Information processing apparatus, association method, and sensor system

An association method for an information processing apparatus for associating an identifier of each of a plurality of sensors and a known installation position of a corresponding one of the plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors being installed along a path and detecting an object traveling through the path, the association method comprising:

• receiving an identifier transmitted by a detection-complete sensor that is one of the plurality of sensors and that has detected the object;
• associating, in a first path that is a part of the path, the identifier with an installation position of the detection-complete sensor in a reception order of a plurality of the identifiers, based on a plurality of the known installation positions of the plurality of sensors;
• receiving, from a detection-incomplete sensor that is one of the plurality of sensors and that has not detected the object, reception strength information including an identifier of the detection-incomplete sensor and a reception strength of a signal of another one or more of the plurality of sensors in the detection-incomplete sensor;
• and
• associating, for the detection-incomplete sensor installed on a second path that is a rest of the path, the identifier of the detection-incomplete sensor and an installation position of the detection-incomplete sensor, based on the reception strength information and an installation-position relation with the plurality of sensors.

A sensor system, comprising:

• a plurality of sensors that is installed along a path and detects an object traveling through the path;
• and
• an information processing apparatus that associates an identifier of each of the plurality of sensors and a known installation position of a corresponding one of the plurality of sensors, wherein
• the information processing apparatus comprises:
• reception circuitry, which, in operation, receives an identifier transmitted by a detection-complete sensor that is one of the plurality of sensors and that has detected the object;
• and
• control circuitry, which, in operation, associates the identifier and an installation position of the detection-complete sensor, based on the received identifier and at least one of a plurality of the known installation positions of the plurality of sensors, wherein
• the control circuitry, in a first path that is a part of the path, associates the identifier with the installation position of the detection-complete sensor in a reception order of a plurality of the identifiers, based on the plurality of known installation positions of the plurality of sensors,
• the reception circuitry receives, from a detection-incomplete sensor that is one of the plurality of sensors and that has not detected the object, reception strength information including an identifier of the detection-incomplete sensor and a reception strength of a signal of another one or more of the plurality of sensors in the detection-incomplete sensor, and
• the control circuitry associates, for the detection-incomplete sensor installed on a second path that is a rest of the path, the identifier of the detection-incomplete sensor and an installation position of the detection-incomplete sensor, based on the reception strength information and an installation-position relation with the plurality of sensors.