Fire alarm system

Abstract

To provide an inexpensive telephone facility that can perform advanced call control including calling a designated telephone handset by utilizing the transmission function of the transmission line of an R-type fire alarm facility for call control. [Solution] A fire detector with a unique address is connected to a transmission line drawn from the receiver to the security zone, and a telephone line drawn from the receiver connects a telephone base unit installed in the receiver to a telephone handset installed in the security zone. The receiver is equipped with a telephone base unit control unit that controls the call connection of the telephone base unit, and a telephone repeater with a unique address that is connected to the transmission line and the telephone line and controls the call connection of the telephone handset. The telephone handset is remotely connected to the telephone repeater via a voice line, and when the telephone repeater receives a predetermined call control signal via the transmission line from the telephone base unit control unit, it connects the telephone line and the voice line to control the call connection between the telephone base unit and the telephone handset.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fire alarm system that connects a telephone base unit and a telephone handset by using a transmission line that connects a fire detector from a receiver. [Background technology]

[0002] In conventional fire alarm systems known as the R type, a terminal device such as a fire detector with a transmission function is connected to a transmission line drawn from a receiver, and when a fire is detected, for example, based on a fire interrupt from the fire detector, a search command is issued to identify the address of the fire detector that triggered the alarm, the address where the fire occurred is displayed, and fire data is collected and monitored from the identified fire detector.

[0003] In this way, knowing the address of the fire detector that detected the fire makes it possible to provide appropriate evacuation guidance and firefighting activities, making this a function that is essential especially for fire monitoring in large-scale facilities.

[0004] In addition, in fire alarm equipment, a telephone base unit is installed in the receiver as an emergency call device, and a telephone jack installed in the transmitter, etc. is connected to a telephone line drawn from the receiver to the alert area.In the event of a fire or during inspection, when the person in charge connects the telephone handset they are carrying to the telephone jack of the transmitter, etc., a call is made on the receiver, and the person in charge can talk to the telephone handset by off-hooking the telephone base unit.

[0005] In addition, emergency telephone equipment may be installed as an associated facility for fire alarm systems. The emergency telephone equipment consists of an emergency telephone panel with a base unit installed in the same location as the receiver, and telephone and control lines are drawn from the emergency telephone panel to the alert area, where the handset is connected.

[0006] The emergency telephone device of the fire alarm system cannot call a specific telephone handset from the main telephone unit, but the emergency telephone system can call any specific telephone handset by calling a telephone number from the emergency telephone board, and can be used not only in emergencies such as fires, but also for daily telephone communication for maintaining and managing the equipment. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-064709 [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-004451 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-076064 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-068523 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 07-231364 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-138481 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, conventional emergency telephone equipment that can call a specific telephone handset must be installed as part of the fire alarm system, resulting in high installation costs.On the other hand, emergency telephone devices for fire alarm systems that connect a telephone handset to a telephone jack on a telephone line and then connect to a telephone base unit require less installation costs, but are unable to perform advanced call control such as calling a specific telephone handset, and are therefore less convenient than emergency telephone equipment.

[0009] The present invention aims to provide a fire alarm system equipped with an inexpensive emergency telephone device that can perform advanced call control, including calling a designated telephone handset, by utilizing the transmission function of the transmission line used in R-type fire alarm systems for call control. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] (Fire alarm equipment) The present invention provides A transmission line is drawn from the receiver to the alert area and connected to terminal devices including a fire detector with a unique address set; a telephone line that is drawn from the receiver to the security zone together with the transmission line and connects a telephone base unit installed in the receiver to a telephone handset installed in the security zone; A fire alarm system equipped with a telephone base unit control unit provided in the receiver and controlling call connections of the telephone base unit; a telephone repeater that is connected to a transmission line and a telephone line, has a unique address assigned thereto, and controls call connections between telephone handsets; Equipped with The telephone handset is remotely connected to the telephone repeater via a voice line, The telephone repeater is characterized by controlling the call connection between the telephone base unit and the telephone handset by connecting the telephone line and the voice line when it receives a predetermined call control signal from the telephone base unit control unit via a transmission line.

[0011] (Call from the base unit to the handset) When the telephone base unit control unit detects that the telephone base unit is off-hook, the telephone base unit control unit displays a telephone handset call screen on the display unit, and transmits a call command signal to the transmission line, the call command signal specifying the address of the telephone relay unit corresponding to the call operation of a predetermined telephone handset on the telephone handset selection screen; The telephone relay unit initiates a call when it receives a call command signal specifying its own address, and when it detects that the telephone handset is off-hook, it connects the telephone handset to the telephone line and sends a call response command signal to the telephone base unit control unit via the transmission line to connect the telephone base unit to the telephone line, thereby connecting the telephone base unit and the telephone handset via the telephone line.

[0012] (Primary unit line connection tone and ring tone) The telephone base unit control unit outputs a predetermined line connection sound from the telephone base unit when it detects that the telephone base unit is off-hook, and causes the telephone base unit to output a predetermined ring sound from the time when the call command signal is transmitted until the time when the incoming call response command signal is received.

[0013] (The base unit's busy tone when the handset calls) When the telephone base unit control unit receives a call command signal from the telephone relay unit while a call is connected to another telephone handset, it transmits a call-in-progress command signal specifying the address of the telephone relay unit via the transmission line, causing the telephone handset to output a predetermined call-in-progress tone.

[0014] (Call from handset to base unit) When the telephone relay unit detects that the telephone handset is off-hook, the telephone relay unit transmits a call command signal including its own address to the receiver via the transmission line; When the telephone base unit control unit receives a call command signal, it displays information identifying the called handset on a screen based on the address of the telephone relay unit contained in the call command signal and makes a call, and when it detects that the telephone base unit is off-hook, it connects the telephone base unit to the telephone line and sends a call response command signal specifying the address of the telephone relay unit over the transmission line, causing the telephone relay unit to connect the telephone handset to the telephone line and establishing a call connection between the telephone handset and the telephone base unit over the telephone line.

[0015] (Telephone handset line connection tone and ring tone) The telephone relay unit outputs a predetermined line connection sound from the telephone handset when it detects that the telephone handset is off-hook, and causes the telephone handset to output a predetermined ring sound from the time when the call command signal is transmitted until the time when the call response command signal is received.

[0016] (Switching to a call from another handset during a call connection) When the telephone base unit control unit receives a call command signal from the telephone relay unit of another telephone handset during a call connection between the telephone base unit and one telephone handset, it notifies the other telephone handset of the call call, and when the call connection of the other telephone handset is selected, it sends a call response command signal specifying the address of the telephone relay unit of the other telephone handset to connect the other telephone handset to the telephone line, and also sends a hold command signal specifying the address of the telephone relay unit of one telephone handset to disconnect the first telephone from the telephone line and output a predetermined hold tone.

[0017] (3-way call) When the telephone base unit control unit receives a call command signal from the telephone relay unit of another telephone handset during a call connection between the telephone base unit and one telephone handset, it notifies the other telephone handset of the call call, and when a three-way call is selected, it sends a three-way call command signal to the telephone relay unit of the other telephone handset to connect the other telephone handset to the telephone line and notifies the other telephone handset of the three-way call by voice, and sends a three-way call command signal to the telephone relay unit of the first telephone handset to notify the other telephone handset of the three-way call by voice.

[0018] (Telephone Relay Department) The telephone relay unit is connected to or integrated with the telephone handset, records a predetermined hold tone, and outputs the hold tone to the telephone handset when the telephone handset is placed on hold. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] (Basic effect) The present invention is a fire alarm system comprising a transmission line extended from a receiver into a security zone and connected to terminal equipment including a fire detector with a unique address set, and a telephone line extended from the receiver into the security zone together with the transmission line and connecting a telephone base unit installed in the receiver with a telephone handset installed in the security zone, the system comprising a telephone base unit control unit provided in the receiver and controlling the call connection of the telephone base unit, and a telephone repeater unit connected to the transmission line and the telephone line, set with a unique address, and controlling the call connection of the telephone handset, the telephone handset being remotely connected to the telephone repeater via a voice line, and when the telephone repeater receives a predetermined call control signal from the telephone base unit control unit via the transmission line, it connects the telephone line and the voice line to control the call connection between the telephone base unit and the telephone handset, so that by utilizing the transmission function of the transmission line used in R-type fire alarm systems for call control, advanced call control, including calls specifying telephone handsets, can be achieved simply and at low cost.

[0020] (Effect of calling from the base unit to the handset) Furthermore, when the telephone base unit control unit detects that the telephone base unit is off-hook, it displays a telephone handset call screen on the display unit, and transmits a call command signal to the transmission line, specifying the address of the telephone relay unit corresponding to the call operation of a predetermined telephone handset on the telephone handset selection screen; When the telephone relay unit receives a call command signal specifying its own address, it makes a call, and when it detects that the telephone handset is off-hook, it connects the telephone handset to the telephone line and sends a call response command signal to the telephone base unit control unit via the transmission line to connect the telephone base unit to the telephone line, and the telephone base unit and telephone handset are connected for call via the telephone line.Therefore, when the telephone base unit is off-hook and a telephone handset is selected for call, a call command signal is sent from the telephone base unit control unit of the receiver to the telephone relay unit using the transmission line used for fire monitoring, making it easy to call the telephone handset from the telephone base unit side.Since the call connection between the telephone base unit and the telephone handset uses the telephone line of the fire alarm equipment as is, call control equivalent to that of conventional emergency telephone equipment can be achieved at low cost with a simple equipment configuration.

[0021] (Effect of line connection sound and ring tone from the telephone base unit) Furthermore, when the telephone base unit control unit detects that the telephone base unit is off-hook, it outputs a predetermined line connection sound from the telephone base unit, and outputs a predetermined ring sound from the time the call command signal is sent until the time the incoming call response command signal is received. Therefore, when making a call from the telephone base unit to a telephone handset, it is possible to easily realize a call equivalent to that made with ordinary internal telephone equipment or public telephone equipment, providing high convenience.

[0022] (Effect of the busy tone on the base unit when the handset is ringing) Furthermore, when the telephone base unit control unit receives a call command signal from the telephone relay unit while a call is connected with another telephone handset, it transmits a call-in-progress command signal specifying the address of the telephone relay unit via the transmission line, causing the telephone handset to output a predetermined call-in-progress sound. Therefore, if another telephone handset is taken off-hook while a call is being made between the telephone base unit and the telephone handset, a call-in-progress sound is output, ensuring that the telephone base unit is in a call.

[0023] (Effect of calling from a handset to a base unit) In addition, when the telephone relay unit detects that the handset has gone off-hook, it sends a call command signal including its own address to the receiver via the transmission line. When the telephone base unit control unit receives the call command signal, it displays information identifying the handset to be called on the screen based on the address of the telephone relay unit included in the call command signal and makes a call. When it detects that the handset has gone off-hook, it connects the handset to the telephone line and sends a call response command signal specifying the address of the telephone relay unit via the transmission line. This causes the telephone relay unit to connect the handset to the telephone line, and a call connection is made between the handset and the telephone base unit via the telephone line. Therefore, when the handset goes off-hook, the telephone relay unit sends a call command signal to the telephone base unit control unit of the receiver using the transmission line used for fire monitoring, making it easy to call the telephone base unit from the handset. The call connection between the handset and the telephone base unit uses the telephone line of the fire alarm equipment as is, so that call control equivalent to that of conventional emergency telephone equipment can be achieved at low cost with a simple equipment configuration.

[0024] (Effects of telephone handset line connection sound and ring tone) Furthermore, when the telephone relay unit detects that the telephone handset is off-hook, it outputs a predetermined line connection sound from the telephone handset, and outputs a predetermined ring sound from the time the call command signal is sent until the time the call response command signal is received. Therefore, when a call is made from a telephone handset to a telephone base unit, a call equivalent to that made with a normal internal telephone facility or public telephone facility can be easily realized, providing high convenience.

[0025] (Effect of switching on calls to other handsets during a call) Furthermore, when the telephone base unit control unit receives a call command signal from the telephone relay unit of another telephone handset during a call connection between the telephone base unit and one telephone handset, it notifies the other telephone handset of the call call, and when the call connection of the other telephone handset is selected, it sends a call response command signal specifying the address of the telephone relay unit of the other telephone handset to connect the other telephone handset to the telephone line, and it also sends a hold command signal specifying the address of the telephone relay unit of one telephone handset to disconnect the first telephone from the telephone line and output a predetermined hold tone. Therefore, when a call from another telephone handset is received during a call between the telephone base unit and a telephone handset, this is displayed on the receiver screen so that it can be selected, and when an operation is performed to select the call from the other telephone handset, the call with the telephone handset that was in progress up until then is disconnected, a hold tone is output, and the call connection with the other telephone handset is switched over, and when call calls from multiple telephone handsets overlap, the receiver can select the call from the required telephone handset to make the call.

[0026] (Effect of three-way calling) In addition, if the telephone base unit control unit receives a call command signal from the telephone relay unit of another telephone handset while a call is connected between the telephone base unit and one telephone handset, it will notify the other telephone handset of the call call, and if a three-way call is selected, it will send a three-way call command signal to the telephone relay unit of the other telephone handset to connect the other telephone handset to the telephone line and provide a voice notification of the three-way call, and it will send a three-way call command signal to the telephone relay unit of one telephone handset to provide a voice notification of the three-way call, so that a three-way call can be made between the receiver's telephone base unit and two telephone handsets installed in the alert area, and call communication can be made more efficiently in the event of a fire or during maintenance and inspection.

[0027] (Effect of telephone relay section) The telephone relay unit is connected to or integrated with the telephone handset, records a predetermined hold tone, and outputs the hold tone to the telephone handset when the telephone handset is placed on hold.Since the hold tone is stored in the relay unit itself, there is no need to send an acoustic signal for the hold tone from an external source.For example, even if the telephone base unit is in a call with another telephone handset, the hold tone can be played without a signal from the telephone base unit.In addition, a relay unit connected to or integrated with the telephone handset of a fire alarm system can be easily realized. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a fire alarm system having a call control function. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the telephone repeater of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of telephone circuitry provided in the receiver of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] A time chart showing call control in which a telephone base unit calls a designated telephone handset. [Figure 5] Time chart showing call control with the base unit when the handset is off-hook [Figure 6] A time chart showing call control when a handset goes off-hook while the base unit is in a call with another handset [Figure 7] A time chart showing call control when a call is received from another handset during a call between the base unit and the handset and the call is switched over. [Figure 8] Time chart showing call control for three-way calls between a base unit and two handsets DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] [Fire alarm system] (Outline of fire alarm system with call control function) Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an overview of a fire alarm system equipped with a call control function. As shown in Figure 1, an R-type receiver 10 is installed in a caretaker's room on the first floor of a building where the fire alarm system is installed, and transmission lines 12a and 12b and telephone lines 16a and 16b are drawn out from the receiver 10 to the alert area.

[0030] A plurality of fire detectors 14, each having a transmission function and assigned unique addresses, are connected to the transmission lines 12a and 12b. A plurality of telephone repeaters 18, each equipped with a telephone handset 20, are connected to the transmission lines 12a and 12b and the telephone lines 16a and 16b. Each telephone repeater 18 is assigned a unique address and has a transmission function and a call control function. The telephone repeater 18 functions as a telephone repeating unit. The receiver 10 is also provided with a telephone base unit 28 corresponding to the telephone handset 20. The telephone lines 16a and 16b ensure the transmission quality of audio signals in the audio frequency band of 300 to 3400 Hz, which is an audible band.

[0031] Here, the maximum number of addresses that can be set for the fire detectors 14 and telephone repeaters 18 connected to the transmission lines 12a and 12b is, for example, 255, and a maximum of 255 terminal devices including fire detectors 14 and telephone repeaters 18 can be connected to the transmission lines 12a and 12b.

[0032] (Receiver functional configuration) The receiver 10 comprises a reception control unit 22, a transmission unit 24, a telephone circuit unit 26, a telephone base unit 28, a display 30 with a touch panel, a display unit 32, an operation unit 34, an alarm unit 36 ​​with a speaker, and a notification unit 38.

[0033] The reception control unit 22 is a computer circuit or the like equipped with a CPU, memory, various input / output ports, etc. The transmission unit 24 transmits and receives signals to and from the fire detector 14 or telephone repeater 18 connected to the transmission lines 12a, 12b in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol.

[0034] Downstream signals from the transmitter 24 to the fire detector 14 or telephone repeater 18 are transmitted in voltage mode. These voltage mode signals are transmitted as voltage pulses that change the line voltage of the transmission lines 12a and 12b between, for example, 18 volts and 30 volts.

[0035] In contrast, the upstream signal from the fire detector 14 or telephone repeater 18 to the receiver 10 is transmitted in current mode. In this current mode, a signal current is passed through the transmission lines 12a and 12b at the timing of bit 1 of the transmission data, and the upstream signal is transmitted to the receiver as a so-called current pulse train.

[0036] (Fire Surveillance Control Unit) The reception control unit 22 of the receiver 10 is provided with the function of a fire monitoring control unit 40 as a function realized by the execution of a program by the CPU.

[0037] During normal monitoring, the fire monitoring control unit 40 periodically instructs the transmission unit 24 to transmit a broadcast batch AD conversion signal containing a batch AD conversion command, and the fire detectors 14 that receive this batch AD conversion signal detect and store the smoke density or temperature as sensor data. Subsequently, the fire monitoring control unit 32 transmits a call signal containing a polling command that sequentially specifies the terminal addresses.

[0038] When the fire detector 14 receives a call signal with an address that matches its own address, it transmits a response signal including the sensor data it is holding at that time to the receiver 10. In addition, when the fire detector 14 detects a fire, it transmits a fire interrupt signal to the receiver 10.

[0039] When the fire monitoring control unit 40 receives a fire interrupt signal via the transmission unit 24, it sends a group search command signal to identify the group that includes the fire detector 14 that has detected the fire, then sends an intra-group search command signal to identify the address of the fire detector 14 that has detected the fire, outputs a fire alarm and displays the address where the fire occurred, and then controls the collection and monitoring of fire data from the identified fire detector.

[0040] (Telephone base unit control unit) The reception control unit 22 of the receiver 10 is provided with the function of a telephone base unit control unit 42 as a function realized by the execution of a program by the CPU.

[0041] The telephone base unit control unit 42 instructs the transmission unit 24 to send and receive command signals necessary for various call controls between the telephone repeater 18 via the transmission lines 12a and 12b, and controls call connection and call cut (call disconnection) between the telephone base unit 28 and the telephone handset 20 via the telephone lines 16a and 16b.

[0042] The call control by the telephone base unit control unit 42 of this embodiment includes the following. (1) Call control by calling a designated telephone handset. (2) Call control by calling from a telephone handset. (3) Call switching control when a call is made from another telephone handset while a call is being made with another telephone handset. (4) Three-way call control using a telephone base unit and two telephone handsets.

[0043] In these call controls, command signals such as a call command signal, an incoming call response command signal, a hold command signal, and a busy command signal are used. The call command signal is a signal that requests a call from the handset. The incoming call response command signal is a signal that is transmitted when the handset goes off-hook upon receiving a call command signal. The hold command signal is a signal that instructs the handset to output a hold tone. The busy command signal is a signal that instructs the handset to output a busy tone. Details of communication control using such command signals will be made clear later.

[0044] [Configuration of telephone repeater] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the telephone repeater of Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the circuit section of the telephone repeater 18 is provided with a telephone handset control unit 48 and a transmission unit 50 as the circuit section on the transmission lines 12a and 12b side, and is provided with a connection switching unit 52, a control sound generating unit 54, a pair of switch circuits 56, a transformer 58, a hook switch 60, and a speaker 61 as the circuit section on the telephone lines 16a and 16b side, and the telephone handset 20 is provided with a receiver 44 and a transmitter 46.

[0045] The telephone handset control unit 48 is configured by a computer circuit or the like having a CPU, memory, various input / output ports, etc., and the functions of the telephone handset control unit 48 are realized by the CPU executing a program.

[0046] The telephone handset control unit 48 of this embodiment controls the following calls. (1) Call control by calling the telephone base unit. (2) Call control by calling from the telephone base unit. (3) Call switching control by calling the base unit while in a call with another handset. (4) Three-way call control using a telephone base unit and two telephone handsets.

[0047] In these call controls, command signals such as a call command signal, an incoming call response command signal, a hold command signal, and a busy command signal are used, and the details of the call control will be made clear later.

[0048] The transmitter 50 transmits and receives various command signals required for call control via the transmission lines 12a and 12b to and from the transmitter 24 of the receiver 10 shown in Fig. 1 in accordance with the same communication protocol as in the case of fire monitoring. In addition, the transmitter 50 receives downstream signals from the receiver 10 in voltage mode, and transmits upstream signals to the receiver 10 in current mode.

[0049] The connection switching unit 52 operates in response to instructions from the telephone handset control unit 48 to turn on and off the switch circuit unit 56, which uses relay contacts, semiconductor switch elements, etc., thereby connecting and disconnecting the telephone handset 20 to the telephone lines 16a, 16b.

[0050] The control sound generating unit 54 operates in response to instructions from the telephone handset control unit 48, and generates acoustic signals such as a predetermined line connection sound, a ring tone for the telephone base unit, a hold sound, a busy sound, etc., and outputs them to the handset 44 of the telephone handset 20. It also generates an acoustic signal for a ring tone in response to a call from the telephone base unit and outputs it to the speaker 61.

[0051] The transformer 58 has a primary winding connected to the telephone lines 16a and 16b and a secondary winding connected to the receiver 44, and extracts and amplifies only the AC audio signals from the telephone lines 16a and 16b, on which a predetermined DC voltage is superimposed, to the receiver 44, while also preventing feedback. The transmitter 46 of the telephone handset 20 is connected to the telephone lines 16a and 16b.

[0052] The hook switch 60 detects whether the handset 20 is off-hook or on-hook, and outputs an off-hook detection signal or an on-hook detection signal to the handset control unit 48 .

[0053] The telephone circuit on the telephone lines 16a and 16b side in Figure 2 shows a basic analog telephone circuit, but is not limited to this and may be provided with an audio amplifier as needed, and may also be a digital telephone circuit that receives a digital audio signal, performs DA conversion and outputs it to the receiver 44, and performs AD conversion and transmits the audio signal from the transmitter 46.

[0054] [Configuration of the receiver's telephone circuit section] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the telephone circuit section provided in the receiver of Figure 1. As shown in Figure 3, the telephone circuit section 26 is provided with a connection switching section 62, a control tone generating section 64, a pair of switch circuits 66, a transformer 68, and a hook switch 70, and the telephone base unit 28 is provided with a receiver 72 and a transmitter 74. A telephone line voltage Vt of, for example, DC 48 V is applied from the telephone circuit section 26 between the telephone lines 16a and 16b.

[0055] The connection switching unit 62 operates in response to instructions from the telephone base unit control unit 42 in FIG. 1 to turn on and off the switch circuit unit 66, thereby connecting and disconnecting the telephone base unit 28 to and from the telephone lines 16a and 16b.

[0056] The control sound generating unit 64 operates in response to instructions from the telephone base unit control unit 42, and generates acoustic signals such as a predetermined line connection sound, a ring tone indicating a call to a telephone handset, a hold sound, a busy sound, etc., and outputs them to the handset 72 of the telephone base unit 28. It also generates an acoustic signal of a ring tone in response to a call from a telephone handset, and outputs it to a speaker provided in the alarm unit 36, for example.

[0057] The transformer 68 has its primary winding connected to the telephone lines 16a and 16b and its secondary winding connected to a receiver 72. Only the AC audio signals from the telephone lines 16a and 16b, on which a predetermined telephone line voltage Vt is superimposed, are picked up by the receiver 72 and amplified, and furthermore, howling is prevented. A transmitter 74 of the telephone base unit 28 is connected to the telephone lines 16a and 16b.

[0058] The hook switch 70 detects whether the base unit 28 is off-hook or on-hook, and outputs an off-hook detection signal or an on-hook detection signal to the base unit control unit 42 .

[0059] The telephone circuit on the telephone lines 16a and 16b in Figure 3 shows a basic analog telephone circuit, similar to the telephone repeater 18 in Figure 2, but is not limited to this and may be provided with an audio amplifier as needed, or may even be a digital telephone circuit.

[0060] [Call control between the telephone base unit and the telephone handset] (Designated call to a handset by the base unit) FIG. 4 is a time chart showing call control in which the telephone base unit calls a specific telephone handset, and the control operation is performed by the telephone base unit control unit 42 of the receiver 10 shown in FIG. 1 and the telephone handset control unit 48 of the telephone repeater 18 shown in FIG. 2.

[0061] When the person in charge picks up the telephone base unit 28 to contact another person in the security zone, an off-hook detection signal is output from the hook switch 60, and as shown in Figure 4, the telephone base unit control unit 42 determines in step S1 that the telephone base unit 28 is off-hook and proceeds to step S2, where it displays a handset call screen on the display 30 and simultaneously instructs the control sound generation unit 64 to output a line connection sound, which is a continuous sound such as "ts-", from the handset 72 of the telephone base unit 28.

[0062] In step S2, the handset call screen displayed on display 30 displays key buttons arranged as 0, 1-9, #, and *, and when a handset call operation is performed by touching the telephone number of the telephone handset to be called, telephone base unit control unit 42 recognizes the handset call operation in step S3 and proceeds to step S4, instructing transmission unit 24 to transmit a call command signal specifying the repeater address corresponding to the called telephone number to transmission lines 12a and 12b. At this time, a ring tone is output from telephone base unit 28 to the telephone handset.

[0063] When the telephone handset control unit 48 of the telephone repeater 18 receives a call command signal specifying its own address from the transmission unit 50 via the transmission lines 12a, 12b, in step S5 it instructs the control sound generation unit 54 to make a call by outputting a ring tone from the speaker 61.

[0064] When the person in charge at the site picks up the telephone handset 20 in response to this call, an off-hook state is determined in step S6 by an off-hook detection signal from the hook switch 60, and in step S7 the transmission unit 50 is instructed to send a call response command signal including the receiver's own address to the receiver 10 via the transmission lines 12a and 12b. Subsequently, in step S9 the connection switching unit 52 is instructed to turn on the switch circuit unit 56, and a call connection is made in which the telephone circuit unit on the telephone handset 20 side is connected to the telephone lines 16a and 16b.

[0065] When the telephone base unit control unit 42 of the receiver 10 receives the incoming call response command signal sent from the telephone repeater 18 in step S7, it stops outputting the ring tone to the telephone handset 20, and in step S9 instructs the connection switching unit 62 to turn on the switch circuit unit 66, thereby making a call connection that connects the telephone circuit unit 26 of the telephone base unit 28 to the telephone lines 16a and 16b.

[0066] As a result, the base unit 28 and the called handset 20 are connected to the telephone lines 16a and 16b, and the call can be carried out. When the call ends, the base unit 28 and the handset 20 are returned, and the on-hook state is determined in step S11 or S12, and the call is cut off in step S11 or S13 to disconnect from the telephone lines 16a and 16b, and the call ends.

[0067] (Calling the base unit by a handset) Fig. 5 is a time chart showing call control for calling the base unit from the handset. When a person in the security zone picks up handset 20 to contact receiver 10, an off-hook detection signal is output from hook switch 60. As shown in Fig. 5, handset control unit 48 determines in step S21 that handset 20 is off-hook, proceeds to step S22, and instructs control sound generation unit 54 to output a line connection sound, which is a continuous sound such as "tsu-", from receiver 44 of handset 20.

[0068] Next, in step S23, the telephone handset control unit 48 instructs the transmission unit 50 to transmit a call command signal including its own address to the receiver 10 via the transmission lines 12a and 12b. At this time, a ring tone for the telephone base unit 28 is output from the telephone handset 20.

[0069] When the telephone base unit control unit 42 of the receiver 10 receives a call command signal including the repeater address from the transmission unit 50 via the transmission lines 12a, 12b, it instructs the alarm unit 36 ​​to output a ring tone from the speaker in step S24 to make a call, and then proceeds to step S25 to display a handset call screen on the display 30 to display the telephone number of the handset being called, etc.

[0070] When the person in charge picks up the telephone base unit 28 installed on the receiver 10 upon receiving the ring tone in step S24, the telephone base unit control unit 42 determines in step S26 that the telephone base unit 28 is off-hook, instructs the transmission unit 24 in step S27 to send a call response command signal specifying the address of the repeater that made the call to the transmission lines 12a, 12b, and in step S28 instructs the connection switching unit 62 to turn on the switch circuit unit 66, thereby connecting the telephone base unit 28 to the telephone lines 16a, 16b for communication.

[0071] On the other hand, when the telephone handset control unit 48 receives the call response command signal specifying its own address transmitted from the receiver 10 in step S27, it stops the ring tone to the telephone base unit 28 and proceeds to step S29, where it instructs the connection switching unit 52 to turn on the switch circuit unit 56, thereby connecting the telephone handset 20 to the telephone lines 16a, 16b for communication.

[0072] As a result, the telephone handset 20 and the called telephone base unit 28 are connected to the telephone lines 16a, 16b, and the call can be carried out. When the call ends, the telephone handset 20 and the telephone base unit 28 are returned, and the on-hook state is determined in step S30 or S32, and the call is cut off to disconnect from the telephone lines 16a, 16b in step S31 or S33, and the call connection is terminated.

[0073] (Calling a handset while the base unit is busy) FIG. 6 is a time chart showing call control when a handset goes off-hook while the base unit is talking to another handset.

[0074] During a call from the telephone base unit shown in Figure 4 or a call from the telephone handset shown in Figure 5, as shown in Figure 6, the telephone handset control unit 48 of another telephone repeater 18 determines in step S41 that the telephone handset 20 is off-hook, outputs a line connection sound from the telephone handset 20 in step S42, and then sends a call command signal including its own address to the receiver 10 via the transmission lines 12a and 12b in step S43, causing a ring tone to be output from the speaker of the alarm unit 36.

[0075] In this case, the telephone base unit control unit 42 of the receiver 10 receives the call command signal sent from the telephone repeater 18 in step S43, but determines in step S44 that a call is currently being made with another telephone handset, and in step S45 displays a new handset call on the handset call screen on the display 30, and then in step S46 sends a call-in-progress command signal specifying the address of the telephone repeater 18 that sent the call command signal to the transmission lines 12a, 12b.

[0076] When the telephone handset control unit 48 of the telephone repeater 18 receives a call-in-progress command signal specifying its own address via the transmission lines 12a, 12b, in step S47 it instructs the control sound generation unit 54 to output a predetermined call-in-progress sound from the handset 44 of the telephone handset 20.

[0077] Therefore, the person who picked up the telephone handset 20 realizes that the telephone base unit 28 is busy and returns the telephone handset 20 to its original position, and the telephone handset control unit 48 determines that the telephone handset 20 is on-hook in step S48 and terminates the call connection.

[0078] (Call switching due to a call from another handset during a call between the base unit and handset) 7 is a time chart showing call control when a call is received from another handset during a call between the base unit and the handset, and the call is switched over. Here, the telephone repeater 18 that made the first call is called telephone repeater 18-1, the telephone repeater 18 that made the second call is called telephone repeater 18-2, the telephone handset control units 48 provided in each are called telephone handset control units 48-1 and 48-2, and the telephone handsets 20 are called telephone handsets 20-1 and 20-2.

[0079] As shown in Fig. 7, in response to a call from the telephone handset control unit 48-1 of the telephone repeater 18-1, a call connection is made between the telephone base unit 28 and the telephone handset 20-1 through call control between the telephone base unit control unit 42 of the receiver 10. In this case, the call control of steps S51 to S59 is the same as steps S21 to S29 in Fig. 5, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0080] Next, when the telephone handset control unit 48-2 of another telephone repeater 18-2 determines in step S60 that the telephone handset 20-2 is off-hook, a line connection sound is output from the telephone handset 20-2, and then in step S61, the telephone base unit 28 transmits a call command signal including its own address to the receiver 10 that is currently in a call via the transmission lines 12a and 12b.

[0081] When the telephone base unit control unit 42 of the receiver 10 receives the call command signal transmitted from the telephone repeater 18-2, in step S62, it displays the call to the telephone handset 20-2 on the display 30 and also outputs a predetermined warning sound from the speaker of the alarm unit 36.

[0082] As a result, when the person in charge of the call realizes that there is a call from another telephone handset 20-2 and performs a selection operation, the telephone base unit control unit 42 recognizes the selection operation of the other telephone handset 20-2 in step S63 and proceeds to step S64, sending an incoming call response command signal specifying the address of the telephone repeater 18-2 to the transmission lines 12a, 12b, which is received by the telephone repeater 18-2, and the telephone handset control unit 48-2 connects the telephone handset 20-2 to the telephone lines 16a, 16b in step S65.

[0083] In addition, in step S66, the telephone base unit control unit 42 transmits a hold command signal specifying the address of the telephone repeater 18-1 of the telephone handset 20-1 that was in the call up until then to the transmission lines 12a, 12b. This is received by the telephone repeater 18-1, and in step S67 the telephone handset control unit 48-1 disconnects the call by disconnecting the telephone handset 20-1 from the telephone lines 16a, 16b, and also causes the telephone handset 20-1 to output a predetermined hold tone.

[0084] Thereafter, when the call between the base unit 28 and the handset 20-2 ends and the handset control unit 48-2 determines that the handset is on-hook in step S68, the process proceeds to step S69, where a call end command signal including its own address is sent to the transmission lines 12a and 12b.

[0085] When the telephone base unit control unit 42 determines that it has received a call end command signal from the telephone repeater 18-2, it sends a hold release command signal specifying the address of the telephone repeater 18-1 that is on hold to the transmission lines 12a, 12b in step S70.When the telephone handset control unit 48-1 receives the hold release command signal specifying its own address, it stops the output of the hold tone from the telephone handset 20-1 in step S71, reconnects the telephone handset 20-1 to the telephone lines 16a, 16b, and resumes the call with the telephone base unit 28.

[0086] (3-way call) Figure 8 is a time chart showing call control for a three-way call using a telephone base unit and two telephone handsets. As in Figure 7, the two telephone repeaters 18, telephone handsets 20, and telephone handset control unit 48 that make up the three-way call are telephone repeaters 18-1 and 18-2, telephone handsets 20-1 and 20-2, and telephone handset control units 48-1 and 48-2, respectively.

[0087] In the three-way call shown in FIG. 8, the control of steps S81 to S92 is the same as steps S51 to S62 shown in FIG. 7, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0088] In the three-way call of Figure 8, when a call is connected between the telephone base unit 28 and the telephone handset 20-1, if a call command signal is sent from the telephone repeater 18-2 of another telephone handset 20-2 and a call to the telephone handset 20-2 is displayed on the display 30 in step S92, a three-way call selection button is displayed on the display screen, allowing the user to select the three-way call.

[0089] Therefore, when the telephone base unit control unit 42 recognizes the selection operation for three-way calling in step S93, the process proceeds to step S94, where a call command signal specifying the address of the telephone repeater 18-2 that sent the call command signal is sent to the transmission lines 12a and 12b, and the telephone handset control unit 48-2 that receives this signal connects the telephone handset 20-2 to the telephone lines 16a and 16b in step S95.

[0090] Next, in step S96, the telephone base unit control unit 42 sequentially transmits three-way call command signals specifying the addresses of the telephone repeaters 18-1 and 18-2 to the transmission lines 12a and 12b, and the telephone handset control units 48-1 and 48-2 receiving these signals output predetermined alarm sounds from the telephone handsets 20-1 and 20-2 in steps S97 and S98 to notify the start of the three-way call.As a result, the three-way call shown in step S99 of the telephone base unit control unit 42 and steps S100 and S101 of the telephone handset control units 48-1 and 48-2 is established by connecting the telephone base unit 28 and the telephone handsets 20-1 and 20-2 to the telephone lines 16a and 16b.

[0091] Here, by connecting the telephone base unit 28 and multiple telephone handsets 20 to the telephone lines 16a and 16b, it is possible to realize four-way or five-way calls, etc. However, as the number of telephones connected to the telephone lines 16a and 16b increases, the level of the audio signals transmitted by the telephone lines 16a and 16b decreases, deteriorating the quality of the call. Therefore, three-way calls, in which three telephones, each connected to two telephone handsets in addition to the telephone base unit 28, which causes less deterioration in audio level, are connected to the telephone lines 16a and 16b, are considered optimal.

[0092] [Modifications of the present invention] (Calls between telephone handsets) The above embodiment takes as an example call control between the receiver's telephone base unit and a telephone handset installed in a security area, but is not limited to this. By providing an operation display unit in the telephone repeater that inputs information identifying the telephone handset, such as a telephone number or address, and makes a call, it is possible to make a call between telephone handsets by making a call from one telephone handset to another telephone handset.

[0093] (Hands-free calling function) The above embodiment takes as an example a call between a telephone base unit and a telephone handset, but is not limited to this. In addition to the telephone base unit of the receiver and the telephone handset of the telephone repeater, a microphone and speaker may be installed on a panel surface near the telephone, and a hands-free call function may be provided in which the telephone can be switched to a microphone and speaker by operating a specified switch, allowing calls to be made without using the telephone.

[0094] (P-type receiver) The above embodiment takes as an example a fire alarm system in which an R-type fire detector is connected via a transmission line from an R-type receiver, but similar communication control can also be achieved in a fire alarm system in which an addressable fire detector with a transmission function is connected and an address is set on the detector line drawn from a P-type receiver, by sending and receiving various command signals using the detector line.

[0095] (others) The sound signals such as the ring tone, hold tone, and busy tone generated by the control sound generation unit 54 on the handset side are preferably electronic sounds or music in terms of cost, but may also be voice messages.Similarly, the sound signals generated by the control sound generation unit 64 on the base unit side may take various forms.

[0096] Although the telephone repeater is a repeater separate from the telephone handset, it may be integrated with the telephone handset. It may also be a repeater with telephone functionality, and may be equipped with a telephone jack so that when the telephone handset is connected to the telephone jack, it performs the same operation as an off-hook call. An addressable transmitter, which is a transmitter with an address, may be used as a repeater with telephone functionality. Conventional addressable transmitters have addresses on the transmission path and telephone jacks, but they do not link with each other. However, by incorporating the repeater function of the present application, they can link and can be included as targets for call designation from the receiver.

[0097] Conventionally, P-type transmitters are configured to be able to make calls with a telephone base unit via jack-in, but it is also possible to make three-way calls including from the P-type transmitter, similar to three-way calls between a telephone base unit and a telephone handset.

[0098] The telephone handset may be configured to stop the operation of a local bell within a predetermined range while a call is being made, thereby preventing the voice from becoming difficult to hear during a call.

[0099] The repeater is equipped with indicator lights, which indicate, for example, whether a call is in progress, on hold, or ringing.

[0100] Furthermore, the present invention includes appropriate modifications that do not impair the objects and advantages thereof, and is not limited to the numerical values ​​shown in the above embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0101] 10: Receiver 12: Transmission line 14:Fire detector 16a, 16b: Telephone line 18: Telephone repeater 20: Telephone handset 22: Reception control section 24,50:Transmission section 26:Telephone circuit section 28: Telephone base station 30: Display 40: Fire monitoring control unit 42: Telephone base unit control unit 44,72: Receiver 46,74:Telephone 48: Telephone handset control unit 52, 62: Connection switching section 54, 64: Control sound generation section 56, 66: Switch circuit section 58,68:Trans 60,70: Hook switch 61: Speaker

Claims

[Claim 1] A transmission line is drawn from the receiver to the alert area and connected to terminal devices including a fire detector with a unique address set; a telephone line drawn from the receiver to the security zone and connecting a telephone base unit provided in the receiver to a plurality of telephone handsets, each set with unique identification information, that are installed in the security zone; A fire alarm system equipped with a telephone base unit control unit provided in the receiver and controlling call connections of the telephone base unit; a plurality of telephone repeaters connected to the transmission line and the telephone line, each having a unique address assigned thereto, each of which is connected to one of the plurality of telephone handsets and controls the call connection of the connected telephone handset; Equipped with the telephone line is capable of connecting a call between the receiver and the telephone handset; When the telephone repeater receives a predetermined call control signal from the telephone base unit control section via the transmission line, the telephone repeater controls the call connection between the telephone base unit and the telephone handset by connecting the telephone line and the voice line; The fire alarm system is characterized in that the receiver stops operation of a local bell present within a predetermined range near the telephone handset while the telephone handset is in use.

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