Method of and system for monitoring behavior of group of persons, and computer program product

• US 20030210148A1
• Filed: 03/25/2003
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Toshiaki, Nishikawa, Takeichiro, Aisu, Hideyuki, Imasaki, Naoki
• Granted Patent: US 6,963,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

A behavior of a group of persons is monitored. Each person is given a radio frequency identification tag. Tag identification information that is unique to the radio frequency identification tag, and reader identification information that is unique to a tag reader, which detects the radio frequency identification tag, are acquired. A position of each of the persons in the group is detected based on the tag identification information and the reader identification information. A position of majority of the persons in the group is regarded as the position of the group. If the position of a person is different from the position of the group, then that person is determined as having parted from the group.

Claims

1. A monitoring method of monitoring behavior of a group of a plurality of persons each carrying a radio frequency identification tag, the monitoring method comprising:

acquiring tag identification information that is unique to the radio frequency identification tag, and reader identification information that is unique to a tag reader capable of detecting the radio frequency identification tag;

detecting a position information of each of the persons in the group based on the tag identification information and the reader identification information; and

obtaining a behavior information for the group using the position information.

2. The monitoring method according to claim 1, wherein the behavior information includes the determination whether the detected positions are substantially the same or not.

3. The monitoring method according to claim 2, further comprising determining a group position for the group.

4. The monitoring method according to claim 3, further comprising identifying a position of a majority of the persons in the group as a position of the group when it is determined that the positions are not substantially the same.

5. The monitoring method according to claim 3, further comprising identifying a position of the group based on an already set schedule of the group when it is determined that the positions are not substantially the same.

6. The monitoring method according to claim 3, further comprising determining a position of the group based on an already determined position of a person-in-charge of the group when it is determined that the positions are not substantially the same.

7. The monitoring method according to claim 3, further comprising outputting that a person whose position is not substantially the same as the position of the group parts from the group.

8. The monitoring method according to claim 1, further comprising:

recording positional history that indicates position at a certain time of the radio frequency identification tag based on timing at which the tag identification information and the reader identification information were acquired; and

acquiring a set of the tag identification information and the reader identification information corresponding to a predetermined time based on the positional history,

wherein the detecting the position information and the obtaining the behavior information are executed based on the set of the tag identification information and the reader identification information acquired.

9. The monitoring method according to claim 3, further comprising determining whether the position of the group is substantially the same as a scheduled position of the group decided based on an already set schedule of the group.

10. The monitoring method according to claim 9, further comprising determining that the group is not moving according to the schedule when the position of the group is not substantially the same as the scheduled position of the group.

11. A monitoring method of monitoring behavior of a group of a plurality of persons each carrying a radio frequency identification tag, the monitoring method comprising:

acquiring tag identification information that is unique to the radio frequency identification tag, and reader identification information that is unique to a tag reader capable of detecting the radio frequency identification tag;

identifying the group and a position of the group based on the tag identification information and the reader identification information;

identifying person information corresponding to the identified group, based on each of the tag identification information belonging to the group; and

determining whether a predetermined relationship is satisfied between at least two selected from the group, the position of the group, and the person information.

12. The monitoring method according to claim 11, further comprising sending a notification that indicates the predetermined relationship when it is determined that the predetermined relationship is satisfied.

13. A monitoring method of monitoring behavior of a plurality of groups each including a plurality of persons each carrying a radio frequency identification tag, the monitoring method comprising:

acquiring tag identification information that is unique to the radio frequency identification tag, and reader identification information that is unique to a tag reader capable of detecting the radio frequency identification tag;

identifying a position of each of the groups based on the tag identification information and the reader identification information; and

determining any one of whether the identified groups are approaching towards each other and whether the identified groups have encountered with each other based on the position of each of the groups.

14. The monitoring method according to claim 13, further comprising sending a notification that indicates approach of the groups when it is determined that the groups are approaching towards each other, and sending a notification that indicates encounter of the groups when it is decided that the groups have encountered with each other.

15. A computer program product including computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, wherein the instructions, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform:

acquiring tag identification information that is unique to a radio frequency identification tag, and reader identification information that is unique to a tag reader capable of detecting the radio frequency identification tag;

detecting a position information of each of a plurality of persons in a group each carrying a radio frequency identification tag based on the tag identification information and the reader identification information; and

obtaining a behavior information for the group using the position information.

16. A computer program product including computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, wherein the instructions, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform:

acquiring tag identification information that is unique to a radio frequency identification tag, and reader identification information that is unique to a tag reader capable of detecting the radio frequency identification tag;

identifying a group of a plurality of persons each carrying a radio frequency identification tag and a position of the group based on the tag identification information and the reader identification information;

identifying person information corresponding to the identified group, based on each of the tag identification information belonging to the group; and

determining whether a predetermined relationship is satisfied between at least two selected from the group, the position of the group, and the person information.

17. A computer program product including computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, wherein the instructions, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform:

acquiring tag identification information that is unique to a radio frequency identification tag, and reader identification information that is unique to a tag reader capable of detecting the radio frequency identification tag;

identifying a position of each of a plurality of groups including a plurality of persons each carrying a radio frequency identification tag based on the tag identification information and the reader identification information; and

determining any one of whether the identified groups are approaching towards each other and whether the identified groups have encountered with each other based on the position of each of the groups.

18. A monitoring system for monitoring behavior of a group of a plurality of persons, the monitoring system comprising:

a radio frequency identification tag carried by each of the persons, the radio frequency identification tag transmitting a wireless tag signal that includes tag identification information that is unique to the radio frequency identification tag;

a tag reader that receives the wireless tag signal and transmits a reader signal that includes the tag identification information included in the wireless tag signal and reader identification information that is unique to the tag reader; and

a determining unit that receives the reader signal, detects a position information of each of the persons in the group based on the tag identification information and the reader identification information included in the reader signal, and obtains a behavior information for the group using the position information.

19. A monitoring system for monitoring behavior of a group of a plurality of persons, the monitoring system comprising:

a radio frequency identification tag carried by each of the persons, the radio frequency identification tag transmitting a wireless tag signal that includes tag identification information that is unique to the radio frequency identification tag;

a tag reader that receives the wireless tag signal and transmits a reader signal that includes the tag identification information included in the wireless tag signal and reader identification information that is unique to the tag reader; and

a determining unit that receives the reader signal, identifies the group, a position of the group, and person information that corresponds to the identified group, based on the tag identification information and the reader identification information included in the reader signal, and determines whether a predetermined relationship is satisfied between at least two selected from the group, the position of the group, and the person information.

20. A monitoring system for monitoring behavior of a plurality of groups including a plurality of persons, comprising:

a radio frequency identification tag carried by each of the persons, the radio frequency identification tag transmitting a wireless tag signal that includes tag identification information that is unique to the radio frequency identification tag;

a tag reader that receives the wireless tag signal and transmits a reader signal that includes the tag identification information included in the wireless tag signal and reader identification information that is unique to the tag reader; and

a determining unit that receives the reader signal, identifies a position of each of the groups based on the tag identification information and the reader identification information included in the reader signal, and determines any one of whether the identified groups are approaching towards each other and whether the groups identified have encountered with each other based on the position of each of the groups.