JP7625508B2 - Station service system, first parent operation console, second parent operation console, and program - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a station service system, a first parent operation console, a second parent operation console, and a program.

Large stations (railroad stations) often have multiple ticket gates. Each ticket gate is equipped with a ticket gate (automatic ticket gate) and an operation console for monitoring (monitoring, controlling, operating, etc.) the ticket gate. An operation console is provided at each corner, and the ticket gate can be remotely operated via a communication line.

In recent years, technology has also been proposed for monitoring other corners. In other words, the console can monitor not only the ticket gates in the corner itself (e.g., a manned corner), but also the ticket gates in other corners (e.g., unmanned corners). In such cases, in conventional technology, the console and the other corner being monitored are associated one-to-one in a parent-child relationship.

However, with the above-mentioned conventional technology, there are cases where the operator console is unable to monitor other corners, leaving room for improvement.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a station service system, a first parent operation console, a second parent operation console, and a program that can more reliably monitor other corners.

The station service system of the embodiment includes a ticket gate at a first corner of a station, a ticket gate at a second corner, and a ticket gate at a third corner, a first parent console installed at the first corner and monitoring the ticket gate at the first corner and the ticket gate at the third corner, a second parent console installed at the second corner and monitoring the ticket gate at the second corner, and a child console installed at the third corner. When the child console receives a notification from the first parent console that it is unable to monitor the ticket gate at the third corner, or when a communication error occurs with the first parent console, the child console transmits a monitoring request notification regarding the ticket gate at the third corner to the second parent console. When the second parent console receives the monitoring request notification, it starts monitoring the ticket gate at the third corner if it is in a state where it can monitor the ticket gate at the third corner.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a station service system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the operation console according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an external view showing the operation panel of the operation console according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a first example of processing of each operator console in the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a second processing example of each operator console in the embodiment.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a station service system S according to an embodiment. In this embodiment, a railway station is assumed to have multiple corners A (first corner), B (second corner), and C (third corner). As an example, corners A and B are manned corners, and corner C is an unmanned corner.

The station service system S comprises a server 1, operation consoles 2a, 2b, and 2c (hereinafter referred to as "operation console 2" when no distinction is made), and ticket gates 3a, 3b, and 3c (hereinafter referred to as "ticket gates 3" when no distinction is made). They are connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other via an in-house LAN (Local Area Network) 6.

The server 1 is a computer device that performs various controls, configuration data management, data aggregation, etc. for the operation console 2 and ticket gate 3.

When a person (passenger, etc.) passes through the ticket gate 3, the ticket gate 3 transmits the judgment result to the control console 2 in its own corner. The control console 2 tally up and stores the judgment result.

When an abnormality occurs, the ticket gate 3 sends an abnormality notification to the control console 2 of the same corner or another corner. When the control console 2 receives the abnormality notification, it displays the abnormality on the screen.

In the conventional technology, when monitoring other corners, the control console and the other corners being monitored are associated in a one-to-one parent-child relationship. However, this means that there are cases where the control console cannot monitor other corners (for example, when the control console is busy monitoring its own corner or when there is a communication error), and there is room for improvement.

Therefore, below, we will explain a technology that can more reliably monitor other corners. Specifically, in other corner monitoring, multiple parent consoles (console 2a, console 2b) are set to monitor corner C, which is the target of monitoring. This allows, for example, even if main parent console 2a is unable to monitor corner C, sub-parent console 2b can take over and continue monitoring corner C. This will be explained in detail below.

At corner A, one or more ticket gates 3a and an operation console 2a (first parent operation console) are installed. The operation console 2a monitors the ticket gates 3a and also monitors the ticket gates 3c at corner C.

At corner B, one or more ticket gates 3b and an operation console 2b (second parent operation console) are installed. The operation console 2b is configured to monitor the ticket gates 3b and also to monitor the ticket gates 3c at corner C in place of the operation console 2a.

In corner C, one or more ticket gates 3c and an operation console 2c (child operation console) are installed. Operation console 2c can communicate with operation console 2a and operation console 2b.

When the operator console 2c receives a notification from the operator console 2a that monitoring is not possible for the ticket gate 3c in corner C, or when an abnormality occurs in communication with the operator console 2a, the operator console 2c sends a monitoring request notification for the ticket gate 3c in corner C to the operator console 2b.

In addition, the operation console 2a sends a notification to the operation console 2c that monitoring is not possible regarding the ticket gate 3c at corner C in at least one of the following cases (1) to (3):

(1) When a screen for monitoring the ticket gate 3a at corner A is being operated. (2) When an abnormality occurs in the ticket gate 3a at corner A that requires a response. (3) When the amount of communication data of the ticket gate 3a at corner A is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.

Then, when the operator console 2b receives a monitoring request notification from the operator console 2c, if the ticket gate 3c at corner C is in a state where monitoring is possible (for example, if the above conditions (1) to (3) are not satisfied for the own corner (corner B)), the operator console 2b starts monitoring the ticket gate 3c at corner C.

Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of the operation console 2 of the embodiment. The operation console 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a storage device 22, a display device 23, an input device 24, and a communication device 25. These are connected to each other via an internal bus 26 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

The CPU 21 performs processes such as various settings for the ticket gate 3, writing/reading data to/from tickets and IC (Integrated Circuit) cards, and charging in accordance with the programs stored in the storage device 22. The storage device 22 stores programs related to the setting process, charging process, etc.

The display device 23 is, for example, a touch panel display, and displays the monitor image of the ticket machine and various messages related to the setting operations of the ticket gate 3. The input device 24 forms an operation panel integrated with the display device 23, and accepts various operations by station staff. The communication device 25 is connected to the on-site LAN 6 and communicates with the ticket gate 3, the server 1, and the ticket gate 5.

Figure 3 is an external view showing the operation panel of the operation console 2 of the embodiment. The operation panel includes an input device 24 including a numeric keypad, and a display device 23. The display device 23 displays monitor images captured by the monitor camera, various messages related to communication with the server 1 and the ticket gate 3, and the like.

Next, a first processing example of each operator console 2 will be described. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a first processing example of each operator console 2 in the embodiment. First, in step S11, the operator console 2a monitors corner A and also monitors corner C (monitoring other corners).

Next, in step S12, it is assumed that the operator console 2a is in a state where it is unable to monitor corner C (e.g., (1) to (3) above). Then, in step S13, the operator console 2a transmits a notification that it is unable to monitor to the operator console 2c.

Next, in step S14, operator console 2c, having received the notification that monitoring is not possible from operator console 2a, sends a monitoring request notification regarding ticket gate 3c at corner C to operator console 2b.

Next, when console 2b receives the monitoring request notification from console 2c, if it is possible to monitor the ticket gate 3c at corner C (for example, if the above conditions (1) to (3) are not satisfied for its own corner (corner B)), it sends a monitoring approval response for the ticket gate 3c at corner C to console 2c in step S15, and starts monitoring corner C (monitoring other corners) in step S16.

Next, in step S17, operator console 2c disconnects communication with operator console 2a.

Next, a second processing example of each operator console 2 will be described. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a second processing example of each operator console 2 in the embodiment. First, in step S21, the operator console 2a monitors corner A and also monitors corner C (monitoring other corners).

Next, in step S22, it is assumed that a communication error occurs between operator console 2a and operator console 2c. Then, in step S23, operator console 2c detects the communication error with operator console 2a.

Next, in step S24, the control console 2c sends a monitoring request notification regarding the ticket gate 3c at corner C to the control console 2b.

Next, when console 2b receives the monitoring request notification from console 2c, if it is possible to monitor the ticket gate 3c at corner C (for example, if the above conditions (1) to (3) are not satisfied for its own corner (corner B)), it sends a monitoring approval response for the ticket gate 3c at corner C to console 2c in step S25, and starts monitoring corner C (monitoring other corners) in step S26.

In this way, according to the station service system S of this embodiment, in other corner monitoring, multiple parent operation consoles (operation console 2a, operation console 2b) are set to monitor the corner C to be monitored. As a result, even if the main parent operation console 2a is unable to monitor corner C, for example, the sub-parent operation console 2b can take over and continue monitoring corner C, making it possible to more reliably monitor other corners.

In this case, examples of the states in which the main parent console 2a cannot be monitored include (1) to (3) above.

The programs executed by each operator console 2 of this embodiment can be provided by recording them in an installable or executable file format on a recording medium that can be read by a computer device, such as a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM (Read Only Memory), a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R (Recordable), or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). In addition, the programs executed by each operator console 2 of this embodiment can be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This new embodiment can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.

For example, the number of parent consoles 2 set for one child corner in other corner monitoring is not limited to two, but may be three or more.

1...server, 2...operation console, 3...ticket gate, 6...in-house LAN, 21...CPU, 22...storage device, 23...display device, 24...input device, 25...communication device, 26...internal bus, S...station service system.

Claims (5)

The first corner ticket gate, the second corner ticket gate, and the third corner ticket gate of the station,
a first master console installed at the first corner and configured to monitor the ticket gate at the first corner and the ticket gate at the third corner;
A second master console installed at the second corner and monitoring the ticket gate at the second corner;
a child console installed at the third corner,
When the child console receives a notification of inability to monitor the ticket gate at the third corner from the first parent console, or when a communication abnormality occurs with the first parent console, the child console transmits a notification of a request to monitor the ticket gate at the third corner to the second parent console;
In a station service system, when the second master console receives the monitoring request notification, if the ticket gate at the third corner is in a state where monitoring is possible, the second master console starts monitoring the ticket gate at the third corner. The first parent console includes:
When the screen for monitoring the ticket gate at the first corner is being operated,
In the event that an abnormality occurs in the ticket gate at the first corner that requires action,
A station service system as described in claim 1, wherein the monitoring inability notification regarding the ticket gate at the third corner is sent to the sub-operation console at least in one of the following cases: when the amount of communication data of the ticket gate at the first corner is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. The first corner ticket gate, the second corner ticket gate, and the third corner ticket gate of the station,
a first master console installed at the first corner and configured to monitor the ticket gate at the first corner and the ticket gate at the third corner;
a second parent console that is installed at the second corner and is configured to monitor the ticket gate at the second corner and to be able to monitor the ticket gate at the third corner instead of the first parent console;
A child console installed at the third corner, the first parent console in a station service system comprising:
When the screen for monitoring the ticket gate at the first corner is being operated,
In the event that an abnormality occurs in the ticket gate at the first corner that requires action,
a first parent console that transmits a notification of inability to monitor the ticket gate at the third corner to the child console at least in one of the following cases: when the amount of communication data of the ticket gate at the first corner is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value; The first corner ticket gate, the second corner ticket gate, and the third corner ticket gate of the station,
a first master console installed at the first corner and configured to monitor the ticket gate at the first corner and the ticket gate at the third corner;
A second master console installed at the second corner and monitoring the ticket gate at the second corner;
A second parent console in a station service system including a child console installed at the third corner,
When the child console receives a notification of inability to monitor the ticket gate at the third corner from the first parent console, or when a communication abnormality occurs with the first parent console, the child console transmits a notification of a request to monitor the ticket gate at the third corner to the second parent console;
The second parent operation console, when receiving the monitoring request notification, starts monitoring the ticket gate at the third corner if monitoring is possible for the ticket gate at the third corner. The first corner ticket gate, the second corner ticket gate, and the third corner ticket gate of the station,
a first master console installed at the first corner and configured to monitor the ticket gate at the first corner and the ticket gate at the third corner;
A second master console installed at the second corner and monitoring the ticket gate at the second corner;
A program applied to a station service system including a child operation console installed at the third corner,
a function of transmitting a monitoring request notification regarding the ticket gate at the third corner to the second parent console when the child console receives a monitoring inability notification regarding the ticket gate at the third corner from the first parent console or when a communication abnormality occurs with the first parent console;
A program for realizing a function of starting monitoring of the ticket gate at the third corner when the second parent console receives the monitoring request notification and if monitoring of the ticket gate at the third corner is possible.

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