Monitoring System, Monitoring Method, and Monitoring Program

Abstract

To provide a watching system capable of reducing the burdens of both a caregiver and a care receiver and obtaining enough information.SOLUTION: A watching system S according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a microwave measuring device M which transmits a microwave to a watching object O and receives a reflection wave of the microwave, a body temperature measuring device T which measures a body temperature of the watching object O, and an information processing device C which processes outputs from the microwave measuring device and the body temperature measuring device. A watching program and a watching method according to another aspect of the present invention include a biological information recording step of recording biological information data containing any of respiration rate data and heart rate data of a person to be watched in a computer on the basis of the output data of the microwave measuring device and a body temperature recording step of recording body temperature data of the person to be watched, and executes watching.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a monitoring system, a monitoring method, and a monitoring program.

Background Art

[0002] In an aging society, it is important to support the elderly, and various support services are provided for this purpose.

[0003] Support services require caregivers who provide care for the elderly. Although it is very important to secure the number of caregivers, it is normal for the number of elderly people to be larger than the number of caregivers, and it is extremely difficult to constantly monitor those who require constant care.

[0004] In response to the above situation, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, a system for monitoring those who require care has been proposed. The technology described in Patent Document 1 below enables the acquisition of the position information of those who require care by having them wear a wireless tag, and can reduce the workload of tasks such as confirming the position of those who require care by caregivers.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 above has problems such as the burden on those who require care because they must wear a wireless tag. In addition, the technology described in Patent Document 1 above has problems such as difficulty in confirming biological information such as respiratory rate and heart rate, and being insufficient as information.

[0007] Therefore, in view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring system that reduces the burdens on both caregivers and care recipients and can obtain more sufficient information.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] A monitoring system according to one aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems includes a microwave measuring device that transmits microwaves to a person to be monitored and receives reflected waves of the microwaves, a body temperature measuring device that measures the body temperature of the person to be monitored, and an information processing device that processes outputs from the microwave measuring device and the body temperature measuring device.

[0009] Further, in this aspect, although not limited, the information processing device preferably has a recording medium in which a program for executing a biological information recording step of recording biological information data including at least any one of the respiration rate data and the heart rate data of the person to be monitored based on the output data of the microwave measuring device, and a body temperature recording step of recording the body temperature data of the person to be monitored is recorded.

[0010] Further, in this aspect, although not limited, the program recorded on the recording medium of the information processing device is preferably a program for executing a step of recording a plurality of monitored person data and a monitored person identification step of identifying the monitored person based on the recorded biological information data.

[0011] Further, in this aspect, although not limited, in the program recorded on the recording medium of the information processing device, the monitored person identification step preferably identifies the monitored person based on the biological information data in a recent fixed period.

[0012] Further, in this aspect, although not limited, the program recorded on the recording medium of the information processing device is preferably a program for executing a step of recording warning data when it is determined that the biological information data is in an abnormal range.

[0013] In addition, the monitoring program according to another aspect of the present invention causes a computer to execute a biological information recording step of recording biological information data including at least one of the respiration rate data and the heart rate data of the person under monitoring based on the output data of the microwave measuring device, and a body temperature recording step of recording the body temperature data of the person under monitoring.

[0014] In addition, the monitoring method according to another aspect of the present invention includes a biological information recording step of recording biological information data including at least one of the respiration rate data and the heart rate data of the person under monitoring based on the output data of the microwave measuring device, and a body temperature recording step of recording the body temperature data of the person under monitoring.

Advantages of the Invention

[0015] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a monitoring system that reduces the burdens on both caregivers and care recipients and can obtain more sufficient information.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited only to the specific examples described in the following embodiments and examples.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a monitoring system S according to the present embodiment (hereinafter referred to as "the present system"). As shown in this figure, the present system S includes a microwave measuring device M that transmits microwaves to a monitoring target O and receives reflected waves of the microwaves, a body temperature measuring device T that measures the body temperature of the monitoring target O, and an information processing device C that processes outputs from the microwave measuring device M and the body temperature measuring device T.

[0019] Note that in the present system S, the connection relationship between the microwave measuring device M and the body temperature measuring device T and the information processing device C is not limited. They may be directly connected by a cable or the like, but as shown in this figure, they may also be connected via a network such as the Internet or a local area network (LAN).

[0020] According to the present system S, it is possible to acquire biological information such as the body temperature, respiratory rate, and heart rate of the monitoring target O by the microwave measuring device M and the body temperature measuring device T, and to determine the presence or absence of abnormalities, thereby reducing the burden on caregivers. Details will become clear from the following description.

[0021] First, the microwave measuring device M in the present system S transmits microwaves to the monitoring target O and receives reflected waves of the microwaves. This makes it possible to obtain necessary information in a non-contact manner. In this specification, "microwaves" are radio waves in the frequency range of 0.2 GHz or more and 111 GHz or less. By transmitting radio waves in this wavelength range to the monitoring target O and receiving the reflected waves, the distance between the monitoring target O and the microwave measuring device M can be obtained. By measuring this distance a plurality of times in a short period, it is possible to detect the specific actions and behaviors of the monitoring target O. Note that the preferred frequency band in the present system S is not limited as long as the present system S can be realized, but is preferably 18 GHz or more and 100 Hz or less, and more preferably in the range of 20 GHz or more and 80 GHz or less.

[0022] There are various operations and behaviors that the microwave measurement device M can detect. For example, the respiratory rate, heart rate, and pulse can be cited as examples. That is, it becomes possible to acquire at least any one of the respiratory rate data, heart rate data, and pulse rate data by the microwave detection device M.

[0023] In addition, the range that the microwave measurement device M can detect varies depending on the installation position of the microwave measurement device M, the position of the object O being monitored, etc. However, it is preferable to set the detection range as an area of 30 cm × 30 cm or more and 150 cm × 150 cm or less in the front at a distance of 0.4 m or more and 5 m or less from the installation position. By setting this range, while the object O being monitored can be surely captured, there are advantages such as removing noise and enabling accurate measurement. Note that the detection range of this microwave measurement device M is preferably 10 cm or more and 4 m or less, but is not limited thereto.

[0024] In addition, the thermometer T in this system S is a device that can measure the body temperature of the object O being monitored.

[0025] In this system S, the thermometer T is not limited as long as it has the above functions, but it is a device that can measure the body temperature (body temperature) of the object O being monitored in a non-contact manner. For example, a so-called thermal camera that can detect and analyze the far-infrared rays radiated from the body surface of a person is a preferable example.

[0026] In addition, the range that the thermometer T can detect varies depending on the installation position of the thermometer T, the position of the object O being monitored, etc. However, it is preferable to set the detection range as an area of 50 cm × 50 cm or more and 500 cm × 500 cm or less in the front at a distance of 0.4 m or more and 5 m or less from the installation position. By setting this range, while the object O being monitored can be surely captured, there are advantages such as removing noise and enabling accurate measurement. Also, the detection range of this thermometer T is preferably 10 cm or more and 4 m or less, but is not limited thereto.

[0027] In addition, in this system S, it is preferable that the microwave measuring device M and the body temperature measuring device T are integrally formed. By forming them integrally, there are advantages such as being able to unify the measurement directions and being able to measure the same object O being monitored. Figure 2 shows a schematic image of this microwave measuring device M, body temperature measuring device T, and the housing B that houses them. By housing them in one housing B in this way, there are advantages such as holding the microwave measuring device M and the body temperature measuring device T as a set, and further being able to accurately monitor them by installing a plurality of these.

[0028] In addition, as described above, the information processing device C in this system S is a device that can process the outputs from the microwave measuring device M and the body temperature measuring device T, and although it is not limited as long as it has this function, it is preferably a so-called computer.

[0029] As a computer, it preferably includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) which is a general component, a non-volatile recording medium such as a hard disk or a flash memory, a volatile recording medium such as a memory, a bus that connects these, an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, a display device such as a monitor, etc.

[0030] In addition, the above computer may be a so-called notebook computer or a desktop computer, but it may also be a portable information terminal that has been increasingly popular in recent years, specifically a so-called smartphone or a tablet terminal. A general portable information terminal integrates and houses components such as the above CPU and display device in one cover, and moreover, by arranging a sensor on the display device to be a so-called touch panel, it can also function as an input device, making it very easy to handle and preferable. Also, in the case of a portable information terminal, a program for executing this method in the portable information terminal is recorded and displayed as a so-called app, and the desired function can be realized by starting this app.

[0031] In addition, as described above, the information processing device C in the present system S is a device capable of processing the outputs from the microwave measurement device M and the body temperature measurement device T. Specifically, on the above-described recording medium, there is recorded a monitoring program (hereinafter referred to as "this program") that executes (S1) a biological information recording step of recording biological information data including at least one of the respiration rate data and the heart rate data of the person under monitoring based on the output data of the microwave measurement device, and (S2) a body temperature recording step of recording the body temperature data of the person under monitoring. By executing this program, the information processing device C in the present system S can execute a monitoring method (hereinafter referred to as "this method") for executing the above steps.

[0032] Next, each step of this method executed by this program will be described in detail. Although this method is not limited, it can be suitably used in nursing facilities for the elderly. In particular, in this method, while using the microwave measurement device M and the body temperature measurement device T for measuring the body temperature of the person under monitoring O, an imaging device, i.e., a so-called video camera, is not used, and those using an imaging device are excluded. Therefore, it is not for monitoring an individual's behavior, but is solely for monitoring respiration rate, heart rate, body temperature, etc., and has the advantage of causing less psychological pressure on the elderly or the like who are the person under monitoring O. In particular, since no imaging device is used, by eliminating the camera lens, etc. from the housing B, it is possible to eliminate the sense of oppression and the aversion of being monitored from the person under monitoring O.

[0033] First, this method has (S1) a biological information recording step of recording biological information data including at least one of the respiration rate data and the heart rate data of the person under monitoring based on the output data of the microwave measurement device. By this step, it is possible to confirm the respiration rate and heart rate of the person under monitoring and to check whether there is any abnormality in the physical condition. Also, in this case, the pulse rate data may be acquired as described above.

[0034] The respiratory rate data and heart rate data of the subject O under monitoring can be obtained from the output data of the microwave measurement device M as described above. Although the specific method is not limited, generally, it is preferable to use a method that measures the output of the microwave measurement device by using the Doppler effect generated when the transmitted microwave hits and reflects on the vibrating surface. As a result, the above-mentioned respiratory rate data, heart rate data, and pulse rate data can be obtained, and based on this, the respiratory rate data and heart rate data of the subject O under monitoring can be calculated.

[0035] In addition, this method includes (S2) a body temperature recording step of recording the body temperature data of the subject under monitoring. By checking the body temperature in this way, it is possible to check whether there is any abnormality in the physical condition of the subject under monitoring.

[0036] In addition, in this method, although not necessarily limited, it is preferable to have (S0) a step of recording a plurality of subject data before the step of (S1). By doing so, a plurality of subjects can be monitored, and it becomes possible to centrally monitor and manage a large number of people in a nursing facility for the elderly. In this case, the subject data preferably includes a plurality of identification number data and name data corresponding to the plurality of identification number data.

[0037] In addition, in this method, after the above, it is preferable to include (S3) a step of identifying the subject under monitoring based on the recorded biometric information data. As described above, in this method, in order to obtain the necessary information from the subject under monitoring, only a microwave measurement device M and a thermometer are used at a minimum, and an imaging device such as a video camera is not used. Therefore, ingenuity is required for identifying an individual. Therefore, by identifying the subject under monitoring based on the biometric information data, the subject under monitoring can be identified even if there are a large number of subjects under monitoring. However, this identification does not necessarily need to be an identification that matches a specific individual including their name, and an identification to the extent that the person being monitored is the same person is sufficient.

[0038] Therefore, in this step, although it is not limited as long as the person to be monitored can be identified, it is preferable to identify the person to be monitored based on the biological information data in a certain recent period. The body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, etc. of the person to be monitored vary throughout the day and it is rather rare for them to be stably fixed for a long time. Therefore, while it is difficult to identify through long-term measurement results, within a certain short recent period, the variations in heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, etc. of the person to be monitored are not significant. Therefore, the person to be monitored can be identified by specifying the time within a certain recent period.

[0039] Also, in this step, for example, identification number data is attached to each of a plurality of sets of microwave measurement devices M and thermometer devices T (or a housing B that houses them) to make them identifiable, and the positional relationship of the plurality of sets of microwave measurement devices M and thermometer devices T (for example, the positional coordinates of the set of the microwave measurement device M and the thermometer device T, the adjacent relationship such as being arranged adjacent to each other) is recorded. In one set of a plurality of microwave measurement devices M and thermometer devices T, the heart rate data, respiratory rate data, and pulse rate data are measured and a set of this data is recorded to identify the person to be monitored O (however, it is not necessarily necessary to identify an individual as in S0 above). When a set of heart rate data, respiratory rate data, and pulse rate data within a similar range is detected in an adjacent set of a plurality of microwave measurement devices M and thermometer devices T, it is recognized as the person to be monitored O and can be recorded as the movement data of that individual. This enables the movement of the person to be monitored O to be confirmed without directly identifying the individual. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an image of the arrangement of the set of the microwave measurement device M and the thermometer device T in this system.

[0040] That is, as is clear from the above description, it is preferable to arrange a plurality of combinations of the microwave measuring device M and the body temperature measuring device T and the housing B that houses them in a facility. For example, it can be arranged in a hall, corridor, staircase, private room, etc. where a large number of people gather. By arranging a plurality of these and measuring the body temperature, heart rate, and pulse of the subject O to be monitored at each of them, it becomes possible to monitor the subject O to be monitored at any position in the facility and detect abnormalities.

[0041] Further, in this method, it is also preferable to have a step (S4) of recording warning data when it is determined that the biological information data is in an abnormal range.

[0042] Typically, being in an abnormal range means that the biological information data is within the ranges of body temperature, respiration, heart rate, pulse, etc. that are determined in advance as being abnormal. However, when the subject to be monitored has a disease and being abnormal is normal, notifying that it is always abnormal would instead be a troublesome situation. Therefore, when there is a subject to be monitored suffering from a disease, if the subject to be monitored suffering from that disease can be identified, the average past biological information data of that subject to be monitored can be used as the normal range, and it becomes possible to determine that it is in an abnormal range when it deviates from this normal range by a predetermined ratio.

[0043] As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a monitoring system that reduces the burdens on both the caregiver and the care recipient and can obtain more sufficient information.

Industrial Applicability

[0044] The present invention has industrial applicability as a monitoring system, a monitoring method, and a monitoring program.

Claims

1. A monitoring system comprising a plurality of sets of a microwave measurement device that transmits microwaves to a person to be monitored and receives reflected waves of the microwaves, and a body temperature measurement device that measures the body temperature of the person to be monitored, and further, an information processing device that processes outputs from the microwave measurement device and the body temperature measurement device, wherein the information processing device performs a biological information recording step of recording biological information data including at least one of respiration rate data and heart rate data of the person to be monitored based on the output of the microwave measurement device, a body temperature recording step of recording the body temperature data of the person to be monitored based on the output of the body temperature measurement device, a step of recording data of a plurality of the persons to be monitored, a positional relationship recording step of recording installation position data and positional relationship data of the set of the microwave measurement device and the body temperature measurement device, a person to be monitored identification step of identifying the person to be monitored based on the biological information data recorded in a recent fixed period, and a recording medium having a program recorded thereon that executes a step of recording movement data of the identified person to be monitored based on the installation position data and the positional relationship data of the set of the microwave measurement device and the body temperature measurement device.

2. The program recorded on the recording medium of the information processing device is a program for also executing a step of recording warning data when it is determined that the biological information data is in an abnormal range, according to the monitoring system of Claim 1.

3. The microwave measurement device and the body temperature measurement device are housed as a set in one housing, and the monitoring system according to Claim 1 includes a plurality of sets of the microwave measurement device and the body temperature measurement device.

4. On a computer, a positional relationship recording step of recording installation position data and positional relationship data of a set of a microwave measurement device and a body temperature measurement device, a biological information recording step of recording biological information data including at least one of respiration rate data and heart rate data of the person to be monitored based on the output of the microwave measurement device, a body temperature recording step of recording the body temperature data of the person to be monitored, a body temperature recording step of recording the body temperature data of the person to be monitored as biological information data, a step of recording data of a plurality of persons to be monitored, a person to be monitored identification step of identifying the person to be monitored based on the biological information data recorded in a recent fixed period, A monitoring program for causing a computer to execute a step of recording movement data of a specified person under surveillance based on the installation position data and the positional relationship data of the set of the microwave measurement device and the body temperature measurement device. **Claim 5** The computer A positional relationship recording step of recording installation position data and positional relationship data of a set of a microwave measurement device and a body temperature measurement device, A biological information recording step of recording biological information data including at least one of respiration rate data and heart rate data of a person under surveillance based on the output data of the microwave measurement device, A body temperature recording step of recording body temperature data of the person under surveillance, A body temperature recording step of recording the body temperature data of the person under surveillance as biological information data, A step of recording a plurality of the person under surveillance data, A person under surveillance specifying step of specifying the person under surveillance based on the biological information data recorded in a recent fixed period, A monitoring method for executing a step of recording movement data of the specified person under surveillance based on the installation position data and the positional relationship data of the set of the microwave measurement device and the body temperature measurement device.

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