JP7464632B2 - Priority seat guidance system, priority seat guidance method and computer program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a technology that guides elderly people, people with disabilities, pregnant women, people with infants, etc. to priority seats provided on public transport such as trains.

Trains and other modes of transport may have priority seats so that elderly people, people with disabilities, pregnant women, people with infants, and others (hereinafter referred to as priority persons) can use the seats on a first-come, first-served basis. However, when a priority person boards a train, there are cases where the priority person cannot use the priority seat because a non-priority person is using the priority seat. Technology that takes such situations into consideration has been proposed.

For example, Patent Document 1 (JP 2009-258835 A) shows how a priority seat can be reserved using a priority seat card issued by a public institution to physically vulnerable people, with information about the physically vulnerable recorded on an IC (Integrated Circuit) card. Patent Document 1 also shows how an IC card reader installed near the priority seat reads information from the priority seat card, and based on that information, it is determined whether or not the priority seat can be used. Patent Document 2 (JP 2013-200738 A) shows how, when a non-priority person is sitting in a priority seat, a priority person (priority eligible person) uses a mobile communication terminal to send assistance request information to a passenger assistance device.

JP 2009-258835 A JP 2013-200738 A

The technology described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 has the problem that if a priority person does not have a priority seat card or a mobile communication terminal, he or she cannot receive the service to preferentially seat in a priority seat.

The present invention was conceived to solve the above problems. In other words, the main objective of the present invention is to provide a technology that allows priority seat holders to use priority seats on a preferential basis even if they do not possess a communications terminal or a card on which information for using the priority seats is registered.

In order to achieve the above object, the priority seat guidance system according to the present invention comprises, as one aspect thereof:
A photographing device at a ticket gate for photographing a person heading towards a train at a station ticket gate;
A switching device for switching a priority seat, which is provided in a train and can be switched between a usable state and an unusable state, from one of the usable state and the unusable state to the other;
a photographing device in the vehicle capable of photographing an area including the priority seat and photographing people approaching the priority seat;
a control device that controls the operation of the switching device using an image captured by the image capture device at the ticket gate and an image captured by the image capture device inside the vehicle;
The control device includes:
A detection unit that detects a priority person who is a target to be recommended to use the priority seat from an image captured by a photographing device at the ticket gate, and extracts feature information of the priority person from the image captured by the photographing device at the ticket gate;
The vehicle is provided with a seat control unit that detects a person approaching an unusable priority seat from an image captured by a camera inside the vehicle, extracts characteristic information of the person approaching the priority seat from the image captured by the camera inside the vehicle, and, when it determines that the person approaching the priority seat is a priority person by comparing the characteristic information with the characteristic information of the priority person, controls the switching device to change the priority seat to a mode in which it can be used.

In addition, one aspect of the priority seat guidance method according to the present invention is to
a camera at a ticket gate that takes pictures of people heading towards a train at the ticket gate of a station; a switch that changes a priority seat that is provided on a train and can be switched between a usable state and an unusable state from one of usable state and unusable state to the other; a camera in a train that can take pictures of an area including the priority seat and take pictures of people approaching the priority seat; and a control device that controls the operation of the switch using images taken by the camera at the ticket gate and images taken by the camera in the train,
Detecting a priority person who is a target to be recommended to use the priority seat from the image captured by the photographing device at the ticket gate, and extracting characteristic information of the priority person from the image captured by the photographing device at the ticket gate;
A person approaching the priority seat in an unusable state is detected from an image captured by a camera inside the vehicle, and characteristic information of the person approaching the priority seat is extracted from the image captured by the camera inside the vehicle. When it is determined that the person approaching the priority seat is a priority person by comparing the characteristic information with characteristic information of the priority person, the priority seat is changed to one in which it can be used by controlling the switching device.

Furthermore, one aspect of the computer program according to the present invention is
a camera at a ticket gate that takes pictures of people heading towards a train at the ticket gate of a station; a switch that changes a priority seat that is provided on a train and can be changed between a usable state and an unusable state from one of usable state and unusable state to the other; a camera in a train that can take pictures of an area including the priority seat and take pictures of people approaching the priority seat; and a control device that controls the operation of the switch using images taken by the camera at the ticket gate and images taken by the camera in the train,
A process of detecting a priority person who is a target to whom the use of the priority seat is recommended from an image captured by a photographing device at the ticket gate, and extracting characteristic information of the priority person from the image captured by the photographing device at the ticket gate;
A person approaching the priority seat in an unusable state is detected from an image captured by a camera inside the vehicle, characteristic information of the person approaching the priority seat is extracted from the image captured by the camera inside the vehicle, and when it is determined that the person approaching the priority seat is a priority person by comparing the characteristic information with characteristic information of the priority person, a process is executed to change the priority seat to a state in which it can be used by controlling the switching device.

According to the present invention, a person eligible for priority access can use a priority seat on a preferential basis even if he or she does not have a communication terminal or a card on which information for using the priority seat is registered.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a priority seat guidance system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating an example of a guidance device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control device that constitutes the priority seat guidance system of the first embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the control device in the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a priority seat guidance system according to another embodiment of the present invention. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of a control device in a priority seat guidance system according to another embodiment.

Below, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment
1 is an image diagram for explaining the configuration of a priority seat guidance system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. When the priority seat guidance system 1 detects a priority person P who is about to enter the train through a ticket gate at a station, the system guides the priority person P to board the train from an entrance near a priority seat, and recommends the priority person P to sit in a priority seat in the train. Here, the priority seat refers to a chair in the train where the elderly, the disabled, pregnant women, people who are not feeling well, people with infants, etc. are given priority to sit. The priority person refers to a target person who is recommended to use the priority seat, such as the elderly, the disabled, pregnant women, people who are not feeling well, people with infants, etc.

The priority seat guidance system 1 of the first embodiment includes a control device 2, a photographing device 4, an information acquisition device 5, a display device 6, an input device 7, a guidance device 8, a photographing device 10, a priority seat 11, and a drive device 12.

That is, the photographing device 4 is installed at the ticket gate, and its installation position and photographing range are set so that it can photograph people who are passing through the ticket gate 14 (i.e. people heading towards a train). The information acquisition device 5 is a device provided at the ticket gate 14, and has one or both of the following functions: acquiring information recorded on the ticket, such as the destination, from the ticket, and acquiring information stored in the IC (Integrated Circuit) card from the IC card. The display device 6 is provided at the ticket gate 14, and is a device that displays information. Here, the display device 6 has a function not only to display information related to the ticket gate 14, but also to display information related to the priority seat guidance system 1. The input device 7 is a device used by the priority person P to input information, and can take the form of, for example, a touch panel or operation buttons.

The guidance device 8 is a device that guides the priority person P so that the priority person P can board the train from an entrance closer to the priority seat, inside the ticket gate in the station configuration. The configuration of the guidance device 8 is not limited as long as it has a configuration that can guide the priority person P using information received from the control device 2 (here, information on the boarding and alighting position of the station where the priority person P boards the train), and one example is an guidance light as shown in Figure 2. In the example of Figure 2, the guidance light 16 is embedded in the platform, and the lighting and extinguishing of the guidance light 16 is controlled to guide the priority person P to the boarding and alighting position of the platform where the priority person P boards the train. Here, the method of controlling the lighting and extinguishing of the guidance light 16 is not limited, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The guidance device 8 is not limited to the guide light 16, but may be configured, for example, as a display device that is installed at multiple locations on the route that leads the priority person P to the train boarding and disembarking position and displays information for guidance. Furthermore, if the station or platform is large, the guidance device 8 may be a cart or other vehicle that can carry the priority person P. Alternatively, the guidance device 8 may be a mobile robot that leads the priority person P.

In the example of FIG. 2, a camera 17 is installed near the platform or an elevator connected to the platform to check whether the priority person P can be properly guided by the guidance device 8. Furthermore, in the example of FIG. 2, a display 18 is installed at the boarding and disembarking position on the platform to inform the priority person P that he or she is at the boarding position.

The photographing device 10, which is installed inside the train and constitutes the priority seat guidance system 1, is set in an installation position and has a photographing range that allows it to photograph the priority seat area including the priority seats 11 and obtain an image that can identify a person approaching the priority seats 11.

In the first embodiment, the priority seat 11 provided in the train carriage is a seat that can be changed between a folded up state where it cannot be sat on (unusable state) and a state where the seat is open and it can be sat on (usable state) by moving the seat surface portion. The drive unit 12 is a device that is connected to the priority seat 11 and moves the seat surface portion of the priority seat 11. The drive unit 12 operates to move the seat surface portion of the priority seat 11 in response to instructions received from the control unit 2. In other words, the drive unit 12 functions as a switching device that changes the state of the priority seat 11 from one of the usable state and the unusable state to the other.

Figure 3 is a block diagram explaining the configuration of the control device 2. The control device 2 is connected to the image capture device 4, the information acquisition device 5, the display device 6, the input device 7, the guidance device 8, the image capture device 10, the drive device 12, and a database 19. The database 19 is, for example, a database (storage device) that stores information used by a system that manages train operations, and stores, for example, timetable information showing station names and departure and arrival times at the train's departure station, passing (intermediate) stations, and arrival stations.

The control device 2 uses information acquired from the photographing device 4, the information acquisition device 5, the input device 7, the photographing device 10, and the database 19 to output information for controlling the operation of the display device 6, the guidance device 8, and the drive device 12 in order to guide the priority person P to the priority seat.

That is, the control device 2 is a computer device and includes an arithmetic device 20 and a storage device 30. The storage device 30 includes a storage medium for storing data and a computer program (hereinafter also referred to as a program) 31. There are multiple types of storage devices, such as magnetic disk devices and semiconductor memory elements, and there are multiple types of semiconductor memory elements, such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory). The type of storage device 30 included in the control device 2 is not limited to one. A computer device is often equipped with multiple types of storage devices. Here, the type and number of storage devices 30 included in the control device 2 are not limited, and the description thereof is omitted. Also, when the control device 2 is equipped with multiple types of storage devices 30, they are collectively referred to as storage devices 35. It is possible that the control device 2 is connected to an external storage device and performs reading and writing of data, etc. to the external storage device, but here, even if data is read and written to the external storage device, the description thereof is omitted.

The arithmetic device 20 is composed of a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The arithmetic device 20 can have various functions based on a program 31 stored in a storage device 30 by reading and executing the program 31. Here, the arithmetic device 20 has a monitor unit 21, a detection unit 22, a confirmation unit 23, a reservation unit 24, a guidance instruction unit 25, and a seat control unit 26 as functional units related to the priority seat guidance system 1.

The monitor unit 21 acquires information about the camera 10 in the vehicle and the open/closed state of the seat of the priority seat 11 (for example, information about the operation control of the drive unit 12, and, if a sensor is installed that detects the open/closed state, information from the sensor). The monitor unit 21 then uses the acquired information to monitor the usage status of the priority seat 11.

The detection unit 22 detects the priority person P from the image captured by the photographing device 4, that is, from the photographed image of a person about to pass through the ticket gate 14. There are various techniques for detecting a priority person from a photographed image, and the technique adopted here as the technique for detecting a priority person from a photographed image is not particularly limited, but one example is so-called AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology. When AI technology is used, a model that inputs a photographed image and outputs the priority person P detected from the photographed image is stored in the storage device 30. The model is generated by machine learning using a large number of photographed images of priority persons as training data.

The detection unit 22 also extracts feature information for identifying the priority person P from the image captured by the image capture device 4. For example, the extracted feature information may include a facial image and information about the way the person walks. Such feature information is stored in the storage device 30 in association with an identification number assigned to the priority person P in order to identify the priority person P.

When a priority person P is detected, the confirmation unit 23 confirms with the detected priority person P whether or not he/she wishes to be guided to a priority seat. For example, it is assumed that the start timing of the detection process in the detection unit 22 is set so that the detection result is output from the detection unit 22 before the priority person P passes through the ticket gate 14. In such a case, when a priority person P is detected by the detection unit 22, the confirmation unit 23 uses the display device 6 of the ticket gate 14 to notify the detected priority person P of an inquiry as to whether or not he/she wishes to be guided to a priority seat. As a specific example, the display device 6 displays a message stating, "Do you wish to be guided to a priority seat? If so, press the 'Request' button on the input device 7." The confirmation unit 23 confirms the intention of the detected priority person P as to whether or not he/she wishes to be guided to a priority seat, based on the operation information of the input device 7.

When a priority person P is detected, the reservation unit 24 reserves a priority seat to be used by the priority person P. That is, when a priority person P is detected, the reservation unit 24 estimates the train that the priority person P will board. For example, the reservation unit 24 estimates the train that the priority person P will board by using the information acquired by the information acquisition device 5 when the detected priority person P passes through the ticket gate 14, the time information when the priority person P passes through the ticket gate 14, and the timetable information in the database 19. It is considered that there are cases where multiple trains are listed as candidates for the train that the priority person P will board. In such a case, for example, it is considered that the train that the priority person P will board is specified by displaying information representing the multiple candidates on the display device 6 and having the detected priority person P select the train that he or she plans to board using the input device 7. Also, even if there is only one candidate for the train to be boarded, it is considered that information representing the candidate (for example, information representing the destination and the scheduled departure time from the station) is displayed on the display device 6. In this case, it is also possible to have the detected priority person P use the input device 7 to input information to confirm that he or she plans to board the candidate train.

Furthermore, the reservation unit 24 refers to the monitor information of the priority seats 11 by the monitor unit 21 in the estimated or identified train to be boarded, and obtains information representing the unused priority seats 11.

The reservation unit 24 also reads out priority seat reservation information stored in the storage device 30. The priority seat reservation information is information that indicates the reservation status for each priority seat 11, and is stored in the storage device 30. The priority seat reservation information includes, for example, priority seat identification information that identifies the priority seat 11, priority seat location information that specifies the train and car in which the priority seat 11 is located, and identification information of the priority person P who will use the priority seat 11 when the priority seat 11 is reserved. Furthermore, the priority seat reservation information also includes, for example, information that indicates the station where the priority person P who has made the reservation plans to board and information that indicates the scheduled departure date and time.

The reservation unit 24 refers to the acquired information and reserves a priority seat 11 for the detected priority person P. In other words, the reservation unit 24 adds a new entry to the reservation information in the storage device 30, in which priority seat identification information corresponding to the priority seat 11 that the detected priority person P has decided to use, priority seat position information, identification information of the priority person P who made the reservation, and information indicating the station where the priority person P plans to board and the scheduled departure date and time are associated.

If there are multiple priority seats 11 available for reservation on the train to be boarded, and, for example, information on the planned disembarking station can be obtained from the ticket, the priority seat 11 to be reserved may be determined using information such as the location of the exit at the planned disembarking station. For example, to make travel easier, of the multiple priority seats 11 available for reservation, the reservation unit 24 reserves the priority seat 11 closest to the ticket gate exit or platform elevator at the planned disembarking station.

The reservation unit 24 may execute the reservation process as described above after the confirmation unit 23 confirms that the priority person P wishes to be guided to a priority seat, or may execute the reservation process as described above without referring to the result of the confirmation by the confirmation unit 23.

When the confirmation unit 23 confirms that the priority person P wishes to be guided to a priority seat and the reservation unit 24 has made a reservation for a priority seat 11, the guidance instruction unit 25 outputs, as a guidance instruction, information necessary for controlling the operation of the guidance device 8 to the guidance device 8. For example, the guidance instruction unit 25 outputs information indicating the boarding and alighting position on the platform corresponding to the boarding and alighting entrance so that the person can board the planned train from the boarding and alighting entrance closest to the reserved priority seat 11 to the guidance device 8. The guidance device 8 operates to guide the priority person P using the information received from the guidance instruction unit 25 of the control device 2.

When the seat control unit 26 detects a person approaching an unused priority seat 11 from the captured image acquired by the image capture device 10, it refers to the reservation information for the priority seat 11 stored in the memory device 30 and determines whether the priority seat 11 that the person approached has a reservation. If the seat control unit 26 determines that the seat is not reserved, it continues the standby state. If the seat control unit 26 determines that the seat is reserved, it reads out the identification information of the priority person P who made the reservation from the reservation information, and further reads out the characteristic information of the priority person P associated with the read identification information of the priority person P from the memory device 30.

Furthermore, the seat control unit 26 extracts characteristic information of a person approaching the priority seat 11 from the image captured by the image capture device 10. For example, if a facial image is acquired as characteristic information of the priority person P from the image captured by the image capture device 4, the seat control unit 26 acquires a facial image of the person approaching the priority seat 11 from the image captured by the image capture device 10.

Then, by comparing the characteristic information of the person acquired from the photographing device 10 with the characteristic information of the priority person P extracted from the image photographed by the photographing device 4, the seat control unit 26 judges whether the person approaching the priority seat 11 is the priority person P who has reserved the priority seat 11. If the seat control unit 26 judges (confirms) that the person approaching the priority seat 11 is the priority person P who has reserved the priority seat 11, it outputs an instruction to the drive unit 12 to operate the drive unit 12 to open the seat surface of the priority seat 11 so that the priority person P can sit in the priority seat 11. This causes the drive unit 12 to start operating, and the seat surface of the priority seat 11 is opened so that the priority person P can sit in the priority seat 11. If the seat control unit 26 judges that the person approaching the priority seat 11 is not the priority person P who has reserved the priority seat 11, it ends the process and goes into a standby state.

Furthermore, when the seat control unit 26 detects, based on the image captured by the image capture device 10, that it is estimated that the priority person P has left the occupied priority seat 11 and disembarked, it outputs information to the drive device 12 to move the seat surface of the priority seat 11 to make it unseatable. As a result, the drive device 12 moves the seat surface of the priority seat 11 to make it unseatable.

The control device 2 is configured as described above. Next, an example of the operation of the control device 2 in guiding the priority person P will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the control device 2 in guiding the priority person P.

For example, suppose that the detection unit 22 of the control device 2 detects a priority person P about to pass through the ticket gate 14 using the captured image acquired from the photographing device 4 (step 101 in FIG. 4). In this case, the confirmation unit 23 confirms, for example, using the display device 6 and the input device 7 as described above, whether or not the detected priority person P wishes to be guided to a priority seat (step 102).

The reservation unit 24 also estimates (identifies) the train that the detected priority person P will board, using the information acquired from the information acquisition device 5, the time when the priority person P was detected, and the timetable information in the database 19.

Meanwhile, the monitor unit 21 monitors whether the priority seats 11 are being used by using images captured by the photographing device 10 installed on the train. The reservation unit 24 detects the usage status of the priority seats 11 installed on the train that is estimated (specified) to be boarded by the detected priority person P from the monitor information by the monitor unit 21. The reservation unit 24 also obtains the reservation status of the priority seats 11 on the train that the person P plans to board from the reservation information in the storage device 30.

Then, the guidance instruction unit 25 confirms that the detected priority person P wishes to be guided to the priority seat 11, and if a reservation for the priority seat 11 has been made, outputs information necessary for guiding the priority person P to the reserved priority seat 11 as a guidance instruction to the guidance device 8 (step 104).

Then, when the seat control unit 26 confirms that the priority person P, who made the reservation, is approaching the reserved priority seat 11 as described above using the image captured by the image capture device 10 inside the vehicle, the reservation information in the storage device 30, and the characteristic information of the priority person P, it instructs the drive unit 12 to drive (step 105). In other words, the seat control unit 26 outputs an instruction to the drive unit 12 to move the seat portion in the direction of opening so that the priority person P can sit in the priority seat 11.

As a result, priority seat 11 becomes available for sitting, and priority person P can sit in priority seat 11.

The priority seat guidance system 1 of the first embodiment is configured as described above, so that the priority person P can easily use the priority seat 11 when he or she wishes to use it, even if he or she does not have a communication terminal or a card with information registered for using the priority seat 11. Furthermore, the priority seat guidance system 1 controls switching between a state in which the priority seat 11 can be sat in and a state in which it cannot be sat in. Therefore, the priority seat guidance system 1 can prevent a situation in which a priority person cannot sit in the priority seat 11 because a person not detected as a priority person is sitting in the priority seat 11.

Second Embodiment
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the description of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same components as those in the priority seat guidance system of the first embodiment, and the duplicated description will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, the priority seat guidance system 1 further includes a configuration for guiding a person in a wheelchair (hereinafter also referred to as a wheelchair user) in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment. That is, there may be a position set on the station platform that is suitable for wheelchair users to board a train. The detection unit 22 of the control device 2 detects not only the priority person P but also the wheelchair user from the image captured by the photographing device 4 installed at the ticket gate. If a wheelchair user is detected, the confirmation unit 23 uses, for example, the display device 6 and the input device 7 to confirm with the wheelchair user whether or not they wish to be guided.

When the confirmation unit 23 confirms that the wheelchair user wishes to be guided to an appropriate boarding location, the guidance instruction unit 25 outputs information required for guidance (such as location information of the guidance destination) as guidance instructions to the guidance device 8. As a result, the guidance device 8 operates to guide the wheelchair user to the guidance destination location on the platform.

The priority seat guidance system 1 of the second embodiment has a similar configuration to the priority seat guidance system 1 of the first embodiment, and can therefore achieve the same effects as the first embodiment. Furthermore, the priority seat guidance system 1 of the second embodiment can guide a wheelchair user to a platform position suitable for boarding a train, even if the wheelchair user does not carry a communication terminal or a card with registered information indicating that the wheelchair user is a wheelchair user.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments, and various embodiments can be adopted. For example, in the first and second embodiments, the priority seat guidance system 1 uses the display device 6 of the ticket gate 14 when notifying information to the priority person P, but a display device separate from the ticket gate 14 may be installed in a position where the priority person P passing through the ticket gate 14 can see the display device, and the display device may be used instead of the display device 6.

Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a priority seat guidance system according to another embodiment of the present invention. The priority seat guidance system 40 shown in Figure 5 includes a photographing device 42 at the ticket gate, a switching device 43, a photographing device 44 inside the vehicle, and a control device 45.

The camera 42 at the ticket gate photographs people approaching the train at the station ticket gate. The switching device 43 changes the priority seat, which is provided on the train and can be changed between a usable state and an unusable state, from one of usable and unusable states to the other. The camera 44 inside the train is a camera that photographs the area including the priority seat and can photograph people approaching the priority seat.

The control device 45 controls the operation of the switching device 43 using the image captured by the photographing device 42 at the ticket gate and the image captured by the photographing device 44 inside the vehicle. That is, the control device 45 is, for example, a computer device, and by executing a computer program, is provided with a detection unit 47 and a seat control unit 48 as functional units. The detection unit 47 detects a priority person who is a target person to whom the use of the priority seat is recommended from the image captured by the photographing device 42 at the ticket gate, and also extracts characteristic information of the priority person from the image captured by the photographing device 42 at the ticket gate. The seat control unit 48 detects a person approaching an unusable priority seat from the image captured by the photographing device 44 inside the vehicle, and also extracts characteristic information of the person approaching the priority seat from the image captured by the photographing device 44 inside the vehicle. Furthermore, when the seat control unit 48 determines that the person approaching the priority seat is a priority person by comparing the extracted characteristic information with the characteristic information of the priority person, it controls the switching device 43 to change the priority seat to a usable state.

Figure 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control device 45. That is, when the detection unit 47 of the control device 45 detects a priority person from an image captured by the photographing device 42 at the ticket gate (step 201 in Figure 6), it extracts characteristic information of the priority person from the image captured by the photographing device 42 at the ticket gate.

After that, when the seat control unit 48 detects a person approaching an unavailable priority seat from the image captured by the camera device 44 inside the vehicle (step 202), the seat control unit 48 extracts characteristic information of the person approaching the priority seat from the image captured by the camera device 44 inside the vehicle. Then, when the seat control unit 48 confirms that the person approaching the priority seat is a priority person by comparing the extracted characteristic information with the characteristic information of the priority person (step 203), it outputs an instruction to the switching device 43 to change the priority seat to a usable state (step 204).

The priority seat guidance system 40 shown in FIG. 6 has the above-mentioned configuration, and therefore has the effect of allowing priority seat holders to use the priority seats on a preferential basis even if they do not have a communication terminal or a card with registered information for using the priority seats.

1, 40 Priority seat guidance system 2, 45 Control device 4, 10, 42, 44 Photography device 8 Guidance device 12 Drive device 22, 47 Detection unit 23 Confirmation unit 24 Reservation unit 26, 48 Seat control unit

Claims (7)

A photographing device at a ticket gate for photographing a person heading towards a train at a station ticket gate;
A switching device for switching a priority seat, which is provided in a train and can be switched between a usable state and an unusable state, from one of the usable state and the unusable state to the other;
a photographing device in the vehicle capable of photographing an area including the priority seat and photographing people approaching the priority seat;
a control device that controls the operation of the switching device using an image captured by the image capture device at the ticket gate and an image captured by the image capture device inside the vehicle;
The control device includes:
A detection unit that detects a priority person who is a target to be recommended to use the priority seat from an image captured by a photographing device at the ticket gate, and extracts feature information of the priority person from the image captured by the photographing device at the ticket gate;
A priority seat guidance system comprising: a seat control unit that detects a person approaching an unusable priority seat from images captured by a camera inside the vehicle; extracts characteristic information of the person approaching the priority seat from the images captured by the camera inside the vehicle; and, when it determines that the person approaching the priority seat is a priority person by comparing the characteristic information with the characteristic information of the priority person, controls the switching device to change the priority seat to a state where it can be used. 2. The priority seat guidance system according to claim 1, further comprising a guidance device that guides the priority person detected by the detection unit of the control device to a boarding/alighting position at a station corresponding to an entrance closest to the priority seat on the train. 3. The priority seat guidance system according to claim 1, further comprising a confirmation unit that confirms with the priority person detected by the detection unit whether or not he or she wishes to be guided to the priority seat. The priority seat guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a reservation unit that acquires information related to train operations and information on the time when the priority passenger passes through the ticket gate, uses the acquired information to estimate which train the priority passenger will be taking, and reserves a priority seat on that train. The detection unit of the control device further detects a wheelchair user from an image captured by a photographing device at the ticket gate,
3. The priority seat guidance system according to claim 2, wherein the guidance device further has a function of guiding the wheelchair user to a boarding and alighting position of the station that is set as a boarding and alighting position for the wheelchair. a camera at a ticket gate that takes pictures of people heading towards a train at the ticket gate of a station; a switch that changes a priority seat that is provided on a train and can be switched between a usable state and an unusable state from one of usable state and unusable state to the other; a camera in a train that can take pictures of an area including the priority seat and take pictures of people approaching the priority seat; and a control device that controls the operation of the switch using images taken by the camera at the ticket gate and images taken by the camera in the train,
Detecting a priority person who is a target to be recommended to use the priority seat from the image captured by the photographing device at the ticket gate, and extracting characteristic information of the priority person from the image captured by the photographing device at the ticket gate;
A priority seat guidance method comprising: detecting a person approaching an unusable priority seat from an image captured by a camera inside the vehicle; extracting characteristic information of the person approaching the priority seat from the image captured by the camera inside the vehicle; and, when it is determined that the person approaching the priority seat is a priority person by comparing the characteristic information with characteristic information of the priority person, controlling the switching device to change the priority seat to a state where it can be used. a camera at a ticket gate that takes pictures of people heading towards a train at the ticket gate of a station; a switch that changes a priority seat that is provided on a train and can be changed between a usable state and an unusable state from one of usable state and unusable state to the other; a camera in a train that can take pictures of an area including the priority seat and take pictures of people approaching the priority seat; and a control device that controls the operation of the switch using images taken by the camera at the ticket gate and images taken by the camera in the train,
A process of detecting a priority person who is a target to whom the use of the priority seat is recommended from an image captured by a photographing device at the ticket gate, and extracting characteristic information of the priority person from the image captured by the photographing device at the ticket gate;
A computer program that executes a process of detecting a person approaching an unusable priority seat from images captured by a camera inside the vehicle, extracting characteristic information of the person approaching the priority seat from the images captured by the camera inside the vehicle, and if it is determined that the person approaching the priority seat is a priority person by comparing the characteristic information with characteristic information of the priority person, controlling the switching device to change the priority seat to a state where it can be used.

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