JP7694334B2 - Gate device, status notification method, and status notification program - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to technology for restricting the passage of users through passageways.

Conventionally, at station ticket gates, automatic ticket gates (gate devices) process tickets for users entering and exiting the station premises. As is well known, automatic ticket gates accept tickets held by users passing through the ticket gate passage and read the ticket information recorded on the ticket. Based on the ticket information read, the automatic ticket gates determine whether or not to permit the user to pass through the ticket gate passage, and depending on the result of the determination, open or close doors installed in the ticket gate passage to restrict the user's passage.

Recently, in order to alleviate congestion on trains, railway companies have been considering introducing a variable fare system in which fares are changed according to estimated congestion levels (see Patent Document 1, etc.). In Patent Document 1, fares applicable to each train are published on a web page, and passengers can check the fare applicable to the train they are taking by accessing this web page.

JP 2020-23234 A

The operation of a variable fare system is being considered, in which the fare to be applied to a user is determined based on the time when the user passes through the ticket gate (the time when the ticket is processed by the automated ticket gate). For example, an operation mode is being considered in which fare information used to calculate the fare (value) to be applied to a user is set by time period, and the fare calculated using the fare information for the time period in which the user passes through the ticket gate is applied to that user.

Furthermore, with a variable fare system, it is desirable to prevent situations in which users are dissatisfied with the application of the fare. For example, a user may be dissatisfied with the fare applied if the fare applied changes shortly after passing through a ticket gate.

The objective of this invention is to provide technology that can minimize degradation of services for users when using a variable value system.

To achieve the above objective, the gate device of this invention is configured as follows:

The gate device is used in a variable value type traffic control system in which the value applied to users passing through the passageway is switched at a set switching time. The value referred to here may be, for example, an amount charged to the user, a number of points given to the user, or a cashback amount given to the user. The type of value is determined according to the application of the gate device.

The determination unit determines whether or not to permit the user to pass through the passage. The passage control unit restricts the user's passage through the passage depending on the determination result of the determination unit. For example, the passage control unit opens a door provided in the passage when the determination unit determines that the user is permitted to pass through. Also, the passage control unit closes the door provided in the passage when the determination unit determines that the user is not permitted to pass through.

The notification control unit also issues a notification when the notification timing is determined based on the next switching time. The notification timing may be, for example, 5 minutes or 10 minutes before the next switching time.

According to this configuration, the user can be notified that the magnitude of the applied value will change after a while. Therefore, in the operation of the variable value method, degradation of the service for the user is suppressed. For example, the notification control unit may notify the user in a form that can be visually confirmed by the user (for example, by flashing the display surface of the display) or in a form that can be audibly confirmed by the user (for example, by sound notification).

The notification control unit may also, for example, blink the display surface of the display in a first light color if the magnitude of the value to be applied to the user who will be switched at the next switching time will be greater than the current value, and, conversely, blink the display surface of the display in a second light color different from the first light color if the magnitude of the value will be smaller than the current value.

With this configuration, the user can see whether the applied value will increase or decrease after a while. Therefore, the user can decide whether to pass through the passage immediately or wait for a while and then pass through the passage after the applied value has changed.

The notification control unit may also be configured to switch the display on the display surface of the display device depending on the amount of value currently being applied to the user passing through the passage. In this manner, the user can be informed of the amount of value currently being applied.

This invention reduces the degradation of services for users when using the variable value system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of an automatic ticket gate according to this embodiment. 2A is a plan view seen in the B direction shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a plan view seen in the Z direction shown in FIG. 2A. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main parts of an automatic ticket gate in this example. 13 is a flowchart showing the entrance process of the automatic ticket gate in this example. 13 is a flowchart showing the exit process of the automated ticket gate in this example. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of fare information. 10 is a flowchart showing a notification process of the automatic ticket gate in this example. 13 is a flowchart showing a notification process of an automatic ticket gate according to the second modified example.

The following describes an embodiment of the invention.

＜1. Application examples＞
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of an automatic ticket gate of this example. Fig. 2(A) is a plan view seen in the direction B shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 2(B) is a plan view seen in the direction Z shown in Fig. 2(A). The automatic ticket gate 1 of this example corresponds to the gate device referred to in this invention.

The automated ticket gate 1 in this example is used in a ticket gate system with a variable fare system. The automated ticket gate 1 shown in Figure 1 performs ticket gate processing for users entering a station and users leaving the station. For example, users entering the station pass through the ticket gate passage in the direction A shown in Figure 1, and users leaving the station pass through the ticket gate passage in the direction B shown in Figure 1.

The automated ticket gate 1 may be configured not to perform ticket gate processing for either users entering or leaving the station.

As is well known, the automated ticket gate 1 has main units 2a and 2b arranged on opposite sides of the ticket gate passage. The main unit 2a is provided with a first display 31a and a second display 32a for users passing through the ticket gate passage in direction A. The main unit 2b is provided with a first display 31b and a second display 32b for users passing through the ticket gate passage in direction B.

The first display 31a is provided on the end surface of the main unit 2a, which is at the entrance side of the ticket gate passage for users passing through the ticket gate passage in direction A, and is perpendicular to the direction of passage of users in the ticket gate passage. The first display 31b is provided on the end surface of the main unit 2b, which is at the entrance side of the ticket gate passage for users passing through the ticket gate passage in direction B, and is perpendicular to the direction of passage of users in the ticket gate passage. Therefore, users passing through the ticket gate passage in direction A can see the display surface of the first display 31a before entering the ticket gate passage. Also, users passing through the ticket gate passage in direction B can see the display surface of the first display 31b before entering the ticket gate passage. The first displays 31a and 31b correspond to the displays referred to in this invention.

The second display 32a is located in the middle of the ticket gate passage and is provided on the top surface of the main unit 2a. The second display 32a displays guidance to users passing through the ticket gate passage in direction A. The second display 32b is located in the middle of the ticket gate passage and is provided on the top surface of the main unit 2b. The second display 32b displays guidance to users passing through the ticket gate passage in direction B.

The automated ticket gate 1 also restricts a user passing through the ticket gate passage in direction A by opening and closing door 33 located on the exit side of the ticket gate passage. Similarly, the automated ticket gate 1 restricts a user passing through the ticket gate passage in direction B by opening and closing door 34 located on the exit side of the ticket gate passage.

The ticket gate system to which the automated ticket gate 1 of this example is applied is operated under a variable fare system in which the fare to be applied to a user is determined based on the time when the user passes through the ticket gate passage (the time when the ticket gate process is performed by the automated ticket gate 1). In this example, fare information used to calculate the fare (value) to be applied to the user is set by time period. The fare to be applied to the user is calculated using the fare information set for the time period in which the user passes through the ticket gate passage. In this example, the fare applied to the user corresponds to the value as referred to in this invention.

Then, the automated ticket gate 1 in this example blinks the indications on the first displays 31a and 31b a predetermined time (for example, 5 to 10 minutes) before the changeover time when the fare to be applied to the user is to be changed next, until the changeover time is reached. The automated ticket gate 1 does not blink the indications on the first displays 31a and 31b under normal circumstances (at least a predetermined time before the changeover time when the fare to be applied to the user is to be changed next). The user can check whether the indications on the first displays 31a and 31b are blinking before entering the ticket gate passage. In other words, the automated ticket gate 1 in this example can notify the user that the applied fare will be changed in a while. This can prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the user is dissatisfied with the application of the fare. Therefore, a deterioration in the service for the user can be prevented.

2. Configuration example
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main parts of the automated ticket gate 1 of this example. The automated ticket gate 1 of this example includes a control unit 11, a ticket processing unit 12, a first display unit 13, a second display unit 14, a user detection unit 15, a door opening/closing mechanism unit 16, and a communication unit 17.

The control unit 11 controls the operation of each part of the automated ticket gate 1 main body. The control unit 11 also has a determination unit 21, a passage control unit 22, a display control unit 23, and a notification control unit 24. The determination unit 21, the passage control unit 22, the display control unit 23, and the notification control unit 24 of the control unit 11 will be described later.

The ticket processing unit 12 accepts a ticket held by a user and reads the ticket information recorded on this ticket. The ticket processing unit 12 also writes the ticket information (ticket information related to the current ticket gate processing) onto the ticket as necessary. As is well known, tickets include contactless IC tickets, magnetic tickets, and optically readable code tickets. A contactless IC ticket is a ticket with wireless communication capabilities. A magnetic ticket is a ticket with a magnetic sheet affixed. An optically readable code ticket is a ticket with an optically readable code (for example, a two-dimensional barcode such as a QR code (registered trademark)) formed on its face. In this example, for simplicity, the case where the ticket is a contactless IC ticket will be described.

The ticket processing unit 12 has an antenna (not shown) installed on the entrance side of the ticket gate passage for the user, and uses wireless communication with a contactless IC ticket held up to this antenna to read the ticket information recorded on the contactless IC ticket and write the ticket information to the contactless IC ticket.

The first display unit 13 switches the display of the first displays 31a and 31b according to instructions from the control unit 11 (alarm control unit 24). The second display unit 14 switches the display of the second displays 32a and 32b according to instructions from the control unit 11 (display control unit 23).

The user detection unit 15 has multiple photoelectric sensors lined up along the ticket gate passage, and tracks users passing through the ticket gate passage by detecting the position of the user passing through the ticket gate passage from the detection output of each photoelectric sensor. The photoelectric sensor may be a reflective type or a transmissive type (a type in which a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element are arranged opposite each other across the ticket gate passage).

The door opening/closing mechanism 16 opens and closes the doors 33 and 34 installed in the ticket gate passage according to instructions from the control unit 11 (passage control unit 22).

The communication unit 17 communicates with a higher-level device such as a station server. The communication unit 17 may be configured to communicate with the higher-level device wirelessly or via a wired connection.

Next, we will explain the determination unit 21, the passage control unit 22, the display control unit 23, and the notification control unit 24 that the control unit 11 has.

The determination unit 21 determines whether a user who enters the ticket gate passage while holding the contactless IC ticket over an antenna is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage based on the ticket information read by the ticket processing unit 12 from the contactless IC ticket. If the determination unit 21 determines that the user is permitted to pass through, it instructs the ticket processing unit 12 to write the ticket information related to the current ticket gate processing to the contactless IC ticket from which the ticket information has been read. When the determination unit 21 has completed writing the ticket information related to the current ticket gate processing to the contactless IC ticket from which the ticket information has been read, it allows the user to pass through the ticket gate passage. In other words, if the determination unit 21 fails to write the ticket information related to the current ticket gate processing to the contactless IC ticket from which the ticket information has been read (if a write error occurs), it does not allow the user to pass through the ticket gate passage.

When the determination unit 21 determines that the user is permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage, the passage control unit 22 instructs the door opening/closing mechanism unit 16 to open the door 33 (or door 34) located on the user's exit side. Also, when the determination unit 21 determines that the user is not permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage, the passage control unit 22 instructs the door opening/closing mechanism unit 16 to close the door 33 (or door 34) located on the user's exit side.

When the door opening/closing mechanism 16 receives an instruction to open the doors 33, 34 from the passage control unit 22, if the doors 33, 34 are already open, the door opening/closing mechanism 16 does not open or close the doors 33, 34 (it closes the doors 33, 34 once and does not open them again). Similarly, when the door opening/closing mechanism 16 receives an instruction to close the doors 33, 34 from the passage control unit 22, if the doors 33, 34 are already closed, the door opening/closing mechanism 16 does not open or close the doors 33, 34 (it opens the doors 33, 34 once and does not close them again).

The display control unit 23 generates a guide screen to be displayed on the second display units 32a and 32b, and instructs the second display unit 14 to display it. The notification control unit 24 generates a guide screen to be displayed on the first display units 31a and 31b, and instructs the first display unit 13 to display it. In addition, the notification control unit 24 instructs the first display unit 13 to blink the display on the first display units 31a and 31b a predetermined time (e.g., 5 to 10 minutes) before the switching time at which the fare to be applied to the next user is to be switched, until the switching time is reached.

The control unit 11 of the automated ticket gate 1 is composed of a hardware CPU, memory, and other electronic circuits. When the hardware CPU executes the status notification program of the present invention, it operates as a judgment unit 21, a passage control unit 22, a display control unit 23, and a notification control unit 24. The memory also has an area for expanding the status notification program of the present invention, and an area for temporarily storing data generated when the status notification program is executed. The control unit 11 may be an LSI that integrates the hardware CPU, memory, etc. Also, the hardware CPU is a computer that executes the status notification method of the present invention.

<3. Operation example>
Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the entrance process of the automated ticket gate in this example. Also, Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the exit process of the automated ticket gate in this example. In this example, the fare to be applied to the user is determined based on the time when the user entered the station (the time when the ticket gate process for entry was performed).

The automated ticket gate 1, which performs the entry process, stores the switching time at which the fare to be applied to the next user will be changed in the memory of the control unit 11. The automated ticket gate 1 may be configured to receive the switching time at which the fare to be applied to the next user will be changed from a higher-level device via the communication unit 17, or may be configured to store in advance the time period during which the fare to be applied to the user will vary. In other words, the automated ticket gate 1 may be configured in any way as long as it is capable of determining the switching time at which the fare to be applied to the next user will be changed.

When a user enters a ticket gate passage, the automated ticket gate 1 determines whether or not the ticket information has been read from the contactless IC card held by the user (s1, s2). If the automated ticket gate 1 has not read the ticket information from the contactless IC card held by the user who has entered the ticket gate passage, the passage control unit 22 instructs the door opening/closing mechanism unit 16 to close the door 33 (s6) and returns to s1.

When the automatic ticket gate 1 reads the ticket information from the contactless IC ticket held by the user who has entered the ticket gate passage, the automatic ticket gate 1 performs a passage judgment process to judge whether the user can pass through the ticket gate passage based on the read ticket information (s3). In s3, if the judgment unit 21 judges that the user can pass through, it instructs the ticket processing unit 12 to write the ticket information related to the current ticket gate processing to the contactless IC ticket from which the ticket information has been read. The ticket information to be written includes the date and time of the current ticket gate processing (the date and time when the user passed through the ticket gate passage this time), the entrance station, etc. When the judgment unit 21 has completed writing the ticket information related to the current ticket gate processing to the contactless IC ticket from which the ticket information has been read, it allows the user to pass through the ticket gate passage. In other words, if the judgment unit 21 fails to write the ticket information related to the current ticket gate processing to the contactless IC ticket from which the ticket information has been read this time, it does not allow the user to pass through the ticket gate passage.

When the automated ticket gate 1 determines that the user should be permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage, the passage control unit 22 instructs the door opening/closing mechanism unit 16 to open the door 33 (s4, s5), and the process returns to s1.

In addition, if the automated ticket gate 1 determines that the user should not be permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage, the passage control unit 22 instructs the door opening/closing mechanism unit 16 to close the door 33 (s4, s6), and the process returns to s1.

The automated ticket gate 1 that performs the exit process stores fare information used to calculate the fare to be applied to the user for each time period. For example, as shown in Figure 6, the fare information is a ratio used to calculate the time period and the surcharge or discount amount for the regular fare. The fare calculated using the fare information shown in Figure 6 is as follows:
Fare = Regular fare + (Regular fare x rate)
In addition, regular fares are not fixed amounts, but are determined according to the section of the train traveled by the user.

The fare information may be, for example, information that associates a time period with a surcharge or discount amount for that time period, or may be information in another format. In other words, the fare information may be in any format as long as it is information that can calculate the fare amount to be applied to the user by time period.

When a user enters a ticket gate passage, the automated ticket gate 1 determines whether or not the ticket information has been read from the contactless IC card carried by the user (s11, s12). If the automated ticket gate 1 has not read the ticket information from the contactless IC card carried by the user who has entered the ticket gate passage, the passage control unit 22 instructs the door opening/closing mechanism unit 16 to close the door 34 (s16) and the process returns to s11. The processes in s11 and s12 of the exit process are the same as those in s1 and s2 of the entry process.

When the automated ticket gate 1 reads the ticket information from the contactless IC ticket held by the user who has entered the ticket gate passage, the automatic ticket gate 1 performs a passage determination process to determine whether the user can pass through the ticket gate passage based on the read ticket information (s13). In addition, in s13, the fare for the user is calculated. Specifically, the determination unit 21 obtains the entry date and time written on the contactless IC ticket in the previous entry process, and reads out the fare information to be applied to the user (fare information associated with the time period to which the entry date and time belongs). The determination unit 21 calculates the regular fare for the boarding section in which the user boarded the train, and calculates the fare to be applied to the user using the calculated regular fare.

The judgment unit 21 judges that passage is not permitted if the fare calculated using the contactless IC ticket from which the ticket information has been read this time cannot be settled. In other words, the judgment unit 21 judges that passage is permitted if the fare calculated using the contactless IC ticket from which the ticket information has been read this time can be settled. If the judgment unit 21 judges that passage is permitted, it instructs the ticket processing unit 12 to write the ticket information related to the current ticket gate processing to the contactless IC ticket from which the ticket information has been read this time. The ticket information instructed to be written includes the date and time of the current ticket gate processing (the date and time when the user passed through the ticket gate passage this time), the exit station, the fare for the current railway use, etc. When the judgment unit 21 has completed writing the ticket information related to the current ticket gate processing to the contactless IC ticket from which the ticket information has been read this time, it allows the user to pass through the ticket gate passage. In other words, if the judgment unit 21 fails to write the ticket information related to the current ticket gate processing to the contactless IC ticket from which the ticket information has been read this time, it does not allow the user to pass through the ticket gate passage.

When the automated ticket gate 1 determines that the user should be permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage, the passage control unit 22 instructs the door opening/closing mechanism unit 16 to open the door 34 (s14, s15), and the process returns to s11.

In addition, if the automated ticket gate 1 determines that the user should not be permitted to pass through the ticket gate passage, the passage control unit 22 instructs the door opening/closing mechanism unit 16 to close the door 34 (s14, s16), and the process returns to s11.

In this example, the automated ticket gate 1 calculates the fare for the user in the determination unit 21, but the automated ticket gate 1 may also be configured to transmit the ticket information read from the contactless IC ticket to a higher-level server (a so-called thin client server) and obtain the fare for the user from the higher-level server. In other words, the fare for the user may be calculated by the higher-level server instead of the automated ticket gate 1.

Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the notification process of the automated ticket gate in this example. The notification control unit 24 acquires the time when the fare information used to calculate the fare to be applied to the user will next be switched (s21). The notification control unit 24 waits until a predetermined time before the next switching time acquired in s21 (s22). When the predetermined time before the next switching time arrives, the notification control unit 24 instructs the first display unit 13 to start flashing the display of the first display 31a (s23).

The first display unit 13 blinks the display on the first display 31a in accordance with instructions from the notification control unit 24. In this example, as described above, the fare applicable to a user is determined based on the time at which the user passes through the ticket gate passage when entering the station premises. For this reason, the display on the first display 31a, which can be seen by users entering the station before they enter the ticket gate passage, blinks to notify the user that the applicable fare will be changed after a while.

At this time, the display on the first display 31b may or may not blink.

The notification control unit 24 waits until the time arrives when the fare information used to calculate the fare to be applied to the user is next switched, and then instructs the first display unit 13 to end the blinking of the display on the first display 31a (s24, s25), and returns to s21. The first display unit 13 ends the blinking of the display on the first display 31a in accordance with the instruction from the notification control unit 24.

In this way, the automated ticket gate 1 in this example can notify the user before the user enters the ticket gate passage that the amount of the fare to be applied will change after a while. Therefore, in a ticket gate system operated under a variable fare system, degradation of service for users is suppressed.

4. Modifications
Modification 1
In the above example, the fare applied to a user is determined based on the time when the user passes through the ticket gate passage when entering the station premises, but the fare applied to a user may also be determined based on the time when the user passes through the ticket gate passage when leaving the station premises.

In this case, the automated ticket gate 1 also performs the entrance process shown in Figure 4. The automated ticket gate 1 also performs the exit process shown in Figure 5, but in the passage determination process of s13, the fare information associated with the time period to which the current time belongs is used to calculate the fare amount to be applied to the user performing the exit process.

Furthermore, the automated ticket gate 1 performs the notification process shown in FIG. 7. In this case, the notification control unit 24 instructs the first display unit 13 to start (s23) and stop (s25) blinking the display of the first display 31b, which can be seen by users leaving the station premises before entering the ticket gate passage.

Modification 2
The automated ticket gate 1 of this modified example 2 has the same configuration as the above example shown in Fig. 3. The automated ticket gate 1 of this modified example 2 executes the entrance process shown in Fig. 4 and the exit process shown in Fig. 5, but differs from the above example in that it executes the notification process shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the notification process of the automated ticket gate of modified example 2. In Fig. 8, the same processes as in Fig. 7 are given the same step numbers.

In the automated ticket gate 1 of this modified example 2, the notification control unit 24 acquires the time when the fare information used to calculate the fare to be applied to the user will next be switched (s21). The notification control unit 24 waits until a predetermined time before the next switching time acquired in s21 (s22). When the predetermined time before the next switching time arrives, the notification control unit 24 determines whether the fare calculated using the fare information to be switched at the next switching time will be higher or lower than the current fare (s31). If the notification control unit 24 determines in s31 that the fare will be higher, it instructs the first display unit 13 to start flashing the display of the first display 31a (or first display 31b) in a first emission color (e.g., blue) (s32). In addition, when the notification control unit 24 determines that the temperature is decreasing in s31, it instructs the first display unit 13 to start blinking the display of the first display 31a (or the first display 31b) in a second emission color (e.g., red) different from the first emission color (s33). The first display unit 13 starts blinking the display of the first display 31a in the emission color instructed by the notification control unit 24.

The notification control unit 24 waits until the time arrives when the fare information used to calculate the fare to be applied to the user is next switched, and then instructs the first display unit 13 to end the blinking of the display on the first display 31a (or the first display 31b) (s24, s25), and returns to s21. The first display unit 13 ends the blinking of the display on the first display 31a in accordance with the instruction from the notification control unit 24.

The automated ticket gate 1 of this variant 2 can notify the user not only that the fare will change after a while, but also whether the fare will change to an upward or downward direction. This allows the user to easily decide whether to enter the ticket gate passage immediately or to wait for the fare to change before entering the ticket gate passage. This allows the user to make an appropriate decision as to whether to kill time at the facilities within the station or at the facilities around the station.

Modification 3
The first display 31a, 31b may also notify the user of the currently applied fare. For example, the first display 31a, 31b may display a surcharge or discount rate relative to the normal fare, a surcharge or discount amount, etc. The background color of the first display 31a, 31b may be changed to a color according to the rank of the fare.

In the above example, the first display 31a, 31b on the automated ticket gate 1 notifies the user that the fare will be changed after a while, but this notification may also be made by an alarm light installed around the ticket gate. Also, a speaker or the like installed around the ticket gate may be configured to emit a sound message to notify the user that the fare will be changed after a while, or the user may be notified in another way that the fare will be changed after a while.

In the above explanation, the present invention has been described using an automatic ticket gate as an example, but it may also be a gate device installed at the entrance and exit of a facility such as a theme park. Furthermore, this invention is not limited to fares, and other types of value such as points may be applied to users. The type of value may be determined according to the purpose of the gate device.

Note that this invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and in the implementation stage, the components can be modified and embodied without departing from the gist of the invention. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in the above-described embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, components from different embodiments may be appropriately combined. In addition, the order of the processes in the flowcharts used to explain each process may be changed as appropriate.

Furthermore, the correspondence between the configuration according to the present invention and the configuration according to the above-mentioned embodiment can be described as follows.
<Additional Notes>
A gate device (1) used in a variable value type passage control system in which the value applied to a user passing through a passage is switched at a preset switching time,
A determination unit (21) that determines whether or not to permit a user to pass through the passage;
a passage control unit (22) that restricts passage of users through the passage in accordance with a result of the determination by the determination unit (21);
and a notification control unit (24) that issues a notification when a notification timing determined based on the next switching time arrives.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Automatic ticket gate 2a, 2b...Main unit 11...Control unit 12...Ticket processing unit 13...First display unit 14...Second display unit 15...User detection unit 16...Door opening/closing mechanism unit 17...Communication unit 21...Determination unit 22...Passage control unit 23...Display control unit 24...Notification control unit 31a, 31b...First display 32a, 32b...Second display 33, 34...Door

Claims (9)

A gate device used in a variable value type passage control system in which the value applied to a user passing through a passage is switched at a preset switching time,
a determination unit that determines whether or not to permit passage of a user through the passage;
a passage control unit that restricts passage of users through the passage in accordance with a determination result of the determination unit;
a notification control unit that starts a notification when a notification timing determined based on the next switching time comes ,
The notification timing is a predetermined time before the next switching time . The gate device according to claim 1 , wherein the notification control unit terminates the notification being performed at that time when the switching time is reached . The gate device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the notification is made in a form that can be visually confirmed by a user. The gate device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the notification is made in the form of flashing a display surface of a display. The gate device according to claim 4, wherein the notification control unit flashes the display surface of the display in a first light color if the magnitude of the value to be applied to the user who will be switched at the next switching time will be greater than at the current time, and flashes the display surface of the display in a second light color different from the first light color if the magnitude of the value to be applied to the user who will be switched at the next switching time will be greater than at the current time . 6. The gate device according to claim 4, wherein the notification control unit switches the display on the display surface of the display device depending on the value currently being applied to a user passing through the passage. The gate device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the value is a fare for using a railway. A computer of a gate device used in a variable value type passage control system in which the value applied to users passing through a passage is switched at a preset switching time,
a determination step of determining whether to permit passage of a user through the passage;
a passage control step of restricting passage of users through the passage in accordance with a result of the determination step;
a notification control step of starting a notification when a notification timing determined based on the next switching time comes ;
The status notifying method , wherein the notifying timing is a predetermined time before the next switching time . A gate device computer used in a variable value type traffic control system in which the value applied to users passing through a passageway is switched at a preset switching time.
a determination step of determining whether to permit passage of a user through the passage;
a passage control step of restricting passage of users through the passage in accordance with a result of the determination step;
a notification control step of starting a notification when a notification timing determined based on the next switching time comes;
The notification timing is a predetermined time before the next switching time .

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