METHOD FOR PROVIDING FETAL MONITORING SERVICE AND SERVER PERFORMING THE METHOD - Patent application

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for providing a fetal monitoring service, including a step of acquiring raw data in a time series manner from a monitoring device, the raw data including movement data related to the fetus and the pregnant woman, and acoustic data related to the fetus and surrounding stimuli, a step of removing noise from the raw data using the time series information, and matching it with already stored user information to generate valid data, a step of determining the health status of the fetus using the valid data, generating result data, and a step of providing the result data to a user terminal.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE An embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for providing fetal monitoring services and a server for performing the method. [Background technology]

[0002] As the aging society advances, interest in health has increased significantly, and with the development of electronic communication technology, there is an increasing demand for technology that can constantly monitor health conditions using mobile devices, personal computers, wearable devices, etc. Currently, various health management services using mobile devices, etc., have been developed and are being provided that specialize in the health management of people with chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

[0003] Meanwhile, low birth rates and an aging society have resulted in an older age of childbearing, making it important to promote the health of pregnant women and fetuses. In particular, in the case of high-risk pregnancies, there is a high possibility of risks to the health of pregnant women and fetuses, so continuous monitoring and health care during pregnancy is necessary. Health care for pregnant women and fetuses is continuous and is even more useful when it can be carried out during daily life, but there are limitations to how much pregnant women can manage themselves, and there is currently a lack of services specialized in monitoring the health of pregnant women and fetuses using mobile devices and wearable devices.

[0004] Fetal movement is one of the important factors in understanding the health of a fetus, and many technologies have been developed to measure it. Currently, there are methods that use ultrasound and MRI to clinically measure the position, posture, and movement of the fetus, but both are expensive and have the disadvantage that they can only be performed for a short period of time. Another method is kick-counting, in which a pregnant woman directly senses and records fetal movement every day, but the fetal movement sensed by the pregnant woman is very subjective, and there are problems with not being able to quickly detect changes such as a decrease in movement.

[0005] For this reason, in the past, pregnant women had to visit the hospital regularly to undergo ultrasound examinations and medical interviews in order to understand the condition of the fetus. However, the amount of information obtained through short observations during hospital visits is insufficient to monitor various changes in the fetus, and this places limitations on the provision of appropriate services. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention is intended to solve the above problems and / or limitations, and aims to provide a fetal monitoring service providing method that non-invasively and continuously monitors the health condition of the fetus without interfering with the daily life of a pregnant woman, and a server that performs this method.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide pregnant women with a means to take appropriate measures, such as an exercise program, through the monitoring service, thereby providing effective health care services without increasing the frequency of hospital visits.

[0008] However, such challenges are illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for providing a fetal monitoring service, including the steps of: acquiring raw data in a time series from a monitoring device, the raw data including position, posture and movement data relating to the fetus and the pregnant woman, and acoustic data relating to the fetus and surrounding stimuli; using the time series information to remove noise from the raw data and match it with already stored user information to generate valid data; using the valid data to determine the health status of the fetus and generate result data; and providing the result data to a user terminal.

[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, the acoustic data may include first acoustic data related to the fetus and second acoustic data related to ambient sounds excluding the fetus.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the step of determining the health status of the fetus and generating result data may comprise determining the health status of the fetus by linking the movement data, the first acoustic data, and the second acoustic data in a time series manner.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the movement data may include acceleration data sensed from an acceleration sensor of the monitoring device.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the user information may include personal information of the pregnant woman and condition information of the pregnant woman.

[0014] One embodiment of the present invention provides a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for executing the above-mentioned method.

[0015] One embodiment of the present invention provides a service providing server including a memory for storing at least one program, a monitoring device for measuring the condition of the fetus, a communication unit for transmitting and receiving data with a user terminal and a medical system server, and at least one processor for providing a fetal monitoring service to a user by executing the at least one program, wherein the memory includes instructions for the at least one processor to execute the steps of: acquiring raw data in a time series, the raw data including movement data relating to the fetus and the pregnant woman and acoustic data relating to the fetus and surrounding stimuli from the monitoring device; removing noise from the raw data using the time series information and matching it with already stored user information to generate valid data; using the valid data to determine the health condition of the fetus and generate result data; and providing the result data to the user terminal.

[0016] Other aspects, features, and advantages beyond those described above will become apparent from the following drawings, claims, and detailed description of the invention. Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to the above-described problem-solving means of the present invention, an embodiment of the present invention can provide a service for monitoring the condition of the fetus, thereby providing a service for managing and promoting the health of pregnant women and fetuses, thereby increasing user convenience.

[0018] Furthermore, the embodiment of the present invention can provide services for monitoring the condition of the fetus and predicting torticollis, plagiocephaly, scoliosis, etc., predicting genetic abnormalities such as various types of muscle diseases, motor neuron diseases, and chromosomal diseases, and for early detection of brain and nerve functional conditions by predicting cerebral palsy, developmental delay, intellectual disability, autism, etc. Furthermore, the embodiment of the present invention can provide a service that can provide information necessary for appropriate decision on Caesarean section by predicting the risk of delivery, thereby promoting the health of pregnant women and fetuses throughout the entire cycle of pregnancy and childbirth.

[0019] Of course, the scope of the present invention is not limited to such effects. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for providing fetal monitoring services according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention acquiring movement data and acoustic data. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a monitoring device and a service providing server according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing fetal monitoring services according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5]11 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which a service providing server generates result data according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Hereinafter, the following embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. When describing with reference to the drawings, the same or corresponding components are given the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0022] Since the present embodiment can be modified in various ways, a specific embodiment is illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. The effects and features of the present embodiment, and the method of achieving them, will become apparent by referring to the following detailed description together with the drawings. However, the present embodiment is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, and can be realized in various forms.

[0023] In the drawings, parts that are not relevant to the description are omitted in order to clearly illustrate the present invention, and like parts are given like reference numerals throughout the specification.

[0024] In the following embodiments, the terms "first", "second", etc. are not used in a limiting sense but are used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another component.

[0025] In the following embodiments, singular expressions include plural expressions unless otherwise clearly meant in the context.

[0026] In the following embodiments, terms such as "comprise" or "have" mean the presence of features or components described in this specification, and do not preclude the possibility that one or more other features or components may be added.

[0027] In the following embodiments, when a part is said to be "connected" to another part, this includes not only the case where the part is "directly connected" to another part, but also the case where the part is "electrically connected" to another part via another element in between.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for providing fetal monitoring services according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Referring to Fig. 1, a system for providing a fetal monitoring service of the present invention can include a monitoring device 100, a user terminal 200, a service providing server 300, and a medical system server 400. The monitoring device 100, the user terminal 200, the service providing server 300, and the medical system server 400 are connected to each other via a network 600 and can transmit and receive data. Fig. 1 is an example for explaining the present invention, and the number of monitoring devices or user terminals and the number of servers are not limited to those shown in Fig. 1.

[0030] A user who wishes to receive fetal monitoring services can obtain data regarding the condition of the fetus via the monitoring device 100. The monitoring device 100 obtains data regarding the condition of the fetus including at least one sensor module, and can store it in a memory included in the monitoring device 100 or transmit it to the service providing server 300 or the medical system server 400.

[0031] A user can place the monitoring device 100 around the fetus to obtain data regarding the condition of the fetus. The monitoring device 100 can be placed on the abdomen of the pregnant woman and positioned near the fetus, and can be in the form of a wearable device that can be worn on the abdomen.

[0032] The sensor unit 110 (see FIG. 3) included in the monitoring device 100 is placed close to the abdomen of the user and can sense the condition of the fetus. This allows the monitoring device 100 to sense the movement of the fetus to monitor the condition of the fetus and obtain data on the condition of the fetus.

[0033] The sensor unit of the monitoring device 100 can sense the movement of the pregnant woman, i.e., the user, in addition to the movement of the fetus. Therefore, the raw data generated by the monitoring device 100 can include information on the movement of the fetus or the movement of the pregnant woman. The raw data acquired from the monitoring device 100 can be transmitted to the service providing server 300, which will be described later, via the network 600 and derived as result data on the condition of the fetus. The raw data transmitted to the service providing server 300 can be real-time data or already stored data.

[0034] The user terminal 200 refers to a target device that receives the fetal monitoring service according to the present embodiment. The user terminal 200 is connected to the monitoring device 100, the service providing server 300, and the medical system server 400 via a network 600, and can transmit and receive data.

[0035] The user terminal 200 may be a fixed terminal or a mobile terminal realized by a computer device. For example, the user terminal 200 may be realized by a mobile terminal, a wearable terminal, a PC, a notebook, a tablet PC, a smartphone, a smart watch, etc., but is not limited to these, and can be any device that can transmit and receive data with a monitoring device and a server and provide services to a user.

[0036] The user terminal 200 can provide the user with various information received from the monitoring device 100, the service providing server 300, and the medical system server 400. Specifically, the user terminal 200 can include a user interface including fetal condition information and information for the user, provide the user with result data on the fetal health condition, and provide health care services for the fetus and pregnant woman. The fetal monitoring service providing method can be implemented by being installed in the user terminal 200 in the form of an application.

[0037] Also, the user can input user information and other information via the user terminal 200. Here, the user information may be information about the pregnant woman, and may include personal information such as age, height, contact information, etc., and status information such as weight, body temperature, medical history of internal medicine and reproductive diseases related to the pregnancy, previous surgeries, medication, etc. However, the user information is not necessarily acquired from the user terminal 200, but may be acquired from the medical system server 400 of the medical institution visited by the user.

[0038] The service providing server 300 can be realized by a computer device or multiple computer devices that communicates with the monitoring device 100, the user terminal 200 and the medical system server 400 via a network 600 and provides commands, codes, files, contents, services, etc.

[0039] As an example, the service providing server 300 can provide a file for installing an application to the user terminal 200 connected via the network 600. In this case, the user terminal 200 can install the application using the file provided by the server.

[0040] Furthermore, a user can connect to the service providing server 300 under the control of an operating system (OS) and at least one program (e.g., a browser or an installed application) included in the user terminal 200, and receive services and contents provided by the service providing server 300. As another example, the service providing server 300 may establish a communication session for data transmission / reception, and route data transmission / reception with the user terminal 200 via the established communication session.

[0041] The service providing server 300 performs a function of supporting the fetal monitoring service. Specifically, the service providing server 300 can store and manage user information and information related to other services collected and transmitted from the monitoring device 100, the user terminal 200, and the medical system server 400. In addition, the service providing server 300 can calculate valid data related to the fetus based on the acquired user information and information related to other services, thereby determining the health condition of the fetus, generating result data, and providing the result data to the user terminal 200.

[0042] Meanwhile, although the user terminal 200 and the service providing server 300 have been described separately, they may be formed as one device in some cases. For example, the service providing server 300 may be a component within the user terminal 200. In the following, a case will be described in which the user terminal 200 and the service providing server 300 are devices distinct from each other.

[0043] The medical system server 400 is a server on the hospital side, and can store and manage user information. The user information can include personal information of the pregnant woman and condition information of the pregnant woman, and can further include other fetal condition information. The user information stored in the medical system server 400 can be information stored in the medical system server 400 by the medical staff of the pregnant woman.

[0044] The medical staff of the pregnant woman can view the user information stored in the service providing server 300 via the medical system server 400. The medical staff of the pregnant woman can analyze the viewed information, make a diagnosis, and store the diagnosis result in the medical system server 400. The pregnant woman can check the diagnosis result via the user terminal 200.

[0045] The medical staff for the pregnant woman can store not only the diagnosis results but also various information necessary for the pregnant woman in the medical system server 400, and the pregnant woman can check the various information through the user terminal 200.

[0046] Meanwhile, the monitoring device 100, the user terminal 200, the service providing server 300 and the medical system server 400 can be operated in a one-to-one matching relationship, but the present invention is not limited to this and a one-to-n relationship is also possible. That is, one monitoring device 100 can be realized by connecting n user terminals 200, and one service providing server 300 can be realized by connecting n user terminals 200. The present invention is not limited to this and a system for providing a fetal monitoring service can be configured by connecting the monitoring device 100, the user terminal 200, the service providing server 300 and the medical system server 400 in various combinations.

[0047] The monitoring device 100, the user terminal 200, the fetal monitoring service providing server 300, and the medical system server 400 of the system for providing a fetal monitoring service according to an embodiment of the present invention can be connected to a network 600.

[0048] The connection method of the network 600 is not limited, and refers to a comprehensive data communication network that enables each network component shown in Fig. 1 to smoothly communicate with each other. The communication method of the network 600 can include not only a communication method using a communication network that the network 600 can include, but also short-range wireless communication between devices.

[0049] For example, the network 600 may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a value added network (VAL), a mobile radio communication network, a satellite communication network, and combinations thereof, and may include wired Internet, wireless Internet, and a mobile wireless communication network. In addition, the wireless communication may include, but is not limited to, wireless LAN (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, ZigBee, Wi-Fi Direct (WFD), Ultra Wideband (UWB), infrared Data Association (IrDA), and Near Field Communication (NFC).

[0050] Additionally, the network 600 may include any one or more of the following network topologies including, but not limited to, a bus network, a star network, a ring network, a mesh network, a star-bus network, a tree network, and a hierarchical network.

[0051] The above-described system for providing fetal monitoring services enables users to continuously monitor the fetus without increasing the frequency of in-hospital visits, and provides customized and effective health management services for the fetus and pregnant woman.

[0052] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention acquiring movement data and acoustic data, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a monitoring device and a service providing server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] The monitoring device 100 and the service providing server 300 shown in Figures 2 and 3 only show components related to this embodiment in order to avoid obscuring the features of this embodiment. Therefore, it will be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the technical field related to this embodiment that other general-purpose components can be further included in addition to the components shown in Figures 2 and 3.

[0054] 2 and 3, a monitoring device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a sensor unit 110, a memory 120, and a communication unit .

[0055] The monitoring device 100 is a device that measures fetal movement to detect the condition of the fetus, and the monitoring device 100 can store raw data sensed via a sensor unit 110 in a memory 120 or transmit the raw data to a service providing server 300 via a communication unit 130. Furthermore, the monitoring device 100 can further include a battery (not shown) for driving the device.

[0056] The monitoring device 100 can be placed on the abdomen of a user and fixed to the abdomen of the user to sense the condition of the fetus and transmit the information to the server side. For example, the monitoring device 100 can be realized as a wearable device in the form of a belt that wraps around the abdomen and is adjustable in length so that the user can wear it. Alternatively, the monitoring device 100 can be realized in the form of a pad made of an elastic material and equipped with Velcro (registered trademark) on one side to wrap around the abdomen of the user and adjust the fit to fit the body size.

[0057] The monitoring device 100, which is in the form of wrapping around the abdomen of the user, can more accurately detect the state of the fetus by closely contacting and fixing the sensor unit 110 to the abdomen of the user. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the monitoring device 100 may be realized as a sensor unit 110 including a plurality of sensor pads that can be attached to the abdomen of the user, and a driving unit connected thereto.

[0058] The sensor unit 110 of the monitoring device can sense the state of the fetus and measure movements related to the fetus to generate raw data. The sensor unit 110 can include at least one acceleration sensor 111 and an acoustic sensor 112, each of which can be positioned to be located adjacent to the fetus when the monitoring device 100 is worn by a user.

[0059] The acceleration sensor 111 is a sensor that measures movement etc. by acceleration values, and is placed on the body of the pregnant woman to sense the position, posture or movement of the fetus and the pregnant woman. The acceleration sensor 111 is preferably placed in the center of the abdomen of the pregnant woman to sense the movement of the fetus and the pregnant woman, but is not limited thereto. Various types of acceleration sensor 111 can be applied, and for example, an inertial acceleration sensor, a gyro acceleration sensor, a silicon semiconductor acceleration sensor, etc. can be applied depending on the detection method.

[0060] The acceleration sensor 111 can measure the position, posture, or movement of the fetus and the pregnant woman, and generate motion data D1 including position information, posture information, and motion information of the fetus and the pregnant woman. The motion data D1 can include measurement information on acceleration value changes caused by the trunk movement, limb movement, and respiratory movement of the fetus, and the respiratory movement and torso movement of the pregnant woman, etc. As an example, the monitoring device 100 can use the acceleration sensor 111 to measure the amount of change in the position of each of the fetus's head, body, arms, and legs, and generate motion data D1 related to the fetus based on the amount of change.

[0061] The motion data D1 may include measurements related to the motion of the pregnant woman in addition to the motion of the fetus. For example, when a user uses the monitoring device 100 to monitor a fetus, even if the user does not move, the motion data D1 sensed by the acceleration sensor 111 may include measurements of the pregnant woman's breathing, coughing, muscle contraction, heart rate, etc. The raw data including the motion data D1 is transmitted to the service providing server 300 and may be processed by the processor 320, which will be described later, and may be calculated as valid data related to the condition of the fetus.

[0062] The acoustic sensor 112 is a sensor that measures low-frequency vibrations induced by movement, sound, etc., and is placed on the body of the pregnant woman to sense sounds related to the movements of the fetus or pregnant woman and surrounding stimuli.

[0063] A plurality of acoustic sensors 112 may be placed at regular intervals on the abdomen of the pregnant woman. The acoustic sensors 112 placed on the abdomen of the pregnant woman may work together to generate acoustic data D2 based on fetal movements, thereby making it possible to detect even minute fetal movements. The number of acoustic sensors 112 placed on the abdomen of the pregnant woman is not limited to that shown in the figure, and an appropriate number of acoustic sensors 112 may be used depending on the design.

[0064] The acoustic sensor 112 can capture low-frequency vibrations caused by the movements of the fetus and the pregnant woman, and the low-frequency vibrations can form acoustic data D2 measured in a time series. The acoustic data D2 can include measurement information on low-frequency vibrations induced by the trunk movement, limb movement, and breathing movement of the fetus, and the breathing movement and torso movement of the pregnant woman. The acoustic data D2 can also include information on measurement of other physiological sounds appearing in the bodies of the fetus and the pregnant woman, such as the movement of the digestive organs and heartbeat.

[0065] Meanwhile, the acoustic sensor 112 can detect sounds related to the peripheral stimuli, and the sounds related to the peripheral stimuli can form second acoustic data D22 (see FIG. 5) that is distinct from the first acoustic data D21 (see FIG. 5) related to the fetus. The second acoustic data D22 related to the peripheral stimuli may be measured from the acoustic sensor 112 placed on the abdomen of the pregnant woman and then separated from the first acoustic data D21, or may be measured from a separate acoustic sensor (not shown) that is distinct from the acoustic sensor 112 and placed externally.

[0066] The acoustic data D2 acquired from the acoustic sensor 112, together with the movement data D1 described above, constitutes raw data, which can be transmitted to the service providing server 300 for processing and calculation as useful data regarding the movement of the fetus.

[0067] The memory 120 of the monitoring device 100 can be electrically connected to the sensor unit 110 and can store raw data measured from the sensor unit 110 .

[0068] The monitoring device 100 can communicate with the user terminal 200 and / or the service providing server 300 via the communication unit 130. The communication unit 130 can include one or more components that enable communication with the user terminal 200 and / or the service providing server 300. For example, the communication unit 130 can include at least one of a short-range communication unit, a mobile communication unit, and a broadcast receiving unit.

[0069] The communication unit 130 can transmit raw data acquired by the monitoring device 100 to the outside and can provide the raw data to the service providing server 300. In addition, the communication unit 130 can communicate with the user terminal 200 and receive a user input signal transmitted from the user terminal 200. The user can control the operation of the monitoring device 100 using an interface of the user terminal 200 or the like. Specifically, the user can turn on / off the power of the monitoring device 100, reserve the operation time of the monitoring device 100, adjust the sensitivity of the measurement value measured by the sensor unit 110, and the like using an interface of an application provided to the user terminal 200 or the like.

[0070] The service providing server 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention corresponds to or can include at least one processor. As a result, the service providing server 300 can be driven in a form included in a hardware device such as a microprocessor or a general-purpose computer system. Here, the processor may mean a data processing device incorporated in hardware having a circuit physically structured to perform a function represented by a code or instruction included in a program. Examples of such a data processing device incorporated in hardware include processing devices such as a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), a processor core, a multiprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA), but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0071] The service providing server 300 may be installed in the user terminal 200 or may be provided as a separate server device. In another embodiment, the service providing server 300 may be configured with two server devices. In this case, a step of removing noise from raw data to generate valid data, which will be described later, may be performed via one server, and a step of determining the health condition of the fetus using the valid data and generating result data may be performed via the other server.

[0072] Referring back to FIG. 3, the service providing server 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a communication unit 310, a processor 320, a memory 330, and an input / output interface 340.

[0073] The communication unit 310 can receive raw data provided from the above-mentioned monitoring device 100. The communication unit 310 functions as a communication module using wired or wireless communication, and can receive raw data transmitted from the monitoring device 100. In this case, the communication unit 310 can include a configuration for communicating with the communication unit 130 of the monitoring device 100 via the network 600 shown in FIG.

[0074] The communication unit 310 can communicate with the user terminal 200 or the medical system server 400 in addition to the monitoring device 100. The communication unit 310 can receive user information transmitted from the user terminal 200 or the medical system server 400. The communication unit 310 can also provide result data processed by the processor 320 to the user terminal 200 or the medical system server 400.

[0075] The processor 320 may be configured to process instructions of a computer program by performing basic arithmetic, logical, and input / output operations. The instructions may be provided to the processor 320 by the memory 330 or the communication unit 310. For example, the processor 320 may be configured to execute instructions received according to program code stored in a recording device, such as the memory 330.

[0076] The processor 320 can control the overall operation of the service providing server 300. For example, the processor 320 can control the overall operation of the communication unit 310 and the memory 330 by executing a program stored in the memory 330.

[0077] The processor 320 may include an input unit 321, a determination unit 322, and an output unit 323. The processor 320 may process the raw data received from the monitoring device 100 via the input unit 321, the determination unit 322, and the output unit 323 to generate result data related to the health condition of the fetus.

[0078] The input unit 321 can acquire raw data in a time series manner, including movement data D1 relating to the fetus and the pregnant woman, and sound data D2 relating to the fetus and peripheral stimuli, generated by the monitoring device 100. The movement data D1 and sound data D2 can be provided to the input unit 321 in a time series linked manner by the monitoring device 100, but, alternatively, the input unit 321 may receive the movement data and sound data from the monitoring device 100, respectively, and perform a calculation to link each data in a time series manner.

[0079] The determination unit 322 can remove noise unrelated to fetal movement or state from the time-series linked raw data and generate valid data by matching with already stored user information. For example, the raw data may include user movement unrelated to fetal movement. The determination unit 322 can calculate valid data regarding fetal movement or state from the time-series linked movement data D1 and sound data D2 using the time-series information and the user information.

[0080] Specifically, the determination unit 322 can track the position and movement of the fetus to calculate valid data regarding the movement of the fetus. At this time, to calculate the valid data, the determination unit 322 can match the feature information of the raw data with the already stored user information.

[0081] The valid data generated by the determination unit 322 may include information on the position and movement of the fetal head, the position and movement of the limbs, etc. Furthermore, the valid data may include information on fetal movement related to the fetal heartbeat, fetal movement related to external sound stimuli, fetal movement related to external physical stimuli, etc. The information on fetal movement included in the valid data may include information on the range, frequency, speed, rotation angle, movement change, etc. of the movement of each part of the fetal body.

[0082] The output unit 323 can determine the health condition of the fetus using the valid data, and can generate result data accordingly. For example, the output unit 323 can determine the health condition of the fetus using the valid data on the movement of the fetus, and the state information, development information, and state information of the pregnant woman stored in the memory. The output unit 323 can calculate the determination on the health condition of the fetus as result data and transmit it to the outside.

[0083] For example, the output unit 323 can use information about the movement of the fetal head included in the valid data to identify the position and posture of the fetus centered on the fetal head, and can determine in which position, for how long, or how frequently the fetus stays in the space spanning the abdomen and pelvis of the pregnant woman. The output unit 323 can also determine the main joint posture and movement of the fetal trunk and limbs centered on the fetal head, and can determine in which direction the fetal face is rotating.

[0084] As another example, the output unit 323 can use information regarding the movement of the fetal limbs contained in the valid data to identify the position and curled posture of the fetal hands, feet, arms and legs, and can determine the bending angles of the arms and legs, the bending posture of the fingers, and the motor movements of each body part, etc.

[0085] The output unit 323 can determine the fetal health condition according to the fetal development status based on the fetal movement determined as above, and can generate result data including the fetal health condition. As an example, the output unit 323 can determine the amount (little or too much), speed (slow or fast), or occurrence of tremors (shivering) of the overall fetal movement based on the movement of the whole body of the fetus and the movement state of the proximal limbs (trunk, shoulders and buttocks, elbows and knees) and the distal limbs (wrists, ankles, and fingers), and generate result data on the fetal health condition.

[0086] Meanwhile, the output unit 323 may generate result data on the health condition of the fetus by determining fetal movement occurring when an external stimulus is applied. For example, the output unit 323 may generate result data on the health condition of the fetus by determining a change in fetal movement when an external sound stimulus (e.g., the pregnant woman's voice) or an external physical stimulus (e.g., a stimulus of touching the pregnant woman's abdomen with a hand) is applied. In addition, the output unit 323 may generate result data on the health condition of the fetus by linking fetal heart rate information monitored by the monitoring device 100 with data on fetal movement.

[0087] As described above, the output unit 323 can determine the health condition of the fetus using data including the range, frequency, speed, movement type and posture changes, and movement changes of each part of the fetus's body, and can generate result data including fetal health condition information. In this case, the result data can include data obtained by matching fetal condition information, development information, and pregnant woman condition information. For example, the result data can include information on fetal motor development delay determined based on fetal development information and the overall fetal movement state, information on hemiplegia determined based on the movement of one side of the fetus' limbs, and information on brain motor development abnormality determined based on the occurrence of tremors or excessive movement in a part of the fetus's body.

[0088] The result data may include information on fetal torticollis and plagiocephaly by determining whether the fetus is positioned primarily on the abdomen of the pregnant woman based on the fetal movements, and may include information on fetal torticollis, differences in tonicity between the two limbs, sensory integration disorder, etc. by determining changes in the position of the fetus's trunk and head relative to the direction of gravity and the overall amount of movement.

[0089] The result data may include health information regarding the current condition of the fetus, or may include predicted information regarding the future health development of the fetus, or may include health information regarding the condition of the fetus after birth.

[0090] The result data may be generated based on data measured periodically by a user using a monitoring device, but is not limited to this and may be generated based on data measured arbitrarily.

[0091] The result data can then be used for comparison and analysis with infant medical information regarding the health status of the fetus after birth, such as the shape of the fetus's head after birth, the presence or absence of torticollis, motor and cognitive development, social development, etc. Thus, the server providing the fetal monitoring service can derive an algorithm for predicting the health status of the fetus after birth from the result data, and can predict the health status of the fetus after birth by applying the result data to the algorithm.

[0092] For example, the outcome data can be used to predict the likelihood of various diseases, such as autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, various genetic diseases, and torticollis, plagiocephaly, scoliosis, muscle diseases, and motor neuron diseases, in the fetus after birth. Furthermore, the outcome data can be used to predict the risk of delivery of a pregnant woman and provide information necessary for the decision on a cesarean section. Thus, one embodiment of the present invention can provide services for early detection of various diseases and can provide customized services for the promotion of the health of the fetus and the pregnant woman.

[0093] The data derived from the service providing server 300 can be used as learning data for determining the health condition of the fetus. The service providing server 300 can improve the accuracy of monitoring the condition of the fetus through repetitive learning, and can derive accurate result data for the current health condition of the fetus. In addition, the service providing server 300 that has been repetitively learned can predict with high accuracy the possibility of various diseases that may occur in the fetus by improving the accuracy of monitoring the condition of the fetus, and can derive result data for the future health condition. As a result, the fetal monitoring service providing method of the present invention can provide a health management service customized according to the health condition of the fetus, and can promote the health of the fetus and the pregnant woman.

[0094] The memory 330 may include a non-volatile mass storage device such as a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and a disk drive as a computer-readable recording medium. In addition, an operating system and at least one program code (for example, a code for a browser installed and operated in the user terminal 200, the above-mentioned application, etc.) may be stored in the memory 330. Such software components may be loaded from a computer-readable recording medium other than the memory 330 using a drive mechanism. Such a separate computer-readable recording medium may include a computer-readable recording medium such as a floppy drive, a disk, a tape, a DVD / CD-ROM drive, a memory card, etc. In another embodiment, the software components may be loaded into the memory 330 via the communication unit 310 instead of a computer-readable recording medium. For example, at least one program may be loaded into the memory 330 based on a program (for example, the above-mentioned application) installed by a file provided via the network 600 by a developer or a file distribution system that distributes an installation file of the application.

[0095] The memory 330 may store at least one program code for controlling the monitoring device 100, the user terminal 200, the service providing server 300, or the medical system server 400. In addition, the memory 330 may store at least one program code for generating result data from raw data transmitted from the monitoring device 100.

[0096] The memory 330 can store and manage raw data transmitted from the monitoring device 100, valid data and result data generated by the service providing server 300, user information, etc. When the service providing server 300 is connected to a plurality of user terminals, the memory 330 can compress and encrypt data for each user and store and manage it.

[0097] The input / output interface 340 may be a means for interfacing with an input / output device. For example, the input device may include a device such as a keyboard or a mouse, and the output device may include a device such as a display for displaying a communication session of an application. As another example, the input / output interface 340 may be a means for interfacing with a device in which functions for input and output are integrated into one, such as a touch screen. As a more specific example, the processor 320 of the service providing server 300 may display a service screen or content configured using data provided by the user terminal 200 on a display via the input / output interface 340 when processing instructions of a computer program loaded in the memory 330.

[0098] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method for providing a fetal monitoring service according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process in which a service providing server according to one embodiment of the present invention generates result data.

[0099] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, a method for providing a fetal monitoring service according to one embodiment of the present invention may include step S10 of acquiring raw data in a time series manner from a monitoring device, step S20 of removing noise from the raw data to generate valid data, step S30 of generating result data on the health status of the fetus using the valid data, and step S40 of providing the result data to a user terminal.

[0100] Below, each step of the method for providing fetal monitoring services according to an embodiment of the present invention is described in more detail.

[0101] First, in the method for providing a fetal monitoring service according to an embodiment of the present invention, raw data related to a fetus and a pregnant woman are acquired in time series from a monitoring device (S10).

[0102] The raw data relating to the fetus and the pregnant woman provided by the monitoring device may include motion data and acoustic data generated based on measurements sensed by at least one acceleration sensor and acoustic sensor of the monitoring device.

[0103] The monitoring device is placed on the abdomen of the pregnant woman and can measure the position, posture or movement of the fetus and the pregnant woman over a certain period of time. At this time, the position, posture or movement of the fetus and the pregnant woman measured by the acceleration sensor can form motion data, and the vibration related to the fetus and the surrounding stimuli measured by the acoustic sensor can form acoustic data. The monitoring device can generate raw data by combining the motion data and the acoustic data in a time series manner.

[0104] The monitoring device can transmit the generated raw data to the service providing server via a communication unit included in the monitoring device. For example, the monitoring device can generate and store the raw data, and then transmit the raw data to the service providing server according to a predetermined schedule, or can receive a request from a user using a user terminal to transmit the raw data to the service providing server. In contrast, the raw data can be data that is measured and transmitted from the monitoring device in real time.

[0105] The service providing server can receive the raw data transmitted from the monitoring device via the communication unit of the service providing server and transmit the raw data to the input unit of the processor, thereby enabling the processor to chronologically acquire raw data including movement data related to the fetus and the pregnant woman and acoustic data related to the fetus and peripheral stimuli from the monitoring device.

[0106] Next, noise is removed from the raw data using the time series information of the raw data, and valid data is generated by matching with the already stored user information (S20).

[0107] The raw data received through the communication unit of the service providing server may undergo a calculation process in a processor to calculate a valid value. Since the raw data includes data on the fetus as well as data on external stimuli or user movements that are unrelated to the movement or condition of the fetus, a process of removing noise and calculating data on the fetus is required.

[0108] The service providing server includes at least one program in the processor capable of removing noise, and is capable of removing noise from the raw data to generate useful data.

[0109] The noise removing step S21 may be a step of removing noise values ​​not related to the fetus from the movement data and acoustic data measured by the monitoring device, where a comparison with previously measured data values ​​may be made to identify the noise, or a learned algorithm may be used to remove the noise.

[0110] Next, valid data is generated using the noise-removed data (S22).

[0111] The valid data may include data related to the fetus. Specifically, the valid data may be data that is matched with the user information already stored in the noise-removed motion data, the first acoustic data, and the second acoustic data. In this case, the user information may be matched with the motion data, the first acoustic data, and the second acoustic data after encryption processing.

[0112] The valid data is then used to make a determination regarding the fetal health status and generate outcome data (S30).

[0113] The noise-removed valid data may include information regarding the state or movement of the fetus, which allows the service providing server to determine the health status of the fetus and generate result data.

[0114] The service providing server can generate result data using the noise-removed, chronologically linked movement data, the first sound data, and the second sound data. At this time, the service providing server can extract feature information from each data, determine the state and movement of the fetus using the feature information extracted in the same time period, and generate result data using the determined state information of the fetus.

[0115] In one embodiment, the service providing server extracts feature information about ambient noise occurring at a specific time using the second acoustic data corresponding to the ambient sound and the matched movement data, and can match the fetal movement information during the same time period to determine whether the fetus is moving normally in response to sound stimulation.

[0116] For example, the service providing server can extract fetal status information from the available data, such as:

[0117] Understanding the position of the fetal head axis relative to gravity (left or right side relative to gravity); which quadrant of the uterus the fetal head remains in longer on; how frequently the fetus moves within the uterus; how much rotation occurs around the fetal head-trunk axis; where the fetal head is more likely to be positioned relative to the torso (left-right turn, head down-back, tilt to the left or right); speed, direction, range, and amount (frequency) of fetal interbody movements; and the position of the fetal shoulders, hips, cardinal joints, and knees on both sides. The speed, range, direction and amount (frequency) of the movements; the most obvious bending angle of the fetus' wrists and ankles, the speed and amount of the movements; the state of the speed changes and the amplitude of the movements from the fetus's neck to the pelvis, from both shoulder joints to the fingers, and from both hip joints to the ankles, and whether or not there is a tremor; the measurement of the occurrence of movements such as the induction of the Moro reflex by external stimuli; the measurement of the changes in the movement patterns of the upper and lower limbs due to the movement of the neck (rotation, flexion, etc.) and the change in the position relative to the direction of gravity (neck righting reaction, asymmetric tonic neck reflex occurrence, etc.); the understanding of the change patterns of the fetus's movements due to the pregnant woman's condition (sleep, meals, physical activity, stress, etc.), time, temperature, surrounding sound stimuli, etc., general movements (Pretchl's classification method), etc.;

[0118] When the status information is derived, the service providing server can determine the health status of the fetus from the status information and generate result data. The result data is data related to fetal monitoring provided to the user via the user terminal, and can be data calculated by at least one program performing a calculation on the health status of the fetus based on the valid data. In addition, the result data can include a determination on the health status of the fetus further input by the user's medical staff.

[0119] The result data may further include a lifestyle guide for improving the health of the fetus and the pregnant woman based on the result of at least one program's judgment on the fetus's health condition. The lifestyle guide may include an exercise program, a dietary habit program, a sleep program, etc., which may be derived based on a program stored in the service providing server, or may be provided by medical staff via the medical system server.

[0120] Next, the result data is provided to the user terminal (S40).

[0121] The service providing server can transmit the generated result data to a user terminal or a medical system server. The user can check the result data using the user terminal, and the result data provided to the user may further include explanatory content to facilitate the user's understanding.

[0122] The embodiment of the present invention allows a user and the user's medical staff to easily monitor the condition of the fetus, thereby promoting the health of the pregnant woman and the fetus throughout the entire cycle of pregnancy and birth without increasing the frequency of visits to the hospital. In addition, the fetal monitoring service providing method of the present invention can provide a healthcare service suitable for the user based on the fetal monitoring results, thereby significantly improving user convenience.

[0123] The present embodiment may also be realized in the form of a recording medium including computer executable instructions such as a program module executed by a computer. A computer readable medium may be any available medium accessible by a computer, including both volatile and non-volatile media, and both separate and non-separate media. Furthermore, a computer readable medium may include both computer storage media and communication media. A computer storage medium includes all volatile and non-volatile, separate and non-separate media implemented in any method or technology for storing information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. A communication medium typically includes computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, or other transmission mechanism, and includes any information delivery media.

[0124] Furthermore, in this specification, a "unit" may be a hardware component, such as a processor or a circuit, and / or a software component executed by a hardware component, such as a processor.

[0125] Thus, the present invention has been described with reference to one embodiment shown in the drawings, but this is merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations of the embodiment are possible. Therefore, the true technical scope of the present invention should be determined by the technical ideas of the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0126] 100: Monitoring equipment 200: User terminal 300: Fetal monitoring service provider server 400: Medical system server

Claims

1. acquiring raw data from a monitoring device in a time series manner, the raw data including movement data relating to the fetus and the pregnant woman, and acoustic data relating to the fetus and peripheral stimuli; removing noise from the raw data using time series information and matching it with previously stored user information to generate valid data; using the validation data to make a determination regarding the fetal health status and generate outcome data; and A method for providing a fetal monitoring service, comprising the step of providing the result data to a user terminal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic data includes first acoustic data related to the fetus and second acoustic data related to surrounding sounds other than the fetus.

3. The step of determining the fetal health status and generating outcome data includes: The method for providing fetal monitoring services according to claim 2 , further comprising the step of determining a health condition of the fetus by linking the movement data, the first acoustic data, and the second acoustic data in a time series manner.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the motion data includes acceleration data sensed from an acceleration sensor of the monitoring device.

5. The method for providing fetal monitoring services according to claim 1 , wherein the user information includes personal information of the pregnant woman and condition information of the pregnant woman.

6. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for executing the fetal monitoring service providing method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. a memory for storing at least one program; A monitoring device for measuring the condition of a fetus, a user terminal, and a communication unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from a medical system server; at least one processor for executing said at least one program to provide a fetal monitoring service to a user; The memory may further include a memory for storing a plurality of memory elements, the plurality of memory elements being arranged to store a plurality of memory elements. acquiring raw data from the monitoring device in a time series manner, the raw data including movement data relating to the fetus and the pregnant woman, and sound data relating to the fetus and peripheral stimuli; removing noise from the raw data using time series information and matching it with previously stored user information to generate valid data; using the validation data to make a determination regarding the fetal health status and generate outcome data; and A service providing server, comprising instructions for executing a step of providing the result data to a user terminal.

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