JP7565076B2 - Information Processing System - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing system and a dental treatment device.

Patent document 1 discloses a dental treatment device that includes a treatment sheet that supports a patient and a basin pole that is fixed to the treatment sheet.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-33569

Dental diagnostic devices have many moving parts, and various events may occur, such as the moving parts touching objects or people. It is preferable to predict these events in advance and grasp the events that may occur in advance.
However, in the case of a new dental treatment device, it is sometimes unknown what kind of events may occur. Even in the case of a dental treatment device that has already been used, if an event has not actually occurred yet, it may be difficult to grasp what events may occur.
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to grasp events that may occur in a dental treatment device.

For this purpose, the information processing system to which the present invention is applied is an information processing system that includes a memory unit that stores information about events that occur in each dental treatment device, and an event grasping means that grasps events that may occur in the target device, which is the target dental treatment device, based on an image obtained by photographing the target device and the information stored in the memory unit.

Here, the information output device may further comprise an information output device that outputs information on the possible event grasped by the event grasping device to the target device or a predetermined person.
The present invention can also be characterized in that information for preventing the possible event recognized by the event recognition means from occurring in the target device is output to the target device and/or a predetermined device.
The information output means may be characterized in that it outputs information to prevent a possible event from occurring when at least some of the conditions necessary for the possible event to actually occur are satisfied.
The information output means can be characterized in that it analyzes the image obtained by photographing the target device, determines whether or not at least some of the conditions are satisfied, and, if at least some of the conditions are satisfied, outputs information to prevent the occurrence.
In addition, the information output means can be characterized by outputting, to the target device and/or a predetermined device, information to prompt a person to take action to prevent the event detected by the event detection means from occurring in the target device, as information to prevent the event from occurring.
In addition, the information output means can be characterized in that it outputs control information to the target device as information to prevent the event detected by the event detection means from occurring in the target device.
In addition, the memory unit registers an event that actually occurred and information about the device structure in which the event occurred in a corresponding manner, and the event grasping means can be characterized by grasping the event registered in the memory unit in correspondence with the device structure contained in the image obtained by photographing the target device, as an event that may occur in the target device.

In addition, when the present invention is considered as a dental treatment device, the dental treatment device to which the present invention is applied is a dental treatment device used for dental treatment, which includes an imaging means for imaging the dental treatment device, an acquisition means for acquiring information about events that may occur in the dental treatment device and are grasped based on the image obtained by the imaging means, and the dental treatment device.

From another perspective, the dental treatment device to which the present invention is applied is a dental treatment device used for dental treatment, and is made up of an imaging means for imaging the dental treatment device, an acquisition means for acquiring information for preventing events that may occur in the dental treatment device, which are identified based on the image obtained by the imaging means, from occurring in the dental treatment device, and the dental treatment device.

Here, the dental diagnostic device may further comprise a control means for controlling the dental diagnostic device based on the information for preventing the occurrence, acquired by the acquisition means.
The control means can also be characterized by controlling dental treatment equipment based on information to prevent occurrences, and issuing notifications urging a person to take action to prevent possible events from occurring.
The control means may be characterized in that it performs control to limit the movement of a part of the dental diagnostic apparatus based on information for preventing the occurrence of such a problem.

The present invention makes it possible to understand events that may occur in dental treatment devices.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an information processing system. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of some dental diagnostic devices included in a plurality of dental diagnostic devices. FIG. 1 is a front view of a dental lighting device. FIG. 3 is a view of the supply device as viewed from the direction indicated by the arrow IV in FIG. 2 . FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a management server. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing functions realized by a management server. 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of a control device provided in each dental diagnostic device. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing functions realized by a control device of the dental diagnostic device. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed during event registration processing. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed when grasping an event that may occur in a dental treatment device.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an information processing system according to this embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the information processing system 1 of this embodiment is provided with a plurality of dental diagnostic devices 100 used for dental diagnosis. Furthermore, the information processing system 1 is provided with a management server 200.
In this embodiment, a plurality of dental diagnostic apparatuses 100 and a management server 200 are connected to each other via a communication line such as the Internet line.
In this embodiment, the multiple dental diagnostic devices 100 provided include dental diagnostic devices 100 of various types and model numbers.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of some of the dental diagnostic devices 100 included in a plurality of dental diagnostic devices 100 provided.
In the dental treatment device 100 shown in Fig. 2, a dental treatment table 2 that supports a patient from below is provided on a floor surface. The treatment table 2 includes a base 2a and a seat plate 2b that is raised and lowered by the base 2a. Furthermore, the treatment table 2 has a backrest 2c.
The backrest 2c has one end attached to the seat plate 2b and rotates around this end.
Furthermore, the examination table 2 is provided with a headrest 2d attached to the backrest 2c for supporting the patient's head.
The examination table 2 is also provided with a leg support 2e for supporting the legs of the patient.

In this embodiment, the surface of the seat plate 2b serves as a support surface 2f that supports the buttocks of the patient, and during medical treatment, the patient first sits on the seat plate 2b.
At this time (when the patient sits down), the backrest 2c is in an upright position (standing position) unlike the position shown in Fig. 2. Also, when the patient sits down, the leg support 2e is in a drooping position unlike the position shown in Fig. 2.
Thereafter, in this embodiment, the seat plate 2b rises, and the back plate 2c tilts down. Also, the leg support portion 2e rotates about one end portion 2g, and the other end portion 2h of the leg support portion 2e rises.
As shown in FIG. 2, when the backrest 2c is reclined, the examination table 2 is disposed so as to extend in one direction as indicated by the dashed line 1A.

In addition, the dental diagnostic device 100 is provided with a doctor's tray table 3 beside the examination table 2 (around the examination table 2), and further with a doctor's instrument holder 10. Furthermore, on the opposite side of the examination table 2 to the tray table 3, an assistant's instrument holder 4 is provided.
Furthermore, a movable support arm 13 is provided, and the tray table 3 and the instrument holder 10 are supported by this support arm 13. This allows the tray table 3 and the instrument holder 10 to move horizontally and vertically.
Also provided are a dental lighting device 90 for irradiating the oral cavity of a patient with light, an arm 6b for supporting the dental lighting device 90, and a support column 6c for supporting the arm 6b.

3 (a front view of dental lighting device 90), dental lighting device 90 is provided with a camera 91 in addition to light source 90A. Camera 91, which functions as a part of the imaging means, includes an imaging element such as a CCD or a CMOS.
2, the present embodiment is provided with an imaging device 92 that captures an image of the entire dental diagnostic apparatus 100. The imaging device 92, which functions as another part of the imaging means, is supported by a support 93 that stands vertically to the floor surface. The imaging device 92 is configured to include an imaging element such as a CCD or a CMOS.

In this embodiment, as described below, each of the dental diagnosis apparatuses 100 photographs the dental diagnosis apparatus 100. In this case, there is a risk that the entire dental diagnosis apparatus 100 cannot be photographed by the camera 91 provided in the dental lighting device 90 alone. For this reason, in this embodiment, a photographing device 92 is provided so that a wider range of the dental diagnosis apparatus 100 can be photographed.
The photographing device 92 is not essential. Possible events, which will be described later, may be understood based only on the image obtained by the camera 91 provided in the dental lighting device 90.

The doctor's instrument holder 10 (see Figure 2) and the assistant's instrument holder 4 hold dental treatment instruments 11 (treatment instruments, instruments used in treating patients) in a removable manner (only the assistant's treatment instrument 11 is shown in Figure 2).
Examples of the medical instruments 11 for the doctor include an air turbine handpiece, a micromotor handpiece, a scaler, a three-way syringe, a root canal length measuring instrument, a root canal enlarger, and an intraoral camera.
Furthermore, the assistant's medical instrument 11 may include, for example, a suction instrument 20 for suctioning saliva, blood, cutting chips, etc. (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "waste liquid") from the patient's mouth.

In FIG. 2 , a suction syringe (vacuum syringe) 21 as an example of the suction instrument 20 and a syringe ejector 22 are held by the instrument holder 4 .
Each of the suction instruments 20 is connected to an unillustrated suction source (described later) such as a vacuum pump or a compressor, and the waste liquid is sucked by suction from this suction source.

In addition, a water supply device 5 is provided beside (around) the examination table 2 to supply water to a cup (not shown) that the patient uses for gargling.
The supply device 5 is provided with a waste liquid receiving section 52 that receives waste liquid discharged from the patient's mouth, a cup water supply section 53 that supplies water to the cup, and a cleaning water supply section 54 that supplies water for cleaning to the waste liquid receiving section 52.

Furthermore, the supply device 5 is provided therein with a storage container (suction tank) 60 for storing waste liquid.
The storage container 60 stores waste liquid (waste liquid aspirated from the oral cavity of a patient) aspirated by the suction instrument 20 (suction syringe 21, saliva ejector 22, etc.).
In addition, a control device 61 that controls each part of the dental diagnostic device 100 is provided inside the supply device 5 .

FIG. 4 is a view of the supply device 5 as viewed from the direction indicated by the arrow IV in FIG.
The supply device 5 is a movable body, and rises and falls with the rise and fall of the seat plate 2b (see FIG. 2) provided on the examination table 2. In other words, the supply device 5 is provided in a state capable of interlocking with the seat plate 2b, and when the seat plate 2b moves up and down, the supply device 5 moves up and down together with the seat plate 2b.
FIG. 4 shows the supply device 5 in its lowest position, where a gap G is formed between the supply device 5 and the floor surface.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the management server 200.
The management server 200 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203. It also includes an information storage device 204 configured by a hard disk device or the like.
The ROM 202 stores a program executed by the CPU 201. The CPU 201, which is an example of a processor, reads out the program stored in the ROM 202, and executes the program using the RAM 203 as a working area.

Here, the program executed by CPU 201 can be provided to management server 200 in a state where it is stored on a computer-readable recording medium such as a magnetic recording medium (magnetic tape, magnetic disk, etc.), an optical recording medium (optical disk, etc.), a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory.
Furthermore, the programs executed by the CPU 201 may be downloaded to the management server 200 using a communication means such as the Internet.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing functions realized by the management server 200. As shown in FIG.
The management server 200 includes a memory unit 211 , an event grasping unit 212 , and an information output unit 213 .
The storage unit 211 is realized by the information storage device 204. The event grasping unit 212 and the information output unit 213 are realized by the CPU 201 executing a program stored in the ROM 202.

The storage unit 211 stores information about events that have occurred in each of the dental diagnosis devices 100. In other words, in this embodiment, information about events that have occurred in each of the multiple dental diagnosis devices 100 is registered in the storage unit 211.
The event grasping unit 212, as an example of an event grasping means, grasps events that may occur in the target dental treatment device (hereinafter referred to as the "target device") based on the image obtained by photographing the target device and the information stored in the memory unit 211.
The information output unit 213, which functions as part of the information output means, outputs information about events that may occur in the target device and information to prevent these possible events from occurring in the target device in cooperation with a communication interface (not shown) etc.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the control device 61 (see FIG. 2) provided in each of the dental diagnosis devices 100. As shown in FIG.
The control device 61 provided in each dental diagnostic device 100 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 101, a read only memory (ROM) 102, and a random access memory (RAM) 103. It further includes an information storage device 104 configured by a hard disk device or the like.
The ROM 102 stores a program executed by the CPU 101. The CPU 101 reads out the program stored in the ROM 102, and executes the program using the RAM 103 as a working area.

Here, the program executed by CPU 101 can be provided to dental treatment device 100 in a state where it is stored on a computer-readable recording medium such as a magnetic recording medium (magnetic tape, magnetic disk, etc.), an optical recording medium (optical disk, etc.), a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory.
In addition, the program executed by the CPU 101 may be downloaded to the dental diagnostic device 100 using a communication means such as the Internet.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing functional units realized by the control device 61 of the dental diagnosis apparatus 100. Note that Fig. 8 shows only functional units related to event grasping processing.
The control device 61 of the dental diagnosis apparatus 100 includes an information acquisition unit 111 and a control unit 112. Here, the information acquisition unit 111 and the control unit 112 are realized by the CPU 101 executing a program stored in the ROM 102.

The information acquisition unit 111 , which is an example of an acquisition means, acquires information about events that may occur in the dental diagnosis apparatus 100 .
More specifically, the information acquisition unit 111 acquires information about events that may occur in the dental diagnostic apparatus 100 (its own apparatus) in which the information acquisition unit 111 is provided.
In other words, when the own device is a target device for which events are to be grasped, the information acquisition unit 111 acquires information about events that may occur in this target device.

More specifically, in this embodiment, as described later, the management server 200 grasps an event that may occur in a target device based on images captured by a camera 91 or an image capturing device 92 provided in the target device that is the subject of event grasping. Then, the management server 200 transmits information about the grasped event to the target device.
Then, the information acquisition unit 111 of the target device acquires the information about this event transmitted from the management server 200 .

Furthermore, the information acquisition unit 111 of the target device acquires, as will be described later, information for preventing events that may occur in the target device (its own device) from occurring in the target device from the management server 200 .
In this embodiment, the control unit 112, which is an example of a control means, controls its own device (target device) based on information to prevent this event from occurring, thereby preventing the event from occurring in its own device.

[Registration process of occurring events]
In this embodiment, the management server 200 is provided with a storage unit 211, and in this embodiment, information on events that have occurred in each of the dental diagnosis devices 100 is registered in this storage unit 211. As a result, the storage unit 211 stores information on events that have occurred in each of the dental diagnosis devices 100.
In other words, in this embodiment, information about events that occur in each of the dental diagnosis devices 100 is aggregated in the management server 200.

To explain this with a specific example, for example, in the dental diagnostic apparatus 100 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a gap G exists between the supply device 5 and the floor surface.
In this embodiment, if an object enters this gap G and becomes caught between the descending supply device 5 and the floor surface, this event is registered in the memory unit 211 of the management server 200.
More specifically, for example, if a patient's belongings or various items used in medical treatment enter the gap G and these belongings or items become caught between the supply device 5 and the floor surface, this event is registered in the memory unit 211 of the management server 200.

More specifically, in the event that an object enters the gap G and becomes caught between the supply device 5 and the floor surface, for example, a person in charge at the company that manufactured the dental diagnosis device 100 operates a terminal device such as a tablet terminal or a PC (Personal Computer) to input information about the event. Then, the input information is registered in the storage unit 211 of the management server 200.
More specifically, information about the event is transmitted from the terminal device to the management server 200 , and the information about the event is registered in the storage unit 211 .

Furthermore, in this embodiment, at this time, the person in charge operates the terminal device to register information about the device structure of the portion where the event occurred.
Specifically, the person in charge operates a terminal device to register information about the device structure, such as "the supply device 5 is movable, and further, a gap G exists between the moving supply device 5 and the floor surface."
In this embodiment, information about this device structure is also transmitted from the terminal device to the management server 200.

Then, finally, in this embodiment, information about the event that has occurred and information about the device structure of the part where this event has occurred are registered in the storage unit 211 in a mutually associated state.
In other words, in this embodiment, information about an event that actually occurred in the dental treatment device 100 and information about the device structure of the part where this event occurred are stored in the memory unit 211 in a mutually associated state.
Specifically, for example, information about the event that "an object is caught between the supply device 5 and the floor surface" and information about the device structure that "the supply device 5 is movable, and furthermore, a gap G exists between the moving supply device 5 and the floor surface" are stored in the memory unit 211.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the process executed during event registration processing.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, multiple dental treatment devices 100 are provided, and when an event such as that described above occurs in each of the multiple dental treatment devices 100 (step S101), information about the event and information about the device structure of the part where the event occurred are transmitted to the management server 200 (step S102).

Specifically, in this embodiment, as described above, for example, information about an event and information about an apparatus structure are transmitted from a terminal apparatus to the management server 200 .
In this embodiment, the information about this event and the information about the device structure are registered in the storage unit 211 of the management server 200 in a mutually associated state (step S103).

In this embodiment, each time an event that affects an object or person occurs in each of the dental diagnosis devices 100, information about the event and information about the device structure are registered in the memory unit 211.
In other words, in this embodiment, each time an event occurs that affects an object or person, the content of the event and information about the device structure that caused the event are registered in the memory unit 211.
Here, "people" includes not only patients but also doctors, assistants, etc. In addition, "people" also includes people who are not directly related to medical treatment, such as the patient's family members and those who perform maintenance on the dental treatment device 100.

In the above, we have described a case where information about an event and information about an apparatus structure are registered in the memory unit 211 manually (by a person in charge), but the registration of such information in the memory unit 211 may also be performed without manual intervention.
When registering information without human intervention, for example, images captured by a camera 91 or a photographing device 92 installed in the dental diagnosis device 100 are transmitted to the management server 200 .

In this case, the management server 200 analyzes the video transmitted from each of the dental treatment devices 100 and determines whether an event has occurred at the dental treatment device 100 in which part of the dental treatment device 100 has come into contact with an object or a person.
More specifically, the management server 200 determines, for each dental diagnosis apparatus 100, whether or not an event that affects an object or person has occurred in the dental diagnosis apparatus 100.
Then, when an event occurs in which a movable part of the dental treatment device 100 comes into contact with an object or a person, such as an object being caught, the management server 200 obtains information about this event in which part of the dental treatment device 100 comes into contact with an object or a person.

In this case, the management server 200 further analyzes the video and obtains information about the device structure that caused the event in which a part of the dental diagnosis device 100 touched an object or a person.
Specifically, in this case, the management server 200 identifies a moving object that has touched a person or an object among the dental diagnosis apparatus 100. Then, the management server 200 acquires information including information about the moving object as information about the apparatus structure.
Then, the management server 200 registers the acquired information on the event and the acquired information on the device structure in the storage unit 211 in a state in which the information is associated with each other.

[Processing to grasp possible events]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed when grasping an event that may occur in the dental diagnosis apparatus 100. As shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, in each dental diagnosis apparatus 100, the dental diagnosis apparatus 100 is photographed by the camera 91 and the imaging device 92 provided in the dental diagnosis apparatus 100, and an image of the dental diagnosis apparatus 100 is obtained (step S201).

More specifically, for example, when a new dental diagnosis device 100 is installed, the dental diagnosis device 100 is thereafter photographed by the camera 91 and the photographing device 92 provided in the dental diagnosis device 100. Then, an image of the dental diagnosis device 100 is obtained by photographing the dental diagnosis device 100.
In this embodiment, the images of the dental diagnosis apparatus 100 are sequentially transmitted to the management server 200 (step S202).

Then, in the management server 200, the event grasping unit 212 acquires the images sequentially transmitted from each of the multiple dental diagnosis devices 100 (step S203).
Then, the event grasping unit 212 grasps events that may occur in the dental diagnosis device 100 based on the video transmitted from the dental diagnosis device 100 and the information stored in the memory unit 211 (step S204).

In this case, the dental treatment device 100 is the target device for which possible events are grasped, and the event grasping unit 212 grasps events that may occur in the target device based on the video transmitted from the target device and the information stored in the memory unit 211.
Specifically, when grasping this possible event, the event grasping unit 212 of the management server 200 first analyzes the image obtained by photographing the target device, and determines whether the target device has a device structure registered in the memory unit 211 (hereinafter referred to as the "registered device structure").

Then, if the event understanding unit 212 determines that the target device has a registered device structure, it acquires information about the event (hereinafter referred to as "registered event information") that is associated with this registered device structure and stored in the memory unit 211.
In this case, the event grasping unit 212 grasps the event specified by the acquired registered event information as an event that may occur in the target device (step S204).

To be more specific, when the image of the target device includes the above-mentioned registered device structure of "the supply device 5 is movable, and further, a gap G exists between the moving supply device 5 and the floor surface," the event grasping unit 212 acquires registered event information that is associated with this registered device structure and stored in the memory unit 211.
Specifically, in this case, the event grasping unit 212 acquires registered event information that "an object is caught between the supply device 5 and the floor surface."
In this case, the event grasping unit 212 grasps the event "an object is caught between the supply device 5 and the floor surface" as an event that may occur in the target device.

Here, when the event understanding unit 212 determines whether the image of the target device contains the registered device structure described above, in which "the supply device 5 is movable, and further, a gap G exists between the moving supply device 5 and the floor surface," the event understanding unit 212 first identifies the supply device 5 from the image of the target device.
Specifically, the event grasping unit 212 identifies the supply device 5 based on characteristic parts such as the waste liquid receiving unit 52 .

More specifically, each of the device structures provided in the dental treatment device 100 has various characteristic parts, and in this embodiment, the device structures and the characteristic parts that the device structures have are registered in a corresponding state in a database (not shown) provided in the management server 200.
The event grasping unit 212 refers to the information registered in this database and identifies the supply device 5 based on characteristic parts such as the waste liquid receiving unit 52 .

Then, the event grasping unit 212 further analyzes the video of the target device and determines whether the identified supply device 5 has moved and whether there is a gap G between the supply device 5 that has moved to the lowest position and the floor surface.
Then, if the event understanding unit 212 determines that the supply device 5 provided in the target device is movable and further determines that a gap G exists between the moving supply device 5 and the floor surface, it determines that the target device has a registered device structure.

In this embodiment, in this case, as described above, the event grasping unit 212 acquires the registered event information stored in the storage unit 211 in association with this registered device structure.
Specifically, the event grasping unit 212 acquires registered event information that "an object is caught between the supply device 5 and the floor surface." Then, the event grasping unit 212 grasps this event that "an object is caught between the supply device 5 and the floor surface" as an event that may occur in the target device.

In this embodiment, the information output unit 213 transmits information about the possible event grasped by the event grasping unit 212 to the target device (step S205). As a result, the information acquisition unit 111 (see FIG. 8) of the target device acquires the information about the possible event (step S206). Specifically, the information acquisition unit 111 acquires the information that "an object is caught between the supply device 5 and the floor surface."
Thereafter, in this embodiment, the information about this possible event acquired by the information acquisition unit 111 is displayed, for example, on a monitor (not shown) provided in the target device (step S207).

Specifically, a message may be displayed on the monitor of the target device, such as "An incident in which an object was caught between the supply device and the floor surface has occurred in the past on another device."
This allows the dentist or the like to become aware that there is a possibility that an object may become caught between the supply device 5 and the floor surface.

It should be noted that information regarding possible events may be output to a predetermined person, such as a dentist who manages the target device or a person in charge at the manufacturer of the target device, rather than being limited to the target device.
Specifically, information about possible events may be output to a terminal device such as a smartphone, tablet terminal, or PC owned by the predetermined person.
In this case, as in the above case, the dentist or the person in charge at the manufacturer will become aware that there is a possibility that an object may be caught between the supply device 5 and the floor surface.

[Processing to prevent the occurrence of events]
In this embodiment, the information output unit 213 of the management server 200 outputs, to the target device, information for preventing a possible event identified by the event identifying unit 212 from occurring in the target device.
As described above, this information for preventing the occurrence of an event may be output not only to the target device but also to other predetermined devices such as the above-mentioned terminal device, and may be output to both the target device and the other devices.
Here, the other devices include smartphones, tablet terminals, PCs, etc., as mentioned above.

The information output unit 213 outputs information for preventing a possible event from occurring in a target device to the target device when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
Specifically, the information output unit 213 outputs this information to the target device, for example, when at least some of the conditions necessary for the possible event to actually occur are satisfied, in order to prevent the possible event from occurring.

More specifically, the information output unit 213 sequentially analyzes the images obtained by photographing the target device (images sequentially transmitted from the target device) and sequentially determines whether or not at least some of the above conditions are satisfied.
When at least some of the conditions are satisfied, the information output unit 213 outputs information for preventing the above-mentioned event from occurring.

More specifically, the information output unit 213 sequentially analyzes the images (images of the target device obtained by the camera 91 or the imaging device 92 of the target device) sequentially transmitted from the target device.
Specifically, the information output unit 213 judges, for example, at predetermined regular time intervals, whether or not an object has entered the location corresponding to the gap G described above, based on the images transmitted sequentially from the target device.

Then, when the information output unit 213 determines that an object has entered the location corresponding to the gap G, it determines that there is a possibility that an event will occur. Specifically, the information output unit 213 determines that there is a possibility that an object will be caught between the supply device 5 and the floor surface.
In this case, the information output unit 213 outputs information to prevent the event from occurring, as described above.

Specifically, in this case, the information output unit 213 outputs to the target device information to prevent the event from occurring, for example information to prompt a person to take action to prevent the event from occurring on the target device.
Specifically, the information output unit 213 outputs, for example, information for having a person remove an object from the gap G. More specifically, the information output unit 213 outputs, for example, information for instructing a person to remove an object, such as "Please remove the object from the gap G," to the target device.

In this embodiment, the information output from the information output unit 213 is transmitted to the target device, and the information acquisition unit 111 of the target device acquires the information. That is, the information acquisition unit 111 of the target device acquires information for preventing an event from occurring in the target device.
More specifically, in this case, the information acquisition unit 111 of the target device acquires information for instructing a person to take out an object, such as "Please take the object out of gap G."

In the target device, the control unit 112 (see FIG. 8) controls the target device based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit 111 for preventing the above-mentioned occurrence.
Specifically, the control unit 112 controls the target device based on the information to prevent this from occurring, and, for example, issues a notification to encourage a person to take action to prevent the above-mentioned possible events from occurring.

Specifically, the control unit 112 outputs information instructing the target device to remove the object from the gap G, for example, from a display device (not shown) or a speaker (not shown) provided in the target device.
Specifically, the control unit 112 outputs information instructing a person to remove an object, such as "Please remove the object from gap G," through a display device (not shown) or speaker (not shown) provided on the target device.
This increases the likelihood that an object will be removed from the gap G.

In addition, the information output unit 213 may output control information to the target device to prevent the event grasped by the event grasping unit 212 from occurring in the target device, as information to prevent the event from occurring.
Specifically, in this case, for example, when an object enters the gap G of the target device, the information output unit 213 outputs a control signal for prohibiting the lowering of the supply device 5 .
In addition, the information output unit 213 outputs a control signal to stop the descent of the supply device 5, for example, when an object enters the gap G of the target device and the descent of the supply device 5 actually begins.
This prohibits the supply device 5 from descending, or causes the supply device 5 that has started to move to stop midway, making it less likely that an object will become caught between the supply device 5 and the floor surface.

More specifically, in this case, the control unit 112 of the dental treatment device 100 will not lower the supply device 5, or will stop the supply device 5 that has started moving, making it less likely that objects will get caught between the supply device 5 and the floor surface.
In other words, in this case, the control unit 112 of the dental diagnosis apparatus 100 performs control to limit the movement of the supply device 5 which is a part of the dental diagnosis apparatus 100 .

In this processing example, the control unit 112 controls the supply device 5 based on control information transmitted from the management server 200 .
In this processing example, when control information is transmitted from the management server 200, the control unit 112 does not lower the supply device 5, or stops the supply device 5 that has started to move. This makes it less likely that an object will be caught between the supply device 5 and the floor surface.

The dental diagnosis apparatus 100 has many moving parts, and various events may occur, such as the moving parts touching objects or people. It is preferable to predict these events in advance and grasp the events that may occur in advance.
However, for example, it may be unknown what kind of event may occur when the target device is a new dental treatment device 100. Even if the target device has already been used, if an event has not actually occurred in the target device yet, it may be difficult to grasp the event that may occur in the target device.
In contrast, in this embodiment, even if an event has not yet occurred in a target device, it is possible to grasp events that may occur in this target device, making it less likely that an event such as an object being caught will occur.

In this embodiment, when determining whether the target device has a registered device structure, as described above, the image in which the target device is shown is analyzed to determine whether the target device has a registered device structure.
When performing this process, even if the target device and the dental treatment device 100 (hereinafter referred to as the ``event-occurring device'') in which an event actually occurred and information about the registered device structure is registered in the memory unit 211 are different devices, information about a possible event can be sent to the target device.

Here, the determination as to whether the target device has the registered device structure may be made by comparing the model number of the target device with the model number of the event generating device.
In this case, if the model number of the target device and the model number of the event generating device match, information about an event that can occur in this target device can be transmitted to the target device.
However, in this case where information is based on the model number, if the target device and the event generating device are different even slightly, it becomes impossible to transmit information about an event that may occur to the target device.

In contrast, as described above, when video of the target device is analyzed to determine whether the target device has a structure specified by the registered device structure, information about possible events that may occur can be sent to the target device even if the device model number is different.
In other words, in this case, even if the target product and the event occurrence device are similar or different, information about an event that may occur can be transmitted to the target device.

In the above, an example has been described in which the event of an object entering the gap G below the supply device 5 is registered in the memory unit 211. However, the event to be registered in the memory unit 211 is not limited to the event of an object entering the gap G, and may be any other event that may have an effect on objects or people.
The dental diagnostic device 100 has various moving parts, which affect objects or people by coming into contact with them. In this embodiment, events in which the moving parts come into contact with objects or people are registered in the storage unit 211, and information about possible events can be transmitted to the target device as described above.

[Other processing examples]
Another processing example will be described.
The above describes an example in which, when an event occurs in which an object is caught in the gap G between the supply device 5 and the floor surface, information about the actual event and information about the device structure in the part where the event occurred are registered in the memory unit 211 in a mutually associated state.
Here, the information to be registered in memory unit 211 is not limited to this, and for example, information indicating that an object has been caught (information about the event) and information indicating that the device has been moved up and down may be registered in memory unit 211 in a state in which they are associated with each other.

In other words, information regarding the device structure of the part where the event occurred is not limited to specific information such as "the supply device 5 is movable, and furthermore, a gap G exists between the moving supply device 5 and the floor surface," but may also include more generalized information (information indicating the movement of the part where the event occurred) such as "there is a part that moves up and down" and the like, which is registered in the memory unit 211.
In this case, when it is determined that the target device has a part that moves up and down (a part that performs the same movement), information indicating that an object has been caught is extracted from the memory unit 211 as information about a possible event that may occur.

A further explanation will be given with a concrete example. Here, it is assumed that the examination table 2 in Fig. 2 is the target device.
This examination table 2 is designed so that the leg support part 2e can move up and down, and when the leg support part 2e descends, there is a risk that an object may become caught between the leg support part 2e and the floor surface.
In this case, the management server 200 analyzes the image of the examination table 2, which is the target device, and determines that the leg support portion 2e moves up and down.

In this case, the management server 200 acquires information about the event registered in the memory unit 211, which is registered in association with the information that "there is a part that moves up and down."
Specifically, in this case, the management server 200 acquires information about an event, for example, that an object has been caught.
In this case, the same processing as described above is carried out, such as a processing for notifying the event that an object has been caught and a control for restricting the descent of the leg support portion 2e.

Here, in this example, the device structure for which information about the device structure was registered in the memory unit 211 is the supply device 5, while the device structure that was the basis for understanding possible events is the leg support unit 2e, and the types of devices are different.
As described above, when generic information such as "there is a part that moves up and down" is registered, it is possible to grasp events that may occur in the target device even if the types of devices are different.

Furthermore, when performing this process, even if the examination table 2 (the examination table 2 on which an event has already occurred) whose information about the device structure is registered in the memory unit 211 is the same examination table 2 on which a possible event is to be grasped, information about an event that may occur on this examination table 2 can be obtained.
In other words, based on an event that has already occurred at a certain examination table 2, information can be obtained about events that may occur at parts of that examination table 2 where no event has yet occurred.

As another processing example, for example, when an event occurs in which an object is caught in the gap G between the supply device 5 and the floor surface, information about the event indicating that an object has been caught and the concept of a gap in the moving part of the device may be associated with each other and these two pieces of information may be registered in the memory unit 211.
More specifically, information about the device structure in the part where the event occurred, such as "a gap exists between the moving part of the device and other parts" (information representing the status of the moving object and objects located around this object) may be registered in memory unit 211.

In the examination table 2 of this embodiment (see FIG. 2), a gap G2 exists between the backrest 2c and the seat plate 2b.
In this case, if the examination table 2 is the target device, the management server 200 recognizes that there is a gap G2 in this target device.
In this case, the management server 200 acquires information about a possible event that is associated with the information that "a gap exists between the movable part of the device and another member" and registered in the storage unit 211. Specifically, the management server 200 acquires information about an event that an object has been caught.
In this case, similarly to the above, information about this event is output and a notification process is performed, and control is also performed such as restricting the movement of the backrest 2c.

In this case, similarly to the above, the type of device structure that is the subject of registration of information about the device structure in the storage unit 211 and the type of device structure that is the basis for grasping a possible event are different from each other.
Also in this case, as in the above, the examination table 2 (the examination table 2 on which an event has already occurred) whose information about the device structure is registered in the memory unit 211, and the examination table 2 on which a possible event is about to be grasped are the same.
In the above processing, based on events that have already occurred on the examination table 2, information can be obtained about events that may occur in parts of the examination table 2 where no events have yet occurred.

1...information processing system, 91...camera, 92...imaging device, 100...dental treatment device, 111...information acquisition unit, 112...control unit, 211...storage unit, 212...event grasping unit, 213...information output unit

Claims (7)

A storage unit that stores information regarding events that occur in each of the dental diagnostic devices;
An event recognition means for recognizing an event that may occur in a target device, which is a dental treatment device to be targeted, based on an image obtained by photographing the target device and information stored in the storage unit;
Equipped with
The storage unit registers an event that has actually occurred and information on the structure of the dental diagnostic device in which the event actually occurred in a state of being associated with each other,
The event grasping means is an information processing system that grasps events registered in the memory unit in correspondence with the device structure contained in the image obtained by photographing the target device as events that may occur in the target device . The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising an information output means for outputting information about the possible event grasped by the event grasping means to the target device or a predetermined person. The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising an information output means for outputting information for preventing the possible event recognized by the event recognition means from occurring in the target device to the target device and/or a predetermined device. The information processing system according to claim 3, wherein the information output means outputs the information for preventing the possible event from occurring when at least some of the conditions necessary for the possible event to actually occur are satisfied. The information processing system according to claim 4, wherein the information output means analyzes the image obtained by photographing the target device, determines whether or not at least some of the conditions are satisfied, and outputs the information to prevent the occurrence of the at least some of the conditions when the at least some of the conditions are satisfied. The information processing system according to claim 3, wherein the information output means outputs, as the information for preventing the occurrence, information for prompting a person to take an action for preventing the occurrence of the event detected by the event detection means in the target device, to the target device and/or the predetermined device. The information processing system according to claim 3, wherein the information output means outputs control information to the target device to prevent the event recognized by the event recognition means from occurring in the target device as the information to prevent the event from occurring.