Intercom system

Abstract

By incorporating CRC error testing into the diagnosis of the communication status of the devices that make up the system, the system diagnoses the communication status in a way that prevents inconsistencies between the diagnostic results and actual use. [Solution] The control unit 52 of the control device 5 performs control to determine the communication status between the control device 5 and all dwelling terminals 2, and transmits a CRC code to the dwelling terminals 2 using at least one of the video data portion and the audio data portion of the downlink frame D1 transmitted from the control device 5 to sequentially perform CRC error checks on the dwelling terminals 2. The dwelling terminal control unit 25, upon receiving the CRC error check performed by the control device 5, transmits a CRC code using the audio data portion of the uplink frame D2 transmitted from the dwelling terminals 2 to the control device 5 to perform a CRC error check on the control device 5. The control unit 52 diagnoses that the system's communication status is normal if the occurrence of CRC errors between all dwelling terminals 2 and the control device 5 is below a certain level.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an intercom system having a function of diagnosing the communication state of a plurality of communication devices.

Background Art

[0002] For example, an intercom system installed in an apartment house includes a household terminal as a communication device for responding to a call for each household. In such a large-scale intercom system, connection diagnosis is performed under the control of a control device or the like that controls communication between devices during construction. Also, connection diagnosis has been carried out when maintenance occurs or periodically thereafter. This connection diagnosis is started by operating a management room terminal in, for example, Patent Document 1, and a diagnosis request command is transmitted to each household terminal under the control of a control device. The connection diagnosis is performed by the household terminal that has received this command returning a diagnosis response command, and is sequentially performed for each household terminal.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, even if it is determined to be normal in the above connection diagnosis, problems may occur during actual use. This is because the above connection diagnosis is a diagnosis by parity check or checksum, and is only a simple inspection content. In addition, it is due to the fact that the same device is actually carried out a plurality of times, and if it is determined to be normal even once, the connection state is determined to be normal.

[0005] On the other hand, Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) is a method for diagnosing whether the communication status of equipment is functioning correctly. Although this method takes more time than conventional connection diagnostics, it verifies whether transmitted and received data match, and can perform more accurate diagnostics than conventional connection diagnostics.

[0006] Therefore, in view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide an intercom system that diagnoses the communication status of the equipment constituting the system in a way that prevents inconsistencies between the diagnostic results and actual use, by incorporating CRC error testing into the diagnosis of the communication status of the equipment constituting the system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the first configuration of the present invention is an intercom system comprising a plurality of call terminals for responding to calls from a calling terminal and a control device for controlling each terminal, wherein the calling terminal can select any call terminal to perform a call operation and is equipped with a camera that can transmit captured video images to the call terminals, wherein the control device has a first CRC inspection unit that performs CRC error checks on the call terminals and a determination unit that determines the communication status of the entire intercom system, the call terminals have a second CRC inspection unit that performs CRC error checks on the control device, the first CRC inspection unit transmits a CRC code to the call terminal using at least one of the video data portion and the audio data portion of the downlink frame transmitted from the control device to sequentially perform CRC error checks on the call terminals, the second CRC inspection unit, upon receiving the CRC error check performed by the control device, transmits a CRC code using the audio data portion of the uplink frame transmitted from the call terminal to the control device to perform a CRC error check on the control device, and the determination unit determines that the communication status of the intercom system is normal if there are no CRC errors between all call terminals and the control device or if they are below a certain level. With this configuration, the communication status is diagnosed using CRC error checking, allowing for highly accurate diagnosis of the communication status and preventing situations where malfunctions occur in actual operation even though the diagnosis determines that the system is normal. Furthermore, since the CRC error check is performed using the video data portion or audio data portion within the frame that transmits the signal, there is no need to generate a separate frame for the CRC error check.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the control device has a simplified inspection unit that performs a parity check or checksum inspection, and when the control device receives a predetermined diagnostic start operation, it first performs an inspection by the simplified inspection unit, and when the determination unit determines that there are no call terminals determined to be defective in the inspection by the simplified inspection unit, it starts a CRC error inspection. With this configuration, a parity check or checksum check is performed first, and only if no errors are found in this check is the CRC error check performed. This reduces the number of CRC error checks, which require a relatively long testing time, thus reducing the overall diagnostic time.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the CRC error check is performed by transmitting a CRC code over a certain period of time, and if no CRC error occurs within that time, it is determined that the communication is normal. With this configuration, the CRC error check is performed over a set period of time, allowing for highly accurate diagnosis.

[0010] Another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the call terminal has a level measuring unit that measures the received level of downlink frames, the measured level information is notified to a control device, and the control device has a received level information storage unit that stores the received level information of each individual call terminal. With this configuration, the control unit obtains and stores information on the reception level of the downlink signal transmitted to each individual call terminal, making it easier to investigate the cause of a CRC error when one occurs.

[0011] Another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, if a call / call occurs between the calling terminal and the calling terminal during the CRC error check, the control device interrupts the CRC error check until the call / call is completed. With this configuration, the CRC check is interrupted when a call / call occurs, so even if a diagnosis of the communication status is performed using the voice data area or video data area, the intercom function will not stop, and its use for its intended purpose will not be hindered.

[0012] A second configuration of the present invention is an intercom system comprising a plurality of call terminals for responding to calls from a calling terminal and a control device for controlling each terminal, wherein the calling terminal can select any call terminal to perform a call operation, the control device has a first CRC inspection unit that performs a CRC error check on the call terminals and a determination unit that determines the communication status of the intercom system, the call terminals have a second CRC inspection unit that performs a CRC error check on the control device, and further the control device has a simple inspection unit that performs a parity check or checksum check, and upon receiving a predetermined diagnostic start operation, the control device first The system is characterized in that, after the simplified inspection unit performs an inspection and the judgment unit determines that there are no defective call terminals based on the inspection by the simplified inspection unit, the CRC error inspection is then started. The first CRC inspection unit transmits CRC codes to the call terminals and sequentially performs CRC error inspections of the call terminals, while the second CRC inspection unit receives the CRC error inspection performed by the control unit, transmits CRC codes to the control unit and performs CRC error inspections of the control unit. If no CRC errors occur between all call terminals and the control unit, or if the errors are below a certain level, the judgment unit determines that the communication status of the intercom system is normal. This configuration allows for highly accurate communication testing by diagnosing the communication status using CRC error testing, preventing situations where malfunctions occur in actual operation despite the system being deemed normal during testing. Furthermore, since CRC error testing is performed after eliminating defective terminals through parity checks or checksum checks, the number of CRC error tests can be reduced, thereby shortening the overall diagnostic time. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, since the communication status is diagnosed using CRC error testing, the diagnosis of the communication status can be performed with high accuracy, and it is possible to prevent situations in which malfunctions occur in actual operation even though the diagnosis determines that the system is normal. Furthermore, since the CRC error check is performed using the video data portion or audio data portion within the frame that transmits the signal, there is no need to generate a separate frame for the CRC error check. Furthermore, by first performing a parity check or checksum test, and then conducting the CRC error test only after no errors are found in this test, the number of CRC error tests, which typically require a relatively long testing time, can be reduced, thereby shortening the overall diagnostic time. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This diagram shows an example of an intercom system according to the present invention, with some of the components shown in a block diagram. [Figure 2] In the diagram illustrating the signal frames, (a) shows the downlink frame transmitted from the control unit, and (b) shows the uplink frame transmitted from the dwelling unit terminal to the control unit. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an intercom system according to the present invention, showing a configuration applied to an intercom system for apartment buildings installed in apartment complexes. The intercom system 1 includes a household terminal 2 installed in each individual household as a communication terminal that responds to calls, and a management room terminal 3 installed in the management room and having the function of a communication terminal. In addition, at the entrance, a collective entrance device 4 as a calling terminal is installed, where a visitor selects a destination, that is, selects the household terminal 2 and performs a calling operation, and a control device 5 for controlling these devices is provided. Furthermore, 6 is a personal computer (hereinafter simply referred to as a "PC") as a display terminal for displaying diagnostic results and the like, and in FIG. 1, it is connected to the control device 5 via a communication network N such as a telephone line or the Internet. Note that the PC 6 can also be directly connected to the control device 5.

[0016] The household terminal 2 is connected to any one of a plurality of main lines M arranged from the control device 5, and the management room terminal 3 and the collective entrance device 4 are connected by dedicated transmission lines L1 and L2 arranged from the control device 5. Here, four main lines M, namely the first main line M1 to the fourth main line M4, are arranged from the control device 5. For example, a main line M independent for each floor is arranged from the control device 5 and the household terminal 2 is connected.

[0017] The household terminal 2 includes an operation unit 21 that performs various operations including a call button for responding to calls, a communication unit 22 having a microphone and a speaker, and a display 23 that displays various information including a visitor video transmitted from the collective entrance device 4. As shown in FIG. 1, it also includes a household terminal communication unit 24 that communicates with the control device 5, a household terminal control unit 25 that controls the household terminal 2, a storage unit 26 that stores various information, and the like.

[0018] The household terminal communication unit 24 transmits and receives voice data, video data, and control data to and from the control device 5. The storage unit 26 stores various setting contents and inspection results of the communication state described later. The household terminal control unit 25 receives the CRC code transmitted from the control device 5, determines its own communication state, and has the function of an inspection unit (second CRC inspection unit) that inspects the communication state of the control device 5.

[0019] The management room terminal 3 has a display, an operation unit, and a communication unit, similar to the resident terminal 2. The operation unit further has a function of selecting and calling a resident terminal, and can select and call any resident terminal 2 and enable communication. Also, it can respond to the call operation of the resident terminal by the collective entrance machine 4 with a predetermined operation.

[0020] The collective entrance machine 4 is equipped with a function of selecting a resident and calling the resident terminal 2 of the destination, and communicating with the responding resident. It also has a camera for imaging visitors, transmits the imaging video to the resident terminal 2 of the called destination, and displays the video on the display 23.

[0021] The control device 5 includes a plurality of communication units 51 (here, four communication units 51a to 51d) that communicate with the resident terminal 2, a control unit 52 that controls the control device 5, a storage unit 53 that stores various information including diagnostic result information of each device, and the like. The communication unit 51 performs frame communication with the connected device and transmits and receives video signals, audio signals, control signals, etc. Hereinafter, the frame of the signal transmitted from the control device 5 to each device is referred to as a downstream frame D1, and the frame of the signal transmitted from each device to the control device 5 is referred to as an upstream frame D2.

[0022] The control unit 52 has functions as an inspection unit (a first CRC inspection unit, a simple inspection unit) that controls communication between devices, inspects the connection state and communication state of the devices, and a determination unit that diagnoses the communication state of the entire system from the inspection results. The diagnosis of the communication state for the connected device is performed by operating the personal computer 6 during construction or maintenance. Also, the control device 5 performs self-diagnosis periodically, and the diagnosis result is stored in the storage unit (received level information storage unit) 53.

[0023] The intercom system 1 configured as described above operates as follows. However, the operation of residents calling via the main entrance unit 4, the response operation of the dwelling unit terminal 2 that receives the call, and the operation of sending visitor video from the main entrance unit 4 to the dwelling unit terminal 2 in conjunction with the call are the same as before, so their explanation will be omitted. Here, we will explain the operation of diagnosing the communication status to determine whether the dwelling unit terminal 2 is properly connected to the control device 5 and communication is taking place. The communication status is diagnosed either by operating the PC 6 connected to the control device 5 or by the automatic diagnostic operation of the control device 5. Diagnoses are performed by operating the PC 6 upon completion of construction or maintenance, while periodic diagnoses are performed automatically by a program set in the control device 5.

[0024] The diagnosis is performed in two stages: a preliminary check based on parity or checksum, and a detailed check based on CRC. The preliminary check is performed first, followed by the detailed check. However, if even one dwelling terminal 2 is judged to be NG due to an error during the preliminary check, the detailed check is not performed and the diagnosis is terminated. The simplified inspection is performed under the control of the control unit 52 and is carried out for all dwelling unit terminals 2 in a predetermined order. This simplified inspection is performed a predetermined number of times, such as four times, for each dwelling unit terminal 2. If an error occurs in any dwelling unit terminal 2 in all of these inspections, the system as a whole is judged to be unable to connect, and the detailed inspection is not performed and the process is terminated.

[0025] The simplified inspection is performed by the control unit 52 sending a diagnostic command to the dwelling terminal 2. Upon receiving the diagnostic command, the dwelling terminal 2's dwelling terminal control unit 25 recognizes the command, and if it is received successfully, it generates a reply signal and sends it back. If it cannot be received successfully, no reply is sent. In this way, a simplified inspection is conducted, and the control unit 52 determines that any dwelling terminal 2 that has responded at least once during the predetermined number of inspections is connected OK, while if no response is received in any of the inspections, it determines that the dwelling terminal 2 is not connected.

[0026] The control unit 52 performs a predetermined number of simple tests on all dwelling terminals 2, and if all dwelling terminals 2 are diagnosed as OK, it starts the CRC error test. However, if even one dwelling terminal 2 is determined to be unconnected during the simple test, the diagnosis is terminated at that point. The CRC error check is performed by first transmitting CRC codes from the control unit 5 to each dwelling unit terminal 2 in a predetermined order, similar to the simplified check.

[0027] Upon receiving the CRC code, the dwelling terminal 2 has the dwelling terminal control unit 25 determine whether there is an error. If no error is found, the dwelling terminal control unit 25 sends a reply indicating that the code was received successfully. Simultaneously, it generates a CRC code for the control device 5 to perform a diagnosis. If the control device 5 receives this CRC code without error, the control unit 52 determines that the communication status between the control device 5 and the dwelling terminal 2 that sent the CRC code is normal.

[0028] This CRC error check is performed by transmitting the CRC code over a fixed period of time, such as 10 seconds. If no CRC error occurs within that time, or if the error rate is below a certain level (e.g., 10% or less), the communication is judged to be normal. If the CRC error rate exceeds a certain percentage, it is judged that a CRC error has occurred. Once the round-trip CRC error check is complete, the inspection is continued by switching to the target dwelling unit terminal 2. In this way, round-trip CRC error checks are performed with all dwelling unit terminals 2.

[0029] However, if the diagnosis is performed periodically rather than during installation, the diagnosis will be performed while the intercom system is in use, which means that the intercom system will be in use for calls / talks. In such cases, the control unit 52 recognizes this and interrupts the CRC error check, waiting for the call / talk to end before resuming.

[0030] Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of a frame, where (a) is a downlink frame and (b) is an uplink frame. As shown in Figure 2(a), the downlink frame D1 includes a control data section S1, a video data section Q1 which constitutes video data, and an audio data section P1 which constitutes audio data. The CRC code is transmitted using at least one of the video data section Q1 and the audio data section P1. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 2(b), the uplink frame D2 has a voice data section P2 in addition to the control data section S2, and the CRC code is transmitted from the dwelling terminal 2 using the voice data section P2 of the uplink frame D2. Note that P3 indicates the CRC code configuration section within the voice data section P2.

[0031] The results diagnosed through the simplified and detailed inspections are transmitted from the control device 5 to the personal computer 6 and displayed. If a CRC error occurs, the dwelling unit terminal 2 (dwelling unit number, etc.) is displayed. If an error occurs during the simplified inspection, the CRC error inspection is not performed, and the dwelling unit terminal 2 (dwelling unit number, etc.) where the error occurred is displayed. Furthermore, these test results may be displayed on the main entrance intercom 4 or on the control room terminal 3.

[0032] In this way, by diagnosing the communication status with CRC error testing, highly accurate communication tests can be performed, preventing situations where malfunctions occur in actual operation even though the test determined that the system is normal. Furthermore, since the CRC error check is performed using the video data portion or audio data portion within the frame that transmits the signal, there is no need to generate a separate frame for the CRC error check. Furthermore, by performing a parity check or a simple checksum test before conducting the CRC error test, the number of CRC error tests, which require a relatively long testing time, can be reduced, thereby shortening the overall diagnostic time. In addition, since the CRC error test is performed over a set period of time, it is possible to perform a highly accurate diagnosis. Furthermore, since the CRC check is interrupted when a call / call occurs, even if the communication status is checked using the audio data area or video data area, the intercom's function will not be interrupted, and its use for its intended purpose will not be hindered.

[0033] Furthermore, the dwelling unit terminal control unit 25 has the function of a level measuring unit that measures the magnitude of the signal reception level. It measures the reception level of the downlink frame D1 transmitted from the control device 5 at regular time intervals, stores it in the storage unit 26, and transmits the measured reception level information to the control device 5. Specifically, it averages the measured values ​​to generate a level correction value and transmits it to the control device 5 as reception level information. The control device 5 stores the level correction values ​​transmitted from each individual dwelling terminal 2 in the storage unit 53. This stored level correction value data can be displayed and checked by performing a predetermined operation on a personal computer 6, etc., and can be used to identify the cause of errors that occur during the diagnosis of the communication status by looking at past history data, etc. Thus, the control device 5 obtains and stores the level correction value of the downlink frame D1 transmitted to each dwelling terminal 2, making it easier to investigate the cause of a CRC error by viewing this information.

[0034] Although the above embodiment describes an application to an intercom system installed in an apartment building equipped with a management room terminal 3 and a main entrance unit 4, the present invention can be applied to any system equipped with a control device 5 that controls multiple communication terminals such as dwelling unit terminals 2. For example, it can be suitably applied to commercial facilities, schools, and other public facilities where multiple communication terminals are installed. Furthermore, while the system currently diagnoses the communication status between the control device 5 and the dwelling unit terminal 2, it may also diagnose the communication status between the control device 5 and the management room terminal 3. Furthermore, although the diagnostic operations and display of diagnostic results are performed on a personal computer 6 connected to the control device 5, the diagnostic operations could also be performed by operating the management room terminal 3, which is equipped with a function to perform the diagnostic operations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1. Intercom system, 2. Apartment terminal (communication terminal), 3. Management room terminal (communication terminal), 4. Main entrance unit (calling terminal), 5. Control device, 25. Apartment terminal control unit (2nd CRC inspection unit, level measurement unit), 52. Control unit (1st CRC inspection unit, judgment unit, simple inspection unit), 53. Storage unit (received level information storage unit), D1. Downstream frame, D2. Upstream frame.

Claims

1. An intercom system comprising multiple call terminals for responding to calls from a calling terminal, and a control device for controlling each terminal, wherein the calling terminal can select any of the call terminals to perform a call operation, and is equipped with a camera capable of transmitting captured video images from the camera to the call terminals, The control device has a first CRC inspection unit that performs a CRC error check on the call terminal and a determination unit that determines the communication status of the entire intercom system, and the call terminal has a second CRC inspection unit that performs a CRC error check on the control device. The first CRC inspection unit transmits a CRC code to the call terminal using at least one of the video data portion and the audio data portion of the downlink frame transmitted from the control device, and sequentially performs CRC error checks on the call terminal. The second CRC inspection unit, upon receiving the CRC error inspection performed by the control device, transmits a CRC code using the voice data portion of the uplink frame transmitted from the call terminal to the control device, thereby performing the CRC error inspection of the control device. The intercom system is characterized in that the determination unit determines that the communication status of the intercom system is normal if no CRC errors occur between all the communication terminals and the control device, or if the CRC errors are below a certain level.

2. The control device has a simple inspection unit that performs inspection by parity check or checksum, The intercom system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device first performs an inspection by the simplified inspection unit when it receives a predetermined diagnostic start operation, and when the determination unit determines that there are no communication terminals determined to be defective in the inspection by the simplified inspection unit, it starts the CRC error inspection.

3. The intercom system according to claim 2, characterized in that the CRC error check is performed by transmitting the CRC code over a certain period of time, and if no CRC error occurs within that time, it is determined that the communication is normal.

4. The aforementioned call terminal has a level measuring unit that measures the received level of downlink frames, and the measured level information is notified to the control device. The intercom system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device has a reception level information storage unit that stores information on the reception level of each of the notified call terminals.

5. The intercom system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control device interrupts the CRC error check until the call / call is completed if a call / call occurs between the calling terminal and the calling terminal during the CRC error check.

6. An intercom system comprising multiple call terminals for responding to calls from a calling terminal, and a control device for controlling each terminal, wherein the calling terminal can select any of the call terminals to make a call, The control device has a first CRC inspection unit that performs a CRC error check on the call terminal and a determination unit that determines the communication status of the intercom system, and the call terminal has a second CRC inspection unit that performs a CRC error check on the control device. Furthermore, the control device has a simple inspection unit that performs parity checks or checksum checks. Upon receiving a predetermined diagnostic start operation, the control device first performs an inspection by the simplified inspection unit, and if the determination unit determines that there are no defective call terminals in the inspection by the simplified inspection unit of the call terminal, it then starts the CRC error inspection. The first CRC inspection unit transmits a CRC code to the call terminal and sequentially performs a CRC error check on the call terminal, and the second CRC inspection unit receives the CRC error check performed by the control device and transmits a CRC code to the control device to perform a CRC error check on the control device. An intercom system characterized in that if no CRC errors occur between all the aforementioned call terminals and the control device, or if the CRC errors are below a certain level, the determination unit determines that the communication status of the intercom system is normal.

Images