System for Handling Information Relating to Chemical Substances

Abstract

An olfaction processor (OLP) ( 100 ) that generates RAW data ( 35 ) including content data ( 139 d ) relating to chemical substances is provided. The OLP ( 100 ) includes a generator ( 130 ) that generates the RAW data ( 35 ). The chemical substances include at least one of compounds, molecules, and elements. The generator ( 130 ) includes a conversion unit ( 131 ) that converts intensity variations, which show detected chemical substances included in data from at least one sensor that detects an amount that changes due to presence of at least one of the chemical substances, to the content data ( 139 d ) by mapping onto a frequency space where a plurality of frequencies have been respectively assigned to a plurality of specified chemical substances.

1 . A system including a generator that generates first data including content data relating to chemical substances,
 wherein the chemical substances include at least one of compounds, molecules, and elements, and   the generator comprises a conversion unit that converts intensity variations showing detected chemical substances included in data from at least one sensor that detects an amount that changes due to presence of at least one of the chemical substances, to the content data by mapping onto a frequency space where a plurality of frequencies have been respectively assigned to a plurality of specified chemical substances.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of chemical substances are divided into a plurality of groups and a plurality of sub-bands are assigned respectively to the plurality of groups, and   the conversion unit converts the intensity variations showing detected chemical substances to intensity variations of frequencies included in any of the sub-bands.   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the content data is data for transmitting information for analyzing odors and/or information that relates to odors, and the plurality of groups includes groups divided according to functional groups.   
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the plurality of groups further includes an inorganic group and an unclassified group.   
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 3 , further comprising sensors that obtain environmental information including at least temperature and humidity, and
 the generator comprises a supplementary information adding unit that obtains the environmental information of when the first data is generated and includes the environmental information in the first data as the environmental information of when the first data was generated.   
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the at least one sensor includes left and right sensors with different detection characteristics relating to direction, and   the conversion unit includes a function that maps left and right intensity variations showing detected chemical substances included in data from the left and right sensors onto left and right frequency spaces respectively.   
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a convertor converting the first data to data on a time region.   
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 ,
 further comprising an interface that outputs the data on a time region using images and/or sounds.   
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 7 ,
 further comprising an interface for recording the data on a time region and/or transferring the data on a time region to the outside.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a compression apparatus that generates compressed data produced by compressing the first data.   
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the plurality of chemical substances are divided into a plurality of groups and a plurality of sub-bands are assigned respectively to the plurality of groups, and in the first data, intensity variations showing detected chemical substances have been converted to intensity variations of frequencies included in any of the sub-bands, and   the compression apparatus includes a compression control unit that changes compression conditions according to the sub-band.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the content data is data for transmitting information for analyzing odors and/or information that relates to odors, and the plurality of groups includes groups divided according to functional groups, and   the compression control unit reduces a data amount of the compressed data by deleting sub-bands assigned to groups not related to odors out of the plurality of groups or increasing a compression ratio by using an irreversible compression method.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 10 ,
 further comprising an interface for recording the compressed data and/or transferring the compressed data to the outside.   
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a capture unit that generates static data from the first data; and   a recognition apparatus that recognizes a specified substance based on the static data.   
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a library including a plurality of patterns for recognition where chemical substances included in a plurality of substances have been mapped onto the frequency space, and   a recognition engine that refers to the library, carries out pattern recognition on the static data, and outputs substances that have been recognized.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the plurality of chemical substances are divided into a plurality of groups and a plurality of sub-bands are assigned respectively to the plurality of groups, and in the first data, intensity variations showing detected chemical substances have been converted to intensity variations of frequencies included in any of the sub-bands, and   the recognition engine carries out pattern recognition in sub-band units.   
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 14 , further comprising a communication interface for communication with the outside,
 wherein the recognition apparatus outputs the static data or data for carrying out pattern recognition on the static data via the communication interface and obtains information relating to a recognized substance.   
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 14 ,
 further comprising an interface for carrying out a specified action that depends on a recognized substance.   
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the at least one sensor includes a spectrometry-type sensor whose sensitivity, resolution, and/or selectivity is controlled according to setting conditions,   and the system further comprises a preprocessor that sets the setting conditions at preliminary detection conditions that scan a wider range using the spectrometry-type sensor, carries out preliminary analysis based on results of preliminary detection, and changes the setting conditions based on substances analyzed by the preliminary analysis.   
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 ,
 wherein the preprocessor periodically sets the preliminary detection conditions and carries out the preliminary analysis.   
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the at least one sensor includes a plurality of sensors of different types, and   the conversion unit includes a function that maps intensity variations showing detected chemical substances included in data from respective sensors in the plurality of sensors onto the frequency space together.   
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a reproduction apparatus for supplying a device driver with odor data based on the content data of the first data,   wherein the device driver includes a function that converts the odor data to a combination of a plurality of odor sources that are used in an odor generating apparatus.   
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 22 ,
 further comprising sensors that obtain environmental information including at least temperature and humidity,   wherein the first data includes the environmental information of when the first data was generated, and   the reproduction apparatus includes a first compensation unit that obtains environmental information for a time of reproduction from the sensors that obtain environmental information, compares the obtained environmental information with the environmental information of when the first data was generated, and converts the content data of the first data to odor data suited to the obtained environmental information.   
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein the reproduction apparatus includes a second compensation unit that obtains information relating to chemical substances during reproduction based on intensity variations showing detected chemical substances included in data from the at least one sensor, compares the obtained information with the content data of the first data, and converts the content data of the first data to the odor data suited to the obtained information relating to chemical substances.   
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein the reproduction apparatus includes a reconstruction unit that converts the content data of the first data to the odor data based on characteristics of the human sense of smell.   
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising at least one chip in which circuits including at least the generator are integrated.   
     
     
         27 . A system comprising:
 an interface that receives first data including content data where intensity variations showing chemical substances, which include at least one of compounds, molecules, and elements, have been mapped onto a frequency space where a plurality of frequencies have been respectively assigned to specified chemical substances; and   a reproduction apparatus that supplies odor data based on the content data of the first data to a device driver,   wherein the device driver includes a function that converts the odor data to a combination of a plurality of odor sources that are used in an odor generating apparatus.   
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 27 ,
 further comprising an interface that obtains environmental information at a time of reproduction that includes at least temperature and humidity from sensors that obtain environmental information,   wherein the first data includes environmental information of when the first data was generated, and   the reproduction apparatus includes a first compensation unit that obtains environmental information for a time of reproduction from the sensor, compares the obtained environmental information with the environmental information of when the first data was generated, and converts the content data of the first data to odor data suited to the obtained environmental information.   
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 27 ,
 further comprising an interface that obtains information, which relates to chemical substances at a time of reproduction and includes intensity variations showing chemical substances at a time of reproduction, from a sensor detecting an amount that changes according to presence of the chemical substances,   wherein the reproduction apparatus includes a second compensation unit that obtains the information relating to chemical substances at the time of reproduction, compares the obtained information with the content data of the first data, and converts the first data to odor data suited to the obtained information relating to chemical substances.   
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 27 ,
 wherein the reproduction apparatus includes a reconstruction unit that converts the first data to the odor data based on characteristics of the human sense of smell.   
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 27 ,
 wherein the system is integrated into at least one chip.   
     
     
         32 . A method of generating first data including content data relating to chemical substances,
 wherein the chemical substances include at least one of compounds, molecules, and elements,   the method comprising converting intensity variations showing detected chemical substances included in data obtained from at least one sensor that detects an amount that changes due to presence of at least one of the chemical substances, to the content data by mapping onto a frequency space where a plurality of frequencies have been respectively assigned to a plurality of specified chemical substances.   
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 ,
 wherein the plurality of chemical substances are divided into a plurality of groups and a plurality of sub-bands are assigned respectively to the plurality of groups, and   the step of converting includes converting the intensity variations showing detected chemical substances to intensity variations of frequencies included in any of the sub-bands.   
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 32 ,
 further comprising obtaining environmental information of when the first data is generated from sensors that obtain environmental information including at least temperature and humidity and including the obtained environmental information in the first data as environmental information of when the first data was generated.   
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 32 ,
 wherein the at least one sensor includes left and right sensors with different detection characteristics relating to direction, and   the converting includes mapping intensity variations showing detected chemical substances included in the data from the left and right sensors onto left and right frequency spaces respectively.   
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 32 ,
 further comprising converting the first data to second data on a time region.   
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 32 ,
 further comprising generating compressed data produced by compressing the first data.   
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 32 ,
 wherein the at least one sensor includes a spectrometry-type sensor whose sensitivity, resolution, and/or selectivity is controlled according to setting conditions,   and the method further comprises setting the setting conditions at preliminary detection conditions that scan a wider range using the spectrometry-type sensor, carrying out preliminary analysis based on results of preliminary detection, and changing the setting conditions based on substances analyzed by the preliminary analysis.   
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 32 ,
 wherein the at least one sensor includes a plurality of sensors of different types, and   the converting includes mapping intensity variations showing the detected chemical substances included in data from respective sensors in the plurality of sensors onto the frequency space together.   
     
     
         40 . A method of testing, investigating, or diagnosing, comprising:
 a method according to  claim 32 ;   a step of capturing static data from the first data; and   a step of recognizing a specified substance based on the static data.   
     
     
         41 . A method of generating odors, comprising:
 receiving first data including content data produced by mapping intensity variations showing chemical substances including at least one of compounds, molecules, and elements onto a frequency space where a plurality of frequencies have been respectively assigned to a plurality of specified chemical substances;   supplying odor data to a device driver based on the content data of the first data; and   converting, by the device driver, the odor data to a combination of a plurality of odor sources that are used in an odor generating apparatus.   
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 41 , further comprising
 obtaining, from sensors, environmental information at a time of reproduction that includes at least one of temperature and humidity; and   comparing the obtained environmental information at the time of reproduction to environmental information of when the first data was generated and converting the content data of the first data to odor data suited to the obtained environmental information at a time of reproduction.   
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 41 , further comprising
 obtaining information, which relates to chemical substances at a time of reproduction and includes intensity variations showing chemical substances at the time of reproduction, from a sensor detecting an amount that changes according to presence of a chemical substance; and   comparing the obtained information related to chemical substances at the time of reproduction to the content data of the first data and converting the first data to odor data suited to the obtained information related to chemical substances at the time of reproduction.   
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 41 , further comprising
 converting the content data of the first data to the odor data based on characteristics of the human sense of smell.   
     
     
         45 . A program for causing a computer to function as an apparatus that generates first data including content data relating to chemical substances,
 wherein the chemical substances include at least one of compounds, molecules, and elements, and   the apparatus that generates comprises a conversion unit that converts intensity variations showing detected chemical substances included in data from at least one sensor that detects an amount that changes due to presence of at least one of the chemical substances, to the content data by mapping onto a frequency space where a plurality of frequencies have been respectively assigned to a plurality of specified chemical substances.