Notification apparatus, method for performing notification and assist robot acting as the same

• US 9,301,685 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2014
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kodama, Mina
• Primary Examiner(s): GIRMA, FEKADESELASS
• Application Number:
  US14/193,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20140240106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.4, 348/E7.077, 348/14.02
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7465 Arrangements for interactive communication between patient and care services, e.g. by using a telephone network telemetry of measured physiological signal A61B5/0002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/00 Accommodation for nursing, e.g. in hospitals, not covered by groups A61G1/00 - A61G11/00, e.g. trolleys for transport of medicaments or food service or tea-tables, trolleys or wagons A47B31/00; Prescription lists
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment, a notification apparatus comprises a detection module and a notification module. The detection module detects a predetermined operation confirmation sound from a medical instrument. The notification module sends a notification to a predetermined terminal in response to the detection of the operation confirmation sound.

Claims

1. A notification apparatus, comprising:

a detection module configured to detect a predetermined operation confirmation sound from a medical instrument;

a notification module configured to send a notification to a predetermined terminal in response to the detection of the operation confirmation sound by the detection module;

a specifying module configured to specify a device name of the medical instrument outputting the operation confirmation sound and an operation state indicated by the operation confirmation sound, based on the operation confirmation sound detected by the detection module; and

a sending module configured to send notification information to a terminal set as a sub-notification destination if the detection module detects the operation confirmation sound and the sub-notification destination is set, the notification information including information of the device name and the operation state specified by the specifying module.

2. The notification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification module comprises:

a sending device configured to send a notification signal becoming trigger of the notification in a nurse call system; and

a notification control module configured to control the sending device to send the notification signal in response to the detection of the operation confirmation sound by the detection module.

3. A notification apparatus, comprising:

a microphone configured to output a sound data representing sound in surroundings;

a sending device configured to send a signal for the notification to a predetermined terminal;

a determination module configured to determine whether or not the sound represented by the sound data is a predetermined operation confirmation sound issued from a medical instrument;

a notification control module configured to control the sending device to send the signal if the determination module determines that the sound represented by the sound data is the operation confirmation sound;

a specifying module configured to specify a device name of the medical instrument outputting the operation confirmation sound and an operation state indicated by the operation confirmation sound, based on the operation confirmation sound; and

a sending module configured to send notification information to a terminal set as a sub-notification destination if the determination module determines that the sound represented by the sound data is the operation confirmation sound and the sub-notification destination is set, the notification information including information of the device name and the operation state specified by the specifying module.

4. A method for performing a notification by a notification apparatus comprising a microphone, a sending device and a transmitting device for sending a signal to notify it to a predetermined terminal, including:

outputting a sound data indicating a sound in surroundings from the microphone;

determining whether or not the sound from the microphone is a predetermined operation confirmation sound issued from a medical instrument;

controlling the transmitting device to send the signal if the sound is the predetermined operation confirmation sound;

specifying a device name of the medical instrument outputting the operation confirmation sound and in operation state indicated by the operation confirmation sound, based on the operation confirmation sound; and

controlling the sending device to send notification information to a terminal set as a sub-notification destination if the sound is determined to be the operation confirmation sound and the sub-notification destination is set, the notification information including information of the specified device name and the specified operation state.

5. An assist robot acting as a notification apparatus, comprising:

a sound recognition module configured to recognize sound in surroundings;

a discrimination module configured to discriminate whether or not the sound recognized by the sound recognition module is a voice of a person or a predetermined operation confirmation sound from a medical instrument;

an assist control module configured to control a device used for performing a given operation to assist a person if the discrimination module discriminates that the sound recognized by the sound recognition module is the voice of the person;

a notification module configured to send a notification to a predetermined terminal if the discrimination module discriminates that the sound is the operation confirmation sound;

a specifying module configured to specify a device name of the medical instrument outputting the operation confirmation sound and an operation state indicated by the operation confirmation sound, based on the operation confirmation sound detected by the detection module; and

a sending module configured to send notification information to a terminal set as a sub-notification destination if the detection module detects the operation confirmation sound and the sub-notification destination is set, the notification information including information of the device name and the operation state specified by the specifying module.