Terminal for persons under surveillance, information processing system, information processing method, and program

Abstract

We provide a device for the person being monitored that can improve the usability of monitoring. [Solution] The terminal for the person being monitored comprises a positioning unit for determining location information, a transmission unit for transmitting location information to a server, a display unit for displaying information, a switch unit for detecting physical pressing operations on the display unit, and a control unit for executing one function selected from a predetermined set of functions in response to the detection of a pressing operation by the switch unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a terminal for a person under guardianship, an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program, and particularly relates to a display control technique for dynamically changing a screen display according to an external signal.

Background Art

[0002] By providing a small dedicated mobile terminal (hereinafter, "monitoring terminal") to the person under guardianship, a so-called "monitoring GPS service" has become widely popular, enabling the guardian to confirm the current position of the person under guardianship in real time on a map application on a terminal such as their own smartphone.

[0003] Conventional monitoring GPS terminals only have basic functions such as time display and battery level display, and lack a dynamic screen change function according to external signals (such as emergency notifications, message reception, various sensor information, etc.). As a result, there are problems such as non-intuitive operability for children and important information from guardians not being properly conveyed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a terminal for a person under guardianship, an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program that can improve the usability of guardianship.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, a terminal for a person being monitored according to one representative embodiment of this disclosure comprises: a positioning unit for determining location information; a transmission unit for transmitting the location information to a server; a display unit for displaying information; a switch unit for detecting a physical press operation on the display unit; and a control unit for executing one function selected from a plurality of predetermined functions in response to the detection of the press operation by the switch unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, the usability of the monitoring system can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a conceptual diagram showing the overall configuration of an information processing system according to one embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the monitoring terminal according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This block diagram shows the hardware configuration of the server according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] Block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the parent's device according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of the monitoring terminal according to this embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a front view of the monitoring terminal for the person being monitored. [Figure 7] This is a rear view of the terminal used by the person being monitored. [Figure 8] This is a right-side view of the monitoring terminal for the person being monitored. [Figure 9] This is a left side view of the terminal for the person being monitored. [Figure 10] This is a top view of the terminal used by the person being monitored. [Figure 11] This is a bottom view of the terminal for the person being monitored. [Figure 12] This is an overall perspective view of the monitoring device for the person being monitored. [Figure 13] This figure shows an example of an analog clock-style display screen. [Figure 14] It is a diagram showing an example display of the battery level display screen. [Figure 15] It is a diagram showing an example display of the GPS signal strength display screen. [Figure 16] It is a diagram showing an example display of the device information display screen. [Figure 17] It is a diagram showing a detailed example of the volume setting screen. [Figure 18] It is a diagram showing a detailed example of the language setting screen. [Figure 19] It is a diagram showing an example display of the new message notification screen. [Figure 20] It is a diagram showing an example display of the message playback screen. [Figure 21] It is a diagram showing an example display of the recording indicator screen. [Figure 22] It is a diagram showing an example display of the message history list screen. [Figure 23] It is a diagram showing an example display of the sender identification display (Mom) screen. [Figure 24] It is a diagram showing an example display of the sender identification display (Dad) screen. [Figure 25] It is a diagram showing an example display of the emergency message notification screen. [[ID=?]] [Figure 26] It is a diagram showing an example display of the message transmission completion screen. [Figure 27] It is a diagram showing an example display of the voice recognition screen. [Figure 28] It is a diagram showing an example display of the message deletion confirmation screen. [Figure 29] It is a diagram showing an example display of the message playback error screen. <00001?1 [Figure 30] It is a diagram showing an example display of the message capacity insufficient screen. [Figure 31] It is a diagram showing an example display of the favorite message screen. [Figure 32] It is a diagram showing an example display of the group message notification screen. [Figure 33] It is a diagram showing an example display of the voice memo save completion screen. [Figure 34] Note: There seems to be a typo in the original text where "ID=?" should probably be "ID=37". The translation has been done as accurately as possible with the given text.This diagram shows an example of the current location (address) display screen. [Figure 35] This figure shows an example of the display screen for the movement status indicator (walking). [Figure 36] This diagram shows an example of the arrival notification (school) screen. [Figure 37] This figure shows an example of how the SOS message screen looks. [Figure 38] This figure shows an example of the display of the safety area notification screen. [Figure 39] This figure shows an example of how the "Out of Area" warning screen is displayed. [Figure 40] This figure shows an example of the movement history display screen. [Figure 41] This figure shows an example of a speed warning screen. [Figure 42] This figure shows an example of the display of the return home confirmation screen. [Figure 43] This figure shows an example of the display of the location information acquisition screen. [Figure 44] This figure shows an example of the display screen during charging. [Figure 45] This figure shows an example of the startup screen. [Figure 46] This figure shows an example of the shutdown screen. [Figure 47] This figure shows an example of how an error message screen is displayed. [Figure 48] This figure shows an example of how the success notification screen will appear. [Figure 49] This figure shows an example of the standby screen display. [Figure 50] This figure shows an example of the sleep mode screen display. [Figure 51] This figure shows an example of the connection confirmation screen. [Figure 52] This figure shows an example of a low memory warning screen. [Figure 53] This figure shows an example of the power saving mode screen display. [Figure 54] This figure shows an example of the display screen in an emergency situation. [Figure 55] This figure shows an example of the weather display screen (sunny). [Figure 56] This figure shows an example of the weather display (rain) screen. [Figure 57] This figure shows an example of the birthday mode screen. [Figure 58] This figure shows an example of the holiday mode screen display. [Figure 59] This figure shows an example of the bedtime mode screen display. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The following describes embodiments for realizing the technical concept of this disclosure, with reference to the attached drawings.

[0010] (First Embodiment: Overall Configuration of the Information Processing System) Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall configuration of the information processing system 1 according to this embodiment. The information processing system 1 includes a terminal 10 for the person being monitored, a terminal 20 for the guardian, and a server 30, which are connected to each other via a network 40 so as to be able to communicate.

[0011] The monitored person's terminal 10 is a small device carried by the monitored person, such as a child or an elderly person. The guardian's terminal 20 is a smartphone or tablet device used by the guardian. The server 30 mediates communication between these multiple terminals and functions as the core for data collection, analysis, and service provision. (1. Hardware configuration of the device for the person being monitored)

[0012] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the monitored person terminal 10. The monitored person terminal 10 includes a display unit 11, a switch unit 12, a control unit 13, a memory 14, a communication interface 15, a GPS receiver 16, an acceleration sensor 17, a speaker 18, and a microphone 19.

[0013] The display unit 11 is a display device for displaying information, and in this embodiment, a circular display is used. The circular display unit 11 provides high visibility and enables intuitive information display. The display unit 11 is composed of liquid crystal display (LCD) or organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel, etc.

[0014] The switch unit 12 is an input device for detecting physical pressing operations on the display unit 11. As shown in Figure 6, it is integrally configured with the display unit 11, and detects the physical displacement when the user presses on the surface of the display unit 11.

[0015] The control unit 13 is a processor that controls the operation of the entire terminal. The control unit 13 monitors the terminal's internal state, such as the reception of external signals, battery level, communication status, message reception status, and sensor detection results, and dynamically switches the display content and functions based on changes in these states.

[0016] Memory 14 is a storage device for storing programs executed by the control unit 13 and data necessary for processing. Memory 14 consists of non-volatile flash memory for storing the system's startup program and basic settings, and volatile RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a working area during program execution.

[0017] The GPS receiver 16 functions as a positioning unit that determines location information, receiving signals from multiple satellite positioning systems (GNSS), including GPS satellites, and calculating the precise geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) of the terminal based on the principle of triangulation.

[0018] The communication interface 15 functions as a transmitter that sends the acquired location information to the server 30, and supports multiple communication methods such as 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. For IoT devices like this terminal, it is also possible to support low-power wide-area wireless communication (LPWA) standards such as LTE-M and NB-IoT (NarrowBand IoT) to achieve wide coverage while suppressing power consumption.

[0019] The accelerometer 17 is a sensor that detects the static tilt of the device (detection of gravitational acceleration) as well as dynamic movement and impact, and is used for functions such as fall detection and step counting. The speaker 18 is used to play voice messages and warning sounds, and the microphone 19 is used to record the user's voice. (2. Hardware configuration of the server and the parent's device)

[0020] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the server 30, which forms the core of this information processing system 1. The server 30 is physically composed of one or more high-performance physical servers installed in a data center or the like. Alternatively, it may be virtually constructed using a cloud computing environment such as AWS (Amazon Web Services) or GCP (Google Cloud Platform).

[0021] The server 30 is equipped with a high-performance central processing unit (CPU) 31, a large-capacity main memory (memory) 32 that serves as a workspace for program execution, an auxiliary storage device 33 such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) array for persistently storing various data and trained models, and a communication interface 34 for high-speed data communication with the network 40.

[0022] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a guardian's terminal 20 used by a caregiver. The guardian's terminal 20 is typically a commercially available smartphone or tablet. Therefore, it has a general-purpose computer architecture and is equipped with a CPU 41 responsible for executing applications, memory 42 as a workspace, storage device 43 (typically flash memory) for saving apps and data, a communication interface 44 compatible with Wi-Fi and LTE / 5G, and as a user interface, a display device 45 that simultaneously provides high-definition graphic display and touch input, and a microphone 46 and speaker 47 for audio input and output.

[0023] (Second Embodiment: Functional Configuration and Operating Principle) Figure 5 is a functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of the monitored terminal 10. The control unit 13 operates as the following functional blocks by executing the program stored in the memory 14.

[0024] (3. External structure of the device for the person being monitored) Figures 6 to 12 show the detailed external structure of the monitored terminal 10. The monitored terminal 10 in this embodiment employs a structure that mimics a voice-interactive smart token device.

[0025] Figure 6 is a front view, showing the circular display unit 11 positioned in the center of the casing. A ring-shaped component is positioned around the circular display unit 11, providing a visual accent and balancing the device's usability with its aesthetic appeal. The casing has a basic rectangular shape with rounded corners, ensuring safe use by children.

[0026] Figure 7 shows the rear view, where the charging contacts are located. The speaker and microphone openings are positioned appropriately for optimized audio input and output. A strap attachment hole is provided in the center of the rear.

[0027] Figure 8 is a right-side view, showing that an LED indicator for the charging status is located on the right side of the casing. The side also features a textured surface for improved grip.

[0028] Figure 9 is a left side view, and on the left side is a physical emergency button for quickly activating the SOS function in an emergency. This emergency button is designed to require a firmer pressing force than other buttons to prevent accidental operation.

[0029] Figure 10 is a top view, showing that the communication antenna section is built into the top surface. Antennas for GPS reception and LTE communication are incorporated in an optimal arrangement to maximize communication performance.

[0030] Figure 11 is a bottom view, showing a USB-C charging port with a waterproof cap located on the bottom. A QR code (registered trademark) indicating the device's unique identification number and a serial number label are also affixed.

[0031] Figure 12 is an overall perspective view, illustrating the compact and user-friendly design of the voice-interactive device. The entire casing is constructed from impact-resistant materials, providing robustness to withstand children's daily use while remaining lightweight at approximately 50 grams. The circular display section 11 occupies approximately 60% of the casing's area, maximizing visibility.

[0032] The state management unit 131 is the highest-level control unit that centrally monitors and determines the internal state of the terminal. This internal state is not defined by a single parameter, but rather as a result of comprehensively judging information from multiple different sources, such as communication events (e.g., receiving a new message), power events (e.g., low battery voltage), sensor events (e.g., fall detection by an accelerometer), and user input events (e.g., pressing a switch).

[0033] The display control unit 132 receives a state transition command from the state management unit 131 and dynamically changes the display content perceived by the user. For example, if the state is "message received," it selects a template that shows the sender's identification information and the elapsed time since reception, and immediately updates the screen of the display unit 11.

[0034] The function switching unit 133 switches the function assigned to the click operation of the switch unit 12 based on a command from the state management unit 131. For example, the "message playback function" is assigned in the "message reception state," and the "message recording function" is assigned in the "standby state."

[0035] The function execution unit 134 actually executes the function assigned by the function switching unit 133. Specifically, it performs tasks such as playing back audio data, recording audio, communicating with a server, and analyzing sensor data.

[0036] (Third embodiment: State-linked user interface) The most distinctive feature of this embodiment is the user interface, in which the display and functions dynamically switch in conjunction with the internal state of the terminal.

[0037] The control unit 13 constantly monitors the following internal states: (a) Communication event: Notification of new message received from server 30 (b) Power event: Low battery voltage notification (c) Sensor event: Fall detection by acceleration sensor 17 (d) User input event: Press operation on switch unit 12 (e) Location information event: Detection of location change by GPS receiver 16

[0038] (Example of a basic function display system) Figures 13 to 16 show examples of screens for the basic function display system. The following display patterns are realized in the circular display unit 11.

[0039] In the basic function display, the circular display unit 11 provides an analog clock-style display, a charging status display, a GPS signal strength display, and a device information display.

[0040] Figure 13 shows a detailed example of an analog clock-style display screen. Hour and minute hands are displayed within a circular frame, and a digital time display is used in conjunction. The hour hand indicates the current hour, and the minute hand indicates the current minute. Numbers or markers are placed at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions on the circumference, making it easy to read the time. A digital time, such as "14:30," is displayed below the main display, allowing for accurate time confirmation. A faint grid pattern or radial guidelines are placed in the background, making it easier to distinguish the positions of the hands.

[0041] Figure 14 shows a detailed example of the battery level display screen. A battery icon is positioned in the center of the circular display section 11 and consists of a rectangular main body and a small terminal section. Normally, a stepped charge level bar corresponding to the remaining charge is displayed inside the battery, colored green for full charge, yellow for medium charge, and red for low charge. A specific remaining charge value, such as "85%", is displayed below the icon. When the remaining charge falls below 20%, a flashing effect is added around the icon to visually warn of the need for charging. On the other hand, when charging, an animation effect indicating the progress of charging is applied to the battery icon, and the text "Charging" is displayed below the icon instead of the remaining charge value. In addition, a lightning bolt mark flashes next to the battery icon to clearly indicate that it is charging. In power saving mode, the icon's color tone darkens to indicate that it is in a power saving state.

[0042] Figure 15 shows a detailed example of the GPS signal strength display screen. A stepped bar graph is placed in the center of the circular display section 11 to visually represent the received GPS signal strength. The bar graph usually consists of four to five vertical bars, and the number of lit bars changes depending on the number of satellites that can be received. The color of the bars also changes according to the signal strength, being displayed in green for a strong signal, yellow for a moderate signal, and red for a weak signal. The bottom of the screen displays specific reception status, such as "GPS: Strong" and "Number of satellites: 8". If no signal can be received, all bars are grayed out and the message "No GPS signal" is displayed. Decorative elements such as an earth icon and satellite orbits are placed in the background, making it intuitively clear that it is a GPS function.

[0043] Figure 16 shows a detailed example of the device information display screen. The basic terminal information is arranged in a five-tiered hierarchical structure within the circular display section 11. The top level (first tier) displays the firmware version information, "Ver 5.0". The second tier displays the terminal ID, such as "ID: BT001", as device-specific identification information. The third tier displays the current radio wave reception strength in three levels, such as "Radio Wave: Strong", "Radio Wave: Medium", and "Radio Wave: Weak", allowing for a quick understanding of the communication status. The fourth tier displays the GPS function's operating status as "GPS: Enabled" or "GPS: Disabled", indicating the status of the location information service. The fifth tier (bottom) displays a numerical value, such as "Temperature: 25°C", as internal terminal temperature information, allowing monitoring of the device's operating environment. The information in each tier is displayed in different font sizes, creating a visual hierarchy according to importance. Small icons corresponding to each piece of information (version, ID, antenna, GPS satellite, thermometer, etc.) are placed on both sides of the screen, allowing for an intuitive understanding of the type of information. By displaying this screen periodically, users and administrators can comprehensively check the detailed operating status of the device.

[0044] (Examples of user interface systems) In terms of the user interface, volume settings, language settings, and brightness adjustment functions are all provided in a form optimized for the circular layout. Volume settings combine a semi-circular progress indicator with a numerical display, while language settings use oval buttons for selection. Brightness adjustment is intuitively controlled using a sun icon and a semi-circular progress indicator.

[0045] Figure 17 shows a detailed example of the volume setting screen. A semicircular volume level indicator is positioned in the center of the circular display section 11. The length of the indicator's arc changes according to the current volume level, displaying a short arc at minimum volume and a large arc at maximum volume. The indicator's color changes according to the volume level, displaying blue at low volume, green at medium volume, and red at high volume. The current volume level is displayed numerically in the center, in a format such as "Volume: 7 / 10". A small speaker icon is positioned at the bottom of the screen to indicate that it is a volume setting. Each time the user presses the switch, the volume level changes in steps, and the display is updated in real time.

[0046] Figure 18 shows a detailed example of the language settings screen. Available language options are arranged as oval buttons within the circular display area 11. Major languages ​​such as "Japanese," "English," "Korean," and "Chinese" are presented as options. The currently selected language is displayed larger than the other options and has a highlight effect applied around it. Each language option is distinguished by a different color for easy visual identification. Pressing the switch area cycles through the options, and system-wide messages are displayed in the selected language. A globe icon is placed at the top of the screen to indicate that internationalization settings are enabled.

[0047] (Examples of communication-related applications) Figures 19 to 33 show examples of communication screens. The following displays are achieved in the message exchange function with parents.

[0048] Figure 19 shows the new message notification screen, where an oval message icon is placed in the center of the circular display area 11. The text "New" is displayed inside the icon, indicating the arrival of a new message. The message icon has a slight scaling animation effect, creating an attention-grabbing dynamic display. The text "From Mom" ​​is displayed at the bottom of the screen, indicating the sender, allowing for immediate identification of the message's sender. In addition, a numerical badge indicating the number of unread messages is placed in the upper right corner of the screen, along with a red circular background, clearly displaying the number of received messages with a number such as "3". A subtle ripple effect is applied to the entire background, enhancing the sense of realism of the new message notification.

[0049] Figure 20 shows the audio message playback screen, where a triangular play button icon is positioned in the center of the circular display unit 11. The play button is rendered as a standard right-pointing triangle, intuitively indicating the playback status of the audio data. To indicate that playback is in progress, multiple audio level indicators with animation effects are displayed at the top of the screen. These indicators are represented as vertical bar graphs that mimic the waveform of the audio, and their height changes dynamically according to the audio level being played. The text "Playing..." is placed at the bottom of the screen, clearly indicating the current operating status. If the playback time is long, a progress bar is added to the bottom of the screen.

[0050] Figure 21 shows the recording function screen, with a microphone icon positioned in the center of the circular display unit 11. The microphone icon is rendered as a detailed microphone shape consisting of an oval body, a rectangular support, and an oval base. To indicate that recording is in progress, a red flashing indicator with an animation effect is placed in the upper left corner of the screen. This indicator provides a visual effect that mimics the recording lamp of a recording device. Concentric voice recognition effects are placed around the microphone icon to indicate that voice input has been detected. The text "Recording" is placed at the bottom of the screen, visually indicating the status of voice recording. As the recording time elapses, a counter showing the remaining time is added and displayed.

[0051] Figure 22 shows the message history list screen, where multiple message entries are arranged vertically within a circular display area 11. Each entry displays the sender's name and reception time hierarchically within an oval background area. Specific information such as "Mom 14:25," "Dad 13:45," and "Grandma 12:30" is displayed in reverse chronological order (newest first). Unread messages are displayed in bold, while read messages are distinguished in normal font. A small icon corresponding to the sender (mother, father, grandmother, etc.) is placed on the left edge of each entry to facilitate visual identification. A total number display, such as "3 messages," is placed at the bottom of the screen, allowing for a quick overview of the current received messages. If the list becomes long, a scrollable display format is applied.

[0052] Figure 23 shows an example of the sender identification display (Mama), where each sender has a unique visual identification element. A friendly icon representing a person is placed within the circular display area 11, and is drawn as a simplified human figure consisting of a circular face and an oval body. The face includes details such as hairstyle and facial expression, and is designed to have characteristics of a mother. The large text "Mama" is placed in the center of the screen, and below it is the explanatory text "Message from Mama". A warm color scheme reminiscent of a mother is applied to the background, giving a visually warm impression. This screen is displayed for a few seconds when a new message is received to help identify the sender.

[0053] Figure 24 shows an example of the sender identification display (Dad), which has the same basic structure as Mom but with visually distinguishable elements. The person icon has a rectangular element representing eyebrows added, giving it a more masculine appearance. The hairstyle is also depicted as short hair, making it easier to identify the gender. The text "Dad" is placed in the center of the screen, and the explanation of "Message from" is displayed at the bottom. The background color is a blue tone that evokes the image of a father, visually differentiating it from Mom's screen. The icon's pose and expression are also designed to express a fatherly dignity.

[0054] Figure 25 shows an example of an emergency message notification, which is visually distinct from a normal message. A triangular warning icon is placed in the center of the circular display unit 11, with a clearly displayed exclamation mark inside. The warning icon is drawn in a larger size than usual to emphasize its urgency. The word "Urgent" is highlighted in red in the center of the screen, with "Message" below it and the instruction text "Listen Now" at the bottom, arranged hierarchically. This display makes it immediately clear that the message is of high importance. Flashing effects and color changes are applied to the entire background to visually emphasize that it is an emergency. Audio notification is also provided simultaneously, forming a multimodal warning system.

[0055] Figure 26 shows the message transmission completion screen, where a microphone icon is placed in the center of the circular display unit 11. The microphone icon consists of an oval body, a rectangular support part, and an oval base part. To indicate that the transmission process is in progress, zoom indicators with animation effects are placed on both sides of the screen. These indicators visually represent the progress of the audio data upload. The text "Sending..." is displayed at the bottom of the screen, clearly indicating the message transmission status. When transmission is complete, a check mark icon is displayed and the message changes to "Sent." If a communication error occurs, an error icon and a resend instruction are displayed.

[0056] Figure 27 shows the speech recognition screen. Its basic configuration is similar to the transmission completion screen, but it features an animation indicating that the audio data is being analyzed. Indicators surrounding the microphone icon have a dynamic effect, spreading outwards in a ripple-like pattern, visually representing the progress of the speech recognition process. During recognition, an animation of multiple concentric circles spreading outwards is displayed. The text "Speech Recognition in Progress..." is displayed at the bottom of the screen, clearly indicating the current processing status. Once recognition is complete, the recognized text is temporarily displayed to prompt confirmation.

[0057] Figure 28 shows the message deletion confirmation screen, where the icon to be deleted is placed in the center of the circular display section 11. The delete icon is shaped like a trash can, consisting of a rectangular body, an oval lid, and a rectangular handle. The confirmation text "Do you want to delete?" is displayed in the center of the screen, and "Yes" and "No" options are placed to the left and right at the bottom. This functions as a confirmation function to prevent unintended actions by the user. The selected option is highlighted in color to clearly indicate the current selection status.

[0058] Figure 29 shows the message playback error screen, where a circular prohibition icon is placed in the center of the circular display area 11. The prohibition icon consists of a circular border and a diagonal line crossing its interior. The text "Playback Error" is displayed in the center of the screen, and the instruction text "Try again" is displayed at the bottom. Appropriate feedback is provided in the event of system errors or communication errors. Depending on the type of error, specific causes such as "Communication Error" or "File Corruption" are also displayed.

[0059] Figure 30 shows the message storage capacity low screen, with a triangular warning icon positioned in the center of the circular display area 11. The warning icon consists of a triangular border and an exclamation mark inside. The text "Storage capacity low" is displayed in the center of the screen, and below it, a specific solution, "Please delete old messages," is displayed. It functions as a storage capacity management function. The current usage rate is displayed as a percentage, providing specific information such as "85% in use."

[0060] Figure 31 shows the favorite messages screen, where a star-shaped icon is placed in the center of the circular display area 11. The star-shaped icon is composed of a polygon with five pointed corners. The text "Favorites" is displayed in the center of the screen, and below it is a description of the specific message content, such as "Good morning message from Mom." It provides a function to save and manage important messages. The save date and time are also displayed to assist in message management.

[0061] Figure 32 shows the group message notification screen, where multiple circular icons are arranged in the center of the circular display area 11. Three circles are arranged in a triangular shape to visually indicate that the message is from multiple people. The text "From Family" is displayed in the center of the screen, and the explanation "Group Message" is displayed at the bottom. A badge indicating the number of unread messages is also placed in the upper right corner. Small photos and default icons of group members are displayed to help identify the sender.

[0062] Figure 33 shows the voice memo saving completion screen, where an oval memo icon is placed in the center of the circular display unit 11. A triangular play button is embedded within the memo icon, indicating that the saved message is playable. A check mark is placed at the bottom of the screen, and the text "Save Complete" is displayed. This function confirms that the recorded message has been saved correctly. The saved file name and recording time are also displayed.

[0063] (Examples of location-based and safety features) Figures 34 to 43 show examples of screens for location information and safety functions. The following displays are implemented as important functions for ensuring the safety and location of the person being monitored.

[0064] Figure 34 shows the current location display screen, with a pin icon positioned in the center of the circular display section 11. The pin icon functions as a location marker, consisting of a teardrop-shaped outer frame and a circular center point. Specific address information, such as "Shibuya-ku, Tokyo" and "1-2-3 Jingumae," is displayed hierarchically in the center of the screen. The last update time, such as "Updated 14:30," is displayed at the bottom of the screen, clearly indicating the freshness of the location information. GPS accuracy is also indicated, such as "Error ±5m."

[0065] Figure 35 shows the movement status display screen, where a walking person icon is placed in the center of the circular display section 11. The person icon consists of a circular head, a straight torso, and arms and legs made of multiple lines, representing the walking motion. The text "Walking" is placed at the bottom of the screen, clearly indicating the current movement status. An indicator with an animation effect is placed in the upper right corner, visually representing real-time status updates. Numerical information such as movement speed "2.5 km / h" is also displayed.

[0066] Figure 36 shows the arrival notification screen, where a school building icon is placed in the center of the circular display area 11. The building icon is represented as a detailed school building consisting of a rectangular main body, a triangular roof, a clock tower, a front door, and multiple windows. The clock section depicts a circular dial and hands, showing the current time. The text "Arrived at school" and the arrival time "8:25" are displayed at the bottom of the screen, allowing the user to confirm arrival at the destination. Differences from the scheduled time, such as "5 minutes late," are also displayed.

[0067] Figure 37 shows the SOS transmission screen, where an animated background is placed across the entire circular display area 11. Large text "SOS" is positioned in the center of the screen, with the explanatory text "Emergency transmission in progress" below it. Further down, an animated circular indicator dynamically displays the status of the emergency signal. At the very bottom, a detailed explanation of "Calling for help" is displayed. This screen functions as a critical safety feature, displayed with the highest priority in emergencies. The number of transmissions and elapsed time are also displayed.

[0068] Figure 38 shows the safety area notification screen, where a dashed circular area marker is placed in the center of the circular display unit 11. The area marker consists of a large circular boundary and a small circular point in the center. The text "Inside the safety area" and the confirmation time "14:30" are displayed at the bottom of the screen. This function allows both the guardian and the person being monitored to confirm that they are within a pre-set safe area. The name of the area, such as "Around Home," is also displayed.

[0069] Figure 39 shows the out-of-area warning screen, where a warning area marker is placed in the center of the circular display unit 11. The area marker consists of a solid circular boundary line, diagonal lines crossing it, and a central circular point. The warning text "Out of Area" and the instruction "Please be careful" are displayed at the bottom of the screen. It functions as a warning function when the user deviates from the set safety range. The distance from the current location to the area boundary, such as "500m away," is also displayed.

[0070] Figure 40 shows the movement history display screen, where a curved movement path is placed in the center of the circular display section 11. The movement path is represented as a smooth curve connecting multiple points, and a different circular marker is placed at each point. The title "Today's Movement" is displayed at the top of the screen, and the names of each point, such as "Home," "Park," and "School," are displayed at the bottom of the screen. It functions as a history management function that visualizes the movement pattern of the day. The total distance traveled and activity time are also displayed.

[0071] Figure 41 shows the speed warning screen, where a triangular warning icon is placed in the center of the circular display unit 11. The warning icon incorporates an exclamation mark to indicate a situation requiring attention. A specific speed value, such as "45 km / h," is prominently displayed in the center of the screen, with instructional text such as "Caution: Speed" and "Move Slowly" below it. This function operates as a safety feature when moving in a vehicle. The speed limit, such as "30 km / h limit," is also displayed to promote safe driving.

[0072] Figure 42 shows the home arrival confirmation screen, where a house icon is placed in the center of the circular display area 11. The house icon is represented as a dwelling consisting of a triangular roof, rectangular walls, a rectangular door, and a circular doorknob. A welcome message, "Welcome home!", and the time of arrival, "17:30 Home Arrival," are displayed at the bottom of the screen. It functions as an important monitoring function to confirm a safe return home. The time spent away from home, such as "6 hours 30 minutes," is also displayed, and it also functions as a record of daily life.

[0073] Figure 43 shows the location information acquisition screen, where multiple circular indicators with a rotating animation effect are placed in the center of the circular display unit 11. The outer and inner circular elements rotate at different speeds, visually representing the GPS signal acquisition process. A small circular point is placed in the center, indicating the positioning reference point. The text "Acquiring location information" is displayed at the bottom of the screen, clearly indicating the current processing status. Acquisition progress such as "3 / 4 satellites detected" is also displayed.

[0074] (Examples of system functionality) Figures 44 to 54 show examples of system function screens. The following displays are implemented as important functions for the basic operation and state management of the terminal.

[0075] Figure 44 shows the charging display screen, with a battery icon positioned in the center of the circular display unit 11. The battery icon consists of a rectangular body and a small terminal section, and multiple rectangular bars indicating the charge level are displayed inside. A lightning bolt-shaped charging icon is positioned at the bottom of the screen, visually indicating that charging is in progress. Further down, the text "Charging" and a specific charge level such as "25%" are displayed. An estimated charging time, such as "2 hours 30 minutes to full charge," is also shown.

[0076] Figure 45 shows the startup screen, where a circular progress indicator with an animation effect is placed in the center of the circular display unit 11. The indicator represents the progress of the system startup process by dynamically changing the dashed line pattern. The text "Starting up..." is displayed at the bottom of the screen, clearly indicating the current processing status. Detailed information such as the startup stage, "System initialization in progress," and "Communication module verification in progress," is also displayed.

[0077] Figure 46 shows the shutdown screen, with a power icon positioned in the center of the circular display area 11. The power icon is represented as a standard power symbol consisting of a circular border and vertical lines. The entire background darkens, and the text "Power Off" is displayed in the center of the screen, with a friendly message such as "See you tomorrow" at the bottom. An animated diffusion effect is placed around the outer edge, providing a visual representation of system shutdown. Data saving and shutdown progress are also displayed.

[0078] Figure 47 shows the error display screen, where a prohibition icon consisting of a circular border and two diagonal lines is placed in the center of the circular display area 11. The text "Error" is displayed in the center of the screen, and the troubleshooting instructions "Restarting" are displayed at the bottom. It functions as a function to provide appropriate information when a system error or unexpected problem occurs. Detailed information such as the error code "E001" or "Insufficient Memory" is also displayed.

[0079] Figure 48 shows the success notification screen, where a confirmation icon consisting of a circular border and a checkmark is placed in the center of the circular display area 11. The checkmark is represented by a broken line, indicating the successful completion of the operation or setting. The text "Settings Complete" is displayed in the center of the screen, and the status confirmation "Working Normally" is displayed at the bottom. Details of the update, such as "Language setting has been changed to Japanese," are also displayed.

[0080] Figure 49 shows the standby screen, where "14:30" is prominently displayed as the current time in the center of the circular display unit 11. Below the time display, three circular indicators are arranged in a horizontal line and flash sequentially with an animation effect to visually represent the standby state. The text "Standby" is displayed at the bottom of the screen. Basic information such as battery level and communication status is also displayed in smaller font.

[0081] Figure 50 shows the sleep mode screen, where a symbol indicating the sleep state is placed in the center of the circular display unit 11. The entire display is dimmed, and the word "Sleep" is displayed at the bottom of the screen. A small indicator with a slow blinking effect is placed at the very bottom, indicating that power saving mode is active. The sleep start time and the expected wake-up time are also displayed.

[0082] Figure 51 shows the connection confirmation screen, where concentric radio wave icons are placed in the center of the circular display unit 11. Multiple circles are arranged from the center outwards, representing the strength of the communication signal. The text "Connection OK" is displayed in the center of the screen, and below it, specific connection status information such as "LTE signal: Strong" and "GPS signal: Strong" is displayed. The name of the telecommunications carrier is also displayed.

[0083] Figure 52 shows the low memory warning screen, where a bar graph indicating memory usage is placed in the center of the circular display unit 11. Multiple rectangular bars are arranged vertically, visually distinguishing between used and free space. The bottom of the screen displays the warning text "Insufficient capacity" and the action instruction "Please organize your data." It operates as a storage management function. Specific usage amounts such as "15.2GB / 16GB in use" are also displayed.

[0084] Figure 53 shows the power saving mode screen, where an icon indicating the battery level is placed in the center of the circular display unit 11. The battery icon consists of a rectangular body and a terminal part, and the internal charge level display indicates a low remaining charge state. The text "Power Saving Mode" is placed in the center of the screen, below it is a specific remaining charge display such as "Battery: 15%", and at the very bottom is a status explanation of "Some functions are restricted". It operates as an automatic control mode to suppress power consumption. Restricted functions such as "Reduced GPS update frequency" are also displayed.

[0085] Figure 54 shows the emergency display screen, where an animated background is placed across the entire circular display area 11. The texts "Emergency," "SOS," and "Calling" are arranged hierarchically in the center of the screen, clearly indicating an emergency. An animated diffusion indicator is placed at the bottom of the screen, dynamically representing the status of the emergency signal transmission. It functions as a safety function, displayed with the highest priority. The status of calls to emergency contacts, such as "Calling to guardian," is also displayed.

[0086] (Examples of special mode / environmental information systems) Figures 55 to 59 show examples of screens for special modes and environmental information systems. The following displays are implemented as dedicated display functions tailored to specific situations and environments.

[0087] Figure 55 shows the weather display (sunny) screen, with a sun icon positioned in the center of the circular display area 11. The sun icon consists of a circular center and multiple lines arranged radially. The text "Today is sunny" is displayed in the center of the screen, and specific temperature information such as "24°C" is displayed at the bottom. It operates as an environmental information provision function linked with external weather information services. Humidity "45%" and UV index "high" are also displayed.

[0088] Figure 56 shows the weather display (rain) screen, with cloud and raindrop icons placed in the center of the circular display area 11. The cloud icon is represented by multiple overlapping ellipses, with raindrops made of multiple lines placed below it. The text "It's raining" is displayed in the center of the screen, and practical advice such as "Don't forget your umbrella" is displayed at the bottom. It functions as a weather-appropriate action support function. Precipitation probability "80%" and wind speed "5 m / s" are also displayed.

[0089] Figure 57 shows the birthday mode screen, where a cake icon is placed in the center of the circular display area 11. The cake icon consists of a rectangular body, an oval cream area, a rectangular candle, and an oval flame area. Decorative symbols are placed on both sides of the screen to create a celebratory atmosphere. The messages "Happy Birthday" and "Congratulations!" are displayed at the bottom of the screen. It functions as a commemorative day display function. The age, such as "You've turned 8," is also displayed.

[0090] Figure 58 shows the holiday mode screen, with the time "14:30" displayed in the center of the circular display section 11. Decorative symbols are placed on both sides of the screen to create a relaxed atmosphere. The text "Today is a holiday" is displayed in the center of the screen, and an encouraging message such as "Have a great day!" is displayed at the bottom. It functions as a special day display function linked to the calendar. Holiday names such as "Children's Day" are also displayed.

[0091] Figure 59 shows the bedtime mode screen, where the background of the circular display area 11 is darkened to represent nighttime. A moon icon is placed in the center of the screen, and its crescent shape indicates that it is nighttime. Below the time display "21:00," the text "Goodnight time" is displayed, and further below, a friendly message such as "Have a great day tomorrow" is shown. The entire screen display is low brightness to reduce glare during sleep. In addition, several small dots slowly blink to represent a starry sky. It operates as a lifestyle rhythm management function. The planned sleep time "8 hours" is also displayed.

[0092] (Fifth embodiment: Control method for dynamic display switching) When the control unit 13 detects a change in the internal state, it switches the display content and function based on a pre-set priority rule. The priority is set in the following order, for example. 1st place: Emergency situations (fall detection, SOS signal, etc.) 2nd place: Important notifications (urgent messages, etc.) 3rd place: General notifications (regular messages, etc.) 4th place: System status (battery level, etc.) 5th place: Basic display (clock display, etc.)

[0093] This priority control ensures that the most important information is reliably communicated to the user, even when multiple state changes occur simultaneously.

[0094] (modified version) In the above embodiment, the display unit 11 may have a shape other than circular. For example, it may be an ellipse, square, rectangle, or the like.

[0095] Furthermore, the switch unit 12 may employ methods other than physical press detection. For example, it is possible to combine it with a capacitive touch sensor or operation detection using voice recognition.

[0096] The communication interface 15 can also adopt future communication standards and LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) technologies such as LoRaWAN and Sigfox, in addition to 4G and 5G.

[0097] As described above, according to this embodiment, by dynamically switching the display content and functions on the circular display according to the type of external signal and the internal state of the terminal, it becomes possible to provide information that is intuitive and easy to understand for the person being monitored, thereby improving the usability of the monitoring system. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0098] 1...Information processing system 10...Terminal for the person being monitored 11...Display unit 12...Switch unit 13...Control unit 131...Status management unit 132...Display control unit 133...Function switching unit 134...Function execution unit 14...Memory 15...Communication interface 16...GPS receiver 17...Accelerometer 18...Speaker 19...Microphone 20...Parent's device 30...Server 40...Network

Claims

1. A positioning unit that determines location information, A transmission unit that transmits the aforementioned location information to a server, A display unit for displaying information, A switch unit for detecting a physical press operation on the display unit, A control unit for executing one function selected from a predetermined set of functions in response to the detection of the pressing operation by the switch unit, A monitoring terminal equipped with the following features.

2. A monitoring terminal according to claim 1, The aforementioned display unit is a circular display, which is characteristic of the terminal for monitoring a person.

3. A monitoring terminal according to claim 1 or 2, The aforementioned internal state includes the remaining battery level. The control unit is characterized by switching between displaying a warning message and playing a pre-set warning when the remaining battery level falls below a predetermined threshold, making it a terminal for a person being monitored.

4. A monitoring terminal according to claim 1, The aforementioned internal state includes the state of receiving voice messages, The control unit is characterized in that, when there are unplayed voice messages, it switches between displaying content indicating the sender of the voice message and a function to play the voice message.

5. A monitoring terminal according to claim 1, The control unit is characterized by switching between displaying the time and recording a voice message in response to the press operation when there are no unplayed voice messages, making it a terminal for a person being monitored.

6. A monitoring terminal according to claim 4, The terminal for the person being monitored is characterized in that the display content indicating the sender includes the identification information of the sender that has been registered in advance.

7. A monitoring terminal according to claim 1, Equipped with an acceleration sensor, The aforementioned internal state includes the possibility of tipping over, which is determined based on the detection results of the acceleration sensor. The control unit is characterized by switching between a warning display and a function to send safety confirmation information or an emergency notification when it determines that there is a high probability of falling.

8. An information processing system comprising a terminal for the person being monitored as described in claim 1, a terminal for the guardian, and a server.

9. A display control method for a monitored person's terminal according to claim 1, Steps include monitoring the internal state of the device, Based on the aforementioned change in internal state, the steps include switching between the display content to be displayed on the display unit and a predetermined function to be executed in response to the detection of a press operation, A display control method including the following.

10. On the computer, A process to monitor the internal state of the terminal, Based on the aforementioned change in internal state, a process is performed to switch between the display content to be displayed on the display unit and a predetermined function to be executed in response to the detection of a press operation. A program that executes the command.

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