JP2023105780A - Determination method, determination device, management device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a determination method and the like suitable for determining whether a subject is in an active state or an inactive state from an amount of power supplied to the subject.SOLUTION: A determination device 7 determines whether a subject is active or an inactive state during a determination time period. The determination time period includes a plurality of determination division time periods. A threshold calculation unit 49 calculates a determination threshold. A non-active state determination unit 53 determines, when a change in an amount of power supplied to a consuming unit used by the subject during the determination time period is greater than the determination threshold, if the power supply amount is greater than a reference value in each determination division time period, that the subject is in the non-active state, and determines, if there is the power supply amount smaller than the reference value in any of the determination time period, that the subject is in the active state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a determination method, a determination device, a management device, and a program, and more particularly to a determination method and the like for determining whether a subject is active or inactive during a determination time period.

When renters accept elderly tenants, elderly people who live alone are especially at risk of declining property values due to solitary death. Patent Literature 1 describes detecting the activity of a subject such as an elderly person with a detection sensor and evaluating the subject's degree of daily life activity.

As in Patent Document 2, the applicant proposed estimating a consumer's state of health from the amount of electricity used by the consumer.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-170181 JP 2015-060560 A

However, as described in Patent Document 1, introduction of a detection sensor or the like into a living space is often avoided from the viewpoint of privacy.

Moreover, Patent Literature 2 does not describe evaluating the activity of a subject.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a determination method or the like suitable for determining whether a subject is in an active state or an inactive state from the amount of power supplied to the subject.

A first aspect of the present invention is a determination method for determining whether a subject is active or inactive during a determination time period, wherein the determination time period includes a plurality of determination time periods. a determination threshold calculation step in which a threshold calculation unit provided in the information processing device calculates the determination threshold; If the change in the amount of power supply is greater than the determination threshold and the amount of power supply is greater than the reference value in each of the determination time periods, it is determined that the subject is inactive, and the determination time period a determination step of determining that the subject is in an active state if any of the above has a power supply amount smaller than the reference value.

A second aspect of the present invention is the determination method of the first aspect, wherein the determination time period includes a first determination time period group and a second determination time period group, and the first determination time period The time slot group includes a plurality of determination time slots, the second determination time slot group includes a plurality of determination time slots, and the plurality of determination time slots included in the first determination time slot group and at least one of the plurality of determination time slots included in the second determination time slot group is different, and in the determination step, the inactivity determination unit supplies to the consumption unit in the determination time period If the change in the power supply amount is smaller than the determination threshold, the power supply amount in the first determination time period group is compared with the power supply amount in the second determination time period group, and the change in the power supply amount is determined. If so, determine that the subject is active.

A third aspect of the present invention is the determination method according to the first or second aspect, wherein the storage unit provided in the information processing device stores a history of the amount of power supplied to the consumption unit in correspondence with the temperature. and the maximum temperature value and the minimum temperature value are respectively set to the maximum and minimum values of the temperature corresponding to the history of the power supply amount, and in the judgment threshold calculation step, the threshold calculation unit stores the history of the power supply amount The determination threshold corresponding to each of the target temperatures corresponding to is calculated from the history of the power supply amount in the target temperature zone corresponding to each target temperature, and the target temperature zone includes the corresponding target temperature and its width is shorter than half the width of the maximum temperature value and the minimum temperature value.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the determination method according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the non-active state determination section includes a specific time period device in which the consumption section operates in a specific time period. case, the determination is made excluding the power supply amount supplied during the specific time period.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a determination device for determining whether or not a subject is inactive in a determination time period, wherein the determination time period includes a plurality of determination division time periods, and the determination If the change in the amount of power supplied to the consumption unit used by the subject in the time period is greater than the determination threshold, and the amount of power supply is greater than the reference value in each of the determination time periods, the subject an inactive state determination unit for determining that the person is inactive.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is a management device comprising a display unit for displaying that the subject is inactive when the determination device of the fifth aspect determines that the subject is inactive. is.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as the inactivity determination section of any one of the first to fourth aspects. The present invention may be regarded as a computer-readable recording medium for recording the program of the seventh aspect.

According to each aspect of the present invention, the amount of power supply often fluctuates depending on the air conditioner that operates depending on the temperature. It is possible to accurately determine whether the subject is in an active state or in an inactive state.

Furthermore, according to the second aspect and the like of the present invention, even for a subject whose power supply tends to be low overall, attention is paid to changes in the power supply as a whole, and the subject is in an active state. It is possible to accurately determine whether it is in an active state or in an inactive state.

Furthermore, according to the third aspect and the like of the present invention, it is possible to locally evaluate and appropriately set the determination threshold for evaluating the power supply amount with respect to the temperature.

Furthermore, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, even if the subject uses a specific time period device that uses late-night power or the like, the determination is made excluding that time period, so that the subject is in an active state. It is possible to accurately determine whether the device is active or not.

1 is a block diagram showing an example of configuration of a determination system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the operation of a processing unit 35; FIG. FIG. 1 is a first diagram for explaining setting of a determination threshold; FIG. 2 is a second diagram for explaining setting of determination thresholds; 5 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of an inactive state determination unit 53; FIG. An example of the amount of power supply when a specific time period device is included is shown. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a specific example of determination processing in step STB5 of FIG. 5; (a) An example of false positives when the power supply is low, and (b) a histogram of moving average values for inactive and low consumption states. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of having been hospitalized for a long term with an air-conditioner on. It is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the determination system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing an example of an operation regarding notification in the determination system 61 of FIG. 10; FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing another example of the operation regarding notification in the determination system 61 of FIG. 10;

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, embodiment of this invention is not limited to the following examples.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a determination system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The determination system 1 includes a consumption unit 3 (an example of a "consumption unit" in the claims of the present application), a smart meter 5, a determination device 7 (an example of the "determination device" in the claims of the present application), and a management device 9 (claims of the present application). An example of the “management device” in the section).

The consumption unit 3 is an electric device used by the subject, and operates by receiving electric power (electricity) supplied from an electric power company or the like and consuming the electric power. Here, it is assumed that the target person lives in a small group of, for example, one to several people. Most of the consumption parts 3 are placed in the rooms, balconies, gardens, etc. where the subjects live. The consumption unit 3 includes a household appliance 11, an air conditioner 13, and a specific time zone device 15 (an example of a "specific time zone device" in the claims of the present application).

The household appliance 11 is, for example, a television, which operates when the target person turns it on, and stops its operation when it is turned off. When the home appliance 11 is off, it normally consumes no power or consumes very little power such as standby power.

The air conditioner 13 is, for example, an air conditioner, and adjusts the room temperature to the set temperature designated by the subject. The air conditioner 13 includes a temperature measuring unit 17 for measuring the room temperature, and a room temperature controller for controlling the room temperature, for example, by increasing or decreasing the temperature of the discharged air so that the measured room temperature becomes the set temperature. A part 19 is provided. The room temperature control unit 19 normally consumes a large amount of power when the difference between the measured room temperature and the set temperature is large, and consumes a small amount of power when the difference is small. In summer and winter, there is a large difference between the air temperature and the set temperature, and power consumption tends to increase. The proportion of power supplied to the room temperature control unit 19 to the amount of power supplied to the consumption unit 3 increases. Therefore, in seasons when the temperature is high or low, the power supply amount supplied to the room temperature control unit 19 tends to greatly affect the power supply amount supplied to the entire consumption unit 3 .

The specific time zone device 15 is, for example, a hot water supply device that uses late-night power to boil hot water, and has a fixed operating time zone in principle. In this embodiment, this time period is called a "specific time period". The specific time zone device 15 determines whether or not the specific time zone has come, and operates the power usage part 21 during the specific time zone by determining whether or not the power usage section 21 performs an operation such as boiling water using power. An operation time control unit 23 is provided.

The smart meter 5 measures the amount of power supplied to the consumption unit 3 . The smart meter 5 has a communication function, and has a function of automatically transmitting the power supply amount measured at regular time intervals (usually every 30 minutes) to the power transmission and distribution business operator. In this embodiment, this interval is referred to as a "determination time period" (an example of a "determination time period" in the claims of the present application). The power transmission/distribution company notifies the power supply amount received from the smart meter 5 to the retail power company or the like. The smart meter 5 includes a supply unit 25 that supplies power to the consumption unit 3, a measurement unit 27 that measures the power supply amount supplied by the supply unit 25, and a transmission unit that transmits the measured power supply amount at regular time intervals. 29.

The determination device 7 determines whether the subject is active or inactive during the determination time period. The determination device 7 includes a communication section 31 , a storage section 33 and a processing section 35 .

The communication unit 31 includes a receiving unit 37 that receives various data and a notification unit 39 that notifies the management device 9 of the determination result.

The storage unit 33 is a device for storing data, such as a memory or a hard disk, and includes a reference value storage unit 41, a usage amount history storage unit 43, an air temperature history storage unit 45, and a threshold storage unit 47. Prepare.

The processing unit 35 is a device for performing information processing, such as a processor, and includes a threshold calculation unit 49, an interval calculation unit 51, and an inactivity determination unit 53 ("inactivity determination unit" in the claims of the present application). ” is provided). In this example, one determination device 7 includes each unit, but different information processing devices may include each unit.

Referring to FIG. 1 , receiving unit 37 receives the power supply amount measured by smart meter 5 . The receiving unit 37 may receive the power supply amount measured by the smart meter 5 directly from the smart meter 5, or may receive it via a server or the like managed by a power transmission/distribution business operator, retail electricity business operator, or the like. .

The receiving unit 37 also receives temperature data managed by an external server. The receiving unit 37 stores the power supply amount history and the temperature in the usage history storage unit 43 and the temperature history storage unit 45 of the storage unit 33 in association with each other.

The reference value storage unit 41 stores a reference value for determining whether or not there is a time zone in which the subject operates the equipment/devices (particularly the air conditioner 13) of the consumption unit 3 and is in an off state with low power consumption. is stored (see step STC7 in FIG. 7).

The threshold storage unit 47 stores the determination threshold calculated by the threshold calculation unit 49 in association with the temperature.

The interval calculation unit 51 performs, for example, calculation of the power supply amount in a determination time period (for example, one day), moving average processing in a plurality of determination time periods (see step STC3 in FIG. 7), and the like. Alternatively, calculation is performed using power supply amounts in a plurality of judgment time zones.

The inactive state determination unit 53 determines whether the subject was active or inactive during the determination time period. For example, when the inactivity determination unit 53 determines that the subject is inactive for a plurality of determination time periods, the notification unit 39 determines to the management device 9 that the subject is in an abnormal state. Notifies you of the results.

The management device 9 includes a notification receiving unit 55 that receives the result of determination by the determination device 7, and a display unit 57 that displays the result of determination.

An overview of the operation of the processing unit 35 will be described with reference to FIG. In the following, it is assumed that the determination time period is 1 day and the determination time period is 30 minutes. Therefore, there are 48 pieces of power supply amount data in one day, which is the determination time period. From these 48 pieces of data, the interval calculation unit 51 calculates the standard deviation as a value indicating the change in the power supply amount in one day. The notification unit 39 determines that the subject is in an abnormal state when the inactive state determination unit 53 determines that the subject is in the inactive state for three consecutive days.

The amount of power supply is considered to increase or decrease according to the amount of activity of the subject. Therefore, it is expected that the greater the activity of the subject, the greater the change in the power supply amount in a day, and the less the activity of the active person, the smaller the change in the power supply amount in a day.

Also, generally, the power supply amount increases or decreases according to the temperature.

A line L ₁ indicates a determination threshold set corresponding to each temperature. Basically, the non-active state determination unit 53 determines that the subject is in an active state if the standard deviation indicating the change in the power supply amount on the determination target day is greater than the line _L1 at the temperature on the determination target day. It is expected that it will be possible to determine whether an active person is active or inactive by determining that the subject is inactive if it is less than line L ₁ .

The determination threshold needs to be set for each subject according to the subject's lifestyle habits and the like. The threshold calculation unit 49 sets the line _L1 from the history of changes in the power supply amount of the subject according to the temperature. However, as in the area _A1 , there are days when the amount of power supply hardly changes due to going out. Therefore, the threshold calculation unit 49 sets the determination threshold while excluding such data with little change.

When the inventors determined using the actually measured data, 1,469 appropriately determined that the subject was normal (active), and 2 abnormalities (1 hospitalization). , 1 long-term business trip), the subjects were properly determined to be inactive. However, when the air conditioner was turned on during long-term hospitalization, changes in the amount of power supplied due to changes in the power consumption of the air conditioner in response to changes in temperature caused changes in the amount of power supplied, and the subject was considered to be normal (active). There was a case of misjudgment. In addition, when the subject did not use much power, there were 9 cases of erroneous detection in which the change in power consumption was small and the subject was normal but was determined to be abnormal.

In order to improve the accuracy of determination, first, it is necessary to appropriately set the determination threshold. This point will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG.

Furthermore, it is necessary to consider the existence of devices such as air conditioners and water heaters that use late-night power, which greatly change the amount of power supplied during the day regardless of the subject's activity. In addition, it is necessary to make an appropriate determination even when the amount of power used by the subject is small. These points will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9. FIG.

Misjudgment did not occur by the measures explained using FIGS. 3 to 9. FIG.

An example of the operation of the threshold calculator 49 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the threshold calculator 49. As shown in FIG.

The threshold calculation unit 49 reads out power supply amount and temperature history data corresponding thereto from the usage history storage unit 43 and the temperature history storage unit 45 of the storage unit 33 (step STA1). Here, when the specific time period device 15 exists in the consumption unit 3, the data of the specific time period is excluded. A determination threshold value is calculated from the history of the power supply amount corresponding to each temperature (step STA2).

A specific example of the processing for calculating the determination threshold in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, one approximation curve was calculated for all the temperatures, and was designated as line _L1 . Power consumption increases at higher and lower temperatures, and decreases at intermediate temperatures. Therefore, a quadratic curve was selected as the approximation curve.

However, if the same approximation curve is used when the temperature is high and when the temperature is low, the determination threshold is not stable, such that the power supply amount in winter affects the determination threshold in summer. In general, subjects' lifestyle habits differ greatly between when the temperature is high and when the temperature is low. In addition, in the intermediate temperature range, the determination threshold was set higher than the normal data, and the determination threshold was set significantly lower. Therefore, when calculating the judgment threshold at a certain temperature, the values around 2°C before and after that temperature are used to locally calculate the judgment threshold, thereby stabilizing the judgment threshold value at each temperature and Accuracy of determination by the activity state determination unit 53 can be improved.

Specifically, the threshold calculator 49 plots the standard deviation for each day as an index representing the increase/decrease in the amount of power supply for each day. Then, the threshold calculator 49 calculates a confidence interval for each temperature of 1°C. Confidence intervals were 95% of the maximum and minimum data ranges for each temperature. Then, the threshold calculation unit 49 calculates a standard value indicating a change in the amount of power supply for each target temperature in a target temperature range including 2°C above and below (the target temperature range includes a temperature of 5°C in total). Find an approximation line by the deviation. FIG. 4(a) shows approximate lines obtained at each temperature. Then, the threshold calculation unit 49 obtains an approximate curve as a whole from each approximate line. FIG. 4(b) shows the obtained approximation curve. For example, an approximated curve may be obtained so that the approximated lines at each temperature are in contact with each other. The threshold calculation unit 49 stores the obtained approximate curve as the determination threshold in the threshold storage unit 47 of the storage unit 33 .

The width of the temperature of the target temperature zone used by the threshold calculator 49 to obtain the approximate threshold is, for example, less than half the width of the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature in the temperature history. As a result, the influence of the standard deviation of power consumption at high temperatures on determining the determination threshold at low temperatures can be reduced. Similarly, the standard deviation of the power consumption at low temperatures can reduce the influence of determining the determination threshold at high temperatures.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the inactive state determination section 53. As shown in FIG.

The inactive state determination unit 53 stores the usage amount history storage unit 43 and the temperature history storage unit 45 of the storage unit 33, and determines whether the target person is in an active state or an inactive state. (an example of "band") and the history of the amount of power supply is read out (step STB1). The non-active state determination unit 53 determines whether or not the specific time period device 15 is included in the consumption unit 3 (step STB2). Step STB3), proceed to step STB4. If not included, go to step STB4.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the amount of power supplied when a specific time period device is included. Each row indicates the power supply amount for one day. Each row shows the amount of power supplied every 30 minutes from the left. The lower the power supply, the lighter the color, and the higher the power supply, the darker the color. The leftmost number is the power supply amount from 0:00 to 0:30. Below, the power supply amount in each determination time zone from 1:00 to 1:30 continues, and the rightmost numerical value is the power supply amount from 23:30 to 24:00. 8 and 9 are the same.

In the midnight time zone (area A ₂ ), the specific time zone device operates using late-night power, so the color is darker and the amount of power supply is greatly increased. Including the power supply during this time period makes the standard deviation value less relevant to user activity. Therefore, if there is a specific time period device, the determination is made by excluding the amount of power supply during the time period in which this device operates.

At step STB4 in FIG. 5, the non-active state determination unit 53 performs data processing of each data of the power supply amount, if necessary. In this embodiment, since the measured values obtained every 30 minutes are used as they are, no special data processing is performed.

The inactive state determination unit 53 determines whether the target person is inactive or active on the determination target date (step STB5).

The notification unit 39 determines whether or not the inactive state determination unit 53 has determined that the user is in the inactive state for three consecutive days (step STB6). If the inactive state is not determined for three consecutive days, the process is terminated. If the inactive state determination unit 53 determines that the subject is inactive for three consecutive days, the notification unit 39 determines that the subject is in an abnormal state, notifies the management device 9 of the determination result, and is displayed on the display unit 57 that the subject has an abnormal condition. The management device 9 is operated, for example, by an employee of a real estate agent who manages the room in which the target person resides. , you can try to contact the target person by phone, etc. For example, employees can respond in a short period of time even if they are hospitalized for a long time while using electrical appliances or die alone.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a specific example of the determination processing in step STB5 of FIG.

The interval calculation unit 51 calculates the standard deviation of the power supply amount on the determination target day (step STC1). The inactive state determination unit 53 determines whether or not the standard deviation exceeds the determination threshold (step STC2).

If the standard deviation does not exceed the determination threshold, the interval calculator 51 performs moving average processing (step STC3). Then, the non-active state determination unit 53 compares different time zones in a day to determine whether or not there is a change in usage (step STC4). If there is no change, it is determined that the subject is inactive (step STC5). If there is any change, it is determined that the subject is active (step STC6).

FIG. 8A shows an example of erroneous detection when the amount of power supply is small. During the 3 days (144 data points) in Area A ₃ , the power supply was 0.2 in 3 places, but most of them were 0 or 0.1, and the standard deviation was extremely low. judged.

However, looking at FIG. 8A as a whole, it can be seen that the amount of power supply is small from 0:00 to 12:00 and tends to be large from 12:00 to 24:00. Even if the amount of power supply is small in each judgment segment time period, there are time periods in which the amount of power supply is large and time periods in which the amount of power supply is small as a whole.

Therefore, instead of the 30-minute value, a moving average of a total of 5 frames including 2 frames before and after the 30-minute value is used for determination. For example, the value at 7:00 is the average value of the values at 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, and 8:00. Then, the standard deviation of the moving average was 0.046 on the first day, 0.062 on the second day, and 0.045 on the third day. FIG. 8(b) shows the histograms of the moving average values for inactivity (histogram H ₁ ) and for activity but low consumption (histogram H ₂ ). Most of the inactivity standard deviations were less than 0.015. In contrast, the peak was greater than 0.015 for active but low consumption. Therefore, if the subject is active, it is expected that the standard deviation of the moving average will be greater than 0.015 on one out of three days. If the standard deviation of the moving average is 0.015 or less for three consecutive days, the subject is likely to be inactive. In the case of FIG. 8(a), both values are greater than 0.015, and can be evaluated as active. In this way, instead of using the measured values themselves, evaluation is performed using calculated values obtained by calculating from a plurality of continuously measured values, so that the amount of power supply is small. Resulting errors in judgment can be avoided. A weighted moving average value or the like may be used instead of the moving average.

In FIG. 7 , if the standard deviation exceeds the determination threshold, the non-active state determination unit 53 stores at least one of the 48 power supply measurement values for one day in the reference value storage unit 41 of the storage unit 33 . It is determined whether or not it is less than the specified reference value (step STC7). A reference value is, for example, 0.1. If at least one power supply is less than the reference value (ie, 0), the subject is determined to be active (step STC8). If any power supply is greater than or equal to the reference value (i.e., all measured values are greater than or equal to 0.1 and no measured value is 0), the subject is determined to be inactive ( Step STC9).

Regarding steps STC7 to STC9, the non-active state determination unit 53 tends to evaluate the subject's activity based on the magnitude of the power supply, on the premise that the magnitude of the subject's activity is related to the increase or decrease in power supply. be. However, in recent years, air conditioners, for example, have come to perform extremely fine control instead of on/off control like a thermostat, and the amount of power supply finely increases or decreases according to fluctuations in temperature. Therefore, especially in the season when the temperature rises and falls, the amount of power supplied by the air conditioner accounts for the majority of the amount of power supplied to the consuming part, and the ratio of the amount of power consumed by general equipment decreases. Therefore, it becomes difficult to read the subject's activities from the amount of power supplied by finely increasing or decreasing the amount of power supplied to the air conditioner.

The inventors paid attention to the fact that if the subject is in an active state, there is a period of time during which the air conditioner is turned off for about 30 minutes in about three days. When the subject turns off the air conditioner, there is usually less use of general appliances, and the consumption part as a whole consumes a very low amount of power. In other words, the inverse concept of detecting that a subject is in an active state is based on the fact that there is a period of time during which the subject turns off the power of equipment, including air conditioners, to reduce power consumption to an extremely low level. can be done.

FIG. 9 shows an example of long-term hospitalization with the air conditioner on. In area _A4 , life was normal. However, he went out with the air conditioner on and was injured while _out and was hospitalized. In the area _A5 , the air conditioner operates due to fluctuations in the temperature, the amount of power supply fluctuates, and the standard deviation of the amount of power consumption becomes larger than the determination threshold.

Comparing area A ₄ and area A ₅ , area A ₄ has a time period during which the amount of power supply is zero. In the active state, it is allowed to turn off the air conditioner for about 30 minutes in about 3 days. On the other hand, in area _A5 , the value is 0.1 or more in any time zone. Therefore, in addition to the judgment by the judgment threshold, by detecting the time period when the power is off, even if the target person is inactive as in area A ₅ , the air conditioner increases or decreases the amount of power supply In other words, it can detect that the subject is inactive.

Another example of the notification processing according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12. FIG. In this example, in addition to the target person whose activity status is to be determined, and the administrator, the communication is to contact the target person on a daily basis although the living environment is different from that of the target person. It is done for those who can. For example, the manager is a realtor. The target person is an elderly person who lives in a rental property under a rental contract with the manager. The person concerned is a relative such as a child of the elderly person who lives in a place of residence different from the rental property in which the elderly person resides, but who is able to communicate with the elderly person on a daily basis. is.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the determination system 61 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The determination system 61 includes a first consumption section 63 , a smart meter 65 , a second consumption section 67 , a determination device 69 and a management device 71 .

The first consumption unit 63 and the smart meter 65 correspond to the consumption unit 3 and the smart meter 5 of FIG. 1, respectively, and have the same configuration and operate in the same manner. That is, the first consuming unit 63 is a plurality of electrical devices used by the subject, and operates by receiving power (electricity) supplied from a power company or the like and consuming the power. The smart meter 65 measures the amount of power supplied to the first consumption unit 63 . The smart meter 65 has a communication function, and has a function of automatically transmitting the power supply amount measured at regular time intervals (usually every 30 minutes) to the power transmission and distribution business operator.

The first consumption unit 63 of FIG. 10 includes, in addition to the configuration of the consumption unit 3 of FIG. . The first notification receiving unit 73 is, for example, a landline phone, a smart phone having a call function, or the like. For example, the subject can respond to an automatic telephone call (auto call) from the determination device 69 .

The second consuming part 67 is an electrical device used by a person concerned. The second consumer 67 includes a second notification receiver 75 . The second notification receiving unit 75 is e-mail, SMS (Short Message Service), or the like, for example. When the determination device 69 contacts the second notification receiving unit 75, the relevant person responds to this notification by performing a certain work. Since it is necessary to contact the relevant parties after confirming the subject's condition, it takes time. Therefore, in order to secure time freedom for related parties to conduct confirmation work, and to give them time to respond, we ask them to perform a certain amount of work.

The determination device 69 includes a communication section 77 , a storage section 79 and a processing section 81 . The communication unit 77, the storage unit 79, and the processing unit 81 have the same configurations as the communication unit 31, the storage unit 33, and the processing unit 35, respectively, of FIG. 1, and operate in the same manner.

The communication unit 77 includes a reception unit 83 , a notification unit 85 and a notification stop unit 87 . The receiving section 83 and the notifying section 85 operate in the same manner as the receiving section 37 and the notifying section 39 of FIG. The notification unit 85 notifies the first notification reception unit 73, the second notification reception unit 75, and the management device 71, and receives responses from the first notification reception unit 73 and the second notification reception unit 75 as necessary. do. The notification stop unit 87 causes the notification unit 85 to stop notification according to an instruction from the management device 71 , and returns the notification unit 85 to a notification state according to an instruction from the management device 71 . Further, when the non-active state determination unit 89 repeatedly determines that the target person is active after the notification unit 85 is set to the non-notifying state by the instruction of the management device 71, the instruction of the management device 71 At least, the notification unit 85 returns to the notification state.

The processing unit 81 includes a threshold calculation unit and interval calculation unit (not shown), and an inactive state determination unit 89 . The inactive state determination unit 89 uses the measurement results of the smart meter 65 to determine whether the subject is active or inactive using the processing specifically described with reference to FIG. 7 and the like. Determine if there is

The management device 71 is an information processing device operated by an administrator. The management device 71 includes a third notification reception section 91 , a display section 93 and a notification state management section 95 . The third notification receiving unit 91 receives the result of determination by the determining device 69, similarly to the notification receiving unit 55 of FIG. The display unit 93 displays the determination result to the administrator, similarly to the display unit 57 in FIG. Since the manager manages rental properties as a business, such as a real estate agent, the determination device 69 notifies the management device 71 of information to the extent that the real estate management business is required.

The notification state management unit 95 instructs the notification stop unit 87 of the determination device 69 to put the notification unit 85 into a non-notifying state or return to a notification state, according to the operation of the administrator. do. For example, if the subject and/or related parties contact the subject and/or related parties and it is expected that the subject will be out of the rental property for a long period of time due to travel, hospitalization, etc., the manager may By operating the input/output unit of the device 71, the notification state management unit 95 instructs the notification stop unit 87 of the determination device 69 to put the notification unit 85 into a non-notifying state in accordance with the administrator's operation. . In addition, the manager operates the input/output unit of the management device 71 when it is expected that the target person will return to the rental property and become active due to contact from the target person and/or related parties. , the notification state management unit 95 instructs the notification stop unit 87 of the determination device 69 to return to the state notified by the notification unit 85 according to the operation of the administrator.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing an example of operation regarding notification in the determination system 61 of FIG. In this example, it is assumed that the determination time period is one day and the determination time period is 30 minutes.

The notification unit 85 determines whether or not the inactive state determination unit 89 has determined that the subject is in an inactive state (step STD1). If the inactive state determining unit 89 does not determine that the subject is inactive (that is, determines that the subject is active), it waits until it determines that the subject is inactive.

In step STD1, if the inactive state determination unit 89 determines that the subject is inactive during the determination time period (for example, the day before), the notification unit 85 determines that , the inactive state determination unit 89 determines whether or not the subject is determined to be in an active state (step STD2). The notification unit 85 proceeds to step STD3 if the inactive state determination unit 89 determines that the subject is in the active state in the immediately preceding determination time period (two days before). The notification unit 85 proceeds to step STD10 if the non-active state determination unit 89 determines that the subject is in the inactive state in the immediately preceding determination time period (two days before).

In step STD3, the notification unit 85 contacts the first notification reception unit 73. Specifically, for example, automatic telephone contact (auto call) is made. When the subject operates the receiver to answer, the notification section 85 confirms that the subject is active (determines YES in step STD4), and proceeds to step STD9. If the subject cannot confirm the response without operating the receiver, the notification unit 85 cannot confirm that the subject is active (determination of NO in step STD4), and proceeds to step STD5.

In step STD5, the notification unit 85 determines whether confirmation by the first notification reception unit 73 has been performed a first set number of times (for example, two times). If the first set number of times has not been performed, the process returns to step STD3 to confirm the first set number of times. After confirming the first set number of times, the process proceeds to step STD6. For example, if it is twice, the first confirmation is performed around 8:30 when the TV drama ends, and then the second confirmation is performed around 10:00. This is because, from the subject's age group, it is necessary to reconfirm the time period in which the subject's life pattern is likely to be at home and the time period in which it is generally expected that the subject will be awake. The active state can be confirmed by the subject's familiar operation of operating the handset.

In step STD6, the notification unit 85 contacts the second notification reception unit 75. Specifically, for example, contact is made by e-mail and SMS. The person concerned contacts the target person, confirms that the target person is in an active state, and sends a response to the notification unit 85 as a reply by e-mail or SMS. The notification unit 85 confirms that the target person is in the active state by receiving a report from a related person that the target person is in the active state (determines YES in step STD7), and proceeds to step STD9. If the response from the person concerned cannot be confirmed, the notification section 85 cannot confirm that the target person is active (determination of NO in step STD7), and proceeds to step STD8.

In step STD8, the notification unit 85 determines whether or not confirmation by the second notification reception unit 75 has been performed a second set number of times (for example, once). If the second set number of times has not been performed, the process returns to step STD6 to confirm the second set number of times. After confirming the second set number of times, the process returns to step STD1. For example, if it is one time, contact is made around noon. This is because if the subject is temporarily out of the office, there is a time slot for the relevant parties to contact them in the afternoon. The person concerned can secure time to check with the target person in order to reply to the email or SMS.

In step STD9, if it is confirmed by the first notification receiving unit 73 or the second notification receiving unit 75 that the subject is in the active state, the determination result by the inactive state determination unit 89 is corrected, and the determination time zone ( For example, the previous day) is determined to be in an active state. Then, the process returns to step STD1.

At step STD 10 , the notification unit 85 contacts the second notification reception unit 75 . The notification unit 85 confirms that the target person is in the active state by receiving a report from a related person that the target person is in the active state (determines YES in step STD11), and proceeds to step STD9. If the response from the person concerned cannot be confirmed, the notification section 85 cannot confirm that the target person is active (determines NO in step STD11), and proceeds to step STD12.

In step STD12, the notification unit 85 determines whether or not confirmation by the second notification reception unit 75 has been performed a third set number of times (for example, once). If the third set number of times has not been performed, the process returns to step STD10 to confirm the third set number of times. After confirming the third set number of times, the process proceeds to step STD13. For example, if it is one time, contact is made around 8:30. This is to secure a time zone during which the relevant parties can contact the target person.

In step STD13, the notification unit 85 determines whether or not the inactivity determination unit 89 has determined that the subject is in an inactivity state for a fourth set number of times (for example, three times). If it has not continued for the fourth set number of times, the process returns to step STD1. If it continues for the fourth set number of times, the notification unit 85 notifies the third notification reception unit 91 that the target person has continued to be inactive (step ST14), and prompts confirmation by the administrator. .

The present invention can be understood as follows in addition to any one of the first to seventh aspects, or apart from these aspects.
A determination method for determining whether a subject is active or inactive during a determination time period,
If the determining device determines that the subject is inactive,
The notification unit provided in the determination device contacts the first notification reception unit used by the subject and determines that the subject is in an active state when the subject responds,
The notification unit contacts a second notification reception unit used by a related party different from the target person if the target person does not respond even after contacting the first notification reception unit. determining that the subject is in an active state by replying from the concerned party,
If the notification by the first notification receiving unit and the second notification receiving unit cannot confirm that the target person is in an active state, the notification unit notifies the target person to the management device used by the administrator. is determined to be inactive.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing another example of the operation regarding notification in the determination system 61 of FIG. In this example, it is assumed that the determination time period is one day and the determination time period is 30 minutes. FIG. 12 shows that the notification state management unit 95 instructs the notification stop unit 87 to stop the notification by the notification unit 85 on the assumption that the target person is out of the office for a long period of time and the inactive state continues. This is an example of the operation when is not released.

In general, when a long-term outing begins, the administrator is often contacted in advance by the subject and/or related parties, and because the inactive state continues, the administrator You can contact us to confirm.

At the timing when the long-term outing state is resolved due to discharge from the hospital, etc., it is often difficult for the subject and related parties to contact the administrator or forget to contact the administrator because they are busy returning to their daily lives. However, even when the subject is out for a long period of time, the subject may be temporarily active, such as when a related person goes to get a change of clothes. Therefore, it cannot be immediately determined that the subject's long-term outing state has been resolved from the detection of the active state in the first consumption unit 63 .

Referring to FIG. 12, notification stop unit 87 is instructed by notification state management unit 95 to stop notification by notification unit 85, and the instruction is not canceled. Note that if the notification unit 85 is not instructed to stop the notification, or if the instruction is canceled, the notification unit 85 determines whether the inactive state determination unit 89 We will notify you accordingly.

The notification stop unit 87 determines whether or not the inactive state determination unit 89 has determined that the subject is in an inactive state (step STE1). If the inactive state determination unit 89 determines that the subject is inactive, the notification stop unit 87 controls the notification unit 85 not to perform processing related to notification (step STE5). Return to STE1.

If the inactivity determination unit 89 determines that the subject is not in an inactivity state (that is, the subject is in an active state), the notification stop unit 87 continuously , determines whether or not the subject is determined to be active (step STE2). If it has not been determined to be active for the fifth set number of times in succession, the process returns to step STE1. If it is determined to be in the active state continuously for the fifth set number of times, the notification stop unit 87 determines that the instruction to stop the notification by the notification unit 85 is canceled (step STE3), and the third notification reception unit 91 to that effect, the management device 71 displays the canceled process, and notifies the first notification receiving section 73 and/or the second notification receiving section 75 as necessary (step STE4).

The present invention can be understood as follows in addition to any one of the first to seventh aspects, or apart from these aspects.
A determination method for determining whether a subject is active or inactive during a determination time period,
The determination device includes a notification stop unit that restricts notification from the notification unit according to instructions from the management device,
including a notification restriction step in which the notification stop unit restricts notification by the notification unit even if the determination device determines that the target person is in an inactive state according to an instruction from the management device;
In the notification restriction step, if the determination device determines that the target person is active a predetermined number of times in a row, the notification stop unit notifies the target person by the notification unit without an instruction from the management device. A judgment method that makes the state not restricted.

1 Determination system 3 Consumption unit 5 Smart meter 7 Determination device 9 Management device 11 Life equipment 13 Air conditioner 15 Specific time period device 17 Temperature measurement unit 19 Room temperature control unit 21 Power usage unit 23 Operation time control unit 25 Supply unit 27 Measurement unit 29 Transmission unit 31 Communication unit 33 Storage unit 35 Processing unit 37 Reception unit 39 Notification unit 41 Reference value storage unit 43 Usage history storage unit 45 Air temperature history storage unit 47 Threshold storage unit 49 Threshold calculation unit 51 Interval calculation unit 53 Non-active state determination Unit 55 Notification receiving unit 57 Display unit 61 Determination system 63 First consumption unit 65 Smart meter 67 Second consumption unit 69 Determination device 71 Management device 73 First notification reception unit 75 Second notification reception unit 77 Communication unit 79 Storage unit 81 Processing Part 83 Receiving part 85 Notification part 87 Notification stopping part 89 Inactivity state determining part 91 Third notification receiving part 93 Display part 95 Notification state managing part

Claims (7)

A determination method for determining whether a subject is active or inactive during a determination time period,
The determination time zone includes a plurality of determination time zones,
a determination threshold calculation step in which a threshold calculation unit included in the information processing apparatus calculates a determination threshold;
When the non-active state determination unit provided in the information processing apparatus changes the amount of power supplied to the consumption unit used by the subject during the determination time period is greater than the determination threshold,
determining that the subject is inactive if the amount of power supply is greater than a reference value in each of the determination time slots;
A determination method including a determination step of determining that the subject is in an active state if there is a power supply amount smaller than a reference value in any of the determination time periods. The determination time slot includes a first determination time slot group and a second determination time slot group,
The first determination time slot group includes a plurality of determination time slots,
The second determination time slot group includes a plurality of determination time slots,
At least one of the plurality of determination time slots included in the first determination time slot group and the plurality of determination time slots included in the second determination time slot group is different,
In the determination step, the non-active state determination unit determines whether power supply in the first determination time period group is performed when a change in the amount of power supplied to the consumption unit in the determination time period is smaller than a determination threshold. 2. The determination method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining that the subject is in an active state if there is a change in the amount of power supplied by comparing the amount and the amount of power supplied in the second determination segment time period group. a storage unit included in the information processing device stores a history of the power supply amount supplied to the consumption unit in correspondence with the temperature;
Let the maximum and minimum temperature values be the maximum and minimum temperature values corresponding to the power supply history, respectively,
In the determination threshold calculation step, the threshold calculation unit calculates the determination threshold corresponding to each of the target temperatures corresponding to the history of the power supply amount from the history of the power supply amount in the target temperature range corresponding to each target temperature. death,
2. The determination method according to claim 1, wherein the target temperature range includes the corresponding target temperature, the width of which is less than half the width of the maximum temperature value and the minimum temperature value. 2. The non-active state determination unit according to claim 1, wherein when the consumption unit includes a specific time period device that operates in a specific time period, the non-active state determination unit makes a determination excluding the power supply amount supplied during the specific time period. judgment method. A determination device for determining whether or not a subject is inactive during a determination time period,
The determination time zone includes a plurality of determination time zones,
When the change in the power supply amount supplied to the consumption unit used by the subject in the determination time period is greater than the determination threshold, if the power supply amount is greater than the reference value in each of the determination time periods, A determination device comprising an inactivity determination unit that determines that the subject is in an inactivity state. 6. A management device comprising a display unit for displaying that the subject is inactive when the determination device according to claim 5 determines that the subject is inactive. A program for causing a computer to function as the inactive state determination unit according to claim 1.

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