Patent Publication Number: US-2023154600-A1

Title: Monitoring assistance device, monitoring assistance system, monitoring assistance method, and storage medium

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-187303 filed Nov. 17, 2021, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments disclosed in the present description and drawings relate to a monitoring assistance device, a monitoring assistance system, a monitoring assistance method, and a storage medium. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In recent years, progress has been made in monitoring biometric information of patients (hereafter referred to as “managed persons”) who stay in places such as their homes away from medical facilities and are managed by medical institutions. In monitoring biometric information of a managed person, for example, the managed person himself/herself acquires the biometric information through measurement using a measurement device or the like. The acquired biometric information is automatically transmitted to, for example, a medical facility. 
     Although biometric information is acquired by a managed person himself/herself through measurement in biometric information monitoring, the managed person is not necessarily skilled at carrying out biometric information monitoring. For this reason, it is sometimes difficult for the managed person to know when and how to perform operations such as measurement using a measurement device and preparation of the measurement device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a configuration diagram of a physical condition management system  1  according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view showing a guide sheet  31  on which a measurement device  10  is placed. 
         FIG.  3    is a plan view showing the guide sheet  31  on which the measurement device  10  is placed. 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram showing an example of a device workflow. 
         FIG.  5    is a flowchart showing an example of processing of a monitoring assistance device  100 . 
         FIG.  6    is a diagram showing display content of a monitor  40 . 
         FIG.  7    is a diagram showing display content of the monitor  40 . 
         FIG.  8    is a diagram showing display content of the monitor  40 . 
         FIG.  9    is a diagram showing display content of the monitor  40 . 
         FIG.  10    is a diagram showing display content of the monitor  40 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, a monitoring assistance device, a monitoring assistance system, a monitoring assistance method, and a storage medium according to embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     A monitoring assistance device of an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to acquire an execution status of at least one of an operation related to use of an apparatus that acquires biometric information of a managed person or an operation other than the operation related to use, determine, on the basis of the execution status of the managed person and a workflow defining an operation timing of the apparatus, whether or not the operation has been executed at the operation timing, and control a notification device that outputs a notification including information on the operation of the apparatus on the basis of whether or not the operation has been executed. According to the monitoring assistance device of the embodiment, it is possible to prompt the managed person to perform an operation of a measurement device. 
       FIG.  1    is a configuration diagram of a physical condition management system  1  of an embodiment. The physical condition management system  1  includes, for example, a monitoring assistance system  2  and a measurement device  10 . The monitoring assistance system  2  includes, for example, a terminal device  20 , a notification device  30 , a monitoring assistance device  100 , and a management server  200 . The monitoring assistance system  2  is, for example, a system for measuring biometric information of a managed person using the measurement device  10  and allowing a doctor or the like to manage the physical condition of the managed person using the measured biometric information. 
     The measurement device  10 , the terminal device  20 , the monitoring assistance device  100 , and the management server  200  can transmit/receive data to/from each other via a communication network NW using, for example, a wireless LAN, a cellular network, or a Wi-Fi network. The communication network NW is a general information communication network using telecommunication technology. The communication network NW includes a telephone communication line network, an optical fiber communication network, a cable communication network, a satellite communication network, and the like in addition to a wireless/wired LAN such as a hospital backbone local area network (LAN) and the Internet. The measurement device  10  is an example of an apparatus that acquires biometric information. 
     The physical condition management system  1  includes a plurality of types of measurement devices  10 . The physical condition management system  1  includes, as measurement devices  10 , a sphygmomanometer  11 , a weight and body composition meter  12 , a first activity meter  13 , and a second activity meter  14 , for example. The sphygmomanometer  11  measures the blood pressure of the managed person as biometric information using, for example, a belt wrapped around an arm of the managed person. The managed person is an example of a living body, and the sphygmomanometer  11  is an example of a measurement apparatus. Blood pressure as a measurement result measured by the sphygmomanometer  11  is an example of biometric information. 
     The weight and body composition meter  12  functions, for example, when the managed person is on the weight and body composition meter  12 , and measures the weight and body composition of the managed person as biometric information. The first activity meter  13  is installed and used, for example, in the home or the like of the managed person. The first activity meter  13  measures the amount of activity of the managed person as biometric information. 
     The first activity meter  13  is, for example, carried around by the managed person during the daytime and released from the managed person at night. Both the weight and body composition meter  12  and the first activity meter  13  are examples of a measurement apparatus. Weight and body composition as measurement results measured by the weight and body composition meter  12  and the amount of activity as a measurement result measured by the first activity meter  13  are examples of biometric information. 
     The second activity meter  14  is used by being worn, for example, on a part of the managed person, for example, a wrist. The second activity meter  14  measures the amount of activity of the managed person as biometric information. The second activity meter  14  has a charging function. The second activity meter  14  is worn by the managed person at all times, for example, except during charging. 
     At the time of charging, the second activity meter  14  is removed from the managed person and charged by being connected to a charging device. The second activity meter  14  may be charged while being worn by the managed person. The second activity meter  14  is an example of a measurement device. The second activity meter  14  is an example of a chargeable apparatus. The amount of activity as a measurement result measured by the second activity meter  14  is an example of biometric information. 
     The measurement device  10  outputs measurement information indicating a measurement result of each piece of biometric information to the terminal device  20 . The measurement information of the measurement device  10  can be output to the terminal device  20  through communication via the communication network NW. The measurement information of the measurement device  10  may be output to the terminal device  20  via short-range wireless communication such as wired, near field communication (NFC), Bluetooth (registered trademark), dedicated short range communication (DSRC), infrared communication, or the like. The measurement information of the measurement device  10  may be stored in a universal serial bus (USB) and output to the terminal device  20  via the USB. 
     The terminal device  20  starts an application program, a browser, or the like for using services provided by the physical condition management system  1  and supports the services provided by the physical condition management system  1 . In the following description, it is assumed that the terminal device  20  is a mobile terminal such as a tablet or smartphone, and an application program (service application) for receiving services is started. The terminal device  20  may be a terminal other than a mobile terminal The terminal device  20  may be, for example, a personal computer. 
     The terminal device  20  includes, for example, a data transmitter  22  and a storage  24 . The data transmitter  22  transmits measurement information output by the measurement device  10  to the management server  200 . When the measurement information is output, the data transmitter  22  transmits, to the monitoring assistance device  100 , operation completion information indicating that an operation has been executed as an execution status of at least one of an operation related to use of the measurement device  10  (hereinafter referred to as a use-related operation) and an operation other than the use-related operation (hereinafter referred to as a non-use-related operation). 
     The operation of the measurement device  10  differs depending on the measurement device  10 . For example, a use-related operation of the sphygmomanometer  11  is measurement of blood pressure. A use-related operation of the weight and body composition meter  12  is measurement of a weight and body composition. A use-related operation of the first activity meter  13  is attachment of the first activity meter  13  to the managed person or removal of the first activity meter  13  from the managed person. 
     A non-use-related operation of the second activity meter  14  is starting charging and ending charging. Starting charging is, for example, connecting the second activity meter  14  to a charging device, and ending charging is, for example, removing the second activity meter  14  from the charging device. The storage  24  stores and saves measurement information output by the measurement device  10 . 
     The use-related operation of the measurement device  10  is an operation related to the use of the measurement device  10  to exhibit the function thereof and, for example, the use-related operation of the sphygmomanometer  11  is an operation of measuring blood pressure. Therefore, for example, an operation of using a function displayed on the sphygmomanometer  11  to use the sphygmomanometer  11  as a clock to measure time does not correspond to the use-related operation of the sphygmomanometer  11 . Taking the second activity meter  14  as an example, the use-related operation of the second activity meter  14  is an operation of measuring the amount of activity of a user, and thus starting and ending charging of the second activity meter  14  is a non-use-related operation of the second activity meter  14 . 
     Further, an execution status of an operation of the measurement device  10  differs depending on the measurement device  10 . For example, an execution status of a use-related operation of the sphygmomanometer  11  is a measurement status of measuring the blood pressure of a subject with the sphygmomanometer  11 , and an execution status of a use-related operation of the weight and body composition meter  12  is a measurement status of measuring the weight and body composition of a subject with the weight and body composition meter  12 . An execution status of a use-related operation of the first activity meter  13  is a status of the first activity meter  13  worn on a subject and a status of the first activity meter  13  removed from the subject, and an execution status of a non-use-related operation of the second activity meter  14  is a charging start status and a charging end status for the second activity meter  14 . 
     Instead of or in addition to the aspect in which the terminal device  20  transmits the operation completion information, the monitoring assistance device  100  may receive information such as measurement information and the like transmitted from the measurement device  10  to the terminal device  20  as operation completion information. The operation completion information is, for example, information included in data communication between the terminal device  20  and the management server  200 . The operation completion information includes, for example, information on the time when the operation of the measurement device  10  has been performed, information on an identifier (ID) attached to the measurement device  10  as identification information, and the like, in addition to measurement information. 
     The notification device  30  and the monitoring assistance device  100  are connected by wire, for example. The notification device  30  may receive control information transmitted by the monitoring assistance device  100  through communication via the communication network NW using a wireless LAN, a cellular network, or a Wi-Fi network. The control information transmitted by the monitoring assistance device  100  may be transmitted to the notification device  30  via short-range wireless communication such as NFC, Bluetooth (registered trademark), DSRC, or infrared communication. 
     The notification device  30  includes, for example, a guide sheet  31 , a speaker  32 , and a lamp  33 .  FIG.  2    is a perspective view showing the guide sheet  31  on which the measurement devices  10  are placed. The guide sheet  31  includes a sheet body  31 A. Three monitors, that is, a first monitor  41 , a second monitor  42 , and a third monitor  43 , are provided as a monitor  40  on the sheet body  31 A. 
     The first monitor  41 , the second monitor  42 , and the third monitor  43  are arranged side by side in close proximity (adjacent) to each other. The measurement devices  10  are placed on the guide sheet  31 . The guide sheet  31  is a dedicated sheet for placing the measurement devices  10  and displaying information related to operations of the measurement devices  10  (hereinafter referred to as operation-related information). The guide sheet  31  is an example of a placing part. 
     A specific measurement device  10  is associated with each of the first monitor  41  to the third monitor  43 . The sphygmomanometer  11  is associated with the first monitor  41 . The weight and body composition meter  12  is associated with the second monitor  42 . The second activity meter  14  is associated with the third monitor  43 . 
     A first device such as the sphygmomanometer  11  is placed on the first monitor  41 . A second device such as the weight and body composition meter  12  is placed on the second monitor  42 . A third device such as the second activity meter  14  is placed on the third monitor  43 . A power cord  44  extends from the sheet body  31 A. Although the monitor  40  is not associated with the first activity meter  13 , notification with respect to the first activity meter  13  is performed through the speaker  32  or the lamp  33 , for example. The monitor  40  is an example of a display device. The first monitor  41  to the third monitor  43  are examples of an information display. 
     The speaker  32  and the lamp  33  are provided in the terminal device  20 , for example. Although the speaker  32  and the lamp  33  are not provided on the guide sheet  31 , the speaker  32  and the lamp  33  may be provided on the guide sheet  31 . The speaker  32  and the lamp  33  may be provided independently of the guide sheet  31  and the terminal device  20 . Display of the first monitor  41  to the third monitor  43 , output of sound and electronic sound from the speaker  32 , and lighting and blinking of the lamp  33  are controlled by the monitoring assistance device  100 . 
       FIG.  3    is a plan view showing the guide sheet  31  on which the measurement devices  10  are placed. Operation-related information of the respective measurement devices  10 , in this case, colors are displayed on the first monitor  41  to the third monitor  43 . A notification control function  133  causes the monitor  40  to display different information, for example, different colors, depending on execution statuses of operations of the measurement devices  10  as notification of the operation-related information. The operation-related information may be other than color. 
     The operation-related information may be represented by, for example, lighting and blinking modes and a blinking speed difference, or may be represented by messages. In addition, the operation-related information may be represented by different sounds among the sounds output by the speaker  32 , may be represented by lighting and blinking modes and a blinking speed difference in the lamps  33 , lighting and blinking points when a plurality of lamps  33  are provided, and the like. 
     In the example shown in  FIG.  3   , the first monitor  41  is turned off in order to indicate a completed (measured, charged) state. The completed state may be displayed in a particular first color, for example, green. The completed state in this case may be displayed, for example, by lighting. The second monitor  42  is displayed in a second color, for example, orange, to indicate an execution timing (measurement timing, charging timing) state. The execution timing state is displayed, for example, by blinking. 
     The third monitor  43  is displayed in a third color, such as pink, which indicates an execution standby (measurement standby, charging standby) state. The execution standby state is displayed, for example, by lighting. The execution standby state is, for example, notification when an operation execution time has not come yet. Although a monitor corresponding to the first activity meter  13  is not provided, a fourth monitor corresponding to the first activity meter  13  may be provided on the guide sheet  31 . 
     In addition, the third monitor  43  may display a fourth color, such as light blue, which indicates an in-progress (charging) state. Further, the monitor  40  displays an execution promotion state when the managed person forgets to operate the measurement device  10  after the execution timing state. The execution promotion state is, for example, display of blinking the display of the color displayed in the execution timing state. Display of the execution promotion state is an example of reminder information. Lighting and blinking modes of respective notifications may be different modes. Lighting and blinking in the completed state, the execution timing state, the execution standby state, the in-progress state, and the execution promotion state may be changed (replaced), or the blinking speed at the time of blinking the monitor  40  may be changed. 
     The monitoring assistance device  100  is included in, for example, a personal computer of the managed person. The monitoring assistance device  100  is installed in the home of the managed person, for example. The monitoring assistance device  100  supports services provided by the physical condition management system  1  by starting, for example, an application program, a browser, or the like for using the services provided by the physical condition management system  1 . The monitoring assistance device  100  may be included in the terminal device  20  or the management server  200 , for example. 
     Both the terminal device  20  and the monitoring assistance device  100  are installed, for example, in the home of the managed person. Data may be transmitted/received between the terminal device  20  and the monitoring assistance device  100  via short-range wireless communication such as NFC, Bluetooth (registered trademark), DSRC, and infrared communication. 
     The monitoring assistance device  100  includes, for example, a communication interface  110 , an input interface  120 , processing circuitry  130 , and a memory  140 . The communication interface  110  communicates with an external device such as the management server  200  via the communication network NW. The communication interface  110  includes, for example, a communication interface such as a network interface card (NIC). 
     The input interface  120  receives various input operations of an operator and outputs an electrical signal indicating the content of the received input operations to the processing circuitry  130 . The input interface  120  is realized by, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, a track ball, a switch, buttons, a joystick, a camera, an infrared sensor, a microphone, or the like. 
     The input interface in the present description is not limited to those equipped with physical operation parts such as a mouse and a keyboard. For example, examples of the input interface also include an electrical signal processing circuit that receives an electrical signal corresponding to an input operation from an external input apparatus provided separately from the device and outputs the electrical signal to the control circuitry. 
     The processing circuitry  130  has a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU), for example. The processing circuitry  130  controls the overall operation of the monitoring assistance device  100 . The processing circuitry  130  includes, for example, an acquisition function  131 , a determination function  132 , a notification control function  133 , an update function  134 , and an output function  135 . The processing circuitry  130  realizes these functions by, for example, a hardware processor executing a program stored in a storage device (storage circuit). 
     The hardware processor is circuitry such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a programmable logic device (for example, a simple programmable logic device (SPLD), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA)), for example. Instead of storing the program in the storage device, the program may be directly embedded in the circuit of the hardware processor. In this case, the hardware processor realizes the functions by reading and executing the program embedded in the circuit. The hardware processor is not limited to being configured as a single circuit, and a plurality of independent circuits may be combined to be configured as a single hardware processor to realize each function. The storage device may be a non-transitory (hardware) storage medium. Further, a plurality of components may be integrated into a single hardware processor to realize each function. 
     Each component of the processing circuitry  130  may be distributed and realized by a plurality of types of hardware. The processing circuitry  130  may be realized by a processing device that can communicate with the monitoring assistance device  100  instead of a component included in the monitoring assistance device  100 . Each function included in the processing circuitry  130  may be distributed to a plurality of circuits, or may be made available by starting application software stored in the memory  140 . 
     The memory  140  is included in the storage device. The memory  140  stores workflow data  141  and execution result data  142 . The workflow data  141  includes a workflow (hereinafter referred to as a device workflow) in which operation timing of the measurement device  10  is defined by the managed person. The operation timing defined in the device workflow includes an operation execution time and an operation time for each measurement device  10 . 
     As specific operation execution time, for example, a measurement time of the sphygmomanometer  11 , a measurement time of the weight and body composition meter  12 , a time when the first activity meter  13  is worn, a time when the first activity meter  13  is removed, a charging start time and a charging end time of the second activity meter  14 , and the like are conceivable. As the execution time, for example, the charging time of the second activity meter  14  is conceivable. 
       FIG.  4    is a diagram showing an example of a device workflow. In this example, a blood pressure measurement time by the sphygmomanometer  11  is set twice, 6:00 (6:00 am) and 22:00 (10:00 pm). In addition, the measurement time of the weight and body composition by the weight and body composition meter  12  is set to 20:00. Further, the wearing time (operation execution time) of the first activity meter  13  is set to 6:00, and the removal time is set to 20:00. In addition, a charging start time of the second activity meter  14  is set to 20:00, the charging end time is set to 22:00, and the charging time is set to 2 hours. 
     The execution result data  142  includes operation completion information of the measurement device  10 . The type of the measurement device  10  is determined by information on an identifier included in the operation completion information. Specific operation completion information for each measurement device  10  includes, for example, information such as the measurement time by the sphygmomanometer  11 , the measurement time by the weight and body composition meter  12 , the wearing time and removal time of the first activity meter  13 , and the charging start time and charging end time of the second activity meter  14 . 
     The acquisition function  131  acquires operation execution statuses of the plurality of (plurality of types of) measurement devices  10  by receiving measurement information and operation completion information of biometric information transmitted by the terminal device  20  using the communication interface  110 . The measurement information may be transmitted by the management server  200 . The acquisition function  131  stores the acquired execution statuses in the memory  140  in addition to the execution result data  142 . The acquisition function  131  separately acquires, for example, execution statuses of use-related operations and execution statuses of non-use-related operations of the measurement device  10 . The acquisition function  131  is an example of an acquisition unit. 
     The determination function  132  compares a device workflow included in the workflow data  141  stored in the memory  140  with execution statuses included in the execution result data  142 . The determination function  132  determines whether or not an operation of a measurement device  10  designated by a managed person in the device workflow has been performed by comparing the device workflow with the execution statuses. The determination function  132  is an example of a determination unit. 
     The determination function  132  determines whether or not the blood pressure or the weight and body composition of the managed person has been measured at a measurement time when the measurement device  10  is the sphygmomanometer  11  or the weight and body composition meter  12 . When the measurement device  10  is the first activity meter  13 , the determination function  132  determines whether the managed person has worn the first activity meter  13  at a wearing time and whether the managed person has removed the first activity meter  13  at a removal time. When the measurement device  10  is the second activity meter  14 , the determination function  132  determines whether charging of the second activity meter  14  has started at a charging start time and whether charging of the second activity meter  14  has ended at a charging end time. 
     The notification control function  133  transmits control information to the notification device  30  and controls the notification device  30  based on whether or not an operation of the measurement device  10  has been performed. The notification control function  133 , for example, controls display of the first monitor  41  to the third monitor  43  in the notification device  30 , controls the sound output by the speaker  32 , and controls lighting and blinking of the lamp  33 . The notification control function  133  is an example of a notification control unit. The notification control function  133  includes a display control function  133 A that controls display of the monitor  40 . The display control function  133 A is an example of a display control unit. 
     The notification control function  133  causes the first monitor  41  to the third monitor  43  in the notification device  30  to output a notification (for example, display) including operation-related information of each of the plurality (the plurality types) of measurement devices  10 . For example, when the determination function  132  determines that an operation has been executed at an operation execution time designated by the managed person in a device workflow has been performed, the notification control function  133  switches between displays of the first monitor  41  to the third monitor  43 . Display of the first monitor  41  to the third monitor  43  will be further described later. 
     The notification control function  133  acquires an operation execution time in the measurement device  10  based on the workflow data  141 . When operation completion information, measurement information, and the like transmitted from the measurement device  10  have not yet arrived and the operation of the measurement device  10  has not been performed at the time when a scheduled execution time has elapsed from the operation execution time, the notification control function  133  switches display of any one of the first monitor  41  to the third monitor  43 , which corresponds to the measurement device  10  for which the scheduled execution time has elapsed, to the execution promotion state. The scheduled execution time can be appropriately set. The scheduled execution time may be, for example, 10 minutes or 30 minutes. The notification control function  133  may control the speaker  32  and the lamp  33  of the notification device  30 . 
     The update function  134  updates the device workflow included in the workflow data  141  when the operation completion information, the measurement information, and the like transmitted from the measurement device  10  have not yet arrived and the operation of the measurement device  10  has not been performed at the time when a postponement time has additionally elapsed after the scheduled execution time has elapsed. The postponement time can be appropriately set. The postponement time may be, for example, 30 minutes or 1 hour. The postponement time may be shorter than, longer than, or the same as the scheduled execution time. 
     When blood pressure measurement by the sphygmomanometer  11  included in the device workflow has not been performed, for example, the update function  134  updates the device workflow such that a process of compensating for the blood pressure measurement that has not been performed is added. The update function  134  is an example of an update unit. The update function  134  may update the workflow when the measurement device  10  is added, removed, and the like. 
     The update function  134  stores the updated device workflow as workflow data  141  in the memory  140 . For example, when update information corresponding to an operation of the operator is output through the input interface  120  or when measurement information transmitted by the management server  200  is received, the update function  134  may update the device workflow according to the update information. 
     When the notification control function  133  notifies the output function  135  of operation-related information, the output function  135  transmits the notified operation-related information to the management server  200 . By receiving the operation-related information, the management server  200  can check the execution status of the operation of the measurement device  10  by the managed person. The output function  135  is an example of an output unit. 
     The output function  135  transmits and outputs the device workflow updated by the update function  134  to the management server  200  using the communication interface  110 . A medical facility in which the management server  200  to which the device workflow has been transmitted is provided can check change in the device workflow. The output function  135  may selectively output necessary output content to the management server  200  from among the operation-related information and the device workflow. The output function  135  may output all of the operation-related information and the device workflow and may receive necessary output content filtered by the management server  200 . 
     The management server  200  is installed, for example, in a medical facility where doctors and others stay. The management server  200  receives and stores measurement information transmitted from the terminal device  20 . The measurement information stored in the management server  200  can be viewed by, for example, doctors in the medical facility and is used for health management of the managed person. 
     Next, processing of the monitoring assistance device  100  will be described.  FIG.  5    is a flowchart showing an example of processing of the monitoring assistance device  100 . The flowchart is executed once a day, for example, starting at a specific time, for example, 6:00. The flowchart may be executed once or more a day or may be executed once every few days, and the number of times of execution is appropriately defined according to the content of a device workflow, for example. 
     Although the content of display of the monitor  40  representing that the monitoring assistance device  100  switches the content of display of the monitor  40  corresponding to the measurement devices  10  in the order of operation execution times of the measurement devices  10  changes over time, first, the first monitor  41  to the third monitor  43  are all in the operation completion state (turned off) here. 
     The monitoring assistance device  100  performs interrupt processing by the acquisition function  131  during execution of the flowchart, and when measurement information and operation completion information are transmitted to the terminal device  20  and the management server  200 , acquires the transmitted information. The interrupt processing may be executed at any time interval, for example, every several minutes or several tens of minutes. 
     When the flowchart starts, the monitoring assistance device  100  determines a measurement device  10  (hereinafter referred to as a target measurement device  10 ) with the closest operation execution time with reference to the device workflow in the notification control function  133  (step S 101 ). Subsequently, when the operation execution time of the target measurement device  10  has been reached, display of the monitor  40  (hereinafter referred to as a target monitor  40 ) corresponding to the target measurement device  10  is switched to the execution timing state (step S 103 ). 
     For example, when the target measurement device  10  is the sphygmomanometer  11 , the operation execution time is, for example, 8:00. Therefore, the notification control function  133  switches display of the first monitor  41  corresponding to the sphygmomanometer  11  to the execution timing state at 8:00. Further, the notification control function  133  sets display of a monitor  40  that has not yet become a target monitor  40  (hereinafter referred to as a non-target monitor  40 ) to the execution standby state (step S 105 ). 
     Subsequently, the determination function  132  compares the measurement information and the operation completion information acquired by the acquisition function  131  with the device workflow stored in a storage  109  to determine whether or not the operation of the target measurement device  10  has been performed (step S 107 ). For example, when the target measurement device  10  is the sphygmomanometer  11 , the notification control function  133  determines whether or not the blood pressure of a subject P has been measured by the sphygmomanometer  11 . 
     When the determination function  132  determines that the operation of the target measurement device  10  has been executed, the notification control function  133  determines whether or not the executed operation is charging of the second activity meter  14  based on the measurement information and the operation completion information acquired by the acquisition function  131  (step S 109 ). When it is determined that the executed operation is not charging of the second activity meter  14 , for example, when it is determined that the executed operation is blood pressure measurement by the sphygmomanometer  11 , processing of the notification control function  133  proceeds to step S 115 . 
     When it is determined that the executed operation is charging of the second activity meter  14 , display of the third monitor  43  corresponding to the second activity meter  14  becomes the execution timing state, and the notification control function  133  switches the display of the third monitor  43  to the in-progress state (step S 111 ). The notification control function  133  switches the display of the third monitor  43  to the in-progress state, and at the same time outputs in-progress information to the management server  200 . 
     Subsequently, the determination function  132  determines whether or not charging of the second activity meter  14  has ended based on the measurement information and the operation completion information acquired by the acquisition function  131  (step S 113 ). When it is determined that charging of the second activity meter  14  has not ended, the determination function  132  repeats processing of step S 113 . 
     When it is determined that charging of the second activity meter  14  has ended, the determination function  132  determines whether or not there is any operation remaining in the target measurement device  10  with reference to the device workflow stored in the storage  109  (step S 115 ). For example, if the target measurement device  10  is the sphygmomanometer  11  and measurement to be performed at 8:00 has ended, measurement to be performed at 22:00 remains, and thus the determination function  132  determines that there is an additional operation remaining in the target measurement device  10 . 
     When the determination function  132  determines that there is an operation remaining in the target measurement device  10 , the notification control function  133  switches display of the target monitor  40  to the execution standby state (step S 117 ). When the determination function  132  determines that there is no operation remaining in the target measurement device  10 , the notification control function  133  turns off the target monitor  40  to set it to the operation completion state (step S 119 ). 
     Subsequently, the determination function  132  determines whether or not the operation execution time of the last measurement device  10  has elapsed with reference to the device workflow stored in the storage  109  (step S 121 ). Upon determining that the operation execution time of the last measurement device  10  has not elapsed, the determination function  132  returns processing to step S 101 . When the determination function  132  determines that the operation execution time of the last measurement device  10  has elapsed, the monitoring assistance device  100  ends the processing shown in  FIG.  5   . 
     When it is determined in step S 107  that the operation of the target measurement device  10  has not been performed, the determination function  132  determines whether or not the scheduled execution time has elapsed (step S 123 ). Upon determining that the scheduled execution time has not elapsed, the determination function  132  returns processing to step S 107 . Subsequently, the determination function  132  repeatedly executes processing of steps S 107  and S 123 . 
     When the determination function  132  repeatedly executes processing of steps S 107  and S 123  and determines that the scheduled execution time has elapsed, the notification control function  133  switches display of the target monitor  40  to the execution promotion state (step S 125 ). Subsequently, the determination function  132  compares the measurement information and the operation completion information acquired by the acquisition function  131  with the device workflow stored in the storage  109  to determine whether or not the operation of the target measurement device  10  has been performed (step S 127 ). 
     Upon determining that the operation of the target measurement device  10  has been performed, processing of the determination function  132  proceeds to step S 109 . Upon determining that the operation of the target measurement device  10  has not been performed, the determination function  132  determines whether or not the postponement time has passed (step S 129 ). Upon determining that the postponement time has not elapsed, the determination function  132  returns processing to step S 127 . Subsequently, the determination function  132  repeatedly executes processing of steps S 127  and S 129 . 
     When the determination function  132  determines that the postponement time has elapsed, the notification control function  133  switches display of the target monitor  40  to the execution standby state (step S 131 ). Subsequently, the update function  134  updates the workflow set in the target measurement device  10  depending on the content of an operation that has not been executed (step S 133 ). 
     The update function  134  updates the workflow such that, for example, the operation that has not been executed is scheduled to be executed after a predetermined time, for example, after  6  hours. The workflow may be updated in any manner. For example, device workflows may be updated such that operations that have not been executed are newly scheduled to be executed uniformly after a few hours. Alternatively, an operation execution time may be newly designated for each measurement device  10 , and a device workflow may be updated such that the designated time is set as the operation execution time. 
     After the update function  134  updates the device workflow, the output function  135  outputs the updated device workflow by transmitting it to the management server  200  (step S 135 ). Subsequently, the update function  134  returns processing to step S 101 . Thereafter, the monitoring assistance device  100  ends the processing shown in  FIG.  5    by executing processing up to step S 121 . 
     Next, transition of content displayed on the monitor  40  of the guide sheet  31  while processing by the monitoring assistance device  100  is being performed will be described.  FIG.  6    to  FIG.  10    are diagrams showing display content of the monitor  40 . Transition of the display content of the monitor  40  occurs, for example, in the order shown in  FIG.  6    to  FIG.  10    over time. 
     For example, when all operations performed by the measurement devices  10  on the previous day have been executed, the first monitor  41  to the third monitor  43  are all turned off and enter the execution completion state. In this state, if the operation execution time of the sphygmomanometer  11 , which is the measurement device  10  with the earliest operation execution time, has come, for example, the operation execution timing state is displayed on the first monitor  41  corresponding to the sphygmomanometer  11 , as shown in  FIG.  6   , and display of the first monitor  41  is switched from the execution completion state in which it is turned off to the execution timing state. At this time, display of the second monitor  42  corresponding to the weight and body composition meter  12  and display of the third monitor  43  corresponding to the second activity meter  14  are switched from the execution completion state in which they are turned off and to the execution standby state. 
     Subsequently, it is assumed that a managed person performs blood pressure measurement using the sphygmomanometer  11  until the operation execution time of the sphygmomanometer  11 , and the acquisition function  131  acquires operation completion information of the sphygmomanometer  11  transmitted from the terminal device  20 . In this case, the first monitor  41  is turned off and enters the execution completion state, as shown in  FIG.  7   . Thereafter, if the measurement device  10  having the next earliest operation execution time is the weight and body composition meter  12 , display of the second monitor  42  is switched from the execution standby state to the execution timing state. Display of the third monitor  43  corresponding to the second activity meter  14  remains in the execution standby state. 
     Subsequently, it is assumed that the managed person performs measurement of the weight and body composition using the weight and body composition meter  12  until the operation execution time of the weight and body composition meter  12 , and the acquisition function  131  acquires operation completion information of the weight and body composition meter  12  transmitted by the terminal device  20 . In this case, the second monitor  42  is turned off and enters the execution completion state, as shown in  FIG.  8   . Thereafter, if the measurement device  10  having the next earliest operation execution time is the second activity meter  14 , display of the third monitor  43  is switched from the execution standby state to the execution timing state. The first monitor  41  remains in the turned off state. 
     Subsequently, it is assumed that the managed person connects the second activity meter  14  to the charging device and starts charging until the operation execution time of the second activity meter  14 , and the acquisition function  131  acquires operation completion information of the second activity meter  14  transmitted by the terminal device  20 . In this case, display of the third monitor  43  is switched from the execution timing state to the in-progress state, as shown in  FIG.  9   . Display of the first monitor  41  and display of the second monitor  42  remain in the turned off state. 
     Subsequently, it is assumed that the managed person removes the second activity meter  14  from the charging device and ends charging until operation execution time (charging end time) of the second activity meter  14 , and the acquisition function  131  acquires operation completion information of the second activity meter  14  transmitted by the terminal device  20 . In this case, the third monitor  43  is turned off and enters the execution completion state, as shown in  FIG.  10   . In this way, all of the first monitor  41  to the third monitor  43  are turned off to indicate the execution completion state. 
     The monitoring assistance device  100  according to the embodiment controls the notification device  30  and outputs a notification including operation-related information on the basis of a device workflow that defines execution statuses of operations of the measurement devices  10  and operation timing of the measurement devices  10 . For example, when the managed person measures the blood pressure using the sphygmomanometer  11  at the time when the operation execution time (measurement time) of the sphygmomanometer  11  has come, operation completion notification is performed. 
     If the managed person does not measure the blood pressure using the sphygmomanometer  11  at the operation execution time, the monitoring assistance device  100  causes the notification device  30  to display the execution promotion state through the notification control function  133 . Therefore, it is possible to prompt the managed person to perform an operations of a measurement devices  10 , and since execution timing statuses are sequentially displayed for measurement devices  10  that need to execute operations, it is difficult for the managed person to misrecognize the measurement order of the measurement devices  10 . 
     Although the notification device  30  performs notification on the basis of the execution statuses of the operations of the measurement devices  10  at the time when an operation execution time has come in the above-described embodiment, the notification device  30  may perform notification before the operation execution time. For example, the notification device  30  may be caused to output a notification including the operation execution time a certain period of time, for example, 10 minutes before the operation execution time. In this case, the managed person can ascertain that the operation of the measurement device is necessary before the operation execution time, and thus the managed person can certainly be aware of that it is time to execute the operation of the measurement device  10 . 
     Although the measurement device  10  is placed on the corresponding monitor  40  in the above-described embodiment, the measurement device  10  may not be placed on the monitor  40  and the monitor  40  may display a notification. Although the notification is displayed in a color on the monitor  40 , the notification may be made according to a display form other than color. For example, the notification may be a text message, or may be a photograph or an illustration image showing the measurement device  10 . 
     Although the monitor  40  includes a plurality of monitors, the first monitors  41  to the third monitors  43 , corresponding to the measurement devices  10  in the above- described embodiment, there may be one monitor  40 . In this case, the monitor  40  may display the features, for example, the names, exterior shapes, and the like of the measurement devices  10  that are operation targets. 
     Although the monitor  40  is provided on the guide sheet  31  in the above- described embodiment, the monitor  40  may be provided on a place other than the guide sheet  31 , and may be provided on a display included in the terminal device  20  or the monitoring assistance device  100 , for example. Although the first monitor  41  to the third monitor  43  in the monitor  40  are adjacently provided, the first monitor  41  to the third monitor  43  may be provided apart from each other. The first monitor  41  to the third monitor  43  may be independently provided in different places. 
     Although notification is made when an operation has been executed, an operation has not been executed, or the like at the time when an operation execution time has come according to a device workflow in the above-described embodiment, notification timing may be determined in another aspect. The notification timing may be determined, for example, by the order of operation execution times of the measurement devices  10 , or may be determined by the operation execution times and the order thereof. Further, the notification timing may be set including results of the operations executed by the measurement devices  10 . Further, the notification timing may be set including instructions from a doctor through the management server  200 , and the like. 
     Although the display content of the monitor  40  includes display of the execution completion state, execution timing state, execution standby state, in-progress state, and execution promotion state in the above-described embodiment, the display content may include notification other than these, for example, information on operation such as a failure (communication error). Further, the monitor  40 , the speaker, and the lamp in the notification device  30  may be installed apart from each other in a distributed manner. 
     Although the notification control function  133  outputs a notification including operation-related information of the measurement devices  10  in the order in which operation execution time indicated in the device workflow is closest, timing of notification of operation-related information may be determined based on criteria other than the order in which the operation execution time is closest. For example, the timing of notification of operation-related information may be determined including measurement results of the measurement devices  10 . 
     Alternatively, the timing to notification of operation-related information may be determined including the support of an administrator (doctor or the like), or the timing of notification of operation-related information may be determined by combining these. In addition, notification of operation-related information may include information on operation such as uncharged, charged, and failure (communication error) in addition to execution standby, execution timing, and the like. 
     Although the notification device  30  is provided independently of the terminal device  20  and the monitoring assistance device  100  in the above-described embodiment, a part or all of the notification device  30  may be provided in the terminal device  20  or the monitoring assistance device  100 . Further, the mode of notification by the notification control function  133  may be changed on the basis of measurement information. 
     For example, for a managed person with a high blood pressure, a strong notification (notification of brightening the brightness of display or blinking faster) may be performed. Alternatively, display of the execution promotion state in the case where the operations of the measurement devices  10  are not performed may be more emphasized than other operation-related information (brightness is improved or sound is increased), or a blinking interval at the time of displaying the execution promotion state may be shortened. In addition, although the charging start time is fixed, the remaining charge amount in the second activity meter  14  may be estimated according to the amount of activity of the managed person, and the like, and the charging start time may be determined on the basis of the estimated remaining charge amount. 
     According to at least one embodiment described above, it is possible to prompt a managed person to perform operations of measurement devices by including an acquisition unit configured to acquire an execution status of at least one of an operation related to use of an apparatus that acquires biometric information of the managed person or an operation other than the operation related to use, a determination unit configured to determine, on the basis of the execution status of the managed person and a workflow defining operation timing of the apparatus, whether or not the operation has been executed at the operation timing, and a notification control unit configured to control a notification device that outputs a notification including information on the operation of the apparatus on the basis of whether or not the operation has been executed. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.