JP7567287B2 - Management device, management method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a management device that manages users by serial numbers.

In facilities and places that provide various services, visitors (users) may be managed by serial numbers. For example, a ticket with a serial number printed on it is issued to each visitor, and the serial number is linked to the waiting order and managed by a computer (see Patent Document 1, etc.).

When providing a service to a visitor, the visitor's serial number is notified on a display or other means. The visitor should have a numbered ticket, and when the number is notified, the visitor can present the numbered ticket to receive the service.

JP 2002-117174 A

In the above management method, visitors are managed by serial numbers, but various problems can occur if a visitor loses their ticket or does not remember their serial number.

For example, the service provider manages the serial number of each visitor by linking it to the order in which they are waiting, but is unable to know which visitor corresponds to which serial number. Therefore, if a visitor loses their ticket, they cannot receive the service, and the service provider has no way of knowing who that visitor is. Furthermore, if a person other than the visitor who lost the ticket picks it up, that person may be able to receive the service under false pretenses.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a management device etc. that improves user convenience when managing users by serial numbers.

The first invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is a management device for managing users waiting in a designated space by their serial numbers, the management device comprising: a receiving means for receiving a facial image of the user from a photographing device that photographed the user; a registration means for linking the serial number of a ticket issued to the user with the facial image of the user received from the photographing device and registering them as management data; and a user determination means for determining whether a facial image in an image received from the photographing device of a designated area within the designated space where only users with a designated serial number can be present corresponds to the designated serial number.

In the present invention, by linking and managing the facial image of a user with the serial number of the ticket issued to the user as described above, it is possible to improve the convenience of users waiting in a designated space. For example, if a user loses their ticket and forgets the serial number, it is possible to notify the user of the serial number by simply taking a picture of the user's face.

It is desirable to have an acquisition means for acquiring from the management data a serial number corresponding to a facial image of a user to be notified of a serial number received from the photographing device, and a display instruction means for transmitting an instruction to a display in the specified space to display the serial number.
This allows users who have lost their numbered tickets and forgotten their serial numbers to be notified of their serial numbers by taking a picture of their face. Also, by showing the serial number on a display, users can be notified of their serial number without using their own terminal, so it can be used by users who do not have terminals.

It is also desirable to have an acquisition means for acquiring from the management data a serial number corresponding to the facial image of the user who will reissue the numbered ticket, the facial image being received from the photographing device, and a reissue instruction means for transmitting an instruction to a ticket issuing machine in the specified space to reissue a numbered ticket with the serial number printed on it.
This allows a user who has lost their numbered ticket to have the ticket reissued simply by taking a picture of their face.

Also, in the first invention, when an area in which only limited users can stay is provided in a predetermined space, it is possible to determine whether or not there are non-target users in that area.

The second invention is a management method characterized in that a management device for managing users waiting in a designated space by their serial numbers executes the following steps: receiving a facial image of the user from the photographing device that photographed the user; linking the serial number of a ticket issued to the user with the facial image of the user received from the photographing device and registering them as management data; and determining whether or not the facial image in the photographed image received from the photographing device of a designated area within the designated space where only users with the designated serial number can be present corresponds to the designated serial number.

A third invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a management device for managing users waiting in a designated space by their serial numbers, the management device having a receiving means for receiving a facial image of the user from the photographing device that photographed the user, a registration means for linking the serial number of a ticket issued to the user with the facial image of the user received from the photographing device and registering them as management data, and a user determination means for determining whether a facial image in an image received from the photographing device of a designated area within the designated space where only users with a designated serial number can be present corresponds to the designated serial number.

The present invention can provide a management device etc. that improves user convenience when managing users by serial numbers.

FIG. 1 shows a management system 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a management device 2. FIG. 3 shows management data 300. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of a management device 2. 11 is a flowchart showing a management method. 11 is a flowchart showing a management method. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a management method. 11 is a flowchart showing a management method. An example of a numbered ticket.

The following describes in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

(1. Management System 1)
1 is a diagram showing a management system 1 including a management device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The management system 1 manages visitors G by their serial numbers in waiting spaces 100 (predetermined spaces) for visitors G provided in facilities, places, etc. that provide various services. The above services are not particularly limited, and the present invention can be applied to counters of public institutions, various amusement facilities, concert venues, art museums, etc.

The waiting space 100 is a space where the visitor G who is receiving the service stays, and is provided with an entrance gate 101, a re-entry gate 103, a service provision area 104, etc.

The entrance gate 101 is a gate through which visitors G enter the waiting space 100.

The re-entry gate 103 is a gate through which a visitor G who has left the waiting space 100 before receiving the service can re-enter the waiting space 100.

The service provision area 104 (predetermined area) is the area where the visitor G receiving the service and the visitor G staying immediately before the service is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the management system 1 includes a management device 2, a photographing device 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d), a ticket issuing machine 4 (4a, 4b, 4c), a display 6, etc.

The management device 2 executes various processes related to the management of visitors G. These processes are described below.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the management device 2. The management device 2 can be realized by a computer configured by connecting a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a communication unit 23, etc. via a bus. However, the configuration of the management device 2 is not limited to this and can be changed as appropriate. The management device 2 may also be realized by multiple computers.

The control unit 21 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. The CPU loads programs stored in storage media such as the memory unit 22 and ROM into a work area on the RAM and executes them. The ROM is a non-volatile memory, and permanently stores programs such as the boot program and BIOS, data, etc. The RAM is a volatile memory, and temporarily stores programs and data loaded from the memory unit 22, ROM, etc., and includes a work area used by the control unit 21 to perform various processes.

The storage unit 22 is a hard disk drive, a solid state drive, or the like, and stores the programs executed by the management device 2 during the processes described below, data required for program execution, the OS, and the like. These programs and data are read and executed by the control unit 21 as necessary.

The communication unit 23 has a communication control device, a communication port, etc., and mediates communication via the network.

As shown in FIG. 1, management data 300 is recorded in the memory unit 22 of the management device 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the management data 300. The management data 300 links a serial number 301 with a facial image 302.

The serial number 301 is the serial number of the ticket issued to visitor G.
A face image 302 is an image of the face of the visitor G.

Returning to the explanation of FIG. 1, the photographing devices 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) photograph visitors G, and the individual photographing devices 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d are installed at the entrance gate 101, the display 6, the re-entry gate 103, and the service provision area 104, respectively. The photographing devices 3 are communicably connected to the management device 2, and are capable of transmitting the captured images to the management device 2.

The ticket issuing machines 4 (4a, 4b, 4c) issue numbered tickets to visitors G, and the individual ticket issuing machines 4a, 4b, 4c are provided near the entrance gate 101, the display 6, and the re-entry gate 103, respectively. The ticket issuing machines 4 are connected to the management device 2 so as to be able to communicate with each other. The numbered tickets are paper tickets, and a serial number 301 is printed on the face of the ticket.

The display 6 is a liquid crystal panel or the like, and displays the waiting order of visitors G (the order in which to receive services), waiting times, etc. The display 6 is also provided with a touch panel as an input unit. The display 6 is also connected to the management device 2 so as to be able to communicate with it.

(2. Functions of Management Device 2)
Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the management device 2. As shown in Fig. 4, the management device 2 includes a receiving means 201, a registering means 202, an acquiring means 203, a display instruction means 204, a reissue instruction means 205, a re-entry determining means 206, a re-entry permission means 207, a user determining means 208, a notifying means 209, and the like.

The receiving means 201 is a means by which the control unit 21 of the management device 2 receives the facial image of visitor G from the photographing device 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) that photographed visitor G via the communication unit 23.

The registration means 202 is a means for linking the serial number 301 of the ticket issued to visitor G by the control unit 21 of the management device 2 with the facial image 302 of visitor G received from the photographing device 3a, and registering the linked data as management data 300.

The acquisition means 203 acquires from the management data 300 the serial number 301 corresponding to the facial image 302 of the visitor G to whom the serial number 301 is to be notified or the numbered ticket is to be reissued, which is received by the control unit 21 of the management device 2 from the photographing device 3b.

The display instruction means 204 is a means for transmitting an instruction from the control unit 21 of the management device 2 to the display 6 via the communication unit 23 to cause the display 6 to display the acquired serial number 301.

The reissue instruction means 205 is a means for transmitting an instruction from the control unit 21 of the management device 2 to the ticket issuing machine 4b via the communication unit 23 to reissue the ticket on which the acquired serial number 301 is printed.

The re-entry determination means 206 determines whether or not the facial image 302 of visitor G who re-enters the waiting space 100, which is received by the control unit 21 of the management device 2 from the photographing device 3c, exists in the management data 300.

When the face image 302 is present in the management data 300, the control unit 21 of the management device 2 transmits an instruction to the re-entry gate 103 to permit entry of visitor G, which is the re-entry permission means 207.

The user determination means 208 determines whether the facial image 302 of visitor G present in the captured image of the service provision area 104 received by the control unit 21 of the management device 2 from the image capture device 3d corresponds to a predetermined serial number 301.

When the face image 302 does not correspond to the specified serial number 301, the control unit 21 of the management device 2 sends a notification to the attendant or the terminal 10 of the waiting space 100 via the communication unit 23, notifying the presence of an untargeted visitor G in the service provision area 104.

(3. Processing in Management System 1)
In this embodiment, as described above, the serial number 301 and the face image 302 of the visitor G are linked and registered as the management data 300, thereby managing the visitor G waiting in the waiting space 100. First, the procedure for creating the management data 300 will be described.

(3-1. Creation of management data 300)
FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the procedure for creating the management data 300 , and each step in FIG.

In this embodiment, a visitor G who is to receive a service enters the waiting space 100 through the entrance gate 101. As described above, the photographing device 3a and the ticket issuing machine 4a are installed near the entrance gate 101, and the visitor G who has entered first inputs an instruction to issue a numbered ticket into the ticket issuing machine 4a. The photographing device 3a then photographs a facial image 302 of the visitor G and transmits the facial image 302 to the management device 2.

When the management device 2 receives the face image 302 from the photographing device 3a (S101), it issues a serial number 301, links it to the face image 302, and registers it as management data 300 (S102). Then, it transmits a ticket issuing instruction including the serial number 301 to the ticket issuing machine 4a (S103).

The ticket issuing machine 4, which has received the ticket issuing instruction, issues a numbered ticket with the serial number 301 printed on it to visitor G. As a result, visitor G's serial number 301 and facial image 302 are registered as management data 300, making it possible to manage visitor G using serial number 301. In addition, visitor G who has a numbered ticket does not need to wait in line to receive services, which also serves as a measure against infectious diseases, etc.

(3-2. Notification of serial number 301 and reissue of numbered ticket)
In this embodiment, by linking and managing the serial number 301 and face image 302 of visitor G as described above, it is possible to provide various conveniences to visitor G.

As an example, the procedure for notifying a visitor G who has lost his/her numbered ticket of the serial number 301 and reissuing the ticket will be described here. Figure 6(a) is a flowchart showing the procedure for notifying the visitor G of the serial number 301, and Figure 6(b) is a flowchart showing the procedure for reissuing the ticket. Each step in Figures 6(a) and (b) is executed by the control unit 21 of the management device 2.

In this embodiment, a visitor G who has lost his or her numbered ticket can be notified of the serial number 301 and have the ticket reissued by operating the display 6.

Figure 7(a) shows this display 6. Display 6 is provided with a display area 61 that displays the serial number 301 of visitor G for whom a service is being provided, and a display area 62 that displays the serial number 301 of visitor G immediately before the provision of a service, his/her waiting order 601, and waiting time 602. In the display areas 61 and 62, the privacy of visitor G is protected by displaying the serial number 301.

The management device 2 manages the serial number 301 of visitor G by linking it to the waiting order 601 and waiting time 602. For example, the waiting order 601 linked to the serial number 301 of visitor G for whom a service is being provided and displayed in the display area 61 is "0", and the waiting order 601 linked to the serial number 301 of visitor G immediately before the provision of a service and displayed in the display area 62 is "1" to "4". The display area 62 also displays the waiting time 602 corresponding to each serial number 301, and it is also possible to display the location (service provision area 104) where visitor G corresponding to the serial number 301 should line up.

The display 6 shown in FIG. 7(a) also displays a confirmation button 63 that allows visitor G to confirm his/her own serial number 301. Visitor G, who has lost his/her numbered ticket and does not remember his/her own serial number 301, touches the confirmation button 63 on the display 6. Then, the photographing device 3b attached to the display 6 takes a facial image 302 of visitor G, and the photographing device 3b transmits the captured facial image 302 to the management device 2.

When the management device 2 receives the facial image 302 (S201 in FIG. 6(a)), it searches for and obtains the serial number 301 corresponding to the facial image 302 from within the management data 300 (S202).

Then, the management device 2 transmits a display instruction to the display 6 to display the acquired serial number 301 (S203). When the display 6 receives the instruction, it displays the serial number 301 and the waiting time 602 in the serial number display area 65, as shown in FIG. 7(b). This information can also be printed out by the ticket issuing machine 4b or a printer (not shown) attached to the display 6. In this example, the serial number 301 is the serial number 301 of visitor G who is about to be served, and the serial number 301 is highlighted in the display area 62.

The display 6 shown in FIG. 7(a) also displays a reissue button 64 for reissuing the numbered ticket. A visitor G who has lost his or her numbered ticket and wishes to have it reissued touches the reissue button 64 on the display screen of the display 6. In this case, too, the photographing device 3b attached to the display 6 takes a facial image 302 of visitor G, and the photographing device 3b transmits the photographed facial image 302 to the management device 2.

When the management device 2 receives the facial image 302 (S301 in FIG. 6(b)), it searches for and obtains the serial number 301 corresponding to the facial image 302 from within the management data 300, just as before (S302).

Then, the management device 2 transmits an instruction (ticket issuing instruction) to the ticket issuing machine 4b to print the acquired serial number 301 and issue a numbered ticket (S303). Upon receiving the instruction, the ticket issuing machine 4b issues a numbered ticket on which the serial number 301 is printed.

(3-3. Re-entry of visitor G)
In addition, in this embodiment, the serial number 301 and the facial image 302 of the visitor G are managed in association with each other, thereby improving the convenience of the visitor G at the time of re-entry. That is, in this embodiment, the visitor G can freely enter and exit the waiting space 100, and when re-entering, he or she only needs to photograph his or her own facial image 302 with the photographing device 3c of the re-entry gate 103.

Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure for re-entering a visitor G, and each step in Figure 8 is executed by the control unit 21 of the management device 2.

When the management device 2 receives the facial image 302 of the re-entering visitor G from the photographing device 3c (S401), it refers to the management data 300 and determines whether the facial image 302 exists in the management data 300 based on the features of the facial image 302, etc. (S402).

If the face image 302 exists in the management data 300 (S402; YES), the management device 2 transmits a notice of admission to the re-entry gate 103 (S403). When the re-entry gate 103 receives the notice of admission, it opens the gate and allows the visitor G to enter.

On the other hand, if the face image 302 does not exist in the management data 300 (S402; NO), the management device 2 transmits a denial of entry to the re-entry gate 103 (S404). In this case, the re-entry gate 103 does not open the gate and does not allow visitor G to enter. It is also possible to sound an alarm using an alarm device (not shown) attached to the re-entry gate 103.

(3-4. Visitor Check in Service Provision Area 104)
As described above, in this embodiment, a service provision area 104 is set up where visitors G who are receiving a service and visitors G who are about to be provided with the service stay, and only visitors G with a specified serial number 301 with a small waiting order 601 (for example, visitors G with serial numbers 301 from "0" to "4" in the waiting order 601 described above) are allowed to enter.

The management system 1 of this embodiment therefore photographs this service provision area 104 with the photographing device 3d and checks whether there are any visitors G other than the visitor G with the above-mentioned specified serial number 301 who are not eligible. Figure 9 is a flow chart showing the procedure for this visitor check, and each step in Figure 9 is executed by the control unit 21 of the management device 2.

When the management device 2 receives a captured image of the service area 104 from the image capture device 3d (S501), it performs a known face recognition process on the captured image to extract a facial image 302 from the captured image, and determines whether the facial image 302 corresponds to the above-mentioned specified serial number 301 (S502).

If the facial image 302 in the captured image corresponds to the specified serial number 301 (S502; YES), the management device 2 does not perform any particular processing. However, if the facial image 302 in the captured image does not correspond to the specified serial number 301 (S502; NO), the management device 2 transmits a notice to a staff member or the terminal 10 in the waiting space 100 along with the facial image 302 to notify the presence of an ineligible visitor G (S503).

The attendant can see the notification on the terminal and know that non-target visitor G is present in the service provision area 104, and can recognize the non-target visitor G from the face image 302 and take action such as encouraging the visitor to leave.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by linking and managing the facial image 302 of visitor G and the serial number 301 of the ticket issued to visitor G, it is possible to improve the convenience of visitor G waiting in the waiting space 100.

For example, if visitor G loses his/her numbered ticket and forgets the serial number 301, visitor G can receive notification of serial number 301 simply by photographing his/her face image 302. Also, by displaying serial number 301 on display 6, visitor G has the advantage of being able to receive notification of serial number 301 without using his/her own terminal, and can be used by visitor G who does not have a terminal, and no separate procedures such as user registration are required. Also, visitor G who loses his/her numbered ticket can have it reissued simply by photographing his/her face image 302.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, a visitor G who has once left the waiting space 100 can re-enter the waiting space 100 simply by photographing his/her face image 302, and there is no need to present a numbered ticket. Therefore, even if the visitor loses the numbered ticket at the temporary exit destination, he/she can re-enter the waiting space 100, and someone else who picks up the numbered ticket will not enter the waiting space 100. Note that for a visitor G who loses his/her numbered ticket at the temporary exit destination, it is possible to reissue the numbered ticket using the above-mentioned face image 302 and the ticket issuing machine 4c near the re-entry gate 103, following the same procedure as above.

In addition, in this embodiment, a service provision area 104 is provided in the waiting space 100 where only visitors G with a specified serial number 301 can stay, and using the captured image of the service provision area 104, it is possible to determine whether or not there is a non-target visitor G in the service provision area 104, and to take action such as notifying an attendant depending on the determination result.

However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in this embodiment, an example is described in which visitor G is managed by serial number 301 in waiting space 100 where visitor G who receives the service waits, but management in other waiting spaces is also possible.

In this embodiment, the image captured by the image capture device 3d of the service area 104 is used to determine whether or not there is a non-target visitor G in the service area 104, but a similar determination is applicable not only to the service area 104 but also to any area where only a visitor G with a limited serial number 301 can stay.

In addition, information similar to that shown in display areas 61 and 62 in FIG. 7(a) may be provided on a website, allowing users to access and display the information on their own terminals.

In this embodiment, the facial image 302 of visitor G is captured by the photographing device 3a at the entrance gate 101 before the numbered ticket is issued, but the facial image 302 of visitor G may also be captured when the numbered ticket is issued, and in this case too, the facial image 302 and the serial number 301 can be linked and registered as management data 300.

Furthermore, it is also possible for the photographing device 3a at the entrance gate 101 to photograph the facial images 302 of multiple people at once. In this case, for example, one serial number 301 is assigned to the facial images 302 of multiple people, and in the process described in FIG. 6 etc., by receiving any one of the facial images 302 from the photographing device 3, that facial image 302 can be treated as corresponding to the serial number 301. Alternatively, one serial number 301 can be assigned to one facial image 302 by photographing the facial image 302 of each visitor G again when issuing tickets.

As another example, as shown in FIG. 10, a numbered ticket with the serial number 301 printed on it may be prepared in advance so that visitor G entering the waiting space 100 can receive it from a ticket box (not shown) or the like, and visitor G may have the two-dimensional code 401 printed on the ticket read by a reading device (not shown) and then photograph his/her own face image 302 by the photographing device 3a. The above-mentioned serial number 301 is recorded in the two-dimensional code 401, and by transmitting the serial number 301 and visitor G's face image 302 from the reading device and photographing device 3a to the management device 2, the management device 2 can register the management data 300. In this case, there is an advantage that the ticket can be used repeatedly.

The above describes preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can come up with various modified or revised examples within the scope of the technical ideas disclosed in this application, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

1: Management system 2: Management device 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d: Photography device 4, 4a, 4b, 4c: Ticket issuing machine 6: Display 100: Waiting space 101: Entrance gate 103: Re-entry gate 104: Service provision area 201: Receiving means 202: Registration means 203: Acquisition means 204: Display instruction means 205: Re-ticket re-issuance instruction means 206: Re-entry determination means 207: Re-entry permission means 208: User determination means 209: Notification means 300: Management data 301: Serial number 302: Facial image 601: Waiting order 602: Waiting time

Claims (5)

A management device for managing users waiting in a predetermined space by serial numbers,
A receiving means for receiving a face image of the user from an image capturing device that captured the user;
a registration means for linking the serial number of a numbered ticket issued to a user with a face image of the user received from the photographing device and registering the linked data as management data;
a user determination means for determining whether or not a face image in a photographed image of a predetermined area in the predetermined space where only a user with a predetermined serial number can be present, the photographed image being received from the photographing device, corresponds to the predetermined serial number;
A management device comprising: an acquisition means for acquiring, from the management data, a serial number corresponding to a facial image of a user to be notified of a serial number, the facial image being received from the photographing device;
a display instruction means for transmitting an instruction to display the serial number to a display in the predetermined space;
2. The management device according to claim 1, further comprising: an acquisition means for acquiring, from the management data, a serial number corresponding to a facial image of a user who is to have a numbered ticket reissued, the facial image being received from the photographing device;
a reissue instruction means for transmitting an instruction to reissue the numbered ticket on which the serial number is printed to the ticket issuing machine in the predetermined space;
3. The management device according to claim 1, further comprising: A management device for managing users waiting in a predetermined space by serial numbers,
receiving a face image of the user from a photographing device that photographed the user;
a step of linking the serial number of the numbered ticket issued to the user with the face image of the user received from the photographing device and registering the linked data as management data;
a step of determining whether or not a facial image in a photographed image of a predetermined area in the predetermined space where only users with a predetermined serial number can be present, the photographed image being received from the photographing device, corresponds to the predetermined serial number;
A management method comprising the steps of: Computer,
A management device for managing users waiting in a predetermined space by serial numbers,
A receiving means for receiving a face image of the user from an image capturing device that captured the user;
a registration means for linking the serial number of a numbered ticket issued to a user with a face image of the user received from the photographing device and registering the linked data as management data;
a user determination means for determining whether or not a face image in a photographed image of a predetermined area in the predetermined space where only a user with a predetermined serial number can be present, the photographed image being received from the photographing device, corresponds to the predetermined serial number;
A program for causing the device to function as a management device having the above configuration.

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