JP5082890B2 - Search support device and search target person notification device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a search support device and a search target person notification device suitable for searching for a lost child or the like.

Lost child centers are often set up in facilities such as amusement parks and shopping malls where families gather. The Lost Child Center provides a service to reunite a lost child and its guardian. When one of the children and their guardians who visit the facility visits the Lost Child Center, the staff member of the Lost Child Center calls the other to the center through an announcement on the site to reunite them. Patent Document 1 discloses an invention that supports the search for a child who is lost in a facility. The lost child monitoring system disclosed in this document includes a transmitting device that is carried by a child who enters the facility and a receiving device that is provided at various locations in the facility. Each transmitting device transmits a unique ID as an infrared signal. The receiving device receives the infrared signal emitted toward itself, and transmits the ID demodulated from the received infrared signal to the computer in the lost child center. When a child who is separated from the guardian transmits an infrared signal of ID from his / her transmitting device, the installation position of the receiving device that has received the infrared signal is displayed on the computer of the lost child center. Therefore, based on the display contents of the computer, it is possible to determine which receiving device is located around the lost child.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-124781

However, in the case of the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, the location cannot be determined unless the lost child operates an own transmission device to cause an ID to be transmitted. Therefore, it is unsuitable for searching infants who have not developed the ability to understand and judge things. Further, in the case of this system, there is a problem that many receiving devices must be installed in the facility, and the introduction thereof is costly.
The present invention has been devised under such a background, and an object thereof is to provide a mechanism that can efficiently search for a child who is separated from a guardian in a facility.

The present invention provides a sound signal input means for inputting a sound signal, an identifier input means for inputting an identifier of a searchee, and an identifier input by the identifier input means to the sound signal input by the sound signal input means. There is provided a search support device comprising embedding means for embedding and sound emitting means for emitting a sound signal in which the identifier is embedded as sound.
Further, the present invention provides a memory for storing an identifier unique to the searchee notification device, a light emitting means, a sound collecting means for collecting sound and outputting the sound signal, and output from the sound collecting means. When the identifier embedded in the sound signal matches the identifier stored in the memory, a search target notification device is provided that includes notification control means for causing the light emitting means to emit light.
Here, when the identifier of one of the searchee notification devices is input to the search support device, a sound signal in which the input identifier is embedded is output from the search support device. The search target person notification device causes the light emitting means to emit light when the identifier embedded in the sound signal output from the search support device matches the identifier of its own memory. Therefore, by inputting the identifier of the searchee notification device that is the search target to the search support device and causing the searchee notification device to emit light, the location can be informed to the surroundings and protection by a staff member or the like can be promoted. .

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a search support device 20 and a searchee notification device 40-k (k = 1 to N: hereinafter collectively referred to as “searchee notification device 40-k”) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a whole block diagram of the lost child search system containing. This system supports the search for a child who has become a search target in a facility such as an amusement park.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the system includes speakers 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3, a search support device 20, and a search target person notification device 40-k (k = 1 to N). Speakers 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3 are installed in the facility for BGM (Back Ground Music) broadcasting. The search support device 20 is installed in a lost child center in the facility. The searchee notification device 40-k has a shape simulating a batch. This search target person notification device 40-k is lent one by one to a child who is accompanied by a guardian and enters the facility. At that time, the guardian is informed of the ID. This ID has already been stored in the memory (described later) of the searchee notification device 40-k to be lent.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the search support device 20. In FIG. 2A, the input operation unit 21 is a touch key for inputting each character of the ID one by one.
The input interface 22 is connected to a music playback player. From this input interface 22, a digital signal indicating the sound waveform of the BGM continuously flowing into the facility from the speakers 10-1, 10-2 and 10-3, more specifically, the sound waveform is converted into a PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) system. A digital signal (hereinafter referred to as a “sound waveform sample”) sampled according to FIG.

The ID embedding unit 23 plays a role of embedding the ID input from the input operation unit 21 in the sound waveform sample string input from the input interface 22. The ID embedding unit 23 includes an FFT (Finite Fourier Transform) unit 24, an ID conversion unit 25, an adder 26, and an inverse FFT unit 27.
The FFT unit 24 divides the sound wave sample sequence input from the input interface 22 into frames made up of a predetermined number of sound wave samples, performs FFT processing for each frame, and outputs spectrum data. This spectrum data is data indicating the power spectrum of the sound waveform for one frame.

When an ID is input by the input operation unit 21, the ID conversion unit 25 subsequently outputs spectrum data obtained by converting the input ID according to the conversion rule shown below.
a. As illustrated in FIG. 3, each of a plurality of frequencies (f _{1 to} f _{8 in} the example of FIG. 3) selected in advance from the audible band is assigned to each bit of binary data indicating the conversion target ID. assign.
b. In the binary data indicating the conversion target ID, the power spectrum of the frequency assigned to the bit being “0” is set to 0, and the power spectrum of the frequency assigned to the bit being “1” is set to the predetermined value v.

The adder 26 outputs the spectrum data output from the FFT unit 24 as it is before the spectrum data is output from the ID conversion unit 25. Then, when the spectrum data is output from the ID conversion unit 25, the spectrum data output from the ID conversion unit 25 is added to the spectrum data of each frame sequentially output from the FFT unit 24 and then output.
The inverse FFT unit 27 performs an inverse FFT process on the output signal of the adder 26 and outputs a sound wave sample sequence that is the result of the process.
A DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) 28 converts the digital signal output from the inverse FFT unit 27 into an analog signal and outputs the analog signal. The amplifier 29 amplifies the output signal of the DAC 28.
The output interface 30 is connected to each speaker 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 in the facility. The output interface 30 outputs the output signal of the amplifier 29 to the speakers 10-1, 10-2, 10-3.
Among the components described above, the input interface 22 constitutes “sound signal input means for inputting a sound signal”, and the input operation unit 21 constitutes “identifier input means for inputting a searchee identifier”. The ID embedding unit 23 constitutes “embedding means for embedding an identifier in a sound signal”, and the output interface 30 and the speakers 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 are “sounds with embedded identifiers”. It constitutes "sound emission means for emitting a signal as sound".

FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the searchee notification device 40-k. In FIG. 2B, an ID storage memory 41 is a read-only memory that stores binary data indicating a unique ID. The solar cell 42 converts the light energy of sunlight into electric energy and supplies it to each part of the apparatus.
The microphone 43 picks up sound emitted from the speakers 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3 in the facility and outputs an analog signal indicating the sound waveform. The amplifier 44 outputs an output signal of the microphone 43. Amplify.
An ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) 45 converts the analog signal output from the amplifier 44 into a digital sound waveform sample and outputs the digital sound wave sample.

The notification control unit 46 plays a role of causing the LED 51 to emit light when an ID that matches the ID stored in the ID storage memory 41 is embedded in the output signal of the ADC 45. The notification control unit 46 includes a filter 47, an FFT unit 48, a determination unit 49, and a light emission control unit 50.
The filter 47 passes the frequency component of the audible band of the digital signal output from the ADC 45. The FFT unit 48 performs FFT processing on the digital signal that has passed through the filter 47, and outputs spectral data that is the processing result.
The determination unit 49 determines whether an ID that matches the ID stored in the ID storage memory 41 is embedded in the output signal of the ADC 45. Specifically, the determination unit 49 converts the ID of the ID storage memory 41 into spectrum data according to the same conversion rule as that of the ID conversion unit 25 of the search support device 20. Each time the spectrum data for one frame is output from the FFT unit 48, it is obtained from the spectrum data for the predetermined number of frames output from the FFT unit 48 up to that point and the ID in the ID storage memory 41. A correlation coefficient is calculated with a copy of the spectrum data for a predetermined number of frames. Here, the spectrum of BGM changes from moment to moment, whereas the spectrum of ID embedded in BGM does not change even if the frame changes. Therefore, when the ID embedded in the sound picked up by the microphone 43 and the ID in the ID storage memory 41 are the same, the spectrum data output by the FFT unit 48 over the predetermined number of frames and the ID storage memory The correlation coefficient with the spectrum data obtained from the ID in 41 is a large value. Therefore, the determination unit 49 compares the correlation coefficient with a threshold value, and if the correlation coefficient exceeds the threshold value, the ID embedded in the sound collected by the microphone 43 and the ID of the ID storage memory 41 are equal. Judge that you are doing.
The light emission control unit 50 causes an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 51 to emit light after the determination unit 49 determines that an ID that matches the ID stored in the ID storage memory 41 is embedded in the output signal of the ADC 45.

  Among the above components, the ID storage memory 41 constitutes a “memory that stores an identifier unique to the search target person notification device”, the LED 51 constitutes “light emitting means”, and the microphone 43 represents “ Constituting a sound collecting means for picking up sound and outputting the sound signal, the notification control unit 46, “when the identifier embedded in the output sound signal matches the identifier stored in the memory, It constitutes “notification control means for causing the light emitting means to emit light”.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the BGM sound waveform sample string input from the input interface 22 of the search support device 20 is subjected to FFT processing by the FFT unit 24, inverse FFT processing by the inverse FFT unit 27, digital / analog conversion by the DAC 28, and After being amplified by the amplifier 29, it is output to the speakers 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and the BGM sound is emitted from the speakers 10-1, 10-2, 10-3.
Then, when a guardian who has lost the child's whereabouts visits the Lost Child Center to apply for the search and inputs the ID that was informed at the time of entry from the input operation unit 21, the ID conversion unit 25 converts the ID into spectrum data. To do. The adder 26 adds the spectrum data output from the ID conversion unit 25 to each of the spectrum data output from the FFT unit 24 and outputs the result. Thereby, BGM including the frequency component obtained by converting the ID is continuously emitted from the speakers 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 into the facility.
The sound of BGM that continues to flow from the speakers 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 into the facility is collected by the microphone 43 of the search target person notification device 40-k. Then, the analog signal output from the microphone 43 of the search target person notification device 40-k is amplified by the amplifier 44, analog / digital conversion by the ADC 45, passage of frequency components in the audible band by the filter 47, and FFT by the FFT unit 48. After processing, it is output to each determination unit 49 and used for the determination. The determination unit 49 of a searchee notification device 40-k among the searchee notification devices 40-k determines that an ID that matches the ID of the ID storage memory 41 is embedded in the output signal of the ADC 45. In this case, the light emission control unit 50 of the searchee notification device 40-k causes the LED 51 to emit light.
Then, the staff members present around the searchee notification device 40-k emitting the LED 51 protect the child wearing the searchee notification device 40-k and send it to the lost child center. This will reunite the child.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when an ID is input from the input operation unit 21 of the search support device 20, BGM sounds including frequency components obtained by converting the ID are output from the speakers 10-1, 10-2, 10. -3, the LED 51 of the search target person notification device 40-k storing the same ID in the ID storage memory 41 emits light. Therefore, it is possible to inform the staff members present around the location of the child to whom the guardian applied for the search, and to encourage the staff members to protect the child.
In the present embodiment, the LED 51 emits light to the search target person notification device 40-k by sound flowing from the search support device 20 through the speakers 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 into the facility. Is given a trigger. Therefore, even if the child who asks for a search cannot understand even a simple operation such as pressing a button, the staff can be informed of the location.

(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
The search support apparatus 20A in the present embodiment installs speakers 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3 in areas A, B, and C in the facility, respectively, and these speakers 10-1, 10-2, and 10-. The BGM for each area continues to flow from each of the three. In addition, in the areas A, B, and C, the search target person notification device 40A-k that has collected the BGM by the microphone 43 matches the ID embedded in the BGM and the ID of its own ID storage memory 41. Thereafter, a radio signal in which a carrier wave is modulated by an output signal of the microphone 43 is transmitted. Then, the radio signal transmitted by the searchee notification device 40A-k is received by the search support device 20A, and the BGM sound for each area obtained by demodulating the received radio signal is output from the speaker 32 of the search support device 20A. Sound is emitted.

FIG. 4A is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the search support apparatus 20A.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the search support apparatus 20A in this embodiment includes an input interface 22-m (m = 1 to 3), an FFT unit 24-m (m = 1 to 3), an adder 26- m (m = 1 to 3), inverse FFT unit 27-m (m = 1 to 3), DAC 28-m (m = 1 to 3), amplifier 29-m (m = 1 to 3), output interface 30- In addition to m (m = 1 to 3) and the ID conversion unit 25, the wireless receiver 31 and the speaker 32 are provided.

A BGM sound waveform sample string for area A is input to the input interface 22-1. The sound wave sample sequence is subjected to FFT processing by the FFT unit 24-1, inverse FFT processing by the inverse FFT unit 27-1, digital / analog conversion by the DAC 28-1, and amplification by the amplifier 29-1. To -1.
A BGM sound waveform sample string for area B is input to the input interface 22-2. The sound wave sample sequence is subjected to FFT processing by the FFT unit 24-2, inverse FFT processing by the inverse FFT unit 27-2, digital / analog conversion by the DAC 28-2, and amplification by the amplifier 29-2, and then the speaker 10 in the area B. -2 is output.
A BGM sound waveform sample string for area C is input to the input interface 22-3. The sound wave sample sequence is subjected to FFT processing by the FFT unit 24-3, inverse FFT processing by the inverse FFT unit 27-3, digital / analog conversion by the DAC 28-3, and amplification by the amplifier 29-3, and then the speaker 10 in the area C. -3.

When the ID is input by the input operation unit 21, the ID conversion unit 25 subsequently outputs spectrum data obtained by converting the input ID according to the same conversion rule as that of the first embodiment.
The adder 26-m (m = 1 to 3) adds the spectrum data output from the ID conversion unit 25 to the spectrum data output from the FFT unit 24-m (m = 1 to 3) and outputs the result. .
The radio receiver 31 demodulates a radio signal received by an antenna (not shown), and the speaker 32 emits sound obtained by the demodulation.

  FIG. 4B is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the searchee notification device 40A-k. This search target person notification device 40A-k includes an ID storage memory 41, a solar battery 42, a microphone 43, an amplifier 44, an ADC 45, a notification control unit 46, an LED 51, and a wireless transmitter 52. The role of each part except the wireless transmitter 52 is the same as that of the first embodiment. When the determination unit 49 determines that the ID that matches the ID stored in the ID storage memory 41 is embedded in the output signal of the ADC 45, the wireless transmitter 52 determines the carrier wave (carrier) based on the subsequent output signal of the ADC 45. A modulated radio signal is transmitted from an antenna (not shown).

  As described above, the searchee notification device 40A-k according to the present embodiment collects the BGM for each area flowing in the facility by the microphone 43, and the ID embedded in the output signal of the microphone 43. If it is determined that the ID of the ID storage memory 41 matches, the LED 51 is caused to emit light, and the subsequent sound collection content of the microphone 43 is transmitted as a radio signal. Then, the search support device 20 </ b> A emits the BGM sound by area obtained from demodulating the radio signal received from the searchee notification device 40 </ b> A-k from the speaker 32. Therefore, the guardian who has input the ID from the input operation unit 21 of the search support apparatus 20A listens to the BGM emitted from the speaker 32 of the search support apparatus 20A, so that in which area the lost child is located. You can see if you are.

(Other embodiments)
The first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention may have other embodiments. For example, it is as follows.
(1) In the first and second embodiments, the light emission color of the LED 51 of the searchee notification devices 40-k and 40A-k may be customized according to the preference of the child.
(2) In the first and second embodiments, the ID storage memory 41 of the searchee notification devices 40-k and 40A-k may be a rewritable memory. The search target person notification devices 40-k and 40A-k according to this embodiment bring the search target person notification devices 40-k and 40A-k previously purchased by parents and children to enter the facility. An ID that is valid only while in the facility is written in the ID storage memory 41, and the ID is erased when leaving the facility. In addition, when a parent / child who has not yet purchased the searchee notification devices 40-k and 40A-k enter the facility, the searchee notification devices 40-k and 40A-k whose IDs are stored in the ID storage memory 41 are used. May be used in such a manner that the searchee notification devices 40-k and 40A-k are allowed to be taken home on the condition that the ID is erased. According to these aspects, the attendant at the entrance / exit is forced to carry out a cumbersome procedure of lending the searchee notification devices 40-k, 40A-k whenever parents and children enter the facility, and urging them to return each time they leave. You do n’t have to.
(3) In the first and second embodiments, the determination unit 49 of the searchee notification devices 40-k and 40A-k includes the ID stored in the ID storage memory 41 and the ID embedded in the output signal of the ADC 45. Is determined to match, the light emission control unit 50 of the searchee notification devices 40-k and 40A-k caused the LED 51 to emit light. In addition to this, a voice that calms the child wearing the searchee notification devices 40-k and 40A-k and a voice that guides the child to the lost child center may be generated. Various modes can be considered as means for realizing this embodiment. For example, a memory and a speaker storing an audio signal of a pre-recorded message sound are mounted on the searchee notification devices 40-k and 40A-k, and the ID stored in the ID storage memory 41 and the output signal of the ADC 45 are used. If it is determined that the embedded ID matches, the audio signal in the memory may be emitted as a sound from the speaker.
(4) In the said 1st and 2nd embodiment, this invention was applied to the search of the child who separated from the guardian in the facility. However, the present invention may be applied to search for elderly people.
(5) In the first and second embodiments, the search support apparatuses 20 and 20A have the input interface 22, and BGM sound waveform sample strings that flow into the facility from the speakers 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3. Is input from the music player via the input interface 22. However, a storage device that stores the audio file of the BGM music may be built in the search support devices 20 and 20A, and the ID may be embedded in the sound wave sample sequence obtained by decoding the audio file by the decoder.
(6) In the search support devices 20 and 20A of the first and second embodiments, the BGM sound wave sample string input from the input interface 22 is input from the input operation unit 21 without being converted into frequency components. An ID may be embedded. Various means are conceivable as means for realizing such embedding. For example, when an ID is input from the input operation unit 21, a sound waveform sample having a time waveform including the ID as a frequency component in a band that is difficult for humans to hear is acquired and mixed with the sound waveform sample input from the input interface 22. Output.
(7) In the searchee notification devices 40-k and 40A-k of the first and second embodiments, the sound waveform sample string output from the ADC 45 is converted into the sound wave sample string without converting it into a frequency component. The presence or absence of a match between the embedded ID and the ID stored in the ID storage memory 41 may be determined. Various means are conceivable as means for realizing such determination. For example, by inputting the output signal of the ADC 45 to the filter, the frequency component previously associated with each bit of the binary data of ID is extracted from the output signal, and the level and threshold value of each of these components are set to 1. Compare one by one. Then, the comparison result that exceeds the threshold is set to “1”, the comparison result that is lower than the threshold is set to “0”, and the binary data in which the comparison results are arranged and the ID stored in the ID storage memory 41 It is determined whether or not the binary data matches.
(7) The search support apparatus 20A according to the second embodiment has three each of the input interface 22, the FFT unit 24, the adder 26, the inverse FFT unit 27, the DAC 28, the amplifier 29, and the output interface 30. A different BGM sound waveform sample string was input from each of the input interfaces 22. However, the input interface 22, the FFT unit 24, the adder 26, the inverse FFT unit 27, the DAC 28, the amplifier 29, and the output interface 30 are set to more or less than three sets, and the input interfaces of these sets are set. 22 may be inputted with a sound waveform sample sequence of different BGM.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the lost child search system concerning 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows each structure of the search assistance apparatus and search target person alerting | reporting apparatus in the lost child search system concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the conversion result of the binary data according to the conversion rule of 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows each structure of the search assistance apparatus and search target person alerting | reporting apparatus in the lost child search system concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 32 ... Speaker, 20 ... Search support device, 21 ... Input operation part, 22 ... Input interface, 23 ... ID embedding part, 24, 48 ... FFT part, 25 ... ID conversion part, 26 ... Adder, 27 ... Inverse FFT unit, 28 ... DAC, 30 ... output interface, 31 ... wireless receiver, 40 ... searchee notification device, 41 ... ID storage memory, 42 ... solar cell, 43 ... microphone, 45 ... ADC, 46 ... notification control , 47 ... filter, 49 ... determining unit, 50 ... light emission control unit, 51 ... LED, 52 ... wireless transmitter.

Claims (4)

A sound signal input means for inputting a sound signal;
An identifier input means for inputting the identifier of the searchee;
Embedding means for embedding the identifier input by the identifier input means in the sound signal input by the sound signal input means;
Sound emission means for emitting a sound signal in which the identifier is embedded as sound ,
The sound emitting means is
Transmitted from a search target notification device that collects a surrounding sound and transmits a sound signal representing the sound as a radio signal when an identifier embedded in the sound matches an identifier stored in the device. Receiving means for receiving a coming sound signal;
A first speaker that emits the sound signal received by the receiving means as sound;
A plurality of second speakers arranged in each of a plurality of areas to be searched by the searchee,
A plurality of sound signals representing different sounds are input to the sound signal input means, and the sound signal input means gives a different sound signal for each area to each of the plurality of second speakers.
Search support device comprising a call. The embedding means includes
Fourier transform means for performing Fourier transform processing on the sound signal input by the sound signal input means;
Identifier conversion means for converting the identifier input by the identifier input means into a frequency component according to a predetermined conversion rule;
Adding means for adding the conversion result by the identifier conversion means to the processing result by the Fourier transform means;
The search support apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an inverse Fourier transform unit that obtains a sound signal in which the identifier is embedded by performing an inverse Fourier transform process on the addition result of the addition unit. A memory for storing an identifier unique to the search target person notification device;
A light emitting means;
A plurality of speakers, each of which emits a sound in which an identifier indicating the search target person is embedded, which is arranged in each of a plurality of areas to be searched by the search target person, and which emits a different sound for each area. Sound collecting means for collecting sound emitted from the nearest speaker and outputting the sound signal;
It is determined whether or not the identifier embedded in the sound signal output from the sound collecting means and the identifier stored in the memory match, and when determined to match, the light emitting means is caused to emit light, Thereafter, notification control means for transmitting a sound signal output from the sound collection means as a radio signal;
A search target person notification device comprising: The notification control means includes
Has a Fourier transformer that performs a Fourier transform process on the sound signal outputted from said sound collecting means, the identifier stored in the memory is converted into frequency components in accordance with a predetermined conversion rule, obtained as the result of the conversion each An identifier embedded in the sound signal when the correlation coefficient between the power spectrum of the frequency component and the power spectrum of each frequency component obtained as a result of the Fourier transform process is calculated, and the calculated correlation coefficient is greater than a threshold value and the locatee notification apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said you determined and stored identifier in the memory match.

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