WO2025115686A1 - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided an information processing apparatus including circuitry configured to receive information about a blood flow of a tested site of a user from a blood flow detector that detects the blood flow of the tested site of the user, estimate a state of a body of the user based on the information about the blood flow when application of a pressure to the tested site and cancellation of the application of the pressure are performed, and notify the user of the estimated state of the body of the user.

Description

INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAMCROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2023-199755 filed November 27, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

In recent years, a technology of detecting a blood flow of a user has prevailed. For example, Patent Literature 1 has disclosed a technology that allows measurement of a blood flow of a pressurized site of the user's body rest in bed.

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-272085

Summary

However, making use of information about the blood flow of the user has not sufficiently been examined.
Therefore, the present disclosure proposes a technology capable of providing information useful to the user by making use of the information about the blood flow of the user.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, provided is an information processing apparatus that includes circuitry configured to receive information about a blood flow of a tested site of a user from a blood flow detector that detects the blood flow of the tested site of the user, estimate a state of a body of the user based on the information about the blood flow when application of a pressure to the tested site and cancellation of the application of the pressure are performed, and notify the user of the estimated state of the body of the user.

Moreover, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, provided is an information processing method executed by a computer, the method including receiving information about a blood flow of a tested site of a user from a blood flow detector that detects the blood flow of the tested site of the user, estimating a state of a body of the user based on the information about the blood flow when application of a pressure to the tested site and cancellation of the application of the pressure are performed, and notifying the user of the estimated state of the body of the user.

Moreover, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, provided is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program which when executed by a computer causes the computer to execute a method, the method including receiving information about a blood flow of a tested site of a user from a blood flow detector that detects the blood flow of the tested site of the user, estimating a state of a body of the user based on the information about the blood flow when application of a pressure to the tested site and cancellation of the application of the pressure are performed, and notifying the user of the estimated state of the body of the user.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of anestimation apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.Fig. 2 is a view showing a mounting example of theestimation apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.Fig. 3A is a view showing a mounting surface of theestimation apparatus 10 to a user U.Fig. 3B is a view showing an arrangement example of ablood flow detector 111.Fig. 3C is a view showing an arrangement example of theblood flow detector 111.Fig. 3D is a view showing an arrangement example of theblood flow detector 111.Fig. 3E is a view showing an arrangement example of theblood flow detector 111.Fig. 4 is a view for describing detection positions of a blood flow at a tested site of the user U by theblood flow detector 111.Fig. 5 is a view for describing application of a pressure by the user U.Fig. 6 is a view for describing an example of detecting an amount of laser light received by theblood flow detector 111 as a value representing a variation in a pressure.Fig. 7 is a diagram for describing an example of a change over time in a blood flow rate in a case where the user U has sufficiently applied a pressure to the tested site.Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of blood flow waves including forward waves and reflected waves.Fig. 9 is a diagram for describing an example of a change over time in a blood flow rate in a case where the user U has not sufficiently applied a pressure to the tested site.Fig. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a flow of operations of theestimation apparatus 10 in a case where information about a blood flow has been constantly obtained.Fig. 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a flow of operations of measurement of an immediate reaction by theestimation apparatus 10 and estimation of a state of a body of the user U.Fig. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of aninformation processing apparatus 90.Fig. 13A is an example of one or more selection screens displayed in a graphical user interface (GUI) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.Fig. 13B is an example of a result screen displayed in the GUI.

Hereinafter, a favorable embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that in the present specification and the drawings, duplicated descriptions of components having substantially the same functions/configurations will be omitted with the same reference signs.

It should be noted that the descriptions will be given in the following order.
1. Configuration of Estimation Apparatus According to Embodiment of Present Disclosure
2. Operation Processing Example According to Present Embodiment
3. Hardware Configurations
4. Supplement

1. Configuration of Estimation Apparatus According to Embodiment of Present Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to an estimation apparatus as an example of an information processing apparatus that estimates a state of a body of a user on the basis of information about a detected blood flow of the user.

First of all, a variation in the blood flow will be described before describing details of an estimation apparatus according to the present embodiment.

Blood pressure pulse waves representing a change over time in blood pressure is known as one that is represented by a combination of forward waves when pulse waves generated at a heart propagate forward to a tested site with reflected waves when the forward waves are reflected at a periphery and propagate in a direction opposite to the forward waves. Moreover, it is known that features of such a change over time in the blood pressure exhibits differ depending on age. For example, as to the blood pressure pulse waves, the reflected waves based on the forward waves appear with a delay that increases as the age decreases, not overlapping the forward waves. It is because blood vessels are more elastic as the age decreases and propagation of the reflected waves becomes slower. Moreover, since blood vessels are more elastic as the age decreases, it is difficult for the reflected waves to propagate, such that the reflected waves attenuate and an amplitude value of the reflected waves decreases.

In this manner, the blood pressure pulse waves show different features in accordance with the elasticity of blood vessels. Here, blood flow waves representing a change over time in the blood flow rate indicate the flow of blood flowing due to heart beats. That is, since the blood flow waves also represent pulse waves similar to the blood pressure pulse waves, the waveform of the blood pressure pulse waves and the waveform of the blood flow waves have the substantially the same shape. The estimation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure enables the state of blood vessels to be estimated on the basis of obtaining information about such a blood flow. The information about the blood flow may include for example at least any one of a blood flow rate, blood flow velocity, blood density, an amplitude value of a blood flow variation, or a waveform of the blood flow variation. The estimation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure enables the elasticity of blood vessels, i.e., the degree of arteriosclerosis to be estimated as the state of blood vessels on the basis of the information about the blood flow. The state of blood vessels is an example of the state of the body of the user in the present embodiment.

Moreover, blood vessels can be constricted or dilated in accordance with a state of autonomous nerves. Specifically, blood vessels are dilated when parasympathetic nerves are dominant. The blood flow rate when blood vessels are dilated is lower than the blood flow rate when blood vessels are constricted.

Moreover, since blood vessels when blood vessels are dilated are more elastic than blood vessels when blood vessels are constricted, the reflected waves appear delayed from the forward waves and the amplitude value of the reflected waves decreases. The estimation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure enables the state of autonomous nerves to be estimated on the basis of obtaining information representing features of such a blood flow. The state of autonomous nerves is an example of the state of the body of the user in the present embodiment.

Here, in order to increase the accuracy of estimating the state of the body of the user, a pressure can be applied to a tested site. For example, it is known that the blood flow is restricted by applying a pressure to the upper arm of the left hand that is the tested site with the cuff, and then the applied pressure is released, such that blood of the second digit of the left hand that is an end of the tested site flows rapidly.

The amplitude of blood flow waves (forward waves and reflected waves) when the pressure applied with the cuff is released, i.e., when the application of the pressure is canceled increases as compared to the amplitude of blood flow waves when no pressure is applied, prominently exhibiting a change over time in the blood flow rate as described above. Therefore, the estimation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure more easily estimates the state of the body of the user by using information about the blood flow when application of a pressure to the tested site and cancellation of the application of the pressure are performed. Hereinafter, a prominent change over time in the blood flow rate that appears when reacting the cancellation of the application of the pressure will be also referred to as an "immediate reaction."

Next, a configuration of the estimation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of theestimation apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Theestimation apparatus 10 is a device mounted on a tested site of the user. In the present embodiment, an example in a case where the tested site of the user U is an ear and theestimation apparatus 10 is an earphone will be mainly described. However, the tested site of the user U is not limited to the ear, and for example may be any area of a head-and-neck region of the user U. The head-and-neck region is an upper region from the neck and includes ears, surroundings of the ears (e.g., temples, ear roots), a jaw, a neck, etc. The head-and-neck region, in particular, the ear surroundings including the ears have a high blood flow rate, and therefore they are suitable as tested sites.

Fig. 2 is a view showing a mounting example of theestimation apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 2, theestimation apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is an earphone put into an ear of the user U. A blood pressure monitor whose cuff is wrapped around the arm of the user U to measure the blood pressure is known as one that obtains the blood pressure pulse waves of the user U, but restraining is necessary for obtaining the blood pressure pulse waves. Since theestimation apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is configured as an earphone, the blood flow of the user U can be detected for long time without restraining the user U.

Moreover, a known earphone includes various sensors. Moreover, next-generation earphones including various sensors are progressively examined. For example, the earphones are assumed to include a touch sensor, a microphone, a proximity sensor, an acceleration sensor, and the like. Some configurations (e.g., apressure detector 112 to be described later) of theestimation apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment can be realized with a sensor provided in known earphones or next-generation earphones, and therefore theestimation apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment can be more easily realized.

It should be noted that an audio output apparatus that is mounted on the head-and-neck region of the user other than a hearing aid, a headphone, and an earphone of a head-mounted display (HMD) or the like may be applied as theestimation apparatus 10 in the present embodiment. That is, another audio output apparatus including various sensors may be applied as theestimation apparatus 10. The HMD may be see-through-type or may be non-see-through-type. For example, in a case where the HMD is a see-through-type, the HMD may provide the user with an augmented reality (AR) space or a mixed reality (MR) space. Moreover, in a case where the HMD is a non-see-through-type, the HMD may provide the user with a virtual reality (VR) space. Moreover, the form of the HMD is not particularly limited, and for example it may be in the form of goggles or glasses. Specifically, the HMD may be MR glasses that provides the user with an MR space.

As shown in Fig. 1, theestimation apparatus 10 includes adetector 110, acommunication unit 120, acontroller 130, and astorage unit 140.

Detector 110
Thedetector 110 is constituted by various sensors that detect the tested site of the user U. As shown in Fig. 1, thedetector 110 includes ablood flow detector 111 and apressure detector 112.

Blood Flow Detector 111
Theblood flow detector 111 includes a light-emitting section and a light-receiving section of laser light for the user U and detects the blood flow at the tested site by receiving and emitting the laser light. The light-emitting section radiates laser light to the tested site. The light-receiving section receives scattered light of laser light radiated from the light-emitting section, which is scattered by the tested site.

Theblood flow detector 111 obtains information about the blood flow on the basis of a digital signal obtained by A/D-converting an analog signal indicating intensity of light received by the light-receiving section. The information about the blood flow may include for example a blood flow rate, blood flow velocity, and blood density. In the present embodiment, an example in a case where the information about the blood flow is the blood flow rate will be mainly described.

Theblood flow detector 111 according to the present embodiment functions as a laser Doppler blood flowmeter that obtains the information about the blood flow on the basis of a detected Doppler signal Doppler-shifted by irradiating laser light with the tested site. More specifically, the laser light radiated to the tested site is Doppler-shifted by the blood flow at the tested site. Theblood flow detector 111 obtains the blood flow rate by converting the Doppler signal generated by the Doppler shift in a frequency domain and weighting it. It is thus possible to output the blood flow rate of the high-frequency components that appear in blood flow waves in the immediate reaction.

As a comparative example with theblood flow detector 111 according to the present embodiment, it is conceivable that the blood pressure pulse waves are obtained by detecting the blood pressure by photo plethysmography (PPG). However, in accordance with the PPG, noise of the signal is removed through a filter. Accordingly, high-frequency components that appear in the blood pressure pulse waves in the immediate reaction are removed by the filter, and no prominent change over time in the blood flow rate appears in a measurement result. In accordance with theblood flow detector 111 according to the present embodiment, the blood flow rate of the high-frequency components that appear in the blood flow waves can be retained, and it is thus possible to more accurately estimate the state of the body of the user U.

Fig. 3A is a view showing a mounting surface of theestimation apparatus 10 to the user U. The mounting surface to the user U is a surface at which theestimation apparatus 10 comes into contact with the user U when the user U mounts theestimation apparatus 10 as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view for describing detection positions of the blood flow at the tested site of the user U by theblood flow detector 111. Fig. 4 shows positions P1 to P5 that can be detection positions of the blood flow. As shown in Fig. 3A, theblood flow detector 111 is provided at a position of a casing of theestimation apparatus 10 realized as a canal earphone, which comes into contact with the tested site of the user U when the user U mounts theestimation apparatus 10. With such an arrangement of theblood flow detector 111, information about the blood flow in a concha auriculae shown at a position P4 in Fig. 4 is obtained. Theblood flow detector 111 only needs to be provided in accordance with a position that is a detection position. Moreover, theblood flow detector 111 may be provided so that the blood flow in the back of the ear, the head top, or the side head is detected depending on the shape of theestimation apparatus 10. Figs. 3B to 3E are views showing arrangement examples of theblood flow detector 111. For example, theblood flow detector 111 may be provided at the positions C1 to C3 in the casing of the canal earphone shown in Fig. 3B. Moreover, theblood flow detector 111 may be provided at a position in contact with an external acoustic foramen shown at the position P1, a tragus shown at the position P2, an ear lobe shown at the position P3, an outer ear shown at the position P5 for example in Fig. 4 to obtain information about the blood flow at these sites.

It should be noted that the position of theblood flow detector 111 is not limited thereto. As shown at the positions C4 to C6 in Fig. 3B, information about the blood flow in the external auditory canal, the tragus, the external acoustic foramen, or the like is obtained by installing theblood flow detector 111 in a sound guide pipe of theestimation apparatus 10 realized as a canal earphone. In this case, it is desirable that no earpiece be provided in theestimation apparatus 10 or theblood flow detector 111 be arranged at positions (e.g., the positions C4 and C5) where an earpiece does not obstruct a gap between the earpiece and the tested site. Otherwise, it is desirable that in a case of using an earpiece that transmits laser light, theblood flow detector 111 be arranged at a position (e.g., the position C6) where an earpiece obstructs a gap between the earpiece and the tested site.

Moreover, in a case where theestimation apparatus 10 is realized as an open-ear earphone as shown in Fig. 3C, theblood flow detector 111 is installed at any one position on the casing of the estimation apparatus 10 (e.g., a position C11 in amain body portion 32 that houses a driver unit, which is opposite to the ear front, positions C12 to C14 in an open-ear headphone portion 34, which are opposite to the ear back), such that information about the blood flow at any one site of the concha auriculae, the ear pinna, the ear back, the ear root, the head, or the like is obtained. It should be noted that the open-ear earphone may be an earphone hung from the upper side of the ear as shown in Fig. 3C or may be an earphone hung from the lower side of the ear as another example.

Moreover, in a case where theestimation apparatus 10 is realized as a headphone as shown in Fig. 3D, theblood flow detector 111 may be installed at a position overlapping the driver unit (e.g., a center position C15 in the range surrounded by an ear pad E). In a case where theblood flow detector 111 is installed at a position overlapping the driver unit, information about the blood flow in the concha auriculae, the external acoustic foramen, or the like is obtained. Moreover, in a case where theblood flow detector 111 is installed at a position C16 deviated downward within a range surrounded by for example the ear pad E as another position, information about the blood flow in the ear root, the jaw, or the like is obtained. The detection in the ear root and the jaw has an advantage that hair and mustache hardly influence it.

Moreover, as shown in Fig. 3E, theblood flow detector 111 may be installed inside the ear pad E of the headphone. For example, in a case where theblood flow detector 111 is installed to radiate laser light to the head side as at positions C17, C18, and C19, information about the blood flow in the head, the concha auriculae, or the like is obtained. Moreover, in a case where theblood flow detector 111 is installed to radiate laser light toward the ear back as at a position C20, information about the blood flow in the outer ear or the like is obtained. It should be noted that an aperture or a portion through which laser light is transmitted may be formed at the position between theblood flow detector 111 and the tested site in the ear pad E.

In addition, information about the blood flow in the head top or the like can also be obtained by installing theblood flow detector 111 in a headband of headphones. Moreover, in a case where theestimation apparatus 10 is realized as a neckband loudspeaker or earphones with a portion that comes into contact with the periphery of the neck, information about the blood flow in the neck can be obtained by installing theblood flow detector 111 in the portion that comes into contact with the periphery of the neck,.

It should be noted that theblood flow detector 111 is capable of detecting the blood flow also in a case where theblood flow detector 111 is not mounted on the user U. For example, by the user U pushing theestimation apparatus 10 against a site other than the ears, such as a forehead, a cheek, or a neck, so that theblood flow detector 111 comes into contact with it, theblood flow detector 111 is capable of detecting the blood flow by using the other site as a tested site. It should be noted that as it will be described later in detail, in a case where the state of the body of the user U is estimated by using blood flow rates obtained by theblood flow detector 111 at different timings, it is desirable to use the blood flow detected by the same tested site to provide the same detection environment.

Theblood flow detector 111 may start detection of the blood flow on the basis of a detection start instruction of the immediate reaction by the user U. The detection start instruction of the immediate reaction may be received by a user terminal used by the user U or may be received by a touch to the touch sensor provided in thedetector 110.

Moreover, theblood flow detector 111 may terminate detection of the blood flow in a case where thepressure determination unit 132 to be described later determines that the application of the pressure has been canceled. Otherwise, theblood flow detector 111 may terminate detection of the blood flow in a case where the bodystate estimation unit 133 to be described later determines that the measurement of the immediate reaction has been completed.

Moreover, theblood flow detector 111 may start detection of the blood flow when theestimation apparatus 10 is powered on or terminate detection of the blood flow when theestimation apparatus 10 is powered off. Moreover, theblood flow detector 111 may start detection of the blood flow when it is detected that theestimation apparatus 10 is mounted on the user U through a proximity sensor, an air pressure sensor, or the like provided in thedetector 110 or may terminate detection of the blood flow when it is detected that theestimation apparatus 10 has been removed. That is, theblood flow detector 111 may constantly detect the blood flow when theestimation apparatus 10 is powered on or when theestimation apparatus 10 is mounted on the user U. In particular, in a case where theestimation apparatus 10 is an earphone, it is possible to constantly detect the blood flow without any burden on the user U.

The above-mentionedblood flow detector 111 allows non-invasive detection of the blood flow. Therefore, theblood flow detector 111 is capable of safely detecting the blood flow without damaging the body as compared to the method of detecting the blood flow by directly sensing the pressure in the blood vessel. Moreover, it is possible to detect the blood flow without medical practice.

Pressure Detector 112
Thepressure detector 112 detects a pressure applied to the tested site. Thepressure detector 112 may be a pressure sensor. In this case, thepressure detector 112 may obtain a pressure value. Moreover, thepressure detector 112 may be another sensor as long as it can obtain a value representing the pressure or a value representing the variation in the pressure.

For example, thepressure detector 112 may be a touch sensor. In this case, thepressure detector 112 may obtain a contact area of the finger of the user U that applies a pressure as the value representing the pressure. The larger the amount of pressure applied to the touch sensor is, the larger the contact area is.

Fig. 2 shows an example in a case where thepressure detector 112 is a touch sensor. As shown in Fig. 2, in a case where thepressure detector 112 is a touch sensor, thepressure detector 112 is provided on a surface opposite to the mounting surface of theestimation apparatus 10.

Fig. 5 is a view for describing the application of the pressure to the tested site by the user U. It is desirable that the pressure be applied in a direction perpendicular to the skin of the tested site of the user U. For example, it is desirable that the pressure be applied to thepressure detector 112 with the finger of the user U in the arrow D1 direction shown in Fig. 5. It is thus possible to restrict the blood flow at the detection position of theblood flow detector 111 in a case where a sufficient pressure is applied to thepressure detector 112. The immediate reaction is measured by restricting the blood flow at the detection position of theblood flow detector 111 and then cancelling the application of the pressure.

On the other hand for example when the pressure is applied in the arrow D2 direction, it may be difficult to apply a pressure to restrict the blood flow at the detection position of theblood flow detector 111 even by the user U touching thepressure detector 112 that is the touch sensor and applying a pressure to thepressure detector 112. Therefore, the user U needs to apply a pressure in a suitable direction.

It should be noted that the position for applying a pressure only needs to be capable of restricting the blood flow at the detection position of theblood flow detector 111 with a pressure and may be a position where theblood flow detector 111 and the tested site of the user U come into contact with each other or may be near such a position. In addition, the position for applying a pressure may be upstream of blood vessels flowing through the detection position of theblood flow detector 111.

Moreover, thepressure detector 112 may be a sensor that detects a value representing a movement of thepressure detector 112 as the value representing the pressure. For example, thepressure detector 112 may be an acceleration sensor. When a pressure is suitably applied to thepressure detector 112, thepressure detector 112 moves in the arrow D1 direction shown in Fig. 5. The acceleration can increase with an increase in pressure applied to thepressure detector 112. Therefore, thepressure detector 112 may obtain the acceleration as the value representing the variation in the pressure. Moreover, thepressure detector 112 may obtain a movement distance as the value representing the variation in the pressure on the basis of estimating the movement distance from the acceleration.

Moreover, thepressure detector 112 may be a microphone. Thepressure detector 112 may be a microphone for realizing a noise canceling function. For example, thepressure detector 112 may be a feed-forward microphone for detecting external noise. In this case, thepressure detector 112 may obtain sound volume as the value representing the pressure.

As another example, thepressure detector 112 may be a feedback microphone for detecting an internal sound of the ear. In this case, a sweep sound may be output into the ear from a sound output unit (not shown). The sweep sound changes in frequency when the air pressure in the ear varies due to pressure application. Therefore, thepressure detector 112 may obtain the frequency of the sweep sound as the value representing the pressure.

Moreover, thepressure detector 112 may be an air pressure sensor that measures the air pressure in the ear. In this case, thepressure detector 112 may obtain the air pressure as the value representing the pressure.

In addition, thepressure detector 112 may function as theblood flow detector 111. Thepressure detector 112 may detect an amount of the laser light received by theblood flow detector 111, which varies along with a movement of the pressure detector 112 (i.e., the blood flow detector 111) as the value representing the variation in the pressure. Fig. 6 is a view for describing an example of detecting the amount of the laser light received by theblood flow detector 111 as the value representing the variation in the pressure. In the left part, a schematic view of reception and emission of the laser L by theblood flow detector 111 in a case where no pressure is applied is shown. In the right part, a schematic view of reception and emission of the laser L by theblood flow detector 111 in a case where pressure is applied is shown. As shown in Fig. 6, theblood flow detector 111 includes a light-emittingsection 1111 and a light-receivingsection 1112.

When a pressure is applied to theblood flow detector 111, the light-receivingsection 1112 of theblood flow detector 111 comes close to the tested site of the user U. Accordingly, in a case where a pressure has been applied to theblood flow detector 111, the amount of light of the laser L emitted from the light-emittingsection 1111 and received by the light-receivingsection 1112 is received by the light-receiving section without leakage, and therefore the amount of light of the laser L in such a case is larger than the amount of light of the laser L in the case where no pressure has been applied.

Therefore, in a case where theblood flow detector 111 functions as thepressure detector 112, theblood flow detector 111 may obtain the amount of light as the value representing the variation in the pressure.

Moreover, thepressure detector 112 may estimate a movement distance of the blood flow detector 111 (i.e., of the pressure detector 112) from a variation amount of the amount of light received by the light-receivingsection 1112. Then, thepressure detector 112 may obtain the movement distance as the value representing the variation in the pressure.

Communication Unit 120
Thecommunication unit 120 is constituted by a communication interface and exchanges various types of information with a user terminal such as a smartphone used by the user U. The type of user terminal is not particularly limited, and may be a PC, a tablet terminal, or a smartwatch.

Thecommunication unit 120 may receive for example a detection start instruction of the immediate reaction from the user terminal. The detection start instruction of the immediate reaction may be sent from the user terminal to theestimation apparatus 10 on the basis of an application operation of the user U. Moreover, thecommunication unit 120 may send a notification of an estimation result of the state of the body of the user U or the like to the user terminal.

Controller 130
Thecontroller 130 includes a central processing unit (CPU) and the like and its function can be realized by the CPU expanding the program stored in thestorage unit 140 in a random access memory (RAM) and executing the program. At this time, a computer-readable recording medium, which has recorded this program, can also be provided. Alternatively, thecontroller 130 may be constituted by dedicated hardware or may be constituted by a combination of a plurality of hardware modules. Thecontroller 130 controls general operations in theestimation apparatus 10. Moreover, as shown in Fig. 1, thecontroller 130 has functions as a blood flowinformation processing unit 131, apressure determination unit 132, a bodystate estimation unit 133, and anotification control unit 134.

Blood FlowInformation Processing Unit 131
The blood flowinformation processing unit 131 obtains blood flow information that is information about a blood flow detected by theblood flow detector 111. The blood flowinformation processing unit 131 obtains the blood flow information by processing the user's blood flow rate obtained by theblood flow detector 111. The blood flowinformation processing unit 131 may obtain a change over time in the blood flow rate from the continuously detected blood flow rate. More specifically, the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 may obtain a waveform of a change over time in the blood flow rate. Moreover, the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 may obtain the amplitude of waves representing a change over time in the blood flow rate. The amplitude may be an amplitude of the forward waves or the reflected waves.

The blood flow information obtained by the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 may be stored in thestorage unit 140 to be described later with date and time of detection by theblood flow detector 111. The blood flow information obtained by the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 may be stored in an external server or the like via thecommunication unit 120. The blood flow information obtained by the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 may be stored, associated with the value representing the pressure or the value representing the variation in the pressure which has been detected by thepressure detector 112 on the date and time of detection by theblood flow detector 111.

Pressure Determination Unit 132
Thepressure determination unit 132 has a function of the determination unit that determines whether or not the pressure to the tested site satisfies a criterion on the basis of a value detected by thepressure detector 112. For example, thepressure determination unit 132 may perform determination on the basis of comparing the value representing the pressure or the value representing the variation in the pressure detected by thepressure detector 112 with a threshold. Hereinafter, an example in which determination is performed on the basis of the value representing the pressure will be mainly described. For other values, it is sufficient to perform similar determination.

Thepressure determination unit 132 may determine whether or not the pressure application to the tested site by the user U has been started, for example. Thepressure determination unit 132 may determine the pressure application to the tested site by the user U has been started in a case where the value representing the pressure has changed from a value equal to or lower than the threshold to a value equal to or higher than the threshold.

Moreover, thepressure determination unit 132 may determine whether or not the pressure application to the tested site by the user U has been canceled. In a case where the value representing the pressure has changed to the value equal to or higher than the threshold from the value equal to or lower than the threshold, thepressure determination unit 132 may determine that the pressure application to the tested site by the user U has been canceled.

Moreover, thepressure determination unit 132 may determine whether or not the pressure detected by thepressure detector 112 is sufficient for the measurement of the immediate reaction.

Here, a change over time in the blood flow rate in a case where the pressure applied to the tested site by the user U is sufficient for the measurement of the immediate reaction and a change over time in the blood flow rate in a case where the pressure applied to the tested site by the user U is insufficient are compared with reach other by using Figs. 7 to 9. Although in the description of Figs. 7 to 9, an example in which thepressure detector 112 detects a pressure value is shown, the fact that another value may be used as the value representing the pressure is as described so far.

Fig. 7 is a diagram for describing an example of a change over time in the blood flow rate in a case where the user U has sufficiently applied a pressure to the tested site. Fig. 7 shows an example of changes over time in the pressure to the tested site detected by thepressure detector 112 and in the blood flow rate at the tested site detected by theblood flow detector 111 from a time before the start of the pressure application to a time after the cancellation of the pressure application in a case where the user U has sufficiently applied a pressure to the tested site.

In the example shown in Fig. 7, due to the pressure application to the tested site by the user U, no blood flow waves can be visually recognized during a time from the start of the pressure application to the time when the pressure application is canceled, i.e., during the pressure application. It indicates that the pressure application restricts the blood flow at the tested site. Then, the blood rapidly flows when the pressure application is canceled, and therefore the amplitude of blood flow waves R when the pressure application is canceled is larger than the amplitude of the blood flow waves before the pressure application. In this manner, a pressure is applied to the tested site in such a manner that the blood flow at the tested site is restricted, and a change over time in the blood flow rate prominently appears.

In view of this, in a case where the value representing the pressure detected by thepressure detector 112 is equal to or higher than the threshold, thepressure determination unit 132 may determine that this pressure is sufficient for the measurement of the immediate reaction. It is sufficient to use a value corresponding to the pressure assumed to restrict the blood flow as the threshold. For example, the threshold may be a value larger than the value corresponding to the blood pressure of the user U.

Moreover, in a case where the blood flow has stopped within a predetermined time after the start of the pressure application (e.g., a case where the amount of change in the blood flow per predetermined time is equal to or lower than the threshold or a case where the blood flow rate is equal to or lower than the threshold), thepressure determination unit 132 may determine that the pressure applied to the tested site is sufficient for the measurement of the immediate reaction.

Moreover, on the basis of determining both whether or not the value representing the pressure has reached a value equal to or higher than the threshold and whether or not the blood flow has stopped, thepressure determination unit 132 may determine whether or not the pressure applied to the tested site is sufficient for the measurement of the immediate reaction. It is thus possible to more accurately determine whether or not the applied pressure is sufficient for the measurement of the immediate reaction.

Although Fig. 7 schematically shows the blood flow waves R when the pressure application has been canceled, the blood flow waves R specifically have forward waves and reflected waves. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the blood flow waves including the forward waves and the reflected waves. Fig. 8 shows four blood flow waves respectively having forward waves WP and reflected waves WR. The bodystate estimation unit 133 to be described later estimates the state of the body of the user U on the basis of at least any one of a blood flow rate, a waveform, or an amplitude in such blood flow waves.

Moreover, Fig. 7 further shows a change over time in the amount of light received by the light-receiving section of theblood flow detector 111. It can be seen that the higher the pressure to the tested site detected by thepressure detector 112 is, the larger the amount of light received by the light-receiving section of theblood flow detector 111 is, and the lower the pressure to the tested site detected by thepressure detector 112 is, the smaller the amount of light received by the light-receiving section of theblood flow detector 111 is. It can be seen from this that the amount of light received by theblood flow detector 111 can be used as the value representing the pressure.

Fig. 9 is a diagram for describing an example of a change over time in the blood flow rate in a case where the user U has not sufficiently applied a pressure to the tested site. Fig. 9 shows a pressure to the tested site detected by thepressure detector 112 and a change over time in the blood flow rate by theblood flow detector 111 from a time before the start of the pressure application to a time after the cancellation of the pressure application in a case where the user U has not sufficiently applied a pressure to the tested site.

According to Fig. 9, while the user U has applied a pressure to the tested site, the blood flow waves are also still visually recognized during the pressure application. It indicates that the blood flow at the tested site has not been restricted. Therefore, even if the pressure application is canceled, the amplitude of the blood flow waves when the pressure application is canceled is not larger than the amplitude of the blood flow waves before the pressure application. In this manner, in a case where a pressure enough to restrict the blood flow at the tested site is not applied to the tested site, a change over time in the blood flow rate does not prominently appear.

For example, in a case where the pushing force of the user U is weak, in a case where the user U applies a pressure in a direction different from the arrow D1 that is a suitable pressure application direction, such as the arrow D2 direction in Fig. 5, or in a case where theblood flow detector 111 is lifted up from the tested site, the blood flow waves as shown in Fig. 9 are obtained.

Moreover, Fig. 9 further shows a change over time in the amount of light received by theblood flow detector 111. In a case where the pressure to the tested site detected by thepressure detector 112 is insufficient as it will be understood in comparison with Fig. 7, the amount of light received by theblood flow detector 111 does not sufficiently increase. It can be seen from this that the determination as to the pressure can be performed on the basis of the amount of light received by theblood flow detector 111.

It should be noted that in a case where the determination as to the pressure is performed by using the amount of light received by theblood flow detector 111, depending on a measurement situation, there is also a possibility that the amount of light received increases due to another factor unrelated to the pressure application. Therefore, in order to more accurately perform the determination as to the pressure, it is more favorable that thepressure detector 112 is configured as a pressure sensor and the determination as to the pressure is performed by using a pressure value detected by thepressure detector 112.

Moreover, in a case where thepressure detector 112 is constituted by a feedback microphone or an air pressure sensor, the air pressure may vary even when theblood flow detector 111 is not in close contact with the tested site if theestimation apparatus 10 is not correctly mounted. Therefore, in a case where thepressure detector 112 is constituted by a feedback microphone or an air pressure sensor, whether or not theblood flow detector 111 is not in close contact with the tested site may be additionally determined on the basis of the amount of light received by theblood flow detector 111 or the blood flow rate measured by theblood flow detector 111.

Moreover, thepressure determination unit 132 may determine whether or not the position of theblood flow detector 111 is deviated during the time from the start of the pressure application to the end of the pressure application. For example, thepressure determination unit 132 may determine that the position of theblood flow detector 111 is deviated in a case where the blood flow rate has largely varied between the start of the pressure application and the end of the pressure application.

BodyState Estimation Unit 133
The bodystate estimation unit 133 estimates the state of the body of the user from the blood flow information obtained from the blood flowinformation processing unit 131.

In a case where thepressure determination unit 132 determines that the pressure detected by thepressure detector 112 is sufficient for the measurement of the immediate reaction, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of the body of the user U by using blood flow information when the pressure application is canceled as a result measurement of the immediate reaction. Here, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of the body of the user U by using blood flow information obtained until the predetermined period elapses after thepressure determination unit 132 determines that the pressure application has been canceled, as the blood flow information when the pressure application is canceled. The predetermined period may be for example a period from the time when thepressure determination unit 132 determines that the pressure application has been canceled to the time when a predetermined time (e.g., several seconds) elapses. Moreover, the predetermined period may be a period until the number of blood flow waves detected after thepressure determination unit 132 determines that the pressure application has been canceled reaches a predetermined number of blood flow waves. Moreover, the predetermined period may be a period until the amplitude value of the blood flow waves drops below the predetermined value after thepressure determination unit 132 determines that the pressure application has been canceled. In addition, the predetermined period may be a period until the value representing the pressure or the value representing the variation in the pressure detected by thepressure determination unit 132 drops below a threshold after thepressure determination unit 132 determines that the pressure application has been canceled. The predetermined period is not limited to the example described so far, and the period in which suitable blood flow information can be obtained to estimate the state of the body of the user U may be arbitrarily set.

It should be noted that in a case where due to an inappropriate timing for the cancellation of the pressure application or the like, the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 has not obtained a blood flow information for the bodystate estimation unit 133 to estimate the body state, it is unnecessary to estimate the state of the body of the user U.

The bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the degree of arteriosclerosis of the user U. The bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the degree of arteriosclerosis on the basis of a waveform of the blood flow waves included in the blood flow information obtained from the blood flowinformation processing unit 131. For example, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate, from the waveform of the blood flow waves, the degree of arteriosclerosis on the basis of how long the reflected waves are delayed by using the forward waves as a basis.

Moreover, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the degree of arteriosclerosis on the basis of how much the forward waves and the reflected waves overlap each other from the waveform of the blood flow waves included in the blood flow information obtained from the blood flowinformation processing unit 131. Moreover, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the degree of arteriosclerosis on the basis of the amplitude of the blood flow waves included in the blood flow information obtained from the blood flowinformation processing unit 131. For example, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the degree of arteriosclerosis on the basis of the amplitude of the reflected waves.

The bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the degree of arteriosclerosis by comparing a sample of blood flow information for each age with the blood flow information obtained from the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 in accordance with the age of the user U registered in advance. Moreover, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may compare the sample of the blood flow information for each age with the blood flow information obtained from the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 after correcting it in accordance with an ear shape, a chronic disease, past medical history, and the like.

It should be noted that the sample of the blood flow information which the bodystate estimation unit 133 compares with the blood flow information obtained from the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 is not limited to the sample of the blood flow information for the same generation as the user U. For example, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may compare blood flow information of another user with the blood flow information obtained from the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 in accordance with the state of the user U. The other user may be for example a user having an ear shape, a chronic disease, past medical history, or the like common to that of the user U. Moreover, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may compare the blood flow information obtained by correcting the blood flow information of the other user in accordance with features of the user U with the blood flow information obtained from the blood flowinformation processing unit 131.

Moreover, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the age of the user U by comparing the sample of the blood flow information for each age with the blood flow information obtained from the blood flowinformation processing unit 131. The user U is able to recognize the degree of arteriosclerosis of the user U by comparing the estimated age with the age of the user U. It should be noted that the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the age of the user U by comparing a sample of changes of the blood flow information on one day (e.g., changes of the blood flow information at three timings of morning, daytime, and evening) for each age with changes of the blood flow information on one day, which have been obtained from the blood flowinformation processing unit 131.

Moreover, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the degree of arteriosclerosis on the basis of past blood flow information of the user U stored in thestorage unit 140 to be described later. For example, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the degree of progress or improvement of the arteriosclerosis by comparing the blood flow information of the user U obtained one month to several years ago with the blood flow information obtained from the blood flowinformation processing unit 131.

It should be noted that a timing obtained by the blood flow information compared with the blood flow information obtained from the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 may be set to be for example one month ago for the user U who takes medicine for treating the arteriosclerosis, that is, a timing closer to the current time as compared to the user U who does not take such medicine. On the other hand, the timing may be set to be for example several years ago for the user U who does not take medicine for treating the arteriosclerosis. It is because although the arteriosclerosis typically does not progress for a short period such as one month, the arteriosclerosis can be improved for a short period such as one month by medication.

The bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the degree of arteriosclerosis by collecting the blood flow information obtained at a plurality of timings. For example, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the degree of arteriosclerosis by collecting the blood flow information obtained in a predetermined period or a predetermined number of times counted from the latest acquisition. Since the blood flow information of the user U differs depending on the state of the body of the user U at the time of measurement, the degree of arteriosclerosis can be more accurately estimated by collecting the blood flow information obtained at the plurality of timings.

Moreover, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the degree of arteriosclerosis by collecting and comparing the blood flow information for each predetermined period (e.g., one month to several years) and may obtain a change in the degree of arteriosclerosis for each predetermined period.

Moreover, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of the user U of the autonomous nerves. The bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of autonomous nerves from the blood flow rate. Moreover, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of autonomous nerves by using the forward waves as a basis on the basis of how long the reflected waves are delayed. Moreover, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of autonomous nerves on the basis of how much the forward waves and the reflected waves overlap each other. Moreover, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of autonomous nerves from the amplitude of the blood flow waves. For example, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of autonomous nerves from the amplitude of the reflected waves.

The bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of autonomous nerves from past blood flow information of the user U stored in thestorage unit 140 to be described later. The bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of autonomous nerves by collecting the blood flow information obtained at the plurality of timings. For example, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of autonomous nerves by collecting and comparing the blood flow information every 30 minutes and may obtain a change in the state of autonomous nerves every 30 minutes.

Moreover, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may collect the blood flow information obtained in a predetermined period or a predetermined number of times counted from the latest acquisition, obtain blood flow information in each of a case where sympathetic nerves of the user U are dominant and a case where parasympathetic nerves are dominant, and estimate the state of autonomous nerves on the basis of comparing the obtained result and the latest blood flow information.

It should be noted that the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of the body of the user U by using the blood flow information other than the measurement result of the immediate reaction.

For example, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of the body of the user from the blood flow information in a case where thepressure determination unit 132 determines that the pressure application from the user U has been started while it is determined that the pressure detected by thepressure detector 112 is insufficient for the measurement of the immediate reaction.

Even in a case where it is determined that the pressure detected by thepressure detector 112 is insufficient for the measurement of the immediate reaction, the blood flow waves are assumed to prominently appear as compared to a case where no pressure is applied. Therefore, for example as long as the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 has obtained the waveform of the blood flow waves having the forward waves and the reflected waves, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of the body of the user U by using the blood flow information indicating the blood flow waves.

It should be noted that between a case where it is determined that the pressure detected by thepressure detector 112 is sufficient for the measurement of the immediate reaction and a case where it is determined that the pressure detected by thepressure detector 112 is insufficient, they are assumed to have different features. For example, the amplitude of the blood flow waves in a case where it is determined that the pressure detected by thepressure detector 112 is sufficient for the measurement of the immediate reaction, i.e., in a case where the blood flow has not been restricted, can be smaller than that in a case where the blood flow has been restricted.

Therefore, in a case where thepressure determination unit 132 determines that the detected pressure is insufficient for the measurement of the immediate reaction, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of the body by correcting the blood flow information. For example, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may correct the blood flow information on the basis of the value representing the pressure detected when the blood flow has been detected. The bodystate estimation unit 133 may correct the amplitude of the blood flow waves in a case where it is determined that the detected pressure is insufficient for the measurement of the immediate reaction to increase in accordance with the value representing the pressure.

For example, a pressure applied by a touch operation or the like to theestimation apparatus 10 when the user U plays music by using theestimation apparatus 10 that is an earphone can be insufficient for the measurement of the immediate reaction. Estimating the state of the body of the user U by the blood flow information obtained in such a case reduces the effort of the user U for applying a pressure for the estimation of the body state. Moreover, the blood flow information is obtained by motions daily performed by the user U, and therefore the number of samples of the blood flow information increases, which increases the accuracy of estimation of the state of the user U.

The bodystate estimation unit 133 may cause the blood flow information of the user U to be stored in thestorage unit 140 to be described later and may be used for learning a model for estimating the state of the user U. The model learning may be performed by each user U or may be performed with blood flow information of a plurality of users U collected to the external server or the like. By the bodystate estimation unit 133 estimating the state of the user U with the learned model in this manner, the accuracy of estimation of the state of the user U increases.

In addition, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of the body of the user U by using the blood flow information when no pressure is applied to the tested site of the user U. The blood flow of the user U is not limited to the degree of arteriosclerosis or the state of autonomous nerves as described above, and changes depending on the situation of the user U. For example, the user U working out or taking a particular remedy may temporarily increase the blood flow rate at the tested site.

Therefore, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of the body of the user U by using normal-time blood flow information of the user U when no pressure is applied to the tested site of the user U. In a case where theblood flow detector 111 detects a normal-time blood flow, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may use a value at the timing when the blood flow information largely varies as the normal-time blood flow information. By theblood flow detector 111 detecting the normal-time blood flow in this manner, blood flow information at various timings is obtained. Therefore, the accuracy of estimation of the state of the body of the user U increases.

Moreover, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may determine whether or not the user U is in a rest state on the basis of a detected value of an acceleration sensor, a microphone, or the like provided in thedetector 110. In this case, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may use the blood flow information detected by theblood flow detector 111 in the rest state as the normal-time blood flow information. Moreover, in a case where theblood flow detector 111 does not detect the normal-time blood flow, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may control theblood flow detector 111 to start the measurement of the blood flow when it is determined that the user U is in the rest state.

The bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of the body of the user U by using for example blood flow information before the pressure application and normal-time blood flow information in the measurement of the immediate reaction. The bodystate estimation unit 133 may compare the blood flow information before the pressure application with the normal-time blood flow information. The bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of the body of the user U by correcting the measurement result of the immediate reaction on the basis of a comparison result.

It should be noted that although the example in which the bodystate estimation unit 133 estimates the state of the user U on the basis of the blood flow information obtained from the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 has been mainly described so far, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the state of the user U from the value representing the pressure detected by thepressure detector 112. It is because the pulse waves can also be obtained from the value representing the pressure detected by thepressure detector 112. Moreover, the bodystate estimation unit 133 is capable of estimating the state of the user U with higher accuracy by estimating the state of the user U by using both the blood flow information obtained from the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 and the value representing the pressure detected by thepressure detector 112.

Notification Control Unit 134
Thenotification control unit 134 controls notification to the user U. Thenotification control unit 134 may control thecommunication unit 120 to send a notification to the user terminal or may control a loudspeaker (not shown) of theestimation apparatus 10 to output a sound of the notification.

For example, in accordance with an instruction to start measurement of the immediate reaction received by thecommunication unit 120 from the user terminal, thenotification control unit 134 may control thecommunication unit 120 or the loudspeaker to notify the user U that the user U should start the pressure application to the tested site.

Moreover, in a case where thepressure determination unit 132 determines that the pressure application has been started, thenotification control unit 134 may perform control to notify the user U that the pressure application has been started.

As an example of the notification of the start of the pressure application, thenotification control unit 134 may control sending of the notification from thecommunication unit 120 so that the words "Pressure application has been started" are displayed on the user terminal or may control the loudspeaker so that a notification sound or audio guide is output from the loudspeaker.

As another example of the notification of the start of the pressure application, thenotification control unit 134 may control sending of the notification from thecommunication unit 120 so that a video in which theestimation apparatus 10 is pushed against the tested site of the user U is displayed on the user terminal.

After thepressure determination unit 132 determines that the pressure application has been started, thenotification control unit 134 may notify of the situation of the pressure application. As an example of the notification of the situation of the pressure application, thenotification control unit 134 may control sending of the notification from thecommunication unit 120 so that the blood flow detected by theblood flow detector 111 is processed by the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 and a change over time in the value representing the blood pressure or the blood flow waves is displayed on the user terminal in real time. Accordingly, the user U is able to know the state of the application of the pressure in real time, and therefore it becomes easy to apply a pressure suitable for the measurement of the immediate reaction.

In a case where thepressure determination unit 132 determines that the pressure detected by thepressure detector 112 is insufficient for the measurement of the immediate reaction, thenotification control unit 134 may perform control to notify the user U that the pressure application is insufficient.

Moreover, thenotification control unit 134 may perform control to notify the user U of the direction of applying a pressure. In particular, in a case where the direction of applying a pressure is unsuitable, thenotification control unit 134 may perform control to notify the user U of a suitable direction. Whether or not the direction of applying a pressure is suitable may be determined on the basis of a detection result of an acceleration sensor, a touch sensor, or the like provided in thedetector 110.

Moreover, in a case where thepressure detector 112 determines that the position of theblood flow detector 111 is deviated after the start of the pressure application, thenotification control unit 134 may perform control to notify the user U to mount theestimation apparatus 10 anew.

Moreover, in a case where the state in which the pressure application is insufficient has continued for a predetermined time, thenotification control unit 134 may perform control to notify that the measurement has been cancelled. It should be noted that thenotification control unit 134 may determine whether or not the measurement has failed in accordance with the waveform of the blood flow detected by theblood flow detector 111. For example, thenotification control unit 134 may determine that the measurement has failed for example in a case where the blood flow rate has not lowered even though thepressure detector 112 has detected the pressure application. Then, in a case where it is determined that the measurement has failed, thenotification control unit 134 may control the notification that the measurement has been cancelled.

In a case where thepressure determination unit 132 determines that the pressure detected by thepressure detector 112 is sufficient for the measurement of the immediate reaction, thenotification control unit 134 performs notification to notify the user U that the user U should continue the pressure application. For example, thenotification control unit 134 may perform control to notify of continuing the pressure application for a predetermined time.

Thenotification control unit 134 may perform control to notify of the cancellation of the application of the pressure. For example, thenotification control unit 134 may perform control to notify of the cancellation of the application of the pressure in a case where the state in which thepressure determination unit 132 determines that the pressure detected by thepressure detector 112 is sufficient for the measurement of the immediate reaction has continued for a predetermined time.

In a case where thepressure determination unit 132 determines that the pressure application has been canceled, thenotification control unit 134 may perform control to notify of whether or not the measurement of the immediate reaction has been completed. For example, in a case where the bodystate estimation unit 133 determines that the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 has obtained the blood flow information for the bodystate estimation unit 133 to estimate the body state, thenotification control unit 134 may perform control to notify that the measurement of the immediate reaction has been completed.

Moreover, thenotification control unit 134 may perform control to further notify of the estimation result of the state of the body of the user U by the bodystate estimation unit 133. The estimation result may be immediately notified after the cancellation of the pressure application or may be notified after an external device, an external server, or the like processes the estimation result.

In a case where the bodystate estimation unit 133 determines that the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 has not obtained the blood flow information for the bodystate estimation unit 133 to estimate the body state, thenotification control unit 134 may perform control to notify that the measurement of the immediate reaction has failed. In this case, thenotification control unit 134 may perform control to notify the user U that the user U should start the pressure application to the tested site for performing the measurement again.

It should be noted that thenotification control unit 134 does not necessarily need to perform various types of notification as described above. For example, in a case where the application of the pressure by the user U is a touch operation when playing music through theestimation apparatus 10 that is an earphone, thenotification control unit 134 does not need to notify of the pressure application. For example, in a case where a time in which pressure is applied is shorter than a predetermined time, thenotification control unit 134 determines that the pressure application is the above-mentioned touch operation and does not need to notify of the pressure application. It should be noted that even with a touch operation, an operation to instruct to notify that the pressure application should be performed may be received by an application or the like installed in the user terminal. In addition, an instruction as to whether or not to use a pressure applied by the touch operation for the measurement of the immediate reaction may be received by the user terminal. Moreover, setting of whether or not to perform various types of notification may be received by the user terminal.

Storage Unit 140
Thestorage unit 140 is realized by a ROM for storing programs, arithmetic parameters, and the like used for processing of thecontroller 130 and a RAM for temporarily storing parameters and the like that change as appropriate.

Thestorage unit 140 may store the blood flow information obtained by the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 together with date and time of detection by theblood flow detector 111. Moreover, thestorage unit 140 may store the blood flow information in association with the value representing the pressure detected by thepressure detector 112 on the date and time of detection by theblood flow detector 111 or the value representing the variation in the pressure.

2. Operation Processing Example According to Embodiment of Present Disclosure
Next, a flow of operation processing of theestimation apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figs. 10 and 11. First of all, an example of a flow of operations of theestimation apparatus 10 in a case where the blood flow information is constantly obtained will be described by using Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the example of the flow of operations of theestimation apparatus 10 in a case where the blood flow information is constantly obtained.

First of all, when the user U powers on the estimation apparatus 10 (S101), theblood flow detector 111 of thedetector 110 detects a blood flow at the tested site (S102). Moreover, thepressure detector 112 of thedetector 110 detects a pressure and obtains a value representing the pressure to the tested site (S103).

A detection result of thedetector 110 is output to the controller 130 (S104). The blood flowinformation processing unit 131 of thecontroller 130 obtains blood flow information detected by the blood flow detector 111 (S105). It should be noted that here, thepressure determination unit 132 may perform determination as to the value representing the pressure detected by thepressure detector 112 and for example in a case where the value representing the pressure is equal to or higher than the threshold, the processing may shift to S208 in Fig. 11. It is thus possible to perform the measurement of the immediate reaction in a case where the pressure is equal to or higher than the threshold.

Thecontroller 130 causes thestorage unit 140 to store the blood flow information together with the date and time of detection by the blood flow detector 111 (S106). Moreover, thecontroller 130 may store the blood flow information in association with the value representing the pressure detected by thepressure detector 112 on the date and time of detection by theblood flow detector 111 or the value representing the variation in the pressure in thestorage unit 140.

Theestimation apparatus 10 continuously obtains blood flow information by repeating the processing in S102 to S106 while theestimation apparatus 10 is powered on.

Next, an example of a flow of measurement of the immediate reaction by theestimation apparatus 10 and an estimation operation of the state of the body of the user U will be described by using Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a sequence diagram showing the example of the flow of the measurement of the immediate reaction by theestimation apparatus 10 and the estimation operation of the state of the body of the user U.

First of all, when the user U has performed an operation of the measurement start of the immediate reaction, thecommunication unit 120 receives an instruction to start measurement of the immediate reaction from the user terminal (S201).

Thecommunication unit 120 notifies the user U of the measurement start by sending a notification of the measurement start to the user terminal (S202).

The user U applies a pressure to the tested site via the estimation apparatus 10 (S203). Theblood flow detector 111 of thedetector 110 detects the blood flow at the tested site (S204). Moreover, thepressure detector 112 of thedetector 110 detects the pressure and obtains a value representing the pressure to the tested site (S205).

A detection result of thedetector 110 is output to the controller 130 (S206). Thepressure determination unit 132 of thecontroller 130 performs determination as to the applied pressure (S207). For example, thepressure determination unit 132 may determine whether the pressure detected by thepressure detector 112 is sufficient for the measurement of the immediate reaction.

Thenotification control unit 134 controls thecommunication unit 120 to notify the user U of the application of the pressure on the basis of a determination result of the pressure determination unit 132 (S208). Thecommunication unit 120 sends a notification of the application of the pressure for the user U to the user terminal used by the user U (S209). For example, thecommunication unit 120 may notify that the pressure application is insufficient, may notify of continuation of the pressure application for a predetermined time, or may notify of cancellation of the application of the pressure. It should be noted that a notification method for the user U is not limited to the notification with the user terminal.

In a case where the notification sent from thecommunication unit 120 is not the notification that the application of the pressure should be canceled (No in S210), the processing returns to S203 and the user U applies a pressure in accordance with the contents of the notification.

In a case where the notification sent from thecommunication unit 120 is the notification of cancellation of the application of the pressure (Yes in S210), the user U cancels the application of the pressure (S211).

Theblood flow detector 111 of thedetector 110 detects a blood flow at the tested site (S212). Moreover, thepressure detector 112 of thedetector 110 detects a pressure and obtains a value representing the pressure to the tested site (S213). A detection result of thedetector 110 is output to the controller 130 (S214).

The blood flowinformation processing unit 131 of thecontroller 130 obtains blood flow information detected by theblood flow detector 111 as the measurement result of the immediate reaction (S215). The bodystate estimation unit 133 estimates a state of the body of the user U from the measurement result of the immediate reaction (S216). At this time, the blood flow information stored in S106 in the sequence diagram of Fig. 10 may be used for the estimation.

It should be noted that in a case where due to an inappropriate timing or the like for the cancellation of the pressure application, the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 has not obtained the blood flow information for the bodystate estimation unit 133 to estimate the body state, the bodystate estimation unit 133 does not need to estimate the state of the body of the user U. In this case, thenotification control unit 134 may control thecommunication unit 120 to notify of re-application of a pressure and the processing may return to S203.

Thenotification control unit 134 controls thecommunication unit 120 to notify the user U of the estimation result (S217). Thecommunication unit 120 sends a notification of the estimation result to the user terminal used by the user U (S218). It should be noted that a notification method for the user U is not limited to the notification with the user terminal.

3. Hardware Configuration Example
Hereinabove, each embodiment of the present disclosure has been described. The above-mentioned information processing is realized by cooperation of software and hardware. Hereinafter, a hardware configuration example that can be applied to theestimation apparatus 10 will be described.

Fig. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of theinformation processing apparatus 90. It should be noted that the hardware configuration example of theinformation processing apparatus 90 described hereinafter is merely an example of the hardware configuration of theestimation apparatus 10. Therefore, theestimation apparatus 10 does not necessarily need to include all hardware configurations shown in Fig. 12.

As shown in Fig. 12, theinformation processing apparatus 90 includes aCPU 901, aROM 903, and aRAM 905. Moreover, theinformation processing apparatus 90 may include ahost bus 907, abridge 909, anexternal bus 911, aninterface 913, aninput apparatus 915, anoutput apparatus 917, astorage apparatus 919, adrive 921, aconnection port 923, and acommunication apparatus 925. Theinformation processing apparatus 90 may include a processing circuit called a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) instead of or in addition to theCPU 901.

TheCPU 901 functions as an arithmetic processing apparatus and a control apparatus and controls general or some operations in theinformation processing apparatus 90 in accordance with various programs recorded in theROM 903, theRAM 905, thestorage apparatus 919, or aremovable recording medium 927. TheROM 903 stores programs, arithmetic parameters, and the like used by theCPU 901. TheRAM 905 temporarily stores programs used for execution of theCPU 901 or/and parameters and the like that change in the execution as appropriate. TheCPU 901, theROM 903, and theRAM 905 are mutually connected by thehost bus 907 constituted by an internal bus such as a CPU bus. In addition, thehost bus 907 is connected to theexternal bus 911 such as a peripheral component interconnect/interface (PCI) bus via thebridge 909.

By theCPU 901 cooperating with theROM 903, theRAM 905, and the software for example the functions of thecontroller 130 can be realized.

Theinput apparatus 915 is an apparatus, e.g., a button, which is operated by the user. Theinput apparatus 915 may include a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, a switch, a lever, and the like. Moreover, theinput apparatus 915 may include a microphone that detects the user's voice. Theinput apparatus 915 may be for example a remote control apparatus using infrared waves or other radio waves or may be anexternal connection apparatus 929 such as a portable phone corresponding to the operation of theinformation processing apparatus 90. Theinput apparatus 915 includes an input control circuit that generates an input signal on the basis of information input by the user and outputs the input signal to theCPU 901. The user operates thisinput apparatus 915 to input various types of data to theinformation processing apparatus 90 or performs instruction of processing operations.

Moreover, theinput apparatus 915 may include an image pickup apparatus and a sensor. The image pickup apparatus is an apparatus that picks up an image of a real space and generates an picked-up image by using for example an image pickup element such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) and various members such as lenses for controlling image formation of an object on the image pickup element. The image pickup apparatus may be one that picks up a still image or may be one that picks up a moving image.

The sensor is various sensors including a distance measurement sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, a vibration sensor, an optical sensor, and a sound sensor, for example. The sensor obtains information regarding a state of theinformation processing apparatus 90 itself, e.g., attitude of the casing of theinformation processing apparatus 90, or information regarding the surrounding environment of theinformation processing apparatus 90, such as brightness or noise of the surroundings of theinformation processing apparatus 90. Moreover, the sensor may include a GPS sensor that receives a global positioning system (GPS) signal and measures latitude, longitude, and altitude of the apparatus.

Theoutput apparatus 917 is constituted by an apparatus capable of visual or auditory notification of the user of obtained information. Theoutput apparatus 917 can be for example a display apparatus such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic electro-luminescence (EL) display, or a sound output apparatus such as a loudspeaker or headphone. Moreover, theoutput apparatus 917 may include a plasma display panel (PDP), a projector, a hologram, a printer apparatus, and the like. Theoutput apparatus 917 outputs a result obtained by processing of theinformation processing apparatus 90 as a text or a video such as an image or outputs the result as a sound such as a voice or a sound effect. Moreover, theoutput apparatus 917 may include an illumination apparatus and the like for lighting up the surroundings.

Thestorage apparatus 919 is an apparatus for data storage configured as an example of the storage unit of theinformation processing apparatus 90. Thestorage apparatus 919 is constituted by for example a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a semiconductor storage device, an optical storage device, or an optical magnetic storage device. Thestorage apparatus 919 stores programs or various types of data executed by theCPU 901, various types of data externally obtained, and the like.

Thedrive 921 is a reader/writer for theremovable recording medium 927 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, and incorporated in or externally attached to theinformation processing apparatus 90. Thedrive 921 reads out information recorded on the mountedremovable recording medium 927 and outputs the information to theRAM 905. Moreover, thedrive 921 writes a record in the mountedremovable recording medium 927.

Theconnection port 923 is a port for directly connecting the apparatus to theinformation processing apparatus 90. Theconnection port 923 can be for example a universal serial bus (USB) port, an IEEE1394 port, or a small computer system interface (SCSI) port. Alternatively, theconnection port 923 may be an RS-232C port, an optical audio terminal, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) (registered trademark) port, or the like. By connecting theexternal connection apparatus 929 to theconnection port 923, various types of data can be exchanged between theinformation processing apparatus 90 and theexternal connection apparatus 929.

Thecommunication apparatus 925 is for example a communication interface constituted by a communication device and the like for connecting to a local network or a communication network with a base station of wireless communication. Thecommunication apparatus 925 can be for example a wired or wireless LAN, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or a communication card for wireless USB (WUSB). Alternatively, thecommunication apparatus 925 may be a router for optical communication, a router for asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL), a modem for various types of communication, or the like. Thecommunication apparatus 925 sends/receives signals and the like to/from for example the Internet or another communication apparatus by using a predetermined protocol such as TCP/IP. Moreover, a communication network with a local network or a base station connected to thecommunication apparatus 925 is a network connected with a wire or wirelessly and is for example the Internet, a home LAN, an infrared communication, a radio communication, or a satellite communication, or the like.

4. Supplement
Although the favorable embodiment of the present disclosure has been described hereinabove in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the technical range of the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is obvious that a person having ordinary skill in the art of the present disclosure can conceive various change examples or modification examples within the range of the technical ideas defined in the scope of claims, and it should be understood that these belong to the technical range of the present disclosure as a matter of course.

Although for example in the above-mentioned embodiment, the tested site of the user U is an ear and theestimation apparatus 10 are an earphone, the present technology is not limited to such an example. For example, theestimation apparatus 10 may be a shape wrapped around a finger, an arm, or the like that is a tested site.

Moreover, although in the above-mentioned embodiment, an example in a case where the user U applies a pressure to the tested site has been described, a method for the application of the pressure is not limited thereto. For example, in a case where theestimation apparatus 10 is a headphone, a side pressure may be designed to be applied by fitting of the headband.

Moreover, although in the above-mentioned embodiment, the degree of arteriosclerosis and the state of autonomous nerves has been described as an example as the state of the body of the user U estimated by the bodystate estimation unit 133, other states may be estimated. For example, the state of the body of the user U estimated by the bodystate estimation unit 133 may be a heatstroke level. In a case where the user U has got heatstroke, blood vessels are dilated for dissipating heat. Accordingly, the blood flow rate at the tested site of the user U decreases. Moreover, in a case where the user U is dehydrated, the amplitude of the reflected waves that is the measurement result of the immediate reaction decreases. Therefore, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the heatstroke level by using the blood flow rate obtained by the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 and the amplitude of the reflected waves.

Moreover, the state of the body of the user U estimated by the bodystate estimation unit 133 may be a dehydrated state. In a case where the user U is dehydrated, blood vessels constrict. Accordingly, the blood flow rate at the tested site of the user U increases. Moreover, in a case where the user U is dehydrated, the amplitude of the reflected waves that is the measurement result of the immediate reaction increases. Therefore, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the dehydrated state by using the blood flow rate obtained by the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 and the amplitude of the reflected waves.

Moreover, the state of the body of the user U estimated by the bodystate estimation unit 133 may be a degree of effects of drugs such as antihypertensive drugs taken by the user U. For example, in a case where the antihypertensive drugs work well, blood vessels are dilated. Moreover, the blood rate of blood pumped from the heart is reduced, so the blood flow rate lowers. Moreover, in a case where the antihypertensive drugs work well, the amplitude of the reflected waves that is the measurement result of the immediate reaction lowers. Therefore, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the degree of effects of the antihypertensive drugs by using the blood flow rate obtained by the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 and the amplitude of the reflected waves. It should be noted that the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the degree of effects of the antihypertensive drugs every constant time (e.g., every 30 minutes after taking medicine or for each day). Accordingly, the user U is able to check the degree of effects of the antihypertensive drugs for each constant time and uses the degree of effects for knowing a medicine-taking timing and the like. Accordingly, the user U is able to check the degree of effects of the antihypertensive drugs for each constant time and uses the degree of effects for knowing the medicine-taking timing and the like.

Moreover, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the degree of effects of the antihypertensive drugs by comparing the blood flow information just before taking medicine with the blood flow information 30 minutes after taking medicine. It should be noted that the timing described above is not limited to 30 minutes after taking medicine, and for example may be set depending on the type of medicine. More specifically, in a case where nitroglycerin is dosed for stopping an attack due to angina pectoris, such a timing may be set to 1 to 2 minutes after taking medicine in which it is expected to work. It should be noted that in a case where a symptom improvement is expected by a means other than dosing, such a timing may be set depending on this means. For example, such a period may be set to 2 to 5 minutes after the start of respiration control, in which respiration control on the hyperventilation syndrome is expected to work.

Moreover, the state of the body of the user U estimated by the bodystate estimation unit 133 may be a degree of effects of a stimulant such as caffeine taken by the user U. The stimulant constricts blood vessels of the user U. Accordingly, the blood flow rate at the tested site of the user U increases. Moreover, in a case where the stimulant works well, the amplitude of the reflected waves that is the measurement result of the immediate reaction increases. Therefore, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the degree of effects of the stimulant by using the blood flow rate obtained by the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 and the amplitude of the reflected waves. Accordingly, the user U is able to check the degree of effects of the stimulant and uses the degree of effects for knowing the medicine-taking timing and the like.

Moreover, although in the above-mentioned embodiment, the example in which various types of processing are performed by theestimation apparatus 10 has been described, the processing on the signal obtained by thedetector 110, the estimation processing of the state of the body of the user U, and the like may be performed by the user terminal, the other apparatus, the external server, or the like. More specifically, at least some functions of the functions of thecontroller 130 and thestorage unit 140 may be realized by the user terminal, the other apparatus, the external server, or the like. The other apparatus may be for example an audio output apparatus other than theestimation apparatus 10, such as an earphone, a headphone, a hearing aid, or an HMD that is mounted on the user U. The user terminal, the other apparatus, or the external server is an example of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Moreover, although in the above-mentioned embodiment, the example in which thesingle estimation apparatus 10 has measured the blood flow information of the user U has been described, the number ofestimation apparatuses 10 that measures the blood flow information is not limited. For example, one earphone of a pair of earphones that are put into both ears may function as theestimation apparatus 10 or both earphones may function as theestimation apparatus 10. Moreover, one of the pair of earphones may have all configurations described above or the other may have only some configurations of theestimation apparatus 10 described above (at least the configuration of the detector 110). More specifically, the one earphone of the pair of earphones does not have the configuration of at least any one of the blood flowinformation processing unit 131, thepressure determination unit 132, the bodystate estimation unit 133, or thenotification control unit 134. In this case, the earphone having all configurations functions as theestimation apparatus 10 that obtains, from the other earphone, detection results by thedetector 110 of this earphone and integrates detection results.

In a case where both of the pair of earphones have the function of thedetector 110, thenotification control unit 134 may control to notify which earphone is used for measuring an immediate reaction. More specifically, in accordance with a determination result of thepressure determination unit 132 when an immediate reaction based on the detection result of thedetector 110 of one earphone is measured, thenotification control unit 134 may perform control notification to indicate that the other earphone is used for the measurement. For example, in a case where thepressure determination unit 132 determines that the position of theblood flow detector 111 is deviated or that a touch operation performed just before has influenced the application of the pressure, thenotification control unit 134 may perform control notification to indicate that the other earphone is used for the measurement. Since one earphone of the pair of earphones corresponds to handedness of the user U, the pressure is frequently applied or the position is deviated when touch operations are frequently performed. Therefore, by performing notification to indicate that the other earphone is used for the measurement of the immediate reaction, the immediate reaction can be measured using the earphone which is unlikely to cause pressure application, position deviation, and the like.

In addition, in a case where both of the pair of earphones have the function of thedetector 110, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may determine the reliability of the blood flow information detected by thedetector 110 of each earphone on the basis of the normal-time blood flow information of the user U, which has been detected by thedetector 110. The bodystate estimation unit 133 may determine the reliability so that the smaller variations in the normal-time blood flow information of the user U which have been detected by thedetector 110 of each earphone are, the higher the reliability is. Since the variations in the normal-time blood flow information of the user U are considered to be caused by a mounting state of the earphones on the user U, thenotification control unit 134 may control confirmation notification of the mounting state of the earphones in a case where the reliability is lower than a predetermined value.

It should be noted that in a case where both of the pair of earphones have the function of thedetector 110, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the body state on the basis of the detection result by each of the pair of earphones. Even in a case where detection is performed at the same timing, there is a difference in the blood flow information between the left and right ears. In a case where body state estimation results based on detection results of the respective earphones are different, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may use a result estimated by the earphone with higher reliability of the blood flow information as a final estimation result. Moreover, in a case where the estimation result is represented as the numeric value, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may use each average value as a final estimation result. Moreover, both results may be notified as a final estimation result.

Moreover, the blood flow information obtained by the blood flowinformation processing unit 131 may be corrected on the basis of collecting a difference in the blood flow information between the left and right, which have been obtained at a plurality of timings. Then, the bodystate estimation unit 133 may estimate the body state on the basis of a detection result after correction by both earphones. Moreover, in a case where the bodystate estimation unit 133 estimates the body state on the basis of a detection result of each of the pair of earphones and data quantity of blood flow information obtained by one earphone is insufficient for the estimation of the body state, the blood flow information obtained by the other earphone may be used as reference data.

Although the example in which both of the pair of earphones have the function of thedetector 110 has been described so far, the function of thedetector 110 may be provided in different types of devices. For example, the earphone functioning as theestimation apparatus 10, which has the function of thedetector 110, may be put into one ear of the user U and a hearing aid or the like having the function of thedetector 110 may be put into the other ear. One of a plurality of devices having the function of thedetector 110 may be connected to the user terminal and the other may be connected to a device connected to this user terminal.

Fig. 13A illustrates an example of selection screen(s) 1300 that may be displayed in a graphical user interface (GUI) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. By display of the selection screen(s) 1300 shown in Fig. 13A, a user may select responses to displayed prompts within the GUI. Examples of the displayed prompts include a prompt 1310 regarding whether a user has started to apply pressure, a prompt 1320 regarding the pressure application site, a prompt 1330 regarding selection of a mode, a prompt 1340 regarding a disease to be checked, and a prompt 1350 regarding a notification method. The examples of the displayed prompts may be displayed on the same selection screen, or each displayed prompt may be displayed on a separate selection screen.

Fig. 13B illustrates an example of aresult screen 1360 that may be displayed in the GUI according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. By display of theresult screen 1360 shown in Fig. 13B, a user may view a result of each measurement indicating their estimated body state within the GUI.

Moreover, the effects described in the present specification are merely illustrative or exemplary, not limitative. That is, the technology according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can provide other effects obvious to those skilled in the art in light of the description of the present specification in addition to or instead of the above-mentioned effects.

It should be noted that the following configurations also belong to the technical scope of the present disclosure.
(1) An information processing apparatus, including:
circuitry configured to
receive information about a blood flow of a tested site of a user from a blood flow detector that detects the blood flow of the tested site of the user,
estimate a state of a body of the user based on the information about the blood flow when application of a pressure to the tested site and cancellation of the application of the pressure are performed, and
notify the user of the estimated state of the body of the user.
(2) The information processing apparatus according to (1), further including:
a pressure detector configured to detect a value representing a variation in the pressure to the tested site,
wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine whether or not the pressure to the tested site satisfies a criterion based on the value representing the variation in the pressure,
wherein the circuitry estimates the state of the body of the user based on the information about the blood flow when the application of the pressure and the cancellation of the application of the pressure are performed, which is determined by the pressure determination unit to satisfy the criterion to the tested site, and
wherein the pressure detector detects a value representing a movement of the pressure detector as the value representing the variation in the pressure.
(3) The information processing apparatus according to (1) or (2), in which the pressure detector functions as the blood flow detector and detects an amount of laser light received by the blood flow detector, which varies along with the movement of the pressure detector, as the value representing the variation in the pressure.
(4) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3), in which the pressure detector detects at least one of an acceleration of the movement of the pressure detector or a movement distance of the pressure detector as the value representing the variation in the pressure.
(5) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4), in which the pressure detector includes at least one of a pressure sensor, a touch sensor, an acceleration sensor, a microphone, a feedback microphone, or an air pressure sensor.
(6) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (5), in which the estimated state of the body of the user includes at least one of a state of blood vessels of the user, a state of autonomous nerves of the user, a degree of arteriosclerosis of the user, an age of the user, a rest state of the user, a heatstroke level of the user, a dehydrated state of the user, or a degree of effects of a drug taken by the user.
(7) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (6), in which when the pressure to the tested site is equal to or higher than a threshold or the blood flow has stopped within a predetermined time after starting the application of the pressure to the tested site, the circuitry is further configured to determine that the pressure to the tested site is sufficient to estimate the state of the body of the user.
(8) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (7), in which the information about the blood flow includes at least one of a blood flow rate, a blood flow velocity, a blood density, an amplitude value of a blood flow variation, or a waveform of the blood flow variation.
(9) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (8), in which whether or not the blood flow detector is in contact with the tested site is determined based on an amount of light received by the blood flow detector or a blood flow rate measured by the blood flow detector.
(10) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (9), in which the circuitry is further configured to control notification of an instruction to apply or cancel the pressure to the tested site of the user based on a determination result related to the pressure.
(11) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (10), in which the circuitry estimates the state of the body of the user by using the information about the blood flow until a predetermined period elapses after the value representing the variation in the pressure detected by the circuitry drops below a threshold as the information about the blood flow when the cancellation of the application of the pressure is performed.
(12) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (11), in which the circuitry estimates the state of the body of the user further based on the information about the blood flow detected by the blood flow detector with no pressure applied to the tested site.
(13) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (12), in which the circuitry estimates the state of the body of the user further based on the information about the blood flow detected by the blood flow detector before the pressure is applied to the tested site.
(14) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (13), in which the circuitry estimates the state of the body of the user further based on the information about the blood flow detected by the blood flow detector when the user is in a rest state.
(15) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (14), in which the information processing apparatus is a device configured to be mounted on the tested site, and the blood flow detector constantly measures the information about the blood flow in a case where the information processing apparatus is mounted on the tested site.
(16) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (15),
in which the circuitry is further configured to receive from a user terminal used by the user a detection start instruction sent in accordance with an operation made by the user, the blood flow detector detects the blood flow based on the received detection start instruction, and the circuitry is further configured to send a notification of an estimation result of the state of the body of the user to the user terminal.
(17) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (16), in which the blood flow detector includes at least one of a laser Doppler blood flowmeter configured to detect the blood flow based on a Doppler signal detected by irradiating the tested site with the laser light or a blood pressure detector using photoplethysmography (PPG).
(18) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (17), in which the audio output apparatus includes at least one of an earphone, a headphone, a hearing aid, or a head-mounted display (HMD).
(19) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (18), in which the information about the blood flow of the tested site of the user is stored in association with a date and a time of detection
.
(20) An information processing method executed by a computer, the information processing method including:
receiving information about a blood flow of a tested site of a user from a blood flow detector that detects the blood flow of the tested site of the user;
estimating a state of a body of the user based on the information about the blood flow when application of a pressure to the tested site and cancellation of the application of the pressure are performed; and
notifying the user of the estimated state of the body of the user
(21) A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program which when executed by a computer causes the computer to execute a method, the method including:
receiving information about a blood flow of a tested site of a user from a blood flow detector that detects the blood flow of the tested site of the user;
estimating a state of a body of the user based on the information about the blood flow when application of a pressure to the tested site and cancellation of the application of the pressure are performed; and
notifying the user of the estimated state of the body of the use.

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.

10 estimation apparatus
110 detector
111 blood flow detector
112 pressure detector
120 communication unit
130 controller
131 blood flow information processing unit
132 pressure determination unit
133 body state estimation unit
134 notification controller
140 storage unit

Claims (21)

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:
   circuitry configured to
   receive information about a blood flow of a tested site of a user from a blood flow detector that detects the blood flow of the tested site of the user,
   estimate a state of a body of the user based on the information about the blood flow when application of a pressure to the tested site and cancellation of the application of the pressure are performed, and
   notify the user of the estimated state of the body of the user.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
   a pressure detector configured to detect a value representing a variation in the pressure to the tested site,
   wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine whether or not the pressure to the tested site satisfies a criterion based on the value representing the variation in the pressure,
   wherein the circuitry estimates the state of the body of the user based on the information about the blood flow when the application of the pressure and the cancellation of the application of the pressure are performed, which is determined by the pressure determination unit to satisfy the criterion to the tested site, and
   wherein the pressure detector detects a value representing a movement of the pressure detector as the value representing the variation in the pressure.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
   the pressure detector functions as the blood flow detector and detects an amount of laser light received by the blood flow detector, which varies along with the movement of the pressure detector, as the value representing the variation in the pressure.
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
   the pressure detector detects at least one of an acceleration of the movement of the pressure detector or a movement distance of the pressure detector as the value representing the variation in the pressure.
5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
   the pressure detector includes at least one of a pressure sensor, a touch sensor, an acceleration sensor, a microphone, a feedback microphone, or an air pressure sensor.
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
   the estimated state of the body of the user includes at least one of a state of blood vessels of the user, a state of autonomous nerves of the user, a degree of arteriosclerosis of the user, an age of the user, a rest state of the user, a heatstroke level of the user, a dehydrated state of the user, or a degree of effects of a drug taken by the user.
7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
   when the pressure to the tested site is equal to or higher than a threshold or the blood flow has stopped within a predetermined time after starting the application of the pressure to the tested site, the circuitry is further configured to determine that the pressure to the tested site is sufficient to estimate the state of the body of the user.
8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
   the information about the blood flow includes at least one of a blood flow rate, a blood flow velocity, a blood density, an amplitude value of a blood flow variation, or a waveform of the blood flow variation.
9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
   whether or not the blood flow detector is in contact with the tested site is determined based on an amount of light received by the blood flow detector or a blood flow rate measured by the blood flow detector.
10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the circuitry is further configured to control notification of an instruction to apply or cancel the pressure to the tested site of the user based on a determination result related to the pressure.
11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
    the circuitry estimates the state of the body of the user by using the information about the blood flow until a predetermined period elapses after the value representing the variation in the pressure detected by the circuitry drops below a threshold as the information about the blood flow when the cancellation of the application of the pressure is performed.
12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
    the circuitry estimates the state of the body of the user further based on the information about the blood flow detected by the blood flow detector with no pressure applied to the tested site.
13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein
    the circuitry estimates the state of the body of the user further based on the information about the blood flow detected by the blood flow detector before the pressure is applied to the tested site.
14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein
    the circuitry estimates the state of the body of the user further based on the information about the blood flow detected by the blood flow detector when the user is in a rest state.
15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein
    the information processing apparatus is a device configured to be mounted on the tested site, and
    the blood flow detector constantly measures the information about the blood flow in a case where the information processing apparatus is mounted on the tested site.
16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive from a user terminal used by the user a detection start instruction sent in accordance with an operation made by the user, wherein
    the blood flow detector detects the blood flow based on the received detection start instruction, and
    the circuitry is further configured to send a notification of an estimation result of the state of the body of the user to the user terminal.
17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
    the blood flow detector includes at least one of a laser Doppler blood flowmeter configured to detect the blood flow based on a Doppler signal detected by irradiating the tested site with the laser light or a blood pressure detector using photoplethysmography (PPG).
18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
    the audio output apparatus includes at least one of an earphone, a headphone, a hearing aid, or a head-mounted display (HMD).
19. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
    the information about the blood flow of the tested site of the user is stored in association with a date and a time of detection.
20. An information processing method executed by a computer, the information processing method comprising:
    receiving information about a blood flow of a tested site of a user from a blood flow detector that detects the blood flow of the tested site of the user;
    estimating a state of a body of the user based on the information about the blood flow when application of a pressure to the tested site and cancellation of the application of the pressure are performed; and
    notifying the user of the estimated state of the body of the user.
21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program which when executed by a computer causes the computer to execute a method, the method comprising:
    receiving information about a blood flow of a tested site of a user from a blood flow detector that detects the blood flow of the tested site of the user;
    estimating a state of a body of the user based on the information about the blood flow when application of a pressure to the tested site and cancellation of the application of the pressure are performed; and
    notifying the user of the estimated state of the body of the user.

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