JP7561372B2 - Turntable guidance system and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a queue guidance system and a control method thereof.

The order of reception (entry order) may be determined (reserved) in advance using numbered tickets printed with a numbered ticket number (an integer that is incremented each time a ticket is issued) issued from a ticket issuing machine or online. Numbered tickets are generally issued in order of application, starting with the smallest number, and processing (entry, etc.) is carried out according to the numbered ticket number, that is, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Patent Document 1 discloses a system that notifies the number of people waiting and the time when the service can be provided when accepting a reservation for a turn. Patent Document 1 also discloses a system that calculates the time required from the current location and only accepts reservations for the time after the estimated arrival time.

JP 2004-94895 A

In the system described in Patent Document 1, the number of people waiting and the time when the service can be provided are known in advance, so by adjusting your arrival at the site, it is less likely that you will be forced to wait a long time after arriving at the site before your turn comes. Also, by only accepting reservations for after the scheduled arrival time, it is also possible to prevent your turn coming before you arrive at the site. However, for example, if you get stuck in traffic while traveling to the site by car and it takes longer than expected to arrive, you may not be able to make it in time for your turn. In that case, your numbered ticket number will be called repeatedly at the site, and if you cannot answer the call, your reservation may be canceled. In this way, if you arrive at the site late, you often have no choice but to make another reservation.

The objective of this invention is to guide passengers to the optimal queue by using not only the ticket number but also the queue turnaround time and the expected travel time until arrival, i.e. to efficiently process the queue by rearranging the queue into an order different from the ticket number.

The queue guidance system according to the present invention comprises: a queue time acquisition means for acquiring a queue time representing a unit processing time for users waiting in a queue; a ticket issuing means for issuing a ticket for each user with a ticket number that is incremented each time a ticket is issued; a required travel time acquisition means for acquiring the required travel time (estimated arrival time) required for each user from the current location to arrive at the facility to be used; and a queue management means for assigning the ticket numbers of the tickets issued by the ticket issuing means to each of a plurality of queues that determine the order of guidance at the facility to be used, the queue times having a time width according to the queue time acquired by the queue time acquisition means, and each of which is determined as a required time from the current time to the start of processing and a required time from the current time to the end of processing, The guide slot management means includes a judgment means for judging, in ascending order of the numbered ticket number, whether the required travel time acquired by the required travel time acquisition means for the user to whom the numbered ticket has been issued exceeds the end time of the earliest vacant guide slot to which a numbered ticket number has not been assigned, and an assignment means for assigning a numbered ticket number to the earliest vacant guide slot in which the required time to end processing will arrive after the required travel time if the judgment means judges that the required travel time exceeds the required time to end processing of the earliest vacant guide slot, and for assigning a numbered ticket number to the earliest vacant guide slot if the judgment means judges that the required travel time does not exceed the required time to end processing of the earliest vacant guide slot.

In the control method of the queue guidance system according to the present invention, a queue time acquisition means acquires a queue time representing a unit processing time for users waiting in a queue, a numbered ticket issuing means issues a numbered ticket for each user with a numbered ticket number that is incremented each time a ticket is issued, a required travel time acquisition means acquires a required travel time for each user from a current location to arrive at the facility to be used, and a guidance slot management means assigns the numbered ticket issued by the numbered ticket issuing means to each of a plurality of guidance slots that determine the order of guidance at the facility to be used, the guidance slots having a time width according to the queue time acquired by the numbered ticket acquisition means and each of which is determined as a required time from the current time to the start of processing and a required time from the current time to the end of processing. The guide slot management means, in ascending order of the numbered ticket number, determines whether the required travel time acquired by the required travel time acquisition means for the user to whom the numbered ticket was issued exceeds the time required for the earliest available guide slot to be processed to completion, in which case the guide slot management means assigns the numbered ticket number to the earliest available guide slot for which the required time to complete processing will arrive after the required travel time, if it determines that the required travel time exceeds the time required for the earliest available guide slot to be processed to completion, and assigns the numbered ticket number to the earliest available guide slot if it determines that the required travel time does not exceed the time required for the earliest available guide slot to be processed to completion.

The turn time, which indicates the unit processing time for users waiting in the queue, can most simply be the time entered by the operator of the facility. In this case, the operator inputs (changes) the turn time as appropriate while monitoring the progress of the queue. Of course, the turn time can also be estimated and obtained based on image analysis of security cameras, past statistical data (date, day of the week, time of day), and other data. Since the turn time indicates the speed at which the queue moves, a shorter turn time means a shorter waiting time until your turn comes, and a longer turn time means a longer waiting time until your turn comes. Typically, the unit processing time is the processing time per person, but if the facility is capable of processing multiple people together (simultaneously), it can also be the processing time per multiple people.

When a request for a numbered ticket is made, a numbered ticket with a number is issued. For example, the numbered ticket is issued by pressing the ticket button on a ticket machine, or by applying to use a mobile device. The numbered ticket may be printed on physical paper, or may be displayed as electronic data, for example on the display screen of a smartphone. In any case, a numbered ticket with an incremented number is issued to each user on a first-come, first-served basis (in the order of application).

The required travel time required for each user to arrive at the facility to be used from their current location is obtained. Typically, data representing the user's current location (longitude data, latitude data, etc.) and data representing the location of the facility to be used are used to calculate and obtain the required travel time.

The required travel time may be different depending on the means of transportation used by the user when traveling from the current location to the facility of interest. For example, walking, bicycle, car, train, bus, etc. may be specified as the means of transportation. Of course, the required travel time may be input by the user himself/herself based on past experience, etc. The required travel time may also be calculated by an existing web service, etc.

A concept of guide slots is used that determines the order of guidance in the facility to be used, separate from the numbered tickets. The guide slots have a time width according to the rotation time acquired by the rotation time acquisition means, and the time required from the current time to the start of processing (e.g., entry start) (e.g., 10 minutes later) and the time required from the current time to the end (e.g., 15 minutes later) can be determined for each guide slot. The time required for the front guide slot to end processing and the time required for the rear guide slot to start processing may be the same for adjacent guide slots, or a predetermined interval (e.g., 1 minute) may be provided. In any case, multiple guide slots arranged in a forward and backward direction along the time axis are prepared as a concept separate from the numbered tickets. Typically, the guide slots themselves are formed in the memory space of a computer device, and no physical frame is required. A guide order different from the order of the numbered ticket numbers (first come, first served) is determined by assigning the numbered ticket number of the numbered ticket to each guide slot.

In ascending order of ticket number, i.e., first come, first served, it is determined whether the required travel time of the user to whom the ticket was issued exceeds the time required for the earliest available guide slot to be processed to completion. If it is determined that the required travel time exceeds the time required for the earliest available guide slot to be processed to completion, the ticket number is assigned to the earliest available guide slot that will take the time required to complete processing after the required travel time. If it is determined that the required travel time does not exceed the time required for the earliest available guide slot to be processed to completion, the ticket number is assigned to the earliest available guide slot.

The process of assigning numbered ticket numbers to guide slots is performed in ascending order of numbered ticket numbers, so for example, if all users have already arrived at the facility they are using (required travel time is 0 minutes), the smallest numbered ticket numbers will be assigned in order starting from the earliest guide slot, and a queue will be formed in which the order of numbered ticket numbers is the same as the order of guidance. On the other hand, for users whose required travel time exceeds the time required to complete processing for the earliest available guide slot, i.e., for users who are late in arriving at the facility they are using, a numbered ticket number will be assigned to the earliest available guide slot where the required time to complete processing will arrive after the required travel time, so numbered ticket numbers are generally not lined up in order, and a queue is formed in which larger numbered ticket numbers line up before smaller numbered ticket numbers. Even if a user is moved to the back, a numbered ticket number will be assigned to the earliest available guide slot where the required time to complete processing will arrive after the required travel time, so processing will begin (entry will begin, etc.) relatively soon after the required travel time has elapsed, i.e., after arrival at the facility they are using.

In this way, this invention allows for efficient processing of the queue, since while respecting the numbered ticket numbers (first come, first served), the order is changed so that late arriving users are assigned to a guide slot where processing begins immediately after their arrival. In other words, there is no need to waste time simply waiting for users with lower numbered ticket numbers who have not yet arrived at the facility (i.e., users who applied earlier) or calling them multiple times.

The queue guidance system according to the present invention can be suitably applied to determining the order of use of recreational facilities at amusement parks and the order of examinations at hospitals. It can also be used in restaurants to determine the order of cooking so that all ordered menu items can be cooked within a short period of time by associating numbered ticket numbers with ordered menu items. In a parking lot system, it allows for efficient use of parking spaces. At a golf course, it can also be used to change the starting order when one of the members playing together is late arriving at the golf course.

In one embodiment, when the rotation time or travel time is changed, or when a numbered ticket is canceled, the allocation process to the guide slots is re-executed. The queue can be reorganized to enable efficient processing.

Preferably, when the processing of the guide slot management means is re-executed, the guide order of users whose required travel time is equal to or less than the predetermined time is maintained, provided that users whose required travel time exceeds the predetermined time are not assigned to guide slots with a lower order. By fixing (not changing) the guide order of users who have already arrived at the facility or who will arrive at the facility within a short period of time, confusion caused by rearrangements immediately before the start of facility use can be avoided.

1 is a block diagram showing a general hardware configuration of a turntable system. This is an example of a queue screen displayed on the display screen of a smartphone that constitutes the queue guidance system. A functional block diagram of the smartphone that constitutes the turn-guide system is shown. A functional block diagram of a ticket issuing/queue management server that constitutes the queue guidance system. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by a smartphone and a numbered ticket issuing/queue management server. 1 shows the data structure of queue formation data (guide order data). The data structure of queue formation data (guidance order data) after 5 minutes is shown. Further, the data structure of queue formation data (guide order data) after 10 minutes is shown. The data structure of queue formation data (guide order data) after five minutes is also shown. The data structure of the queue formation data (guide order data) one minute later is further shown. The data structure of the queue formation data (guide order data) one minute later is further shown.

Figure 1 shows an outline of the hardware configuration of the queue guidance system. Figure 2 shows an example of a queue screen displayed on the display screen of a smartphone 10 that constitutes the queue guidance system. Figure 3 shows a functional block diagram of the smartphone 10 that constitutes the queue guidance system, and Figure 4 shows a functional block diagram of the ticket issuing/queue management server 20 that constitutes the queue guidance system.

Referring to FIG. 1, the queue guidance system includes a smartphone 10, a ticket issuing/queue management server 20, a map/traffic information server 30, a Navstar satellite (GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite) 40, and a rotation time setting terminal device 50. The smartphone 10, the ticket issuing/queue management server 20, the map/traffic information server 30, and the rotation time setting terminal device 50 are all connected to a network 1 such as the Internet so as to be able to communicate with each other. Data can be sent and received directly between the Navstar satellite (GPS satellite) 40 and the smartphone 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, a queue screen is displayed on the smartphone 10 constituting the queue guidance system. The queue screen displays the state of the queue for a ride at a facility, such as an amusement park, at the current time (9:55 a.m., for example). Specifically, the queue screen displays (describes) the user's ticket number (8), the user's position in the queue (10th), turnaround time (processing time per person, the time required for the user to move forward in line) (5 minutes), travel time required from the current location to the site (facility) (approximately 67 minutes), wait time (70 minutes), etc. The queue screen also graphically displays the length of the queue (number of people), the user's position in the queue, and the user's ticket number, allowing the user to recognize at a glance how crowded the facility is, the user's position in the queue, etc.

In the queue guidance system, as described below, users are assigned ticket numbers in the order in which they applied (in the order in which they requested the issuance of tickets, first come first served), but the ticket numbers are not used directly to determine the order in which they will be guided. For example, in the queue screen of Figure 2, the user with ticket number 3 was issued (applied for) a ticket earlier than the user with ticket number 4, but since ticket number 4 is already in line ahead of the user with ticket number 3, the user with ticket number 4 will be guided first. By determining the order in which users will be guided without necessarily relying on the ticket number (order of application), as described below, it is possible to reduce unnecessary waiting time and prevent cancellations of waiting lists due to late arrival at the location. The procedure for determining the order in which users will be guided by the queue guidance system will be described later.

Figure 3 is a functional block diagram of the smartphone 10. The smartphone 10 includes a control device 11, a storage device 12 connected to the control device 11, a communication device 13, a current location detection device 14, an operation device 15, and a display device 16.

The control device 11 is configured with an integrated circuit including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and controls the overall operation of the smartphone 10. The control device 11 executes application software 12c (including an operating system) stored in a storage device 12 configured with a semiconductor memory, a hard disk, etc., causing the control device 11 to function as a ticket issuance request unit 11a, a data transmission unit 11b, a data reception unit 11c, a display control unit 11d, etc. Of course, being a smartphone 10, the control device 11 can also realize other functions such as calls (telephone), but since these functions are not directly related to the turn guidance system in this embodiment, they are omitted from FIG. 3.

The ticket issuance request unit 11a requests the issuance of a numbered ticket in accordance with the user's operation using the operation device 15. If there are multiple facilities for which tickets are to be issued, the user is also prompted to input for which of the multiple facilities the ticket is to be issued. The ticket issuance request is sent via the data transmission unit 11b, the network communication unit 13a of the communication device 13, and the network 1 to the ticket issuance/queue management server 20, which issues the ticket. The ticket issuance request may include ID information 12b (which may be a user ID or an identification ID of the smartphone 10) stored in the storage device 12. The ticket can be associated with the user.

The data transmission unit 11b transmits various information to the ticket issuing/queue management server 20 and the map/traffic information server 30 that constitute the queue guidance system. For example, this information includes the above-mentioned ticket issuing request, the current location information of the smartphone 10, transportation method information (walking, bicycle, car, bus, train, etc.), and ticket cancellation request.

The data receiving unit 11c receives various information from the ticket issuing/queue management server 20, map/traffic information server 30, and Navstar satellite 40 that make up the queue guidance system. The received information is processed by the control device 11, and the necessary data is stored in the storage device 12. For example, data for displaying the above-mentioned queue screen (Figure 2) is sent from the ticket issuing/queue management server 20 to the smartphone 10 and received by the data receiving unit 11c, and the received data (e.g. html data) is stored in the storage device 12 as screen information 12a and used for screen display on the display device 16.

The current location detection device 14 detects the current location of the smartphone 10 using a GPS (Global Positioning System) signal from a Navstar satellite 40 received by the GPS communication unit 13b of the communication device 13. Data representing the current location detected by the current location detection device 14 is transmitted from the data transmission unit 11b to the numbered ticket issuing/queue management server 20 as described above, and the time required to travel from the current location to the destination (a specific facility to be used in this embodiment) is calculated as described below.

The operation device 15 is a keyboard including keys for inputting letters, numbers, etc., an enter key, arrow keys, etc., and a power button. The display device 16 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display, etc., and displays, for example, the queue screen described above. The display screen displayed on the display device 16 is controlled by the display control unit 11d. The display device 16 can also serve as the operation device 15.

Figure 4 is a functional block diagram of the ticket issuing/queue management server 20. The ticket issuing/queue management server 20 is realized by a computer device including a control device 21, a communication device 22, and a storage device 23.

The control device 21 is configured with an integrated circuit including a CPU, and controls the overall operation of the ticket issuing/queue management server 20. Application software 23c (including an operating system) stored in a storage device 23 configured with a semiconductor memory or the like is executed by the control device 21, and the control device 21 functions as a ticket issuing unit 21a, a rotation time acquisition unit 21b, a required travel time calculation unit 21c, a guide frame management unit 21d, a queue screen creation unit 21e, a data transmission unit 21f, and a data reception unit 21g.

The ticket issuing unit 21a issues a ticket in accordance with a ticket issuing request sent from the smartphone 10. In this embodiment, a physical ticket with a number printed on it is not issued, but instead the ticket issuing unit 21a executes a process of assigning a ticket number in order each time a ticket is requested, and the ticket number is displayed on the queue screen (FIG. 2) described above. By including ID information (member ID, smartphone 10's unique ID) in the ticket issuing request sent from the smartphone 10 to the ticket issuing/queue management server 20, it is possible to associate the issued ticket (a specific ticket number) with a specific user or smartphone 10. By registering member information including ID information, passwords, etc. in the member information storage unit 23a of the storage device 23, it is possible to allow only specific users to use the queue guidance system.

The rotation time acquisition unit 21b acquires the rotation time (processing time per person) at the facility. Typically, the rotation time is input by the facility manager to a rotation time setting terminal device 50 (Figure 1) installed at the facility, and this is received by the rotation time acquisition unit 21b of the ticket issuing/queue management server 20. Of course, the rotation time can also be ascertained by, for example, analyzing images captured by a surveillance camera installed at the facility, or by using the opening and closing operations of the facility entrance doors and entrance gates, etc.

The travel time calculation unit 21c predicts the time required to travel from the position of the smartphone 10 (the user's current position) to the facility. The current position of the smartphone 10 and the means of transportation are transmitted from the smartphone 10 when a ticket issuance request is made. The current position of the smartphone 10 is identified using GPS data transmitted from the Navstar satellite 40. The location of the facility is known in advance. The travel route from the current position to the facility is predicted, and the time required to travel using a specific means of transportation along the predicted travel route is calculated.

The map/traffic information server 30 (Figure 1) can be used to predict the travel route and calculate the required travel time. The map/traffic information server 30 has road and railway maps, and has the function of acquiring congestion occurrence information in real time. For example, if the means of transportation is a car and the travel route from the current position to the facility includes a road where congestion has occurred, the required travel time calculation unit 21c acquires that information and executes processing such as adding the predicted delay time due to congestion to the required travel time.

It goes without saying that the travel time required from the current location to the facility can be predicted using an existing web service. In this case, there is no need to provide the control device 21 with the functionality of the travel time calculation unit 21c, and it is sufficient to use the time predicted by the existing web service.

The guide slot management unit 21d associates the numbered ticket number with the guide slot described below, and executes a process to manage the relationship between the numbered ticket number and the guide order. This process by the guide slot management unit 21d determines an appropriate guide order, without using the numbered ticket number as it is (details will be described later).

The queue screen creation unit 21e creates the queue screen described above (Figure 2).

Queue composition data indicating the guidance order determined by the guidance slot management unit 21d is stored in the queue memory unit 23b of the storage device 23, and a queue screen (e.g., html data) created by the queue screen creation unit 21e using the queue composition data stored in the queue memory unit 23b is transmitted from the data transmission unit 21f to the smartphone 10 via the communication device 22 and the network 1. Data required for the processing of the numbered ticket issuing/queue management server 20 is acquired by the data reception unit 21g.

Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing (guide order determination processing) by the smartphone 10 and the ticket issuing/queue management server 20. Figure 6 shows the data structure of the queue composition data (guide order data) stored in the queue memory unit 23b as of 9:55 a.m.

First, the user requests the issuance of a numbered ticket for a specific facility (step 61). ID information, current location, means of transportation used, number of users, etc. are sent from the smartphone 10 to the numbered ticket issuing/queue management server 20. For ease of understanding, the following explanation assumes that the number of users is "1 person."

The ticket issuing/queue management server 20 obtains the turnaround time in advance from the computer terminal device 50 installed at the facility (step 71). It also calculates the time required to arrive at the facility from the current location of the smartphone 10 (travel time) (step 72).

The ticket issuing/queue management server 20 issues tickets in response to the ticket issuance request (step 73). Ticket numbers are assigned in order of earliest ticket request (first come, first served).

Next, the process proceeds to determining the guide order. The guide order is determined by assigning the ticket numbers on the issued tickets to guide slots that define the guide order, as explained below.

The process of allocating numbered tickets to guide slots will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, the guide slots that define the guidance order for facility use are shown arranged horizontally in rectangular frames. The Roman numerals I, II, III, ..., XVI above each rectangular guide slot are the slot numbers (guidance order). Each rectangular guide slot also stores either Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3... or the character "empty." Each of these Arabic numerals is the number of an issued ticket, and "empty" means that the slot is empty (no ticket number has been assigned) (a vacant slot). For example, slot III is assigned the number 4, and the numbered ticket number and the guidance order do not necessarily match.

Figure 6 also shows the waiting time (minutes) and travel time (minutes) until arrival for each guide slot. In the example shown in Figure 6, the rotation time is 5 minutes, so the waiting time is incremented in 5-minute increments. For example, the guide slot with slot number II has a waiting time of 10 minutes, which means that the start of processing (entrance, etc.) is 10 minutes away (the required time from the current time until the start of processing is 10 minutes) and the end is 15 minutes away (the required time from the current time until the end of processing is 15 minutes). The travel time until arrival differs for each user. For example, a user with numbered ticket number 3 will need "21 minutes" from the current time to arrive at the facility based on the travel time calculated by the required travel time calculation unit 21c of the numbered ticket issuing/queue management server 20.

As mentioned above, the ticket numbers are issued in the order in which the tickets were requested. In the example shown in Figure 6, ticket numbers 1 to 11 have been issued, which indicates that each user requested a ticket (step 61) in the order of their ticket numbers.

First, it is determined whether the travel time to the destination exceeds the end of the earliest available guide slot (earliest available slot) (step 74).

Referring to FIG. 6, the user with numbered ticket number 1 has a travel time of "0" minutes until arrival and has already arrived at the facility. Since the travel time until arrival does not exceed the end of processing for the earliest available slot, in this case slot number I (5 minutes later) (NO in step 74), numbered ticket number 1 is assigned to the earliest available slot, in this case slot number I (step 75). Next, processing proceeds to user with numbered ticket number 2. User with numbered ticket number 2 also has a travel time of "0" minutes until arrival and the travel time until arrival does not exceed the end of processing for the earliest available slot, in this case slot number II (10 minutes later) (NO in step 74). Numbered ticket number 2 is assigned to the earliest available slot, in this case slot number II. For numbered ticket numbers 1 and 2, the numbered ticket numbers and the guidance order match.

Next, the user with numbered ticket number 3 has a travel time of 21 minutes to arrive. If this numbered ticket number is assigned to the earliest available information slot, number III, the user with numbered ticket number 3 will not arrive at the facility between the start of processing for information slot III (15 minutes later) and the end of processing (20 minutes later), and information slot III will become completely vacant (no processing will be carried out during the time slot for information slot III).

If the travel time to arrival exceeds the end time of the earliest available slot (YES in step 74), the numbered ticket is assigned to the earliest available slot whose end time will arrive after the travel time to arrival (step 76). The user with numbered ticket number 3 will arrive 21 minutes later, and the earliest available slot whose end time will arrive after the travel time to arrival is the guide slot with slot number IV. Numbered ticket number 3 is assigned to the guide slot with slot number IV. The guide slot with slot number III is an available slot at this point.

The information slot for slot number IV starts processing 20 minutes from the time it is received and ends 25 minutes from the time it is received, and it is expected that the user with number 3 on the numbered ticket will arrive at the facility during the time slot for slot number IV. The user with number 3 on the numbered ticket will be able to start processing (entering, etc.) immediately after arriving at the facility.

Next, the user with numbered ticket number 4 has a travel time of "19 minutes" until arrival, and will be in time for the end of processing for the information slot number III (20 minutes later). The user with numbered ticket number 4 is assigned the information slot number III, which is an available slot (NO in step 74, step 75).

The user with ticket number 5 has a travel time of "0" minutes until arrival and can begin processing immediately, but since slots I through IV are already filled, the user is assigned the earliest available slot, slot V (NO in step 74, step 75).

The user with numbered ticket number 6 has a travel time of "15 minutes" until arrival. Processing can begin in 15 minutes, but since the information slots from slot number III to slot number V, which will begin processing in 15 minutes, are already filled, the user is assigned the earliest available information slot, slot number VI (NO in step 74, step 75).

The user with numbered ticket number 7 has 60 minutes of travel time until arrival. Because this exceeds the end of the earliest available information slot number VII (40 minutes later), the user is assigned the earliest available information slot that ends after the travel time until arrival, in this case information slot number XII, which starts processing in 60 minutes and ends processing in 65 minutes (YES in step 74, step 76). At this point, information slots numbered VII to XI are vacant.

The user with numbered ticket number 8 has a travel time of 52 minutes until arrival. Because the travel time until arrival exceeds the end of the earliest available slot, in this case the end of the guidance slot with slot number VII (40 minutes later), the user is assigned the earliest available slot whose end time arrives after the travel time until arrival, in this case the guidance slot with slot number X (YES in step 74, step 76). The user with numbered ticket number 8 can begin processing immediately after arriving at the facility. The user with numbered ticket number 8 will be guided ahead of the user with numbered ticket number 7.

The user with numbered ticket number 9 has a travel time of "30 minutes" until arrival. Processing can begin in 30 minutes, but since the information slots up to slot number VI, which starts processing in 30 minutes, are already filled, the user is assigned the earliest available information slot, slot number VII (NO in step 74, step 75).

The user with numbered ticket 10 has 30 minutes to travel until arrival. Processing can begin in 30 minutes, but since the information slots for slot number VI, which starts in 30 minutes, and the next slot number VII are already filled, the user is assigned the earliest available information slot, slot number VIII (NO in step 74, step 75).

The user with numbered ticket number 11 has a travel time of 67 minutes until arrival. Because the travel time until arrival exceeds the end of the earliest available slot, in this case the end of the information slot with slot number IX, the user is assigned the earliest available slot whose end time arrives after the travel time until arrival, in this case the information slot with slot number XIV (YES in step 74, step 76). Processing for user with numbered ticket number 11 begins immediately (70 minutes later) after arrival (67 minutes later).

A queue screen (Figure 2) including the ticket number, the determined slot number, the rotation time, the travel time required to arrive, the waiting time, etc. is created by the queue screen creation unit 21e of the ticket issuing/queue management server 20 and transmitted to the smartphone 10 (step 77). The queue screen is displayed on the display screen of the smartphone 10 (step 62). The queue screen creation process (step 77) and display process (step 62) may be repeated at predetermined time intervals, for example, to update the queue screen at the predetermined time intervals.

In this way, a guide slot is set with a time span in which the start and end times of processing are determined according to the rotation time, and numbered ticket numbers are assigned to these guide slots in order of arrival. While numbered ticket numbers are assigned to guide slots on a first-come, first-served basis based on the numbered ticket number, they are assigned to a guide slot where processing can begin immediately upon arrival using the travel time taken by the user to arrive, and if there is an available slot at the end of processing that allows the user to arrive in time, they are assigned to that slot regardless of first-come, first-served basis.

For example, a user with ticket number 3 will be guided after user with ticket number 4, who was issued a ticket later. However, since processing for user with ticket number 4 begins (for example, the ticket number is called) before user with ticket number 3 arrives at the facility, user with ticket number 3 is unlikely to feel that it is unfair. Compared to when users are guided in order according to their ticket numbers (first come, first served), a queue that can be processed more efficiently can be organized.

The guidance order is recalculated when there is a change in the turn time, a cancellation, or a delay for a specific user (extension of the required travel time). That is, when a change in the turn time is input from the turn time setting terminal device 50, when a cancellation is input from the user's smartphone 10, or when data indicating the occurrence of congestion information is sent from the map/traffic information server 30, the process shown in FIG. 5 (excluding the ticket issuance request process (step 61) and the ticket issuance process (step 73)) is executed again. The re-execution of the guidance order determination is not executed for users who have already completed the process (or are proceeding with the process) at the time of the re-execution, nor is it executed for users whose guidance order should be maintained as described below. For other users, the guidance order is recalculated for all users who have issued tickets at the time the guidance order determination is reexecuted, in ascending order of ticket numbers.

In addition, if the re-execution of the guidance order determination is due to a change in the turning time, the travel time calculation process (step 72) may be skipped in the re-execution process. If the re-execution of the guidance order determination is due to a delay by a specific user (extension of the required travel time), the turning time acquisition process (step 71) may be skipped. If the re-execution of the guidance order determination is due to a cancellation by a specific user, the turning time acquisition process (step 71) and the travel time calculation process (step 72) may be skipped.

Note that for users whose travel time to arrive is, for example, 15 minutes or less, they may not be subject to re-determination of the guidance order, and the original guidance order may be maintained as is, provided that users whose required travel time exceeds a predetermined time are not assigned to a guidance slot with a lower order. For example, in the example shown in Figure 6, the users whose travel time to arrive is 15 minutes or less are numbered ticket numbers 1 and 2. Although the user with numbered ticket number 5 has a travel time to arrive of less than 15 minutes, the user with numbered ticket number 4, who has an earlier (lower) guidance order than numbered ticket number 5, has a travel time of 19 minutes (more than 15 minutes) to arrive, so the guidance order is not maintained.

Figure 7 shows the queue formation data (guidance order data) five minutes (10:00 AM) after the state shown in Figure 6, and shows the state after the guidance order determination process was re-executed. Here, it is assumed that the turnaround time has been shortened from five minutes to four minutes, and the guidance order determination process (Figure 5) has been executed again. It is also assumed that tickets have been issued up to number 14. The user with ticket number 1 has already been processed, so the user with ticket number 2 is at the head of the reorganized queue. Also, with five minutes having passed, the travel time until each user's arrival has been shortened by five minutes compared to Figure 6.

The re-executed guide order determination process is also performed in the order of the numbered ticket numbers (excluding users for whom the guide order will be maintained). Since the guide order will be maintained for users with numbered ticket numbers 1 and 2, in the example shown in Figure 7, the guide order determination process is re-executed starting from numbered ticket number 3 and going up to numbered ticket number 14.

The travel time until arrival of the user with numbered ticket number 3 is "16" minutes, which exceeds the end time of the earliest available slot II (8 minutes later). The numbered ticket is assigned to the earliest available slot that ends after the travel time until arrival. Since the earliest available slot that ends after the travel time until arrival of the user with numbered ticket number 3 is the guide slot with slot number IV, the user with numbered ticket number 3 is assigned to the guide slot with slot number IV (YES in step 74 of FIG. 5, step 76). At this point, slot numbers II and III are available. A queue screen including the new guide order determined by the recalculation of the guide order is transmitted to the smartphone 10 of the user with numbered ticket number 3 (step 77), and is displayed on the display screen (step 62). This is the same for other users.

Next, the user with numbered ticket number 4 has a travel time of "14" minutes until arrival, which exceeds the end time (8 minutes later) of the earliest available information slot with slot number II. The earliest available slot that ends after the travel time until arrival is information slot with slot number V (information slot with slot number IV is assigned to the user with numbered ticket number 3), so the user with numbered ticket number 4 is assigned to information slot with slot number V (YES in step 74 of Figure 5, step 76).

The user with numbered ticket number 5 has a travel time of "0" minutes before arriving, and the travel time before arriving does not exceed the end of the earliest available slot (8 minutes later), so he is assigned to the earliest available slot, slot number II (NO in step 74, step 75).

The user with numbered ticket number 6 has a travel time of "10" minutes until arrival, and the travel time until arrival does not exceed the end of the earliest available slot (12 minutes later), so he is assigned to the earliest available slot, slot number III (NO in step 74, step 75).

In this way, when the rotation time changes, the guidance order also changes. For example, the waiting time for a user with numbered ticket number 5 was 25 minutes in Figure 6, but after the guidance order redetermining process shown in Figure 7, the waiting time is shortened to 8 minutes. A user with numbered ticket number 4, for example, who has been moved down the line, was scheduled to start processing immediately after arrival in Figure 6, but after the guidance order redetermining process shown in Figure 7, he or she will have to wait 6 minutes after arrival. Although the waiting time is longer, the user will not feel a sense of unfairness because he or she is next in line after numbered ticket number 3. By executing the guidance order redetermining process when the rotation time changes, the guidance slots can be used efficiently and without waste.

Figure 8 shows the data structure of queue formation data (guidance order data) 10 minutes later (10:10 a.m.) from the state shown in Figure 7. Assume that numbered tickets have been issued up to number 16, and the rotation time has been extended from 4 minutes to 7 minutes. Since numbered ticket numbers 2 and 5 have been processed, numbered ticket number 6 is now at the front of the queue. With 10 minutes having passed, the travel time until the arrival of each numbered ticket number has been shortened by 10 minutes compared to Figure 7. Furthermore, in Figure 7, the travel time from the front of the guidance order to the back of the guidance order for numbered ticket numbers 2, 5, and 6 is within 15 minutes, so the guidance order is maintained.

As the rotation time gets longer, the start and end times of each guide slot change, and users are now assigned to the guide slots with slot numbers X and XI, which were vacant in Figure 7.

The newly applied user with ticket number 16 has a travel time of 5 minutes, but because he applied last, he is assigned to the guide slot number XIII, which is the slot next to the user with ticket number 15, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Figure 9 shows the data structure of the queue organization data (guidance order data) 5 minutes later (10:15 AM) from the state shown in Figure 8. This is the queue after the guidance order has been re-determined due to the cancellation process performed by user with ticket number 9. In Figure 8, users with ticket numbers 6, 3, 4, 12, 9, and 10 have travel times of less than 15 minutes until their arrival, so the guidance order is maintained.

When the user with ticket number 9 cancels, the seat that was assigned to user with ticket number 9 becomes vacant and is assigned to another user.

Figure 10 shows the data structure of the queue organization data (guidance order data) one minute later (10:16 a.m.) from the state shown in Figure 9. This is the queue after the guidance order has been re-determined due to a 10-minute delay in the arrival of numbered ticket number 8. In Figure 9, the users with numbered ticket numbers 3, 4, 12, 10, and 13 have travel times of less than 15 minutes until their arrival, so the guidance order is maintained.

Due to the late arrival of user with number 8, user with number 14 is guided before user with number 8. However, while user with number 8 had a waiting time of 10 minutes from arrival in the situation shown in Figure 9, in the situation shown in Figure 10 the waiting time is shortened to 1 minute from arrival, resulting in an order that efficiently processes the queue.

Figure 11 shows the data structure of the queue organization data (guidance order data) one minute later (10:17 a.m.) from the state shown in Figure 10. This is the queue after the guidance order has been re-determined due to the fact that the user with ticket number 8 arrived 10 minutes earlier and the rotation time was shortened by 4 minutes. In Figure 10, the users with ticket numbers 4, 12, 10, and 13 have traveled less than 15 minutes until their arrival, so the guidance order is maintained.

The process of redetermining the guidance order is executed due to changes in arrival time and rotation time. Because the arrival time of the user with ticket number 8 has increased, the guidance order for user with ticket number 8 has been changed to be before the guidance order for user with ticket number 14.

In the above embodiment, a request to issue a numbered ticket is made using the smartphone 10 (step 61 in FIG. 5), and the queue screen (FIG. 2) of the smartphone 10 displays the queue order on the screen. However, instead of or in addition to this, a paper ticket may be issued using a ticket issuing machine installed at the facility. Even when a ticket is issued using a ticket issuing machine, the issuance request is sent from the ticket issuing machine to the ticket issuing/queue management server 20 and becomes the subject of the above-mentioned queue order processing. For users who issued a numbered ticket using a ticket issuing machine, the travel time is set to "0" because the user has already arrived at the facility. The queue screen may be displayed on a display device installed at the facility.

1. Network
10. Smartphones
20 Ticket issuing/queue management server
21a Ticket issuing section
21b Rotation time acquisition unit
21c Travel time calculation section
21d Guide Frame Management Department
21e Queue Screen Creation Department

Claims (6)

A rotation time acquisition means for acquiring a rotation time representing a unit processing time of users waiting in a queue;
a ticket issuing means for issuing a ticket having a ticket number which is incremented each time a ticket is issued to each user;
a required travel time acquisition means for acquiring a required travel time required for each user to arrive at the facility from the current location, and a guide slot management means for allocating a numbered ticket number of a numbered ticket issued by the numbered ticket issuing means to each of a plurality of guide slots that determine the order of guidance in the facility, the numbered ticket number being issued by the numbered ticket issuing means, the numbered ticket number being issued to each of a plurality of guide slots that determine the order of guidance in the facility ...
The guide frame management means
a determination means for determining whether the required travel time acquired by the required travel time acquisition means for the user to whom the numbered ticket has been issued exceeds the time required until the processing of the earliest vacant guide slot to which no numbered ticket number has been assigned is completed, in ascending order of the numbered ticket number; and an assignment means for assigning a numbered ticket number to the earliest vacant guide slot which will have a required time until the processing is completed after the required travel time when the determination means determines that the required travel time exceeds the time required until the processing of the earliest vacant guide slot is completed, and for assigning a numbered ticket number to the earliest vacant guide slot when the determination means determines that the required travel time does not exceed the time required until the processing of the earliest vacant guide slot is completed.
Order guidance system. a rotation time change receiving means for receiving a change in the rotation time,
When the rotation time is changed by the rotation time change acceptance means, the process of the guide frame management means is executed again.
The turntable system according to claim 1 . a required travel time change accepting means for accepting a change to the required travel time,
when the required travel time is changed by the required travel time change acceptance means, re-executing the processing of the guide frame management means;
The turntable system according to claim 1 . A cancellation acceptance means is provided for accepting cancellation of an issued numbered ticket,
When the cancellation of the numbered ticket is accepted by the cancellation acceptance means, the process of the guide slot management means is executed again.
The turntable system according to claim 1 . When re-executing the processing of the guide frame management means, the guide order of the user whose required travel time is equal to or less than the predetermined time is maintained on the condition that the user whose required travel time exceeds the predetermined time is not assigned to a guide frame with a smaller order.
The turn guide system according to any one of claims 2 to 4. A waiting time acquisition means acquires a waiting time representing a unit processing time of a user waiting in a queue,
A numbered ticket issuing means issues a numbered ticket for each user, the number of which is incremented each time a numbered ticket is issued;
The required travel time acquisition means acquires a required travel time required for each user to arrive at the facility to be used from the current location,
a guide slot management means for assigning numbered ticket numbers of numbered tickets issued by the numbered ticket issuing means to each of a plurality of guide slots for determining an order of guidance in a facility to be used, the numbered ticket numbers having a time width according to the rotation time acquired by the rotation time acquisition means, and each of which has a required time from the current time to the start of processing and a required time from the current time to the end of processing, and
Here, the guide frame management means
determining whether or not the required travel time acquired by the required travel time acquisition means for the user to whom the numbered ticket has been issued exceeds the time required until the earliest vacant guide slot to which a numbered ticket number has not been assigned is processed, in ascending order of the numbered ticket number;
When it is determined that the required travel time exceeds the time required for the earliest vacant guide slot to be processed, a numbered ticket number is assigned to the earliest vacant guide slot that will have a required time to complete processing after the required travel time, and when it is determined that the required travel time does not exceed the time required for the earliest vacant guide slot to be processed, a numbered ticket number is assigned to the earliest vacant guide slot.
A method for controlling a queue guidance system.

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