etc.

The terms "connected," "coupled," or any variation thereof, refer to any direct or indirect connection or coupling between two or more elements, and may include the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are "connected" or "coupled" to each other. The coupling or connection between elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. For example, "connected" may be read as "access." As used in this disclosure, two elements may be considered to be "connected" or "coupled" to each other using at least one of one or more wires, cables, and printed electrical connections, as well as electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency range, microwave range, and optical (both visible and invisible) range, as some non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples.

As used in this disclosure, the phrase "based on" does not mean "based only on," unless expressly stated otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" means both "based only on" and "based at least on."

Any reference to elements using designations such as "first," "second," etc., used in this disclosure does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used in this disclosure as a convenient way to distinguish between two or more elements. Thus, a reference to a first and a second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed or that the first element must precede the second element in some way.

When the terms "include," "including," and variations thereof are used in this disclosure, these terms are intended to be inclusive, similar to the term "comprising." Additionally, the term "or," as used in this disclosure, is not intended to be an exclusive or.

In this disclosure, where articles have been added through translation, such as a, an, and the in English, this disclosure may include that the nouns following these articles are in the plural form.

In this disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other." The term may also mean "A and B are each different from C." Terms such as "separate" and "combined" may also be interpreted in the same way as "different."

100...point determination device, 101...information receiving unit, 102...crowding rate estimation unit, 103...stay time memory unit, 104...point management information memory unit, 105...distribution point calculation unit, 106...information transmitting unit, 200...Wi-Fi management device, 300...store information device, 400...customer information management device, 500...resident information management device, 600...point distribution device, 600a...cash register device, 700...user terminal, 800...access point.

Claims (7)

a stay time acquisition unit that acquires a stay time based on a time when a user enters and exits a predetermined area;
a congestion rate acquisition unit that acquires a congestion rate in the predetermined area where the user is staying;
a distribution point acquisition unit that acquires distribution points based on the congestion rate in the predetermined area and the stay time of the user in the predetermined area;
A distribution processing unit that performs distribution processing of the distribution points;
Equipped with
The staying time acquisition unit,
The time when the user terminal carried by the user accesses an access point located in the predetermined area is defined as the time when the user enters the predetermined area,
The congestion rate acquisition unit,
acquiring a user identification number of a user terminal that has accessed the access point and the number of accesses, and calculating a congestion rate based on the number of accesses and a recommended number of people to enter the predetermined area;
The recommended number of people to enter is set by a manager of the specified area,
The distribution point acquisition unit,
When the congestion rate is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, a distribution point is calculated so that the distribution point increases as the staying time is shorter;
The distribution processing unit:
performing control for transmitting points to a user terminal that has moved out of the range of the access point, based on a user identification number of the user terminal;
Point determination device. A reference point acquisition unit that acquires a reference point based on the congestion rate,
The point determination device according to claim 1 , wherein the distribution point acquisition unit acquires the distribution points based on the reference points and the stay time. Maximum distribution points are defined for each area,
The point determination device according to claim 1 , wherein the distribution point acquisition unit acquires the distribution points so as not to exceed a maximum distribution point in a predetermined area when the user is staying in the predetermined area. A cash register device is disposed in the predetermined area for a user to pay for products that the user wishes to purchase,
The staying time acquisition unit,
The point determination device according to claim 1 , wherein the payment time is obtained as the exit time from the cash register. The staying time acquisition unit,
2. The point determination device according to claim 1 , wherein a time when the user terminal carried by the user no longer accesses an access point located in the predetermined area is regarded as a time when the user exits the predetermined area. The point determination device is
The device is configured to be able to communicate with an area information device that stores area information including a recommended number of people to enter the specified area, a contract information management device that stores subscriber information including the number of subscribers of user terminals to a telecommunications carrier in a specified region including the specified area, and a resident information management device that stores population information of the specified region,
The area information is set by a manager of the predetermined area,
The congestion rate acquisition unit,
estimating the actual number of visitors in the specified area from the number of accesses, the subscriber information, and the population information;
The point determination device according to claim 5 , further comprising: a congestion rate obtained based on the actual value and the recommended number of people to enter. The area information further includes a maximum distribution point;
The point determination device according to claim 6 , wherein the distribution point acquisition unit acquires distribution points within a range not exceeding the maximum distribution point.

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