Apartment building intercom system

Abstract

We provide an intercom system for apartment buildings that allows for smooth delivery even when the delivery address is an apartment complex. [Solution] The control unit 6 communicates with a delivery management server 8 that manages delivered packages M via a communication network N, and has the function of opening and closing an automatic door 7 located between the entrance and the residential area. Meanwhile, the main entrance unit 2 has a delivery camera 25 for reading identification information Q displayed on the delivered packages M delivered by the delivery company P. Based on the identification information Q of the delivered package captured and read by the delivery camera 25, the control unit 6 communicates with the delivery management server 8 to check the delivery status of the delivered package, and when it obtains information that the package is in transit, it controls the automatic door 7 to open.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apartment intercom system, and more particularly to an apartment intercom system that can unlock the entrance door even when the visited party is absent.

Background Art

[0002] There is a system that enables a delivery person to proceed to the delivery destination's apartment even when the delivery destination is absent and allows for the leaving of deliveries. For example, in Patent Document 1, an automatic door control system for an apartment building is connected to an external EC site server via a network, and a building installation terminal equipped with a camera is installed at the entrance. By having the building installation terminal's camera read the identification information attached to the delivery, the read identification information is compared with the delivery information on the EC site server. If the matched delivery is registered for leaving, the automatic door control system unlocks the automatic door. Thus, the delivery person can enter the residential area and leave the delivery.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the technology of Patent Document 1 above, if the delivery read by the building installation terminal is not registered for leaving on the EC site server, the automatic door at the entrance will not be unlocked. In that case, the resident, who is the recipient, can be called from the apartment entrance unit. If there is a response, the delivery person can enter through the automatic door first, hand over the delivery, and complete the delivery. But if the resident is absent, the automatic door will not be unlocked, so the delivery such as leaving the delivery cannot be made.

[0005] Therefore, in view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide an intercom system for apartment buildings that enables smooth delivery even when the delivery destination is an apartment building. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides an intercom system for an apartment building comprising a main entrance unit installed at the entrance of the apartment building to call residents, an apartment terminal installed in each apartment to respond to calls, and a control unit that controls communication between the devices. The control unit has the function of communicating with an external delivery management server that manages delivered packages via a communication network, and the function of opening and closing an automatic door provided between the entrance and the residential area. The main entrance unit has a delivery camera for reading identification information displayed on delivered packages delivered by delivery companies, and the control unit communicates with the delivery management server based on the identification information of the delivered package captured and read by the delivery camera to check the delivery status of the package, and when it obtains information that the package is in transit, it controls the opening of the automatic door. With this configuration, the automatic door opens when it is recognized that a package is in transit based on the package's identification information, allowing the delivery person to proceed into the residential area and leave the package even if the recipient is not home. Furthermore, security is maintained because the automatic door is controlled based on the information from the package management server indicating that the package is in transit. In addition, since the delivery camera installed at the main entrance captures and reads the identification information of the delivered items, there is no need to install a dedicated device for identifying the delivered items.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the collective entrance unit has a visitor camera for capturing images of visitors and a delivery button for activating a delivery camera, and when a call operation is performed at the delivery destination dwelling, the image captured by the visitor camera is transmitted to the terminal of the called dwelling along with the call signal, and when there is no response from the dwelling terminal that received the call signal and a predetermined time has elapsed and the delivery button is operated, it becomes possible to capture identification information by the delivery camera. With this configuration, the delivery camera will not activate until a call is made to the delivery address and no response is confirmed. Therefore, since a call is required even for unattended delivery, it is possible to record the delivery person's video, which is effective in improving security.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the collective entrance unit has a visitor camera for imaging visitors and a delivery button for activating a delivery camera, and when the delivery button is operated without calling the delivery destination dwelling, the visitor camera and the delivery camera are activated, imaging of the visitor begins and identification information of the delivery becomes available for reading. With this configuration, the delivery person is captured on camera when the identification information of the package is read, and by recording this footage, security can be maintained. Furthermore, since the automatic door can be opened without calling the recipient, delivery personnel can carry out deliveries more smoothly.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the collective entrance unit has a display unit for displaying images, and when the delivery camera is activated, a guide image for reading the identification information of the delivery is displayed on the display unit. With this configuration, when the delivery camera is activated, a guide is displayed on the display unit at the main entrance that shows how to read the identification information of the delivery, so delivery personnel do not have any trouble reading the information.

[0010] Another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the delivery camera and the visitor camera are the same camera, and by changing the focal length of the camera, the camera captures images of visitors and captures identification information of delivery items. With this configuration, since the same camera is used to capture images of people and identify delivery items, only one camera is needed to install on the main entrance intercom. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, when a delivery is recognized as being in transit based on the identification information of the delivery, the automatic door opens, allowing the delivery to proceed into the residential area and leave the package even if the recipient is not home. Furthermore, security can be maintained because the automatic door is controlled based on information from the delivery management server indicating that the delivery is in transit. In addition, since the delivery camera installed at the main entrance captures and reads the identification information of the delivered items, there is no need to install a dedicated device for identifying the delivered items. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing an example of an intercom system for apartment buildings according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an explanatory diagram for the display of a multi-unit entrance intercom. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of an intercom system for an apartment building according to the present invention. The apartment building intercom system 1 includes a common entrance unit 2 installed at the common entrance (lobby) of the apartment building for visitors to call residents, an apartment terminal 3 installed in each apartment to respond to calls from the common entrance unit 2, an apartment entrance unit 4 installed at the entrance of each apartment to call residents, a management room terminal 5 installed in the management room for communication with residents, a control unit 6 to control communication between devices, and an automatic door 7 installed between the entrance and the residential area that opens and closes under the control of the control unit 6. In addition, 8 is an external delivery management server that manages information on delivered packages. The delivery management server 8 is connected to the control unit 6 via a communication network N.

[0014] The main entrance unit 2, the control room terminal 5, and the automatic door 7 are connected to the control unit 6 via transmission lines L1, L2, and L3, respectively. The dwelling unit terminal 3 is connected to the control unit 6 via the main line L4. In addition, M represents a package, P represents the delivery company that delivers the package M, and Q represents the identification information attached to the package M.

[0015] The main entrance unit 2 is equipped with a first camera (visitor camera) 21 for capturing images of visitors, a display 22 for displaying various information, a microphone 23 and speaker 24 for making calls, and a second camera (delivery item camera) 25 for capturing images of identification information Q attached to the delivered item M. The display 22 is also equipped with a touch panel and displays operation buttons such as a keypad and a call button, and functions as an operation unit for selecting a dwelling unit and making a call. Furthermore, the main entrance unit 2 has a function that, upon receiving a call operation to summon a resident and initiating a call, counts the duration of the call, and if there is no response after a predetermined time, such as 10 seconds, determines that the resident is absent and initiates a predetermined control. It also has a function to recognize the identification information Q of the delivered package M from the image captured by the second camera 25. Furthermore, the second camera 25 is installed at a lower position than the first camera 21, which images visitors, making it easier to capture the identification information Q attached to the delivered package M.

[0016] The dwelling unit terminal 3 includes a call button 31 for answering calls, a monitor 32 that displays the image captured by the first camera 21 and various information, an operation unit 33 integrated with the monitor 32 for performing various operations, and a call unit for communicating with visitors.

[0017] The delivery management server 8 stores delivery information, including sender information, recipient information, and delivery status (such as incomplete / completed) for each delivery M. Furthermore, it stores identification information Q attached to each delivery M, associated with the delivery information. Identification information Q is created as a barcode, QR code (registered trademark), or a sequence of numbers and attached to the delivery.

[0018] Next, the operation of the apartment intercom system configured as described above will be explained. However, the operation in which a visitor operates the communal entrance unit 2 to call and communicate with the resident of the destination, and the operation in which the first camera 21 is activated at that time and the captured video is transmitted to the household terminal 3 and displayed on the monitor 32 are the same as those in the prior art, so the explanation will be omitted here. Here, the explanation will be centered on the process in which the delivery person P places and delivers the package M at the delivery entrance of the apartment building. The delivery person P who has come to deliver the package M operates the communal entrance unit 2 to select and call the household of the delivery destination. By this operation, the household terminal 3 to which the call signal has been transmitted emits a ringing sound, and the captured video of the first camera 21 activated by the call operation is transmitted and displayed on the monitor 32. If the household terminal 3 is operated in response to this call and there is a response, the household terminal 3 is operated by the resident to open the automatic door 7. As a result, the delivery person P directly delivers the package M to the recipient through the automatic door 7, and the delivery is completed. In addition, the captured video of the first camera 21 is stored in the control unit 6 or the household terminal 3 of the transmission destination.

[0019] When the delivery destination is absent, the operation is as follows. The communal entrance unit 2 counts the call duration from the start of the call to the household terminal 3. If the call continues for a certain period such as 10 seconds, the resident is judged to be absent, and the guidance to the delivery person P is started. Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the display on the display 22 of the communal entrance unit 2 that displays the guidance to the delivery person P. As shown in Figure 2, when it is judged that the resident is absent, the delivery button 22a is displayed on the display 22 of the communal entrance unit 2, and when the visitor is the delivery person P, it is displayed that the displayed delivery button should be touched for guidance. At the same time, an announcement such as "The delivery person of the package can unlock the automatic door by touching the delivery button" is made. If the delivery button 22a is touched in response to this guidance, it is judged that the visitor is the delivery person P, the second camera 25 is activated, and further guidance for opening the automatic door 7 is displayed. If the delivery button 22a is not touched, the communal entrance unit 2 ends the operation and returns to standby.

[0020] When the delivery button 22a is touched, the display 22 displays instructions, for example, an animation, instructing the delivery person P to hold the identification information Q attached to the delivery item M up to the second camera 25. Upon recognizing the operation through this display, the delivery person P holds the identification information Q of the delivery item M up to the second camera 25 to take an image, and the acquired identification information Q is transmitted to the control unit 6. Upon receiving the identification information Q for the delivery item M, the control unit 6 accesses the delivery item management server 8, transmits the identification information Q, and inquires about the delivery status. The delivery item management server 8, upon receiving the identification information Q, confirms that there is a delivery item M associated with the identification information Q, and that the delivery item M has not yet been delivered, i.e., is in transit, and sends a reply to that effect.

[0021] When control unit 6 receives confirmation that delivery is in progress, it opens (unlocks) the automatic door 7. An announcement is also made from the main entrance unit 2 that the door is being unlocked. However, if the confirmation does not indicate delivery is in progress, the automatic door 7 will not be opened.

[0022] Then, the delivery company P enters the residential area through the opened automatic door 7 and leaves the package at the entrance of the recipient's apartment. Once the delivery is complete, the delivery company P performs a delivery completion operation using a terminal they carry. This operation changes the registration information for the delivery package M registered in the delivery management server 8 from "in transit" to "delivered."

[0023] Furthermore, the delivery management server 8 compares the ID information of the control unit 6, which is transmitted from the requesting control unit 6 along with the identification information Q, with the address information of the apartment building where the control unit 6 is installed, and the delivery address information of the registered delivery item M. Even if the delivery item M has not been delivered, if the addresses do not match, a reply indicating that it is in transit will not be sent. Therefore, the automatic door 7 will not be unlocked. Furthermore, while the main entrance unit 2 currently counts the call time of the dwelling unit terminal 3 to determine if the dwelling is unoccupied, the control unit 6 could also count and make the determination.

[0024] In this way, when the delivery vehicle M is recognized as being in transit based on its identification information Q, the automatic door 7 opens, allowing the delivery vehicle to proceed into the residential area and leave the package even if the recipient is not home. Furthermore, security is maintained because the automatic door 7 is controlled based on the information that the delivery vehicle M is in transit. In addition, since the second camera 25 installed on the main entrance unit 2 captures and reads the identification information Q of the delivered package M, there is no need to install a dedicated device for identifying the delivered package M. Furthermore, since the second camera 25 will not activate unless the delivery address is called and no response is confirmed, a call operation is required even for unattended delivery, which allows for recording of the delivery person P's image and is effective in improving security. Furthermore, when the second camera 25 is activated, a guide is displayed on the display 22 of the main entrance unit 2, instructing the delivery person P to read the identification information Q of the delivered package M, so the delivery person P does not have any trouble performing the reading operation.

[0025] Next, we will describe another operational configuration for delivery personnel. In the above configuration of the apartment building intercom system 1, after determining that the recipient is absent, the main entrance unit 2 starts operations for the delivery personnel P. However, it is also possible to display the delivery button 22a from the standby state, allowing operation of the delivery button 22a without calling the recipient. This will be explained in detail below. However, the configuration of the apartment building intercom system 1 is the same as the above configuration, and will be explained with reference to Figure 1.

[0026] The main entrance unit 2 displays the delivery button 22a on the display 22 from the standby state, allowing the delivery button 22a to be operated without calling the recipient's dwelling. Therefore, the delivery person P who has come to deliver can touch (operate) the delivery button 22a without calling the recipient. When the delivery button 22a is touched, the main entrance unit 2 recognizes that the visitor is a delivery person and activates the second camera 25, displaying instructions on the display 22, for example, an animation, instructing the user to hold the identification information Q attached to the delivery item M up to the second camera 25, similar to the above configuration. Furthermore, upon receiving an operation of the delivery button 22a, the main entrance unit 2 activates the first camera 21 in addition to the second camera 25 to begin imaging, and then transmits the captured image to the control unit 6 for storage.

[0027] When the delivery person P, having recognized the operation from the guidance display, holds the identification information Q of the delivery item M up to the second camera 25 to capture an image, the main entrance unit 2 recognizes the identification information Q from the image and transmits it to the control unit 6. When the control unit 6 receives the identification information Q, it sends the identification information Q to the delivery management server 8 to perform an inquiry. If the delivery management server 8 has information on the delivery item M associated with the identification information Q, and the delivery is not yet complete, the control unit 6 will send a reply indicating that the item is in transit. Based on this reply information, if a reply indicating that delivery is in progress is received, the automatic door 7 will be opened. Additionally, an announcement will be made from the main entrance intercom 2 indicating that the door will be unlocked. However, if no reply indicating delivery is received, the automatic door 7 will not be opened. In this way, delivery company P can enter the residential area from the entrance and leave packages at the door without having to speak with the residents.

[0028] Furthermore, if it is possible to operate the delivery button 22a without calling the delivery address, the delivery button 22a may be provided as a separate push button on the main entrance unit 2, rather than being displayed on the display 22.

[0029] Thus, the delivery button 22a can be operated first, allowing the automatic door to be opened without calling the recipient, thus enabling the delivery person P to smoothly perform contactless delivery. Furthermore, since the system is controlled to image the delivery person P when reading the identification information Q of the delivered item M, security can be maintained by saving that image.

[0030] In the above embodiment, the main entrance unit 2 is equipped with two cameras: a first camera 21 for capturing images of visitors and a second camera 25 for capturing images of delivered items. However, both cameras may be integrated into a single camera capable of capturing images of both. In this case, by changing the focal length when capturing images of visitors (delivery personnel P) and when capturing images of the identification information Q of delivered items M, both can be captured well. For example, when a resident is called from the main entrance unit 2, or for the first few seconds after the delivery button 22a is operated, it is advisable to set the focal length to a relatively long one, such as 100 cm, to ensure good imaging of the delivery person P. Then, after the call operation is performed and the delivery button 22a is operated, or a few seconds after the delivery button 22a is initially operated, shortening the focal length to a shorter one, such as 30 cm, allows for good imaging of the identification information Q of the delivery item M held up to the camera. In this way, it is possible to perform both the imaging of the person and the imaging of the identification information Q of the delivery item with a single camera, and only one camera is needed to be installed on the main entrance unit 2. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0031] 1. Apartment building intercom system, 2. Main entrance unit, 3. Apartment terminal, 4. Entrance unit, 6. Control unit, 7. Automatic door, 8. Delivery management server, 21. First camera (visitor camera), 22. Display (display unit), 22a. Delivery button, 25. Second camera (delivery camera), N. Communication network, P. Delivery company, M. Delivery item, Q. Identification information.

Claims

1. An intercom system for an apartment building, comprising a main entrance unit installed at the entrance of the apartment building to call residents, an apartment terminal installed in each apartment to answer calls, and a control unit to control communication between the devices, The control unit has the function of communicating with an external delivery management server that manages delivered packages via a communication network, and the function of controlling the opening and closing of an automatic door located between the entrance and the residential area, The aforementioned entrance unit has a delivery camera for reading identification information displayed on delivery items delivered by delivery companies. The aforementioned control unit communicates with the delivery management server to check the delivery status of the delivery item based on the identification information of the delivery item captured and read by the delivery camera, and when it receives information that the delivery item is in transit, it controls the opening of the automatic door, making it a multi-unit dwelling intercom system.

2. The aforementioned entrance unit has a visitor camera for capturing images of visitors and a delivery button for activating the delivery camera. When a call is made at the delivery address, the video footage from the visitor camera is transmitted to the terminal at the delivery address along with the call signal. The apartment building intercom system according to claim 1, characterized in that if there is no response from the dwelling terminal to which the call signal is transmitted and a predetermined time has elapsed and the delivery button is operated, the delivery camera can capture the identification information.

3. The aforementioned entrance unit has a visitor camera for capturing images of visitors and a delivery button for activating the delivery camera. The apartment building intercom system according to claim 1, characterized in that when the delivery button is operated without calling the delivery address, the visitor camera and the delivery item camera are activated, imaging of the visitor begins, and identification information of the delivery item can be read.

4. The apartment building intercom system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the aforementioned apartment entrance unit has a display unit for displaying images, and when the delivery camera is activated, a guide image for reading the identification information of the delivery is displayed on the display unit.

5. The apartment building intercom system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the delivery camera and the visitor camera are the same camera, and by changing the focal length of the camera, it is possible to capture images of visitors and images of identification information of delivery items.

Images