Work content analysis apparatus, work content analysis method, and program

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023186211-A1
Application number	US-202318167393-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 10, 2023
Priority date	Aug 14, 2020
Publication date	Jun 15, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided are a work content analysis apparatus, method, and program for analyzing a state of congestion or proximity of persons such as workers in an analysis target region such as a factory, for each area in the analysis target region. According to an embodiment a work content analysis apparatus includes a first database, an accumulation unit, and a classification unit. The database stores position information indicative of a position of a person in the analysis target region together with time information, in association with identification information of the person. The accumulation unit acquires a cumulative value in a predetermined item based on the position information and the time information stored in the first database in association with the identification information of the person. The classification unit classifies the each area based on the cumulative value acquired by the accumulation unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A work content analysis apparatus for analyzing a state of congestion or proximity of persons for each area in an analysis target region, the work content analysis apparatus comprising:
a first database configured to store position information indicative of a position of a person in the analysis target region together with time information, in association with identification information of the person; an accumulation unit configured to acquire, for said each area, a cumulative value in a predetermined item based on the position information and the time information stored in the first database in association with the identification information of the person; and a classification unit configured to classify, for said analyzing, said each area based on the cumulative value acquired by the accumulation unit.

2 . The work content analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the cumulative value in the predetermined item comprises a cumulative value of a number of times of entry into said each area by the person, and the classification unit is configured to classify said each area based on the cumulative value of the number of times of entry for said each area.

3 . The work content analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the cumulative value in the predetermined item comprises a cumulative value of a period of stay in said each area by the person, and the classification unit is configured to classify said each area based on the cumulative value of the period of stay for said each area.

4 . The work content analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a result indication unit configured to provide an indication of a result of classification by the classification unit in a corresponding area on a map of the analysis target region sectioned into areas comprising said each area; and a display control unit configured to cause the map to be displayed, the map showing the indication of the result of classification by the classification unit in the corresponding area.

5 . The work content analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the cumulative value in the predetermined item comprises a cumulative value of a number of inter-area movements by the person, and the classification unit is configured to determine an inter-area correlation based on the cumulative value of the number of inter-area movements, the work content analysis apparatus further comprising a display control unit configured to cause a correlation diagram indicative of the inter-area correlation to be displayed.

6 . The work content analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the position information is output from a sensor attached to the person.

7 . The work content analysis apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein
the sensor is configured to output the position information together with unique sensor identification information assigned to the sensor, the work content analysis apparatus further comprising:
a second database configured to store the identification information of the person and the sensor identification information assigned to the sensor attached to the person, in association with each other; and
a processing unit configured to acquire, in response to the sensor outputting the sensor identification information, the identification information of the person associated with the sensor identification information from the second database.

8 . The work content analysis apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein
the sensor comprises a camera configured to output image information, and the processing unit is configured to detect, using AI, the position information of the person with the camera from the image information output from the camera.

9 . A work content analysis apparatus for analyzing a state of congestion or proximity of persons for each area in an analysis target region, the work content analysis apparatus comprising:
a first database configured to store position information indicative of a position of a person in the analysis target region together with time information, in association with identification information of the person; an accumulation unit configured to accumulate a number of persons who have made a stay, for said each area and for a unit of time, based on the position information and the time information stored in the first database in association with the identification information of the person; and a display control unit configured to cause, for said analyzing, information on the number of persons who have made a stay to be displayed for said each area and along a time axis, according to a result of accumulation by the accumulation unit.

10 . The work content analysis apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the position information is output from a sensor attached to the person.

11 . The work content analysis apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein
the sensor is configured to output the position information together with unique sensor identification information assigned to the sensor, the work content analysis apparatus further comprising:
a second database configured to store the identification information of the person and the sensor identification information assigned to the sensor attached to the person, in association with each other; and
a processing unit configured to acquire, in response to the sensor outputting the sensor identification information, the identification information of the person associated with the sensor identification information from the second database.

12 . The work content analysis apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
the sensor comprises a camera configured to output image information, and the processing unit is configured to detect, using AI, the position information of the person with the camera from the image information output from the camera.

13 . A work content analysis method performed by a work content analysis apparatus for analyzing a state of congestion or proximity of persons for each area in an analysis target region, the work content analysis method comprising:
storing, in a first database and by the work content analysis apparatus, position information indicative of a position of a person in the analysis target region together with time information, in association with identification information of the person; acquiring, for said each area and by the work content analysis apparatus, a cumulative value in a predetermined item based on the position information and the time information stored in the first database in association with the identification information of the person; and classifying, for said analyzing and by the work content analysis apparatus, said each area based on the acquired cumulative value.

14 . A program for analyzing a state of congestion or proximity of persons for each area in an analysis target region, the program causing a computer to realize functions including:
a function of storing, in a first database, position information indicative of a position of a person in the analysis target region together with time information, in association with identification information of the person; a function of acquiring, for said each area, a cumulative value in a predetermined item based on the position information and the time information stored in the first database in association with the identification information of the person; and a function of classifying, for said analyzing, said each area based on the acquired cumulative value.

Assignees

• Toshiba Digital Solutions Corp

Inventors

• Ishii Ken
• Takahashi Jun
• Takenouchi Hiroki
• Kobayashi Hitoshi
• Kusakabe Takashi
• Akimoto Yuto
• Yamamoto Kazuki
• Morishita Toshiyuki

Classifications

• G16Y10/25

  Manufacturing · CPC title

• G06Q10/0633 Primary

  Workflow analysis · CPC title

• G06F16/906

  Clustering; Classification · CPC title

• G06F16/587

  using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location · CPC title

• G06Q10/063114

  Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group · CPC title