JP2007011904A - Theme park management device, method of managing theme park, theme park management program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a using efficiency in a theme park. <P>SOLUTION: The theme park management device 110 includes an acquiring section 101 which acquires the current position information of a user who is waiting for entrance to the attraction of arbitration in the theme park from the user's communication terminal 120, waiting time calculation section 102 which computes the waiting time until the entrance to the waiting attraction is available based on the current position information acquired by the acquisition section 101, and a transmitting section 104 which transmits the waiting attraction waiting time for the entrance computed by the waiting time calculation section 102 and the waiting time of other attractions other than the waiting attraction for the entrance to the user's communication terminal 120. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a theme park management device, a theme park management method, a theme park management program, and a recording medium. However, the use of the present invention is not limited to the theme park management device, the theme park management method, the theme park management program, and the recording medium.

  Conventionally, there is a technique for improving convenience when using each attraction in a theme park. For example, there is a technology in which when a user makes a reservation for an attraction, a waiting time is calculated in consideration of the number of people waiting for the attraction, and the user is notified when the waiting time has arrived. (For example, see Patent Document 1 below.)

JP 2003-242394 A

  By the way, when using the theme park, it is assumed that the user wants to go to an attraction that he / she wants to use without making a reservation, and then know that the attraction is crowded for the first time. However, in the conventional technology, when an attraction is reserved by a user, the waiting time is calculated considering the number of waiting people only for the attraction that has been reserved. The problem of not being able to hope is given as an example.

  The theme park management apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 is an acquisition means for acquiring current position information of a user who is waiting to enter an arbitrary attraction in the theme park; and a current position acquired by the acquisition means Based on the information, the waiting time calculating means for calculating the waiting time until the user can enter the attraction waiting for entry (hereinafter referred to as “waiting for attraction”), and the waiting time calculating means. And a transmission means for transmitting the waiting time for the admission waiting attraction and the waiting time for attractions other than the admission waiting attraction to the communication terminal of the user.

  The theme park management method according to the invention of claim 8 includes an acquisition step of acquiring current location information of a user who is waiting to enter an arbitrary attraction in the theme park, and a current location acquired by the acquisition step. Based on the information, the waiting time calculating step for calculating the waiting time until the user can enter the attraction waiting for entry (hereinafter referred to as “attraction waiting for entrance”), and the waiting time calculating step. And a transmission step of transmitting the waiting time for the admission waiting attraction and the waiting time for other attractions other than the admission waiting attraction to the communication terminal of the user.

  A theme park management program according to a ninth aspect of the present invention causes a computer to execute the theme park management method according to the eighth aspect.

  A recording medium according to a tenth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the theme park management program according to the ninth aspect is recorded so as to be readable by a computer.

  Exemplary embodiments of a theme park management device, a theme park management method, a theme park management program, and a recording medium according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, the functional configuration of the theme park management system according to this embodiment will be described.

(Functional configuration of theme park management system)
FIG. 1-1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a theme park management system according to this embodiment. 1-1, the theme park management system 100 includes a theme park management device 110 and a communication terminal 120. The theme park management apparatus 110 manages the congestion status of each attraction in the theme park. Here, the theme park has a plurality of attractions in the site.

  An attraction is, for example, an amusement park, a zoo, a restaurant, a movie theater, or any other facility that has the ability to attract customers according to some theme. In the amusement park, there are roller coasters and ferris wheels. In addition, the attraction may be an attraction that the user appreciates, or an attraction that accompanies some action of the user such as riding on a vehicle. The user is a person who enters the theme park, and more specifically, a person who carries the communication terminal 120. The user may be a single group or a group of a plurality of users.

  The communication terminal 120 is a portable computer terminal that can be carried by a user. The communication terminal 120 can communicate with the theme park management device 110 directly or indirectly through the gate device of each attraction. The communication terminal 120 may be lent from the theme park when the user enters the park, or may be a mobile phone owned by the user. Further, each communication terminal 120 may be provided by each user, or one communication terminal 120 may be provided in a group.

  The theme park management apparatus 110 according to this embodiment includes an acquisition unit 101, a waiting time calculation unit 102, an information collection unit 103, a transmission unit 104, a determination unit 105, and a search unit 106.

  The acquisition unit 101 acquires from the communication terminal 120 of the user the current position information of the user who is waiting to enter any attraction in the theme park. Here, the current position information of the user is information that can identify the current position of the user and identify the user. Specifically, the user's current position is specified by, for example, point coordinates or information indicating the latitude / longitude of the point. The information for specifying the current position of the user may be information directly indicating the current position of the user, such as information indicating the point coordinates or the latitude / longitude of the point, or may be relative to the reception position of the current position information. It may be information indicating a specific position.

  When information indicating a relative position with respect to a reception location of the current position information is acquired as the current position information of the user, for example, the current position of the user can be specified by calculation using trigonometry. Specifically, for example, the acquisition unit 101 receives information for identifying the user (hereinafter referred to as “identification information”) at a plurality of reception locations, and receives each reception location and communication terminal from the reception time at each reception location. By calculating the ratio of the distance to 120, the current position of the user can be calculated.

  Here, the identification information output at the same timing is used to calculate the current position of the user. This is because when the current position of the user is calculated using the identification information output from the position before the movement and the identification information output from the position after the movement, the calculation result is inaccurate. is there. For this reason, the acquisition unit 101 receives information (hereinafter referred to as “timing information”) that can specify the output timing of the identification information from the communication terminal 120 when receiving the identification information.

  This timing information may be information indicating the time when the identification information is output, or may be other information indicating that the identification information is not output previously. Further, the timing information may be repeatedly used as long as the timing information is longer than the communication time when the time required for communication between the communication terminal 120 and the acquisition unit 101 is the longest in the theme park. Thereby, while maintaining the calculation accuracy of the current position of the user, for example, it is possible to reduce the amount of data compared to the case of using information indicating the time when the identification information is output.

  In addition, identification information is the information regarding the user who carries the communication terminal 120 and the information regarding the communication terminal 120, for example. More specifically, the information regarding the communication terminal 120 is individual information of each communication terminal 120 such as a code number, for example. Similarly, the information related to the user is information that can identify the user, such as the user's name, contact information, and payment card number.

  Further, in the case of an operation mode having one communication terminal 120 in the group, the current position information of the user may include information indicating the number of people constituting the group. In this case, the current position information of the user may include information indicating the gender, age, mutual relationship, and the like of each individual constituting the group.

  In addition, whether or not the user is waiting for entry can be determined from the current position information of the user. Specifically, for example, it is determined whether or not the current position of the user is on a passage (hereinafter referred to as an “entrance waiting passage”) where the user waiting for entry is guided in each attraction. Thus, it can be determined whether or not the user is waiting for entry. In addition, specifically, for example, the user waits for entrance by determining whether or not the current position of the user has existed within a certain distance from each attraction for a certain period of time. It can be determined whether or not.

  In addition, for example, when the user passes through the entrance gate device at each attraction, the user's current position is obtained by performing communication between the entrance gate device and the communication terminal 120. Can also be obtained. In this case, the position of the attracted attraction is the current position of the user, and information including information indicating the current position and identification information is the current position information.

  Further, in this case, it is possible to determine which user is in the admission queue and what number is in the admission queue from the timing (time, order, etc.) of acquiring the identification information. In this case, communication is also performed between the leaving gate device and the communication terminal 120, and the user who has left the attraction is specified using the identification information acquired. Specifically, the users in the attraction and their admission order are specified from the identification information acquired in the entrance and exit gate devices. Then, it is determined that the subsequent users are waiting for entry from the users who have subtracted the number of seats from the users with the early entrance order.

  The waiting time calculation unit 102 calculates the waiting time until the entrance waiting attraction can be entered based on the current position information of the user acquired by the acquisition unit 101. The waiting time can be calculated based on, for example, the waiting number of people waiting to enter before the user whose waiting time is to be calculated (hereinafter referred to as “preceding waiting number”). When calculating the waiting time using the number of people waiting for advance, specifically, for example, by multiplying the value obtained by dividing the number of people waiting for advance by the number of people available per operation by the time required for using the attraction. Can be calculated.

  Here, in addition to the number of users (hereinafter referred to as “general people”) who form queues waiting for admission at each attraction, the number of users waiting for advance is the number of users who have reserved the use of the attraction (hereinafter “ May be included). The number of general persons can be calculated from the current position of the user, for example. Specifically, for example, the number of users located between the entrance gate of the awaiting attraction and the current position of the user to be calculated is calculated as the number of general users.

  In addition, the general person can also determine from the identification information acquired in the entrance and exit gate devices and the timing (time, order, etc.) of acquiring the identification information. Specifically, among users who are determined to be waiting for entry, a user specified by identification information acquired at a timing earlier than the identification information of the user to be calculated is a general user.

  Further, the number of reservation users can be acquired by, for example, providing a table for storing the number of reservation users for each attraction and referring to this table when detecting the waiting number. In this case, the table is periodically updated, for example, every 10 minutes. In the case of an operation mode having one communication terminal 120 in a group, the number of general persons and reservation persons is counted in consideration of the number of persons constituting each group.

  When the waiting time is calculated using the waiting waiting number, the waiting time is calculated, for example, by multiplying the integer part of the value obtained by dividing the waiting waiting number by the available number of persons by the required time. Here, the integer part of the value obtained by dividing the waiting waiting number by the available number of people indicates the number of times the attraction operates before the admission becomes possible. The waiting time may include a time until an event in the currently active attraction ends.

  FIG. 1-2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method for calculating a waiting time. In FIG. 1-2, an explanation will be given by taking as an example an attraction 150 that has 15 people available per operation (capacity) and a required time of 10 minutes. The number above the person in FIG. 1-2 represents the waiting order. In addition, FIG. 1-2 demonstrates the example of calculation when only a general person is considered.

  For example, the waiting time of the users 152 who are waiting for admission of 99 users 151 at the end is 99 waiting users, and this value is used as the number of available users (15 people). ) Is 99 ÷ 15 = 6.6, so that the waiting time of the 100th user 152 is 6 × 10 = 60 minutes obtained by multiplying the integer part 6 by the required time. On the other hand, in the case of the user 153 arranged in the 34th, the number of waiting-for-preceding persons is 33, so 2 × 10 = 20 obtained by multiplying the integer part 2 of 33 ÷ 15 = 2.2 by the required time. Minutes are waiting time.

  The waiting time can be calculated based on, for example, the distance from the entrance gate of the awaiting attraction to the current location of the user (hereinafter referred to as “queue distance”). In this case, the position of the entrance gate of the entrance waiting attraction is known, but the current position of the user is calculated as appropriate. Specifically, the queue distance is, for example, the straight distance from the entrance gate of the entrance waiting attraction to the current position of the user when the entrance waiting passage is in a straight line shape, and the entrance waiting passage is a meandering shape. In this case, the distance takes into account the meandering. Regardless of the shape of the waiting queue path, a file that stores the shape and length of the waiting waiting path is provided, and the current position of the user is located in the waiting waiting path. Can be calculated.

  When calculating the waiting time using the queue distance, for example, it is calculated by multiplying the waiting time per unit distance by the queue distance. Here, the waiting time per unit distance is the time required for the user waiting for entry to travel the unit distance. The waiting time per unit distance is a value set in advance by the theme park administrator. The waiting time per unit distance is set according to the number of people who can use the attraction for one operation, the required time, the shape of the entrance waiting passage, and the like.

  The waiting time per unit distance is set to a shorter time for an attraction with a larger number of users per operation, for example. The waiting time per unit distance is set to a longer time as the required time is longer, for example. In addition, the waiting time per unit distance is set to a longer time as the shape of the waiting passage is more complicated compared to a flat straight passage, such as steps such as staircases or windings. Is done. As a specific example of calculating the waiting time using the queue distance, for example, when the waiting time per unit distance is 2 minutes / m and the queue distance is 10 m, the waiting time calculation unit 102 has 2 × 10 = 20. Minutes are calculated as waiting time for admission.

  The information collecting unit 103 collects various information in the theme park. For example, the information collection unit 103 collects waiting times for attractions other than the entrance waiting attraction as various types of information in the theme park. Here, the waiting time for other attractions is, for example, the above-mentioned waiting time for admission using the distance from the entrance gate of another attraction to the tail of the admission queue for that attraction or the current number of people waiting for admission to other attractions. You may calculate similarly to calculation of time.

  By the way, in actuality, when moving from an entrance waiting attraction to another attraction, it takes time to move to the other attraction before being placed at the end of the queue waiting for entrance of another attraction. For this reason, the waiting time of another attraction may include the travel time to the other attraction.

  Further, the information collection unit 103 may collect information on events that are performed in a limited time period, such as a parade performed in the theme park, as various types of information in the theme park. In this case, specifically, the information collection unit 103 may collect information such as an event holding time, a holding place, and points suitable for viewing. Furthermore, the information collection unit 103 may collect service information in stores such as restaurants and souvenir shops in the theme park as various information in the theme park.

  Specifically, for example, when there is a discount service with a limited time zone at a certain store, the information collection unit 103 collects information such as the store name, the store location, the service content, and the time zone during which the service can be received. . Various types of information collected by the information collection unit 103 are used, for example, by being transmitted to the user's communication terminal 120 by the transmission unit 104. In addition, various types of information collected by the information collecting unit 103 may be used for congestion guidance using a bulletin board in a theme park, for example.

  The transmission unit 104 uses the waiting time for the attraction waiting attraction calculated by the waiting time calculation unit 102 and the waiting time for the attraction other than the attraction waiting for entrance (the waiting time collected by the information collecting unit 103) as a user. To the communication terminal 120. The waiting time to be transmitted may be the waiting time of all the attractions in the theme park, or may be the waiting time of some attractions in the theme park, such as an attraction close to the awaiting entrance attractions. The transmitted waiting time is notified to the user by displaying it on the communication terminal 120 or the like.

  Based on the waiting time of the waiting for attraction calculated by the waiting time calculating unit 102 and the waiting time of an attraction other than the waiting for attraction, the determining unit 105 recommends an attraction (hereinafter referred to as “attraction”). "Recommended attractions"). For example, the determination unit 105 determines an attraction that has a shorter waiting time than the awaiting entry among other attractions as a recommended attraction.

  In addition, for example, the determination unit 105 may determine an attraction related to the content of the entrance waiting attraction among other attractions as a recommended attraction. Furthermore, the determination unit 105 may determine an attraction with a short moving distance from the entrance waiting attraction among other attractions as a recommended attraction.

  In addition, for example, if it is a time zone in which an event such as a parade is performed, the determination unit 105 may determine an event performed by limiting the time zone such as a parade as a recommended attraction. The transmission unit 104 described above transmits the waiting time for the recommended attraction determined by the determining unit 105 to the communication terminal 120 of the user together with the waiting time for the attraction waiting for entrance.

  Here, when the waiting time is notified, an attraction other than the entrance waiting attraction may be designated by the user. The designation of another attraction is performed by inputting the attraction name, for example. As a result of informing the waiting time, when an attraction is designated by the user, the communication terminal 120 transmits information on the attraction designated by the user (hereinafter referred to as “designated attraction”) to the theme park management apparatus 110. .

  In addition, the information regarding a designated attraction is the information which identifies the attraction in a theme park, for example. One or more attractions may be specified. Further, the information regarding the designated attraction may include information indicating that the movement to the designated attraction is (or is desired). Information regarding the designated attraction transmitted from the communication terminal 120 is acquired by the acquisition unit 101 described above.

  As a result of informing the waiting time, when the information related to the designated attraction is received by the acquisition unit 101, the transmission unit 104 described above transmits information about the guidance route from the current position of the user to the designated attraction to the communication terminal 120. In addition, the information regarding a guidance route is information which shows the guidance route searched by the search part 106, for example.

  The search unit 106 searches for a guide route from the current position of the user to the specified attraction when the acquisition unit 101 receives information about the specified attraction. Information on the guidance route searched by the search unit 106 is transmitted to the communication terminal 120 by the transmission unit 104 described above. Here, the information regarding the guidance route is specifically information indicating the guidance route, for example.

  By the way, although this Embodiment demonstrated the case where the search part 106 was provided in the theme park management apparatus 110, it does not restrict to this. Search unit 106 may be provided in communication terminal 120, for example. In this case, the transmission unit 104 described above transmits the point coordinates and map information indicating the current position of the user and the position of the specified attraction to the communication terminal 120 as information on the guidance route. Thereby, in the communication terminal 120, a guidance route can be searched.

(Processing procedure of theme park management device)
Below, the process sequence of the theme park management apparatus 110 concerning this Embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the theme park management apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, first, it is determined whether or not the current position information of the user who is waiting to enter the attraction is received from the communication terminal 120 (step S201).

  In step S201, when receiving the current location information of the user waiting for admission of an attraction from the communication terminal 120 (step S201: No) and receiving the current location information of the user (step S201) : Yes) calculates the waiting time of the waiting for attraction based on the received current position information of the user (step S202), and obtains the waiting time of other attractions other than the waiting for attraction (step S202). S203), a recommended attraction is determined based on the waiting time for the admission waiting attraction and other attractions (step S204).

  Subsequently, the waiting time of the waiting for attraction calculated in step S202 and the waiting time of other attractions calculated in step S203 are transmitted to the communication terminal 120 that has received the current location information of the user in step S201 ( Step S205). In step S205, instead of all the attractions in the theme park, for example, the waiting time of the recommended attractions determined in step S204 may be transmitted as the waiting time of other attractions.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not information on the designated attraction is acquired within a predetermined time after transmitting the waiting time in step S205 (step S206). Terminate the process. In FIG. 2, “has an attraction been designated?” Is described as the process of step S206. On the other hand, if it is determined that the information about the designated attraction has been acquired (step S206: Yes), a guide route from the current position of the user to the designated attraction is searched (step S207).

  Then, information related to the guidance route searched in step S207 (described as “guidance information” in FIG. 2) is transmitted to the corresponding communication terminal 120 (step S208), and the series of processing ends. In step S208, as information on the guidance route, for example, information indicating the guidance route may be transmitted to the communication terminal 120, and information including guidance that prompts movement along the guidance route is also added to the communication terminal. 120 may be transmitted.

  The communication terminal 120 that has received the information regarding the guidance route output in step S208 performs route guidance from the current position of the user to the designated attraction based on the guidance information transmitted from the theme park management apparatus 110 in step S208. .

  As described above, according to the theme park management apparatus 110 of the present embodiment, the waiting time for the waiting for attraction that is calculated based on the current position information of the user who is waiting to enter the waiting for attraction. And the waiting time of attractions other than the entrance waiting attraction are transmitted to the communication terminal 120 of the user.

  As a result, the user continues to wait for admission at the admission waiting attraction with reference to each waiting time transmitted from the theme park management device 110 to the communication terminal 120 or moves to another attraction having a shorter waiting time. Can be selected, so the theme park can be used efficiently.

  By the way, it is assumed that an attraction with a short waiting time often has a low operating rate. Here, according to the theme park management apparatus 110 of the present embodiment, it is possible to move the user from an entrance waiting attraction with a long waiting time to another attraction with a short waiting time. At the same time, it is possible to improve the operating rate in an attraction with a low operating rate. Accordingly, it is possible to operate each attraction efficiently throughout the entire theme park, thereby improving the use efficiency for the theme park users and improving the operation efficiency for the theme park side.

  Moreover, according to the theme park management apparatus 110 of this Embodiment, since the waiting time of another attraction includes the movement time to another attraction, the user is not merely the waiting time in each attraction. In consideration of the time required to actually move to another attraction, it is possible to select whether to continue waiting for admission in the awaiting entrance or to move to another attraction with a short waiting time.

  Specifically, for example, if there is another attraction that is determined to have a shorter waiting time than the waiting for attraction when simply comparing the waiting time at the end of the waiting queue for admission to the attraction of other attractions To do. Then, it is assumed that the other attractions are far from the entrance waiting attraction where the user is currently located. In this case, the waiting time of the other attraction is longer than the waiting time at the end of the admission queue of the other attraction at the present time by including the moving time to the other attraction. Become. Thereby, the user can use each attraction in the theme park reliably and efficiently without moving unnecessarily because the waiting time at the tail end of the admission queue is short.

  Furthermore, according to the theme park management apparatus 110 of the present embodiment, the recommended attraction waiting time determined based on the waiting time for the awaiting attraction and the waiting time for an attraction other than the awaiting attraction is the waiting for admission. Along with the waiting time of the attraction, it is transmitted to the communication terminal 120 of the user. This makes it easier for the user to decide which attraction to move to, and makes it easier to select whether to continue waiting for admission at an awaiting attraction or moving to another attraction with a shorter waiting time. can do.

  Here, when an attraction that has a shorter waiting time than the entrance waiting attraction is determined as the recommended attraction among other attractions, the user can use the attraction with less waiting time by moving to the recommended attraction. . By repeating this, the user can use more attractions within a limited time.

  In addition, when an attraction related to the contents of the awaiting entrance among other attractions is determined as a recommended attraction, the user can select an attraction that matches his / her preference even if the user has moved from the awaiting entrance to another attraction. Can be used.

  In addition, according to the theme park management apparatus 110 of the present embodiment, when information on the designated attraction is received as a result of transmitting the waiting time, information on the guidance route from the current position of the user to the designated attraction. Is transmitted to the communication terminal 120 of the user. As a result, the user can move to the designated attraction without hesitation, and does not spend wasted time moving to the designated attraction. By repeating this, the user can use more attractions within a limited time.

  Furthermore, according to the theme park management apparatus 110 of the present embodiment, when information related to the specified attraction is received, a guide route from the current position of the user to the specified attraction is searched, and the information related to the guide route is obtained from the user. To the communication terminal 120. For this reason, the various functions of the present embodiment can be realized by using the communication terminal 120 that does not have the function of specifying the current position of the user or searching for the guidance route. Specifically, for example, by using a mobile phone owned by the user himself / herself without securing the communication terminal 120 on the theme park side, an increase in cost in realizing various functions of the present embodiment is suppressed. be able to.

  When the search unit 106 is provided in the communication terminal 120, the theme park management device 110 does not search for the guidance route in step S207, and the current position and designation of the user at the timing corresponding to step S208. Information indicating the position of the attraction is transmitted to the communication terminal 120. In this case, the communication terminal 120 searches for a guidance route from the current position of the user to the specified attraction.

  Next, an example of the theme park management apparatus 110 according to the above-described embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an example of a theme park according to the embodiment. The theme park shown in FIG. 3 is provided with a plurality of attractions A to E. A plaza 301 is provided in the center of the theme park site, and a plurality of passages 302a to 302e extending from the plaza 301 to the attractions A to E extend. A gate 303 connected to each of the attractions A to E is provided at the tip of the passages 302a to 302e from the square 301. Each common gate 303 is provided at a position where a user passes when using each of the attractions A to E.

  The communication gate 304 is provided in the common gate 303, respectively. Each communication device 304 receives identification information for identifying the communication terminal from the communication terminal (see FIG. 4) of the user waiting for the turn in the corresponding attractions A to E. In this embodiment, a user ID is used as identification information. As the user ID, for example, the user's name, contact information, gender, age, payment card number, etc. may be used.

  Here, in a present Example, it demonstrates supposing the case where one communication terminal is carried in the group comprised by multiple persons. Note that the communication terminal is not limited to the case of carrying one unit in a group composed of a plurality of people, and each user may carry the communication terminal.

  Each communication device 304 is assigned specific information for identifying which attraction each corresponds to. Further, each communication device 304 may be assigned position information indicating the position of the attraction to which each communication device 304 corresponds. In this case, the management device described later identifies each communication terminal (that is, individual user or group) and its current location in the theme park by identifying the communication device 304 that has received the user ID from the communication terminal. Can do.

  In addition, various shops 305 such as souvenir shops and restaurants are provided in the theme park. An entrance gate device 307 and an exit gate device 308 are provided at the entrance / exit to the theme park indicated by reference numeral 306 in FIG.

  The entrance gate device 307 and the exit gate device 308 are respectively provided with breakers 307a and 308a. The entrance gate device 307 detects a user who enters (is going to enter) the theme park, and drives and controls the circuit breaker 307a according to the detection result. Further, the exit gate device 308 detects a user who leaves the theme park (will leave the park), and drives and controls the circuit breaker 308a according to the detection result.

  In addition, when the entrance gate device 307 detects a user who intends to enter the theme park, the entrance gate device 307 determines whether or not the user has a passport or a ticket related to the entrance to the theme park, and according to the determination result. The drive of the circuit breaker 307a is controlled. Whether or not the user has an entrance ticket is determined by, for example, providing a storage medium such as an IC chip or a magnetic tape in the entrance ticket, and reading data stored in the storage medium using a dedicated reader. It can be judged by. Note that it may be determined whether a theme park employee or the like has an admission ticket, and the circuit breaker 307a may be manually opened and closed.

  In addition, every time the circuit breaker 307a is driven, the entrance gate device 307 outputs information on the user who enters the theme park to a theme park management device (see FIG. 5) described later. Similarly, the park gate device 308 outputs information on the user who leaves the theme park to the theme park management device every time the gate device 308a is driven and controlled. The information regarding the user who enters or leaves the theme park may be the user ID received from the user's communication terminal, or the user who simply enters or leaves the theme park. It may be information indicating the presence or absence.

  Next, the facilities in each attraction in the theme park described above will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing facilities at an attraction in the theme park. In FIG. 4, only the equipment in one attraction is illustrated and described, but the same equipment is provided in all the attractions in the theme park. The attraction 401 is provided with a general entrance gate 402 and a reservation person entrance gate 403 for entering the attraction 401.

  The user enters the attraction 401 via either the general entrance gate 402 or the reservation person entrance gate 403 depending on whether there is a reservation for the corresponding attraction. Although not shown in particular, the general entrance gate 402 is connected to an entrance waiting passage through which a user waiting to enter the attraction passes. The entrance waiting passages are assumed to have various shapes, such as hills and stairs, and passages that bend like a maze. The distance of the entrance waiting path is not a planar distance but a three-dimensional distance that actually moves. In the present embodiment, the case of a straight entrance waiting passage will be described.

  It should be noted that the general entrance gate 402 may be provided at a position separated from the entrance by a predetermined distance, instead of the entrance for actually using the attraction by getting on or the like. In this case, the entrance waiting path is from the general entrance gate 402 to the entrance. In this case, the distance of the entrance waiting path is not a planar distance but a three-dimensional distance including undulations such as slopes and stairs.

  The general entrance gate 402 and the reservation entrance gate 403 determine whether or not the attraction 401 can be used, and are driven so as to allow or restrict the entrance to the attraction 401 according to the determination result. There are provided a general gate device and a reservation person gate device (both of which are shown in FIG. 5), which are equipped with controlled breakers 402a and 403a. Whether or not the attraction 401 can be used is determined based on, for example, a communication result with the communication terminal 404 carried by the user. In this case, each communication terminal 404 includes information indicating whether or not the attraction 401 can be used in association with the user ID.

  If the payment card number can be received as the user ID, whether or not the attraction 401 can be used may be determined based on whether or not the payment card number is received. Whether or not the attraction 401 can be used may be determined by a theme park employee or the like based on whether or not he / she has a passport or a ticket related to the use of the attraction 401.

  The reservation gate device further determines whether or not a reservation for using the corresponding attraction 401 has been made, and drives the blocker 403a so as to allow or restrict entry to the attraction 401 according to the determination result. Control. When the user passes through the general entrance gate 402 or the reservation user entrance gate 403, the general gate device and the reservation gate device output to the theme park management device that the user has entered the attraction 401.

  In addition, the attraction 401 is provided with an exit gate 406 including an exit gate device 405 that detects a user who exits after the use of the attraction 401 is finished. The exit gate device 405 identifies the user who uses the attraction 401 by communicating with the communication terminal 404 carried by the user, and also indicates information indicating that the user has used the attraction 401. Output to the theme park management device.

  Below, the system block diagram of the theme park management system concerning an Example is demonstrated. FIG. 5 is a system configuration diagram of the theme park management system according to the embodiment. 5, the theme park management system 500 includes a management device 501, an entrance gate device 307, a shut-off device 307a, an exit gate device 308, a shut-off device 308a, a communication device 304, and the like shown in FIG. The exit gate device 405, the general gate device 502, and the reservation person gate device 503 shown in FIG. 4 are connected via a network 505.

  The management device 501 is connected to the entrance gate device 307, the exit gate device 308, the communication device 304, the exit gate device 405, the general gate device 502, and the reservation gate device 503 via the network 505. It is a server that communicates with. Communication between the devices in the theme park management system 500 is performed via radio or a communication cable. The management apparatus 501 also calculates a predicted waiting time for each attraction 401 and sets a congestion state.

(Hardware configuration of management device)
Next, a hardware configuration of the management apparatus 501 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the theme park management apparatus according to the embodiment. In FIG. 6, the management apparatus 501 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 601, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 602, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 603, a magnetic disk drive 604, a magnetic disk 605, and an optical disk drive 606. An optical disk 607, an audio I / F (interface) 608, a microphone 609, a speaker 610, an input device 611, a video I / F 612, a display 613, and a communication I / F (interface) 614. I have. Each component 601 to 614 is connected by a bus or the like.

  Here, the CPU 601 governs overall control of the management apparatus 501. The ROM 602 stores programs such as a boot program. The RAM 603 is used as a work area for the CPU 601. The CPU 601 according to the present embodiment calculates a predicted waiting time described later based on, for example, a program stored in the ROM 602.

  The magnetic disk drive 604 controls the reading / writing of the data with respect to the magnetic disk 605 according to control of CPU601. The magnetic disk 605 stores data written under the control of the magnetic disk drive 604. As the magnetic disk 605, for example, an HD (Hard Disk) or an FD (Frekisible Disk) can be used.

  The optical disk drive 606 controls the reading / writing of the data with respect to the optical disk 607 according to control of CPU601. The optical disc 607 is a recording medium that is detachable from the optical disc drive 606 from which data is read according to the control of the optical disc drive 606. As the optical disk 607, a writable recording medium can be used. As a recording medium detachable from the optical disk drive 606, an MO (Magneto-Optical disk), a memory card, or the like may be used in addition to the optical disk 607.

  When an MO, a memory card, or the like is used as a detachable recording medium, a drive device that can read data from each recording medium is provided instead of or in addition to the optical disk drive 606. A theme park management program is recorded on the optical disc 607 according to the present embodiment. The theme park management program is not limited to the one recorded on the optical disc 607.

  The audio I / F 608 is connected to a microphone 609 for audio input and a speaker 610 for audio output. The sound received by the microphone 609 is A / D converted in the sound I / F 608. In addition, sound is output from the speaker 610. Examples of the input device 611 include a remote controller having a plurality of keys for inputting characters, numerical values, and various instructions, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and the like.

  A display 613 is connected to the video I / F 612. Specifically, the video I / F 612 includes, for example, a graphic controller that controls the entire display 613, a buffer memory such as a VRAM (Video RAM) that temporarily stores image information that can be displayed immediately, and a graphic controller. Based on the output image data, the display 613 is configured by a control IC or the like.

  The display 613 displays icons, cursors, menus, windows, or various data such as characters and images. As the display 613, for example, a CRT, a TFT liquid crystal display, a plasma display, or the like can be adopted.

  The communication I / F 614 is used for communication between the entrance gate device 307, the exit gate device 308, the communication device 304, the exit gate device 405, the general gate device 502, and the reservation person gate device 503. It functions as an interface between each of these devices and the CPU 601.

  For communication between each device and the CPU 601 via the communication I / F 614, a dedicated network or a general-purpose network may be used. In this case, the network includes a LAN, a WAN, a public line network, a mobile phone network, and the like. The communication I / F 614 is connected to the communication terminal via the entrance gate device 307, the exit gate device 308, the communication device 304, the exit gate device 405, the general gate device 502, and the reservation person gate device 503. Communication is performed with 404. As a result, information regarding the waiting time can be displayed on the communication terminal 404.

  The above-described acquisition unit 101, waiting time calculation unit 102, information collection unit 103, transmission unit 104, and determination unit 105 in FIG. 1-1 are programs stored in the ROM 602, RAM 603, magnetic disk 605, or optical disk 607 in the management apparatus 501. Is executed by the CPU 601 or by the communication I / F 614.

(Hardware configuration of communication terminal)
Next, a hardware configuration of the communication terminal 404 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the communication terminal according to the embodiment. In FIG. 7, the communication terminal 404 includes a terminal control unit 701, a user operation unit 702, a display unit 703, a position acquisition unit 704, a recording medium 705, a recording medium decoding unit 706, an audio output unit 707, The communication unit 708, the route search unit 709, the route guidance unit 710, the voice generation unit 711, and the speaker 712 are configured.

  The terminal control unit 701 controls the entire communication terminal 404. The terminal control unit 701 can be realized by, for example, a microcomputer configured by a CPU that executes predetermined arithmetic processing, a ROM that stores various control programs, a RAM that functions as a work area of the CPU, and the like. A user ID for identifying each communication terminal 404 is stored in the ROM or RAM.

  In addition, the terminal control unit 701 inputs and outputs information related to route guidance between the route search unit 709, the route guidance unit 710, and the voice generation unit 711, and displays information obtained as a result of the display unit 703 and Output to the audio output unit 707.

  The user operation unit 702 outputs information such as characters, numerical values, and various instructions input by the user carrying the communication terminal 404 to the terminal control unit 701. As the configuration of the user operation unit 702, various known forms such as a push button switch that detects physical pressing / non-pressing, a touch panel, a keyboard, and a joystick can be employed. The user operation unit 702 may be configured to perform an input operation by sound using a microphone that inputs sound from the outside.

  The form of the user operation unit 702 may be configured in any one of the various forms described above, and may be configured in a plurality of forms such as a touch panel and a push button switch, for example. . The user inputs information by appropriately performing an input operation according to the form of the user operation unit 702. As information input by operation of user operation part 702, information about an attraction to use, information about scheduled return time, etc. are mentioned, for example.

  For example, information relating to an attraction to be used is input by displaying a list of attractions 401 in the theme park on the display unit 703 and allowing the user to specify the corresponding attraction 401 from the displayed list. Further, the attraction 401 to be used may be input by specifying the genre or keyword of the attraction 401 to be used and searching for the corresponding attraction 401 based on the genre or keyword. Further, an attraction 401 to be used may be input by displaying a map of the theme park on the display unit 703 on which the touch panel is stacked and designating one point on the displayed map.

  When the information regarding the attraction 401 to be used is input, the terminal control unit 701 described above specifies the position based on the latitude / longitude of the point where the corresponding attraction 401 is located. More specifically, information such as the latitude and longitude of the point where the corresponding attraction 401 is located is specified as one point on the map based on the background type data included in the map information recorded on the recording medium 705. In addition, referring to an attraction list (see FIG. 8) to be described later, information such as the latitude and longitude of the point where the corresponding attraction 401 is located may be directly acquired from the attraction list.

  The display unit 703 includes, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a TFT liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, a plasma display, and the like. Specifically, the display unit 703 can be configured by a video display device connected to the video I / F or the video I / F, for example.

  Specifically, the video I / F includes, for example, a graphic controller that controls the entire display device, a buffer memory such as a VRAM (Video RAM) that temporarily stores image information that can be displayed immediately, and a graphic controller. Based on the output image information, the display device is configured by a control IC or the like. The display unit 703 displays icons, cursors, menus, windows, or various information such as characters and images. The display unit 703 displays map information stored in the recording medium 705 and information related to route guidance.

  The position acquisition unit 704 is configured by, for example, a GPS receiver, and acquires information regarding the current position of each communication terminal 404. The GPS receiver receives radio waves from a GPS satellite and obtains a geometric position with respect to the GPS satellite. GPS is an abbreviation for Global Positioning System, and is a system for accurately obtaining a position on the ground by receiving radio waves from four or more satellites. The GPS receiver includes an antenna for receiving radio waves from GPS satellites, a tuner for demodulating the received radio waves, an arithmetic circuit for calculating the current position based on the demodulated information, and the like.

  The recording medium 705 records various control programs and various information in a state that can be read by a computer. The recording medium 705 accepts writing of information by the recording medium decoding unit 706 and records the written information in a nonvolatile manner. The recording medium 705 can be realized by HD, for example.

  The recording medium 705 is not limited to the HD, and can be attached to and detached from the recording medium decoding unit 706 such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) or a CD (Compact Disk) instead of or in addition to the HD. A medium having portability may be used as the recording medium 705. The recording medium 705 is not limited to a DVD and a CD, and is a removable medium that can be attached to and detached from a recording medium decoding unit 706 such as a CD-ROM (CD-R, CD-RW), MO, or memory card. Can also be used.

  The map information stored in the recording medium 705 includes background data representing features (features) such as buildings and the ground surface in the theme park, and road shape data representing the shape of the road (passage). Drawing is performed two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally on the display screen of the display unit 703. When the communication terminal 404 is guiding a route, the map information recorded on the recording medium 705 and the current position of the communication terminal 404 acquired by the position acquisition unit 704 are superimposed on the display screen of the display unit 703. The

  In the embodiment, the map information is recorded on the recording medium 705. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The map information is not recorded only on the one provided integrally with the hardware of the communication terminal 404, and may be provided outside the communication terminal 404. In that case, the communication terminal 404 acquires map information via a predetermined network through the communication unit 708, for example, and stores the acquired map information in a RAM or the like. In addition, the user ID described above may be recorded on the recording medium 705. This user ID may be stored in a ROM or RAM in the terminal control unit 701.

  The recording medium decoding unit 706 controls reading / writing of information with respect to the recording medium 705. For example, when HD is used as a recording medium, the recording medium decoding unit 706 is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). Similarly, when a DVD or CD (including CD-R and CD-RW) is used as a recording medium, the recording medium decoding unit 706 is a DVD drive or a CD drive. When a CD-ROM (CD-R, CD-RW), MO, memory card, or the like is used as a writable and removable recording medium 705, information is written to various recording media and stored in various recording media. A dedicated drive device capable of reading the recorded information is appropriately used as the recording medium decoding unit 706.

  The audio output unit 707 reproduces the guidance sound by controlling the output to the connected speaker 712. There may be one speaker 712 or a plurality of speakers. Specifically, the audio output unit 707 can be realized by an audio I / F connected to an audio output speaker 712. More specifically, the audio I / F includes, for example, a D / A converter that performs D / A conversion of audio digital information, an amplifier that amplifies an audio analog signal output from the D / A converter, and audio analog information. And an A / D converter that performs A / D conversion.

  The communication unit 708 communicates with communication devices such as the above-described entrance gate device 307, exit gate device 308, communication device 304, exit gate device 405, general gate device 502, and reservation gate device 503. To receive information from the management apparatus 501 or transmit identification information of the communication terminal 404 itself to the management apparatus 501.

  The route search unit 709 searches for an optimal route from the departure point to the destination point using map information stored in the recording medium 705 and the like. Here, the optimum route is the shortest (or fastest) route to the destination point or the route that best meets the conditions specified by the user. For example, when moving from a crowded attraction to a vacant attraction, the position of the crowded attraction is set as the departure point, and the position of the vacant attraction is set as the destination point.

  The route guidance unit 710 is obtained from the guidance route information searched by the route search unit 709, the position information of the communication terminal 404 itself acquired by the position acquisition unit 704, and the recording medium 705 via the recording medium decoding unit 706. Based on the map information, real-time route guidance information is generated. The route guidance information generated by the route guidance unit 710 is output to the display unit 703 and the voice output unit 707 via the terminal control unit 701.

  The sound generation unit 711 generates tone and sound information corresponding to the pattern. That is, based on the route guidance information generated by the route guidance unit 710, the virtual sound source corresponding to the guidance point is set and the voice guidance information is generated and output to the voice output unit 707 via the terminal control unit 701.

  1-1 described above is realized by the CPU executing the program stored in the ROM, RAM, or recording medium 705 in the terminal control unit 701 of the communication terminal 404 or communicating with the communication unit 708. Is done.

  In particular, in this embodiment, the terminal device 404 searches for a guidance route described later. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the search unit 106 in FIG. 1-1 described above executes a program recorded in the ROM or RAM or the recording medium 705 in the terminal control unit 701 by the CPU in the terminal control unit 701 or the communication unit. This is realized by communicating with 708.

  Next, an attraction management file according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an attraction management file according to the embodiment. The attraction management file 800 includes a name area 801, a required time area 802, a usable number of persons / 1 operation area 803, a waiting number area 804, a predicted waiting time area 805, and a congestion status (current) area 806.

  The name area 801 stores the name of each attraction 401. Hereinafter, in this embodiment, the attractions A to E shown in FIG. 3 are respectively A = ferris wheel, B = roller coaster, C = haunted house, D = merry-go-round, and E = maze. explain.

  The required use time area 802 stores a required time for using each attraction 401 (hereinafter referred to as “use required time”). The available number of people / one operation area 803 stores the number of available people at the time of one operation of each attraction 401. The time required for use and the number of people that can be used are predetermined values set in advance by the theme park. In FIG. 8, the number of people that can be used in one gondola is four, and a ferris wheel with 20 gondola is assumed as attraction A, and 80 in parentheses is for every four gondola. It is the number of people when using it.

  The waiting number area 804 stores the number of users currently waiting for use in each attraction 401 (hereinafter referred to as “current waiting number”). The current waiting number can be acquired based on the communication result between each communication device 304 and the communication terminal 404. Specifically, for example, when the same identification information is received within a predetermined range such as the periphery of the attraction 401 for a predetermined time or more, the user (or group including the user) identified by the identification information is received. ) Is counted as the current waiting number in the attraction 401. Instead of the waiting number area 804, a distance storage area (not shown) for storing the distance from the entrance gate 402 of each attraction 401 to the tail end of the current use queue may be provided.

  The predicted waiting time area 805 stores the waiting time predicted at the time when the predicted waiting time is calculated (hereinafter referred to as “predicted waiting time”). The predicted waiting time is the time that is expected to be required until the user who is queued at the end of the queue waiting to use each attraction 401 at the time of calculating the predicted waiting time can use the attraction 401. For example, it can be calculated based on the time required for use, the number of people available per operation, and the current waiting number.

  The predicted waiting time according to the present embodiment is calculated in consideration of the number of users who reserve each attraction (hereinafter referred to as “reserving person”) as the waiting number. The number of reservation persons can be acquired by providing a separate table for storing the number of reservation persons for each attraction 401 and referring to this table when calculating the predicted waiting time. When a distance storage area is provided instead of the waiting area 804, the predicted waiting time area 805 has a predicted waiting time calculated from the distance from the entrance gate 402 of each attraction 401 to the end of the current use queue. Time is memorized.

  The predicted waiting time may be calculated in consideration of the past average waiting time in each attraction 401. Specifically, for example, when the past average waiting time related to the calculation time of the predicted waiting time tends to be long, based on the current waiting time including the required time, the number of people available, and the number of people reserved An operation such as multiplying the calculated value by a coefficient larger than 1.0 is performed.

  Related to the calculation time of the predicted waiting time is, for example, when the calculation time of the predicted waiting time is “Saturday of the first week of May”, the past “Saturday of the first week of May” Is used as the relevant information. In addition, the prediction waiting time may be calculated for each day, or may be calculated for each time zone of a specific day.

  Further, the past average waiting time in each attraction 401 may be calculated in units of time zones instead of or in addition to in units of one day. In this case, the predicted waiting time is calculated for each time zone or for a specific day. Thus, by setting the past congestion situation for each time zone, it is possible to calculate a predicted waiting time with higher accuracy.

  Furthermore, the estimated waiting time is calculated by calculating the average value of “waiting time per unit visitors” obtained by dividing the above-mentioned waiting time results for each day used in calculating the average waiting time in the past by the total number of visitors, Calculate the predicted waiting time at that time of the day by multiplying the average value of this "waiting time per unit visitor" by the cumulative number of visitors up to the time at the time of calculation on the current day. May be. In this case as well, it may be calculated by day or by time zone, as described above. By calculating by time zone, it is possible to calculate a predicted waiting time with higher accuracy.

  The congestion status (current) area 806 stores information regarding the current congestion status. The current congestion situation is determined based on the predicted waiting time. More specifically, the current congestion situation is determined to be congested or free depending on, for example, whether the calculated predicted waiting time is longer or shorter than a certain predetermined waiting time. For example, if a predetermined waiting time is set to 30 minutes, it is determined that the calculated waiting time is 20 minutes, and it is determined that it is free, and if the calculated waiting time is 45 minutes, it is congested. Determined to be.

  The current congestion situation is determined in stages, such as “slightly congested”, “super-congested”, “slightly empty”, “empty”, etc. depending on how long or short a certain waiting time is. Also good. In this case, the current congestion state is not the time itself which is a few minutes (or short) with respect to a certain predetermined waiting time, but a ratio with respect to a certain predetermined waiting time is calculated. On the other hand, it may be determined step by step depending on how much (or what percentage) it is increased.

  Next, the movement information file according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the movement information file according to the embodiment. The movement information file 900 includes a movement source area 901, a movement destination area 902, and a movement required time area 903.

  The movement source area 901 and the movement destination area 902 store, for example, the attractions 401 (names) of the movement source and the movement destination when moving from the crowded attraction 401 to the vacant attraction 401. The required travel time area 903 stores the required travel time required for the movement between the two attractions 401 as the movement source and the movement destination. The travel time is a travel time for one way required to move from one attraction 401 to the other attraction 401.

  In addition, although not particularly illustrated, the management device 501 stores the user ID and the number of groups to which the user carrying the communication terminal 404 with the user ID belongs in association with each other. A user management file is provided. In this user management file, the group configuration (gender, age, relationship (family, friends, etc.)) may be stored in association with each other. Note that the user management file is necessary when a single communication terminal 404 is carried in a group composed of a plurality of people as in this embodiment, and each user has one communication terminal 404. It is not always necessary to carry a mobile phone.

  Here, before describing the processing procedure of the management apparatus 501, a method for calculating the current position of the user will be described. First, in the present embodiment, when the current position of the user can be obtained by using either the GPS or the communication device 304, the current position of the user can be specified or used with higher accuracy. A method that can more appropriately guide the route to the target attraction for the person is adopted.

  Specifically, for example, whether to use GPS or the communication device 304 may be determined depending on whether the user is located indoors or outdoors. Specifically, for example, based on the number of communication devices 304 that have received GPS alternative information and the number of GPS satellites that have received GPS signals, it is determined whether to use GPS or the communication device 304. Also good.

  Here, the case where the current position of the user can be identified with higher accuracy or the route guidance to the target attraction to the user can be performed more appropriately is, for example, linked to the in-region guide map used for route guidance. The map is more appropriate to use the in-region coordinates than the same latitude and longitude as the GPS as the position information transmitted by the communication device 304, because the coordinates of the communication device 304 and the communication device 304 are the same or related. This is a case where matching is possible. Since the map matching technique itself is a known technique, the description thereof is omitted here.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a method for calculating the current position from the GPS alternative information. The position acquisition unit 704 calculates the current position of the user by triangulation using the GPS alternative information transmitted from the plurality of communication devices 304. The GPS alternative information is a signal that can be substituted for a signal transmitted from a GPS satellite when calculating the current position of the user. In this embodiment, coordinate information indicating the installation position of each communication device 304 in three dimensions. And

In FIG. 10, the position of the user to which the reference symbol P is attached is indicated by coordinates (x ₀ , y ₀ , 0). The positions of the three communication devices 304 are indicated by coordinates (x ₁ , y ₁ , h), (x ₂ , y ₂ , h), and (x ₃ , y ₁ , h), respectively. Here, h is the height from the ground of the theme park to the installation position of the communication device 304, and is the same at the location where each communication device 304 is installed. Also, x _{1 to} x ₃ are known from position information included in the GPS alternative information. Thus, it is possible to obtain the distance W ₁ to _W-3 between the communication device 304.

The distances T _{1 to} T ₃ from each communication device 304 to the user can be obtained by the time from when the GPS alternative information is transmitted from each communication device 304 until it is received by the position acquisition unit 704. The distances T _{1 to} T ₃ do not need to be determined as long as the distances T _{1 to} T ₃ can be obtained. Here, reference sign p in FIG. 10 indicates a position when the communication device 304 projects the position P of the user onto the same virtual plane as the installation height, and is indicated by coordinates (x ₀ , y ₀ , h). .

Further, when the angles formed by the virtual lines connecting the respective communication devices 304 and the current position of the user and the vertical lines passing through the respective communication devices 304 are θ ₁ , θ ₂ , and θ ₃ , respectively, The height h from the installation position of the communication device 304 is h = T ₁ × cos θ ₁ = T ₂ × cos θ ₂ = T ₃ × cos θ ₃ . From these relationships, the positions of x ₀ and y ₀ can be obtained using trigonometric functions, and the current position of the user can be calculated.

  Note that the identification information output from the communication terminal 404 includes timing information for specifying the output timing of the identification information, and the above-described calculation of the current position of the user includes the same timing information. Identification information is used. Accordingly, even when the communication terminal 404 (having the user) moves with time, the current position of the user can be accurately calculated at each timing.

  In addition, although illustration is omitted, when a passage in the theme park is provided in a matrix and a communication device 304 is provided at the intersection of each passage, the movement of the user is two communication If it is fixed on the straight line where the machine 304 is located, it is possible to calculate the current position of the user by receiving GPS alternative information from the two communication machines 304. In such a case, map matching can be more appropriately performed using the coordinates in the theme park than using the same latitude and longitude as those of GPS.

(Processing procedure of theme park management device)
Next, a processing procedure of the theme park management apparatus will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the processing procedure of the theme park management apparatus according to the embodiment. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, it is first determined whether or not a user ID has been received (step S1101). Whether or not a user ID has been received can be determined by communication with each communication device 304.

  In step S1101, it waits until the user ID is received (step S1101: No), and if it is determined that the user ID has been received (step S1101: Yes), it is identified by the received user ID. The current position of the user is calculated (step S1102). In step S1102, the current position of the user is calculated using the method described above (see FIG. 10).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the current position of the user calculated in step S1102 is within the entrance waiting range (step S1103). Here, the entrance waiting range is set for each attraction, and is, for example, an entrance waiting passage that continues from the general entrance gate 402 for the attraction. If it is determined that it is not within the entrance waiting range (step S1103: No), the series of processing is terminated as it is.

  If it is determined in step S1103 that the user is in the waiting area for admission (step S1103: Yes), an attraction in which the user in the waiting area for admission waits for admission (hereinafter referred to as "attraction waiting for admission"). A waiting time until admission becomes possible (hereinafter referred to as “entry waiting time”) is calculated (step S1104), and a waiting time for other attractions other than the entrance waiting attraction (hereinafter referred to as “other waiting time”). Calculate (step S1105).

  In step S1104, for example, the entrance waiting time may be calculated using the distance from the general entrance gate 402 of the entrance waiting attraction to the current position of the user, or more than the user whose waiting time is to be calculated. You may make it calculate based on the waiting number of persons waiting for admission first. Here, when calculating the admission waiting time based on the number of waiting people, the number of the user in the admission queue from the current position of the user whose waiting time is calculated, that is, calculating the waiting time Specify how many people are waiting to enter before the target user.

  If the entrance waiting path is from the general entrance gate 402 to the entrance, it can be specified from the user ID acquired when the general entrance gate 402 passes and the acquired time. In this case, it is necessary to identify the user who has left the attraction 401 using the user ID acquired by communication between the leaving gate 406 and the communication terminal 404.

  Specifically, for example, the user in the attraction 401 and the order of waiting for admission are specified from the user ID acquired at the general entrance gate 402 or the reservation gate 403 and the exit gate 406 and the acquisition time thereof. . In the waiting order for admission, the number of passengers is subtracted from the user who has entered the admission order, and the admission waiting order of the user who has the earliest admission time among the remaining users is the first. Thereafter, the admission waiting order is determined in the same manner.

  In step S1105, a predicted waiting time of another attraction is acquired from the predicted waiting time area 805 in the attraction management file 800, and a time obtained by adding the moving time to each other attraction to the predicted waiting time is set as another waiting time. calculate.

  Note that the other waiting time calculated in step S1105 is not limited to that acquired from the predicted waiting time area 805. For example, for each timing at which another waiting time is required, the waiting time of the user at the end of the admission queue in another attraction is calculated by the same operation as in step S1104, and each other attraction is included in this waiting time. A time obtained by adding the travel time until may be calculated as another waiting time.

  Subsequently, the entrance waiting time calculated in step S1104 is compared with the other waiting times calculated in step S1105, and it is determined whether or not the entrance waiting time is shorter than the other waiting times (step S1106). ). As a result of the comparison, when another waiting time is longer than the admission waiting time (step S1106: Yes), a series of processing is finished as it is.

  On the other hand, as a result of the comparison in step S1106, when the admission waiting time is longer than the other waiting time (step S1106: No), an attraction recommended from other attractions (hereinafter referred to as “recommended attraction”). Is determined (step S1107). In step S1107, an attraction that is in the same genre as the awaiting admission and has a shorter waiting time than the awaiting attraction is determined as a recommended attraction.

  In step S1107, when there is no attraction satisfying both the genre and the waiting time, an attraction satisfying either one is determined as a recommended attraction. Which of the genre and the waiting time is given priority is arbitrarily set by the user or the theme park manager.

  Specifically, in step S1107, for example, when the awaiting attraction is attraction A (ferris wheel), attraction D (merry-go-round) is determined as a recommended attraction. Furthermore, when the user's gender, age, etc. are known as the user ID, these pieces of information may be taken into account when determining the recommended attractions.

  More specifically, for example, when a user waiting for admission at attraction A (ferris wheel) is a woman in their 30s (assuming they are accompanied by children), attraction D (merry-go-round) Is selected as a recommended attraction, and when a user waiting for admission at the attraction A (Ferris wheel) is a teenage male, the attraction E (maze) is determined as the recommended attraction. When the group configuration is known based on the user ID, these pieces of information may be further added when determining the recommended attractions.

  Then, in step S1103, the admission waiting time calculated in step S1104, the other waiting time calculated in step S1105, and the congestion information that guides the recommended attractions determined in step S1107 are in the waiting range for admission in step S1103. It transmits to the communication terminal 404 of the determined user (step S1108).

  Note that the congestion information transmitted in step S1108 may include waiting times for all other attractions, or only waiting times for recommended attractions may be included as other waiting times. In the embodiment, it is assumed that the waiting times of all other attractions are included.

  In this embodiment, in step S1108, congestion information including information for prompting designation of other attractions is transmitted. As a result, the user can designate one of the other attractions displayed on the communication terminal 404 based on the transmitted congestion information. When another attraction is specified by the user, the communication terminal 404 displays the attraction specified by the user (hereinafter referred to as “specified attraction”) and information indicating that the attraction is specified (hereinafter referred to as “attraction”). Is output to the management apparatus 501.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the attraction designation information is received within a predetermined time after the congestion information is transmitted in step S1108 (step S1109). If it is determined that the attraction designation information has not been received within the predetermined time (step S1109: No), the series of processing ends as it is. If it is determined that the attraction designation information has been received within the predetermined time (step S1109: Yes), the point information of the designated attraction is transmitted to the communication terminal 404 (step S1110), and the series of processes is terminated.

  Note that in step S1110, if the map matching can be performed more appropriately using the in-region coordinates than using the same latitude and longitude as the GPS, the communication terminal 404 can acquire the current position of the communication terminal 404. Even if possible, the point information of the current position of the user may be transmitted together.

(Processing procedure of communication terminal)
Next, the processing procedure of the communication terminal will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the communication terminal according to the embodiment. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, it is first determined whether or not the point information of the designated attraction has been received (step S1201). Waiting for reception of the spot information of the designated attraction (step S1201: No), if it is determined that the spot information of the designated attraction is received (step S1201: Yes), the guide route from the current position of the user to the designated attraction Is searched (step S1202). In step S1202, the position information acquired by the position acquisition unit 704 may be used as the user's current position. If the point information indicating the user's current position is transmitted in step S1108 described above, You may use point information as a user's present position.

  Then, route guidance is performed using the guidance route searched in step S1202 (step S1203). At the time of route guidance, a guidance route is displayed on the display unit 703, or a message for prompting movement along the guidance route is output from the speaker 712. This route guidance is repeated until it is determined that it has arrived at the designated attraction (step S1204: No), and when it is determined that it has arrived at the designated attraction (step S1204: Yes), the series of processing is terminated.

  In the present embodiment, the route search unit 709 provided in the communication terminal 404 searches for the guidance route, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the management device 501 may search for a guidance route. In this case, the searched guide route information is transmitted to the communication terminal 404.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the entrance waiting time at each position in the entrance queue is calculated from the current position of the user waiting to enter the attraction. The waiting time is transmitted to the communication terminal 404 of the user. As a result, the user refers to each waiting time transmitted from the management device 501 to the communication terminal 404 and decides whether to continue waiting for the admission at the admission waiting attraction or to move to another attraction with a shorter waiting time. You can choose. Thus, the user can use the theme park efficiently by selecting the optimum attraction according to the situation.

  Here, for example, consider the case of moving from an entrance waiting attraction to another attraction. In this case, in order to enter another attraction, it takes time to move to another attraction in addition to the time required to enter the attraction after being placed at the end of the admission queue in the other attraction. . For this reason, even if the waiting time is the shortest when simply comparing the waiting time for the user at the end of the admission queue, the travel time to the other attractions is included. It may be longer than the current waiting time for admission.

  On the other hand, since the waiting time in this embodiment includes the moving time to other attractions, the user actually moves to other attractions, not simply the waiting time in each attraction. In consideration of the time required, it is possible to select whether to continue waiting for admission at an admission waiting attraction or to move to another attraction with a shorter waiting time. Thus, the user can use each attraction in the theme park reliably and efficiently without moving unnecessarily because the last waiting time for the user at the end of the admission queue is small.

  In addition, by sending the waiting time for all attractions in the theme park, the user can continue waiting for admission at the awaiting admission while taking into account the planned return time and preferences for the attraction. It is possible to select whether to move to another attraction with a short time. As a result, the user can efficiently use the theme park and enhance the contents of use.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the effect of moving the user from the long waiting time entrance waiting attraction to another attraction with short waiting time can be expected. It is possible to improve the operation rate in an attraction with a short waiting time, which is assumed to have a low rate. This makes it possible to operate the attractions efficiently throughout the entire theme park, thereby improving the use efficiency for the theme park users and improving the operation efficiency for the theme park side.

  By sending the recommended attraction time together with the admission waiting time to the user's communication terminal 404, it becomes easier for the user to determine which attraction it is preferable to move to. This makes it easier to select whether to continue waiting for admission or move to another attraction with a short waiting time. In this case, the user can be more easily selected by guiding the outline of the recommended attractions.

  In other words, if an attraction that was not planned to be used is recommended, it is possible that the content of the attraction is not known, but by guiding the content of the recommended attraction, you can be interested in the recommended attraction and go to the recommended attraction. The effect of encouraging the movement of users can be expected.

  In this embodiment, since the recommended attractions are determined based on the genre and the length of the waiting time, even if the user moves from the awaiting entrance to another attraction, the user has fewer attractions that match his / her preference. It can be used at waiting time. By repeating this, even if the user uses an attraction different from the originally planned attraction, the user should be satisfied with the content and use more attractions within a limited time. Can do.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the point information of the specified attraction received as a result of transmitting the waiting time is transmitted to the user's communication terminal 404, and the route is searched using the guidance route searched based on this point information. Since the guidance is performed, the user can move to the specified attraction without spending unnecessary time, for example, lost in moving to the specified attraction. By repeating this, the user can use more attractions within a limited time.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, the communication terminal 404 searches for the guidance route from the current position of the user to the specified attraction, but the present invention is not limited to this. When information on the designated attraction is received instead of searching for the guidance route by the communication terminal 404, the management device 501 searches for a guidance route from the current position of the user to the designated attraction, and the information on the guidance route is obtained by the user. In this case, the above-described various functions can be realized by using the communication terminal 404 that does not have the function of specifying the current position of the user or searching for the guidance route. Thus, specifically, for example, by realizing a communication terminal 404 owned by the user such as a mobile phone without securing the communication terminal 404 on the theme park side, various functions of the present embodiment can be realized. The increase in cost can be suppressed.

  The theme park management method described in this embodiment can be realized by executing a program prepared in advance on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, and a DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. The program may be a transmission medium that can be distributed via a network such as the Internet.

It is a functional block diagram of the theme park management system concerning this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the calculation method of waiting time. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the theme park management apparatus concerning this Embodiment. It is a top view which shows an example of the theme park concerning an Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the installation in the attraction in a theme park. It is a system configuration figure of the theme park management system concerning an example. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the theme park management apparatus concerning an Example. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the communication terminal concerning an Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the attraction management file concerning an Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the movement information file concerning an Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the method of calculating a present position from GPS alternative information. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the theme park management apparatus concerning an Example. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the communication terminal concerning an Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Acquisition part 102 Wait time calculation part 104 Transmission part 105 Determination part 106 Search part 110 Theme park management apparatus

Claims (10)

An acquisition means for acquiring current location information of a user waiting for admission to any attraction in the theme park;
Based on the current position information acquired by the acquisition unit, a waiting time calculating unit that calculates a waiting time until the user can enter an attraction waiting for entrance (hereinafter referred to as “attraction waiting for entrance”). When,
A transmission means for transmitting the waiting time for the attraction waiting attraction calculated by the waiting time calculating means and the waiting time for an attraction other than the attraction waiting for attraction to the communication terminal of the user;
A theme park management apparatus comprising:   The theme park management device according to claim 1, wherein the waiting time of the other attractions includes a travel time to the other attractions. Determination means for determining a recommended attraction from the other attractions based on the waiting time for the attraction waiting attraction calculated by the waiting time calculating means and the waiting time for an attraction other than the attraction waiting for attraction With
The transmission means includes
The theme park management device according to claim 1, wherein the waiting time for the admission waiting attraction and the waiting time for the attraction determined by the determination unit are transmitted to the communication terminal of the user. The determining means includes
4. The theme park management device according to claim 3, wherein among the other attractions, an attraction having a shorter waiting time than the attraction waiting entrance is determined as the recommended attraction. The determining means includes
5. The theme park management device according to claim 3, wherein among the other attractions, an attraction associated with the content of the entrance waiting attraction is determined as the recommended attraction. 6. The acquisition means includes
As a result of the waiting time being transmitted by the transmission means, information on an attraction designated by the user (hereinafter referred to as “designated attraction”) is obtained from the communication terminal of the user,
The transmission means includes
The theme park management device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein information on a guidance route from the current position of the user to the designated attraction is transmitted to the communication terminal of the user. When the information on the specified attraction is acquired by the acquisition means, the search means for searching for a guide route from the current position of the user to the specified attraction,
The transmission means includes
The theme park management device according to claim 6, wherein information on the guidance route searched for by the search means is transmitted to the communication terminal of the user. An acquisition process for acquiring current location information of users waiting to enter any attraction in the theme park;
Based on the current position information acquired by the acquisition step, a waiting time calculating step of calculating a waiting time until the user can enter an attraction waiting for admission (hereinafter referred to as “entrance waiting attraction”). When,
A transmission step of transmitting the waiting time of the awaiting attraction calculated by the waiting time calculating step and the waiting time of an attraction other than the awaiting attraction to the communication terminal of the user;
The theme park management method characterized by including.   A theme park management program for causing a computer to execute the theme park management method according to claim 8. A recording medium in which the theme park management program according to claim 9 is recorded so as to be readable by a computer.

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