State information acquisition system, state information acquisition apparatus, attachable terminal apparatus, and state information acquisition method

• US 20040098144A1
• Filed: 07/07/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kazuhiko Hashimoto, Nobuyuki Yoshiike, Shigeyuki Inoue, Shinji Tanaka
• Original Assignee: Kazuhiko Hashimoto, Nobuyuki Yoshiike, Shigeyuki Inoue, Shinji Tanaka
• Inventors: Inoue, Shigeyuki, Yoshiike, Nobuyuki, Tanaka, Shinji, Hashimoto, Kazuhiko
• Application Number:
  US10/614,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20040098144A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6889 Rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A state information acquisition system has

a terminal which has physiological state detecting means of detecting the physiological state of a person or animal, posture/action detecting means of detecting the posture and/or action state of the person or animal, and detection signal transmitting means of transmitting detection signals based on the detection of (1) the physiological state and (2) the posture and/or action state, and is attachable to the person or animal; and

signal receiving and processing means which receives and processes a signal transmitted from the terminal and is located in a predetermined region; and

thereby obtaining state information indicating the state of the person or animal on the basis of the detection signal.

Claims

1. A state information acquisition system comprising:

a terminal which has physiological state detecting means of detecting the physiological state of a person or animal, posture/action detecting means of detecting the posture and/or action state of said person or animal, and detection signal transmitting means of transmitting detection signals based on the detection of (1) said physiological state and (2) said posture and/or action state, and is attachable to said person or animal; and

signal receiving and processing means which receives and processes a signal transmitted from said terminal and is located in a predetermined region; and

thereby obtaining state information indicating the state of said person or animal on the basis of said detection signal.

3. A state information acquisition system according to claim 1 comprising:

radio wave transmitting means which is located in said predetermined region and transmits a radio wave; and

movement direction detecting means which is located in an entrance of said predetermined region and detects the movement direction of said person or animal;

wherein

said terminal has radio wave receiving means of receiving said radio wave when the distance from said radio wave transmitting means is a predetermined value or less, and

the transmission of said detection signals based on the detection of (1) said physiological state and (2) said posture and/or action state is carried out on the basis of the reception of said radio wave and the detection of said movement direction.

4. A state information acquisition system according to claim 1 comprising position detecting means which is located in said predetermined region and detects the position of said person or animal, wherein

when said state information is obtained, said position of said person or animal detected by said position detecting means is considered.

5. A state information acquisition system according to claim 1 wherein

said detection signal has a frequency specific to said person or animal,

said state information acquisition system comprises identifying means of identifying said person or animal on the basis of said specific frequency, and

when said state information is obtained, the result of identification carried out by said identifying means is considered.

6. A state information acquisition system according to claim 1 wherein said physiological state detecting means and said detection signal transmitting means are integrated in a common case.

7. A state information acquisition system according to claim 1 comprising:

storing means of storing, as structured data, said state information obtained on the basis of said detection signal and/or standard information previously prepared;

comparing and determining means of comparing said obtained state information with said stored structured data on the basis of a predetermined reference and thereby determining whether the state of said person or animal of object of detection is normal or abnormal; and

notifying means of notifying abnormality when said state of said person or animal is determined to be abnormal.

2. A state information acquisition method comprising the steps of:

detecting the physiological state of a person or animal;

detecting the posture and/or action state of said person or animal;

transmitting detection signals based on the detection of (1) said physiological state and (2) said posture and/or action state;

receiving and processing said transmitted signal; and

obtaining state information indicating the state of said person or animal on the basis of said detection signal.

69. A computer processable medium carrying a program to cause a computer to execute all or part of the state information acquisition method according to claim 2 comprising the steps of:

detecting the physiological state of a person or animal;

detecting the posture and/or action state of said person or animal;

transmitting detection signals based on the detection of (1) said physiological state and (2) said posture and/or action state;

receiving and processing said transmitted signal; and

obtaining state information indicating the state of said person or animal on the basis of said detection signal.

8. A state information acquisition apparatus comprising signal receiving and processing means which receives and processes a detection signal of the physiological state of a person or animal and a detection signal of the posture and/or action state of a person or animal and is located in a predetermined region, wherein

(1) the output from said signal receiving and processing means contains state information which is based on said detection signal and indicates the state of said person or animal, or (2) said processed signal is output for the preparation of state information.

9. A state information acquisition method comprising the step of receiving and processing a detection signal of the physiological state of a person or animal and a detection signal of the posture and/or action state of a person or animal, wherein

(1) said processed signal contains state information which is based on said detection signal and indicates the state of said person or animal, or (2) said processed signal is output for the preparation of state information.

10. An attachable terminal apparatus comprising detection signal transmitting means of obtaining and transmitting detection signals based on the detection of (1) the physiological state of a person or animal and (2) the posture and/or action state of said person or animal, wherein

said detection signal transmitting means is attachable to said person or animal.

11. A state information acquisition method comprising the step of obtaining and transmitting, in the state of being attached to a person or animal, detection signals based on the detection of (1) the physiological state of said person or animal and (2) the posture and/or action state of said person or animal.

12. A state information acquisition system comprising:

a terminal which has physiological state detecting means of detecting the physiological state of a person or animal and detection signal transmitting means of transmitting a detection signal based on said detection, and is attachable to said person or animal;

receiving means which receives a signal transmitted from said terminal and is located in a predetermined region; and

signal processing and outputting means of processing said received signal and then outputting the result; and

thereby obtaining state information indicating the state of said person or animal on the basis of said detection signal.

14. A state information acquisition system according to claim 12 comprising position detecting means of detecting the position of said person or animal, wherein

when said state information is obtained, the result of detection carried out by said position detecting means is considered.

15. A state information acquisition system according to claim 12 comprising identifying means of identifying said person or animal, wherein

when said state information is obtained, the result of identification carried out by said identifying means is considered.

13. A state information acquisition method comprising the steps of:

detecting, in the state of being attached to a person or animal, the physiological state of said person or animal and thereby transmitting a detection signal based on said detection;

receiving said transmitted signal;

processing said received signal and then outputting the result; and

obtaining state information indicating the state of said person or animal on the basis of said detection signal.

70. A computer processable medium carrying a program to cause a computer to execute all or part of the state information acquisition method according to claim 13 comprising the steps of:

detecting, in the state of being attached to a person or animal, the physiological state of said person or animal and thereby transmitting a detection signal based on said detection;

receiving said transmitted signal;

processing said received signal and then outputting the result; and

obtaining state information indicating the state of said person or animal on the basis of said detection signal.

16. A personal characteristics information acquisition system comprising:

radio wave transmitting means which is located at least at one position in a room and transmits a radio wave of specific frequency;

radio wave receiving means of receiving when the distance from said radio wave transmitting means is a predetermined value or less;

posture/action detecting means of detecting the posture, position, action, and motion state of a human body;

physiological state detecting means of detecting the physiological state such as pulse and heartbeat of said human body;

sensor signal transmitting means of transmitting a sensor signal obtained from said physiological state detecting means;

sensor signal receiving means of receiving a sensor signal obtained from said sensor signal transmitting means;

a wearable personal information terminal having said radio wave receiving means, said posture/action detecting means, said sensor signal receiving means, and sensor signal processing means of obtaining the personal characteristics information of said human body;

a master apparatus for successively transmitting and receiving the sensor signals from a plurality of said wearable personal information terminals by wireless; and

signal processing means of integrally processing, by means of a network, the signals obtained from said sensor signals from said master apparatus and thereby obtaining the personal characteristics information of said human body.

17. A personal characteristics information acquisition system according to claim 16 comprising:

position detecting means which is located at least at one position in said room and detects the position of said human body by means of image processing;

movement direction detecting means which is located in an entrance of said room and detects the movement direction of said human body;

storing means of storing the action information of said human body obtained from said signal processing means, in an integrated form of structured data by means of a network;

action evaluating means of evaluating said action information of said human body obtained from said signal processing means by comparing it with said structured data stored in said storing means connected to said network;

state determining means of determining and predicting an abnormality in the action state of said human body obtained from said action evaluating means; and

notifying means of notifying said determined abnormality in said action state of said human body to said personal information terminal and other terminals connected to said network;

wherein

the results of detection by said position detecting means and said movement direction detecting means are integrated into said action information by said signal processing means.

18. A state information acquisition system comprising:

position detecting means of detecting the position of a person or animal and thereby transmitting a position detection signal;

a terminal which has posture/action detecting means of detecting the posture and/or action state of said person or animal and detection signal transmitting means of transmitting a state detection signal based on the detection of said posture and/or action state, and is attachable to said person or animal; and

signal receiving and processing means which receives and processes said position detection signal and said state detection signal, and is located in a predetermined region; and

thereby obtaining state information indicating the state of said person or animal on the basis of the result of said processing.

20. A state information acquisition system according to claim 18 wherein:

the object of said detection is a person;

said state information acquisition system comprises lavatory state detecting means of detecting the state of said person in a lavatory; and

when said state information is obtained, the result of detection carried out by said lavatory state detecting means is considered.

21. A state information acquisition system according to claim 18 wherein:

the object of said detection is a person;

said state information acquisition system comprises on-bed state detecting means of detecting the state of said person on a bed; and

when said state information is obtained, the result of detection carried out by said on-bed state detecting means is considered.

22. A state information acquisition system according to claim 18 comprising:

radio wave transmitting means which is located in said predetermined region and transmits a radio wave; and

movement direction detecting means which is located in an entrance of said predetermined region and detects the movement direction of said person or animal;

wherein

said terminal has radio wave receiving means of receiving said radio wave when the distance from said radio wave transmitting means is a predetermined value or less, and

the transmission of said state detection signal is carried out on the basis of the reception of said radio wave and the detection of said movement direction.

23. A state information acquisition system according to claim 18 wherein

said state detection signal has a frequency specific to said person or animal,

said state information acquisition system comprises identifying means of identifying said person or animal on the basis of said specific frequency, and

when said state information is obtained, the result of identification carried out by said identifying means is considered.

24. A state information acquisition system according to claim 18 comprising:

storing means of storing, as structured data, said state information obtained on the basis of the result of said processing and/or standard information previously prepared;

comparing and determining means of comparing said obtained state information with said stored structured data on the basis of a predetermined reference and thereby determining whether the state of said person or animal of object of detection is normal or abnormal; and

notifying means of notifying abnormality when said state of said person or animal is determined to be abnormal.

19. A state information acquisition method comprising the steps of:

detecting the position of a person or animal and thereby transmitting a position detection signal;

detecting the posture and/or action state of said person or animal and thereby transmitting a state detection signal;

receiving and processing said position detection signal and said state detection signal; and

obtaining state information indicating the state of said person or animal on the basis of the result of said processing.

71. A computer processable medium carrying a program to cause a computer to execute all or part of the state information acquisition method according to claim 19 comprising the steps of:

detecting the position of a person or animal and thereby transmitting a position detection signal;

detecting the posture and/or action state of said person or animal and thereby transmitting a state detection signal;

receiving and processing said position detection signal and said state detection signal; and

obtaining state information indicating the state of said person or animal on the basis of the result of said processing.

25. A state information acquisition apparatus comprising signal receiving and processing means which receives and processes a position detection signal based on the detection of the position of a person or animal and a state detection signal based on the detection of the posture and/or action state of said person or animal and is located in a predetermined region, wherein

(1) the output from said signal receiving and processing means contains state information which is based on the result of said processing and indicates the state of said person or animal, or (2) said processed signal is output for the preparation of state information.

26. A state information acquisition method comprising the step of receiving and processing a position detection signal based on the detection of the position of a person or animal and a state detection signal based on the detection of the posture and/or action state of said person or animal, wherein

(1) said processed signal contains state information which is based on the result of said processing and indicates the state of said person or animal, or (2) said processed signal is output for the preparation of state information.

27. A state information acquisition system comprising:

identifying means of identifying a person or animal;

position detecting means of detecting the position of said person or animal and thereby transmitting a position detection signal; and

signal processing and outputting means of receiving and processing said position detection signal with considering the result of said identification, and then outputting the result; and

thereby obtaining state signal indicating the state of said person or animal on the basis of the result of said processing.

28. A state information acquisition method comprising the steps of:

identifying a person or animal;

detecting the position of said person or animal and thereby transmitting a position detection signal;

receiving and processing said position detection signal with considering the result of said identification, and then outputting the result; and

obtaining state signal indicating the state of said person or animal on the basis of the result of said processing.

72. A computer processable medium carrying a program to cause a computer to execute all or part of the state information acquisition method according to claim 28 comprising the steps of:

identifying a person or animal;

detecting the position of said person or animal and thereby transmitting a position detection signal;

receiving and processing said position detection signal with considering the result of said identification, and then outputting the result; and

obtaining state signal indicating the state of said person or animal on the basis of the result of said processing.

29. A state information acquisition system comprising:

identifying means of identifying a person or animal;

a terminal which has posture/action detecting means of detecting the posture and/or action state of said person or animal and detection signal transmitting means of transmitting a state detection signal based on the detection of said posture and/or action state, and is attachable to said person or animal; and

signal processing and outputting means of receiving and processing said state detection signal with considering the result of said identification, and then outputting the result; and

thereby obtaining state information indicating the state of said person or animal on the basis of the result of said processing.

30. A state information acquisition method comprising the steps of:

identifying a person or animal;

detecting, in the state of being attached to said person or animal, the posture and/or action state of said person or animal and transmitting a state detection signal based on the detection of said posture and/or action state;

receiving and processing said state detection signal with considering the result of said identification, and then outputting the result; and

obtaining state information indicating the state of said person or animal on the basis of the result of said processing.

73. A computer processable medium carrying a program to cause a computer to execute all or part of the state information acquisition method according to claim 30 comprising the steps of:

identifying a person or animal;

detecting, in the state of being attached to said person or animal, the posture and/or action state of said person or animal and transmitting a state detection signal based on the detection of said posture and/or action state;

receiving and processing said state detection signal with considering the result of said identification, and then outputting the result; and

obtaining state information indicating the state of said person or animal on the basis of the result of said processing.

31. An abnormal action detection system comprising:

position detecting means which is located at least at one position in a room and detects the position of a human body by means of image processing;

movement direction detecting means which is located in an entrance of said room and detects the movement direction of said human body;

transmitting means which is located at least at one position in said room and transmits a radio wave of specific frequency;

receiving means of receiving when the distance from said transmitting means is a predetermined value or less;

posture/action detecting means of detecting the posture, action, and motion state of said human body;

a wearable personal information terminal having said receiving means, said posture/action detecting means, and signal processing means of obtaining the action information of said human body;

a master apparatus for successively transmitting and receiving the sensor signals from a plurality of said wearable personal information terminals by wireless;

signal processing means of integrally processing said sensor signals from said master apparatus and the signals obtained from said position detecting means and said movement direction detecting means and thereby obtaining the action information of said human body;

storing means of storing the action information of said human body obtained from said signal processing means, in an integrated form of structured data by means of a network;

action evaluating means of evaluating said action information of said human body obtained from said signal processing means by comparing it with said structured data stored in said storing means connected to said network;

state determining means of determining and predicting an abnormality in the action state of said human body obtained from said action evaluating means; and

notifying means of notifying said determined abnormality in said action state of said human body to said personal information terminal and other terminals connected to said network.

32. An abnormal action detection system according to claim 31 comprising human body state detecting means of detecting an abnormal state of said human body in a lavatory, wherein

the result of detection by said human body state detecting means is integrated into said action information by said signal processing means.

33. An abnormal action detection system according to claim 31 comprising on-bed state detecting means of detecting the on-bed state of said human body on a bed, wherein

the result of detection by said on-bed state detecting means is integrated into said action information by said signal processing means.

34. A state information detection and transmission apparatus comprising:

physiological information detecting means of detecting the physiological information of a human body;

transmitting means of transmitting said physiological information detected by said physiological information detecting means; and

a wearable personal information terminal having;

receiving means of receiving said physiological information from said transmitting means; and

sending means of sending said physiological information received by said receiving means or physiological information generated by signal processing of said physiological information, to a predetermined base station;

wherein

(1) said transmitting means transmits said physiological information detected by said physiological information detecting means to said personal information terminal in every predetermined time interval, or

(2) said receiving means receives said physiological information from said transmitting means in every predetermined time interval, or

(3) said sending means sends said physiological information to said base station in every predetermined time interval.

46. A state information detection and transmission apparatus according to claims 34 or 40 wherein

said transmitting means is carried with said human body,

said transmitting means further comprises uncarry detecting means of detecting that said transmitting means becomes uncarried with said human body,

when said uncarry detecting means detects that said transmitting means becomes uncarried with said human body, said transmitting means transmits uncarry information indicating this situation to said personal information terminal, and

said personal information terminal sends said uncarry information to said base station.

47. A state information detection and transmission apparatus according to claims 34 or 40 wherein

said personal information terminal further comprises uncarry detecting means of detecting that said personal information terminal becomes uncarried with said human body, and

when said uncarry detecting means detects that said personal information terminal becomes uncarried with said human body, said sending means sends uncarry information indicating this situation to said base station.

35. A state information detection and transmission method comprising the steps of:

detecting the physiological information of a human body;

transmitting said detected physiological information; and

in a wearable personal information terminal;

receiving said physiological information; and

sending said received physiological information or physiological information generated by signal processing of said physiological information, to a predetermined base station;

wherein

(1) said detected physiological information is transmitted to said personal information terminal in every predetermined time interval, or (2) said physiological information is received in every predetermined time interval, or (3) said physiological information is sent to said base station in every predetermined time interval.

74. A computer processable medium carrying a program to cause a computer to execute all or part of the state information detection and transmission method according to claim 35 comprising the steps of:

detecting the physiological information of a human body;

transmitting said detected physiological information; and

in a wearable personal information terminal;

receiving said physiological information; and

sending said received physiological information or physiological information generated by signal processing of said physiological information, to a predetermined base station.

36. A wearable personal information terminal having:

receiving means of receiving physiological information from transmitting means of transmitting physiological information detected by physiological information detecting means of detecting the physiological information of a human body; and

sending means of sending said physiological information received by said receiving means or physiological information generated by signal processing of said physiological information, to a predetermined base station;

wherein

(1) said receiving means receives said physiological information from said transmitting means in every predetermined time interval, or

(2) said sending means sends said physiological information to said base station in every predetermined time interval.

60. A personal information terminal according to any one of claims 36, 42, 48, 50, 52, and 58 further comprising notifying means of notifying abnormality information by means of sound or color, when all or part of said detected physiological information or said detected state information falls within the range of predetermined abnormality information.

61. An alarm notifying system comprising at least:

a personal information terminal according to any one of claims 36, 42, 48, 50, 52, 58, and 60; and

a base station for receiving physiological information or state information from said personal information terminal by wireless;

wherein

said personal information terminal comprises an alarm button to be arbitrarily pushed by a human body in order to notify an abnormality, and

said alarm notifying system further comprises notifying means of notifying, by means of sound or color, abnormality information indicating the abnormality when said alarm button is pushed.

62. An alarm notifying system comprising at least:

a personal information terminal according to any one of claims 36, 42, 48, 50, 52, 58, and 60; and

a base station for receiving physiological information or state information from said personal information terminal by wireless;

wherein

said personal information terminal comprises an alarm button to be arbitrarily pushed by a human body in order to notify an abnormality, and

when said alarm button is pushed, abnormality information indicating the abnormality is sent from said personal information terminal to said base station.

63. A personal characteristics information acquisition system comprising:

a personal information terminal according to any one of claims 36, 42, 48, 50, 52, 58, and 60;

a base station for receiving physiological information or state information from said personal information terminal by wireless; and

personal characteristics information calculating means of obtaining the personal characteristics information of a human body on the basis of said physiological information or said state information received by said base station.

37. A personal information processing method comprising the steps of:

receiving detected and transmitted physiological information of a human body, by a predetermined personal information terminal; and

sending said received physiological information or physiological information generated by signal processing of said physiological information, from said personal information terminal to a predetermined base station;

wherein

(1) said physiological information is received in every predetermined time interval, or (2) said physiological information is sent to said base station in every predetermined time interval.

38. Transmitting means of transmitting physiological information detected by physiological information detecting means of detecting the physiological information of a human body, to a predetermined personal information terminal, wherein

said transmitting means transmits said physiological information detected by said physiological information detecting means to said personal information terminal in every predetermined time interval.

39. A transmitting method comprising the step of transmitting detected physiological information of a human body to a predetermined personal information terminal, wherein

said detected physiological information is transmitted to said personal information terminal in every predetermined time interval.

40. A state information detection and transmission apparatus comprising:

physiological information detecting means of detecting the physiological information of a human body;

transmitting means of transmitting said physiological information detected by said physiological information detecting means; and

a wearable personal information terminal having;

receiving means of receiving said physiological information from said transmitting means; and

sending means of sending said physiological information received by said receiving means or physiological information generated by signal processing of said physiological information, to a predetermined base station;

wherein

(1) said transmitting means transmits said physiological information to said personal information terminal only when a substantial change occurs in the signal detected by said physiological information detecting means, or

(2) said sending means sends said physiological information to said base station only when a substantial change occurs in said physiological information received by said receiving means.

41. A state information detection and transmission method comprising the steps of:

detecting the physiological information of a human body;

transmitting said detected physiological information; and

in a wearable personal information terminal;

receiving said physiological information; and

sending said received physiological information or physiological information generated by signal processing of said physiological information, to a predetermined base station;

wherein

(1) said physiological information is transmitted to said personal information terminal only when a substantial change occurs in said physiological information, or (2) said physiological information is sent to said base station only when a substantial change occurs in said received physiological information.

75. A computer processable medium carrying a program to cause a computer to execute all or part of the state information detection and transmission method according to claim 41 comprising the steps of:

detecting the physiological information of a human body;

transmitting said detected physiological information; and

in a wearable personal information terminal;

receiving said physiological information; and

sending said received physiological information or physiological information generated by signal processing of said physiological information, to a predetermined base station.

42. A wearable personal information terminal having:

receiving means of receiving physiological information from transmitting means of transmitting physiological information detected by physiological information detecting means of detecting the physiological information of a human body; and

sending means of sending said physiological information received by said receiving means or physiological information generated by signal processing of said physiological information, to a predetermined base station;

wherein

said sending means sends said physiological information to said base station only when a substantial change occurs in said physiological information received by said receiving means.

43. A personal information processing method comprising the steps of:

receiving detected and transmitted physiological information of a human body, by a predetermined personal information terminal; and

sending said received physiological information or physiological information generated by signal processing of said physiological information, from said personal information terminal to a predetermined base station;

wherein

said physiological information is sent to said base station only when a substantial change occurs in said received physiological information.

44. Transmitting means of transmitting physiological information detected by physiological information detecting means of detecting the physiological information of a human body, to a predetermined personal information terminal, wherein

said transmitting means transmits said physiological information to said personal information terminal only when a substantial change occurs in the signal detected by said physiological information detecting means.

45. A transmitting method comprising the step of transmitting detected physiological information of a human body to a predetermined personal information terminal, wherein

said physiological information is transmitted to said personal information terminal only when a substantial change occurs in said physiological information.

48. A wearable personal information terminal having:

state detecting means of detecting all or part of the posture, action, and motion state of a human body; and

sending means of sending state information detected by said state detecting means or state information generated by signal processing of said state information, to a predetermined base station;

wherein

said sending means sends said state information to said base station in every predetermined time interval.

49. A personal information processing method comprising the steps of:

detecting, as state information, all or part of the posture, action, and motion state of a human body; and

sending said detected state information or state information generated by signal processing of said state information, from a predetermined personal information terminal to a predetermined base station;

wherein

said state information is sent to said base station in every predetermined time interval.

50. A wearable personal information terminal having:

state detecting means of detecting all or part of the posture, action, and motion state of a human body; and

sending means of sending state information detected by said state detecting means or state information generated by signal processing of said state information, to a predetermined base station;

wherein

said sending means sends said state information to said base station only when a substantial change occurs in the signal detected by said state information detecting means.

52. A personal information terminal according to claim 50 wherein

said personal information terminal further comprises uncarry detecting means of detecting that said personal information terminal becomes uncarried with said human body, and

when said uncarry detecting means detects that said personal information terminal becomes uncarried with said human body, said sending means sends uncarry information indicating this situation to said base station.

51. A personal information processing method comprising the steps of:

detecting, as state information, all or part of the posture, action, and motion state of a human body; and

sending said detected state information or state information generated by signal processing of said state information, from a predetermined personal information terminal to a predetermined base station;

wherein

said state information is sent to said base station only when a substantial change occurs in said detected signal.

53. A state information detection and transmission apparatus comprising:

physiological information detecting means of detecting the physiological information of a human body;

transmitting means of transmitting said physiological information detected by said physiological information detecting means; and

a wearable personal information terminal having;

receiving means of receiving said physiological information from said transmitting means;

state detecting means of detecting all or part of the posture, action, and motion state of said human body; and

sending means of sending all or part of state information composed of said physiological information received by said receiving means and the information detected by said state detecting means, or alternatively all or part of state information generated by signal processing of said state information, to a predetermined base station;

wherein

said sending means sends said state information to said base station only when a substantial change occurs in at least a part of said physiological information received by said receiving means and said information detected by said state detecting means.

54. A state information detection and transmission method comprising the steps of:

detecting the physiological information of a human body;

transmitting said detected physiological information; and

in a wearable personal information terminal;

receiving said physiological information;

detecting all or part of the posture, action, and motion state of said human body; and

sending all or part of state information composed of said received physiological information and said detected information, or alternatively all or part of state information generated by signal processing of said state information, to a predetermined base station;

wherein

said state information is sent to said base station only when a substantial change occurs in at least a part of said received physiological information and said detected information.

76. A computer processable medium carrying a program to cause a computer to execute all or part of the state information detection and transmission method according to claim 54 comprising the steps of:

detecting the physiological information of a human body;

transmitting said detected physiological information; and

in a wearable personal information terminal;

receiving said physiological information;

detecting all or part of the posture, action, and motion state of said human body; and

sending all or part of state information composed of said received physiological information and said detected information, or alternatively all or part of state information generated by signal processing of said state information, to a predetermined base station.

55. A state information detection and transmission apparatus comprising:

physiological information detecting means of detecting the physiological information of a human body;

transmitting means of transmitting said physiological information detected by said physiological information detecting means; and

a wearable personal information terminal having;

receiving means of receiving said physiological information from said transmitting means;

state detecting means of detecting all or part of the posture, action, and motion state of said human body; and

sending means of sending all or part of state information composed of said physiological information received by said receiving means and the information detected by said state detecting means, or alternatively all or part of state information generated by signal processing of said state information, to a predetermined base station;

wherein

said receiving means receives said physiological information from said transmitting means only when a substantial change occurs in the signal detected by said state detecting means.

57. A state information detection and transmission apparatus according to claim 55 wherein

said transmitting means is carried with said human body,

further comprised is uncarry detecting means of detecting that said transmitting means becomes uncarried with said human body and/or that said personal information terminal becomes uncarried with said human body,

when said uncarry detecting means detects that said transmitting means and/or said personal information terminal become uncarried with said human body, said transmitting means and/or said sending means transmits and/or sends uncarry information indicating these situations.

56. A state information detection and transmission method comprising the steps of:

detecting the physiological information of a human body;

transmitting said detected physiological information; and

in a wearable personal information terminal;

receiving said physiological information;

detecting all or part of the posture, action, and motion state of said human body; and

sending all or part of state information composed of said received physiological information and said detected information, or alternatively all or part of state information generated by signal processing of said state information, to a predetermined base station;

wherein

said physiological information is received only when a substantial change occurs in said detected signal.

77. A computer processable medium carrying a program to cause a computer to execute all or part of the state information detection and transmission method according to claim 56 comprising the steps of:

detecting the physiological information of a human body;

transmitting said detected physiological information; and

in a wearable personal information terminal;

receiving said physiological information;

detecting all or part of the posture, action, and motion state of said human body; and

sending all or part of state information composed of said received physiological information and said detected information, or alternatively all or part of state information generated by signal processing of said state information, to a predetermined base station.

58. A wearable personal information terminal having:

receiving means of receiving physiological information from transmitting means of transmitting physiological information detected by physiological information detecting means of detecting the physiological information of a human body;

state detecting means of detecting all or part of the posture, action, and motion state of said human body; and

sending means of sending all or part of state information composed of said physiological information received by said receiving means and the information detected by said state detecting means, or alternatively all or part of state information generated by signal processing of said state information, to a predetermined base station;

wherein

said receiving means receives said physiological information from said transmitting means only when a substantial change occurs in the information detected by said state detecting means.

59. A personal information processing method comprising the steps of:

receiving detected and transmitted physiological information of a human body, by a predetermined personal information terminal;

detecting all or part of the posture, action, and motion state of said human body; and

sending all or part of state information composed of said received physiological information and said detected information, or alternatively all or part of state information generated by signal processing of said state information, from said personal information terminal to a predetermined base station;

wherein

said physiological information is received only when a substantial change occurs in said detected information.

64. An action detection system comprising:

a wearable personal information terminal for acquiring at least a part of the personal characteristic action information of a human body;

action information acquiring means which is uncarried with said human body and located in a predetermined fixed place, and acquires at least a part of the personal characteristic action information of said human body;

a base station for receiving said personal characteristic action information from said personal information terminal by wireless;

action state calculating means of integrally processing said personal characteristic action information received by said base station and said personal characteristic action information from said action information acquiring means and thereby obtaining the action state of said human body;

state determining means of comparing said action state obtained by said action state calculating means with predetermined reference information and thereby determining and predicting the presence or absence of abnormality in said action state of said human body;

a first Internet terminal for transmitting, via the Internet, the result of determination by said state determining means, or alternatively said result of determination and said action state information obtained by said action state calculating means; and

a second Internet terminal for receiving said result of determination, or alternatively said result of determination and said action state information, from said first Internet terminal via the Internet;

wherein

said first Internet terminal and said second Internet terminal can perform interactive information communications with each other via the Internet.

66. An action detection system according to claim 64 wherein when said state determining means determines an abnormality, said first Internet terminal transmits said result of determination, or alternatively said result of determination and said action state information.

67. An action detection system according to claim 64 further comprising an apparatus which can be connected to said first Internet terminal and the operation of which is controlled on the basis of the instructions from said second Internet terminal.

68. An action detection system according to claim 64 wherein

said action information acquiring means comprises:

radio wave transmitting means which is located at least at one position in a room and transmits a radio wave of specific frequency;

physiological state detecting means of detecting the physiological state of said human body; and

physiological information transmitting means of transmitting the physiological information detected by said physiological state detecting means, to said personal information terminal;

said personal information terminal comprises;

radio wave receiving means of receiving the radio wave from said radio wave transmitting means when the distance from said radio wave transmitting means is a predetermined value or less;

state detecting means of detecting all or part of the posture, action, and motion state of said human body;

physiological information receiving means of receiving said physiological information from said physiological information transmitting means; and

sending means of sending, as personal characteristic action information, all or part of reception information indicating the reception of radio wave from said radio wave transmitting means, said state information detected by said state detecting means, and said physiological information received by said physiological information receiving means, to said base station.

65. An action detection method comprising the steps of:

acquiring, in the state of being carried with a human body, at least a part of the personal characteristic action information of said human body;

acquiring, in the state of being uncarried with said human body and located in a predetermined fixed place, at least a part of the personal characteristic action information of said human body;

receiving said personal characteristic action information by wireless;

integrally processing said received personal characteristic action information and said personal characteristic action information and thereby obtaining the action state of said human body;

comparing said obtained action state with predetermined reference information and thereby determining and predicting the presence or absence of abnormality in said action state of said human body;

transmitting the result of said determination, or alternatively said result of determination and said obtained action state information, from a first Internet terminal via the Internet; and

receiving said result of determination, or alternatively said result of determination and said action state information, from said first Internet terminal via the Internet by a second Internet terminal;

wherein

said first Internet terminal and said second Internet terminal can perform interactive information communications with each other via the Internet.

78. A computer processable medium carrying a program to cause a computer to execute all or part of the action detection method according to claim 65 comprising the steps of:

acquiring, in the state of being carried with a human body, at least a part of the personal characteristic action information of said human body;

acquiring, in the state of being uncarried with said human body and located in a predetermined fixed place, at least a part of the personal characteristic action information of said human body;

receiving said personal characteristic action information by wireless;

integrally processing said received personal characteristic action information and said personal characteristic action information and thereby obtaining the action state of said human body;

comparing said obtained action state with predetermined reference information and thereby determining and predicting the presence or absence of abnormality in said action state of said human body;

transmitting the result of said determination, or alternatively said result of determination and said obtained action state information, from a first Internet terminal via the Internet; and

receiving said result of determination, or alternatively said result of determination and said action state information, from said first Internet terminal via the Internet by a second Internet terminal.

79. A personal characteristics information acquisition method comprising the steps of:

Transmitting, by radio wave transmitting means which is located at least at one position in a room, a radio wave of specific frequency;

Receiving, by radio wave receiving means, when the distance from said radio wave transmitting means is a predetermined value or less;

Detecting, by posture/action detecting means, the posture, position, action, and motion state of a human body;

Detecting, by physiological state detecting means, the physiological state such as pulse and heartbeat of said human body;

Transmitting, by sensor signal transmitting means, a sensor signal obtained from said physiological state detecting means;

Receiving, by sensor signal receiving means, a sensor signal obtained from said sensor signal transmitting means;

Transmitting successively and receiving, by a master apparatus, the sensor signals by wireless from a plurality of wearable personal information terminals having said radio wave receiving means, said posture/action detecting means, said sensor signal receiving means, and sensor signal processing means of obtaining the personal characteristics information of said human body; and

Processing integrally, by signal processing means, the signals obtained from said sensor signals from said master apparatus by means of a network and thereby obtaining the personal characteristics information of said human body.

80. A computer processable medium carrying a program to cause a computer to execute all or part of the personal characteristics information acquisition method according to claim 79 comprising the steps of:

transmitting, by radio wave transmitting means which is located at least at one position in a room, a radio wave of specific frequency;

receiving, by radio wave receiving means, when the distance from said radio wave transmitting means is a predetermined value or less;

detecting, by posture/action detecting means, the posture, position, action, and motion state of a human body;

detecting, by physiological state detecting means, the physiological state such as pulse and heartbeat of said human body;

transmitting, by sensor signal transmitting means, a sensor signal obtained from said physiological state detecting means;

receiving, by sensor signal receiving means, a sensor signal obtained from said sensor signal transmitting means;

transmitting successively and receiving, by a master apparatus, the sensor signals by wireless from a plurality of wearable personal information terminals having said radio wave receiving means, said posture/action detecting means, said sensor signal receiving means, and sensor signal processing means of obtaining the personal characteristics information of said human body; and

processing integrally, by signal processing means, the signals obtained from said sensor signals from said master apparatus by means of a network and thereby obtaining the personal characteristics information of said human body.

81. An abnormal action detection method comprising the steps of:

Detecting, by position detecting means which is located at least at one position in a room, the position of a human body by means of image processing;

Detecting, by movement direction detecting means which is located in an entrance of said room, the movement direction of said human body;

Transmitting, by transmitting means which is located at least at one position in said room, a radio wave of specific frequency;

Receiving, by receiving means, when the distance from said transmitting means is a predetermined value or less;

Detecting, by posture/action detecting means, the posture, action, and motion state of said human body;

Transmitting successively and receiving, by a master apparatus, the sensor signals by wireless from a plurality of wearable personal information terminals having said receiving means, said posture/action detecting means, and signal processing means of obtaining the action information of said human body;

Processing integrally, by signal processing means, said sensor signals from said master apparatus and the signals obtained from said position detecting means and said movement direction detecting means and thereby obtaining the action information of said human body;

Storing, by storing means, the action information of said human body obtained from said signal processing means, in an integrated form of structured data by means of a network;

Evaluating, by action evaluating means, said action information of said human body obtained from said signal processing means by comparing it with said structured data stored in said storing means connected to said network;

Determining and predicting, by state determining means, an abnormality in the action state of said human body obtained from said action evaluating means; and

Notifying, by notifying means, said determined abnormality in said action state of said human body to said personal information terminal and other terminals connected to said network.

82. A computer processable medium carrying a program to cause a computer to execute all or part of the abnormal action detection method according to claim 81 comprising the steps of:

detecting, by position detecting means which is located at least at one position in a room, the position of a human body by means of image processing;

detecting, by movement direction detecting means which is located in an entrance of said room, the movement direction of said human body;

transmitting, by transmitting means which is located at least at one position in said room, a radio wave of specific frequency;

receiving, by receiving means, when the distance from said transmitting means is a predetermined value or less;

detecting, by posture/action detecting means, the posture, action, and motion state of said human body;

transmitting successively and receiving, by a master apparatus, the sensor signals by wireless from a plurality of wearable personal information terminals having said receiving means, said posture/action detecting means, and signal processing means of obtaining the action information of said human body;

processing integrally, by signal processing means, said sensor signals from said master apparatus and the signals obtained from said position detecting means and said movement direction detecting means and thereby obtaining the action information of said human body;

storing, by storing means, the action information of said human body obtained from said signal processing means, in an integrated form of structured data by means of a network;

evaluating, by action evaluating means, said action information of said human body obtained from said signal processing means by comparing it with said structured data stored in said storing means connected to said network;

determining and predicting, by state determining means, an abnormality in the action state of said human body obtained from said action evaluating means; and

notifying, by notifying means, said determined abnormality in said action state of said human body to said personal information terminal and other terminals connected to said network.