Monitoring system and monitoring method

Abstract

The present invention appropriately reports an abnormal state while suppressing erroneous transmission.　A monitoring system 1 includes a plurality of monitoring devices 10 disposed in the same space. Each monitoring device 10 includes a power generation element 11, a capacitor 12, a transmission circuit 14, and a control circuit 13. The control circuit 13 is configured to execute: acquiring, in a reduced state in which a power storage amount in the capacitor 12 is less than a predetermined threshold, information indicating a power storage amount from another monitoring device to determine whether the power storage amount in the other monitoring device is in a first state in which the power storage amount is less than the predetermined threshold or a second state in which the power storage amount is not less than the predetermined threshold; and controlling the transmission circuit 14 so that signal transmission is not performed in the case of the first state and signal transmission indicating an abnormal state is performed in the case of the second state.

Description

Monitoring system and monitoring method

[0001] One aspect of the present invention relates to a monitoring system and a monitoring method.

[0002] As a method for monitoring illuminance indoors, a monitoring system has been proposed that includes a power generating element that generates electricity when exposed to light, and a storage unit that stores the electricity generated by the power generating element, and when the voltage value of the storage unit exceeds a threshold value, a transmitter is driven by power supplied from the storage unit, causing the transmitter to transmit a predetermined signal.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-21979

[0004] The above-mentioned technology detects and transmits a signal that the device is shaded due to some abnormality (e.g., a person falling over) based on, for example, a voltage change in the device's power storage unit. This method cannot distinguish between a case where the device is shaded due to some abnormality and, for example, a case where the entire room is turned off. As a result, even though the intended purpose of the signal is to only notify that the device is shaded due to some abnormality, there is a risk that the signal may be transmitted (by mistake) even when the light is simply turned off.

[0005] One aspect of the present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and aims to provide a monitoring system and a monitoring method that can appropriately notify an abnormal state while suppressing erroneous transmissions.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a monitoring system according to one aspect of the present invention is a monitoring system comprising a plurality of monitoring devices arranged in the same space, wherein the monitoring devices each comprise a power generation element that generates power when irradiated with light, a storage unit that stores the power generated by the power generation element, a transmitter that emits a predetermined signal, and a control unit that controls the transmitter, wherein the control unit is configured to, in a reduced state in which at least one of the amount of power stored in the storage unit and the amount of power generated by the power generation element is below a predetermined threshold, acquire information indicating at least one of the amount of power stored and the amount of power generated from another monitoring device, determine whether at least one of the amount of power stored and the amount of power generated in the other monitoring device is below the predetermined threshold or a second state in which it is not below the predetermined threshold, and control the transmitter so that no signal is transmitted if the state is the first state, and so that a signal indicating an abnormal state is transmitted if the state is the second state.

[0007] In one aspect of the present invention, in a monitoring system, when at least one of the amount of stored power and the amount of generated power (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the amount of stored power, etc.) in a certain monitoring device is in a low state, in which the amount of stored power, etc. is below a predetermined threshold, information indicating the amount of stored power, etc. is acquired from other monitoring devices, and it is determined whether the amount of stored power, etc. in the other monitoring devices is in a first state, in which the amount of stored power, etc. is below the predetermined threshold, or in a second state, in which the amount of stored power, etc. is not below the predetermined threshold. In this case, the first state refers to a state in which the amount of stored power, etc. is commonly low in multiple monitoring devices arranged in the same space, and is presumed to be a state in which the lights in the space are turned off. Furthermore, the second state refers to a state in which the amount of stored power, etc. is low in only one monitoring device, and it is presumed to be a state in which only that monitoring device is having difficulty emitting light, i.e., a person has fallen or something has occurred that is preventing light from being emitted to that monitoring device. By determining whether the first state or the second state is present, and not transmitting a signal in the first state but transmitting an abnormal state (such as a person falling) only in the second state, it is possible to appropriately transmit a signal indicating an abnormal state in an abnormal state (such as a person falling) where there is a high possibility that a person has fallen, while suppressing erroneous transmissions that would otherwise be transmitted when the light is simply off (the first state). As described above, the monitoring system according to one aspect of the present invention can appropriately notify an abnormal state while suppressing erroneous transmissions.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a monitoring system and a monitoring method that can appropriately notify an abnormal state while suppressing erroneous transmissions.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a monitoring system according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a monitoring device included in the monitoring system. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a mode change according to a voltage value. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the monitoring system. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of a control circuit of a monitoring device included in the monitoring system according to this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a monitoring system according to a modified example. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a monitoring system according to a modified example. FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating a monitoring system according to a modified example.

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a monitoring system 1 according to the present embodiment. The monitoring system 1 is a system including multiple monitoring devices 10A-10C (sometimes collectively referred to as monitoring devices 10) arranged in the same space (indoors). In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the space to which the monitoring system 1 is applied is a bathroom. As shown in FIG. 1 , the bathroom is equipped with a bathtub 50, a bath stool 60, a light 70, and the like. The light 70 is a light source that emits light in the bathroom. A switch 80 is also provided as a light adjustment unit that adjusts the amount of light emitted from the light 70. The switch 80 may simply switch the light on / off, or may be capable of gradually changing the lighting state (light intensity).

[0012] The monitoring device 10A shown in Figure 1 is placed on the seat of a bath stool 60. The monitoring device 10B is placed on the bathroom floor in an area where the bath stool 60 is likely to be placed. The monitoring device 10C is installed on the bathroom wall. The monitoring devices 10A to 10C are devices that monitor the illuminance in the locations where they are installed.

[0013] Fig. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the monitoring device 10 (monitoring devices 10A to 10C) included in the monitoring system 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the monitoring device 10 includes a power generating element 11, a capacitor 12 (power storage unit), a control circuit 13 (control unit), and a transmitting circuit 14 (transmitting unit).

[0014] The power generating element 11 is, for example, a solar cell that generates power when irradiated with light, and includes one or more solar cell cells (not shown). The power generating element 11 may be, for example, a dye-sensitized solar cell. A dye-sensitized solar cell is a cell that exhibits high power generation performance even under illuminance obtained from indoor lighting fixtures that is lower than that outdoors, and is therefore suitable for indoor use.

[0015] The capacitor 12 is an element that stores and releases the electric charge generated by the power generating element 11, and is connected in parallel to the power generating element 11. The capacitor 12 functions as a power storage unit for storing the power generated by the power generating element 11. The capacitor 12 discharges the electric charge toward the transmitting circuit 14, for example, in accordance with the control of the control circuit 13. For example, an electric double layer capacitor can be used as the capacitor 12. Note that a boost unit that boosts the voltage input from the power generating element 11 to a voltage suitable for storing electric charge in the capacitor 12 may be further provided between the capacitor 12 and the power generating element 11.

[0016] The transmitting circuit 14 is powered by the generated power. The transmitting circuit 14 transmits a beacon signal including, for example, identification information (beacon ID) of the monitoring device 10 to the surroundings of the monitoring device 10. The transmitting circuit 14 transmits a signal indicating an abnormal state during sleep mode in response to control by the control circuit 13 (details will be described later). Such a beacon signal from the transmitting circuit 14 is received, for example, by a terminal device (not shown). Such a terminal device (not shown) is, for example, a terminal such as a smartphone carried by a user. When the signal indicating the abnormal state described above is received by the terminal (not shown), the abnormal state can be notified to the user (details will be described later).

[0017] The control circuit 13 is a control unit that controls the transmitting circuit 14. The control circuit 13 determines whether the current state is the lighting mode or the sleep mode, for example, based on the amount of electricity stored in the capacitor 12 (more specifically, the voltage according to the amount of electricity stored). Note that, in the following description, the control circuit 13 makes the determination using the amount of electricity stored in the capacitor 12, but the "amount of electricity stored in the capacitor 12" described below may be read as the "amount of electricity generated in the power generating element 11."

[0018] The on mode is a state in which the voltage value corresponding to the amount of stored power exceeds a predetermined threshold, and it is assumed that light is emitted from the light 70 and the bathroom is lit. The sleep mode is a state in which the voltage value corresponding to the amount of stored power is below a predetermined threshold (reduced state), and it is assumed that light is not emitted from the light 70 and the bathroom is turned off. The control circuit 13 determines that the reduced state is in effect when the voltage value corresponding to the amount of stored power is below the predetermined threshold, and that a transition has been made from the on mode to the sleep mode. Note that the control circuit 13 may determine that the reduced state is in effect only when the voltage value corresponding to the amount of stored power remains below the predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time.

[0019] During the lighting mode, the control circuit 13 may control each component so that power consumption is performed periodically or constantly to an extent that the power consumption does not fall below the threshold. Specifically, the control circuit 13 may consume power so that the voltage value corresponding to the amount of charge stored in the capacitor 12 does not fall below a predetermined threshold, so that the capacitor 12 does not become overcharged when the capacitor 12 has been charged up to a predetermined maximum voltage. Alternatively, the control circuit 13 may constantly consume power and control the power generating element 11 so that power generation is stopped when the capacitor 12 has been charged up to the predetermined maximum voltage.

[0020] 3 is a diagram illustrating mode changes according to voltage values ​​based on the amount of charge stored in capacitor 12. In FIG. 3, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents voltage values ​​according to the amount of charge stored in capacitor 12. Here, it is assumed that a voltage threshold TH is set as the threshold value described above. It is also assumed that the light is on until time t1, is off from time t1 to time t2, and is again on from time t2.

[0021] As shown in Figure 3, when the lamp is turned on, the control in the lighting mode described above is performed, and therefore the voltage is controlled within a predetermined range while decreasing every time power is consumed. When the lamp is turned off at time t1, the power generating element 11 no longer generates power, and the voltage gradually decreases. When the voltage falls below a predetermined voltage threshold TH, the control circuit 13 determines that the lamp has entered the sleep mode.

[0022] When the control circuit 13 determines that the monitoring device 10 is in the sleep mode, it acquires information indicating the amount of power stored in the other monitoring devices 10 from the other monitoring devices 10 and determines whether the voltage value corresponding to the amount of power stored is in a first state, in which the voltage value is similarly below a predetermined voltage threshold TH, or in a second state, in which the voltage value is not below the predetermined voltage threshold TH. In this case, the first state refers to a state in which the amount of power stored, etc., is low in multiple monitoring devices 10 (e.g., monitoring devices 10A to 10C) located in the same bathroom, and is presumed to be simply a state in which the lights are turned off in the bathroom. The second state refers to a state in which the amount of power stored, etc., is low in only one monitoring device 10, and it is difficult for that monitoring device 10 to emit light alone, i.e., a state in which a person has fallen or something has occurred that is preventing light from being emitted to that monitoring device 10.

[0023] 1, suppose a person falls over the monitoring device 10B. In this case, even with the lights on, the light is less likely to be irradiated onto the monitoring device 10B, causing the amount of stored power to decrease, whereas the amounts of stored power of the other monitoring devices 10A and 10C do not decrease. In this case, the control circuit 13 of the monitoring device 10B determines that the amount of stored power has decreased and that the device is in the sleep mode, but determines that the voltage values ​​corresponding to the amounts of stored power acquired from the other monitoring devices 10A and 10C are not below the predetermined voltage threshold TH and therefore that the device is in the second state.

[0024] In addition, the control circuit 13 may acquire information indicating the status of the adjustment of the irradiation amount by the switch 80, for example, the status of switching on / off, and further take this information into consideration to determine whether it is in the first state or the second state.

[0025] The control circuit 13 controls the transmitting circuit 14 so that no signal is transmitted when the first state is established. On the other hand, when the control circuit 13 determines that the second state is established, the control circuit 13 controls the transmitting circuit 14 so that a signal indicating an abnormal state (a state in which a person has fallen, etc.) is transmitted. Note that the control circuit 13 may control a generator (not shown) that emits light or sound before the transmission by the transmitting circuit 14, thereby notifying the user of the transmission by light or sound (notifying the user that a transmission will be made).

[0026] Then, when the device returns to the on state at time t3 shown in FIG. 3 , the power generating element 11 generates electricity, gradually increasing the voltage. The control circuit 13 determines that the device has entered the on mode again when the voltage value corresponding to the amount of stored power exceeds a predetermined voltage threshold TH. When the device returns to the on mode (when the device is no longer in the reduced power state after having been determined to be in the reduced power state), the control circuit 13 may reset the predetermined threshold by a predetermined amount lower than the existing value (voltage threshold TH). Specifically, if the initial threshold is set to the capacity reached within one hour when the device is left in a room with the lights off from a fully charged state, the reset threshold may be set to the capacity reached within another one hour from the initial threshold. This allows the time required to reach the initial threshold from a fully charged state to be equivalent to the time required to reach the reset threshold from the initial threshold, while still enabling transmission even when the battery level has already fallen below the initial threshold. Alternatively, when the device returns to the on mode (when the device is no longer in the reduced power state after having been determined to be in the reduced power state), the control circuit 13 may reduce the frequency of determining the reduced power state compared to the previous time when the device was determined to be in the reduced power state. For example, if a fully charged state is 100, a fully discharged state is 0, and the power difference between the fully charged state and the first threshold is n, then a 100 / n division is possible when dividing the power equally. In this case, mutual transmission can be simplified when the power falls below a threshold between the first threshold and the 100 / nth threshold. For example, if a mutual confirmation transmission is sent for an individual device among installed devices that is sure that light is not blocked by people or objects, the only possible cause of a voltage drop in that device is the turning off of the lights in the room. Therefore, if a voltage drop occurs in that device, a method can be used to bypass mutual confirmation and instead transmit a signal to stop the self-discharge of other devices. Alternatively, a method can be set up to bypass mutual confirmation and turn off the self-discharge circuit when a specific time, the presence or absence of a trigger (such as vibration, impact, or heat), or when a specific 100 / n interval is reached.

[0027] Next, the processing executed by the monitoring system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing executed by the monitoring system 1.

[0028] 4, first, power is generated by the power generating element 11 under light irradiation (step S1). During power generation, a portion of the power may be used to prevent overcharging.

[0029] Next, when the monitoring device 10 is shaded for some reason (step S2), the voltage value corresponding to the amount of stored power gradually decreases, and a determination process is performed in the control circuit 13. Specifically, the control circuit 13 determines whether the voltage value corresponding to the amount of stored power in the capacitor 12 is in a reduced state where it is below a threshold value, and also determines whether the voltage values ​​corresponding to the amount of stored power acquired from other monitoring devices 10 are in a first state where they are below the threshold value, or in a second state where they are not below the threshold value (step S3).

[0030] If it is determined that the bathroom is in the first state, the control circuit 13 determines that the amount of light in the bathroom is reduced overall, i.e., the lights are off, and no signal is transmitted by the transmitting circuit 14 (step S4).

[0031] On the other hand, if it is determined that the second state is present, the control circuit 13 determines that an abnormal state is present (a state in which a person has fallen, etc.), and controls the transmitting circuit 14 to transmit a signal indicating that an abnormal state is present (step S5).

[0032] In the first and second states, the monitoring device 10 is in a sleep mode (step S6). When the light blocking in the monitoring device 10 is released (step S7), the voltage value gradually increases according to the amount of stored power, and the voltage value returns to above the threshold value (step S8). This releases the sleep mode (step S9), and the process is executed again from step S1.

[0033] Next, the effects of the monitoring system 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0034] A monitoring system 1 according to this embodiment is a monitoring system including a plurality of monitoring devices 10 arranged in the same space, and each monitoring device 10 includes a power generating element 11 that generates electricity when irradiated with light, a capacitor 12 that stores the power generated by the power generating element 11, a transmitting circuit 14 that transmits a predetermined signal, and a control circuit 13 that controls the transmitting circuit 14. In a reduced state in which at least one of the amount of stored electricity in the capacitor 12 and the amount of electricity generated by the power generating element 11 is below a predetermined threshold, the control circuit 13 is configured to: acquire information indicating at least one of the amount of stored electricity and the amount of electricity generated from another monitoring device, determine whether at least one of the amount of stored electricity and the amount of electricity generated in the other monitoring device is in a first state in which the amount of stored electricity and the amount of electricity generated is below the predetermined threshold, or a second state in which the amount of stored electricity and the amount of electricity generated are not below the predetermined threshold, and control the transmitting circuit 14 so that no signal is transmitted if the first state is established, and so that a signal indicating an abnormal state is transmitted if the second state is established.

[0035] In the monitoring system 1 according to this embodiment, when a certain monitoring device 10 is in a low state, for example, where the amount of stored power is below a predetermined threshold, information indicating the amount of stored power is acquired from other monitoring devices, and it is determined whether the amount of stored power in the other monitoring devices is in a first state, where the amount of stored power is below the predetermined threshold, or in a second state, where the amount of stored power is not below the threshold. In this case, the first state refers to a state in which the amount of stored power is low in multiple monitoring devices 10A-10C arranged in the same space, and is presumed to be a state in which the lights are turned off in the space. The second state refers to a state in which the amount of stored power is low in only one monitoring device 10, and it is presumed to be a state in which only that monitoring device 10 is having difficulty emitting light, i.e., a person has fallen or something has occurred that is preventing light from being emitted to that monitoring device 10. By determining whether the first state or the second state is present, and not transmitting a signal in the first state but transmitting an abnormal state (such as a person falling) only in the second state, it is possible to appropriately transmit a signal indicating an abnormal state in an abnormal state (such as a person falling) where there is a high possibility that a person has fallen, while suppressing erroneous transmissions that would otherwise be transmitted when the light is simply off (the first state). As described above, the monitoring system 1 according to this embodiment can appropriately notify an abnormal state while suppressing erroneous transmissions.

[0036] The control circuit 13 may determine that the capacitor 12 is in a reduced state when the amount of stored electricity in the capacitor 12 has been below a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time. This prevents the capacitor 12 from being determined to be in a reduced state when the amount of stored electricity has merely temporarily decreased for some reason, thereby improving the accuracy of determining that the capacitor 12 is in a reduced state.

[0037] The control circuit 13 may reset the predetermined threshold by lowering it by a predetermined amount when the reduced state is no longer present after the control circuit 13 has determined that the battery is in a reduced state. Immediately after the battery returns to a normal state from a reduced state, the amount of stored power is still low, so it is conceivable that a slight change would reach the threshold. This could result in a determination of a reduced state even when the amount of stored power is merely temporarily reduced and it is not a case in which a true reduced state is truly desired. In this regard, by resetting the threshold by lowering it when the battery returns from a reduced state, the above-mentioned problem can be avoided and the accuracy of determining the reduced state can be improved.

[0038] When the control circuit 13 determines that the battery is in the reduced state but then determines that the battery is no longer in the reduced state, the control circuit 13 may determine that the battery is in the reduced state less frequently than when the control circuit 13 previously determined that the battery was in the reduced state. This reduces the possibility that the battery is determined to be in the reduced state when the amount of stored power is merely temporarily reduced, and improves the accuracy of determining that the battery is in the reduced state.

[0039] The monitoring system 1 may further include a switch 80 that adjusts the amount of irradiation from the light 70 that emits light, and the control circuit 13 may determine whether the state is the first state or the second state by further considering the state of adjustment of the amount of irradiation by the switch 80. With this configuration, it is possible to more accurately determine whether the light 70 is simply off (first state) based on the amount of irradiation from the light 70.

[0040] The control circuit 13 may control the transmitting circuit 14 so that a signal is transmitted after a notification of the transmission by light or sound is given before the signal is transmitted. With this configuration, for example, an erroneous transmission can be noticed early.

[0041] Next, the hardware configuration of the control circuit 13 of the monitoring device 10 described above will be described with reference to Fig. 5. The control circuit 13 may be physically configured as a computer device including a processor 1001, a memory 1002, a storage 1003, a communication device 1004, an input device 1005, an output device 1006, a bus 1007, etc.

[0042] In the following description, the term "apparatus" can be read as a circuit, a device, a unit, etc. The hardware configuration of the control circuit 13 may be configured to include one or more of the devices shown in the figure, or may be configured to exclude some of the devices.

[0043] Each function in the control circuit 13 is realized by loading specified software (programs) onto hardware such as the processor 1001 and memory 1002, causing the processor 1001 to perform calculations and control communication via the communication device 1004 and the reading and / or writing of data in the memory 1002 and storage 1003.

[0044] The processor 1001 controls the entire computer by running, for example, an operating system. The processor 1001 may be configured as a central processing unit (CPU) including an interface with peripheral devices, a control device, an arithmetic unit, a register, etc. Various control functions of the control circuit 13 may be realized by the processor 1001.

[0045] The processor 1001 also reads programs (program codes), software modules, and data from the storage 1003 and / or the communication device 1004 into the memory 1002, and executes various processes in accordance with these. The programs used are those that cause a computer to execute at least some of the operations described in the above embodiments.

[0046] For example, the various control functions of the control circuit 13 may be implemented by a control program stored in the memory 1002 and running on the processor 1001, and similar implementations may be performed for other functional blocks. Although the above-described various processes have been described as being executed by one processor 1001, they may be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more processors 1001. The processor 1001 may be implemented on one or more chips. The program may be transmitted from a network via a telecommunications line.

[0047] The memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium and may be composed of at least one of, for example, a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a random access memory (RAM), etc. The memory 1002 may also be called a register, a cache, a main memory (primary storage device), etc. The memory 1002 can store executable programs (program codes), software modules, etc. for implementing a wireless communication method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] Storage 1003 is a computer-readable recording medium, and may be, for example, at least one of an optical disk such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc ROM), a hard disk drive, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a Blu-ray disc), a smart card, a flash memory (e.g., a card, a stick, a key drive), a floppy disk, a magnetic strip, etc. Storage 1003 may also be referred to as an auxiliary storage device. The above-mentioned storage medium may be, for example, a database, a server, or other appropriate medium including memory 1002 and / or storage 1003.

[0049] The communication device 1004 is hardware (transmission / reception device) for communicating between computers via a wired and / or wireless network, and is also called, for example, a network device, a network controller, a network card, or a communication module.

[0050] The input device 1005 is an input device (e.g., a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a switch, a button, a sensor, etc.) that receives input from the outside. The output device 1006 is an output device (e.g., a display, a speaker, an LED lamp, etc.) that outputs to the outside. The input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may be integrated into one device (e.g., a touch panel).

[0051] Furthermore, each device such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002 is connected to a bus 1007 for communicating information. The bus 1007 may be configured as a single bus, or may be configured as different buses between the devices.

[0052] The control circuit 13 may also be configured to include hardware such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and some or all of the functional blocks may be realized by the hardware. For example, the processor 1001 may be implemented by at least one of these pieces of hardware.

[0053] Although the present embodiment has been described in detail above, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present embodiment is not limited to the embodiment described in this specification. The present embodiment can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description in this specification is intended to be illustrative and does not have any limiting meaning on the present embodiment.

[0054] FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a monitoring system 300 according to a modified example. In addition to the components of the monitoring system 1 described above, the monitoring system 300 includes a first sensor 301. The first sensor 301 is a pressure sensor or a heat sensor that is provided in a space in which multiple monitoring devices 10 are arranged and is capable of detecting a person falling. The first sensor 301 is provided, for example, near a monitoring device 10B that is provided on the floor. The first sensor 301 transmits the detection result to the control circuit 13. The control circuit 13 further considers the detection result of the first sensor 301 to determine whether the state is the first state or the second state.

[0055] With this configuration, it is possible to more accurately determine whether an abnormal state (second state) in which there is a high possibility that a person has fallen, etc., is occurring, based on the detection result of whether or not a person has fallen by the first sensor 301.

[0056] FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a monitoring system 400 according to a modified example. The monitoring system 400 includes a second sensor 401 in addition to the components of the monitoring system 1 described above. The second sensor 401 is a piezoelectric sensor or vibration sensor that is provided in a space in which multiple monitoring devices 10 are arranged and is capable of detecting an applied impact. The second sensor 401 is provided, for example, near a monitoring device 10B that is provided on the floor. The second sensor 401 transmits the detection result to the control circuit 13. When the second sensor 401 detects an impact exceeding a predetermined impact threshold in a situation in which the control circuit 13 determines that the second state is present, the control circuit 13 controls the transmission circuit 14 so that a signal indicating an abnormal state is transmitted in a shorter time than usual.

[0057] With this configuration, based on the impact detection result by the second sensor 401, an emergency call can be made (within a short period of time) if a person falls, etc., thereby improving the monitoring function in emergencies.

[0058] 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating a monitoring system 500 according to a modified example. In addition to the components of the monitoring system 1 described above, the monitoring system 500 includes a third sensor 501. The third sensor 501 is a sensor that is provided in a space in which multiple monitoring devices 10 are provided and detects vibrations. The third sensor 501 may be provided anywhere in the bathroom. The control circuit 13 controls the transmission circuit 14 so as not to transmit a signal while the third sensor 501 detects vibrations that exceed a predetermined vibration threshold.

[0059] Regarding the voltage drop while vibration is being detected, it is possible that a person or object is working in the installation area, and it is assumed that this is not a state in which detection is desired. States in which detection is desired include a person or object that has fallen and is unable to move, or an object that has been placed in a place where objects should not normally be placed. On the other hand, since a person who has fallen can still move slightly, a threshold can be set for the amount of power generated by vibration. In other words, a voltage drop while detecting vibration below a certain level can be considered to be a fall state, and mutual confirmation can be performed with another pair of devices.

[0060] Each aspect / embodiment described herein may be applied to systems utilizing LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4G, 5G, FRA (Future Radio Access), W-CDMA, GSM, CDMA2000, UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, UWB (Ultra-Wide Band), Bluetooth, or other suitable systems and / or next generation systems enhanced thereon.

[0061] The order of the procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc. of each aspect / embodiment described herein may be rearranged unless it is consistent. For example, the methods described herein present elements of various steps in an example order and are not limited to the particular order presented.

[0062] Input and output information may be stored in a specific location (for example, memory) or managed in a management table. Input and output information may be overwritten, updated, or added to. Output information may be deleted. Input information may be sent to another device.

[0063] The determination may be made based on a value represented by one bit (0 or 1), a Boolean value (true or false), or a numerical comparison (e.g., comparison with a predetermined value).

[0064] The aspects / embodiments described herein may be used alone or in combination, or may be switched depending on the implementation. Notification of predetermined information (e.g., notification that "X is true") is not limited to explicit notification, but may be implicit (e.g., not notifying the predetermined information).

[0065] Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0066] Software, instructions, etc. may also be transmitted or received over a transmission medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using wired technologies such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), and / or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, these wired and / or wireless technologies are included within the definition of transmission media.

[0067] The information, signals, etc. described herein may be represented using any one of a variety of different technologies. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

[0068] It should be noted that terms explained in this specification and / or terms necessary for understanding this specification may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings.

[0069] Furthermore, the information, parameters, etc. described in this specification may be expressed as absolute values, as relative values ​​from a predetermined value, or as corresponding other information.

[0070] A communications terminal may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a mobile communications terminal, subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communications device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, or some other suitable terminology.

[0071] As used herein, the phrase "based on" does not mean "based only on," unless expressly specified otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" means both "based only on" and "based at least on."

[0072] When designations such as "first," "second," etc. are used herein, any reference to such elements does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used herein as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements. Thus, a reference to a first and a second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed therein or that the first element must precede the second element in some way.

[0073] To the extent that the terms "include," "including," and variations thereof are used herein or in the claims, these terms are intended to be inclusive, similar to the term "comprising." Furthermore, the term "or," as used herein or in the claims, is not intended to be an exclusive or.

[0074] In this specification, a plurality of devices is also included unless the context or the technology clearly indicates that only one device exists.

[0075] Throughout this disclosure, the plural is intended to be included unless the singular is clearly indicated by the context.

[0076] 1, 300, 400, 500...Monitoring system, 10...Monitoring device, 11...Power generation element, 12...Capacitor (storage unit), 13...Control circuit (control unit), 14...Transmitting circuit (transmitting unit), 80...Switch (light adjustment unit), 301...First sensor, 401...Second sensor, 501...Third sensor.

Claims

1. A monitoring system comprising a plurality of monitoring devices arranged in the same space, wherein the monitoring devices comprise: a power generation element that generates electricity when irradiated with light; a storage unit that stores the electricity generated by the power generation element; a transmitter that emits a predetermined signal; and a control unit that controls the transmitter, wherein the control unit is configured to: acquire information indicating at least one of the amount of stored electricity and the amount of generated electricity from another monitoring device in a reduced state in which at least one of the amount of stored electricity in the storage unit and the amount of generated electricity of the power generation element is below a predetermined threshold, and determine whether the other monitoring device is in a first state in which at least one of the amount of stored electricity and the amount of generated electricity is below the predetermined threshold, or a second state in which it is not below the threshold; and control the transmitter so that if the state is the first state, no signal is transmitted, and if the state is the second state, a signal indicating an abnormal state is transmitted.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the control unit determines that the reduced state is occurring when at least one of the amount of electricity stored in the storage unit and the amount of electricity generated by the power generation element remains below a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time.

3. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the control unit resets the predetermined threshold by lowering it by a predetermined amount when the reduced state is no longer present after determining that the state is being maintained.

4. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the control unit, when determining that the state is reduced and then the state is no longer reduced, reduces the frequency of determining that the state is reduced compared to the previous time that the state was determined to be reduced.

5. A monitoring system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a light adjustment unit that adjusts the amount of irradiation from the light source that irradiates the light, and wherein the control unit determines whether the state is the first state or the second state by further taking into consideration the state of adjustment of the amount of irradiation by the light adjustment unit.

6. A monitoring system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a first sensor which is a pressure sensor or a heat sensor that is provided in the space in which the plurality of monitoring devices are arranged and is capable of detecting a person falling down, and wherein the control unit determines whether the state is the first state or the second state by further taking into consideration the detection result by the first sensor.

7. A monitoring system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a second sensor which is a piezoelectric sensor or a vibration sensor and which is provided in the space in which the plurality of monitoring devices are arranged and is capable of detecting an applied impact, wherein the control unit controls the transmitting unit so that, when an impact exceeding a predetermined impact threshold is detected by the second sensor in a situation in which the second state is determined to be present, a signal indicating the abnormal state is transmitted in a shorter period of time than usual.

8. A monitoring system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a third sensor disposed in the space in which the plurality of monitoring devices are arranged and which detects vibrations, wherein the control unit controls the transmitting unit so as not to transmit a signal during a period in which vibrations exceeding a predetermined vibration threshold are detected by the third sensor.

9. A monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit controls the transmitting unit so that the signal is transmitted after notifying the transmitting unit that the signal will be transmitted by light or sound before the signal is transmitted.

10. A monitoring method executed by a monitoring system having a plurality of monitoring devices arranged in the same space, comprising: determining, in one monitoring device, whether at least one of the amount of power generated by a power generating element that generates power when irradiated with light and the amount of power stored in a power storage unit that stores the power generated by the power generating element is in a reduced state where it is below a predetermined threshold; acquiring, in the reduced state, information indicating at least one of the amount of power stored and the amount of power generated from a monitoring device other than the one monitoring device, and determining whether at least one of the amount of power stored and the amount of power generated in the other monitoring device is in a first state where it is below a predetermined threshold, or a second state where it is not below the predetermined threshold; not transmitting a signal if the state is the first state, and transmitting a signal indicating an abnormal state if the state is the second state.

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