JP2002304681A - Action assumption system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system capable of collecting not only the movement of a subject such as an aged person but also subject's action by the most natural state while securing privacy and easily grasping subject's living state and health state. SOLUTION: The system is provided with a detection means 11 for detecting object's movement and an action assuming means 23 for assuming subject's action from the detection data of the detection means 11. In order to detect the usual movement of the subject by the most natural form while securing privacy, domestic electric equipment or an electric, gas or water meter is preferably used as the detection means 11. In order to visually grasp subject's action with the lapse of time, the system is preferably provided with output means 24, 32 for outputting the subject's action assumed by the means 23 correspondingly to time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for estimating the behavior of a subject, and more particularly to a system for grasping the behavior of a subject, particularly an elderly person, in the most natural manner while ensuring privacy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In Japan, it is said that the proportion of the elderly aged 65 and over in the population will exceed 30% in the next 50 years. Under these circumstances, measures for the elderly in need of care are currently being watched and examined, but it is also a fact that many healthy elderly people must be overlooked. Of the healthy elderly, living alone are often isolated spatially and interpersonally, and it is very important to understand the health of these people. There is an overwhelming shortage of human resources to grasp and manage the health status of people.

For this reason, for example, some municipalities have introduced a pendant type wireless emergency call system, which is used only in an emergency and is intended to grasp the daily life of the elderly. is not. In addition, a service system that monitors the movement of the elderly by arranging various types of sensors in the home is provided by security companies, etc., but the cost of introducing and maintaining the system is high, so it is only spread to high-income earners. Is the actual situation. Further, JP-A-10-248
No. 093 discloses that the hot water supply switch of the electric pot is turned on and off.
A system has been proposed to monitor the safety of the subject by detecting that it is turned off, but the installation location and the amount of information for home electrical equipment are limited, and in addition, people who use little electrical equipment and electrical equipment at night This system did not provide sufficient monitoring in cases such as those who unplugged the power plug from the outlet. Also, with this system, it was not possible to grasp the specific behavior of the subject merely by detecting the movement of the subject such as turning on / off the electric device.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and is intended to provide not only the movement of a subject such as an elderly person but also the behavior of the subject while ensuring privacy. It is an object of the present invention to provide a system that can be collected in a simple form and that can easily grasp the living condition and health condition of a subject at a low introduction cost.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a system according to the present invention comprises a detecting means for detecting a movement of a subject, and a behavior estimating means for estimating the behavior of the subject from detection data of the detecting means. Configuration.

Here, in order to detect the daily movement of a subject such as an elderly person in the most natural manner while ensuring privacy, home electric appliances (hereinafter referred to as "home electric appliances") are used as detecting means.
It is preferable to use an electric / gas / water meter reader.

[0007] From the viewpoint of efficient processing of the detected data, it is preferable that the apparatus further comprises storage means for storing the detected data detected by the detecting means and / or the behavior of the subject estimated by the behavior estimating means.

[0008] Further, in order to make it easier to visually understand the change over time of the behavior of the subject, it is preferable to further comprise output means for outputting the behavior of the subject estimated by the behavior estimation means in accordance with the time. .

[0009] Further, from the viewpoint of promptly and easily informing the distant relatives and institutions such as nursing care, nursing, medical care and welfare of the inferred subject's behavior result, transmission means for transmitting the inference result of the subject's behavior is further provided. It is desirable to have.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present inventors have conducted intensive studies as to whether they cannot grasp not only the movement of a subject but also the behavior at that time. As a result, if the detection data of one or more detecting means are combined, The present inventors have found that a specific action at that time can be estimated, and have accomplished the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a behavior estimation system according to the present invention. Signals detected by various detection sensors (detection means) 11 disposed in the subject's house 1 and the detection sensor 11 carried by the subject are sent to the storage means 12, where they are accumulated and stored as time-series data. The detection data stored in the storage means 12 is sent to the center 2 at predetermined time intervals or when a data transmission request is made. Center 2
Then, the transmitted detection data is temporarily stored in the storage unit 22 and then sent to the action estimation unit 23, or is sent to the action estimation unit 23 as it is. Behavior estimation means 23
Then, the behavior of the subject is estimated from the detection data by a method described later. The estimated behavior of the subject is stored in the storage unit 22 and output from the output unit 24 as necessary. Also,
The estimation result of the behavior of the subject by the behavior estimating means 23 is obtained by a transmission request from the information acquisition means 31 or 41 in the separated family home 3 or the nursing / nursing / medical / welfare institution 4, or every predetermined period. It is transmitted to the nursing / nursing / medical / welfare institution 4 and output from the respective output means 32 and 42. It is used in separated families and in nursing / nursing / medical / welfare institutions for ascertaining the health status of subjects and for various activities by the institutions. Hereinafter, each means will be individually described.

First, as detecting means that can be used in the present invention, for example, home electric appliances such as air conditioners, televisions, refrigerators, microwave ovens, mats, etc .; and electric / gas and water meter readers; vibration sensors, acceleration sensors, human detection sensors ( Conventionally known sensors such as an infrared sensor) can be used. For example, if home appliances are used as detection means,
It can detect switch on / off, door opening / closing, temperature setting, operation mode, compressor speed, remote control operation, power consumption, etc. In addition, according to the electric, gas and water meter readers, it is possible to detect the amount of electricity, gas and water used. Also, if a human detection sensor is used as the detection means, it can be detected that a person has entered a specific area.

The method of transmitting the detection signal detected by the various detection means to the storage means is not particularly limited. However, it is preferable to transmit the detection signal using a radio or a power line because no new wiring work is required. . Further, there is no particular limitation on the method of transmitting the various types of detection data accumulated and stored in the storage means to the behavior estimating means, and a telephone line or a CATV line may be used.

In the behavior estimating means, each behavior of the subject is
It is estimated from the detected movement of the subject, for example, as follows. Of course, the estimation method in the present invention is not limited to this method.

"Out / Home" The usage is detected from each of the electricity, gas, and water meter readers, and the difference from the standard usage measured in advance is almost zero. When the opening / closing and use of the human detection sensor, the television, and the remote controller of the air conditioner disposed in the predetermined room are not detected for a predetermined time (for example, one hour), it is assumed that the subject is out. On the other hand, after such a state where the movement of the subject is not detected continues, it is estimated that the time when the detection sensor detects the movement of the subject for the first time is when the subject returns home.

[TV] If the signals transmitted from the remote control of the television are arranged in chronological order and buttons such as channels and volume are pressed during the period from power-on to power-off, the subject is watching the television during that time. Infer. If no button is pressed between the time the power is turned on and the time the power is turned off, it is not assumed that the user is watching the television.

"Bathing" The amount of water used in the bathtub at the subject's house is measured in advance, and when 50% to 100% of the amount of water used is used at a constant speed, water is supplied to the bathtub. After a lapse of time (for example, 20 minutes) considered necessary to boil the hot water, if neither the use of home electric appliances, the reaction of the human detection sensor, nor the change in the use state of gas or electricity is detected. It is assumed that the time zone is the bathing time.

"Visitor" A plurality of sensors detect the movement of a person at a time close to each other, and it is presumed that there is a visitor when it is not considered that the movement is caused by the same person from the flow line distance between the sensors.
For example, if the opening and closing of the kitchen refrigerator is detected during the time period estimated to be used as a toilet, it is difficult for one person to be in the toilet and kitchen at the same time, so it is presumed that there was a visitor .

The amount of water when the "toilet" toilet is used is measured in advance, and when the measured use of the water amount is detected independently, it is assumed that the "toilet" was used.

"Waking up / sleeping" The subject wakes up and goes to sleep based on the on / off data of the infrared sensor provided in the bedroom and the first and last time of the day when the opening / closing of the TV, microwave oven, refrigerator and the like are detected. Guess the time.

"Meal preparation" A meal preparation start time is estimated based on detection data such as opening / closing of a refrigerator or microwave oven door, use of water or gas, lighting of a kitchen light, and the like. For example, when the number of times the refrigerator door is opened and closed is detected a predetermined number of times or more per predetermined time, or when the time when the opening and closing of the refrigerator door is detected matches the time when the use of gas is detected within the predetermined time, That time is assumed to be the start time of meal preparation. On the other hand, the end time of meal preparation is estimated from detection data indicating that the opening / closing of the door of the refrigerator or microwave oven has not been detected for a predetermined time or more, or that the lighting of the kitchen has been turned off. For example, the time when the door of the refrigerator or the microwave oven is not detected for a predetermined time or more is detected at the last time the door is opened or closed, or the time when the electric lamp in the kitchen is turned off is estimated as the meal preparation end time. In addition, since the preparation time of the meal may be substantially constant depending on the subject, in such a case, the preparation end time may be set after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start time of the preparation of the meal.

[Night Action] When power consumption equal to or more than a predetermined value is detected within a predetermined time from bedtime to wake-up time in the next morning, or when water usage is detected, the time period It is presumed that the subject had a night action in the obi. For example, when power consumption of 0.01 or more is detected for 5 minutes during bedtime, or when the lamp in the bedroom is turned on and water is used within 5 minutes thereafter, the subject will Guess that he did some night action.

In addition, the movement distance of the subject in the house is calculated from the typical subject's position when using the home electric appliance and the sensing range of the human sensor, not the subject's action, assuming the subject's flow line. Can be used as one index of the activity of the subject.

The above behavior estimating method is an example, in which the behavior of a subject is investigated in advance, and the detection means is individually or specifically added or improved for each subject to improve the estimation accuracy. It is desirable. For example,
When estimating “wake up / sleep”, in a cold region, increase or decrease the room temperature in the living room (by turning on / off the heating device)
The estimation accuracy can be improved by adding on / off of the kotatsu as detection data.

The detection means is actually arranged in the subject's house, the behavior of the subject is estimated from the obtained detection data, and the behavior is compared with the actual behavior of the subject. Table 1
Shows the types and locations of the detection sensors provided at the subject's house.

[0026]

[Table 1]

FIG. 2 shows the result of the subject's action estimated by the action estimating means from the obtained detection data. FIG. 2 is a diagram (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a “time chart”) representing a subject's daily activities, with the vertical axis representing each subject's behavior and the horizontal axis representing time. It should be noted that the reason why the time on the horizontal axis is until 27 o'clock is that it is difficult to express the behavior of the subject across midnight if 24 hours is defined as one day with respect to midnight.
This is because 24 hours from the time were regarded as one day.

According to the time chart of FIG. 2, the subject took some action before 5 o'clock, but it was presumed that he went to the toilet at this time. Conceivable. Then, after sleeping again, he takes some action around 7:00 and wakes up at around 7:10, preparing breakfast for breakfast at the same time. In addition, the subject is watching television from around 7:30 to around 10:10 when breakfast preparations are started. During that time there are visitors from 9am to 11:30 pm. At around 10:30, he goes to the bathroom. Then, after 12 o'clock, we started preparing for lunch and the TV was on. The subject goes out from 13:30 and returns at 17:00. He prepares for dinner from 17:30 to 18:30 and watches TV from 17:50 to 21:00. In the meantime, he goes to the toilet around 17:40 and around 20:20. And 20
I took a bath from 10:00 to 21:10 and got to the floor at 21:30.

On the other hand, data collected by the visiting caregiver from the subject and written in the diary shown in FIG. 3 is arranged, and the actual behavior of the subject on the day is shown by a solid line in FIG. The inferred and actual behaviors of the subjects are largely consistent,
It is understood that the behavior of the subject can be estimated by detecting the movement of the subject. In addition, since the viewing of the television was not provided in the diary, the certainty of the subject's guess about the television viewing could not be verified here.

The output means used in the present invention includes, for example, printing means such as a printer and display means such as a monitor. This output means outputs the behavior of the subject as a time chart or the like. In FIG. 1, the output result such as a time chart by the output unit 24 of the center 2 accesses the center 2 from the information acquisition units 31 and 41 of the separated family 3 or the nursing / nursing / medical / welfare institution 4, for example. It can be obtained as needed when necessary. Alternatively, the estimation result may be periodically transmitted from the center 2 and output as a time chart or the like by the output means 32, 42 of the separated family home 3 or the nursing / nursing / medical / welfare institution 4.

Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG.
1 differs from the system of FIG. 1 in that storage means for storing detection data is not provided in the subject's house 1. The data detected by the detection sensor 11 is sent to the center 2 via the transmission means 13 as it is,
Or sent to the action estimating means 23 and thereafter processed in the same manner as in the system of FIG. The system shown in FIG. 5 differs from the system shown in FIG. 1 in that the system performs the estimation of the behavior of the subject at the subject home 1 and sends the result to the center 2.

The system shown in FIG. 6 is configured so that the subject's behavior is estimated at the subject's home 1 without setting up a center, and the result is sent directly to the separated family home 3 or the nursing / nursing / medical / welfare institution 4. It is. With such a configuration, the system configuration is simpler because there is no intervening center. In addition, it is a matter of course that the center of the separated family home 3 or the nursing / nursing / medical / welfare institution 4 may be omitted and the center may be omitted.

[0033]

According to the behavior estimating system of the present invention, not only the movement of the subject is detected, but also the behavior of the subject is estimated from the detected data, so that the living condition and health condition of the subject can be easily grasped. .

Here, if a home electric appliance and an electric / gas / water meter are used as the detecting means, the daily movement of a subject such as an elderly person can be detected in the most natural manner while ensuring privacy.

Further, if the apparatus further comprises storage means for storing the detected data detected by the detecting means and / or the behavior of the subject estimated by the behavior estimating means, efficient processing of the detected data can be achieved.

When output means for outputting the subject's action estimated by the action estimating means in accordance with the time is further provided,
The temporal behavior of the subject can be grasped visually easily.

If the transmission means for transmitting the result of the estimation of the behavior of the subject by the behavior estimation means is further provided, the estimated behavior of the subject can be transmitted to a separated family, nursing care, nursing, medical treatment,
It is possible to quickly and easily notify each institution such as welfare.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing one embodiment of a behavior estimation system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a time chart showing the behavior of a subject.

FIG. 3 is an example of a diary for knowing the actual behavior of a subject.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the behavior estimation system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the behavior estimation system of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the behavior estimation system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Subject's house 2 Center 3 Separate family's house 4 Institutions such as care, nursing, medical care, and welfare 10, 21 Control means 11 Detection sensor (detection means) 12, 22 Storage means 13, 25 Transmission means 14, 23 Behavior estimation means 15 , 24 output means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04Q 9/00 H04Q 9/00 301D 311 311K (72) Inventor Noriko Oba 22nd Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka No. 22 Inside Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Tomohiro Ishikawa 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka F-term inside the Sharp Corporation (reference) BB74 DD03 DD24 EE14 FF01 FF02 FF04 FF19 FF23 GG14 GG18 GG20 GG36 GG67 GG70 5K048 AA15 BA12 BA36 DB01 DC01 DC07 EB10 EB11 EB13 GB05 HA01 HA02

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An action estimating system comprising: detecting means for detecting a movement of a subject; and action estimating means for estimating the action of the subject from detection data of the detecting means. 2. The behavior estimating system according to claim 1, wherein a home electric appliance and an electric / gas / water meter reader are used as said detecting means. 3. The behavior estimation system according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for storing the detection data detected by the detection means and / or the behavior of the subject estimated by the behavior estimation means. 4. The behavior estimation system according to claim 1, further comprising an output unit that outputs the behavior of the subject estimated by the behavior estimation unit in accordance with time. 5. The behavior estimation system according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission unit for transmitting a result of the estimation of the behavior of the subject by the behavior estimation unit.