JP7625995B2 - Information Processing System - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to an information processing system.

Patent Document 1 discloses an information processing system equipped with a mobile terminal and multiple vehicle-mounted devices, which, even if the wide-area communication network is shut down during a disaster or other such event, transmits safety information from the mobile terminal to the vehicle-mounted devices and between the vehicle-mounted devices via vehicle-to-vehicle communication, thereby enabling safety information to be shared quickly and widely.

JP 2015-69516 A

When a disaster occurs, it is expected that when a user wants to input safety information, the mobile device will launch a dedicated disaster application and display the dedicated application screen, requesting the input of safety information. However, because a dedicated disaster application is not an application that users normally use, it is conceivable that users will not know how to input or operate it, or that they will be unfamiliar with and find it difficult to use. Therefore, in the event of a disaster, it is desirable to collect safety information without placing a burden on users.

This disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide an information processing system that allows users to input safety information without placing a burden on them in the event of a disaster.

The information processing system according to the present disclosure comprises a mobile terminal having a first processor with hardware and a display, and a server having a second processor with hardware, and when the first processor determines that a disaster has occurred, it launches a frequently used application that can send messages from the mobile terminal to other devices, displays the screen of the launched application on the display, and enables input of safety information by operating the application, and when safety information is input on the application screen during the disaster, it transmits the safety information to the server, and the second processor aggregates the safety information transmitted from multiple mobile terminals.

This disclosure makes it possible for users to enter safety information in the event of a disaster without placing a burden on them.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the information processing system. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a control flow in the event of a disaster.

Below, an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described below.

The configuration of an information processing system in an embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. As shown in Figure 1, information processing system 1 includes a mobile terminal 2 and a server 3. In information processing system 1, mobile terminal 2 and server 3 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via network 4. Network 4 is configured, for example, from a public communication network such as the Internet network or a mobile phone network.

This information processing system 1 is configured so that, in the event of a disaster, a user operates a mobile device 2 to send safety information to a server 3, and the safety information sent from multiple mobile devices 2 is aggregated in the server 3. When a disaster occurs, it is expected that a user who owns a mobile device 2 will operate the mobile device 2 to send their own safety information to another device. At that time, it is expected that the user will start a communication application that they normally use to send their own safety information. In addition, for local governments and the like, it is desirable to quickly collect information to grasp the damage situation and safety information. Therefore, the server 3 aggregates the safety information sent from multiple mobile devices 2.

The mobile terminal 2 is a terminal capable of communicating with other devices and is a terminal that can be carried by a user. For example, the mobile terminal 2 is configured as a smartphone. As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 2 includes a communication unit 21, a control unit 22, a storage unit 23, and a display unit 24.

The communication unit 21 is composed of a communication circuit for wireless communication. This communication unit 21 is connected to the network 4. The communication unit 21 communicates with the server 3 by connecting to the network 4.

The control unit 22 includes a processor and a memory. The processor includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), etc. The memory is a main storage device, and includes a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. The control unit 22 loads a program stored in the storage unit 23 into a working area of the memory (main storage device) and executes it, and realizes a function that meets a predetermined purpose by controlling each component, etc. through the execution of the program. The processor included in the control unit 22 corresponds to the first processor.

The storage unit 23 is composed of a recording medium such as an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM). Various programs executed by the control unit 22 are stored in the storage unit 23. As shown in FIG. 2, a general-purpose application 231 is stored in the storage unit 23. That is, the general-purpose application 231 is installed in the mobile terminal 2. The general-purpose application 231 is an application that the user uses on a regular basis.

For example, the general-purpose application 231 is an application that enables a user to send a message from his/her own mobile device 2 to another device. When the general-purpose application 231 is started, the mobile device 2 becomes able to send a message to another mobile device 2 and display a message received from another mobile device 2 on the display unit 24.

The display unit 24 is a display that displays various information when the user uses the mobile terminal 2. The display unit 24 is configured as a touch panel that functions as an input operation unit.

The mobile device 2 is configured to start the general-purpose application 231 in the event of a disaster to obtain safety information of the user. In other words, the control unit 22 starts the general-purpose application 231 in the event of a disaster, displays the screen of the general-purpose application 231 on the display unit 24, requests the user to input safety information, and obtains the safety information in response to the input operation of the general-purpose application 231. The control unit 22 then transmits the user safety information obtained by the screen display and input operation of the general-purpose application 231 to the server 3.

The server 3 is a management server for managing the information processing system 1 in an integrated manner, and is managed by the administrator of the information processing system 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the server 3 includes a communication unit 31, a control unit 32, and a storage unit 33.

The communication unit 31 is composed of, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) interface board, a wireless communication circuit for wireless communication, and the like. The communication unit 31 communicates with a plurality of mobile terminals 2 by connecting to the network 4. This communication unit 31 is physically similar to the communication unit 21 provided in the mobile terminal 2.

The control unit 32 executes various controls by executing programs stored in the memory unit 33. This control unit 32 is physically similar to the control unit 22 provided in the mobile terminal 2. In addition, the processor provided in the control unit 32 corresponds to the second processor.

The storage unit 33 is composed of recording media such as an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), and removable media. Examples of removable media include a universal serial bus (USB) memory, and disc recording media such as a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), and a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc (BD). The storage unit 33 can store an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, various databases, and the like. This storage unit 33 has a safety information database 331.

The safety information database 331 stores safety information transmitted from multiple mobile devices 2. Safety information includes the user's name, health information regarding their own injuries and health, evacuation destination, current location, etc.

For example, when it is determined that a disaster has occurred, the control unit 32 executes control to collect safety information transmitted from a plurality of mobile terminals 2. The safety information transmitted from a plurality of mobile terminals 2 is safety information acquired by a general-purpose application 231. In this case, it is assumed that the general-purpose application 231 that is normally used by each user is different. For example, in the mobile terminal 2 owned by the first user, it is assumed that a general-purpose application 231 called a first application is normally used for communication. In this case, the safety information transmitted from the mobile terminal 2 is the safety information transmitted by the general-purpose application 231 called the first application. On the other hand, in the mobile terminal 2 owned by the second user, it is assumed that a general-purpose application 231 called a second application is normally used for communication. In this case, the safety information transmitted from the mobile terminal 2 is the safety information transmitted by the general-purpose application 231 called the second application. Therefore, the server 3 is configured to collect safety information transmitted from different general-purpose applications 231 under the control of the control unit 32. In other words, the server 3 is configured to aggregate safety information transmitted from a plurality of different types of general-purpose applications 231.

Figure 3 is a flow chart showing the control flow during a disaster. The control shown in Figure 3 is repeatedly performed by the control unit 22 of the mobile device 2.

The control unit 22 determines whether or not a disaster has occurred (step S101). In step S101, whether or not a disaster has occurred is determined based on information acquired from the network 4 by the communication unit 21. For example, when disaster information is acquired from the network 4, the control unit 22 determines that a disaster has occurred. In this case, the mobile terminal 2 can determine that a disaster has occurred by receiving disaster information from the server 3 via the network 4. Furthermore, the processing of step S101 can be executed when the mobile terminal 2 is powered off. In other words, since the control unit 22 is powered off and capable of executing communication control, the communication unit 21 can acquire disaster information from the network 4 when powered off.

If it is determined that a disaster is not occurring (step S101: No), this control routine ends. If the determination in step S101 is negative, the control unit 22 executes normal control.

If it is determined that a disaster has occurred (step S101: Yes), the control unit 22 identifies and starts the general-purpose application 231 that the user of the mobile terminal 2 normally uses for communication (step S102). In step S102, among the general-purpose applications 231 having a function of sending messages to other devices, a general-purpose application 231 that is frequently used is identified, and the general-purpose application 231 that is frequently used is started. That is, a plurality of general-purpose applications 231 are installed in the mobile terminal 2. And, all the general-purpose applications 231 installed in the mobile terminal 2 are not necessarily used regularly. Therefore, the control unit 22 identifies one general-purpose application 231 for communication that was used most recently. In this case, the control unit 22 can identify one general-purpose application 231 based on history information indicating the use history of the application. The history information of the general-purpose application 231 is stored in the storage unit 23. Alternatively, the control unit 22 identifies one general-purpose application 231 for communication that was used most frequently within a predetermined period, such as one week or one day. And the control unit 22 starts the identified general-purpose application 231.

The control unit 22 also displays the screen of the launched general-purpose application 231 on the display unit 24 (step S103). In step S103, the screen display of the general-purpose application 231 requests the user to input safety information. That is, the user can input safety information by inputting information into the general-purpose application 231. In this case, the control unit 22 may display the input field for safety information on the screen divided into each item of information required for safety information (such as name, health information, and evacuation destination), or may display the screen as a free input field.

Then, the control unit 22 judges whether input of safety information has been completed on the screen display of the general-purpose application 231 (step S104). In step S104, it is judged whether input of safety information has been completed in response to the input operation of the general-purpose application 231. For example, in step S104, the control unit 22 judges whether information has been input into all items in the input field for safety information when the send button displayed on the display unit 24 is selected. Alternatively, in step S104, the control unit 22 judges whether required information as safety information has been input into a free input field when the send button displayed on the display unit 24 is selected.

If it is determined that the input of safety information has not been completed (step S104: No), this control routine ends.

If it is determined that the input of the safety information is complete (step S104: Yes), the control unit 22 causes the general-purpose application 231 to transmit the safety information to the server 3 (step S105). In step S105, the safety information is transmitted to the server 3 by the general-purpose application 231, and history information for the transmitted safety information is stored in the memory unit 23. The memory unit 23 stores transmission history information for the safety information. Once the processing of step S105 is performed, this control routine ends.

As described above, according to the embodiment, the input of safety information can be requested by the screen display and input operation of the general-purpose application 231 that the user normally uses, so that in the event of a disaster, the user can input safety information without placing a burden on the user. In addition, the server 3 can aggregate multiple pieces of safety information sent from different general-purpose applications 231.

The mobile terminal 2 may have a dedicated application for emergency contact, which is used under special conditions such as during a disaster, working together with the general-purpose application 231. This dedicated application has a function of transmitting safety information to the server 3 during a disaster, and the activation of this dedicated application makes it possible to transmit the user's safety information to other devices. For example, a dedicated application is installed on the mobile terminal 2. That is, the dedicated application is stored in the storage unit 23. When the control unit 22 determines that a disaster has occurred, it internally activates both the general-purpose application 231 and the dedicated application, but performs a screen display on the display unit 24 as if the general-purpose application 231 had been activated. The control unit 22 also transmits the safety information input to the screen display of the general-purpose application 231 to other devices by the general-purpose application 231 and also transmits it to other devices by the dedicated application.

Further advantages and modifications can be readily derived by those skilled in the art. The broader aspects of the disclosure are not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described above. Thus, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general disclosed concept as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Reference Signs List 1 Information processing system 2 Mobile terminal 3 Server 4 Network 21 Communication unit 22 Control unit 23 Storage unit 24 Display unit 231 General-purpose application

Claims (1)

A mobile terminal including a first processor having hardware, a display , and a storage unit ;
a server including a second processor having hardware;
Equipped with
The first processor,
When it is determined that a disaster has occurred, the most frequently used application capable of transmitting messages from the mobile terminal to other devices is identified based on history information indicating a usage history of the application stored in the storage unit, the identified application is started, a screen of the started application is displayed on the display, and safety information can be input by an operation method of the application,
When safety information is input on the screen of the application during the disaster, the safety information is transmitted to the server;
The second processor
aggregating the safety information transmitted from a plurality of the mobile terminals ;
The safety information aggregated by the second processor includes safety information transmitted from a plurality of different types of the applications.
Information processing system.

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