Patent Description:
In a multiple dwelling house interphone system, since it is necessary to update registered information when dwellers move in and out, there is a function to delete the registered information about a former dweller.

For example, in Patent Document <NUM>, i.e. <CIT>, a function to initialize all the setting contents and a function to initialize a content set by a dweller are provided, and the initialization of the content set by a dweller is possible when the dweller moves out.

Further, Patent Document <NUM>, i.e. <CIT>, relates to an indoor monitor placed in an apartment room, including a connection unit that establishes a session with a door-phone placed in a lobby of an apartment house via a server, the server storing registration information for the mobile terminal to establish a session with the door-phone, an acquisition unit that acquires registration information from the server in response to a user operation, and a display unit for displaying registration information on a display device.

Patent Document <NUM>, i.e. <CIT>, relates to communication systems for buildings, condominiums, and the like. In this communication system, a LAN is configured in a house group in a predetermined section, and an internet is connected to the LAN. A plurality of sensors for detecting security information in the predetermined section and a plurality of communicable or call-enabling communication terminals set in each house of the house group are connected to the LAN. A communicable or call-enabling management terminal managing the security information of the predetermined section is also connected to the LAN.

In a multiple dwelling house interphone system configured to communicate with a mobile phone via a communication management device, such as a server, installed on a network, information on dwellers is accumulated also in the communication management device. For example, when a multiple dwelling house interphone system has a function to communicate with a mobile phone, such as a smartphone, via an application of a communication management device, it is necessary to delete information of a telephone number of the mobile phone and the like for certain in the application and the communication management device when a dweller moves out. However, the technique of the above-described Patent Document <NUM> is not configured to delete the information in the communication management device. Therefore, an erase operation is not simple, and the information was easily left undeleted even after the erase operation has been performed.

Further, there has been a multiple dwelling house interphone system with a premise of not including a dwelling room master device itself, where a mobile phone is used instead as the dwelling room master device. In such a system, since the erase operation is performed by operating the mobile phone, further cumbersomeness is to be expected.

Therefore, in consideration of the problem, it is an object of the invention to provide a multiple dwelling house interphone system that allows deletion of information needing erasure through a simple operation even when the information is regarding a mobile phone registered in the communication management device.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim <NUM> is a multiple dwelling house interphone system configured to respond to a call from a collective entrance machine installed at an entrance. The response can be made not only through a dwelling room master device installed in an individual dwelling unit, but also through a mobile phone carried by a dweller. The multiple dwelling house interphone system includes a communication management device that transmits a call signal from the collective entrance machine to the mobile phone and controls communication between the collective entrance machine and the mobile phone. The communication management device relays the communication to the mobile phone registered as the calling destination of the collective entrance machine. The registered mobile phone is linked to the dwelling room master device using a predetermined application based on a VOIP. When a predetermined registration operation to allow communication with the communication management device based on VOIP is performed to link the mobile phone to the dwelling room master device, the communication management device accepts the registration and transmits an application for download. In addition, a list of information on mobile phones already registered in relation to the dwelling room master device which is the linked target is transmitted. The mobile phone that has downloaded the application displays the list of information in the display section.

With the configuration, the information already registered in the communication management device is transmitted to the mobile phone in the process of linking the mobile phone to the dwelling room master device. If undeleted registered information on a former dweller remains when a new dweller moves in, it can be noticed. Accordingly, it is easy to recognise if there is undeleted information needing erasure, thus allowing certain erasure of information on the former dweller while registering the information on the new dweller.

Note that the application is an abbreviation for application software.

In the invention according to claim <NUM>, which is in the configuration according to claim <NUM>, the mobile phone that has downloaded the application and is linked to the dwelling room master device displays the information list in the display section when the application is started. In addition, a delete button configured to delete any piece of information in the information list is displayed, allowing any piece of information in the displayed information list to be deleted.

With the configuration, since the information already registered in the communication management device can be displayed on the mobile phone, and any piece of information in the registered information can be deleted, unnecessary information can be erased for certain with a simple operation.

In the invention according to claim <NUM>, which is in the configuration according to claim <NUM> or <NUM>, the dwelling room master device includes a registration operation section and a monitor. The registration operation section obtains a ticket for registering the mobile phone in the communication management device. The monitor displays the obtained registration ticket. In the registration operation, the registration ticket displayed on the dwelling room master device is read by the mobile phone.

With the configuration, since the registration can be performed using the registration ticket displayed on the dwelling room master device, the registration can be made with a simple operation.

In the invention according to claim <NUM>, which is in the configuration according to any of the first to the third claims, the dwelling room master device is configured to display the information list of the mobile phones already registered to be linked to the dwelling room master device in the communication management device through a predetermined operation. The dwelling room master device further includes an erase operation section configured to delete any piece of the information in the displayed information list.

With the configuration, the dwelling room master device can obtain and display the information list of mobile phones registered and linked with the dwelling room master device, and further, the dwelling room master device can erase any of the information regarding a mobile phone among them. Therefore, the information needing erasure can be easily grasped, and unnecessary information can be erased through a simple operation.

The invention according to claim <NUM> is a multiple dwelling house interphone system including a collective entrance machine, a terminal, and a communication management device. The collective entrance machine is installed at an entrance for calling a dweller. The portable terminal that can be carried by a dweller is configured to respond to the call from the collective entrance machine via an external network. The communication management device controls communication between the collective entrance machine and the terminal. The terminal is a mobile phone configured to perform a communication based on a VOIP. The mobile phone as a calling destination is registered in the communication management device in association with a dwelling unit number, and the communication management device relays the communication between the collective entrance machine and the mobile phone using a predetermined application that uses the VOIP. The mobile phone can download an application to communicate with the communication management device based on VOIP through a predetermined operation. Information list of the mobile phones already registered in the communication management device in association with the registered dwelling unit number is displayed on the mobile phone that has downloaded the application.

With the configuration, when a mobile phone is registered as a terminal that can respond to a call from the collective entrance machine, the information already registered in the communication management device is displayed. If undeleted registered information on a former dweller remains when a new dweller moves in, it can be recognised. Accordingly, the information needing erasure may easily be noticed, and a situation in which information of the former dweller remains when the information on the new dweller is registered can be prevented.

According to the invention, since the information already registered in the communication management device is transmitted to the mobile phone in the process of registering the mobile phone to be linked to the dwelling room master device, if there is an undeleted registered information on a former dweller when a new dweller moves in, it can be noticed. Accordingly, it is easy to recognize that the information needing to be erased is left, thus allowing certain erasure of information on the former dweller when registering the information on the new dweller.

The following describes embodiments in detail with reference to the drawings. <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary multiple dwelling house interphone system according to the invention. The multiple dwelling house interphone system includes a collective entrance machine <NUM>, dwelling room master devices <NUM>, entrance slave devices <NUM>, management master devices <NUM>, a mobile phone <NUM>, a communication management server (communication management device) <NUM>, and the like. The collective entrance machine <NUM> is installed at an entrance of a multiple dwelling house and used by a visitor for calling a dweller. The dwelling room master devices <NUM> are installed in individual dwelling units and used for responding to calls from the collective entrance machine <NUM>. The entrance slave devices <NUM> are installed at entrances of the individual dwelling units and used for calling the dwellers. The management master devices <NUM> are installed in a manager room and used for speaking with the dwellers and the like. The mobile phone <NUM> is carried by the dweller. The communication management server (communication management device) <NUM> is installed outside.

Reference character E indicates an entrance, reference character K indicates a manager room, and reference character M indicates a dwelling unit. Reference character <NUM> denotes a HUB, and the devices are mutually connected by a LAN via communication lines L1. The communication between the devices is performed by an Internet Protocol (IP). The communication management server <NUM> is disposed on an external general-purpose network N, and the collective entrance machine <NUM> and the dwelling room master device <NUM> are connected to the general-purpose network N via a Gateway (GW) adapter <NUM>, thus allowing communication with the communication management server <NUM>.

The collective entrance machine <NUM> includes a camera <NUM>, an operation section <NUM>, a display section <NUM>, a microphone <NUM> and a speaker <NUM>, a call button <NUM>, and the like. The camera <NUM> obtains an image of a visitor. The operation section <NUM> is used for selecting or inputting a dwelling unit to be called. The display section <NUM> displays a calling destination and the like. The microphone <NUM> and the speaker <NUM> are used for speaking.

<FIG> is a function block diagram of the dwelling room master device <NUM>. The dwelling room master device <NUM> includes a speech button <NUM>, an audio section <NUM>, a monitor <NUM>, an operation section <NUM>, a dwelling room master device CPU <NUM>, a dwelling room master device communication IF <NUM>, and the like. The speech button <NUM> is used for responding to the calls. The audio section <NUM> includes a microphone 22a and a speaker 22b for speaking. The monitor <NUM> displays a video image obtained by the camera <NUM>. The operation section <NUM> performs various operations. The dwelling room master device CPU <NUM> controls the dwelling room master device <NUM>. The dwelling room master device communication IF <NUM> communicates with the collective entrance machine <NUM>, the entrance slave device <NUM>, and the communication management server <NUM>.

For mobile phone <NUM> where a smartphone is used as an example, an application software (hereinafter referred to as "application") for communicating with the collective entrance machine <NUM> from the communication management server <NUM> via the general-purpose network N is downloaded and installed in the mobile phone <NUM>. At this time, registrant information, such as name and a dwelling unit number of a dweller as an operator, is transmitted from mobile phone <NUM> to communication management server <NUM>, and the registrant information is registered in association with the application. Note that the operation of downloading the application and registering it with the communication management server <NUM> can be easily performed by operating the dwelling room master device <NUM>.

Specifically, first, the dwelling room master device <NUM> already in a communicable state with the communication management server <NUM> obtains a registration ticket that is preliminarily set for each dwelling unit in the communication management server <NUM> and includes two-dimensional information (for example, a QR code (registered trademark)) to easily perform the registration. Then, registration can be performed by displaying the obtained registration ticket on monitor <NUM> and taking its image with the mobile phone <NUM>, thus reading the registration ticket. The registration can be performed also by reading the printed registration ticket prepared for each dwelling unit in advance.

The application thus installed in the mobile phone <NUM> is a software for communication between the collective entrance machine <NUM> and the mobile phone <NUM>, and is an application that enables communication using a VOIP technique. By using the VOIP technique, mobile phone <NUM> can communicate with the collective entrance machine <NUM> through communication not based on a telephone number.

<FIG> is a function block diagram of the communication management server <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the communication management server <NUM> includes an application information storage section <NUM>, a server CPU <NUM>, a server communication IF <NUM>, and the like. The server CPU <NUM> controls the communication between the collective entrance machine <NUM> and the mobile phone <NUM>, and controls the communication management server <NUM>. The server communication IF <NUM> communicates with the collective entrance machine <NUM> and the mobile phone <NUM> via the general-purpose network N.

In the application information storage section <NUM>, the application is registered for each mobile phone <NUM> in association with the dwelling unit number (dwelling room master device ID), and registered further for each multiple dwelling house. When a call signal from the collective entrance machine <NUM> is received, the application associated with the dwelling unit as the calling destination is called, and the calling control causes the mobile phone <NUM> to perform a calling operation. That is, the call signal is transmitted to the mobile phone <NUM>.

Operations of the multiple dwelling house interphone system configured as described above are as follows. Note that, an operation in which a dweller is called by operating the collective entrance machine <NUM> and the dwelling room master device <NUM> of the dwelling unit as the calling destination and the mobile phone <NUM> linked to the dwelling room master device <NUM> emit call sounds, an operation in which a speech path is formed by a response operation of the dwelling room master device <NUM> or the mobile phone <NUM> receiving the call thereby allowing the speaking between the dweller and the visitor, an operation in which the video image taken by the camera <NUM> is transmitted in response to the call and displayed on the monitor <NUM> of the dwelling room master device or a display section <NUM> of the mobile phone <NUM>, and the like are similar to those in the conventional system. Therefore, the explanations are omitted.

Here, the procedure of the registration and deletion of registration for mobile phone <NUM> linked to the dwelling room master device <NUM> will be mainly described.

When an additional mobile phone <NUM> is linked to the dwelling room master device <NUM>, the dwelling room master device <NUM> is operated in order to obtain information from the communication management server <NUM> for linking mobile phone <NUM>. The dwelling room master device <NUM> is preliminarily set to be communicable with communication management server <NUM>, and a registration notification is transmitted from the dwelling room master device <NUM> to the communication management server <NUM> by a predetermined registration operation.

The communication management server <NUM> receiving the registration notification recognizes the dwelling unit of the dwelling room master device <NUM> as a transmission source of the registration notification, and sends back registration ticket including information on an information storage destination URL of the communication management server <NUM> as a tool for easily performing the registration operation.

The dwelling room master device <NUM> receiving the registration ticket from the communication management server <NUM> displays it on the monitor <NUM>. By reading the displayed registration ticket with mobile phone <NUM>, or by manually inputting the displayed registration ticket, mobile phone <NUM> is allowed to communicate with the communication management server <NUM> via general-purpose network N, and the application is downloaded.

In the mobile phone <NUM> that has downloaded the application, if there are other mobile phones <NUM> present which are registered in the communication management server <NUM> in association with the dwelling room master device <NUM> with which the registration operation has been performed, the information will be read and displayed on the display section <NUM> through a function of the application.

Through the display, the presence of information on a mobile phone <NUM>, such as a mobile phone of a former dweller needing deletion, can be recognized and a delete operation is performed after completing the registration.

<FIG> illustrates a displayed list of the mobile phones. The already registered mobile phones <NUM> can be recognized on the display. Here, assume that a plurality of (for example, up to eight) mobile phones can be linked to one dwelling room master device <NUM> (to the same dwelling unit). <FIG> illustrates that the three mobile phones <NUM> are already linked to the dwelling room master device <NUM> of dwelling unit <NUM>.

While confirming the current registration situation through the display, the registration operation for the current mobile phone <NUM> itself can be started. At this time, an owner name and the like are input and registered in relation to an assigned terminal number (not illustrated). Thus, the additional mobile phone <NUM> associated with the dwelling unit number (NO. <NUM>) is registered in the communication management server <NUM>.

After the registration operation is completed, when the dwelling unit <NUM> is called from the collective entrance machine <NUM>, the call signal is transmitted to the additionally registered mobile phone <NUM> in addition to the already registered mobile phones <NUM> by the control of the communication management server <NUM>, and speaking becomes possible by performing the response operation.

Meanwhile, when the displayed list includes information to be deleted not related to the current dweller, the delete operation will be started.

<FIG> are explanatory diagrams of display section <NUM> illustrating the procedure for the delete operation. <FIG> illustrates a state where the application is started, <FIG> illustrates a state where a delete operation screen is opened, and <FIG> illustrates a state where the deletion has been performed. When the application in the mobile phone <NUM> is started, the screen of <FIG> is displayed at first with banners of a new registration B1 and a delete B2. The new registration is a banner used for an additional registration of a new mobile phone <NUM>. Here, the banner of the delete B2 will be tapped for the delete operation.

In response to the tap operation of the delete B2, the information on the registered mobile phones <NUM> is read from the communication management server <NUM>, and the list of registered terminals is displayed on the display section <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. By selecting the terminal number to be deleted in the list and tapping the delete button B3, the corresponding information in the communication management server <NUM> is deleted, and consequently, the list after the deletion is displayed as illustrated in Fig. 4C. Thus, the erase operation is performed.

As described above, in the process of registering mobile phone <NUM> as a terminal to be linked to the dwelling room master device <NUM>, the information already registered in the communication management server <NUM> is displayed on the newly registered mobile phone <NUM>. If undeleted registered information on a former dweller remains when a new dweller moves in, it can be noticed. Accordingly, it can be easily recognised if information needing erasure remains, thus allowing certain erasure of information on the former dweller when registering the information on the new dweller.

Then, since the information registered in the communication management server <NUM> can be displayed on the mobile phone <NUM>, and any piece of information in the registered information can be deleted, unnecessary information can be erased for certain by a simple operation.

Since the registration can be performed using the registration ticket displayed on the dwelling room master device <NUM>, the registration can be made with a simple operation.

<FIG> illustrates the display when the deletion is performed by operating the dwelling room master device <NUM>. Through a predetermined operation of the operation section <NUM>, the mobile phones <NUM> linked to the dwelling room master device <NUM> are displayed in a list of forwarding destination terminals as illustrated in <FIG>, and a delete button B4 is displayed together. By selecting the terminal as an erasure target and tapping the delete button B4 on the display, the erasure can be performed in a manner similar to the delete operation using mobile phone <NUM>.

As described above, the dwelling room master device <NUM> can obtain and display the information list on the mobile phones <NUM> set to be linked to the dwelling room master device <NUM> itself, and further, the dwelling room master device <NUM> can erase the information on any of the mobile phones <NUM> among them. Therefore, the information needing erasure can be easily obtained, and unnecessary information can be erased through a simple operation.

Next, a description will be given of a case of a multiple dwelling house interphone system having a configuration in which the fixed dwelling room master device <NUM>, which is disposed in the above-described configuration, is not disposed and a response to a call from the collective entrance machine <NUM> is performed through only the mobile phone <NUM>.

When the dwelling room master device is not disposed and a device for response is only the mobile phone <NUM>, the registration and deletion of registration is performed as follows. The registration ticket is registered for each dwelling unit (for each dwelling unit number) in the communication management server <NUM>, and the registration ticket is prepared by, for example, printing it on a card for each dwelling unit.

For the mobile phone <NUM> used as a terminal to respond to the call from the collective entrance machine <NUM>, the registration is performed by reading the printed registration ticket. The procedure of registration after the reading and the procedure of deletion are similar to the procedures in the above-described case of reading the registration ticket displayed on the dwelling room master device <NUM>.

Accordingly, after the predetermined application has been downloaded, if there is a mobile phone <NUM> registered in the communication management server <NUM> in association with the registration ticket, that is, in association with the dwelling unit number, its information is read and displayed on the display section <NUM> through a function of the application. Based on the display, if there is information on mobile phone <NUM> needing erasure, such as the mobile phone of the former dweller, the delete operation is performed after the registration.

As described above, when the mobile phone <NUM> is registered as a terminal that can respond to calls from the collective entrance machine <NUM>, the information already registered in the communication management server <NUM> is displayed. If undeleted registered information on a former dweller remains when a new dweller moves in, it can be recognised. Accordingly, the information needing erasure may easily be grasped, and a situation in which information of the former dweller remains when the information on the new dweller is registered can be prevented.

While the QR code (registered trademark) is described as an example of the registration ticket to facilitate the registration in the above-described embodiments, the registration ticket is not limited insofar as it is two-dimensional information. The registration ticket may be a simple barcode, or a numerical string or a symbol string may be used.

Claim 1:
A multiple dwelling house interphone system configured to respond to a call from a collective entrance machine (<NUM>) installed at an entrance by not only a dwelling room master device (<NUM>) installed in an individual dwelling unit but also a mobile phone (<NUM>) carried by a dweller, the multiple dwelling house interphone system comprising
a communication management device (<NUM>) configured to transmit a call signal from the collective entrance machine (<NUM>) to the mobile phone (<NUM>) and to control communication between the collective entrance machine (<NUM>) and the mobile phone (<NUM>), wherein
the communication management device (<NUM>) is configured to relay the communication to the mobile phone (<NUM>) registered as a calling destination of the collective entrance machine (<NUM>) so as to be linked to the dwelling room master device (<NUM>) using a predetermined application based on a VOIP, characterized in that,
when a predetermined registration operation to allow the communication with the communication management device (<NUM>) based on the VOIP is performed to link the mobile phone (<NUM>) to the dwelling room master device (<NUM>),
the communication management device (<NUM>) is configured to accept the registration, and, having accepted the registration, configured to transmit information list on mobile phones (<NUM>) already registered relative to the dwelling room master device (<NUM>) as a link target in addition to an application for a download, and
the mobile phone (<NUM>) that has downloaded the application is configured to display the information list on a display section (<NUM>) of the mobile phone (<NUM>).