JP2000188640A - Terminal equipment for home health management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a home health management system with which information can effectively served to users by voice. SOLUTION: This terminal equipment 2 for a home health management system which receives health data denoting the health state of people, whose health is to be managed and transmits the data to an external center device, is provided with a voice output means 8, an audible characteristic measurement means 13 that measures an audible characteristic of users, and a voice characteristics adjustment means 15 that changes the voice characteristics outputted from the voice output means 8 on the basis of the obtained audible characteristic.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is useful for voluntary health management by centrally managing data on health conditions measured in a general home by a terminal device, or to transmit the data to a remote place via a communication network. The present invention relates to a terminal device of a home health care system that enables a home healthcare system to perform health management while receiving advice from a specialist such as a doctor or a public health nurse at home.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the rapid aging of society in recent years, medical financing in Japan has become tight, and it is necessary to respond to this. The government will increase the burden of medical expenses on the people and, as a basic policy, shift from the conventional policy of "early detection and early treatment of illness" to "improving health to prevent illness". I'm watching.

[0003] As one of the means for effectively performing the above-mentioned "building health to prevent illness", a "home health care system" has been proposed. This is measured in each household by measuring data on a health condition that can be measured in a general household (for example, a blood pressure value measured by an electronic sphygmomanometer, a body temperature measured by a thermometer, and the like, hereinafter referred to as health data). The data is transmitted to a medical institution or a health center via a communication network such as a public line or a CATV line by a dedicated terminal device, and data analysis /
It's about making a decision.

According to such a home health care system, daily health care at home can be performed under the guidance of a specialist, and more reliable health care can be performed. You can expect a reduction in the number of times.

[0005]

However, in the home health management system having the above-described structure, the expert gives a voice inquiry to the user, reports a diagnosis result, gives advice on maintaining health, and the like. Although the terminal device may instruct the user to use the terminal device by voice or the like, there is a problem that the terminal device is not always useful especially when the user is an elderly person. The reason for this is that although humans change their hearing characteristics as they get older, they generally tend to be more deaf as they get older, making it difficult to hear the voice output from the terminal device.

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, in the conventional home health care system, it was possible to adjust the volume in accordance with one's own hearing and the volume of the other party's voice. However, even though the sound is being output, sometimes the sound volume is not adjusted without noticing it, and the human auditory characteristics vary widely, so simply increasing the sound volume is sufficient. There was something I could not do.

[0007] It is extremely important to make an inquiry in order to diagnose a health condition or to give advice on health, so that intentions must be communicated with each other. In this case, especially for elderly people who frequently use the above-mentioned home health management system, voice communication that can easily convey their own health condition requires complicated button operations and the like. It is extremely useful because it does not. Therefore, the voice output from the terminal device must be easy for the user to hear.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a home health care system that can effectively provide voice information to a user. It is in.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In a terminal device of a home health care system for capturing health data indicating a health status of a health manager and transmitting the data to an external center device, a voice output means, an auditory characteristic measuring means for measuring an auditory characteristic of a user, and A sound characteristic adjusting means for changing a sound characteristic output from the sound output means based on the hearing characteristic.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the terminal device of the home health care system according to the first aspect, there is provided a hearing characteristic storing means for storing a hearing characteristic of the user, and a voice characteristic based on the stored hearing characteristic. The sound characteristic output from the sound output means is automatically varied by the adjusting means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the terminal device of the home health care system according to the second aspect, the auditory characteristic storage means stores the auditory characteristics of a plurality of users. is there.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal device of the home health care system according to the second or third aspect,
The apparatus further comprises user identification means for identifying the user, and automatically varies the sound characteristics output from the sound output means by the sound characteristic adjustment means based on the specified hearing characteristics of the user stored in the hearing characteristic storage means. It is characterized by doing so.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal device of the home health care system according to the first to fourth aspects,
The sound characteristic adjusting means is provided with a frequency-specific volume adjusting circuit, and the sound volume output from the audio output means is automatically varied for each frequency.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a terminal device of the home health care system. FIG.
1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a home health care system. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the terminal device of the health management system. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which communication with a doctor at an external support center by video and voice is performed in the home health care system. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of the auditory characteristic measuring means. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for measuring the auditory characteristics using the auditory characteristic measuring means. FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a terminal device according to another embodiment of the home health management system. FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of the audio characteristic adjusting means. FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a terminal device according to another embodiment of the home health management system.

As shown in FIG. 2, the home health care system according to the present embodiment is installed in a terminal device 2 installed in each home or hospital room, and in a support center such as a hospital, an insurance center, a nursing center and the like. It comprises a center device 4 and a communication network 3 connecting the terminal device 2 and the center device 4. In the terminal device 2 of this home health management system, health data measured by health measuring devices 1a to 1n such as a sphygmomanometer and a thermometer that measure the health status of the health manager 11 and personal information held by the health manager 11 are stored. It receives and manages, and exchanges various data such as health data, video, and audio with the external center device 4 via the communication network 3. The health measuring devices 1a to 1n include an electrocardiograph, a blood glucose meter, and the like in addition to a sphygmomanometer, a thermometer, and a weight scale, and are not particularly limited as long as they can measure the health status of the health manager 11. . In addition, these health measuring devices 1
Regarding a to 1n, 1 according to the situation of the health manager 11
One health measuring device 1 may be used alone, or a plurality of health measuring devices 1a to 1n may be used in combination.

As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal device 2 of the home health care system includes a CCD camera 5 corresponding to an imaging means capable of inputting a desired image such as the face of the health manager 11,
It has a microphone 7 corresponding to voice input means capable of inputting a voice of the health manager 11, and a data receiving port 9 capable of inputting health data measured by the health measuring devices 1a to 1n. These input data can be transmitted to the center device 4 via the communication network 3. It is also possible to receive data from the center device 4, the received image data is displayed on the LCD monitor 6, and the audio data is output from a speaker 8 corresponding to audio output means. The selection switch 10 is for the user to select a function of the terminal device 2 such as a transmission selection when transmitting the measurement data to the support center.

In the home health care system described above, as shown in FIG. 4, an image of the doctor 12 at the support center is displayed on the LCD monitor 6 of the terminal device 2, and the sound is output from the speaker 8. You. The center device 4 displays an image of the health manager 11 at home or the like, and outputs the sound. This enables voice conversation while watching each other's images, and enables communication such as health consultation and the like from a distance.

Referring to FIG. 4, a description will be given of a mechanism for automatically changing the sound output from the speaker 8 in the terminal device 2 so that the user can easily hear the sound. The user first uses the auditory characteristic measuring means 13 to measure an audible volume, for example, a minimum audible volume or a maximum audible volume,
Measure data on auditory characteristics, such as measurement of audible frequencies. The central processing unit 14 calculates control data such as increasing the amplification of the high frequency component having the minimum audible volume based on the measured auditory measurement. The control data is transmitted to the audio characteristic adjusting means 15 to adjust the audio characteristic output from the speaker 8.

The hearing characteristic measuring means 13 comprises a variable frequency generator 17 and a variable amplifier 18, as shown in FIG. 5, and changes the frequency generated based on a control signal from the central processing unit 14. The sound volume is changed for each frequency. The changed sound is output from the speaker 8.

A procedure for measuring the hearing characteristics of the user using the hearing characteristics measuring means 13 will be described with reference to FIG.
Under the control of the central processing unit 14, first, 200 Hz,
A sound of 20 dB is output from the speaker 8. LC at the same time
When a sound is output from the speaker 8 and the sound is heard, a message is displayed on the D monitor 6 so as to press the selection switch 10. This makes it possible to recognize that the user with hearing impairment is currently measuring the hearing characteristics. If the selection switch 10 has not been pressed for a certain period of time after the message is displayed, it is determined that the user has not heard the sound, and the volume is increased by 5 dB and output from the speaker 8 again. The above procedure is repeated, and when the selection switch 10 is pressed for the first time, the volume is stored in the central processing unit 14 as the minimum audible volume. Thereafter, the volume is further increased, and this time, the volume is changed by 5 dB until the user feels noisy. Similarly, when the selection switch 10 is pressed, the volume is stored in the central processing unit 14 as the maximum audible volume. I do. With the above operations, the measurement of the minimum audible volume and the maximum audible volume for one frequency is completed. Thereafter, the same measurement is repeated while changing the frequency every 100 Hz up to 4 kHz. By the above procedure,
Measure the minimum audible volume and the maximum audible volume for each frequency.

It is troublesome for the user to perform the procedure for measuring the user's hearing characteristics described above every time the user uses the terminal device 2. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, a hearing characteristic storage means 19 may be added to the terminal device 2 to store the user's hearing characteristics measured here. A FLASH memory or the like is used as the auditory characteristic storage means 19, so that the measured auditory characteristics can be saved / rewritten freely. As a result, it is possible to read out the auditory characteristics measured in advance from the auditory characteristic storage / storing means 19 and use them, eliminating the need to measure the auditory characteristics every time the user uses the terminal device 2. Further, in order for a plurality of users to store individual hearing characteristics in one terminal device 2 in advance, and to read out and use them individually, an ID number for distinguishing the hearing characteristics of each user and an ID number for each user are provided. The corresponding auditory characteristics may be stored in the auditory characteristic storage unit 19. At this time, the auditory characteristic storage means 19 is configured with a plurality of FLASH memories or one FLASH memory having a hierarchical structure, thereby storing the auditory characteristics of a plurality of users. This allows the user to input his / her name and ID number to the terminal device 2 to read and use the pre-measured auditory characteristics from the auditory-characteristic storage / storage means 19, and to use the plurality of users. There is no need to measure the auditory characteristics each time the user uses the terminal device 2.

Next, the means for adjusting the sound volume output from the speaker 8 for each frequency by the sound characteristic adjusting means 15 will be described with reference to FIG. The input voice is amplified by the variable amplifying unit 22A that changes the gain for each frequency according to the hearing characteristics of the user. Here, for example, due to the low voice of the caller, the minimum audible volume may not be reached depending on the frequency. Therefore, the volume is detected for each frequency by the volume detector 20, and when the volume does not reach the minimum audible volume, the variable amplifying unit 22B re-amplifies the volume to the minimum audible volume or more and outputs it from the speaker 8. . In this case, the variable attenuation unit 21
Then the sound is not attenuated. Conversely, if the voice of the caller is loud and exceeds the maximum audible volume, the variable attenuator 21 attenuates the volume below the maximum audible volume and the speaker 8
More output. At this time, it goes without saying that the sound is not amplified in the variable amplifying unit 22B. The above-described adjustment of the amplification degree and the attenuation degree is adjusted by the central processing unit 14.

Next, a terminal device 2 provided with user identification means 23 for identifying who is currently using the user will be described with reference to FIG. The user identification means 23 shown in FIG. 9 has a function of comparing voice prints.
That is, the user also inputs his / her own voice through the microphone 7 when measuring the hearing characteristics. The input voice characteristic is stored as a voiceprint in a storage unit (which may be stored together with the auditory characteristic storage unit 19 or may be provided separately as a voiceprint). It has become so. Now, suppose that the user responded, for example, "Hello" when talking with the doctor or the like of the center device 4. Then, the generated voice is input to the user specifying means 23, where it is compared with a voiceprint which is a voice characteristic stored in the storage means. When the voice characteristics are specified, the auditory characteristics associated with the voice characteristics are automatically determined, and the voice characteristics adjusting means 15 appropriately adjusts the voice of the caller according to the hearing characteristics.
This eliminates the need for the user to manually input his / her name into the terminal device 2 and allows the user to use the terminal device 2 easily. Note that a plurality of users may be automatically identified by storing a plurality of voice characteristics (for example, voiceprints) in the storage unit.

As the user specifying means 23, generally,
A system including an identification information reading device and an identification information holder, which is called an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system, may be used. This has an identification information holder to which the user has a unique ID number,
When a radio wave is transmitted from the identification information reading device, the identification information holder generates power from the received radio wave, and the ID number assigned to the identification information holder is transmitted from the built-in antenna by the power. Is what you do. The transmitted radio wave is received again by the identification information reading device, and the terminal device 2 identifies the user by reading the ID number contained therein. In this case, the identification information holding unit does not require switches, and automatically transmits its own ID number to the terminal device 2 by radio waves from the identification information reading device, and outputs the ID number from the speaker 8 based on the ID number. The sound can be automatically adjusted.

Further, the user identification means 23 may have a function of identifying user information transmitted from the center device 4. In this case, when a doctor or the like at the support center talks with the user, user information for specifying the user is transmitted to the terminal device 2. The transmitted user information is compared with user-specific information stored in the terminal device 2 for each user in advance,
Thus, when the user is specified, a sound corresponding to the hearing characteristics of the user is output from the speaker 8.

[0026]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the terminal device of the home health care system which takes in the health data indicating the health status of the health manager and transmits the data to an external center device is provided. Output means, a hearing characteristic measuring means for measuring the hearing characteristics of the user, and a sound characteristic adjustment means for changing the sound characteristics output from the sound output means based on the obtained hearing characteristics, so that each It is possible to output voices with voice characteristics that are easy for the user to hear. I can give you advice on maintaining your health,
It is possible to provide a home health care system that can provide information by voice to the user effectively.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first aspect is provided.
The terminal device of the home health care system according to the above, further comprising: an auditory characteristic storage unit that stores an auditory characteristic of the user, wherein the audio characteristic output from the audio output unit is automatically output by the audio characteristic adjustment unit based on the stored auditory characteristic. Since it is made variable, once the auditory characteristics are measured, it is possible to output a sound appropriate for the user using the previously measured auditory characteristics without performing the measurement again. It is possible to eliminate the annoyance of performing the auditory characteristic every time the user uses.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the second aspect.
In the terminal device of the home health care system described above, since the auditory characteristics of a plurality of users are stored in the auditory characteristic storage means, if the auditory characteristics of each user are measured / input in advance, a plurality of Even if one user uses one terminal device, it is possible to easily output audio according to the auditory characteristics of each user.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a second aspect.
4. The terminal device of the home health care system according to claim 3, further comprising: a user specifying unit for specifying a user, wherein a voice characteristic is adjusted based on the specified auditory characteristic of the user stored in the auditory characteristic storage unit. Means to automatically change the sound characteristics output from the sound output means,
Since the terminal device can automatically identify the user and perform audio output according to the hearing characteristics of the user, especially for users who are not good at button operation, such as the elderly, Has an effect that it is possible to output a sound suitable for oneself without requiring a complicated operation.

[0030] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the first aspect is provided.
In the terminal device of the home health care system according to any one of claims 4 to 6, the audio characteristic adjusting means includes a frequency-specific volume adjusting circuit, and the volume output from the audio output means is automatically varied for each frequency. In addition to increasing or decreasing, it is possible to make detailed settings such as amplifying the sound of frequency components that are difficult for the user to hear,
There is an effect that it is possible to output a sound having appropriate sound characteristics even to a user having various hearing characteristics.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a terminal device of a home health management system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a home health management system.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a terminal device of the health management system.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which communication with a doctor at an external support center is performed by video and audio in the home health management system.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hearing characteristic measuring unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for measuring auditory characteristics using the auditory characteristic measuring means.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a terminal device according to another embodiment of the home health management system.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a voice characteristic adjusting unit.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a terminal device according to another embodiment of the home health management system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Health measuring device 2 Terminal device 3 Communication network 4 Center device 5 CCD camera 6 LCD monitor 7 Microphone 8 Speaker (sound output means) 9 Data receiving port 10 Selection switch 11 Health manager 12 Doctor at support center 13 Hearing characteristic measuring means Reference Signs List 14 Central processing unit 15 Voice characteristic adjustment means 17 Variable frequency generator 18 Variable amplifier 19 Auditory characteristic storage means 20 Volume detection unit 21 Variable attenuation unit 22 Variable amplification unit 23 User identification unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Jin Sakakibara 1048 Kadoma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd. In-house (72) Inventor Kazuya Kitayama 1048 Kadoma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Keiichi Yoshida 1048 Okadoma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Pref. Person Masaki Koyama 1048 Kadoma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture (72) Inventor Osamu Nishimura 1048 Kadoma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd. 1048 Kadoma Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5K027 AA05 BB01 DD16 EE11 HH03 HH20 HH21 5K101 KK04 KK19 MM04 MM06 MM07 NN07 NN08 NN22 NN36 NN37 PP03 T T03 VV01

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A terminal device of a home health care system for taking in health data indicating a health status of a health manager and transmitting the data to an external center device, wherein a voice output means and a hearing property measuring means for measuring a hearing property of a user. And a voice characteristic adjusting means for changing a voice characteristic output from the voice output means based on the obtained auditory characteristics. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a hearing characteristic storing means for storing a hearing characteristic of the user, wherein the sound characteristic output from the sound output means is automatically varied by the sound characteristic adjusting means based on the stored hearing characteristic. The terminal device of the home health care system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The terminal device of the home health care system according to claim 2, wherein the auditory characteristic storage means stores the auditory characteristics of a plurality of users. 4. A sound output from a sound output means by a sound characteristic adjusting means based on a specified user's hearing characteristic stored in a hearing characteristic storage means, comprising a user specifying means for specifying a user. The terminal device of the home health care system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the characteristics are automatically changed. 5. The telecommuting system according to claim 1, wherein the audio characteristic adjusting means includes a frequency-dependent volume adjusting circuit, and the volume output from the audio output means is automatically varied for each frequency. Terminal device of health management system.