JP2005046411A - Reporting system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure the reporting of an occurrence of an event to be reported. <P>SOLUTION: If a nurse call device 2 detects the occurrence of the event to be reported, the nurse call device 2 sounds the alarm, and a mail server 11 starts the repeated transmission of reporting mails to mail terminals 13-1 through 13-k based on mail addresses registered in advance. The nurse call device 2 cancels the alarm depending on a situation that the mail server 11 receives reply mails to the reporting mails from the mail terminals 13-1 through 13-k. The mail server 11 stops the repeated transmission of the reporting mails in response to a confirming operation by a human by using a master unit 2 of the nurse call device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention is applied to an alarm monitoring system such as a nurse call system and the like, and relates to a notification system that notifies a notification destination of the occurrence of a notification event.

There is known a nurse call master device in which an e-mail for notifying information is transmitted and a reply e-mail to the e-mail is received and the recipient of the e-mail confirms the information (Patent Document). 1).
JP 2002-32308 A

  However, if the above technology is applied when making an emergency call due to the occurrence of an emergency situation, even if the e-mail recipient easily sends a reply e-mail without fully checking the e-mail content, Since it is judged that the report has been confirmed, the certainty is lowered.

  Therefore, a notification system that can more reliably notify the occurrence of a notification event has been desired.

  The present invention provides a means for receiving a confirmation operation by a human, a means for storing a mail address of a report destination, and an e-mail addressed to the mail address between the occurrence of a notification event and the confirmation operation. Means for repeatedly sending, means for receiving a reply mail to the electronic mail, and means for performing an alarm operation after the notification event occurs until the reply mail is received.

  By taking such means, an alarm action and repeated transmission of an e-mail addressed to a pre-stored e-mail address are started in response to the occurrence of a notification event. The alarm operation is stopped in response to receipt of a reply mail for the electronic mail. The repeated transmission of the electronic mail is stopped in response to a confirmation operation by a human being. Accordingly, the alarm operation can be stopped by the e-mail recipient sending a reply mail, but even after the alarm operation is stopped, the e-mail is repeatedly transmitted until a confirmation operation is performed by a human.

  According to the present invention, even after the alarm operation is stopped, the e-mail is repeatedly transmitted until a human confirmation operation is performed. Therefore, it is possible to provide a notification system that can more reliably notify the occurrence of a notification event.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a nurse call system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a nurse call system for nursing support installed in a ward will be described as an example.

  This nurse call system includes hospital room units 1-1 to 1-n installed in each hospital room, and a nurse call master unit 2 as a center device installed in a nurse center. ˜1-n and nurse call master unit 2 are connected via a communication line. The nurse call system also includes a wireless switching device 3 and a private branch exchange (PBX) 4 installed in a communication center in a hospital, for example, and a wireless unit 6 is connected to the wireless switching device 3, and PBX 4 Connected to the public network 5.

  Further, a nursing support server 9, a printer 10, and a mail server 11 are connected to the nurse call master unit 2 via, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) 8. The nursing support server 9 stores and manages various information for nursing support. The printer 10 prints out the data stored in the nursing support server 9. The mail server 11 transmits and receives electronic mail to and from the mail terminals 13-1 to 13-k via the Internet 12. In the example of FIG. 1, the nursing support server 9, the printer 10, and the mail server 11 are connected to each other via a hub 8 a belonging to the LAN 8 and further connected to the nurse call parent machine 2.

  The hospital room units 1-1 to 1-n include a microphone 101 and a speaker 102 installed on the ceiling of a hospital room, a toilet / bathroom push button 103, a representative corridor lamp 104, and a recovery button 105. It is connected to the individual information corridor lamp 107 via the I / O unit 106. In addition, the hospital room units 1-1 to 1-n include a hand-type slave unit 109 and a grip push button 110, which are connected to the individual information corridor lamp 107 via a wall-embedded slave unit 108 provided on the wall of the sickbed. Connected.

  Among these, the grip push button 110 and the toilet / bathroom push button 103 are used when the patient calls the nurse, and the operation signals are individually transmitted via the wall-embedded slave unit 108 or the I / O unit 106, respectively. It is conveyed to the information corridor lamp 107. The operation signal is also transmitted to the individual information corridor lamp 107 when a push button provided on the wall-embedded child device 108 is pressed. When the individual information corridor lamp 107 receives the operation signal of each push button, the individual information corridor lamp 107 displays the occurrence of the call on its display unit. At the same time, a call signal is generated and transmitted to the nurse call parent device 2. A push button number or address information is inserted into the call signal.

  The microphone 101, the speaker 102, the hand-type slave unit 109, and the wall-embedded slave unit 108 are used by the patient to talk with the nurse who answered the call. Sent to call base unit 2. The communication path is established by the nurse responding to the patient's call in the nurse call master unit 2. The recovery button 105 is used when resetting the call.

  The wireless switching device 3 is composed of, for example, a local PHS (Personal Handyphone System) compatible switching device, and includes a plurality of extension interfaces, a local line interface, and a maintenance interface in addition to a switching control unit and a time switch. Radio base stations 6-1 and 6-2 of the radio unit 6 are connected to the extension interfaces, respectively. The radio base stations 6-1 and 6-2 each form a radio area, and are connected to the mobile terminals 7-1 to 7-m existing in the radio area via a radio line. PBX4 is connected to the office line interface.

By the way, the nurse call base unit 2 is configured as follows.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the nurse call parent device 2. 2, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The nurse call parent device 2 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 201 that uses, for example, a microcomputer as a control unit. The CPU 201 is connected to a program storage unit 202 and a data storage unit 203, and further includes communication interfaces 204-1 to 204-n, 205, a network interface 206, a call interface 207, an input display interface 208, and an alarm interface 209. Are connected to each other.

  Among these, the communication interfaces 204-1 to 204-n transmit signals to and from the hospital room units 1-1 to 1-n under the control of the CPU 201. Similarly, the communication interface 205 transmits and receives signals to and from the wireless switching device 3 under the control of the CPU 201. The network interface 206 transmits and receives signals via the LAN 8 under the control of the CPU 201.

  Connected to the call interface 207 are a microphone 210 and a speaker 211 used by the nurse to make a call with the patient. The call interface 207 encodes a speaker's transmission signal output from the microphone 210 and outputs the signal to the CPU 201 in a state where a communication path is formed between the hospital room units 1-1 to 1-n. The reception data supplied from is decoded to reproduce the reception signal, and the reception signal is output from the speaker 211 as a loud voice. The speaker 211 is also used to output a sound and melody when a call is made from a patient.

  A touch panel / display 212 is connected to the input display interface 208. The touch panel / display device 212 is obtained by pasting a transparent pressure sensitive sheet on a display screen of a display device including a CRT or LCD, for example, and has both an information display function and an input function. The input display interface 208 displays the display information supplied from the CPU 201 on the touch panel / display 212 and supplies operation information input on the touch panel / display 212 to the CPU 201.

  An alarm device 213 is connected to the alarm device interface 209. The alarm device 213 emits an alarm sound. The alarm device interface 209 outputs a control signal corresponding to the control information output from the CPU 201 to the alarm device 213.

  The program storage unit 202 stores various programs describing the processing procedure of the CPU 201 for realizing various functions that the nurse call parent device 2 should have. The programs stored in the program storage unit 202 include an external notification program 202a. The external notification program 202a causes the CPU 201 to execute external notification processing described later.

  The data storage unit 203 stores various data necessary for executing the various functions.

On the other hand, the mail server 11 is configured as follows.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the mail server 11. In FIG. 3, the same parts as those in FIG.

  The mail server 11 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 1101 that uses, for example, a microcomputer as a control unit. A program storage unit 1102 and a data storage unit 1103 are connected to the CPU 1101, and an input interface 1104, a display interface 1105, and network interfaces 1106 and 1107 are connected to the CPU 1101, respectively.

  A keyboard / mouse 1108 is connected to the input interface 1104. A keyboard / mouse 1108 inputs information specified by an operator. The input interface 1104 gives information input by the keyboard / mouse 1108 to the CPU 1101. A display 1109 is connected to the display interface 1105. The display 1109 includes, for example, a CRT or LCD and displays information. The display interface 1105 gives the display data output from the CPU 1101 to the display 1109.

  The network interface 1106 transmits and receives signals via the LAN 8 under the control of the CPU 1101. The network interface 1107 transmits and receives signals via the Internet 12 under the control of the CPU 201.

  The program storage unit 1102 stores various programs describing processing procedures of the CPU 1101 for realizing various functions that the mail server 11 should have such as sending and receiving e-mail according to an e-mail protocol. The programs stored in the program storage unit 1102 include a notification mail program 1102a. The report mail program 1102a causes the CPU 1101 to execute report mail processing to be described later.

  The data storage unit 1103 stores various data necessary for executing the various functions. The data stored in the data storage unit 1103 includes an address table 1103a. The address table 1103a is a data table in which a mail address that is a destination of external notification is described.

Next, the operation of external notification in the nurse call system configured as described above will be described in detail.
First, as a preparation, at least one mail address is registered in the address table 1103a in the mail server 11 based on the operation of the operator.

  Now, in the nurse call master unit 2, various events such as a nurse call are monitored as is well known. Then, if the occurrence of an event (hereinafter referred to as a notification event) determined as an external notification target is detected, the CPU 201 starts up an external notification process as shown in FIG. The CPU 201 executes this external notification process by executing the external notification program 202a.

  In step ST11, the CPU 201 gives an activation instruction to the alarm device 213 via the alarm device interface 209, and activates the alarm device 213. As a result, the alarm device 213 is in a state of outputting an alarm sound in order to warn the occurrence of the notification event. Subsequently, in step ST12, the CPU 201 sends a start instruction to the mail server 11 via the LAN 8.

  Then, the CPU 201 shifts to a standby state in step ST13 and step ST14. In this standby state, the CPU 201 waits for a confirmation operation to be performed on the touch panel / display 212 or for a reply notification from the mail server 11 to be performed.

  In the mail server 11, when the above start instruction arrives, the network interface 1106 takes this start instruction and gives it to the CPU 1101. In response to the start instruction being given in this way, the CPU 1101 starts a notification mail process as shown in FIG. The CPU 1101 performs this external notification process by executing the notification mail program 1102a.

  In step ST21, the CPU 1101 reads the mail address described in the address table 1103a. Subsequently, in step ST22, the CPU 1101 transmits an electronic mail (hereinafter referred to as a notification mail) indicating the read mail address as a destination to the Internet 12 via the network interface 1107. The transmitted notification mail is transferred to the mail terminals 13-1 to 13-n corresponding to each destination via the Internet 12. Note that the mail terminals 13-1 to 13-n to which the notification mail is sent are terminals having a function of receiving e-mail, such as a personal computer in which a mailer is installed or a mobile communication terminal equipped with an e-mail function. Anything is acceptable.

  Then, the CPU 1101 shifts to a standby state in steps ST23 to ST25. In this standby state, the CPU 1101 waits for an instruction to stop from the nurse call parent device 2, whether a predetermined time T has elapsed since the notification mail is transmitted, or a reply mail for the notification mail arrives.

  In this state, no stop instruction is given, no reply mail arrives, and if a certain time T has elapsed, the CPU 1101 moves from step ST24 to step ST21, and the processing after step ST21 is as described above. Do the same.

  Now, after any user of the mail terminals 13-1 to 13-n confirms the report mail, an operation to send a reply mail to the report mail is performed on any of the mail terminals 13-1 to 13-n. When this is done, a reply mail addressed to the mail address assigned to the mail server 11 is sent from the mail terminal to the Internet 12. When this reply mail is transferred to the mail server 11 via the Internet 12, the network server 1107 captures this reply mail in the mail server 11 and gives it to the CPU 1101. When the reply mail is given in this way, the CPU 1101 determines that the reply mail has arrived. In this case, the CPU 1101 proceeds from step ST25 to step ST26. In step ST26, the CPU 1101 confirms whether or not a reply notification to the nurse call parent device 2 has already been performed. If the reply notification has not been performed yet, the CPU 1101 proceeds from step ST26 to step ST27. In step ST27, the CPU 1101 sends a reply notification to the nurse call master unit 2 via the LAN 8 in order to notify that a reply mail has arrived. Thereafter, the CPU 1101 returns to the standby state of steps ST23 to ST25. If the reply notification has already been performed, the CPU 1101 returns to the standby state from step ST26 to step ST23 to step ST25 without proceeding to step ST27. That is, the CPU 1101 performs a reply notification only in response to the first reply mail, and does nothing in response to other reply mails.

  As described above, the reply notification sent from the mail server 11 is transmitted to the nurse call parent device 2 via the LAN 8, captured by the network interface 206, and given to the CPU 201. The CPU 201 determines that there is a reply notification when the reply notification is given in this way. In this case, the CPU 201 proceeds from step ST14 to step ST15. In step ST15, the CPU 201 gives a stop instruction to the alarm device 213 via the alarm device interface 209, and stops the alarm device 213. As a result, the alarm device 213 stops the alarm sound that has been performed. Subsequently, in step ST16, the CPU 201 waits for a confirmation operation to be performed on the touch panel / display device 212.

  When a human performs an input operation on the touch panel / display 212, the contents of the input operation are output from the touch panel / display 212 and given to the CPU 201 via the input display interface 208. When the above input operation is a confirmation operation for the notification by the notification mail, the CPU 201 recognizes that the confirmation operation has been performed in response to the operation content being given. In this case, the CPU 201 proceeds from step ST16 to step ST17. In step ST17, the CPU 201 sends a stop instruction to the mail server 11 via the LAN 8. Then, the CPU 201 ends the external notification process.

  If the above confirmation operation is performed in the standby state of steps ST13 to ST14, the CPU 201 proceeds from step ST13 to step ST18. In step ST18, the CPU 201 gives a stop instruction to the alarm device 213 via the alarm device interface 209, and stops the alarm device 213. As a result, the alarm device 213 stops the alarm sound that has been performed. Then, the CPU 201 proceeds to step ST17 and performs the same processing as described above.

  In the mail server 11, when the above stop instruction arrives, the network interface 1106 takes this stop instruction and gives it to the CPU 1101. In response to the stop instruction given in this way, the CPU 1101 determines that there is a stop instruction. In this case, the CPU 1101 exits from the standby state in steps ST23 to ST25 in step ST23, and ends the notification mail process. As a result, the repeated transmission of the notification mail is stopped.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a notification operation realized by the above processing.
In response to the occurrence of the notification event at time T1, an alarm by the nurse call parent device 2 is started at time T2. At time T3, a start instruction is given from the nurse call master unit 2 to the mail server 11. In response to this start instruction, at time T4, the mail server 11 sends a notification mail to each of the mail terminals 13-1 to 13-k registered in advance as a notification destination. A notification mail is also sent from the mail server 11 to each of the mail terminals 13-1 to 13-k at time T5 when a certain time T has elapsed from time T4.

  In the example of FIG. 5, a reply mail to the above-mentioned report mail is sent from the mail terminal 13-1 to the mail server 11 at time T6. In response to this, a reply notification is given from the mail server 11 to the nurse call parent device 2 at time T7. In response to this reply notification, the nurse call parent device 2 stops the alarm at time T8. That is, when a reply mail is sent from any one of the mail terminals 13-1 to 13-k, the alarm in the nurse call parent device 2 is stopped. However, after the reply mail is sent at time T6, the notification mail is sent from the mail server 11 to each of the mail terminals 13-1 to 13-k at time T9 and time T10. That is, the alarm stops according to the reply mail, but the repeated transmission of the notification mail continues.

  If the person who went to the place where the nurse call master unit 2 is installed at time T11 performs a confirmation operation on the nurse call master unit 2, the nurse call master unit 2 sends the mail server 11 at time T12 accordingly. Send a stop instruction to Upon receiving this stop instruction, the mail server 11 stops the repeated transmission of the notification mail. That is, in response to the confirmation operation by a human being performed on the nurse call parent device 2, the transmission of the notification mail is stopped.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, if the reply mail is sent even once, that is, if it is confirmed that even one person has noticed the notification, the alarm in the nurse call master unit 2 is stopped. Therefore, the person who notices the report will not continue to issue an alarm until it rushes to the place where the nurse call master unit 2 is installed. The person who noticed the report rushed to the place where the nurse call master 2 was installed and confirmed the notification event that occurred. Is done. In other words, until a human performs confirmation operation on the nurse call master unit 2, the notification email is repeatedly sent, and someone who has received the notification easily sends a reply email and installs the nurse call master unit 2. Even if you fail to rush to the place, notification emails are sent repeatedly. For this reason, it is possible to accurately prompt the nurse call parent device 2 to perform a confirmation operation, and it is possible to reliably prevent the notification event from being left as it is.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the nurse call parent device 2 may have the function of the mail server 11. Alternatively, for example, the alarm device 213 may be an independent device, and each function may be distributed to three or more devices.

  The application of the notification system of the present invention is not limited to the nurse call system, but can be applied to other alarm viewing systems or can be realized as an independent system.

  In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The schematic block diagram of the nurse call system concerning one Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the function structure of the nurse call main | base station 2 in FIG. The block diagram which shows the function structure of the mail server 11 in FIG. The flowchart of the process for the external notification by CPU201 in FIG. 2 and CPU1101 in FIG. The sequence diagram which shows an example of alerting | reporting operation | movement.

Explanation of symbols

  2 ... Nurse call parent device, 11 ... Mail server, 12 ... Internet, 13-1 to 13-k ... Mail terminal, 201 ... CPU, 202 ... Program storage unit, 202a ... External report program, 203 ... Data storage unit, 204 -1 to 204-n, 205 ... communication interface, 206 ... network interface, 207 ... call interface, 208 ... input display interface, 209 ... alarm interface, 210 ... microphone, 211 ... speaker, 212 ... touch panel / display, 213 ... Alarm, 1101 ... CPU, 1102 ... Program storage unit, 1102a ... Notification mail program, 1103 ... Data storage unit, 1103a ... Address table, 1104 ... Input interface, 1105 ... Display interface, 1106,1107 ... Network interface, 1108 ... Mouse, 1109 ... Display.

Claims (1)

Means for receiving confirmation by a human,
Means for storing the mail address of the report destination;
Means for repeatedly sending an e-mail addressed to the e-mail address between the occurrence of the notification event and the confirmation operation;
Means for receiving a reply email to the email;
A reporting system comprising means for performing an alarm operation after the reporting event occurs and before the reply mail is received.

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