Patent ID: 12219096

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following describes embodiments in detail with reference to the drawings.FIG.1is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary multiple dwelling house interphone system according to the disclosure. The multiple dwelling house interphone system includes a collective entrance machine1, dwelling room master devices2, entrance slave devices3, management master devices4, and the like. The collective entrance machine1is installed at an entrance of a multiple dwelling house and used by a visitor for calling a dweller. The dwelling room master devices2are installed in individual dwelling units and used for responding to the calls from the collective entrance machine1. The entrance slave devices3are installed at entrances of the dwelling units and used for calling the dwellers. The management master devices4are installed in a manager room and used for speaking with the dwellers and the like.

Reference character5denotes a HUB, the devices are mutually connected by a LAN via communication lines L1, and the communication between the devices is performed by an Internet Protocol (IP). A configuration in which the two dwelling room master devices2are installed in each dwelling unit, and the two management master devices4are installed is illustrated. By performing the communication between the devices with the IP, addition of the dwelling room master device2and the like is facilitated.

The collective entrance machine1includes a camera11, an operation section12, a display section13, a microphone14and a speaker15, and the like. The camera11obtains an image of a visitor. The operation section12is used for selecting or inputting a dwelling unit to be called. The display section13displays a calling destination and the like. The microphone14and the speaker15are used for speaking. The operation section12includes a touch panel, and is integrated with the display section13.

The dwelling room master device2includes a speech button21, a monitor22, an operation section23, and the like. The speech button21is used for a response operation to the calling. The monitor22displays a video image taken by the camera11and various information. The operation section23includes a touch panel and is integrated with the monitor22.

The entrance slave device3includes a slave device camera31for obtaining an image of a visitor, a call button32used for calling a dweller, a microphone33and a speaker34used for speaking, and the like.

FIG.2is a block diagram of the management master device4. As illustrated inFIG.2, the management master device4includes a display section41, an operation section42, a speaker43, a handset44, a speech circuit45, a storage section46, a management master device CPU47, a management master device communication IF48, and the like. The display section41displays various information in addition to the video image taken by the camera11. The operation section42includes a touch panel. The speaker43emits a call sound and the like. The handset44is used for speaking. The speech circuit45controls the speaker43and the handset44. The storage section46stores various information including forwarding information. The management master device CPU47controls the management master device4. The management master device communication IF48communicates with the collective entrance machine1and the dwelling room master devices2.

Operations of the interphone system configured as described above are as follows. Note that, because a call from the collective entrance machine1in a normal mode without forwarding to the management master device4and a response operation by the dwelling room master device2or the like are similar to those in the conventional system, the explanations are omitted. Here, a description will be given mainly of the operation in case of a setting in the reception mode in which the calling from the collective entrance machine1is uniformly forwarded to the management master device4. A transfer operation to the reception mode is performed by a predetermined operation of management master device4.

When the reception mode is set, all the calls from the collective entrance machine1are forwarded to the management master device4. The following describes a case of calling dwelling unit101as an example.

While a call signal to the dwelling unit101includes an ID of the dwelling unit101as a calling destination, an ID of the manager room is added and transmitted as an ID of a transmission destination in the reception mode.

The two management master devices4that have received the call signal each perform a calling operation and emit a call sound. A video image of a visitor taken by camera11is displayed on the display section41. Further, the display section41displays that a calling source is the collective entrance machine1and an original calling destination is dwelling unit101. Meanwhile, on the collective entrance machine1as the calling source, the display section13displays that the call is forwarded to the management master device4.

In response to the call, when the handset44of any one of the management master devices4is picked up by a manager, a speech path with the collective entrance machine1is formed. The other management master device4terminates the calling operation in reaction to the response operation of the one management master device4, and returns to a standby state.

The formation of the speech path allows the manager to speak with the visitor while watching the video image of the visitor displayed on the display section41of the management master device4.

Thus, the manager speaks with the visitor and watches the video image of the visitor displayed on the display section41, and confirms that the visitor is a visitor to the dwelling unit101. When a forwarding button42adisposed at the operation section42is operated (touch operation) by the manager, the call signal is re-forwarded to the dwelling room master device2of dwelling unit101. However, when the manager determines the visitor as a suspicious person, the speaking is terminated without operating the forwarding button42a.

When forwarding button42ais operated, the call signal including ID of the collective entrance machine1as the calling source is transmitted to the two dwelling room master devices2of dwelling unit101. In this state, when handset44is returned to the main body, the speech path with the collective entrance machine1is disconnected, and the information on display for the calling destination on the collective entrance machine1changes from the manager room to the dwelling unit101. The video image taken by the camera11is also forwarded by the forwarding operation, and displayed on the monitor22of the dwelling room master device2.

In response to forwarding of the call signal from the management master device4, when the response operation is performed by one of the dwelling room master devices2, a speech path with the collective entrance machine1is formed. Then, the other dwelling room master device2returns to a standby state.

Thus, the dweller performing the response operation can speak with the visitor while watching the video image of the visitor. After the speaking, the speech path is disconnected by a predetermined call ending operation, and the dwelling room master device2returns to a standby state.

As described above, since the call from the collective entrance machine1is uniformly forwarded to the manager room, the primary response can be performed by the manager, thereby allowing improvement of security such as a measure against a suspicious person. Then, since the call is forwarded from the management master device4to the original calling destination by a simple operation of the forwarding button42a,the burden of the manager can be reduced to a minimum without the troublesomeness of inputting the forwarding destination such as a room number.

Additionally, when the response operation is performed by the dwelling room master device2of the re-forwarding destination, since the speech path with the collective entrance machine1is formed without initial connection with the management master device4, the dweller receiving the call can smoothly respond to the call from the visitor.

When the call is forwarded in the reception mode, information on the forwarding destination is displayed on the collective entrance machine1, and subsequently, when the call is re-forwarded to the original calling destination, information on the dwelling unit is displayed. Therefore, the visitor may easily grasp the situation.

Further, since the manager can confirm the visitor through video image even in the forwarded call, it is effective for improving the security. Since the original calling destination is displayed on the management master device4to which the call is forwarded, the manager can obtain the calling destination of the visitor, and easily deal with it.

In the above-described embodiment, when the response operation is performed by the dwelling room master device2receiving the re-forwarding from the management master device4, the speech path between the collective entrance machine1and the dwelling room master device2is formed without forming the speech path with the management master device4. However, the speech path between the management master device4and the dwelling room master device2may be formed at first, and subsequently, the speech path between the collective entrance machine1and the dwelling room master device may be formed by a predetermined operation of the management master device4.

While the operation of selecting the calling destination by the dwelling unit number has been indicated, in case the calling destination is a shop or an office in a multiple dwelling house, it is only necessary to provide a configuration in which a shop name or an office name is selected or input on the collective entrance machine1.