Change notification device and change notification method

Abstract

A change notification device 2 is configured to comprise: a sensing data collection unit (21) for collecting sensing data from a sensor for monitoring the behavior of a care receiver; a behavior change detection unit (23) for detecting a change in the behavior of the care receiver on the basis of the sensing data collected by the sensing data collection unit (21); and a behavior change information reporting unit (24) for reporting behavior change information, which is information indicating that a change has occurred in the behavior, if the behavior change detection unit (23) detects a change in the behavior.

Description

Change notification device and change notification method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a change notification device and a change notification method.

[0002] There are change notification devices that notify changes in the health status of a care recipient. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an example of such a change notification device: a management device that notifies changes in the health status of a care recipient. The management device determines changes in the health status of the care recipient based on the care records of the care recipient and changes in the amount of care work provided to the care recipient by staff at a care facility or the like. The management device transmits information indicating the changes in the health status to a mobile terminal used by the manager of the care facility or the like.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-12650

[0004] The management device disclosed in Patent Document 1 can notify a change in the health condition of a care recipient, but has a problem in that it cannot notify a change in the behavior of the care recipient.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a change notification device that can notify a change in the behavior of a care recipient.

[0006] The change notification device of the present disclosure includes a sensing data collection unit that collects sensing data from a sensor that monitors the behavior of the care recipient, a behavior change detection unit that detects changes in the behavior of the care recipient based on the sensing data collected by the sensing data collection unit, and a behavior change information notification unit that, when a change in behavior is detected by the behavior change detection unit, notifies behavior change information that indicates that a change in behavior has occurred.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to notify a change in the behavior of a care recipient.

[0008] 1 is a configuration diagram showing a system including a change notification device 2 according to embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram showing the hardware of change notification device 2 according to embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computer in the case where change notification device 2 is realized by software, firmware, or the like. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a change notification method, which is a processing procedure of change notification device 2. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a message "X-X has gotten up" indicated by behavior change information when a notification request for behavior change information is "Please let me know when X-X gets up." FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a system including change notification device 2 according to embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is a hardware configuration diagram showing the hardware of change notification device 2 according to embodiment 2. FIG. 7 is a hardware configuration diagram showing a system including change notification device 2 according to embodiment 3. FIG. 8 is a hardware configuration diagram showing the hardware of change notification device 2 according to embodiment 4. FIG. 9 is a hardware configuration diagram showing the hardware of change notification device 2 according to embodiment 4. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a message "X-X has gotten up" indicated by behavior change information and a message "Please help X-X not fall out of bed" indicated by complementary information when a notification request for behavior change information is "Please let me know when X-X gets up."

[0009] In order to explain the present disclosure in more detail, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] Embodiment 1. Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a system including a change notification device 2 according to embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram showing the hardware of the change notification device 2 according to embodiment 1. The system shown in Fig. 1 includes a chatbot 1, a change notification device 2, and a sensing device 3.

[0011] The chatbot 1 comprises a voice recognition unit 11, a voice database 12, a chatbot engine unit 13, a display unit 14, and a voice output unit 15. The chatbot 1 recognizes the user's voice and outputs text data indicating the user's voice to the change notification device 2. In the system shown in FIG. 1 , the text data indicates a notification request for behavior change information, and the text data is output to the change notification device 2. The notification request for behavior change information requests notification of information indicating that a change has occurred in the behavior of the care recipient. The chatbot 1 outputs the behavior change information notified by the change notification device 2 to both the display unit 14 and the voice output unit 15.

[0012] The speech recognition unit 11 recognizes the user's speech and creates text data representing the user's speech based on the speech data recorded in the speech database 12. The speech data recorded in the speech database 12 is, for example, speech unit data representing speech units. The speech recognition unit 11 outputs the text data to the chatbot engine unit 13. The speech database 12 stores, for example, speech unit data and text data corresponding to the speech unit data.

[0013] When the chatbot engine unit 13 acquires text data from the voice recognition unit 11, it outputs the text data to the change notification device 2, and when text data is provided from a keyboard or the like (not shown), it outputs the text data to the change notification device 2. The chatbot engine unit 13 acquires behavior change information from the change notification device 2. The chatbot engine unit 13 displays the behavior change information on the display unit 14. The chatbot engine unit 13 outputs the behavior change information by voice from the voice output unit 15.

[0014] The display unit 14 displays the behavior change information output from the chatbot engine unit 13 on a display (not shown). The audio output unit 15 outputs the behavior change information output from the chatbot engine unit 13 as audio from a speaker (not shown).

[0015] The change notification device 2 shown in FIG. 1 includes a sensing data collection unit 21, a notification request receiving unit 22, a behavior change detection unit 23, and a behavior change information notification unit 24. The sensing data collection unit 21 is realized, for example, by a sensing data collection circuit 31 shown in FIG. 2. The sensing data collection unit 21 collects sensing data from various sensors included in the sensing device 3. The various sensors are sensors that monitor the behavior of the care recipient. Specifically, the sensing data collection unit 21 obtains identification information of the sensing data from the behavior change detection unit 23, and collects the sensing data indicated by the identification information from the sensing device 3. The sensing data collection unit 21 outputs the collected sensing data to the behavior change detection unit 23.

[0016] The notification request receiving unit 22 is realized, for example, by the notification request receiving circuit 32 shown in Figure 2. The notification request receiving unit 22 receives a notification request for behavior change information from the chatbot engine unit 13 of the chatbot 1. The notification request receiving unit 22 outputs the notification request for behavior change information to the behavior change detection unit 23.

[0017] The behavior change detection unit 23 is realized, for example, by a behavior change detection circuit 33 shown in Fig. 2. The behavior change detection unit 23 acquires sensing data from the sensing data collection unit 21. When a notification request is received by the notification request receiving unit 22, the behavior change detection unit 23 detects a change in the behavior of the care recipient based on the sensing data. The behavior change detection unit 23 outputs behavior change information, which is information indicating that a change has occurred in the behavior of the care recipient, to the behavior change information notification unit 24.

[0018] Specifically, when a notification request is received by the notification request receiving unit 22, the behavior change detection unit 23 provides a notification request for behavior change information to the learning model 41 and acquires, from the learning model 41, monitoring target information indicating the behavior of the monitoring target and behavior change information. Identification information of sensing data corresponding to the monitoring target information is recorded in the internal memory of the behavior change detection unit 23. The identification information of the sensing data is information for identifying sensing data used to detect changes in the behavior of the care recipient. The behavior change detection unit 23 outputs the identification information of the sensing data corresponding to the monitoring target information to the sensing data collection unit 21 and acquires the sensing data indicated by the identification information from the sensing data collection unit 21. The behavior change detection unit 23 monitors the behavior of the care recipient based on the acquired sensing data and detects changes in the behavior of the care recipient. If the behavior change detection unit 23 detects a change in behavior, it outputs behavior change information to the behavior change information notification unit 24. Here, identification information of sensing data corresponding to the monitoring target information is recorded in the internal memory of the behavior change detection unit 23. However, this is merely an example, and the identification information of the sensing data corresponding to the monitoring target information may be provided from outside the change notification device 2 .

[0019] The learning model 41 is realized, for example, by a neural network. During learning, the learning model 41 is provided with a notification request for behavior change information, monitoring target information, and behavior change information, and learns the behavior of the monitoring target and the behavior change information. The monitoring target information and behavior change information provided to the learning model 41 are teacher data. During inference, when a notification request for behavior change information is provided from the behavior change detection unit 23, the learning model 41 outputs the monitoring target information and the behavior change information. In the system shown in FIG. 1 , the learning model 41 is provided outside the change notification device 2. However, this is merely an example, and the learning model 41 may be provided inside the change notification device 2.

[0020] The behavior change information notification unit 24 is realized, for example, by the behavior change information notification circuit 34 shown in Fig. 2. When the behavior change detection unit 23 detects a change in behavior, the behavior change information notification unit 24 outputs the behavior change information to the chatbot engine unit 13.

[0021] 1, it is assumed that each of the components of the change notification device 2, namely, the sensing data collection unit 21, the notification request receiving unit 22, the behavior change detection unit 23, and the behavior change information notification unit 24, is realized by dedicated hardware such as that shown in FIG. 2. That is, it is assumed that the change notification device 2 is realized by a sensing data collection circuit 31, a notification request receiving circuit 32, a behavior change detection circuit 33, and a behavior change information notification circuit 34. Each of the sensing data collection circuit 31, the notification request receiving circuit 32, the behavior change detection circuit 33, and the behavior change information notification circuit 34 may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof.

[0022] The components of the change notification device 2 are not limited to those realized by dedicated hardware, and the change notification device 2 may also be realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. Software or firmware is stored as a program in the memory of a computer. A computer refers to hardware that executes a program, and includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), central processing unit, processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, processor, or DSP (Digital Signal Processor).

[0023] 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computer when the change notification device 2 is realized by software, firmware, etc. When the change notification device 2 is realized by software, firmware, etc., a program for causing a computer to execute the processing procedures of the sensing data collection unit 21, the notification request receiving unit 22, the behavior change detection unit 23, and the behavior change information notification unit 24 is stored in memory 51. A processor 52 of the computer then executes the program stored in memory 51.

[0024] 2 shows an example in which each of the components of change notification device 2 is realized by dedicated hardware, while Fig. 3 shows an example in which change notification device 2 is realized by software, firmware, etc. However, this is merely an example, and some of the components of change notification device 2 may be realized by dedicated hardware, and the remaining components may be realized by software, firmware, etc.

[0025] The sensing device 3 includes sensors for monitoring the condition of the care recipient, such as a bed sensor 61, a room sensor 62, an appliance sensor 63, a human presence sensor 64, a vital sign sensor 65, and an ingestion detection sensor 66, and also includes a sensing data recording unit 67. The bed sensor 61 is a sensor attached to the bed used by the care recipient and monitors, for example, the state of the care recipient turning over in bed. The room sensor 62 is a sensor installed in the care recipient's room and monitors, for example, the care recipient's sleep, falls, or body movements.

[0026] The home appliance sensor 63 is, for example, a sensor attached to an air conditioner in the care recipient's room and monitors, for example, the room temperature of the care recipient's room. The human presence sensor 64 is, for example, a sensor attached to an entrance or exit of the care recipient's room and detects, for example, when the care recipient leaves the room. The vital sign sensor 65 is, for example, a sensor attached to a wall, ceiling, furniture, or the care recipient's room and monitors, for example, the care recipient's vital signs. The intake detection sensor 66 is, for example, a sensor equipped with a camera attached to the wall of the care recipient's room and monitors, for example, the care recipient's water intake behavior or food intake behavior. The sensing data recording unit 67 is a database that records sensing data from the bed sensor 61, the room sensor 62, the home appliance sensor 63, the human presence sensor 64, the vital sign sensor 65, and the intake detection sensor 66.

[0027] Next, the operation of the change notification device 2 shown in Fig. 1 will be described. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing a change notification method, which is a processing procedure of the change notification device 2. In the system shown in Fig. 1, the care recipient is, for example, a person hospitalized in a nursing home or a medical hospital, and the user who requests notification of behavior change information is, for example, a staff member of the nursing home or the medical hospital.

[0028] When the voice of, for example, a staff member is provided to the voice recognition unit 11 of the chatbot 1 via a microphone (not shown), the voice recognition unit 11 breaks down the voice of the staff member into, for example, multiple speech segments. The voice recognition unit 11 acquires text data corresponding to each speech segment from the voice database 12. The voice recognition unit 11 connects the text data corresponding to each speech segment and outputs the connected text data to the chatbot engine unit 13 as a notification request for behavior change information.

[0029] Examples of notification requests for behavioral change information include, for example, "Please let me know when Mr. / Ms. XX gets up," "Please let me know when Mr. / Ms. XX becomes restless," or "Please let me know when Mr. / Ms. XX eats."

[0030] Here, the staff member's voice is provided to the voice recognition unit 11, and text data is output from the voice recognition unit 11 to the chatbot engine unit 13 as a notification request for behavioral change information. However, this is merely an example, and the staff member may operate a keyboard or the like (not shown) to provide text data to the chatbot engine unit 13 as a notification request for behavioral change information from the keyboard or the like.

[0031] The chatbot engine unit 13 acquires a notification request for behavior change information from the voice recognition unit 11. The chatbot engine unit 13 outputs the notification request for behavior change information to the notification request receiving unit 22 of the change notification device 2.

[0032] If a notification request for behavior change information is output from the chatbot engine unit 13 (step ST1 in FIG. 4: YES), the notification request receiving unit 22 receives the notification request for behavior change information (step ST2 in FIG. 4). The notification request receiving unit 22 outputs the notification request for behavior change information to the behavior change detection unit 23. If a notification request for behavior change information is not output from the chatbot engine unit 13 (step ST1 in FIG. 4: NO), the notification request receiving unit 22 waits until a notification request is output.

[0033] The behavior change detection unit 23 receives a notification request for behavior change information from the notification request receiving unit 22. The behavior change detection unit 23 provides the notification request for behavior change information to the learning model 41, and receives monitoring target information indicating the behavior of the monitoring target and behavior change information from the learning model 41 (step ST3 in FIG. 4 ). The behavior change detection unit 23 receives, from the internal memory, identification information for sensing data corresponding to the monitoring target information. The behavior change detection unit 23 outputs the identification information for the sensing data to the sensing data collection unit 21.

[0034] If the notification request for behavior change information is related to a behavior change of XX, the learning model 41 outputs monitoring target information indicating XX's behavior as a monitoring target. If the notification request for behavior change information is related to a behavior change of △△, the learning model 41 outputs monitoring target information indicating △△'s behavior as a monitoring target. Specifically, if the notification request for behavior change information is, for example, "Please let me know when XX gets up," the learning model 41 outputs monitoring target information indicating, for example, that XX's waking-up behavior is a monitoring target. Furthermore, the learning model 41 outputs behavior change information indicating, for example, a message such as "XX has gotten up." If the notification request for behavior change information is, for example, a notification request such as "Please let me know when XX becomes restless," the learning model 41 outputs monitoring target information indicating, for example, that XX's general daily behavior is a monitoring target. Furthermore, the learning model 41 outputs behavior change information indicating, for example, a message such as "XX has become restless." If the notification request for behavioral change information is, for example, "Please let me know when Mr. / Ms. XX eats," the learning model 41 outputs monitoring target information indicating that Mr. / Ms. XX's eating behavior is a monitoring target. Furthermore, the learning model 41 outputs behavioral change information indicating, for example, a message such as "Mr. / Ms. XX has eaten."

[0035] The sensing data collection unit 21 acquires identification information of the sensing data from the behavior change detection unit 23. The sensing data collection unit 21 collects the sensing data indicated by the identification information from the sensing data recording unit 67 (step ST4 in FIG. 4). If the care recipient is Mr. / Ms. XX, the sensing data collection unit 21 collects sensing data related to Mr. / Ms. XX, and if the care recipient is Mr. / Ms. △△, the sensing data collection unit 21 collects sensing data related to Mr. / Ms. △△. The sensing data collection unit 21 outputs the sensing data to the behavior change detection unit 23.

[0036] The behavior change detection unit 23 acquires sensing data from the sensing data collection unit 21. The behavior change detection unit 23 detects a change in the behavior of the care recipient based on the sensing data (step ST5 in FIG. 4 ). When the behavior change detection unit 23 detects a change in the behavior of the care recipient, it outputs the behavior change information output from the learning model 41 to the behavior change information notification unit 24.

[0037] The behavior change detection process by the behavior change detection unit 23 will be described in detail below. The behavior change detection unit 23 acquires monitoring target information from the learning model 41. If the monitoring target behavior indicated by the monitoring target information is, for example, Mr. / Ms. XX's waking up, the behavior change detection unit 23 acquires sensing data from the bed sensor 61 or sensing data from the room sensor 62 from the sensing data collection unit 21. Each of the bed sensor 61 and the room sensor 62 is a sensor capable of monitoring Mr. / Ms. XX's waking up. If the acquired sensing data indicates a transition from a sleeping state to a waking up state, the behavior change detection unit 23 detects Mr. / Ms. XX's waking up. If the behavior change detection unit 23 detects Mr. / Ms. XX's waking up, it outputs behavior change information indicating the message "Mr. / Ms. XX has woken up," output from the learning model 41, to the behavior change information notification unit 24.

[0038] If the behavior of the monitoring target indicated by the monitoring target information is, for example, general daily behavior of Mr. / Ms. XX, the behavior change detection unit 23 acquires sensing data from the room sensor 62 from the sensing data collection unit 21. The room sensor 62 is a sensor capable of monitoring Mr. / Ms. XX's general daily behavior. If the acquired sensing data indicates, for example, that Mr. / Ms. XX is walking around the room or that there is a drastic change in Mr. / Ms. XX's line of sight, the behavior change detection unit 23 detects that Mr. / Ms. XX's behavior has become restless. If the behavior change detection unit 23 detects that Mr. / Ms. XX's behavior has become restless, it outputs behavior change information indicating the message "Mr. / Ms. XX's behavior has become restless," output from the learning model 41 to the behavior change information notification unit 24.

[0039] If the behavior of the monitoring target indicated by the monitoring target information is, for example, Mr. / Ms. XX's eating behavior, the behavior change detection unit 23 acquires sensing data from the intake detection sensor 66 from the sensing data collection unit 21. The intake detection sensor 66 is a sensor capable of monitoring Mr. / Ms. XX's food intake behavior. If the acquired sensing data indicates, for example, that Mr. / Ms. XX has eaten food, the behavior change detection unit 23 detects Mr. / Ms. XX's food intake behavior. If the behavior change detection unit 23 detects Mr. / Ms. XX's food intake behavior, it outputs behavior change information indicating the message "Mr. / Ms. XX has eaten," output from the learning model 41, to the behavior change information notification unit 24.

[0040] When the behavior change information is output from the behavior change detection unit 23, the behavior change information notification unit 24 outputs the behavior change information to the chatbot engine unit 13 (step ST6 in FIG. 4).

[0041] The chatbot engine unit 13 acquires behavior change information from the behavior change information notification unit 24. As shown in FIG. 5 , the chatbot engine unit 13 displays a message indicated by the behavior change information on the display of the display unit 14. The chatbot engine unit 13 also outputs the message indicated by the behavior change information by voice from the speaker of the audio output unit 15. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the message "Mr. / Ms. XX has gotten up" indicated by the behavior change information when the notification request for the behavior change information is "Please let us know when Mr. / Ms. XX has gotten up." In FIG. 5 , □□□□ is the name of the staff member. In the example of FIG. 5 , in addition to the message "Mr. / Ms. XX has gotten up," an illustration showing an image of Mr. / Ms. XX having gotten up is displayed.

[0042] In the above-described first embodiment, the change notification device 2 is configured to include a sensing data collection unit 21 that collects sensing data from sensors that monitor the behavior of the care recipient, a behavior change detection unit 23 that detects a change in the behavior of the care recipient based on the sensing data collected by the sensing data collection unit 21, and a behavior change information notification unit 24 that, when a change in behavior is detected by the behavior change detection unit 23, notifies the care recipient of behavior change information that is information indicating that a change in behavior has occurred. Thus, the change notification device 2 can notify the care recipient of a change in behavior.

[0043] 1 , the behavior change detection unit 23 issues a notification request for behavior change information to the learning model 41, and acquires the monitoring target information indicating the behavior of the monitoring target and the behavior change information from the learning model 41. However, this is merely an example, and the behavior change detection unit 23 may also acquire the monitoring target information indicating the behavior of the monitoring target and the behavior change information based on a rule base, for example.

[0044] In the change notification device 2 shown in FIG. 1 , the notification request for behavioral change information includes information indicating that the care recipient is, for example, "Mr. / Ms. XX" or "Mr. / Ms. △△." However, this is merely an example, and the notification request for behavioral change information does not necessarily include information indicating that the care recipient is, for example, "Mr. / Ms. XX" or "Mr. / Ms. △△." In this case, for example, when a staff member at a nursing home or the like speaks to the voice recognition unit 11 of the chatbot 1, the staff member's ID (IDentification) is provided to the chatbot engine unit 13, and the chatbot engine unit 13 displays information indicating one or more care recipients that the staff member is responsible for on the display unit 14. The chatbot engine unit 13 then accepts a selection operation by the staff member to select a care recipient to be monitored from among one or more care recipients, and outputs care recipient information indicating the care recipient to be monitored to the change notification device 2. The behavior change detection unit 23 may provide the learning model 41 with the care recipient information and a notification request for behavior change information that does not include the care recipient information, and acquire the monitoring target information and behavior change information indicating the behavior of the monitoring target from the learning model 41. In this case, the learning model 41 is provided with the care recipient information, the notification request for behavior change information that does not include the care recipient information, the monitoring target information, and the behavior change information during learning, and learns the behavior and behavior change information of the monitoring target. The monitoring target information and behavior change information provided to the learning model 41 are training data.

[0045] Second Embodiment In a second embodiment, a change notification device 2 will be described in which, if notification timing information indicating the timing for notifying behavior change information is included in a notification request received by a notification request receiving unit 22, a behavior change information notifying unit 25 notifies behavior change information at the timing indicated by the notification timing information.

[0046] FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a system including a change notification device 2 according to embodiment 2. In FIG. 6, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 indicate the same or equivalent parts, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted. FIG. 7 is a hardware configuration diagram showing the hardware of a change notification device 2 according to embodiment 2. In FIG. 7, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 2 indicate the same or equivalent parts, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted. The system shown in FIG. 6 includes a chatbot 1, a change notification device 2, and a sensing device 3.

[0047] The change notification device 2 shown in Fig. 6 includes a sensing data collection unit 21, a notification request receiving unit 22, a behavior change detection unit 23, and a behavior change information notification unit 25. The behavior change information notification unit 25 is realized, for example, by a behavior change information notification circuit 35 shown in Fig. 7. If the notification request for behavior change information received by the notification request receiving unit 22 includes notification timing information indicating the timing for notifying the behavior change information, the behavior change information notification unit 25 acquires the notification timing information. If a behavior change is detected by the behavior change detection unit 23, the behavior change information notification unit 25 outputs the behavior change information to the chatbot engine unit 13 at the timing indicated by the notification timing information.

[0048] 6 assumes that each of the components of the change notification device 2, the sensing data collection unit 21, the notification request receiving unit 22, the behavior change detection unit 23, and the behavior change information notification unit 25, is realized by dedicated hardware such as that shown in Fig. 7. That is, it assumes that the change notification device 2 is realized by a sensing data collection circuit 31, a notification request receiving circuit 32, a behavior change detection circuit 33, and a behavior change information notification circuit 35. Each of the sensing data collection circuit 31, the notification request receiving circuit 32, the behavior change detection circuit 33, and the behavior change information notification circuit 35 corresponds to, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination of these.

[0049] The components of the change notification device 2 are not limited to those realized by dedicated hardware, and the change notification device 2 may also be realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. When the change notification device 2 is realized by software, firmware, or the like, programs for causing a computer to execute the processing procedures of the sensing data collection unit 21, the notification request receiving unit 22, the behavior change detection unit 23, and the behavior change information notification unit 25 are stored in memory 51 shown in Fig. 3. Then, the processor 52 shown in Fig. 3 executes the programs stored in memory 51.

[0050] 7 shows an example in which each of the components of change notification device 2 is realized by dedicated hardware, while Fig. 3 shows an example in which change notification device 2 is realized by software, firmware, etc. However, this is merely an example, and some of the components of change notification device 2 may be realized by dedicated hardware, and the remaining components may be realized by software, firmware, etc.

[0051] Next, the operation of the change notification device 2 shown in Fig. 6 will be described. Other than the notification request receiving unit 22 and the behavior change information notifying unit 25, the change notification device 2 is the same as that shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, the operation of the notification request receiving unit 22 and the behavior change information notifying unit 25 will mainly be described here.

[0052] The notification request receiving unit 22 receives the notification request for behavior change information when the notification request for behavior change information is output from the chatbot engine unit 13. The notification request receiving unit 22 outputs the notification request for behavior change information to the behavior change detection unit 23. If the notification request for behavior change information includes notification timing information indicating the timing for notifying the behavior change information, the notification request receiving unit 22 outputs the notification timing information to the behavior change information notifying unit 25.

[0053] When a staff member at a nursing home or the like sends a notification request for behavior change information to the voice recognition unit 11 by voice, for example, the staff member can also send the timing for notifying the behavior change information to the voice recognition unit 11. For example, if the request for notification of behavior change information is, "Please let me know when Mr. / Ms. XX gets up," and the timing for notifying the behavior change information is "immediately" when Mr. / Ms. XX gets up, the staff member will send, for example, "immediately" by voice as the timing for notifying the behavior change information. The staff member at a nursing home or the like may send, by voice, the request for notification of behavior change information and the timing for notifying the behavior change information separately to the voice recognition unit 11, or may send, by voice, a notification request for behavior change information including the timing for notifying the behavior change information to the voice recognition unit 11. Specifically, the staff member at a nursing home or the like sends, by voice, the notification request, "Please let me know as soon as Mr. / Ms. XX gets up," to the voice recognition unit 11. For example, when the notification request for behavior change information is "Please let me know when X-san has eaten dinner," if the timing for notifying the behavior change information is "20 minutes after X-san has eaten dinner," the staff member will, for example, state by voice that "20 minutes after X-san has eaten dinner" as the timing for notifying the behavior change information. Specifically, the staff member at the nursing home or the like will vocally send a notification request saying, "Please let me know in 20 minutes after X-san has eaten dinner," to the voice recognition unit 11. The chatbot engine unit 13 outputs the notification request for behavior change information, including the notification timing information, to the notification request receiving unit 22.

[0054] The behavior change information notification unit 24 acquires notification timing information from the notification request receiving unit 22 and acquires behavior change information from the behavior change detection unit 23. The behavior change information notification unit 24 outputs the behavior change information to the chatbot engine unit 13 at the timing indicated by the notification timing information.

[0055] In the second embodiment described above, change notification device 2 is configured to notify the behavior change information at the timing indicated by the notification timing information if the notification request for behavior change information received by notification request receiving unit 22 includes notification timing information indicating the timing for notifying the behavior change information. Therefore, change notification device 2 can notify the staff of a change in the behavior of the care recipient at a timing that is convenient for the staff, for example.

[0056] Embodiment 3 In embodiment 3, a change notification device 2 will be described in which a behavior change detection unit 26 detects a change in the behavior of a care recipient based on sensing data collected by a sensing data collection unit 21 and the care record of the care recipient.

[0057] FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing a system including a change notification device 2 according to embodiment 3. In FIG. 8, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6 indicate the same or equivalent parts, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted. FIG. 9 is a hardware configuration diagram showing the hardware of a change notification device 2 according to embodiment 3. In FIG. 9, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 and FIG. 7 indicate the same or equivalent parts, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted. The system shown in FIG. 8 includes a chatbot 1, a change notification device 2, and a sensing device 3.

[0058] The care record database 42 stores the care records of the care recipient. In the system shown in Fig. 8, the care record database 42 is provided outside the change notification device 2. However, this is merely an example, and the care record database 42 may also be provided inside the change notification device 2.

[0059] The change notification device 2 shown in Fig. 8 includes a sensing data collection unit 21, a notification request receiving unit 22, a behavior change detection unit 26, and a behavior change information notification unit 24. The behavior change detection unit 26 is realized, for example, by a behavior change detection circuit 36 ​​shown in Fig. 9. The behavior change detection unit 26 acquires sensing data from the sensing data collection unit 21. When a notification request is received by the notification request receiving unit 22, the behavior change detection unit 26 detects a change in the behavior of the care recipient based on the sensing data and the care records stored in the care record database 42. The behavior change detection unit 26 outputs behavior change information, which is information indicating that a change has occurred in the behavior of the care recipient, to the behavior change information notification unit 24.

[0060] The change notification device 2 shown in Fig. 8 is a device in which the behavior change detection unit 26 is applied to the change notification device 2 shown in Fig. 1. However, this is merely an example, and the behavior change detection unit 26 may also be applied to the change notification device 2 shown in Fig. 6.

[0061] 8 assumes that each of the components of the change notification device 2, namely, the sensing data collection unit 21, the notification request receiving unit 22, the behavior change detection unit 26, and the behavior change information notification unit 24, is realized by dedicated hardware such as that shown in Fig. 9. That is, it assumes that the change notification device 2 is realized by a sensing data collection circuit 31, a notification request receiving circuit 32, a behavior change detection circuit 36, and a behavior change information notification circuit 34. Each of the sensing data collection circuit 31, the notification request receiving circuit 32, the behavior change detection circuit 36, and the behavior change information notification circuit 34 may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination of these.

[0062] The components of the change notification device 2 are not limited to those realized by dedicated hardware, and the change notification device 2 may also be realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. When the change notification device 2 is realized by software, firmware, or the like, programs for causing a computer to execute the processing procedures of the sensing data collection unit 21, the notification request receiving unit 22, the behavior change detection unit 26, and the behavior change information notification unit 24 are stored in the memory 51 shown in Fig. 3. The processor 52 shown in Fig. 3 then executes the programs stored in the memory 51.

[0063] 9 shows an example in which each of the components of change notification device 2 is realized by dedicated hardware, while Fig. 3 shows an example in which change notification device 2 is realized by software, firmware, etc. However, this is merely an example, and some of the components in change notification device 2 may be realized by dedicated hardware, and the remaining components may be realized by software, firmware, etc.

[0064] Next, the operation of change notification device 2 shown in Fig. 8 will be described. Except for behavior change detection unit 26, change notification device 2 is the same as that shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, only the operation of behavior change detection unit 26 will be described here.

[0065] 1 , the behavior change detection unit 26 acquires a notification request for behavior change information from the notification request receiving unit 22. Similar to the behavior change detection unit 23 shown in FIG. 1 , the behavior change detection unit 26 provides a notification request for behavior change information to the learning model 41 and acquires monitoring target information indicating the behavior of the monitoring target and behavior change information from the learning model 41. The behavior change detection unit 26 acquires identification information of sensing data corresponding to the monitoring target information from the internal memory. The behavior change detection unit 26 outputs the identification information of the sensing data to the sensing data collection unit 21.

[0066] The behavior change detection unit 26 acquires sensing data from the sensing data collection unit 21. Similar to the behavior change detection unit 23 shown in FIG. 1 , the behavior change detection unit 26 detects a change in the behavior of the care recipient based on the sensing data. If the care records stored in the care record database 42 include a care record indicating a change in the behavior of the monitoring target, the behavior change detection unit 26 detects a change in the behavior of the care recipient based on the care record. For example, when a notification request for behavior change information is, "Please let me know if Mr. / Ms. X becomes restless," regardless of whether the sensing data indicates that Mr. / Ms. X becomes restless, a care record indicating that Mr. / Ms. X becomes restless may be stored in the care record database 42. In such a case, the behavior change detection unit 26 detects a change in the behavior of the care recipient based on the care records stored in the care record database 42. If the behavior change detection unit 26 detects a change in the behavior of the care recipient, it outputs the behavior change information output from the learning model 41 to the behavior change information notification unit 24.

[0067] In the third embodiment described above, change notification device 2 shown in Fig. 8 is configured so that behavior change detection unit 26 detects a change in the behavior of the care recipient based on the sensing data collected by sensing data collection unit 21 and the care record of the care recipient. Therefore, change notification device 2 shown in Fig. 8 can increase the opportunities to notify of a change in the behavior of the care recipient compared to change notification device 2 shown in Fig. 1.

[0068] Fourth Embodiment In a fourth embodiment, a change notification device 2 will be described that includes a complementary information generation unit 27 that generates complementary information that complements behavior change information when a behavior change is detected by a behavior change detection unit 23.

[0069] FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing a system including a change notification device 2 according to embodiment 4. In FIG. 10, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1, 6, and 8 indicate the same or equivalent parts, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. FIG. 11 is a hardware configuration diagram showing the hardware of a change notification device 2 according to embodiment 4. In FIG. 11, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 2, 7, and 9 indicate the same or equivalent parts, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. The system shown in FIG. 10 includes a chatbot 1, a change notification device 2, and a sensing device 3.

[0070] The change notification device 2 shown in Fig. 10 includes a sensing data collection unit 21, a notification request receiving unit 22, a behavior change detection unit 23, a complementary information generation unit 27, and a behavior change information notification unit 28. The complementary information generation unit 27 is realized, for example, by a complementary information generation circuit 37 shown in Fig. 11. When a change in behavior is detected by the behavior change detection unit 23, the complementary information generation unit 27 generates complementary information that complements the behavior change information. The complementary information generation unit 27 outputs the complementary information to the behavior change information notification unit 28.

[0071] Specifically, the complementary information generation unit 27 provides the behavior change information to the learning model 43 and acquires complementary information corresponding to the behavior change information from the learning model 43. The learning model 43 is realized, for example, by a neural network. During learning, the learning model 43 is provided with the behavior change information and complementary information and learns the complementary information. The complementary information provided to the learning model 43 is teacher data. During inference, when the learning model 43 receives the behavior change information from the complementary information generation unit 27, it outputs complementary information corresponding to the behavior change information. In the system shown in FIG. 10 , the learning model 43 is provided outside the change notification device 2. However, this is merely an example, and the learning model 43 may be provided inside the change notification device 2.

[0072] The behavior change information notification unit 28 is realized, for example, by a behavior change information notification circuit 38 shown in Fig. 11. When a behavior change is detected by the behavior change detection unit 23, the behavior change information notification unit 28 outputs each of the behavior change information and complementary information to the chatbot engine unit 13.

[0073] The change notification device 2 shown in Fig. 10 is obtained by applying complementary information generation unit 27 and behavior change information notification unit 28 to the change notification device 2 shown in Fig. 1. However, this is merely an example, and complementary information generation unit 27 and behavior change information notification unit 28 may also be applied to the change notification device 2 shown in Fig. 6 or the change notification device 2 shown in Fig. 8.

[0074] 10 assumes that each of the components of the change notification device 2, namely, the sensing data collection unit 21, the notification request receiving unit 22, the behavior change detection unit 23, the complementary information generation unit 27, and the behavior change information notification unit 28, is realized by dedicated hardware such as that shown in FIG. 11. That is, it is assumed that the change notification device 2 is realized by a sensing data collection circuit 31, a notification request receiving circuit 32, a behavior change detection circuit 33, a complementary information generation circuit 37, and a behavior change information notification circuit 38. Each of the sensing data collection circuit 31, the notification request receiving circuit 32, the behavior change detection circuit 33, the complementary information generation circuit 37, and the behavior change information notification circuit 38 may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0075] The components of the change notification device 2 are not limited to those realized by dedicated hardware, and the change notification device 2 may also be realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. When the change notification device 2 is realized by software, firmware, or the like, programs for causing a computer to execute the processing procedures of the sensing data collection unit 21, the notification request receiving unit 22, the behavior change detection unit 23, the complementary information generation unit 27, and the behavior change information notification unit 28 are stored in memory 51 shown in Fig. 3. Then, the processor 52 shown in Fig. 3 executes the programs stored in memory 51.

[0076] 11 shows an example in which each of the components of change notification device 2 is realized by dedicated hardware, while Fig. 3 shows an example in which change notification device 2 is realized by software, firmware, etc. However, this is merely an example, and some of the components in change notification device 2 may be realized by dedicated hardware, and the remaining components may be realized by software, firmware, etc.

[0077] Next, the operation of the change notification device 2 shown in Fig. 10 will be described. Other than the complementary information generation unit 27 and the behavior change information notification unit 28, the change notification device 2 is the same as that shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, the operation of the complementary information generation unit 27 and the behavior change information notification unit 28 will mainly be described here.

[0078] The behavior change detection unit 23 receives a notification request for behavior change information from the notification request receiving unit 22. The behavior change detection unit 23 provides the notification request for behavior change information to the learning model 41, and receives, from the learning model 41, monitoring target information indicating the behavior of the monitoring target and behavior change information. The behavior change detection unit 23 receives, from the internal memory, identification information for sensing data corresponding to the monitoring target information. The behavior change detection unit 23 outputs the identification information for the sensing data to the sensing data collection unit 21, and outputs the behavior change information to the complementary information generation unit 27.

[0079] The complementary information generation unit 27 acquires behavior change information from the behavior change detection unit 23. The complementary information generation unit 27 provides the behavior change information to the learning model 43 and acquires complementary information corresponding to the behavior change information from the learning model 43. For example, if the behavior change information is a message such as "Mr. / Ms. X has gotten up," the learning model 43 outputs a message such as "Please help him / her not fall out of bed" as complementary information corresponding to the behavior change information. For example, if the behavior change information is a message such as "Mr. / Ms. X has eaten," the learning model 43 outputs a message such as "Please give him / her medicine" as complementary information corresponding to the behavior change information. The complementary information generation unit 27 outputs the complementary information to the behavior change information notification unit 28.

[0080] The behavior change information notification unit 28 acquires behavior change information from the behavior change detection unit 23 and acquires complementary information from the complementary information generation unit 27. The behavior change information notification unit 28 outputs each of the behavior change information and the complementary information to the chatbot engine unit 13.

[0081] The chatbot engine unit 13 acquires the behavior change information and the complementary information from the behavior change information notification unit 24. As shown in FIG. 12 , the chatbot engine unit 13 displays a message indicated by the behavior change information and a message indicated by the complementary information on the display of the display unit 14. The chatbot engine unit 13 also outputs the message indicated by the behavior change information and the message indicated by the complementary information as audio from the speaker of the audio output unit 15. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the message indicated by the behavior change information "X-san has gotten up" and the message indicated by the complementary information "Please help X-san not fall out of bed" when the notification request for behavior change information is "Please let me know when X-san gets up." In the example of FIG. 12 , in addition to the message "X-san has gotten up," an illustration showing X-san getting up is also displayed.

[0082] In the fourth embodiment described above, the change notification device 2 is configured to include a supplemental information generation unit 27 that generates supplemental information that supplements the behavior change information when a change in behavior is detected by the behavior change detection unit 23, and a behavior change information notification unit 28 that notifies the care recipient of both the behavior change information and the supplemental information. Therefore, the change notification device 2 can notify the care recipient of a change in behavior, and can also notify the care recipient of advice, etc.

[0083] 1 , the complementary information generation unit 27 provides behavioral change information to the learning model 43 and acquires complementary information corresponding to the behavioral change information from the learning model 43. However, this is merely an example, and the complementary information generation unit 27 may also acquire complementary information corresponding to the behavioral change information based on a rule base, for example.

[0084] In addition, the present disclosure allows for free combination of the respective embodiments, modification of any of the components of the respective embodiments, or omission of any of the components of the respective embodiments.

[0085] The present disclosure is suitable for a change notification device and a change notification method.

[0086] 1 Chatbot, 2 Change notification device, 3 Sensing device, 11 Speech recognition unit, 12 Speech database, 13 Chatbot engine unit, 14 Display unit, 15 Speech output unit, 21 Sensing data collection unit, 22 Notification request receiving unit, 23 Behavioral change detection unit, 24, 25 Behavioral change information notification unit, 26 Behavioral change detection unit, 27 Complementary information generation unit, 28 Behavioral change information notification unit, 31 Sensing data collection circuit, 32 Notification request receiving circuit, 33 Behavioral change detection circuit, 34, 35 Behavioral change information notification circuit, 36 Behavioral change detection circuit, 37 Complementary information generation circuit, 38 Behavioral change information notification circuit, 41 Learning model, 42 Care record database, 43 Learning model, 51 Memory, 52 Processor, 61 Bed sensor, 62 Room sensor, 63 Home appliance sensor, 64 Human presence sensor, 65 Vital sensor, 66 Ingestion detection sensor, 67 Sensing data recording unit.

Claims

1. A change notification device comprising: a sensing data collection unit that collects sensing data from a sensor that monitors the behavior of a care recipient; a behavior change detection unit that detects a change in the behavior of the care recipient based on the sensing data collected by the sensing data collection unit; and a behavior change information notification unit that, when a change in behavior is detected by the behavior change detection unit, notifies the care recipient of behavior change information, which is information indicating that a change has occurred in the behavior.

2. A change notification device as described in claim 1, characterized in that the notification request receiving unit receives a notification request for the behavior change information, and the behavior change detection unit detects a change in the behavior of the care recipient based on the sensing data collected by the sensing data collection unit when the notification request receiving unit receives a notification request for the behavior change information.

3. The change notification device of claim 2, characterized in that if the notification request for the behavior change information received by the notification request receiving unit includes notification timing information indicating the timing for notifying the behavior change information, the behavior change information notification unit notifies the behavior change information at the timing indicated by the notification timing information.

4. The change notification device of claim 1, characterized in that the behavior change detection unit detects a change in the behavior of the care recipient based on the sensing data collected by the sensing data collection unit and the care records of the care recipient.

5. The change notification device according to claim 1, further comprising a complementary information generation unit which generates complementary information that complements the behavior change information when a change in behavior is detected by the behavior change detection unit, and the behavior change information notification unit notifies each of the behavior change information and the complementary information.

6. A change notification method in which a sensing data collection unit collects sensing data from a sensor that monitors the behavior of a care recipient, a behavior change detection unit detects a change in the behavior of the care recipient based on the sensing data collected by the sensing data collection unit, and a behavior change information notification unit notifies, if a change in behavior is detected by the behavior change detection unit, behavior change information indicating that a change has occurred in the behavior.

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