Intercom system

Abstract

To provide an intercom system that can set itself to a sleep mode or cancel the setting of the sleep mode by operation on the side of a wireless master unit.SOLUTION: An intercom system has a slave unit 1 and a master unit 2, the master unit 2 has a portable wireless master unit 31 in addition to a fixedly installed main master unit 21, and the wireless master unit 31 can respond to calls from the slave unit 1 by wirelessly communicating with the main master unit 21. The wireless master unit 31 has a sleep button 33a that shifts the wireless master unit itself into a sleep mode in which no ring tone is emitted even when the slave unit 1 is operated to make a call, and when the sleep button 33a is operated, a sleep setting signal is sent from the wireless master unit 31 to the main master unit 21, and the main master unit 21 that received the sleep setting signal does not relay the call signal sent from the slave unit 1 to the wireless master unit 31 which is a sleep setting signal transmission source, and as a result the wireless master unit 31 enters the sleep mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an intercom system, and more particularly to an intercom system having a plurality of base units for answering calls from visitors. [Background technology]

[0002] An intercom system in which a visitor calls a resident to communicate comprises a handset operated by the visitor and a base unit that the resident responds to when the visitor receives a call from the handset, but conventionally there are systems that have multiple base units to make it easier for the resident to respond. In this case, a configuration is widely adopted that includes a fixed base unit and a wireless base unit that can be carried and answered at the destination. For example, in Patent Document 1, when a call is made from a handset, the call is notified to the base unit and the wireless base unit, and when an answering operation is made from the wireless base unit, a communication path is formed between the handset and the wireless base unit, allowing a call to be made between the visitor and the resident who operates the wireless base unit. There is also an intercom system that uses a mobile phone (mobile terminal) as a wireless base station (see, for example, Patent Document 2). On the other hand, some intercom systems have a silent mode (sleep mode) function that prevents the base unit from ringing even when a call is made to a slave unit (see, for example, Patent Document 3). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-176764 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-174209 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-133899 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As mentioned above, there are intercom systems that have a sleep mode in which no ring tone is emitted even when the handset is operated to call, but in systems that have a wireless base unit as one of the base units, the control to transition the wireless base unit into sleep mode is performed by operating the main base unit. This is because the wireless base unit is powered by a built-in battery and is normally in an energy-saving mode that is activated by a start-up signal from the main base unit. If the wireless base unit is set to sleep mode or other settings that do not accept signals from the main base unit, it is possible that the unit will not be able to be activated by operating the main base unit.

[0005] As such, it is difficult to set / cancel sleep mode by operating the wireless base station, and it is inconvenient when the wireless base station is moved to a location far away from the main base station. In addition, in systems that use mobile devices, even if you can set the mobile device to be usable as a wireless base station, it is difficult to set it to sleep mode. In particular, it is not easy to set mobile devices that use the iOS OS to disable calls.

[0006] In view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide an intercom system that can set / cancel sleep mode by operating the wireless base station, whether it is a dedicated wireless base station or a mobile terminal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the first configuration of the present invention is an intercom system having a handset with a function to call a resident and a base unit with a function to respond to calls from the handset, wherein the base unit has a fixedly installed main base unit as well as a portable wireless base unit, and the wireless base unit can respond to calls from the handset by communicating wirelessly with the main base unit, and the wireless base unit has a sleep button that puts it into a sleep mode in which it does not emit a call sound even when the handset is operated to call, and when the sleep button is operated, a sleep setting signal is sent from the wireless base unit to the main base unit, and the main base unit, which receives the sleep setting signal, does not relay the call signal sent from the handset to the wireless base unit that sent the sleep setting signal, causing the wireless base unit to enter sleep mode. This configuration is convenient because the wireless base unit can be operated to switch itself into sleep mode. In addition, since the wireless base unit sets itself into sleep mode by not relaying call signals to the main base unit, it can continue to receive signals from the main base unit.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the main base unit has a communication means connected to or built in for performing wireless LAN communication, and the wireless base unit is a mobile terminal that performs wireless communication via a public communication network, and the mobile terminal is configured to perform wireless LAN communication with the main base unit and has specified application software installed on it that causes the mobile terminal to perform wireless LAN communication with the main base unit and operate as a wireless base unit, and by performing a specified operation on the mobile terminal on which the specified application software is installed, a sleep setting signal can be sent to the main base unit and the mobile terminal can be set to sleep mode. With this configuration, the master base unit receives a sleep setting signal from the mobile terminal and controls the mobile terminal to transition to sleep mode, eliminating the need for the mobile terminal to perform control to block call signals. This means that the mobile terminal can transition to sleep mode without requiring major changes to the application software installed on it.

[0009] The second configuration of the present invention is an intercom system comprising a handset with the function of calling a resident, a main base unit that is fixedly installed and has the function of responding to calls from the handset, and a mobile terminal that can respond to calls from the handset by communicating with the main base unit as a wireless base unit, wherein the main base unit is connected to or has built-in external communication means that communicates with a communication management server on the cloud via a public communication network, the mobile terminal and the main base unit communicate with each other via the communication management server, and the mobile terminal has specified application software installed on it that allows it to communicate with the main base unit via the public communication network and the communication management server and to operate as a wireless base unit, and when the mobile terminal on which the specified application software is installed is set to sleep, the communication management server recognizes the sleep setting operation, and the communication management server that has recognized the sleep setting operation controls the mobile terminal not to send the handset call signal sent from the main base unit to the mobile terminal, thereby causing the mobile terminal to enter sleep mode. With this configuration, the cloud-based communication management server receives a setting signal from the mobile device and puts the mobile device into sleep mode, eliminating the need for the mobile device to perform control to prevent it from receiving call signals. Therefore, even if the mobile device's communication is based on the iOS standard, it can transition to sleep mode, allowing it to be used effectively as a wireless base station for an intercom. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, the wireless base unit can be conveniently placed into sleep mode by operating it. In addition, the wireless base unit itself sets the sleep mode by not relaying call signals to the main base unit, so that it can continue to receive signals from the main base unit. In addition, because the cloud-based communication management server receives a setting signal from the mobile device and puts the mobile device into sleep mode, the mobile device does not need to perform control to prevent it from receiving call signals. Therefore, even if the mobile device's communication is based on the iOS standard, it can transition to sleep mode, allowing it to be used effectively as a wireless base station for an intercom. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of an intercom system according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the main base unit. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a wireless master unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a monitor display of a mobile terminal. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the intercom system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments embodying the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of an intercom system according to the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the intercom system 10 has a handset 1 installed at the entrance or the like to allow a visitor to call a resident, and a base unit 2 installed in the dwelling unit to respond to the call from the handset 1. However, in this embodiment, the base units 2 are made up of multiple units, each consisting of a fixedly installed main base unit 21, a portable wireless base unit 31, and a mobile terminal 41.

[0013] The slave unit 1 and the main base unit 21 are connected by a transmission line L1, and communication between the main base unit 21 and the wireless base unit 31 is carried out wirelessly. Communication between the main base unit 21 and the mobile terminal 41 is carried out via a wireless LAN router 3 as a communication means.

[0014] The mobile terminal 41 is a terminal equipped with a monitor 42 that displays various information and functions for communicating via a public communication network, and further equipped with an operation unit integrated into the monitor 42, and is typically a smartphone or tablet terminal. In this example, predetermined application software (hereinafter simply referred to as an "app") that enables these devices to be used as wireless base stations is installed on the device, enabling direct communication with the wireless LAN router 3 and causing the device to perform the same operations as the wireless base station 31.

[0015] The slave unit 1 is equipped with a call button 12, a camera 13, a microphone 14, and a speaker 15. When the call button 12 is pressed, a call signal is output and the camera 13 is activated to output a captured image. The output call signal and the captured image of the camera 13 are transmitted to the main base unit 21.

[0016] Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of the main base unit 21. As shown in Fig. 2, the main base unit 21 includes a monitor 22 that displays various information including images captured by the camera 13, an operation unit 23 that performs various operations such as call operations, a call unit 24 equipped with a microphone 24a and a speaker 24b, a main base unit CPU 25 that controls the main base unit 21, a main base unit communication IF 26 that communicates with the handset 1, a wireless communication IF 27 that communicates with the wireless base unit 31, an external communication IF 28 to which the wireless LAN router 3 is connected, and the like. Of the operation unit 23, a call button 23a for answering a call is provided independently on the front surface of the case of the main base unit 21, and the other operation unit 23 is a touch panel that is provided integrally with the monitor 22.

[0017] Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of the wireless base station 31. As shown in Fig. 3, the wireless base station 31 includes a monitor 32 that displays various information including images captured by the camera 13, an operation unit 33 that performs various operations such as call operations, a call unit 34 equipped with a microphone 34a and a speaker 34b, a wireless communication IF 35 that communicates with the main base station 21, a wireless base station CPU 36 that controls the wireless base station 31, and a power supply unit 37 that is composed of a storage battery.

[0018] The intercom system configured as described above operates as follows. First, the operation relating to a call from the slave unit 1 and the response to the call will be described. It is assumed that a predetermined application is installed in the mobile terminal 41. When the call button 12 of the handset 1 is pressed, a call signal is generated and transmitted to the main base unit 21. At the same time, the camera 13 is activated and the captured image is transmitted to the main base unit 21. Upon receiving the call signal and the image signal, the main base unit 21 issues a call tone and simultaneously displays the image captured by the camera 13 on the monitor 22. The main base unit 21 also transmits the call signal and the image signal to the mobile terminal 41 via the wireless base unit 31 and the wireless LAN router 3. In other words, the call signal and the image signal are relayed to the wireless base unit 31 and the mobile terminal.

[0019] The wireless base station 31 and the mobile terminal 41 receive the call signal and video information from the main base station 21 and issue a call tone and display the transmitted video on the monitor 32 of the wireless base station 31 and the monitor 42 of the mobile terminal.

[0020] When any base unit 2 is answered during this call operation, a call path is established between the base unit 2 that was answered and the handset 1, allowing the call to be made while viewing the captured image. When any base unit 2 is answered, the main base unit 21 recognizes this and terminates the call operation of the other base units 2.

[0021] Next, we will explain the sleep mode setting (sleep setting) in which no ring tone is emitted even when a call is made to the handset 1. Each base unit 2 has a setting button for setting itself to sleep mode, but here we will explain the sleep mode setting of the wireless base unit 31 and the mobile terminal 41. The wireless base unit 31 is set by pressing the sleep button 33a in the operation unit 33. When the sleep button 33a is pressed, a sleep setting signal is sent from the wireless base unit 31 to the main base unit 21. Upon receiving this sleep setting signal, the main base unit 21 recognizes that the wireless base unit 31 has been set to sleep mode, and controls so as not to relay a call signal to the wireless base unit 31 that sent the sleep setting signal. In other words, even if the main base unit 21 receives a call signal from the slave unit 1, it does not send the call signal to the wireless base unit 31. In this way, the wireless base unit 31 enters the sleep mode. However, the other base units 2 that are not in the sleep mode continue to receive the call operation from the handset 1 and perform call control. In addition, upon receiving the sleep mode setting, the main base unit 21 does not transmit a video signal together with a call signal.

[0022] Mobile terminal 41 transitions to sleep mode as follows: Figure 4 shows monitor 42 of mobile terminal 41 displaying sleep button 43. With a predetermined operation, sleep button 43 is displayed on monitor 42 as shown in Figure 4, and mobile terminal 41 transitions to sleep mode with this touch operation. When the displayed sleep button 43 is touched, a sleep setting signal is transmitted from the mobile terminal 41 to the main base unit 21 via the wireless LAN router 3. Upon receiving this sleep setting signal, the main base unit 21 performs control not to relay a call signal to the mobile terminal 41 even if the call signal is transmitted from the slave unit 1, in the same manner as the control performed on the wireless base unit 31. As a result, the mobile terminal 41 does not perform call control and enters a sleep mode state.

[0023] The sleep mode state is canceled by operating the sleep cancel button. The sleep button 33a of the wireless base unit 31 also functions as the sleep cancel button, and when sleep mode is set, the sleep button 33a is changed to the sleep cancel button under the control of the wireless base unit CPU 36. When the sleep cancel button is operated, a sleep cancel signal is sent to the main base unit 21, which resumes relaying the call signal and cancels the sleep mode.

[0024] The sleep mode of the portable terminal 41 can be cancelled by displaying a sleep cancel button (not shown) on the monitor 42 through a predetermined operation and touching this button. As with the wireless base unit 31, a sleep cancel signal is sent to the main base unit 21, which then resumes relaying the call signal and cancels the sleep mode.

[0025] In this way, it is convenient to be able to switch itself into sleep mode by operating the wireless base unit 31. Furthermore, since the sleep mode setting by the wireless base unit 31 itself is implemented by not having the main base unit 21 relay the call signal, it can continue to receive signals from the main base unit 21, and the operation of the wireless base unit 31 will not stop. Furthermore, since the master base unit 21 receives a sleep setting signal from the mobile terminal 41 and controls the mobile terminal 41 to transition to sleep mode, there is no need for control to not accept call signals on the mobile terminal 41 side. Therefore, the mobile terminal 41 can transition to sleep mode without making major changes to the app installed on the mobile terminal 41.

[0026] In the above embodiment, the wireless LAN router 3 is connected to the main base unit 21, thereby enabling the mobile terminal 41 to be used as a wireless base unit. However, the function of the wireless LAN router 3 may be built into the main base unit 21. In this case, the mobile terminal 41 can be used as a wireless base unit without connecting a separate device to the main base unit 21.

[0027] Figure 5 shows another embodiment of intercom system 10. It differs from the above embodiment in that mobile terminal 41 communicates with main base unit 21 via a public communication network. In Figure 5, N is a public communication network, for example, the Internet, and 5 is a server (communication management server) located on the cloud (on public communication network N). Mobile terminal 41 is configured to communicate with main base unit 21 via communication management server 5. The communication management server 5 is a server that manages communications of the mobile terminal 41, and is provided to provide security management for the mobile terminal 41 and applications that are applied to the mobile terminal 41, thereby providing functions such as IoT (Internet of Things). In the main base unit 21, an external communication means 4 such as a wireless LAN router for connecting to the public communication network N is connected to the external communication IF 28, enabling communication with the communication management server 5. The external communication means 4 may be built into the main base unit 21.

[0028] On the other hand, a predetermined application is installed in the mobile terminal 41 to communicate with the main base unit 21 via the communication management server 5, operate as a wireless base unit, and further transition to a sleep mode. As a result, when handset 1 is called, a call signal is relayed and transmitted from main base unit 21 to mobile terminal 41 via public communication network N and communication management server 5, and mobile terminal 41 performs a call operation. When mobile terminal 41 answers the call, a call can be made to handset 1 via public communication network N, communication management server 5, and main base unit 21.

[0029] 4, a sleep button 43 is displayed on the monitor 42 by a predetermined operation, and when touched, a sleep setting signal is sent to the communication management server 5. Upon receiving the sleep setting signal, the communication management server 5 performs control so that even if a call signal is sent from the main base unit 21 in response to an operation of the handset 1, the call signal is not sent to the mobile terminal 41. In this way, the mobile terminal 41 is set to sleep mode.

[0030] In this way, upon receiving a control signal from the mobile terminal 41, the communication management server 5 does not send a call signal to the mobile terminal 41, thereby switching the mobile terminal 41 to sleep mode, eliminating the need for the mobile terminal 41 to perform control to not accept call signals. Therefore, even if the communication of the mobile terminal 41 is based on the iOS standard, the mobile terminal 41 can be switched to sleep mode, allowing it to be used effectively as a wireless base unit for an intercom. Furthermore, because the main base unit 21 and the mobile terminal 41 communicate via the public communication network N, it is possible to respond to calls from the handset 1 even when away from home.

[0031] In the above embodiment, the base unit 2 is made up of three units: the main base unit 21, the wireless base unit 31, and the mobile terminal 41. However, the base unit 2 may be made up of the main base unit 21 and the wireless base unit 31, or the main base unit 21 and the mobile terminal. Also, there may be a plurality of wireless base units 31 and a plurality of mobile terminals 41. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 1·· Sub-unit, 2·· Base unit, 3·· Wireless LAN router (communication means), 4·· External communication means, 5·· Communication management server, 10·· Intercom system, 21·· Main base unit, 23·· Operation unit, 28·· External communication IF, 31·· Wireless base unit, 33·· Operation unit, 33a·· Sleep button, 41·· Mobile terminal, 42·· Monitor, 43·· Sleep button

Claims

1. An intercom system having a handset having a function of calling a resident and a base unit having a function of responding to a call from the handset, the base unit having a portable wireless base unit in addition to a fixedly installed main base unit, the wireless base unit being capable of responding to a call from the handset by wirelessly communicating with the main base unit, the wireless base unit has a sleep button for switching itself to a sleep mode in which no call tone is emitted even when the handset is called, When the sleep button is operated, a sleep setting signal is transmitted from the wireless base unit to the main base unit, An intercom system characterized in that the main base unit, upon receiving the sleep setting signal, does not relay the call signal sent from the sub-unit to the wireless base unit that sent the sleep setting signal, thereby causing the wireless base unit to enter the sleep mode.

2. The main base unit has a communication means for performing wireless LAN communication connected thereto or built therein, The wireless base station is a mobile terminal that performs wireless communication via a public communication network, The mobile terminal is configured to have predetermined application software installed thereon that causes the mobile terminal to perform wireless LAN communication with the main base unit and to operate as the wireless base unit, The intercom system of claim 1, characterized in that a sleep setting signal can be sent to the master base unit by a specified operation of the mobile terminal on which the specified application software is installed, thereby setting the mobile terminal to the sleep mode.

3. An intercom system comprising a handset having a function of calling a resident, a fixedly installed master base unit having a function of responding to calls from the handset, and a wireless master base unit which is a portable terminal that can respond to calls from the handset by communicating with the master base unit, The main base unit is connected to or has built-in external communication means for communicating with a communication management server on the cloud via a public communication network, the mobile terminal and the main base unit communicate with each other via the communication management server; The mobile terminal has installed thereon predetermined application software that allows the mobile terminal to communicate with the main base unit via a public communication network and the communication management server and to operate as the wireless base unit; When the mobile terminal on which the predetermined application software is installed is set to sleep mode, the communication management server recognizes the sleep mode setting operation, An intercom system characterized in that the communication management server, upon recognizing the sleep setting operation, controls the mobile terminal so that the call signal sent from the main base unit to the handset is not sent to the mobile terminal, thereby causing the mobile terminal to enter sleep mode.

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