Notification system, notification method, and program

Abstract

To provide a notification system that can prevent unnecessary notification from being performed.SOLUTION: A notification system 10 comprises: an acquisition unit 64 that acquires use history information of an illumination device 20; a setting unit 65 that sets a determination time; and a notification unit 66 that determines whether the state of use of the illumination device 20 in a monitoring period determined by the acquired use history information satisfies a predetermined requirement at the set determination time, and when determining that the state of use satisfies the predetermined requirement, performs notification. When the determination time is changed at first time by the setting unit 65 to second time, and (a) when the length of a period from the first time to the second time is equal to or more than a threshold, the notification unit 66 performs determination at the second time that comes next, and (b) when the length of the period from the first time to the second time is less than the threshold, omits the determination at the second time that comes next and subsequently performs determination at the second time that comes next.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a notification system using a lighting device. [Background technology]

[0002] Various technologies for supporting elderly people have been proposed. Patent Document 1 discloses a monitoring device that determines whether an abnormality has occurred in a person being monitored, such as an elderly person, and sends a notification to a monitoring terminal requesting an action to be taken, if necessary. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-167104 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention provides a notification system and the like that can prevent unnecessary notifications from being sent. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A notification system according to one aspect of the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires usage history information of a lighting device; a setting unit that sets a judgment time; and a notification unit that, at the set judgment time, determines whether or not a usage status of the lighting device during a monitoring period, which is determined by the acquired usage history information, satisfies predetermined requirements, and issues a notification if it determines that the predetermined requirements are satisfied. When the judgment time is changed to a second time by the setting unit at a first time, the notification unit: (a) makes the judgment at the next arriving second time if the length of the period from the first time to the second time is equal to or greater than a threshold; and (b) when the length of the period from the first time to the second time is less than the threshold, omits the judgment at the next arriving second time and makes the judgment at the next arriving second time.

[0006] A notification method according to one aspect of the present invention is a notification method executed by a computer, and includes: an acquisition step of acquiring usage history information of a lighting device; a setting step of setting a judgment time; and a notification step of determining, at the set judgment time, whether or not a usage status of the lighting device during a monitoring period, which is determined by the acquired usage history information, satisfies predetermined requirements, and issuing a notification if it is determined that the predetermined requirements are satisfied. In the notification step, when the judgment time is changed to a second time at a first time, (a) if the length of the period from the first time to the second time is equal to or greater than a threshold, the determination is made at the next arriving second time, and (b) if the length of the period from the first time to the second time is less than a threshold, the determination at the next arriving second time is omitted, and the determination is made at the next arriving second time.

[0007] A program according to one aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the notification method. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The notification system etc. of the present invention can prevent unnecessary notifications from being sent. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a lighting system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation for acquiring usage history information. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a notification operation. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the notification screen. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a time chart showing an example of the relationship between the time when the determination time is set and the determination time in the first notification mode. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 is a time chart showing a first example of the relationship between the time when the determination time is changed and the determination time in the first notification mode. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a time chart showing a second example of the relationship between the time when the determination time is changed and the determination time in the first notification mode. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a time chart showing a third example of the relationship between the time when the determination time is changed and the determination time in the first notification mode. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a notification mode switching screen. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a time chart showing a third example of the relationship between the time when the determination time is changed and the determination time in the second notification mode. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a time chart showing a second example of the relationship between the time when the determination time is changed and the determination time in the second notification mode. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a time chart showing a third example of the relationship between the time when the determination time is changed and the determination time in the second notification mode. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are all comprehensive or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, component placement and connection forms, steps, and step order shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. Furthermore, among the components in the following embodiments, components not recited in independent claims will be described as optional components.

[0011] It should be noted that the drawings are schematic diagrams and are not necessarily strict illustrations. In addition, in the drawings, substantially the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions may be omitted or simplified.

[0012] (Embodiment) [composition] First, the configuration of a lighting system according to an embodiment will be described below. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a lighting system according to an embodiment.

[0013] The notification system 10 is a system that notifies family members living away from the residence 80 about the safety of a resident (such as an elderly person) based on the usage of lighting devices 20 by the resident of the residence 80. In other words, the notification system 10 is a monitoring system. The residence 80 is an example of a facility. Examples of facilities other than the residence 80 include nursing homes and accommodation facilities. The residence 80 includes detached houses and apartment buildings.

[0014] 1, the notification system 10 includes a lighting device 20, a wireless router 30, a remote controller 40, an information terminal 50, and a server 60. Note that the notification system 10 may include a plurality of lighting devices 20.

[0015] The lighting device 20 is a so-called ceiling light that is installed on the ceiling of an indoor space to illuminate the indoor space. The lighting device 20 is a ceiling light that is circular in plan view, but may be a ceiling light of other shapes. The lighting device 20 may also be a base light, a down light, a spotlight, or the like. The lighting device 20 includes a first wireless communication unit 21, a second wireless communication unit 22, a light-emitting unit 23, a control unit 24, and a storage unit 25.

[0016] The first wireless communication unit 21 is a communication circuit (communication module) for the lighting device 20 to perform wireless communication with the remote controller 40. The first wireless communication unit 21 is a communication circuit that performs radio wave communication (short-range wireless communication) in accordance with a communication standard such as BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy). When the remote controller 40 performs infrared communication instead of radio wave communication, the first wireless communication unit 21 is an infrared light receiving circuit or the like.

[0017] The second wireless communication unit 22 is a communication circuit (communication module) for connecting the lighting device 20 to the wide area communication network 70 via the wireless router 30. The second wireless communication unit 22 is a communication circuit that performs radio wave communication (short-range wireless communication) in accordance with a communication standard such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0018] The light-emitting unit 23 emits white light into the indoor space so that the lighting device 20 can illuminate the indoor space. The light-emitting module of the light-emitting unit 23 includes a first light-emitting element that emits light at a first color temperature (e.g., 5000 K) and a second light-emitting element that emits light at a second color temperature (e.g., 2700 K), and the brightness of the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element can be changed independently by the control unit 24. In other words, the light-emitting unit 23 is capable of dimming and color adjustment. The light-emitting unit 23 may also include a light-emitting unit equivalent to a night light.

[0019] Each of the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element is realized by, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) element, but may also be realized by other light-emitting elements such as a semiconductor laser, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence), or an inorganic EL.

[0020] The control unit 24 controls the lighting state of the lighting device 20 (the light-emitting state of at least one of the plurality of light-emitting units 23) based on a control signal received by the first wireless communication unit 21 from the remote controller 40. The lighting state refers to the brightness and color temperature at which the lighting device 20 emits light, or whether the lighting device 20 is turned off. The control unit 24 is realized by, for example, a microcomputer, but may also be realized by a processor or a dedicated circuit. The functions of the control unit 24 are realized by hardware such as a microcomputer or processor constituting the control unit 24 executing a computer program (software) stored in the storage unit 25.

[0021] The storage unit 25 is a storage device that stores computer programs executed by the control unit 24. The storage unit 25 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory.

[0022] The wireless router 30 is a wireless communication device used for connecting the lighting devices 20 to the wide area communication network 70. The wireless router 30 performs radio wave communication (short-range wireless communication) with the lighting devices 20 in accordance with a communication standard such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0023] The remote controller 40 is a dedicated remote controller for the lighting device 20. The remote controller 40 can change the lighting state of the lighting device 20 by accepting a user's operation and transmitting a control signal to the lighting device 20 in accordance with the accepted operation. The remote controller 40 and the lighting device 20 (first wireless communication unit 21) communicate directly (in other words, local communication) without the intervention of a relay device during communication. The remote controller 40 transmits the control signal to the lighting device 20 by radio wave communication, for example, but may also transmit the control signal to the lighting device 20 by infrared communication.

[0024] The information terminal 50 is an information terminal used by users such as family members of the residents of the house 80 to receive notifications regarding the safety of the residents. The information terminal 50 is, for example, a portable information terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal, but may also be a stationary information terminal such as a personal computer. A predetermined application program that enables the user to receive notifications is pre-installed in the information terminal 50.

[0025] The server 60 is a cloud server that acquires usage history information of the lighting device 20 from the lighting device 20 and notifies the information terminal 50 based on the acquired usage history information. Specifically, the server 60 includes a communication unit 61, an information processing unit 62, and a storage unit 63.

[0026] The communication unit 61 is a communication circuit that enables the server 60 to communicate with each of the lighting devices 20 and the information terminal 50 via the wide area communication network 70. The communication unit 61 may be a wired communication circuit that performs wired communication, or a wireless communication circuit that performs wireless communication.

[0027] The information processing unit 62 processes information related to notifications to the information terminal 50. The information processing unit 62 is realized by, for example, a microcomputer, but may also be realized by a processor or a dedicated circuit. The information processing unit 62 includes, as functional components, an acquisition unit 64, a setting unit 65, and a notification unit 66. The functions of the acquisition unit 64, the setting unit 65, and the notification unit 66 are realized by hardware such as a microcomputer or a processor constituting the information processing unit 62 executing a computer program (software) stored in the storage unit 63.

[0028] The storage unit 63 is a storage device that stores information necessary for the above information processing. The information stored in the storage unit 63 includes computer programs executed by the information processing unit 62. The storage unit 63 is realized by, for example, an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), but may also be realized by a semiconductor memory.

[0029] [Acquisition of usage history information] As described above, the notification system 10 can provide notifications regarding the safety of residents of the residence 80 based on the usage status of the lighting devices 20 by the residents. First, the operation of the server 60 to acquire usage history information indicating the usage status of the lighting devices 20 will be described. Fig. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of acquiring usage history information.

[0030] The resident operates the remote controller 40 to perform various controls such as turning on / off, dimming, or adjusting the color of the lighting device 20. The remote controller 40 accepts the operation from the resident (S11) and transmits a control signal corresponding to the accepted operation to the lighting device 20 (S12).

[0031] The first wireless communication unit 21 of the lighting device 20 receives the control signal. The control unit 24 controls the light-emitting unit 23 based on the received control signal (S13). The control unit 24 also creates usage history information that associates the time when the control was performed (more specifically, the date and time) with the control content (what kind of control was performed), and transmits the created usage history information to the server 60 using the second wireless communication unit 22 (S14).

[0032] The communication unit 61 of the server 60 receives the usage history information. The acquisition unit 64 acquires the received usage history information (S15) and stores it in the storage unit 63 (S16).

[0033] The processes of steps S11 to S16 are performed every time the resident operates the remote controller 40. As a result, usage history information of the lighting device 20 by the resident is accumulated in the storage unit 63 of the server 60. In other words, the usage history information is operation history information.

[0034] It is not essential that the usage history information be transmitted from the lighting device 20 to the server 60 every time the remote controller 40 is operated by the resident. The control unit 24 of the lighting device 20 may accumulate the usage history information in the storage unit 25, and when a predetermined time arrives, transmit all of the usage history information accumulated up to that point to the server 60. The control unit 24 of the lighting device 20 may also transmit the usage history information to the server 60 in response to a request from the server 60.

[0035] [Notification Action] Next, an operation (notification operation) for notifying the resident about their safety based on the usage status of the lighting device 20 thus acquired will be described. Fig. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the notification operation. It is assumed that the lighting device 20 and the information terminal 50 (a predetermined application program) are linked in advance by an initial setting process or the like.

[0036] The user performs a predetermined setting operation on the information terminal 50 that is running a predetermined application program to specify a determination time, which is the time at which the user wishes to receive a notification and at which a determination is made as to whether or not to send the notification. The information terminal 50 accepts the setting operation (S21) and transmits a setting request to the server 60 to set the specified determination time in the server 60 (S22).

[0037] The communication unit 61 of the server 60 receives the setting request. The setting unit 65 sets the determination time based on the received setting request (S23).

[0038] Thereafter, when the set determination time arrives, the notification unit 66 determines whether the usage status of the lighting device 20 during the monitoring period at the determination time satisfies a predetermined requirement (S24). For example, if the lighting device 20 has not been used (the remote controller 40 has not been operated) even once during the most recent 24 hours, the notification unit 66 determines that the usage status of the lighting device 20 during the monitoring period satisfies the predetermined requirement. In other words, the monitoring period is, for example, the most recent 24-hour period ending at the determination time, and the predetermined requirement is that the lighting device 20 has not been used even once during the monitoring period. The usage status of the lighting device 20 during the monitoring period is determined by the usage history information accumulated in the storage unit 63 (usage history information acquired by the acquisition unit 64).

[0039] If the notification unit 66 determines that the usage status of the lighting device 20 during the monitoring period does not satisfy the predetermined requirement (the lighting device 20 has been used in the last 24 hours), the notification unit 66 does not issue a notification. On the other hand, if the notification unit 66 determines that the usage status of the lighting device 20 during the monitoring period satisfies the predetermined requirement (the lighting device 20 has not been used in the last 24 hours), the notification unit 66 issues a notification to the user. Specifically, the notification unit 66 transmits notification information to the information terminal 50 using the communication unit 61 (S25).

[0040] The information terminal 50 receives the notification information and displays a notification screen based on the received notification information (S26). Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the notification screen.

[0041] In this way, the notification system 10 can notify the user that an abnormality may have occurred in the occupant if the lighting device 20 has not been used at least once in the last 24 hours.

[0042] [Change judgment time] The relationship between the time when the determination time is set and the determination time in the notification operation will be described below. Fig. 5 is a time chart showing an example of the relationship between the time when the determination time is set and the determination time. Fig. 5 shows an example in which the determination time is set to 23:00 at 9:00 on July 25th. In this case, the first determination is made at 23:00 on July 25th, with the monitoring period being from 9:00 to 23:00 on July 25th, and the next determination is made at 23:00 on July 26th, with the monitoring period being from 23:00 on July 25th to 23:00 on July 26th.

[0043] Here, the user can change the setting of the determination time (≒ the time at which the user wants to receive notification). The setting change is performed by the setting unit 65 using the same procedure as steps S21 to S23. FIG. 6 is a time chart showing a first example of the relationship between the time at which the determination time is changed and the determination time. FIG. 6 shows an example in which the determination time is set to 23:00 at 9:00 on July 25th, and then the determination time is changed from 23:00 to 1:00 at 12:00 on July 25th.

[0044] In this case, the first determination is made at 1:00 on 7 / 26 with a monitoring period from 12:00 on 7 / 25 to 1:00 on 7 / 26, and the next determination is made at 1:00 on 7 / 27 with a monitoring period from 1:00 on 7 / 26 to 1:00 on 7 / 27.

[0045] Figure 7 is a time chart showing a second example of the relationship between the time when the determination time is changed and the determination time. Figure 7 shows an example in which the determination time is set to 23:00 at 9:00 on July 25th, and then the determination time is changed from 23:00 to 11:00 at 12:00 on July 25th.

[0046] In this case, the first determination is made at 11:00 on 7 / 26 with a monitoring period from 12:00 on 7 / 25 to 11:00 on 7 / 26, and the next determination is made at 11:00 on 7 / 27 with a monitoring period from 11:00 on 7 / 26 to 11:00 on 7 / 27.

[0047] [Judgment omitted] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, when the determination time is changed, the first determination is performed using the period from the first time when the determination time was changed to the second time as the monitoring period. In other words, the start time of the monitoring period is reset to the first time. As a result, if the period from the first time to the second time is short, it is likely that lighting device 20 is determined to be unused, and a notification is sent even when the resident is safe. In other words, an unnecessary notification is sent.

[0048] Therefore, when the determination time is changed, the notification unit 66 determines whether the length of the period from the first time to the second time is equal to or greater than a threshold. If the length of the period from the first time to the second time is equal to or greater than the threshold, the notification unit 66 determines whether to issue a notification at the next arriving second time. That is, the determination is made in the same manner as in the examples described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. The threshold is, for example, 30 minutes, but may be determined empirically or experimentally.

[0049] On the other hand, when the length of the period from the first time to the second time is less than the threshold, the notification unit 66 omits the determination at the next (closest) second time and makes a determination at the second time that comes after that. For example, the notification unit 66 omits the determination at the second time on the current day and makes a determination at the second time on the following day. As a result, when the period from the first time to the second time is short, the determination that this period is the monitoring period is omitted, thereby preventing unnecessary notifications from being made. Note that omitting a determination means, in other words, not making a determination.

[0050] Figure 8 is a time chart showing the relationship between the time when the judgment time is changed and the judgment time when the judgment is omitted. Figure 8 shows an example in which the judgment time is set to 23:00 at 9:00 on July 25th, and then the judgment time is changed from 23:00 to 23:10 at 22:50 on July 25th.

[0051] In this case, since the difference between the first time (22:50 on 7 / 25) and the second time (23:10 on 7 / 25) is less than the threshold (30 minutes), the judgment for the next second time (23:10 on 7 / 25) is skipped, and the first judgment after the change is made at the next second time (23:10 on 7 / 26) with a monitoring period from 22:50 on 7 / 25 to 23:10 on 7 / 26.

[0052] In this way, when the period from the first time to the second time is short, the notification system 10 can prevent unnecessary notifications from being sent by omitting to determine that this period is a monitoring period.

[0053] [Example of changing the monitoring period to any period] In the above embodiment, the monitoring period was basically a fixed period of 24 hours ending at the determination time, but the user can also specify the monitoring period and the setting unit 65 can set it. For example, in the notification system 10, in addition to the first notification mode in which a notification is issued on the condition that the resident has not operated the remote controller 40 during the 24-hour period described above, a second notification mode and a third notification mode are provided in which any time period specified by the user can be set as the monitoring period. The user can switch between the first notification mode, the second notification mode, and the third notification mode by performing a predetermined operation on the information terminal 50. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a notification mode switching screen.

[0054] 9, the second notification mode is a notification mode in which notification is issued on the condition that the resident has not operated the remote controller 40 during a monitoring period specified by the user (corresponding to notification when there is no operation during the monitoring time in FIG. 9). In other words, the predetermined condition in the second notification mode is that the lighting device 20 has not been used during the monitoring period, and notification in the second notification mode is issued when the lighting device 20 is not being used and it is estimated that an abnormality has occurred in the resident.

[0055] The third notification mode is a notification mode in which notification is made on the condition that the resident has operated the remote controller 40 during a monitoring period specified by the user (corresponding to the notification when an operation is made during the monitoring time in FIG. 9). That is, the predetermined condition in the third notification mode is that the lighting device 20 has been used during the monitoring period, and notification in the third notification mode is made when the lighting device 20 is being used and it is estimated that the resident is living normally (no abnormality has occurred).

[0056] The switching between the first notification mode, the second notification mode, and the third notification mode is performed by the setting unit 65, for example, in the same procedure as steps S21 to S23.

[0057] In the second notification mode and the third notification mode, the notification system 10 can also omit judgment if the period from the first time when the judgment time is changed to the second time, which is the next judgment time, is short.

[0058] First, an example in which the judgment is not omitted will be described. Fig. 10 is a time chart showing a first example of the relationship between the time when the judgment time is changed and the judgment time in the second notification mode (or the third notification mode). Fig. 10 shows an example in which the first notification mode and the judgment time are set to 23:00 at 9:00 on July 25th, and then the first notification mode is changed to the second notification mode or the third notification mode at 12:00 on July 25th, and the monitoring period is specified as 13:00 to 18:00. The judgment time is 18:00, which is the end point of the monitoring time.

[0059] In this case, because the difference between the first time (12:00 on July 25th) and the second time (18:00 on July 25th) is equal to or greater than the threshold value (30 minutes), a determination is made at the next arriving second time (18:00 on July 25th). This determination is made over the monitoring period from the start time of the monitoring period (13:00 on July 25th), which is the later of the first time and the start time of the monitoring period, to the second time (18:00 on July 25th).

[0060] Fig. 11 is a time chart showing a second example of the relationship between the time when the determination time is changed and the determination time in the second notification mode (or the third notification mode). Fig. 11 shows an example in which the first notification mode and the determination time are set to 23:00 at 9:00 on July 25th, and then the first notification mode is changed to the second notification mode (or the third notification mode) at 15:00 on July 25th, and the monitoring period is specified as 13:00 to 18:00. The determination time is 18:00, which is the end of the monitoring time.

[0061] In this case, because the difference between the first time (15:00 on 7 / 25) and the second time (18:00 on 7 / 25) is equal to or greater than the threshold value (30 minutes), a determination is made at the next arriving second time (18:00 on 7 / 25). This determination is made over the monitoring period from the first time (15:00 on 7 / 25) to the second time (18:00 on 7 / 25), which is the later of the first time and the start time of the monitoring period.

[0062] Next, an example in which the judgment is omitted will be described. Fig. 12 is a time chart showing a third example of the relationship between the time when the judgment time is changed and the judgment time in the second notification mode (or the third notification mode). Fig. 12 shows an example in which the first notification mode and the judgment time are set to 23:00 at 9:00 on July 25th, and then the first notification mode is changed to the second notification mode (or the third notification mode) at 17:40 on July 25th, and the monitoring period is specified as 13:00 to 18:00. The judgment time is 18:00, which is the end point of the monitoring time.

[0063] In this case, because the difference between the first time (17:40 on 7 / 25) and the second time (18:00 on 7 / 25) is less than the threshold (30 minutes), the next judgment at the second time (18:00 on 7 / 25) is skipped. The first judgment after the change is performed at the next second time (18:00 on 7 / 26) with a monitoring period from 13:00 on 7 / 26 to 18:00 on 7 / 26.

[0064] In this way, even in the second notification mode and the third notification mode, if the period from the first time to the second time is short, the notification system 10 can prevent unnecessary notifications from being made by omitting the determination that this period is the monitoring period.

[0065] [Variations] In the above embodiment, some or all of the processing described as being executed by the server 60 may be executed by the lighting device 20 or by the information terminal 50. For example, if the lighting device 20 can communicate with the information terminal 50 through a router and a wide area communication network, the notification system 10 may not include the server 60. In this case, the processing described as being executed by the server 60 is performed by the information terminal 50. In other words, the information terminal 50 (an information processing unit included in the information terminal 50) includes functional components corresponding to the acquisition unit 64, the setting unit 65, and the notification unit 66.

[0066] Alternatively, the server 60 may acquire usage history information from the lighting device 20, provide the acquired usage history information to the information terminal 50, and the subsequent processes may be executed by the information terminal 50. In this case, the information terminal 50 includes functional components corresponding to a setting unit 65 and a notification unit 66.

[0067] [Effects, etc.] Hereinafter, examples of inventions that can be obtained from the disclosure of this specification will be given, and the effects and the like that can be obtained from the exemplified inventions will be explained.

[0068] Invention 1 is a notification system 10 including an acquisition unit 64 that acquires usage history information of lighting device 20, a setting unit 65 that sets a judgment time, and a notification unit 66 that, at the set judgment time, determines whether the usage status of lighting device 20 during a monitoring period, which is determined by the acquired usage history information, satisfies predetermined requirements, and issues a notification if it is determined that the predetermined requirements are satisfied, wherein, when the judgment time is changed to a second time by the setting unit 65 at a first time, the notification unit 66 (a) makes a judgment at the next arriving second time if the length of the period from the first time to the second time is equal to or greater than a threshold, and (b) when the length of the period from the first time to the second time is less than the threshold, omits the judgment at the next arriving second time and makes a judgment at the next arriving second time.

[0069] Such a notification system 10 can prevent unnecessary notifications from being sent by omitting a judgment at the next arriving second time when the length of the period from the first time to the second time is less than a threshold value.

[0070] Invention 2 is the notification system 10 of Invention 1, in which the setting unit 65 switches between a first notification mode in which the monitoring period is the 24 hours immediately before the judgment time, and a second notification mode in which the monitoring period is a time period specified by the user receiving the notification.

[0071] Such a notification system 10 can switch between multiple notification modes with different monitoring periods.

[0072] Invention 3 is the notification system 10 of Invention 2, in which, during operation in the first notification mode, the monitoring period in case (a) above is the period from the first time to the next arriving second time, and the monitoring period in case (b) above is the period from the first time to the second time that arrives next after that.

[0073] Such a notification system 10 can change the length of the monitoring period depending on the determination time.

[0074] Invention 4 is the notification system 10 of any one of Inventions 1 to 3, wherein the predetermined requirement is that the lighting device 20 has not been used during the monitoring period.

[0075] Such a notification system 10 can issue a notification when the lighting device 20 is not in use during a monitoring period and it is estimated that an abnormality has occurred in the occupant.

[0076] Invention 5 is the notification system 10 of any one of Inventions 1 to 3, wherein the predetermined requirement is that the lighting device 20 has been used during the monitoring period.

[0077] Such a notification system 10 can issue a notification when the lighting device 20 is not in use during the monitoring period and it is estimated that the occupants are living their lives as usual.

[0078] Invention 6 is a notification system 10 of any of Inventions 1 to 5, in which the acquisition unit 64, the setting unit 65, and the notification unit 66 are provided by the server 60, and the notification unit 66 notifies by sending notification information to an information terminal 50 carried by the user.

[0079] Such a notification system 10 can be realized as a server 60 .

[0080] A seventh invention is the notification system 10 of any one of the first to fifth inventions, in which the acquisition unit 64, the setting unit 65, and the notification unit 66 are provided in an information terminal 50 carried by a user.

[0081] Such a notification system 10 can be realized as an information terminal 50.

[0082] Invention 8 is a notification method executed by a computer, the notification method including: an acquisition step of acquiring usage history information of lighting device 20; a setting step of setting a judgment time; and a notification step of determining, at the set judgment time, whether or not the usage status of the lighting device during a monitoring period, which is determined by the acquired usage history information, satisfies predetermined requirements, and issuing a notification if it is determined that the predetermined requirements are satisfied. In the notification step, when the judgment time is changed to a second time by the setting unit at a first time, (a) if the length of the period from the first time to the second time is equal to or greater than a threshold, a judgment is made at the next arriving second time, and (b) if the length of the period from the first time to the second time is less than the threshold, the judgment at the next arriving second time is omitted and a judgment is made at the next arriving second time.

[0083] This notification method can prevent unnecessary notifications from being made by omitting a determination at the next arriving second time when the length of the period from the first time to the second time is less than a threshold value.

[0084] Invention 9 is a program for causing a computer to execute the notification method of Invention 8.

[0085] According to such a program, when the length of the period from the first time to the second time is less than a threshold, the computer can prevent unnecessary notifications from being sent by omitting a judgment at the next arriving second time.

[0086] (Other embodiments) Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

[0087] For example, in the above embodiment, the notification system is realized by multiple devices, but it may also be realized as a single device. For example, the notification system may be realized as a single device corresponding to a server. When the notification system is realized by multiple devices, the components of the notification system may be distributed among the multiple devices in any manner.

[0088] Furthermore, the method of communication between the devices in the above-described embodiment is not particularly limited, and a relay device (not shown) may be involved in the communication between the devices.

[0089] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the processing performed by a specific processing unit may be performed by another processing unit. For example, in the above embodiments, some or all of the processing described as being performed by a server may be performed by a lighting device or an information terminal. Furthermore, the order of multiple processing operations may be changed, or multiple processing operations may be performed in parallel.

[0090] In the above-described embodiments, each component may be realized by executing a software program suitable for that component, or by a program execution unit such as a CPU or processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory.

[0091] Furthermore, each component may be realized by hardware. For example, each component may be a circuit (or integrated circuit). These circuits may form a single circuit as a whole, or each may be a separate circuit. Furthermore, each of these circuits may be a general-purpose circuit or a dedicated circuit.

[0092] Furthermore, the general or specific aspects of the present invention may be realized as a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, or as any combination of a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a recording medium.

[0093] For example, the present invention may be realized as the lighting device, information terminal, server, or notification system of the above-described embodiments. Furthermore, the present invention may be realized as a method executed by a computer of these devices or systems, as a program (computer program product) for causing a computer to execute the method, or as a non-transitory recording medium on which such a program is recorded. Such a program includes an application program for causing a general-purpose information terminal (computer) to function as the information terminal of the above-described embodiments.

[0094] In addition, the present invention also includes forms obtained by applying various modifications to each embodiment that a person skilled in the art would think of, or forms realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of each embodiment within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 10. Notification System 20 Lighting equipment 21 First Radio Communication Division 22 Second Radio Communication Division 23 Light-emitting part 24 Control Unit 25 Memory section 30 Wireless Router 40 Remote Controller 50 Information terminal 60 servers 61 Communications Department 62 Information Processing Department 63 Storage section 64 Acquisition Department 65 Setting section 66 Notification Department 70 Wide Area Communication Network 80 Housing

Claims

1. an acquisition unit that acquires usage history information of the lighting device; a setting unit for setting a judgment time; a notification unit that determines whether or not a usage status of the lighting device during a monitoring period, which is determined based on the acquired usage history information, satisfies a predetermined requirement at the set determination time, and that issues a notification when it is determined that the predetermined requirement is satisfied; When the setting unit changes the determination time to a second time at a first time, the notification unit: (a) performs the determination at the next arriving second time when the length of the period from the first time to the second time is equal to or greater than a threshold; and (b) omits the determination at the next arriving second time when the length of the period from the first time to the second time is less than a threshold, and performs the determination at the next arriving second time. Notification system.

2. The setting unit switches between a first notification mode in which the monitoring period is 24 hours immediately before the determination time and a second notification mode in which the monitoring period is a time period designated by a user who receives the notification. The notification system of claim 1 .

3. During operation in the first notification mode, the monitoring period in the case of (a) is a period from the first time to the next arriving second time, In the case of (b), the monitoring period is a period from the first time to the second time that arrives next after the first time. The notification system of claim 2 .

4. The predetermined requirement is that the lighting device has not been used during the monitoring period. The notification system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The predetermined requirement is that the lighting device is used during the monitoring period. The notification system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. the acquiring unit, the setting unit, and the notifying unit are provided by a server, The notification unit performs the notification by transmitting notification information to an information terminal carried by the user. The notification system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. The acquisition unit, the setting unit, and the notification unit are provided by an information terminal carried by a user. The notification system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

8. 1. A computer-implemented notification method comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring usage history information of the lighting device; a setting step for setting a judgment time; a notification step of determining, at the set determination time, whether or not a usage status of the lighting device during a monitoring period, which is determined based on the acquired usage history information, satisfies a predetermined requirement, and issuing a notification when it is determined that the predetermined requirement is satisfied; In the notification step, when the determination time is changed to a second time at a first time, (a) if the length of the period from the first time to the second time is equal to or greater than a threshold, the determination is made at the next arriving second time, and (b) if the length of the period from the first time to the second time is less than a threshold, the determination at the next arriving second time is omitted, and the determination is made at the next arriving second time. Notification method.

9. A program for causing the computer to execute the notification method according to claim 8.

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