U.S. patent application number 13/455592 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-15 for information processing apparatus and information processing method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sony Corporation. Invention is credited to Kazuki AISAKA, Tsuneo HAYASHI, Koji KASHIMA, Tatsumi SAKAGUCHI, Masahito YAMANE.
Application Number | 20120288835 13/455592 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47124137 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120288835 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HAYASHI; Tsuneo ; et
al. |
November 15, 2012 |
INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND INFORMATION PROCESSING
METHOD
Abstract
An information processing apparatus includes: a detecting unit
that detects behavior information and biological information of a
user as a target; a biological information estimating unit that
calculates estimated biological information by applying, to a
metabolism model, the behavior information and the biological
information detected by the detecting unit; and a suggesting unit
that suggests, to the user, a recommended behavior calculated based
on the estimated biological information calculated by the
biological information estimating unit.
Inventors: |
HAYASHI; Tsuneo; (Chiba,
JP) ; KASHIMA; Koji; (Kanagawa, JP) ; AISAKA;
Kazuki; (Kanagawa, JP) ; YAMANE; Masahito;
(Kanagawa, JP) ; SAKAGUCHI; Tatsumi; (Kanagawa,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Sony Corporation
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
47124137 |
Appl. No.: |
13/455592 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
434/236 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G16H 50/50 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
434/236 |
International
Class: |
G09B 19/00 20060101
G09B019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 11, 2011 |
JP |
2011-105991 |
Claims
1. An information processing apparatus comprising: a detecting unit
that detects behavior information and biological information of a
user as a target; a biological information estimating unit that
calculates estimated biological information by applying, to a
metabolism model, the behavior information and the biological
information detected by the detecting unit; and a suggesting unit
that suggests, to the user, a recommended behavior calculated based
on the estimated biological information calculated by the
biological information estimating unit.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
further comprising: an implementing unit that causes the user to
implement the recommended behavior.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2,
further comprising: a behavior estimating unit that estimates a
behavior of the user based on the behavior information and the
biological information detected by the detecting unit.
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3,
further comprising: a recommended behavior calculating unit that
calculates the recommended behavior based on the estimated
biological information calculated by the biological information
estimating unit; and an updating unit that updates the metabolism
model based on actually measured biological information detected by
the detecting unit and the estimated biological information
calculated by the biological information estimating unit.
5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the implementing unit causes the user to perform a behavior
for activity of a brain of the user or a muscular exercise of the
user.
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein the updating unit updates the metabolism model based on a
difference between the actually measured biological information
detected by the detecting unit and the estimated biological
information calculated by the biological information estimating
unit.
7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6,
further comprising: a determining unit that determines whether the
recommended behavior is calculated by the actually measured
biological information or the estimated biological information.
8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7,
wherein the behavior information is meal information, exercise
information, or medication information, and wherein the biological
information is blood-sugar level information or urine-sugar level
information.
9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8,
further comprising: a storage control unit that controls storage of
information used as auxiliary information for calculating the
estimated biological information by the biological information
estimating unit.
10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9,
wherein the information is information regarding a difference
between the actually measured biological information and the
estimated biological information of a person different from the
user.
11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10,
wherein the information is information regarding a difference
between the actually measured biological information and the
estimated biological information of the user.
12. An information processing method comprising: detecting behavior
information and biological information of a user as a target;
calculating estimated biological information by applying, to a
metabolism model, the behavior information and the biological
information detected in the detecting of the behavior information
and the biological information; and suggesting, to the user, a
recommended behavior calculated based on the estimated biological
information in the calculating of the estimated biological
information.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present technology relates to an information processing
apparatus and an information processing method, and more
particularly, to an information processing apparatus and an
information processing method capable of suitably managing a
blood-sugar level at low burden.
[0002] Hitherto, an apparatus predicting a blood-sugar level of a
patient and suggesting the blood-sugar level to the patient has
been used, since management of the blood-sugar level is an
important factor of health management of diabetes patients (for
example, see Japanese Patent No. 3735660).
SUMMARY
[0003] However, in order to receive suggestions of the blood-sugar
level from the apparatus according to the related art, as disclosed
in Japanese Patent No. 3735660, the patient has to first manually
input information regarding the contents of meals, exercise,
medication, or the like as information necessary for predicting the
blood-sugar level of the patient, thereby laying considerable
burden on the patient. Further, the predicted blood-sugar level is
merely suggested to the patient, and thus the patient has to behave
by themselves based on the predicted blood-sugar level to suitably
manage the blood-sugar level after the suggestion, which also lays
significant burden on the patient.
[0004] It is desirable to provide an information processing
apparatus and an information processing method of suitably managing
a blood-sugar level at low burden.
[0005] According to an embodiment of the present technology, there
is provided an information processing apparatus including: a
detecting unit that detects behavior information and biological
information of a user as a target; a biological information
estimating unit that calculates estimated biological information by
applying, to a metabolism model, the behavior information and the
biological information detected by the detecting unit; and a
suggesting unit that suggests, to the user, a recommended behavior
calculated based on the estimated biological information calculated
by the biological information estimating unit.
[0006] The information processing apparatus may further include an
implementing unit that causes the user to implement the recommended
behavior.
[0007] The information processing apparatus may further include a
behavior estimating unit that estimates a behavior of the user
based on the behavior information and the biological information
detected by the detecting unit.
[0008] The information processing apparatus may further include: a
recommended behavior calculating unit that calculates the
recommended behavior based on the estimated biological information
calculated by the biological information estimating unit; and an
updating unit that updates the metabolism model based on actually
measured biological information detected by the detecting unit and
the estimated biological information calculated by the biological
information estimating unit.
[0009] The implementing unit may cause the user to perform a
behavior for activity of a brain of the user or a muscular exercise
of the user.
[0010] The updating unit may update the metabolism model based on a
difference between the actually measured biological information
detected by the detecting unit and the estimated biological
information calculated by the biological information estimating
unit.
[0011] The information processing apparatus may further include a
determining unit that determines whether the recommended behavior
is calculated by the actually measured biological information or
the estimated biological information.
[0012] The behavior information may be meal information, exercise
information, or medication information. The biological information
may be blood-sugar level information or urine-sugar level
information.
[0013] The information processing apparatus may further include a
storage control unit that controls storage of information used as
auxiliary information for calculating the estimated biological
information by the biological information estimating unit.
[0014] The information may be information regarding a difference
between the actually measured biological information and the
estimated biological information of a person different from the
user.
[0015] The information may be information regarding a difference
between the actually measured biological information and the
estimated biological information of the user.
[0016] According to another embodiment of the present technology,
there is provided a method corresponding to the information
processing apparatus according to the above-described embodiment of
the present technology.
[0017] In the information processing apparatus and the information
processing method according to the embodiments of the present
technology, behavior information and biological information of a
user as a target are detected; estimated biological information is
calculated by applying, to a metabolism model, the behavior
information and the biological information detected by the
detecting unit; and a recommended behavior calculated based on the
calculated estimated biological information is suggested to the
user.
[0018] According to the embodiments of the present technology, a
blood-sugar level can be suitably managed at low burden.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the
configuration of a recommended behavior suggesting and implementing
system;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the
functional configuration of the recommended behavior suggesting and
implementing system;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of recommended
behavior suggesting and implementing processes;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating detection of medication
information and injection information of a patient;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the detection of a
blood-sugar level of the patient;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the detection of a
urine-sugar level of the patient;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the estimation of a meal of
the patient;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating a case where
the meal contents of the patient are photographed;
[0027] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the estimation of an
exercise of the patient;
[0028] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
configuration of an organ information acquiring device;
[0029] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another example of the
configuration of the organ information acquiring device;
[0030] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a method of lowering the
blood-sugar level of the patient according to the related art;
[0031] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a method of lowering the
blood-sugar level of the patient by a recommended behavior
implementing device;
[0032] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
configuration of a brain activity implementing device; and
[0033] FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the
hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus to
which the embodiment of the present technology is applied.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Configuration of Recommended Behavior Suggesting and Implementing
System 1
[0034] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the
configuration of a recommended behavior suggesting and implementing
system 1.
[0035] The recommended behavior suggesting and implementing system
1 is a system that suggests or implements a recommended behavior to
suitably manage a blood-sugar level to a patient as a user. In an
embodiment, the patient includes not only human beings but also
animals such as pets.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, the recommended behavior suggesting and
implementing system 1 includes a behavior biological information
detecting device 11, a behavior biological information database 12,
a behavior estimating device 13, a blood-sugar level estimating
device 14, a blood-sugar estimation auxiliary information supplying
device 15, a recommended behavior calculating device 16, a
recommended behavior suggesting device 17, and a recommended
behavior implementing device 18.
[0037] The behavior biological information detecting device 11
detects behavior information and biological information regarding a
patient as a target. The behavior information is information
regarding the behavior of the patient. The behaviors of the patient
include meals, exercise, medication, injections, and electronic
payments. The biological information is information used to specify
or estimate the biological states of the patient. For example, a
blood-sugar level, a urine-sugar level, and a heart rate of the
patient are examples of the biological information.
[0038] For example, the behavior biological information database 12
is installed on a cloud network. The behavior biological
information database 12 stores the detection results of the
behavior biological information detecting device 11, that is, the
behavior information and the biological information regarding
patients.
[0039] The behavior estimating device 13 estimates a behavior of a
patient based on the behavior information and the biological
information regarding the patient which are stored in the behavior
biological information database 12. The details of a process of
estimating the behavior of the patient by the behavior estimating
device 13 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.
The behavior estimating device 13 supplies the estimation result of
the patient's behavior to the blood-sugar level estimating device
14.
[0040] The blood-sugar level estimating device 14 estimates the
current blood-sugar level of the patient by applying the behavior
information and the biological information regarding the patient
stored in the behavior biological information database 12 and the
estimation result of the patient's behavior obtained by the
behavior estimating device 13 to a metabolism model. Hereinafter,
the blood-sugar level estimated in this way is referred to as an
estimated blood-sugar level. As the metabolism model, for example,
a mathematical model disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent
Application Publication No. 2007-17235 (Kobe University, national
university corporation) or the like can be used. When the behavior
information, the biological information, or the like is input as
parameters to the mathematical model, an estimated blood-sugar
level is calculated.
[0041] The estimated blood-sugar level of a patient calculated by
the blood-sugar level estimating device 14 can match a behavior
(hereinafter, referred to as an estimated behavior) estimated by
the behavior estimating device 13, and is stored in the behavior
biological information database 12. The relevance between a
behavior pattern and a blood-sugar level can be estimated by
confirming the matching result. The estimated blood-sugar level and
the estimated behavior stored in the behavior biological
information database 12 can be used in a process for other patients
other than the patient.
[0042] The blood-sugar estimation auxiliary information supplying
device 15 stores information (hereinafter, referred to as
blood-sugar estimation auxiliary information) that is auxiliary
information used for the process of estimating a blood-sugar level
used for the metabolism model by the blood-sugar level estimating
device 14. The blood-sugar estimation auxiliary information will be
described later. By using the blood-sugar estimation auxiliary
information, the blood-sugar level estimating device 14 can improve
the accuracy of the metabolism model and can also improve the
reliability of the estimated blood-sugar level.
[0043] The recommended behavior calculating device 16 calculates a
behavior (hereinafter, referred to as a recommended behavior)
recommended to a patient based on the current estimated blood-sugar
level of the patient output from the blood-sugar level estimating
device 14. Specifically, in this embodiment, the recommended
behavior calculating device 16 calculates a plurality of candidates
of the recommended behavior based on the current estimated
blood-sugar level of the patient and supplies the candidates of the
recommended behavior to the blood-sugar level estimating device 14.
The blood-sugar level estimating device 14 supposes that each of
the plurality of candidates of the recommended behavior is
implemented, calculates the future estimated blood-sugar level of
the patient, and supplies the calculated estimated blood-sugar
level to the recommended behavior calculating device 16. The
recommended behavior calculating device 16 selects the candidate,
for which the future estimated blood-sugar level falls within a
suitable range, from the plurality of candidates of the recommended
behavior.
[0044] The recommended behavior suggesting device 17 suggests the
recommended behavior calculated by the recommended behavior
calculating device 16 and the future estimated blood-sugar level
obtained by implementing the recommended behavior to the patient.
Further, the recommended behavior suggesting device 17 may suggest
a conditional recommended behavior such as a behavior "Exercise A
is good if a patient wants meal A."
[0045] The recommended behavior implementing device 18 causes the
patient to implement the recommended behavior calculated by the
recommended behavior calculating device 16. That is, the
recommended behavior suggesting device 17 prompts the patient to
perform the recommended behavior, whereas the recommended behavior
implementing device 18 causes the patient to implement the
recommended behavior without consciousness.
[0046] The constituent elements of the behavior biological
information detecting device 11, the blood-sugar estimation
auxiliary information supplying device 15, the recommended behavior
suggesting device 17, and the recommended behavior implementing
device 18 will be each described in sequence.
[0047] The behavior biological information detecting device 11,
which has a configuration to detect the behavior information and
the biological information regarding the patient, includes a moving
image camera 41, a still image camera 42, an electronic payment
information obtaining device 43, a position behavior posture
detecting device 44, a medication injection detecting device 45, a
blood-sugar level meter 46, a urine-sugar level meter 47, and a
heart rate meter 48. Each device of the behavior biological
information detecting device 11 is installed near the patient or is
carried by the patient.
[0048] The moving image camera 41, which is configured by a
monitoring camera or the like, photographs a moving image of as the
patient performing a behavior as a subject. The moving image camera
41 can photograph a still image, as necessary.
[0049] The still image camera 42 photographs a still image of the
patient performing a behavior as a subject.
[0050] The electronic payment information obtaining device 43
obtains payment information obtained when the patient uses an IC
card or the like. The payment information includes information
regarding goods purchased by the patient and a purchase time.
[0051] The position behavior posture detecting device 44, which
includes a position sensor and an acceleration sensor, detects the
position and posture of the patient performing a behavior.
[0052] The medication injection detecting device 45 detects
information (hereinafter, referred to as medication information)
regarding medication for the patient or information (hereinafter,
referred to as injection information) regarding injection for the
patient. The medication information includes a kind of medicine, a
medication time, and dosage. The injection information includes the
contents of an injector, an injection time, an injection dose.
[0053] The blood-sugar level meter 46, the urine-sugar level meter
47, and the heart rate meter 48 measure a blood-sugar level, a
urine-sugar level, and a heart rate of the patient, respectively.
Hereinafter, a patient's blood-sugar level measured by the
blood-sugar level meter 46 is referred to as an actually measured
blood-sugar level and a patient's urine-sugar level measured by the
urine-sugar level meter 47 is referred to as an actually measured
urine-sugar level. A process of detecting the behavior information
and the biological information of the patient by the behavior
biological information detecting device 11 will be described later
with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.
[0054] The blood-sugar estimation auxiliary information supplying
device 15 includes a different-patient difference database 51, a
patient difference database 52, a genetic information database 53,
and a health medical information database 54 as databases supplying
various kinds of blood-sugar level estimation auxiliary
information.
[0055] The different-patient difference database 51 stores a
difference between the actually measured blood-sugar level and the
estimated blood-sugar level of a patient different from the patient
themselves as one piece of data of the blood-sugar level
measurement auxiliary information. The different patient may be a
patient who has a body type and a diathesis similar to those of the
own patient. The different-patient difference database 51 may store
data regarding a plurality of other patients.
[0056] The patient difference database 52 stores a difference
between the actually measured blood-sugar level and the estimated
blood-sugar level of the own patient as one piece of data of the
blood-sugar level measurement auxiliary information.
[0057] The genetic information database 53 stores patient's genetic
information as one piece of data of the blood-sugar level
measurement auxiliary information. The genetic information includes
information regarding the diathesis of the patient, susceptibility
to diseases of the patient, or the like.
[0058] The health medical information database 54 stores health
medical information of the patient as one piece of data of the
blood-sugar level measurement auxiliary information. The health
medical information includes information regarding a diagnosis
history of the patient, a disease history of the patient, or the
like.
[0059] The blood-sugar estimation auxiliary information supplying
device 15 can supply, as one piece of data of the blood-sugar level
measurement auxiliary information, information (hereinafter,
referred to as clone organ information) regarding a blood-sugar
level for activities of a patient's clone pancreas and a patient's
clone liver made by differentiating and inducing pluripotent cells
such as iPS (induced Pluripotent Stem) cells. Therefore, an organ
information acquiring device 55 acquiring the clone organ
information of the patient is installed in the blood-sugar
estimation auxiliary information supplying device 15. The details
of the organ information acquiring device 55 will be described
later with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.
[0060] In order to suggest various recommendation activities to the
patient, the recommended behavior suggesting device 17 includes a
meal supplement suggesting device 61, an exercise suggesting device
62, a medication injection suggesting device 63, and a brain
activity implementing device 64.
[0061] When the recommended behavior calculating device 16
calculates recommended behaviors for the meals, the meal supplement
suggesting device 61 suggests, to the patient in the form of an
image or a sound, the contents of meals or supplements recommended
to the patient together with the future estimated blood-sugar
levels estimated when the patient eats the recommended meals or the
recommended supplements.
[0062] When the recommended behavior calculating device 16
calculates recommended behaviors for the exercises, the exercise
suggesting device 62 suggests, to the patient in the form of an
image or a sound, the contents of the exercises recommended to the
patient together with the future estimated blood-sugar levels
estimated when the patient performs the recommended exercises.
[0063] When the recommended behavior calculating device 16
calculates recommended behaviors for medications, the medication
injection suggesting device 63 suggests, to the patient in the form
of an image or a sound, the contents of the medications or the
injections recommended to the patient together with the future
estimated blood-sugar levels estimated when the medications or the
injections are implemented.
[0064] When the recommended behavior calculating device 16
calculates recommended behaviors for the brain activities, the
brain activity implementing device 64 suggests, to the patient in
the form of an image or a sound, the contents of the behaviors for
the brain activities recommended to the patient together with the
future estimated blood-sugar levels estimated when the behaviors
for the brain activities are implemented.
[0065] In general, when the brain is activated, the consumption of
sugar in blood is accelerated, and the blood-sugar level is
consequently lowered. Accordingly, the brain activity implementing
device 64 suggests, to the patient, the contents of the behaviors
for stimulating, for example, the five senses in order to activate
the brain of the patient. As the behaviors of stimulating the five
senses, for example, a behavior of smelling an aroma, a behavior of
listening to music, a behavior of viewing an image, a behavior of
touching an object, or a behavior of solving a problem such a maze
can be employed. In general, when the patient performs a muscular
exercise, the blood-sugar level is lowered since muscles consume
the sugar. Accordingly, the brain activity implementing device 64
suggests the muscular exercise as one of the behaviors for the
brain activities. For example, the brain activity implementing
device 64 suggests a predetermined exercise to the patient.
[0066] In order to cause the patient to implement the recommended
behaviors, the recommended behavior implementing device 18 includes
a brain activity implementing device 71, a muscular exercise
implementing device 72, and a different-system interlocking device
73.
[0067] The brain activity implementing device 71 causes the patient
to perform behaviors for the brain activities without
consciousness. For example, the brain activity implementing device
71 activates the brain of the patient by holding the aroma
component of an aroma or aroma oil near the nose of the patient,
outputting music or an image, and touching a predetermined object
to the patient, even without explicit operation by the patient. For
example, the brain activity implementing device 71 may activate the
brain of the patient by giving a problem to the patient so that the
patient solves the problem. The details of the brain activity
implementing device 71 will be described later with reference to
FIG. 14.
[0068] The muscular exercise implementing device 72 causes the
patient to implement a muscular exercise by not an instruction from
the brain of the patient but an instruction from the outside. For
example, the muscular exercise implementing device 72 is configured
by an exercise machine that contracts the muscle of the patient
through electrical stimulation of an EMS (Electrical Muscle
Stimulation) device mounted on the patient. The muscular exercise
implementing device 72 causes the patient to implement the muscular
exercise by electrically stimulating the muscle of the patient from
the outside. Further, the details of the recommended behavior
implementing device 18 will be described later with reference to
FIGS. 13 and 14.
[0069] The different-system interlocking device 73 causes the
patient to implement the recommended behavior by interlocking with
another system (not shown). For example, the different-system
interlocking device 73 instructs a meal service system (not shown)
to serve a recommended menu to the patient, and consequently causes
the patient to eat the food of the recommended menu. For example,
the different-system interlocking device 73 instructs a
home-delivery system (not shown) to deliver a recommended food, a
recommended medicine, or the like to the patient, and consequently
causes the patient to eat the recommended food or take the
recommended medicine.
[0070] Next, an example of the functional configuration of the
recommended behavior suggesting and implementing system 1 that
suggests or implements the recommended behaviors to suitably manage
the blood-sugar level among the functions of the recommended
behavior suggesting and implementing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 will
be described with reference to FIG. 2.
Functional Configuration of Recommended Behavior Suggesting and
Implementing System 1
[0071] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the
functional configuration of the recommended behavior suggesting and
implementing system 1 in FIG. 1.
[0072] The recommended behavior suggesting and implementing system
1 includes, as functional units, a detecting unit 101, a behavior
biological information storage control unit 102, a behavior
estimating unit 103, a blood-sugar level estimating unit 104, an
auxiliary information supplying unit 105, a recommended behavior
calculating unit 106, a suggesting unit 107, and an implementing
unit 108.
[0073] The detecting unit 101 is a functional block installed to
execute some functions of the behavior biological information
detecting device 11 in FIG. 1. The detecting unit 101 detects the
behavior information and the biological information of the
patient.
[0074] The behavior biological information storage control unit 102
is a functional block that controls the storage of the behavior
biological information database 12 in FIG. 1. When the detecting
unit 101 detects first information as the behavior information and
the biological information of the patient, the behavior biological
information storage control unit 102 constructs the behavior
biological information database 12 and stores the first information
in the behavior biological information database 12. Further, when
the detecting unit 101 detects new information as the behavior
information and the biological information of the patient, the
behavior biological information storage control unit 102 stores the
new information in the behavior biological information database 12
and updates the behavior biological information database 12.
[0075] The behavior estimating unit 103 is a functional block
installed to execute some functions of the behavior estimating
device 13 in FIG. 1. The behavior estimating unit 103 estimates a
behavior of the patient based on the behavior information and the
biological information of which the storage is controlled by the
behavior biological information storage control unit 102.
[0076] The blood-sugar level estimating unit 104 is a functional
block installed to execute some functions of the blood-sugar level
estimating device 14 in FIG. 1. The blood-sugar level estimating
unit 104 estimates the current blood-sugar level of the patient by
applying, to the metabolism model, the estimation result obtained
when the behavior estimating unit 103 estimates the behavior of the
patient, of which the storage is controlled by the behavior
biological information storage control unit 102.
[0077] The blood-sugar level estimating unit 104 can improve the
accuracy of the metabolism model by estimating the current
blood-sugar level of the patient based on the blood-sugar level
estimation auxiliary information supplied from the auxiliary
information supplying unit 105.
[0078] The blood-sugar level estimating unit 104 includes an
updating unit 111. The updating unit 111 updates the metabolism
model based on a difference between the actually measured
blood-sugar level stored by the behavior biological information
storage control unit 102 and the estimated blood-sugar level
calculated by the blood-sugar level estimating unit 104.
[0079] The estimated blood-sugar level calculated by the
blood-sugar level estimating unit 104 can match the estimated
behavior calculated by the behavior estimating unit 103. The
storage of the estimated blood-sugar level is controlled by the
behavior biological information storage control unit 102.
[0080] The auxiliary information supplying unit 105 is a functional
block installed to execute some functions of the blood-sugar
estimation auxiliary information supplying device 15 in FIG. 1. The
auxiliary information supplying unit 105 supplies the blood-sugar
level estimation auxiliary information to the blood-sugar level
estimating unit 104.
[0081] The auxiliary information supplying unit 105 includes a
storage control unit 121 and an organ information acquiring unit
122.
[0082] The storage control unit 121 is a functional block that
controls the storage of the different-patient difference database
51, the patient difference database 52, the genetic information
database 53, and the health medical information database 54 in FIG.
1. The storage control unit 121 stores a difference between the
actually measured blood-sugar level and the estimated blood-sugar
level of another patient, a difference between the actually
measured blood-sugar level and the estimated blood-sugar level of
the patient, genetic information of the patient, health medical
information, and the like as data of the blood-sugar level
measurement auxiliary information in the databases,
respectively.
[0083] The organ information acquiring unit 122 is a functional
block installed to execute some functions of the organ information
acquiring device 55 in FIG. 1. The organ information acquiring unit
122 acquires clone organ information of the patient.
[0084] The recommended behavior calculating unit 106 is a
functional block installed to execute some functions of the
recommended behavior calculating device 16 in FIG. 1. The
recommended behavior calculating unit 106 calculates the
recommended behavior based on the estimated blood-sugar level
calculated by the blood-sugar level estimating unit 104.
[0085] The recommended behavior calculating unit 106 includes a
determining unit 131. The determining unit 131 determines one of
the actually measured blood-sugar level, of which the storage is
controlled by the behavior biological information storage control
unit 102, and the estimated blood-sugar level calculated by
blood-sugar level estimating unit 104, when the recommended
behavior calculating unit 106 calculates the recommended behavior.
In a general case, the determining unit 131 determines the actually
measured blood-sugar level when the recommended behavior is
calculated, since the recommended behavior calculated based on the
actually measured blood-sugar level is commonly more suitable than
the recommended behavior calculated based on the estimated
blood-sugar level. However, the estimated recommended behavior
calculated based on the estimated blood-sugar level is commonly
more suitable, when the actually measured blood-sugar level is
detected and a long period passes or the actually measured
blood-sugar level is not detected under normal conditions, for
example, when the blood-sugar level is measured immediately after
the patient eats higher calorie food than the food that the patient
normally eats. In this case, the determining unit 131 determines
the estimated blood-sugar level when the recommended behavior is
calculated.
[0086] The suggesting unit 107 is a functional block installed to
execute some functions of the recommended behavior suggesting
device 17 in FIG. 1. The suggesting unit 107 suggests the
recommended behavior calculated by the recommended behavior
calculating unit 106 and the future estimated blood-sugar level
when this recommended behavior is implemented. Further, the
suggesting unit 107 can suggest a conditional recommended
behavior.
[0087] The implementing unit 108 is a functional block installed to
execute some functions of the recommended behavior implementing
device 18 in FIG. 1. The implementing unit 108 causes the patient
to implement the recommended behavior calculated by the recommended
behavior calculating unit 106. That is, the implementing unit 108
causes the patient to perform a behavior for the brain activity or
a muscular exercise.
[0088] Next, processes (hereinafter, referred to as recommended
behavior suggesting and implementing processes) performed by the
recommended behavior suggesting and implementing system 1 will be
described.
Recommended Behavior Suggesting and Implementing Processes
[0089] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the
recommended behavior suggesting and implementing processes.
[0090] In step S11, the detecting unit 101 detects the behavior
information and the biological information of the patient. That is,
the moving image camera 41, the still image camera 42, the
electronic payment information obtaining device 43, the position
behavior posture detecting device 44, and the medication injection
detecting device 45 of the detecting unit 101 detect various kinds
of behavior information of the patient. Further, the blood-sugar
level meter 46, the urine-sugar level meter 47, and the heart rate
meter 48 of the detecting unit 101 detect various kinds of
biological information of the patient.
[0091] Since the detecting unit 101 detects various kinds of
behavior information of the patient, the patient may not manually
input the behavior information necessary for estimation by
themselves, thereby reducing the burden. Since the behavior
information detected by the detecting unit 101 is not information
that the patient inputs by themselves, the behavior information can
be said to be objective information.
[0092] In step S12, the behavior biological information storage
control unit 102 constructs or updates the behavior biological
information database 12. That is, when the detecting unit 101
detects the first information as the behavior information and the
biological information of the patient, the behavior biological
information storage control unit 102 constructs the behavior
biological information database 12 and stores the first information
in the behavior biological information database 12. Further, when
the detecting unit 101 detects new information as the behavior
information and the biological information of the patient, the
behavior biological information storage control unit 102 stores the
new information in the behavior biological information database 12
and updates the behavior biological information database 12.
[0093] Hereinafter, specific examples of the detection of the
behavior information and the biological information by the
detecting unit 101 and the construction or the update of the
behavior biological information database 12 by the behavior
biological information storage control unit 102 will be described
with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.
Detecting Medication Injection Information
[0094] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the detection of the
medication information and injection information of the patient by
the detecting unit 101. That is, FIG. 4 shows a specific example in
which the medication information and the injection information are
detected as one piece of behavior information of the patient by the
detecting unit 101.
[0095] As shown in FIG. 4, the behavior biological information
detecting device 11 includes a pill case sensor 141 and an injector
sensor 142.
[0096] The pill case sensor 141 is mounted in a pill case in which
a medicine of the patient is stored. The pill case sensor 141
detects a time, at which the cover of the pill case is opened by
the patient, as a medication time and detects a dosage of the
medication that the patient takes. The pill case sensor 141 stores
medication information including a kind of medication, the
medication time, and the dosage in the behavior biological
information database 12.
[0097] The injector sensor 142 is mounted on an injector containing
insulin used by the patient. The injector sensor 142 detects a
time, at which the injector is used by the patient, as an injection
time and detects the dosage of contents of the injection. The
injector sensor 142 stores the injection information including the
contents of the injector, the injection time, and the amount of
injection in the behavior biological information database 12.
[0098] The behavior biological information database 12 stores the
medication information detected by the pill case sensor 141 and the
injection information detected by the injector sensor 142.
[0099] In the functional blocks of FIG. 2, the detecting unit 101
detects the medication information detected by the pill case sensor
141 and the injection information detected by the injector sensor
142 as one piece of the behavior information of the patient and
supplies the medication information and the injection information
to the behavior biological information storage control unit 102.
The behavior biological information storage control unit 102
constructs or updates the behavior biological information database
12, when the detecting unit 101 supplies the medication information
and the injection information.
Detecting Blood-Sugar Level
[0100] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the detection of the
blood-sugar level of the patient by the detecting unit 101. That
is, FIG. 5 shows a specific example in which the blood-sugar level
is detected as one piece of biological information of the patient
by the detecting unit 101.
[0101] As shown in FIG. 5, the blood-sugar meter 46 of the behavior
biological information detecting device 11 measures the blood-sugar
level of the patient and stores the measured blood-sugar level as
the actually measured blood-sugar level in the behavior biological
information database 12.
[0102] The behavior biological information database 12 stores the
actually measured blood-sugar level detected by the blood-sugar
level meter 46.
[0103] In the functional blocks of FIG. 2, the detecting unit 101
detects the actually measured blood-sugar level of the patient
detected by the blood-sugar level meter 46 as one piece of
biological information of the patient and supplies the actually
measured blood-sugar level to the behavior biological information
storage control unit 102. When the detecting unit 101 supplies the
actually measured blood-sugar level of the patient, the behavior
biological information storage control unit 102 constructs or
updates the behavior biological information database 12.
[0104] The actually measured blood-sugar level of the patient of
which the storage is controlled by the behavior biological
information storage control unit 102 is used as an initial value of
the estimated blood-sugar level of the patient estimated by the
blood-sugar level estimating unit 104. The actually measured
blood-sugar level of the patient is compared to the estimated
blood-sugar level of the patient calculated by the blood-sugar
level estimating unit 104 and is used for confirming the
reliability of the estimated blood-sugar level. Further, the
patient difference database 52 calculates a difference between the
actually measured blood-sugar level of the patient and the
estimated blood-sugar level and stores this difference as one piece
of data of the blood-sugar level measurement auxiliary
information.
Detecting Urine-Sugar Level
[0105] The detection result of the detecting unit 101 is used for
calculating the estimated blood-sugar level of the patient. In this
embodiment, however, the detection result is used for estimating
the urine-sugar level of the patient in some cases. That is, in
this embodiment, the blood-sugar level estimating unit 104 can
estimate not only the estimated blood-sugar level of the patient
but also the current urine-sugar level of the patient based on the
detection result of the detecting unit 101. Hereinafter, the
urine-sugar level estimated in this way is referred to as an
estimated urine-sugar level. Since a method of calculating the
estimated urine-sugar level is the same as the above-described
method of calculating the estimated blood-sugar level, the
description thereof will not be made. The reason that the
blood-sugar estimating device 14 calculates not only the estimated
blood-sugar level but also the estimated urine-sugar level is that
changes in the blood-sugar level and the urine-sugar level of the
patient overlap with other, and consequently an improvement in the
reliability of the estimated blood-sugar level can be expected by
confirming the accuracy of the estimated urine-sugar level.
[0106] To calculate the estimated urine-sugar level, for example,
the detecting unit 101 can detect the urine-sugar level of the
patient.
[0107] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the detection of the
urine-sugar level of the patient by the detecting unit 101. That
is, FIG. 6 shows a specific example in which the urine-sugar level
is detected as one piece of biological information of the patient
by the detecting unit 101.
[0108] As shown in FIG. 6, the urine-sugar level meter 47 of the
behavior biological information detecting device 11 measure the
urine-sugar level of the patient and stores the measured
urine-sugar level as an actually measured urine-sugar level in the
behavior biological information database 12.
[0109] The behavior biological information database 12 stores the
actual measurement urine-sugar level of the patient detected by the
urine-sugar level meter 47.
[0110] In the functional blocks of FIG. 2, the detecting unit 101
detects the actually measured urine-sugar level of the patient
detected by the urine-sugar level meter 47 as one piece of
biological information and supplies the actually measured
urine-sugar level to the behavior biological information storage
control unit 102. When the detecting unit 101 supplies the actually
measured urine-sugar level of the patient, the behavior biological
information storage control unit 102 constructs or updates the
behavior biological information database 12.
[0111] The actually measured urine-sugar level of the patient of
which the storage is controlled by the behavior biological
information storage control unit 102 is used as an initial value of
the estimated urine-sugar level of the patient estimated by the
blood-sugar level estimating unit 104. Further, the actually
measured urine-sugar level of the patient is compared to the
estimated urine-sugar level of the patient calculated by the
blood-sugar level estimating unit 104 and is used for confirming
the reliability of the estimated urine-sugar level. Further, the
patient difference database 52 calculates a difference between the
actually measured urine-sugar level of the patient and the
estimated urine-sugar level and stores this difference as one piece
of data of the blood-sugar level measurement auxiliary
information.
[0112] The detection of the urine-sugar level by the urine-sugar
level meter 47 is different from the blood-sugar level meter 46 in
that the urine-sugar level is detected by a non-invasive method of
not drawing blood by a needle, thereby laying no burden on the
patient.
[0113] Referring back to the flowchart of FIG. 3, in step S13, the
behavior estimating unit 103 estimates a behavior of the patient
based on the behavior information and the biological information
stored in the behavior biological information database 12.
[0114] An example of the estimation of a meal and an exercise of
the patient will be described as an example of the estimation of
the behavior of the patient by the behavior estimating unit 103
with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.
Estimating Meal
[0115] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the estimation of a meal of
the patient by the behavior estimating unit 103.
[0116] At least one of the moving image camera 41 and the still
image camera 42 of the behavior biological information detecting
device 11 photographs the meal contents of the patient and stores
the image data obtained through the photographing in the behavior
biological information database 12. For example, as shown in FIG.
8, the meal contents of the patient is photographed by the moving
image camera 41.
[0117] FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating a case where
the meal contents of the patient are photographed.
[0118] As shown in FIG. 8, the moving image camera 41 is installed
above a table. The moving image camera 41 photographs the meal
contents of the patient and stores the image data obtained through
the photographing together with information regarding a
photographing time in the behavior biological information database
12 via a communication device 171. As shown in FIG. 8, the still
image camera 42 may be installed as a wide angle camera above the
table and may photograph the meal contents of the patient. In this
case, the still image camera 42 may be built in a portable terminal
of the patient.
[0119] The behavior biological information database 12 stores the
image data regarding the meal contents of the patient detected by
at last one of the moving image camera 41 and the still image
camera 42.
[0120] In the functional blocks of FIG. 2, the detecting unit 101
detects the image data regarding the meal contents of the patient
obtained by at least one of the moving image camera 41 and the
still image camera 42 as one piece of behavior information of the
patient, and then supplies the image data to the behavior
biological information storage control unit 102. When the detecting
unit supplies the image data regarding the meal contents of the
patient from the detecting unit 101, the behavior biological
information storage control unit 102 constructs or updates the
behavior biological information database 12.
[0121] As shown in FIG. 7, the behavior estimating device 13
includes a meal estimating device 161 that estimates the meal
contents. The meal estimating device 161 estimates the meal
contents based on the image data regarding the meal contents
supplied from the behavior biological information database 12. For
example, based on the image data of the meal contents, the meal
estimating device 161 estimates, as the meal contents, the total
calorie of the meal that the patient takes or the values of the
nutrient components from the amount of food remaining in each dish,
the volume of the meal obtained by comparing the hands of the
patient to the food ingredients or the like, the eating devices,
and the like.
[0122] In the functional block of FIG. 2, the behavior estimating
unit 103 estimates the meal contents based on the image data
regarding the meal contents of the patient among the behavior
information of which the storage is controlled by the behavior
biological information storage control unit 102.
[0123] When the patient takes a meal at a predetermined restaurant,
information acquired by an order system 151 of the electronic
payment information calculating device 43 may be stored as one
piece of the behavior information in the behavior biological
information database 12. Specifically, the order system 151
acquires the value of the total calorie of the meal, the value of
the nutrient components, or the like from a menu ordered by the
patient and supplies this value to the behavior biological
information database 12. In this case, the meal estimating device
161 may employ the information acquired as the behavior information
by the order system 151, that is, the value of the total calorie of
the meal, the value of the nutrient components, or the like as the
estimation result.
Estimating Exercise
[0124] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the estimation of an
exercise of the patient by the behavior estimating unit 103.
[0125] As shown in FIG. 9, the behavior biological information
detecting device 11 includes an acceleration sensor 181 and a
position sensor 182.
[0126] The acceleration sensor 181 and the position sensor 182 of
the position behavior posture detecting device 44 store
acceleration information and position information of the patient
detected by the acceleration sensor 181 and the position sensor 182
in the behavior biological information database 12, respectively.
It is assumed that the acceleration sensor 181 and the position
sensor 182 are carried by the patient.
[0127] The behavior biological information database 12 stores the
acceleration information and the position information of the
patient detected by the acceleration sensor 181 and the position
sensor 182.
[0128] In the functional blocks of FIG. 2, the detecting unit 101
detects the acceleration information obtained by the acceleration
sensor 181 and the position information obtained by the position
sensor 182 as one piece of behavior information of the patient and
supplies the acceleration information and the position information
to the behavior biological information storage control unit 102.
When the detecting unit 101 supplies the acceleration information
and the position information of the patient, the behavior
biological information storage control unit 102 constructs or
updates the behavior biological information database 12.
[0129] As shown in FIG. 9, the behavior estimating device 13
includes an exercise estimating device 191 that estimates the
contents of an exercise. The behavior estimating unit 103 estimates
the contents of the exercise based on the acceleration information
and the position information obtained from the behavior biological
information database 12. For example, the behavior estimating unit
103 estimates a kind of exercise, the intensity of the exercise, or
the like as the contents of the exercise based on the acceleration
information and the position information of the patient.
[0130] In the functional blocks of FIG. 2, the behavior estimating
unit 103 estimates the contents of the exercise based on the
acceleration information and the position information of the
patient among the behavior information of which the storage is
controlled by the behavior biological information storage control
unit 102.
[0131] Referring back to the flowchart of FIG. 3, in step S14, the
blood-sugar level estimating unit 104 estimates the blood-sugar
level. That is, the blood-sugar level estimating unit 104 estimates
the current blood-sugar level of the patient by applying the
behavior information and the biological information stored in the
behavior biological information database 12 and the behavior of the
patient estimated by the behavior estimating unit 103 to the
metabolism model.
[0132] The blood-sugar estimating unit 104 uses, as auxiliary
information, the blood-sugar level estimation auxiliary information
supplied from the blood-sugar estimation auxiliary information
supplying device 15, when the blood-sugar level estimating unit 104
estimates the current blood-sugar level of the patient. The
blood-sugar level estimating unit 104 improves the accuracy of the
metabolism model based on the blood-sugar level estimation
auxiliary information and improves the reliability of the estimated
blood-sugar level. The blood-sugar level estimating unit 104 can
use the difference between the actually measured blood-sugar level
and the estimated blood-sugar level of another patient, the
difference between the actually measured blood-sugar level and the
estimated blood-sugar level of the own patient, the genetic
information of the patient, the health medical information, and the
like stored as the blood-sugar level estimation auxiliary
information in the storage control unit 121.
[0133] The blood-sugar level estimating unit 104 uses the clone
organ information of the patient acquired by the organ information
acquiring unit 122 as the blood-sugar level estimation auxiliary
information.
[0134] Hereinafter, the details of the organ information acquiring
device 55 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.
Example of Configuration of Organ Information Acquiring Device
55
[0135] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
configuration of the organ information acquiring device 55.
[0136] As shown in FIG. 10, the organ information acquiring device
55 includes a biological replication device 201 and a blood
component control device 202.
[0137] The biological replication device 201 operates to activate
clone organs of the patient made by differentiating and inducing
pluripotent cells such as iPS cells, specifically, a clone pancreas
221 and a clone liver 222 connected to each other via a blood
vessel 223 under a replication environment in which the inside of
the patient's body is replicated, as illustrated in the
drawing.
[0138] The blood component control device 202 controls the
components in the blood of the blood vessel 223 based on the
behavior information and the biological information stored in the
behavior biological information database 12. Specifically, for
example, when the blood component control device 202 determines
that the patient eats a meal based on the behavior information
stored in the behavior biological information database 12, the
blood component control device 202 increases the blood-sugar level
of the blood supplied to the clone pancreas 221 and the clone liver
222 via the blood vessel 223. Further, when the blood component
control device 202 performs an exercise based on the behavior
information stored in the behavior biological information database
12, the blood component control device 202 decreases the
blood-sugar level supplied to the clone pancreas 221 and the clone
liver 222 via the blood vessel 223. As a result, the clone pancreas
221 and the clone liver 222 of the patient carry out activities in
accordance with a change in the components in the blood, and the
components in the blood in the blood vessel 223 are changed as the
result of the activities.
[0139] The organ information acquiring device 55 acquires the
components in the blood in the blood vessel 223 changed as the
result of the activities of the clone pancreas 221 and the clone
liver 222 of the patient, for example, information regarding the
blood-sugar level, and supplies the components in the blood to the
blood-sugar level estimating device 14.
[0140] Here, the change in the components in the blood in
accordance with the activities of the clone pancreas 221 and the
clone liver 222 can be considered to be similar to the change in
the components in the blood in the inside of the patient body.
Accordingly, the blood-sugar level estimating device 14 can
calculate the estimated blood-sugar value by using the clone organ
information of the patient supplied from the organ information
acquiring device 55 as one piece of the blood-sugar level
measurement auxiliary information. Thus, by using the organ
information acquiring device 55, it is possible to improve the
accuracy of the metabolism model, and thus to improve the
reliability of the estimated blood-sugar level.
[0141] Since the organ information acquiring device 55 shown in
FIG. 10 uses the clone organs of the patient, it is necessary to
install the organ information acquiring device 55 in a place where
given equipment is prepared. However, to acquire the same
information as the clone organ information more compactly, for
example, as shown in FIG. 11, information (hereinafter, referred to
as organ cell information) regarding the cells of the pancreas and
the liver of the patient may be acquired.
Another Example of Configuration of Organ Information Acquiring
Device 55
[0142] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
configuration of the organ information acquiring device 55, which
is different from the example of the configuration shown in FIG.
10.
[0143] The organ information acquiring device 55 in FIG. 11
cultures cells 241 of the pancreas of the patient and cells 242 of
the liver of the patient in a replication environment of the inside
of the patient's body. The organ information acquiring device 55
controls the replication environment of the inside of the patient's
body based on the behavior information and the biological
information stored in the behavior biological information database
12, as in the example of FIG. 10. In this case, the replication
environment is controlled by a built-in IC chip (not shown) or the
like. As a result, the cells 241 of the pancreas and the cells 242
of the liver of the patient react to a change in the
environment.
[0144] The organ information acquiring device 55 obtains
information obtained as the result of the reaction of the cells 241
of the pancreas and the cells 242 of the liver of the patient as
the organ cell information and supplies the organ cell information
to the blood-sugar level estimating device 14.
[0145] Here, the reaction of the cells 241 of the pancreas and the
cells 242 of the liver of the patient can be considered to be
similar to the reaction of the organs of the inside of the
patient's body. Accordingly, the blood-sugar level estimating
device 14 can calculate the estimated blood-sugar level by using
the organ information of the patient supplied from the organ
information acquiring device 55 as one piece of blood-sugar level
measurement auxiliary information. Thus, by using the organ
information acquiring device 55, it is possible to improve the
accuracy of the metabolism model, and thus to improve the
reliability of the estimated blood-sugar level.
[0146] Further, since the organ information acquiring device 55
shown in FIG. 11 has a compact shape to the degree that the patient
carries the organ information acquiring device 55, compared to the
organ information acquiring device shown in FIG. 10, the organ
information acquiring device 55 can be manufactured in large
quantities and can be supplied to the patient a low price.
Accordingly, it is supposed that one patient can easily retain the
plurality of organ information acquiring devices 55. In this case,
the plurality of organ information acquiring devices 55 can control
the environment of the inside to environments corresponding to a
plurality of different recommended behaviors calculated by the
recommended behavior calculating device 16, and thus can acquire
the organ cell information under the different environments.
[0147] As described in above, the blood-sugar level estimating unit
104 calculates the estimated blood-sugar level of the patient in
step S14. Therefore, the patient can reduce the number of
measurements of the blood-sugar level that the blood-sugar level
meter 46 has to perform frequently. Accordingly, the patient can
reduce the burden of the management of the blood-sugar level. The
estimation of the blood-sugar level by the blood-sugar level
estimating unit 104 is merely an example of the estimation of the
biological information of the patient.
[0148] Referring back to the flowchart of FIG. 3, in step S15, the
recommended behavior calculating unit 106 calculates a recommended
behavior based on the estimated blood-sugar level estimated by the
blood-sugar level estimating unit 104.
[0149] The recommended behavior calculating unit 106 calculates the
plurality of candidates of the recommended behavior based on the
current estimated blood-sugar level of the patient estimated by the
blood-sugar level estimating unit 104 and supplies the candidates
of the recommended behavior to the blood-sugar level estimating
unit 104. The blood-sugar level estimating unit 104 calculates the
future estimated blood-sugar level of the patient for each
candidate on the assumption that the plurality of candidates of the
recommended behavior are each implemented, and then supplies the
future estimated blood-sugar level for each candidate to the
recommended behavior calculating unit 106. The recommended behavior
calculating unit 106 selects the candidate for which the future
estimated blood-sugar level falls within a suitable range from the
plurality of candidates of the recommended behavior.
[0150] In step S16, the suggesting unit 107 suggests the
recommended behavior to the patient and the implementing unit 108
causes the patient to implement the recommended behavior. That is,
the suggesting unit 107 suggests the recommended behavior and the
future estimated blood-sugar level estimated when the recommended
behavior is implemented, and the implementing unit 108 causes the
patient to implement the recommended behavior without
consciousness.
[0151] When the recommended behavior calculating unit 106
calculates the recommended behavior for a meal, the suggesting unit
107 allows the meal supplement suggesting device 61 to suggest the
contents of a meal or a supplement recommended to the patient to
the patient in the form of an image or a sound together with the
future blood-sugar level estimated when the patient takes the
recommended meal and the recommended supplement.
[0152] When the recommended behavior calculating unit 106
calculates the recommended behavior for an exercise, the suggesting
unit 107 allows the exercise suggesting device 62 to suggest the
contents of the exercise recommended to the patient to the patient
in the form of an image or a sound together with the future
estimated blood-sugar level when the patient performs the
recommended exercise.
[0153] When the recommended behavior calculating unit 106
calculates a recommended behavior for medication, the suggesting
unit 107 allows the medication injection suggesting device 63 to
suggest the contents of medication or injection recommended to the
patient to the patient in the form of an image or a sound together
with the future estimated blood-sugar level when the patient
implements the recommended medication or the recommended
injection.
[0154] When the recommended behavior calculating unit 106
calculates a recommended behavior for brain activity, the
suggesting unit 107 allows the brain activity suggesting device 64
to suggest the contents of a behavior for the brain activity
recommended to the patient to the patient in the form of an image
or a sound together with the future estimated blood-sugar level
when the patient implements the behavior for the brain
activity.
[0155] Further, the suggesting unit 107 can suggest a conditional
recommended behavior such as a behavior "Exercise R is good if a
patient wants meal A." Accordingly, since the patient can eat meal
A that the patient has restrained to control the blood-sugar level
hitherto provided that the patient performs exercise R, the burden
on the management of the blood-sugar level can be reduced.
[0156] When the recommended behavior calculating unit 106
calculates the recommended behavior for the brain activity, the
implementing unit 10 allows the brain activity implementing device
71 to cause the patient to implement the behavior for the brain
activity without consciousness.
[0157] When the recommended behavior calculating unit 106
calculates a muscular exercise as the recommended behavior for the
brain activity, the implementing unit 10 allows the muscular
exercise implementing device 72 to cause the patient to perform the
muscular exercise.
[0158] Hereinafter, a method of lowering the blood-sugar level as
an example of a method of managing the blood-sugar level as an
optimum level by the patient according to the embodiment of the
present technology will be described in comparison to a method
according to the related art.
Method of Lowering Blood-Sugar Level of Patient According to
Related Art
[0159] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the method of lowering the
blood-sugar level of the patient according to the related art.
[0160] As the representative methods of lowering the blood-sugar
level of the patient, as shown in FIG. 12, there are three methods:
a method of injecting a medicine, a method of using an insulin
pump, and a method of applying a voltage to a pancreas with an
electrode inside a body.
[0161] Hereinafter, each of the three methods will be described in
comparison to four characteristics "TARGET", "TOUCH", "INJECTION
AND PENETRATION", and "INVASION". The "TARGET" means a target to be
controlled in accordance with the method. The "TOUCH" means touch
of a given object to the patient when the method is applied. The
"INJECTION AND PENETRATION" means injection or penetration of a
given object into the patient when the method is applied. The
"INVASION" means providing an external stimulation, such as ache,
fever, or bleeding caused due to a surgical operation or an
inspection, which disturbs the normal state of a patient's physical
body before, during, or after application of the method in order to
apply the method.
[0162] The method of injecting a medicine is a method of injecting
a medicine for lowering a blood-sugar level through a mouth or by
an injector into the patient's body. As shown in FIG. 12, the
"TARGET" to be controlled in accordance with this method is a
component in blood. As indicated by a circle in the item of "TOUCH"
in FIG. 12, a medicine or an injector needle is touched to the
patient when this method is used. As indicated by a circle in the
item of "INJECTION AND PENETRATION" in FIG. 12, a medicine is
injected into the patient's body by injection or penetration, when
this method is used. As indicated by a circle in the item of
"INVASION" in FIG. 12, this method can be said to be invasive since
it is necessary to take a medicine or use an injector.
[0163] The method of using an insulin pump is a method of injecting
insulin into the patient's body by the use of the insulin pump. The
insulin pump is a portable small-sized device used to inject
insulin into the patient's body and a tube and a needle connected
to the insulin pump is embedded into the patient's body. The
patient sets the amount of insulin to be injected by themselves by
operating the insulin pump based on the contents of a meal or an
exercise.
[0164] As shown in FIG. 12, the "TARGET" means a target to be
controlled in accordance with the method is a component in blood.
As indicated by a circle in the item of "TOUCH" in FIG. 12, an
insulin pump is touched to the patient when this method is used. As
indicated by a circle in the item of "INJECTION AND PENETRATION" in
FIG. 12, the insulin is injected into the patient's body by
injection or penetration, when this method is used. As indicated by
a circle in the item of "INVASION" in FIG. 12, this method can be
said to be invasive since the tube and the needle connected to the
insulin pump is embedded into the patient's body.
[0165] The method of applying a voltage to a pancreas with an
electrode inside a body is a method of burying an electrode inside
the patient's body and providing an electrical stimulation by
applying a voltage to a pancreas to accelerate secretion of
glucagon from the pancreas. As shown in FIG. 12, the "TARGET" to be
controlled in accordance with this method is the pancreas. As
indicated by a cross mark in the item of "TOUCH" in FIG. 12, when
this method is used, there is no touch to the patient due to, the
electrode being embedded into the patient's body. As indicated by a
cross mark in the item of "INJECTION AND PENETRATION" in FIG. 12,
there is no injection or penetration of the patient due to the
voltage being applied, when this method is used. As indicated by a
circle in the item of "INVASION" in FIG. 12, this method can be
said to be invasive since the electrode is embedded inside the
patient's body.
[0166] Thus, the above-described three methods are all invasive,
thereby giving a burden on the patient. However, the recommended
behavior implementing device 18 according to this embodiment can
cause the patient to implement a recommended behavior for managing
the blood-sugar level to a suitable value while the patient is not
conscious, and thus the blood-sugar level of the patient can be
lowered. A method of lowering the blood-sugar level of the patient
by the recommended behavior implementing device 18 will be
described with reference to FIG. 13.
Method of Lowering Blood-Sugar Level of Patient by Recommended
Behavior Implementing Device 18
[0167] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a method of lowering the
blood-sugar level of the patient by the recommended behavior
implementing device 18.
[0168] The brain activity implementing device 71 of the recommended
behavior implementing device 18 causes the patient to perform a
behavior for the brain activity without consciousness. That is, the
brain activity implementing device 71 accelerates the consumption
of the sugar in blood and lowers the blood-sugar level by
activating the brain of the patient.
[0169] As shown in FIG. 13, the brain activity implementing device
71 activates the brain of the patient by giving aroma stimulation
to the patient. The "TARGET" to be controlled in accordance with
this method is the brain and nose of the patient. As indicated by a
cross mark in the item of "TOUCH" in FIG. 13, there is no touch to
the patient due to the fact that the aroma component of an aroma or
aroma oil is made to hold near the nose of the patient in this
method. As indicated by a circle in the item of "INJECTION AND
PENETRATION" in FIG. 13, the aroma component of the aroma or aroma
oil is injected or penetrated into the patient. As indicated by the
cross mark in the item of "INVASION" in FIG. 13, there is no
external stimulation, such as ache or bleeding, disturbing the
normal state of the patient's physical body and this method is not
invasive.
[0170] The brain activity implementing device 71 activates the
brain of the patient by giving stimulation to the patient by music.
The "TARGET" to be controlled in accordance with this method is the
brain and ears of the patient. As indicated by a cross mark in the
items of "TOUCH" and "INJECTION AND PENETRATION" in FIG. 13, there
is no touch, injection, or penetration into the patient due to the
fact that the patient merely listens to music in this method. As
indicated by the cross mark in the item of "INVASION" in FIG. 13,
there is no external stimulation, such as an ache or bleeding,
disturbing the normal state of the patient's physical body and this
method is not invasive.
[0171] The brain activity implementing device 71 activates the
brain of the patient by giving stimulation to the patient by an
image. The "TARGET" to be controlled in accordance with this method
is the brain and eyes of the patient. As indicated by a cross mark
in the items of "TOUCH" and "INJECTION AND PENETRATION" in FIG. 13,
there is no touch, injection, or penetration into the patient due
to the fact that the patient merely views to an image in this
method. As indicated by the cross mark in the item of "INVASION" in
FIG. 13, there is no external stimulation, such as an ache or
bleeding, disturbing the normal state of the patient's physical
body and this method is not invasive.
[0172] The brain activity implementing device 71 activates the
brain of the patient by giving stimulation to the patient by touch.
The "TARGET" to be controlled in accordance with this method is the
brain and skin of the patient. As indicated by a circle in the item
of "TOUCH" in FIG. 13, this method is performed by touching a
predetermined object to the patient, and thus there is touching of
the patient. As indicated by a cross mark in the items of
"INJECTION AND PENETRATION" in FIG. 13, there is no injection or
penetration into the patient in this method. As indicated by the
cross mark in the item of "INVASION" in FIG. 13, there is no
external stimulation, such as an ache or bleeding, disturbing the
normal state of the patient's physical body and this method is not
invasive.
[0173] The brain activity implementing device 71 activates the
brain of the patient by giving stimulation to the patient by giving
a problem. The "TARGET" to be controlled in accordance with this
method is the brain and eyes of the patient. As indicated by a
cross mark in the items of "TOUCH" and "INJECTION AND PENETRATION"
in FIG. 13, there is no touch, injection, or penetration into the
patient due to the fact that a problem is given to the patient in
this method. As indicated by the cross mark in the item of
"INVASION" in FIG. 13, there is no external stimulation, such as an
ache or bleeding, disturbing the normal state of the patient's
physical body and this method is not invasive.
[0174] The muscular exercise implementing device 72 of the
recommended behavior implementing device 18 causes the patient to
implement a muscular exercise without consciousness. That is, when
the brain activity implementing device 71 causes the patient to
implement the muscular exercise, the blood-sugar level is lowered
since muscles consume the sugar.
[0175] As shown in FIG. 13, the muscular exercise implementing
device 72 gives electric stimulation to the muscle of the patient
to implement the muscular exercise. The "TARGET" to be controlled
in accordance with this method is the muscle of the patient. As
indicated by a cross mark in the item of "TOUCH" in FIG. 13, there
is touch to the patient due to the fact that this method is
performed by an EMS device or the like mounted on the patient. As
indicated by a cross mark in the items of "INJECTION AND
PENETRATION" in FIG. 13, there is no injection or penetration into
the patient in this method. As indicated by the cross mark in the
item of "INVASION" in FIG. 13, there is no external stimulation,
such as an ache or bleeding, disturbing a normal state of the
patient's physical body and this method is not invasive.
[0176] Thus, the recommended behavior implementing device 18
according to this embodiment can implement the recommended behavior
to control the blood-sugar level while the patient is not
conscious. This method is not invasive, thereby reducing the burden
on the patient.
[0177] Next, a process of the brain activity implementing device 71
will be described among the processes of implementing the
recommended behavior recommended to the patient by the recommended
behavior implementing device 18.
Example of Configuration of Brain Activity Implementing Device
71
[0178] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
configuration of the brain activity implementing device 71.
[0179] As shown in FIG. 14, the brain activity implementing device
71 includes an implementing device 261 and a problem database
262.
[0180] The implementing device 261 causes the patient to implement
the recommended behavior calculated by the recommended behavior
calculating device 16. For example, when the recommended behavior
calculating device 16 calculates the stimulation of aroma to the
patient as a recommended behavior, the implementing device 261
makes the aroma component of the aroma or aroma oil to hold near
the nose of the patient. Further, when the recommended behavior
calculating device 16 calculates the stimulation of music or an
image to the patient as a recommended behavior, the implementing
device 261 outputs the music or the image. Furthermore, when the
recommended behavior calculating device 16 calculates the
stimulation of touch to the patient as a recommended behavior, the
implementing device 261 causes the patient to touch a predetermined
object.
[0181] For example, when the recommended behavior calculating
device 16 calculates the stimulation of giving a problem as a
recommended behavior, the implementing device 261 gives the
problem. The implementing device 261 retrieves a predetermined
problem among problems stored in the problem database 262 and gives
the predetermined problem to the patient.
[0182] The implementing device 261 can also perform another process
when the implementing device 261 causes the patient to implement
the recommended behavior. For example, the implementing device 261
can change the strength of the stimulation in accordance with the
degree of the recommended behavior recommended by the recommended
behavior calculating device 16. The degree of the recommended
behavior refers to strong and weak degrees of the stimulation. As
the stimulation becomes stronger, the brain of the patient is
further activated and a change in the blood-sugar level
increases.
[0183] For example, when the recommended behavior calculating
device 16 calculates stronger stimulation of giving a problem as a
recommended behavior, the implementing device 261 receives a more
difficult problem from the problem database 262 and gives the more
difficult problem. On the other hand, when the recommended behavior
calculating device 16 calculates weaker stimulation of giving a
problem as a recommended behavior, the implementing device 261
retrieves an easier problem from the problem database 262 and gives
the easier problem.
[0184] Likewise, the implementing device 261 changes the strong and
weak degree of the stimulation of aroma, music, an image, or touch
in accordance with the degree of the recommended behavior
calculated by the recommended behavior calculating device 16.
[0185] The implementing device 261 may perform another process
instead of or together with the change in the strong and weak
degree of the stimulation. For example, when a problem is given to
the patient, the implementing device 261 may perform a process of
not permitting the patient to use a cellular phone if the patient
answers the problem.
[0186] Embodiments of the present technology are not limited to the
above-described embodiment, but may be modified in various forms
within the scope of the present technology without departing from
the gist of the present technology.
[0187] The example has hitherto been described in which the
recommended behavior calculating device 16 selects the candidate
for which the future estimated blood-sugar level falls within a
suitable range among the plurality of candidates of the recommended
behavior as a recommended behavior. However, the recommended
behavior suggesting device 17 may suggest a recommended behavior
which does not fall within a suitable range as a warning behavior.
Accordingly, the patient can know a risk in advance when the
patient implements each warning behavior. Therefore, the patient
can avoid the risk.
[0188] The example has hitherto been described in which a diabetes
patient uses the recommended behavior suggesting and implementing
system 1. However, the recommended behavior suggesting and
implementing system 1 may be used by general users for the purpose
of diabetes prevention or health management. Further, when the
patient as a user is an animal such as a pet, for example, the
recommended behavior suggesting device 17 suggests a recommended
behavior to an owner of the pet or the like. The owner can suitably
manage the health of the pet or the like by implementing the
recommended behavior for the pet or the like.
[0189] For example, the behavior biological information detecting
device 11 may further include, for example, an
electroencephalograph that measures the brain waves of the patient
as a constituent element detecting the biological information of
the patient. Based on the brain waves of the patient detected by
the electroencephalograph, it is possible to detect whether the
recommended behavior suggested by the recommended behavior
suggesting device 17 is implemented and to detect whether the
recommended behavior recommended by the recommended behavior
implementing device 18 is implemented. The detection result is
stored in the behavior biological information database 12 so as to
be used for estimating a behavior of the patient by the behavior
estimating device 13 or estimating a blood-sugar level of the
patient by the blood-sugar level estimating device 14.
[0190] For example, the recommended behavior implementing device 18
may further, for example, include an injection implementing device
such as an insulin pump as a constituent element causing the
patient to implement the recommended behavior. When the recommended
behavior calculating unit 106 calculates the recommended behavior
for injection, the injection implementing device sets the amount of
insulin of an insulin pump or the like and injects the insulin into
the patient's body. Thus, even when the patient does not operate
the insulin pump by themselves based on the contents of a meal or
an exercise, the blood-sugar level can be lowered.
[0191] As described above, the recommended behavior suggesting and
implementing system 1 detects various kinds of behavior information
of the patient. Therefore, since the patient may not manually input
the behavior information necessary for estimating the blood-sugar
level, the burden is reduced. Since the behavior information
detected by the recommended behavior suggesting and implementing
system 1 is not information made by the patient themselves, the
behavior information can be said to be objective information.
[0192] Since the recommended behavior suggesting and implementing
system 1 calculates the estimated blood-sugar level of the patient,
the number of measurements of the blood-sugar level frequently
performed with a needle can be reduced to manage the blood-sugar
level of the patient.
[0193] Since the recommended behavior suggesting and implementing
system 1 suggests a conditional recommended behavior, the patient
can perform behaviors that have hitherto been restricted even when
the behavior is conditional.
[0194] Since the patient can know beforehand the risk of a behavior
implemented in the future by the recommended behavior suggesting
and implementing system 1, the blood-sugar level can be suitably
managed.
[0195] Since the patient implements the recommended behavior
without consciousness by the recommended behavior suggesting and
implementing system 1, it is possible to suppress the use of the
management of the blood-sugar level in accordance with an invasive
method.
[0196] Since general users implements the recommended behavior
without consciousness by the recommended behavior suggesting and
implementing system 1, the general users who do not well know
medical knowledge can suitably manage the blood-sugar level.
Applying Embodiment of Present Technology to Program
[0197] The above-described series of processes may be executed by
hardware or software.
[0198] In this case, a personal computer shown in FIG. 15 may be
used as at least a part of the above-described information
processing apparatus.
[0199] In FIG. 15, a CPU 301 executes various processes in
accordance with a program stored in a ROM 302. The CPU 302 executes
various processes in accordance with the program loaded in a RAM
303 from a storage unit 308. In the RAM 303, the CPU 301 executes
the various processes and necessary data is stored.
[0200] The CPU 301, the ROM 302, and the RAM 303 are connected to
each other via a bus 304. Further, an input/output interface 305 is
connected to the bus 304.
[0201] An input unit 306 configured by a keyboard, a mouse, or the
like and an output unit 307 configured by a display are connected
to the input/output interface 305. Further, a storage unit 308
configured by a hard disk or the like and a communication unit 309
configured by a modem, a terminal adapter, or the like are
connected to the input/output interface 305. The communication unit
309 controls communication executed with another apparatus (not
shown) via a network such as the Internet.
[0202] A drive 310 is connected to the input/output interface 305,
as necessary, and a removable medium 311 configured by a magnetic
disk, an optical disc, a semiconductor memory, or the like is
suitably mounted. A computer program read from such a disk is
installed on the storage unit 308, as necessary.
[0203] When a series of processes is executed by software, the
program of the software is installed from a network or a recording
medium to a computer embedded in dedicated hardware or a computer
such as a general personal computer which is capable of executing
various kinds of functions by installing various programs.
[0204] As shown in FIG. 15, a recording medium storing the programs
is configured by the removable medium (package medium) 311 such as
a magnetic disk (including a floppy disk), an optical disc
(including a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory) or a DVD
(Digital Versatile Disk)), a magneto-optical disc (including an MD
(Mini-Disk), a semiconductor memory, or the like which stores a
program distributed to supply a program to a user. Further, the
recording medium is configured by the ROM 302 storing a program
supplied to the user in a state embedded in advance in an apparatus
body, a hard disk included in the storage unit 308, or the
like.
[0205] In the specification, steps describing the program recorded
in the recording medium include not only processes executed
chronologically in order but also processes executed in parallel or
separately even when the processes are not necessarily executed
chronologically.
[0206] The embodiment of the technology is applicable to an
information processing apparatus that estimates biological
information.
[0207] The present technology may be realized as follows.
[0208] (1) An information processing apparatus includes: a
detecting unit that detects behavior information and biological
information of a user as a target; a biological information
estimating unit that calculates estimated biological information by
applying, to a metabolism model, the behavior information and the
biological information detected by the detecting unit; and a
suggesting unit that suggests, to the user, a recommended behavior
calculated based on the estimated biological information calculated
by the biological information estimating unit.
[0209] (2) The information processing apparatus described in (1)
may further include an implementing unit that causes the user to
implement the recommended behavior.
[0210] (3) The information processing apparatus described in (1) or
(2) may further include a behavior estimating unit that estimates a
behavior of the user based on the behavior information and the
biological information detected by the detecting unit.
[0211] (4) The information processing apparatus described in any
one of (1) to (3) may further include: a recommended behavior
calculating unit that calculates the recommended behavior based on
the estimated biological information calculated by the biological
information estimating unit; and an updating unit that updates the
metabolism model based on actually measured biological information
detected by the detecting unit and the estimated biological
information calculated by the biological information estimating
unit.
[0212] (5) In the information processing apparatus described in any
one of (1) to (4), the implementing unit may cause the user to
perform a behavior for activity of a brain of the user or a
muscular exercise of the user.
[0213] (6) In the information processing apparatus described in any
one of (1) to (5), the updating unit may update the metabolism
model based on a difference between the actually measured
biological information detected by the detecting unit and the
estimated biological information calculated by the biological
information estimating unit.
[0214] (7) The information processing apparatus described in any
one of (1) to (6) may further include a determining unit that
determines whether the recommended behavior is calculated by the
actually measured biological information or the estimated
biological information.
[0215] (8) In the information processing apparatus described in (1)
to (7), the behavior information may be meal information, exercise
information, or medication information. The biological information
may be blood-sugar level information or urine-sugar level
information.
[0216] (9) The information processing apparatus described in any
one of (1) to (8) may further include a storage control unit that
controls storage of information used as auxiliary information for
calculating the estimated biological information by the biological
information estimating unit.
[0217] (10) In the information processing apparatus described in
any one of (1) to (9), the information may be information regarding
a difference between the actually measured biological information
and the estimated biological information of a person different from
the user.
[0218] (11) In the information processing apparatus described in
any one of (1) to (10), the information may be information
regarding a difference between the actually measured biological
information and the estimated biological information of the
user.
[0219] The present disclosure contains subject matter related to
that disclosed in Japanese Priority Patent Application JP
2011-105991 filed in the Japan Patent Office on May 11, 2011, the
entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
[0220] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that
various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and
alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other
factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims
or the equivalents thereof.
* * * * *