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

• US 6,963,277 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2003
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Toshiaki, Nishikawa, Takeichiro, Aisu, Hideyuki, Imasaki, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/395,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20030210148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.12, 340/539.13, 340/573.1, 340/573.4
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• 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 method of monitoring behavior of a group of a plurality of persons each carrying a radio frequency identification tag, the method comprising:

acquiring tag identification information that is unique to the radio frequency identification tag from a tag reader configured to detect the radio frequency identification tag in an area where the tag reader is arranged;

determining a position of each of the persons in the group based on the tag identification information and the area; and

determining behavior of the group based on the positions of the persons.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining behavior includes determining whether all the positions of the persons are substantially in the same area where the tag reader is arranged.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising determining a position of the group based on the positions of the persons.

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

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the position of the group is determined based on a predetermined schedule of the group when it is determined that the positions are not substantially in the same area.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the position of the group is determined based on a predetermined position of a person-in-charge of the group when it is determined that the positions are not substantially in the same area.

7. The method according to claim 3, further comprising outputting information indicating that a person whose position is not substantially in the same area parts from the group.

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

recording positional history that includes the position at a certain time of the radio frequency identification tag and reader identification information that is unique to the tag reader, based on timing at which the tag identification information is acquired from the tag reader; and

acquiring a set of the tag identification information and the reader identification information at a recorded time from the positional history,

wherein the determining a position of each of the persons and the determining behavior of the group are executed based on the set of the tag identification information and the reader identification information acquired.

9. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

determining whether the determined position of the group is substantially the same as a scheduled position of the group decided based on a predetermined schedule of the group.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

determining that the group is not moving according to the predetermined schedule when the position of the group is not substantially the same as the scheduled position of the group.

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

acquiring tag identification information that is unique to the radio frequency identification tag from a tag reader configured to detect the radio frequency identification tag in an area where the tag reader is arranged;

determining the group and a position of the group based on the tag identification information and the area;

determining person information corresponding to the determined group, based on 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 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 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 from a tag reader configured to detect the radio frequency identification tag in an area where the tag reader is arranged;

determining a position of each of the groups based on the tag identification information and the area; and

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

14. The 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 determined 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 of a radio frequency identification tag from a tag reader configured to detect the radio frequency identification tag in an area where the tag reader is arranged;

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

determining behavior of the group based on the positions of the persons.

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 from a tag reader that detects the radio frequency identification tag being in an area where the tag reader is arranged;

determining 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 area;

determining person information corresponding to the determined group, based on 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 from a tag reader configured to detect the radio frequency identification tag in an area where the tag reader is arranged;

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

determining any one of whether the determined 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 configured to transmit a wireless tag signal that includes tag identification information unique to the radio frequency identification tag;

a tag reader configured to receive the wireless tag signal and transmit a reader signal that includes the tag identification information included in the wireless tag signal and reader identification information unique to the tag reader; and

a determining unit configured to determine an area where the tag reader is arranged based on the reader identification information included in the reader signal, a position of each of the persons in the group based on the tag identification information and the area, and behavior of the group based on the positions of the persons.

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 configured to transmit a wireless tag signal that includes tag identification information unique to the radio frequency identification tag;

a tag reader configured to receive the wireless tag signal and transmit a reader signal that includes the tag identification information included in the wireless tag signal and reader identification information unique to the tag reader; and

a determining unit configured to determine an area where the tag reader is arranged based on the reader identification information included in the reader signal, the group, a position of the group, and person information that corresponds to the group, based on the tag identification information and the area, and 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 configured to transmit a wireless tag signal that includes tag identification information unique to the radio frequency identification tag;

a tag reader configured to receive the wireless tag signal and transmit a reader signal that includes the tag identification information included in the wireless tag signal and reader identification information unique to the tag reader; and

a determining unit configured to determine an area where the tag reader is arranged based on the reader identification information included in the reader signal, a position of each of the groups based on the tag identification information and the area, and any one of whether the determined groups are approaching towards each other and whether the determined groups have encountered with each other based on the position of each of the groups.