JP7540914B2 - Search support system and search support method - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a search support system and search support method that can efficiently locate search subjects (hereinafter simply referred to as "subjects") such as lost children, elderly people, and animals.

Conventionally, there are known techniques for estimating the position of a target, such as a lost child or an animal. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a position estimation device that acquires its own position (first position information), determines the distance between its own device and a transmitter based on a signal transmitted from the target's transmitter (first distance information), determines the position of another position estimation device (second position information) and the distance between the other position estimation device and the transmitter (second distance information), estimates the target's position based on the first position information, the first distance information, the second position information, and the second distance information, and outputs the estimated position.

JP 2018-124258 A

However, because the device in Patent Document 1 estimates the target's position from the relative positions of its own device and other position estimation devices, there are limitations to the accuracy of the estimation. This is because radio waves emitted from the transmitter may be diffracted by obstacles. As a result, even if a searcher goes to the estimated position, the target may not necessarily be present at this estimated position. In such cases, the searcher must thoroughly search all possible areas, which may take a long time to secure the target. In some cases, the target may be injured during the search.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the conventional technology described above, and aims to provide a search support system and a search support method that can efficiently secure a target person.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a search support system having a terminal device of a search requester requesting a search for a subject who is the subject of a search, a search information providing device that provides information related to the subject to the terminal device, a wireless tag carried by the subject, and a receiver that cooperates in the search for the subject , wherein the receiver notifies the search information providing device of receiver location information including location information of the own device and a current time at predetermined time intervals, and upon receiving tag information including wireless tag identification information of the wireless tag, transmits detection information including the location information of the own device, the wireless tag identification information, and the reception time of the tag information to the search information providing device. The search information providing device notifies the terminal device of information relating to a first area in which the wireless tag was detected by the receiver within the detection range of the receiver at a specified time, a second area in which the wireless tag is not detected by the receiver within the detection range of the receiver at the specified time, and a third area in which the wireless tag can be detected at each point to which the receiver has moved within a certain time in the past from the specified time, based on the receiver location information and the detection information notified from the receiver, and the terminal device outputs the information relating to the first area, the second area, and the third area in a distinguishable manner.

In addition, in the above invention, the receiver is characterized in that it comprises a location information acquisition means for acquiring location information of the device itself, a receiving means for receiving tag information including radio tag identification information transmitted from the radio tag, and a notification means for notifying the search information providing device of the receiver location information and the detection information.

In addition, in the above invention, the search information providing device comprises a receiving means for receiving the receiver location information and the detection information from the receiver, a storage means for storing the receiver location information and the detection information received by the receiving means, a generating means for generating, based on the receiver location information and the detection information stored in the storage means, information relating to a first area in which the radio tag was detected by the receiver within the detection range of the receiver at the specified time, a second area in which the radio tag is not detected by the receiver within the detection range of the receiver at the specified time, and a third area in which the radio tag can be detected at each point to which the receiver has moved within a certain time in the past from the specified time, and a notification means for notifying the terminal device of the information relating to the first area, the second area, and the third area generated by the generation means.

In addition, in the above invention , the present invention is characterized in that the terminal device controls the display of an image on a specified display unit that makes it possible to distinguish information relating to the first area, the second area, and the third area.

In addition, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the receiver includes a mobile receiver attached to a predetermined mobile body and a fixed receiver fixedly arranged at a predetermined position, and the generation means generates an image that includes the first area or the second area for the fixed receiver, and that makes it possible to distinguish information relating to the first area and the third area or the second area and the third area for the mobile receiver.

Furthermore, in the above invention, the generating means generates an image including a difficult-to-move-to area through which the subject will have difficulty moving on foot within a certain time period from the predetermined time point.

The present invention also relates to a search support method in a search support system having a terminal device of a search requester requesting a search for a person who is the subject of a search, a search information providing device providing information related to the person to the terminal device, a wireless tag carried by the person, and a receiver cooperating in the search for the person , the first communication being for notifying the search information providing device of receiver location information including location information of the device itself and a current time at predetermined time intervals, and, upon receiving tag information including wireless tag identification information of the wireless tag, notifying the search information providing device of detection information including location information of the device itself, the wireless tag identification information, and a time when the tag information was received. The search information providing device is characterized in that it includes a notification process , a second notification process in which the search information providing device notifies the terminal device of information relating to a first area in which the wireless tag was detected by the receiver within the detection range of the receiver at a predetermined time point based on the receiver location information and the detection information notified from the receiver, a second area in which the wireless tag is not detected by the receiver within the detection range of the receiver at the predetermined time point, and a third area in which the wireless tag can be detected at each point to which the receiver has moved within a certain time period in the past from the predetermined time point, and an output process in which the terminal device outputs the information relating to the first area, the second area, and the third area in a distinguishable manner .

The present invention allows for efficient securing of eligible individuals.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an overview of a search support system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a system configuration of the search support system according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of the information aggregating server shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the wireless tag management data, receiver management data, and mobile receiver display setting data shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the within-display-range receiver management data and display data shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of image data according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating a processing procedure of the information aggregation server according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating the processing procedure of the information aggregation server according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of movement of a subject and placement of receivers according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 1) showing an example of image data according to the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram (part 2) showing an example of image data according to the embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram (part 3) showing an example of image data according to the embodiment. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of an outline of a search support system according to a modified example.

The search support system and search support method according to this embodiment will be described in detail below. In this embodiment, a searcher carrying a mobile receiver searches for a target person such as a lost child or an elderly person. In addition, the target person is assumed to carry a wireless tag that transmits radio waves for short-range wireless communication such as BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy; "Bluetooth" is a registered trademark).

<Outline of the search support system>
First, an overview of the search support system according to this embodiment will be described. Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the overview of the search support system according to this embodiment. Here, for convenience of explanation, a case will be shown in which an information aggregation server (HTTP server) generates image data in a bitmap format, and in response to an HTTP request by a web browser or an application on the mobile terminal of the searcher, the information aggregation server transmits the image data in the bitmap format to the mobile terminal of the searcher, and the image data is displayed on the operation display unit of the mobile terminal of the searcher.

The search support system includes a receiver carried by a collaborator (mobile body) who cooperates in the search for the target person, or a receiver installed on the collaborator's bicycle or car (hereinafter referred to as a "mobile receiver"), and a fixed receiver that is permanently installed in a predetermined location. In this embodiment, the mobile receiver and the fixed receiver are collectively referred to as the "receiver."

The receiver acquires the position coordinates of its own device measured by GPS (Global Positioning System) at preset intervals (e.g., 10 seconds) and notifies the acquired position coordinates together with the current time to an information aggregation server described below as receiver position data. In addition, when radio waves transmitted from a wireless tag carried by the subject are received, the receiver acquires the position coordinates of its own device measured by GPS, and notifies the acquired position coordinates and the wireless tag identification information (hereinafter referred to as "wireless tag ID") contained in the radio waves received from the wireless tag to the information aggregation server as detection information (detection data) together with the time the wireless tag ID was received.

The information aggregation server associates and manages the receiver's position coordinates and time information contained in the receiver position data received from the receiver. The information aggregation server also associates and manages the wireless tag ID, receiver position coordinates, and time information contained in the detection data received from the receiver. When a search request for a target person is received from a searcher's mobile device, it generates search information indicating areas where the target person is not likely to be based on the wireless tag ID, receiver position coordinates, and time information, and transmits the generated search information to the mobile device. In other words, this information aggregation server does not predict the target person's location, but rather makes it easier for the searcher to narrow down the search area by displaying images of areas where the target person is not likely to be.

For example, as an example of such search information, the image shown in Figure 1 can be transmitted to a mobile terminal. This image includes a circular detectable area centered on the receiver's position coordinates according to the receiver's capabilities (for example, a receivable radius of several meters to several tens of meters). Here, the circle is colored color 1 (for example, blue) if the receiver detects a wireless tag, color 2 (for example, black) if it does not detect a wireless tag, and color 3 (for example, gray) for the detectable areas at each point to which the mobile receiver has moved within a certain period of time in the past from the present time.

As shown in Figure 1, at time t1, the fixed receiver 1B detects the subject's wireless tag (S1), and at time t2, the mobile receiver 1A detects the subject's wireless tag (S2). At time t3, neither receiver detects the subject's wireless tag (S3). In other words, this shows a situation where the subject is highly likely to be present in an area outside the detectable area of each receiver (area shown in background color).

In this way, the search support system allows the searcher to narrow down the search area by providing the searcher's mobile device with areas where the target person is not present.

<System Configuration>
Next, the system configuration of the search support system according to this embodiment will be described. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the system configuration of the search support system according to this embodiment 1. The search support system shown in Fig. 2 is a system including a wireless tag 10, a fixed receiver 20, a mobile receiver 30, an information aggregation server 40, and a mobile terminal 50. The wireless tag 10 can communicate with the fixed receiver 20 and the mobile receiver 30 by BLE communication, and the fixed receiver 20, the mobile receiver 30, and the mobile terminal 50 can communicate with the information aggregation server 40 via the Internet. Note that a network other than the Internet can also be used.

The wireless tag 10 is a device carried by the subject and transmits its own wireless tag ID via BLE radio waves. Here, the wireless tag ID is transmitted every preset time (e.g., 10 seconds).

The fixed receiver 20 is installed in a building along a road, and is a device that receives BLE radio waves from the wireless tag 10. This fixed receiver 20 stores its own position coordinates measured by GPS and its own receiver ID, and transmits its own receiver ID, position coordinates, and current time to the information aggregation server 40 as receiver position data at preset intervals (e.g., 10 seconds). In addition, when a BLE radio wave is received, the wireless tag ID, receiver ID, its own position coordinates, and the reception time of the wireless tag ID carried on the BLE radio wave are transmitted to the information aggregation server 40 as detection data. Note that in this embodiment, multiple fixed receivers 20 may be referred to as fixed receivers 1B, 2B, and 3B.

The mobile receiver 30 is a mobile terminal such as a smartphone carried by a collaborator who cooperates in the search for the target person, and has a function of acquiring the position coordinates of the device itself by GPS and a function of receiving BLE radio waves. The receiver ID of the device itself is stored in the storage unit. A dedicated application is pre-installed in the mobile receiver 30. The dedicated application transmits the receiver ID of the device itself, the position coordinates of the device itself acquired by GPS, and the current time to the information aggregation server 40 as receiver position data at pre-set intervals (e.g., 10 seconds). When BLE radio waves are received, the wireless tag ID carried on the BLE radio waves, the receiver ID, the position coordinates of the device itself acquired by GPS, and the reception time of the wireless tag ID are transmitted to the information aggregation server 40 as detection data. In this embodiment, when multiple mobile receivers 30 are indicated, they may be written as mobile receivers 1A, 2A, and 3A.

The information aggregation server 40 is a server device that manages the location of searchers, etc., and transmits image data to the mobile terminal 50 in response to a "search request for a target person" from the mobile terminal 50 of the searcher. Specifically, when the information aggregation server 40 receives a receiver ID and location coordinates as receiver location data from the fixed receiver 20 and mobile receiver 30, it stores this information together with the reception time in the memory unit. In addition, when the information aggregation server 40 receives a wireless tag ID, receiver ID, location coordinates, and reception time of the wireless tag ID as detection data from the fixed receiver 20 and mobile receiver 30, it stores this information in the memory unit. Furthermore, when a search request is received from the mobile terminal 50, it generates an image showing the search information for the target person and transmits it to the mobile terminal 50.

The mobile terminal 50 is a terminal device such as a smartphone carried by a searcher (e.g., a family member of the target person) searching for the target person, and has a function of communicating with the information aggregation server 40 and a function of displaying images sent from the information aggregation server 40. Note that a search app can be installed in advance on this mobile terminal 50, but it is also possible to access the information aggregation server 40 (HTTP server) or the like using a web browser to make a search request and display images sent from the information aggregation server 40.

<Configuration of information aggregation server 40>
Next, a configuration of the information aggregating server 40 shown in Fig. 2 will be described. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information aggregating server 40 shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the information aggregating server 40 is connected to a display unit 41 and an input unit 42, and has a communication unit 43, a storage unit 44, and a control unit 45.

The display unit 41 is a display device such as a liquid crystal panel or a display device. The input unit 42 is an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse. The communication unit 43 is an interface unit for communicating with the fixed receiver 20, the mobile receiver 30, and the mobile terminal 50 via the Internet.

The memory unit 44 is a storage device such as a hard disk drive or non-volatile memory, and stores wireless tag management data 44a, receiver management data 44b, display setting data 44c, within-display-range receiver management data 44d, image data 44e, map data 44f, and display data 44g.

The wireless tag management data 44a is data that associates the subject ID, wireless tag ID, searcher ID, etc., related to the subject. The receiver management data 44b is data that associates the position coordinates of the receiver at each time, the wireless tag ID received by the receiver, etc.

Display setting data 44c is data that indicates the display setting time of the mobile receiver 30. This is the display setting time for displaying on a map the detection area that the mobile receiver 30 has covered for a certain period of time in the past. Receiver management data within display range 44d is data within the receiver management data 44b that is within the area requested to be searched by the mobile terminal 50.

The display data 44g is data consisting of the drawing coordinates of the center point of the detection range of the receiver, the drawing radius, etc., for drawing on a map the area of the presence of the subject requested for search by the mobile terminal 50. The map data 44f is color map data formed by RGB, for example. Note that such map data 44f may be an image in another format, such as a vector image. The image data 44e is image data that displays on a map the area of the presence of the subject requested for search by the mobile terminal 50. In this embodiment, the display data 44g is generated once, and then the image data 44e is generated from this display data 44g and the map data 44f.

The control unit 45 is a control unit that performs overall control of the information aggregation server 40, and has a wireless tag management unit 45a, a receiver management unit 45b, a display setting unit 45c, an image data generation unit 45d, and an image data notification unit 45h. In practice, these programs are loaded into a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and executed, causing the wireless tag management unit 45a, the receiver management unit 45b, the display setting unit 45c, the image data generation unit 45d, and the image data notification unit 45h to execute processes corresponding to each of them.

The wireless tag management unit 45a is a processing unit that manages the wireless tag management data 44a. The wireless tag management unit 45a accepts the wireless tag ID, the target ID, the searcher ID, etc. from the input unit 42 and stores them in the wireless tag management data 44a.

The receiver management unit 45b is a processing unit that manages the receiver management data 44b. When the receiver management unit 45b receives receiver position data from the fixed receiver 20 and the mobile receiver 30, it stores the received wireless tag ID as "none" in the receiver management data 44b along with the time information, receiver ID, and position coordinates contained in the receiver position data. When the receiver management unit 45b receives detection data from the fixed receiver 20 and the mobile receiver 30, it stores the time of reception of the wireless tag ID contained in the detection data, the receiver ID, the position coordinates, and the received wireless tag ID in the receiver management data 44b.

The display setting unit 45c is a processing unit that manages the display setting data 44c. The display setting unit 45c accepts the mobile receiver display setting time from the input unit 42 and stores it in the display setting data 44c. The image data notification unit 45h is a processing unit that notifies the mobile terminal 50 of the image data 44e.

The image data generating unit 45d is a processing unit that generates image data 44e, and has a display range data extracting unit 45e, a current information processing unit 45f, a past information processing unit 45g, and a display data drawing unit 45i. The display range data extracting unit 45e is a processing unit that extracts data within the display range from the receiver management data 44b. The display range data extracting unit 45e extracts data that falls within the display range included in the search request from the mobile terminal 50 from the receiver management data 44b, and stores it in the display range receiver management data 44d.

The current information processing unit 45f is a processing unit that generates display data 44g including the current detection situation. The current information processing unit 45f extracts data from the within-display-range receiver management data 44d at the time immediately preceding the specified time t included in the search request. The current information processing unit 45f includes the position coordinates of the extracted data as the drawing coordinates, the reception radius as the drawing radius, and the received wireless tag ID as the wireless tag ID in the display data 44g together with the time of the extracted data and the receiver ID.

The current information processing unit 45f identifies the wireless tag ID of the target from the wireless tag management data 44a using the target ID or searcher ID included in the search request. If the wireless tag ID of the target is included in the received wireless tag ID of the extracted data, the current information processing unit 45f sets the area drawing color of the data to color 1, and if the wireless tag ID of the target is not included, sets the area drawing color of the data to color 2 and includes it in the display data 44g.

The past information processing unit 45g is a processing unit that processes the movement area of the mobile receiver 30 within a certain period of time in the past and includes it in the display data 44g. The past information processing unit 45g extracts data from the within-display-range receiver management data 44d that is older than the time immediately preceding the specified time t included in the search request and that is obtained by subtracting the display setting time of the display setting data 44c from the specified time t.

The past information processing unit 45g searches for data extracted from the within-display-range receiver management data 44d, and if it corresponds to the mobile receiver 30, it includes the area drawing color of the searched data as color 3, the position coordinates as drawing coordinates, and the reception radius as drawing radius in the display data 44g together with the time and receiver ID of the searched data.

The display data drawing unit 45i is a processing unit that generates image data 44e from the display data 44g and the map data 44f. The display data drawing unit 45i generates image data 44e by drawing a circle with a center point at the drawing coordinates included in the display data 44g and a radius equal to the drawing radius, superimposed on the map data 44f in a color corresponding to the area drawing color.

Next, an example of data stored in the memory unit 44 shown in Fig. 3 will be described. Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing examples of the wireless tag management data 44a, receiver management data 44b, display setting data 44c, within-display-range receiver management data 44d, and display data 44g shown in Fig. 3.

The wireless tag management data 44a shown in FIG. 4(a) shows the situation in which the subject ID "A101", subject name "Takken Taro", subject contact information "090-1234-5678", subject address "Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo...", searcher ID "B101", searcher name "Takken Hanako" and searcher contact information "080-2345-6789" are associated with the wireless tag ID "R001".

The receiver management data 44b shown in FIG. 4(b) shows a situation in which fixed/mobile "fixed", position coordinates "x1/y1", receiving radius "20m" and receiving wireless tag ID "none" are associated with receiver ID "101" at time "t1", fixed/mobile "fixed", position coordinates "x2/y2", receiving radius "20m" and receiving wireless tag ID "none" are associated with receiver ID "102" at time "t1", fixed/mobile "fixed", position coordinates "x3/y3", receiving radius "20m" and receiving wireless tag ID "R001" are associated with receiver ID "103" at time "t1", and fixed/mobile "mobile", position coordinates "x11/y11", receiving radius "5m" and receiving wireless tag ID "none" are associated with receiver ID "201" at time "t1".

The figure also shows a situation in which fixed/mobile "mobile", position coordinates "x21/y21", reception radius "5m" and reception wireless tag ID "none" are associated with receiver ID "202" at time "t1", fixed/mobile "mobile", position coordinates "x31/y31", reception radius "5m" and reception wireless tag ID "none" are associated with receiver ID "203" at time "t1", fixed/mobile "fixed", position coordinates "x1/y1", reception radius "20m" and reception wireless tag ID "none" are associated with receiver ID "101" at time "t2", and fixed/mobile "fixed", position coordinates "x2/y2", reception radius "20m" and reception wireless tag ID "none" are associated with receiver ID "102" at time "t2".

The figure also shows a situation in which fixed/mobile "fixed", position coordinates "x3/y3", reception radius "20m" and receiving wireless tag ID "none" are associated with receiver ID "103" at time "t2", fixed/mobile "moving", position coordinates "x12/y12", reception radius "5m" and receiving wireless tag ID "none" are associated with receiver ID "201" at time "t2", fixed/mobile "moving", position coordinates "x22/y22", reception radius "5m" and receiving wireless tag ID "R001" are associated with receiver ID "203" at time "t2", fixed/mobile "moving", position coordinates "x32/y32", reception radius "5m" and receiving wireless tag ID "none" are associated with receiver ID "203" at time "t2".

The display setting data 44c shown in FIG. 4(c) shows a situation in which the display setting time of the mobile receiver is set to "1 minute."

The display range receiver management data 44d shown in FIG. 5(a) shows a situation in which fixed/mobile "fixed", position coordinates "x1/y1", reception radius "20m" and reception wireless tag ID "none" are associated with receiver ID "101" at time "t1", fixed/mobile "fixed", position coordinates "x3/y3", reception radius "20m" and reception wireless tag ID "R001" are associated with receiver ID "103" at time "t1", fixed/mobile "mobile", position coordinates "x11/y11", reception radius "5m" and reception wireless tag ID "none" are associated with receiver ID "201" at time "t1", and fixed/mobile "mobile", position coordinates "x21/y21", reception radius "5m" and reception wireless tag ID "none" are associated with receiver ID "202" at time "t1".

The figure also shows a situation in which fixed/mobile "fixed", position coordinates "x1/y1", reception radius "20m" and receiving wireless tag ID "none" are associated with receiver ID "101" at time "t2", fixed/mobile "fixed", position coordinates "x3/y3", reception radius "20m" and receiving wireless tag ID "none" are associated with receiver ID "103" at time "t2", fixed/mobile "moving", position coordinates "x22/y22", reception radius "5m" and receiving wireless tag ID "R001" are associated with receiver ID "203" at time "t2", fixed/mobile "moving", position coordinates "x32/y32", reception radius "5m" and receiving wireless tag ID "none" are associated with receiver ID "203" at time "t2".

Next, an example of display data 44g will be described.

5(b) is a diagram showing an example of display data 44g. As shown in FIG. 5(b), display data 44g includes data of receiver ID "101", wireless tag ID "R001", drawing coordinates "x1/y1", drawing radius "20m", and area drawing color "color 1" at time "t8", data of receiver ID "102", wireless tag ID "none", drawing coordinates "x2/y2", drawing radius "20m", and area drawing color "color 2" at time "t8", data of receiver ID "103", wireless tag ID "R005", drawing coordinates "x3/y3", drawing radius "20m", and area drawing color "color 2" at time "t8", and data of receiver ID "201", wireless tag ID "none", drawing coordinates "x18/y18", drawing radius "5m", and area drawing color "color 2" at time "t8".

It also includes data for the receiver ID "202", wireless tag ID "none", drawing coordinates "x28/y28", drawing radius "5m" and area drawing color "color 2" at time "t8", data for the receiver ID "203", wireless tag ID "none", drawing coordinates "x38/y38", drawing radius "5m" and area drawing color "color 2" at time "t8", data for the receiver ID "201", wireless tag ID "none", drawing coordinates "x17/y17", drawing radius "5m" and area drawing color "color 3" at time "t7", and data for the receiver ID "202", wireless tag ID "none", drawing coordinates "x27/y27", drawing radius "5m" and area drawing color "color 3" at time "t7".

In addition, data for the receiver ID "203", wireless tag ID "none", drawing coordinates "x37/y37", drawing radius "5m" and area drawing color "color 3" at time "t7", data for the receiver ID "201", wireless tag ID "none", drawing coordinates "x12/y12", drawing radius "5m" and area drawing color "color 3" at time "t2", data for the receiver ID "202" of wireless tag ID "none", drawing coordinates "x22/y22", drawing radius "5m" and area drawing color "color 3" at time "t2", and data for the receiver ID "203" of wireless tag ID "none", drawing coordinates "x32/y32", drawing radius "5m" and area drawing color "color 3" at time "t2" are included.

<Display of image data>
Next, an example of the image data 44e according to the present embodiment will be described. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the image data 44e according to the present embodiment. The display data drawing unit 45i develops the map data 44f on a bitmap memory, generates a circle on the bitmap memory with the drawing coordinates included in the display data 44g as its center point and the drawing radius as its radius so as to overlay the image data 44e, and generates the image data 44e by filling the inside of the circle with a color corresponding to the area drawing color.

Specifically, the fixed receiver 1B shown in FIG. 6 has data immediately prior to time t as a circle with center point "(x1, y1)" and radius "r1" and color "color 1" (e.g., blue). The mobile receiver 1A has data immediately prior to time t as a circle with center point "(x18, y18)" and radius "r2" and color "color 2" (e.g., black).

In addition, multiple circles are displayed in succession as mobile receiver data that is older than the closest time t and is between time t and the time obtained by subtracting the display setting time of the display setting data 44c. For example, one of the continuously displayed mobile receivers 1A is a circle with a center point "(x12, y12)" and a radius of "r2", and is colored "color 3" (for example, gray). Note that when multiple circles are displayed overlapping each other, they are displayed overlapping with the circle with the newer time in front.

<Processing procedure of information aggregation server 40>
Next, a processing procedure of the information aggregating server 40 will be described. Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 are flowcharts showing the processing procedure of the information aggregating server 40. As shown in the figures, when the information aggregating server 40 receives receiver position data or detection data from the fixed receiver 20 or the mobile receiver 30 (step S101; Yes), the information aggregating server 40 stores the received data in the receiver management data 44b (step S102).

If neither receiver position data nor detection data has been received from the fixed receiver 20 or the mobile receiver 30 (step S101; No), or if a search request has not been received from the mobile terminal 50 (step S103; No), proceed to step S101. On the other hand, if a search request has been received from the mobile terminal 50 (step S103; Yes), data within the display range is extracted from the receiver management data 44b based on the display range included in the search request, and stored in the within-display-range receiver management data 44d (step S104).

Then, data for the time immediately prior to the specified time t included in the search request is extracted from the within-display-range receiver management data 44d (step S105), and the position coordinates of the extracted data are included in the display data 44g as drawing coordinates and the reception radius as a drawing radius (step S106).

The wireless tag ID of the target person is identified from the wireless tag management data 44a using the target person ID or searcher ID included in the search request (step S107), and the top-level data is extracted from the display data 44g (step S108).

If the wireless tag ID of the extracted data includes the wireless tag ID of the subject (step S109; Yes), the area of color 1 is included in the display data 44g (step S110); if the wireless tag ID of the subject is not included (step S109; No), the area of color 2 is included in the display data 44g (step S111).

Then, the next data is extracted from the display data 44g (step S112), and if there is next data (step S113; No), the process proceeds to step S109. If there is no next data (step S113; Yes), the topmost data is extracted from the display data 44g (step S114).

Data with the same time and receiver ID as the extracted data is identified from within the display range receiver management data 44d, and the data one level above it is extracted (step S115).

If the receiver of the extracted data is a mobile receiver 30 (step S116; Yes), the area drawing color is set to color 3, the position coordinates of the extracted data are set to the drawing coordinates, and the reception radius is set to the drawing radius, and the area drawing color is included in the display data 44g (step S117). If the receiver of the extracted data is a fixed receiver 20 (step S116; No), proceed to step S118.

The data one level above the extracted data is extracted from the display range receiver management data 44d (step S118), and if the time of the extracted data is after the time t minus the display setting time of the mobile receiver in the display setting data 44c (step S119; No), proceed to step S116.

If the time of the extracted data is earlier than the time t minus the mobile receiver display setting time (step S119; Yes), image data 44e is generated from display data 44g and map data 44f and transmitted to the mobile terminal 50 (step S120), and the process ends.

<Display example of image data 44e according to the embodiment>
Next, a specific example of the display of the image data 44e according to the present embodiment will be described. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the movement of the subject and the arrangement of the receiver, which are the premise of the specific example of the display of the image data 44e according to the present embodiment.

As shown in Figure 9, a subject (represented by a double white circle) carrying a wireless tag 10 moves along the route shown by the dashed line from time t1 to t9. The fixed receivers 20 have a receiving radius of several tens of meters, and are installed at the black circles on the map as fixed receiver 1B, fixed receiver 2B, and fixed receiver 3B. When the subject passes within the outer circle of the black circle, which represents the receiving radius of several tens of meters of the fixed receiver 20, the fixed receiver 20 detects the wireless tag 10.

Mobile receiver 30 has a receiving radius of 10 m or less, and mobile receiver 1A, mobile receiver 2A, and mobile receiver 3A (shown as black circles) each move independently. At time t4, the subject passes within the outer circle of the black circle representing the range of mobile receiver 1A's receiving radius of 10 m or less, so mobile receiver 1A detects wireless tag 10, and similarly, mobile receiver 2A detects wireless tag 10 at time t2, and mobile receiver 3A detects wireless tag 10 at time t3.

Next, an example of the display of image data 44e according to this embodiment will be described. FIGS. 10 to 12 are diagrams showing an example of the display of image data 44e according to this embodiment. FIG. 10 is an example of the display at time t1. The area drawing color of the fixed receiver 3B is color 1, indicating that a wireless tag 10 has been detected. The area drawing color of the other receivers is color 2 or color 3, indicating a situation in which a wireless tag 10 has not been detected. FIG. 11 is an example of the display at time t8. The area drawing color of the fixed receiver 1B is color 1, indicating that a wireless tag 10 has been detected. The area drawing color of the other receivers is color 2 or color 3, indicating a situation in which a wireless tag 10 has not been detected.

Figure 12 is an example display at time t9. The area drawing color for all receivers is color 2 or color 3, indicating a situation in which the wireless tag 10 is not being detected. In other words, this indicates that the subject is likely to be present in an area other than the areas of color 2 and color 3 (area of the background color). In this way, the search support system according to this embodiment can be used to clarify areas in which the subject is not present and narrow down the search range.

As described above, in this embodiment, the search support system includes a mobile terminal 50 of a search requester who requests a search for a subject to be searched, an information aggregation server 40 that provides information about the subject to the mobile terminal 50, a wireless tag 10 carried by the subject, and a receiver (fixed receiver 20 and mobile receiver 30) that cooperates in the search for the subject. When the receiver detects tag information of the wireless tag 10, it notifies the information aggregation server 40 of detection information including the detected tag information, the detection time of the tag information, and the location information of the device itself. Based on the detection information notified from the receiver, the information aggregation server 40 notifies the mobile terminal 50 of information about an area where the subject is not present at a predetermined time, and the mobile terminal 50 is configured to output information about an area where the subject is not present. This narrows down the area where the subject may be present, and shortens the time to secure the subject compared to searching the entire area.

In addition, in this embodiment, the receiver acquires location information of its own device, and upon detecting tag information including wireless tag identification information transmitted from the wireless tag 10, notifies the information aggregation server 40 of detection information including the detected tag information, the detection time of the tag information, and location information of its own device. Furthermore, upon receiving detection information from the receiver, the information aggregation server 40 stores the received detection information in the memory unit 44, generates information relating to an area where a subject is not present at a predetermined time based on the detection information stored in the memory unit 44, and notifies the mobile terminal 50 of the generated information relating to an area where a subject is not present.

<Modification>
In the above embodiment, the case where the area is divided into an area where the subject is present and an area where the subject is not present and displayed has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the area where the subject has difficulty moving can also be configured to be clearly displayed. In this modified example, a configuration for clearly displaying an area where the subject has difficulty moving will be described.

Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an overview of the search support system according to this modified example. As shown in Figure 13, at time t1, none of the receivers detects the target person's wireless tag (S11), but at time t2, the mobile receiver 1A detects the target person's wireless tag (S12).

At time t3, none of the receivers detect the subject's wireless tag, but the detection data at time t2 is used to display the subject's difficult-to-move-to area in color 4 (e.g., brown) (S3). This is done by displaying the area in which the subject has difficulty moving (e.g., an area with a radius of 100 m or more where it will be difficult to move on foot within a certain time) based on the position information detected by mobile receiver 1A at time t2.

In this way, the search support system of this modified example can minimize the search area by clarifying areas where it is difficult to move in addition to areas where the target person does not exist.

In the above embodiment, a configuration for clarifying areas where the subject is not present has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to configure the highlighted area to be inverted to display areas where the subject is likely to be present.

In addition, in the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the mobile receiver can move freely, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the mobile receiver can also be configured to increase the possibility of detecting a target person by guiding it to a specific location. For example, if it is necessary to pass through point Z in order to move from point X to point Y, the mobile receiver can be guided to point Z, and the area from point Y to point Z can be excluded from the search range, thereby narrowing the search range.

In addition, in the above embodiment, an image showing an area where no subject is present is displayed, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it may also be configured to notify information about areas where no subject is present by audio.

In addition, each configuration illustrated in the above embodiment is a functional schematic, and does not necessarily have to be physically configured as illustrated. In other words, the form of distribution and integration of each device is not limited to that illustrated, and all or part of it can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit depending on various loads, usage conditions, etc.

The search support system and search support method of the present invention are suitable for efficiently securing a target person.

Description of the Reference Signs 1A, 2A, 3A, 30 Mobile receiver 1B, 2B, 3B, 20 Fixed receiver 10 Wireless tag 40 Information aggregation server 41 Display unit 42 Input unit 43 Communication unit 44 Memory unit 44a Wireless tag management data 44b Receiver management data 44c Display setting data 44d Receiver management data within display range 44e Image data 44f Map data 44g Display data 45 Control unit 45a Wireless tag management unit 45b Receiver management unit 45c Display setting unit 45d Image data generation unit 45e Within display range data extraction unit 45f Current information processing unit 45g Past information processing unit 45h Image data notification unit 45i Display data drawing unit

Claims (7)

A search support system having a terminal device of a search requester who requests a search for a person who is a search target, a search information providing device that provides information related to the person to the terminal device, a wireless tag carried by the person, and a receiver that cooperates in the search for the person,
The receiver notifies the search information providing device of receiver location information including its own location information and a current time at predetermined time intervals, and upon receiving tag information including the wireless tag identification information of the wireless tag, notifies the search information providing device of detection information including its own location information, the wireless tag identification information, and the reception time of the tag information ;
based on the receiver location information and the detection information notified from the receiver, the search information providing device notifies the terminal device of information relating to a first area in which the wireless tag is detected by the receiver within the detection range of the receiver at a predetermined time, a second area in which the wireless tag is not detected by the receiver within the detection range of the receiver at the predetermined time, and a third area in which the wireless tag can be detected at each point to which the receiver has moved within a certain time period from the predetermined time;
The search support system, wherein the terminal device outputs information relating to the first area, the second area, and the third area in a distinguishable manner . The receiver includes:
A location information acquisition means for acquiring location information of the own device;
a receiving means for receiving tag information including the wireless tag identification information transmitted from the wireless tag;
2. The search support system according to claim 1, further comprising: a notification unit that notifies the search information providing device of the receiver location information and the detection information. The search information providing device includes:
a receiving means for receiving the receiver position information and the detection information from the receiver;
a storage means for storing the receiver position information and the detection information received by the receiving means;
a generating means for generating information relating to a first area in which the wireless tag is detected by the receiver within the detection range of the receiver at the predetermined time point, a second area in which the wireless tag is not detected by the receiver within the detection range of the receiver at the predetermined time point, and a third area in which the wireless tag can be detected at each point to which the receiver has moved within a certain time period from the predetermined time point, based on the receiver position information and the detection information stored in the storage means;
The search support system according to claim 2, further comprising: a notification means for notifying the terminal device of information relating to the first area, the second area, and the third area generated by the generation means. The terminal device
The search support system according to claim 3 , further comprising: controlling display of an image in which the information relating to the first area, the second area, and the third area can be distinguished on a predetermined display unit. The receiver includes:
The system includes a mobile receiver attached to a predetermined mobile body and a fixed receiver fixedly disposed at a predetermined position,
The generating means includes:
The search support system according to claim 4, characterized in that an image is generated that includes the first area or the second area for the fixed receiver, and that makes it possible to distinguish information relating to the first area and the third area or information relating to the second area and the third area for the mobile receiver. The generating means includes:
The search support system according to claim 5, wherein an image is generated that includes a difficult-to-move-to area in which the subject will have difficulty moving on foot within a certain time period after the predetermined time point. A search support method in a search support system having a terminal device of a search requester requesting a search for a person who is a search target, a search information providing device that provides information related to the person to the terminal device, a wireless tag carried by the person, and a receiver that cooperates in the search for the person, comprising:
a first notification step in which the receiver notifies the search information providing device of receiver location information including location information of the receiver itself and a current time at predetermined time intervals, and, upon receiving tag information including wireless tag identification information of the wireless tag, notifies the search information providing device of detection information including location information of the receiver itself, the wireless tag identification information, and a time when the tag information is received ;
a second notification step in which the search information providing device notifies the terminal device of information relating to a first area in which the wireless tag is detected by the receiver within the detection range of the receiver at a predetermined time point, a second area in which the wireless tag is not detected by the receiver within the detection range of the receiver at the predetermined time point, and a third area in which the wireless tag can be detected at each point to which the receiver has moved within a certain time period from the predetermined time point, based on the receiver location information and the detection information notified from the receiver;
an output step of the terminal device outputting information relating to the first area, the second area, and the third area in a distinguishable manner .

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