JP7635825B2 - Route information providing device, route information providing method and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a route information providing device, a route information providing system, a route information providing method, and a computer-readable medium.

With the aim of ensuring smooth operation of transportation such as trains and buses, technologies are being developed to effectively alleviate congestion in transportation facilities such as train stations.

For example, an information processing system (Patent Document 1) acquires congestion information for candidate stations extracted by a candidate station extraction means, and if the candidate station is congested, acquires an alternative route that uses an alternative station that can replace the congested candidate station.

The people flow guidance system (Patent Document 2) obtains the number of people that can board at each station from the line's operating status, calculates the number of people that cannot board at each station as the required waiting area, and distributes guidance information to guide people to the selected destination waiting area.

The route search tool (Patent Document 3) dynamically searches for route candidates when it receives search conditions including the departure station, destination station, and the allowable walking time that indicates the time the user can tolerate walking. In this case, if an intermediate station is accessible on foot and the station-to-station travel time associated with that station is equal to or less than the allowable walking time, it is possible to search for route candidates that include walking sections connecting that station and nearby stations. If a walking section is included in the route candidates identified by the route search, the walking section is clearly indicated and output on map information around the station.

JP 2016-080665 A JP 2015-108913 A JP 2013-057571 A

However, when many people are heading to a transportation facility, for example after a large event has ended or during rush hour, the congestion status of the transportation facility alone does not provide an understanding of the surrounding situation. It is also inefficient for people heading to a transportation facility to have to wait before arriving at the desired transportation facility. There is also related technology that provides route guidance for walking between stations, but this technology does not take congestion status into account and is unable to select a route.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the object of the present invention is to provide a route information providing device, a route information providing method, and a program for efficiently using transportation facilities.

A route information providing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure has a user information acquisition unit, a route candidate acquisition unit, a congestion degree calculation unit, a route information generation unit, and an output unit. The user information acquisition unit acquires user information including location information of a user terminal carried by a user. The route candidate acquisition unit acquires information on one or more route candidates connecting a current location of the user terminal and a boarding location of a transportation facility in the vicinity of the user terminal based on the location information. The congestion degree calculation unit acquires person data on people present on the route candidate from a sensor installed on the route candidate, and calculates the degree of congestion of people on the route candidate from the acquired person data. The route information generation unit generates route information on a recommended route from the route candidate based on the congestion degree. The output unit outputs the route information.

In a route information providing method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer executes the following method. The computer acquires user information including location information of a user terminal carried by a user. The computer acquires information relating to one or more route candidates connecting a current location of the user terminal and a boarding location of a transportation facility in the vicinity of the user terminal based on the location information. The computer acquires person data relating to people present on the route candidate from a sensor installed on the route candidate. The computer calculates the degree of congestion of people on the route candidate from the acquired person data. The computer generates route information relating to a recommended route from the route candidate based on the congestion degree. The computer outputs the route information.

A program according to one embodiment of the present disclosure causes a computer to execute the following steps. The computer acquires user information including location information of a user terminal carried by the user. The computer acquires information relating to one or more route candidates connecting a current location of the user terminal and a boarding location of a transportation facility in the vicinity of the user terminal based on the location information. The computer acquires person data relating to people present on the route candidate from sensors installed on the route candidate. The computer calculates the degree of congestion of people on the route candidate from the acquired person data. The computer generates route information relating to a recommended route from the route candidate based on the congestion degree. The computer outputs the route information.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a route information providing device, a route information providing method, and a program for efficiently using transportation facilities.

1 is a block diagram of a route information providing device according to a first embodiment; 3 is a flowchart showing a route information providing method according to the first exemplary embodiment; FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a route information providing system according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a route information providing device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process of a congestion degree calculation unit according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a route search device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a user terminal according to the second embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of processing performed by a route search device. FIG. 1 is a first diagram showing an example of route information. FIG. 2 is a second diagram showing an example of route information. FIG. 3 is a third diagram showing an example of route information. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a computer.

The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but the invention according to the claims is not limited to the following embodiments. Furthermore, not all of the configurations described in the embodiments are necessarily essential as means for solving the problem. For clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings have been omitted and simplified as appropriate. In each drawing, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations have been omitted as necessary.

<First embodiment>
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a route information providing device 10 according to the first embodiment. The route information providing device 10 according to the present embodiment is communicably connected to a user terminal carried by a user. The route information providing device 10 presents routes to transportation facilities in the vicinity of the user's location to the user terminal. The route information providing device 10 mainly includes a user information acquiring unit 111, a route candidate acquiring unit 112, a congestion degree calculating unit 113, a route information generating unit 114, and an output unit 115.

The user information acquisition unit 111 acquires user information from a user terminal. The user information includes location information of the user terminal held by the user. The user information may include an identifier of the user terminal and a signal indicating that route guidance is desired. When the user information acquisition unit 111 acquires the user information, it supplies the acquired user information to the route candidate acquisition unit 112.

The route candidate acquisition unit 112 acquires information on one or more route candidates connecting the location of the user terminal and a boarding location of a means of transportation in the vicinity of the user terminal from the location information included in the user information. The boarding location of a means of transportation is, for example, a train station, a bus stop, or a taxi stand. The information on the route candidates includes a route connecting the location of the user terminal (current location) to the boarding location of the means of transportation, and an estimated travel time estimated to be required when traveling along that route at a specified speed. The specified speed is, for example, the walking speed of a typical human being. The specified speed may be set for each user terminal.

The route candidate acquisition unit 112 may have map information and a route search program. In this case, the route candidate acquisition unit 112 searches for boarding locations of transportation facilities located near the latitude and longitude of the user terminal, for example, and searches for a route to the boarding location using the map information.

The route candidate acquisition unit 112 may communicate with a route search device that exists outside the route information providing device 10 and acquire route candidates from the route search device. In this case, the route candidate acquisition unit 112 transmits location information of the user terminal to the route search device and requests route candidates. Then, when the route search device generates information on the route candidates, the route candidate acquisition unit 112 acquires the route candidates from the route search device.

When the route candidate acquisition unit 112 acquires route candidates using the method described above, it supplies information regarding the acquired route candidates to the route information generation unit 114.

The congestion degree calculation unit 113 uses the person data on the route candidate to calculate the congestion degree of the route candidate. The person data on the route candidate is acquired by a sensor installed on the route candidate. In other words, the route information providing device 10 is communicatively connected to the sensor installed on the route candidate. The person data on the route candidate is data for knowing the degree of congestion of people on a passageway such as a road or concourse that is a route candidate.

The person data is, for example, image data of a route candidate. When the person data includes image data, the congestion degree calculation unit 113 can calculate the congestion degree of the location where the image data was acquired by measuring the number of people included in the image data. The congestion degree calculation unit 113 may measure the distance between people from the image data, and calculate that the congestion degree of the location is relatively high when the distance between people is relatively small.

The person data may also indicate the number of mobile devices carried by each person on a candidate route. In this case, for example, the sensor acquires identifiers and location information transmitted by the mobile devices to generate data that can estimate the number of people on a given candidate route. In addition, the format and manner of the person data, the manner of the sensor that generates the person data, etc. are not limited to those described above.

The congestion degree calculated by the congestion degree calculation unit 113 is an index for relatively identifying the congestion status of people in a specified location. For example, the congestion degree is indicated by a numerical value from 0 percent to 100 percent. In this case, a congestion degree of 0 percent indicates a state in which no people are detected in the location where the sensor is installed. A congestion degree of 100 percent indicates a state in which the density of people (e.g., the number of people per unit area) in the location where the sensor is installed exceeds a specified threshold. After calculating the congestion degree, the congestion degree calculation unit 113 supplies the calculated congestion degree to the route information generation unit 114.

The route information generation unit 114 generates route information from the congestion degree received from the congestion degree calculation unit 113 and information on the route candidates received from the route candidate acquisition unit 112. The route information includes information on the recommended route.

More specifically, for example, the route information generating unit 114 may select, as the recommended route, one of multiple route candidates that has a low level of congestion. Also, the route information generating unit 114 may select, as the recommended route, one of multiple route candidates that takes the shortest time to reach the boarding location of the transportation means that is the destination. Note that in this case, the route information generating unit 114 may correct the required time by taking into account the level of congestion of the route candidate relative to the estimated required time included in the information on the route candidate.

How the route information generation unit 114 selects a recommended route may be set in advance, or may be set when generating the route information. The route information may include multiple recommended routes, and the multiple recommended routes may be prioritized. The route information may also include information regarding route candidates that were not selected as recommended routes. After generating the route information, the route information generation unit 114 supplies the generated route information to the output unit 115.

The output unit 115 receives route information from the route information generation unit 114 and outputs the received route information. More specifically, the output unit 115 transmits the route information to, for example, a user terminal that is communicatively connected.

Next, a route information providing method performed by the route information providing device 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the route information providing method according to the first embodiment. The flowchart shown in Fig. 2 is started, for example, by starting up the route information providing device 10.

First, the user information acquisition unit 111 acquires user information including location information of the user terminal possessed by the user (step S11).

Next, the route candidate acquisition unit 112 acquires one or more route candidates connecting the current location of the user terminal and a boarding location of a public transportation facility in the vicinity of the user terminal based on the location information (step S12).

Next, the congestion degree calculation unit 113 acquires person data regarding people present on the candidate route from sensors installed on the candidate route (step S13).

The congestion degree calculation unit 113 calculates the congestion degree of people on the candidate route from the acquired person data (step S14).

The route information generation unit 114 generates route information regarding a recommended route from the route candidates based on the congestion degree (step S15).

The output unit 115 outputs the route information (step S16). When the output unit 115 outputs the route information, the route information providing device 10 ends the series of processes.

The above describes the route information providing device and information processing method according to the first embodiment. The route information providing device 10 has a processor and a storage device as components not shown. The storage device of the route information providing device 10 includes a storage device including a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory or an SSD (Solid State Drive). In this case, the storage device of the route information providing device 10 stores a computer program (hereinafter also simply referred to as a program) for executing the above-mentioned image processing method. The processor also reads the computer program from the storage device into a buffer memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and executes the program.

Each of the components of the route information providing device 10 may be realized by dedicated hardware. In addition, some or all of the components may be realized by general-purpose or dedicated circuits, processors, etc., or a combination of these. These may be configured by a single chip, or may be configured by multiple chips connected via a bus. Some or all of the components of each device may be realized by a combination of the above-mentioned circuits, etc., and programs. In addition, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an FPGA (field-programmable gate array), etc. may be used as a processor. The description of the configuration described here may also be applied to other devices or systems described below in this disclosure.

In addition, when some or all of the components of the route information providing device 10 are realized by multiple route information providing devices, circuits, etc., the multiple route information providing devices, circuits, etc. may be centrally located or distributed. For example, the route information providing devices, circuits, etc. may be realized as a client-server system, a cloud computing system, etc., each of which is connected via a communication network. In addition, the functions of the route information providing device 10 may be provided in the form of SaaS (Software as a Service).

The above describes embodiment 1. According to embodiment 1, it is possible to provide a route information providing device or the like that can accurately determine the degree of congestion with a simple configuration.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment. Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a route information providing system according to the second embodiment. Fig. 3 shows a state in which a route information providing system 1, a camera 50, and a user terminal 400 are each communicably connected to a network N1.

The route information providing system 1 includes a route information providing device 20 and a route search device 300. The route information providing system 1 according to this embodiment is communicatively connected to a user terminal 400 and a plurality of cameras 50 carried by a user U. The route information providing system 1 acquires user information from the user terminal 400 carried by the user U, and acquires image data from the camera 50. The route information providing system 1 presents to the user terminal 400 a route to a transportation facility in the vicinity of the location where the user U is located, based on the acquired user information and image data. The route information providing system 1 may also include a camera 50.

The camera 50 captures the scenery at the location where the camera 50 is installed, generates image data, and supplies the generated image data to the route information providing system 1 via the network N1. The camera 50 includes an image sensor 51. In other words, the camera 50 is one embodiment of a sensor that is installed on a route candidate so that the route information providing system 1 can calculate the degree of congestion of people at the location where the camera 50 is installed. Each camera 50 has a unique identifier. When the camera 50 generates image data, it supplies the image data to the route information providing system 1 in a manner that allows the identifier of each camera 50 to be identified. This allows the route information providing system 1 to link each camera 50 to the installation location.

Next, the route information providing device 20 included in the route information providing system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the route information providing device 20 according to the second embodiment. The route information providing device 20 differs from the route information providing device 10 according to the first embodiment in that it has an update unit 116 and a memory unit 120.

The update unit 116 causes the congestion degree calculation unit 113 to update the congestion degree in the route candidate in response to a predetermined request signal. The predetermined request signal may be, for example, a request signal received from the user terminal 400, or may be set as a predetermined interval (for example, 30 seconds, 60 seconds, or 90 seconds). When the update unit 116 receives the predetermined request signal, it supplies a signal to the congestion degree calculation unit 113 instructing it to update the congestion degree. When the congestion degree calculation unit 113 receives an instruction from the update unit 116, it acquires person data from a sensor installed in the route candidate to calculate the congestion degree, and supplies the calculated congestion degree to the route information generation unit 114. In this case, the route information generation unit 114 generates route information including the updated congestion degree and supplies the updated route information to the output unit 115. Furthermore, the output unit 115 outputs the updated route information. This allows the route information providing device 20 to preferably present the congestion degree of the route candidate to the user U.

In this embodiment, the route candidate acquisition unit 112 is communicatively connected to the route search device 300 and acquires information about route candidates from the route search device 300. In this case, the route candidate acquisition unit 112 transmits position information of the user terminal to the route search device and requests route candidates. Then, when the route search device generates information about the route candidates, the route candidate acquisition unit 112 acquires the route candidates from the route search device.

In this embodiment, the user information acquired by the user information acquisition unit 111 may include a time tolerance regarding the time required that the user is willing to accept. The time tolerance is an index regarding the time that the user is willing to accept to reach the boarding location of a specified means of transportation. In this case, the route information generation unit 114 generates route information using the user information including the time tolerance in addition to the congestion degree.

The time tolerance may be a specific time, such as 10 minutes or 30 minutes. In this case, the route information generating unit 114 selects, as the recommended route, a route candidate that has an estimated required time that is shorter than the time specified as the time tolerance, in addition to the congestion degree.

Time tolerance may also be an abstract and relative identification symbol such as "hurry" or "slowly." For example, when the time tolerance is "hurry," the route information generating unit 114 selects a route candidate with the shortest estimated required time as the recommended route. On the other hand, when the time tolerance is "slow," the route information generating unit 114 extracts multiple route candidates in order starting with the route candidate with the shortest estimated required time, and selects a recommended route by taking into account the degree of congestion of the extracted multiple route candidates.

In addition, the user information acquired by the user information acquisition unit 111 in this embodiment may include priority information indicating either a required time priority or a congestion avoidance priority. In this case, the route information generation unit 114 generates route information using the congestion degree and the priority information included in the user information.

In this case, when the route information generating unit 114 has acquired information indicating a priority on required time as the priority information, the route information generating unit 114 selects a route candidate with a relatively short required time as the recommended route. When the route information generating unit 114 has acquired information indicating a priority on avoiding congestion as the priority information, the route information generating unit 114 selects a route candidate with a relatively low degree of congestion as the recommended route.

In this embodiment, the congestion degree calculation unit 113 acquires image data of a scene of a route candidate from the camera 50 as person data. The congestion degree calculation unit 113 may, for example, recognize a person image included in this image data, and calculate the congestion degree by counting the number of people present in the scene captured from the recognized person image. The congestion degree calculation unit 113 may also have a trained model trained to derive the congestion degree from this image data, and calculate the congestion degree by inputting the image data into this trained model. The congestion degree calculation unit 113 may also recognize a traffic area such as a road or concourse where people pass, and calculate the congestion degree from the number of people in this traffic area.

The congestion degree calculation unit 113 may also use image data generated at multiple different times to measure the movement speed of people included in the image data, and use the measured movement speed to calculate the congestion degree. That is, for example, the congestion degree calculation unit 113 sets the congestion degree when the movement speed of people in an image containing a certain number of people X1 is relatively fast to a lower level than the congestion degree when the movement speed of people in an image containing the same number of people X1 is relatively slow. On the other hand, the congestion degree calculation unit 113 sets the congestion degree when the movement speed of people is relatively slow to a higher level than the congestion degree when the movement speed is relatively fast.

The congestion degree calculation unit 113 may also measure the distance between people (person-to-person distance) included in the image data and calculate the congestion degree using the measured person-to-person distance. For example, the congestion degree calculation unit 113 measures the distance between the people closest to each other and calculates the average of these. The congestion degree calculation unit 113 then uses the calculated average value of the person-to-person distance when calculating the congestion degree. For example, when the average value of the person-to-person distance in an image in which a certain number of people X1 exists is relatively small, people exist more densely than when the average value of the person-to-person distance in an image in which the number of people X1 exists is relatively large. Therefore, in this case, the congestion degree calculation unit 113 sets the congestion degree when the person-to-person distance is relatively small to be higher than the congestion degree when the person-to-person distance is relatively large.

The route information generated by the route information generation unit 114 in this embodiment includes route congestion degree information regarding the congestion degree of multiple route candidates, including the recommended route. This allows the route information providing device 20 to appropriately present the surrounding congestion situation to the user U. Furthermore, the user U who uses the route information providing system 1 can receive information regarding multiple route candidates, including the recommended route, and actively select a route. This allows the route information providing device 20 to provide highly convenient route information.

The route information generated by the route information generating unit 114 may also include superimposed image data in which map information related to route candidates and information related to the congestion level of the route are superimposed. This allows the route information providing device 20 to provide route information that is easy to recognize. In other words, the user U can visually recognize on the user terminal 400 information in which the user's location, the boarding locations of nearby public transportation, and route candidates including the congestion level are superimposed on a map.

Next, an example of the processing performed by the congestion degree calculation unit 113 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the processing performed by the congestion degree calculation unit 113 according to the second embodiment. The diagram shows a data group input to the congestion degree calculation unit 113 and a data group output by the congestion degree calculation unit 113. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the congestion degree calculation unit 113 accepts, as an input data group, image data generated by the camera 50, location information linked to the camera 50, and the time when the camera 50 captured the image related to the image data. That is, the input data group is person data. The congestion degree calculation unit 113 outputs the congestion degree, location information, and time from these input data groups as an output data group. The congestion degree calculation unit 113 supplies the output data group to the route information generation unit 114.

5, the congestion degree calculation unit 113 acquires image data supplied from the camera 50 as person data, but the person data is not limited to this. For example, the person data acquired by the congestion degree calculation unit 113 may include position data of a mobile device carried by a person on the candidate route. In this case, a sensor installed on the candidate route receives position information and a unique identifier transmitted by a mobile device present in the vicinity of the sensor. As a result, the congestion degree calculation unit 113 estimates the number and movement speed of people present in the vicinity of the sensor, and calculates the congestion degree.

The person data acquired by the congestion degree calculation unit 113 may include measurement data of temperature or humidity on the candidate route. In this case, a sensor installed on the candidate route measures the temperature or humidity on the path of the person and acquires the temperature or humidity in the surrounding areas of the path. As a result, the congestion degree calculation unit 113 measures whether the temperature or humidity on the path has risen higher than the surrounding temperature or humidity, and calculates the congestion degree from the temperature difference or humidity difference.

The person data acquired by the congestion degree calculation unit 113 may include voice data of voices emitted by people on the route candidate. In this case, a sensor installed on the route candidate collects voice data such as speech and footsteps emitted by people passing through the route. The congestion degree calculation unit 113 thereby calculates the congestion degree by measuring the volume of the voices on the route.

The person data acquired by the congestion degree calculation unit 113 may also include data on the number and frequency of posts of specific text information related to the congestion degree among text information posted on a social networking service (SNS) or a specific website. The person data may include a plurality of the above-mentioned data.

Next, the route search device 300 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the route search device 300 according to the second embodiment. The route search device 300 uses the user information of the user terminal 400 to search for a route connecting the user terminal 400 and a boarding location of a transportation facility in the vicinity thereof to generate route candidates, and supplies information on the generated route candidates to the route information providing device 20. The route search device 300 may be a personal computer, a server, or a processing device for route search. The route search device 300 has, as its main components, a communication unit 311, a route search unit 312, a control unit 313, and a memory unit 320.

The communication unit 311 is an interface for communication between the route search device 300 and the route information providing device 20. For example, the communication unit 311 receives location information of the user terminal 400 from the route information providing device 20 via the network N1. The communication unit 311 also transmits information related to the generated route candidates to the route information providing device 20 via the network N1.

The route search unit 312 searches for one or more routes from the location information of the user terminal 400 to a boarding location of a public transportation facility in the vicinity of the user terminal 400, and generates information regarding route candidates.

The control unit 313 includes a calculation device such as a CPU, and controls each component of the route search device 300. The control unit 414 reads a program from the memory unit 420, and realizes the specified functions of this embodiment in accordance with the read program.

The memory unit 320 is a storage device including a non-volatile memory, and stores at least a program and map information for enabling the route search device 300 to realize the functions in this embodiment.

Next, the user terminal 400 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the user terminal 400 according to the second embodiment. The user terminal 400 may be a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like. The user terminal 400 has, as its main components, a display unit 411, a position information generating unit 412, a communication unit 413, a control unit 414, and a memory unit 420.

The display unit 411 is a display device including, for example, a liquid crystal panel or an organic electroluminescence panel, and displays predetermined information in a manner that is visible to the user. The display unit 411 displays, for example, route information that the route information providing system 1 outputs to the user terminal 400.

The location information generation unit 412 generates information regarding the location of the user terminal 400. For example, the location information generation unit 412 may obtain location information from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

The communication unit 413 is an interface for communication between the user terminal 400 and the route information providing system 1. For example, the communication unit 413 transmits the location information of the user terminal 400, an identifier of the user terminal 400, etc. to the route information providing system 1 via the network N1. Also, for example, the communication unit 413 receives route information output by the route information providing system 1.

The control unit 414 includes a calculation device such as a CPU, and controls each component of the user terminal 400. The control unit 414 reads a program from the storage unit 420, and realizes a predetermined function according to this embodiment in accordance with the read program.

The storage unit 420 is a storage device including a non-volatile memory, and stores at least a program for enabling the user terminal 400 to realize the functions in this embodiment. Such a program may include, for example, an application program for the user terminal 400 to display route information.

Next, the processing performed by the route information providing system 1 will be explained using a specific example. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a specific example of the processing performed by the route search device. FIG. 8 shows a map of the surrounding area where user U is located. User U is located near building A10. Building A10 is, for example, a place where many people gather, such as a concert hall or a stadium. After the event is over, user U is planning to use nearby public transportation to return home from here.

A first railway line C10 and a second railway line C20 are shown in the vicinity of user U. The first railway line C10 includes a first station B10. The second railway line C20 includes a second station B20. The first railway line C10 and the second railway line C20 merge at a third station B30 and continue beyond that point while remaining merged. Of the above-mentioned stations, the stations relatively close to the location where user U is located are the first station B1 and the second station B20.

There are a first route R10 and a second route R20 as routes connecting the location of the user U to the first station B20. There are a third route R30 and a fourth route R40 as routes connecting the location of the user U to the second station B20. A plurality of cameras 50 are installed on the first route R10, the second route R20, the third route R30, and the fourth route R40.

In such a situation, user U uses user terminal 400 to access route information providing system 1. User U performs an operation to request route information providing system 1 to provide guidance on a route to a boarding location for nearby public transportation.

Figure 9 is a first diagram showing an example of route information. Figure 9 shows a first image P11 displayed on the display device of the user terminal 400. Image P11 shows an icon U10 representing user U, a building A10, a first station B10, and a second station B20 superimposed on a map of the area around the location where user U is located.

The first image P11 also displays a button labeled "Travel time" and a button labeled "Avoid congestion" along with the messages "Search for routes to nearby stations" and "Which would you like to prioritize?" When searching for a route, the user U selects either of the above-mentioned buttons. The route information providing system 1 generates route information that prioritizes travel time or route information that prioritizes avoiding congestion, depending on the user U's selection.

Figure 10 is a second diagram showing an example of route information. Figure 10 shows a second image P12 displayed on the display device of the user terminal 400. The second image P12 shows the state in which the route information providing system 1 generates route information and the user terminal 400 displays the route information after the user U selects "avoid congestion" in the first image P11 shown in Figure 9.

In Figure 10, the first route R10, the second route R20 and the third route R30 are shown by dotted lines, and the fourth route R40 is shown by a thick solid line. In addition, in each route candidate, a circular symbol of a different diameter is marked at the location where the camera 50 is installed. In addition, the second image P12 displays messages such as "Route found" and "Route candidates and recommended route are displayed."

In the above situation, the circular symbols shown in the second image P12 indicate the degree of congestion at each location where the camera 50 is installed. In this example, the diameter of the circle is associated with the degree of congestion. That is, the larger the diameter of the circular symbol, the more crowded the location is. According to the second screen P12, the diameter of the circular symbol attached to the fourth route R40 is smaller than that of the other route candidates. That is, the fourth route R40 is less crowded than the other route candidates. Therefore, the route information providing system 1 selects the fourth route R40 as the recommended route and displays it as a solid line.

Figure 11 is a third diagram showing an example of route information. Figure 11 shows a third image P13 displayed on the display device of the user terminal 400. The third image P13 shows a state in which a user U who has viewed the second image P12 shown in Figure 10 has selected the fourth route R40 and is in the middle of proceeding along it. In Figure 11, an icon U10 representing the user U is located midway along the fourth route R40. The route connecting the icon U10 and the second station B20 is shown by a thick solid line. Furthermore, route candidates not selected by the user U are shown by a thick white line. Furthermore, the third image P13 displays a message saying "Displaying the latest congestion status."

In Figure 11, the congestion level at the location where the camera 50 is installed has changed from the second image P12 shown in Figure 10. That is, in the route information providing system 1, the update unit 116 of the route information providing device 20 generates a signal to update the congestion level, for example, every 30 seconds. In response to this, the route information generating unit 114 generates route information including the updated congestion level. This route information also includes the congestion level for route candidates not selected by the user U. With this configuration, the route information providing system 1 generates information according to changes in the situation and presents it to the user U. Thus, the user U can use route guidance while recognizing the updated information.

The above describes the embodiment. Note that the route information providing system 1 according to the embodiment is not limited to the above configuration. For example, in the route information providing system 1, the user information acquisition unit 111 may further acquire information regarding the destination to which the user is heading. In this case, the route candidate acquisition unit 112 acquires, as route candidates, routes that the user can use to reach the destination using public transportation. In this case, for example, the user U requests route guidance for a route to a destination such as a home or an office. In response to this, the route information providing system 1 provides guidance on a route to reach the destination via public transportation.

The above describes embodiment 2. According to the route information providing system 1 or route information providing device 20 according to embodiment 2, it is possible to provide a route information providing device, a route information providing method, and a program for efficiently using transportation facilities.

<Example of hardware configuration>
Hereinafter, an example will be described in which each functional configuration of an information processing device according to the present disclosure is realized by a combination of hardware and software.

Figure 12 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a computer. The route information providing device in the present disclosure can realize the above-mentioned functions by a computer 500 including the hardware configuration shown in the figure. The computer 500 may be a portable computer such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal, or a stationary computer such as a PC. The computer 500 may be a dedicated computer designed to realize each device, or may be a general-purpose computer. The computer 500 can realize the desired functions by installing a specified application.

The computer 500 has a bus 502, a processor 504, a memory 506, a storage device 508, an input/output interface (I/F) 510, and a network interface (I/F) 512. The bus 502 is a data transmission path for the processor 504, the memory 506, the storage device 508, the input/output interface 510, and the network interface 512 to transmit and receive data to each other. However, the method of connecting the processor 504 and the like to each other is not limited to a bus connection.

The processor 504 is a processor such as a CPU, a GPU, or an FPGA. The memory 506 is a main storage device realized using a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like.

Storage device 508 is an auxiliary storage device realized using a hard disk, SSD, memory card, ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. Storage device 508 stores programs for realizing desired functions. Processor 504 reads the programs into memory 506 and executes them to realize each functional component of each device.

The input/output interface 510 is an interface for connecting the computer 500 to an input/output device. For example, an input device such as a keyboard and an output device such as a display device are connected to the input/output interface 510. The network interface 512 is an interface for connecting the computer 500 to a network.

Above, we have described examples where each functional configuration of the information processing device in this disclosure is realized by a combination of hardware and software.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

A part or all of the above-described embodiments can be described as, but is not limited to, the following supplementary notes.
(Appendix 1)
A user information acquisition means for acquiring user information including location information of a user terminal possessed by a user;
a route candidate acquisition means for acquiring one or more route candidates connecting a current position of the user terminal and a boarding location of a transportation facility in the vicinity of the user terminal based on the position information;
a congestion degree calculation means for acquiring person data relating to people present on the route candidate from a sensor installed on the route candidate, and calculating a congestion degree of people on the route candidate from the acquired person data;
a route information generating means for generating route information regarding a recommended route from the route candidates based on the congestion degree;
and an output unit for outputting the route information.
(Appendix 2)
The user information acquired by the user information acquisition means further includes a time tolerance regarding a required time permitted by the user,
the route information generating means generates the route information based on the user information including the congestion degree and the time tolerance.
2. The route information providing device according to claim 1.
(Appendix 3)
The user information acquired by the user information acquisition means further includes priority information indicating either one of a required time priority and a congestion avoidance priority,
the route information generating means generates the route information based on the congestion degree and the user information including the priority information.
3. The route information providing device according to claim 1 or 2.
(Appendix 4)
The route information generating means
When information indicating a priority on required time is acquired as the priority information, the route candidate having a relatively short required time is selected as the recommended route;
When information indicating a priority of avoiding congestion is acquired as the priority information, the route candidate having a relatively low congestion degree is selected as the recommended route.
4. A route information providing device according to claim 3.
(Appendix 5)
The congestion degree calculation means acquires image data of a scene along the route candidate as the person data.
5. The route information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
(Appendix 6)
6. The route information providing device according to claim 5, wherein the congestion degree calculation means calculates the congestion degree based on a number of people included in the image data.
(Appendix 7)
7. The route information providing device according to claim 5, wherein the congestion degree calculation means calculates the congestion degree based on a moving speed of a person included in the image data.
(Appendix 8)
The route information providing device according to any one of appendices 5 to 7, wherein the congestion degree calculation means calculates the congestion degree based on a distance between people included in the image data.
(Appendix 9)
the person data acquired by the congestion degree calculation means includes position data of a mobile device carried by a person on the route candidate,
9. A route information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
(Appendix 10)
the person data acquired by the congestion degree calculation means includes measurement data of temperature or humidity along the route candidate,
10. The route information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
(Appendix 11)
The person data acquired by the congestion degree calculation means includes voice data of voices uttered by people on the route candidate.
11. A route information providing device according to any one of appendix 1 to 10.
(Appendix 12)
the route information generated by the route information generating means includes route congestion degree information regarding the congestion degrees of the multiple route candidates including the recommended route.
12. The route information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.
(Appendix 13)
The route information generated by the route information generating means includes superimposed image data in which map information related to the route candidate and information related to the congestion degree of the route are superimposed.
13. The route information providing device according to any one of appendix 1 to 12.
(Appendix 14)
The method further includes updating means for updating the congestion degree of the route candidate in response to a predetermined request signal,
The route information generating means generates the route information including the updated congestion degree.
14. A route information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.
(Appendix 15)
The user information acquisition means further acquires information regarding a destination to which the user is heading,
the route candidate acquisition means acquires, as the route candidate, a route for the user to reach the destination using the transportation means;
15. A route information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 14.
(Appendix 16)
A route information providing device according to any one of appendix 1 to 15,
a route search device that searches for a route connecting the user terminal and a boarding location of the transportation facility in the vicinity of the user terminal based on the user information, and generates the route candidates;
Route information provision system.
(Appendix 17)
The computer
Acquire user information including location information of a user terminal owned by the user;
acquiring one or more route candidates connecting a current location of the user terminal and a boarding location of a transportation facility in the vicinity of the user terminal based on the location information;
acquiring person data relating to people present on the candidate route from a sensor installed on the candidate route;
Calculating a degree of congestion of people on the route candidate from the acquired person data;
generating route information regarding a recommended route from the route candidates based on the congestion degree;
Outputting the route information.
Method of providing route information.
(Appendix 18)
Acquire user information including location information of the user terminal and a time tolerance of the user;
Searching for one or more route candidates connecting a current location of the user terminal and a boarding location of a transportation facility in the vicinity of the user terminal based on the location information;
acquiring person data relating to a plurality of people from a sensor installed on the candidate route, and calculating a degree of congestion of people on the candidate route from the acquired person data;
outputting information about a recommended route selected from the route candidates based on the time tolerance and the congestion degree;
A program that causes a computer to execute a route information providing method.

In the above embodiment, the present invention has been described as a hardware configuration, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be realized by having a CPU (Central Processing Unit) execute a computer program to perform any process. In addition, the above-mentioned program can be stored using various types of non-transitory computer readable medium and supplied to a computer. Non-transitory computer readable medium includes various types of tangible storage medium. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include magnetic recording media (e.g., flexible disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives), magneto-optical recording media (e.g., magneto-optical disks), CD-ROMs (Read Only Memory) CD-R, CD-R/W, and semiconductor memories (e.g., mask ROM, PROM (Programmable ROM), EPROM (Erasable PROM), flash ROM, and RAM (Random Access Memory)). The program may also be provided to the computer by various types of transient computer-readable media. Examples of transient computer-readable media include electric signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. The transient computer-readable medium can provide the program to the computer via a wired communication path such as an electric wire and an optical fiber, or via a wireless communication path.

This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-049221, filed on March 23, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Route information providing system 10 Route information providing device 20 Route information providing device 50 Camera 51 Image sensor 111 User information acquisition unit 112 Route candidate acquisition unit 113 Congestion degree calculation unit 114 Route information generation unit 115 Output unit 116 Update unit 120 Storage unit 300 Route search device 311 Communication unit 312 Route search unit 313 Control unit 320 Storage unit 400 User terminal 411 Display unit 412 Position information generation unit 413 Communication unit 414 Control unit 420 Storage unit 500 Computer 502 Bus 504 Processor 506 Memory 508 Storage device 510 Input/output I/F
512 Network I/F

Claims (11)

A user information acquisition means for acquiring user information including location information of a user terminal possessed by a user;
a route candidate acquisition means for acquiring information regarding one or more route candidates connecting a current position of the user terminal and a destination of the user based on the position information ;
a route information generating means for generating route information regarding a recommended route from the route candidates based on a congestion degree calculated for the route candidates ;
and an output means for outputting the route information,
the route information includes information regarding the congestion degree of the route candidate,
The information regarding the congestion level of the route candidate includes a symbol whose display mode changes depending on the level of the congestion level,
and updating means for updating the congestion degree of each of the route candidates selected by the user and the route candidates not selected by the user in response to a predetermined request signal,
The route information generating means generates the route information including the updated congestion degree,
the symbol is displayed in a display manner according to the updated congestion degree for each of the route candidate selected by the user and the route candidate not selected by the user;
Route information providing device. the destination is a boarding point of a transportation facility in the vicinity of the user terminal,
a congestion degree calculation means for acquiring person data relating to people present on the route candidate from a sensor installed on the route candidate, and calculating a congestion degree of people on the route candidate from the acquired person data,
the size of the symbol changes depending on the congestion degree of the route candidate, and the higher the congestion degree, the larger the size of the symbol is.
The route information providing device according to claim 1 . The user information acquired by the user information acquisition means further includes a time tolerance regarding a required time permitted by the user,
the route information generating means generates the route information based on the user information including the congestion degree and the time tolerance.
3. The route information providing device according to claim 1 or 2. The user information acquired by the user information acquisition means further includes priority information indicating either one of a required time priority and a congestion avoidance priority,
the route information generating means generates the route information based on the congestion degree and the user information including the priority information.
The route information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The route information generating means
When information indicating a priority on required time is acquired as the priority information, the route candidate having a relatively short required time is selected as the recommended route;
When information indicating a priority of avoiding congestion is acquired as the priority information, the route candidate having a relatively low congestion degree is selected as the recommended route.
The route information providing device according to claim 4. The congestion degree calculation means acquires image data of a scene along the route candidate as the person data.
The route information providing device according to claim 2 . the crowdedness degree calculation means calculates the crowdedness degree based on at least one of the number of people included in the image data, the moving speed of the people included in the image data, and the distance between people included in the image data;
The route information providing device according to claim 6. The person data acquired by the congestion degree calculation means includes at least one of position data of a mobile device carried by a person along the route candidate, measurement data of temperature or humidity along the route candidate, and voice data of a voice uttered by a person along the route candidate.
The route information providing device according to any one of claims 2, 6 and 7. the route information generated by the route information generating means includes route congestion degree information regarding the congestion degrees of the multiple route candidates including the recommended route.
The route information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The computer
Acquire user information including location information of a user terminal owned by the user;
acquiring information about one or more route candidates connecting a current location of the user terminal and a destination of the user based on the location information ;
generating route information regarding a recommended route from the route candidates based on the congestion degree calculated for the route candidates ;
Outputting the route information;
the route information includes information regarding the congestion degree of the route candidate,
The information regarding the congestion level of the route candidate includes a symbol whose display mode changes depending on the level of the congestion level,
Furthermore, in response to a predetermined request signal, the congestion degree of each of the route candidates selected by the user and the route candidates not selected by the user is updated;
In the generation of the route information, the route information including the updated congestion degree is generated;
the symbol is displayed in a display manner according to the updated congestion degree for each of the route candidate selected by the user and the route candidate not selected by the user;
Method of providing route information. Acquire user information including location information of a user terminal owned by the user;
acquiring information about one or more route candidates connecting a current location of the user terminal and a destination of the user based on the location information ;
generating route information regarding a recommended route from the route candidates based on the congestion degree calculated for the route candidates ;
Outputting the route information.
Executing a route information providing method on a computer;
the route information includes information regarding the congestion degree of the route candidate,
The information regarding the congestion level of the route candidate includes a symbol whose display mode changes depending on the level of the congestion level,
Furthermore, in response to a predetermined request signal, the congestion degree of each of the route candidates selected by the user and the route candidates not selected by the user is updated;
In the generation of the route information, the route information including the updated congestion degree is generated;
the symbol is displayed in a display manner according to the updated congestion degree for each of the route candidate selected by the user and the route candidate not selected by the user;
program.

Images