JP3845398B2 - Safety confirmation device and safety confirmation method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for confirming the safety of a person living in a remote place.

  In recent years, an aging society has progressed, and management of the health condition of elderly people living alone has become a social problem. Relatives or those in charge of local welfare visit the homes of elderly people who live alone to check their health.

As a method of using the digital television receiver for confirming safety, the storage step of storing the emergency contact information in the storage means of the digital television receiver, and the use status of the digital television receiver, the digital television reception A determination step for determining whether or not a subject who uses the device is in an abnormal state, and when it is determined in this determination step that the subject is in an abnormal state, on a communication network connected to the digital television receiver There is known a safety confirmation method including a transmission step of transmitting an emergency contact signal to an emergency contact stored in a storage means in a storage step (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-314714 A

An object of the present invention is to provide a safety confirmation device that can automatically know information related to the safety of a person living in a remote place.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety confirmation device with a low cost for introduction.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a safety confirmation device that reduces the possibility of forgetting to use.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a safety confirmation device that can confirm the safety of a person who is away from home.

  In the following, means for solving the problem will be described using the numbers used in [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention] in parentheses. These numbers are added to clarify the correspondence between the description of [Claims] and [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]. However, these numbers should not be used to interpret the technical scope of the invention described in [Claims].

  The safety confirmation device (2, 2a) according to the present invention includes a detection unit (12, 12a) that detects a change in the state of the electric device (2, 51), and a non-use period (26) that is a time during which no change is detected. And a notification unit (17, 17a) for transmitting a signal to call attention to a predetermined contact (4, 5) via the communication network (6, 6a) when the set period (30) is exceeded. .

  It is preferable that the safety confirmation device (2, 2a) further includes an input unit (13, 13a) that receives an input of information (34) designating a contact address.

  As the electric equipment, daily-use electric equipment exemplified by a mobile phone, a television, a rice cooker, and an electric lamp are preferable.

  Such a safety confirmation device makes it possible to automatically know information regarding the safety of persons living in remote locations. Furthermore, it is only necessary to use the electric device as usual, and other operations are not necessary, so it is rarely forgotten to use.

  Since such a safety confirmation device does not perform communication when the non-use period does not exceed the set period, the communication fee can be kept low.

  In the safety confirmation device (2, 2a) according to the present invention, when the non-use period (26) is longer than the confirmation period (28) set shorter than the set period (30), the electrical equipment (2, 51 ) Is provided with an output unit (11, 11a, 15, 15a) for outputting a signal prompting the user to confirm.

  The user who notices the confirmation prompting signal operates the electric device so that the alerting signal is not transmitted. According to such a safety confirmation device, it is possible to prevent a signal to call attention even though the user is safe, and a highly reliable safety confirmation is performed. According to such a safety confirmation device, the communication fee can be further reduced.

  In the safety confirmation device (2, 2a) according to the present invention, the notification unit (17, 17a) is configured such that when the non-use period (26) is longer than the set period (30) and a change is detected, the contact (4 5) Send a signal to cancel attention.

  According to such a safety confirmation device, when a user operates an electrical device after a signal to call attention is transmitted, the fact that the user is safe is immediately transmitted to the contact information, and the related parties of the user can obtain peace of mind.

  In the safety confirmation device (2, 2a) according to the present invention, when the notification unit (17, 17a) receives a predetermined signal from the contact (4, 5), the latest date and time (24) when the change is detected is displayed. Send to contact (4, 5).

  According to such a safety confirmation device, it is easy to confirm that the safety confirmation device is operating normally when a signal to call attention to the contact is not received for a while.

  The safety confirmation device (2, 2a) according to the present invention is incorporated in a mobile phone, and the detection unit (12) detects an operation performed on the mobile phone.

  According to such a safety confirmation device, it is possible to confirm the safety of a person who is away from home because he / she can carry it with him / her when he / she goes out on a trip. Such a safety confirmation device can be realized at low cost because it uses the communication function of the mobile phone.

  In the safety confirmation device (2, 2a) according to the present invention, the detection unit (12a) detects an infrared ray (54) in a frequency band used for remote control operation of the electric device (51).

  Such a safety confirmation device can be used if it is placed near a home appliance that uses a remote control, so it can be realized at low cost and is easy to install.

  In the safety confirmation device (2, 2a) according to the present invention, the signal includes an e-mail.

  According to such a safety confirmation device, the signal sent from the safety confirmation device can be received at any time by the contact address, and the contents can be confirmed at any time by the contact address. Therefore, the safety confirmation can be more reliably performed.

  In the safety confirmation device (2, 2a) according to the present invention, the signal is a signal (56) used for communication between the parent device (57) and the child device of the parent / child phone.

  Since such a safety confirmation device can be connected to a public telephone network via a parent device of a commercially available parent-child phone, it can be realized at a low cost.

  In the safety confirmation method according to the present invention, the steps (S10, S47) of detecting a change in the state of the electric device (2, 51), and the non-use period (26), which is a time during which no change is detected, are set as the set period (30). A step (S20) of transmitting a signal to a predetermined contact (4, 5) via the communication network (6, 6a).

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the safety confirmation apparatus which makes it possible to know automatically the information regarding the safety of the person who lives in a remote place is provided.
Furthermore, according to this invention, the safety confirmation apparatus with the low expense concerning introduction is provided.
Furthermore, according to this invention, the safety confirmation apparatus which reduces possibility of forgetting to use is provided.
Furthermore, according to this invention, the safety confirmation apparatus which can confirm the safety of those who are away from a house is provided.

[First Embodiment]
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. The safety confirmation device 2 in the present embodiment is realized using a mobile phone having an electronic mail function. The safety confirmation device 2 is possessed by a user exemplified by an elderly person or a single person.

  Referring to FIG. 1, safety confirmation device 2 is communicably connected to base station 8 of network 6 by wireless communication. The network 6 is communicably connected to a plurality of mobile phones 4 via a base station 8. The mobile phone 4 is carried by a person not shown. The related person is a relative of the user of the safety confirmation device 2 or a staff member of a welfare organization.

  Referring to FIG. 2, safety confirmation device 2 includes a speaker 11, an input unit 13, a storage unit 14, a display unit 15, a control unit 16, and a radio unit 17. The speaker 11, the input unit 13, the storage unit 14, the display unit 15, the control unit 16, and the wireless unit 17 are also used for the safety confirmation device 2 to realize a call function or an e-mail function as a mobile phone. used. The detection unit 12 detects an operation performed on the mobile phone. The control unit 16 includes a CPU, reads information written in the storage unit 14, and controls the speaker 11, the input unit 13, the display unit 15, the control unit 16, and the wireless unit 17. .

  With reference to FIG. 3, the storage unit 14 includes a mail delivery program 20, a setting screen 21, a display screen 22, a latest usage time 24, a non-use period 26, a message delivery confirmation time 28, and a message delivery time. 30, a message redelivery time 32, a delivery destination address 34, and a delivery message 36 are stored.

  Referring to FIG. 4, setting screen 21 displays message delivery time input field 42, delivery destination address input field 44, delivery message selection field 46, and option field 48.

  Referring to FIG. 5, message delivery time display window 49 is displayed on display screen 22. In the message delivery time display window 49, a non-use period 26 and a message delivery time 30 are displayed.

  The operation of the safety confirmation device 2 having the above configuration will be described below. However, in the following description, the operation that the control unit 16 reads out the mail delivery program 20 and performs based on the procedure described in the mail delivery program 20 is described as the operation performed by the mail delivery program 20.

  Referring to FIG. 6, when a predetermined operation is performed on safety confirmation device 2, setting screen 21 is displayed. The user inputs the following items while referring to the setting screen 21 (step S2).

  The user inputs the message distribution time 30 in the message distribution time input field 42 and the distribution destination address 34 in the distribution address input field 44. The distribution destination address 34 is an address of the mobile phone 4 selected as an emergency contact address of the user who owns the safety confirmation device 2. As the delivery destination address 34, a relative of the user who has the safety confirmation device or a welfare related person is selected. In the delivery address input field 44, it is preferable that options are displayed so that it can be selected whether the delivery address 34 is singular or plural.

  The user further selects from the delivery message selection field 46 whether to use a fixed sentence or a sentence set by the user as the delivery message 36. As an initial setting, it is preferable to use a fixed sentence. When it is selected to use a fixed sentence, a fixed sentence such as “the sender is not using the mobile phone for X hours” is used as the delivery message 36. In the portion X, a non-use period 26 is displayed. When the user selects to use a sentence set by the user, the mail distribution program 20 displays an input screen (not shown), and the user inputs a distribution message 36 from the input screen.

  When the user selects the option column 48, an input screen (not shown) is displayed, and the user inputs the message delivery confirmation time 28 or the message redelivery time 32 from the input screen. When no input is made by the user, an initial set value is used as the message delivery confirmation time 28 or the message redelivery time 32.

  Since a preset fixed sentence is set in the initial setting, an operation to be set by the user is facilitated. Since the delivery message 36 can be changed by the user, various needs of the user can be met.

  When the input of data from the setting screen 21 is completed, the setting screen 21 is closed and the mail delivery program 20 sets the non-use period 26 to zero. The mail delivery program 20 starts counting the non-use period 26 (step S4).

  The display screen 22 is displayed, and the safety confirmation device 2 is used as a normal mobile phone (step S5).

  Since such a safety confirmation device 2 is carried around by a user and used as a mobile phone when the user leaves the house for a long period of time, such as a trip, it is possible to confirm the safety of a person who is away from the house.

  When the mail delivery program 20 receives a preset signal from the mobile phone 4 (Yes in step S6), the message “The caller has used the mobile phone at X hours and Y minutes” is displayed on the mobile phone. Send. The latest usage time 24 is inserted into the portion of “X hour Y minute” (step S8). When the mail delivery program 20 does not receive a preset signal from the mobile phone 4, the mail delivery program 20 proceeds to Step S10 (No in Step S6).

  According to such a safety confirmation device 2, a user who has the safety confirmation device 2, for example, a relative or a welfare person, can know the latest time when the user used the safety confirmation device 2. Therefore, it is easily confirmed that the function of the safety confirmation device 2 is operating.

  The safety confirmation device 2 preferably has a function of rejecting notification of the latest usage time 24 for a case where the user does not like to monitor the usage status of the mobile phone. When this function is used, instead of the message “The caller has used the mobile phone at X hours and Y minutes” by a predetermined operation performed by the user, for example, a message of “Usage time non-notification setting” Is sent.

  When the detection unit 12 detects that an arbitrary operation has been applied to the input unit 13 (Yes in step S10), the mail delivery program 20 sets the non-use period 26 to zero and proceeds to step S6 (step S12). . When no operation is applied to the input unit 13, the mail delivery program 20 proceeds to step S14 (No in step S10).

  According to such a safety confirmation device 2, if the user is using the mobile phone as a normal mobile phone, the safety confirmation is automatically performed without performing an operation for the purpose of safety confirmation. Furthermore, the possibility that the user forgets to use the safety confirmation device 2 is reduced.

  The mail delivery program 20 determines whether or not the non-use period 26 has passed the message delivery confirmation time 28 (step S14). If not, the process proceeds to step S6 (No in step S14).

  When the non-use period 26 has passed the message delivery confirmation time 28 (step S10 Yes), the mail delivery program 20 displays a confirmation message that prompts the user of the safety confirmation device 2 to confirm on the display unit 15 (step S16). . It is preferable that a sound for prompting the user to pay attention is output from the speaker 11 together with the confirmation message.

  If the non-use period 26 does not exceed the message distribution time 30, the mail distribution program 20 proceeds to step S5 (No in step S18).

  When the user notices the confirmation message, the user performs any operation on the safety confirmation device 2 to reset the non-use period 26 so that the delivery message 36 is not delivered. According to such a safety confirmation device 2, the delivery message 36 is prevented from being delivered when the user is safe. The safety confirmation performed by the safety confirmation device 2 is highly reliable.

  If the non-use period 26 exceeds the message delivery time 30 (Yes at Step S18), the mail delivery program 20 transmits a delivery message 36 for calling attention to the delivery destination address 34 using the wireless unit 17. (Step S20), a message indicating that the delivery message 36 has been transmitted is displayed on the display unit 15 (Step S22).

  When an arbitrary operation is applied to the input unit 13 (Yes at Step S24), the mail delivery program 20 transmits an email indicating that the operation has been made to the safety confirmation device 2 to the delivery destination address 34 (Step S26). . When no operation is applied to the input unit 13, the mail delivery program 20 proceeds to step S28 (No in step S24).

  According to such a safety confirmation device 2, when the user is safe without merely using the safety confirmation device 2 for a while, the user can simply perform any operation exemplified for use as a mobile phone. It is automatically notified to the delivery address 34 that the user is safe.

  When the non-use period 26 exceeds the message delivery time 30 plus the message re-delivery time 32 (Yes at Step S28), the mail delivery program 20 transmits the delivery message 36 to the delivery destination address 34 using the wireless unit 17. Then, the process proceeds to step S24 (step S30). When the non-use period 26 does not exceed the time obtained by adding the message redelivery time 32 to the message delivery time 30, the process proceeds to step S24 (No in step S28).

  Such a safety confirmation device 2 makes it possible for a person who is away from the user to automatically know information related to the safety of the user. Furthermore, the safety confirmation device 2 using the communication function of the mobile phone is inexpensive to introduce or use.

  According to such a safety confirmation device 2, when the user operates the safety confirmation device 2 as a mobile phone while the non-use period 26 is shorter than the message delivery time 30, communication with the contact is not performed. Such a safety confirmation device 2 is used with little psychological resistance even for a user who does not like to monitor the usage status of a mobile phone.

[Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the safety confirmation device 2a in the second embodiment will be described. Referring to FIG. 8, safety confirmation device 2 a has the same communication function as that of a child phone of a household parent-child phone, and wirelessly communicates with telephone 57 having a function as a parent device of a parent-child phone for home use. Is possible. The telephone 57 is connected to a network 6a exemplified by a public telephone line network. The network 6a is communicably connected to the mobile phone 4 via the base station 8. The network 6a is connected to the fixed telephone 5. The mobile phone 4 and the fixed phone 5 are used by a person concerned with the user who owns the safety confirmation device 2a.

  Referring to FIG. 9, safety confirmation device 2 a is installed and used near a home appliance that can be operated by a remote controller exemplified by television 51. The home appliance is preferably one that is constantly used in daily life. The television 51 includes a remote control light receiving unit 52 that receives a remote control signal 54 emitted from the remote control 53. The safety confirmation device 2 a includes a remote control light receiving unit 55 that receives a remote control signal 54 emitted from the remote control 53.

  The safety confirmation device 2a can communicate with a telephone 57 having a function as a master unit of a parent-child phone by a radio signal 56 in the same frequency band as that of a radio signal emitted from the child phone of the parent-child phone. The telephone 57 is connected to a modular jack 59 by a telephone cord 58, and is connected to the network 6a via the modular jack 59.

  Referring to FIG. 10, safety confirmation device 2a includes speaker 11a, detection unit 12a, input unit 13a, storage unit 14a, display unit 15a, control unit 16a, and radio unit 17a. The configuration of the information stored in the storage unit 14a is the same as that of the storage unit 14 shown in FIG. The detecting unit 12a detects that the remote control light receiving unit 55 has received the remote control signal 54.

  Referring to FIG. 11, input unit 13 a includes an input key 62, an outing button 64, and a remote control light receiving unit 55. The outing button 64 is used to select one mode from at least two modes of an on state and an off state.

  The operation of the safety confirmation device 2a having the above configuration will be described below. Referring to FIG. 12, steps S32 to S35 are the same as steps S2 to S5.

  The user turns on the outing button 64 when he / she goes away for several days or more on a trip or the like (step S36 Yes). The mail delivery program 20 sends a message notifying that the user has gone out to the delivery destination address 34 via the telephone 57 (step S38). The mail delivery program 20 resets the non-use period 26, stops counting the non-use period 26, and proceeds to step S35 (step S40).

  When the user comes home, the user sets the outing button 64 to the off state (Yes in step S42). The mail delivery program 20 sends a message notifying that the user has returned home to the delivery destination address 34 via the telephone 57 (step S44). The mail delivery program 20 resumes counting the non-use period 26 (step S46).

  According to such a safety confirmation device 2a, the delivery message is not wastedly transmitted to the users concerned when the user leaves his / her home for a trip or the like. Further, when the user is away from home due to travel or the like, a message notifying that is sent to the related person with a single touch, and the related person can know the situation of the user with a simple means. Since the outing button is provided as a button corresponding to a single function, resistance to use by an elderly person unfamiliar with the use of electrical equipment is reduced. Alternatively, it is easy to use for those who have physical disabilities.

  When the detection unit 12a detects that an arbitrary operation has been performed on the input unit 13a (Yes in step S47), the mail delivery program 20 sets the non-use period 26 to zero and proceeds to step S35 (step S48). . When no operation is applied to the input unit 13a, the mail delivery program 20 proceeds to step S49 (No in step S47).

  When the non-use period 26 does not exceed the message delivery confirmation time 28, the mail delivery program 20 proceeds to step S35 (No in step S48). When the non-use period 26 exceeds the message delivery confirmation time 28 (Yes at Step S48), the mail delivery program 20 displays a confirmation message for alerting the user of the safety confirmation device 2a on the display unit 15a (Step S50). It is preferable that a sound for cautioning the user together with the confirmation message is output from the speaker 11a.

  The safety confirmation device 2a performs the same operation as the safety confirmation device 2 shown in FIG. 7 after step S50.

  Such a safety confirmation device 2a uses a communication function of a remote control of a home appliance and a parent / child phone in order to convey information for confirming the safety of a user to related parties, and therefore the cost for introduction or use is small.

FIG. 1 shows a network environment in which a safety confirmation device is used. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the safety confirmation device. FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the storage unit. FIG. 4 shows a setting screen. FIG. 5 shows a display screen. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the safety confirmation device. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the safety confirmation device. FIG. 8 shows a network environment in which the safety confirmation device is used. FIG. 9 shows the environment where the safety confirmation device is installed. FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the safety confirmation device. FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the input unit. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the safety confirmation device.

Explanation of symbols

2 ... Safety confirmation device 4 ... Mobile phone 5 ... Fixed telephone 6 ... Network 8 ... Base station 11 ... Speaker 12 ... Detection unit 13 ... Input unit 14 ... Storage unit 15 ... Display unit 16 ... Control unit 17 ... Radio unit 20 ... Mail Delivery program 21 ... Setting screen 22 ... Display screen 24 ... Latest usage time 26 ... Non-use period 28 ... Message delivery confirmation time 30 ... Message delivery time 32 ... Message redelivery time 34 ... Delivery destination address 36 ... Delivery message 42 ... Message delivery Time input field 44 ... Destination address input field 46 ... Distribution message selection field 48 ... Option field 49 ... Message distribution time display window 51 ... TV 52 ... Remote control light receiving part 53 ... Remote control 54 ... Remote control signal 55 ... Remote control light receiving part 56 ... Wireless Signal 57 ... Telephone 58 ... Telephone code 59 ... Modular jack 62 ... Input key 64 ... Outing button

Claims (2)

A detection unit for detecting a change in the state of the electrical device;
A notification unit that transmits a signal to call attention to a predetermined contact via a communication network when a non-use period, which is a time during which the change is not detected, exceeds a set period ; and
The notifying unit transmits a signal to cancel the attention to the contact when the non-use period is longer than the set period and the change is detected.
Safety confirmation device. In claim 1,
The safety confirmation device further comprising: an output unit that outputs a signal that prompts the user of the electrical device to confirm when the non-use period is longer than a confirmation period set shorter than the set period.

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