JP7746186B2 - Lost and suspicious item detection system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to technology for detecting lost or suspicious items placed on seats in railway vehicles, etc.

Traditionally, on Shinkansen and limited express trains, conductors regularly patrol the carriages to check seat occupancy status in relation to ticket information and the presence of suspicious baggage, a task that places a significant burden on the conductor. Patent Document 1 discloses a system that automates ticket inspection work as a technology to reduce the conductor's burden.

JP 2015-176201 A

The ticket inspection system in Patent Document 1 can detect whether a passenger occupying a seat has a seat reservation ticket, i.e., whether they are sitting illegally, but it cannot detect items left behind or suspicious objects left on the seat. When an object is left on a seat, it is almost always the baggage of a passenger sitting in a nearby seat, but in some cases it may be an item left behind by a passenger who has disembarked, or a dangerous object that has been intentionally left there. It is desirable to find such items left behind or suspicious objects as quickly as possible.

The present invention therefore aims to provide technology for detecting forgotten or suspicious items placed on seats.

The present invention is a lost property/suspicious object detection system that detects lost property or suspicious objects placed on seats installed in reserved seat cars of passenger trains , and is equipped with a seat occupancy detection unit that detects whether the seat is empty, whether a person is seated, or whether an object has been placed on it, a ticket issuance information acquisition unit that acquires ticket issuance information for the seat, and a judgment unit that judges whether an object placed on a seat is a lost property/suspicious object based on the seat occupancy status and ticket issuance information for the seat, and is characterized in that if it detects that an object has been placed on a seat and there is ticket issuance information for the seat or the seat adjacent to it, it judges that the object is not a lost property/suspicious object .

This invention makes it possible to detect lost or suspicious items left on seats without the need for a person (such as a crew member) to make rounds, thereby improving work efficiency. It also makes it possible to quickly discover lost or suspicious items, which can be useful for improving service and safety.

1 is a block diagram of a lost item/suspicious object detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a diagram showing a seat in which the distance measuring sensor and the microswitch of FIG. 1 are installed. 2 is a diagram showing a seat in which the distance measuring sensor and the microswitch of FIG. 1 are installed. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an algorithm for determining the seat occupancy status of the seats in FIGS. 2 is an example of information displayed on the display unit of FIG. 1 . 2 is an example of information displayed on the display unit of FIG. 1 . 2 is an example of information displayed on the display unit of FIG. 1 . 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a determination process performed by the on-board server of FIG. 1 .

A "lost property/suspicious object detection system" according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8.

The lost property/suspicious object detection system 100 shown in Figure 1 is a system that detects lost property or suspicious objects placed on each seat 5 (see Figures 2 and 3) installed in a reserved seat car of a passenger train. This lost property/suspicious object detection system 100 includes a ticketing information acquisition unit 101 installed on the train, a distance measurement sensor 6 and a microswitch 7 installed on each seat 5, an on-board server 102 installed on the train, and a display unit 103.

The ticketing information acquisition unit 101 receives ticketing information for each seat 5 (information indicating that a reserved seat ticket, etc. has been purchased) transmitted from a station building, etc.

The display unit 103 is, for example, a mobile terminal carried by the conductor or a terminal installed in the conductor's room.

The on-board server 102 is connected to the ticketing information acquisition unit 101, the distance measurement sensor 6, the microswitch 7, and the display unit 103. Based on the detection results of the distance measurement sensor 6 and the microswitch 7, the on-board server 102 determines whether a seat 5 is vacant, occupied, or has an object placed on it, and outputs the determination result, i.e., the occupancy status of the seat 5, to the display unit 103 (see Figures 5 to 7). Furthermore, based on the occupancy status of each seat 5 and the ticketing information for each seat 5 acquired from the ticketing information acquisition unit 101, the on-board server 102 determines whether an object placed on a seat 5 is a lost item or a suspicious item, and outputs the determination result to the display unit 103 (see Figures 5 to 7).

The distance sensor 6, microswitch 7, and on-board server 102 described above correspond to the "seat occupancy detection unit" described in the claims. Furthermore, the on-board server 102 corresponds to the "determination unit" described in the claims.

The seat 5 in this example is a two-seater type, with two seats 5 arranged side by side and supported by a single frame. Pedals are attached to the bases supporting these two seats 5, and by stepping on the pedals, the orientation of the seats 5 can be changed by 180 degrees. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, each seat 5 comprises a seat portion 2, a backrest 3, and a pair of armrests 4a, 4b.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the distance sensor 6 is disposed on the armrest 4a of the seat 5 and detects the presence of an object on the seat portion 2. In Figure 2, reference numeral 61 denotes a light-transmitting window of the distance sensor 6, reference numeral 62 denotes a light-emitting element, and reference numeral 63 denotes a light-receiving element. The light-transmitting window 61 is provided on the inner surface of the armrest 4a. Light from the light-emitting element 62 passes through the light-transmitting window 61 and is projected toward the armrest 4b. If an object is present on the seat portion 2, light from the light-emitting element 62 is reflected by the object, passes through the light-transmitting window 61, and is received by the light-receiving element 63. This detects the presence of an object on the seat portion 2.

Furthermore, in this example, to keep costs down while widening the detection range as much as possible, only one distance measuring sensor 6 is used, as shown in Figure 3, and the distance measuring sensor 6 is installed so that light L is projected from the light-emitting element 62 in a diagonally rearward direction. More specifically, the single distance measuring sensor 6 is placed at the bottom front end of one armrest 4a, and light L from the light-emitting element 62 is projected diagonally from near the front left corner of the seat 2 to near the rear right corner. Note that the front, back, left, and right directions mentioned above are directions seen from the perspective of a person sitting in the seat 5. Such a distance measuring sensor 6 can reliably detect when a person is seated, and can also almost always detect when a bag 11, shown by the dashed line in Figure 3, or a bag 12, shown by the dashed line in Figure 3, is placed on the seat.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the microswitch 7 is located inside the backrest 3 of the seat 5 and detects when the backrest 3 is being pressed. In this example, the microswitch 7 is located higher than the distance measurement sensor 6. This placement allows the microswitch 7 to detect a pressure state when the backrest 3 is being pressed by a person's back, and prevents the microswitch 7 from reacting when luggage is hitting a low part of the backrest 3. The microswitch 7 includes a case 71, a contact portion 72 located within the case 71, and an actuator 73 that protrudes from the case 71 and transmits the pressure on the backrest 3 to the contact portion 72.

The backrest 3 is composed of a back frame 31 and a cushioning material 32 that covers the back frame 31. The microswitch 7 is fixed to the back frame 31, and when the backrest 3 is pressed by a person's back or the like, the actuator 73 is displaced, opening and closing the contact point 72. This detects that the backrest 3 is being pressed. Furthermore, in this example, to improve the response of the microswitch 7, a plate 9 is provided between the actuator 73 and the cushioning material 32, and this plate 9 presses the actuator 73.

The table in Figure 4 shows the algorithm for determining the occupancy status of each seat 5. The on-board server 102 determines that a person is sitting in seat 5 if there is an object on the seat 2 (distance measurement sensor: ○) and the backrest 3 is pressed (microswitch: ○). Furthermore, if there is an object on the seat 2 (distance measurement sensor: ○) and the backrest 3 is not pressed (microswitch: ×), it determines that an object has been placed on seat 5. The basis for this determination is that people typically lean on the backrest 3 immediately after sitting in seat 5, but if an object is placed on seat 5, gravity applies a downward load, and no force is applied to push back on the backrest 3. Furthermore, if there is no object on seat 2 (distance measurement sensor: ×) and the backrest 3 is not pressed (microswitch: ×), it determines that seat 5 is vacant. Furthermore, since it is generally impossible for the backrest 3 to be pressed (microswitch O) when there is no object on the seat 2 (distance sensor X), in reality, if there is no object on the seat 2, the seat 5 is determined to be vacant.

Figures 5 to 7 are examples of information displayed on the display unit 103, including ticketing information and occupancy status for each seat 5, and information on lost items and suspicious items placed on the seats 5. As described above, these are output from the on-board server 102. As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the display unit 103 displays a seating chart made up of marks resembling seats. The numbers 51 to 56 attached to each seat mark are seat numbers.

The backrests and armrests of seats 51, 53, and 55 in Figure 5 are displayed in blue. This means that ticket issuance information is available for these seats 51, 53, and 55. The backrests and armrests of seats 52, 54, and 56 in Figure 5 are displayed in white (uncolored). This means that ticket issuance information is not available for these seats 52, 54, and 56.

Seats 51 and 56 in Figure 5 are shown with a white seating area (no marking). This means that seats 51 and 56 are vacant. Seat 53 in Figure 5 has a blue person marking on the seating area. This means that a person is sitting in seat 53, and that this is a legitimate seating arrangement and not an illegal one. If a person is sitting illegally in a seat for which there is no ticket information, a red person marking on the seating area will be displayed.

Seats 52, 54, and 55 in Figure 5 have a blue bag mark displayed on the seat. This means that an item has been placed on these seats 52, 54, and 55, and that the item is not a lost item or suspicious item. If the item placed on the seat is a lost item or suspicious item, a red bag mark will be displayed on the seat. The determination of whether the item is a lost item or suspicious item is based on whether there is ticket information for the seat where the item is placed or the seat adjacent to it.

For example, seat 55 in Figure 5 is a seat for which ticketing information is available, so it is highly likely that an item placed on seat 55 is the baggage of a passenger holding a seat reservation ticket for seat 55. Therefore, the item placed on seat 55 is determined not to be a lost item or suspicious item.

Seat 54 in Figure 5 is a seat for which there is no ticket information, but the seat next to it, seat 53, has ticket information and is occupied, so it is highly likely that the item placed on seat 54 is the baggage of the passenger sitting in seat 53. Therefore, it has been determined that the item placed on seat 54 is not a lost item or suspicious item.

Seat 52 in Figure 5 has no ticket information, but adjacent seat 51 has ticket information, so it is highly likely that the item placed on seat 52 is the baggage of a passenger holding a seat reservation ticket for seat 51. Also, although seat 51 is empty, it is common for seated passengers to temporarily leave their seats to use the restroom, make a phone call, etc. Therefore, the item placed on seat 52 is determined not to be a lost item or suspicious item.

Figure 6 shows an example of the display after time has passed since the situation in Figure 5 and the ticket issuing zone has been passed. Because the ticket issuing zone has been passed, the backrests and armrests of seats 51, 53, and 55 have changed from blue to white (uncolored). Items that were placed on seats 52, 54, and 55 in the situation in Figure 5 are still there in the situation in Figure 6, but the bag marks on seats 52, 54, and 55 are displayed in blue for a predetermined time (e.g., 3 minutes) after the ticket issuing zone has been passed (i.e., from the time when seats 51, 53, and 55 no longer have ticket issuing information).

After the specified time has elapsed, the item placed on seats 52, 54, and 55 is determined to be a lost or suspicious item, and the bag mark on seats 52, 54, and 55 changes from blue to red, as shown in Figure 7. When this red bag mark is displayed, the conductor actually goes to seats 52, 54, and 55 to check for the item that has been determined to be a lost or suspicious item. The reason why the item is determined to be a lost or suspicious item after the ticket information changes from present to absent and a specified time has passed is because it is anticipated that a passenger may realize that they have left their baggage behind and return to retrieve it, and to avoid confusing the conductor's work by detecting lost or suspicious items too many times.

Although not shown in the illustration, if an object is placed in either of two adjacent empty seats that originally had no ticket information, it is assumed that the object is a temporary placement of a passenger's baggage, and the object is determined not to be a lost or suspicious item for a predetermined period of time (e.g., three minutes), and is then determined to be a lost or suspicious item after the predetermined period of time has passed.

In this way, the lost property/suspicious object detection system 100 of this example detects that an object has been placed on a seat 52, 54, 55, and if seat 52, 54, 55 or the adjacent seat 51, 53, 56 has ticket information, it determines that the object is not a lost property/suspicious object (see Figure 5). Furthermore, when it detects that one 51, 53, 56 of two adjacent seats 51-56 with no ticket information is vacant and an object has been placed on the other 52, 54, 55, it determines that the object is not a lost property/suspicious object for a predetermined time from the time of detection (see Figure 6). If, after the predetermined time has elapsed, one 51, 53, 56 of the adjacent seats 51-56 remains vacant and an object has been placed on the other 52, 54, 55, it determines that the object is a lost property/suspicious object (see Figure 7).

The flow of the determination process performed by the on-board server 102 will be explained below with reference to the flowchart in Figure 8.

In step S1 of the flowchart in Figure 8, the on-board server 102 determines whether ticket issuance information is available for each seat 5. If it determines that ticket issuance information is available, it proceeds to step S2, determines that there is no abnormality (no lost items or suspicious items), and returns to step S1. If it determines that there is no ticket issuance information, it proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, it is determined whether the distance measurement sensor 6 has detected an object on the seat 2 of the seat 5 (whether it is an empty seat or a person or object). If the distance measurement sensor 6 has not detected an object on the seat 2, the process proceeds to step S4, where it is determined that there is no abnormality (the seat 5 is empty and there is no left-behind or suspicious item), and the process returns to step S1. If the distance measurement sensor 6 has detected an object on the seat 2, the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, it is determined whether the microswitch 7 in the seat 5 has detected pressure on the backrest 3 (whether by a person or an object). If the microswitch 7 detects pressure on the backrest 3, the process proceeds to step S6, where it is determined that an abnormality has occurred (a person is illegally sitting in a seat 5 for which no ticket issuance information has been provided). If the microswitch 7 does not detect pressure on the backrest 3, the process proceeds to step S7.

In step S7, it is determined whether there is ticket issuance information for the seat 5 adjacent to the seat 5 on which the object was placed. If there is ticket issuance information, the process proceeds to step S8, where it is determined that there is no abnormality (an object has been placed on the seat 5, but it is not a lost item or suspicious item), and the process returns to step S1. If it is determined that there is no ticket issuance information, the process proceeds to step S9.

In step S9, it is determined whether n minutes have passed since it was detected in step S5 that an object was placed on seat 5. If n minutes have not passed, the process proceeds to step S10, where it is determined that there is no abnormality (an object has been placed on seat 5, but it is not a lost item or suspicious item), and the process returns to step S1. If n minutes have passed, the process proceeds to step S11, where it is determined that there is an abnormality (the object placed on seat 5 is a lost item or suspicious item).

In addition, the on-board server 102 transmits the determination results in steps S2, S4, S6, S8, S10, and S11 to the display unit 103.

As explained above, with the lost item/suspicious object detection system 100 of this example, the conductor can learn of the presence of lost items or suspicious objects placed on seats 5 by looking at the display unit 103 without having to patrol the train, thereby improving work efficiency. Furthermore, lost items and suspicious objects can be discovered early, which helps improve service and safety.

In the above-described embodiment, a two-seater seat was used as an example, but the lost property/suspicious object detection system of the present invention can also be applied to three-seater seats. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the seat occupancy detection unit was made up of the distance sensor 6, microswitch 7, and on-board server 102, but the present invention is not limited to this; for example, a pressure-sensitive element or the like could be used instead of the microswitch 7.

Note that the above-described embodiment merely illustrates a typical form of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various modifications within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

5 Seat 100 Lost and suspicious object detection system 101 Ticketing information acquisition unit 102 On-board server (determination unit)

Claims (2)

A lost property/suspicious object detection system that detects lost property or suspicious objects placed on seats installed in reserved seat cars of passenger trains ,
a seat occupancy detection unit that detects whether a seat is vacant, whether a person is seated, or whether an object is placed on the seat;
a ticketing information acquisition unit that acquires seat ticketing information;
a determination unit that determines whether an object placed on a seat is a lost item or a suspicious item based on the seat occupancy status and seat ticket information ,
If an object is detected on a seat and there is ticket information for that seat or the seat next to it, the object is determined not to be a lost item or suspicious item.
A lost item/suspicious object detection system characterized by: When it is detected that one of two adjacent seats with no ticket information is vacant and an object is placed on the other, it is determined that the object is not a lost item or a suspicious item within a predetermined time from the time of detection,
The lost item/suspicious object detection system of claim 1, characterized in that if one of two adjacent seats remains vacant and an object remains on the other seat after the specified time has elapsed, the system determines that the object is a lost item/suspicious object.