Information processing device, information processing method, and computer program

Abstract

This information processing device (1) is provided with: a storage unit (11) for storing first identification information indicating that a person relating to a newborn is the person in question; a first newborn information acquisition unit (12) for acquiring first newborn biological information from a newborn; a first determining unit (13) for determining the type of pattern of the first newborn biological information from among a plurality of types of patterns defined in advance; and a storage control unit (14) for storing, in the storage unit (11), first determining information indicating the result of the determination by the first determining unit (13) in association with the first identification information.

Description

Information processing device, information processing method, and recording medium

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical fields of an information processing device, an information processing method, and a recording medium.

[0002] Patent Literature 1 describes a technology that reads the vein patterns of body parts of multiple people, creates authentication pattern data representing the read vein patterns, registers the authentication pattern data in a predetermined registration location, reads the vein patterns of the body parts of the person to be authenticated, and authenticates the person by comparing the read vein pattern with the vein pattern included in the registered authentication pattern data, thereby avoiding mix-ups due to human error. Patent Literature 2 describes a technology that captures an image of a subject such as a fingertip without blurring by using a structure in which multiple DG-TFTs are arranged in a matrix, a light diffusion film that diffuses light is formed on the surface, which results in a high-contrast image, and a photosensor that converts light and shade due to the unevenness of the fingertip into an electrical signal to obtain a fingerprint image of the fingertip. Patent Document 3 describes a technology in which the biometric characteristics, such as irises, of individuals eligible for registration, such as first-time patients and newborns, are registered in advance, and the biometric characteristics of the individual being matched are obtained when matching is performed at a follow-up visit, etc., and the biometric characteristics of the individual being matched are compared with the registered biometric characteristics to confirm the identity of the individual being matched.This technology ensures that the individuals of patients, newborns, etc., at medical institutions such as hospitals are able to identify them reliably, eliminates mistakes such as mistakes about patients or newborns, and prevents others from impersonating the individual.

[0003] JP 2008-108104 A JP 2004-039909 A JP 2001-076072 A

[0004] An object of this disclosure is to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a recording medium that aim to improve upon the techniques described in prior art documents.

[0005] One aspect of the information processing device comprises a storage means for storing first personal information indicating that a person related to a newborn is the person himself / herself, a first newborn information acquisition means for acquiring first newborn biometric information from the newborn, a first judgment means for determining which of a plurality of predetermined patterns the pattern possessed by the first newborn biometric information is, and a memory control means for storing first judgment information indicating the judgment result by the first judgment means in association with the first personal information in the storage means.

[0006] One aspect of the information processing method includes storing first personal information indicating that a person related to a newborn is the person in question in a storage means, acquiring first newborn biometric information from the newborn, determining which of a plurality of predetermined patterns the pattern possessed by the first newborn biometric information is, and storing first judgment information indicating the judgment result in the storage means in association with the first personal information.

[0007] One aspect of the recording medium has recorded on it a computer program for causing a computer to execute an information processing method that stores first personal information indicating that a person related to a newborn is the person in question in a storage means, acquires first newborn biometric information from the newborn, determines which of a plurality of predetermined patterns the pattern possessed by the first newborn biometric information is, and stores first judgment information indicating the judgment result in the storage means in association with the first personal information.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing device in a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing device in a second embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of information processing operations performed by the information processing device in the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing device in a fourth embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of information processing operations performed by the information processing device in the fourth embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing device in a fifth embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of information processing operations performed by the information processing device in the fifth embodiment when pregnancy is determined. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of information processing operations before delivery performed by the information processing device in the fifth embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of information processing operations after delivery performed by the information processing device in the fifth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing device in a seventh embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of information processing operations performed by the information processing device in the seventh embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of information processing operations performed by the information processing device in the eighth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram of information processing operations performed by the information processing device in the eighth embodiment. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing device in a ninth embodiment. Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of information processing operations during recording performed by the information processing device in the ninth embodiment. Fig. 16 is a conceptual diagram of the information processing operations performed by the information processing device in the ninth embodiment. Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing the flow of information processing operations during verification performed by the information processing device in the ninth embodiment.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of an information processing device, an information processing method, and a recording medium will be described with reference to the drawings. [1: First Embodiment]

[0010] A first embodiment of an information processing device, an information processing method, and a recording medium will be described below. Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the information processing device, the information processing method, and the recording medium will be described using an information processing device 1 to which the first embodiment of the information processing device, the information processing method, and the recording medium is applied. [1-1: Configuration of Information Processing Device 1]

[0011] The configuration of an information processing device 1 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device 1 in the first embodiment.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1 , the information processing device 1 includes a storage unit 11, a first newborn information acquisition unit 12, a first determination unit 13, and a storage control unit 14. The storage unit 11 stores first personal information indicating that a person related to a newborn is the person. The first newborn information acquisition unit 12 acquires first newborn biological information from the newborn. The first determination unit 13 determines which of a plurality of predetermined patterns the pattern possessed by the first newborn biological information is. The storage control unit 14 associates first determination information indicating the determination result by the first determination unit 13 with the first personal information and stores it in the storage unit 11. [1-2: Technical Effects of the Information Processing Device 1]

[0013] The information processing device 1 in the first embodiment stores in the storage unit 11 the first determination information, which indicates which of a plurality of predetermined patterns the pattern of the first newborn biological information belongs to, in association with the first personal information, thereby enabling accurate identification of the newborn. [2: Second embodiment]

[0014] A second embodiment of an information processing device, an information processing method, and a recording medium will be described below. Hereinafter, the second embodiment of the information processing device, the information processing method, and the recording medium will be described using an information processing device 2 to which the second embodiment of the information processing device, the information processing method, and the recording medium is applied. [2-1: Configuration of Information Processing Device 2]

[0015] The configuration of the information processing device 2 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device 2 in the second embodiment.

[0016] 2 , the information processing device 2 includes a calculation device 21 and a storage device 22. The information processing device 2 may further include a communication device 23, an input device 24, and an output device 25. However, the information processing device 2 does not necessarily include at least one of the communication device 23, the input device 24, and the output device 25. The calculation device 21, the storage device 22, the communication device 23, the input device 24, and the output device 25 may be connected via a data bus 26.

[0017] The arithmetic device 21 includes, for example, at least one of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The arithmetic device 21 reads a computer program. For example, the arithmetic device 21 may read a computer program stored in the storage device 22. For example, the arithmetic device 21 may read a computer program stored in a computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium using a storage medium reading device (e.g., an input device 24, described later) not shown in the drawings that is included in the information processing device 2. The arithmetic device 21 may acquire (i.e., download or read) the computer program from a device (not shown) located outside the information processing device 2 via the communication device 23 (or another communication device). The arithmetic device 21 executes the read computer program. As a result, logical functional blocks for executing the operations to be performed by the information processing device 2 are realized within the arithmetic device 21. In other words, the arithmetic device 21 can function as a controller for realizing logical functional blocks for executing the operations (in other words, processing) to be performed by the information processing device 2.

[0018] 2 shows an example of logical functional blocks implemented within the arithmetic device 21 for executing information processing operations. As shown in FIG. 2, the arithmetic device 21 implements a first newborn information acquisition unit 212, which is a specific example of a "first newborn information acquisition means" described in the appendix below, a first determination unit 213, which is a specific example of a "first determination means" described in the appendix below, and a memory control unit 214, which is a specific example of a "memory control means" described in the appendix below. The operations of the first newborn information acquisition unit 212, the first determination unit 213, and the memory control unit 214 will be described later with reference to FIG. 3.

[0019] The storage device 22 can store desired data. For example, the storage device 22 may temporarily store a computer program executed by the arithmetic device 21. The storage device 22 may temporarily store data temporarily used by the arithmetic device 21 when the arithmetic device 21 is executing a computer program. The storage device 22 may store data to be stored long-term by the information processing device 2. The storage device 22 may include at least one of a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a hard disk device, a magneto-optical disk device, an SSD (Solid State Drive), and a disk array device. In other words, the storage device 22 may include a non-transitory recording medium. A storage unit 221, which is a specific example of a "storage means" described in the appendix below, may be implemented within the storage device 22. The storage unit 221, which is a specific example of a "storage means," may be implemented in a storage mechanism other than the storage device 22.

[0020] The communication device 23 is capable of communicating with devices external to the information processing device 2 via a communication network (not shown). The communication device 23 may be a communication interface based on standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or USB (Universal Serial Bus).

[0021] The input device 24 is a device that accepts information input to the information processing device 2 from outside the information processing device 2. For example, the input device 24 may include an operation device (for example, at least one of a keyboard, a mouse trackball, a touch panel, a pointing device such as a pen tablet, a button, etc.) that can be operated by an operator of the information processing device 2. For example, the input device 24 may include a reading device that can read information recorded as data on a recording medium that can be externally attached to the information processing device 2.

[0022] The output device 25 is a device that outputs information to the outside of the information processing device 2. For example, the output device 25 may output information as an image. That is, the output device 25 may include a display device (a so-called display) capable of displaying an image showing the information to be output. Examples of display devices include a liquid crystal display and an OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display. For example, the output device 25 may output information as sound. That is, the output device 25 may include an audio device (a so-called speaker) capable of outputting sound. For example, the output device 25 may output information on paper. That is, the output device 25 may include a printing device (a so-called printer) capable of printing desired information on paper. Furthermore, the input device 24 and the output device 25 may be integrally formed as a touch panel.

[0023] It should be noted that the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 2 is an example, and devices other than those shown in FIG. 2 may be added, or some devices may not be provided. Also, some devices may be replaced with other devices having similar functions. Also, some functions of the second embodiment may be provided by other devices via a network. The functions of the second embodiment may be distributed and realized among multiple devices. In this way, the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 2 can be modified as appropriate. [2-2: Information processing operation performed by information processing device 2]

[0024] The flow of information processing operations performed by the information processing device 2 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0025] 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the information processing operation performed by the information processing device 2 in the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, the storage unit 221 stores first personal information indicating that the person related to the newborn is the person himself / herself (step S20).

[0026] The first newborn information acquiring unit 212 acquires first newborn biological information from the newborn (Step S21). The first newborn information acquiring unit 212 may acquire a plurality of pieces of first newborn biological information from the newborn.

[0027] The first determination unit 213 determines which of a plurality of predetermined patterns the pattern possessed by the first newborn biological information corresponds to (step S22). The first determination unit 213 may determine which of a plurality of patterns the pattern possessed by each of the plurality of first newborn biological information corresponds to. Specific examples of patterns possessed by the first newborn biological information will be described in detail in another embodiment described later.

[0028] The storage control unit 214 associates the first determination information indicating the determination result by the first determination unit 213 with the first personal information and stores it in the storage unit 221 (step S23). The storage control unit 214 may associate the first determination information, which combines each of the determination results by the first determination unit 213 corresponding to each of the plurality of first newborn biological information, with the first personal information and store it in the storage unit 221. The first determination information may be information indicating an array of element information indicating the pattern determination result (hereinafter, may be referred to as "sequence data").

[0029] The operation of step S20 and the operations of steps S21 to S23 do not have to be consecutive, that is, the operation of step S20 may be an operation that is performed in advance.

[0030] This embodiment may be applied to a situation where birth takes place in a place other than home, such as a hospital. In particular, this embodiment may be applied before a newborn is moved from a place other than home to home. The person related to the newborn may be a person registered in advance, or at least a person who is with the newborn when the newborn is moved from a place other than home to home. The person related to the newborn may be, for example, a person who is with the newborn when the newborn is discharged from the hospital where the newborn was born.

[0031] Steps S21 to S23 are performed at a timing at which it is possible to reliably identify who gave birth to the newborn, and may be performed before the newborn moves from a location other than the home to the home. [2-3: Technical Effects of Information Processing Device 2]

[0032] Since the body surface of a newborn baby is often covered with sebum, amniotic fluid, etc., it is often difficult to obtain biometric information that can accurately identify the newborn. In particular, when the baby is born in a situation where postpartum care is likely to be inadequate or medical facilities are inadequate, it is often difficult to obtain biometric information that can accurately identify the newborn.

[0033] The information processing device 2 in the second embodiment stores first determination information, which indicates which of a plurality of predetermined patterns the pattern possessed by the first newborn biometric information is, in association with the first identity information in the storage unit 221, thereby enabling accurate identification of the newborn. The information processing device 2 uses identity information of a person related to the newborn and the first determination information of the newborn, so that it can accurately identify the newborn even when, for example, biometric information of a certain quality or higher required for biometric authentication of adults cannot be obtained. In particular, when the first determination information is sequence data, the information processing device 2 can more accurately identify the newborn. The information processing device 2 can accurately identify the newborn even when, for example, it is more difficult to obtain biometric information of a certain quality or higher, such as in the case of premature birth. [3: Third Embodiment]

[0034] An information processing device, an information processing method, and a recording medium according to a third embodiment will be described below. The third embodiment of the information processing device, the information processing method, and the recording medium will be described below using an information processing device 3 to which the third embodiment of the information processing device, the information processing method, and the recording medium is applied.

[0035] The information processing device 3 in the third embodiment differs from the information processing device 2 in the second embodiment in that the first newborn biological information is a fingerprint image. Other features of the information processing device 3 may be the same as other features of the information processing device 3. Therefore, hereinafter, differences from the already described embodiments will be described in detail, and descriptions of other overlapping parts will be omitted as appropriate. [3-1: Fingerprint Pattern]

[0036] Fingerprints of each finger of a human, including a newborn baby, can be classified into eight types of fingerprint patterns, for example, P Arch (Plain Arch: PA), T Arch (Tented Arch: TA), U Loop (Ulnar Loop: UL), R Loop (Radial Loop: RL), D Loop (Double Loop: DL), P Whorl (Plain Whorl: PW), C Whorl (Central Pocket Loop Whorl: CW), and A Whorl (Accidental Whorl: AW). A fingerprint pattern may represent the overall pattern of a fingerprint.

[0037] A P-arch (PA) may refer to a pattern in which a ridge starts on one side of the fingertip, arches to the other side, and has no reverse flow. A T-arch (TA) may refer to a pattern in which a ridge starts on one side of the fingertip, arches to the other side, has no reverse flow, and has a protruding center. A U-loop (UL) may refer to a pattern in which a loop-shaped line flows from the little finger, with a delta only on the opposite side of the flow. The loop-shaped line in a U-loop may be a ridge that starts on the little finger side of the fingertip and returns to the original side in a horseshoe shape. An R-loop (RL) may refer to a pattern in which a loop-shaped line flows from the thumb, with a delta only on the opposite side of the flow. The loop-shaped line in an R-loop may be a ridge that starts on the thumb side of the fingertip and returns to the original side in a horseshoe shape. A D-loop (DL) may refer to a pattern in which each of the two cores includes a separate shoulder, a separate delta, and one or more ridges that form a complete circumference. A P spiral (PW) may refer to a spiral whose ridges form a complete circumference with two deltas and may be circular or spiral. A C spiral (CW) may refer to a spiral whose ridges form a complete circumference and may be an arbitrary variation of an elliptical circle, spiral, or circle. An A spiral (AW) may refer to a spiral whose ridges do not conform to the rules of spirals and contain two or more deltas. [3-2: Information Processing Operation by Information Processing Device 3]

[0038] In the third embodiment, the first newborn information acquisition unit 212 may acquire multiple fingerprint images from a newborn. The fingerprint images can be used as stable biometric information that can be acquired from a newborn. Stable biometric information may refer to biometric information that changes little with growth, etc., and can be used to identify an individual. The pitch of a newborn's fingerprints is very fine compared to that of an adult. Therefore, the first newborn information acquisition unit 212 may acquire high-resolution fingerprint images. The first newborn information acquisition unit 212 may acquire fingerprint images from each of the four fingers, for example, the thumbs and index fingers of both hands.

[0039] In the third embodiment, the first determination unit 213 may determine which of a plurality of types of fingerprint patterns the fingerprint pattern in each of a plurality of fingerprint images corresponds to. The first determination unit 213 may determine which of the above-mentioned eight types of fingerprint patterns the fingerprint pattern in each of a plurality of fingerprint images corresponds to.

[0040] The first determination unit 213 may determine which of the nine types of fingerprint patterns each of the multiple fingerprint images has, is the above-mentioned eight types of fingerprint patterns plus an unknown fingerprint pattern (UK).

[0041] The first determination unit 213 may determine a P arch (Plain Arch: PA) and a T arch (Tented Arch: TA) as an arch (Arch: A). The first determination unit 213 may also determine a P whorl (Plain Whorl: PW), a C whorl (Central Pocket Loop Whorl: CW), and an A whorl (Accidental Whorl: AW) as a whorl (Whorl: W). That is, the first determination unit 213 may determine which of six types of fingerprint patterns each of the six types includes an arch (A), a U loop (Ulnar Loop: UL), an R loop (Radial Loop: RL), a D loop (Double Loop: DL), a whorl (W), and an unknown (UK) is the fingerprint pattern. The first determination unit 213 may determine which of the six (or nine, or eight) types of fingerprint patterns each of the four fingers, including the thumbs and index fingers of both hands, has.

[0042] The first determination unit 213 may use an algorithm to determine which of the six (or nine, or eight) types of fingerprint patterns each fingerprint pattern belongs to. The first determination unit 213 may use deep learning to determine which of the six (or nine, or eight) types of fingerprint patterns each fingerprint pattern belongs to. The classification level of the fingerprint image can further improve the accuracy of identification. The first determination unit 213 may classify fingerprints into up to nine types of fingerprint patterns in order to further improve the accuracy of identification.

[0043] In the third embodiment, the storage control unit 214 may store first determination information, which combines determination results corresponding to each of a plurality of fingerprint images by the first determination unit 213, in association with the first identity information in the storage unit 221. The storage control unit 214 may store, for example, sequence data, which combines determination results corresponding to each of the fingerprint images of four fingers, in association with the first identity information in the storage unit 221. When the first determination unit 213 determines the fingerprint patterns of each of the four fingers, the sequence data may be expressed, for example, as (left index finger-left thumb-right thumb-right index finger: spiral (W)-spiral (W)-spiral (W)-spiral (W)).

[0044] For example, the occurrence rate of fingerprint patterns for Japanese fingerprints is said to be 50%, the highest occurrence rate, for whorl (W). The occurrence rate of R loop (RL) or U loop (UL) is said to be 40%. Therefore, if the fingerprint patterns of all four fingers are whorl (W) (left index finger-left thumb-right thumb-right index finger: W-W-W-W), the occurrence rate of this sequence data is 6.25% (0.5 to the fourth power). Furthermore, if the fingerprint patterns of all ten fingers on both the left and right sides are whorl (W) (W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W), the occurrence rate of this sequence data is 0.097% (0.5 to the tenth power), which is lower than the occurrence rate for four fingers.

[0045] The storage control unit 214 may assign a reliability score to the first determination information. For example, the storage control unit 214 may assign a reliability score according to the occurrence rate of the sequence data. For example, the storage control unit 214 may assign a higher reliability score to the sequence data with a lower occurrence rate. The reliability score may be used, for example, when matching is performed using the first determination information.

[0046] Furthermore, if the first determination unit 213 determines the fingerprint pattern of any finger as unknown (UK), the storage control unit 214 may reduce the reliability score. For example, the storage control unit 214 may reduce the reliability score according to the ratio of the number of fingers determined by the first determination unit 213 as unknown (UK) to the total number of fingers. For example, if the first determination unit 213 determines the fingerprint patterns of each of four fingers and determines the fingerprint pattern of one finger as unknown (UK), the storage control unit 214 may reduce the reliability score by 25%. If the first determination unit 213 determines the fingerprint patterns of each of four fingers and determines the fingerprint patterns of two fingers as unknown (UK), the storage control unit 214 may reduce the reliability score by 50%. If the first determination unit 213 determines the fingerprint patterns of each of ten fingers and determines the fingerprint pattern of one finger as unknown (UK), the storage control unit 214 may reduce the reliability score by 10%. Furthermore, if the first determination unit 213 determines the fingerprint patterns of each of the ten fingers and determines the fingerprint patterns of two fingers as unknown (UK), the memory control unit 214 may reduce the reliability score by 20%.

[0047] The information processing device 3 may determine the number of fingers from which to acquire fingerprint images depending on the accuracy required for the first determination information and the burden on the newborn. Since fingerprints of all fingers of a newborn are often registered after the newborn grows, it is preferable to be able to acquire fingerprints of all fingers of a newborn, but this imposes a large burden on the newborn.

[0048] For example, when the expected number of births is large, the information processing device 3 may determine to lower the accuracy required for the first determination information. In this case, for example, the information processing device 3 may determine to acquire fingerprint images from four fingers. Furthermore, when the expected number of births is small, the information processing device 3 may determine to increase the accuracy required for the first determination information. In this case, for example, the information processing device 3 may determine to acquire fingerprint images from ten fingers. For example, the output device 25 may output information regarding the accuracy required for the first determination information as an image. Furthermore, for example, the output device 25 may output information regarding the accuracy required for the first determination information as sound.

[0049] The eight types of fingerprint patterns described above are merely an example. Fingerprints may be classified into more than eight types, for example, 20 or more types of patterns. For example, the user may specify the number of fingerprint classifications depending on the usage requirements for information about newborns. In this case, the first determination unit 213 may determine which fingerprint pattern belongs to which of the fingerprint patterns in the number of classifications specified by the user. [3-3: Technical Effects of Information Processing Device 3]

[0050] Since the body surface of a newborn baby is often covered with sebum, amniotic fluid, etc., it is often difficult to obtain a fingerprint image that can be used to accurately identify the newborn. In particular, when the baby is born in a situation where postpartum care is likely to be inadequate or medical facilities are inadequate, it is often difficult to obtain a fingerprint image that can be used to accurately identify the newborn.

[0051] The information processing device 3 in the third embodiment stores in the storage unit 221 first determination information indicating which of a plurality of predetermined fingerprint patterns the fingerprint pattern of the fingerprint image is, in association with the first identity information, thereby enabling accurate identification of the newborn. The information processing device 3 uses identity information of a person related to the newborn and the fingerprint image of the newborn, so that it can accurately identify the newborn even when, for example, it is not possible to obtain a fingerprint image of a certain quality or higher, as required for fingerprint authentication of an adult. In particular, when the first determination information is sequence data based on the fingerprint pattern, the information processing device 3 can more accurately identify the newborn. [4: Fourth Embodiment]

[0052] A fourth embodiment of an information processing device, an information processing method, and a recording medium will be described below. Hereinafter, the fourth embodiment of the information processing device, the information processing method, and the recording medium will be described using an information processing device 4 to which the fourth embodiment of the information processing device, the information processing method, and the recording medium is applied. [4-1: Configuration of Information Processing Device 4]

[0053] The configuration of the information processing device 4 in the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device 4 in the fourth embodiment.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 4 , the information processing device 4 of the fourth embodiment includes a calculation device 21 and a storage device 22, similar to the information processing device 2 of the second embodiment or the information processing device 3 of the third embodiment. Furthermore, the information processing device 4 may include a communication device 23, an input device 24, and an output device 25, similar to the information processing device 2 of the second embodiment or the information processing device 3 of the third embodiment. However, the information processing device 4 does not necessarily include at least one of the communication device 23, the input device 24, and the output device 25. The information processing device 4 of the fourth embodiment differs from the information processing device 2 of the second embodiment or the information processing device 3 of the third embodiment in that the calculation device 21 further includes a personal information acquisition unit 415, a second newborn information acquisition unit 416, a second determination unit 417, and a matching unit 418. The matching unit 418 includes a first matching unit 4181 and a second matching unit 4182. Other features of the information processing device 4 may be the same as other features of the information processing device 2 in the second embodiment or the information processing device 3 in the third embodiment. Therefore, in the following, differences from the already described embodiments will be described in detail, and descriptions of other overlapping parts will be omitted as appropriate. [4-2: Information Processing Operation by Information Processing Device 4]

[0055] The flow of information processing operations performed by the information processing device 4 in the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of information processing operations performed by the information processing device 4 in the fourth embodiment. The information processing operations by the information processing device 4 may be performed when the newborn moves from a location other than the home, such as a hospital, to the home. The information processing operations by the information processing device 4 may be performed when the newborn is discharged from the hospital, etc.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 5, the personal information acquisition unit 415 acquires, from a person related to the newborn, second personal information indicating that the person is the person (step S40).

[0057] The second newborn information acquisition unit 416 acquires second newborn biometric information from the newborn (step S41). The second newborn biometric information may be fingerprint images. The fingerprint images may be fingerprint images of four fingers including the thumbs and index fingers of both hands of the newborn.

[0058] The second determination unit 417 determines which of a plurality of patterns the pattern in the second newborn biometric information corresponds to (step S42). When the second newborn biometric information is fingerprint images of four fingers of a newborn, the second determination unit 417 may determine which of a plurality of patterns (for example, the above-mentioned P arch, U loop, R loop, D loop, P spiral, unknown, T arch, C spiral, and A spiral) the pattern in each of the four fingerprint images corresponds to. The second determination unit 417 may generate sequence data of the patterns.

[0059] The first verification unit 4181 verifies the first personal information stored in the storage unit 221 with the second personal information (step S43).

[0060] The second collation unit 4182 compares the first determination information associated with the first personal information that has been successfully matched with the second personal information with the second determination information indicating the determination result by the second determination unit 417 (step S44). The second collation unit 4182 may compare the sequence data of the patterns with each other. [4-3: Technical Effects of the Information Processing Device 4]

[0061] The information processing device 4 in the fourth embodiment can perform highly accurate matching even for newborns, for which it is difficult to collect data that allows for highly accurate matching, by performing person matching and pattern matching. That is, the information processing device 4 can ensure a certain level of matching accuracy by performing person matching and then one-to-one (or one-to-a relatively small number of) matching using sequence data of newborns related to the person.

[0062] Also, for example, consider a case where the first newborn biometric information is a fingerprint image. In general fingerprint authentication, it is important to ensure the quality of the data used for authentication, so authentication using low-quality data is rejected as a failure to acquire (FTA). Since the body surface of a newborn baby is often covered with sebum, amniotic fluid, etc., general fingerprint authentication is likely to reject the newborn as a failure to acquire, making it difficult to authenticate the newborn. In contrast, the information processing device 4 performs person matching and fingerprint image pattern matching even for newborns, for whom it is difficult to collect fingerprint images that allow for high-accuracy matching, thereby achieving high-accuracy matching. [5: Fifth Embodiment]

[0063] A fifth embodiment of an information processing device, an information processing method, and a recording medium will be described below. Hereinafter, the fifth embodiment of the information processing device, the information processing method, and the recording medium will be described using an information processing device 5 to which the fifth embodiment of the information processing device, the information processing method, and the recording medium is applied. [5-1: Configuration of Information Processing Device 5]

[0064] The configuration of the information processing device 5 in the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device 5 in the fifth embodiment.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 6 , the information processing device 5 of the fifth embodiment includes a calculation device 21 and a storage device 22, similar to at least one of the information processing devices 2 of the second embodiment to the information processing device 4 of the fourth embodiment. Furthermore, the information processing device 5 may include a communication device 23, an input device 24, and an output device 25, similar to at least one of the information processing devices 2 of the second embodiment to the information processing device 4 of the fourth embodiment. However, the information processing device 5 does not necessarily include at least one of the communication device 23, the input device 24, and the output device 25. The information processing device 5 of the fifth embodiment differs from at least one of the information processing devices 2 of the second embodiment to the information processing device 4 of the fourth embodiment in that the calculation device 21 further includes a mother information control unit 519. Other features of the information processing device 5 may be the same as at least one of the other features of the information processing device 2 of the second embodiment to the information processing device 4 of the fourth embodiment. Therefore, the following will describe in detail the differences from the previously described embodiments, and will omit appropriate descriptions of other overlapping features. [5-2: Information Processing Operation by Information Processing Device 5]

[0066] In the fifth embodiment, the person related to the newborn is the mother who gave birth to the newborn (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as "mother"). When associating a newborn with a person related to the newborn, associating the newborn with the mother who gave birth to the newborn is the most reliable and is useful for identifying the newborn. For example, a mother may be associated with one, two (twins), or three (triplets) newborns. It is considered extremely rare for the biological information of three people to have the same pattern, so associating the newborn with the mother is useful for identifying the newborn. Furthermore, in each situation where newborn information is used, it is often appropriate to associate the newborn with the mother. [5-2-1: Information Processing Operation During Pregnancy]

[0067] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of information processing operations performed by the information processing device in the fifth embodiment when pregnancy is determined.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 7 , the personal information acquisition unit 415 acquires first personal information from the mother, which indicates that the mother is the mother (step S50). The mother information control unit 519 compares the registered personal information with the first personal information (step S51). The registered personal information may be, for example, information about all citizens managed by a country, and may be information indicating that the citizen is the person. A citizen may be a person who has the nationality of the country in which the information processing operation is performed. The registered personal information may be, for example, registered in a national information database in which information identifying citizens about all citizens managed by a country is registered.

[0069] The mother information control unit 519 determines whether the mother is the person in question based on the matching result (step S52). If the mother is the person in question (step S52: Yes), the mother information control unit 519 registers the first personal information in the maternal and child health DB serving as the storage unit 221 (step S53). The maternal and child health DB may include a mother DB1 and a child DB2. The mother information control unit 519 may register the first personal information in the mother DB1. If the registered personal information indicates a person with a nationality, the mother information control unit 519 may add nationality confirmation information to the personal information registered in the mother DB1.

[0070] If the mother is not the actual mother (step S52: No), the mother information control unit 519 performs a re-match or investigation (step S54). For example, when the personal information is a match of biometric information, the match may fail depending on the accuracy of the acquired biometric information. For this reason, a re-match may be performed. For example, if the registered personal information is information of a citizen of the country where the operation is being performed, there is no corresponding personal information. In this case, the nationality of the actual mother may be investigated. [5-2-2: Information Processing Operation Before Delivery]

[0071] 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of information processing operations before delivery performed by an information processing device in Embodiment 5. The information processing operations before delivery may be performed after the information processing operations performed when pregnancy is determined.

[0072] 8, the personal information acquisition unit 415 acquires first personal information from the mother, which indicates that the mother is the mother herself (step S50). The mother information control unit 519 compares the first personal information with the personal information registered in the mother DB1 (step S55).

[0073] The mother information control unit 519 determines whether the mother is the person in question based on the collation result (step S56). If the mother is the person in question (step S56: Yes), the mother information control unit 519 assigns a newborn flag to the person information registered in the mother DB1 (step S57). The newborn flag may be a flag indicating that a newborn baby to be assigned nationality will be born.

[0074] If the mother is not the person in question (step S56: No), the mother information control unit 519 performs a re-collation or investigation (step S54). [5-2-3: Information Processing Operation After Birth]

[0075] 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the information processing operation after birth performed by the information processing device in Embodiment 5. The information processing operation after birth may be performed after the information processing operation before birth.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 9 , the mother information control unit 519 acquires personal information of the mother who gave birth to the newborn from the mother DB1 (step S58). The mother information control unit 519 copies the personal information acquired in step S58 (step S59). The first newborn information acquisition unit 212 acquires first newborn biological information from the newborn (step S21). The first determination unit 213 determines which of multiple predetermined patterns the pattern possessed by the first newborn biological information is (step S22). The storage control unit 214 associates first determination information indicating the determination result by the first determination unit 213 with the personal information copied in step S59 and registers it in the child DB2 (step S23).

[0077] In addition, the information on newborns registered in child DB2 may in the future be integrated into, for example, a national information DB in which national identification information for all citizens managed by the government is registered. In the above-described embodiment, the case where mother information is registered in mother DB1 and newborn information is registered in child DB2 has been described. However, when newborn information is registered in child DB2, management of the mother's information by mother DB1 may be terminated. In addition, although mother DB1 and child DB2 have been described separately, the mother's information and newborn information may be registered in the same DB. In this case, the duplication operation in step S59 may be omitted.

[0078] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the case where the person related to the newborn is the mother who gave birth to the newborn has been described. However, if the person related to the newborn is a person other than the mother, the mother DB1 may register the first personal information of the person other than the mother. In this case, the mother DB1 may add information indicating that the mother has consented to the registration of the person's information in the mother DB1 to the first personal information of the person other than the mother. Furthermore, the information of the person other than the mother in the national information DB may be associated with the information of the person other than the mother in the mother DB1. The person other than the mother may be, for example, the mother's husband, a relative, etc. [5-3: Technical Effects of Information Processing Device 5]

[0079] In the fifth embodiment, the person related to the newborn is the mother, so the information processing device 5 can identify the newborn with higher accuracy. [6: Sixth Embodiment]

[0080] An information processing device, an information processing method, and a recording medium according to a sixth embodiment will be described below. The sixth embodiment of the information processing device, the information processing method, and the recording medium will be described below using an information processing device 6 to which the sixth embodiment of the information processing device, the information processing method, and the recording medium is applied.

[0081] The information processing device 6 of the sixth embodiment differs from the information processing devices 2 of the second embodiment to 5 of the fifth embodiment in that the first personal information is biometric information of a person. The biometric information of a person may be, for example, information about a fingerprint of the person, information about a face of the person, information about an iris of the person, information about a voice of the person, or the like.

[0082] Other features of the information processing device 6 may be the same as at least one other feature of the information processing device 2 to the information processing device 5. Therefore, in the following, differences from the embodiments already described will be described in detail, and descriptions of other overlapping parts will be omitted as appropriate.

[0083] Pattern data relating to the patterns contained in newborn biometric information alone has poor accuracy when performing one-to-N matching with a large number N (N may be relatively large). Therefore, by associating the pattern data with biometric information of a person related to the newborn, particularly the mother, it is possible to ensure accuracy when performing matching. In other words, using biometric information is advantageous in matching operations because it is more difficult to impersonate a person than using other personal information.

[0084] In particular, when first comparing the first biometric information as the first personal information stored in the mother DB1 with the acquired second biometric information as the second personal information (first comparing), and then comparing the first determination information associated with the first biometric information that has been successfully compared with the acquired second biometric information with the second determination information indicating the determination result by the second determination means (second comparing), highly accurate comparing can be performed. [Technical effect of the information processing device 6]

[0085] In the information processing device 6 according to the sixth embodiment, the first personal information is biometric information of a person, and therefore the accuracy of identifying a newborn can be improved. [7: Seventh Embodiment]

[0086] A seventh embodiment of an information processing device, an information processing method, and a recording medium will be described below. Hereinafter, the seventh embodiment of the information processing device, the information processing method, and the recording medium will be described using an information processing device 7 to which the seventh embodiment of the information processing device, the information processing method, and the recording medium is applied. [7-1: Configuration of Information Processing Device 7]

[0087] The configuration of the information processing device 7 in the seventh embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device 7 in the seventh embodiment.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 10 , the information processing device 7 of the seventh embodiment includes a calculation device 21 and a storage device 22, similar to at least one of the information processing devices 2 of the fourth embodiment to the information processing device 6 of the sixth embodiment. Furthermore, the information processing device 7 may include a communication device 23, an input device 24, and an output device 25, similar to at least one of the information processing devices 2 of the second embodiment to the information processing device 6 of the sixth embodiment. However, the information processing device 7 does not necessarily have to include at least one of the communication device 23, the input device 24, and the output device 25. The information processing device 7 of the seventh embodiment differs from at least one of the information processing devices 2 of the second embodiment to the information processing device 6 of the sixth embodiment in that the calculation device 21 further includes a presentation unit 719 and in the storage control operation by the storage control unit 214. Other features of the information processing device 7 may be the same as at least one of the other features of the information processing device 2 of the second embodiment to the information processing device 6 of the sixth embodiment. Therefore, the following will describe in detail the differences from the previously described embodiments, and will omit appropriate descriptions of other overlapping features. [7-2: Storage Control Operation by Information Processing Device 7]

[0089] The flow of information processing operations performed by the information processing device 7 in the seventh embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of storage control operations performed by the information processing device 7 in the seventh embodiment. This storage control operation may be an operation corresponding to a modified example of the storage control operation in the second embodiment described above (i.e., the operation corresponding to step S23 in Fig. 3).

[0090] 11 , the memory control unit 214 determines whether there are multiple newborns corresponding to the same first determination information within a predetermined space-time range (step S70). The space-time range may include the same row of newborns within the hospital.

[0091] If multiple newborns corresponding to the same first determination information exist within the predetermined space-time range (step S70: Yes), the storage control unit 214 acquires a facial image of the newborn (step S71). The storage control unit 214 associates the facial image of the newborn with the first personal information and first determination information corresponding to the newborn, and stores the associated facial image in the storage unit 221 (step S72). [7-3: Operation of the information processing device 7 during matching]

[0092] When the matching unit 418 matches the newborn, the presentation unit 719 presents the face image of the newborn stored in the storage unit 221 to the operator, prompting the operator to confirm the face of the newborn. Matching of the newborn by the matching unit 418 may be performed when the newborn is discharged from the hospital. By having the operator visually confirm the face of the newborn, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a mix-up of newborns.

[0093] The information processing device 7 may further perform authentication using a facial image. The authentication using a facial image may be face authentication using biometric information extracted from a collected facial image, or iris authentication. Furthermore, the information processing device 7 may perform authentication by fingerprint authentication using fingerprint information collected for pattern authentication. For example, when the matching unit 418 matches the newborn in question, the information processing device 7 may match the facial image stored in the storage unit 221 with the facial image of the newborn acquired at the time of matching. In other words, the information processing device 7 may perform multimodal authentication. [7-4: Technical Effects of the Information Processing Device 7]

[0094] The information processing device 7 in the seventh embodiment can more reliably identify newborns and prevent the occurrence of newborn mix-ups. [8: Eighth Embodiment]

[0095] An eighth embodiment of an information processing device, an information processing method, and a recording medium will be described below. Hereinafter, the eighth embodiment of an information processing device, an information processing method, and a recording medium will be described using an information processing device 8 to which the eighth embodiment of the information processing device, the information processing method, and the recording medium is applied.

[0096] The information processing device 8 in the eighth embodiment differs from the information processing device 4 in the fourth embodiment in the determination operation by the first determination unit 213, the storage control operation by the storage control unit 214, the determination operation by the second determination unit 417, and the matching operation by the second matching unit 4182. Other features of the information processing device 8 may be the same as other features of the information processing device 4. For this reason, the following will describe in detail the parts that differ from the embodiments already described, and will omit descriptions of other overlapping parts as appropriate.

[0097] 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of information processing operations performed by the information processing device in the eighth embodiment. [8-1: Information Processing Operations During Storage by Information Processing Device 8]

[0098] 12(a), the storage unit 221 stores first personal information indicating that a person related to the newborn is the newborn (step S20). The first newborn information acquisition unit 212 acquires first newborn biological information from the newborn (step S21). The first determination unit 213 determines which of multiple predetermined patterns the pattern contained in the first newborn biological information is (step S22).

[0099] The first determination unit 213 divides the first newborn biometric information into multiple portions and determines from which portion the pattern contained in the first newborn biometric information was detected (step S80). The first newborn biometric information may be a fingerprint image. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 13 , the first determination unit 213 may divide the fingerprint image F into, for example, nine 3×3 regions. The first determination unit 213 may determine from which region of the fingerprint image F the pattern contained in the fingerprint image (also referred to as the "print pattern") was determined. The print pattern may be the same as or different from the fingerprint pattern described above. The print pattern may be the pattern that is most clearly identifiable on a certain finger. In the example shown in FIG. 13 , the pattern is most clearly identifiable in region (7). In this case, the first determination unit 213 may determine that the print pattern was determined from the fingerprint image mainly in region (7).

[0100] The storage control unit 214 adds partial information about the portion determined by the first determination unit 213 to the first determination information and stores the first determination information in association with the first identity information in the storage unit 221 (step S81). In the example shown in FIG. 13 , the pattern is most clearly identifiable in area (7). In this case, the storage control unit 214 may add information indicating that the determination was made from the fingerprint image in area (7) to information indicating the pattern that can be determined from the fingerprint image in area (7), and store the information in the storage unit 221. For example, the storage control unit 214 may store in the storage unit 221 the newborn's ID, the pattern in the fingerprint image, and information indicating the area as partial information, as shown in Table 1 below.

[0101]

[0102] Table 1 above may indicate that the newborn baby with ID "000001" has a fingerprint pattern determined from the fingerprint image in area "(7)" and the pattern is "A," that the newborn baby with ID "000002" has a fingerprint pattern determined from the fingerprint image in area "(5)" and the pattern is "B," that the newborn baby with ID "000003" has no fingerprint pattern determined, and that the newborn baby with ID "000004" has a fingerprint pattern determined from the fingerprint image in area "(5)" and the pattern is "C." [8-2: Information Processing Operation During Verification by Information Processing Device 8]

[0103] 12(b), the personal information acquisition unit 415 acquires second personal information from a person related to the newborn, the second personal information indicating that the person is the newborn (step S40). The second newborn information acquisition unit 416 acquires second newborn biological information from the newborn (step S41). The second determination unit 417 determines which of multiple patterns the pattern contained in the second newborn biological information is (step S42).

[0104] The second determination unit 417 divides the second newborn biometric information into multiple parts and determines from which part the pattern contained in the second newborn biometric information was detected (step S82). The second newborn biometric information may be a fingerprint image. In this case, similar to the operation of the first determination unit 213, the second determination unit 417 may divide the fingerprint image F into, for example, nine 3x3 regions. The second determination unit 417 may identify which region of the fingerprint image the pattern was detected from.

[0105] The first verification unit 4181 verifies the first personal information stored in the storage unit 221 with the second personal information (step S43).

[0106] The second matching unit 4182 matches the first judgment information associated with the first personal information that has been successfully matched with the second personal information with the second judgment information to which partial information regarding the portion determined by the second judgment unit 417 has been added (step S83). The first judgment information may be supplemented with partial information regarding the portion determined by the first judgment unit 213. Table 1 above may show the first judgment information associated with the first personal information that has been successfully matched with the second personal information. In this case, the newborns associated with the person corresponding to the personal information may be four people assigned IDs "000001," "000002," "000003," and "000004." For example, if the area determined by the second judgment unit 417 is "(7)," the second matching unit 4182 may match the pattern pattern of ID "000001" with the pattern pattern determined by the second judgment unit 417. For example, if the area determined by the second determination unit 417 is "(5)," the second matching unit 4182 may match the pattern of ID "000002" and the pattern of ID "000004" with the pattern determined by the second determination unit 417. [8-3: Technical Effects of Information Processing Device 8]

[0107] The information processing device 8 in the eighth embodiment adds partial information related to parts, so that even when the number of newborns is relatively large, it is possible to perform matching with higher accuracy. [9: Ninth embodiment]

[0108] A ninth embodiment of an information processing device, an information processing method, and a recording medium will be described below. Hereinafter, the ninth embodiment of the information processing device, the information processing method, and the recording medium will be described using an information processing device 9 to which the ninth embodiment of the information processing device, the information processing method, and the recording medium is applied. [9-1: Configuration of Information Processing Device 9]

[0109] The configuration of the information processing device 9 in the ninth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 14. Fig. 14 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device 9 in the ninth embodiment.

[0110] 14 , the information processing device 9 of the ninth embodiment includes a calculation device 21 and a storage device 22, similar to the information processing device 4 of the fourth embodiment and the information processing device 8 of the eighth embodiment. Furthermore, the information processing device 9 may include a communication device 23, an input device 24, and an output device 25, similar to the information processing device 4 of the fourth embodiment and the information processing device 8 of the eighth embodiment. However, the information processing device 9 does not have to include at least one of the communication device 23, the input device 24, and the output device 25. The information processing device 9 of the ninth embodiment differs from the information processing device 4 of the fourth embodiment and the information processing device 8 of the eighth embodiment in that the first determination unit 213 includes a first feature extraction unit 9132 in addition to a first pattern determination unit 2131, the second determination unit 417 includes a second feature extraction unit 9172 in addition to a second pattern determination unit 4171, and the matching unit 418 includes a third matching unit 9183. Other features of the information processing device 9 may be the same as other features of at least one of the information processing device 4 in the fourth embodiment and the information processing device 8 in the eighth embodiment. Therefore, in the following, differences from the already described embodiments will be described in detail, and descriptions of other overlapping parts will be omitted as appropriate. [9-2: Information Processing Operation When Storing by the Information Processing Device 9]

[0111] The flow of information processing operations performed by the information processing device 9 in the ninth embodiment when storing data will be described with reference to Fig. 15. Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of information processing operations performed by the information processing device 9 in the ninth embodiment when storing data.

[0112] 15 , the storage unit 221 stores first personal information indicating that a person related to the newborn is the newborn (step S20). The first newborn information acquisition unit 212 acquires first newborn biological information from the newborn (step S21). The first determination unit 213 determines which of multiple predetermined patterns the pattern contained in the first newborn biological information is (step S22).

[0113] The first determination unit 213 determines whether the first newborn biological information has a higher accuracy than a predetermined value (step S90). If the first newborn biological information has a higher accuracy than a predetermined value (step S90: Yes), in addition to the first pattern determination unit 2131 determining the pattern of the first newborn biological information, the first feature extraction unit 9132 extracts features from the first newborn biological information (step S91).

[0114] The first feature extraction unit 9132 divides the first newborn biometric information into multiple parts and determines from which part the first newborn biometric information with higher accuracy than a predetermined value was detected (step S92). The first newborn biometric information may be a fingerprint image. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 16, the first feature extraction unit 9132 may divide the fingerprint image F into, for example, nine 3x3 regions. The first feature extraction unit 9132 may identify from which region of the fingerprint image F the feature was extracted. In the example illustrated in FIG. 16, the feature can be extracted from region (7). In this case, the first feature extraction unit 9132 may identify that the feature was extracted from region (7).

[0115] When the first feature extraction unit 9132 extracts features from the first newborn biological information, the storage control unit 214 includes the features and partial information indicating the portion from which the features were extracted in the first determination information (step S93). The storage control unit 214 associates the first determination information with the first personal information and stores the first determination information in the storage unit 221 (step S23). In the example shown in FIG. 16 , features can be extracted from region (7). In this case, the storage control unit 214 may include the features and information indicating region (7) from which the features were extracted in the first determination information and store the information in the storage unit 221. For example, the storage control unit 214 may store the newborn's ID, the pattern of the fingerprint image, the features, and information indicating the region from which the features were extracted in the storage unit 221, as shown in Table 2 below.

[0116]

[0117] Table 2 above may indicate that the newborn with ID "000001" has a pattern of "A", a feature of "X", and that the feature was extracted in region "(7)". Furthermore, the newborn with ID "000002" may have a pattern of "B", and that no feature was extracted. Furthermore, the newborn with ID "000003" may have no pattern determined, and no feature was extracted. Furthermore, the newborn with ID "000004" may have a pattern of "C", a feature of "Y", and that the feature was extracted in region "(5)". [9-3: Information Processing Operation During Matching by Information Processing Device 9]

[0118] The flow of information processing operations performed by the information processing device 9 in the ninth embodiment during matching will be described with reference to Fig. 17. Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing the flow of information processing operations performed by the information processing device 9 in the ninth embodiment during matching.

[0119] As shown in Figure 17(a), the personal information acquisition unit 415 acquires second personal information from a person related to the newborn, indicating that the person is the newborn (step S40). The second newborn information acquisition unit 416 acquires second newborn biological information from the newborn (step S41). The second pattern determination unit 4171 determines which of multiple patterns the pattern contained in the second newborn biological information is (step S42). The first comparison unit 4181 compares the first personal information and the second personal information stored in the storage unit 221 (step S43).

[0120] The matching unit 418 determines whether the first determination information includes a feature (step S93). If the first determination information includes a feature (step S93: Yes), the second feature extraction unit 9172 divides the second newborn biometric information into multiple parts, extracts features, and determines from which part the feature was detected (step S94). The second newborn biometric information may be a fingerprint image. In this case, similar to the operation of the first feature extraction unit 9132, the second feature extraction unit 9172 may divide the fingerprint image F into, for example, nine 3x3 regions. The second feature extraction unit 9172 may identify from which region of the fingerprint image the feature was extracted.

[0121] The third matching unit 9183 performs feature matching (step S94). The third matching unit 9183 may match the second determination information with first judgment information associated with the first personal information that has been successfully matched with the second personal information. The first determination information may be supplemented with the feature extracted by the first feature extraction unit 9132 and partial information related to the portion determined by the first feature extraction unit 9132. The second determination information may be supplemented with the feature extracted by the second feature extraction unit 9172 and partial information related to the portion determined by the second feature extraction unit 9172. Table 2 above may show the first judgment information associated with the first personal information that has been successfully matched with the second personal information. In this case, the newborns related to the person corresponding to the personal information may be four people assigned IDs "000001", "000002", "000003", and "000004". For example, if the area determined by the second feature amount extraction unit 9172 is "(7)," the third collation unit 9183 may collate the feature amount of ID "000001" with the feature amount extracted by the second feature amount extraction unit 9172. For example, if the area determined by the second feature amount extraction unit 9172 is "(5)," the third collation unit 9183 may collate the feature amount of ID "000004" with the feature amount extracted by the second feature amount extraction unit 9172.

[0122] If the first judgment information does not include features (step S93: No), the second matching unit 4182 matches the first judgment information associated with the first personal information that was successfully matched with the second personal information with the second judgment information indicating the judgment result by the second pattern judgment unit 4171 (step S44).

[0123] 17(a), the information processing operation flow shown in FIG. 17(b) may be executed. That is, regardless of the determination result in step S93, the operation of step S44 may be executed. That is, the information processing device 9 may execute fusion matching.

[0124] In the ninth embodiment, as in the eighth embodiment, the first pattern determination unit 2131 may divide the first newborn biological information into a plurality of parts and determine from which part a pattern possessed by the first newborn biological information has been detected. In this case, the second pattern determination unit 4171 may divide the second newborn biological information into a plurality of parts and determine from which part a pattern possessed by the second newborn biological information has been detected. Furthermore, the second matching unit 4182 may match the first determination information to which partial information regarding the part determined by the first pattern determination unit 2131 has been added with the second determination information to which partial information regarding the part determined by the second pattern determination unit 4171 has been added. [9-4: Technical Effects of Information Processing Device 9]

[0125] The information processing device 9 in the ninth embodiment can perform at least one of pattern matching and feature matching when the first judgment information includes features, thereby enabling more accurate matching of newborns.

[0126] In the above-described embodiments, the newborn biometric information is a fingerprint image, but the newborn biometric information may be biometric information other than a fingerprint image. For example, a sole pattern image may be used as the newborn biometric information.

[0127] In each of the above-described embodiments, a fingerprint image of the target person may be acquired, for example, on an occasion such as a vaccination, and the acquired fingerprint image may be additionally registered in the mother DB1. The acquired fingerprint image may be subjected to a quality check, and if the quality is sufficient for use in normal fingerprint authentication for adults, the target person's authentication may be updated to a more accurate authentication. The quality check of the fingerprint image may be performed by extracting feature information from the fingerprint image and based on the extracted feature information. As a result, when matching the target person, matching using the mother's personal information is not required, thereby reducing the burden on the mother. Furthermore, the first determination information of the newborn as the target person may be integrated into a national information DB in which, for example, national information for identifying all citizens managed by the government is registered. [10: Supplementary Note]

[0128] The following supplementary notes are further disclosed in relation to the above-described embodiment. [Supplementary Note 1] An information processing device comprising: storage means for storing first personal information indicating that a person related to a newborn is the person himself / herself; first newborn information acquisition means for acquiring first newborn biological information from the newborn; first determination means for determining which of a plurality of predetermined patterns a pattern possessed by the first newborn biological information corresponds to; and storage control means for storing first determination information indicating a determination result by the first determination means in the storage means in association with the first personal information. [Supplementary Note 2] The information processing device according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the first newborn information acquisition means acquires a plurality of pieces of first newborn biological information from the newborn; the first determination means determines which of the plurality of patterns a pattern possessed by each of the plurality of pieces of first newborn biological information corresponds to; and the storage control means stores first determination information combining each of the determination results by the first determination means corresponding to each of the plurality of pieces of first newborn biological information in association with the first personal information in the storage means. [Supplementary Note 3] The information processing device according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, wherein the first newborn biometric information is a fingerprint image. [Supplementary Note 4] The information processing device according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, further comprising: personal information acquisition means for acquiring, from a person related to the newborn, second personal information indicating that the person is the newborn; second newborn information acquisition means for acquiring second newborn biometric information from the newborn; second determination means for determining which of the multiple types of patterns a pattern possessed by the second newborn biometric information corresponds to; and matching means including first matching means for matching the first personal information stored in the storage means with the second personal information, and second matching means for matching the first determination information associated with the first personal information that has been successfully matched with the second personal information with second determination information indicating the determination result by the second determination means. [Supplementary Note 5] The information processing device according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, wherein the person related to the newborn is the mother who gave birth to the newborn. [Supplementary Note 6] The information processing device according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, wherein the first personal information is biometric information of the person.[Supplementary Note 7] The information processing device described in Supplementary Note 4 further comprises: when there are multiple newborns corresponding to the same first judgment information within a predetermined time-space range, the storage control means associates the first personal information and the first judgment information corresponding to the newborn with a facial image of the newborn and stores them in the storage means; and when the matching means matches the newborn, presents the facial image of the newborn stored in the storage means to an operator and prompts the operator to confirm the face of the newborn. [Supplementary Note 8] The information processing device described in Supplementary Note 4, wherein the first determination means divides the first newborn biological information into a plurality of parts and determines from which part the pattern possessed by the first newborn biological information has been detected; the memory control means adds partial information relating to the part determined by the first determination means to the first determination information and stores the first determination information in the memory means in association with the first personal information; the second determination means divides the second newborn biological information into a plurality of parts and determines from which part the pattern possessed by the second newborn biological information has been detected; and the second matching means matches the first determination information associated with the first personal information that has been successfully matched with the second personal information with the second determination information to which partial information relating to the part determined by the second determination means has been added. [Supplementary Note 9] The information processing device described in Supplementary Note 4, wherein the first determination means, when the first newborn biological information has higher accuracy than a predetermined value, extracts features from the first newborn biological information in addition to determining the pattern contained in the first newborn biological information; the memory control means, when the first determination means extracts features from the first newborn biological information, stores the first determination information including the features in the memory means in association with the first personal information; and the matching means, when the first determination information includes the features, performs at least one of matching the patterns and matching the features.[Supplementary Note 10] An information processing method comprising: storing first personal information indicating that a person related to a newborn is the real person in a storage means; acquiring first newborn biological information from the newborn; determining which of a plurality of predetermined patterns a pattern possessed by the first newborn biological information belongs to; and storing first determination information indicating a determination result in the storage means in association with the first personal information. [Supplementary Note 11] A recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program for causing a computer to execute an information processing method comprising: storing first personal information indicating that a person related to a newborn is the real person in a storage means; acquiring first newborn biological information from the newborn; determining which of a plurality of predetermined patterns a pattern possessed by the first newborn biological information belongs to; and storing first determination information indicating a determination result in the storage means in association with the first personal information.

[0129] At least some of the components of each of the above-described embodiments can be appropriately combined with at least some of the other components of each of the above-described embodiments. Some of the components of each of the above-described embodiments may not be used.

[0130] This disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. This disclosure may be modified as appropriate within the scope of the claims and the technical idea that can be read from the entire specification. Information processing devices, information processing methods, and recording media incorporating such modifications are also included in the technical idea of ​​this disclosure. Furthermore, to the extent permitted by law, all publications and papers described in this specification are incorporated herein by reference.

[0131] To the extent permitted by law, this application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-085036, filed May 25, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

[0132] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Information processing device 11, 221 Memory unit 12, 212 First newborn information acquisition unit 13, 213 First judgment unit 14, 214 Memory control unit 415 Personal information acquisition unit 416 Second newborn information acquisition unit 417 Second judgment unit 418 Matching unit 4181 First matching unit 4182 Second matching unit 519 Mother information control unit 719 Presentation unit 9183 Third matching unit 2131 First pattern judgment unit 9132 First feature extraction unit 4171 Second pattern judgment unit 9172 Second feature extraction unit

Claims

1. A storage means for storing first identity information indicating that a person related to the newborn is the person himself / herself; A first newborn information acquisition means for acquiring first newborn biological information from the newborn; a first determination means for determining which of a plurality of predetermined patterns the pattern of the first newborn biological information belongs to; a storage control means for storing first determination information indicating a determination result by the first determination means in the storage means in association with the first personal information; An information processing device comprising:

2. The first newborn information acquisition means acquires a plurality of first newborn biological information from the newborn, The first determination means determines which of the plurality of types of patterns each of the plurality of first newborn vital information has; The storage control means causes the storage means to store first determination information, which is a combination of each of the determination results by the first determination means corresponding to each of the plurality of first newborn biological information, in association with the first personal information. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The first newborn biological information is a fingerprint image.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. an identity information acquiring means for acquiring second identity information indicating that a person related to the newborn is the newborn; A second newborn information acquisition means for acquiring second newborn biological information from the newborn; A second determination means for determining which of the plurality of patterns the pattern of the second newborn biological information belongs to; a matching means including a first matching means for matching the first personal information stored in the storage means with the second personal information, and a second matching means for matching the first judgment information associated with the first personal information that has been successfully matched with the second personal information with second judgment information indicating a judgment result by the second judgment means; Further comprising 3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The person related to the newborn is the mother who gave birth to the newborn.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The first personal information is biometric information of the person.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

7. When a plurality of newborns corresponding to the same first determination information are present within a predetermined space-time range, the storage control means associates a facial image of the newborn with the first personal information and the first determination information corresponding to the newborns and stores them in the storage means; The presenting means further comprises a presenting means for presenting a face image of the newborn stored in the storage means to an operator when the matching means matches the newborn, and prompting the operator to confirm the face of the newborn. The information processing device according to claim 4.

8. The first determination means divides the first newborn biological information into a plurality of parts and determines from which part the pattern of the first newborn biological information is detected, The storage control means adds partial information on the part determined by the first determination means to the first determination information, and stores the first determination information in the storage means in association with the first personal information; The second determination means divides the second newborn biological information into a plurality of parts and determines from which part the pattern of the second newborn biological information is detected, The second matching means matches the first determination information associated with the first personal information that has been successfully matched with the second personal information with the second determination information to which partial information related to the part determined by the second determination means has been added. The information processing device according to claim 4.

9. storing first identity information indicating that a person related to the newborn is the newborn in a storage means; acquiring first newborn biological information from the newborn; determining which of a plurality of predetermined patterns the pattern of the first newborn biological information belongs to; First determination information indicating a determination result is stored in the storage means in association with the first personal information. A computer implemented information processing method.

10. On the computer, storing first identity information indicating that a person related to the newborn is the newborn in a storage means; acquiring first newborn biological information from the newborn; determining which of a plurality of predetermined patterns the pattern of the first newborn biological information belongs to; First determination information indicating a determination result is stored in the storage means in association with the first personal information. A computer program for executing an information processing method.