Biological sound data processor, biological sound data processing system, and biological sound data processing method

Abstract

To provide a biological sound having sound quality desired by a user, from biological sound data, the amount of which is controlled.SOLUTION: A biological sound data processor (1) comprises: an acquisition part (11) that acquires downsampled biological sound data; an upsampling part (12) that upsamples the biological sound data; an interpolation filtering part (13) that applies an interpolation filter to the biological sound data; an audibility correction filtering part (14) that applies an audibility correction filter to the biological sound data; and an output part (15) that outputs the biological sound data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a body sound data processing device, a body sound data processing system, and a body sound data processing method. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to realize remote diagnosis, a technology for transmitting biological sounds via a communication means is known. In this technology, it is required to suppress the amount of data during transmission. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an auscultation system that compresses and encodes an auscultation sound signal corresponding to an auscultation sound under the conditions of a sampling frequency of 8 kHz to 15 kHz and a bit rate of 8 kbps to 20 kbps, and files the compressed signal. When the auscultation system receives the filed auscultation sound signal, it performs an expansion and decoding process on the auscultation sound signal and reproduces it. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4854108 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Usually, in order to perform an appropriate diagnosis according to the purpose of medical treatment, a stethoscope has mechanical acoustic characteristics such that the chest piece can be turned over and placed on the patient, and heart sounds can be clearly heard on the bell side and lung sounds can be clearly heard on the diaphragm side. However, the auscultation system described in Patent Document 1 as described above does not mention a configuration for changing the acoustic characteristics. In other words, the auscultation system described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it cannot provide biological sounds with the sound quality desired by the user from biological sound data with a reduced data amount.

[0005] An object of one aspect of the present invention is to realize a technology for providing body sound with a sound quality desired by a user from body sound data with a reduced data amount. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a body sound data processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires downsampled body sound data, an upsampling unit that upsamples the body sound data acquired by the acquisition unit, an interpolation filter processing unit that applies an interpolation filter to the upsampled body sound data, an auditory correction filter processing unit that applies one of a plurality of auditory correction filters to the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter, and an output unit that outputs the body sound data that has been subjected to the auditory correction filter.

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, a body sound data processing system according to one aspect of the present invention is a body sound data processing system including a body sound data output device and a body sound data processing device, the body sound data output device including an output device acquisition unit that acquires analog body sounds, an A / D conversion unit that converts the analog body sounds acquired by the output device acquisition unit into digital body sound data at a first sampling frequency, a downsampling unit that downsamples the body sound data converted into digital form by the A / D conversion unit to a second sampling frequency lower than the first sampling frequency, and a downsampling unit that converts the downsampled body sound data into digital form. and an output device output unit that outputs the body sound data to the body sound data processing device. The body sound data processing device includes an acquisition unit that acquires the downsampled body sound data, an upsampling unit that upsamples the downsampled body sound data acquired by the acquisition unit to the first sampling frequency, an interpolation filter processing unit that applies an interpolation filter to the upsampled body sound data, a processing device auditory correction filter processing unit that applies one of a plurality of auditory correction filters to the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter, and a processing device output unit that outputs the body sound data that has been subjected to the auditory correction filter.

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, a body sound data processing method according to one aspect of the present invention includes an acquisition step of acquiring downsampled body sound data, an upsampling step of upsampling the body sound data acquired in the acquisition step, an interpolation filter processing step of applying an interpolation filter to the upsampled body sound data, an auditory weighting filter processing step of applying one of a plurality of auditory weighting filters to the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter, and an output step of outputting the body sound data that has been subjected to the auditory weighting filter.

[0009] Furthermore, the body sound data processing device according to each aspect of the present invention may be realized by a computer. In this case, a control program for the body sound data processing device that causes a computer to operate as each unit (software element) of the body sound data processing device to realize the body sound data processing device on a computer, and a computer-readable recording medium on which the control program is recorded, also fall within the scope of the present invention. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide body sounds with sound quality desired by a user from body sound data with a reduced data amount. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a body sound data processing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing body sound data in the body sound data processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an FIR-LPF that is an example of an interpolation filter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of frequency characteristics of a plurality of hearing correction filters according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5]1 is a flowchart showing the flow of a body sound data processing method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a body sound data processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of a body sound data processing method executed by a body sound data output device and a body sound data processing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of a body sound data processing method executed by a body sound data processing device and an information processing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a body sound data processing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of a body sound data processing method executed by a body sound data output device and a body sound data processing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of a body sound data processing method executed by a body sound data processing device and an information processing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] [Embodiment 1] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0013] (Body sound data processing device 1) A body sound data processing device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the body sound data processing device 1. The body sound data processing device 1 is a device that digitizes body sounds, which are analog signals, and acquires downsampled body sound data, upsamples the acquired body sound data, and applies a hearing compensation filter.

[0014] Since the body sound data processing device 1 acquires downsampled body sound data, when the downsampled body sound data is acquired by communication, the communication load can be reduced. In addition, since the body sound data acquired by the body sound data processing device 1 is downsampled data, the capacity of a storage device (for example, a storage device SD described later) in which the data is saved can be reduced. Examples of body sounds include, but are not limited to, blood flow sounds, breathing sounds, heart sounds, etc.

[0015] A specific example of the body sound data processing device 1 includes, but is not limited to, a server arranged on a network. Another specific example includes a computer (e.g., a mobile terminal, a PC (Personal Computer), etc.) in which a program that functions as the body sound data processing device 1 is installed.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 1, the body sound data processing device 1 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 17, an input / output unit 18, and a communication unit 19. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 1, the body sound data processing device 1 is connected to a storage device SD. The body sound data processing device 1 stores data in the storage device SD and acquires data stored in the storage device SD.

[0017] The storage unit 17 and the storage device SD each store data referenced by the control unit 10 of the body sound data processing device. An example of the data stored in the storage device SD is body sound data. An example of the data stored in the storage unit 17 is frequency information indicating the frequency before downsampling, which will be described later, and characteristic information indicating the characteristics of each of a plurality of hearing correction filters, but is not limited to these. Examples of the storage unit 17 and the storage device SD include, but are not limited to, a flash memory, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), or a combination of these.

[0018] The input / output unit 18 outputs data to the control unit 10, or outputs data from the control unit 10. Examples of the input / output unit 18 include a user interface such as a mouse and a keyboard, a display device, and an audio device such as a speaker and an earphone.

[0019] The communication unit 19 is an interface that transmits and receives data via a network. As an example, the communication unit 19 outputs data output from the control unit 10 to another device, or outputs data output from another device (e.g., a storage device SD) to the control unit 10. An example of the communication unit 19 acquiring data includes, but is not limited to, a configuration in which the communication unit 19 acquires body sound data from a storage device SD in which downsampled body sound data obtained from an electronic stethoscope that measures the body sound is stored. Examples of the communication unit 19 include, but are not limited to, communication chips in various communication standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), and wireless communication standards for mobile data communication networks, and a connector compliant with USB (Universal Serial Bus).

[0020] The control unit 10 controls each component included in the body sound data processing device 1. Specific examples of the control unit 10 include, but are not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphic processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a micro processing unit (MPU), a floating point number processing unit (FPU), a physics processing unit (PPU), a tensor processing unit (TPU), a quantum processor, a microcontroller, or a combination thereof.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 10 includes an acquisition unit 11, an upsampling unit 12, an interpolation filter processing unit 13, an auditory weighting filter processing unit 14, and an output unit 15.

[0022] The acquisition unit 11 acquires the downsampled body sound data stored in the storage device SD via the input / output unit 18 or the communication unit 19.

[0023] The acquisition unit 11 may further acquire frequency information indicating a sampling frequency at which the upsampling unit 12, which will be described later, performs upsampling.

[0024] There is no limitation as to where the acquiring unit 11 acquires the frequency information from, but as an example, the acquiring unit 11 may acquire the frequency information from the storage unit 17. In this configuration, the frequency information acquired by the acquiring unit 11 may be a sampling frequency before being downsampled by a measuring device (hereinafter referred to as a measuring device) that acquires and digitizes biological sounds using a sensor such as an electronic stethoscope.

[0025] As another example, the acquiring unit 11 may acquire frequency information indicating the frequency to be upsampled from an output destination device (e.g., a terminal used by a user) to which the output unit 15 described later outputs the body sound data. In this configuration, the frequency information acquired by the acquiring unit 11 may be a sampling frequency desired by the user (a sampling frequency input by a user operation). The sampling frequency desired by the user may be the sampling frequency before downsampling by the measuring device, or may be a sampling frequency different from the sampling frequency before downsampling by the measuring device.

[0026] The acquisition unit 11 may further acquire characteristic information indicating the characteristics of a weighted-hearing filter applied by the weighted-hearing filter processing unit 14 described later. There is no limitation as to where the acquisition unit 11 acquires the characteristic information from. As an example, the acquisition unit 11 may acquire the characteristic information from the storage unit 17, or may acquire the characteristic information from a storage device SD in which characteristic information obtained from a measuring device that measures the body sound is stored. As another example, the acquisition unit 11 may acquire characteristic information from an output destination device (e.g., a terminal used by a user) to which the output unit 15 described later outputs body sound data. The characteristic information indicating the characteristic of the weighted-hearing filter may be mode selection information indicating which of a plurality of weighted-hearing filters is to be applied, or may be design value information indicating the design value of the frequency characteristic itself of the weighted-hearing filter, but is not limited thereto.

[0027] The upsampling unit 12 upsamples the downsampled body sound data acquired by the acquisition unit 11. The sampling frequency at which the upsampling unit 12 performs upsampling is not limited as long as it is a frequency higher than the downsampled frequency. For example, the sampling frequency at which the upsampling unit 12 performs upsampling may be configured to perform upsampling to a predetermined sampling frequency, or may be configured to perform upsampling to a sampling frequency indicated by the frequency information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 as described above.

[0028] As an example, the upsampling unit 12 upsamples the body sound data to a sampling frequency before the body sound data was downsampled. With this configuration, the upsampling unit 12 can provide a sound equivalent to the sound output from a measuring device that measured the body sound.

[0029] An example of the upsampling process performed by the upsampling unit 12 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing body sound data in the body sound data processing device 1. Fig. 2 shows an example in which a 200 Hz sine wave downsampled at 8 kHz is upsampled to 16 kHz.

[0030] Graph g1 in Figure 2 shows the time response waveform of a 200 Hz sine wave downsampled at 8 kHz. Graph g2 is an enlarged graph of region r1 of graph g1. As shown in region r2 of graph g2, the waveform of a 200 Hz sine wave downsampled at 8 kHz has not been smoothed. Therefore, when listening to the sound of graph g1, noise due to the generation of image components during D / A conversion occurs in region r4 (see the solid line waveform), which is a region other than the 200 Hz region r3, as shown in the frequency spectrum waveform shown in graph g3.

[0031] When the upsampling unit 12 upsamples the waveform of graph g1 to 16 kHz, the time response waveform shown in graph g4 is obtained. Graph g5 is an enlarged graph of area r1 of graph g4. As shown in area r2 of graph g5, the time response waveform of a 200 Hz sine wave upsampled to 16 kHz is merely upsampled to 16 kHz, and remains unchanged from the waveform of a 200 Hz sine wave downsampled to 8 kHz.

[0032] The interpolation filter processing unit 13 applies an interpolation filter to the body sound data upsampled by the upsampling unit 12. Examples of the interpolation filter include, but are not limited to, a FIR-LPF (Finite Impulse Response - Low Pass Filter), an IIR (Infinite Impulse Response)-LPF, and linear interpolation.

[0033] An example of the process in which the interpolation filter processing unit 13 applies the interpolation filter will be described with reference to FIG. 2 again. The interpolation filter processing unit 13 applies the interpolation filter to the time response waveform of the upsampled graph g4. When the interpolation filter is applied, the time response waveform of the graph g4 changes to the time response waveform of the graph g6. Graph g7 is a graph in which the area r1 of the graph g6 is enlarged. As shown in the area r2 of the graph g7, the waveform of the 200 Hz sine wave to which the interpolation filter is applied is smoothed. Therefore, when listening to the sound of the graph g7, as shown in the frequency spectrum waveform shown in the graph g8, noise due to the generation of image components during D / A conversion in the area r4 (see the solid line waveform) which is an area other than the 200 Hz area r3 is reduced (see the bold downward arrow). The dotted waveform in g8 is the solid waveform in g3, that is, the frequency spectrum waveform before upsampling. On the other hand, the solid waveform in g8 is the dotted waveform in g3, that is, the frequency spectrum waveform after the interpolation filter is applied after upsampling.

[0034] An example of an interpolation filter is shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an FIR-LPF, which is an example of an interpolation filter. As shown in the upper part of Fig. 3, the FIR-LPF has a plurality of (n-1) delay elements DE 1 ~Delay element DE n-1 and multiple (n) multipliers M 1 ~Multiplier M n , and one adder AD. 1 ~Multiplier M n Each of the coefficients (coefficient 1 to coefficient n) is calculated from the impulse response of the FIR-LPF shown in the bottom of FIG.

[0035] In the FIR-LPF, the input to the FIR-LPF is multiplied by M 1 The multiplier M 1 outputs the input multiplied by a factor of 1.

[0036] Next, the input to the FIR-LPF is fed to the delay element DE 1 and the delay element DE 1The output from the multiplier M 2 The multiplier M 2 outputs its input multiplied by a factor of 2.

[0037] Next, the delay element DE 1 The output from the delay element DE 2 and the delay element DE 2 The output from the multiplier M 3 The multiplier M 3 outputs the input multiplied by the coefficient 3. This process is repeated until the delay element DE nー2 The output from the delay element DE nー1 and the delay element DE nー1 The output from the multiplier M n The multiplier M n outputs the input multiplied by a factor n.

[0038] In the FIR-LPF, the multiplier M 1 ~Multiplier M n The outputs of each of the adders AD are input to the multiplier M 1 ~Multiplier M n The sum of each of these is output.

[0039] The weighted hearing filter processing unit 14 applies one of a plurality of weighted hearing filters to the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter. There is no particular limitation as to which of the plurality of weighted hearing filters the weighted hearing filter processing unit 14 applies. For example, the weighted hearing filter processing unit 14 may be configured to correct the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter by using a weighted hearing filter having characteristics indicated by the characteristics information acquired by the acquisition unit 11.

[0040] An example of a plurality of hearing compensation filters is shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the frequency characteristics of a plurality of hearing compensation filters. In the diagram shown in Fig. 4, the hearing compensation filter processing unit 14 has modes 1 to 3 for changing the frequency characteristics of the original sound (bio-sound data subjected to an interpolation filter). For example, in the case of a bio-sound measured by an electronic stethoscope, mode 1 is a bell mode in which the heart sound is easy to hear, mode 2 is a diaphragm mode in which the lung sound is easy to hear, and mode 3 is a wideband mode in which the wide band sound unique to the electronic stethoscope is easy to hear.

[0041] The output unit 15 outputs the body sound data that has been subjected to the hearing compensation filter. As an example, the output unit 15 outputs the body sound data to another device (for example, a terminal used by a user) via the input / output unit 18 or the communication unit 19. As another example, the output unit 15 outputs the body sound data to a D / A conversion unit not shown in FIG. 1. In this case, the body sound data is converted into analog body sound by the D / A conversion unit. The converted body sound is output to a speaker or earphone, which is the input / output unit 18, as an example.

[0042] (Body sound data processing method S1) The body sound data processing method S1 executed by the body sound data processing device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the body sound data processing method S1.

[0043] (Step S11: Acquisition step) In step S11, the acquisition unit 11 acquires the downsampled body sound data stored in the storage device SD via the input / output unit 18 or the communication unit 19. As described above, in step S11, the acquisition unit 11 may further acquire at least one of frequency information and characteristic information.

[0044] (Step S12: Upsampling step) In step S12, the upsampling unit 12 upsamples the downsampled body sound data acquired by the acquisition unit 11. As described above, the upsampling unit 12 may upsample the body sound data to a sampling frequency before the body sound data was downsampled. Alternatively, the upsampling unit 12 may upsample the body sound data to a sampling frequency indicated by the frequency information acquired by the acquisition unit 11.

[0045] (Step S13: Interpolation filter processing step) In step S13, the interpolation filter processing unit 13 applies an interpolation filter to the body sound data upsampled by the upsampling unit 12.

[0046] (Step S14: Hearing compensation filter processing step) In step S14, the weighted hearing filter processing unit 14 applies one of a plurality of weighted hearing filters to the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter. As described above, the weighted hearing filter processing unit 14 may correct the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter by using a weighted hearing filter having characteristics indicated by the characteristics information acquired by the acquisition unit 11.

[0047] (Step S15: Output step) In step S15, the output unit 15 outputs the body sound data that has been subjected to the hearing compensation filter.

[0048] (Effects of the body sound data processing device 1) In this way, the body sound data processing device 1 performs upsampling on the downsampled body sound data and applies an interpolation filter. The body sound data processing device 1 also applies one of a plurality of hearing correction filters. The body sound data processing device 1 also outputs the body sound data that has been subjected to the hearing correction filter. Therefore, the body sound data processing device 1 can provide body sound with a sound quality desired by the user from body sound data with a reduced data amount (downsampled body sound data).

[0049] Furthermore, since the body sound data processing device 1 can suppress the amount of data, the storage capacity of the storage device SD can be reduced, and the cost required for storing data can be reduced. Furthermore, the body sound data processing device 1 can store data of a larger number of living bodies and store the data for a long period of time without increasing the storage capacity of the storage device SD.

[0050] Furthermore, the downsampled body sound data has a low rate. Therefore, in the body sound data processing device 1, the time required for communication by the communication unit 19 can be reduced, and the cost required for communication can be reduced.

[0051] Moreover, the hearing correction filter processing unit 14 applies one of a plurality of hearing correction filters to the high-rate, low-noise data upsampled by the action of the upsampling unit 12 and the interpolation filter processing unit 13. Therefore, the body sound data processing device 1 can perform hearing correction with higher accuracy. Moreover, the body sound data processing device 1 has a configuration capable of providing the user with body sound data in a state of higher sound quality and at the same time reducing costs.

[0052] In addition, the user can listen to the body sound data from the storage device SD again at a different location later. Therefore, by storing the body sound data in the storage device SD by the body sound data processing device 1, the user can reconfirm the body sounds measured by the electronic stethoscope at any time. In addition, the user can perform auscultation more accurately by repeatedly playing back and listening to the body sounds measured by the electronic stethoscope at the time of auscultation. In the same way, multiple people can listen to the same sound source again, which allows for more objective auscultation.

[0053] Furthermore, the body sound data processing device 1 acquires frequency information indicating a sampling frequency to be upsampled, and upsamples the body sound data to the sampling frequency indicated by the frequency information. Therefore, for example, when the frequency information indicates a sampling frequency before downsampling, the body sound data processing device 1 can convert the body sound data to the body sound data before downsampling. Furthermore, when the frequency information indicates a sampling frequency desired by the user, the body sound data processing device 1 can convert the body sound data to the body sound data having the sampling frequency desired by the user.

[0054] Furthermore, the body sound data processing device 1 acquires characteristic information indicating the characteristics of a weighting filter, and corrects the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter by the weighting filter having the characteristics indicated by the characteristic information. Therefore, in the case of body sounds measured by an electronic stethoscope, for example, the body sound data processing device 1 can provide the user with the body sound desired by the user, such as a weighting filter that makes it easy to hear heart sounds, a weighting filter that makes it easy to hear lung sounds, and a weighting filter that makes it easy to hear wideband sounds.

[0055] The user can also change the weighting filter and listen repeatedly. In this case, the user can perform auscultation from more diverse angles than when a single weighting filter is selected. Furthermore, by adding characteristic information of the weighting filter of the electronic stethoscope to the body sound data and applying this, the user can listen to the body sound with the same characteristics as during auscultation.

[0056] [Embodiment 2] Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals are given to members having the same functions as those described in the above embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0057] (Body sound data processing system 100A) A body sound data processing system 100A according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the body sound data processing system 100A. The body sound data processing system 100A is a system for processing body sound data obtained by digitizing body sounds. As shown in FIG. 6, the body sound data processing system 100A includes a body sound data processing device 1A, a storage device SD, a body sound data output device 2, and an information processing device 4. The body sound data processing device 1A, the body sound data output device 2, and the information processing device 4 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a network N. The storage device SD is connected to the body sound data processing device 1. The body sound data output device 2 may be directly connected to the network N, or may be indirectly connected to the network N via an information transfer processing device ITD as shown in FIG. 6.

[0058] Specific examples of the network N include a public line network, a mobile data communication network (3G, LTE (Long Term Evolution), 4G, 5G, local 5G, etc.), or a combination of these networks. However, the network N is not limited to these.

[0059] The body sound data output device 2 acquires analog body sounds from a sensor and digitizes them. Furthermore, the body sound data output device 2 outputs the downsampled body sound data to the body sound data processing device 1A via the information transfer processing device ITD and the network N. The body sound data output device 2 also outputs the body sound number, acquisition date and time, etc., as information related to the output body sound data, to the body sound data processing device 1A via the information transfer processing device ITD and the network N. The body sound data output device 2 also applies a hearing correction filter to the body sound data, converts it into analog, and outputs the body sound. A specific example of the body sound data output device 2 includes, but is not limited to, an electronic stethoscope. The hearing correction filter is as in the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0060] The body sound data processing device 1A temporarily stores the downsampled body sound data output from the body sound data output device 2 via the network N in the storage device SD in association with the body sound number. Thereafter, the body sound data processing device 1A selects and acquires the stored body sound data of the body sound number from the storage device SD in response to, for example, a command from the information processing device 4 via the network N. The body sound data processing device 1A also upsamples the acquired body sound data, applies an interpolation filter, and further applies a hearing compensation filter. The body sound data processing device 1A also outputs the body sound data that has been subjected to the hearing compensation filter to the information processing device 4. A specific example of the body sound data processing device 1A is the same as the body sound data processing device 1.

[0061] The information processing device 4 converts the body sound data output from the body sound data processing device 1A, which has been subjected to an auditory correction filter, into analog data and outputs the body sound. Specific examples of the information processing device 4 include, but are not limited to, a PC and a mobile terminal used by a user. In addition, the information processing device 4 requests the body sound data processing device 1A to transfer the body data of the body sound number designated by the user via the network N, as described above.

[0062] (Body sound data output device 2) As shown in FIG. 6, the body sound data output device 2 includes a control unit 20, a storage unit 37, an input / output unit 38, and a communication unit 39.

[0063] The storage unit 37 stores data referenced by the control unit 20. An example of the data stored in the storage unit 37 includes, but is not limited to, characteristic information indicating the characteristics of each of a plurality of hearing correction filters. An example of the storage unit 37 includes, but is not limited to, a flash memory, a HDD, an SSD, or a combination thereof.

[0064] The input / output unit 38 outputs data to the control unit 20 or outputs data from the control unit 20. Examples of the input / output unit 38 include a user interface such as a sensor, an operation button, and a touch panel, a display device, and an acoustic device such as a speaker and an earphone. Examples of sensors include, but are not limited to, a microphone that collects body sounds, an acceleration sensor, and an acoustic sensor such as a pressure sensor. The sensor outputs the collected body sounds as an analog signal to the control unit 20.

[0065] The communication unit 39 is an interface that transmits and receives data via a directly or indirectly connected network N. As an example, the communication unit 39 outputs data output from the control unit 20 to another device, or outputs data output from another device to the control unit 20. An example of the communication unit 39 outputting data is a configuration in which downsampled body sound data is directly or indirectly output to the body sound data processing device 1A.

[0066] Examples of the communication unit 39 include, but are not limited to, communication chips in various communication standards such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and wireless communication standards of mobile data communication networks, and a connector conforming to USB. An example of indirectly transmitting data to the body sound data processing device 1A includes, but is not limited to, a configuration in which the communication unit 39 transmits data to the information transfer processing device ITD via Bluetooth, and the information transfer processing device ITD transmits data via the network N. A specific example of the information transfer processing device ITD includes, but is not limited to, a mobile terminal.

[0067] The control unit 20 controls each component included in the body sound data output device 2. Specific examples of the control unit 20 include, but are not limited to, a CPU, a GPU, a DSP, an MPU, an FPU, a PPU, a TPU, a quantum processor, a microcontroller, or a combination thereof.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 20 also includes an acquisition unit 21 (output device acquisition unit), an A / D conversion unit 22, a hearing correction filter processing unit 23 (output device hearing correction filter processing unit), a D / A conversion unit 24, a body sound output unit 25, an anti-aliasing filter unit 26, a downsampling unit 27, and an output unit 28 (output device output unit).

[0069] The acquiring unit 21 acquires analog body sound output from the input / output unit 38 or the communication unit 39. The acquiring unit 21 has a built-in analog filter (not shown) for suppressing and amplifying noise generated during discretization by the A / D conversion unit 22.

[0070] The A / D conversion unit 22 converts the analog body sound acquired by the acquisition unit 21 into digital body sound data at a first sampling frequency. The first sampling frequency is not limited, but may be 16 kHz, for example.

[0071] The weighted-hearing filter processing unit 23 applies one of a plurality of weighted-hearing filters to the digital body sound data converted by the A / D conversion unit 22. The weighted-hearing filter applied by the weighted-hearing filter processing unit 23 may be a preset weighted-hearing filter or may be a weighted-hearing filter based on an instruction from a user via the input / output unit 38.

[0072] The D / A conversion unit 24 converts the body sound data that has been subjected to the hearing compensation filter into analog data, thereby generating a body sound.

[0073] The body sound output unit 25 outputs the analog body sound via the input / output unit 38 or the communication unit 39. As an example, the body sound output unit 25 outputs the body sound to a speaker or earphone which is the input / output unit 38.

[0074] The anti-aliasing filter unit 26 applies a filter (for example, a digital LPF) to the body sound data generated by the A / D conversion unit 22 to reduce alias noise generated during downsampling processing by the downsampling unit 27 in advance.

[0075] The downsampling unit 27 downsamples the body sound data to a second sampling frequency lower than the first sampling frequency. As an example, the downsampling unit 27 downsamples the body sound data that has been subjected to a filter that reduces alias noise to a second sampling frequency lower than the first sampling frequency. The second sampling frequency is not limited, but an example is 8 kHz.

[0076] The output unit 28 outputs the downsampled body sound data to the communication unit 39. The communication unit 39 outputs the downsampled body sound data directly or indirectly to the body sound data processing device 1A via the network N.

[0077] (Body sound data processing device 1A) As shown in Fig. 6, the body sound data processing device 1A includes a control unit 10A, a storage unit 17, an input / output unit 18, and a communication unit 19. The body sound data processing device 1A is connected to a storage device SD. The storage unit 17, the input / output unit 18, the communication unit 19, and the storage device SD are as described above. A specific example of the body sound data processing device 1A includes, but is not limited to, a device connected to a network N (for example, a server arranged on the network N).

[0078] The control unit 10A controls the components of the body sound data processing device 1A, similarly to the above-described control unit 10. A specific example of the control unit 10A is similar to the specific example of the control unit 10 described above.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 10A also includes an acquisition unit 11A, an upsampling unit 12A, an interpolation filter processing unit 13A, an auditory weighting filter processing unit 14A (processing device auditory weighting filter processing unit), and an output unit 15A (processing device output unit).

[0080] The downsampled body sound data output from the body sound data output device 2 is stored in the storage device SD directly or indirectly via the network N. The acquisition unit 11A acquires the downsampled body sound data from the storage device SD via the communication unit 19. The communication unit 19 outputs the acquired downsampled body sound data to the acquisition unit 11A. The acquisition unit 11A also accepts a request for body sound from the information processing device 4. For example, the acquisition unit 11A acquires a body sound number for distinguishing the body sound from other body sounds from the information processing device 4. The acquisition unit 11A also accepts the request for body sound and may further acquire frequency information indicating the characteristics of a hearing correction filter and the upsampling frequency by the upsampling unit 12A from the information processing device 4.

[0081] The upsampling unit 12A upsamples the downsampled body sound data acquired by the acquiring unit 11A to a first sampling frequency. As an example, when the acquiring unit 11A receives a request for body sound from the information processing device 4, the upsampling unit 12A may read body sound data from a desired data area of ​​the storage device SD (for example, a data area in which downsampled body sound data having a matching body sound number is stored) and upsample the body sound data to the first sampling frequency.

[0082] The interpolation filter processing unit 13A applies an interpolation filter to the upsampled body sound data. A specific example of the interpolation filter is as described above.

[0083] The weighted hearing filter processing unit 14A applies one of a plurality of weighted hearing filters to the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter. The weighted hearing filter applied by the weighted hearing filter processing unit 14A may be a preset weighted hearing filter, or, when the acquisition unit 11A acquires characteristic information from the information processing device 4, may be a weighted hearing filter having characteristics indicated by the characteristic information. Specific examples of weighted hearing filters are as described above.

[0084] The plurality of weighted-sound filters applied by the weighted-sound filter processor 14A include weighted-sound filters having the same characteristics as the plurality of weighted-sound filters applied by the weighted-sound filter processor 23 of the body sound data output device 2. In other words, the weighted-sound filter processor 14A can generate body sound data that is the same as the body sound data applied by the weighted-sound filter processor 23 of the body sound data output device 2.

[0085] This configuration allows the voice characteristic 1 auscultated by the body sound data output device 2 (e.g., an electronic stethoscope) and the voice characteristic 2 reproduced via the information processing device 4 (e.g., a PC) to have equivalent voice characteristics. Therefore, the audibility correction filter processing unit 14A can satisfy the continuity of the auscultation characteristics required by the user.

[0086] The output unit 15A outputs the body sound data that has been subjected to the hearing correction filter to the communication unit 19. The communication unit 19 outputs the body sound data that has been subjected to the hearing correction filter to the information processing device 4 via the network N.

[0087] With this configuration, the body sound data processing device 1A outputs body sound data that has been subjected to an audibility correction filter. Therefore, the information processing device 4 only performs D / A conversion on the body sound data received via the network N and outputs it, and it is possible to hear easy-to-listen sounds having acoustic characteristics equivalent to those of the body sound data output device 2 (e.g., an electronic stethoscope) at a time- and spatially distant location on a general-purpose device (e.g., a PC) without adding any special hardware.

[0088] (Information processing device 4) As shown in FIG. 6, the information processing device 4 includes a control unit 40, a storage unit 47, an input / output unit 48, and a communication unit 49.

[0089] The storage unit 47 stores data referenced by the control unit 40. An example of the data stored in the storage unit 47 includes, but is not limited to, information indicating the characteristics of a user-desired hearing compensation filter. An example of the storage unit 47 includes, but is not limited to, a flash memory, a HDD, an SSD, or a combination thereof.

[0090] The input / output unit 48 outputs data to the control unit 40 or outputs data from the control unit 40. Examples of the input / output unit 48 include a user interface such as a mouse and a keyboard, a display device, and an audio device such as a speaker and an earphone. When the input / output unit 48 is a user interface that accepts user input, the input / output unit 48 outputs information indicating the accepted user input to the control unit 40.

[0091] The communication unit 49 is an interface that transmits and receives data via the network N. As an example, the communication unit 49 outputs data output from the control unit 40 to another device, or outputs data output from another device to the control unit 40. An example of the communication unit 49 outputting data output from another device to the control unit 40 is a configuration in which body sound data that has been subjected to a hearing correction filter and output from the body sound data processing device 1A is output to the control unit 40. Examples of the communication unit 49 include, but are not limited to, communication chips in various communication standards such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and wireless communication standards for mobile data communication networks, and USB-compliant connectors.

[0092] The control unit 40 controls each component included in the information processing device 4. Specific examples of the control unit 40 include, but are not limited to, a CPU, a GPU, a DSP, an MPU, an FPU, a PPU, a TPU, a quantum processor, a microcontroller, or a combination thereof.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 40 includes an acquisition unit 41, a D / A conversion unit 42, and an output unit 43.

[0094] The acquiring unit 41 acquires the body sound data that has been subjected to the hearing compensation filter and that is output from the body sound data processing device 1A, via the network N and the communication unit 49. The acquiring unit 41 also acquires information indicating user input that is output from the input / output unit 48. Examples of the information indicating user input include a body sound number for distinguishing the body sound to be reproduced from other body sounds, the acquisition date and time, the body number, information indicating an instruction to start reproduction of the body sound, information indicating the characteristics of the hearing compensation filter (the characteristics of the hearing compensation filter desired by the user), and information indicating an upsampling frequency (the sampling frequency desired by the user when the D / A conversion unit 42 performs D / A conversion), etc.

[0095] The D / A conversion unit 42 converts the body sound data acquired by the acquisition unit 41 into analog data, and generates body sounds.

[0096] The output unit 43 outputs the analog-converted body sound via the input / output unit 48 or the communication unit 49. As an example, the output unit 43 outputs to a speaker or earphone which is the input / output unit 48. As another example, when the acquisition unit 41 acquires information indicating an instruction to reproduce a body sound or, for example, a body sound number to be reproduced via the input / output unit 48, the output unit 43 requests body sound data corresponding to the body sound number from the body sound data processing device 1A. In addition, when the acquisition unit 41 acquires characteristic information indicating the characteristics of a weighting filter and information indicating an upsampling frequency via the input / output unit 48, the output unit 43 may output the characteristic information indicating the characteristics of a weighting filter and the information indicating the upsampling frequency to the body sound data processing device 1A via the communication unit 49 and the network N and request the body sound after the corresponding processing has been performed.

[0097] (Body sound data processing method S2) The body sound data processing method S2 executed by the body sound data output device 2 and the body sound data processing device 1A will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the body sound data processing method S2 executed by the body sound data output device 2 and the body sound data processing device 1A.

[0098] (Step S21) In step S21, the acquisition unit 21 of the body sound data output device 2 acquires analog body sound detected by a sensor in the input / output unit 38. More specifically, the acquisition unit 21 acquires analog body sound by amplifying the detected analog body sound with an amplifier having an LPF characteristic for removing aliasing noise generated during A / D conversion by the A / D conversion unit 22.

[0099] (Step S22) In step S22, the A / D conversion unit 22 converts the analog body sound acquired by the acquisition unit 21 into digital body sound data at a first sampling frequency.

[0100] (Step S23) In step S23, the hearing compensation filter processing unit 23 applies one of a plurality of hearing compensation filters to the body sound data converted by the A / D conversion unit 22.

[0101] (Step S24) In step S24, the D / A conversion unit 24 converts the body sound data that has been subjected to the hearing compensation filter into analog data to generate a body sound.

[0102] (Step S25) In step S25, the body sound output unit 25 outputs the analog converted body sound via the input / output unit 38 or the communication unit 39 through an analog LPF (not shown) for suppressing noise generated during D / A conversion.

[0103] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the body sound data processing apparatus 1A executes steps S26 to S28 in parallel with steps S23 to S25.

[0104] (Step S26) In step S26, the anti-alias filter unit 26 applies a digital filter to the body sound data generated by the A / D conversion unit 22 to reduce alias noise.

[0105] (Step S27) In step S27, the downsampling unit 27 downsamples the first sampling frequency to a second sampling frequency that is lower than the first sampling frequency.

[0106] (Step S28) In step S28, the output unit 28 outputs the downsampled body sound data from the communication unit 39 directly or indirectly via the network N to the body sound data processing device 1A.

[0107] (Step S29) In step S29, the acquisition unit 11A of the body sound data processing device 1A acquires the downsampled body sound data output from the body sound data output device 2, and stores it in the storage device SD.

[0108] (Body sound data processing method S3) The body sound data processing method S3 executed by the body sound data processing device 1A and the information processing device 4 will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the body sound data processing method S3 executed by the body sound data processing device 1A and the information processing device 4.

[0109] (Step S31) In step S31, the acquisition unit 41 of the information processing device 4 acquires information indicating an instruction to reproduce body sounds output from the input / output unit 48. The acquisition unit 41 may further acquire a body sound number for identifying body sound data, or the like.

[0110] (Step S32) In step S32, the output unit 43 requests the body sound data processing device 1A via the communication unit 49 and the network N for the body sound data indicated by the body sound number.

[0111] (Step S33) In step S33, the acquisition unit 11A of the body sound data processing device 1A accepts the request for body sounds from the information processing device 4, and acquires the body sound data indicated by the body sound number from the storage device SD.

[0112] (Step S34) In step S34, the upsampling unit 12A upsamples the downsampled body sound data acquired by the acquisition unit 11A to a first sampling frequency.

[0113] (Step S35) In step S35, the interpolation filter processing unit 13A applies an interpolation filter to the upsampled body sound data.

[0114] (Step S36) In step S36, the weighted hearing filter processing unit 14A applies one of a plurality of weighted hearing filters to the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter. As described above, the weighted hearing filter processing unit 14A may apply a weighted hearing filter having characteristics indicated by the characteristics information to the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter.

[0115] (Step S37) In step S37, the output unit 15A outputs the body sound data that has been subjected to the hearing compensation filter to the information processing device 4 via the communication unit 19 and the network N.

[0116] (Step S38) In step S38, the acquisition unit 41 of the information processing device 4 acquires, via the network N and the communication unit 49, the body sound data that has been subjected to the hearing correction filter and that is output from the body sound data processing device 1A.

[0117] (Step S39) In step S39, the D / A conversion unit 42 converts the body sound data that has been subjected to the hearing compensation filter and that has been acquired by the acquisition unit 41, into analog data to generate body sound.

[0118] (Step S40) In step S40, the output unit 43 outputs the analog body sound via the input / output unit 48 or the communication unit 49.

[0119] (Effects of the body sound data processing system 100A) Thus, in the body sound data processing system 100A, the body sound data processing device 1A upsamples the downsampled body sound data to the first sampling frequency before downsampling, and applies an interpolation filter after upsampling. After upsampling, the body sound data processing device 1A applies one of a plurality of hearing correction filters to the body sound data from which noise due to image components generated during D / A conversion has been removed in advance by an interpolation filter. After upsampling, the body sound data processing device 1A applies an interpolation filter, and outputs the body sound data that has been subjected to the hearing correction filter to the information processing device 4. Therefore, the body sound data processing device 1A can provide a body sound with a sound quality desired by the user from the body sound data with a reduced data amount.

[0120] Moreover, the body sound data output by the body sound data output device 2 is output to the network N with a reduced data volume. Therefore, in the body sound data processing system 100A, the time required for communication can be shortened, the communication cost can be reduced, and the data volume to be stored in the storage device SD can be reduced, so that the storage cost can be reduced.

[0121] Furthermore, in the body sound data processing system 100A, the body sound data processing device 1A applies to the body sound data a hearing correction filter having the same characteristics as the hearing correction filter applied by the body sound data output device 2. For example, when the body sound data output device 2 is an electronic stethoscope, the body sound data output device 2 outputs body sound that has been applied with a hearing correction filter such as a hearing correction filter that makes it easy to hear heart sounds, a hearing correction filter that makes it easy to hear lung sounds, and a hearing correction filter that makes it easy to hear wideband sounds. Similarly, the body sound data processing device 1A can output body sound data that has been applied with a hearing correction filter such as a hearing correction filter that makes it easy to hear heart sounds, a hearing correction filter that makes it easy to hear lung sounds, and a hearing correction filter that makes it easy to hear wideband sounds.

[0122] Furthermore, in the body sound data processing system 100A, the information processing device 4 (for example, a PC operated by a user remotely) acquires body sound data that has been subjected to the same hearing correction filter as that of an electronic stethoscope via the network N, and the information processing device 4 can reproduce the data at a location separated in time and space. Therefore, body sounds having the same characteristics as those of auscultatory sounds obtained by an on-site stethoscope can be reproduced on a PC at a remote location. Furthermore, the body sound data processing device 1A can provide body sounds with the continuity of the sound quality desired by the user.

[0123] Moreover, the above-mentioned hearing compensation filters for making heart sounds and lung sounds easier to hear are developed by spending a great deal of man-hours on filter design to match the input sampling frequency in order to make each sound easier to hear. However, in the body sound data processing system 100A, by upsampling to the same frequency as the processing in the electronic stethoscope, the processing implemented in the hearing compensation filter processing unit 23 of the body sound data output device 2 and the processing implemented in the hearing compensation filter processing unit 14A can be realized by the same implementation. Therefore, in the body sound data processing system 100A, it is possible to reduce implementation and development costs and to centrally manage design data for the hearing compensation filters.

[0124] [Embodiment 3] Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals are given to members having the same functions as those described in the above embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0125] (Body sound data processing system 100B) A body sound data processing system 100B according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the body sound data processing system 100B. The body sound data processing system 100B is a system for processing body sound data obtained by digitizing body sounds. As shown in FIG. 9, the body sound data processing system 100B includes a body sound data processing device 1B, a body sound data output device 2B, and an information processing device 4. The body sound data processing device 1B, the body sound data output device 2B, and the information processing device 4 are connected to each other via a network N so as to be able to communicate with each other. A specific example of the network N is as described above.

[0126] The body sound data output device 2B has a configuration for adding additional information, such as frequency information indicating a first frequency indicating a sampling frequency before downsampling, to the downsampled body sound data, in addition to the configuration of the body sound data output device 2 in the above-mentioned embodiment. The body sound data output device 2B outputs the body sound data to which the frequency information has been added, directly or indirectly, via the network N to the body sound data processing device 1B.

[0127] The body sound data processing device 1B has a configuration for up-sampling body sound data to a sampling frequency indicated by frequency information acquired from the body sound data output device 2B, in addition to the configuration of the body sound data processing device 1A in the above-described embodiment.

[0128] The information processing device 4 has the same configuration as the information processing device 4 in the above-described embodiment, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0129] (Body sound data output device 2B) 9, the body sound data output device 2B includes a control unit 20B, a storage unit 37, an input / output unit 38, and a communication unit 39. The storage unit 37, the input / output unit 38, and the communication unit 39 are as described above.

[0130] The control unit 20B includes a filter processing unit 29 and an information adding unit 30 in addition to the components included in the control unit 20 described above. Moreover, the control unit 20B includes a body sound output unit 25B and an output unit 28B instead of the body sound output unit 25 and the output unit 28 described above.

[0131] The filter processing unit 29 applies a noise reduction filter (for example, an analog BPF (Band Pass Filter)) to the body sound generated by the D / A conversion unit 24.

[0132] The information adding unit 30 adds frequency information indicating a first sampling frequency, which is a sampling frequency before downsampling, to the downsampled body sound data. In other words, the information adding unit 30 adds frequency information indicating a first sampling frequency when the A / D conversion unit 22 converts analog body sounds into digital sounds. In addition, the information adding unit 30 may add information indicating characteristics of a hearing correction filter processed by the hearing correction filter processing unit 23 as the additional information.

[0133] The body sound output unit 25B outputs the body sound that has been subjected to the noise reduction filter to a speaker or earphone which is the input / output unit .

[0134] The output unit 28B outputs the body sound data, which has been downsampled and to which additional information such as frequency information has been added, from the communication unit 39 directly or indirectly via the network N to the body sound data processing device 1B.

[0135] (Body sound data processing device 1B) As shown in Fig. 9, the body sound data processing device 1B includes a control unit 10B, a storage unit 17, an input / output unit 18, and a communication unit 19. The body sound data processing device 1B is also connected to a storage device SD. The storage unit 17, the input / output unit 18, the communication unit 19, and the storage device SD are as described above.

[0136] The control unit 10B includes an acquisition unit 11B, an upsampling unit 12B, and an auditory weighting filter processing unit 14B, instead of the acquisition unit 11A, the upsampling unit 12A, and the auditory weighting filter processing unit 14A described above. The control unit 10B further includes a filter processing unit 16B.

[0137] The acquiring unit 11B acquires body sound data that has been downsampled and to which additional information such as frequency information has been added. The acquiring unit 11B accepts a request for body sound, and may further acquire characteristic information indicating characteristics of a hearing correction filter from the information processing device 4, or characteristic information added to the body sound data.

[0138] The upsampling unit 12B refers to the frequency information acquired by the acquisition unit 11B and performs upsampling to the first sampling frequency.

[0139] The weighted-hearing filter processing unit 14B applies one of a plurality of weighted-hearing filters to the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter. The weighted-hearing filter applied by the weighted-hearing filter processing unit 14B may be a preset weighted-hearing filter, or, when the additional information added to the information processing device 4 or the body sound data by the acquisition unit 11B includes characteristic information, may be a weighted-hearing filter having characteristics indicated by the acquired characteristic information.

[0140] The filter processing unit 16B applies a noise reduction filter to the body sound data that has been subjected to the hearing weighting filter. The noise reduction filter may be a digital filter processing equivalent to a filter (e.g., BPF) for the noise reduction filter processed by the filter processing unit 29 of the body sound data output device 2B.

[0141] (Body sound data processing method S4) The body sound data processing method S4 executed by the body sound data output device 2B and the body sound data processing device 1B will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the body sound data processing method S4 executed by the body sound data output device 2B and the body sound data processing device 1B.

[0142] (Steps S21 to S24) Steps S21 to S24 are as described above.

[0143] (Step S41) In step S41, the filter processing unit 29 of the body sound data output device 2B applies noise reduction filtering to the body sound generated by the D / A conversion unit .

[0144] (Step S42) In step S42, the body sound output unit 25B outputs the body sound that has been subjected to the noise reduction filter to the input / output unit 38, which is a speaker or an earphone.

[0145] (Steps S26 and S27) Steps S26 and S27 are as described above.

[0146] (Step S43) In step S43, the information adding unit 30 adds frequency information indicating a first sampling frequency, which is a sampling frequency before downsampling, to the downsampled body sound data. In step S43, the information adding unit 30 may add information indicating the characteristics of the hearing compensation filter applied by the hearing compensation filter processing unit 23.

[0147] (Step S44) In step S44, the output unit 28B outputs the body sound data to which the additional information such as frequency information has been added from the communication unit 39 directly or indirectly via the network N to the body sound data processing device 1B.

[0148] (Step S45) In step S45, the acquisition unit 11B of the body sound data processing device 1B acquires the body sound data that has been downsampled and has additional information such as frequency information added thereto, and stores the data in the storage device SD.

[0149] (Body sound data processing method S5) The body sound data processing method S5 executed by the body sound data processing device 1B and the information processing device 4 will be described with reference to Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of the body sound data processing method S5 executed by the body sound data processing device 1B and the information processing device 4.

[0150] (Steps S31 to S33) Steps S31 to S33 are as described above.

[0151] (Step S51) In step S51, the upsampling unit 12B of the body sound data processing device 1B refers to the frequency information acquired by the acquisition unit 11B and upsamples the information to a first sampling frequency.

[0152] (Step S35) Step S35 is as described above.

[0153] (Step S36) In step S36, the weighted hearing filter processing unit 14B applies one of a plurality of weighted hearing filters to the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter. When characteristic information is included in the additional information added to the body sound data by the acquisition unit 11B, the weighted hearing filter processing unit 14B may apply a weighted hearing filter having characteristics indicated by the acquired characteristic information to the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter.

[0154] (Step S52) In step S52, the filter processor 16B applies a noise reduction filter to the body sound data that has been subjected to the hearing weighting filter. The noise reduction filter may be a digital filter process equivalent to a filter (e.g., BPF) for the noise reduction filter processed by the filter processor 29 of the body sound data output device 2B.

[0155] (Step S53) In step S53, the output unit 15A outputs the body sound data that has been subjected to the hearing weighting filter and the noise reduction filter to the information processing device 4 via the communication unit 19 and the network N.

[0156] (Steps S38 to S40) Steps S38 to S40 are as described above.

[0157] (Effects of the body sound data processing system 100A) In this way, in the body sound data processing system 100B, the body sound data output device 2B adds frequency information indicating a first sampling frequency, which is a sampling frequency before downsampling, and outputs the downsampled body sound data to the body sound data processing device 1B. The body sound data processing device 1B acquires the downsampled body sound data to which the frequency information has been added, and upsamples the body sound data at the first sampling frequency indicated by the frequency information. Therefore, the body sound data processing device 1B can suitably generate the body sound data before being downsampled by the body sound data output device 2B.

[0158] Furthermore, the body sound data processing device 1B acquires frequency information before downsampling performed by the body sound data output device 2B. Therefore, the body sound data processing device 1B can more generally restore the sound to the same as that of the body sound data output device 2B having different performance (for example, a plurality of electronic stethoscopes having different performance). Furthermore, by configuring the body sound data output device 2B to add characteristic information of a hearing correction filter as additional information, the user can easily hear with the same characteristics as during auscultation. Furthermore, by performing filter processing equivalent to the noise reduction filter performed by the body sound data output device 2B in the body sound data processing device 1B, it becomes possible to output body sound data with acoustic characteristics closer to that of the body sound data output device 2B (for example, an electronic stethoscope).

[0159] [Software implementation example] The functions of the body sound data processing devices 1, 1A, 1B, the body sound data output devices 2, 2B, and the information processing device 4 (hereinafter referred to as "devices") can be realized by a program for causing a computer to function as the devices, and a program for causing a computer to function as each control block of the devices (particularly each unit included in the control units 10, 10A, 10B, 20, 20B, and 40).

[0160] In this case, the device includes a computer having at least one control device (e.g., a processor) and at least one storage device (e.g., a memory) as hardware for executing the program. The control device and storage device execute the program to realize each function described in each of the above embodiments.

[0161] The program may be non-transitory and may be recorded in one or more computer-readable recording media. The recording media may or may not be included in the device. In the latter case, the program may be provided to the device via any wired or wireless transmission medium.

[0162] In addition, some or all of the functions of each of the control blocks can be realized by a logic circuit. For example, an integrated circuit in which a logic circuit that functions as each of the control blocks is formed is also included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, the functions of each of the control blocks can be realized by, for example, a quantum computer.

[0163] Furthermore, each process described in each of the above embodiments may be executed by AI (Artificial Intelligence). In this case, the AI ​​may be executed by the control device or another device (for example, an edge computer or a cloud server).

[0164] Furthermore, with the above configuration, it is possible to improve the convenience of devices (diagnosis support for medical professionals) in remote examinations using electronic stethoscopes, etc. Such effects also contribute to the achievement of, for example, Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocated by the United Nations, "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages."

[0165] 〔summary〕 A body sound data processing device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires downsampled body sound data, an upsampling unit that upsamples the body sound data acquired by the acquisition unit, an interpolation filter processing unit that applies an interpolation filter to the upsampled body sound data, an auditory correction filter processing unit that applies one of a plurality of auditory correction filters to the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter, and an output unit that outputs the body sound data that has been subjected to the auditory correction filter.

[0166] According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide body sound with a sound quality desired by the user from body sound data with a reduced data amount (downsampled body sound data).

[0167] In addition, the above configuration can reduce the amount of data, thereby reducing the cost of storing the data. Furthermore, it is possible to store data for a larger number of living organisms and for a longer period of time without increasing the storage capacity of the storage device that stores the data.

[0168] Furthermore, according to the above configuration, since the downsampled body sound data has a low rate, the time required for communication to acquire the body data can be shortened, and the cost required for communication can be reduced.

[0169] According to the above configuration, the hearing compensation filter processor applies one of a plurality of hearing compensation filters to the high-rate, low-noise upsampled data produced by the action of the upsampling unit and the interpolation filter processor. This makes it possible to perform hearing compensation with higher accuracy. In addition, the configuration allows for providing the user with body sound data in a higher quality state, while at the same time reducing costs.

[0170] In addition, the user can repeatedly acquire and play back the same biological sound data, allowing the user to perform auscultation more accurately. In the same way, multiple people can also listen to the same sound source, allowing for more objective auscultation.

[0171] In addition, in the body sound data processing device according to a second aspect of the present invention, the upsampling unit in the first aspect upsamples the body sound data acquired by the acquisition unit to a sampling frequency before the body sound data was downsampled.

[0172] According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a sound equivalent to the sound output from a measuring device that measures body sounds.

[0173] In addition, in a body sound data processing device according to a third aspect of the present invention, the acquisition unit in the first or second aspect further acquires frequency information indicating a sampling frequency at which the upsampling unit performs upsampling, and the upsampling unit upsamples the body sound data acquired by the acquisition unit to a sampling frequency indicated by the frequency information.

[0174] According to the above configuration, for example, when the frequency information indicates a sampling frequency before downsampling, the frequency information can be converted into body sound data before downsampling. Also, when the frequency information indicates a sampling frequency desired by a user, the frequency information can be converted into body sound data having the sampling frequency desired by the user.

[0175] In addition, in a body sound data processing device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the acquisition unit in the first to third aspects further acquires characteristic information indicating characteristics of the audibility correction filter applied by the audibility correction filter processing unit, and the audibility correction filter processing unit corrects the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter by an audibility correction filter having characteristics indicated by the characteristic information.

[0176] According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide the user with a body sound that the user desires.

[0177] In addition, according to the above configuration, the user can change the weighting filter and listen repeatedly. In this case, the user can perform auscultation from more diverse angles than when a single weighting filter is selected. Furthermore, by adding characteristic information of the weighting filter of the electronic stethoscope to the body sound data and applying this, the user can listen to the body sounds with the same characteristics as during auscultation.

[0178] A body sound data processing system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is a body sound data processing system including a body sound data output device and a body sound data processing device, the body sound data output device including an output device acquisition unit that acquires analog body sounds, an A / D conversion unit that converts the analog body sounds acquired by the output device acquisition unit into digital body sound data at a first sampling frequency, a downsampling unit that downsamples the body sound data converted into digital form by the A / D conversion unit to a second sampling frequency lower than the first sampling frequency, and a downsampling unit that converts the downsampled body sound data into digital form by the A / D conversion unit. and an output device output unit that outputs the body sound data to a sound data processing device, the body sound data processing device comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires the downsampled body sound data; an upsampling unit that upsamples the downsampled body sound data acquired by the acquisition unit to the first sampling frequency; an interpolation filter processing unit that applies an interpolation filter to the upsampled body sound data; a processing device auditory correction filter processing unit that applies one of a plurality of auditory correction filters to the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter; and a processing device output unit that outputs the body sound data that has been subjected to the auditory correction filter.

[0179] According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide body sounds with sound quality desired by the user from body sound data with a reduced data amount.

[0180] Furthermore, according to the above configuration, it is possible for the voice characteristic 1 auscultated by a biological sound data output device (e.g., an electronic stethoscope) and the voice characteristic 2 auscultated remotely in time and space via an information processing device (e.g., a PC) used by a user to have equivalent voice characteristics. Therefore, it is possible to satisfy the continuity of auscultation characteristics required by the user.

[0181] According to the above configuration, the body sound data that has been subjected to the hearing compensation filter is output from the body sound data processing device. Therefore, the information processing device used by the user can listen to easy-to-listen sounds having the same acoustic characteristics as those of a body sound data output device (e.g., an electronic stethoscope) on a general-purpose device (e.g., a PC) without adding special hardware by simply D / A converting the received body sound data and outputting it.

[0182] In addition, in a body sound data processing system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the body sound data output device in the fifth aspect further includes an output device auditory correction filter processing unit that applies one of a plurality of auditory correction filters to the digitally converted body sound data, and the plurality of auditory correction filters applied by the processing device auditory correction filter processing unit include auditory correction filters having the same characteristics as each of the plurality of auditory correction filters applied by the output device interpolation filter processing unit.

[0183] According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide body sounds with sound quality desired by the user.

[0184] Furthermore, according to the above configuration, the body sound data that has been subjected to the same hearing correction filter as that of the electronic stethoscope can be acquired by an information processing device used by the user (for example, a PC operated by the user remotely), and the information processing device can be played back at a location that is separated in time and space. Therefore, body sounds having the same characteristics as those of auscultatory sounds made by an on-site stethoscope can be played back on a PC at a remote location at any time. Therefore, it is possible to guarantee and provide the continuity of body sounds with the sound quality desired by the user.

[0185] Moreover, the above-mentioned hearing compensation filters for making heart sounds and lung sounds easier to hear are developed through a great deal of work to design the filters to match the input sampling frequency in order to make each sound easier to hear. However, with the above-mentioned configuration, by upsampling to the same frequency as the processing in the electronic stethoscope, the processing implemented in the hearing compensation filter processing unit of the processing device and the processing implemented in the hearing compensation filter processing unit of the output device can be realized with the same implementation. This makes it possible to reduce implementation and development costs and to centrally manage design data for the hearing compensation filters.

[0186] Furthermore, in a body sound data processing system according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the body sound data output device in the fifth or sixth aspect further includes an information addition unit which adds frequency information indicating the first sampling frequency to the downsampled body sound data, the output unit of the output device outputs the body sound data to which the frequency information has been added to the body sound data processing device, the acquisition unit acquires the body sound data to which the frequency information has been added, and the upsampling unit upsamples to the first sampling frequency by referring to the frequency information acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0187] According to the above configuration, body sound data before being downsampled can be suitably generated.

[0188] Moreover, according to the above configuration, it is possible to more generally restore the sound to the same as that of a body sound data output device having different performance (for example, a plurality of electronic stethoscopes having different performance). Furthermore, if the configuration is such that characteristic information of the hearing compensation filter is added as additional information, the user can easily hear the sound with the same characteristics as that during auscultation.

[0189] Furthermore, a body sound data processing method according to a seventh aspect of the present invention includes an acquisition step of acquiring downsampled body sound data, an upsampling step of upsampling the body sound data acquired in the acquisition step, an interpolation filter processing step of applying an interpolation filter to the upsampled body sound data, an auditory weighting filter processing step of applying one of a plurality of auditory weighting filters to the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter, and an output step of outputting the body sound data that has been subjected to the auditory weighting filter.

[0190] According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide body sounds with sound quality desired by the user from body sound data with a reduced data amount.

[0191] In addition, the above configuration can reduce the amount of data, thereby reducing the cost of storing the data. Furthermore, it is possible to store data for a larger number of living organisms and for a longer period of time without increasing the storage capacity of the storage device that stores the data.

[0192] Furthermore, according to the above configuration, since the downsampled body sound data has a low rate, the time required for communication to acquire the body data can be shortened, and the cost required for communication can be reduced.

[0193] According to the above configuration, the hearing compensation filter processor applies one of a plurality of hearing compensation filters to the high-rate, low-noise upsampled data produced by the action of the upsampling unit and the interpolation filter processor. This makes it possible to perform hearing compensation with higher accuracy. In addition, the configuration allows for providing the user with body sound data in a higher quality state, while at the same time reducing costs.

[0194] In addition, the user can repeatedly acquire and play back the same biological sound data, allowing the user to perform auscultation more accurately. In the same way, multiple people can also listen to the same sound source, allowing for more objective auscultation.

[0195] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0196] 1, 1A, 1B Body sound data processing device 2, 2B Biological sound data output device 4. Information processing equipment 11, 11A, 11B, 21, 41 Acquisition section 12, 12A, 12B Upsampling section 13, 13A Interpolation filter processing section 14, 14A, 14B, 23 Hearing weighting filter processing section 15, 15A, 28, 28B, 43 output section 16B, 29 Filter processing section 22 A / D conversion section 24, 42 D / A conversion section 25, 25B Body sound output section 26 Anti-aliasing filter section 27 Downsampling section 30 Information Addition Section 100A, 100B Biosound Data Processing System

Claims

1. An acquisition unit for acquiring downsampled body sound data; an upsampling unit that upsamples the body sound data acquired by the acquisition unit; an interpolation filter processing unit that applies an interpolation filter to the upsampled body sound data; an audibility weighting filter processing unit that applies one of a plurality of audibility weighting filters to the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter; an output unit that outputs body sound data that has been subjected to a hearing compensation filter; A body sound data processing device comprising:

2. The upsampling unit upsamples the body sound data acquired by the acquisition unit to a sampling frequency before the body sound data was downsampled. The body sound data processing device according to claim 1 .

3. the acquisition unit further acquires frequency information indicating a sampling frequency at which the upsampling unit performs upsampling; The upsampling unit upsamples the body sound data acquired by the acquisition unit to a sampling frequency indicated by the frequency information.

3. The body sound data processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The acquisition unit further acquires characteristic information indicating characteristics of the hearing weighting filter applied by the hearing weighting filter processing unit, The hearing compensation filter processing unit compensates the body sound data subjected to the interpolation filter by a hearing compensation filter having characteristics indicated by the characteristics information.

3. The body sound data processing device according to claim 1, wherein the body sound data processing device is a device for processing a body sound.

5. A body sound data processing system including a body sound data output device and a body sound data processing device, The body sound data output device includes: an output device acquisition unit that acquires analog body sounds; an A / D converter that converts the analog body sound acquired by the output device acquisition unit into digital body sound data at a first sampling frequency; a downsampling unit that downsamples the body sound data converted into digital form by the A / D conversion unit to a second sampling frequency that is lower than the first sampling frequency; an output unit that outputs the downsampled body sound data to the body sound data processing device, The body sound data processing device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires the downsampled body sound data; an upsampling unit that upsamples the downsampled body sound data acquired by the acquisition unit to the first sampling frequency; an interpolation filter processing unit that applies an interpolation filter to the upsampled body sound data; a weighting filter processing unit that applies one of a plurality of weighting filters to the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter; and a processing device output unit that outputs body sound data that has been subjected to a hearing compensation filter. Body sound data processing system.

6. The body sound data output device further includes an output device hearing correction filter processing unit that applies one of a plurality of hearing correction filters to the digitally converted body sound data, the plurality of weighting filters applied by the processing device weighting filter processing unit include weighting filters having the same characteristics as the plurality of weighting filters applied by the output device weighting filter processing unit, The body sound data processing system according to claim 5 .

7. The body sound data output device further includes an information adding unit that adds frequency information indicating the first sampling frequency to the downsampled body sound data, The output unit of the output device outputs the body sound data to which the frequency information has been added to the body sound data processing device, The acquisition unit acquires body sound data to which the frequency information has been added, The upsampling unit refers to the frequency information acquired by the acquisition unit and upsamples to a first sampling frequency.

7. The body sound data processing system according to claim 5 or 6.

8. An acquisition step of acquiring downsampled body sound data; an upsampling step of upsampling the body sound data acquired in the acquisition step; an interpolation filter processing step of applying an interpolation filter to the upsampled body sound data; a weighting filter processing step of applying one of a plurality of weighting filters to the body sound data that has been subjected to the interpolation filter; an output step of outputting the body sound data subjected to the hearing weighting filter; A biological sound data processing method comprising:

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