JP3612952B2

JP3612952B2 - Home health management network

Info

Publication number: JP3612952B2
Application number: JP22076597A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 潔有福; 利雄小黒
Original assignee: 東陶機器株式会社
Priority date: 1997-08-01
Filing date: 1997-08-01
Publication date: 2005-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 2017-08-01
Also published as: JPH1147101A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、血圧、心拍数、尿糖値、基礎体温、体重、その他個人の健康状態を表す情報を検出して個人の健康管理に貢献することの可能な家庭用健康管理ネットワーク装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
特開平５−２２８１１６号には、家庭内で血圧、心拍数、尿糖値、基礎体温、体重などを測定し、健康状態を表すこれらのデータをモデムと公衆通信回線を介して医療機関などに伝送するようになった健康管理ネットワークが開示されている。また、国際公開公報ＷＯ／９１／０５３１１号には、血圧などを測定可能な端末機器を患者の家庭に配置し、遠隔の中央ステーションからの指示により家庭内で血圧などを測定してそのデータを中央ステーションに伝送し、中央ステーションから患者に助言を伝えたり医薬の投与を指示するようになった在宅型の健康管理ネットワークが提案されている。
【０００３】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
血圧、心拍数、尿糖値、基礎体温、体重などを検出測定する種々の測定装置は家庭内の別々の場所に配置されるので、これらの複数の健康情報測定装置から個人の健康に関するデータを収集し、家庭から公衆通信回線を介して病院のホストコンピュータのような情報処理装置に伝送するためには、公衆通信回線のモジュラージャックに接続されたモデムに夫々の健康情報測定装置の情報を伝送しなければならない。このためには、家屋内に有線による通信ネットワークを配置するか、無線電波によるネットワークを構成することが考えられる。
【０００４】
有線による家庭内ネットワークは、配線工事に手数と費用を要する。特に、例えば２階のトイレットに配置した検尿装置と１階の居間に配置したモデムとを接続するような場合には、大がかりな配線工事を要し、工事のやり方次第では部屋の見栄えを損なうこともある。
【０００５】
他方、無線電波による家庭内ネットワークは、配線工事を省略できる利点があるが、個々の健康情報測定装置に各１つの双方向無線電波通信機器を接続する必要があり、装置の初期コストおよびランニングコストが大きい。
【０００６】
本発明の目的は、健康情報を検出して管理し、必要に応じ更に公衆通信回線を介して医療機関などの情報処理装置に伝送することが可能で、異なる部屋と部屋との間の配線工事を必要とすることのない家庭内通信ネットワークを備えた家庭用健康管理ネットワーク装置を提供することにある。
【０００７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の一観点においては、本発明の家庭用健康管理ネットワーク装置は、家屋のトイレット空間内に複数の健康情報測定装置を配置し、夫々の測定装置の出力部を光による無線通信を行うことの可能な無線光通信手段に夫々接続して、測定装置で検出された個人の健康情報を光信号により前記所定の室内空間内に送信可能にし、前記トイレット空間と同一の室内空間内に光による無線通信と電波による無線通信とを行うことの可能な単一の無線通信中継手段を配置して、前記光通信手段から送信された光信号による健康情報を受信すると共に、該健康情報を電波信号により家屋内に送信可能にし、前記トイレット空間から離隔された他の室内空間内に電波による無線通信を行うことの可能な単一の無線電波通信手段を配置して、前記単一の無線通信中継手段から送信された電波信号による健康情報を受信可能にし、前記無線電波通信手段を前記他の室内空間内に配置した情報処理装置に接続し、前記単一の無線通信中継手段は、前記複数の健康情報測定装置からの光信号を受光する光受光部と、前記電波信号を発信する電波発信部と、前記光受光部および電波発信部を制御する制御部を備えた中継器であることを特徴とするものである。
【０００８】
本発明によれば、トイレット内に複数の健康情報測定装置（例えば、検尿装置と血圧計）が存在する場合には、個々の測定装置には光（例えば、赤外線）による無線送受信を行う光通信手段だけを夫々接続し、トイレット内には光による無線送受信と電波による無線送受信とを行う単一の無線通信中継手段を配置すれば足りる。
【０００９】
トイレット内の検尿装置と血圧計は夫々の光通信手段を介してトイレット内の単一の中継手段に光信号により健康情報を伝送し、これらの健康情報は他の室内空間（例えば、居間）に配置された無線電波通信手段に電波信号により伝送され、これらの健康情報はパーソナルコンピュータのような情報処理装置によって管理される。
【００１０】
このように、トイレット内の中継手段と他の室内空間（例えば、居間）内の無線電波通信手段との間の情報の伝送は無線電波によって行われるので、異なる部屋と部屋との間の配線工事は不要となる。
また、個々の測定装置には赤外線通信機能だけを付加すれば足り、電波による無線送受信を行う無線電波通信機能を付加する必要がないので、低コストの装置を提供することができる。
更に、同一の室内空間には１つの中継手段だけを配置すれば足りるので、本発明の家庭用健康管理ネットワーク装置には他の健康情報測定装置を後から任意に追加することができる。
【００１１】
本発明の好ましい実施態様においては、情報処理装置に格納された健康情報は必要に応じてモデムと公衆通信回線を介して病院などの外部のホストコンピュータに伝送される。
病院などの外部機関との情報の伝送は双方向に行うことができ、外部機関から健康に関する所見や健康チェックが望ましい旨の勧告を個人宛に伝送することができる。或いは、外部機関から健康管理ネットワーク装置に指令を伝送し、測定装置の故障診断情報や個人の健康情報をこの指令に応じて測定装置から外部機関に伝送させることもできる。
【００１２】
本発明の他の観点においては、本発明の家庭用健康管理ネットワーク装置は、家屋のトイレット空間内に複数の健康情報測定装置を配置し、夫々の測定装置の出力部を光による無線通信を行うことの可能な無線光通信手段に夫々接続して、測定装置で検出された個人の健康情報を光信号により前記所定の室内空間内に送信可能にし、前記トイレット空間と同一の室内空間内に光による無線通信と電波による無線通信とを行うことの可能な単一の無線通信中継手段を配置して、前記光通信手段から送信された光信号による健康情報を受信すると共に、該健康情報を電波信号により家屋内に送信可能にし、前記トイレット空間から離隔された他の室内空間内に電波による無線通信を行うことの可能な単一の無線電波通信手段を配置して、前記中継手段から送信された電波信号による健康情報を受信可能にし、前記無線電波通信手段を前記他の室内空間内に配置され公衆通信回線に接続可能なモデムに接続し、公衆通信回線に接続された外部情報処理装置に健康情報を伝送可能にし、前記単一の無線通信中継手段は、前記複数の健康情報測定装置からの光信号を受光する光受光部と、前記電波信号を発信する電波発信部と、前記光受光部および電波発信部を制御する制御部を備えた中継器であることを特徴とする。
【００１３】
【発明の実施の形態】
本発明の第１実施例を模式的に例示する図１を参照するに、家屋１０は、例えば、便器１２やトイレットペーパホルダー１４が配置されたトイレット１６、ベッド１８が配置された寝室２０、健康管理用のモデム付きパーソナルコンピュータ２２が配置された居間２４、浴室（図示せず）などからなる。
【００１４】
トイレットの便器１２とトイレットペーパホルダー１４には尿分析装置２６と血圧計２８が夫々付設してある。ベッド１８には体温測定装置３０が組み込んである。尿分析装置２６、血圧計２８、体温測定装置３０としては、夫々、国際公開公報ＷＯ／９５／１８３７３号に開示された尿分析装置、特開平８−１９１７７９号に開示された血圧計、特開平５−２２８１１６号に開示された体温測定装置を採用することができる。これらの測定装置については前記公報の開示をここに援用し、詳細な説明は省略する。また、図示しないが、特開平５−２２８１１６号に開示されているように、浴室の脱衣場には体重計を配置し、トイレットおよび／又は浴槽には心電計を配置することができる。
【００１５】
尿分析装置２６、血圧計２８、体温測定装置３０、体重計、および心電計のような健康情報測定装置には、赤外光による無線通信を行う無線光通信機３２が夫々接続される。図２に示したように、この実施例では無線光通信機３２は赤外光の送受信を行う双方向無線光通信機であり、測定装置の出力部に接続された制御部３４と、インターフェース３６と、赤外線信号を投受光する赤外線投光部３８および赤外線受光部４０で構成することができる。勿論、光通信機３２が双方向通信機であることは不可欠ではなく、健康情報測定装置で検出された情報をコンピュータ２２に伝送するためだけならば赤外線受光部４０は省略することができる。
【００１６】
夫々の健康情報測定装置に関連づけた光通信機３２は、各装置で測定検出された個人の健康情報を表す赤外線信号を当該測定装置が配置された同一室内空間内に発信すると共に、同じ室内空間内に配置された後述する中継機４２から発射された赤外線信号を受信する。
【００１７】
健康情報測定装置が配置された夫々の室内には、光による無線送受信と電波による無線送受信とを行う無線通信中継機４２が各１つ設置してある。図３に示したように、無線通信中継機４２は、赤外線信号を投受光する赤外線投光部４４および赤外線受光部４６と、インターフェース４８と、制御部５０と、アンテナ５２付きの電波受発信部５４で構成することができる。
【００１８】
中継機４２は、一方において、同一室内に存在する光通信機３２との間で赤外線による通信を行うと共に、他方において、居間２４のような異なる室内空間内に配置された後述する無線電波通信機５６との間で電波による通信を行う。
【００１９】
モデム付きパーソナルコンピュータ２２が設置された居間２４には電波による無線送受信を行う無線電波通信機５６が配置してあり、パーソナルコンピュータ２２に接続してある。無線機５６は、図４に示したように、アンテナ５８付きの電波受発信部６０と制御部６２とで構成することができる。
【００２０】
図示した実施例では、健康情報測定装置としての尿分析装置２６、血圧計２８、および体温測定装置３０と、無線光通信機３２と、無線通信中継機４２と、無線電波通信機５６と、モデム付きパーソナルコンピュータ２２とにより家庭用健康管理ネットワーク装置１００が構成される。
【００２１】
パーソナルコンピュータ２２のモデムは家屋１０内に設けた公衆通信回線のモジュラージャック６４に接続することができる。コンピュータ２２は公衆通信回線を介して直接に、或いはプロバイダーとインターネットを介して、病院やデータ加工社等のホストコンピュータに接続することができる。
【００２２】
光通信機３２、中継機４２、および無線機５６の制御部、並びにコンピュータ２２は、尿分析装置２６、血圧計２８、体温測定装置３０、体重計、又は心電計による測定の終了に伴い健康データをパーソナルコンピュータ２２に伝送するようにプログラムしてもよいし、或いは、病院等の外部のホストコンピュータの要求に応じてデータや情報をホストコンピュータに電送するようにプログラムしてもよい。
【００２３】
例えば、前者の場合には、血圧、心拍数、尿糖値、基礎体温、体重、心電のような健康データは測定の終了に伴い赤外線信号として光通信機３２から同一室内に発射される。赤外線信号は反射なしで或いは反射した後に中継機４２によって受信され、中継機４２は健康データを電波信号として家屋内に発射する。中継機４２が発射した電波信号は居間に配置した無線電波通信機５６によって受信され、健康データはパーソナルコンピュータ２２の記憶装置に格納される。
【００２４】
使用者はコンピュータ２２を操作することにより蓄積された健康データを分析し、自己の健康管理に利用することができる。使用者は、希望に応じ、コンピュータ通信により公衆通信回線やインターネットを介して病院などの医療機関やデータ加工サービス社のホストコンピュータに健康データを伝送することができる。
【００２５】
医療機関は送られて来た健康データに基づいて個人の健康状態を診断し、使用者宛の電子メールにより所見を提供することができる。使用者はコンピュータ通信により医療機関又はプロバイダーのホストコンピュータにアクセスして電子メールによる所見をダウンロードし、自己の健康管理や在宅医療に利用することができる。また、医療機関は健康状態のチェック（例えば血圧の測定）が望ましい旨の勧告を電子メールにより個人宛に伝送することができる。同様に、データ加工サービス社は個人から伝送された健康データに基づいて個人の健康状態のトレンドを作成し、電子メールで送ることができる。
【００２６】
このような所見や勧告やトレンドは、電子メールにより使用者に提供するだけでなく、各測定装置まで伝送してその液晶表示部に直接に表示させてもよい。
【００２７】
病院等の医療機関の専門家が特定の個人の健康診断にあたり当該個人の健康情報を必要とするときには、病院等の外部のホストコンピュータは、公衆通信回線やインターネットとパーソナルコンピュータ２２の内蔵モデムとを介して、特定の測定装置の識別番号と個人の識別番号を付した指令（健康データ送信要求）を無線電波通信機５６に送る。この送信要求は無線機５６から電波信号として中継機４２に送られ、後者は送信要求を光信号により光通信機３２に送る。各測定装置は送信要求に付された測定装置の識別番号を判別し、送信要求が自己宛である場合には該当する個人の健康データを外部のホストコンピュータ宛に向けて伝送する。
【００２８】
本発明のネットワーク装置の他の使用態様として、各測定装置の故障診断や点検を公衆通信回線に接続された外部のコンピュータから行うことも可能である。その場合には、外部のコンピュータから各測定装置に向かって指令（故障診断データ送信要求）を送り、各測定装置から故障診断に必要なデータを入手する。
【００２９】
図示しないが、本発明のより簡素な実施態様においては、無線電波通信機５６にはモデム付きパーソナルコンピュータ２２に代えてモデムのみ若しくは携帯電話を接続することができる。この実施態様では、各測定装置で検出された健康データは測定と同時に病院などに伝送され、病院などからの所見や勧告やトレンドは各測定装置まで伝送され、測定装置の液晶表示部に表示される。勿論、前記モデムや携帯電話が適当な表示部を有するならば、病院などからの所見や勧告を当該表示部に表示することも可能である。
【００３０】
【発明の効果】
本発明によれば、同一のトイレット空間内に複数の健康情報測定装置が存在する場合には、個々の測定装置には光による無線送受信を行う光通信手段だけを夫々接続し、同一のトイレット空間内には光による無線送受信と電波による無線送受信とを行う単一の無線通信中継手段を配置すれば足りる。
従って、異なる部屋と部屋との間の配線工事が不要となる。
また、個々の測定装置には光通信機能だけを付加すれば足り、電波による無線送受信を行う無線電波通信機能を付加する必要がないので、低コストの装置を提供することができる。
更に、同一のトイレット空間には１つの中継機だけを配置すれば足りるので、本発明の家庭用健康管理ネットワーク装置には他の健康情報測定装置を後から任意に追加することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の家庭用健康管理ネットワーク装置を公衆通信回線に接続したところを示す模式図である。
【図２】図１に示した光通信機のブロック図である。
【図３】
図１に示した中継機のブロック図である。
【図４】
図１に示した無線電波通信機のブロック図である。
【符号の説明】
１００：健康管理ネットワーク装置
２２：情報処理装置
２６、２８、３０：健康情報測定装置
３２：無線光通信機
４２：中継機
５６：無線電波通信機[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a home health management network device capable of contributing to personal health management by detecting blood pressure, heart rate, urine sugar value, basal body temperature, weight, and other information representing an individual's health condition.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-228116, blood pressure, heart rate, urine sugar value, basal body temperature, body weight, etc. are measured at home, and these data representing the health condition are sent to a medical institution through a modem and a public communication line. A health care network that is adapted to transmit is disclosed. Also, in International Publication No. WO / 91/05311, a terminal device capable of measuring blood pressure is arranged in a patient's home, and blood pressure is measured in the home by an instruction from a remote central station. A home-based health care network has been proposed that is transmitted to the central station, which gives advice to patients and directs medications from the central station.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Various measuring devices that detect and measure blood pressure, heart rate, urine sugar level, basal body temperature, body weight, etc. are placed at different locations in the home, so data on personal health can be obtained from these multiple health information measuring devices. Collect and transmit information from each health information measuring device to a modem connected to the modular jack of the public communication line to transmit it from home to an information processing device such as a hospital host computer via a public communication line Must. For this purpose, it is conceivable to arrange a wired communication network in the house or to configure a network using radio waves.
[0004]
Wired home networks require labor and expense for wiring work. In particular, for example, when connecting a urinalysis device placed in the toilet on the second floor and a modem placed in the living room on the first floor, extensive wiring work is required, and depending on the construction method, the appearance of the room may be impaired. There is also.
[0005]
On the other hand, a home network using radio waves has an advantage that wiring work can be omitted, but it is necessary to connect one bidirectional radio wave communication device to each health information measuring device, and the initial cost and running cost of the device. Is big.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to detect and manage health information, and further transmit it to an information processing apparatus such as a medical institution via a public communication line as necessary. Wiring work between different rooms It is an object of the present invention to provide a home health management network device equipped with a home communication network that does not require a home network.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In one aspect of the present invention, the home health management network device of the present invention has a plurality of health information measuring devices arranged in a toilet space of a house, and performs wireless communication by light at the output unit of each measuring device. To each of the possible wireless optical communication means, the personal health information detected by the measuring device can be transmitted into the predetermined indoor space by an optical signal, and light is transmitted into the same indoor space as the toilet space. A single wireless communication relay means capable of performing wireless communication and wireless communication by radio waves is arranged to receive health information by an optical signal transmitted from the optical communication means, and to transmit the health information to a radio signal by enabling transmission in a house, by placing a single radio wave communication means capable of performing the wireless communication by radio waves to the toilet space other interior space spaced apart from, said single From the line communication relay means can receive the health information by radio wave signal transmitted by connecting the radio wave communication means to an information processing apparatus arranged in the other chamber space, said single radio communication relay means, A repeater including a light receiving unit that receives optical signals from the plurality of health information measuring devices, a radio wave transmitting unit that transmits the radio wave signal, and a control unit that controls the light receiving unit and the radio wave transmitting unit. It is characterized by this.
[0008]
According to the present invention, when a plurality of health information measuring devices (for example, a urinalysis device and a sphygmomanometer) are present in the toilet , each communication device performs wireless transmission / reception using light (for example, infrared rays). It is sufficient to connect only the respective means and arrange a single wireless communication relay means for performing wireless transmission / reception using light and wireless transmission / reception using radio waves in the toilet .
[0009]
The urinalysis device and sphygmomanometer in the toilet transmit health information by optical signals to the single relay means in the toilet via the respective optical communication means, and these health information is transmitted to other indoor spaces (for example, living rooms). The health information is managed by an information processing device such as a personal computer.
[0010]
In this way, transmission of information between the relay means in the toilet and the radio wave communication means in another indoor space (for example, the living room) is performed by radio waves, so that the wiring work between different rooms Is no longer necessary.
Further, it is sufficient to add only an infrared communication function to each measuring apparatus, and it is not necessary to add a wireless radio wave communication function for performing radio transmission / reception using radio waves, so that a low cost apparatus can be provided.
Furthermore, since it is sufficient to arrange only one relay means in the same indoor space, other health information measuring devices can be arbitrarily added later to the home health management network device of the present invention.
[0011]
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, health information stored in the information processing apparatus is transmitted to an external host computer such as a hospital via a modem and a public communication line as necessary.
Information can be transmitted to and from an external organization such as a hospital in both directions, and recommendations regarding health findings and health checks can be transmitted from an external organization to individuals. Alternatively, a command can be transmitted from an external organization to the health management network device, and failure diagnosis information of the measurement device and personal health information can be transmitted from the measurement device to the external organization according to the command.
[0012]
In another aspect of the present invention, the home health management network device of the present invention has a plurality of health information measuring devices arranged in a toilet space of a house, and performs wireless communication by light at the output unit of each measuring device. Each of which can be connected to a wireless optical communication means capable of transmitting the personal health information detected by the measuring device into the predetermined indoor space by an optical signal, and the light is transmitted into the same indoor space as the toilet space. A single wireless communication relay means capable of performing wireless communication by radio and wireless communication by radio waves is arranged to receive health information by an optical signal transmitted from the optical communication means and to transmit the health information to radio waves signal by enabling transmission in a house, by placing a single radio wave communication means capable of performing the wireless communication by radio waves to the toilet space other interior space spaced apart from, the relay Health information by radio signals transmitted from the stage can be received, the radio wave communication means is connected to a modem that is disposed in the other indoor space and can be connected to a public communication line, and is connected to a public communication line Health information can be transmitted to an information processing device, and the single wireless communication relay means includes a light receiving unit that receives an optical signal from the plurality of health information measuring devices, and a radio wave transmission unit that transmits the radio signal. The repeater includes a control unit that controls the light receiving unit and the radio wave transmission unit .
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1 schematically illustrating the first embodiment of the present invention, a house 10 includes, for example, a toilet 16 in which a toilet 12 and a toilet paper holder 14 are arranged, a bedroom 20 in which a bed 18 is arranged, a health It consists of a living room 24 in which a personal computer 22 with a management modem is arranged, a bathroom (not shown), and the like.
[0014]
A urine analyzer 26 and a sphygmomanometer 28 are attached to the toilet 12 and the toilet paper holder 14, respectively. A body temperature measuring device 30 is incorporated in the bed 18. As the urine analyzer 26, the sphygmomanometer 28, and the body temperature measuring device 30, the urine analyzer disclosed in International Publication WO / 95/18373, the sphygmomanometer disclosed in JP-A-8-191779, The body temperature measuring device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5-228116 can be employed. As for these measuring devices, the disclosure of the above publication is incorporated herein, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Moreover, although not shown in figure, as disclosed by Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 5-228116, a weight scale can be arrange | positioned in the dressing room of a bathroom, and an electrocardiograph can be arrange | positioned in a toilet and / or a bathtub.
[0015]
The health information measuring devices such as the urine analyzer 26, the blood pressure monitor 28, the body temperature measuring device 30, the weight scale, and the electrocardiograph are each connected with a wireless optical communication device 32 that performs wireless communication using infrared light. As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the wireless optical communication device 32 is a bidirectional wireless optical communication device that transmits and receives infrared light, and includes a control unit 34 connected to the output unit of the measuring apparatus, and an interface 36. And an infrared light projecting unit 38 for projecting and receiving an infrared signal, and an infrared light receiving unit 40. Of course, it is not essential that the optical communication device 32 is a two-way communication device, and the infrared light receiving unit 40 can be omitted only for transmitting information detected by the health information measuring device to the computer 22.
[0016]
The optical communication device 32 associated with each health information measuring device transmits an infrared signal representing personal health information measured and detected by each device into the same indoor space where the measuring device is arranged, and the same indoor space. An infrared signal emitted from a later-described repeater 42 disposed inside is received.
[0017]
In each room where the health information measuring apparatus is arranged, one wireless communication repeater 42 for performing wireless wireless transmission and reception and radio transmission and reception is installed. As shown in FIG. 3, the wireless communication repeater 42 includes an infrared light projecting unit 44 and an infrared light receiving unit 46 that project and receive infrared signals, an interface 48, a control unit 50, and a radio wave receiving / transmitting unit with an antenna 52. 54.
[0018]
On the one hand, the repeater 42 performs infrared communication with the optical communication device 32 existing in the same room, and on the other hand, a radio wave communication device (described later) disposed in a different indoor space such as the living room 24. Radio communication with 56 is performed.
[0019]
In the living room 24 in which the personal computer 22 with a modem is installed, a radio wave communication device 56 that performs radio transmission and reception by radio waves is arranged and connected to the personal computer 22. As shown in FIG. 4, the wireless device 56 can be configured by a radio wave transmission / reception unit 60 with an antenna 58 and a control unit 62.
[0020]
In the illustrated embodiment, a urine analyzer 26, a blood pressure monitor 28, and a body temperature measuring device 30 as a health information measuring device, a wireless optical communication device 32, a wireless communication repeater 42, a wireless radio communication device 56, and a modem. The home-use health management network device 100 is configured by the attached personal computer 22.
[0021]
The modem of the personal computer 22 can be connected to a modular jack 64 of a public communication line provided in the house 10. The computer 22 can be connected to a host computer such as a hospital or a data processing company directly via a public communication line or via a provider and the Internet.
[0022]
The control unit of the optical communication device 32, the repeater 42, and the wireless device 56, and the computer 22 are in good health with the end of the measurement by the urine analyzer 26, the sphygmomanometer 28, the body temperature measuring device 30, the weight scale or the electrocardiograph. Data may be programmed to be transmitted to the personal computer 22, or may be programmed to transmit data and information to the host computer in response to a request from an external host computer such as a hospital.
[0023]
For example, in the former case, health data such as blood pressure, heart rate, urine sugar value, basal body temperature, body weight, and electrocardiogram is emitted from the optical communication device 32 into the same room as an infrared signal upon completion of the measurement. The infrared signal is received by the repeater 42 without being reflected or after being reflected, and the repeater 42 emits health data into the house as a radio wave signal. The radio signal emitted by the repeater 42 is received by the radio wave communication device 56 disposed in the living room, and the health data is stored in the storage device of the personal computer 22.
[0024]
The user can analyze the health data accumulated by operating the computer 22 and use it for his own health management. If desired, the user can transmit health data to a medical institution such as a hospital or a host computer of a data processing service company via a public communication line or the Internet by computer communication.
[0025]
A medical institution can diagnose an individual's health based on the received health data, and can provide findings by e-mail addressed to the user. A user can access a host computer of a medical institution or provider by computer communication, download a finding by e-mail, and use it for his own health management or home medical care. In addition, the medical institution can transmit a recommendation to the individual that it is desirable to check the health condition (for example, blood pressure measurement) by e-mail. Similarly, a data processing service company can create a personal health trend based on health data transmitted from an individual and send it via email.
[0026]
Such observations, recommendations, and trends may be transmitted to each measuring device and directly displayed on the liquid crystal display unit as well as provided to the user by e-mail.
[0027]
When an expert of a medical institution such as a hospital needs the health information of a particular individual for a specific individual's health examination, an external host computer such as a hospital uses a public communication line, the Internet, and a built-in modem of the personal computer 22. Then, a command (health data transmission request) with an identification number of a specific measuring device and an individual identification number is sent to the radio wave communication device 56. This transmission request is sent from the wireless device 56 to the repeater 42 as a radio signal, and the latter sends the transmission request to the optical communication device 32 by an optical signal. Each measuring device discriminates the identification number of the measuring device attached to the transmission request, and when the transmission request is addressed to itself, the corresponding personal health data is transmitted to the external host computer.
[0028]
As another usage mode of the network device of the present invention, failure diagnosis and inspection of each measuring device can be performed from an external computer connected to a public communication line. In that case, an instruction (fault diagnosis data transmission request) is sent from an external computer to each measuring device, and data necessary for fault diagnosis is obtained from each measuring device.
[0029]
Although not shown, in a simpler embodiment of the present invention, only a modem or a mobile phone can be connected to the radio wave communication device 56 instead of the personal computer 22 with a modem. In this embodiment, the health data detected by each measuring device is transmitted to a hospital or the like at the same time as the measurement, and findings, recommendations and trends from the hospital are transmitted to each measuring device and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the measuring device. The Of course, if the modem or mobile phone has an appropriate display unit, findings and recommendations from hospitals can be displayed on the display unit.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when there are a plurality of health information measuring apparatus in the same toilet space is only an optical communication means for performing wireless transmission and reception by the light and respectively connected to the individual measuring device, the same toilet space It is sufficient to arrange a single wireless communication relay means for performing wireless transmission / reception using light and wireless transmission / reception using radio waves.
Therefore, wiring work between different rooms becomes unnecessary.
In addition, it is only necessary to add an optical communication function to each measuring apparatus, and it is not necessary to add a wireless radio wave communication function for performing radio transmission / reception using radio waves, so that a low cost apparatus can be provided.
Furthermore, since only one relay device needs to be arranged in the same toilet space, another health information measuring device can be optionally added later to the home health management network device of the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a home health management network device of the present invention connected to a public communication line.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the optical communication device shown in FIG.
[Fig. 3]
It is a block diagram of the repeater shown in FIG.
[Fig. 4]
It is a block diagram of the radio wave communication apparatus shown in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
100: health management network device 22: information processing devices 26, 28, 30: health information measuring device 32: wireless optical communication device 42: repeater 56: wireless radio communication device

Claims

Place multiple health information measuring devices in the toilet space of the house,
The output unit of each measurement device is connected to a wireless optical communication means capable of performing wireless communication by light, and personal health information detected by the measurement device can be transmitted into the toilet space by an optical signal. ,
A single wireless communication relay means capable of performing wireless communication by light and wireless communication by radio waves is disposed in the same indoor space as the toilet space, and health by an optical signal transmitted from the optical communication means While receiving information, the health information can be transmitted to the house by radio signal,
A single radio wave communication means capable of performing radio communication by radio waves is arranged in another indoor space separated from the toilet space, and the radio signal transmitted from the single radio communication relay means To receive health information,
Connecting the wireless radio wave communication means to an information processing device arranged in the other indoor space ,
The single wireless communication relay means controls a light receiving unit that receives an optical signal from the plurality of health information measuring devices, a radio wave transmitting unit that transmits the radio wave signal, and the light receiving unit and the radio wave transmitting unit. A home health care network device, characterized in that it is a repeater provided with a control unit .

The information processing apparatus disposed in the other indoor space is connected to a modem connected to a public communication line, and health information can be transmitted to an external information processing apparatus connected to the public communication line. A household health care network device according to Item 1.

The wireless radio wave communication means can transmit information from an external information processing apparatus to the single radio communication relay means by a radio wave signal, and the wireless communication relay means further includes a light projecting unit for projecting the optical signal; A radio wave receiving unit that receives the radio signal, the control unit controls the light projecting unit and the radio wave receiving unit, and the wireless communication relay unit receives information from the radio signal from an external information processing device. The information can be transmitted to the optical communication means by an optical signal, and the optical communication means can transmit the information by the optical signal from the external information processing apparatus to the plurality of health information measuring apparatuses. A home health management network device according to claim 2.

4. The home health management network device according to claim 3, wherein the information from the external information processing device is a health information measurement recommendation.

4. The home health management network device according to claim 3, wherein the information from the external information processing device is a health finding.

The wireless radio wave communication means can transmit a command from an external information processing device to the single radio communication relay means by a radio wave signal, and the wireless communication relay means further includes a light projecting unit for projecting the optical signal; A radio wave receiving unit that receives the radio wave signal, the control unit controls the light projecting unit and the radio wave receiving unit, and the wireless communication relay means receives a command based on the radio wave signal from an external information processing device. Then, the command can be transmitted to the optical communication unit by an optical signal, the optical communication unit receives the command by the optical signal from the external information processing apparatus, and uses the information requested by the external information processing apparatus as the command. 3. In response, the relay means, the radio wave communication means, the information processing apparatus arranged in the other indoor space, and the external information processing apparatus can be transmitted to the external information processing apparatus via a public communication line. Based on house Use health management network apparatus.

7. The home health management network device according to claim 6, wherein the information transmitted by the optical communication means to the external information processing device in response to a command from the external information processing device is failure diagnosis information of the measuring device.

7. The home health management network device according to claim 6, wherein the information transmitted by the optical communication means to the external information processing device in response to a command from the external information processing device is personal health information.

Place multiple health information measuring devices in the toilet space of the house,
The output unit of each measurement device is connected to a wireless optical communication means capable of performing wireless communication by light, and personal health information detected by the measurement device can be transmitted into the toilet space by an optical signal. ,
A single wireless communication relay means capable of performing wireless communication by light and wireless communication by radio waves is disposed in the same indoor space as the toilet space, and health by an optical signal transmitted from the optical communication means While receiving information, the health information can be transmitted to the house by radio signal,
A single wireless radio wave communication means capable of radio communication by radio waves is arranged in another indoor space separated from the toilet space, and health information by radio wave signals transmitted from the relay means can be received. West,
The wireless radio wave communication means is connected to a modem that is disposed in the other indoor space and can be connected to a public communication line, enabling health information to be transmitted to an external information processing apparatus connected to the public communication line ,
The single wireless communication relay means controls a light receiving unit that receives an optical signal from the plurality of health information measuring devices, a radio wave transmitting unit that transmits the radio wave signal, and the light receiving unit and the radio wave transmitting unit. A home health care network device, characterized in that it is a repeater provided with a control unit .