阅读说明：本技术 服务器装置、信息处理系统、以及系统的工作方法 (Server device, information processing system, and method for operating system ) 是由 大出水贵幸 井上和幸 小林亮介 田中由里香 真屋朋和 驹嶺聪史 于 2021-06-29 设计创作，主要内容包括：本公开提供一种通过具备发光功能的地板材料而提高行人的便利性的服务器装置、信息处理系统以及系统的工作方法。服务器装置具有：通信部；控制部,其经由所述通信部而发送或接收信息,所述控制部基于第一地点的位置信息和第二地点的位置信息而向多个地板材料发送对所述多个地板材料的发光进行控制的指示,其中,所述第一地点为,配置有分别具有发光元件的所述多个地板材料的区域中的行人所位于的地点,所述第二地点为,与该第一地点不同的地点。(The present disclosure provides a server device, an information processing system, and a method for operating the system, which improve convenience for pedestrians by using a floor material having a light emitting function. The server device has: a communication unit; and a control unit that transmits or receives information via the communication unit, wherein the control unit transmits an instruction to control light emission of the plurality of floor materials to the plurality of floor materials based on position information of a first point where pedestrians are located in an area where the plurality of floor materials each having a light emitting element are arranged and position information of a second point different from the first point.)

1. A server device has:

a communication unit;

a control section that transmits or receives information via the communication section,

the control unit transmits an instruction to control light emission of the plurality of floor materials to the plurality of floor materials based on position information of a first point where pedestrians are located in an area where the plurality of floor materials each having a light emitting element are arranged and position information of a second point different from the first point.

2. The server apparatus according to claim 1,

the control unit receives position information of the first point from a terminal device of the pedestrian.

3. The server apparatus according to claim 1,

the control unit derives the first point based on the captured image of the area.

4. The server apparatus according to claim 1,

the control unit derives position information of the first point based on information received from a terminal device of the pedestrian by the floor material.

5. The server apparatus according to claim 4,

the control unit derives position information of the first point in consideration of the load detected by the flooring material.

6. The server apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

the control unit generates an instruction to control light emission of the plurality of floor materials in accordance with a route from the first point to the second point.

7. The server device of claim 6,

the control unit performs a process of giving authority to the pedestrian when the pedestrian reaches the second point.

8. The server apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

the control unit generates an instruction to control light emission of the plurality of floor materials, in consideration of attributes of the plurality of floor materials in the area.

9. An information processing system having a server device and a plurality of floorings that communicate with the server device and that have light-emitting elements, wherein,

the server device transmits an instruction to the plurality of floor materials to control light emission of the plurality of floor materials based on position information of a first point where a pedestrian is located in an area where the plurality of floor materials are arranged and position information of a second point different from the first point,

the plurality of flooring materials cause the light emitting element to emit light according to the indication.

10. The information processing system of claim 9,

the server device receives the position information of the first point from the terminal device of the pedestrian.

11. The information processing system of claim 9,

the server device derives the first location based on a camera image of the area.

12. The information processing system of claim 9,

the flooring material transmits information received from the pedestrian terminal device or transmits the information and the detected load to the server device,

the server device derives position information of the first location based on information received from the flooring material.

13. The information processing system of any one of claims 9 to 12,

the server device generates an instruction to control light emission of the plurality of floor materials in accordance with a path from the first location to the second location, or the path and the property of the floor material in the area.

14. The information processing system of claim 13,

the server device performs processing for granting an authority to the pedestrian when the pedestrian arrives at the second location.

15. An operating method of an information processing system having a server device and a plurality of floorings that communicate with the server device and that have light-emitting elements, wherein,

the server device transmits an instruction to the plurality of floor materials to control light emission of the plurality of floor materials based on position information of a first point where a pedestrian is located in an area where the plurality of floor materials are arranged and position information of a second point different from the first point,

the plurality of flooring materials cause the light emitting element to emit light according to the indication.

16. The method of operation of claim 15,

the server device receives the position information of the first point from the terminal device of the pedestrian.

17. The method of operation of claim 15,

the server device derives the first location based on a camera image of the area.

18. The method of operation of claim 15,

the flooring material transmits information received from the pedestrian terminal device or transmits the information and the detected load to the server device,

the server device derives position information of the first location based on information received from the flooring material.

19. The working method of any one of claims 15 to 18,

the server device generates an instruction to control light emission of the plurality of floor materials in accordance with a path from the first location to the second location, or the path and the property of the floor material in the area.

20. The method of operation of claim 19,

the server device performs processing for granting an authority to the pedestrian when the pedestrian arrives at the second location.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a server apparatus, an information processing system, and a method of operating the system.

Background

A floor panel having a light emitting function is known. The panel is used as a floor material in indoor and outdoor commercial facilities and the like, and provides decoration by emitting light to pedestrians walking on the floor material. For example, patent document 1 discloses a technique of providing a light emitting element in a component mounted on a floor or the like.

Prior art documents

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent No. 6118342

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

There is room for improvement in convenience for pedestrians using a flooring material having a light emitting function.

Provided is a server device and the like capable of improving the convenience of pedestrians by a floor material having a light-emitting function.

Means for solving the problems

The server device in the present disclosure includes: a communication unit; and a control unit that transmits or receives information via the communication unit, wherein the control unit transmits an instruction to control light emission of the plurality of floor materials to the plurality of floor materials based on position information of a first point where pedestrians are located in an area where the plurality of floor materials each having a light emitting element are arranged and position information of a second point different from the first point.

The system in the present disclosure includes a server device and a plurality of floor materials, the plurality of floor materials being in communication with the server device and having light emitting elements, wherein the server device transmits an instruction to control light emission of the plurality of floor materials to the plurality of floor materials based on position information of a first point where a pedestrian is located in an area where the plurality of floor materials are arranged and position information of a second point where the pedestrian is located in an area where the plurality of floor materials are arranged, and the plurality of floor materials cause the light emitting elements to emit light in accordance with the instruction.

An operation method of an information processing system according to the present disclosure is an operation method of an information processing system including a server device and a plurality of floor materials having light emitting elements and communicating with the server device, wherein the server device transmits an instruction to control light emission of the plurality of floor materials to the plurality of floor materials based on position information of a first point where a pedestrian is located in an area where the plurality of floor materials are arranged and position information of a second point where the pedestrian is located in an area where the plurality of floor materials are arranged, and the plurality of floor materials cause the light emitting elements to emit light in accordance with the instruction.

Effects of the invention

According to the server device and the like in the present disclosure, the convenience of pedestrians can be improved by the floor material having the light emitting function.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an information processing system.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the server device.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the terminal device.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the imaging device.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a structural example of the flooring material.

Fig. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the information processing system.

Fig. 7 is a view showing a light emission pattern of the floor material.

Fig. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the information processing system.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described.

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an information processing system according to an embodiment. The information processing system 1 includes, for example, one or more server devices 10, a terminal device 12, an imaging device 13, and a floor material 14, which are connected to each other via a network 11 so as to be capable of information communication. The server device 10 is a computer. The terminal device 12 is a mobile information terminal device having a communication function, such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal device, or a smart watch. The terminal device 12 communicates with a communication device provided in a foot chain 12a, a shoe 12b, or the like worn by the pedestrian. The imaging device 13 is, for example, one or more cameras and a control device thereof. The cameras of the imaging device 13 are installed at various places in an area such as an urban area, and image pedestrians in the area. The area is, for example, an area of one or more blocks (hereinafter, simply referred to as an area) spanning an urban area, which is arbitrarily set as a unit for providing the pedestrian-oriented information service implemented by the information processing system 1. The floor material 14 has a communication function in addition to a light emitting function by a light emitting element, and is laid in a two-dimensional array on a road surface on which pedestrians in an area walk. The Network 11 is, for example, the internet, but includes an ad hoc Network, a LAN (Local Area Network), a MAN (metropolian Area Network), a Metropolitan Area Network, or other Network, or a combination of any of these networks. The number of the respective components of the information processing system 1 may be larger than those shown here.

In the information processing system 1, the server device 10 transmits an instruction to control light emission of the plurality of floor materials 14 to the plurality of floor materials 14 based on position information of a first point where pedestrians are located in an area where the plurality of floor materials 14 each having a light emitting element are arranged and position information of a second point different from the first point. Then, the plurality of floor materials 14 emit light from the light emitting elements in response to an instruction from the server device 10. For example, the pedestrian is guided to the destination by causing the floor material 14 to emit light (e.g., blink) in an arbitrary pattern along a route from the point where the pedestrian is located to the destination of the pedestrian. Since a pedestrian can recognize a route toward a destination by observing a road surface without gazing at the route guidance of the portable terminal device 12, convenience for the pedestrian is improved.

Fig. 2 shows a configuration example of the server device 10. The server device 10 includes a communication unit 20, a storage unit 21, and a control unit 22. The server device 10 may perform the operation in the present embodiment by performing communication with another server device having an equivalent configuration and cooperating therewith. For example, a server for controlling the operation of the flooring material 14 in each area may be provided in each area, and the server device 10 may be configured by causing the servers in the respective areas to cooperate with a central server.

The communication unit 20 has one or more communication modules corresponding to wired or wireless LAN standards for connection to the network 11. In the present embodiment, the server device 10 is connected to the network 11 via the communication unit 20, and performs information communication with other devices via the network 11.

The storage unit 21 includes, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, or the like. The storage unit 21 functions as a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory, for example. The storage unit 21 stores arbitrary information, control/processing programs, and the like used for the operation of the server device 10.

The control Unit 22 includes one or more general-purpose processors such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or one or more dedicated processors specialized for a specific process. Alternatively, the control unit 22 may include one or more dedicated circuits such as an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The control unit 22 operates according to a control/processing program or an operation procedure installed as a circuit, thereby comprehensively controlling the operation of the server apparatus 10. The control unit 22 transmits and receives various information to and from the terminal device 12, the imaging device 13, and the floor material 14 via the communication unit 20, and executes the operation according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 3 shows a configuration example of the terminal device 12. The terminal device 12 is an information terminal device such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal device, a personal computer, and a smart watch. The terminal device 12 includes an input/output unit 30, a communication unit 31, a storage unit 32, and a control unit 33.

The input/output unit 30 has an input interface for detecting an input from a user and transmitting input information to the control unit 33. The input interface is any input interface including, for example, a physical button, a capacitance button, a touch panel provided integrally with a panel display, various pointing devices, a microphone for receiving voice input, a camera for capturing a captured image or an image code, and the like. The input/output unit 30 has an output interface for outputting information generated by the control unit 33 or received from another device to the user. The output interface is any output interface including, for example, an external or internal display for outputting information in the form of images or videos, a speaker for outputting information in the form of voice, or a connection interface for connecting to an external output device.

The communication unit 31 includes a communication module corresponding to a wired or wireless LAN standard, a module corresponding to a mobile communication standard such as 4G (4th Generation) or 5G (5th Generation), a GPS (global positioning System) reception module, a short-range communication module, and the like. The terminal device 12 is connected to the network 11 via a router device or a base station for mobile communication in the vicinity thereof via the communication unit 31, and performs information communication with the server device 10 via the network 11, or performs information communication with a communication device of a foot chain 12a or a shoe 12b worn by a pedestrian by using near-field communication, thereby performing information communication with the flooring material 14 via the communication device of the foot chain 12a or the shoe 12b, or directly. The terminal device 12 also receives a GPS signal for seeking position information of the current position via the communication unit 31.

The storage unit 32 includes, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, or the like. The storage unit 32 functions as a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory, for example. The storage unit 32 stores arbitrary information, control/processing programs, and the like used for the operation of the terminal device 12.

The control Unit 33 includes, for example, one or more general-purpose processors such as a CPU and an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), or one or more dedicated processors specialized for a specific process. Alternatively, the control unit 33 may have one or more dedicated circuits such as an FPGA and an ASIC. The control unit 33 operates in accordance with a control/processing program or an operation procedure installed as a circuit, thereby comprehensively controlling the operation of the terminal device 12. The control unit 33 transmits and receives various information to and from the server device 10 and the like via the communication unit 31, and executes the operation according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 4 shows a configuration example of the imaging device 13. The imaging device 13 includes one or more cameras 41 and a control device 40 that controls the cameras 41. Each camera 41 is attached to an arbitrary portion that can image a pedestrian in a predetermined section such as an urban area. The camera 41 includes a monocular camera, a stereo camera, an omnidirectional camera, and the like. The control device 40 includes a communication unit 42, a storage unit 43, and a control unit 44. The control device 40 is one or more computers that can be connected to the network 11 and function as an image delivery server.

The communication unit 42 has one or more communication modules corresponding to wired or wireless LAN standards for connection to the network 11. In the present embodiment, the imaging device 13 is connected to the network 11 via the communication unit 42, and performs information communication with other devices via the network 11.

The storage unit 43 includes, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, or the like. The storage unit 43 functions as a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory, for example. The storage unit 43 stores arbitrary information, control/processing programs, and the like used for the operation of the imaging device 13.

The control Unit 44 includes, for example, one or more general-purpose processors such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or one or more dedicated processors specialized for a specific process. Alternatively, the control unit 44 may include one or more dedicated circuits such as an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The control unit 44 operates according to a control/processing program or an operation procedure installed as a circuit, thereby comprehensively controlling the operation of the imaging device 13. The control unit 44 transmits the event captured by the imaging device 13 and the captured image of the viewer to the server device 10 via the communication unit 42, or receives various instructions and information from the server device 10 via the communication unit 42, thereby performing the operation according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 5 shows a structural example of the flooring material 14. The floor material 14 includes a control device 50, a light emitting unit 55, and a load sensor 56. The floor material 14 has, for example, a rectangular or polygonal shape having sides of several tens of centimeters or a substantially circular flat plate shape having a diameter of several tens of centimeters, and is formed by a layer structure of, for example, resin, wood-based material, or the like. The light emitting unit 55 includes, for example, one or more light emitting elements such as LEDs and a control circuit thereof. The light emitting unit 55 causes the light emitting element to emit light and turn off the light under the control of the control device 50. The light emitting portion 55 is housed at the upper surface side when the floor material 14 is laid on the road surface, and is covered with, for example, a transmissive cover so that a pedestrian walking on the floor material 14 can visually recognize the light when the light emitting element emits light. The load sensor 56 is provided, for example, at a position where it can detect a load applied to the upper surface side when the flooring material 14 is laid on a road surface, and transmits the detection result to the control device 50.

The control device 50 includes a communication unit 52, a storage unit 53, and a control unit 54.

The communication unit 52 includes one or more communication modules corresponding to the wired or wireless LAN standard and a short-range communication module for connecting to the network 11. The control device 50 communicates information with the server device 10 via the network 11 through the communication unit 52, or communicates information with the terminal device 12 through the foot chain 12a or the shoe 12b or directly through the communication unit 52.

The storage unit 53 includes, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, or the like. The storage unit 53 stores arbitrary information, control/processing procedures, and the like used in the operation of the control device 50.

The control unit 54 has, for example, one or more dedicated processors specialized for a specific process. Alternatively, the control unit 54 may include one or more dedicated circuits such as an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The control unit 54 operates according to the control/processing procedure or according to the operation procedure installed as the circuit, thereby comprehensively controlling the operation of the flooring material 14. The control unit 54 sends an instruction to turn on/off the light emitting element to the light emitting unit 55. The control unit 54 receives the detection result obtained by the load sensor 56 and detects the load applied to the flooring material 14. The control unit 54 transmits or receives arbitrary information to/from the server device 10 via the communication unit 52.

Fig. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the information processing system 1. Fig. 6 shows the sequence of the cooperative work performed by the server device 10, the terminal device 12, the imaging device 13, and the floor material 14. The sequence of fig. 6 is a sequence in which the information processing system 1 supports route guidance from the current position of the pedestrian to the destination. Here, the present position of the pedestrian corresponds to the "first point", and the destination corresponds to the "second point".

In step S600, the terminal device 12 transmits the identification information of the terminal device 12 and the position information of the current position to the server device 10. When the position information of the current position is derived from the GPS signal received by the communication unit 31, the control unit 33 of the terminal device 12 transmits the position information of the current position and the identification information of the terminal device 12 stored in advance in the storage unit 32 to the server device 10 via the communication unit 31. The control unit 22 of the server device 10 receives the identification information of the terminal device 12 and the position information of the current position via the communication unit 20.

In step S602, the imaging device 13 transmits the captured image and the identification information of the imaging device 13 to the server device 10. The control unit 44 of the imaging device 13 captures a part of the area with the camera 41 at an arbitrary timing or cycle, and stores the captured image in the storage unit 43. The control unit 44 transmits the captured image and the identification information of the imaging device 13 to the server device 10 via the communication unit 42 at an arbitrary timing or cycle. The identification information is stored in the storage unit 43 in advance. The control unit 22 of the server device 10 receives the identification information of the imaging device 13 and the captured image via the communication unit 20. Here, the server device 10 receives a captured image from one or more imaging devices 13 in the area.

In step S604, the terminal device 12 transmits the identification information of the terminal device 12 to the floor material 14, and in step S606, the floor material 14 transmits the identification information of the terminal device 12 and the identification information of the floor material 14 to the server device 10. The flooring 14 may transmit load information indicating the load detected in the flooring 14 to the server device 10, in addition to the identification information of the flooring 14. The control unit 33 of the terminal device 12 transmits the identification information stored in advance in the storage unit 32 to the floor material 14 via the communication unit 31. The communication unit 31 transmits the identification information to the floor material 14 which is closest to the floor material 14, specifically, on which the pedestrian steps, by short-range communication, for example. The communication unit 31 may transmit the identification information to the floor material 14 via the foot chain 12a or the shoe 12 b. The intensity of the radio wave of the communication unit 31 or the intensity of the radio wave of the communication device of the foot chain 12a or the shoe 12b may be adjusted to such an extent that the identification information can be selectively transmitted to the nearest flooring material 14. The control unit 54 of the floor material 14 receives the identification information of the terminal device 12 via the communication unit 52. The control unit 54 also detects a load applied by a pedestrian stepping on the floor material 14 by the load sensor 56. The control unit 54 transmits the identification information of the terminal device 12 and the identification information of the flooring material 14 stored in the storage unit 53 in advance, or transmits load information in addition to the identification information to the server device 10 via the communication unit 52. The control unit 22 of the server device 10 receives the identification information of the terminal device 12 and the identification information of the flooring material 14 via the communication unit 20, or receives load information in addition to the identification information.

The order of steps S600, S602, and steps S604 and S606 is not limited to the example shown here, and may be reversed. In addition, not all of steps S600 and S602 and steps S604 and S606 may be executed, but one or more steps may be executed.

In step S608, the server device 10 derives position information of the current position of the pedestrian.

When the identification information and the position information are received from the terminal device 12 in step S600, the control unit 22 of the server device 10 sets the position information of the terminal device 12 as the position information of the current position of the pedestrian.

When the captured image is received from one or more imaging devices 13 in the area in step S602, the control unit 22 of the server device 10 recognizes the image of the pedestrian stored in advance in the storage unit 21 from the one or more captured images. Regarding one or more pedestrians, the recognition processing of the image of the pedestrian is performed for each pedestrian. The image of the pedestrian is extracted from the captured image of the pedestrian transmitted from the terminal device 12, for example, and is stored in the storage unit 21 in advance in association with the identification information of the terminal device 12. When an image of a pedestrian is detected from a captured image, the control unit 22 specifies a range within the region captured by the imaging device 13 based on the identification information of the imaging device 13 that transmitted the captured image. Then, the control unit 22 sets a point in an area corresponding to the position of the pedestrian in the captured image as the current position of the pedestrian, and derives position information of the point. Here, the control unit 22 can specify the terminal device 12 of the pedestrian based on the identification information of the terminal device 12 associated with the image of the pedestrian.

When the identification information of the terminal device 12, the identification information of the flooring material 14, or the load information in addition to the identification information is received from the flooring material 14 in step S606, the control unit 22 of the server device 10 specifies the location where the flooring material 14 is placed based on the identification information of the flooring material 14. The identification information of the flooring material 14 and the information of the place where the flooring material is arranged are associated with each other in advance and stored in the storage section 21. Therefore, the control unit 22 derives the location where the floor material 14 is placed as the positional information of the current position of the pedestrian, using the identification information of the floor material 14 transmitted together with the identification information of the terminal device 12. In this case, it is also possible to set as a condition for deriving the positional information of the pedestrian that load information indicating a load satisfying an arbitrary reference such as a condition for recognizing that the pedestrian is stepping on the floor material 14 is acquired. By adopting the mode, the derivation precision of the position information is improved.

When two or more pieces of position information are derived, the control unit 22 checks the derived results. Under the condition of consistency, the precision of the position information is ensured. Alternatively, when two or more derived results do not match, the accuracy of the position information may be improved by setting the average of the derived results as the final derived result, or the like.

Next, in step S610, the terminal device 12 requests the server device 10 for route guidance to the destination in response to an input by the pedestrian. When receiving an input to the destination of the input/output unit 30 by a pedestrian, the control unit 33 of the terminal device 12 transmits a request for route guidance together with information on the destination to the server device 10 via the communication unit 31. Alternatively, the control unit 33 may determine the destination corresponding to the current time using the information on the pedestrian's action plan stored in the storage unit 32. The control unit 22 of the server device 10 receives the destination position information and the route guidance request via the communication unit 20.

In step S612, the server device 10 searches for a route from the current position of the pedestrian to the destination. Then, in step S614, the server device 10 determines the light emission pattern of the floor material 14 for guiding the route, and generates a light emission instruction for the floor material 14. The control unit 22 of the server device 10 searches the route using the map information stored in the storage unit 21, and determines an arbitrary light emission pattern of the floor material 14 corresponding to the searched route.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating the light emission pattern of the floor material 14. Here, the flooring material 14 disposed on the road surface of the area 70 is schematically shown by a square. The whole painted part is outside the road surface. The blank squares indicate the floor material 14 that emits light along the route 73 from the current position 71 to the destination 72. Hatched squares represent flooring material 14 outside the object of lighting control. The light emission pattern of the floor material 14 that emits light may be a pattern that causes the floor material 14 to emit light all the time, or may be a pattern that flickers at an arbitrary cycle. Alternatively, the light emission pattern may be a pattern in which light emission is adjusted in accordance with the movement of a pedestrian. For example, a pattern may be provided in which only the floor material 14 in front of the travel road is caused to emit light and flash, and the floor material 14 that the pedestrian has traveled is caused to be extinguished, in accordance with a change in the positional information of the current position of the pedestrian. The server device 10 may change the blinking speed in accordance with the moving speed of the pedestrian. The server apparatus 10 may also cause the floor material 14 to emit light or light in a corner using a pattern different from that of the straight path. The server device 10 may cause the floor material 14 corresponding to the boundary between the area for pedestrian walking and the area for vehicle traveling on the road surface to emit light by using a pattern different from the light emission pattern of the floor material 14 along the route 73. In this way, by changing the light emission pattern according to the attribute of the section, it is possible to remind the pedestrian of the awareness of safety.

In step S616, the server device 10 transmits a light emission instruction to the floor material 14. The control unit 22 of the server device 10 transmits an instruction to emit light in accordance with the light emission pattern to the floor material 14 disposed at a position corresponding to the pedestrian guide route. The control unit 22 determines the floor material 14 to be caused to emit light by comparing the position information of each floor material 14 stored in advance in the storage unit 21 with the guide route. The control unit 54 of the floor material 14 receives the light emission instruction via the communication unit 52.

In step S618, the floor material 14 emits light in response to the light emission instruction. The control section 54 of the floor material 14 causes the light emitting element of the light emitting section 55 to emit light in accordance with the light emission instruction.

According to the present embodiment, the information processing system 1 can guide a pedestrian to a destination by emitting light from the floor material 14 in an arbitrary pattern. Since a pedestrian can recognize a route to a destination by observing the road surface even without gazing at the route guidance of the portable terminal device 12, convenience for the pedestrian is improved.

Fig. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the information processing system 1 in the modification. The procedure of fig. 8 differs from the procedure of fig. 6 in that steps S800 to S806 are added after step S618, compared to the procedure of fig. 6. Here, the description of the same steps as those in fig. 6 will be omitted, and points different from those in fig. 6 will be described.

In the modification of fig. 8, when the pedestrian reaches the destination, the server device 10 performs the authorization process for the pedestrian. For example, when the pedestrian is locked and needs to be unlocked at a home, a warehouse, a facility for collecting delivery items (including a parked or stopped vehicle), or the like, the server device 10 transmits the electronic key to the terminal device 12 as the authorization process. By taking this approach, the pedestrian is granted the authority to unlock the facility of the destination. In addition, when a pedestrian arrives at a destination that is a secret place or a check point, the server device 10 performs processing for giving points or sealing to an account of the pedestrian as authorization processing in the case of a game such as a search for points by stepping on the floor material 14 when the pedestrian arrives at the secret place provided in the area and obtains points by stepping on the floor material 14, or a seal race in which a seal is obtained by stepping on the floor material 14 here when the pedestrian arrives at the secret place or the check point. In this manner, the pedestrian is granted the authority to exchange points or stamps for economic value.

In step S800, the floor material 14 detects that the pedestrian has reached the destination. Then, in step S802, the flooring 14 notifies the server device 10 that the pedestrian has reached the destination. For example, the control unit 22 of the server device 10 transmits an instruction notifying the arrival of a pedestrian to the floor material 14 disposed at the destination together with the light emission instruction in advance. When the load sensor 56 detects a load indicating that the pedestrian steps on the floor material 14 at the destination, the control unit 54 transmits an arrival notification to the server device 10 via the communication unit 42. Alternatively, the control unit 22 of the server device 10 may transmit the identification information of the terminal device 12 of the pedestrian together with an instruction to notify the arrival of the pedestrian in advance, and transmit the arrival notification to the server device 10 when the control unit 54 of the flooring material 14 at the destination receives the identification information from the terminal device 12 via the communication unit 42. Further, it is also possible to transmit an instruction to emit light in a pattern different from that at the time of guidance when arrival is detected from the server device 10 to the floor material 14, and to notify the pedestrian of the arrival of the destination by emitting light in a pattern different from that at the time of route guidance when the pedestrian arrives. The control unit 22 of the server device 10 receives the arrival notification via the communication unit 20.

In step S804, the server device 10 executes an authorization process for a pedestrian. Before step S804, when a pedestrian requests the server device 10 to provide route guidance from the terminal device 12 to the destination in step S610, for example, the pedestrian transmits information specifying the right to be obtained when the pedestrian reaches the destination to the server device 10 in advance.

When the pedestrian designates the unlocking of the destination facility, the control unit 22 of the server device 10 transmits the electronic key to the terminal device 12 via the communication unit 20 as the authorization process. The data of the electronic key can be stored in the storage unit 21 in advance. The control unit 33 of the terminal device 12 receives the electronic key via the communication unit 31. The control unit 22 of the server device 10 may set an arbitrary expiration date in advance in the above-described electronic key. By adopting such a method, it is possible to give the pedestrian an electronic key that is valid only for a limited time during which the pedestrian stays at a short distance of the facility, and therefore, it is possible to improve the security of locking, and the pedestrian can acquire the electronic key only when necessary, and therefore, the trouble of data management accompanying the constant holding of the electronic key is eliminated.

Further, when the pedestrian designates the addition of points or the like, the control unit 22 of the server device 10 executes a process of adding points or stamps to the account of the pedestrian registered in advance and stored in the storage unit 21. At this time, the account of the pedestrian is determined by the identification information of the terminal device 12. By adopting the mode, the pleasure of the pedestrians in walking in the area is improved. Further, if the points have an economic value that can be utilized in the stores in the area, it is possible to contribute to the commercial pleasure in the area while enhancing the pleasure of pedestrians.

As described above, by controlling the light emission of the floor material 14 in the information processing system 1, the pedestrian can recognize the route to the destination by observing the road surface even without gazing at the route guidance of the portable terminal device 12, and therefore, the convenience for the pedestrian is improved. Further, since various rights are granted by reaching the destination, it is possible to further improve the convenience of the pedestrian or to further improve the interest of the pedestrian.

In the above-described embodiment, the processing/control program for specifying the operation of the control unit 33 of the terminal device 12 may be stored in the storage unit 21 of the server device 10 or in a storage unit of another server device and downloaded to the terminal device 12 via the network 11, or may be stored in a portable and non-transitory recording/storage medium readable by the terminal device 12 and read from the medium by the terminal device 12.

Although the embodiments have been described above based on the respective drawings and examples, it is to be noted that those skilled in the art can easily carry out various modifications and corrections based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it is noted that these variations and modifications are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, functions and the like included in each unit, each step, and the like can be rearranged in a logically inconstant manner, and a plurality of units, steps, and the like can be combined into one unit or divided.

Description of the symbols

1 an information processing system;

10 a server device;

11 a network;

12a terminal device;

13 an image pickup device;

14 a flooring material;

20. 31, 42 communication part;

21. 32, 43 storage units;

22. 33, 44 control part;

40 a control device;

41 video cameras;

50 a control device;

55 a light emitting part;

56 load cell.