# US 2020/0401964 A1 · Support system and support method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0401964 A1 - Document ID: US20200401964A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/975,243 - Filed: 2019-02-27 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-27 - Assignees: Imatec, Ltd. - Applicants: Imatec Inc. - Inventors: Atsushi Tomoeda; Takeshi Imazeki; Yasukazu Aoki; Haruhisa Yamamoto; Taku Miyake - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200401964A1 ## CPC - G06Q 10/06311: {Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group} - G16H 40/67: for remote operation - G06Q 50/22: Social work or social welfare, e.g. community support activities or counselling services - G06Q 50/40: Business processes related to the transportation industry (shipping G06Q10/083) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract A support system according to the present invention is provided with a whereabouts identifying unit configured to identify the position where a person needing care is present, an area identifying unit configured to identify an affected area, in which there is a possibility that the line of movement of the person needing care and the line of movement of an approaching object approaching the person needing care cross each other, and a notification unit configured to output a care request to an output unit existing in the affected area. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-9. (canceled) ### Claim 10 An assistance system comprising circuitry configured to: determine a location of an attention-requiring person; determine an affected area where a flow line of the attention-requiring person will potentially intersect with a flow line of a nearby object approaching the attention-requiring person; and output an attention request to an output unit that is present in the affected area, wherein the affected area is determined based on the flow line of the attention-requiring person and includes a region extending from the location of the attention-requiring person. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The assistance system according to claim 10, wherein the assistance system is configured to find a nearby object that is included in the affected area as the attention-requiring person moves. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The assistance system according to claim 10, wherein the assistance system is configured to find a nearby object that is approaching so as to be included in the affected area. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The assistance system according to claim 10, wherein the assistance system is configured to: determine a boarding position where the attention-requiring person will board a movable body; and determine the affected area in accordance with the boarding position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The assistance system according to claim 10, wherein the assistance system is configured to: determine a waiting location where the attention-requiring person waits for a movable body; and determine the affected area in accordance with the waiting location, wherein the affected area determined in accordance with the waiting location includes a region within the movable body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The assistance system according to claim 10, wherein the assistance system is configured to use an operation schedule of a movable body and determine a movable body that the attention-requiring person will board. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The assistance system according to claim 10, wherein the assistance system is configured to determine a boarding position of a movable body that the attention-requiring person has boarded, the affected area includes a location that is associated with the boarding position when the movable body stops, and the assistance system is further configured to output an attention request for the attention-requiring person to an output unit related to the location associated with the boarding position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The assistance system according to claim 10, wherein the assistance system is configured to: obtain a situation of the attention-requiring person; and output an attention request based on the situation of the attention-requiring person. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The assistance system according to claim 17, wherein the situation of the attention-requiring person includes a surrounding situation of the attention-requiring person. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The assistance system according to claim 17, further comprising an information storage, wherein the circuitry is configured to output a message in accordance with the situation of the attention-requiring person. ### Claim 20 A method for assisting cooperation for a user that requires attention using an assistance system that includes circuitry, the method comprising: determining, by the circuitry, a location of an attention-requiring person; determining, by the circuitry, an affected area where a flow line of the attention-requiring person will potentially intersect with a flow line of a nearby object approaching the attention-requiring person; and outputting, by the circuitry, an attention request to an output unit that is present in the affected area, wherein the affected area is determined based on the flow line of the attention-requiring person and includes a region extending from the location of the attention-requiring person.