Communication system, medical device, communication method, and program

Abstract

A communication system (10) comprising a first device (12) and a second device (14) that is capable of communicating with the first device (12), wherein: the first device (12) is provided with a storage unit (34) that stores a data array which is to be transmitted to the second device (14) and a transmission unit (38) that sequentially transmits data signals corresponding to data which constitutes the data array stored in the storage unit (34); and the transmission unit (38) sequentially inserts, before the data signals to be sequentially transmitted, dummy signals that differ from the data signals.

Description

Communication system, medical device, communication method and program

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication system, a medical device, a communication method, and a program.

[0002] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 11-120424 discloses a vending machine control device. The vending machine control device includes a main control unit and multiple terminal control units. The main control unit and each terminal control unit are connected to each other via a communication line so that they can communicate with each other. The main control unit includes an oscillator circuit using a ceramic oscillator or a crystal oscillator. The terminal control units include a CR oscillator circuit. By matching the oscillation frequencies of each oscillator circuit, synchronous transmission between the main control unit and each terminal control unit becomes possible.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-120424

[0004] Low-precision oscillator circuits, such as CR oscillator circuits, experience fluctuations in oscillation frequency due to disturbances such as temperature changes. Significant frequency deviations in devices that make up a communication system can affect communication quality. Significant frequency deviations can make it difficult to receive signals properly.

[0005] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0006] (1) A first aspect of the present disclosure is a communication system comprising a first device and a second device capable of communicating with the first device, wherein the first device comprises a memory unit that stores a data sequence to be transmitted to the second device, and a transmitter unit that sequentially transmits data signals corresponding to data constituting the data sequence stored in the memory unit, and the transmitter unit sequentially inserts dummy signals different from the data signals before the sequentially transmitted data signals.

[0007] In the above-described communication system, the transmitter of the first device alternately transmits a data signal and a dummy signal. In other words, the transmitter of the first device transmits the dummy signal after transmitting the first data signal and before transmitting the second data signal. This inserts the dummy signal between the first data signal and the second data signal.

[0008] According to the above-described communication system, the second device can recognize the end of transmission of the first data signal by recognizing the dummy signal. In other words, the second device can distinguish between the first data signal and the second data signal. This allows each of the multiple data signals to be reliably recognized even when a significant frequency shift occurs. For example, even if the transmitter of the first device continuously transmits multiple data signals indicating the same data value, the second device can reliably recognize each of the multiple data signals as the data value of each data signal.

[0009] (2) In the communication system described in the above item (1), the transmitter may perform transmission using any one of a frequency modulation, an amplitude modulation, and a phase modulation.

[0010] (3) In the communication system according to the above item (1) or (2), the transmitting unit may perform transmission by wireless communication.

[0011] (4) In the communication system described in the above item (3), the transmitting unit may perform transmission by acoustic wave communication.

[0012] (5) In the communication system described in any one of items (1) to (4) above, the first device may be a medical device.

[0013] (6) A second aspect of the present disclosure is a medical device comprising: a memory unit that stores a data sequence to be transmitted to an information device; and a transmitter unit that sequentially transmits data signals corresponding to the data constituting the data sequence stored in the memory unit, wherein the transmitter unit sequentially inserts dummy signals different from the data signals before the sequentially transmitted data signals.

[0014] (7) A third aspect of the present disclosure is a communication method, comprising a transmission step of sequentially transmitting, from a first device to a second device, data signals corresponding to data constituting a data sequence stored in a memory unit that stores the data sequence to be transmitted from the first device to the second device, wherein, in the transmission step, dummy signals different from the data signals are sequentially inserted before the sequentially transmitted data signals.

[0015] According to the above-described communication method, the second device can recognize the end of transmission of the first data signal by recognizing the dummy signal. In other words, the second device can distinguish between the first data signal and the second data signal. This allows each of the multiple data signals to be reliably recognized even when a significant frequency shift occurs. For example, even if the transmitter of the first device continuously transmits multiple data signals indicating the same data value, the second device can reliably recognize each of the multiple data signals as the data value of each data signal.

[0016] (8) A fourth aspect of the present disclosure is a program for causing a computer to execute the communication method according to the third aspect.

[0017] According to the present invention, the second device can reliably recognize each of the multiple data signals transmitted from the transmitter of the first device.

[0018] Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a medical device (medicinal liquid administration device). Fig. 3 is a flowchart of a transmission process executed in the medical device (medicinal liquid administration device). Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the transmission process executed in the medical device (medicinal liquid administration device).

[0019] If each device that makes up a communication system is equipped with a highly accurate oscillator circuit, frequency deviations can be suppressed, thereby enabling good communication.

[0020] On the other hand, the present invention makes it possible to perform good communications even if any of the devices constituting the communication system includes a low-precision oscillator circuit, etc. An embodiment of this invention will be described below.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a communication system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment described below is a communication system 10 capable of transmitting medical information from a medical device (first device) 12 to an information device (second device) 14 by wireless communication using sound waves (sound wave communication). Note that the first device is not limited to the medical device 12. Furthermore, the second device is not limited to the information device 14. Furthermore, wireless communication using radio waves may be performed instead of wireless communication using sound waves. Furthermore, communication from the medical device 12 to the information device 14 may be performed via a communication cable. In other words, the communication system 10 may perform wired communication.

[0022] 1, the communication system 10 according to this embodiment includes a medical device 12 and an information device 14. The communication system 10 is a system in which the information device 14 acquires medical information held by the medical device 12.

[0023] In the communication system 10, there may be one or more medical devices 12 and information devices 14. For example, when the communication system 10 is used in a hospital or the like, the communication system 10 may be expected to include multiple medical devices 12. In this case, for example, one information device 14 may individually manage medical information for multiple medical devices 12. Furthermore, the communication system 10 may include multiple types of medical devices 12 (e.g., drug solution administration devices 16, blood pressure monitors, thermometers, etc.). In this case, for example, it is also possible for one information device 14 to manage medical information related to multiple types of medical devices 12 for multiple patients.

[0024] [1-1 Configuration of the medical device 12 (medicinal solution administration device 16)] Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the medical device 12 (medicinal solution administration device 16). As shown in Fig. 2, the medical device 12 is a device that can be attached to and detached from the living body 100. In other words, the medical device 12 is used while in contact with the skin (body surface 102) of the living body 100. The medical device 12 can acquire medical information while attached to the living body 100. In this embodiment, a medicinal solution administration device 16 for administering a medicinal solution to the living body 100 is exemplified as the medical device 12. Note that the medical device 12 is not limited to the medicinal solution administration device 16, and may be a measuring device such as a blood pressure monitor, a thermometer, a blood glucose meter, or a pulse oximeter.

[0025] The drug solution administration device 16 is a patch-type device that is attached to the body surface 102. The drug solution administration device 16 continuously administers the drug solution into the living body 100 over a relatively long period of time (for example, several minutes to several hours). The drug solution administration device 16 may also administer the drug solution intermittently into the living body 100. Examples of the drug solution include protein preparations such as insulin preparations. Examples of the drug include narcotic analgesics, diuretics, etc.

[0026] The medicinal solution administration device 16 includes a device main body 18 and an adhesive member 20. The device main body 18 has a housing 22, a prefilled syringe 24, and a puncturing unit 26. The housing 22 houses various components including the prefilled syringe 24. The prefilled syringe 24 is pre-filled with medicinal solution. The puncturing unit 26 has a puncturing operation section 28 for operating a puncturing needle (not shown). When a user presses the puncturing operation section 28, the puncturing needle protrudes from the housing 22. The adhesive member 20 is fixed to the housing 22. The adhesive member 20 has an adhesive surface that can be attached to a body surface 102.

[0027] In such a medicinal solution administration device 16, with the adhesive member 20 attached to the body surface 102, a user (e.g., a patient) presses the puncture operation unit 28, causing the puncture needle to puncture the living body 100. Thereafter, administration of the medicinal solution from the pre-filled syringe 24 to the living body 100 begins. When administration of the medicinal solution is complete, the user removes the medicinal solution administration device 16 from the body surface 102.

[0028] 1, the drug solution administration device 16 further includes an oscillation unit 30, a calculation unit (computer) 32, a storage unit 34, and a signal supply unit 36. Note that the drug solution administration device 16 may also include components other than these components, but the description thereof will be omitted here.

[0029] The oscillator 30 includes, for example, an oscillator circuit (such as a CR oscillator circuit, an LC oscillator circuit, or a ring oscillator), a frequency divider, etc. The oscillator 30 continuously generates an electrical signal of a predetermined oscillation frequency.

[0030] The calculation unit 32 is configured by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). That is, the calculation unit 32 is configured by processing circuitry. The calculation unit 32 has a transmission unit 38. The transmission unit 38 can be realized by the calculation unit 32 executing a program stored in the storage unit 34.

[0031] At least a part of the transmitter 38 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array).Also, at least a part of the transmitter 38 may be configured by an electronic circuit including discrete devices.

[0032] The transmitter 38 performs a transmission process for transmitting a signal indicating medical information to the information device 14. For example, the transmitter 38 reads out medical information stored in the memory 34. The medical information is composed of, for example, a binary data string. The medical information is composed of multi-bit data (digital values). The transmitter 38 can sequentially read out one bit of data from the data string.

[0033] The transmitter 38 generates a data signal corresponding to the data (digital value) read from the storage unit 34 and outputs the generated data signal to the signal supply unit 36. The transmitter 38 generates and outputs an edge signal and a dummy signal that are different from the data signal, separately from the data signal. The edge signal is a signal that is transmitted before and after the transmission of a series of data signals. The dummy signal is a signal that is transmitted after the transmission of a first data signal and before the transmission of a second data signal that follows the first data signal. In this way, the transmitter 38 generates and sequentially outputs a data signal indicating 0, a data signal indicating 1, an edge signal, and a dummy signal. In other words, the transmitter 38 can sequentially transmit four different signals. Each signal is a one-bit signal.

[0034] The transmitter 38 modulates each of the four different signals into an electrical signal having a frequency corresponding to the signal based on the electrical signal generated by the oscillator 30. For example, the transmitter 38 generates a signal modulated by multilevel frequency shift keying (FSK). When transmitting a data signal indicating 0, the transmitter 38 generates an electrical signal having a frequency f1 and outputs it to the signal supplying unit 36. The frequency f1 is, for example, 14 kHz, but is not limited to this. When transmitting an edge signal, the transmitter 38 generates an electrical signal having a frequency f2 and outputs it to the signal supplying unit 36. The frequency f2 is, for example, 16 kHz, but is not limited to this. When transmitting a dummy signal, the transmitter 38 generates an electrical signal having a frequency f3 and outputs it to the signal supplying unit 36. The frequency f3 is, for example, 18 kHz, but is not limited to this. When transmitting a data signal indicating 1, the transmitter 38 generates an electrical signal having a frequency f4 and outputs it to the signal supplying unit 36. The frequency f4 is, for example, 20 kHz, but is not limited to this.

[0035] The storage unit 34 is composed of a volatile memory (not shown) and a non-volatile memory (not shown). Examples of the volatile memory include RAM (Random Access Memory). The volatile memory is used as a working memory for the processor and temporarily stores data necessary for processing or calculation. Examples of the non-volatile memory include ROM (Read Only Memory) and flash memory. The non-volatile memory is used as a storage memory and stores programs, tables, maps, etc. At least a portion of the storage unit 34 may be provided in the processor, integrated circuit, etc. described above.

[0036] The storage unit 34 stores medical information in advance. When the medical device 12 is a medicinal liquid administration device 16, the medical information includes identification information (serial number) of the medicinal liquid administration device 16 and administration end information for notifying that administration of the medicinal liquid has ended normally or abnormally. When the medical device 12 is a measuring device (such as a blood pressure monitor), the medical information includes identification information of the measuring device and vital sign information (such as blood pressure) measured by the measuring device.

[0037] The signal supply unit 36 ​​is configured by, for example, a speaker. The signal supply unit 36 ​​converts the electrical signal generated by the transmission unit 38 into a sound wave and outputs the sound wave. The signal supply unit 36 ​​converts an electrical signal having a frequency f1 into a sound wave having a frequency f1 and outputs the sound wave. The signal supply unit 36 ​​converts an electrical signal having a frequency f2 into a sound wave having a frequency f2 and outputs the sound wave. The signal supply unit 36 ​​converts an electrical signal having a frequency f3 into a sound wave having a frequency f3 and outputs the sound wave. The signal supply unit 36 ​​converts an electrical signal having a frequency f4 into a sound wave having a frequency f4 and outputs the sound wave.

[0038] In the communication system 10, when a radio signal is transmitted from the drug solution administration device 16 to the information device 14, the signal supply unit 36 ​​is configured by, for example, an antenna. In this case, the signal supply unit 36 ​​outputs radio waves of electrical signals of each frequency.

[0039] [1-2 Configuration of Information Device 14] Examples of the information device 14 include, but are not limited to, a smartphone, a tablet, etc. The information device 14 can acquire medical information from the medicinal solution administration device 16. The information device 14 can manage the medical information acquired from the medicinal solution administration device 16.

[0040] The information device 14 includes a signal acquisition unit 40, an oscillation unit 42, a calculation unit 44, a storage unit 46, an operation unit 48, and a display unit 50. The information device 14 may also include components other than these components, but a description of these components will be omitted here.

[0041] The signal acquisition unit 40 is composed of, for example, a microphone. The signal acquisition unit 40 acquires sound waves transmitted from the drug solution administration device 16, converts the acquired sound waves into an electrical signal, and outputs the signal to the calculation unit 44. For example, the signal supply unit 36 ​​converts sound waves with a frequency of f1 into an electrical signal with a frequency of f1 and outputs the electrical signal. The signal acquisition unit 40 converts sound waves with a frequency of f2 into an electrical signal with a frequency of f2 and outputs the electrical signal. The signal acquisition unit 40 converts sound waves with a frequency of f3 into an electrical signal with a frequency of f3 and outputs the electrical signal. The signal acquisition unit 40 converts sound waves with a frequency of f4 into an electrical signal with a frequency of f4 and outputs the electrical signal.

[0042] The oscillator 42 includes, for example, an oscillator circuit (such as a CR oscillator circuit, an LC oscillator circuit, a ring oscillator, or a crystal oscillator circuit), a frequency divider, etc. The oscillator 42 continuously generates an electric signal of a predetermined oscillation frequency.

[0043] The calculation unit 44 is configured by a processor such as a CPU, a GPU, or the like. That is, the calculation unit 44 is configured by a processing circuit. The calculation unit 44 has a receiving unit 52 and a display control unit 54. The receiving unit 52 and the display control unit 54 can be realized by the calculation unit 44 executing a program stored in the storage unit 46.

[0044] At least a part of the receiving unit 52 and the display control unit 54 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC, an FPGA, etc. Also, at least a part of the receiving unit 52 and the display control unit 54 may be configured by an electronic circuit including a discrete device.

[0045] The receiving unit 52 performs processing to receive the signal transmitted from the medicinal solution administration device 16. The receiving unit 52 performs spectral analysis of the electrical signal output from the signal acquisition unit 40, for example, by FFT (Fast Fourier Transformation). The timing for extracting data is set based on the frequency of the electrical signal generated by the oscillator 42. The receiving unit 52 detects the frequency of the signal transmitted from the medicinal solution administration device 16 by performing spectral analysis. As a result, the receiving unit 52 identifies whether the transmitted signal is a data signal indicating 0, a data signal indicating 1, an edge signal, or a dummy signal.

[0046] The display control unit 54 performs display control to display information on the display unit 50. For example, when medical information is received by the receiving unit 52, the display control unit 54 performs display control to display the medical information on the display unit 50.

[0047] The storage unit 46 is composed of a volatile memory (not shown) and a non-volatile memory (not shown). Examples of the volatile memory include RAM. The volatile memory is used as a working memory for the processor and temporarily stores data necessary for processing or calculation. Examples of the non-volatile memory include ROM and flash memory. The non-volatile memory is used as a storage memory and stores programs, tables, maps, etc. At least a portion of the storage unit 46 may be provided in the processor, integrated circuit, etc. described above.

[0048] The storage unit 46 stores a frequency table that associates the frequency value of a signal transmitted from the medicinal solution administration device 16 with the type (content) of the signal. In the frequency table, a type called "data signal indicating 0" is associated with a frequency value of f1. In the frequency table, a type called "edge signal" is associated with a frequency value of f2. In the frequency table, a type called "dummy signal" is associated with a frequency value of f3. In the frequency table, a type called "data signal indicating 1" is associated with a frequency value of f4.

[0049] The operation unit 48 is used when the user operates the information device 14. The display unit 50 is provided with a display element (not shown). Examples of the display element include a liquid crystal display element and an organic electroluminescence display element. The operation unit 48 and the display unit 50 can be configured by a touch panel (not shown) equipped with such a display element, but are not limited to this. The operation unit 48 may also be configured by a keyboard, a mouse, etc.

[0050] [2 Transmission process executed in medicinal liquid administration device 16] Figure 3 is a flowchart of the transmission process executed in the medical device 12 (medical liquid administration device 16). The medicinal liquid administration device 16 executes the transmission process shown in Figure 3 at a predetermined timing. For example, when administration of the medicinal liquid to the living body 100 is completed, a sensor (not shown) provided in the medicinal liquid administration device 16 outputs a signal indicating that administration of the medicinal liquid has been completed to the calculation unit 32. When the calculation unit 32 receives this signal, it executes the transmission process shown in Figure 3.

[0051] An example of data transmission will be described below using Figure 4 together with Figure 3. Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram of the transmission process executed in the medical device 12 (medicinal solution administration device 16). Figure 4 shows an example of transmitting a single-digit decimal number (here, "5") included in data indicating medical information. The decimal number "5" is stored as the binary number "0101" in the memory unit 34. Note that while data indicating medical information is composed of multiple alphanumeric characters (decimal numbers and alphabetic letters), for ease of explanation, a single-digit decimal number will be used as an example.

[0052] In step S1, the transmitter 38 performs processing to transmit an edge signal from the signal supply unit 36. As shown in FIG. 4 , the transmitter 38 generates an electrical signal s2 having a frequency f2 based on the electrical signal s1 generated by the oscillator 30, and outputs the generated electrical signal s2 to the signal supply unit 36. The edge signal generated here indicates the start of transmission of multiple data pieces representing medical information. The signal supply unit 36 ​​converts the electrical signal s2 having a frequency f2 into a sound wave sw also having a frequency f2 and transmits the sound wave sw to the information device 14. The sound wave sw is an edge signal.

[0053] The series of processes from step S2 to step S5 is executed once for each data included in the data string to be transmitted to the information device 14. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, when the data string to be transmitted is "0101", the series of processes from step S2 to step S5 is executed four times.

[0054] In step S2, the transmitter 38 reads medical information from the storage unit 34. That is, the transmitter 38 sequentially reads data included in the data sequence to be transmitted to the information device 14 from the storage unit 34. For example, as shown in FIG. 4 , if the data sequence to be transmitted is "0101," the transmitter 38 reads "0," which is the first data of "0101," from the storage unit 34 in the first of four iterations of step S2.

[0055] Similarly, in the second of the four iterations of step S2, the transmitting unit 38 reads out "1", which is the second data of "0101", from the storage unit 34. In the third of the four iterations of step S2, the transmitting unit 38 reads out "0", which is the third data of "0101", from the storage unit 34. In the fourth of the four iterations of step S2, the transmitting unit 38 reads out "1", which is the fourth data of "0101", from the storage unit 34.

[0056] In step S3, the transmitter 38 generates and transmits a data signal corresponding to the data read in step S2. For example, in the first and third of the four iterations of step S3, the transmitter 38 generates an electrical signal s2 having a frequency corresponding to "0," i.e., an electrical signal s2 having a frequency of f1, based on the electrical signal s1 generated by the oscillator 30, and outputs the electrical signal s2 to the signal supplier 36. The signal supplier 36 converts the electrical signal s2 having a frequency of f1 into a sound wave sw having a frequency of f1 and transmits the sound wave sw to the information device 14. The sound wave sw is a data signal.

[0057] Similarly, in the second and fourth of the four iterations of step S3, the transmitter 38 generates an electrical signal s2 having a frequency corresponding to "1," i.e., an electrical signal s2 having a frequency of f4, based on the electrical signal s1 generated by the oscillator 30, and outputs the electrical signal s2 to the signal supplier 36. The signal supplier 36 converts the electrical signal s2 having a frequency of f4 into a sound wave sw also having a frequency of f4 and transmits the sound wave sw to the information device 14. The sound wave sw is a data signal.

[0058] In step S4, the transmitter 38 performs processing to transmit a dummy signal from the signal supply unit 36. As shown in FIG. 4 , the transmitter 38 generates an electrical signal s2 having a frequency of f3 based on the electrical signal s1 generated by the oscillator 30, and outputs the generated electrical signal s2 to the signal supply unit 36. The signal supply unit 36 ​​converts the electrical signal s2 having a frequency of f3 into a sound wave sw having a frequency of f3 and transmits the sound wave sw to the information device 14. This sound wave sw is a dummy signal. As a result, the dummy signal is inserted before the next signal to be transmitted. In other words, the dummy signal is inserted between two signals. The dummy signal has the function of separating two consecutive pieces of data included in a data string.

[0059] In step S5, the transmitter 38 determines whether the transmission of the data to be transmitted has been completed. If the transmission of all the data included in the data sequence to be transmitted has been completed (step S5: YES), the process proceeds to step S6. On the other hand, if the transmission of all the data included in the data sequence to be transmitted has not been completed (step S5: NO), the process returns to step S2, and processing is performed to transmit the next data signal and dummy signal.

[0060] In step S6, the transmitter 38 performs the same process as in step S1. That is, the transmitter 38 performs a process for transmitting an edge signal from the signal supply unit 36. As shown in FIG. 4 , the transmitter 38 generates an electrical signal s2 having a frequency f2 based on the electrical signal s1 generated by the oscillator 30 and outputs the electrical signal s2 to the signal supply unit 36. The signal supply unit 36 ​​converts the electrical signal s2 having a frequency f2 into a sound wave sw also having a frequency f2 and transmits the sound wave sw. This sound wave sw is an edge signal. As shown in FIG. 4 , the edge signal having a frequency f2 transmitted after the dummy signal having a frequency f3 indicates that data transmission has been completed.

[0061] [3 Reception Processing in Information Device 14] The signal acquisition unit 40 of the information device 14 sequentially receives the sound waves sw transmitted from the medicinal solution administration device 16. The signal acquisition unit 40 converts the received sound waves sw into electrical signals s2 and sequentially outputs them to the calculation unit 44.

[0062] The receiver 52 of the calculation unit 44 sequentially receives the electrical signal s2. The receiver 52 performs FFT spectral analysis on the electrical signal s2 to detect the frequency value of the electrical signal s2. The receiver 52 identifies the type of the electrical signal s2 (data signal indicating 0, data signal indicating 1, edge signal, dummy signal) based on the frequency table stored in the memory unit 46 and the detected frequency value. That is, the receiver 52 demodulates the sound wave sw transmitted from the medicinal solution administration device 16.

[0063] The display control unit 54 controls display to display medical information (identification information and administration end information of the medicinal liquid administration device 16) on the display unit 50. As a result, the display unit 50 displays a message notifying that administration of the medicinal liquid in the medicinal liquid administration device 16 has ended normally or abnormally.

[0064] [4 Modifications] In the above-described embodiment, the modulation method used by the transmitter 38 of the chemical solution administration device 16 is frequency modulation. However, the modulation method used by the transmitter 38 may be amplitude modulation or phase modulation.

[0065] [5. Effect] The medicinal liquid administration device 16 is a disposable item. For this reason, for example, it is conceivable to use an inexpensive oscillator circuit (CR oscillator circuit, LC oscillator circuit, ring oscillator, etc.) for the transmitter 38 of the medicinal liquid administration device 16. However, inexpensive oscillator circuits have a problem of low accuracy. Oscillator circuits with low accuracy are prone to deviations in oscillation frequency.

[0066] In the above-described communication system 10, the transmitter 38 of the medical solution administration device 16 alternately transmits a data signal and a dummy signal. In other words, the transmitter 38 of the medical solution administration device 16 transmits the dummy signal after transmitting the first data signal and before transmitting the second data signal. This inserts the dummy signal between the first data signal and the second data signal.

[0067] According to the above-described communication system 10, the receiving unit 52 of the information device 14 can recognize the end of transmission of the first data signal by recognizing the dummy signal. In other words, the receiving unit 52 of the information device 14 can distinguish between the first data signal and the second data signal. This allows the receiving unit 52 of the information device 14 to reliably recognize each of the multiple data signals transmitted from the transmitting unit 38 of the medicinal liquid administration device 16, even if a significant frequency shift occurs in the medicinal liquid administration device 16 or the like. For example, even if the transmitting unit 38 of the medicinal liquid administration device 16 continuously transmits multiple data signals indicating the same value, the receiving unit 52 of the information device 14 can reliably recognize each of the data signals.

[0068] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, the present disclosure is not limited to the individual embodiments described above. Various additions, substitutions, modifications, partial deletions, etc. are possible in these embodiments without departing from the gist of the present disclosure or the spirit of the present disclosure derived from the content of the claims and their equivalents. These embodiments can also be implemented in combination. For example, in the above-described embodiments, the order of each operation and the order of each process are shown as examples and are not limited to these. The same applies when numerical values ​​or mathematical expressions are used in the description of the above-described embodiments.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising a first device and a second device capable of communicating with the first device, wherein the first device comprises: a memory unit that stores a data sequence to be transmitted to the second device; and a transmitter unit that sequentially transmits data signals corresponding to the data constituting the data sequence stored in the memory unit, and the transmitter unit sequentially inserts dummy signals different from the data signals before the sequentially transmitted data signals.

2. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter performs transmission using one of the modulation methods of frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, and phase modulation.

3. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit performs transmission by wireless communication.

4. A communication system according to claim 3, wherein the transmitting unit transmits by acoustic wave communication.

5. A communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first device is a medical device.

6. A medical device comprising: a memory unit that stores a data string to be transmitted to an information device; and a transmitter unit that sequentially transmits data signals corresponding to the data constituting the data string stored in the memory unit, wherein the transmitter unit sequentially inserts dummy signals different from the data signals before the sequentially transmitted data signals.

7. A communication method comprising a transmission step of sequentially transmitting, from a first device to a second device, data signals corresponding to data constituting a data string stored in a memory unit that stores the data string to be transmitted from the first device to the second device, wherein, in the transmission step, dummy signals different from the data signals are sequentially inserted before the sequentially transmitted data signals.

8. A program for causing a computer to execute the communication method according to claim 7.

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