WO2022091206A1

WO2022091206A1 - Information providing system and signage device

Info

Publication number: WO2022091206A1
Application number: PCT/JP2020/040217
Authority: WO
Inventors: 達彦糸原; 清泰丸山; 純湯川
Original assignee: 三菱電機株式会社
Priority date: 2020-10-27
Filing date: 2020-10-27
Publication date: 2022-05-05
Also published as: JP7179220B2; JPWO2022091206A1

Abstract

The present invention predicts a future congestion degree in a place in which a signage device is installed, designates, as a reward granting period, at least one time range in which the predicted congestion degree is relatively low, and displays, on the signage device, display content that allows a person who visits the place in the reward granting period to acquire the reward by means of a mobile phone. In addition, the present invention provides notice information which provides notice that the reward can be acquired. The notice information is viewable, for example, on an information processing terminal. Since people can be induced to visit, in the reward granting period, the place in which the signage device is installed, the congestion degree can be temporally leveled.

Description

Information provision system and signage equipment

This disclosure relates to an information provision system and a signage device.

Conventionally, digital signage devices that are installed in public places such as station facilities and large commercial facilities and provide various information about the installation place and its surroundings are known. The digital signage device provides information by displaying map information, guidance information, advertisements, etc. of the installation location and its surroundings while switching in order. Further, in recent years, a digital signage device is connected to a network, and it is possible to dynamically change the display content by controlling from the server device.

The main purpose of installing a digital signage device is to provide information to users and efficiently guide them to their desired facilities. For efficient guidance, it is important to reduce congestion in the facility and prevent the flow of people from being blocked.

As an example of a system including such a signage device, Patent Document 1 detects the flow of passersby around the installation location of the signage device and displays it on the signage device according to the detected flow of people. The technology that effectively realizes the guidance to the surrounding facilities by changing the information is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-14602 (paragraphs 0008, 0010, 0022, FIG. 1)

In the system of Patent Document 1, it is possible to control the flow of people around the installation site, but if an excessive number of people gather around the installation site, the flow of people should be smoothed. There was a problem that it could not be done.

The information provision system of one aspect of this disclosure is
Signage device and
A congestion degree estimation unit that estimates the congestion degree of people in the place where the signage device is installed, and a congestion degree estimation unit.
A congestion degree prediction unit that predicts future congestion degree based on the estimated congestion degree, and
The event planning department, which designates at least one time range with relatively low predicted congestion as the reward grant period,
A display control unit that displays on the signage device display content that causes a person who visits the place during the reward grant period to obtain a reward from a mobile terminal.
It has an event notice unit that provides notice information for notifying that the reward can be obtained.

The signage device of another aspect of the present disclosure is
A display unit that displays display content for obtaining rewards from mobile terminals,
It has a proximity determination unit that enables the mobile terminal to obtain the reward when the distance between the mobile terminal and the display unit is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.

According to the information providing system of the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain a reward to a person who visits the above-mentioned place during a time range in which the place where the signage device is installed is relatively low in congestion, and the above-mentioned By providing notice information that announces that the reward will be available, it is possible to induce visitors to visit the above-mentioned places during a relatively low-congestion time range, and as a result, the above-mentioned places are congested. Can be leveled.

According to the signage device of the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain a reward on condition that the distance between the mobile terminal and the display unit is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, so that it is possible to prevent unauthorized acquisition of the reward. ..

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information provision system which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the in-facility device of the information provision system of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the train apparatus of the information providing system of FIG. It is a graph which shows an example of the result of the congestion degree prediction in Embodiment 1. It is a graph which shows an example of the discount rate of the coupon in each time interval determined based on the result of the prediction of FIG. (A) to (c) are diagrams showing different examples of the signage display contents generated in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the display content for notice generated in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a graph which shows an example of the result of the re-prediction of the degree of congestion in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a graph which shows an example of the discount rate of the coupon in each time interval determined based on the result of the re-estimation of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the server apparatus of the information provision system which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a graph which shows an example of the result of the prediction of the degree of congestion in Embodiment 2. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the server apparatus of the information provision system which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the in-facility device of the information provision system which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the train apparatus of the information provision system which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the in-facility device of the information provision system which concerns on Embodiment 4. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the information provision system which concerns on Embodiment 5. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the in-facility device of the information provision system of FIG. (A) to (c) are diagrams showing different examples of the signage display contents generated in the fifth embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the notice display content generated in Embodiment 5.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 shows the information providing system 1 of the present embodiment. The illustrated information providing system 1 aims at leveling the degree of congestion in each of the plurality of facilities 2.

The illustrated information providing system 1 has a plurality of in-facility devices 200, a plurality of train devices 300, and a server device 4.
The plurality of in-facility devices 200 are provided corresponding to the facility 2. Facility 2 is, for example, a facility of a railway station.
The plurality of train devices 300 are provided corresponding to the train 3, respectively.
The server device 4 is provided so as to be communicable with the in-facility device 200 and the train device 300, and processes using the data acquired by the in-facility device 200 and the train device 300, data to the in-facility device 200, and data to the in-facility device 200. Send control information.

Each in-facility device 200 has, for example, one or more cameras 201, one or more entry / exit control equipment 202, one or more signage devices 203, and one or more communications, as shown in FIG. A unit 204 is provided. The figure shows one camera 201, one entry / exit control facility 202, one signage device 203, and one communication unit 204.

Each camera 201 includes an image pickup unit 211 having an image pickup function using visible light or infrared light.
The image pickup unit 211 of each camera 201 photographs and photographs a person existing in a facility 200 including the camera 201, particularly a person existing in a place where the signage device 203 is installed, for example, a part of the premises of a station. Get the image data of the person who was done. Here, the "existing person" includes a person who is a user of the station, a person who is passing by, and a person who is waiting.

The one or more cameras 201 includes a camera attached to or near the signage device 203 to acquire image data of a person who is viewing the signage device 203. You may be.
The image data may be continuous moving image data, or may be a time series of still image data acquired intermittently, for example, periodically.
The image data acquired by the camera 201 is transmitted to the server device 4 via the communication unit 204.

Each entrance / exit management facility 202 includes, for example, an entrance / exit gate provided in facility 2, for example, a ticket gate, and measures and measures the number of people entering and exiting through the ticket gate at facility 2. The number of people data is acquired based on the result and output as the number of people data.
Even if the combination of one or more entrance / exit management equipment 202 or a plurality of entrance / exit management equipment 202 is configured to be able to acquire the total number of people existing in the area inside the ticket gate and data showing the state of the change. good. Here, the area inside the ticket gate is an area where entry is possible by holding a ticket, an admission ticket, etc., and includes an area from the ticket gate to the platform and a space inside the train 3.
The acquired number of people data is transmitted to the server device 4 via the communication unit 204.

Each signage device 203 has a display unit 231, and the station where the signage device 203 is installed, and the like, for a user of the station, particularly a person who exists at a position where the display of the signage device 203 can be seen. It has a function of displaying the congestion level of the station, the advertisement of the station where the signage device 203 is installed, and the facilities around it.
The content displayed on the display unit 231 of each signage device 203 is transmitted from the server device 4 via the communication unit 204, and the display timing is also controlled according to the schedule information transmitted from the server device 4.

One or more communication units 204 transmit the image data acquired by the camera 201 and the number of people data acquired by the entrance / exit management equipment 202 to the server device 4.
The communication unit 204 transmits the display content and the display schedule information transmitted from the server device 4 to the signage device 203.
Each communication unit 204 may be provided inside the camera 201 or the entrance / exit management facility 202, or may be provided in the facility 2 separately from the camera 201 and the entrance / exit management facility 202.

Each communication unit 204 may be composed of one or more cameras 201 and one router installed separately from the one or more entrance / exit management equipment 202. The two or more communication units 204 may be communication modules attached to each of the one or more cameras 201 and the one or more entrance / exit management equipment 202. A part of the plurality of communication units 204 may be the above-mentioned router, and the other may be the above-mentioned communication module.

Each train device 300 includes, for example, a passenger sensor 301 and a communication unit 302, as shown in FIG.

The passenger sensor 301 is a sensor that acquires data indicating the number of passengers in the train.
The passenger sensor 301 may include, for example, a weight sensor that measures the weight of a person in the train, and may estimate the number of passengers in the train from the measured weight. The weight sensor may be provided outside the vehicle, or may estimate the weight of a person inside the train from the distortion of the railroad track.

The passenger sensor 301 may instead include a camera that photographs passengers in the train, and may estimate the number of passengers in the train from image data obtained by photographing with the camera.
The passenger sensor 301 may be a person who estimates the number of passengers in the train by combining two or more of the above forms.
The passenger sensor 301 transmits data indicating the number of passengers to the server device 4 via the communication unit 302.

The server device 4 includes a communication unit 401, a congestion degree estimation unit 402, a congestion degree storage unit 403, a congestion degree prediction unit 404, an event planning unit 405, a display content generation unit 406, and a display schedule generation unit 407. , The event notice unit 408 is provided. The display control unit 410 is composed of the display content generation unit 406 and the display schedule generation unit 407.

The communication unit 401 receives data transmitted from a plurality of in-facility devices 200.
The communication unit 401 also receives data transmitted from the plurality of train devices 300.
The communication unit 401 further transmits the signage display content and display schedule information for the signage device 203 of each facility device 200 created in the server device 4 to the facility device 200.

The congestion degree estimation unit 402 estimates the congestion degree at each facility 2, that is, at each station, based on the data received by the communication unit 401. The degree of congestion may be estimated for each facility 2 as a whole, or for each part of each facility 2, that is, for an area. When estimating the degree of congestion for each area, for example, it may be performed for each of a plurality of homes of each facility 2, or the degree of congestion may be estimated for each part of each home. For example, each home may be divided into three parts (blocks), and the degree of congestion may be estimated for each part. In the following, it is assumed that the degree of congestion for the entire facility 2 and the degree of congestion for each area are estimated.

The congestion degree estimation unit 402 may estimate the congestion degree in the train based on the data obtained by the passenger sensor 301.
The congestion degree estimation unit 402 may estimate the congestion degree in the passage connecting the ticket gate and the platform.
The degree of congestion in each area may be defined as the ratio of the number of people present in the area to the reference number of people in the area. The reference number of people in each area may be set to a value proportional to the area of each area.

The method of estimating the number of people in each area of the facility 2 may be an estimation from the number of people in the image obtained by shooting with the camera 201, or the number of people entering and leaving as measured by the entrance / exit management facility 202. It may be estimated from the number of people who have done it, or it may be based on the estimation result by the passenger sensor 301. Moreover, you may use the combination of these estimation results.

The above combination is used in the case of estimating the number of people in a place where it is difficult to take a picture with a camera or the like, for example, in a passage connecting a ticket gate of a station and a platform. For example, the number of people in the area inside the ticket gate can be estimated by the entrance detection and exit detection of the entrance / exit management facility 202, the number of people in each train can be estimated by the passenger sensor 301 of the train 3, and the total number of people in each platform is installed in the facility 2. If it can be estimated from the image data of the camera 201, the estimation results are used, and the destination of the person moving from the passage connecting the ticket gate of the facility 2 and the platform is the area outside the ticket gate or the platform of the facility 2. By using the condition that there is, it is possible to estimate the number of people located in the passage connecting the ticket gate and the platform.
For this estimation, the number of people in each area and the correlation between the increase / decrease thereof and the number of people in other areas may be used, for example, a correlation based on an empirical rule or a simulation result.
The degree of congestion of the entire facility 2 may be estimated based on the number of people in all areas in the facility 2, the number of passengers in the train 3, and the like.

The congestion degree storage unit 403 stores information indicating the degree of congestion at each time in the entire facility 2 and information indicating the degree of congestion at each time in each area of the facility 2. Information indicating the degree of congestion should be stored in relation to external factors. The external factor mentioned here is a factor that affects the degree of congestion. Information indicating external factors includes, for example, information indicating the day of the week, information indicating whether it is a holiday, information indicating the weather on the date and time when the congestion degree estimation was performed (information indicating the temperature, information indicating whether it is sunny or rainy). Is included. The accumulated information is called congestion degree history information.

The congestion degree prediction unit 404 predicts the future congestion degree based on the congestion degree of each past time accumulated in the congestion degree storage unit 403 and the current congestion degree. In forecasting, it is desirable to take into account external factors regarding the date and time of the forecast. As for the information indicating the weather among the external factors, the information indicating the predicted weather can be used.

For example, the prediction is made for each future time interval. The time interval referred to here may be each time zone of the day, each day of the week, or each week of the year, or each month. When making a forecast for each time zone, the forecast may be made until the end of business on the day, or may be forecasts for multiple days, for example, one week ahead, several weeks ahead, one month ahead, or several months ahead. .. When making a daily forecast, the forecast may be made for a plurality of days, for example, one week ahead, several weeks ahead, one month ahead, or several months ahead. When making a weekly forecast, the forecast may be several weeks ahead, one month ahead, or several months ahead.

The prediction may be made, for example, for each area of the facility 2 or for the entire facility 2.
The prediction for each area may be made based on the past congestion degree and the current congestion degree for the area.
Predictions for the entire facility 2 may be made based on the overall past and current congestion levels of the facility 2.

In the following, the degree of congestion for each area and the degree of congestion for the entire facility 2 are predicted, and the predicted degree of congestion for each area is used to generate the signage display content and the notice display content, and the entire facility 2 is used. The predicted degree of congestion shall be used for planning incentive events.

The event planning unit 405 plans an incentive event based on the result of the congestion degree prediction of the facility 2 generated by the congestion degree prediction unit 404. An incentive event is an event for leveling the degree of congestion in the future over time. Here, it is assumed that the incentive event is held in units of each facility 2. The incentive event for each facility is an event that enables a person who visits the facility 2 to obtain a reward during a time when the degree of congestion is low. The reward is, for example, a reward electronically given from the signage device 203 installed in the facility 2. The reward given electronically is called an electronic ticket here. The electronic ticket is, for example, an electronic coupon.

The coupon may be available for a limited period. For example, it may be available only in the time range predicted to be low in congestion, or it may be available only in a certain time after it is issued. Further, the coupon may be used only at the acquired facility or facilities around it.

The display content generation unit 406 generates the signage display content displayed by each signage device 203 of each facility 2.
When an incentive event is planned by the event planning unit 405, the display content for signage includes reward information regarding the reward by the planned incentive event. When the reward is a coupon, the reward information is called coupon information. The signage display content may further include the degree of congestion in each area of the facility 2, the degree of congestion prediction, and information on surrounding facilities.
The reward information may be superimposed on information other than the reward information (other information), or may be displayed alone, that is, on a screen different from the other information.

The signage display content generated by the display content generation unit 406 may be the displayed image itself, or is designated by an identifier (ID) assigned to the image group stored in advance in the signage device 203 and an identifier. It may be combined with a variable for dynamically changing the whole or a part of the image. The display content may be different for each signage device 203.

The generated signage display content is transmitted to each signage device 203 of each facility 2 through the communication unit 401.

The display content generation unit 406 also generates display content for advance notice. The notice display content can be viewed at a place other than the place (facility 2) where the reward is scheduled to be given.
In addition to the information that announces the incentive event planned by the event planning department 405, the display content for advance notice is the congestion degree and congestion degree prediction of each area of the facility 2 where the incentive event can obtain a reward, and the facility 2 It may include information that introduces facilities in the vicinity of.

Information that announces incentive events is, for example,
"You can get a coupon at XX station (or XX facility) from what time to what time."
That is the purpose.
The generated notice display content is transmitted to the event notice unit 408.
In the following, the period in which the reward is granted is referred to as the "reward grant period", and the place where the reward is granted is referred to as the "reward granting place".

The display schedule generation unit 407 receives information about the planned incentive event from the event planning unit 405, and determines the display schedule of the generated display content for signage in each signage device 203 of each facility 2.
Information indicating the schedule determined for each signage device 203 is transmitted to the signage device 203 via the communication unit 401 and the communication unit 204.

The event notice unit 408 has a function of allowing the user to view the notice display content generated by the display content generation unit 406 on his / her own information processing terminal. The information processing terminal may be a portable terminal or a stationary terminal. The notice display content can be viewed before the time range (reward grant period) in which the reward for the event planned by the event planning department 405 can be obtained, and in a place other than the place where the reward can be obtained (reward grant place). ..

The notice information generated by the event notice unit 408 may be, for example, a Web page on the Internet that can be viewed by an information processing terminal. Alternatively, it may be an e-mail or a message that can be viewed on an information processing terminal.

By viewing the notice display content, the user can know in advance which facility 2 at what time to visit to obtain the incentive event reward. As a result, the user is guided to visit the facility 2 (reward granting place) where the reward is available within the time range (reward grant period) when the reward is available. If the user intends to visit the reward granting place at a time other than the reward granting period, the user is invited to change the visiting time and visit during the reward granting period. As a result, the degree of congestion in the facility 2 will be leveled. If a user who intends to visit during a particularly busy time changes the time of visit, the contribution to leveling will be even greater.

The notice information may be distributed indiscriminately, or may be provided only to the information processing terminal of a person who may visit the reward granting place. Whether or not you may visit a rewarding place is determined based on such information, if you know whether you have visited the same place in the past, age, gender, preferences, etc. Is also good.

In the following, the degree of congestion of one facility 2 is predicted, the incentive event is planned based on the prediction result, the operation of the signage device 203 for enabling the acquisition of the reward by the incentive event, and the provision of the notice information of the incentive event. An example of the operation will be described more specifically.
In the following, it is assumed that the display content generation unit 406 generates an image displayed by the signage device 203.

In the following, the case where the time between 10:00 and 17:00 on a certain day is set as the leveling target range will be described as an example. Here, "one day" is assumed to be a weekday. During weekdays, from 10:00 to 17:00, the rush hour of commuting is not included, and therefore the degree of congestion is relatively easy to control.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the congestion degree prediction value at each time obtained by the prediction by the congestion degree prediction unit 404. In the illustrated example, 10:00 am is the current time (time when the prediction is made), and the degree of congestion is predicted until 17:00 on the day. The curve F connecting the congestion degrees at each time is called a congestion degree prediction value curve.

Here, the case where the time between 10:00 and 17:00, excluding the time zone of the commuting rush on weekdays, is set as an example will be described as an example, but the target range of the leveling includes the time zone of the commuting rush. However, a part of the holiday may be set as the leveling target range.

The event planning unit 405 selects one or more congestion peak time intervals within the leveling target range Ta based on the congestion degree prediction value curve F of FIG. 4 generated by the congestion degree prediction unit 404. , Select a low congestion time interval and specify it as the reward period.
The time interval of the congestion peak is a time interval in which the degree of congestion is relatively high. The low-congestion time interval is a relatively low-congestion time interval. As the time interval of the congestion peak, for example, it is conceivable to select a time interval in which the degree of congestion is maximum or maximum within the leveling target range Ta.
Here, it is assumed that the time interval is a time interval divided at regular intervals. Alternatively, a certain time width centered on the congestion peak (time when the degree of congestion becomes maximum or maximum) may be set as the above time interval.

The method of selecting a time interval with a low degree of congestion may be, for example, a method of selecting a predetermined number of time intervals in ascending order of the degree of congestion, or a method of selecting a time interval including a minimum value of the degree of congestion. Alternatively, when the congestion index β of each time interval falls below the threshold value, the time interval may be selected as the time interval of low congestion degree.
The congestion index β may be defined, for example, as a ratio of the time average value (average value over the entire time interval) of the number of people in each time interval to the reference number of people. As the reference number of people here, the time average value (the average value over the entire time section) of the number of people in the time section of the congestion peak may be used.
The time interval referred to here is assumed to be a time interval divided at regular intervals. Alternatively, a fixed time width centered on the time when the degree of congestion takes a minimum value may be set as the above time interval. The minimum value of the degree of congestion is called a quiet peak for convenience.

In the following, it is assumed that the 30-minute time section Tb centered at 12:30 is selected as the congestion peak time section from FIG. In addition, although the degree of congestion increases in the last part of the leveling target range (the part near 17:00), the first part and the last part of the leveling target range are not regarded as the time interval of the congestion peak. It shall be. In addition, as a time interval of low congestion, a 30-minute time section Tc centered at 11 o'clock when one off-peak peak appears, and a 30-minute time section Td centered on 13:30 when another off-peak peak appears. Is selected.

At this time, the event planning unit 405 generates an incentive event plan that guides the user to visit the facility 2 in the time interval Tc or Td of low congestion.
The incentive event rewards those who visit Facility 2 during the low congestion time interval Tc or Td. The reward is, for example, an electronic coupon.
The coupon may be a coupon that specifies a discount rate, or may be a coupon that specifies a discount amount. In the following, it is assumed that the coupon specifies the discount rate.
The discount rate of the coupon that can be obtained by visiting the facility in each time section may be constant, or may be different depending on the predicted value of the degree of congestion in the time section.
The discount rate α of the coupon that can be obtained by visiting the facility in each time section may be determined based on the above-mentioned congestion index β. In this case, the discount rate α may be gradually increased according to the decrease in the congestion index β.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the congestion index β and the coupon discount rate α determined according to the above-mentioned congestion index β.
In the example of FIG. 5, the time interval is a section divided at intervals of 30 minutes.
Further, the discount rate α in the time section where the congestion index β is 0.75 or more is 0% (no discount), and the discount rate α in the time section where the congestion index β is 0.5 or more and less than 0.75 is. The discount rate α for the time interval of 10% and the congestion index β being less than 0.5 is 20%.
The discount rate for a certain time interval means the discount rate for coupons that can be obtained within the time interval. The discount rate is actually applied on the premise that the relevant time interval is designated as the reward grant period.

In the time interval Tc centered at 11 o'clock, the congestion index β in the time interval is 0.5 or more and less than 0.75, so the discount rate is set to 10%.
In the time interval Td centered at 13:30, the congestion index β in the time interval is less than 0.5, so the discount rate is set to 20%.

The plan for the incentive event may be created only once before the start time of the leveling target range Ta and not updated after that, or it may be updated at least once based on the newly acquired information over time. You may do it. The update may be performed after the start of the leveling target range Ta. The processing by the incentive event updated after the start of the leveling target range Ta is applied only to the updated time.

The display content generation unit 406 generates signage display content according to the incentive event plan of the event planning unit 405. The signage display content is displayed on the signage device 203.
The display content for signage includes coupon information.

6 (a) to 6 (c) show different examples of the signage display content generated by the display content generation unit 406. In each case, it is assumed that the current time is 10:45, and the current time Ga (10:45) is displayed in the upper left corner.

In the example of FIG. 6A, the coupon information Gc is superimposed on the information Ga indicating the current time and the information Gba indicating the current congestion status. In the example of FIG. 6A, the information Gba indicating the current congestion status includes information indicating the degree of congestion near both ends and the center of each of the two platforms.

In the example of FIG. 6B, the coupon information Gc is superimposed on the information Ga indicating the current time and the information Gbb indicating the future congestion degree prediction. In the example of FIG. 6B, the information Gbb indicating the future congestion degree prediction is the station where the signage device is installed (D station) and the stations in the vicinity thereof (B station, C station, E station, and F). It contains information indicating the congestion degree at the current time (10:45) at the station) and the predicted value of the congestion degree at the future time (11:00 and 11:15).

In the example of FIG. 6 (c), the coupon information Gc is superimposed on the information Ga indicating the current time and the advertisement information Gbc of the surrounding facilities. In the example of FIG. 6 (c), the advertisement information Gbc of the surrounding facility includes the advertisement information of the store Q (Shop Q) of the facility M and the advertisement information of the store R (Shop R) of the facility N. The part of the code PX in the advertisement information is an area where a photograph or a picture is displayed.

6 (a) to 6 (c) show an example in which the coupon information Gc is superimposed with other information (information other than the coupon information), but the other information (information other than the coupon information) is shown in FIG. 6 (a) to (c) may be other than those shown in.
The coupon information Gc may be displayed as information on another screen without being superimposed on other information Ga and Gba, Gbb or Gbc.

The coupon information Gc enables the user to obtain a coupon by approaching the signage device 203 displaying the coupon information Gc.

The acquisition of the coupon is performed, for example, on the mobile terminal owned by the user. Examples of mobile terminals include smartphones, tablet terminals, and wearable terminals. The mobile terminal used for acquiring the coupon may be the same as or different from the information processing terminal used for viewing the notice content.

The coupon information Gc itself may be information representing the contents of the coupon. The information indicating the content of the coupon may include information indicating the period of use of the coupon, information indicating available stores, information indicating the discount rate, and information indicating other terms of use.
When the coupon information Gc is information indicating the contents of the coupon, the coupon information may be an image containing characters that can be seen and recognized by a person, or may include a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode. good. The coupon may be acquired by photographing the coupon information Gc with the camera of the user's mobile terminal.
The barcode may be read by the user's mobile terminal and converted into an image showing the contents of the coupon. After being read by the user's mobile terminal, the barcode is read as it is by a machine such as a store cashier. It may be converted into an image showing the contents of the coupon.

The coupon information Gc may be information necessary for obtaining a coupon. For example, a two-dimensional bar code representing the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the coupon acquisition Web page is displayed as the coupon information Gc, and the user obtains the URL by taking a picture of the bar code with the camera of the mobile terminal, and the URL is obtained. You can also get a coupon by accessing.
Further, the coupon may be obtained or the URL of the Web page for obtaining the coupon may be transmitted by short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Near Field Communication. In this case, the user may be notified that the information is transmitted by short-range wireless communication by displaying the coupon information Gc on the display unit 231.

In the time when the coupon information Gc is not displayed, instead of the coupon information Gc, information indicating the period during which the coupon can be acquired (coupon grant period) may be displayed in the display area of the coupon information Gc. ..

The display content generation unit 406 also generates the display content for advance notice according to the plan of the incentive event by the event planning unit 405.
FIG. 7 shows an example of the notice display content generated by the display content generation unit 406. The illustrated content for advance notice can be viewed as a Web page.
The example of FIG. 7 relates to D station, and displays information about facilities in and around D station and information about coupons that can be obtained at D station.

In the example of FIG. 7, the part indicated by the reference numeral E1a indicates that the notice display content is related to the D station, the portion indicated by the reference numeral E1b indicates the current congestion status, and the portion indicated by the reference numeral E1c is The portion indicated by the reference numeral E1d indicates the future congestion degree prediction, and indicates the advertisement information of the surrounding facilities, specifically, the store. The portion of the code PX in the advertisement information E1d of the surrounding facility is an area where a photograph or a picture is displayed.

The portion indicated by the reference numeral E1e indicates information regarding the coupon.
Information regarding coupons E1e includes information indicating that a coupon is currently being issued and information indicating that the next coupon is scheduled to be issued.
The information indicating the issuance schedule of the next coupon includes information indicating the time range (coupon grant period) for issuance. In the illustrated example, it is displayed that the issued time range is from 13:15 to 13:45 by the character information of "next coupon distribution notice 13:15 to 13:45".

Such notice display content has the effect of inducing the browsing user to visit D station within the time range in which the coupon can be obtained. Therefore, there is an effect of increasing the number of users in the time zone when the degree of congestion is low. In addition, when a user who intends to visit D station at a time other than the time when the coupon is available (reward grant period) is made to change the time to visit, it contributes to leveling the degree of congestion. If a user who intended to visit D station at a relatively high congestion time changes the visit time, it also has the effect of alleviating the peak of the congestion degree, and therefore contributes more to the leveling of the congestion degree. growing.

Next, the update of the plan of the incentive event will be described.
As described above, the incentive event plan may be created once and then updated based on the newly acquired information. For example, when the congestion degree prediction changes, the update may be performed based on the prediction after the change. In addition, it may be updated when an external factor changes. The update may be performed multiple times within the leveling target range.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a congestion degree prediction updated based on new information obtained over time after the congestion degree prediction shown in FIG. 4 is made.
That is, it is assumed that the time when the prediction is made (current time) is 10:00 in FIG. 4, but the time when the prediction is made (current time) is 11:45 in FIG.
In FIG. 8, the broken line Fa shows the congestion degree prediction value curve at 10:00, and is therefore the same as the congestion degree prediction value curve F shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, the solid line Fb shows the congestion degree prediction value curve at 11:45.

The event planning unit 405 selects the time interval of the congestion peak and one or more time intervals of the low congestion degree based on the congestion degree prediction value curve Fb of FIG. The time interval selection method may be the same as that described with reference to FIG.
By comparing the congestion degree prediction value curve F (or the congestion degree prediction value curve Fa in FIG. 8) of FIG. 4 with the congestion degree prediction value curve Fb of FIG. It can be seen that the degree of congestion in Td became slightly higher, and a new low-congestion time section Te appeared around 16:00.

In the following, from FIG. 8, the 30-minute time section Tb centered at 12:30 is selected as the time section of the congestion peak, and the 30-minute time section centered at 13:30 when one off-peak peak appears. It is assumed that Td and the 30-minute time interval Te centered at 16:00 when another off-peak peak appears are selected as the time interval of low congestion.

At this time, the event planning department 405 updates the incentive event plan. Incentive events include, for example, the issuance of coupons as described in FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the congestion index β and the coupon discount rate α described in FIG. 5, but was created based on the congestion degree prediction value curve Fb shown in FIG. However, as the reference number of people used in the calculation of the congestion index β, the average value of the number of people in the time section of the congestion peak obtained from the congestion degree prediction value curve Fa obtained in the first prediction (prediction at 10:00) is used. I am using it. That is, the congestion index β based on the reprediction is calculated based on the same value as the congestion index β based on the first prediction.
In the example of FIG. 9, the time section is a section divided at intervals of 30 minutes, and the relationship between the congestion index β and the discount rate α is the same as described in FIG.

In the time interval Te centered on 16:00, since the above value β is 0.5 or more and less than 0.75, the discount rate is set to 10%.
Further, in the time interval Td centered at 13:30, since the above value β is 0.5 or more and less than 0.75, the discount rate is set to 10%. That is, the discount rate is changed from 20% to 10% for the time interval Td.
Even if it is determined that the discount rate is 0% (coupon issuance is not required) based on the predicted congestion level after renewal, it is not changed to cancel it after the coupon issuance is announced. desirable. The reason why the coupon is canceled once it is announced is that the confidence in the coupon is lost.

In addition, in the above example, it is assumed that the coupon is issued in the notice, but the discount rate is not shown. If the notice also indicates the discount rate (the content displayed for notice includes the discount rate), the discount rate will be reduced even if it is indicated that the discount rate should be reduced based on the updated predicted value. Is not done. The reason why the discount rate is reduced once the discount rate is shown in the coupon notice is that the confidence in the coupon is impaired.

In addition, when a new low-congestion time section (for example, a time section centered around 16:00) appears in the congestion re-prediction, the event planning unit 405 will use the low-congestion time section (around 16:00). Is not immediately specified as the reward grant period, and only when it is judged as a low congestion time interval multiple times within a certain time of the start time of the low congestion time interval, for example, one hour before. The time section may be designated as the reward target section and the notice information may be issued.

In the above example, the reward is an electronic coupon. The reward may be something other than a coupon. For example, it may be a point given electronically.

Also, in the above example, the reward is given electronically. However, the reward may be given in the form of paper. For example, a printer may be attached to the signage device 203 so that the printer can print a paper coupon.

In the above example, the coupon may be available for a limited period of time, or may be available for a limited period of time. However, the coupon may not limit the available time or the available place. The same applies when the reward is something other than a coupon or in the form of paper.

In the above example, the congestion degree estimation unit 402 of the server device 4 collects information on all stations and all trains communicating with the server device 4, and based on the collected information, the entire station and each area. Estimate the number of people. Alternatively, the entrance / exit management facility 202 of each station may receive information from other stations and trains to estimate the total number of people in this station and each area. In this case, the information from other stations may be received from stations in the vicinity of this station, and the information from trains may be received from trains running near this station. Here, the stations in the vicinity of this station may be all or major stations within a predetermined range centering on this station. The train running near this station may be a train running within a predetermined range centered on this station.

In the above-mentioned information providing system 1, the camera 201 and the passenger sensor 301 are used as a data acquisition unit for acquiring data for estimating the number of people in the place where the signage device 203 is installed, and the entrance / exit management facility 202. Is used as an example of a data acquisition unit that acquires data representing the number of people entering and exiting the place where the signage device 203 is installed. However, the data acquisition unit may have a form other than the above.
The information providing system 1 includes a camera 201, an entrance / exit management facility 202, and a passenger sensor 301, but the information providing system does not necessarily have to include all of them. Further, the information providing system may include a data acquisition unit other than the above example.

In the above example, an incentive event is planned for each facility 2, that is, for each facility 2. However, incentive events may be planned for each area of facility 2. In this case, the incentive event may be planned only for the selected area among the plurality of areas in the facility 2. In that case, the degree of congestion in the selected area in the facility 2 may be predicted, and an incentive event for the area may be planned based on the result of the prediction.
If an incentive event is planned for each area, rewards may be available from signage devices within that area.
In any case, the incentive event may be any event as long as it is possible to obtain a reward at the place where the signage device is installed. The “place” referred to here may be the entire facility 2 or a part of the facility 2 in the present embodiment.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, an incentive event is provided by visiting the place where the signage device is installed (the area forming the facility 2 or a part thereof) in the time range where the degree of congestion is expected to be low. Rewards can be obtained and incentive events are foretold, which can guide users to visit the above locations during times when congestion is expected to be low, resulting in the above locations. The degree of congestion can be leveled over time.

Embodiment 2.
The overall configuration of the information providing system of the second embodiment is the same as that of the information providing system of the first embodiment. FIG. 10 shows the server device 4b of the information providing system 1 according to the second embodiment. The illustrated server device 4b is generally the same as the server device 4 shown in FIG. However, an attribute estimation unit 409 is added, and a congestion degree estimation unit 402b and a congestion degree prediction unit 404b are provided instead of the congestion degree estimation unit 402 and the congestion degree prediction unit 404.

The in-facility device 200 and the train device 300 of the information providing system 1 of the second embodiment are generally the same as those described in the first embodiment, but there are the following differences.

First, the entrance / exit management facility 202 of the in-facility device outputs data representing the number of people for each attribute of the person as the number of people data. The attribute of the person here may be related to whether or not the user is a commuter pass user.

Further, the passenger sensor 301 of the train device 300 outputs data representing the number of people for each attribute of the person as the number of passengers data. The attributes of a person here may be related to age or gender. For example, the age and gender may be specified from each person's face, hairstyle, clothes, body shape, posture, etc. in the image obtained by shooting with a camera, and the number of passengers for each specified attribute may be obtained. Even if the attributes are not determined for all passengers, only a part of the passengers in the image obtained by shooting is performed, the ratio of the passengers of each attribute is calculated, the total number of passengers separately obtained, and the above. The number of passengers of each attribute may be obtained from the ratio.

The attribute estimation unit 409 of the server device 4 estimates the attributes of the photographed person based on the image data transmitted from the camera 201 of the in-facility device 200. In the estimation of the attributes based on the image data, the age and gender may be determined from the face, hairstyle, clothes, body shape, posture, etc. of each person in the image.

The congestion degree estimation unit 402b is a facility based on the estimation result by the attribute estimation unit 409, the image data from the camera 201, the number of people for each attribute from the entrance / exit management facility 202, and the number of people for each attribute from the passenger sensor 301. Estimate the degree of congestion in the whole of 2 and each area.

The congestion degree storage unit 403 stores the congestion degree for each attribute at each time of the entire facility 2 and each area based on the estimation result of the congestion degree estimation unit 402b.

The congestion degree prediction unit 404b predicts the congestion degree of the future time based on the congestion degree of each attribute accumulated in the congestion degree storage unit 403 and the congestion degree of each attribute in each area of the current time. conduct. In this case, the degree of congestion of people who satisfy the conditions defined by one or more attributes may be predicted. Extracting people who meet the conditions defined by one or more attributes is called filtering using one or more attributes. Examples of the above attributes are "female", "male", "commuter pass use", and "not a commuter pass user".
Examples of people filtered by a combination of the two attributes are "female and non-commuter pass user" and "male and non-commuter pass user".

The event planning unit 405 plans an incentive event based on the congestion degree prediction result for the person filtered by one or more attributes generated by the congestion degree prediction unit 404b.
For example, the degree of congestion of people extracted by filtering using one or more attributes is analyzed, and based on the analysis results, it is estimated what attributes people are susceptible to incentive events. Being susceptible means that it is relatively affected. Information obtained separately may also be used for this estimation. The "information obtained separately" here includes rules of thumb, the results of questionnaire surveys, and the like.
The event planning unit 405 plans an incentive event for a person with an attribute estimated to be relatively greatly affected by the incentive event. It can be said that a person with an attribute that is greatly affected by the incentive event is a person with an attribute that contributes greatly to the leveling of the degree of congestion by the incentive event. In addition, considering that the incentive event is announced and the leveling can be achieved by the announcement, "the degree of being affected by the incentive event is large" can be rephrased as "the degree of being affected by the announcement is large".

FIG. 11 shows an example of the result of prediction of the degree of congestion of people extracted by different filtering. In FIG. 11, the solid line curve shows the predicted value of the congestion degree of a person who is not a commuter pass user, and the broken line shows the predicted value Cm of the congestion degree of a male person who is not a commuter pass user. The difference Cf between the value and the predicted value shown by the broken line indicates the predicted value of the degree of congestion of a woman who is not a commuter pass user.
Here, from the accumulated data in the congestion degree storage unit 403, the distribution of the congestion peak time is narrow for men who are not commuter pass users, and the facility usage time tends to be difficult to change, whereas for women. Moreover, it can be estimated that those who are not commuter pass users have a large distribution of congestion peak times, and the facility usage time is easily affected by incentive events.

Based on the above findings and considerations, the Event Planning Department 405 may plan incentive events targeting women. This is because it is considered that the effect of inducing the time when the degree of congestion is low is further increased by doing so.
The reward grant period in an incentive event targeting a person with a certain attribute is determined based on the prediction result of the degree of congestion of the person extracted by the above-mentioned filtering using the certain attribute. For example, when targeting women, the reward grant period may be determined based on the predicted value of the degree of congestion of "a woman who is not a commuter pass user" shown in FIG. Alternatively, the predicted female congestion may be used to determine the reward period.

Rewards for incentive events targeting people with certain attributes are useful rewards for people with certain attributes as described above. An example of a reward for an incentive event targeting women is a coupon that can be used at stores that women are likely to use, such as women's fashion stores.

The event planning unit 405 may plan an incentive event targeting "a woman who is not a commuter pass user" instead of the incentive event targeting "women".
In short, the incentive event may be planned for people who have one or more of the attributes used in the filtering.

Also, the event notice information may indicate what kind of person the coupon is targeted for.

In the above example, the reward grant period is determined based on the prediction result of the degree of congestion of people extracted by filtering using one or more attributes, and one or more of the above one or more attributes. It is decided to give a beneficial reward to those who have. Then, based on the prediction result of the degree of congestion of people extracted by filtering using one or more attributes, it is estimated what kind of attribute people are susceptible to the incentive event, and based on the estimation result. The content of the reward is defined.
It is not necessary to use the above-mentioned congestion degree prediction result to estimate what kind of attribute a person is susceptible to an incentive event. For example, it may be known separately what attributes people are susceptible to incentive events.
Also for determining the reward grant period, the prediction result of the degree of congestion other than the degree of congestion of people extracted by filtering using one or more attributes may be used. For example, the reward grant period may be determined based on the prediction result of the degree of congestion of all people (people of all attributes).

In the above example, the passenger sensor 301 of the train device 300 outputs the number of people data for each attribute. When the passenger sensor 301 includes a camera, the image data obtained by shooting is transmitted to the server device 4b, the attribute estimation unit 409 of the server device 4b determines the attribute from the image data, and the congestion degree estimation unit 402b , The degree of congestion for each attribute may be estimated based on the estimation result of the attribute estimation unit 409. The processing of the attribute estimation unit 409 for the image data transmitted from the passenger sensor 301 is the same as the processing for the image data from the camera 201 of the in-facility device.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, an attribute estimation unit is further provided, and the degree of congestion of people extracted by filtering using one or more attributes is predicted, and one of the attributes used in the filtering is predicted. Targeting people with one or more, or targeting people with attributes that are relatively susceptible to incentive events, or planning incentive events to more effectively level facility congestion. be able to.

Embodiment 3.
The overall configuration of the information providing system of the third embodiment is the same as that of the information providing system of the second embodiment. FIG. 12 shows the server device 4c used in the information providing system according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 13 shows the in-facility device 200c used in the information providing system according to the third embodiment. FIG. 14 shows a train device 300c used in the information providing system according to the third embodiment.

The information providing system in the third embodiment plans an incentive event in consideration of human attributes as in the information providing system of the second embodiment. However, it differs from the information providing system of the second embodiment as follows.
First, instead of the server device 4b of the second embodiment, the server device 4c shown in FIG. 12 is provided. Further, instead of the in-facility device 200 of the second embodiment, the in-facility device 200c shown in FIG. 13 is provided. Further, instead of the train appliance 300 of the second embodiment, the train appliance 300c shown in FIG. 14 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 12, the server device 4c does not include the congestion degree estimation unit 402b and the attribute estimation unit 409 shown in FIG.

The in-facility device 200c shown in FIG. 13 additionally includes an attribute estimation unit 205 and a congestion degree estimation unit 206.
The camera 201 acquires image data of the user of the facility 2.
First, as described in the second embodiment, the entrance / exit management facility 202 outputs data representing the number of people for each attribute of the person as the number of people data. The attribute of the person here may be whether or not the user is a commuter pass user.

The attribute estimation unit 205 estimates the attributes of the photographed person based on the image data acquired by the camera 201. The attribute estimation in the attribute estimation unit 205 can be performed in the same manner as described with respect to the attribute estimation unit 409 of the second embodiment.
The congestion degree estimation unit 206 determines the congestion degree for each attribute based on the image data acquired by the camera 201 and the estimation result by the attribute estimation unit 205, and further based on the number of people data for each attribute from the entrance / exit management facility 202b. presume.
The estimation result of the congestion degree for each of the estimated attributes is transmitted to the server device 4c via the communication unit 204.

As shown in FIG. 14, the train device 300c additionally includes an attribute estimation unit 303 and a congestion degree estimation unit 304.
The passenger sensor 301 is composed of a camera and acquires image data of passengers in the train.

The attribute estimation unit 303 estimates the attributes of the photographed person based on the image data acquired by the passenger sensor 301. The attribute estimation in the attribute estimation unit 303 can be performed in the same manner as described with respect to the attribute estimation unit 409 of the second embodiment.
The congestion degree estimation unit 304 estimates the congestion degree for each attribute based on the image data acquired by the passenger sensor 301 and the estimation result by the attribute estimation unit 303.
The estimation result of the congestion degree for each of the estimated attributes is transmitted to the server device 4c via the communication unit 302.

In the server device 4c, the degree of congestion for each attribute transmitted from the in-facility device 200c and the train device 300c is stored in the congestion degree storage unit 403.
The congestion degree prediction unit 404b uses one or more attributes based on the congestion degree stored in the congestion degree storage unit 403 and the current congestion degree transmitted from the in-facility device 200c and the train device 300c. Predict the degree of congestion for the people extracted by the filtering.
Other than the above, the information providing system of the third embodiment is the same as the information providing system of the second embodiment.

In the information providing system of the second embodiment, the in-facility device 200 and the train device 300 transmit image data to the server device, whereas in the information providing system of the third embodiment, the in-facility device 200c and the train The device 300c does not transmit the image data to the server device 4c, but instead transmits the attribute information and the degree of congestion.

As described above, the same effect as that of the second embodiment can be obtained in the present embodiment as well.
Further, since the image data is not transmitted between the in-facility device and the train device and the server device, when it is not appropriate to transmit the image data from the viewpoint of personal information protection, the present embodiment The configuration can be applied.

Embodiment 4.
FIG. 15 shows an in-facility device 200d of the information providing system according to the fourth embodiment.
The server device and the train device of the information providing system in the fourth embodiment are the same as those described in the first embodiment.
The in-facility device 200d shown in FIG. 15 includes a signage device 203d instead of the signage device 203 of FIG.

The in-facility device 200d shown in FIG. 15 is generally the same as the in-facility device 200 in FIG. However, instead of the signage device 203 of FIG. 2, the signage device 203d is provided. The signage device 203d is generally the same as the signage device 203 of FIG. 2, but includes a proximity determination unit 232 in addition to the display unit 231.
The display unit 231 is the same as the display unit 231 of the first embodiment.

In the proximity determination unit 232, when the signage device 203 uses the display unit 231 to provide an incentive event planned by the event planning unit 405 of the server device 4, for example, a coupon, the user's mobile terminal is the signage device. 203, particularly a function that determines whether or not the user's mobile terminal is close to the display unit 231 and enables a coupon to be given provided that the user's mobile terminal is close to the signage device 203, particularly the display unit 231. have.

With the above function, it is possible to prevent the coupon from being illegally obtained at a place away from the signage device 203, and as a result, it is possible to more reliably level the degree of congestion.

The fact that the user's mobile terminal is close to the signage device 203, particularly the display unit 231 means that the distance between the mobile terminal and the signage device 203, particularly the display unit 231 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. means.
Here, the threshold value may be set based on the distance at which the user who owns the mobile terminal can visually check the display content displayed on the display unit 231 of the signage device 203. For example, the above threshold value may be set to a value in which individual differences are taken into consideration for the above-mentioned visible distance and a slight margin is added. In this case, the size of the screen of the display unit 231 of the signage device 203 may be taken into consideration. As an example, the above threshold value may be set to 10 m.

As the difference in position, the difference between the position indicated by the position information acquired by the GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor of the signage device 203 and the position indicated by the position information acquired by the GPS sensor of the user's mobile terminal is used. Is also good. In this case, the position accuracy of the GPS to be used may be taken into consideration when determining the threshold value.

Instead, the signage device 203 is equipped with a short-range wireless communication function such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) and Near Field Communication, and the user's mobile terminal and the signage device 203 can communicate with each other by short-range wireless. It may be determined that the mobile terminal is close to the signage device 203, particularly the display unit 231 thereof. In this case, it is desirable that the range (communication distance) at which communication is possible corresponds to the above threshold value in the short-range wireless communication function mounted on the signage device 203.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by providing the signage device with the proximity determination unit, it is possible to prevent the user from illegally acquiring the coupon at a place away from the signage device, and as a result, , It is possible to more reliably level the degree of congestion.

Embodiment 5.
FIG. 16 shows the information providing system 1e of the fifth embodiment.
The information providing system 1e of FIG. 16 is intended for leveling the degree of congestion in a large-scale commercial facility 2e. The large commercial facility 2e includes, for example, a supermarket and a shopping center.
In the illustrated example, it is assumed that the facility 2e has a plurality of floors, and each floor has two or more areas 20.

The information providing system 1e shown in FIG. 16 has a plurality of in-area devices 200e and a server device 4e.
The plurality of in-area devices 200e are provided corresponding to the plurality of areas 20 in the facility 2e.
The server device 4e is provided so as to be communicable with the device 200e in the area, and performs processing using the data acquired by the device 200e in the area and transmission of data and control information to the device 200e in the area.
The server device 4e may be installed in the premises of the facility 2e, or may be installed in a different place.

Each of the in-area devices 200e is configured in the same manner as the in-facility device 200 of FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 17, for example, the device 200e in each area includes one or more cameras 201, one or more entrance / exit management equipment 202e, one or more signage devices 203, and one or more. It has a communication unit 204 of. The figure shows one camera 201, one entrance / exit control facility 202e, one signage device 203, and one communication unit 204.

Each camera 201 includes an image pickup unit 211 having an image pickup function using visible light or infrared light.
The image pickup unit 211 of each camera 201 photographs a person existing in an area device 200e including the camera 201, particularly a place where the signage device 203 is installed, for example, an area 20, and an image of the photographed person. Get the data. Here, the "existing person" includes a person who is a user of the facility 2e and is shopping.

One or more cameras 201 are provided with a camera attached to or near the signage device 203 to acquire image data of a person who is viewing the display of the signage device 203. It may be included.
The image data may be continuous moving image data, or may be a time series of still image data acquired intermittently, for example, periodically.
The image data acquired by the camera 201 is transmitted to the server device 4e via the communication unit 204.

Each entrance / exit management facility 202e in each area 20 includes a camera (visible light camera or infrared light camera) installed at the entrance gate or entrance to the area 20, and the number of people entering using these. And the number of people leaving the area is measured, and based on the measurement results, data showing the number of people existing in the area and data showing the change in the number of people existing in the area are acquired and used as the number of people data. Output.
The number of people data is transmitted to the server device 4e via the communication unit 204.

Each signage device 203 has a display unit 231, and for a user in the area 20, particularly a person who exists at a position where the display of the signage device 203 can be seen, the congestion degree status of each area in the facility 2e and the facility. It has a function to display advertisements of 2e and surrounding facilities.
The content displayed on the display unit 231 of each signage device 203 is transmitted from the server device 4e via the communication unit 204, and the display timing is also controlled according to the schedule information transmitted from the server device 4e.

One or more communication units 204 transmit the image data acquired by the camera 201 and the number of people data acquired by the entrance / exit management equipment 202e to the server device 4e.
The communication unit 204 transmits the display content and the display schedule information transmitted from the server device 4e to the signage device 203.
Each communication unit 204 may be provided inside the camera 201 or the entrance / exit management equipment 202e, or may be provided in the area 20 separately from the camera 201 and the entrance / exit management equipment 202e.

Each communication unit 204 may be composed of one or more cameras 201 and one router installed separately from the one or more entrance / exit management equipment 202e. The two or more communication units 204 may be communication modules attached to each of the one or more cameras 201 and the one or more entrance / exit management equipment 202e. A part of the plurality of communication units 204 may be the above-mentioned router, and the other may be the above-mentioned communication module.

The server device 4e is configured in the same manner as the server device 4 in FIG. 1, and performs the same operation. The server device 4e includes a communication unit 401, a congestion degree estimation unit 402e, a congestion degree storage unit 403, a congestion degree prediction unit 404, an event planning unit 405, a display content generation unit 406, and a display schedule generation unit 407. , The event notice unit 408 is provided. The display control unit 410 is composed of the display content generation unit 406 and the display schedule generation unit 407.

The communication unit 401 receives data transmitted from the plurality of area devices 200e.
The communication unit 401 also transmits the signage display content and display schedule information for the signage device 203 of each area device 200e created in the server device 4e to the area device 200e.

The congestion degree estimation unit 402e estimates the degree of congestion in the facility 2e based on the data received by the communication unit 401. The degree of congestion may be estimated for the entire facility 2e or for each area 20 in the facility 2e. In the following, it is assumed that the degree of congestion for the entire facility 2e and the degree of congestion for each area are estimated.
The method of estimating the number of people in each area may be an estimation from the number of people in the image obtained by shooting with the camera 201, or the number of people who entered and the number of people who left the entrance / exit management facility 202e. It may be estimated from a number. Moreover, you may use the combination of these estimation results.
The degree of congestion for the entire facility 2e may be obtained from the total number of people in all areas 20 in the facility 2e.

The congestion degree storage unit 403 stores information indicating the congestion degree at each time in the entire facility 2e and information indicating the congestion degree at each time in each area 20. Information indicating the degree of congestion should be stored in relation to external factors. The external factor here is a factor that affects the degree of congestion. Information indicating external factors includes, for example, information indicating the day of the week, information indicating whether it is a holiday, information indicating the weather on the date and time when the congestion degree estimation was performed (information indicating the temperature, information indicating whether it is sunny or rainy). Is included. The accumulated information is called congestion degree history information.

The congestion degree prediction unit 404e predicts the future congestion degree based on the congestion degree of each past time accumulated in the congestion degree storage unit 403 and the current congestion degree. In forecasting, it is desirable to take into account external factors regarding the date and time of the forecast. As for the information indicating the weather among the external factors, the information indicating the predicted weather can be used.

The prediction may be made, for example, for each area 20 of the facility 2e, or may be made for the entire facility 2e.
The prediction for each area 20 may be made based on the past congestion degree and the current congestion degree for the area 20.
The prediction of the entire facility 2e may be made based on the past congestion degree and the current congestion degree of the entire facility 2e.

In the following, the degree of congestion for each area 20 and the degree of congestion for the entire facility 2e are predicted, and the predicted degree of congestion for each area 20 is used to generate the signage display content and the notice display content, and the facility 2e is used. The predicted congestion level for the whole of is used for planning the incentive event.

The event planning unit 405 plans an incentive event based on the result of the congestion degree prediction of the facility 2e generated by the congestion degree prediction unit 404. An incentive event is an event for leveling the degree of congestion in the future over time. Here, it is assumed that the incentive event is held in units of each facility 2e. The incentive event for each facility 2e is an event that enables a person who visits the facility 2e to obtain a reward during a time when the degree of congestion is low. The reward is, for example, an electronically awarded reward, for example, an electronic coupon.

The coupon may be available for a limited period. For example, it may be available only in the time range predicted to be low in congestion, or it may be available only in a certain time after it is issued. Further, the coupon may be used only at the place where it was acquired or at a facility in the vicinity thereof.

The display content generation unit 406 generates the signage display content displayed by each signage device 203 in each area 20.
When an incentive event is planned by the event planning unit 405, the display content for signage includes reward information regarding the reward by the planned incentive event. When the reward is a coupon, the reward information is called coupon information. The signage display content may further include the degree of congestion in each area 20 of the facility 2e, the degree of congestion prediction, and information on surrounding facilities.
The reward information may be superimposed on information other than the reward information (other information), or may be displayed alone, that is, on a screen different from the other information.

The display content generated by the display content generation unit 406 may be the displayed image itself, or the identifier (ID) assigned to the image group stored in advance in the signage device 203 and the image specified by the identifier. It may be combined with a variable for dynamically changing the whole or a part. The display content may be different for each signage device 203.

The generated signage display content is transmitted to each signage device 203 in each area 20 through the communication unit 401.

The display content generation unit 406 also generates display content for advance notice. The notice display content can be viewed at a place other than the place where the reward is scheduled to be given (facility 2e).
The notice display content includes information for notifying the incentive event planned by the event planning department 405, as well as the congestion degree and congestion degree prediction of each area 20 of the facility 2e where rewards can be obtained by the incentive event, and the facility concerned. It may include information introducing facilities around 2e.

The information foretelling the incentive event is information indicating the planned reward grant period and reward granting place.
Information that announces incentive events is, for example,
"You can get a coupon at the YY facility from what time to what time."
That is to the effect.
The generated notice display content is transmitted to the event notice unit 408.

The display schedule generation unit 407 receives information about the planned incentive event from the event planning unit 405, and determines the display schedule of the generated display content for signage in each signage device 203 in each area 20.
Information indicating the schedule determined for each signage device 203 is transmitted to the signage device 203 via the communication unit 401 and the communication unit 204.

By viewing the notice display content, the user can know in advance which facility 2e at which time and incentive event rewards can be obtained. As a result, the user is invited to visit the facility 2e (reward granting place) where the reward can be obtained within the time range (reward grant period) when the reward can be obtained. If the user intends to visit the reward granting place at a time other than the reward granting period, the user is invited to change the visiting time and visit during the reward granting period. As a result, the degree of congestion in the facility 2e can be leveled. If a user who intends to visit during a particularly busy time changes the time of visit, the contribution to leveling will be even greater.

FIGS. 18A to 18C show different examples of display content for signage generated by the display content generation unit 406. In each case, it is assumed that the current time is 10:45, and the current time Ga (10:45) is displayed in the upper left corner.

In the example of FIG. 18A, the coupon information Gc is superimposed on the information Ga indicating the current time and the information Gbd indicating the current congestion status. In the example of FIG. 18A, the information Gbd indicating the current congestion status includes information indicating the degree of congestion in each of the four areas.

In the example of FIG. 18B, the coupon information Gc is superimposed on the information Ga indicating the current time and the information Gbe indicating the future congestion degree prediction. In the example of FIG. 18B, the information Gbe indicating the future congestion degree prediction is the current time on the floor (3F) where the signage device is installed and the other floors (1F, 2F, 4F, 5F). It contains information indicating the degree of congestion at (10:45) and the predicted value of the degree of congestion at future times (11:00 and 11:15).

In the example of FIG. 18 (c), the coupon information Gc is superimposed on the information Ga indicating the current time and the advertisement information Gbf of the surrounding facilities. In the example of FIG. 18C, the advertisement information Gbf of the facility around the facility 2e includes the advertisement information of the store Q (Shop Q) and the advertisement information of the store R (Shop R). The part of the code PX in the advertisement information is an area where a photograph or a picture is displayed.

FIGS. 18 (a) to 18 (c) show an example in which the coupon information Gc is superimposed with other information (information other than the coupon information), but the other information (information other than the coupon information) is shown in FIG. It may be something other than those shown in 18 (a) to (c).
The coupon information Gc may be displayed as information on another screen without being superimposed on other information Ga and Gbd, Gbe or Gbf.

The content of the coupon information and the method of acquiring the coupon may be the same as described in the first embodiment.

The display content generation unit 406 also generates the display content for advance notice according to the plan of the incentive event by the event planning unit 405.
FIG. 19 shows an example of the notice display content generated by the display content generation unit 406. The illustrated content for advance notice can be viewed as a Web page in the same manner as described in the first embodiment.
The example of FIG. 19 relates to a commercial facility (Mall AAA) and displays information about Mall AAA and surrounding facilities and information about coupons that can be obtained at Mall AAA.

In the example of FIG. 19, the portion indicated by reference numeral E2a indicates that the notice display content is related to Mall AAA, the portion indicated by reference numeral E2b indicates the current congestion status, and the portion indicated by reference numeral E2c is The portion indicated by the reference numeral E2d indicates the future congestion degree prediction, and indicates the advertisement information of the surrounding facilities, specifically, the store. The portion of the code PX in the advertisement information E2d of the surrounding facility is an area where a photograph or a picture is displayed.

The portion indicated by the reference numeral E2e indicates information regarding the coupon.
Information about a coupon includes information indicating that a coupon is currently being issued and information indicating that the next coupon will be issued.
The information indicating the issuance schedule of the next coupon includes information indicating the time range (coupon grant period) for issuance. In the illustrated example, the text information "next coupon distribution notice 13:15 to 13:45" indicates that the issued time range is from 13:15 to 13:45.

Such notice display content has the effect of inducing the browsing user to visit the facility 2e within the time range in which the coupon can be obtained. Therefore, there is an effect of increasing the number of users in the time zone of low congestion. In addition, when a user who intends to visit the facility 2e at a time other than the time when the coupon is available (reward grant period) is made to change the visit time, it contributes to the leveling of the degree of congestion. If a user who intended to visit the facility 2e at a relatively high congestion time changes the visit time, it also has the effect of alleviating the peak of the congestion degree, and therefore contributes more to the leveling of the congestion degree. growing.

The incentive event plan can be updated in the same manner as described in the first embodiment.

In the above example, an incentive event is planned for each facility 2e, that is, for each facility 2e as a unit. However, incentive events may be planned for each area 20 of the facility 2e. In this case, the incentive event may be planned only for the selected area among the plurality of areas 20 in the facility 2e. In that case, the degree of congestion in the selected area in the facility 2e may be predicted, and an incentive event for the area may be planned based on the result of the prediction.
If an incentive event is planned for each area, rewards may be available from signage devices within that area.
In any case, the incentive event may be any event as long as the reward can be obtained at the place where the signage device is installed. The place referred to here may be the entire facility 2e in the present embodiment or a part of the area 20.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the place where the signage device is installed (the area forming the facility 2e or a part thereof) in the time range where the degree of congestion is expected to be low. By visiting 20), it is possible to obtain rewards from incentive events, and since incentive events are announced, it is possible to guide users to visit the above places during the time range when congestion is expected to be low. As a result, the degree of congestion in the above-mentioned places can be leveled in time.

Various modifications are possible to the above-described embodiments 1 to 5. For example, the modifications described for the first embodiment can be applied to other embodiments.

The server devices of the first to fifth embodiments are configured by an information processing device. Further, the in-facility equipment, the train equipment, and the in-area equipment of the first to fifth embodiments may also be configured by the information processing apparatus at least partially. In particular, at least a part of the attribute estimation unit 205 and the congestion degree estimation unit 206 of the in-facility device 200c of the third embodiment, and the attribute estimation unit 303 and the congestion degree estimation unit 304 of the train device 300c are configured by the information processing device. obtain. Further, at least a part of the proximity determination unit 232 of the in-facility device 200 of the fourth embodiment may be configured by an information processing device. The information processing device may be composed of a programmed computer.

The computer has a processor and a memory. A program for realizing a desired function is stored in the memory. The processor realizes a desired function by executing a program stored in the memory. The program may be provided through a network, or may be recorded and provided on a recording medium, such as a non-temporary recording medium. That is, the program may be provided, for example, as a program product.

1,1e information provision system, 2,2e facility, 3 train, 4,4b, 4c, 4e server device, 20 area, 200,200d facility facility device, 200e area device, 201 camera, 202, 202e entrance / exit management facility , 203 signage device, 204 communication unit, 205 attribute estimation unit, 206 congestion degree estimation unit, 211 imaging unit, 231 display unit, 232 proximity determination unit, 300, 300c train equipment, 301 passenger sensor, 302 communication unit, 303 attributes Estimating unit, 304 congestion degree estimation unit, 401 communication unit, 402, 402b, 402e congestion degree estimation unit, 403 congestion degree storage unit, 404, 404b congestion degree prediction unit, 405 event planning unit, 406 display content generation unit, 407 display Schedule generation unit, 408 event notice unit, 409 attribute estimation unit, 410 display control unit.

Claims

Signage device and
A congestion degree estimation unit that estimates the congestion degree of people in the place where the signage device is installed, and a congestion degree estimation unit.
A congestion degree prediction unit that predicts future congestion degree based on the estimated congestion degree, and
The event planning department, which designates at least one time range with relatively low predicted congestion as the reward grant period,
A display control unit that displays on the signage device display content that causes a person who visits the place during the reward grant period to obtain a reward from a mobile terminal.
An information providing system having an event notice unit that provides notice information for notifying that the reward can be obtained.
The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition of the reward is performed by reading the information displayed on the signage device with the mobile terminal or receiving a signal transmitted from the signage device.
Further having a data acquisition unit for acquiring data for estimating the number of people in the place or data representing the number of people entering and exiting the place.
The information providing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the congestion degree estimation unit estimates the congestion degree based on the data acquired by the data acquisition unit.
The information providing system according to claim 3, wherein the data acquisition unit includes a camera for photographing a person at the place.
The information providing system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the data acquisition unit includes an entrance / exit management facility that counts the number of people entering and exiting the place.
The information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the reward is a reward that is useful for a person with an attribute to which the degree of influence of the notice is relatively large.
The congestion degree estimation unit estimates the congestion degree for each person's attribute and determines the degree of congestion.
The congestion degree prediction unit predicts the congestion degree for people extracted by filtering using one or more attributes.
The information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the reward is a reward useful for a person having the attribute used in the filtering.
Further having a server device for communicating with the signage device,
The information according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the congestion degree estimation unit, the congestion degree prediction unit, the event planning unit, the display control unit, and the event advance notice unit are formed by the server device. Offering system.
Further having a server device for communicating with the signage device,
The congestion degree estimation unit is provided at a place where the signage device is installed, and the congestion degree prediction unit, the event planning unit, the display control unit, and the event advance notice unit are formed by the server device. The information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
The information provision system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the incentive is available at the place or a facility in the vicinity thereof.
One of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a proximity determination unit that enables the mobile terminal to obtain the reward when the distance between the mobile terminal and the signage device is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. The information provision system described in the section.
A display unit that displays display content for obtaining rewards from mobile terminals,
A signage device having a proximity determination unit that enables the mobile terminal to obtain the reward when the distance between the mobile terminal and the display unit is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.
The signage device according to claim 12, wherein the threshold value is determined based on a distance at which a person holding the mobile terminal can visually recognize the display content displayed on the display unit.
The 12th or 13th claim, wherein the distance between the mobile terminal and the display unit is calculated based on the position detected by the GPS sensor of the mobile terminal and the position detected by the GPS sensor of the signage device. Signage device.
The proximity determination unit determines that the distance between the mobile terminal and the display unit is equal to or less than the threshold value when short-range wireless communication is possible between the mobile terminal and the signage device. Or the signage device according to 13.
The information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the signage device is the one according to any one of claims 12 to 15.