JP2001101144A - Information terminal with memory - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically inform a user of a set schedule. SOLUTION: A memory (flash memory) 2 in which a schedule is written is inserted into a terminal casing 1 and the schedule is read out by an internal CPU. When it becomes time specified by the schedule, an alarm is generated from a speaker 6, the execution of the schedule is instructed and contents (in the case of a medical schedule, e.g. the sort of medicines to be taken and the quantities of medicines) to be executed are displayed on a display screen 3. When a release button 5 is depressed, the alarm is stopped, and when a case ejection button (not shown in the Figure 1) is depressed, a medicine case 10 is ejected from the casing 1 and a required medicine can be taken out in accordance with the displayed contents on the display screen 3. When the case 10 is inserted into the casing 1, the displayed contents on the screen 3 are switched to the display of a time depiction and information indicating the execution of the schedule is written in the memory 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for notifying a user of a schedule, and more particularly to an information terminal using a writable / readable memory.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when a patient is examined by a doctor at a hospital, the doctor prepares a prescription for the patient depending on the medical condition, and the patient receives a medicine corresponding to the prescription at a pharmacy. The medicine is packaged in a bag, and a prescription is written on the surface of the bag. A prescription is a schedule created by a physician for a patient to inform when and how to take a medicine, and the patient takes the medicine according to the schedule.

[0003] In the case of business, there are cases where many customers are visited for sales or the like. In such a case, a schedule is created by writing the order of visits and visit times of customers in a notebook or the like. Or, put such a schedule in your head and act accordingly.

[0004]

As described above, there is a case where an action is performed according to a schedule. However, there is a possibility that the schedule cannot be executed due to accidental forgetting of the schedule or the like depending on circumstances. For example, in the case of the above patient, once they see the prescription, they usually remember it and take the medicine as instructed, but do not carelessly forget this and do not take the medicine at the specified time In some cases, businesspeople may talk with one customer for too long and exceed the next customer's visit time.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information terminal with a memory capable of automatically informing a user of a set schedule. Is to do.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a memory slot for accommodating a memory in which schedule information is stored, and a voice output for generating an alarm in accordance with the schedule information. Means,
Display means for displaying on the screen the contents of the schedule according to the schedule information together with the occurrence of the alarm by the audio output means; alarm stopping means for stopping the generated alarm; and a screen of the contents of the schedule on the display means Screen display stopping means for stopping the display is provided. Thereby, the time at which the schedule should be executed can be known by the alarm, and how to execute the schedule can be known from the display screen. By executing this schedule, the alarm and the screen display can be stopped.

The present invention is intended for medical use, and the schedule is a prescription. At the time of taking the medicine, an alarm is issued and the type of the medicine to be taken on the display screen. And its quantity will be displayed. When the instruction of the prescription is executed, information indicating the fact is written in the memory, and a doctor or the like later reads the written contents of this memory,
The execution status of the patient's prescription can be known.

In the present invention for medical use, a medicine case for accommodating a medicine specified by a prescription is provided so as to be able to be taken in and out of the terminal housing, and the medicine case is pulled out to take out the medicine. When the is pushed into the terminal housing, the screen display on the display unit is stopped.

Further, the present invention provides communication means for communicating with an external host. This communication is performed, for example, when the schedule is not executed. Even if the alarm is temporarily stopped, an alarm is generated by a message from the host, and a screen warning the schedule execution is displayed on the display screen. To be displayed.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments will be described as being related to medical treatment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a first embodiment of an information terminal with a memory according to the present invention, wherein 1 is a terminal housing, 2 is a memory (here, a flash memory), and 3 is a display. The screen 4 is a memory slot, 5 is a release button, 6 is a speaker, 7 is a set button, 8 is a time adjustment button, 9 is a display window, and 10 is a medicine case.

In FIG. 1, a memory slot 4 for inserting a flash memory 2 in which schedule information such as a prescription is stored is provided at the left end of the upper surface of the terminal housing 1. A display screen 3 for displaying a schedule, time, and the like is provided at a central portion of the front surface of the terminal housing 1, a display window 9 and a speaker 6 are provided on the left side thereof, and a display screen 3 is provided below the display screen 3. Buttons 5 are provided respectively. On the left side of the terminal housing 1, a time adjustment button 8 for adjusting the time displayed on the display screen 3 and a set button 7 for setting the adjusted time are provided. On the right side of the terminal housing, a medicine case 10 for storing a medicine is connected to the terminal housing 1.
It is possible to put in and out.

The information terminal with a memory according to the first embodiment is portable, and an example of the size of the terminal housing 1 is that the vertical dimension is 7 with the display screen 3 side facing the front.
The thickness is 9 mm, the width is 100 mm, and the thickness is 25 mm.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a schematic configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 2A is a front view, FIG. 2B is a top view, and FIG. (D) is a right side view, (e) is a view showing the medicine container case 10, (f) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 7G is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a partition frame, 11 denotes a case removal button, 12 denotes a display window, 13 denotes a display device, 14 denotes a circuit board, 15 denotes a battery, and 16 denotes an opening / closing lid. Have the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIGS. 2 (f) and 2 (g), a display device 13 such as a liquid crystal display device and a substrate 14 are disposed inside the terminal housing 1 on the front side thereof. 3
FIG. 2 shows a display window provided on the front surface of the terminal housing 1.
As shown in (a), it is exposed to the outside. Further, the rear side of the inside of the terminal housing 1 from the circuit board 14 forms a storage portion of the medicine case 10. Medicine case 10
As shown in FIG. 2 (e), the inside thereof is divided into a plurality of regions by a partition frame 10a, so that the medicine can be stored separately for each type. This medicine case 1
Reference numeral 0 does not form a closed structure, but as shown in FIG. 1, the side corresponding to the front side of the terminal housing 1 is entirely open so that medicine can be taken in and out. FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 2 (f) and 2 (g), the medicine case 10 accommodated in the terminal housing 1 is taken out of the case provided on the right side of the terminal housing 1 as shown in FIG. 2 (d). Button 11
Is discharged to the outside as shown in FIG.
You can take medicine in and out.

As shown in FIG. 2 (f), a battery 15 serving as a power supply of the first embodiment is housed on the right side of the housing of the medicine case 10 inside the terminal housing 1. I have. As shown in FIG. 2B, an opening / closing lid 16 that can be opened / closed by hand is provided at the right end of the upper surface of the terminal housing 1, and the flash memory 2 (FIG. 1) is inserted into the memory slot 4. Except when inserting or removing the battery or replacing the battery, the storage portions of the memory slot 4 and the battery 15 are closed and hidden. In FIG. 1, the flash memory 2 is inserted into the memory slot 4,
The opening / closing lid 16 is not shown in the drawing to show the state of being taken out from the apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the flash memory 2 is stored in the memory slot 4, the label attached to the surface of the flash memory 2 faces the display window 9. As a result, the user can see the label from the display window 9, and by writing the name of the user on the label, the owner of the information terminal with memory can be clearly indicated. When the flash memory 2 is inserted into the memory slot 4, it can be picked out by hand.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the circuit configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
U and 18 are a memory control unit, 19 is a recording / reproducing unit, 20 is a signal processing unit, 21 is a vibrator, 22 is an audio output unit,
Reference numeral 23 denotes a display unit, 24 denotes an operation unit, 25 denotes a clock unit, 26 denotes a sensor unit, 27 denotes a power supply unit, and 28 denotes a communication unit.

Referring to FIG. 1, a CPU 17 controls each unit. When the CPU 17 detects that the flash memory 2 is inserted into the memory slot 4 (FIG. 1) and is mounted, the memory controller 18 controls the flash memory 2. Read and write control of. In the flash memory 2,
Schedule information such as a prescription is stored. When the flash memory 2 is mounted, the memory control unit 18
The schedule information is read by the control of.
This schedule information is supplied to the recording / reproducing unit 19,
Processing such as demodulation, error detection / correction, and decompression is performed.
It is supplied to PU17.

Upon receiving the schedule information, the CPU 17 stores the schedule information in an internal memory, and executes a schedule based on the schedule information according to the time information from the clock unit 25. That is, when it is detected based on the time information from the clock section 25 that the medicine taking time indicated by the schedule information has come, an alarm signal is supplied to the audio output section 22 via the signal processing section 20 and the speaker 6 is turned on. (FIG. 1) prompts the user to take the medicine, for example, repeatedly outputs a constant sound or a message such as "Please take a medicine" to generate an alarm, and also generates a signal.
A drive signal is supplied to the vibrator 21 through the terminal 0, and the vibrator 21 is continuously driven to vibrate the terminal housing 1 (FIG. 1). The message information is encoded and included in the schedule information.
The signal is decoded at 0 and supplied to the audio output unit 22. Further, the schedule information includes not only information on the time of taking the medicine and message information but also image information indicating the type of the medicine to be taken at that time and how to take the medicine, and this image information is also subjected to signal processing. The data is decoded by the unit 20 and supplied to the display unit 23. The display unit 23 is a display device 13 such as the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 2, and is supplied with the decoded image information to display the type of medicine to be taken on the display screen 3 (FIG. 1). An image indicating how to take is displayed.

The operation unit 24 is the release button 5 and the case removal button 11 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and an alarm is generated from the speaker 6 as described above.
When the release button 5 is operated while the button 1 is operating, C
The PU 17 detects this, stops the generation of the alarm in the speaker 6, and stops the differential of the vibrator 21. When the case removal button 11 is operated,
The CPU 17 detects this, and discharges the medicine case 10 housed in the terminal housing 1 to the outside so that medicine can be taken in and out there. When the medicine case 10 discharged to the outside is stored in the terminal housing 1, it may be pushed in by hand. When the medicine case 10 is pushed into the terminal housing 1, a lock mechanism (not shown)
The medicine case 10 is locked in the terminal housing 1.

When the patient operates the case removal button 11 to discharge the medicine case 10 to the outside, takes out the medicine in accordance with the instructions displayed on the display screen 3, and pushes the medicine case 10 into the terminal housing 1. , The sensor unit 26 detects this. The CPU 17 takes in the detection output of the sensor unit 26, and collects information indicating that the patient has taken the medicine from the detection output and time information from the clock unit 25 at this time as dosage information, and records the dosage information. / Write to the flash memory 2 via the reproducing unit 19. As a result, the dose information indicating the patient's medication use status is stored in the flash memory 2, and by reading the dose information from the flash memory 2 at the hospital at a later date, the doctor can determine the schedule given by the patient. You can know whether you took the medicine or not.

In an information terminal with a memory used by a patient such as a medical facility, a communication unit 28 is provided.
The secretariat of the medical treatment facility or the like can encourage the patient to take the medicine or monitor the patient's taking state via the communication unit 28.

The power supply unit 27 includes the battery 15 shown in FIG. 2F and supplies power to each unit shown in FIG.

The CPU 17 does not read the schedule information from the flash memory 2 all at once, but
When reading has been performed for each part, the next part is read. The part to be read at one time may be a single dose part,
It may be a portion to be taken two or three times.

When the schedule information is a prescription, the writing of the schedule information into the flash memory 2 is performed in a hospital, for example, by a doctor.

That is, in FIG. 4A, a personal computer 29 to which a reader / writer 30 of the flash memory 2 is connected is installed in an examination room of a hospital. It enables input and output of medical data and creation of prescriptions. The input medical data, data for creating a prescription, and data such as the type of medicine are stored in a database.

When a patient's prescription is created using the personal computer 29, the user operates the personal computer 29 and inputs information such as the patient's name and information such as the date and time. At the same time, the medical data of the patient and the data of the type of medicine corresponding to the medical data are read out and displayed on the display screen of the personal computer 29.

FIG. 4B shows an outline of one specific example of the prescription image displayed on the display screen of the personal computer 29 at this time. Information 31 is displayed below the image 32 of the partition structure in the medicine case 10 in the information terminal with memory of the patient. In addition, on the left side of the display screen, the medical condition of the patient, that is, all types of medicines 33a to 33d required for medical data are displayed together with their names, and which medicine is displayed on the left side of the display screen. Information 34, 35 that allows you to specify when to take
Is displayed. If all the drugs cannot be displayed at the same time, they can be viewed by scrolling.

Therefore, when a prescription is created using such an image, the prescription is displayed on the display screen in FIG.
For example, the medicine required for the patient, for example, medicine 33b is designated by the icon 36, and then the icon 36 is moved to indicate a desired partition frame in the image 32.
When the required number of medicines is designated by operating the personal computer 29, an image of the designated medicine 33b is displayed in the partition frame together with the designated number. At the same time, an image 34 of the medicine at this time is displayed on the right side of the display screen, and any one of the image information 35 of “a before meal”, “after a meal”, “between meals”, and “every hour” is displayed. Is selected with the icon 36, the designated medicine 33b
Is input.

In this case, "before meal", "after meal",
The designation of taking between meals is actually made according to the time. This is because, for example, by inputting the normal meal time of the patient and storing it in the database, for example, when “before meal” is designated, the patient automatically receives the meal time, for example, 10 minutes before this meal time. Make sure to set it.

Usually, the display screen 3 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the information terminal with memory brought by the patient according to the present invention includes:
The time by the clock unit 25 (FIG. 2) is displayed, and when the doctor operates the time adjustment button 8 and the set button 7 (FIGS. 1 and 2) on the information terminal with memory, the information terminal with memory is displayed. Set the time at to the correct time.

The prescription for this patient is completed by performing the above operations for all the medicines that require it. The data of the completed prescription is written into the flash memory 2 using the reader / writer 30 in FIG. When the patient brings the information terminal with memory according to the present invention equipped with the flash memory 2 to the pharmacy, the pharmacy reads out the prescription stored in the flash memory 2 or according to the prescription sent from the doctor. The medicine specified by the doctor is stored in the designated partition frame in the medicine case 10. As a result, the information terminal with memory operates based on the schedule (prescription) determined by the doctor.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment and image display on the display screen 3 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, first, it is assumed that the communication unit 28 is not provided in FIG. 3, that is, it does not have a communication function.

The CPU 17 always takes in time information from the clock unit 25 and checks it against the time determined by the schedule information taken in from the flash memory 2.

In FIG. 5, the CPU 17 is in a standby state until the time determined by the schedule is reached (step 100), and displays the time of the time information fetched from the clock 25 to the display 23. To be displayed. Therefore, the display screen 3 (FIGS. 1 and 2) shows FIG.
Screen showing current time as shown in (a) (time screen)
37 is displayed.

At the time determined by the schedule information, the CPU 17 detects this and outputs an alarm signal to the audio output unit 22 (FIG. 3) to generate an alarm sound from the speaker 6 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Then, an alarm is activated (step 101), and the vibrator 21 (FIG. 3) is activated to vibrate the entire terminal housing 1 (step 102). By generating an alarm sound in this way, the patient is notified that the time for taking the medicine has come. By activating the vibrator 21, the patient can be informed of hearing impairment. I have. At the same time, the screen on the display screen 3 is switched to a screen (notification screen) 38 indicating a method of taking the medicine as shown in FIG. 6B (step 103). On the notification screen 38, an image 38a of each partition of the medicine case 10 is displayed. At this time, the image 38b of the medicine to be taken and the quantity thereof are displayed in the partition 3 in which the medicine is stored.
8a and is displayed in association with 8a. Therefore, when the release button 5 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is pressed in this state (step 10).
4) In response to the command signal from the operation unit 24 (FIG. 3), the CPU 17 stops the supply of the alarm signal to the audio output unit 22 and the generation of the alarm sound from the speaker 6 is stopped. Step 1
05), the operation of the vibrator 21 is stopped (this is called stop of the vibrator) .Step 10
6). When the case removal button 11 (FIG. 2D) provided on the right side surface of the terminal housing 1 is pressed, the terminal housing 1 is pressed.
The medicine container case 10 is discharged from the container as shown in FIG. 1 (step 107). Thereby, the designated medicine can be taken out from the medicine case 10 and taken by the designated amount based on the display contents of the notification screen 38 shown in FIG. 6B on the display screen 3.

After taking out the medicine, the medicine case 10 is pushed into the terminal housing 1 (step 10).
8) The sensor unit 26 (FIG. 3) detects the signal. Based on the detection output, the CPU 17 determines that the medicine has been taken as instructed, and outputs the information that the medicine has been taken to the clock unit at this time. Along with the time information from the flash memory 2
(Step 109) and the video signal supplied to the display unit 23 is switched to change the screen on the display screen 3 from the notification screen 38 shown in FIG. 6B to the time screen 37 shown in FIG. Switching (step 110), step 100
Return to standby state.

The sensor section 26 is provided with the medicine case 10.
Is provided for each partition so that it is possible to detect whether or not the medicine to be taken at that time is reduced by a specified amount. When the medicine case 10 is pushed into the terminal housing 1 (this is detected). A sensor is also provided.) When the sensor unit 26 detects that a predetermined medicine has been correctly taken out, the CPU 17 locks the medicine case 10 in the terminal housing 1 and when this is not detected, In addition, the medicine case 10 can be automatically ejected so as not to be locked in the terminal housing 1. This allows the patient to take the medicine correctly. In this case, of course, the screen switching in step 110 is not performed unless the medicine case 10 is locked in the terminal housing 1.

When the medicine taken by the sensor unit 26 can be detected as described above, the type of medicine taken by the patient may be stored in the flash memory 2 in step 109. Furthermore, the time until the medicine is taken, that is, the taking notification time in steps 101 to 103, step 104 and steps 115 and 11 described later
The time at which the release button 5 of the case 7 is pressed, the time at which the case removal button 11 is pressed after the warning screen is displayed at step 107 or steps 114 and 117 described later, and the like may be recorded in the flash memory 2. In this manner, the patient's taking of the medicine is written in the flash memory 2 as diary information. Therefore, on the next consultation day of the patient, the doctor can read the information stored in the flash memory 2 so as to know the state of taking the medicine of the patient and use the information as one material for the consultation. it can.

In the above, when the alarm or vibrator is activated (steps 101 and 102) and the notification screen 38 shown in FIG. 6B is displayed on the display screen 3 (step 103), the release button 5 is pressed. Is pressed (step 104), the case removal button 11 is not activated (step 107). However, an alarm or a vibrator is activated (steps 101 and 102), and FIG. When the notification screen 38 shown in ()) is displayed (step 103), as shown by the broken line, when the case removal button 11 is directly pressed instead of the release button 5 (step 107), the medicine case 10 is also displayed. From the terminal housing 1. Of course, in this case, steps 105 and 106 are also executed, and the alarm and the vibrator are stopped.

As described above, when the case removal button 11 is directly pressed during the alarm, the alarm and the vibrator are stopped, and the medicine case 10 is discharged.
Operation is simplified. However, depending on the place where the information terminal with memory is placed (for example, in order to take out the medicine, the terminal must be placed on a table in another place), the medicine container case In some cases, it may be desired to quickly stop an alarm or vibrator when 10 is not ejected. In such a case, for example, the release button 5 may be pressed to stop the alarm or the vibrator, and then the terminal may be placed on a table or the like and the case removal button 11 may be pressed.

As described above, in the first embodiment,
Step 103 to steps 104, 105, 106,
Although it has the function of 107, it is also possible to add the above function directly from step 3 indicated by the broken line to step 107.

On the other hand, an alarm or a vibrator is activated (steps 101 and 102), and the display screen 3 shown in FIG.
A notification screen 38 shown in (b) is displayed (step 10).
If the release button 5 is not pressed even after a certain time (for example, about 1 to 2 minutes) has elapsed from 3) (step 10).
4, 111), the CPU 17 stops the alarm by stopping the supply of the alarm signal to the audio output unit 22 (step 112), and stops the vibrator (step 11).
Along with 3), a warning screen 39 on the display screen 3 indicating that the taking time as shown in FIG.
(Step 114). In the warning screen 39, not only the information indicating that the time of taking the drug has passed, but also the image 39a of the medicine to be taken at this time and the quantity thereof, as well as the notification screen 38 shown in FIG. Image 3 of partition of medicine case 10 in which medicine is stored
9b is also displayed, and although not shown, it is also possible to display how much time has passed since the scheduled dose time. The display of the warning screen 39 is continued until the release button 5 is pressed. When the release button 5 is pressed (step 115), the display is switched to the time screen 37 shown in FIG. Wait state.

Here, when the case removal button 11 is operated when the warning screen 39 is displayed, the medicine container case 10 is discharged from the terminal housing 1, and the medicine to be taken and the amount thereof can be accurately determined from the contents displayed on the warning screen. Can be taken out and taken. Then, when the specified medicine is taken out of the medicine case 10 and the medicine case 10 is pushed into the terminal housing 1, the same operation as step 109 is performed (not shown). As described above,
Information indicating this taking state is written.

The functions of steps 111 to 115 are as follows.
As described above, this is effective when there is a time lag between the time of taking the medicine specified in the schedule and the time of actually taking the medicine.

For example, in the case of a medicine taken after a meal, a meal time is determined and registered in the schedule set by the doctor as described above. However, actually, there may be a case where a meal is greatly out of sync with the determined time. In such a case, even if an alarm or a vibrator is activated (steps 101 and 102), it is determined according to a schedule. Can not take the medicine taken after meals at the same time. Even in such a case, by displaying the warning screen 39 shown in FIG. 6C, the medicine can be correctly used by referring to the warning screen 39 at the time after eating when it becomes possible to take the medicine. It is possible to take it. In this case, the alarm and the vibrator are activated until the time when the patient can actually eat and take the medicine, because the battery 15
Since FIG. 2 (f) is used as a power source, the power consumed by this is very wasteful power. For this reason, when a certain time has elapsed (step 111), the operation of the alarm or the vibrator is stopped (step 112,
113).

Further, if the case removal button 11 is not pressed after a certain period of time (for example, about 1 to 2 minutes) after steps 104 to 106 (step 1).
16), as in the case of steps 111 to 115 (however, alarms and vibrators are set in steps 105 and 106).
Warning screen 3 as shown in FIG. 6 (c).
9 is displayed on the display screen 3, and this display state continues until the release button 5 is pressed (step 118).

Also in this case, when the case removal button 11 is pressed while the warning screen 39 is displayed, the medicine case 10 is discharged from the terminal housing 1 and the medicine can be taken out. Warning screen 3 of step 114
9 has the same effectiveness as the display of 9.

When the medicine in the partition frame of the medicine case 10 is used up, the medicine case 10 is moved to the terminal housing 1.
(Step 108) and step 1
At 10, the display is switched to a replenishment instruction screen 40 as shown in FIG. 6D for notifying that the medicine has run out, and a standby state is entered (step 100). On this replenishment instruction screen 40,
The partition frame 40a that has been used up and has no medicine is displayed, for example, by blinking, to be distinguished from other partition frames, and an image 40 indicating the type of medicine to be replenished in the partition frame.
b is also displayed. The display of the replenishment instruction screen 40 may be continued until the lost medicine is replenished. However, the display is continued until the release button 5 is pressed next, and when the release button 5 is pressed, the display of FIG. ) May be displayed.

The above description shows the operation of the first embodiment in the case where the communication section 28 (FIG. 3) is not provided, and thus has no communication function. Therefore, the operation of the first embodiment in the case of having the communication function will be described. Note that the communication in this case is performed in a small area, and therefore, here,
The following describes an example of a facility such as a hospital or a medical facility where a patient and a doctor or a medical staff are present.

Here, this communication will be briefly described. In FIG. 7, a management terminal in the facility, for example, a management center and a database of each patient are connected to the host. 1 to 3 for each patient
The information terminal with memory according to the present invention as described in (1) is applied. As described above, the information terminals with memory of these patients contain medicines required by the patients in medicine cases, and are fitted with flash memories storing schedule information. The information terminal with memory of the patient and the host can wirelessly communicate with each other through an exchange or the like, and the communication contents include information indicating the state of taking the medicine from the information terminal with memory of the patient and medicine from the management center. Is information for instructing the user to take the drug.

The operation of the first embodiment for performing communication in this manner and the operation of the management center will be described. 8 and 9 are flowcharts showing the operation, and the steps corresponding to those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

First, in FIG. 8, operations in steps 100 to 110 starting from the standby state are the same as those in steps 100 to 110 in FIG. Step 111
Steps 113 to 116 in FIG.
113 and step 116 are the same. Therefore, the description of the operations in steps 100 to 110 is omitted.

Now, an alarm or a vibrator is activated (steps 101 and 102), and a screen for prompting the user to take the medicine shown in FIG. 6B is displayed on the display screen 3 (step 10).
3) If the patient does not press the release button 5 even after a certain period of time (steps 104 and 111),
The operation of the alarm and the vibrator is stopped (steps 112 and 113). At the same time, in FIG. 9, communication is performed between the communication unit 28 (FIG. 3) of the information terminal with memory of the patient and the management center. The control center is notified that the release button 5 is not pressed by the patient even at the time of taking the medicine (step 119). Thereby, the management center transmits a warning message to the information terminal with memory of this patient (step 120).

In this information terminal with memory, this warning message is received by the communication unit 28, and based on this, the CPU
17 (FIG. 3) controls the sound output unit 22, the display unit 23, and the vibrator 21 to activate an alarm and a vibrator (steps 121 and 122), and FIG.
Is displayed on the display screen 3 (step 123). This state is continued until the release button 5 is pressed (step 124), and the patient is continuously prompted to take the medicine. When the patient presses the release button 5, in FIG.
Move on to the operation from step 105.

When the patient presses the release button 5 (step 104 or step 124 in FIG. 9), the operation of the alarm or the vibrator is stopped (steps 105 and 1).
06) When the patient does not press the case removal button 11 even after a certain period of time has elapsed (steps 107 and 11).
6), the operations of steps 119 to 124 shown in FIG. 9 are performed, and the alarm and the vibrator are activated unless the release button 5 is pressed.

In this way, even if the release button 5 is pressed, the operation of the alarm and the vibrator can be completely stopped unless the medicine is designated by pressing the case removal button 11 so as to be designated. Absent.

As described above, the patient is urged to take the medicine according to the schedule. However, a patient who is hospitalized in a hospital or a medical facility has a fixed meal time. Can be requested.

In the first embodiment described above, the medicine case 10 containing medicines is provided in the terminal housing 1. However, in the second embodiment, the medicine case 10 is not provided. Alternatively, the drug may be obtained from a pharmacy in a bag. In this case, the terminal housing 1 is not provided with the case removal button 11.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment. Steps corresponding to those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The operation of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
08, 116 to 118 are removed, as shown in FIG.

That is, in FIG. 10, when the alarm or vibrator is activated (steps 101 and 102) and the notification screen 38 (FIG. 6 (b)) is displayed on the display screen 3 (step 103), the release is performed. When the button 5 is pressed (step 104), the alarm and the vibrator are stopped (steps 105 and 106), and the CPU 17 (FIG. 3) further determines that the release button 5 has been pressed by taking the medicine. Then, this is written to the flash memory 2 and the time information from the clock unit 25 (FIG. 3) at this time is written (step 109), and the screen displayed on the display unit 3 is displayed from the notification screen 38 to the time screen 37 ( FIG. 6A is switched to the standby state (step 100).

When an alarm or vibrator is activated (steps 101 and 102), a notification screen 3 is displayed on the display screen 3.
8 (FIG. 6B) is displayed (step 103).
Release button 5 even after a certain period of time
If is not pressed (steps 104 and 111), the alarm and vibrator are stopped (steps 112 and 11).
3) The screen displayed on the display screen 3 is also a notification screen 38.
To the warning screen 39 (FIG. 6C) (step 114). This state continues until the release button 5 is pressed, and when the release button 5 is pressed (step 11).
5), the CPU 17 determines that the release button 5 is pressed, that the medicine has been taken, and writes this fact and the time information from the clock unit 25 at this time in the flash memory 2 (step 109). Then, the screen displayed on the display unit surface 3 is switched from the warning screen 39 to the time screen 37 to be in a standby state (step 100).

Thus, in this embodiment, the type and quantity of medicine to be taken can be notified to the patient. As a patient, if the patient takes the medicine immediately after receiving this notice, the patient can press the release button 5 (this is
(Operation of step 104) If the user wants to extend the taking time earlier due to a delay in the meal time as described above, the warning screen 39 can be displayed without pressing the release button 5. In this case, since the alarm and the vibrator are stopped (steps 112 and 113), unnecessary noise is eliminated and power consumption can be suppressed. Further, when taking medicine, the displayed warning is displayed. By referring to the screen 39, it is possible to take the medicine correctly.

Note that the second embodiment is different from the communication unit 28
When the communication function is provided with (FIG. 2), FIG.
0, instead of steps 114 and 115, FIG.
May be performed.

FIG. 11 is an external perspective view showing a third embodiment of the information terminal with memory according to the present invention, and the same reference numerals are given to portions corresponding to the above-mentioned drawings.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the terminal housing is reduced in size as described above so as to be convenient for carrying. However, in the third embodiment, In FIG. 11, the terminal housing 1 is made large (for example, vertical dimension = 2).
00mm, width = 200mm, depth = 150m
m), the storage amount of the medicine is increased, and it is a table-top type.

The third embodiment has a structure that is particularly useful for patients (especially elderly patients) who are hospitalized in medical facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes.

Therefore, structurally, as shown in FIG. 11, the medicine container case 10 and the case removal button 11 are arranged close to each other together with the display screen 3 on the front surface of the terminal housing 1 so as to remove the case. The button 11 is an operation button for taking out the medicine container case 10 from the inside of the terminal housing 1 so that the user can immediately recognize it. It is designed to make it easy to take out the medicine from the ten. The release button 5 is arranged on the upper surface of the terminal housing 1 as a large operation button, so that the operation is easy. Further, the speaker 6 is provided on the side surface of the terminal housing 1 so that an alarm is not directly emitted to the patient when the speaker 6 is installed at the bedside of an inpatient. Although the memory slot 4 for inserting a flash memory is provided on the upper surface of the terminal housing 1, it is provided on the back of the terminal housing 1 so that the inserted flash memory cannot be seen from the front side. Good.

The third embodiment also has the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 3, and when the third embodiment does not have a communication function, the circuit shown in FIG.
Are performed, and when a communication function is provided, the operations shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are performed. In particular, in the case of elderly patients, those having a communication function are effective.

[0072]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When it is time to execute the set schedule,
This can be automatically notified to the user, and also how to execute the schedule can be notified, so that the user can execute the schedule without being aware of the special schedule. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a first embodiment of an information terminal with a memory according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the circuit configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of a method of writing a schedule to a flash memory in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of an operation when the communication function is not provided in the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;

6 is a diagram showing a specific example of a screen displayed on the display screen in FIG. 1 in the operation shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a communication function of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a part of a specific example of an operation when the mobile terminal has the communication function of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation of a communication part associated with the operation shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation of the information terminal with memory according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an external perspective view showing a third embodiment of the information terminal with memory according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Terminal housing 2 Flash memory 3 Display screen 4 Memory slot 5 Release button 6 Speaker 7 Set button 8 Time adjustment button 9 Display window 10 Medicine case 10 Partition frame 11 Case removal button 12 Display window 13 Display device 14 Circuit board 15 Battery 16 Opening / closing lid 17 CPU 18 Memory control unit 19 Recording / playback unit 20 Signal processing unit 21 Audio output unit 22 Display unit 23 Operation unit 24 Sensor unit 25 Clock 26 Vibrator 27 Power supply unit 28 Communication unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 15/02 350 G06F 15/02 350A 17/60 15/21 L 19/00 360 15/42 M (72 Inventor Tadahiro Yamaguchi 1-280 Higashi-Koigabo, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo Inside the Hitachi, Ltd.Design Research Institute (72) Inventor Cho Nagamoto 1-280 Higashi-Koigakubo, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo Inside the Hitachi Design Research Institute, Inc. (72) Ninomiya Inventor Yoshinori 1-280 Higashi-Koigabo, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo F-term in Hitachi, Ltd. Design Research Laboratories (reference)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A memory slot for removably storing a memory storing schedule information, an audio output unit for generating an alarm in accordance with the schedule information, an alarm generated by the audio output unit, and the schedule information Display means for displaying the contents of the schedule corresponding to the screen, alarm stopping means for stopping the generated alarm, and screen display stopping means for stopping the screen display of the contents of the schedule on the display means. An information terminal with a memory, characterized in that: 2. A memory slot for removably storing a writable memory storing a prescription as schedule information, an audio output means for generating an alarm at a time designated by the prescription, and an alarm by the audio output means. Display means for displaying on screen the types of medicines designated by the prescription and the doses taken thereof, alarm stopping means for stopping the generated alarm, and screen display of the contents of the prescription on the display means. Screen display stopping means for stopping, and means for writing, in the memory, information relating to the stop of the alarm by the alarm stopping means and the stop of the screen display by the screen display stopping means, together with time information. Information terminal with memory. 3. A memory slot for removably storing a writable memory storing a prescription as schedule information, an audio output means for generating an alarm at a time designated by the prescription, and an alarm by the audio output means. With the occurrence of the above, a display means for displaying on a screen the type of medicine specified by the prescription and the amount of taking them, a release button for stopping the generated alarm, and storing the medicine specified by the prescription, in the terminal housing A medicine case provided so as to be able to be taken in and out, a case takeout button for taking out the medicine case from the terminal housing, and a display means by the medicine case being inserted into the terminal housing. Screen display stopping means for stopping the screen display of the contents of the prescription; stopping the alarm by the alarm stopping means; That stop and information on the said screen display, together with the time information, a memory with information terminal characterized by comprising a means for writing in the memory. 4. The information terminal with memory according to claim 2, further comprising a vibrator that operates together with the audio output unit and vibrates the terminal housing. 5. The information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the memory is a rewritable flash memory. 6. A device according to claim 1, wherein when the occurrence of the alarm elapses a predetermined time, a means for stopping the alarm is provided. Communication means for communicating information representing the information to the host and receiving a message for the information from the host; and a first means for controlling the voice output means in response to the message received by the communication means and generating the alarm Control means, and second control means for controlling the display means in accordance with the message received by the communication means and displaying a warning screen for executing a schedule based on the schedule information. Information terminal with memory.