Guidance processing apparatus and guidance method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12073627-B2
Application number	US-202117375146-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2021
Priority date	Jun 30, 2014
Publication date	Aug 27, 2024
Grant date	Aug 27, 2024

Abstract

A guidance processing apparatus ( 100 ) includes an information acquisition unit ( 101 ) that acquires a plurality of different pieces of guidance information on the basis of states of a plurality of people within one or more images, and a control unit ( 102 ) that performs control of a plurality of target devices present in different spaces or time division control of a target device so as to set a plurality of different states corresponding to the plurality of pieces of guidance information.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A guidance processing system comprising:
at least one memory storing instructions;
at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to perform:
analyzing a first image including a first area including a first queue of first people and a plurality of second images respectively including a plurality of second areas that each include a second queue of second people, wherein the first people in the first queue of the first area and the second people in the second queue of each second area are all queueing to perform a same action;
determining, based on a result of analyzing the first image and the second images, a first waiting time and a first crowdedness of the first queue of the first area and a second waiting time and a second crowdedness of the second queue of each second area;
determining a distance between the first area and each second area;
determining, from the plurality of second areas, one or more closest second areas that are closest to the first area, based on the determined distance between the first area and each second area;
determining, for the first area, first guidance information including the first waiting time;
when the first crowdedness is greater than a threshold corresponding to high crowdedness:
selecting one of the one or more closest second areas of which the second crowdedness is less than a threshold corresponding to low crowdedness;
including, within the first guidance information, an instruction to the first people to stop waiting in the first queue and move from the first queue to the second queue of the selected closest second area;

determining, for each second area, second guidance information second areas including the second waiting time;
outputting the first guidance information to a first display apparatus visible at the first area; and
outputting, for each second area, the second guidance information to a second display apparatus visible at the second area.

2. The guidance processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the first guidance information indicates the first crowdedness of the first queue of the first area.

3. A guidance method performed by at least one computer and comprising:
analyzing a first image including a first area including a first queue of first people and a plurality of second images respectively including a plurality of second areas that each include a second queue of second people, wherein the first people in the first queue of the first area and the second people in the second queue of each second area are all queueing to perform a same action;
determining, based on a result of analyzing the first image and the second images, a first waiting time and a first crowdedness of the first queue of the first area and a second waiting time and a second crowdedness of the second queue of each second area;
determining a distance between the first area and each second area;
determining, from the plurality of second areas, one or more closest second areas that are closest to the first area, based on the determined distance between the first area and each second area;
determining, for the first area, first guidance information including the first waiting time;
when the first crowdedness is greater than a threshold corresponding to high crowdedness:
selecting one of the one or more closest second areas of which the second crowdedness is less than a threshold corresponding to low crowdedness;
including, within the first guidance information, an instruction to the first people to stop waiting in the first queue and move from the first queue to the second queue of the selected closest second area;

determining, for each second area, second guidance information second areas including the second waiting time;
outputting the first guidance information to a first display apparatus visible at the first area; and
outputting, for each second area, the second guidance information to a second display apparatus visible at the second area.

4. The guidance method according to claim 3 , wherein the first guidance information indicates the first crowdedness of the first queue of the first area.

5. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program causing at least one computer to perform a guidance method comprising:
analyzing a first image including a first area including a first queue of first people and a plurality of second images respectively including a plurality of second areas that each include a second queue of second people, wherein the first people in the first queue of the first area and the second people in the second queue of each second area are all queueing to perform a same action;
determining, based on a result of analyzing the first image and the second images, a first waiting time and a first crowdedness of the first queue of the first area and a second waiting time and a second crowdedness of the second queue of each second area;
determining a distance between the first area and each second area;
determining, from the plurality of second areas, one or more closest second areas that are closest to the first area, based on the determined distance between the first area and each second area;
determining, for the first area, first guidance information including the first waiting time;
when the first crowdedness is greater than a threshold corresponding to high crowdedness:
selecting one of the one or more closest second areas of which the second crowdedness is less than a threshold corresponding to low crowdedness;
including, within the first guidance information, an instruction to the first people to stop waiting in the first queue and move from the first queue to the second queue of the selected closest second area;

determining, for each second area, second guidance information second areas including the second waiting time;
outputting the first guidance information to a first display apparatus visible at the first area; and
outputting, for each second area, the second guidance information to a second display apparatus visible at the second area.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 5 , wherein the first guidance information indicates the first crowdedness of the first queue of the first area.

Assignees

• Nec Corp

Inventors

• Oami Ryoma
• Miyano Hiroyoshi
• Takahashi Yusuke
• Ikeda Hiroo
• Ebiyama Yukie
• Kawai Ryo
• Ogawa Takuya
• Koyama Kazuya
• Yamada Hiroshi

Classifications

• H04N7/181

  for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources · CPC title

• G06F3/147

  using display panels · CPC title

• H04N7/188 Primary

  Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position (signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253) · CPC title

• G09G2380/06

  Remotely controlled electronic signs other than labels · CPC title

• G08G1/04

  using optical or ultrasonic detectors · CPC title