Intercom system

Abstract

This intercom system provides a mechanism that can limit the number of intercom terminals that are called, even if group call forwarding is enabled on the intercom terminal, thereby simplifying the control of calls and responses. [Solution] When an intercom terminal 3B, which is configured for group call forwarding, is called, the call is forwarded to multiple intercom terminals 3C and 3D designated as forwarding destinations, and the call is only made to the intercom terminal 3 that first receives the call (for example, intercom terminal 3C). Therefore, the number of intercom terminals 3, 3, etc. that are called during forwarding can be suppressed to some extent.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an intercom system in which a plurality of intercom terminals having a calling / calling function are connected via a communication network.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for example, as an intercom system used in business, an intercom system as described in Patent Document 1 has been devised. In each intercom terminal in the intercom system described in Patent Document 1, in order to cope with a situation where a call cannot be answered due to being away from the seat or the like, a transfer setting for transferring the call to another intercom terminal when called is possible. Further, regarding the transfer setting, so-called group transfer setting is also possible in which a plurality of intercom terminals can be designated as transfer destinations instead of a specific single intercom terminal.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the intercom system described in Patent Document 1, when an intercom terminal with group transfer setting is called, if the transfer destination intercom terminal also has group transfer setting, as a result, a situation where a very large number of intercom terminals are called is assumed, and there are problems such as the control related to calling / responding becoming complicated.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to provide an intercom system that can suppress the number of intercom terminals that are called to some extent, even if group forwarding is set on the intercom terminal, and thereby simplify the control related to calling and answering. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides an intercom system in which three or more intercom terminals are connected to each other in a call / answer manner, wherein at least one intercom terminal is capable of forwarding a call to another intercom terminal when it is called, and can be configured to specify multiple intercom terminals as the forwarding destinations, and when an intercom terminal configured for group forwarding is called, the call is forwarded to the multiple intercom terminals designated as the forwarding destinations, and the call is made only to the intercom terminal that first receives the forwarding. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, when an intercom terminal configured for group call forwarding is called, the call is forwarded to multiple intercom terminals designated as forwarding destinations, and the call is only made to the intercom terminal that first receives the call. Therefore, a situation where a very large number of intercom terminals are called as a result of repeated group forwarding does not occur, and the control related to calling and answering can be simplified. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a system diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the intercom system. [Figure 2] This is a functional block diagram of the intercom terminal. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The following describes in detail an intercom system, which is one embodiment of the present invention, based on the drawings.

[0010] Figure 1 is a system diagram showing the overall configuration of intercom system 1. Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of intercom terminal 3. The intercom system 1 consists of multiple intercom terminals 3, 3, etc., installed in each room within the building, and the intercom terminals 3, 3 are connected to each other by LAN wiring L with a PoE switch 4 placed in the middle of the wiring. 2 is a door phone terminal installed at the entrance of the building, etc., which visitors operate to call people inside the building.

[0011] The intercom terminal 3 is a so-called hands-free type device that does not have a handset, and includes a monitor 31 for displaying various information, an operation unit 32 for performing various operations such as setting the status of the intercom terminal 3, a call button 32a for responding to calls from other intercom terminals 3 or doorphone terminals 2, a microphone 33a and speaker 33b for communicating with other intercom terminals 3 or doorphone terminals 2, a call unit 34 equipped with a voice switch 34a for controlling communication, a status storage unit 35 for storing the settings and status of the intercom terminal 3, an intercom terminal CPU 36 for controlling the operation of the intercom terminal 3, and an intercom terminal communication IF 37 for connecting LAN wiring L, etc.

[0012] The intercom terminal CPU 36 functions as a call path control unit that controls communication between intercom terminals 3, 3, and operates the voice switch 34a to maintain the transmission path formation state or the reception path formation state. The state storage unit 35 stores settings for intercom terminal 3, such as a forwarding setting that forwards a call to another intercom terminal 3 when it is called, and in particular a group forwarding setting that allows specifying multiple intercom terminals 3, 3, etc. as the forwarding destination.

[0013] Furthermore, the operation unit 32 is composed of a touch panel integrated with the monitor 31. For example, when setting up group call forwarding for an intercom terminal 3, the monitor 31 displays the intercom terminals 3, 3... that can be set as forwarding destinations, as well as setting buttons. Also, when making a call with another intercom terminal 3, for example, the callable intercom terminals 3, 3... are displayed on the monitor 31, and the call is initiated by selecting the call destination. The call becomes possible when the call button 32a is operated on the call destination intercom terminal 3.

[0014] Here, we will explain the call forwarding control in the intercom system 1. In this embodiment, six intercom terminals 3A to 3F are installed, and intercom terminal 3A is used to call intercom terminal 3B. Intercom terminal 3B is configured for group forwarding, with intercom terminals 3C and 3D designated as forwarding destinations. Furthermore, intercom terminal 3D is also configured for group forwarding, with intercom terminals 3E and 3F designated as forwarding destinations.

[0015] First, when a call is initiated on the monitor 31 of intercom terminal 3A and intercom terminal 3B is called, intercom terminal 3B is configured for group call forwarding, so the call is forwarded to intercom terminals 3C and 3D. When this call arrives at intercom terminals 3C and 3D, an incoming call signal is sent back from intercom terminals 3C and 3D to intercom terminal 3B. If the call arrives at intercom terminal 3C first, intercom terminal 3C is called via intercom terminal 3B. Intercom terminal 3B also sends a return signal to intercom terminal 3D instructing it to return to standby mode, and intercom terminal 3D returns to standby mode. Then, when the call button 32a is operated on intercom terminal 3C, communication becomes possible between intercom terminal 3A and intercom terminal 3C.

[0016] On the other hand, if an incoming call arrives at intercom terminal 3D first, of the two intercom terminals 3C and 3D, intercom terminal 3D will be called via intercom terminal 3B, and intercom terminal 3C will receive a return signal from intercom terminal 3B instructing it to return to standby mode. However, since intercom terminal 3D is also set to group forwarding, the call from intercom terminal 3A will then be forwarded to intercom terminals 3E and 3F. Then, as with the forwarding to intercom terminals 3C and 3D described above, the intercom terminal 3 that received the call first will be called, and the other intercom terminals 3 will return to standby mode. In other words, if an incoming call arrives at intercom terminal 3E first, intercom terminal 3E will be called, and intercom terminal 3F will return to standby mode. Then, by operating the call button 32a on intercom terminal 3E, communication becomes possible between intercom terminal 3A and intercom terminal 3E.

[0017] With the intercom system 1 having the above configuration, when an intercom terminal 3B, which is set to group forwarding, is called, the call is forwarded to multiple intercom terminals 3C and 3D designated as forwarding destinations, and the call is made only to the intercom terminal 3 that first receives the call (for example, intercom terminal 3C). Therefore, the number of intercom terminals 3, 3, etc. that are called during forwarding can be suppressed to some extent. In other words, even if group forwarding is repeated, for example, a situation in which a very large number of intercom terminals 3, 3, etc. are called will not occur, and the control related to calling and answering can be simplified.

[0018] Furthermore, since intercom terminals 3, 3, etc., other than the first intercom terminal 3 that received a call are returned to standby mode, these intercom terminals 3, 3, etc. can be used normally, resulting in a user-friendly intercom system 1.

[0019] Note that the intercom system according to the present invention is not limited to the aspects of the above embodiment. Not only the overall configuration of the intercom system, but also the configuration related to transfer control in each intercom terminal can be appropriately changed as needed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0020] For example, in the above embodiment, only two intercom terminals are specified for group transfer setting. Naturally, it is also possible to specify three or more intercom terminals. In this case, the configuration may be such that the call is made only for the intercom terminal that first received the call. Also, in the above embodiment, group transfer setting is possible for all intercom terminals. However, if group transfer setting is possible for at least one intercom terminal, the present invention can be preferably adopted.

[0021] Furthermore, the door phone terminal is also a form of intercom terminal, and there is no problem in applying the same configuration when calling an intercom terminal from the door phone terminal. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a hands-free type intercom terminal is adopted. Needless to say, an intercom terminal equipped with a handset may also be adopted. In addition, in the above embodiment, the transfer source intercom terminal discriminates the intercom terminal that first received the call and performs control such as returning the intercom terminal that is not to be transferred to the standby state. However, it is also possible to install a so-called controller and configure the controller to discriminate the intercom terminal that first received the call and return the intercom terminal that is not to be transferred to the standby state.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0022] 1 ··· Intercom system, 2 ··· Door phone terminal (intercom terminal), 3 ··· Intercom terminal, 31 ··· Monitor, 32 ··· Operation unit, 35 ··· State storage unit, 36 ··· Intercom terminal CPU.

Claims

[Claim 1] An intercom system comprising three or more intercom terminals connected to each other in a call / response manner, At least one of the intercom terminals is capable of forwarding a call to another intercom terminal when it is called, and can be configured to allow group forwarding to specify multiple intercom terminals as the forwarding destinations. When the intercom terminal on which the group call forwarding setting is configured is called, the call is forwarded to multiple intercom terminals designated as forwarding destinations, An intercom system characterized in that a call is made only to the intercom terminal that first receives the call.

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