JP7410555B2 - Animal joint monitoring system - Google Patents

Description

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act September 24, 2019 https://rabo. Published as cat/catlog/pendant

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act September 24, 2019 https://store. rabo. Published at cat/shopdetail/000000000002/

The present invention relates to a joint animal monitoring system.

In recent years, systems have been devised to detect abnormalities in pets and notify owners.

Patent Document 1 discloses a monitoring system that, when an abnormality occurs in a pet, reports the condition of the pet to a user outside the monitoring area.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-189930

However, although the above-mentioned technology describes that it is possible to request rescue from a security guard when an abnormality occurs, it does not describe that it is possible to request rescue from multiple other persons.

Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a system in which a plurality of people other than the owner jointly watch over animals such as pets.

According to the present invention, multiple people other than the owner can jointly watch over animals such as pets, share the activities of the animal in normal times, and request rescue to the co-owner in an emergency. A communal animal monitoring system is available that can be requested.

According to the present invention, animals can be watched over among a plurality of co-owners. Furthermore, in the event of an emergency, multiple co-owners can quickly request rescue from an appropriate person.

1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating sensing of animals in a house according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a server according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a software configuration of a server according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an example of a structure of second user information according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a configuration example of a measurement data acquisition section and a measurement data storage section according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a configuration example of an animal information generation section and an animal information storage section according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an explanatory diagram about the flow of analysis of a behavior type by an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating analysis of input data according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method for measuring food intake according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method for measuring excretion amount according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a method for measuring body weight according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method for measuring food intake according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an individual identification method according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an example of a screen display by embodiment of this invention. It is an example of a structure of urgency reference information according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of processing according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of processing according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a method for determining a responder according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The contents of the embodiments of the present invention will be listed and explained. The present invention has the following configuration.
[Item 1]
a data acquisition unit that acquires data regarding the condition of the animal;
a first information providing unit that provides information based on the acquired data to a first user who is the owner of the animal;
A second information providing unit that provides the information to a second user different from the first user.
[Item 2]
For each of the second users, accept settings from the first user as to whether or not to provide the items included in the information;
Item 1. The joint animal monitoring system according to item 1, wherein the second information providing unit provides each of the second users with only the items that can be provided among the information.
[Item 3]
further comprising an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormal situation from the acquired data,
The joint animal monitoring system according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the second information providing unit reports information to the second user that there is an abnormality.
[Item 4]
Item 3. The animal joint monitoring system according to item 3, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality with respect to at least one of the behavioral indicators of the animal, such as the number and amount of meals, excretion, and sleep.
[Item 5]
Item 4. The animal joint monitoring system according to item 4, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality by performing machine learning on data regarding the behavioral index of the animal to be detected during normal times.
[Item 6]
The abnormality detection unit is characterized in that the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality by performing machine learning on data regarding the behavioral index during normal times of other animals that have at least one of the same gender and age as the animal to be detected. The animal joint monitoring system described in item 4.
[Item 7]
7. The joint animal monitoring system according to any one of items 3 to 6, wherein the second information providing unit notifies all the registered second users at once.
[Item 8]
a response reception unit that receives an input from the second user as to whether or not to respond to the report;
a responder determining unit that selects a person to request a response from among the plurality of second users;
The animal communal monitoring system according to any one of items 3 to 7, further comprising:
[Item 9]
When the response reception unit receives input from a plurality of second users indicating that the response is available,
The animal collaboration according to item 8, wherein the responder determining unit determines, among the plurality of second users, a person with the highest priority set in advance by the first user as the responder. monitoring system.
[Item 10]
further comprising a location information acquisition unit that acquires location information of the second user,
When the response reception unit receives input from a plurality of second users indicating that the response is available,
Item 8. The animal joint monitoring system according to item 8, wherein the responder determining unit determines, among the plurality of second users, the person who is closest to the animal as the responder.
[Item 11]
The response reception unit further receives input of available time,
When the response reception unit receives input from a plurality of second users indicating that the response is available,
Item 8. The joint animal monitoring system according to item 8, wherein the responder determining unit determines, among the plurality of second users, the person who is available for the earliest available time as the responder.
[Item 12]
When the response reception unit receives input from a plurality of second users indicating that the response is available,
The responder determining unit determines, when the detected abnormal situation has a high degree of urgency, the person who can respond the earliest among the plurality of second users as the responder, and the emergency situation is low. Item 8. The joint animal monitoring system according to item 8, wherein, among the plurality of second users, a person with the highest preset priority is determined as the person who will respond.
[Item 13]
The second information providing unit makes the report to a second user with the highest priority set in advance,
If an input indicating that the second user is unavailable is received, or if a response is not obtained from the second user within a predetermined time, the second user having the next highest priority is notified. The animal joint monitoring system according to any one of items 3 to 6, characterized by:
[Item 14]
further comprising a location information acquisition unit that acquires location information of the second user,
The second information providing unit makes the report to the second user who is the shortest distance from the animal,
If an input indicating that the second user is unavailable is received, or if a response is not obtained from the second user within a predetermined period of time, the notification is sent to the second user who is the next closest to the other user. The animal joint monitoring system according to any one of items 3 to 6, characterized by:
[Item 15]
further comprising an urgency determination unit that determines the urgency of the detected abnormality,
When the degree of urgency is low, the first information providing unit reports information to the first user that there is an abnormality before the second information providing unit reports,
The animal monitoring system according to any one of items 1 to 14, wherein the second information providing unit reports to the second user based on an operation by the first user.
[Item 16]
The animal monitoring system according to any one of items 1 to 15, further comprising an entry support unit that allows the second user to enter the room where the animal is kept.
[Item 17]
17. The animal monitoring system according to item 16, wherein the room entry support unit performs processing to enable the second user to unlock the room.

<Details of embodiment>
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Summary>
In the system according to the embodiment of the present invention, a first user who is an owner and a second user such as a family member or friend of the first user, a veterinarian, or a security company collaborate to care for animals such as pets and livestock. This allows for monitoring. FIG. 1 shows an overview of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The animal's body and room are equipped with sensors, cameras, etc., and the primary user, the owner, can receive the acquired information on his or her own mobile device even when he or she is away for work or other reasons. This allows us to keep track of the animals. In the present invention, the information about the animal is shared with close people other than the owner, such as family members and friends, so that even a second user other than the owner can keep an eye on the animal. In addition, in the event of an emergency such as a disaster such as an earthquake or an animal suddenly becoming unwell, the information will be reported to veterinarians and security companies so that they can rush to the animal as soon as possible and rescue it. It is something that can be done. The present invention can be used not only for animals kept as pets but also for other animals such as livestock.

<Configuration>
As shown in FIG. 2, the service providing system includes a server 1 that provides a service, a measurement data acquisition means, a communication terminal 2, a first user terminal 3, which are connected to the server 1 via a network such as the Internet. It includes a second user terminal 4. Further, the server 1 is connected to an analysis server 5 via a network. In FIG. 2, for convenience of explanation, one measurement data acquisition means, one communication terminal 2, one first user terminal 3, one second user terminal 4, and one analysis server 5 are shown. The terminal can be connected to the network of this system.

The server 1 can provide services to the first user terminal 3 and the second user terminal 4 via an application. The first user terminal 3 and the second user terminal 4 download an application from the server 1 or another server, execute this application, and access the server 1 through web page viewing software such as a browser. It is possible to send and receive information to and from the server 1, and it is also possible to receive services.

The communication terminal 2 can acquire weight data and behavior measurement data by performing short-range wireless communication with a measurement data acquisition means (a device such as an acceleration sensor or a weight measurement means attached to an animal, for example, a cat). . More specifically, first, as shown in FIG. 3, a collar-shaped (or pendant-shaped) wearable device is attached to the animal. The wearable device includes an acceleration sensor 6 and/or a temperature sensor. The measurement data acquisition means such as the weight measuring means 8 and the sensor 6 transmit the data to the receiving device 7 installed in the same house through short-range wireless communication such as BLUETOOTH (registered trademark) LAW ENERGY (BLE). 7 transfers the data to a communication terminal 2 such as a router, and the communication terminal 2 transmits the data to the server 1 via the network. Note that the measurement data acquisition means may directly transmit the data to the user terminals 3 and 4 through short-range wireless communication such as BLUETOOTH (registered trademark) LAW ENERGY (BLE). Here, the receiving device 7 is equipped with, for example, a Linux-based operation system, and can also be equipped with various sensors such as a temperature sensor that measures the air temperature. However, it is of course possible to use a built-in chipset or the like that does not include an OS.

Returning to FIG. 2, the first user terminal 3 and the second user terminal 4 may be general-purpose computers such as workstations or personal computers, or may be smartphones, tablets, mobile terminals, or other information terminals. good.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the server 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Note that the illustrated configuration is an example, and other configurations may be used.

As illustrated, a server 1 is connected to a database (not shown) and forms part of the system. The server 1 may be a general-purpose computer, such as a workstation or a personal computer, or may be logically implemented by cloud computing.

The server 1 includes at least a control unit 10, a memory 11, a storage 12, a transmitting/receiving unit 13, an input/output unit 14, etc., which are electrically connected to each other via a bus 15.

The control unit 10 is an arithmetic device that controls the overall operation of the server 1, controls the transmission and reception of data between each element, and performs information processing necessary for application execution and authentication processing. For example, the control unit 10 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and executes programs stored in the storage 12 and developed in the memory 11 to perform various information processing.

The memory 11 includes a main memory made up of a volatile storage device such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), and an auxiliary memory made up of a non-volatile storage device such as a flash memory or an HDD (Hard Disc Drive). . The memory 11 is used as a work area for the processor 10, and also stores a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) executed when the server 1 is started, various setting information, and the like.

The storage 12 stores various programs such as application programs. A database (not shown) storing data used for each process may be constructed in the storage 12.

The transmitter/receiver 13 connects the server 1 to the network. Note that the transmitting/receiving unit 13 may include a short-range communication interface of Bluetooth (registered trademark) and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy).

The input/output unit 14 includes information input devices such as a keyboard and mouse, and output devices such as a display.

The bus 15 is commonly connected to each of the above elements and transmits, for example, address signals, data signals, and various control signals.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the software configuration of the server of the system of the present invention. The server includes a second user setting section 21, a measurement data acquisition section 22, an animal information generation section 23, a display control section 24, a first information provision section 25, a second information provision section 26, an abnormality detection section 27, and an emergency level determination section. 28, response reception unit 29, responder determination unit 30, room entry support unit 31, first user information storage unit 41, second user information storage unit 42, measurement data storage unit 43, animal information storage unit 44, urgency standard storage 45.

Note that the second user setting section 21, the measurement data acquisition section 22, the animal information generation section 23, the display control section 24, the first information provision section 25, the second information provision section 26, the abnormality detection section 27, and the urgency determination section 28 , the response reception unit 29, the responder determination unit 30, and the room entry support unit 31 are realized by the control unit 10 included in the server reading out a program stored in the storage 12 into the memory 11 and executing it, and the first user information The storage unit 41, the second user information storage unit 42, the measurement data storage unit 43, the animal information storage unit 44, and the urgency standard storage unit 45 are part of the storage area provided by at least one of the memory 11 and the storage 12. It is realized as.

The first user information storage unit 41 manages basic information of the first user (owner) and basic information of the animal bred by the first user. The basic information of the first user includes information such as gender, age, occupation, and address. The basic information of the animal kept by the first user includes name, type, age, sex, place of residence, health information, etc. Health information includes hospital visit history, medical history, and the like. Information on multiple animals can be registered for one first user. Further, the basic information of the first user and the basic information of the animal are managed, for example, in association with the user ID assigned to the first user. It is also possible to give an ID to the animal.

The second user information storage unit 42 stores the second user's basic information and setting information in association with the first user's information (ID, etc.). The second user is a person with whom the first user shares various information about the animal kept, and may be a family member, a friend, a veterinarian, a landlord, a security company, a pet insurance company, or the like. A plurality of second users can be registered for one first user. The basic information of the second user includes information such as gender, age, occupation, address, relationship with the first user (family, friends, veterinarian, etc.). Further, the setting information can include settings regarding the viewing range of information received during normal times and notifications when an abnormal situation occurs.

The viewing range of the information that the second user normally receives can be set by the first user for each information item, as shown in FIG. 6, for example. For example, real-time behavior data (information about the pet's current behavior) may be disclosed to "Second User 1 Family" but not disclosed to "Second User 2 Veterinarian" and "Second User 3 Security Company". , etc. can be set. As with the second user 3 security company, it is possible that all items of information received during normal times are set to non-disclosure. This is a case where the second user's role is to respond only when an abnormal situation occurs.

For example, as shown in Figure 6, notification settings when an abnormal situation occurs can be configured for each second user, such as whether or not to report when an abnormal situation occurs, the priority level when reporting, and the communication between other second users. Information such as the rank and whether or not the first user has a means (such as a key) to enter the room may be included. It is possible to prevent the second user who is set not to be notified from being notified even if an abnormal situation occurs. Priority when reporting contributes to the order in which reports are made and the order in which people are selected as actual responders. Details will be described later. Furthermore, possession of a key is information as to whether or not the first user has a key to enter the room where the animal is kept. If your family has a duplicate key, or if you have entrusted the key to a security company in case of an emergency, register information indicating that you own the key.

The second user setting unit 21 receives input of basic information and setting information of a second user with whom the first user can share information about pets kept by the first user. The information can be input by the first user. The basic information and setting information of the second user are as described above, and are stored in the second user information storage section 42.

The measurement data acquisition unit 22 acquires data regarding the condition of the animal from various measurement data acquisition means. The measurement data acquisition unit 22 may include a behavioral measurement data acquisition unit 221, a weight data acquisition unit 222, and an environmental data acquisition unit 223, as shown in FIG. Data regarding the animal's condition includes data on the animal's behavior, activity, physical condition, and surrounding environment. The measurement data acquisition means herein includes devices that acquire data, such as an acceleration sensor, a weight sensor, and a camera. Further, various data acquired by the measurement data acquisition section 22 are stored in the measurement data storage section 43. As shown in FIG. 7, the measurement data storage section 43 may include a behavioral measurement data storage section 431, a weight data storage section 432, and an environmental data storage section 433, in which the data acquired from the corresponding measurement data acquisition section 22 is stored. Stored. The measurement data acquisition unit 22 and the measurement data storage unit 43 may include an acquisition unit and a storage unit that acquire other data such as animal body temperature data and image data in addition to these data.

The behavior measurement data acquisition unit 221 receives the behavior measurement data detected by the sensor 6 and transmitted via the communication terminal 2 via the transmission/reception unit 13 of the server 1 . The received behavior measurement data is stored in the behavior measurement data storage section 431. Alternatively, it can also be stored in a storage built into the analysis server 5 shown in FIG. In addition, it may be image data.

The sensor 6 is, for example, an acceleration sensor. As shown in FIG. 3, the acceleration sensor 6 is a sensor that detects acceleration in three mutually orthogonal axes directions (x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis directions), and is built into a collar worn on the neck of an animal such as a cat. be done. As shown in Figure 3, the front and back direction of the animal is defined as the X direction, the left and right direction is defined as the Y direction, and the up and down direction is defined as the Z direction, and a collar is attached to the animal so that acceleration signals in each direction can be detected according to the animal's movement. . The type of sensor is not limited to this, and any sensing device that can acquire information regarding the movement of an animal, such as a gyro sensor or a motion sensor, can be employed.

The weight data acquisition unit 222 acquires weight data from the weight measurement means. The weight measuring means is not particularly limited as long as it is a device that is equipped with a weight sensor and can measure the amount of food eaten, the amount of excretion, and the body weight. Depending on the purpose, it is preferable to have a shape (for example, a board shape) on which pet items such as a toilet, tableware, and water bowl can be placed. The weight measuring means and the server are connected by a communication network. Preferably, the weight data is acquired in chronological order. The acquired weight data is stored in the weight data storage unit 432 together with time information. The weight data storage unit 432 stores the weight data acquired by the weight data acquisition unit 222 for each weight measuring means. Preferably, the weight data is time series data that is stored together with the time data.

The environmental data acquisition unit 223 acquires environmental data in which animals are kept. For example, temperature data, room temperature data, humidity data, etc. are acquired from thermometers and hygrometers installed indoors and outdoors. Additionally, data regarding the climate of the area where the animal is located may be obtained from the Internet. Furthermore, the environmental data acquisition unit 223 acquires information regarding disasters. Disaster information is information on the occurrence of earthquakes, fires, floods, tsunamis, lightning strikes, tornadoes, and the like. Information regarding disasters may be obtained from various sensors installed indoors and outdoors, or may be obtained from disaster information provided on the Internet, and the method is not particularly limited. The acquired environmental data is stored in the environmental data storage section 433.

The animal information generation unit 23 generates animal information regarding the activity of the animal to be measured by analyzing various measurement data. The animal information generation section 23 can include a behavior information generation section 231, a weight information generation section 232, and the like. Further, data regarding animals generated by the animal information generation section 23 is stored in the animal information storage section 44. The animal information may include a behavior information storage section 441 and a weight information storage section 442, as shown in FIG.

The behavior information generation unit 231 generates animal behavior data based on the received behavior measurement data in cooperation with the analysis server (or by independent processing in the behavior information generation unit 231).

Here, the behavior information includes exercise data, sleep data, meal data, toilet data, position data, etc. stored in the behavior information storage unit 441. More specifically, exercise data includes aggregated data such as whether or not you exercise, how much activity you do in a day with time, and sleep data includes whether you exercise or not, time and how much you sleep in a day. Aggregated data such as whether or not the patient is eating water, and dietary data such as whether or not the patient is eating and over time, how many meals they have eaten, and when they have eaten, and whether or not they are drinking water and how many times they drank water and when they drank it. Aggregated data and toilet data include aggregated data such as whether and when people defecate, how many times they urinate, and when they urinate, as well as aggregated data such as whether they urinate and how many times they urinate, and when they urinate. , can be mentioned. Further, positional data includes information such as which direction the user moved and where the user was located, and other data such as how many times the user drank water and when the user drank water. Although not shown, the animal's body temperature may be measured at the time of measurement.

The flow of generating behavior information will be explained. First, the behavior information generation unit 231 checks the measurement data detected by the behavior measurement data acquisition unit 221. Subsequently, the behavior information generation unit 231 determines the behavior type based on the measurement data. The behavior type determination method can be realized by some known behavior analysis methods, but for example, the acceleration data (Gx, Gy, Gz) in the x, y, and z axis directions obtained from the acceleration sensor 6 may be determined using wavelet transformation. , decomposes a signal with vibration into period and amplitude for each time, recognizes the periodicity of the signal at each time as a behavior spectrum, and compares it with pre-registered behavior elements according to the similarity of the spectrum. can be classified.

If there is no information on the behavioral element registered in advance, it can be recognized as a new behavioral element and provided to a veterinarian, for example, as data indicating abnormal behavior, which will be described later. Alternatively, for example, the acceleration data obtained from the acceleration sensor 6 may be Fourier-transformed, and the average value or peak value of the frequency component calculated along the time axis may be calculated based on the behavior type (exercise, sleep, meal, etc.) of the same or different animal. , toilets, etc.), or identify characteristic waveforms and spectral values based on frequency components calculated by fast Fourier transform (FFT) of acceleration components. The behavior can be identified by extracting and comparing with known characteristic waveforms or spectral values corresponding to the same or different animal behavior types (exercise, sleeping, eating, toileting, etc.). Furthermore, the behavior type can also be estimated by understanding the animal's posture from the postures in each axis direction (θx, θy, θz) calculated by the acceleration sensor.

When the behavior type is determined, the behavior information generation unit 231 generates data indicating the behavior type as behavior information together with the date and time when the measurement data was measured (or the date and time when it was received, or the date and time when the behavior information was generated).

Here, the flow of behavior type analysis will be further explained with reference to FIG. Data preprocessing 102 is performed on acceleration data 101 acquired from an acceleration sensor to convert it into spectral data obtained by the above-mentioned wavelet transform or component data obtained by Fourier transform or the like. The thus preprocessed data is then subjected to scoring 103 using a binary model group. The binary model according to this embodiment is compared and analyzed with models of activities that can be concretely expressed (interpreted) such as the WALK model, RUN model, EAT model, STAY model, etc. Score which part can be inferred as an action. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, probability is scored by analyzing input data using each model. In the illustrated example, ``walking'' is 91, ``running'' is 62, ``eating'' is 21, and ``stopping'' is 8, and the highest score is 91 for ``walking'', so the binary model As a result of group scoring, the behavior is classified as "walking."

Next, returning to FIG. 9, scoring 104 is performed using the multivalued model group. Scoring using a multivalued model group according to this embodiment uses machine learning to determine which binary model group should give priority to the results obtained by the binary model when the results obtained by the binary model are competitive. judge. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 10, the results are 91 for "walking" and 62 for "running," and the score for "running" is also relatively high. In this case, it is determined which binary model should be prioritized in this case based on a combination of past input data to the binary model group and determination results. In this manner, in this embodiment, the accuracy of data is improved by further evaluating the results of the binary model group specialized for determining each behavior using the multivalued model group.

Returning to FIG. 9, the determined behavior is further corrected based on the rule base. For example, if a binary model suddenly determines a behavior that is unlikely to occur, such as ``running'', during a determination interval such as ``eating'' or ``sleeping'', which tend to continue for a certain period of time in cat behavior, Otherwise, if it cannot be determined, the prediction result of the binary model for this interval is rejected and correction is made to presume another behavior based on the rules. When the correction is completed, a pre-registered action label is assigned to the action 106.

In this embodiment, feedback 107 from the user is received in order to respond to individual differences among animals and individual factors caused by the environment. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the current behavior is recorded (manually) while observing the animals under their care. By associating the record with the data of the acceleration sensor, it is possible to collect teacher data by visual inspection or the like. The feedback data 108 obtained in this way is accumulated and used to improve the accuracy of the binary model group model.

The behavior information generated as described above is stored in the behavior information storage section 441. Preferably, the behavior information is time series data stored together with time data.

The weight information generation unit 232 analyzes the weight data acquired by the weight data acquisition unit 222 and calculates various measurement targets (body weight, meal amount, water intake amount, defecation amount, urination amount, etc.). The weight information generation section 232 includes a weight calculation section. The weight calculation unit analyzes the weight data acquired by the weight data acquisition unit 222 and outputs target weight information according to the measurement mode. The measurement mode defines at least the object to be measured as described below, and can be set by the user, or may be set automatically by recognizing the item placed on the weight measuring means.
An example of a weight calculation method for each measurement mode is shown below.

<Meal amount/water intake/weight measurement mode>
FIG. 12 shows an example of measuring meal amount, water intake, and body weight. When an animal steps on the weight measuring means to eat or drink water, the time-series weight data exhibits behavior as shown in FIG. 12, for example. The difference ΔW1 between the weight before the animal gets on the weight measuring means and the weight when the animal gets on it can be regarded as the weight of the animal. In addition, the difference ΔW2 between the weight of the animal before it gets on the weight measuring means and the weight of the animal when it gets off after eating and drinking water is the decrease in the amount of food or water, that is, the amount of food or water taken. This can be seen as the amount of food and water consumed. If the weight data fluctuates due to movement of the animal while it is on the weight measuring means, use the average value or the weight data obtained when the animal does not move for a certain period of time, etc. An optimal value may be adopted as appropriate.

<Excretion amount/weight measurement mode>
FIG. 13 shows an example of measuring excretion amount and body weight. When an animal enters the toilet above the weight measuring means to defecate or urinate, the time-series weight data exhibits behavior as shown in FIG. 13, for example. The difference ΔW3 between the weight when the animal enters the toilet and the weight when the animal leaves the toilet can be regarded as the weight of the animal. The weight may be the difference between the weight before the animal enters the toilet and the weight immediately after the animal enters the toilet. Further, the difference ΔW4 between the weight of the animal before it enters the toilet and the weight of the animal after it leaves the toilet can be regarded as the amount of excretion. If the weight data fluctuates due to movement of the animal while it is in the toilet, use the most appropriate method, such as using an average value or weight data obtained when the animal does not move for a certain period of time. It is good to adopt the value.

<Weight measurement mode>
FIG. 14 shows an example of measuring body weight. When an animal rests on a bed or the like on a weight measuring means to sleep or relax on the bed, the time-series weight data exhibits behavior as shown in FIG. 14, for example. The difference ΔW5 between the weight when the animal enters the bed and the weight when the animal leaves the bed can be regarded as the weight of the animal.

As described above, the weight calculation unit can estimate the weight of various measurement objects from changes in weight data over time. The type of measurement target and its calculation method are not limited to those described above, and can be set arbitrarily.

The weight information generation section 232 may further include a weight information evaluation section. The weight information evaluation unit compares the weight information calculated by the weight calculation unit with the behavior data and evaluates the reliability of the weight information. The weight information evaluation unit refers to the behavior data at the time (t1 to t2) when the weight information of the measurement target was acquired from the behavior data storage unit, and determines whether the pet's behavior at that time matches the weight information of the measurement target. confirm. For example, when measuring in the meal amount measurement mode, if the weight data fluctuates, the amount of change in the weight data is determined as the "meal amount" as described above. If the behavior data from t1 to t2) indicates "meal", it can be determined that the weight information is likely to be the amount of food. On the other hand, if the behavior data in that time period is not "eating" (for example, "playing"), it is determined that the weight information may not indicate the amount of food eaten. In this way, the weight information evaluation unit determines that the weight information is likely if the behavioral data in the same time period as the weight information matches the weight information, and if the weight information does not match, the weight information evaluation unit determines that the weight information is likely. Data can be tagged as questionable or deleted.

The weight information generation section 232 may further include a weight type identification section. The weight type identification unit calculates the weight if it is possible to distinguish between eating food and drinking water, or defecating and urinating based on behavioral data. The weight information calculated by the department can be specified more specifically. For example, when both a tableware and a water container are placed on the weight measuring means in the meal amount/water intake/weight measurement mode, ΔW2 indicates the sum of either or both of the amount of food consumed and the amount of water consumed. Here, if the behavior data from t1 to t2 indicates "meal", it can be determined that ΔW2 is the amount of meal. Similarly, in the excretion amount/weight measurement mode, ΔW4 indicates the sum of defecation amount, urination amount, or both, but the behavioral data during the time period when the weight data was acquired was "defecation". In this case, ΔW4 can be determined to be the amount of defecation. In this way, the weight type identification unit can more specifically identify the object of weight information measurement from the behavior data in the same time period.

The weight information generation section 232 may further include an individual identification section. The individual identification unit can determine which individual the weight information calculated by the weight calculation unit is attributed to in the case of a multi-head pet. When keeping multiple animals, it is usually difficult to identify which individual is on a single weight measuring device. The individual identification unit refers to the behavior data of each individual during the time period (t1 to t2) in which the weight data of the measurement target was acquired, and identifies the individual to which the weight information is to be linked. In the example shown in FIG. 16, it is determined from the behavioral data of individual A and individual B from t1 to t2 that the weight data acquired by the weight measuring means is that of individual A who was eating. In this way, the individual identification unit can select an individual that exhibits behavior data that matches each weight information, and can add individual information to the weight information.

Alternatively, individuals may be identified from waveforms such as acceleration data obtained from sensors of each individual. It is known that even when the behavior is the same, each individual exhibits unique characteristics in its waveform. Individuals can be identified by comparing the characteristics of the behavior waveform data during the time period in which the weight data of the measurement target was acquired, with the waveforms for each behavior registered in advance for each individual.

In addition to the methods described above, various methods may be used to identify individuals. For example, this may be done by analyzing an image obtained by an image acquisition means capable of photographing the weight measuring means. Moving images are taken over time by an image acquisition means such as a video camera, and the individual sitting on the weight measuring means 8 is identified by image recognition. The individual identification unit can identify the individual to which weight information is to be linked, from the image data at the time when the weight data of the measurement target was acquired.

The individual identification unit may identify an individual near the weight measuring means based on data including individual information from a pet's collar or the like, depending on the strength of radio waves such as BLUETOOTH (registered trademark) LAW ENERGY (BLE). By providing a BEL receiving means at or near the weight measuring means, it is possible to recognize a nearby individual.

The individual identification section may identify individuals based on their weight. By registering the weight of an individual in advance and referring to the registered weight when calculating the weight in each measurement mode, the individual can be identified.

As described above, the individual identification unit can identify individuals using a plurality of methods, and one or more of these methods may be employed, and a plurality of methods may be combined to perform individual identification.

The weight information generated by the weight information generation section 232 is stored in the weight information storage section 442. For example, the measurement target and the weight (eg, meal amount) of the measurement target may be stored for each measurement date and time. In addition, in the case of a multi-dog household, information on individual names and individual IDs may be included.

The display control unit 24 generates data that constitutes a screen displayed on the displays of the first user terminal 3 and the second user terminal 4. The display control unit 24 preferably displays the generated behavior information, weight information, and environmental data together with time information. FIG. 17 is an example of a screen display. It is also possible to create a report that aggregates behavior information and weight information over a predetermined period (one week, one month, etc.). For example, it is possible to aggregate and display the daily average values of the number of meals, the amount of meals, the amount of exercise, the sleeping time, the number of times of defecation, the amount of defecation, and the distribution of the time of day of each activity.

The display control unit 24 adjusts the data to be output for each second user. The display control unit 24 reads out the viewing range of information normally received by each second user from the second user information storage unit 42, configures and outputs a screen that includes only disclosable items among the information items.

The first information providing unit 25 transmits the display data generated by the display control unit 24 to the first user terminal 3. In normal times, information may be transmitted, for example, at predetermined time intervals, each time information is updated, or when requested by the first user. Further, as described below, when an abnormality is detected, abnormality information is reported to the first user terminal 3.

The second information providing unit 26 transmits the display data generated by the display control unit 24 to the second user terminal 4. Normally, based on the viewing range set in the second user information storage section 42, for example, at predetermined time intervals, every time information is updated, when there is a request from the second user, or when the first user You may also send information when instructed to do so by. Further, as described below, when an abnormality is detected, abnormality information is reported to the second user terminal 4. As described below, there may be multiple patterns for how to transmit the abnormality information, and the method may be selected for each user or may be automatically selected based on the degree of urgency.

The abnormality detection unit 27 detects an abnormality from generated information such as behavior information, weight information, and environmental information. For example, from behavioral information, when a signal indicating some kind of poor physical condition such as vomiting or convulsions is detected, or when the number of actions such as the number of meals or defecation, or the amount of activity is abnormally low (or high), it is classified as "abnormal". ” can be determined. Furthermore, from the weight information, it can be determined that the weight of the measurement target (meal amount, water intake amount, defecation amount, urination amount, body weight) is abnormally low (or high) as "abnormal." As a method for determining whether the number of actions or the weight of the object to be measured is abnormally low (or high), a general appropriate range is set in advance for each, and if it is below or above the range, it is judged as "abnormal". You can judge. Alternatively, an average range for the individual animal over a predetermined period may be set, and a case where the animal deviates from the range may be regarded as an "abnormality." Furthermore, we set an average range for other animals that share attributes (animal species, type (dog breed, cat breed, etc.), age, weight, sex, chronic disease, etc.) with the animal in question, and detect deviations from the range. It may be judged as "abnormal".

Furthermore, machine learning can also be used in the above abnormality detection. First, when detecting an abnormality in the normal behavior of the individual animal, a normal model is learned based on the normal behavior information, weight information, etc. of the individual animal. If necessary, the behavior information and weight information may be subjected to preprocessing such as spectrum conversion. Known methods can be used to generate a learning model in machine learning. Then, using the newly acquired behavior information and weight information as input, it is determined whether there is an abnormality.

In addition, when detecting abnormalities in the normal behavior of other animals that share attributes with the animal in question, a normal model is created based on the normal behavior information and weight information of other animals that share attributes. It can learn and similarly determine abnormalities. When creating a normal model, select animals that share one or more of the following attributes: species, type (dog breed, cat breed, etc.), age, weight, gender, chronic disease, etc. be able to. Further, attributes such as age and weight may be set in a range having a certain range, such as age 1 to 3 years old, weight 10 kg to 15 kg, etc. For example, behavior information and weight information of animals of the same species, age, and gender (such as a 3-year-old male cat) can be selected from the animal information storage unit 44 and learned.

The abnormality detection unit 27 can preset appropriate ranges for the temperature and humidity of the room from the environmental information, and determine that there is an "abnormality" when the temperature and humidity of the room are below or above the ranges. Additionally, if a disaster such as an earthquake or fire is detected, it is also determined to be an "abnormality."

The urgency determination unit 28 determines the urgency of the abnormality information detected by the abnormality detection unit 27. The degree of urgency may be determined by setting the degree of urgency for each abnormal event in advance. The degree of urgency can be set by storing, for example, a table of correspondence between the details of the abnormality and the degree of urgency in the degree of urgency standard storage unit 45. FIG. 18 is an example of information stored in the urgency standard storage unit 45. The degree of urgency may be classified into multiple levels such as "high," "medium," and "low," but is not particularly limited. As an example, when we obtain information on the occurrence of an earthquake as environmental information, if the seismic intensity is 5 or higher, the urgency is "high," if the seismic intensity is 4, the urgency is "medium," and if the seismic intensity is 3 or less, the urgency is "low." etc. The level of urgency may be set by the first user.

Furthermore, predetermined conditions can be added when determining the degree of urgency. For example, if "vomiting" is detected from the behavioral information, and if the behavioral information is also detected indicating that the person had eaten a certain amount of time before "vomiting", it is determined that the vomiting was simply caused by eating forcefully. You can set the level of urgency to be "low" in other cases, and set the level of urgency to "high" in other cases. Furthermore, when a plurality of abnormal conditions are detected, the degree of urgency may be determined based on a combination of the abnormal conditions. For example, if two or more abnormal information such as abnormal information that the amount of food is abnormally low and abnormal information such as abnormally low amount of activity occur together within a predetermined time, the level of urgency is set to "high". etc. The combination of abnormality information with "high" urgency can be set as appropriate.

The response receiving unit 29 receives a response from the second user indicating whether or not the user can respond to the abnormality report. The response reception unit 29 receives, for example, information on whether or not the service is available, information on the available time period (available now, one hour from now, etc.). Alternatively, position information may be received using a known method such as GPS.

The response person determining unit 30 determines the person to whom a response to the abnormal situation is actually requested from among the second users who can respond. For example, the person closest to the second user may be determined as the responder based on the position information of the second user, or a person with a high priority may be determined as the responder. A specific example will be described later.

The unlock support unit performs necessary processing for the second user selected as the responder to enter the room where the animal to be rescued is kept. For example, you may issue a smart lock key for the room where the animal to be rescued is kept, or set the biometric information of the selected second user for biometric authentication to enter the room, and It is possible to perform processing such as enabling the user to cancel biometric authentication. In addition, if necessary, the app may also enable the use of a calling method that enables calls between the selected second user and the first user, and a message sending and receiving method that allows the exchange of messages. good.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of processing in the embodiment of the present invention.

First, the measurement data acquisition unit 22 continuously acquires measurement data from various data measurement means such as an acceleration sensor and a weight sensor (S201). Furthermore, the animal information generation unit 23 analyzes the acquired measurement data and generates behavior information and weight information (S202).

The abnormality detection unit 27 determines whether or not there is an abnormal state from the generated animal information and other environmental data (S203). If there is an abnormal state, the second information providing unit reports information to the effect that there is an abnormality to the second user (S204). At the same time, the first information providing unit notifies the first user. The report can include a message to the effect that there is an abnormality, behavioral information based on the message, weight information, environmental data, images, etc.

The second user who received the report inputs information such as whether or not a response can be taken and the available time slot (S205). The responder determining unit 30 determines the second user to whom the response is to be requested based on the input from the second user (S206). The responder determining unit 30 may select the person who can respond the earliest, may select the person with the highest preset priority, or may select the person using another method. A notification is sent to the selected second user requesting a response.

Further, the second user information storage unit 42 is referred to to confirm whether the selected second user owns a room entry means such as a key (S207). If the user does not have access means, the unlocking support unit provides unlocking means (S208).

FIG. 20 is a flow diagram in the second embodiment of the present invention.

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it includes a step of determining the degree of urgency, but is otherwise similar. Hereinafter, only the different points will be explained.

If an abnormality is detected in S303, the urgency determining unit 28 determines the degree of urgency (S309). If it is determined that the degree of urgency is high, the second information providing unit notifies the second user similarly to the first embodiment (S304). On the other hand, if the degree of urgency is not high or if it is unknown, the first information providing unit first notifies the first user (S310). The first user looks at the report and determines whether or not it is necessary to report to the second user, and if the first user inputs that it is necessary (S311 = Yes), the second information providing unit sends the report to the second user. (S304). If the user inputs that the notification to the second user is unnecessary (S311=No), the notification to the second user is not performed.

Alternatively, if a response is not obtained from the first user within a predetermined period of time after the first user is notified in S310, the second user may be notified.

According to the second embodiment, the second user is not uniformly notified of all detected abnormalities, so it is possible to reduce the excessive burden on the second user.

An example of the process from reporting to determining the second user who requests response will be described below.

<Multiple notification>
The second information providing unit can simultaneously notify all of the second users who have been set to receive a notification when an abnormal situation occurs. The second information providing unit reads the registered second user's reporting settings when an abnormal situation occurs from the second user information storage unit 42, and reports the second user who is set to report. .

After the second information provision unit makes a report, the second user who receives the report will receive information such as availability, location information, available time (available now, available in 1 hour, etc.). is input, and the response reception unit 29 receives the information. The response person determining unit 30 determines the second user to whom the response is requested based on predetermined rules.

When a simultaneous report is made, a responder is determined based on the information input by the second user. For example, the second user who inputs information indicating that he/she is available at the earliest timing can be determined as the responder. Further, from among the second users who have inputted information indicating that they can respond within a predetermined period of time since the report, a person with a preset high priority may be determined as the responder.

Another example is to determine the person who takes the shortest time to reach the rescue target animal (hereinafter referred to as the required arrival time) as the responder based on the second user's location information and available response time. Good too. If the second user's position information can be used, the second user's position information is acquired from the second user terminal, and the travel time from the second user to the room where the animal is present is calculated. Then, the total time of available time and travel time is calculated as the required arrival time. FIG. 21 is an example of determining the second user who requires the shortest arrival time as the corresponding person. In an example where four second users are registered as shown in FIG. 21, the required arrival time is calculated for second users 1, 3, and 4 who have input that they are available. The total time it takes to reach the room where the animal is located ( Calculate the required arrival time). If the request is available immediately, the available time may be set to 0 minutes. In the example of FIG. 21, since the second user 1 has the shortest required arrival time, the responder determining unit 30 determines the second user 1 as the responder.

<Sequential notification>
The second information providing unit can sequentially report in a predetermined order among the second users who have been set to report. The predetermined order may be based on the priority determined in advance by the first user, for example, or may be based on the order of distance from the room in which the animal is located, based on the position information of the second user at the time of reporting. The order in which notifications are to be made can be set in advance by the first user. The second information providing unit reads out the information of the second users who have been set to report from the second user information storage unit 42, and when reporting based on priority, further prioritizes each second user. Read out the degree. In addition, when reporting based on the second user's location information, the second user's location information is acquired from the second user terminal 4, and the travel time from the second user's location to the room where the animal is located is calculated. Then, the order in which the second user who has the shortest travel time is notified is determined. If there are two or more people with the same priority or travel time, two or more second users may be notified at once.

FIG. 22 is an operational flow for sequential notification. The second information providing unit selects the first second user to report based on a predetermined order (S401), and reports the first second user (S402). The second user who received the report inputs whether or not to respond. If no input from the first second user indicating whether support is available is not received within a certain period of time (S403=No), it may be determined that support is not possible and the next second user may be notified. When the first second user inputs that the service is unavailable (S404=No), the second information providing unit notifies the next second user. Also, if it is determined that it is better to report to the next second user based on the second user's available time and travel time (S405 = No), the next second user may be reported. This determination may be made by the first user each time, or may be made based on predetermined conditions. For example, calculate the time required to reach the room where the animal is located from the available time and travel time, and if the time is longer than a certain value, specify that the next second user will be notified. I can do it.

The responder determining unit 30 determines the second user who first receives an input indicating that he/she is available as the responder. Alternatively, the second user who satisfies the available time and travel time conditions is determined as the person who can respond (S406). The second information providing unit notifies the next second user until the responder can be determined.

According to the present invention, even an owner who goes out a lot can feel at ease because he or she can share animal information with a plurality of second users and promptly request emergency response.

The embodiments described above are merely illustrative to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to be interpreted as limiting the present invention. It goes without saying that the present invention can be modified and improved without departing from its spirit, and that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

1 Server 2 Communication terminal 3 First user terminal 4 First user terminal 5 Analysis server 6 Sensor 7 Receiving device 8 Weight measurement means 21 Second user setting section 22 Measurement data acquisition section 23 Animal information generation section 24 Display control section 25 First Information provision unit 26 Second information provision unit 27 Abnormality detection unit 28 Urgency determination unit 29 Response reception unit 30 Responder determination unit 31 Room entry support unit 41 First user information storage unit 42 Second user information storage unit 43 Measurement data storage unit 44 Animal information storage unit 45 Urgency criteria storage unit

Claims (16)

a data acquisition unit that acquires data regarding the condition of the animal;
a first information providing unit that provides information based on the acquired data to a first user who is the owner of the animal;
a second information providing unit that provides the information to a second user different from the first user;
For each of the second users, accept settings from the first user as to whether or not to provide the items included in the information;
The animal joint monitoring system, wherein the second information providing unit provides each of the second users with only the items that can be provided among the information. further comprising an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormal situation from the acquired data,
The joint animal monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the second information providing unit reports information to the second user that there is an abnormality. 3. The animal joint monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality with respect to at least one of the behavioral indicators of the animal, such as the number and amount of meals, excretion, and sleep. 4. The animal joint monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality by performing machine learning on data regarding the behavioral index of the animal to be detected during normal times. The abnormality detection unit is characterized in that the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality by performing machine learning on data regarding the behavioral index during normal times of other animals that have at least one of the same gender and age as the animal to be detected. The animal joint monitoring system according to claim 3. The joint animal monitoring system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the second information providing unit provides the notification to all registered second users at the same time. a response reception unit that receives an input from the second user as to whether or not to respond to the report;
a responder determining unit that selects a person to request a response from among the plurality of second users;
The animal communal monitoring system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, further comprising: a data acquisition unit that acquires data regarding the condition of the animal;
a first information providing unit that provides information based on the acquired data to a first user who is the owner of the animal;
an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormal situation from the acquired data;
a second information providing unit that provides the information to a second user different from the first user , the second information providing unit notifying the second user of information that there is an abnormality ;
a response reception unit that receives an input from the second user as to whether or not to respond to the report;
a responder determining unit that selects a person to request a response from among the plurality of second users;
Equipped with
When the response reception unit receives input from a plurality of second users indicating that the response is available,
The animal joint monitoring system is characterized in that the responder determining unit determines, as the responder, a person who has the highest priority set in advance by the first user among the plurality of second users. further comprising a location information acquisition unit that acquires location information of the second user,
When the response reception unit receives input from a plurality of the second users that the response is available,
The animal joint monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein the responder determining unit determines, among the plurality of second users, the person who is closest to the animal as the responder. The response reception unit further receives input of available time,
When the response reception unit receives input from a plurality of second users indicating that the response is available,
8. The joint animal watching system according to claim 7, wherein the responder determining unit determines, among the plurality of second users, the person who is available for the earliest available time as the responder. a data acquisition unit that acquires data regarding the condition of the animal;
a first information providing unit that provides information based on the acquired data to a first user who is the owner of the animal;
an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormal situation from the acquired data;
a second information providing unit that provides the information to a second user different from the first user , the second information providing unit notifying the second user of information that there is an abnormality ;
a response reception unit that receives an input from the second user as to whether or not to respond to the report;
a responder determining unit that selects a person to request a response from among the plurality of second users;
Equipped with
When the response reception unit receives input from a plurality of second users indicating that the response is available,
The responder determining unit determines, when the detected abnormal situation has a high degree of urgency, the person who can respond the earliest among the plurality of second users as the responder, and the emergency situation is low. In this case, among the plurality of second users, a person with the highest preset priority is determined as the person to take care of the animal. The second information providing unit makes the report to a second user with the highest priority set in advance,
If an input indicating that the second user is unavailable is received, or if a response is not obtained from the second user within a predetermined time, the second user having the next highest priority is notified. The joint animal monitoring system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized by: further comprising a location information acquisition unit that acquires location information of the second user,
The second information providing unit makes the report to the second user who is the shortest distance from the animal,
If an input indicating that the second user is unavailable is received, or if a response is not obtained from the second user within a predetermined period of time, the notification is sent to the second user who is the next closest to the other user. The animal communal monitoring system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized by: further comprising an urgency determination unit that determines the urgency of the detected abnormal situation,
When the degree of urgency is low, the first information providing unit reports information to the first user that there is an abnormality before the second information providing unit reports,
The animal monitoring system according to any one of claims 2 to 13, wherein the second information providing unit reports to the second user based on an operation by the first user. The animal monitoring system according to any one of claims 2 to 14, further comprising an entry support unit that allows the second user to enter the room where the animal is kept. 16. The animal monitoring system according to claim 15, wherein the room entry support unit performs processing to enable the second user to unlock the room.