JP7542471B2 - Monitoring panel, monitoring status presentation method, and program - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a monitoring panel, a monitoring status presentation method, and a program.

A ticket gate system is being considered in which station service equipment such as automated ticket gates installed at railway stations is connected to a server device via a communication line. In conventional ticket gate systems, multiple automated ticket gates, multiple fare adjustment machines, and multiple ticket vending machines are connected to a server device via a communication network. In such ticket gate systems, the server device is provided with functions for storing data required for the operation of the automated ticket gates and the like, and for performing judgment processing.

In conventional technology, a monitoring panel is provided to enable monitoring of the status of the ticket gate system. The monitoring panel has the function of outputting information on a screen. The monitoring panel displays on its screen the communication status between the server device and the monitoring panel, and the communication status between the ticket gate and the monitoring panel.

However, monitoring panels using conventional technology can only display one type of status for a ticket gate. In addition, monitoring panels using conventional technology cannot grasp the communication status between the ticket gate and the server device or display information about the communication status.

In the above-mentioned ticket gate system, the ticket gate degrades its functions depending on the connection status of the communication with the upper system (server device, etc.). Therefore, it is desirable to be able to grasp the communication status between the ticket gate and the server device, etc., from the monitoring panel, but this was not possible with conventional technology.

In addition, as ticket gates become more sophisticated in the future, it is possible that they will start to manage entry and exit based on information from two-dimensional codes (codes made from optical patterns) or based on the results of facial recognition of users. In such cases, it is expected that the number of types of server devices to which ticket gates connect will increase. In such a situation, it will become increasingly important in the future to present the communication status between the ticket gates and each of the multiple server devices in a form (human interface) that is easy for station staff and others to understand.

JP 2020-154678 A

The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a monitoring panel, a monitoring status presentation method, and a program that allow station staff to easily and precisely grasp the communication status between station equipment such as ticket gates and higher-level devices such as server devices.

The monitoring panel of the embodiment has a status grasping unit and a display unit. The status grasping unit acquires the communication status between the station equipment and a server device that executes functions necessary for the processing of the station equipment. The display unit displays information about the communication status acquired by the status grasping unit for each of the multiple station equipment.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a station service system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic functional configuration of a monitoring panel according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a screen displayed by the monitoring panel of the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an internal computer configuration for implementing devices such as a monitoring panel, a ticket gate, and a server device according to the embodiment.

The monitoring panel, monitoring status presentation method, and program of the embodiment are described below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a station service system according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the station service system 1 includes a ticket gate 2, a server device 7, and a monitoring panel 3.

The ticket gate 2 is a device installed in railway stations and the like. The ticket gate 2 is a type of station service equipment. The ticket gate 2 reads information on tickets (passenger tickets, etc.) held by users of railway and other public transport facilities, and controls the opening and closing of gate doors, etc., based on the results of a decision as to whether the user may pass through the ticket gate. The ticket may be, for example, a piece of paper with a magnetic code written on it, an IC card, a portable terminal device displaying an optically readable pattern (such as a two-dimensional code), or some other form.

The ticket gate 2 in this embodiment is a so-called thin client type ticket gate. That is, the ticket gate 2 functions as a thin client by communicating with the server device 7. In other words, the ticket gate 2 mainly plays a role in inputting and outputting information (including outputting control signals for doors, etc.), and relies on the server device 7 for CPU boundary processing and data retention and management functions. In other words, the ticket gate 2 has the functions of reading information from media such as tickets, displaying information on a display device configured using a liquid crystal panel, and opening and closing the gate doors. On the other hand, the ticket gate 2 does not have the functions of determining the validity of a ticket (whether or not a user may pass through the ticket gate), calculating the amount to be deducted from an IC card type ticket, or managing the data required for these processes. It is the server device 7, which will be described later, that provides these functions that the ticket gate 2 does not have.

The ticket gate 2 may be equipped with a reading device for reading the two-dimensional code and a camera for photographing the face of a user holding a ticket. The two-dimensional code used is, for example, a QR code (registered trademark).

The station service system 1 may be configured to include station service equipment other than the ticket gates 2. Station service equipment other than the ticket gates 2 may include, for example, ticket vending machines, fare adjustment machines, equipment for charging stored fare cards (IC cards), ticket issuing terminals for operation by station staff, etc.

The server device 7 is, for example, a large computer installed in a data center. The server device 7 performs the processes necessary for station service equipment such as the ticket gates 2 to function. The server device 7 also manages the data necessary for such processes. There are multiple types of server devices 7 with different roles. For example, there are server devices 7 with the roles of a server for thin clients (for fare processing), a server for two-dimensional code processing, and a server for face recognition.

The server device 7 for thin clients (for fare processing) judges whether or not a user can pass through the ticket gate based on the information read from the ticket. Passing through a ticket gate includes entering a station and exiting a station. The server device 7 calculates the fare to determine whether or not a user can pass through a ticket gate and to deduct the fare from IC card type tickets.

The server device 7 for two-dimensional code processing processes tickets using two-dimensional codes and processes fare payments using two-dimensional codes.

The face recognition server device 7 performs face recognition processing based on the face image sent from the ticket gate 2. For example, the face recognition results are used to process named tickets and tickets that can only be used by members of a specific membership.

One ticket gate 2 may be linked to multiple server devices 7 for one ticket gate process. For example, when a user passes through the ticket gate 2 using a ticket that uses a two-dimensional code, the ticket gate 2 accesses the thin client server device 7 for processing such as fare calculation, and accesses the two-dimensional code processing server device 7 for payment using the two-dimensional code. Also, when a user passes through the ticket gate 2 using a ticket that requires facial recognition, the ticket gate 2 accesses the thin client server device 7 for processing such as fare calculation, and accesses the facial recognition server device 7 for facial recognition processing.

The ticket gate 2 and the server device 7 are connected to a communication network 9. The ticket gate 2 and the server device 7 can communicate with devices other than themselves via the communication network 9. In the communication network 9, communication is performed using, for example, the Internet Protocol (IP). However, the communication method on the communication network 9 is not limited to this.

In addition, one server device 7 may be configured to perform processing for multiple station service equipment (ticket gates 2, etc.) installed at multiple stations.

In FIG. 1, three server devices 7 and three ticket gates 2 are shown. In reality, the station service system 1 may include any number of server devices 7 and any number of ticket gates.

The monitoring panel 3 is a device for monitoring the status of the station service system 1. The monitoring panel 3 is installed, for example, in the station staff room of each station. Station staff can check the status of the station service system 1 by looking at the screen of the monitoring panel 3 as appropriate. The monitoring panel 3 of this embodiment grasps and displays the status of each ticket gate 2. In particular, the monitoring panel 3 grasps and displays the status of communication between each ticket gate 2 and each server device 7. The monitoring panel 3 may also display other information on the station service system 1.

The monitoring panel 3 is connected to each of the ticket gates 2 installed at the station via a communication line dedicated to monitoring. The monitoring panel 3 receives information from each ticket gate 2. The information that the monitoring panel 3 receives from each ticket gate 2 includes information indicating whether the communication between that ticket gate 2 and each server device 7 is in a normal or abnormal state. The monitoring panel 3 may also receive other information from each ticket gate 2. For example, the Internet Protocol is used for communication between the ticket gates 2 and the monitoring panel 3. However, the method of communication between the ticket gates 2 and the monitoring panel 3 is not limited to this.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the general functional configuration of the monitoring panel 3. As shown in the figure, the monitoring panel 3 is configured to include a status grasping unit 31 and a display unit 33. Each of these functional units is realized, for example, using electronic circuits. Furthermore, each functional unit may have internal storage means such as a semiconductor memory or a magnetic hard disk device as necessary. Furthermore, each function may be realized by a computer and software. The monitoring panel 3 is equipped with a display device (such as a liquid crystal display) for displaying information.

The status grasping unit 31 receives information from the ticket gate 2 via communication. The information received by the status grasping unit 31 includes information indicating the status of the ticket gate 2 itself, and information indicating the state of communication between the ticket gate 2 and the server device 7 (such as a normal or abnormal state). In other words, the status grasping unit 31 acquires the communication state between the ticket gate 2 (station service equipment) and the server device 7 which executes functions necessary for the processing of the station service equipment. Note that the status grasping unit 31 may also receive and grasp other information.

The display unit 33 displays information related to the status etc. acquired by the status grasping unit 31. Specifically, the display unit 33 displays information related to the communication status acquired by the status grasping unit 31 for each of the multiple ticket gates 2 (station service equipment). The display unit 33 outputs visual information to a display means such as a liquid crystal display device. An example of the screen configuration output by the display unit 33 will be described later.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen configuration displayed by the monitoring panel 3. As shown in the figure, the monitoring panel 3 displays information about each of the multiple ticket gates 2 installed in the station. In the example shown, information about eleven ticket gates, numbered from No. 1 to No. 11, is displayed. Note that the number of ticket gates 2 to be displayed on the monitoring panel 3 and the gate number of each ticket gate 2 can be set, for example, for each station.

In the figure, 301 is a ticket gate status display area for displaying the status of the ticket gate 2. Furthermore, 302 is a ticket gate number display area for displaying the ticket gate number. Furthermore, 303A, 303B, and 303C are server communication status display areas for displaying information on the communication status between the ticket gate 2 and the server device 7. Each of the server communication status display areas 303A, 303B, and 303C can display an icon that distinguishes the type of server device 7.

In the illustrated example, numbers from "1" to "11" are displayed in the ticket gate number display area 302. These displayed numbers are the ticket gate numbers. Ticket gate status display area 301 and server communication status display areas 303A, 303B, and 303C are arranged near the ticket gate number display area 302 for each ticket gate. Specifically, ticket gate status display area 301 is arranged above the ticket gate number display area 302. Server communication status display areas 303A, 303B, and 303C are arranged below the ticket gate number display area 302. In this way, by arranging server communication status display areas 303A, 303B, and 303C near the ticket gate number display area 302, the status of communication between each ticket gate and the server can be easily seen.

In the illustrated example, the ticket gate status display area 301 of the first ticket gate 2 displays "IC invalid." This indicates that an event has occurred at the ticket gate in which the IC card type ticket is invalid. The ticket gate status display area 301 of the fourth ticket gate 2 displays "communication." This indicates that an abnormality has occurred in the communication between the ticket gate and the monitoring panel 3 (not an abnormality in the communication between the ticket gate and the server device 7). The ticket gate status display area 301 of the sixth ticket gate 2 displays "starting up." This indicates that the ticket gate is starting up, that is, in the middle of various initialization processes after being turned on (it has not yet reached an operating state). The ticket gate status display area 301 of the ninth ticket gate 2 displays "no ticket." This indicates that a user of the transportation facility has attempted to pass through the ticket gate without inserting a ticket or having it read. No text is displayed in the ticket gate status display area 301 of the other ticket gates 2. This indicates that no events that should be displayed have occurred in those ticket gates 2 and they are operating normally.

In this way, the monitoring panel 3 displays the status of each ticket gate in the ticket gate status display area 301, allowing station staff and others to properly grasp the situation occurring at that time. Note that the monitoring panel 3 may also display situations other than the events exemplified above in the ticket gate status display area 301.

In the example display shown in the figure, icons containing the letters "shi", "Q" and "kao" are displayed in the server communication status display areas 303A, 303B and 303C of the second ticket gate 2, respectively. These icons indicate that a communication abnormality has occurred between the ticket gate and the server device 7 for thin clients (for fare processing), the server device 7 for two-dimensional codes and the server device 7 for face recognition, respectively. In other words, in this case, the second ticket gate 2 cannot communicate with any of these server devices 7. In other words, the information displayed on the monitoring panel 3 indicates that the second ticket gate 2 cannot operate functions that depend on the server devices 7.

Additionally, an icon with the letter "Q" is displayed in the server communication status display area 303B of ticket gate 2 No. 8. This icon indicates that a communication abnormality has occurred between that ticket gate and the server device 7 for the two-dimensional code. No icon indicating a communication abnormality is displayed in server communication status display areas 303A and 303C. In this case, ticket gate 2 No. 8 cannot provide the payment function using the server device 7 for the two-dimensional code. However, this ticket gate 2 No. 8 can provide functions that use other server devices 7. In other words, ticket gate 2 No. 8 can operate in a degenerate manner (degenerate operation) in this communication state.

In addition, an icon containing the character "face" is displayed in the server communication status display area 303C of ticket gate No. 11 of ticket gate 2. This icon indicates that a communication abnormality has occurred between the ticket gate and the face recognition server device 7. No icon indicating a communication abnormality is displayed in server communication status display areas 303A and 303B. In this case, ticket gate No. 11 of ticket gate 2 cannot provide services based on face recognition processing by the face recognition server device 7. However, this ticket gate No. 11 of ticket gate 2 can provide functions that use other server devices 7. In other words, ticket gate No. 11 of ticket gate 2 can operate in a degenerate state (degenerate operation) in this communication state.

For the other ticket gates 2, no icon indicating a communication abnormality is displayed. In other words, those ticket gates 2 can communicate normally with the server device 7.

As described above, the monitoring panel 3 of this embodiment presents (displays) information indicating whether the status of communication with each server device is normal or abnormal for each ticket gate. Furthermore, the monitoring panel 3 presents these communication statuses in a location different from the ticket gate status display area 301, and independently of the display in the ticket gate status display area 301.

In other words, the display unit 33 of the monitoring panel 3 displays the communication status between each piece of station service equipment (ticket gate 2) and each of the multiple server devices 7 at different positions on the screen. The premise is that the station service equipment communicates with each of the multiple server devices 7. Furthermore, these multiple server devices 7 each provide multiple types of functions (such as the aforementioned thin client, two-dimensional code, and facial recognition) required for the processing of the station service equipment. The status grasping unit 31 of the monitoring panel 3 acquires the communication status between each piece of station service equipment and each of the multiple server devices 7 and passes it to the display unit 33.

The display unit 33 of the monitoring panel 3 also displays the communication status in a manner (i.e., different icons) that allows distinction between the types of multiple server devices 7 (e.g., for thin clients, for two-dimensional codes, for face recognition, etc.).

The display unit 33 of the monitoring panel 3 also displays the unit identification information (for example, the unit number shown in the figure) of each of the multiple station equipment, and displays the above-mentioned communication status near the display position of the unit identification information on the screen.

The display unit 33 of the monitoring panel 3 also displays status information for each of the multiple station service equipment, other than the communication status (in Figure 3, the information displayed in the ticket gate status display area 301), at the same time as the communication status.

Modifications of the above embodiment may be implemented. Several modifications are described below. Multiple modifications may be implemented in combination to the extent that they can be combined.

In the above embodiment, the monitoring panel 3 displayed information on the communication status between the ticket gate 2 and the server device 7. The monitoring panel 3 may also display information on the communication status between station service equipment other than the ticket gate 2 and the server device 7. Station service equipment other than the ticket gate 2 includes, for example, ticket vending machines, fare adjustment machines, equipment for charging stored fare cards (IC cards), and ticket issuing terminals operated by station staff. In this case, each piece of station service equipment operates in the same way as the ticket gate 2 in the above embodiment, and transmits communication status information to the monitoring panel 3.

In the above embodiment, the icon showing the communication status between the ticket gate 2 and the server device 7 on the screen displayed by the monitoring panel 3 was an icon including text representing the type of function of the server device 7. The design of the icon is not limited to using text, and may be an icon designed using only graphics. Also, when an icon includes text, the text does not necessarily have to represent the type of function of the server device 7.

In the above embodiment, a display method was used in which an icon was displayed on the screen displayed by the monitoring panel 3 when the communication status between the ticket gate 2 and the server device 7 was "abnormal" and nothing was displayed when it was "normal". For example, this may be reversed. That is, a display method may be used in which an icon is displayed when the communication status between the ticket gate 2 and the server device 7 is "normal" and nothing is displayed when it is "abnormal". Furthermore, even different display methods may be used. In other words, as long as the display method allows the distinction between "normal" and "abnormal" communication statuses, station staff and the like can accurately grasp the situation by looking at the screen of the monitoring panel 3.

In the above embodiment, the monitoring panel 3 obtained information on the communication status between the ticket gate 2 and the server device 7 from the ticket gate 2. Alternatively, the monitoring panel 3 may obtain information on the communication status between the ticket gate 2 and the server device 7 from a device other than the ticket gate 2. As an example, the monitoring panel 3 may obtain information on the communication status between the ticket gate 2 and the server device 7 from the server device 7.

According to at least one of the embodiments described above, by having a status grasping unit 31 that acquires the communication status between the station service equipment (ticket gate 2) and the server device, and a display unit 33 that displays information about the communication status for each of the multiple station service equipment, it becomes possible to easily grasp the communication status of each station service equipment on the monitoring panel 3.

In addition, according to the embodiment, information on the communication status between the station equipment and the server device is always displayed on the monitoring panel, independent of other information related to the station equipment. This allows station staff and others to always be aware of the communication status between the station equipment and each server device by looking at the screen of the monitoring panel.

Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal computer configuration for implementing devices such as the monitoring panel 3, the ticket gate 2, and the server device 7. As shown in the figure, the computer is configured to include a central processing unit 901, a RAM 902, an input/output port 903, input/output devices 904 and 905, and a bus 906. The computer itself can be realized using existing technology. The central processing unit 901 executes instructions contained in a program read from the RAM 902, etc. The central processing unit 901 writes data to the RAM 902, reads data from the RAM 902, and performs arithmetic and logical operations according to each instruction. The RAM 902 stores data and programs. Each element included in the RAM 902 has an address and can be accessed using the address. Note that RAM is an abbreviation for "random access memory." The input/output port 903 is a port through which the central processing unit 901 exchanges data with external input/output devices, etc. The input/output devices 904 and 905 are input/output devices. Input/output devices 904 and 905 exchange data with the central processing unit 901 via the input/output port 903. The bus 906 is a common communication path used within the computer. For example, the central processing unit 901 reads and writes data from the RAM 902 via the bus 906. Also, for example, the central processing unit 901 accesses the input/output port via the bus 906.

It is possible to realize the functions of the monitoring panel 3, the ticket gate 2, and the server device 7 in the above-mentioned embodiment by a computer and a program. In that case, the program for realizing this function may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded in the recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed to realize the functions. Note that the "computer system" here includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. Furthermore, the "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as a flexible disk, an optical magnetic disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, and a USB memory, and a storage device such as a hard disk built into a computer system. In other words, the "computer-readable recording medium" may be a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium. Furthermore, the "computer-readable recording medium" may include a medium that dynamically holds a program for a short period of time, such as a communication line when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, and a medium that holds a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory inside a computer system that is the server or client in that case. The above program may also be designed to realize some of the functions described above, and may also be capable of realizing the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are within the scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the claims, as well as the scope and gist of the invention.

1...Station service system, 2...Ticket gate (station service equipment), 3...Monitoring panel, 7...Server device, 9...Communication network, 31...Status grasper, 33...Display unit, 301...Ticket gate status display area, 302...Ticket number display area, 303A, 303B, 303C...Server communication status display area, 901...Central processing unit, 902...RAM, 903...Input/output port, 904, 905...Input/output device, 906...Bus

Claims (8)

A status grasping unit that acquires a communication status between station service equipment and a plurality of server devices that execute functions necessary for processing the station service equipment;
A display unit that displays information about the communication state acquired by the state grasping unit for each of the plurality of station service devices;
A monitoring panel equipped with
The station service equipment communicates with each of the plurality of server devices,
The plurality of server devices each provide a plurality of types of functions necessary for processing the station service equipment,
The state grasping unit acquires, for each of the station service equipment, a communication state between the station service equipment and each of the plurality of server devices;
The display unit displays, for each of the station service equipment, a communication status between the station service equipment and each of the plurality of server devices at different positions on the screen.
Monitoring board. The station service equipment functions as a thin client by communicating with the server device.
The monitoring panel according to claim 1. the display unit displays the communication status in a manner that enables the types of the plurality of server devices to be distinguished from one another.
The monitoring panel according to claim 1 or 2 . the display unit displays the unit identification information of the station service equipment for each of the plurality of station service equipment, and displays the communication status in the vicinity of a display position of the unit identification information on the screen.
A monitoring panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . The display unit displays status information for each of the plurality of station service equipment, the status information being other than the communication status, simultaneously with the communication status.
A monitoring panel according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . The status grasping unit acquires the communication status from the station service equipment.
A monitoring panel according to any one of claims 1 to 5 . A state grasping unit acquires a communication state between the station service equipment and a plurality of server devices that execute functions necessary for processing the station service equipment;
a step of displaying information on the communication status acquired by the status grasping unit for each of the plurality of station service equipment by a display unit;
A monitoring status presentation method including:
The station service equipment communicates with each of the plurality of server devices,
The plurality of server devices each provide a plurality of types of functions necessary for processing the station service equipment,
The state grasping unit acquires, for each of the station service equipment, a communication state between the station service equipment and each of the plurality of server devices;
The display unit displays, for each of the station service equipment, a communication status between the station service equipment and each of the plurality of server devices at different positions on the screen.
How monitoring status is presented. A status grasping unit that acquires a communication status between station service equipment and a plurality of server devices that execute functions necessary for processing the station service equipment;
A display unit that displays information about the communication state acquired by the state grasping unit for each of the plurality of station service devices;
A program for causing a computer to function as a monitoring panel comprising :
The station service equipment communicates with each of the plurality of server devices,
The plurality of server devices each provide a plurality of types of functions necessary for processing the station service equipment,
The state grasping unit acquires, for each of the station service equipment, a communication state between the station service equipment and each of the plurality of server devices;
The display unit displays, for each of the station service equipment, a communication status between the station service equipment and each of the plurality of server devices at different positions on the screen.
program.

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