Control method of intelligent medicine box and intelligent medicine box

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of intelligent medical treatment, and discloses a control method of an intelligent medicine box and the intelligent medicine box, and the method comprises the following steps: the intelligent medicine box reads configuration data in a configurator, and carries out medication plan configuration on the intelligent medicine box based on the configuration data; when the medicine taking reminding time corresponding to the medicine taking plan arrives, displaying and prompting the medicine taking information through a display screen of the intelligent medicine box, performing sound prompting on the medicine taking information through sound output equipment of the intelligent medicine box, and performing light prompting through a medicine storage bin matched with the medicine taking information in the intelligent medicine box; medicine taking information corresponding to the intelligent medicine box is obtained, and a medicine taking record is determined based on the medicine taking information; and generating a medicine taking report according to the medicine taking plan and the medicine taking record.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of smart healthcare technology, and in particular to a control method for a smart pillbox and a smart pillbox. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing trend of population aging, the health management of the elderly has received growing attention from all sectors of society. In the field of healthcare, the accuracy and timeliness of medication management are crucial to the health of the elderly. However, due to factors such as memory loss, vision impairment, or hearing loss, the elderly often face the risk of missing or taking the wrong medication. To address this issue, smart pillboxes, as a healthcare device combining technologies such as the Internet of Things, sensors, and big data, have emerged and have achieved significant development in recent years.

[0003] Smart pillboxes offer features like medication reminders, but existing products still have some shortcomings that limit their further popularization and application. Many elderly people are unfamiliar with smart devices and find it difficult to learn how to use new smart pillboxes. Complex function settings, such as connecting to a mobile app and setting electronic reminders, often deter them. Furthermore, the user interfaces of some smart pillboxes are complex, making it difficult for the elderly to complete the settings and operations independently, which reduces their willingness to use and satisfaction. Regarding medication reminders, most existing smart pillboxes use sound or vibration alerts, which may not be received in a timely manner by elderly people with hearing loss. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the present application provides a control method for a smart pillbox and a smart pillbox. By simplifying medication plan settings, providing multiple reminder methods, automatically recording medication usage, and generating medication reports, the present application addresses the shortcomings of existing smart pillboxes, improves the accuracy and timeliness of medication management for the elderly, reduces the risk of missed or incorrect medications, and provides strong support for the health management of the elderly.

[0005] According to one aspect of this application, a control method for a smart pillbox is provided, the method comprising:

[0006] The smart pillbox reads the configuration data from the configurator and configures a medication plan for the smart pillbox based on the configuration data;

[0007] When the medication reminder time corresponding to the medication plan is reached, the medication information is displayed on the screen of the smart pillbox, the medication information is prompted by sound through the sound output device of the smart pillbox, and the medication storage compartment in the smart pillbox that matches the medication information is prompted by light.

[0008] Obtain the drug retrieval information corresponding to the smart pillbox, and determine the drug administration record based on the drug retrieval information;

[0009] A medication report is generated based on the medication plan and the medication administration records.

[0010] According to another aspect of this application, a smart pillbox is provided for implementing the control method of the aforementioned smart pillbox.

[0011] According to another aspect of this application, a storage medium is provided that stores a computer program thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the control method of the above-described smart pillbox.

[0012] According to another aspect of this application, a computer device is provided, including a storage medium, a processor, and a computer program stored on the storage medium and executable on the processor, wherein the processor executes the program to implement the control method of the above-described smart pillbox.

[0013] By employing the above technical solutions, the control method and smart pillbox provided in this application embodiment, through simplifying medication plan settings, providing multiple reminder methods, automatically recording medication usage, and generating medication reports, solves the defects of existing smart pillboxes, improves the accuracy and timeliness of medication management for the elderly, reduces the risk of missed or incorrect medications, and provides strong support for the health management of the elderly.

[0014] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this application. In order to better understand the technical means of this application and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this application more obvious and understandable, the following are specific embodiments of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments of this application and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0016] Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating a control method for a smart pillbox provided in an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0017] Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating another control method for a smart pillbox provided in an embodiment of this application is shown;

[0018] Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating another control method for a smart pillbox provided in an embodiment of this application is shown;

[0019] Figure 4A flowchart illustrating another control method for a smart pillbox provided in an embodiment of this application is shown;

[0020] Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating another control method for a smart pillbox provided in an embodiment of this application is shown;

[0021] Figure 6 A flowchart illustrating another control method for a smart pillbox provided in an embodiment of this application is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in the embodiments of the present application can be combined with each other.

[0023] This embodiment provides a control method for a smart pillbox, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the method includes:

[0024] Step 101: The smart pillbox reads the configuration data from the configurator and configures a medication plan for the smart pillbox based on the configuration data.

[0025] In this embodiment, the smart pillbox reads configuration data from the configurator and configures the medication plan based on this data. This simplifies the medication plan setup process. Traditional smart pillboxes require users to configure the medication plan through complex mobile apps or electronic settings, which is a significant obstacle for elderly people unfamiliar with smart devices. This embodiment, however, achieves automatic medication plan configuration by reading configuration data from the configurator, eliminating the need for tedious manual settings by the elderly, thus reducing the difficulty of use and improving the ease of use of the smart pillbox.

[0026] In one alternative implementation, the smart pillbox reading configuration data in the configurator includes: inserting the configurator into the configurator receiving compartment of the smart pillbox to read the configuration data in the configurator through a reader corresponding to the configurator receiving compartment; and / or, bringing the smart pillbox close to the configurator containing an NFC sticker to enable the smart pillbox to read the configuration data written in the NFC sticker.

[0027] Users can insert the configurator into the dedicated compartment of the smart pillbox. The reader inside the compartment automatically recognizes and loads the configuration data, similar to inserting a USB flash drive or memory card. For the elderly, the intuitive physical insertion and mechanical feedback (such as the sound or touch of the clip locking into place) reduce cognitive load, eliminating the need to understand complex menus or wireless connection steps. Simultaneously, physical contact reading avoids signal interference or pairing failures that may occur during wireless transmission, ensuring stable data transmission, which is particularly suitable for critical scenarios requiring complete medication plan configuration upon first use. Secondly, the smart pillbox supports NFC technology for reading configuration data. Users simply need to bring the pillbox close to the configurator with the NFC sticker to trigger wireless data transmission. Utilizing the near-field sensing characteristics of NFC technology, no precise alignment or prolonged contact is required; a simple touch completes the configuration. For elderly users with reduced hand dexterity or poor vision, the NFC sticker can be fixed near the pillbox (such as on a bedside table or medicine box surface), forming a fixed configuration hotspot. Users only need to maintain the habitual action of keeping the pillbox close to the sticker to complete data synchronization. In addition, the NFC reading process is usually accompanied by vibration or light feedback, which can instantly confirm the success of the operation and reduce the anxiety caused by uncertainty about whether the configuration is complete.

[0028] Step 102: When the medication reminder time corresponding to the medication plan is reached, the medication information is displayed on the screen of the smart pillbox, the medication information is prompted by sound through the sound output device of the smart pillbox, and the medication storage compartment in the smart pillbox that matches the medication information is prompted by light.

[0029] In this embodiment, when the medication reminder time arrives, a prompt is made through the smart pillbox's display screen, sound output device, and the light in the medication storage compartment that matches the medication information. By providing multiple reminder methods, it caters to the needs of different elderly individuals. Traditional smart pillboxes mostly use sound or vibration reminders, but elderly people with hearing loss may not be able to receive the reminders in time. This embodiment combines display screen, sound prompts, and light prompts to ensure that elderly people, regardless of their vision or hearing, can receive medication reminders in a timely manner, thereby avoiding the risk of missing or taking the wrong medication.

[0030] It should be noted that, in this embodiment of the application, the medication plan can also be analyzed to identify contraindications for the medications and provide reminders based on these contraindications. For example, for medications that need to be taken on an empty stomach, reminders about contraindications will begin when the user is required to fast, and will be repeated at regular intervals until the scheduled medication reminder time arrives. Similarly, for medications that should not be taken with certain foods, reminders will be repeatedly given throughout the medication's treatment cycle.

[0031] In one optional embodiment, the step of providing audio prompts for medication information via the audio output device of the smart pillbox includes: if the configuration data includes audio prompt input information corresponding to the medication information, then the audio prompt input information is output via the audio output device to provide audio prompts for the medication information; if the configuration data does not include audio prompt input information corresponding to the medication information, but includes voiceprint information of the person providing the prompt, then audio prompt information is generated based on the voiceprint information of the person providing the prompt and the medication information, and the audio prompt information is output via the audio output device to provide a jarring prompt for the medication information; otherwise, the medication information is provided audio prompts via the audio output device based on a preset audio prompt method corresponding to the smart pillbox.

[0032] In one optional implementation, the smart pillbox's voice prompt function can enhance the personalization of medication reminders and the user experience through a multi-level voice output strategy. Specifically, if the configuration data includes voice prompt input information corresponding to medication information, the smart pillbox will directly play pre-recorded voice messages. Personalized medication reminders pre-recorded by the user or their family, such as warm reminders recorded by children for their parents, are more likely to attract the attention and evoke emotional resonance in the elderly compared to machine-synthesized voices, thus effectively reducing the risk of missed or incorrect medication doses. When the configuration data does not contain pre-recorded voice messages but does contain the voiceprint information of the person providing the reminder, the smart pillbox will use voiceprint synthesis technology to generate a voice prompt in conjunction with the medication information. Voiceprint synthesis technology can simulate the voice characteristics of a specific person, allowing the pillbox to generate a voice similar to that of a familiar person even without pre-recorded voice messages. This technology not only retains the advantages of personalized reminders but also avoids the hassle of recording new voice messages each time, providing the elderly with a more flexible and convenient way to receive medication reminders. If neither of the above two types of information is available, the smart pillbox will use a preset voice prompt method. This method ensures that the pillbox can still provide effective medication reminders even without personalized settings, guaranteeing the timeliness and accuracy of medication use.

[0033] Step 103: Obtain the drug retrieval information corresponding to the smart pillbox, and determine the drug administration record based on the drug retrieval information.

[0034] In this embodiment, the smart pillbox acquires medication dispensing information and determines medication administration records based on this information, thus achieving automatic recording of medication administration. Traditional medication management methods require elderly individuals or their guardians to manually record medication information, which is not only cumbersome but also prone to errors. This embodiment, however, automatically acquires medication dispensing information through the smart pillbox and determines medication administration records accordingly, eliminating the need for manual intervention and improving the accuracy and convenience of recording.

[0035] Step 104: Generate a medication report based on the medication plan and medication records.

[0036] In this embodiment, a medication report is generated based on the medication plan and medication records, providing comprehensive feedback on medication use for the elderly or their guardians. The medication report allows for a clear understanding of the medication plan's implementation, enabling timely adjustments and ensuring accuracy and timeliness. Simultaneously, the medication report provides doctors with a basis for medication use, helping them better understand the patient's medication status and thus develop more appropriate treatment plans.

[0037] By applying the technical solution of this embodiment, the shortcomings of existing smart pillboxes are solved by simplifying medication plan settings, providing multiple reminder methods, automatically recording medication use, and generating medication reports. This improves the accuracy and timeliness of medication management for the elderly, reduces the risk of missed or incorrect medications, and provides strong support for the health management of the elderly.

[0038] In this embodiment of the application, optionally, after obtaining the medicine retrieval information corresponding to the smart pillbox, such as... Figure 2 As shown, the method further includes:

[0039] Step 201: Based on the drug retrieval information, update the remaining amount of the retrieved drug, and output a drug replenishment prompt when the remaining amount of the retrieved drug is lower than the required amount for the preset replenishment time.

[0040] Step 202: When it is detected that any medicine storage compartment in the smart medicine box is opened and medicine is being replenished, the image recognition module in any medicine storage compartment performs feature recognition on the medicine in any medicine storage compartment, and compares the recognized medicine features with the corresponding medicine features that should be stored in any medicine storage compartment to determine whether a medicine replenishment error has occurred.

[0041] Step 203: If a medication replenishment error occurs, output a medication insertion error message.

[0042] In this embodiment, when a user retrieves medication, the remaining amount of medication in the corresponding storage compartment is automatically reduced based on the retrieval record. This dynamic inventory management function is achieved through built-in sensors or weight monitoring technology, such as using pressure sensors to sense changes in medication weight in real time, or using an infrared counter to record the number of pills retrieved. When the remaining amount of medication falls below a preset threshold, which is dynamically calculated based on the user's daily dosage frequency and refill cycle, a multi-channel reminder mechanism is used to output refill reminders, including text prompts on the display screen, voice broadcasts, and notifications sent to the associated mobile phone, ensuring that the patient or their caregiver can replenish the medication in a timely manner and avoid affecting the treatment effect due to medication interruption. During the refill process, when any medication compartment is detected to be open, a miniature camera or spectral analysis module located inside the compartment will immediately start image acquisition. This image recognition module uses a deep learning algorithm to identify the physical characteristics of the medication, such as the color, shape, size, and imprinted markings of the pills, and compares them with the preset medication feature database of the storage compartment. If the identification result does not match the preset characteristics, an error prompt will be emitted via a buzzer, and the display screen will show "Incorrect medication placed, please check" in red. The specific error information will also be broadcast via a voice module, such as "XXX tablets should be placed in compartment A3; the currently placed medication is incorrect." This dual verification mechanism solves two major pain points in the traditional medicine box refill process: firstly, refilling timing relies on manual memory, which often leads to empty compartments for the elderly due to forgetfulness; secondly, manual refilling is prone to errors due to declining vision or operational mistakes. Through automated inventory monitoring and intelligent identification technology, the system upgrades refill management from passive reminders to proactive intervention, forming a complete closed loop of medication use-monitoring-refilling-verification. Especially for chronic disease patients who need to take multiple medications simultaneously, this function can significantly reduce the medication risk caused by misplacement, ensuring medication safety while avoiding the operational burden of frequent manual verification.

[0043] In this embodiment of the application, optionally, after determining the medication administration record based on the medication removal information, such as Figure 3 As shown, the method further includes:

[0044] Step 301: Based on the medication record, identify whether there are cases where medication retrieval information was not obtained within the expected medication time within a preset time period;

[0045] Step 302: If the medication record reminder information exists, generate medication record reminder information and trigger medication reminder alarm process. The medication reminder alarm process includes sending the medication record reminder information to the contact person corresponding to the smart pillbox, making a phone reminder to the contact person if the medication record reminder information is not responded to within a preset first processing time, and making a medication reminder alarm to the administrator corresponding to the smart pillbox if the phone reminder is not responded to within a preset second processing time.

[0046] In this embodiment, the smart pillbox establishes a medication safety protection system through a three-level early warning mechanism to ensure medication adherence. It continuously monitors medication usage records. When medication information is not retrieved within the expected medication timeframe (e.g., within 15 minutes of a reminder) within a preset time period (e.g., 3 days), an abnormal medication usage identification process is initiated. This time window setting considers both temporary delays due to unforeseen circumstances and timely detection of the risk of continuous missed doses. The first-level early warning generates medication record reminders, triggering enhanced reminders from the smart pillbox via a localized feedback mechanism. This includes physical feedback such as flashing display alerts and increased buzzer frequency, while simultaneously sending instant messaging messages to preset contacts (e.g., family members or caregivers). If the first-level reminder is not responded to within a preset first processing time (e.g., 2 hours), it automatically escalates to a second-level telephone reminder. Through an integrated communication module, the pillbox can directly dial the contact person's phone number. If a phone reminder remains unanswered within a preset second processing time (e.g., 6 hours), the system activates a third-level alarm, sending a medication anomaly alert to the administrator (e.g., community healthcare workers or a remote health management platform). This tiered, escalating warning mechanism avoids alarm fatigue caused by frequent false alarms and ensures a three-tiered response chain—family-community-medical—when a genuine medication anomaly occurs. The beneficial effects of this design are threefold: First, by dynamically monitoring medication records, post-event records are transformed into real-time interventions, improving the timeliness of missed dose responses; second, the three-tiered warning mechanism constructs a complete response chain from mild reminders to emergency interventions, increasing the success rate of anomaly handling compared to the single reminder mode of traditional pillboxes; finally, through multi-role collaborative warnings, it not only ensures the medication independence of the elderly but also provides caregivers with digital monitoring tools, making it particularly suitable for elderly people living alone or high-risk groups with cognitive decline, effectively reducing the risk of health deterioration due to missed medication doses.

[0047] In the embodiments of this application, optionally, as shown... Figure 4 As shown, the method further includes:

[0048] Step 401: Receive the health monitoring data of the person taking the medication corresponding to the smart pillbox;

[0049] Step 402: If the health monitoring data conflicts with the medication plan, then when the medication reminder time corresponding to the medication plan is reached, a medication warning message is output based on the health monitoring data and the medication plan.

[0050] In this embodiment, regarding medication safety, the smart pillbox constructs an intelligent medication risk prevention and control system through a dynamic coordination mechanism between health data and medication plans. By integrating or connecting external health monitoring devices (such as blood glucose meters, blood pressure monitors, heart rate monitoring bracelets, etc.), it acquires real-time physiological indicator data of the user. This data is transmitted to the pillbox's main control unit via wireless protocols such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. When health monitoring data conflicts with the preset medication plan—for example, a diabetic patient's blood glucose level is below the safe threshold but requires insulin injection, or a hypertensive patient's blood pressure is abnormally low but still requires antihypertensive medication—a dual verification mechanism is activated at the originally scheduled medication reminder time. This mechanism first performs real-time analysis of health data through an edge computing module, combining parameters such as drug type, dosage, and mechanism of action in the medication plan, and uses a preset medical rule engine to determine the current medication risk. If a potential conflict is detected (such as the drug potentially exacerbating the risk of hypoglycemia or causing a sudden drop in blood pressure), the regular medication reminder will be suspended, and a differentiated prompt will be delivered to the user through multimodal alert output. At this time, the display screen will show "Current blood pressure is low, please stop taking antihypertensive medication" in bright red font. It can also switch to an emergency alert tone and broadcast specific warning content. At the same time, the light indicator of the corresponding medicine compartment will change from the normal green to warning red.

[0051] In this embodiment of the application, optionally, after receiving the health monitoring data of the person taking the medication corresponding to the smart pillbox, such as Figure 5 As shown, the method further includes:

[0052] Step 501: Based on the health monitoring data, identify whether the person taking the medication has any abnormal or emergency situation.

[0053] Step 502: If the person taking the medication experiences an emergency, obtain the target medication administration record related to the emergency from the medication administration record, and trigger an alarm according to a preset alarm method based on the emergency and the target medication administration record.

[0054] In this embodiment, upon receiving the user's health monitoring data (such as heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen saturation), an anomaly identification process can be triggered. This process combines threshold comparison with trend analysis, detecting whether real-time data exceeds preset danger ranges (e.g., heart rate consistently below 40 beats / minute or above 120 beats / minute) and analyzing data change trends (e.g., blood pressure dropping by more than 20% in a short period), thereby accurately identifying emergency medical conditions such as cardiac arrest and hypoglycemic shock. When an abnormal emergency is detected, on the one hand, the built-in medical knowledge graph quickly matches the type of medication related to the current abnormal symptoms (e.g., nitroglycerin corresponds to angina, glucose gel corresponds to hypoglycemia); on the other hand, the medication usage record database is retrieved to identify the time, dosage, and post-medication physiological changes of the relevant medication. For example, if the system detects that the user's blood glucose level drops below 3.9 mmol / L and triggers a hypoglycemia alarm, it will immediately query whether the patient has taken any hypoglycemic drugs within the last 2 hours and calculate the expected blood glucose recovery time based on the dosage. Based on the above analysis results, a tiered alarm process is initiated. For mild abnormalities (such as slightly elevated blood pressure without acute risk), a yellow warning icon is displayed on the pillbox screen accompanied by intermittent beeping. For severe emergencies (such as abnormal ECG waveforms), a three-tiered alarm strategy is implemented: First, an encrypted alarm containing the type of abnormality, time of occurrence, and geographical location is sent to the preset emergency contact via the pillbox's built-in 5G communication module. If no response is received within a certain time, such as 2 minutes, the system automatically dials 120 (emergency services) and broadcasts key information from the patient's electronic health record (such as the patient's history of common drug allergies and underlying diseases). Simultaneously, real-time physiological data streams are uploaded to the community health service center to provide preoperative reference for emergency personnel.

[0055] In the embodiments of this application, optionally, as shown... Figure 6 As shown, the method further includes:

[0056] Step 601: The efficacy of the medicines in the medicine storage compartments is tested by using test strips placed at the bottom of each medicine storage compartment in the smart medicine box.

[0057] Step 602: When the detected drug efficacy is lower than the preset drug efficacy, output the corresponding drug efficacy prompt information.

[0058] In this embodiment, a micro-test strip is integrated into the bottom of each drug storage compartment. Utilizing chemical indicators or biosensor technology, it monitors the active ingredient of the drug in real time. When the drug comes into contact with the test strip, specific enzymes or pH indicators it contains react with the active ingredient in a colorimetric or electrochemical manner. The drug concentration can then be quantitatively detected using a built-in spectral analysis module or conductivity sensor. For elderly individuals requiring long-term medication, this function offers dual protection: during drug storage, the test strip continuously monitors the impact of environmental factors (such as temperature and humidity) on drug efficacy, for example, detecting whether insulin has become ineffective due to lack of refrigeration or whether nitroglycerin has decomposed due to light exposure; before medication administration, if the drug efficacy is detected to be below the clinically effective threshold (e.g., antibiotic active ingredient degradation exceeding 20%), the system displays a red warning via LED indicators in the drug compartment and displays a message in enlarged font on the screen: "XX drug efficacy is insufficient, please replace." This avoids treatment interruption due to drug ineffectiveness and prevents the risk of drug resistance from ineffective medication.

[0059] Optionally, in this embodiment, the method further includes: generating a medication adherence report based on the medication report, wherein the medication adherence report includes a medication adherence level; storing the medication report and the medication adherence report in a blockchain for viewing by the contact person and administrator corresponding to the smart pillbox; if the medication adherence level is a risk level, generating follow-up plan information for the medication user corresponding to the smart pillbox, and pushing the follow-up plan information to the terminal of the follow-up personnel corresponding to the medication user.

[0060] In this embodiment, the generated medication reports can also be analyzed from multiple dimensions, comprehensively considering core indicators such as medication timeliness rate, dosage accuracy rate, and missed dose frequency, and using a weighted scoring model to generate a medication adherence level. Referring to medical standards such as the "Prescription Adherence Scale for the Elderly," adherence is subdivided into three levels: high-risk, medium-risk, and safe. For example, a missed dose rate exceeding 30% for seven consecutive days triggers a red high-risk indicator. By storing medication reports and adherence reports on the blockchain, full lifecycle management of medical data is achieved. The distributed ledger characteristics of blockchain ensure that data is tamper-proof during its flow between the medicine box terminal, medical institutions, and regulatory departments. Each report is timestamped and digitally signed, forming a traceable audit trail. This design not only meets the requirements of the "Personal Information Protection Law" for medical data security but also achieves refined management of data access permissions through smart contract technology. Patients can authorize family members to view medication summaries, while medical institutions need digital certificates to obtain complete test data. When medication adherence is detected to be at a risk threshold, an AI engine can be invoked to generate a follow-up plan, which includes decision support information such as the optimal follow-up time window and key medications to be monitored, and then directly pushed to the follow-up personnel's terminal through the medical service platform.

[0061] It's worth noting that the smart pillbox can also be upgraded with hardware improvements, including: Enhanced durability: A magnetic, detachable pill compartment design allows for individual cleaning, preventing medication residue and bacterial growth; the outer shell uses drop-resistant ABS material with rounded corners, automatically locking the compartments to prevent medication spillage upon impact; Optimized battery life: A dual-battery design (main battery + backup button battery), with the main battery providing 15 days of use and the backup battery offering a 72-hour reminder after a power outage. Furthermore, the smart pillbox supports voice wake-up and dialect recognition: Seniors can simply say, "Take sleeping pills tomorrow night," and the pillbox will automatically interpret and set a reminder, eliminating the need for manual operation. Additionally, the smart pillbox allows users to set medication plans using physical buttons on the box. These buttons are raised physical knobs (similar to tuning knobs on an old-fashioned radio), allowing users to select dates by rotating and confirm settings by pressing, with noticeable vibration feedback during operation. For medications requiring partial doses (such as half a tablet), an electric pill cutter is included, automatically cutting the pill after the user sets the dosage, preventing inaccurate dosages due to hand tremors.

[0062] By applying the technical solution of this embodiment and making the above-mentioned improvements to the smart pillbox, significant value will be generated in four dimensions: user experience, health management, family care, and social efficiency. The specific benefits are analyzed below:

[0063] 1. User experience: Lower the barrier to entry, enhance the sense of security and dignity.

[0064] 1) Zero-burden operation, suitable for seniors of all ages.

[0065] Through offline configuration, voice and dialect interaction, and physical knobs, even elderly people who are completely unfamiliar with smartphones (such as those over 85 years old) can intuitively complete medication settings, avoiding frustration caused by complex operations. Case study: Elderly people with cognitive impairment do not need to remember complicated procedures; they can take their medication simply by hearing their children's recorded reminders, reducing the psychological pressure of being blamed for forgetting.

[0066] 2) Multi-sensory reminders to cover people with declining cognitive abilities

[0067] The combination of flashing lights, vibration feedback, and human voice prompts can simultaneously meet the needs of elderly people with hearing loss, blurred vision, or stiff fingers. For example, deaf-mute elderly people can sense when to take their medication through flashing lights and mobile phone flashes; Parkinson's patients can confirm the operation through a large knob and vibration.

[0068] 3) Error-proofing design to reduce fear of medication.

[0069] The pharmacy's image recognition and voice alerts can avoid the core risk of "taking the wrong medicine," freeing the elderly from the psychological burden of "worrying about making mistakes every time they take their medication." For those with difficulty swallowing, the dosage-cutting and warm water linkage functions transform taking medication from a "painful task" into an "easy process."

[0070] 2. Health Management: From passive reminders to proactive prevention, reducing medication risks.

[0071] 1) Closed-loop process to reduce missed / incorrect dosage rates.

[0072] By using weight sensors and recording the opening of the medicine compartment, it can accurately determine "whether to take the medicine", rather than just reminding "when to take the medicine".

[0073] 2) When linked with health devices, medication recommendations can be dynamically adjusted (such as temporarily suspending medication when blood pressure is too low), avoiding secondary risks that may be caused by "mechanically following doctor's orders".

[0074] 3) Provide full-cycle medication support to avoid ineffective medication.

[0075] The sealed and shockproof design and expired test strips ensure the quality of the medication, especially for elderly people who need to take chronic disease medications for a long time, to avoid the decline in efficacy or the increase in side effects due to drug deterioration.

[0076] The remaining medication warning function can remind you to replenish the medication in advance to prevent fluctuations in your condition due to medication shortages (such as missed insulin doses for diabetic patients).

[0077] 3. Family care: Reduces stress on children and alleviates intergenerational conflicts.

[0078] 1) Lightweight remote monitoring reduces caregiving anxiety.

[0079] Children no longer need to frequently call to ask "have you taken your medicine?" They can check their medication records through a mini-program, and receive automatic alerts for any abnormal situations, shifting their caregiving focus from "daily chores" to "emotional companionship".

[0080] 2) For families with elderly people living alone, it can reduce the guilt of children who are unable to detect their parents' health abnormalities in a timely manner and reduce intergenerational conflicts caused by forcing the elderly to learn how to use mobile phones.

[0081] 3) Proactive emergency response reduces nursing risks.

[0082] Features such as continuous missed dose detection and abnormal activity monitoring can identify health crises in the elderly in advance (such as being unable to take medication due to a fall), avoiding the tragedy of "missing the best time for treatment by the time it is discovered." For example, if an elderly person living alone feels dizzy and falls after taking medication, and the door sensor linked to the medicine box does not detect the activity, community rescue will be triggered within 1 hour.

[0083] 4. Social efficiency: Optimize the allocation of medical resources and promote age-friendly infrastructure.

[0084] 1) Reduce the burden on the healthcare system

[0085] This reduces emergency room visits caused by medication indiscretions (such as shock caused by accidental overdose of antihypertensive drugs). Community health centers can use medication data to conduct targeted home visits, shifting from "passive medical care" to "proactive health management" and improving the efficiency of primary healthcare.

[0086] 2) Promote the establishment of age-friendly technology standards

[0087] The improved interactive design (such as physical knobs and dialect recognition) and safety standards (such as drop resistance and drug detection) can form an industry reference template, driving the optimization of more age-friendly smart devices (such as blood glucose meters and alarms) and accelerating the upgrading of the silver economy industry.

[0088] 3) Promote intergenerational technological integration

[0089] The minimalist design of the mini-program and offline configurator can serve as a bridge for "digital feedback"—children can naturally establish closer communication scenarios while helping their parents set up devices, thus alleviating the generational gap caused by the digital divide.

[0090] In conclusion, the age-friendly smart pillbox represents a dual enhancement of technological warmth and social value. Its core value lies in transforming a "cold technological product" into a "health partner with an emotional connection": for the elderly, it is a reliable assistant, not a "chaotic machine"; for families, it is an extension of care, not a "new burden"; and for society, it is the infrastructure for age-friendly solutions, not a "niche technological toy."

[0091] Furthermore, as Figure 1 To specifically implement the method, this application provides a smart pillbox in its embodiments, used to implement the aforementioned control method for the smart pillbox. It should be noted that the corresponding description of the smart pillbox provided in this application embodiment can be found by referring to... Figures 1 to 6 The corresponding descriptions in the method will not be repeated here.

[0092] This application also provides a computer device, specifically a personal computer, server, network device, etc. The computer device includes a bus, processor, memory, and communication interface, and may also include input / output interfaces and a display device. The processor of the computer device provides computing and control capabilities. The memory of the computer device includes a non-volatile storage medium and internal memory. The non-volatile storage medium stores an operating system, computer programs, and a database. The internal memory provides an environment for the operation of the operating system and computer programs in the non-volatile storage medium. The database of the computer device stores location information. The network interface of the computer device is used for communication with external terminals via a network connection. When the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements the steps in the various method embodiments.

[0093] Those skilled in the art will understand that the structure of the computer device described above is only a partial structure related to the solution of this application, and does not constitute a limitation on the computer device to which the solution of this application is applied. A specific computer device may include more or fewer components, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0094] In one embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which may be non-volatile or volatile, having stored thereon a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps in the above method embodiments.

[0095] In one embodiment, a computer program product is provided, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps in the above method embodiments.

[0096] It should be noted that the user information (including but not limited to user device information, user personal information, etc.) and data (including but not limited to data used for analysis, data stored, data displayed, etc.) involved in this application are all information and data authorized by the user or fully authorized by all parties.

[0097] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the processes in the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by a computer program instructing related hardware. The computer program can be stored in a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium, and when executed, it can include the processes of the embodiments of the above methods. Any references to memory, databases, or other media used in the embodiments provided in this application can include at least one of non-volatile and volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can include read-only memory (ROM), magnetic tape, floppy disk, flash memory, optical memory, high-density embedded non-volatile memory, resistive random access memory (ReRAM), magnetic random access memory (MRAM), ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM), phase change memory (PCM), graphene memory, etc. Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM) or external cache memory, etc. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM can take many forms, such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) or Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM). The databases involved in the embodiments provided in this application may include at least one type of relational database and non-relational database. Non-relational databases may include, but are not limited to, blockchain-based distributed databases. The processors involved in the embodiments provided in this application may be general-purpose processors, graphics processors, digital signal processors, programmable logic devices, quantum computing-based data processing logic devices, etc., and are not limited to these.

[0098] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0099] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of this patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A control method for an intelligent pillbox, characterized in that, The method includes: The smart pillbox reads the configuration data from the configurator and configures a medication plan for the smart pillbox based on the configuration data; When the medication reminder time corresponding to the medication plan is reached, the medication information is displayed on the screen of the smart pillbox, the medication information is prompted by sound through the sound output device of the smart pillbox, and the medication storage compartment in the smart pillbox that matches the medication information is prompted by light. Obtain the drug retrieval information corresponding to the smart pillbox, and determine the drug administration record based on the drug retrieval information; A medication report is generated based on the medication plan and the medication administration records.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of providing audio prompts for medication information via the audio output device of the smart pillbox includes: If the configuration data includes audio prompt input information corresponding to the medication information, then the audio prompt input information is output through the audio output device to provide audio prompts for the medication information; If the configuration data does not contain the sound prompt input information corresponding to the medication information, but contains the voiceprint information of the person making the prompt, then a sound prompt is generated based on the voiceprint information of the person making the prompt and the medication information, and the sound prompt is output through the sound output device to provide a harsh prompt for the medication information. Otherwise, based on the preset sound prompt mode corresponding to the smart pillbox, the medication information is prompted by sound through the sound output device.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After obtaining the medicine retrieval information corresponding to the smart pillbox, the method further includes: Based on the drug retrieval information, update the remaining amount of the retrieved drug, and output a drug replenishment prompt when the remaining amount of the retrieved drug is lower than the required amount for the preset replenishment time. When it is detected that any medicine storage compartment in the smart medicine box has been opened and medicine is being replenished, the image recognition module in any medicine storage compartment performs feature recognition on the medicine in that medicine storage compartment. The recognized medicine features are compared with the features of the medicine that should be stored in the corresponding medicine storage compartment to determine whether a medicine replenishment error has occurred. If an error occurs while replenishing medication, an error message will be displayed indicating that the medication was not inserted.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After determining the medication administration record based on the medication retrieval information, the method further includes: Based on the medication administration records, identify whether there are cases where medication retrieval information was not obtained within the expected medication time within a preset period; If such a record exists, a medication record reminder message is generated, and a medication reminder alarm process is triggered. The medication reminder alarm process includes sending the medication record reminder message to the contact person corresponding to the smart pillbox, making a phone reminder to the contact person if the medication record reminder message is not responded to within a preset first processing time, and making a medication reminder alarm to the administrator corresponding to the smart pillbox if the phone reminder is not responded to within a preset second processing time.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receives health monitoring data of the person taking the medication corresponding to the smart pillbox; If the health monitoring data conflicts with the medication plan, a medication warning message will be output based on the health monitoring data and the medication plan when the medication reminder time corresponding to the medication plan is reached.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, After receiving the health monitoring data of the person taking the medication corresponding to the smart pillbox, the method further includes: Based on the health monitoring data, identify whether the person taking the medication has any abnormal or emergency situation; If the person taking the medication experiences a medical emergency, the system retrieves the target medication administration record related to the medical emergency from the medication administration record, and triggers an alarm according to a preset alarm method based on the medical emergency and the target medication administration record.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The smart pillbox reads configuration data from the configurator, including: Insert the configurator into the configurator compartment of the smart pillbox to read the configuration data in the configurator via the reader corresponding to the configurator compartment; and / or, Bring the smart pillbox close to the configurator containing the NFC sticker so that the smart pillbox reads the configuration data written in the NFC sticker.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: The efficacy of the medicines in the medicine storage compartments is tested by using test strips placed at the bottom of each medicine storage compartment in the smart medicine box. When the detected drug efficacy is lower than the preset drug efficacy, the corresponding drug efficacy prompt information is output.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: A medication adherence report is generated based on the medication report, wherein the medication adherence report includes a medication adherence level; the medication report and the medication adherence report are stored in a blockchain for viewing by the contact person and administrator corresponding to the smart pillbox; If the medication adherence level is classified as a risk level, then follow-up plan information for the medication user corresponding to the smart pillbox is generated, and the follow-up plan information is pushed to the terminal of the follow-up personnel corresponding to the medication user.

10. A smart pillbox, characterized in that, The smart pillbox is used to implement the control method for the smart pillbox as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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