WO2009119182A1

WO2009119182A1 - Shared device layout support system

Info

Publication number: WO2009119182A1
Application number: PCT/JP2009/052656
Authority: WO
Inventors: 喜樹矢野
Original assignee: ブラザー工業株式会社
Priority date: 2008-03-28
Filing date: 2009-02-17
Publication date: 2009-10-01
Also published as: JPWO2009119182A1

Abstract

Provided is an optimal layout support system (6) of a shared device (16) which supports installation of the shared device. The system comprises a positional detection part (56) which is capable of respectively detecting the positions of a plurality of users who use the shared device, a movement history recording part (58) which records the movement histories of the users detected by the positional detection part (56), and an actual layout evaluation index arithmetic part (60) which extracts movements along with the uses by the user having used the shared device out of the movement histories of the users recorded by the movement history recording part (58), computes the total sum relative to selected users and use of the movement quantity of the movements along with the extracted use within a predetermined period set in advance as an actual distance, and computes an actual layout evaluation index for evaluating the layout of the shared device on the basis of the actual distance.

Description

Shared device placement support system

The present invention relates to a system for supporting arrangement of shared devices, and more particularly to a technique for determining an optimum arrangement of shared devices by considering a movement history obtained by detecting the position of a user. is there.

In the office (office), shared devices such as facsimile machines, copiers, cutting machines, shredders, tea servers, and air conditioner remote controllers are installed. In order to improve the overall efficiency, it is desirable that the shared device is specifically arranged so that the moving distances of a plurality of users who use the shared device are reduced.

However, in the past, the shared device is installed in the corner of the room without considering the efficiency in its use, or is simply installed in the center of the room even if efficiency is considered. ing.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133867 discloses an optimum arrangement analysis apparatus having an optimum arrangement degree calculation unit that calculates an optimum arrangement degree of a multifunction device based on a usage history collected from the multifunction device capable of executing a plurality of functions. . According to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to analyze an optimal arrangement location in consideration of the operation frequency of each function of the multifunction peripheral.

JP 2004-289642 A

However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, the optimum arrangement degree is calculated based on the usage history (log) of the multifunction device. For example, devices such as the cutting machine, the shredder, and the tea server are generally used. There is no function to record the history, and it is impossible to obtain a record of how many times a user has used it.

Incidentally, a position detection method using a so-called active tag has been proposed. According to this position detection method, it is possible to detect the tag position in units of several tens of centimeters, for example. By holding such an active tag by a user of the shared device, it is possible to detect the position of the user and record a movement history.

The present invention has been made against the background of the above circumstances, and the purpose of the present invention is to record the movement history of the user, and the movement associated with the use of the shared device for each user based on the movement history. And providing an optimal arrangement support system for shared devices that supports the installation of the shared devices based on the calculated amount of movement and the like.

The gist of the invention according to claim 1 for solving this problem is (a) a shared device arrangement support system for supporting determination of the installation position of a shared device, and (b) A position detection unit capable of detecting the positions of a plurality of users using the shared device, (c) a movement history recording unit for recording the movement history of the users detected by the position detection unit, and (d) ) A plurality of users selected according to a predetermined condition by extracting movements associated with the user using the shared device from the movement histories recorded by the movement history recording unit. To calculate the total amount of movement of the movement accompanying the use within a predetermined period set as an execution amount, and an actual arrangement evaluation index for evaluating the arrangement of the shared device based on the execution amount Calculate And having a actual allocation evaluation index computing unit.

Further, the gist of the invention according to claim 2 is that information on movement of movement accompanying the use extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit, and each user who can use the shared device. The shared device of the user within a preset predetermined period when the shared device is installed at a new installation position based on at least one of the total number of times of use within the preset predetermined period To calculate the total amount of movements associated with the use of a plurality of users selected according to preset conditions as a predicted stroke amount, and to evaluate the arrangement of the shared devices based on the predicted stroke amount There is a shared device arrangement support system having a predicted arrangement evaluation index calculation unit for calculating a predicted arrangement evaluation index.

Further, the gist of the invention according to claim 3 is that (a) a use detecting unit that estimates or detects that the shared device is in use, and (b) the actual placement evaluation index calculating unit is When the use detection unit estimates or detects the use of the shared device, the movement history of the user is extracted on the assumption that the movement accompanying the use of the shared device has occurred.

Preferably, in the invention according to claim 4, the use detection unit has a predetermined use determination time in a pre-stored vicinity area of the shared device in the user's movement history recorded in the movement history recording unit. It is characterized in that it is determined that the shared device has been used when the above stay has occurred.

Further preferably, in the invention according to claim 5, the use detecting unit may reciprocate with a pre-stored neighborhood area of the shared device in the movement history of the user recorded in the movement history recording unit. If there is, it is determined that the shared device has been used.

Preferably, in the invention according to claim 6, (a) the shared device includes a human detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of a user in the vicinity of the shared device, and (b) the use detection unit includes the user detection sensor. When a user is detected in the vicinity of the shared device by a human detection sensor, it is determined that the shared device has been used.

Preferably, in the invention according to claim 7, (a) the shared device has an operation detection sensor that detects an operation of the shared device, and (b) the use detection unit is operated by the operation detection sensor. When use of a shared device is detected, it is determined that the shared device has been used.

Preferably, in the invention according to claim 8, (a) the shared device has an operation recording unit that records an operation history of the shared device, and (b) the use detection unit is the operation recording unit. The use of the shared device is determined on the basis of the operation history of the shared device recorded in the above.

The gist of the invention according to claim 9 is that: (a) a start / end point determination unit that determines a start point and an end point of movement associated with use of the shared device; and (b) the actual placement evaluation index calculation The movement unit records the movement history of the user using the shared device recorded by the movement history recording unit, from the start point determined by the start / end determination unit to the shared device, and from the shared device to the start / end point The movement to the end point determined by the determination unit is extracted as the movement accompanying the use of the shared device.

Preferably, in the invention according to claim 10, (a) the start / end point determination unit stores a fixed position that is a stationary position when the shared device of each of the users is not used, and (b) the A fixed position of a user of the shared device is determined as a start point and an end point of movement associated with the use of the shared device.

Further preferably, in the invention according to claim 11, the start / end point determination unit is configured to set predetermined start / end points set in advance immediately before and immediately after use of the shared device in the movement history recorded in the movement history recording unit. It is characterized in that a place where there is a stay for more than the point determination time is determined as a start point and an end point.

Preferably, the gist of the invention according to claim 12 is that the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit is associated with the use of a user who uses the shared device extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit. A user who uses the shared device installed at the new installation position obtained by adding or subtracting the linear distance between the conventional installation position and the new installation position of the shared device to each movement amount. It is characterized in that the total amount of movement within a predetermined period set as a predicted stroke amount is calculated as each of the movement amounts of movement accompanying the use.

Further preferably, in the invention according to claim 13, the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit is a movement amount of movement accompanying the use of a user who uses the shared device extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit. For each of the above, the common device installed at the new installation position is used by adding and subtracting the distance of the shortest path that can actually move between the existing installation position and the new installation position of the shared device. It is characterized in that the total amount of movement within a predetermined period set in advance is calculated as the predicted stroke amount, assuming that each of the movement amounts of the user is associated with the use.

Further preferably, the invention according to claim 14 is characterized in that the position of the start point and the end point in each of the movements associated with the use of the user using the shared device extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit, and the shared It is characterized in that the predicted stroke amount is calculated by assuming that a straight line distance to a new installation position of the device is a distance of movement accompanying the use.

Further preferably, in the invention according to claim 15, the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit is configured so that each movement of the user using the shared device extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit is associated with the use. The shortest distance that can actually move between the position of the start point and the end point and the new installation position of the shared device is calculated as the predicted stroke amount, assuming that it is the distance of movement accompanying the use.

Preferably, in the invention according to claim 16, when the shared device is installed at a plurality of candidates for the new installation position, the prediction stroke amount calculated by the prediction stroke amount calculation unit is calculated. And an installation position determining unit that selects the smallest predicted stroke amount and determines the new installation position candidate corresponding to the selected predicted stroke amount as the new installation position.

According to the optimum arrangement support system for a shared device according to claim 1, each position of a plurality of users who use the shared device is detected by the position detection unit, and the user is detected by the position detection unit. Of the user's movement history recorded by the movement history recording unit by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit. A movement history associated with use is extracted, and a total amount of movement amounts associated with the use within a predetermined period set by a plurality of users selected according to a preset condition is calculated as an execution amount. Since the actual placement evaluation index for evaluating the placement of the shared device is calculated based on the calculated execution amount, the installation position of the shared device is efficient. Actual stroke amount which is an index for quantitatively representing the is calculated based on the position of the user detected by the position detecting unit.

According to the optimum arrangement support system for shared equipment according to claim 2, the information about movement associated with the use and the shared equipment extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation section by the predicted placement evaluation index calculation section. Based on at least one of the total number of times of use in the preset predetermined period for each user that can be used, in the preset predetermined period when the shared device is installed at a new installation position The total amount of movement by a plurality of users selected according to a preset condition of the amount of movement associated with the use of the shared device by the user is calculated as a predicted stroke amount, and based on the calculated predicted stroke amount Since a predicted placement evaluation index for evaluating the placement of the shared device is calculated, it is determined whether the new placement position of the shared device is efficient. The predicted stroke amount, which is a quantitative index, is set in advance for each user using the shared device extracted by the position of the user detected by the position detection unit and the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit. It is calculated based on the total number of times of use within the predetermined period.

According to the shared device optimum placement support system according to claim 3, the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit includes the use detection unit that estimates or detects that the shared device is in use, and the use detection unit. When the use of the shared device is estimated or detected by the above, the movement history of the user is extracted as the movement associated with the use of the shared device has occurred, so the actual placement evaluation index calculating unit moves the user From the history, it is possible to accurately extract the movement history associated with the use of the shared device.

According to the shared device optimum arrangement support system according to claim 4, the use detection unit is configured to store a predetermined area in the vicinity of the shared device stored in advance in the movement history of the user recorded in the movement history recording unit. When there is a stay for more than the usage determination time, it is determined that the shared device has been used. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the user has used the shared device based on the movement history of the user. .

According to the optimum arrangement support system for a shared device according to claim 5, the use detection unit is configured such that the user movement history recorded in the movement history recording unit is stored in the neighborhood area of the shared device stored in advance. Since it is determined that the shared device has been used when there is a reciprocal movement, it is possible to determine whether the user has used the shared device based on the movement history of the user.

According to the optimum arrangement support system for a shared device according to claim 6, the shared device has a human detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of a user in the vicinity of the shared device, and the use detection unit includes the human detection sensor. When the user is detected in the vicinity of the shared device, it is determined that the shared device has been used. Therefore, based on whether the user is present in the vicinity of the shared device by the human detection sensor, the sharing is performed. It is possible to determine whether or not the device is used.

According to the optimum arrangement support system for a shared device according to claim 7, the shared device has an operation detection sensor for detecting an operation of the shared device, and the use detection unit is configured to detect the operation of the shared device by the operation detection sensor. When the use is detected, it is determined that the shared device has been used. Therefore, whether the shared device is used can be determined based on whether the shared device is operated by the operation detection sensor. .

According to the optimum arrangement support system for a shared device according to claim 8, the shared device has an operation recording unit that records an operation history of the shared device, and the use detection unit is recorded by the operation recording unit. Further, since the use of the shared device is determined based on the operation history of the shared device, for example, when the operation history is recorded by the operation recording unit, it can be determined that the shared device has been used.

According to the optimum arrangement support system for a shared device according to claim 9, the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit includes a start / end point determination unit that determines a start point and an end point of movement associated with use of the shared device, and the movement Of the movement history of the user using the shared device recorded by the history recording unit, determined from the start point determined by the start / end determination unit to the shared device, and from the shared device to the start / end point determination unit Since the movement to the end point is extracted as the movement accompanying the use of the shared device, the movement accompanying the use of the shared device can be extracted from the movement history of each user recorded by the movement history recording unit. it can.

According to the shared device optimal arrangement support system according to claim 10, the start / end point determination unit stores a fixed position that is a stationary position when the shared device of each of the users is not used, and the shared device From the movement history of each user recorded by the movement history recording unit based on the predetermined fixed position, the fixed position of the user is determined as the start point and end point of movement associated with the use of the shared device. Movements associated with the use of the shared device can be extracted.

According to the shared device optimum arrangement support system according to claim 11, the start / end point determination unit is preset in the movement history recorded in the movement history recording unit, immediately before and after use of the shared device. Since the location where the stay is longer than the predetermined start / end determination time is determined as the start point and the end point, each user recorded by the movement history recording unit based on the location where the stay is longer than the predetermined start / end determination time The movement associated with the use of the shared device can be extracted from the movement history.

According to the optimum arrangement support system for shared equipment according to claim 12, the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit moves in accordance with the use of a user who uses the shared device extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit. For each of the movement amounts, the value obtained by adding or subtracting the linear distance between the conventional installation position and the new installation position of the shared device is calculated by the user using the shared device installed at the new installation position. Since the total amount of movement within a predetermined period set as a predicted stroke amount is calculated as each movement amount of the movement accompanying the use, the installation is performed when the shared device is installed at a new installation position. The predicted placement evaluation index, which is an index that quantitatively represents whether the position is efficient, is newly calculated from the calculation result by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit, the conventional installation position of the shared device, and It can be calculated based on the straight line distance between the installation position.

According to the shared device optimum placement support system according to claim 13, the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit moves with the use of the user who uses the shared device extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit. For each of the movement amounts of the shared equipment, the common equipment installed at the new installation position is obtained by adding or subtracting the distance of the shortest path that can actually move between the conventional installation position and the new installation position of the shared equipment. Since the total amount of movement within a predetermined period set in advance is calculated as the predicted stroke amount, assuming that each of the movement amounts of the user using the device is associated with the use, the shared device is set as a new installation position. The predicted placement evaluation index, which is an index that quantitatively indicates whether the installation position is efficient when installed in the network, the calculation result by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit and the shared device It can be calculated based on the between conventional installation position and the new setting position of the the actual distance of the movable shortest path.

According to the shared device optimum placement support system according to claim 14, the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit moves in accordance with the use of a user who uses the shared device extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit. Since the straight line distance between the position of the start point and the end point in each of the above and the new installation position of the shared device is calculated as the predicted stroke amount as the movement distance associated with the use, the shared device is The predicted placement evaluation index, which is an index that quantitatively indicates whether the installation position is efficient when installed at the installation position, the calculation result by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit, and the user of the user It is possible to calculate based on the linear distance between the fixed position and the new installation position of the shared device.

According to the optimum arrangement support system for shared equipment according to claim 15, the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit moves by the user using the shared device extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit. Since the shortest distance that can actually move between the position of the start point and the end point in each of the above and the new installation position of the shared device is calculated as the predicted travel amount as the distance of movement accompanying the use, When a shared device is installed at a new installation position, a predicted placement evaluation index that is an index that quantitatively represents whether the installation position is efficient, a calculation result by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit, and the The calculation can be performed based on the shortest distance that can be actually moved between the fixed position for each user and the new installation position of the shared device.

According to the optimum arrangement support system for shared equipment according to claim 16, when the shared equipment is installed at a plurality of candidates for the new installation position by the installation position determination section, the predicted stroke amount calculation section respectively Since the smallest predicted stroke amount is selected from among the plurality of calculated predicted stroke amounts, the new installation position candidate corresponding to the selected predicted stroke amount is determined as the new installation position. As compared with the case where the shared device is installed at a plurality of installation positions, it can be installed at a position where the predicted stroke amount is the smallest, that is, the efficiency is good.

Here, preferably, a heat ray sensor called a human sensor or an image sensor using a camera is used as the human detection sensor. In this way, the presence of a human in the vicinity of the shared device by these heat ray sensors, image sensors, etc., specifically in the area where the user is located when using the shared device, such as the position directly facing the device. By detecting, it can be estimated whether the apparatus is used.

Preferably, a voice sensor, a sound pressure sensor, a vibration sensor, or the like is used as the operation detection sensor. In this way, the preset operation sound of the shared device and the operation sound that approximates its frequency, sound pressure, etc. are detected by the voice sensor, the sound pressure sensor, etc., or generated with the operation of the device. By detecting vibration, it is detected whether the shared device is operating, that is, whether the device is being used.

It is a figure explaining an example of a structure of the arrangement | positioning assistance system of the shared apparatus of this invention. It is a functional block diagram explaining an example of a structure and function of the mobile station 10 which comprises the arrangement | positioning assistance system of the shared apparatus of FIG. It is a functional block diagram explaining an example of a structure and function of the base station 12 which comprises the arrangement | positioning assistance system of the shared apparatus of FIG. It is a functional block diagram explaining an example of a structure of the server 14 which comprises the arrangement | positioning assistance system of the shared apparatus of FIG. It is a functional block diagram explaining an example of the function of the server 14 which comprises the arrangement | positioning assistance system of the shared apparatus of FIG. It is a figure explaining the positioning of the mobile station 10 by a positioning part. It is a flowchart explaining an example of the action | operation of a positioning part. It is a flowchart explaining an example of the positioning routine performed in the flowchart of FIG. It is a figure explaining an example of a user's movement history. It is a figure explaining an example of the production | generation operation | movement of the movement history by a movement history recording part. It is a figure explaining an example of the use detection operation | movement by a use detection part. It is a figure explaining an example of the operation | movement which detects the residence by a start / end determination part. It is a figure explaining an example of the information which associates the mobile station and a user. It is a figure explaining an example of the information about the distance of the movement accompanying the use calculated by the movement process extraction part. It is a figure explaining an example of the information about the frequency | count of use of each user's shared apparatus in the use detection period calculated by the real arrangement | positioning evaluation index calculating part. It is a flowchart explaining an example of the operation | movement in the calculation of the real arrangement | positioning evaluation parameter | index by a real arrangement | positioning evaluation parameter | index calculating part. It is a flowchart explaining an example of the control action of the arrangement | positioning assistance system of a shared apparatus. It is a figure explaining an example of the display performed on the display apparatus of a server by a display control part. It is a figure explaining an example of the calculation of the prediction arrangement | positioning evaluation index by the prediction arrangement | positioning evaluation index calculating part. It is a figure explaining an example of the information about the use frequency of each user's shared apparatus calculated by the prediction arrangement | positioning evaluation index calculating part. It is a flowchart explaining an example of the calculation control operation | movement of the prediction arrangement | positioning evaluation index in a prediction arrangement | positioning evaluation index calculating part. It is a flowchart explaining an example of the routine regarding calculation control action | operation of each user's estimated moving distance performed in the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining another example of the control action of the arrangement | positioning assistance system of a shared apparatus. It is a figure explaining another example of the display performed on the display apparatus of a server by a display control part. It is a functional block diagram explaining an example of a structure of the shared apparatus which comprises the arrangement | positioning assistance system of the shared apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining an example of the use detection operation | movement in the shared apparatus of FIG. It is a figure explaining an example of the operation | movement history in the shared apparatus of FIG. It is a figure explaining an example of the information about the fixed position of each user recorded on a seat arrangement database part. It is a figure explaining an example of the arrangement | positioning information memorize | stored in an arrangement | positioning information database part. It is a figure explaining another example of the calculation of the prediction arrangement | positioning evaluation index by a prediction arrangement | positioning evaluation index calculating part. It is a figure explaining another example of the calculation of the prediction arrangement | positioning evaluation index by a prediction arrangement | positioning evaluation index calculating part. It is a figure explaining determination of the candidate of the new installation position of a shared apparatus by a candidate position determination part. It is a flowchart explaining another example of the control action of the arrangement | positioning assistance system of a shared apparatus. It is a figure explaining another example of the display performed on the display apparatus of a server by a display control part. It is a figure explaining an example of the information about the use frequency initial setting value for every user memorize | stored in an initial information database part. It is a flowchart explaining another example of the calculation control operation | movement of the prediction arrangement | positioning evaluation index in a prediction arrangement | positioning evaluation index calculating part. It is a flowchart explaining another example of the control action of the arrangement | positioning assistance system of a shared apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

6: Shared device placement support system 16: Shared device 56: Position detection unit (positioning unit)
58 movement history recording unit 60: actual arrangement evaluation index calculation unit 66: start / end point determination unit 68: use detection unit 74: predicted arrangement evaluation index calculation unit 114: use detection unit (human detection sensor, operation detection sensor)
117: Operation recording unit

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of a shared device arrangement support system 6 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, for example, a shared device 16 such as a printer is disposed in an indoor area 8 where furniture 18 such as a desk or a shelf is disposed. In addition, a plurality of mobile stations 10 that are carried by each of the plurality of users, such as possessed by a plurality of users using the shared device 16, and a mobile station 10 that is transmitted from the mobile station 10. A plurality of base stations 12 installed at known positions for receiving radio waves for position detection and calculating the reception results are shown, and a server 14 for performing necessary calculations is shown. The server 14 and the plurality of base stations 12 are connected by a communication cable 20 so that information can be exchanged. In FIG. 1, for example, three

mobile stations

10A, 10B and 10C possessed by each of three users are shown. The number of mobile stations 10 (hereinafter referred to as mobile stations 10 when the first mobile station 10A to the third mobile station 10C are not distinguished) can be appropriately increased or decreased. Further, in FIG. 1, four base stations 12 (hereinafter referred to as the first base station 12A to the fourth base station 12D), which are the first base station 12A, the second base station 12B, the third base station 12C, and the fourth base station 12D. When not distinguished, it is referred to as a base station 12). However, as will be described later, if the base station is more than the minimum number of base stations necessary for positioning of the mobile station 10, the base station 12 The number is not limited to four. In the indoor area 8, for example, a coordinate system is defined as shown in FIG. 1, and the positions of the mobile station 10, the base station 12, the shared device 16, and the desk 18 in the indoor area 8, and the shared device use determination described later are performed. The position of an area such as the area 90 is expressed using, for example, common coordinates as shown in FIG. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, although the indoor area | region 8 is provided in the square shape of 12m square in a present Example, the magnitude | size and shape are not limited.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an overview of the functions of the mobile station 10. The mobile station 10 includes an antenna 26, a mobile station radio unit 22, an electronic control device 23, and the like. The electronic control unit 23 includes a so-called microcomputer having, for example, a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an input / output interface, and the like. The CPU uses a temporary storage function of the RAM, and signals according to a program stored in the ROM in advance. By performing the processing, the processing in the mobile station control unit 24 described later is executed.

The mobile station radio unit 22 implements a so-called radio communication function, and transmits and receives radio waves using the antenna 26. For example, the mobile station radio unit 22 transmits radio waves including a spread code for calculating a correlation value to the base station 12. In addition, a radio wave including a command regarding the operation of the mobile station 10 transmitted from the base station 12 is received. The mobile station radio unit 22 generates a carrier wave having a predetermined frequency, modulates the carrier wave based on a signal transmitted by radio waves, performs a digital modulation, and outputs the modulated carrier wave to a predetermined output. It has a transmission amplifier to amplify. Further, the mobile station radio unit 22 is realized by a reception amplifier that amplifies the received wave received by the antenna 26, a filter that extracts only a predetermined frequency component from the received wave, a demodulator that performs demodulation by digital demodulation or a detector, and the like. Including receiving function. At this time, for example, so-called digital communication is preferably used as the wireless communication performed by the mobile station wireless unit 22, and therefore the mobile station wireless unit 22 includes a mechanism for modulation or demodulation necessary for the digital communication.

Here, the radio wave transmitted by the mobile station radio unit 22 of the mobile station 10 includes, for example, a code for identifying the individual mobile station 10 in the header portion of the signal wave included in the radio wave, or by the individual mobile station 10 It is transmitted by a predetermined method such as transmitting different spreading codes. Therefore, the mobile station that has received the radio wave can identify the mobile station 10 from which the received radio wave is transmitted by analyzing the received radio wave according to the predetermined method.

The antenna 26 is used when the mobile station radio unit 22 transmits / receives radio waves, and an antenna suitable for the frequency of radio waves to be transmitted / received is used. Further, when the distance from the mobile station 10 is the same, the antenna 26 is omnidirectional with respect to at least the propagation direction of the radio wave so that the base station 12 having the same distance from the antenna 26 can receive the radio wave regardless of the direction from the mobile station 10. A suitable antenna is preferably used.

The mobile station control unit 24 is realized by the electronic control unit 23 and controls the mobile station radio unit 22. Specifically, for example, the mobile station control unit 24 performs transmission / reception switching, carrier frequency setting, and output setting in the transmission amplifier for the mobile station radio unit 22. The setting values in these controls are determined based on a result of communication with the base station 12, for example, based on a command transmitted from the base station 12. The mobile station control unit 24 also analyzes the instruction regarding the control operation of the mobile station 10 from the base station 12 by analyzing the contents of the radio wave received from the mobile station radio unit 22 and decoded. To do. Further, the mobile station control unit 24 reads out the spreading code transmitted by the mobile station 10 by radio waves, for example, by reading the spreading code stored from a storage means (not shown), or a predetermined generation method, for example, a predetermined primitive polynomial. Determine by generating based on.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining an outline of an example of the functions of the base station 12. The base station 12 includes an antenna 36, a base station radio unit 32, an electronic control device 33, a clock 40, a communication interface 42, and the like. The electronic control unit 33 includes a so-called microcomputer having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an input / output interface and the like, for example, and the CPU is stored in the ROM in advance using the temporary storage function of the RAM. By performing signal processing according to the program, processing in the reception time detection unit 38, the base station control unit 34, and the like is executed.

The base station radio unit 32 realizes a so-called radio communication function, and transmits and receives radio waves using the antenna 36. The base station radio unit 32 transmits radio waves including a command for controlling the operation of the mobile station 10. In addition, the base station radio unit 32 receives the radio wave transmitted by the mobile station 10 and passes the contents to a reception time detection unit 38, which will be described later, as necessary, to execute processing. That is, the base station radio unit 32 generates an oscillator that generates a carrier wave having a predetermined frequency, modulates the carrier wave based on a signal transmitted by radio waves, and performs a modulator that performs digital modulation and the like. Demodulator having a transmission amplifier that amplifies the output, a reception amplifier that amplifies the received wave received by the antenna 36, a filter that extracts only a predetermined frequency component from the received wave, and demodulation by digital demodulation or a detector It is realized by a vessel. At this time, for example, so-called digital communication is preferably used for the wireless communication performed by the base station wireless unit 32, and thus the base station wireless unit 32 includes a mechanism for modulation or demodulation necessary for the digital communication.

The antenna 36 is used when the base station radio unit 32 transmits and receives radio waves, and an antenna suitable for the frequency of radio waves to be transmitted and received is used. Further, an antenna is provided so that radio waves can be received when the mobile station 10 exists at the same distance from the base station 12 regardless of the position of the mobile station 10, that is, the direction of the mobile station 10 viewed from the base station 12. For the antenna 36, an antenna that is omnidirectional at least in the propagation direction of radio waves is preferably used.

The base station control unit 34 and the reception time detection unit 38 are realized by the electronic control unit 33. Among these, the base station control unit 34 controls the base station radio unit 32. Specifically, for example, the base station control unit 34 performs transmission / reception switching, carrier frequency setting, transmission amplifier output setting, and the like for the base station radio unit 32. The setting values in these controls are determined based on the result of communication with the server 14 or the mobile station 10 described later. In addition, the base station control unit 34 controls the reception time detection unit 38 to control the reception time detection execution and to request and acquire the reception time detection result output. In addition, the base station control unit 34 analyzes the contents of the radio wave transmitted by the mobile station 10 that is received and decoded by the base station radio unit 32. Similarly, the base station control unit 34 analyzes the transmission content from the server 14 received by the communication interface 42 described later, and extracts a command related to the control operation of the base station 12. Furthermore, the base station control unit 34 transmits necessary information to other devices via a communication interface 42 and a base station radio unit 32 described later.

The reception time detection unit 38 calculates a correlation value between the spreading code included in the radio wave transmitted from the mobile station 10 and the replica code of the spreading code. Specifically, the reception time detection unit 38 has the same replica code as the spreading code transmitted from the mobile station 10 in advance, and the spread code extracted from the received radio wave from the mobile station 10. By inputting the code (reception code) to the matched filter, the correlation value between them can be obtained. The time indicating the peak of the correlation value is the radio wave reception time. Accordingly, the reception time is detected by obtaining the time indicating the peak of the correlation value from the clock 40 described later.

The clock 40 measures time, and is referred to when the reception time detection unit 38 detects reception time, for example. Each base station 12 has its own clock, and their times are synchronized in advance.

The communication interface 42 performs information communication between the other base station 12 and the server 14 connected by the communication cable 20. Specifically, the reception time of the radio wave detected by the synchronization time detection unit 38 of the base station 12 and the information included in the radio wave transmitted from the mobile station 10 are transmitted from the base station 12 to the server 14. A command or the like related to the operation of the base station 12 transmitted from 14 is received.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the configuration of the server 14. As shown in FIG. 4, the server 14 corresponds to the electronic control unit 48 that performs necessary arithmetic processing corresponding to the CPU, RAM, ROM, hard disk, etc., and reads information in accordance with instructions from the electronic control unit 48 or the like. The storage device 50, the input / output interface 52, and the input / output interface 52 connected to the input / output interface 52, and the input device 53 such as a keyboard and a mouse for accepting an input operation from the user to the server 14 and the operation result by the server 14 are displayed. And a so-called computer including a communication interface 46 and the like. The CPU stores a program stored in the ROM in advance using the temporary storage function of the RAM. The signal processing can be performed according to

The communication interface 46 performs information communication with another base station 12, another server 14, or the shared device 16 through the communication cable 20, for example. The communication interface 46 transmits, for example, a command related to the control operation of the base station 12 and information related to the position of the mobile station 10 calculated by the positioning unit 56 described later to the base station 12 from the server 14. For example, information related to the reception time of radio waves at the base station 12 is received. The reception time of the radio wave at the base station 12 is detected by the reception time detection unit 38 as the reception time of the spread code transmitted from the mobile station 10.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram for explaining an outline of the functions of the electronic control device 48 of the server 14. This function is realized, for example, by executing a predetermined program in the server 14 of FIG. The positioning unit 56 calculates the position of the mobile station 10 based on the time difference between the reception times of the radio waves from the mobile stations 10 detected by the four base stations 12 (TDOA (Time Difference of Arrival) method). The coordinates of the mobile station are (x, y), the coordinates indicating the position of the first base station 12A are (x _B1 , y _B1 ), the coordinates of the second base station 12B are (x _B2 , y _B2 ), and the third base When the coordinates of the station 12C are (x _B3 , y _B3 ) and the coordinates of the fourth base station 12D are (x _B4 , y _B4 ), the position of the mobile station is expressed by the following equation (1). Here, the coordinates of the base station 12 and the mobile station 10 are represented by a coordinate system defined as shown in FIG. 1, for example.
(x _B1 −x) ² + (y _B1 −y) ² = {c × (Tr ₁ −Ts)} ²
(x _B2 −x) ² + (y _B2 −y) ² = {c × (Tr ₂ −Ts)} ²
(x _B3 −x) ² + (y _B3 −y) ² = {c × (Tr ₃ −Ts)} ²
(x _B4 −x) ² + (y _B4 −y) ² = {c × (Tr ₄ −Ts)} ² … (1)
Here, Tr _{1 to} Tr ₄ (sec) are the reception times of radio waves at the first base station 12A to the fourth base station 12D, respectively, and Ts is the transmission time of radio waves at the mobile station 10, for example, from the mobile station 10 It is transmitted to the base station 12 by radio waves and obtained by the base station 12 receiving it. That is, (Tr _i −Ts) (i = 1, 2,...) On the right side of each of the equations (1) represents the propagation time of the radio wave from the mobile station 10 to the base station 12i, and c × (Tr _i -Ts) represents the distance between the mobile station 10 and the base station 12i. Equation (1) is a simultaneous equation with x, y, and Ts as unknowns. If Ts is eliminated from the equation (1), the following equation (2) is obtained.

By solving this equation (2), unknowns x and y are obtained. Specifically, the solution of equation (2), that is, the position of the mobile station 10 is calculated by using a solution method such as Newton's method. Since the mobile station 10 is moved together with the user holding the mobile station 10, the calculated position of the mobile station 10 is also the position of the user. A position detection system including the positioning unit 56, the mobile station 10, the base station 12, and the like corresponds to the position detection unit. As shown in the equations (1) and (2), when the mobile station 10 moves in a two-dimensional plane, it is necessary to receive radio waves from the mobile station 10 by at least three base stations 12. is there.

Here, since the radio waves transmitted from the plurality of mobile stations 10 are mutually identifiable as described above, the positioning unit 56 calculates the positions of the plurality of mobile stations 10 so as to be identifiable. In addition, since the positioning unit 56 stores each of the plurality of mobile stations 10 in association with a mobile person who holds the mobile station 10 and moves, the mobile station 10 whose position has been calculated is the position of any user. Can be calculated. FIG. 13 shows information associating the plurality of mobile stations 10 with users holding those mobile stations 10, and is an example of information stored in the storage device 50 of the server 14 so that the positioning unit 56 can use the information, for example. FIG. As shown in FIG. 13, for example, the user holding the mobile station 10 with the tag ID 0001, which is information for identifying the mobile station 10 (tag), is Yamada, and the user holding the mobile station 10 with the tag ID 0002. The user is Suzuki, and the user holding the mobile station 10 with the tag ID 0003 indicates that the user is Ueno. Each user has his / her seat on one of the desks 18 arranged in the indoor area 8 shown in FIG. The name shown on the desk in FIG. 1 indicates a user whose seat is a fixed position, that is, a seating position when the shared device 16 is not used. Each of the users is seated at the position of the desk 18 as his / her seat and performs office work, for example.

FIG. 6 illustrates the relationship of the expression (1). For the sake of explanation, FIG. 6 shows an arrangement different from the arrangement of base stations 12 in FIG. In FIG. 6, r _{1 to} r ₄ represent the distance between each of the first base station 12A to the fourth base station 12D and the mobile station 10, and correspond to the square root of the right side of each of the equations (1). It is. That is, the calculation of the solution of equation (1) is performed by using a circle with a radius r ₁ centered on the first base station 12A, a circle with a radius r ₂ centered on the second base station 12B, and a third base station 12C in FIG. circle of radius r ₃ around the, and calculates the intersection of the circle of radius r ₄ around the fourth base station 12D. On the other hand, since the expression (1) is transformed into the expression (2), the expression (2) does not include Ts, and therefore, the transmission time of the radio wave at the mobile station 10 is required. Thus, the position of the mobile station 10 can be calculated.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the control operation of the positioning unit 56 of the server 14. First, in step SA1 (hereinafter, “step” is omitted), a positioning routine for calculating the position of the mobile station 10 is executed by the positioning unit 56, the mobile station 10, and the base station 12. In SA2, the position of the mobile station 10 calculated in SA1 is stored in the storage device 50 of the server 14 as the position of the user. Then, after the end of SA2, the flowchart of FIG. 7 is repeatedly executed from SA1 again at a predetermined cycle. That is, the positioning unit 56 calculates the position of the mobile station 10 at a predetermined cycle. When performing position measurement for a plurality of mobile stations 10, for example, the position of the first mobile station 10A is calculated, then the position of the second mobile station 10B is calculated, and then the third mobile station 10 is calculated. The position of the station 10C is calculated, and the position of the first mobile station 10A is calculated again so that the position of the first mobile station 10A is calculated again after a lapse of a predetermined period from the position calculation of the first mobile station 10A. The position is calculated for each station 10.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining this positioning routine. First, in step (hereinafter, “step” is omitted) SB1, an instruction for performing positioning of the mobile station 10 is issued from the server 14 to each of the base stations 12. This command is as follows: (1) A command for causing the mobile station 10 to transmit a radio wave for positioning to any one of the plurality of base stations 12 from the base station radio unit 32 of the base station 12 to the mobile station 10 (2) A radio wave for positioning transmitted from the mobile station 10 is received for each of the plurality of base stations 12, a reception time is detected, and the detected reception time is transmitted to the server 14. Including directives. Among these, the command (1) is such that the server 14 does not have a function for transmission / reception of radio waves for wireless communication, so the command from the server 14 to the mobile station 10 is any base station 12. The one base station 12 is, for example, a base station 12 that is arbitrarily selected.

In SB2, each base station 12 stands by whether or not the SB1 command from the server 14 has been received. When the SB1 command from the server 14, that is, the commands (1) and (2) or only the command (2) is received, the determination at this step is affirmed and the subsequent SB4 is executed. On the other hand, when the SB1 command from the server 14 is not received, the determination at this step is denied, and the SB1 is repeatedly executed, and the process waits until the SB1 command from the server 14 is received.

In SB3, in response to the command from the server 14 received in SB2, the command (1), that is, a radio wave for positioning is transmitted to the mobile station 10 to any one of the plurality of base stations 12. It is determined whether or not a command for transmitting a command to transmit data from the base station radio unit 32 of the base station 12 to the mobile station 10 is included. In any one of the base stations 12 that has received the command (1), the determination in this step is affirmed, and the subsequent SB4 is executed. On the other hand, in the base station that has received only the command (2), the determination in this step is denied, and a radio wave for positioning transmitted from the mobile station 10 is received in SB6 described later.

SB4 is a step executed when the determination of SB3 is affirmed. Specifically, the instruction (1) is executed at the base station that has received the instructions (1) and (2) at SB2. Is done. That is, a command for causing the mobile station 10 to transmit a radio wave for positioning is transmitted to the mobile station 10 by radio, and after the transmission, a radio wave for positioning transmitted from the mobile station 10 is received. It is.

In SB5, the mobile station 10 waits whether an instruction (SB4) for transmitting a radio wave for positioning is received. When the mobile station 10 receives a command for transmitting a radio wave for positioning, the determination in this step is affirmed, and the subsequent SB6 is executed. On the other hand, when the command for transmitting the radio wave for positioning is not received, the determination of this step is denied, and SB5 is repeatedly executed to receive the command for transmitting the radio wave for positioning. Wait until

In the SB 6 corresponding to the mobile station radio unit 22 of the mobile station 10, the mobile station 10 transmits radio waves for positioning. The radio wave for positioning includes a spread code for detecting the reception time.

In SB 7 corresponding to the base station radio unit 32 of each base station 12, it is determined whether or not a positioning radio wave transmitted from the mobile station 10 has been received. When a radio wave transmitted from the mobile station 10 is received, this determination is affirmed and the subsequent SB10 is executed. On the other hand, when the radio wave transmitted from the mobile station 10 is not received, the determination of this step is denied and the following SB8 is executed.

In SB8, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time from the start of reception of radio waves from the mobile station has exceeded a preset timeout time. If the elapsed time exceeds the timeout time, the determination in this step is affirmed and SB9 is executed. If the elapsed time does not exceed the time-out period, the determination in this step is denied and radio waves are continuously received from the mobile station 10.

In SB9 that is executed when the determination of SB8 is affirmed, an error process is performed on the base station for which the determination of SB8 has been affirmed, assuming that radio waves from the mobile station 10 could not be received. Specifically, for example, information indicating that the radio wave from the mobile station 10 has not been received is transmitted to the server 14.

In the SB 10 corresponding to the reception time detection unit 38, the spreading code included in the radio wave for positioning from the mobile station 10 received in SB7 and the spreading code that each base station has in advance. The correlation value with the replica code is calculated, and the time when the correlation value reaches its peak is detected as the reception time of the radio wave from the mobile station 10.

In the SB 11, information about the reception time of the radio wave from the mobile station 10 detected in the SB 10 in each base station 12 is transmitted to the server 14.

In SB 12, it is determined whether information about the reception time of radio waves from mobile station 10 in each base station 12 has been transmitted from a predetermined number of base stations 12 or more and received by server 14. Is done. This predetermined number is a number necessary for calculating the position of the mobile station 10 in the following SB15. For example, when the movement of the mobile station 10 is in a three-dimensional space, the predetermined number is four. If the information about the height of the mobile station 10 can be obtained by a height detection means (not shown) or the like even in a three-dimensional space. When information about the reception time is received from the predetermined number of base stations 12 or more, the determination in this step is affirmed and the following SB15 is executed. On the other hand, when the information about the reception time is not received from the predetermined number or more of the base stations 12, the determination of this step is denied and the following SB13 is executed.

In SB13, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time since the instruction of SB1 has exceeded a preset timeout time. If the elapsed time exceeds the timeout time, the determination in this step is affirmed and SB14 is executed. If the elapsed time does not exceed the timeout time, the determination in this step is denied and information about the reception time from the base station 12 is continuously received.

In SB 14 executed when the determination of SB 13 is affirmed, reception times of radio waves from the mobile station 10 may be received from the number of base stations 12 necessary for calculating the position of the mobile station 10. If not, error handling is performed. Specifically, for example, information indicating that the calculation of the position of the mobile station 10 has failed is recorded.

In the SB 15 corresponding to the positioning unit 56 of the server 14, the position of the mobile station 10 is calculated based on the information about the reception time of the radio wave from the mobile station 10 in each base station 12 received in the SB 12. . Specifically, by solving the equation (2) based on information about the reception time of the radio wave from the mobile station 10 in each base station 12 and information on the position of each base station 12 that is known in advance, The position of the mobile station 10 is calculated.

Returning to FIG. 5, the movement history recording unit 58 records the position of each mobile station 10 that is repeatedly calculated by the positioning unit 56 at a predetermined cycle such as every several seconds together with the calculation time. 10 movement histories are recorded.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the recording of the movement history by the movement history recording unit 58. In FIG. 9, a point P is a position for each time of a certain mobile station 10 calculated by the positioning unit 56, and a line 96 is generated by connecting a plurality of points P in the order corresponding to the passage of time. It is a movement history. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a part of the movement history generated by FIG. 9 and illustrates a position method for generating the movement history by the movement history recording unit 58. As shown in FIG. 10, the position of mobile station 10 at time t ₁ is point P ₁ , the position of mobile station 10 at time t ₂ is point P ₂ , and the position of mobile station 10 at time t ₃ is point P ₃ . Thus, when calculated by the positioning unit 56, the movement history recording unit 58 generates a movement history 96 by connecting these points P ₁ , P ₂ and P ₃ with straight lines, and records the information. The movement history is generated and recorded by the movement history recording unit 58 for each of the plurality of mobile stations 10. Although an example of the user's movement history by the movement history recording unit 58 has been described with reference to FIG. 9, the user's movement history 96 recorded by the movement history recording unit 58 is recorded for each time when positioning is performed. It may be recorded as coordinates.

Referring back to FIG. 5, the device position database unit 72 stores the position of the shared device 16. Specifically, for example, the position is measured in advance, and is input by the user in advance using the input device 53 of the server 14 and stored in the device position database unit 72 when the shared device arrangement support system 6 starts operating. Alternatively, the mobile station 10 is attached to the shared device 16, the position of the mobile station 10 is calculated by the positioning unit 56, and the calculated position is stored in the device position database unit 72 as the position of the shared device 16. May be. More specifically, the area occupied by the shared device 16 in the indoor region 8 may be stored by storing the size of the shared device by the device position database unit 72. More specifically, the area occupied by the shared device 16 in the indoor region 8 may be stored by storing the size of the shared device by the device position database unit 72.

The use detecting unit 68 detects that the shared device 16 has been used based on the user's movement history 96 recorded in the movement history recording unit 58. Specifically, for example, when the user stays in a shared device usage determination area 90 that is determined in the vicinity of the shared device 16 for a predetermined usage determination time, the shared device 16 is Judge that it was used. The predetermined use determination time is, for example, a value calculated as the minimum value of the time required to use the shared device, and is predetermined for each type of the shared device 16. The shared device usage determination area 90 is set as an area surrounding the area occupied by the shared device 16 with a predetermined width, for example, based on the information regarding the position of the shared device 16 stored in the device position database unit 72. For example, it is stored in the device position database unit 72. The predetermined width is determined to be 1 m, for example, based on a position where the user can exist when the shared device 16 is used.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the use detecting operation by the use detecting unit 68. As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, a shared device use determination area 90 is set around the shared device 16. Among these, FIG. 11A is an example of the shared device use determination area 90 provided so as to surround the shared device 16 with a predetermined width such as 1 m. FIG. 11B is an example of the shared device use determination area 90 that is set in a circular shape centered on the shared device 16 and having the predetermined size and radius. In particular, in the example of FIG. 11B, the shared device use determination area 90 is set in a semicircular shape centered on the shared device 16, which is a predetermined value such as the front of the shared device 16, for example. In the case where the device is used only from the direction, the user who uses the shared device 16 is located on the predetermined direction side of the shared device 16, and therefore the shared device use determination area only in the predetermined direction. This is because 90 may be provided.

The usage detection unit 68 determines whether or not the user has stayed in the shared device usage determination area 90 for more than the predetermined usage determination time. Specifically, based on the movement history 96 stored by the movement history recording unit 58, the time t _IN when the user first enters the shared device use determination area 90, that is, is located at _PIN in FIG. from the shared device using the determination region 90 was located in the end, that is, calculates the time _t OUT _{-t iN} until time _{t OUT} located to _{P OUT} of FIG. When the time t _OUT -t _IN calculated in this way exceeds the predetermined usage determination time, it is determined that the shared device 16 has been used. In addition, when the use detection unit 68 detects the use, the sharing detection unit 68 is based on the movement history 96 stored in the movement history recording unit 58 and based on any movement history 96 of the plurality of mobile stations 10. Based on whether the use of the device 16 is detected, the user of the shared device 16 is specified. This shared device use determination area 90 corresponds to the vicinity area of the shared device 16.

Returning to FIG. 5, when the use detector 68 detects the use of the shared device 16, the start / end point determination unit 66 is based on the movement history of the user recorded in the movement history recording unit 58. Movement associated with the use of the shared device 16, that is, the starting point in moving to the position of the shared device 16 for using the shared device 16 for which the use has been detected, and the original position after using the shared device 16, etc. Determine the end point for the return movement. Specifically, in the movement history 96 stored in the movement history recording unit 58, immediately before the use is detected by the use detection unit 68, a stay exceeding a predetermined start / end point determination time is detected. The determined position is determined as the starting point of movement associated with the use of the shared device 16. In addition, in the movement history 96 stored in the movement history recording unit 58, a position where a stay of a predetermined start / end point determination time or more is detected immediately after the use is detected by the use detection unit 68 is detected. The end point of the movement associated with the use of the shared device 16 is determined. The start point and the end point correspond to a fixed position that is a stationary position when the shared device is not used, and correspond to the seat of the user himself / herself in an office, for example. In addition, the predetermined start / end determination time is set to a value that does not determine a stop or the like between the fixed position and the shared device 16 in which use is detected as the start point or the end point, for example, 20 minutes. . In addition, the retention means that a state where the moving distance per unit time is within a predetermined distance range continues for a predetermined time period.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the start or end point determination operation by the start / end point determination unit 66. In Figure 12, the movement history 96 of a user, after an on position of point P _A at time t = t _A, each time the positioning is performed, i.e. for each unit time, the point P _B, the point P _C , Point P _D , point P _E , and point P _F are moved in this order, and the position of point P _F was at t = t _A + t _th2 after the predetermined start / end point determination time t _th2 Is shown. Here, the distance of the moving distance per each unit time at a predetermined time t _th2, i.e. the point P _A movement amount of the user corresponding to the distance between the point P _B d _AB, the point P _B and the point P _C the user corresponding to the distance between the user of the amount of movement d _BC, the point P _C and the point the user of the movement amount d _CD corresponding to the distance between P _{_D,} the point P _D and the point P _E corresponding to When the movement amount d _{DE of} the user and the movement amount d _EF of the user corresponding to the distance between the point P _E and the point P _F are both less than the predetermined distance continue for the predetermined start / end determination time It is determined that the user has stayed, and if the stay is just before the use is detected by the use detection unit 68, the stay is determined to be a starting point of movement accompanying use. . In FIG. 12, the movement amounts d _BC , d _CD , d _DE , and d _EF are not shown. Further, the predetermined distance is based on a moving speed at which a human can be determined to be stationary, for example, the unit time such as 0.2 m / s, that is, an interval time in which the position of the user is calculated. It is determined. Further, if the stay is immediately after the use is detected by the use detection unit 68, the stay is determined to be an end point of movement accompanying use.

Returning to FIG. 5, when the use detection unit 68 detects the use of the shared device 16, the movement process extraction unit 62 moves according to the use of the shared device 16 determined by the start / end point determination unit 66. Based on the information about the starting point and the ending point, the travel history 96 is extracted from the travel history 96 generated and stored in the travel history recording unit 58, and the distance is calculated.

Specifically, in FIG. 9, when the use of the shared device 16 is detected, and the point P _START and the point P _END are determined to be the start point and the end point of the movement associated with the use of the shared device 16, respectively, The movement process extraction unit 62 extracts the movement from the point P _START to the point P _END from the movement locus 96 as movement associated with the use of the shared device 16, and calculates the distance. Here, as shown in FIG. 10 described above, since the movement locus 96 is a point P corresponding to the position of the mobile station 10 calculated by the positioning unit 56 obtained by connecting a straight line, the point from the point P _START distance movement locus 96 up to P _END is obtained by summing the distances between points on the moving track 96, for example from the point _{P START} to the point _{P END.} In other words, obtained by the sum of the distance _{d 23} between the distance _{d 12} and the point _{P 2} and the point _{P 3} of the distance from a point _{P 1} to the point _{P 3} speaking the point _{P 1} and point _{P 2} in the example of FIG. 10 It is done.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining an example of the distance of movement accompanying the use of the shared device 16 calculated by the movement process extracting unit 62. As shown in FIG. 14, each time the use detection unit 68 detects the use of the shared device 16, the movement process extraction unit 62 attaches a use number (use number) as a number for identifying the use. The user who uses the shared device 16 for each use number is associated with the calculated movement distance (movement amount) and stored in the storage device 50 of the server 14 or the like.

Returning to FIG. 5, the total calculation unit 64 performs the calculation based on a preset condition out of the movement distances associated with the use of the shared device 16 calculated by the movement process extraction unit 62 in the preset use detection period. The total of the distance of movement accompanying use of the plurality of selected users and the number of times of use for each of the plurality of users are calculated. The preset use detection period is a period sufficient to calculate an actual placement evaluation index for evaluating the placement of the shared device 16, and is a value set in advance such as one day or one week. It is. In addition, the preset condition for selecting the plurality of users is, for example, that the usage frequency expected in advance is a predetermined value or more, and the usage frequency in a past fixed period is a predetermined value or more. In other words, the use of a plurality of shared devices 16, and occupations that are frequently used such as workers. Specifically, among the information calculated by the travel process extraction unit 62 and stored as shown in FIG. 14, the execution is the sum of the travel distances of the selected plurality of users in the use detection period. The amount is calculated and the number of uses for each user is calculated.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the number of times the shared device 16 is used in the use detection period for each user calculated by the total calculation unit 64. As shown in FIG. 15, the total calculation unit 64 calculates and stores the number of uses of the shared device 16 for each user.

The actual arrangement evaluation index calculation unit 60 calculates an actual arrangement evaluation index for evaluating the arrangement of the shared device 16, and includes the travel process extraction unit 62 and the total calculation unit 64. Based on the execution amount calculated by the total operation unit 64, the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60 specifically calculates, for example, the reciprocal of the execution amount associated with the use of the shared device 16. The actual placement evaluation index is calculated. In this case, the larger the actual placement evaluation index, the smaller the execution amount and the more efficient the placement.

Information calculated in this way by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60, that is, information about the use of the shared device 16 as shown in FIG. 14, the user, and the distance of movement associated with the use, 15, information on the number of uses of the shared device 16 for each user in the use detection period, information on the amount of execution associated with the use of the shared device 16 in the use detection period, and the actual placement evaluation index Is stored in the movement distance database unit 76. When there are a plurality of shared devices 16 in the indoor region 8, the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60 calculates an actual placement evaluation index for each of the plurality of shared devices 16.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the control operation in the calculation control operation of the actual arrangement evaluation index in the actual arrangement evaluation index calculation unit 60. In step (hereinafter, “step” is omitted) SC1, it is determined whether or not the predetermined use detection period has elapsed since the start of this flowchart. When the predetermined use detection period has elapsed from the start of this flowchart, the determination in this step is affirmed, and SC5 and subsequent steps are executed. On the other hand, if the predetermined use detection period has not elapsed since the start of this flowchart, the determination in this step is denied, and SC2 and subsequent steps are executed.

In SC2 corresponding to the usage detection unit 68, it is determined whether or not the use of the shared device 16 is detected. Specifically, referring to the movement history 96, the use of the shared device 16 is detected based on whether or not the predetermined shared device usage determination area 90 has stayed for a predetermined usage determination time. If use of the shared device 16 is detected, the determination in this step is affirmed and SC3 is executed. When the use of the shared device 16 is not detected, the steps after SC1 are repeatedly executed, and the use of the device is detected again.

In SC3 corresponding to the start / end point determination unit 66, a start point and an end point of movement accompanying use of the shared device 16 whose use is detected in SC2 are determined. Specifically, for example, the movement history 96 stays longer than a predetermined start / end determination time, that is, the amount of movement per unit time at a predetermined start / end determination time is within a predetermined distance. The retention immediately before the use of the shared device 16 whose use has been detected in SC2 is determined as the start point of movement accompanying the use of the shared device 16, and the shared device 16 whose use has been detected in SC2 is determined. The dwelling immediately after the use of the shared device 16 is determined as the end point of the movement accompanying the use of the shared device 16.

In SC4 corresponding to the travel process extraction unit 62, the information is used in SC2 based on the information about the start point and the end point determined in SC3 and the information about the travel history 96 stored by the travel history recording unit 58. The distance of movement associated with the use of the shared device 16 in which is detected is calculated.

On the other hand, SC5 corresponding to the total calculation unit 64 and the like is a step executed when the determination of SC1 is performed. Use of a plurality of users selected according to a preset condition among the movement distances associated with the use of the shared device 16 calculated in SC3 by repeatedly executing SC1 to SC4 for a predetermined use detection period The execution amount that is the sum of the distances of the movements associated with is calculated, and an actual arrangement evaluation index for evaluating the arrangement of the shared device 16 is calculated based on the calculated execution amount. Further, the number of uses of the shared device 16 for each user during the use detection period is calculated.

In the subsequent SC6, the information about the execution amount associated with the use of the shared device 16 calculated in SC5, the actual placement evaluation index, and the number of times of use of the shared device 16 for each user in the use detection period. Is stored in the movement distance database unit 76.

The flowchart of FIG. 16 may be executed in parallel with the flowchart of FIG. 7 corresponding to the positioning unit 56 described above, or the flowchart of FIG. 7 is executed only during the predetermined use detection period, and the movement history It may be executed after the movement history 96 is generated and stored by the recording unit 58.

Also, the flowchart of FIG. 16 can be executed for each of the plurality of shared devices 16 when there are a plurality of shared devices 16. In this case, the flowchart of FIG. 16 can be executed in parallel for each of the plurality of shared devices 16.

Returning to FIG. 5, the display control unit 84 causes the output device 54 of the server 14 to display information about the actual placement evaluation index calculated by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60. FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining an example of a display 86A displayed on the output device 54 of the server 14 by the display control unit 84.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the control operation for the entire shared device arrangement support system 6 in this embodiment. First, in SD1 corresponding to the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60, the flowchart of FIG. 16 is executed in order to calculate the actual placement evaluation index.

Subsequently, in SD2 corresponding to the display control unit 84, information on the actual placement evaluation index calculated in SD1 is displayed on the display device 54 of the server 14, and the like.

In the subsequent SD3, it is determined whether or not there is an input as to whether or not the operation of calculating the actual placement evaluation index is executed again by the operator. For example, when the calculated actual placement evaluation index is displayed in SD2, and the operator changes the position of the shared device 16, the actual placement evaluation of the shared device 16 after the operator changes the position. In order to calculate the index, a command to execute the actual placement index calculation operation again is issued by the input device 53 of the server 14 or the like. When this execution command is detected, the determination of this step is performed on the assumption that there is an input as to whether or not the operation of calculating the actual placement evaluation index is performed again by the operator, and SD1 and the subsequent steps are repeatedly executed. On the other hand, when this execution command is not detected, this flowchart is ended on the assumption that there is no input as to whether or not the operation for calculating the actual placement evaluation index is performed again by the operator.

According to the above-described embodiment, in the optimum arrangement support system 6 for shared devices, the position of the mobile station 10 is detected by the positioning unit 56 as the respective positions of a plurality of users who use the shared device 16, The user's movement history 96 detected by the positioning unit 56 is recorded by the movement history recording unit 58. Of the user's movement history 96 recorded by the movement history recording unit 58, the shared device 16 is selected. The movement of the user who has used the user is extracted, and is set in advance among the movement amount of the extracted movement in the predetermined period set in advance by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60 (SD1). The total amount of movement associated with the use of a plurality of users selected according to the selected condition is calculated as an execution amount, and the shared device 1 is based on the calculated execution amount. Since an actual placement evaluation index for evaluating the placement of the shared device 16 is calculated, an execution amount that is an index that quantitatively indicates whether the installation position of the shared device 16 is efficient is the position detection unit 56. Is calculated based on the position of the user detected by.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60 (SD1) estimates or detects that the shared device 16 is used, that is, is in use. (SC2), and when the use detection unit 68 estimates or detects the use of the shared device 16, it is extracted from the movement history 96 of the user that the movement accompanying the use of the shared device 16 has occurred. Therefore, it is possible to detect the use of the shared device 16 without having a means for detecting the use of the shared device 16 or a means for notifying the server 14 that the use has been detected. The calculation unit 60 can accurately extract the movement history associated with the use of the shared device 16 from the movement history of the user.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the use detection unit 68 (SC2) is located in the area near the shared device 16 stored in advance in the user movement history 96 recorded in the movement history recording unit 58. When the shared device usage determination area 90 stays for a predetermined usage determination time or longer, it is determined that the shared device 16 has been used. Therefore, the sharing by the user based on the movement history 96 of the user is determined. Whether or not the device 16 is used can be determined.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60 (SD1) includes the start / end point determination unit 66 (SC3) that determines the start point and the end point of movement associated with the use of the shared device 16. Of the movement history 96 of the user who used the shared device 16 recorded by the movement history recording unit 58, from the start point determined by the start / end point determination unit 66 to the shared device 16, and the shared device 16 To the end point determined by the start / end point determination unit 66 is extracted as the movement associated with the use of the shared device 16, so that from the movement history 96 of each user recorded by the movement history recording unit 58. Movements associated with the use of the shared device 16 can be extracted.

In addition, according to the above-described embodiment, the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60 (SC3) includes the start / end point determination unit 66 that determines a start point and an end point of movement associated with use of the shared device 16, and the movement Of the movement history of the user using the shared device 16 recorded by the history recording unit 58, from the start point determined by the start / end point determination unit 66 to the shared device 16, and from the shared device 16 to the start / end point Since the movement to the end point determined by the determination unit is extracted as the movement accompanying the use of the shared device 16, the movement history 96 of each user recorded by the movement history recording unit 58 is used for the sharing device 16. Movements associated with use can be extracted.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the start / end point determination unit 66 (SC3) is set in advance in the movement history 96 recorded in the movement history recording unit 58, immediately before and after use of the shared device 16, respectively. Since the location where the stay is longer than the predetermined start / end determination time is determined as the start point and the end point, it is recorded by the movement history recording unit 58 based on the location where the stay is longer than the predetermined start / end determination time. In addition, the movement associated with the use of the shared device 16 can be extracted from the movement history of each user.

Subsequently, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, about the part which is common between Example, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

In the present embodiment, the server 14 includes a predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 (see FIG. 5). The predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 calculates information about the distance of movement for each use of the shared device 16 calculated by the movement process extraction unit 62 and stored in the movement distance database unit 76, and the shared device 16. Based on the information about the new installation position candidate, a predicted arrangement evaluation index for evaluating the arrangement of the shared apparatus 16 when the shared apparatus 16 is installed at the position of the new installation position candidate is calculated. .

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of calculating the predicted placement evaluation index by the predicted placement evaluation index calculating unit 74 in the present embodiment. The calculation of the predicted placement evaluation index by the specific predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the installation position 16 of the shared device 16 (hereinafter referred to as a conventional installation position) at the time of execution of the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60 and a new installation that is a position where the shared device 16 is to be moved and installed. In this embodiment, the shared device movement distance 102 with the position candidate 101 is calculated as 5 m, for example. The shared device moving distance 102 is a linear distance between the conventional installation position 16 and the new installation position candidate 101. And the distance (refer FIG. 14) of the movement accompanying the use about each use of the shared apparatus 16 in the said use detection period calculated by the movement process extraction part 62 of the said real arrangement | positioning evaluation index calculating part 60 (refer FIG. 14), A value obtained by doubling the shared device movement distance 102 is added and subtracted, and this is calculated as a movement distance associated with the use of the shared device 16 installed at the new installation position candidate 101. At this time, if the new installation position candidate 101 is not on the movement locus 96 associated with the use of the shared device 16 as shown in FIG. 19, the shared device movement distance 102 is doubled to the distance of the movement associated with the use. Add values. On the other hand, when the new installation position candidate 101 is on the movement locus 96 associated with the use of the shared device 16, a value obtained by doubling the shared device movement distance 102 is subtracted from the movement distance associated with the use. FIG. 20 shows the predicted value of the distance of movement associated with the use of the shared device 16 installed at the new installation position candidate 101 calculated in this way for each use of the shared device. The usage numbers in FIG. 20 correspond to the usage numbers in FIG.

Then, the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 calculates and calculates the sum of the predicted values of the distances of movement associated with the use of the shared device 16 installed at the calculated new installation position candidate 101 as the predicted stroke amount. Based on the predicted stroke amount, specifically, for example, the predicted position index is calculated by calculating the reciprocal of the predicted stroke amount.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the control operation of the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 in the present embodiment. First, in SE1, the distance of movement according to each use of the shared device 16 calculated by the actual index calculation unit 60, stored in the movement distance database unit (abbreviated as movement distance DB) 76, and Based on the shared device movement distance 102, a predicted movement distance calculation routine is executed in which a predicted value of the movement distance for each use of the shared device when a shared device is installed at the new installation position candidate 101 is executed. Is done.

In the subsequent SE2, a predicted stroke amount that is a sum of predicted movement distances for each use of the shared device 16 calculated in SE1 is calculated. Based on the calculated execution stroke amount, the shared device 16 A predicted placement evaluation index for evaluating placement is calculated.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explaining a predicted movement distance calculation routine executed in SE1. First, in SF1, the shared device moving distance 102, that is, the linear distance between the conventional installation position of the shared device 16 and the new installation position candidate 101 is calculated.

In the subsequent SF2, for one of the uses of the shared device 16 recorded in the movement distance database unit 76 as shown in FIG. 14, for example, the value of the movement distance associated with the use is read.

In SF3, a value obtained by doubling the shared device movement distance 102 calculated in SF1 is added to or subtracted from the movement distance associated with the use read in SF2. That is, as described above, when the new installation position candidate 101 is on the movement trajectory associated with the use in which the movement distance is read in SF2, a value obtained by doubling the shared apparatus movement distance 102 is subtracted. If the new installation position candidate 101 is not on the movement locus associated with the use of reading the movement distance in SF2, a value obtained by doubling the shared apparatus movement distance 102 is added.

In SF4, SF2 and SF3 are executed for all the movements associated with the use of the shared device 16 extracted by the movement process extraction unit 62 in the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60, and the predicted value of the movement distance associated with the use. Whether or not is calculated is determined. When SF2 and SF3 are executed for all the movements associated with the use, the determination at this step is affirmed and the routine is terminated. On the other hand, if SF2 and SF3 are not executed for all of the movements associated with the use, the determination of this step is denied, and in SF5, setting is made to execute the use for which SF2 and SF3 have not been executed yet. And SF2 and SF3 are repeatedly executed.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the control operation for the entire shared device arrangement support system 6 according to the present embodiment. First, in SG1 corresponding to the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60, the flowchart of FIG. 16 is executed in order to calculate the actual placement evaluation index. This step is the same as SD1 in FIG.

In SG2, information on the position of the new installation position candidate 101 of the shared device 16 is read. The position of the new installation position candidate 101 is input by, for example, the input device 53 of the server 14 by the operator.

In SG3 corresponding to the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74, processing for calculating the predicted placement evaluation index, specifically, the flowchart of FIG. 21 described above is executed.

In SG4 corresponding to the display control unit 84, information on the predicted placement evaluation index calculated in SG3 and information on the actual placement evaluation index calculated in SG1 are, for example, the display device (output device) 54 of the server 14. Is displayed. FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining an example of a display 86B displayed on the output device 54 of the server 14 by the display control unit 84. For example, as shown in FIG. 24, the information about the actual placement evaluation index and the information about the predicted placement evaluation index can be displayed so that they can be compared with the operator.

In the subsequent SG5, it is determined whether or not there has been an input as to whether or not the operation for calculating the predicted placement evaluation index is performed again by the operator. For example, in response to the predicted placement evaluation index calculated in SG3 being displayed in SG4, the position set by the operator as a new installation position candidate is changed, and the predicted placement evaluation is performed again for the new installation position candidate after the change. In order to calculate the index, a command for executing the operation for calculating the predicted placement index again is issued by the input device 53 of the server 14 or the like. When this execution command is detected, the determination of this step is performed on the assumption that the operation of calculating the predicted placement evaluation index by the operator is performed again, and SG2 and the subsequent steps are repeatedly executed. On the other hand, when this execution command is not detected, this flowchart is ended on the assumption that there is no input as to whether or not the calculation operation of the predicted placement evaluation index is performed again by the operator.

According to the present embodiment, the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 (SG3) moves with each use using the shared device 16 extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60 (SG1). When the shared device 16 is installed at a new installation position candidate 101 that is a new installation position based on the distance of the user, the user can use the shared device 16 within a preset predetermined use detection period. A total for use by a plurality of users selected according to a preset condition is calculated as a predicted stroke amount, and the arrangement of the shared device is evaluated based on the calculated predicted stroke amount Since the predicted placement evaluation index is calculated, the predicted stroke amount, which is an index that quantitatively represents whether the new installation position of the shared device 16 is efficient, is Position of the user detected by the detection unit, and the is calculated based on the distance of the movement of the user associated with their use for each use of the shared device to be extracted by the actual allocation evaluation index computing unit.

Moreover, according to the above-mentioned Example, the said prediction arrangement | positioning evaluation index calculating part 74 (SG3) uses the said user who used the said shared apparatus 16 extracted by the said real arrangement | positioning evaluation index calculating part 60 (SG1). The new installation position 101 is obtained by adding or subtracting the shared apparatus movement distance 102 which is a linear distance between the conventional installation position of the shared apparatus 16 and the new installation position 101 to each of the movement amounts of the movement associated with Since the total amount of movement within a predetermined period set in advance as the amount of movement of the user using the shared device 16 installed in the user is calculated as the predicted stroke amount, When the shared device 16 is installed at a new installation position, a predicted arrangement evaluation index that is an index that quantitatively represents whether the installation position is efficient is used as the actual arrangement evaluation index. It can be calculated based on the calculation result of calculation portion 60 and the straight line distance 102 between the conventional installation position and the new installation position 101 of the shared device.

This example relates to another aspect of the use detecting unit 68. In the above-described embodiment, based on the user's movement history 96 recorded in the movement history recording unit 58, the user enters the shared device usage determination area 90 that is predetermined as the vicinity of the shared device 16 in advance. The use of the shared device 16 was detected based on the fact that the user stayed longer than a predetermined use determination time. In the present embodiment, the use detection unit 68 detects whether the user has made a reciprocating movement with the shared device 16 as a turning point based on the user's movement history 96, and the reciprocating movement has been performed. In this case, it is detected that the shared device 16 has been used.

The specific operation of the usage detector 68 will be described with reference to FIG. The usage detection unit 68 first determines whether or not there is a location in the movement history 96 that has passed through the shared device usage determination area 90. The shared device use determination area 90 is the same as that described in FIG. 11 described above. For example, the shared apparatus use determination area 90 is set as an area surrounding the area occupied by the shared apparatus 16 with a predetermined width, and is stored in, for example, the apparatus location database unit 72 It is. At this time, unlike the previous embodiment, the length of time that the user exists in the shared device use determination area 90 does not matter.

Then, in the movement history 96, when the shared device usage determination area 90 is passed, positions where stays longer than a predetermined start / end determination time are detected immediately before and after the passage are detected. This stay detection is performed in the same manner as the start / end point determination unit 66 in the above-described embodiment.

Further, the detected stay position immediately before passing and the stay position immediately after passing are in the same position, or the distance between the stay position immediately before passing and the stay position immediately after passing is shorter than a predetermined distance. A determination is made as to whether any of the positions that can be regarded as the same position is satisfied. In the example of FIG. 9, when it is determined that the stay position P _START immediately before passing and the stay position P _END immediately after passing are in the same position or can be regarded as the same position, Assuming that the user has made a reciprocating movement with the position of the shared device 16 turned back, it is detected that the user has used the shared device 16.

According to the above-described embodiment, the usage detection unit 68 determines the pre-stored neighborhood area of the shared device 16 in the user movement history 96 recorded in the movement history recording unit 58, that is, the shared device usage determination. Since it is determined that the shared device 16 has been used when there is a reciprocating movement with the area 90, it is determined whether or not the shared device 16 has been used by the user based on the movement history 96 of the user. Can do.

This example relates to the operation of the usage detector 68 in another mode. In the above-described embodiment, the usage detection unit 68 detects whether the shared device 16 is used based on the movement history 96 generated and recorded by the movement history recording unit 58. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the usage detection unit 68 detects that the shared device 16 has been used based on the detection result by the usage detection unit 114 of the shared device 16.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the shared device 16 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 25, a functional unit 116 is for demonstrating the function inherently possessed by the shared device 16. For example, if the shared device 16 is a printer, the functional unit 116 is a part for realizing a printing function.

The usage detection unit 114 detects that the shared device 16 having the usage detection unit 114 is used, and there is a person at the position where the user exists when using the shared device 16. It is comprised including the human detection sensor which detects whether it does.

For example, in the shared device 16, an area where the user can be located when using the shared device 16 is defined according to the type. Specifically, if the shared device 16 is a copier or a facsimile, the user usually operates the operation panel to set the original at a predetermined position. It is usual to stand at a position facing the facsimile. In other words, in the case of a copier or facsimile, the area where the user is located when using it is a certain area facing the copier or facsimile. The area where the user is located when using the shared device 16 varies depending on the type of the shared device 16. The human detection sensor constituting the use detection unit 114 detects that the user exists in an area where the user can use the shared device 16 as described above, and the shared device is detected by performing the detection. 16 is used. A range in which the person detection sensor detects a person corresponds to the vicinity of the shared device 16.

As the human detection sensor constituting the use detection unit 114, specifically, an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, an image sensor, or the like is used. The human detection sensor is not limited to these ultrasonic sensors, infrared sensors, and image sensors, and any detection method can be used as long as it can detect whether a user is present in a predetermined area. The means are not limited.

The communication interface 112 is for notifying the use detecting unit (see FIG. 5) of the server 14 that the use is detected when the use detecting unit 114 detects that the shared device 16 is used. . For example, the server 14 is notified that the shared device 16 has been used by communication via the communication cable 20 that is communicably connected to the communication interface 46 of the server 14. For example, the shared device 16 communicates as in the case where the shared device 16 is a printer having a network connection function, that is, a printer capable of receiving an instruction for printing by a computer connected via a network. If an interface is provided, the communication interface may be used.

On the other hand, the use detection unit 68 (see FIG. 5) of the server 14 is different from the above-described embodiment in that communication indicating that the use of the shared device 16 is detected is communicated from the shared device 16 via the communication cable 20, for example. It is detected that the use of the shared device 16 has been performed based on the information transmitted by. When it is detected that the shared device 16 has been used, for example, when the use of the shared device 16 is detected based on the movement history 96 generated and recorded by the movement history recording unit 58. Assuming that the user who is closest to the shared device 16 uses the shared device 16, the start / end point determination unit 66, the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60, and the like are operated.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a control operation for use detection in the shared device 16. In SH1 corresponding to the usage detection unit 114, based on whether or not the sensor constituting the usage detection unit 114 has detected that a user is present in an area where the shared device 16 can be used. Then, it is determined whether or not the shared device 16 has been used. When the shared device 16 is used, the determination at this step is affirmed and SH2 is executed. On the other hand, if the shared device 16 is not used, SH1 is executed again, and it is repeatedly determined whether or not the shared device 16 has been used.

In SH2 corresponding to the communication interface 112, the fact that the use of the shared device 16 is detected in SH1 is transmitted from the shared device 16 to the server 14.

According to the above-described embodiment, the shared device 16 includes the human detection sensor as the usage detection unit 114 that detects the presence or absence of a user in the vicinity of the shared device 16, and the usage detection unit 68 includes the human detection. Since it is determined that the shared device 16 has been used when a user is detected in the vicinity of the shared device 16 by the sensor, that is, in a region where the shared device 16 can be used, it is shared by the human detection sensor. Whether or not the shared device 16 is used can be determined based on whether or not there is a user near the device 16.

This example relates to another embodiment of the use detection unit 114 of the shared device 16. In the present embodiment, the shared device 16 has the same configuration as that shown in FIG.

The usage detection unit 114 in this embodiment detects that the shared device 16 having the usage detection unit 114 is used, and the operation of the shared device 16 when the shared device 16 is used. It comprises an operation detection sensor for detecting.

For example, when the shared device 16 is used and operated, a specific operation sound, for example, an operation sound of a specific frequency or a specific sound pressure may be generated. The operation detection sensor in the present embodiment is a sensor that detects a phenomenon unique to the operation of the shared device 16, and the shared device 16 is used by detecting a phenomenon unique to the operation of the shared device 16. Detect that.

Further, as the use detection sensor that constitutes the use detection unit 114, specifically, a voice sensor, a sound pressure sensor, or the like is used. The use detection sensor is suitable for a phenomenon that occurs when the shared device is operated, and is not limited to the above-described voice sensor, sound pressure sensor, and the like. For example, when the shared device 16 is a device that is operated by electricity and consumes power inherent to the shared device 16 during operation, a power meter, an ammeter, or the like may be used.

The control operation for detecting the use of the shared device 16 in the present embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG.

According to the above-described embodiment, the shared device 16 includes an operation detection sensor as the use detection unit 114 that detects the operation of the shared device 16, and the use detection unit 68 is detected by the operation detection sensor. When the use of the shared device 16 is detected, it is determined that the shared device 16 has been used. Therefore, whether or not the shared device 16 is used is determined based on whether the shared device 16 is operated by the operation detection sensor. be able to.

The functional unit 116 in this embodiment includes an operation recording unit 117 that records information related to an operation history (log) of the functional unit 116. FIG. 27 is a diagram for explaining an example of information recorded as the operation history by the operation recording unit 117. For example, the shared device 16 can be output from, for example, a plurality of computers connected via a network. It is an example of the operation | movement log | history recorded by the said operation | movement recording part in the case of being a printer. As shown in FIG. 27, each time the shared device 16 is operated, information about the user name, use date and time, and details of use (the number of printed pages in FIG. 27) is recorded.

The usage detector 114 detects that the shared device 16 having the usage detector 114 is used, and the shared device 16 uses it based on the operation history recorded by the operation recording unit. It is detected that Specifically, when there is usage within the preset usage detection period in the work history, it is detected that the shared device 16 has been used.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 27 described above, when information about the user of the shared device 16 is recorded in the operation history, in addition to the information that the use of the shared device 16 has been detected, The information about the user may be notified to the use detection unit 68 of the server 14 through the communication interface 112, or only the information that the use of the shared device 16 is detected is sent to the communication interface 112. Via the movement history 96 generated and recorded by the movement history recording unit 58 in the same manner as in the previous embodiment, for example, the use of the shared device 16 is detected. At this time, the user who is closest to the shared device 16 may use the shared device 16.

According to the above-described embodiment, the functional unit 116 of the shared device 16 has an operation recording unit that records an operation history of the shared device 16, and the usage detection unit 114 is operated by the operation recording unit. When the operation history of 16 is recorded, it is determined that the shared device 16 is used. Therefore, based on the operation history recorded by the operation recording unit, it is determined whether the shared device 16 is used. can do.

The present embodiment relates to another embodiment of the start / end point determination unit 66. In the above-described embodiment, the start / end point determination unit 66 has a predetermined predetermined value immediately before use is detected by the use detection unit 68 in the movement history 96 stored in the movement history recording unit 58. A position at which staying longer than the start / end determination time is detected is determined as the start point of movement associated with the use of the shared device 16 and immediately after the use is detected by the use detection unit 68, a predetermined start / end point set in advance is determined. The position where the stay for the determination time or longer was detected was determined as the end point of the movement accompanying the use of the shared device 16. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the start / end point determination unit 66 is based on information about a fixed position that is a stationary position when the shared device 16 is not used for a plurality of users stored in the seat arrangement database unit 70. Thus, the start point and end point of movement associated with the use of the shared device 16 are determined.

The seat arrangement database unit 70 stores information about a fixed position that is a steady position when the shared device 16 is not used for a plurality of preset users. That is, in a general office environment, each of the plurality of users has an assigned seat, and when the shared device 16 is not in use, the user is often seated in the assigned seat. The assigned seat position corresponds to the home position. FIG. 28 is an example of information about the fixed positions of the plurality of users stored in the seat arrangement database unit 70.

When the use detecting unit 68 detects the use of the shared device 16, the start / end determining unit 66 determines the home position of the user who has made the detected use from the information stored in the seat arrangement database unit 70. Read and the read home position are set as the start point and the end point of movement accompanying the use of the shared device 16. Here, when the start point or the end point determined by the start / end point determination unit 66 is not on the movement trajectory 96, a point on the movement trajectory 96 closest to the start point or the end point determined by the start / end point determination unit 66 is determined. The start point or the end point may be used.

According to the above-described embodiment, the seat arrangement database unit 70 stores a fixed position that is a stationary position when the shared device 16 of each of the users is not in use, and the start / end point determination unit 66 Since the fixed position of the user of the shared device is determined as the start point and end point of the movement associated with the use of the shared device 16, each user recorded by the movement history recording unit 58 based on the predetermined fixed position. The movement associated with the use of the shared device 16 can be extracted from the movement history 96.

This embodiment relates to another aspect of the operation for calculating the predicted placement evaluation index by the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74.

As described above, the furniture 18 such as a desk or a shelf is arranged in the indoor area 8 to which the shared device arrangement support system of the present invention is applied, and the indoor area 8 is surrounded by walls on all sides. (See FIG. 1). That is, when the user moves when using the shared device 16, the user moves the area without the furniture 18 in the indoor area 8.

In this embodiment, the server 14 has an arrangement information database unit 78. In the arrangement information database unit 78, information about the position and size of the indoor area 8 and information about the position and size of the furniture 18 arranged in the indoor area are stored. Information on the position and size of the indoor area 8 and information on the position and size of the furniture 18 are input to the server 14 by being measured in advance by an operator.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the arrangement information database unit 78. As shown in FIG. 29, a portion that is not the indoor region 8 and a portion corresponding to the furniture 18 arranged in the indoor region 8 are hatched, and are stored as a non-passage region 93 in which the user cannot move. Yes. On the other hand, a portion of the indoor area 8 where the furniture 18 does not exist is stored as a passage area 92 where the user can move.

The predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 calculates information about the distance of movement for each use of the shared device 16 calculated by the movement process extraction unit 62 and stored in the movement distance database unit 76, and the shared device 16. Based on the information about the new installation position candidate, a predicted arrangement evaluation index for evaluating the arrangement of the shared apparatus 16 when the shared apparatus 16 is installed at the position of the new installation position candidate is calculated. .

FIG. 30 is a diagram for explaining an example of a predicted placement evaluation index calculation operation by the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 in the present embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 19 described above. The calculation of the predicted placement evaluation index by the specific predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 will be described with reference to FIG. First, an installation position 16 (conventional installation position) of the shared device 16 at the time of execution of the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60, and a new installation position candidate 101 that is a position where the shared device 16 is moved and installed. The shared device moving distance 103 is calculated. This shared device movement distance 103 is the distance of the shortest route among the actually movable paths between the conventional installation position 16 and the new installation position candidate 101. Specifically, for example, the shared device moving distance 103 is a route connecting the conventional installation position 16 and the new installation position candidate 101, and a route connecting in the passage area 92 stored in the arrangement information database unit 78. It is obtained by calculating a plurality of distances and calculating each distance and then selecting a route having the shortest distance.

Then, in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 sets the sharing to the distance of movement accompanying the use (see FIG. 14) for each use of the shared device 16 in the use detection period. A value obtained by doubling the device movement distance 103 is added and subtracted, and this is calculated as a movement distance associated with the use of the shared device 16 installed at the new installation position candidate 101. At this time, when the path connecting the conventional installation position 16 and the new installation position candidate 101 does not overlap with the movement trajectory 96 associated with the use of the shared device 16 as shown in FIG. Is added to a value obtained by doubling the shared device moving distance 103. On the other hand, when the route connecting the conventional installation position 16 and the new installation position candidate 101 overlaps with the movement locus 96 associated with the use of the shared device 16, the movement distance of the shared device is added to the movement distance associated with the use. The value obtained by doubling 103 is subtracted. Then, the information about the predicted value of the movement distance associated with the use of the shared device 16 installed in the new installation position candidate 101 calculated in this way is used in the format as shown in FIG. Remember every time.

According to the above-described embodiment, each of the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 determines the amount of movement of the user accompanying the use of the shared device 16 extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60. On the other hand, a value obtained by adding or subtracting the distance 103 of the shortest path that can actually move between the conventional installation position of the shared device 16 and the new installation position 101 is the shared device installed at the new installation position 101. Since the total amount of movement within a predetermined period set in advance is calculated as the predicted stroke amount, assuming that each of the movement amounts of the user using the user 16 is associated with the use, the shared device 16 is newly installed. When the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60 calculates a predicted placement evaluation index, which is an index that quantitatively represents whether the placement position is efficient when installed at the position 101 It can calculated based on a distance 103 of actual movable shortest path between a traditional installation position and the new installation position 101 of the shared devices and fruits.

This embodiment relates to another aspect of the operation for calculating the predicted placement evaluation index by the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74. In the above-described embodiment, the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 performs each movement amount of the movement associated with the use of the user using the shared device 16 extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60. The shared device installed at the new installation position 101 is obtained by adding or subtracting the linear distance between the conventional installation position of the shared device 16 and the new installation position 101 or the distance of the shortest path that can actually be moved. The total amount of movement within a predetermined period set in advance was calculated as the predicted stroke amount, assuming that each of the movement amounts associated with the use of the user who used 16 was. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, information on the start point and end point of movement associated with the use of the shared device 16 in the use detection period determined by the start / end point determination unit 66, and the new installation position 101 Based on the information about the position, the amount of movement of the user using the shared device 16 installed at the new installation position 101 is calculated, and the movement amount associated with the use is calculated within a preset predetermined period. The total amount of movement is calculated as the predicted stroke amount.

Specifically, the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 calculates a predicted placement evaluation index as follows. First, for each use of the shared device 16 that is the target of the actual placement evaluation index calculation by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60, information on the start point and end point positions determined by the start / end point determination unit 66 is obtained. Read out. Then, the total of the distance of the straight line connecting the position of the start point and the new installation position 101 and the distance of the straight line connecting the new installation position 101 and the position of the end point is determined by the shared device 16 as the new position. It is calculated as the distance of movement accompanying use when installed at the installation position 101. The total of the calculated distances of movement associated with each use is calculated as a predicted stroke amount, and based on the predicted stroke amount, specifically, for example, by calculating the reciprocal of the predicted stroke amount, the shared device 16 A predicted placement evaluation index for evaluating the placement of is calculated.

FIG. 31 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 in the present embodiment, and the shared device 16 subjected to the calculation of the actual placement evaluation index by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60. It is the figure which paid its attention about one of use of. When the start point and the end point of the movement associated with this use are determined to be the point 106 by the start / end point determination unit 66, the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 performs the above-described case of being installed at the new installation position 101. The movement accompanying the use of the shared device 16 is calculated to be twice the distance of the straight line 105 connecting the point 106 and the new installation position 101. This is executed for each use of the shared device 16 for which the actual placement evaluation index is calculated by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60, and the sum is calculated as the predicted stroke amount.

According to the above-described embodiment, the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 performs the start and end points for each movement associated with the use of the user using the shared device 16 extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit. Since the straight line distance between the position of the start point and the end point determined by the determination unit 66 and the new installation position 101 of the shared device 16 is calculated as the predicted stroke amount as the movement distance associated with the use, When the shared device 16 is installed at a new installation position, a predicted placement evaluation index that is an index that quantitatively represents whether the installation position is efficient is calculated by the actual placement evaluation index computation unit 60. The calculation can be made based on the linear distance between the fixed position for each user of the user and the new installation position 101 of the shared device 16.

The present embodiment relates to still another aspect of the operation for calculating the predicted placement evaluation index by the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74. In the above-described ninth embodiment, information on the position of the start and end points of movement associated with the use of the shared device 16 in the use detection period determined by the start / end point determination unit 66, and the new installation position 101 Based on the information about the position, the total of the distance of the straight line connecting the start point and the new installation position 101 and the distance of the straight line connecting the new installation position 101 and the end point is set at the new installation position 101. It calculated as each of the movement amount of the movement accompanying the use of the user who used the shared device 16, and the total of the movement amount within a preset predetermined period was calculated as the predicted stroke amount. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the shared device 16 installed at the new installation position 101 is set to the shortest path distance among the actually movable paths connecting the start point and the new installation position 101. Is calculated as the amount of movement of the user accompanying the use, and the total amount of movement within a predetermined period set in advance is calculated as the predicted stroke amount.

Specifically, the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 calculates a predicted placement evaluation index as follows. First, for each use of the shared device 16 that is the target of the actual placement evaluation index calculation by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60, information on the start point and end point positions determined by the start / end point determination unit 66 is obtained. Read out. Then, a route connecting the position of the start point and the new installation position 101 and a route connecting the new installation position 101 and the position of the end point are calculated, and the sum of the distances of the respective routes is the shared device. 16 is calculated as the distance of movement associated with use when installed at the new installation position 101. The total of the calculated distances of movement associated with each use is calculated as a predicted stroke amount, and based on the predicted stroke amount, specifically, for example, by calculating the reciprocal of the predicted stroke amount, the shared device 16 A predicted placement evaluation index for evaluating the placement of is calculated. Here, the distance between the path connecting the start position and the new installation position 101 and the path connecting the new installation position 101 and the end position are stored in the arrangement information database unit 78, for example. After calculating a plurality of each of the path connecting the position of the start point and the new installation position 101 and the path connecting the new installation position 101 and the position of the end point in the passage area 92, and calculating the respective distances, It is obtained by selecting the route with the shortest distance.

FIG. 31 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 in the present embodiment, and the shared device 16 subjected to the calculation of the actual placement evaluation index by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60. It is the figure which paid its attention about one of use of. When the start point and the end point of the movement associated with this use are determined to be the point 106 by the start / end point determination unit 66, the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 performs the above-described case of being installed at the new installation position 101. The movement associated with the use of the shared device 16 is calculated to be twice the distance of the route 104 connecting the point 106 and the new installation position 101 in the passage area 92. This is executed for each use of the shared device 16 for which the actual placement evaluation index is calculated by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60, and the sum is calculated as the predicted stroke amount.

According to the above-described embodiment, the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 performs the start and end for each movement of the user using the shared device 16 extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60 according to the use. The prediction process is based on the assumption that the shortest distance 104 that can be actually moved between the position of the start point and the end point determined by the point determination unit 66 and the new installation position 101 of the shared device 16 is the distance of movement associated with the use. Since it is calculated as a quantity, when the shared device 16 is installed at a new installation position, a predicted arrangement evaluation index that is an index that quantitatively represents whether the installation position is efficient is used as the actual arrangement evaluation index. Based on the calculation result by the calculation unit 60 and the shortest distance that can actually move between the fixed position for each user of the user and the new installation position 101 of the shared device 16. It can be calculated.

This example relates to another embodiment of the operation of the shared device arrangement support system 6 including the predicted arrangement evaluation index calculation unit 74. In the above-described embodiment, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 23, the control operation for calculating the predicted placement evaluation index for one of the new installation position candidates and displaying the result is performed. In the present embodiment, the candidate position determination unit 80 that determines a plurality of new installation position candidates and the plurality of new installation positions based on the predicted placement evaluation index calculated for each of the plurality of new installation positions. And an installation position determination unit 82 that determines a position where the shared device 16 is installed from among the installation positions.

The candidate position determination unit 80 determines a plurality of candidates for the new installation position of the shared device 16. Specifically, for example, the candidate position determination unit 80 sets each of the points that are equally spaced in the direction orthogonal to each other in the indoor region 8 as a new installation position candidate. Further, when the shared device 16 is installed on the floor surface, for example, information on an area occupied by an arrangement such as the fixture 18 stored in the arrangement information database unit 78, that is, information on the non-passage area 83 is included. Based on this, a candidate for a new installation position of the shared device 16 is determined to be an area other than the non-passage area 83.

FIG. 32 is a diagram for explaining an example of an operation for determining a candidate for a new installation position of the shared device 16 by the candidate position determination unit 80. As shown in FIG. 32, in the indoor region 8, the candidate position determination unit 80 is occupied by the fixture 18 among points that are equally spaced at predetermined intervals in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction (see FIG. 1). The positions of the points excluding the points existing in the area are determined as new installation position candidates 120 of the shared device 16.

The installation position determination unit 82 uses the predicted layout evaluation index calculated by the predicted layout evaluation index calculation unit 74 for each of a plurality of new installation position candidates of the shared device 16 determined by the candidate position determination unit 80. Based on the value, specifically, in the present embodiment, the candidate for the new installation position with the largest value of the predicted placement evaluation index is determined as the position for installing the shared device 16. In the present embodiment, the predicted placement evaluation index is the reciprocal of the predicted stroke amount that is the sum of the distances of movement of each use of the shared device 16 during the use detection period, so the predicted placement evaluation index is large. This is because the predicted stroke amount is small, that is, the distance of movement accompanying use is small. When the largest value among the calculated predicted placement evaluation indices is smaller than the actual placement evaluation index calculated by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60, the installation position determination unit 82 The position of the device 16 is determined to be a position for installing the shared device 16.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the control operation for the entire shared device arrangement support system 6 in this embodiment. First, in SJ1 corresponding to the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60, the flowchart of FIG. 16 is executed in order to calculate the actual placement evaluation index. This step is the same as SD1 in FIG.

In SJ2 corresponding to the candidate position determination unit 80, a plurality of candidates for a new installation position of the shared device 16 are determined. As described above, the plurality of candidates are provided in a lattice pattern at equal intervals in the indoor space 8.

In SJ3 corresponding to the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74, the value of the predicted placement evaluation index is calculated for each of a plurality of candidates for the new installation position of the shared device 16 determined in SJ2. Specifically, the operation in this step is such that the above-described flowchart of FIG. 21 is executed for each of a plurality of candidates for the new installation position of the shared device 16.

In SJ4 corresponding to the installation position determination unit 82, the shared device 16 is installed based on the predicted placement evaluation index value for each of the plurality of candidates for the new installation position of the shared device 16 calculated in SJ3. The position for is determined. Specifically, a candidate for a new installation position of the shared device 16 for which the predicted placement evaluation index has the largest value is determined as a position for installing the shared device 16.

In SJ5 corresponding to the display control unit 84, the position for installing the shared device 16 determined in SJ4 is displayed on the display device 54 of the server 14, or the like.

FIG. 34 is a diagram for explaining an example of a display displayed on the display device 54 of the server 14 in step SJ5. In FIG. 34, the display 86 </ b> C shows the indoor area 8, and the position for arranging the shared device 16 in the indoor area 8 determined in SJ <b> 4 is displayed by a black dot 87.

According to the above-described embodiment, when the shared device 16 is installed at a plurality of candidates for the new installation position by the installation position determination unit 82, a plurality of pieces calculated by the predicted arrangement evaluation index calculation unit 74, respectively. Among the predicted placement evaluation indexes, the predicted stroke amount having the largest value, that is, the predicted stroke amount being the smallest is selected, and the new installation position candidate corresponding to the selected predicted stroke amount is the new Therefore, it is possible to install the shared device 16 at a position where the predicted stroke amount is the smallest, that is, when the shared device 16 is installed at a plurality of installation positions.

This example relates to another embodiment of the operation of the shared device arrangement support system including the predicted arrangement evaluation index calculation unit 74. In the above-described embodiment, the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 is executed after the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60 (SG1 or SJ1) is executed as shown in FIG. 23 or 33 (SG3 or SJ3), for example. For each use of the shared device that is executed and is subject to calculation of the actual placement evaluation index in the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit 60, a predicted distance is calculated for the movement distance associated with the use, and the predicted amount Was calculated as the predicted stroke amount. In the present embodiment, the server 14 includes an initial information database unit 81 that stores an initial setting value of the number of times the shared device 16 is used in a period corresponding to the use detection period of each of a plurality of users. The evaluation index calculation unit 74 calculates the predicted stroke amount and the predicted placement evaluation index using the initial use value of each of the plurality of users stored in the initial information database unit. Therefore, the shared device arrangement support system 6 according to the present embodiment executes the predicted arrangement evaluation index calculation unit 74 without executing the actual arrangement evaluation index calculation unit 60 before the execution of the predicted arrangement evaluation index calculation unit 74. Can do.

In the initial information database unit 81, a plurality of users who use the shared device 16 are selected according to a predetermined condition, and in a period corresponding to the use detection period of the shared device 16 of the selected users. The initial use value of the shared device 16 is stored. The initial set value of the number of times of use is set and input in advance by an operator or the like in consideration of the respective duties of the user, for example. Further, the predetermined condition for selecting the plurality of users is, for example, that a predicted usage frequency is a predetermined value or more, a usage frequency in a past fixed period is a predetermined value or more, a plurality of conditions Use of the shared device 16, and a job type such as an operator who often goes around. It should be noted that all persons who have seats in the room where the shared device 16 is installed can be selected. FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an example of the use count initial setting value for each user stored in the initial information database unit 81.

The predicted arrangement evaluation index calculation unit 74 includes information on the initial use value stored in the initial information database unit 81 and the new installation position of the shared device 16 determined by the candidate position determination unit 80. Based on the information on the candidates and the information on the respective fixed positions of the plurality of users stored in the seat arrangement database unit 70, the predicted stroke amount and the predicted arrangement evaluation index are calculated.

Specifically, the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74 stores information about the fixed positions stored in the seat placement database unit 70 and the initial information database unit 81 for each of the plurality of users. Further, information on the use count initial setting value, which is the number of uses in the period corresponding to the use detection period, is read. Then, for each of the users, the distance between the fixed position and a candidate for a new installation position of the shared device 16 is calculated, and further multiplied by the use count initial setting value. This is executed for each of the plurality of users, and the sum of the values calculated for each of the users is calculated.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation for calculating the predicted placement evaluation index by the predicted placement evaluation index computing unit 74 of the present embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 21 in the above-described embodiment. First, in SK1 corresponding to the candidate position determination unit 80, a candidate for a new installation position of the shared device 16 is determined.

In the subsequent SK2, information on any one of the plurality of users stored in the seat arrangement database unit 70 is read out.

In SK3, a value obtained by doubling the distance between the new installation position candidate of the shared device 16 determined in SK1 and the user's home position read in SK2 is the shared device of the user. When 16 is installed at a new installation position, it is calculated as the distance of movement associated with one use of the shared device 16.

In SK4, information about the user's use count initial setting value is read from the initial information database unit 81, and the read use count initial setting value and the shared device 16 calculated in SK3 are used. The shared device when the user installs the shared device 16 as a candidate for the new installation position in a period corresponding to the use detection period by multiplying the distance of movement associated with one use. The total amount of movement associated with the use of 16 is calculated.

In SK5, it is determined whether or not the steps SK2 to SK4 have been executed for all the selected users. When the steps SK2 to SK4 are executed for all the selected users, the determination at this step is affirmed and SK7 is executed. On the other hand, if the steps SK2 to SK4 have not been executed for all the selected users, the determination of this step is denied, and the use that has not yet been subjected to the steps SK2 to SK4 in SK6. A person is selected and steps SK2 to SK4 are executed.

In SK7, movement of movement associated with the use of the shared device 16 when the shared device 16 is installed at the new installation position candidate calculated in SK4 for each of the selected users. The total sum of the values of the quantities is calculated as the predicted stroke quantity. Based on the calculated predicted stroke amount, specifically, for example, the value of the predicted placement evaluation index is calculated by calculating the reciprocal of the predicted stroke amount.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the control operation of the entire shared device arrangement support system 6 using the predicted arrangement evaluation index calculation unit 74 in the present embodiment, corresponding to FIG. 33 in the above-described embodiment. It is.

In SL1, information on the use count initial setting value, which is a value corresponding to the use count in a period corresponding to the use detection period for each of the plurality of users, stored in the initial information database unit 78, is provided. Read out.

In SL2 corresponding to the candidate position determination unit 80, a plurality of candidates for a new installation position of the shared device 16 are determined. As shown in FIG. 32 described above, the plurality of candidates are provided in a lattice shape at regular intervals in the indoor space 8, for example.

In SL3 corresponding to the predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit 74, the value of the predicted placement evaluation index is calculated for each of a plurality of candidates for the new installation position of the shared device 16 determined in SL2. Specifically, the operation in this step is such that the above-described flowchart of FIG. 36 is executed for each of a plurality of candidates for the new installation position of the shared device 16.

In SL4 corresponding to the installation position determination unit 82, the shared device 16 is installed based on the predicted placement evaluation index value for each of the plurality of candidates for the new installation position of the shared device 16 calculated in SL3. The position for is determined. Specifically, a candidate for a new installation position of the shared device 16 for which the predicted placement evaluation index has the largest value is determined as a position for installing the shared device 16.

In SL5 corresponding to the display control unit 84, the position for installing the shared device 16 determined in SL4 is displayed on the display device 54 of the server 14, or the like. This display is performed, for example, as shown in the display 86C in FIG.

According to the above-described embodiment, when the shared device 16 is installed at a plurality of candidates for the new installation position by the installation position determination unit 82, a plurality of pieces calculated by the predicted arrangement evaluation index calculation unit 74, respectively. Among the predicted placement evaluation indexes, the predicted stroke amount having the largest value, that is, the predicted stroke amount being the smallest is selected, and the new installation position candidate corresponding to the selected predicted stroke amount is the new Therefore, it is possible to install the shared device 16 at a position where the predicted stroke amount is the smallest, that is, when the shared device 16 is installed at a plurality of installation positions. In addition, the predicted placement evaluation index can be calculated without calculating the actual placement evaluation index.

As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described in detail based on drawing, this invention is applied also in another aspect.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the positioning unit 56 receives the radio waves transmitted by the mobile station 10 by the plurality of base stations 12 and based on the reception times as reception results at the plurality of base stations 12. However, the present invention is not limited to this mode. For example, a plurality of base stations 12 receive radio waves transmitted by the mobile station 10 with a predetermined output, and the reception intensity is detected as reception results. The distance between the mobile station 10 and each of the plurality of base stations 12 is calculated based on the reception intensity of the radio wave and the relationship between the radio wave reception intensity stored in advance and the propagation distance of the radio wave. May be calculated.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the radio waves for positioning are transmitted from the mobile station 10 and received by the plurality of base stations 12, and the positioning unit 56 is based on the respective reception results at the plurality of base stations 12. Although 10 positions have been calculated, the present invention is not limited to such a mode. For example, the mobile station 10 receives a radio wave for positioning transmitted from each of the plurality of base stations 12 to the mobile station 10 to calculate a reception result, and based on the reception result, the positioning unit 56 The position of the mobile station 10 can be calculated.

In addition, a large number of base stations 12 are arranged in, for example, a lattice pattern, radio waves transmitted from the mobile station 10 are received by the large number of base stations 12, and the reception intensity thereof is measured. The position of the mobile station 10 can also be measured by a so-called zone detection method in which the position of the base station 12 receiving the radio wave from the radio station 10 having the strongest reception intensity is the position of the mobile station 10. In this case, the arrangement intervals of the base stations 12 arranged in the lattice shape are determined based on the positioning accuracy required when calculating the position of the mobile station 10.

In the above-described embodiment, the server 14 and the base station 12 are connected via the communication cable 20 so as to be able to perform information communication. However, this communication is not limited to wired communication but may be wireless communication.

In the above-described embodiment, the start and end point determination unit 66 determines the start and end points of movement as movement accompanying use of the shared device 16, and from the start point to the shared device 16 and from the position of the shared device 16 to the end point. The distance required for the reciprocating movement up to is calculated, but only the starting point or the ending point is selected, and the so-called one-way moving distance between the starting point or the ending point and the shared device 16 is calculated. As the total, the execution stroke amount and the predicted stroke amount may be calculated.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where there is one shared device 16 has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a case where there are a plurality of shared devices 16.

It should be noted that the above is only one embodiment, and the present invention can be carried out in a mode in which various changes and improvements are added based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

Claims

A shared device placement support system for supporting the determination of the installation position of a shared device,
A position detection unit capable of detecting the positions of a plurality of users who use the shared device;
A movement history recording unit for recording the movement history of the user detected by the position detection unit;
From the movement history of the user recorded by the movement history recording unit, the movement of the user using the shared device is extracted along with the use, and by a plurality of users selected according to preset conditions , Calculating the total amount of movement of the movement associated with the use within a predetermined period set as an execution amount, and calculating an actual arrangement evaluation index for evaluating the arrangement of the shared device based on the execution amount A shared device placement support system, comprising: an actual placement evaluation index calculation unit.
Information about movement of movement accompanying the use extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit, and at least a total number of times of use within the preset predetermined period for each user who can use the shared device Based on one, when the shared device is installed at a new installation position, a movement amount associated with the use of the shared device by the user within a predetermined period is selected according to a predetermined condition. A predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit that calculates a sum of the usages by a plurality of users as a predicted stroke amount and calculates a predicted placement evaluation index for evaluating the placement of the shared device based on the predicted stroke amount The shared device arrangement support system according to claim 1, comprising:
A use detection unit that estimates or detects that the shared device is in use;
The actual placement evaluation index calculation unit is
3. The movement history of the user is extracted when a movement associated with the use of the shared device occurs when the use detection unit estimates or detects the use of the shared device. The shared device placement support system described in 1.
The use detector is
In the movement history of the user recorded in the movement history recording unit, it is determined that the shared device has been used when a pre-stored neighborhood of the shared device has stayed for a predetermined usage determination time or longer. The shared device arrangement support system according to claim 3, wherein:
The use detector is
In the movement history of the user recorded in the movement history recording unit, it is determined that the shared device has been used when there is a reciprocating movement with a pre-stored area near the shared device. The shared device arrangement support system according to claim 3.
The shared device has a human detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of a user in the vicinity of the shared device,
The shared device placement support according to claim 3, wherein the usage detection unit determines that the shared device is used when a user is detected in the vicinity of the shared device by the human detection sensor. system.
The shared device has an operation detection sensor for detecting the operation of the shared device,
The shared device placement support system according to claim 3, wherein the use detection unit determines that the shared device has been used when the use detection sensor detects the use of the shared device.
The shared device has an operation recording unit that records an operation history of the shared device,
The shared device arrangement support system according to claim 3, wherein the use detection unit determines use of the shared device based on an operation history of the shared device recorded by the operation recording unit.
A start / end point determination unit for determining a start point and an end point of movement associated with the use of the shared device;
The actual placement evaluation index calculation unit is
Of the movement history of the user using the shared device recorded by the movement history recording unit, from the start point determined by the start / end determination unit to the shared device, and from the shared device to the start / end point determination unit The shared device placement support system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the movement to the determined end point is extracted as movement accompanying use of the shared device.
The start / end determination unit
Storing a fixed position which is a stationary position when the shared device of each of the users is not used;
The shared device arrangement support system according to claim 9, wherein a fixed position of a user of the shared device is determined as a start point and an end point of movement accompanying use of the shared device.
The start / end determination unit
In the movement history recorded in the movement history recording unit, a location where there has been staying longer than a predetermined start / end determination time set immediately before and immediately after the use of the shared device is determined as a start point and an end point. 10. The shared device arrangement support system according to claim 9.
The predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit is
A straight line between a conventional installation position and a new installation position of the shared device for each movement amount of the user using the shared device extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit. The distance added and subtracted is the amount of movement of the user using the shared device installed at the new installation position, and the amount of movement within a predetermined period set in advance. The shared device arrangement support system according to claim 2, wherein the sum is calculated as a predicted stroke amount.
The predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit is
For each amount of movement of the user using the shared device extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit, the actual installation position between the existing installation position and the new installation position of the shared device is actually measured. The distance obtained by adding and subtracting the distance of the shortest path that can be moved to each of the movement amounts associated with the use of the user who uses the shared device installed at the new installation position is set in advance. The shared device arrangement support system according to claim 2, wherein the total amount of movement within a predetermined period is calculated as a predicted stroke amount.
The predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit is
A linear distance between the position of the start point and the end point of each movement of the user using the shared device extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit and the new installation position of the shared device The shared device placement support system according to claim 2, wherein the predicted travel amount is calculated as a distance of movement accompanying the use.
The predicted placement evaluation index calculation unit is
The actual movement between the start point and the end point of each movement of the user using the shared device extracted by the actual placement evaluation index calculation unit and the new installation position of the shared device The shared device arrangement support system according to claim 2, wherein the shortest possible distance is calculated as the predicted stroke amount as a movement distance associated with the use.
When the shared device is installed at a plurality of candidates for the new installation position, the smallest predicted stroke amount is selected from the plurality of predicted stroke amounts respectively calculated by the predicted stroke amount calculation unit, The shared device arrangement support system according to claim 2, further comprising an installation position determination unit that determines, as the new installation position, the new installation position candidate corresponding to the selected predicted stroke amount.