Usage status notification device

Abstract

The present application provides a use state notification device that adds a function of notifying a communication terminal of a use state to a refrigerator that does not have a communication function. The use state notification device includes a mounting portion, a wireless communication portion, a door opening / closing recognition portion, and a notification control portion. The mounting portion is used to mount the use state notification device to an outer portion of the refrigerator. The wireless communication portion performs wireless communication with the communication terminal. The door opening / closing recognition portion recognizes an opening / closing state of the refrigerator. The notification control portion transmits, to the communication terminal via the wireless communication portion, use information of the refrigerator based on the opening / closing state of the door of the refrigerator.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a usage status notification device for cold storage facilities. Background Technology

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a monitoring system that monitors the living conditions of a person being monitored, who is a user of a cold storage facility, based on changes in the amount of food in the cold storage facility. The cold storage facility constituting the monitoring system includes: a sensor that detects the amount of food in the cold storage facility; and a communication unit that transmits data on the amount of food detected by the sensor to a communication terminal of a monitor who is monitoring the living conditions of the person being monitored.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: International Publication No. 2019 / 058590 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem that the invention aims to solve

[0007] The aforementioned monitoring system utilizes the communication capabilities of the cold storage facility to send data on the quantity of food to the monitor's communication terminal. Therefore, if the person being monitored uses a cold storage facility without communication capabilities, there is an inconvenience in notifying the monitor's communication terminal of the cold storage's usage status.

[0008] In view of this background, the present invention provides a usage status notification device that can add the function of notifying a communication terminal of the usage status of a cold storage that does not have communication function.

[0009] Technical solutions for solving technical problems

[0010] This specification contains the entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-148091, filed on September 3, 2020.

[0011] The cold storage usage status notification device of the present invention includes: a mounting part for installing the usage status notification device on the exterior of the cold storage; a wireless communication part for wirelessly communicating with a communication terminal; a door opening / closing recognition part for identifying the opening / closing state of the cold storage door; and a notification control part for transmitting usage information of the cold storage based on the opening / closing state of the door identified by the door opening / closing recognition part to the communication terminal via the wireless communication part.

[0012] The effects of the invention

[0013] By installing the cold storage usage status notification device of the present invention on the exterior of the cold storage, usage information of the cold storage based on the identification of the opening and closing status of the cold storage door can be sent to a communication terminal. Therefore, it is possible to add a usage status notification function to cold storages that do not have communication capabilities. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is an explanatory diagram of the usage status notification device in the implementation embodiment.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of the usage status notification device in the implementation method.

[0016] Figure 3 This is an explanatory diagram showing the installation status of the usage status notification device and the detection range of the ranging sensor in the implementation embodiment.

[0017] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of the "Forgot to close notification" handling method in the implementation method.

[0018] Figure 5 This is a flowchart of the monitoring notification processing in the implementation method. Detailed Implementation

[0019] (Insights that form the basis of this invention, etc.)

[0020] When the inventors conceived of this invention, they used sensors and communication functions pre-installed in the cold storage to notify the cold storage of its usage status. Specifically, the system is configured to use sensors to detect the amount of food in the cold storage and send the data detected by the sensors to the communication terminal of a monitor or other person monitoring the living conditions of the person being monitored.

[0021] However, the inventors discovered the following technical problem: some commercially available cold storage facilities lack communication capabilities, and for these facilities, the aforementioned structure cannot be used to transmit the usage status of the cold storage to a communication terminal. The present invention is formulated to solve this technical problem.

[0022] Therefore, the present invention provides a usage status notification device that can add the function of notifying a communication terminal of the usage status of a cold storage that does not have communication function.

[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, sometimes necessary detailed descriptions are omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of well-known matters or repeated descriptions of substantially the same structures are sometimes omitted. This is to avoid making the following description too lengthy and to enable those skilled in the art to easily understand the present invention.

[0024] Furthermore, the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the invention, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0025] (Implementation Method)

[0026] The following uses Figures 1-5 The implementation method is described below.

[0027] [1. Structure]

[0028] [1-1. How to use the usage status notification device]

[0029] Reference Figure 1 The usage of the usage status notification device 1 of the present invention will be described. The usage status notification device 1 is installed on the top surface 120 of the exterior of the cold storage 110 disposed in the house 100. The usage status notification device 1 includes a ranging sensor 31 with a detection area near the front surface of the cold storage 110 and has wireless communication capabilities using Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0030] A Wi-Fi router 150 is installed in house 100. The usage status notification device 1 communicates wirelessly with the user terminal 91 used by the user U residing in house 100 and the smart speaker 160 used within house 100 via the Wi-Fi router 150. Alternatively, wireless communication between the usage status notification device 1, the user terminal 91, and the smart speaker 160 can also be achieved using communication standards other than Wi-Fi, such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). The user terminal 91 and the smart speaker 160 constitute the communication terminals of this invention.

[0031] Furthermore, the usage status notification device 1 wirelessly communicates with the management server 300 and the related party terminal 92, which has a defined relationship with the user U, via the Wi-Fi router 150 and the communication network 200. The communication structure of the management server 300 and the related party terminal 92 are equivalent to the communication terminal of the present invention.

[0032] Usage status notification device 1 identifies the open / closed state of the door of the cold storage 110 based on the detection data (distance data) obtained by the distance sensor 31 to objects within the detection area. Furthermore, usage status notification device 1 sends usage information of the cold storage 110 based on the open / closed state of the door to the user terminal 91, the smart speaker 160, the related party terminal 92, and the management server 300.

[0033] In this embodiment, when the door of the cold storage 110 is left open for more than a predetermined period of time before it is closed, the usage status notification device 1 sends a notification message indicating that the door has been left open to the smart speaker 160 and the user terminal 91. Upon receiving the notification message, the smart speaker 160 outputs an audio message such as "The door of the cold storage is open," informing the user that the door of the cold storage 110 is open. Upon receiving the notification message, the user terminal 91 displays a notification screen indicating that the door of the cold storage 110 is open and also outputs an audio message confirming that the door of the cold storage 110 is open.

[0034] Furthermore, if the door of the cold storage 110 remains closed for a predetermined period of inactivity, the usage status notification device will send abnormal user information to the relevant terminal 92 and the management server 300, notifying user U of the abnormality. Upon receiving the abnormal user information, the relevant terminal 92 will display a screen urging user U to confirm their safety.

[0035] The management server 300 has a usage status database (DB) 310 and a notification destination database (DB 311). The management server 300 receives user anomaly information sent from the usage status notification device 1 via the communication network 200 and records the received user anomaly information in the usage status database 310. The notification destination database 311 records the communication addresses of communication terminals such as emergency medical institutions that have pre-registered (registered) as the notification destination for user U's anomaly. Upon receiving user anomaly information, the management server 300 sends emergency medical assistance request information, including user U's information and the address of house 100, to the communication terminals such as emergency medical institutions, requesting emergency medical assistance for user U.

[0036] [1-2. Structure of the Usage Status Notification Device]

[0037] Next, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The structure of the usage status notification device 1 will be described below. The usage status notification device 1 includes a controller 10, a ranging sensor 31, a communication unit 50, a setting switch 55, an external power port 60, a power circuit 61, and a mounting unit 70. The communication unit 50 corresponds to the wireless communication unit of this invention.

[0038] like Figure 3 As shown, the mounting part 70 is provided on the bottom surface of the usage status notification device 1, fixing the usage status notification device 1 to the top surface 120 of the exterior (exterior decoration) of the cold storage 110. The mounting part 70 fixes the usage status notification device 1 to the top surface 120 of the cold storage 110 by means of, for example, magnets, suction cups, double-sided tape, etc. Figure 3As shown, when the usage status notification device 1 is installed on the top surface 120 of the cold storage 110, the distance sensor 31 detects the distance from the vicinity of the top surface 120 to the detection area Ar near the front surface of the cold storage 110.

[0039] like Figure 3 As shown, the cold storage 110 includes a door-type right door 111 and a left door 112 for the cold storage compartment, and drawer-type doors 113 for the first freezer compartment, 114 for the ice maker compartment, 115 for the second freezer compartment, and 116 for the vegetable compartment. The distance detected by the distance sensor 31 differs depending on whether any door is closed or open. Therefore, by detecting the displacement of the doors of the cold storage 110 based on the distance signal obtained by the distance sensor 31, it is possible to identify which door of the cold storage 110 is open and all doors of the cold storage 110 are closed.

[0040] As described above, the communication unit 50 conducts wireless communication via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc. The external power port 60 connects to a commercial power outlet installed in the house 100 or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminal on the refrigerator 110 to supply power to the power circuit 61. The power circuit 61 rectifies and transforms the power supplied from the external power port, supplying operating power to the controller 10, the communication unit 50, and the ranging sensor 31. Alternatively, a structure can be used to supply power to the power circuit 61 from the battery 63. The setting switch 55 is provided for operations such as registering the usage status notification device 1 with the Wi-Fi router 150.

[0041] The controller 10 comprises a processor 20, a memory 40, and interface circuitry (not shown). The processor 20 consists of one or more core processors. The memory 40 stores the control program 41 and user data 42 of the usage status notification device 1. The user data 42 records the communication addresses of the user terminal 91, the smart speaker 160, the related party terminal 92, and the management server 300. These communication addresses are set through the application program of the usage status notification device 1 executed by the user terminal 91 or the related party terminal 92.

[0042] The processor 20 functions as both the door opening / closing recognition processing unit 21 and the notification control unit 22 by reading and executing the control program 41 stored in the memory 40. The door opening / closing recognition processing unit 21 performs processing to identify the open / closed state of the doors 111 to 116 of the cold storage 110 based on the distance measurement data output from the distance sensor 31. The door opening / closing recognition unit 30, which identifies the open / closed state of doors 111 to 116, is composed of the door opening / closing recognition processing unit 21 and the distance sensor 31.

[0043] Based on the recognition results of the opening and closing status of doors 111 to 116 obtained by the door opening and closing recognition unit 30, the notification control unit 22 executes the forget-to-close door notification processing and the user abnormality notification processing, which send the aforementioned forget-to-close door information and send the aforementioned user abnormality information, respectively. Details regarding the forget-to-close door notification processing and the user abnormality notification processing will be described later.

[0044] [2. Action]

[0045] according to Figures 4-5 The flowchart shown illustrates the operation of the usage status notification device 1 performed by the door opening / closing recognition unit 30 and the notification control unit 22.

[0046] [2-1. Handling Notifications for Forgot to Close the Door]

[0047] according to Figure 4 The flowchart shown illustrates the process of handling a "forgot to close the door" notification. When the door opening / closing recognition unit 30 and the notification control unit 22 are operating (activating) the usage status notification device 1, they repeatedly execute the process based on... Figure 4 The flowchart shown illustrates the handling of a "forgot to close the door" notification.

[0048] exist Figure 4 In step S1, the door opening / closing recognition unit 30 detects the distance to an object within the detection area Ar using the distance measuring sensor 31. In the following step S2, the door opening / closing recognition unit 30 identifies the opening / closing state of doors 111 to 116 of the cold storage 110 based on the distance measurement data from the distance measuring sensor 31. Hereinafter, the state where all doors 111 to 116 of the cold storage 110 are closed is referred to as the cold storage 110 door closed state, and the state where at least one of doors 111 to 116 of the cold storage 110 is open is referred to as the cold storage 110 door open state.

[0049] In the next step S3, the control unit 22 is notified to determine whether the door opening / closing recognition unit 30 has detected that the door of the cold storage 110 has switched from a closed state to an open state. Furthermore, if the control unit 22 detects that the door of the cold storage 110 has switched from a closed state to an open state, the process proceeds to step S4. On the other hand, if the control unit 22 does not detect that the door of the cold storage 110 has switched from a closed state to an open state, the process proceeds to step S1.

[0050] In step S4, the control unit 22 is notified to start a forget-to-close (forgot-to-close) timer when the door of the cold storage 110 switches from the closed state to the open state. The set time (forgot-to-close judgment time) of the forget-to-close timer is, for example, 3 minutes. In the following step S5, the door opening / closing recognition unit 30 recognizes the opening / closing state of the doors 111 to 116 of the cold storage 110 based on the distance measurement data of the distance sensor 31.

[0051] In the next step S7, the control unit 22 is notified to determine whether the door opening / closing recognition unit 30 has detected that the door of the cold storage 110 has switched from an open state to a closed state. Furthermore, if the control unit 22 detects that the door of the cold storage 110 has switched from an open state to a closed state, the process proceeds to step S8, ending the process based on… Figure 4 The flowchart is processed. On the other hand, when the door of the cold storage 110 is not detected to have switched from the open state to the closed state, the control unit 22 is notified to proceed to step S10.

[0052] In step S10, the control unit 22 is notified to determine whether the forgotten-to-close timer has expired (whether the forgotten-to-close judgment time has elapsed). Furthermore, if the forgotten-to-close timer has expired, the control unit 22 proceeds to step S11; if the forgotten-to-close timer has not expired, the process proceeds to step S5. In step S11, the control unit 22 sends a message via the communication unit 50 to the user terminal 91 and the smart speaker 160 indicating that the door of the cold storage 110 is open and has been forgotten to be closed, thus proceeding the process to... Figure 4 Step S8. Thus, in the user terminal 91 and smart speaker 160 that received the information that the door was not closed, the process of informing the cold storage 110 that the door was not closed is performed as described above.

[0053] [2-2. Handling User Abnormal Notifications]

[0054] according to Figure 5 The flowchart shown illustrates the handling of user anomaly notifications. Whenever the door opening / closing recognition unit 30 detects that the door of the cold storage 110 has switched from an open state to a closed state, the control unit 22 and the door opening / closing recognition unit 30 are notified to execute a command based on... Figure 5 The flowchart handles user exception notifications.

[0055] exist Figure 5 In step S30, the control unit 22 is notified to start the monitoring timer. The monitoring timer is set for, for example, 24 hours. In the next step S31, the door opening / closing recognition unit 30 detects the distance of objects within the detection area Ar using the distance sensor 31. In the following step S32, the door opening / closing recognition unit 30 identifies the opening / closing status of the cold storage 110 door based on the distance measurement data from the distance sensor 31.

[0056] In the next step S33, the control unit 22 is notified to determine whether the door opening / closing recognition unit 30 has detected that the door of the cold storage 110 has switched from a closed state to an open state. Furthermore, if the control unit 22 detects that the door of the cold storage 110 has switched from a closed state to an open state, the process proceeds to step S34. On the other hand, if the control unit 22 does not detect that the door of the cold storage 110 has switched from a closed state to an open state, the process proceeds to step S40.

[0057] In step S40, the control unit 22 is notified to determine whether the monitoring timer has expired. Furthermore, the control unit 22 is notified to proceed to step S42 if the monitoring timer has expired, and to proceed to step S31 if the monitoring timer has not expired.

[0058] In step S42, the notification control unit 22 sends user anomaly information, indicating that user U may have experienced an anomaly, to the relevant terminal 92 and management server 300 via the communication unit 50, thus advancing the process to step S37. Consequently, at the relevant terminal 92 and management server 300, as described above, the process of informing user U of the anomaly and urging confirmation of user U's safety is executed.

[0059] In step S34, the door opening / closing recognition unit 30 detects the distance to an object within the detection area Ar using the distance measuring sensor 31. In the next step S35, the door opening / closing recognition unit 30 identifies the opening / closing state of the cold storage 110 door based on the distance measurement data obtained from the distance measuring sensor 31. In the following step S36, the control unit 22 is notified to determine whether the door opening / closing recognition unit 30 has detected that the door of the cold storage 110 has switched from an open state to a closed state.

[0060] When the notification control unit 22 detects that the door of the cold storage 110 has switched from an open state to a closed state, it causes the process to proceed to step S37, ending the process based on... Figure 5 The flowchart describes user anomaly notification processing. On the other hand, if the door of the cold storage 110 is not detected to switch from the open state to the closed state, the control unit 22 is notified to proceed to step S41.

[0061] In step S41, the control unit 22 is notified to determine whether the monitoring timer has expired. Furthermore, if the monitoring timer has expired, the control unit 22 is notified to proceed to step S42, whereby, as described above, the process of informing user U of the anomaly and urging confirmation of user U's safety is executed on the relevant terminal 92 and the management server 300. Conversely, if the monitoring timer has not expired, the control unit 22 is notified to proceed to step S34.

[0062] [3. Effects, etc.]

[0063] As described above, in this embodiment, the usage status notification device 1 includes a mounting unit 70, a controller 10, a distance sensor 31, and a communication unit 50. The usage status notification device 1 is mounted on the top surface of the cold storage 110 using the mounting unit 70. Furthermore, the processor 20 constituting the controller 10 functions as a door opening / closing recognition processing unit 21 and a notification control unit 22, and the door opening / closing recognition processing unit 21 and the distance sensor 31 constitute the door opening / closing recognition unit 30.

[0064] Therefore, the door opening / closing recognition unit 30 identifies the opening / closing status of the doors 111 to 116 of the cold storage 110 based on the distance measurement data within the detection area Ar near the front surface of the cold storage 110 obtained by the distance measuring sensor 31. Furthermore, based on the identification results of the opening / closing status of the doors 111 to 116 of the cold storage 110, the notification control unit 22 notifies the user terminal 91, the related party terminal 92, the smart speaker 160, the management server 300, and other communication terminals via the communication unit 50 of information such as forgetting to close the door and monitoring information. Therefore, even a cold storage 110 without communication capabilities can have the function of notifying communication terminals of its usage status by installing the usage status notification device 1.

[0065] (Other implementation methods)

[0066] As described above, the embodiments described herein have been presented as examples of the technology described in this application. However, the technology of this invention is not limited thereto and can also be applied to embodiments in which changes, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc., have been made. Therefore, other embodiments are illustrated below.

[0067] In the above embodiment, the door opening / closing recognition unit 30 uses the distance measuring sensor 31 to recognize the opening / closing state of the doors 111 to 116 of the cold storage 110. However, other types of sensors may also be used. For example, a camera may be provided to take a picture of the area near the front surface of the cold storage 110, and the opening / closing state of the doors 111 to 116 may be recognized by extracting the image portion of the doors 111 to 116 contained in the captured image. Alternatively, a brightness sensor may be provided to recognize the opening / closing state of the doors 111 to 116 by detecting the brightness of the detection area near the front surface of the cold storage 110.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the notification control unit 22 sends the information about forgetting to close the door and the user's abnormal information as usage information of the cold storage 110 based on the opening and closing status of the door of the cold storage 110 as identified by the door opening and closing recognition unit 30. Alternatively, it may be configured to send only one of the information about forgetting to close the door and the user's abnormal information to the communication terminal. Furthermore, usage information other than the information about forgetting to close the door and the user's abnormal information may also be sent to the communication terminal. For example, when the door of the cold storage 110 is detected to be open or closed, usage information notifying that the cold storage 110 is being used may be sent to the communication terminal.

[0069] The controller in this invention only needs to be able to control the notification device for the usage status of this invention. When describing the subject matter of the invention, the control device for controlling the apparatus of this invention is sometimes described as a control unit, control section, or similar terms, in addition to "controller". The controller can be implemented in various ways. For example, a processor can also be used as the controller. If a processor is used as the controller, the processor reads the program from a storage medium containing the program, executes the program, and thus can perform various processes. Therefore, since the processing content can be changed by changing the program stored in the storage medium, the degree of freedom in changing the control content can be increased. Examples of processors include CPUs (Central Processing Units) and MPUs (Micro-Processing Units). Examples of storage media include hard disks, flash memory, and optical disks. Alternatively, wiring logic that cannot be updated by the program can also be used as the controller. Using wiring logic as the controller is effective in improving processing speed. Examples of wiring logic include ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits). Furthermore, the controller can also be implemented by combining a processor and wiring logic. Combining the processor and wiring logic to implement the controller increases the freedom of software design and improves processing speed. Alternatively, a single semiconductor element can be used to construct both the controller and a circuit with a different function. Examples of circuits with different functions include A / D / A converter circuits. Furthermore, the controller can be constructed from a single semiconductor element or from multiple semiconductor elements. In the case of multiple semiconductor elements, the various controls described in the claims can be implemented using different semiconductor elements. The controller can also be constructed using a structure that includes semiconductor elements and passive components such as resistors or capacitors.

[0070] The communication unit in this invention only needs to be able to communicate between the device notifying the user of the invention's usage status and external devices. When describing the subject matter of the invention, the structure capable of communicating between the device of this invention and external devices is sometimes described using terms such as communication unit, communicator, transceiver unit, transceiver section, or similar terms, in addition to the communication unit. The communication unit can be implemented in various ways. As a communication unit, there are wireless connections to external devices via base stations or direct wireless connections to external devices. Examples of wireless connections to external devices via base stations include, for instance, wireless LAN based on IEEE 802.11 for wireless communication with WiFi routers, third-generation mobile communication systems (commonly known as 3G), fourth-generation mobile communication systems (commonly known as 4G), WiMax (Global Microwave Access Interoperability: Registered Trademark) based on IEEE 802.16, or LPWA (Low Power Wide Area). Using a communication unit that directly wirelessly connects the device of this invention to external devices is effective in improving communication security, and the device of this invention can communicate with external devices even in locations where relay devices such as WiFi routers are not present. As a communication unit that directly and wirelessly connects the device of the present invention to external devices, there are, for example, Bluetooth-based communication, NFC (Near Field Communication) communication via a loop antenna, or infrared communication.

[0071] Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are used to illustrate the technology of the present invention, and therefore, various changes, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc., can be made within the scope of the claims or their equivalents.

[0072] Industrial availability

[0073] This invention can be installed in cold storage facilities that do not have communication capabilities, and can be used to add the function of sending usage information based on the opening and closing status of the cold storage door to a communication terminal.

[0074] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0075] 1. Usage status notification device

[0076] 10 controllers

[0077] 20 processors

[0078] 21-Door Opening and Closing Identification Processing Department

[0079] 22 Notification Control Department

[0080] 30-door opening and closing recognition unit

[0081] 31 Distance Sensor

[0082] 40 memory

[0083] 41 Control Program

[0084] 50 Ministry of Communications

[0085] 55 Setting Switch

[0086] 60 power ports

[0087] 61 Power Supply Circuit

[0088] 63 battery

[0089] 70 Installation Department

[0090] 91 User Terminal

[0091] 92 related party terminals

[0092] 100 houses

[0093] 110 Cold Storage

[0094] 111 Cold Storage Room Right Door

[0095] 112 Cold Storage Room Left Door

[0096] 113 First freezer door

[0097] 114 Ice-making room door

[0098] 115 Second freezer door

[0099] 116 Vegetable Room Door

[0100] 150 Wi-Fi Router

[0101] 160 Smart Speakers

[0102] 200 communication network

[0103] 300 Management Server

[0104] 310 Usage Status DB

[0105] 311 Notify the target DB.

Claims

1. A usage status notification device, installed on the top surface of the outer casing of a cold storage unit, characterized in that it comprises: A mounting part is provided on the bottom surface of the usage status notification device to fix the usage status notification device to the top surface; A wireless communication unit that communicates wirelessly with a communication terminal; With the usage status notification device installed on the top surface, the front surface of the cold storage has a detection area, and a sensor detects objects located within the detection area from the top surface; A door opening / closing recognition unit that identifies the opening and closing status of the door-type and drawer-type doors of the cold storage based on the detection results of the sensor. and The control unit is notified that it transmits usage information of the cold storage based on the door opening / closing status identified by the door opening / closing recognition unit to the communication terminal via the wireless communication unit. The door opening / closing recognition unit is configured to identify, based on the different detection data output from the sensor, whether any one of the door panels or drawer-type doors of the cold storage is in an open state or whether all the door panels or drawer-type doors of the cold storage are in a closed state.

2. The usage status notification device according to claim 1, characterized in that: If, during the period from the moment the door opening / closing recognition unit detects that the door has switched from a closed state to an open state until a predetermined forget-to-close judgment time has elapsed, the notification control unit fails to detect that the door has switched from an open state to a closed state via the door opening / closing recognition unit, it sends a forget-to-close door information message to the communication terminal used by the user of the cold storage via the wireless communication unit.

3. The usage status notification device according to claim 1, characterized in that: If the door opening / closing recognition unit fails to detect that the door has switched from a closed state to an open state or from an open state to a closed state for a specified period of inactivity, the notification control unit will send user abnormality information, used to notify the user of the cold storage, to the communication terminal used by a related party with a specified relationship to the user via the wireless communication unit.

4. The usage status notification device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The sensor is a ranging sensor. The door opening / closing recognition unit identifies the opening / closing status of the cold storage door based on the ranging data output from the ranging sensor.

5. The usage status notification device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The sensor is a camera. The door opening / closing recognition unit identifies the opening / closing status of the cold storage door by extracting the image portion of the door contained in the image captured by the camera.

6. The usage status notification device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The sensor is a brightness sensor. The door opening / closing recognition unit identifies the opening / closing status of the cold storage door based on the brightness data output from the brightness sensor.

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