Apartment building intercom system

Abstract

We provide an intercom system for apartment buildings that can prevent packages left in the delivery area from being stolen by third parties. [Solution] When the main entrance unit 1 is operated, the control unit 5 extracts an authentication image relating to the person who operated the main entrance unit 1 and transmits it to the room master unit 3, storing it in the person identification unit 36a. When a person is captured by the camera 21, the person identification unit 36a extracts and stores an image relating to that person, and identifies whether the two are the same person by comparing the authentication image with the image relating to the person currently captured. Then, after the package monitoring unit 36b detects that a package is placed in the delivery area S, if the person identification unit 36a has not identified the package as belonging to the same person as a result of the comparison, the unit detects that the package has moved out of the delivery area S, and the speaker 24 of the entrance sub-unit 2 sounds a warning for a predetermined warning time.

Description

[[Technical Field]]

[0001] The present invention relates to a collective housing intercom system capable of monitoring luggage placed in front of the entrance of a living room for collection. [[Background Art]]

[0002] As a conventionally well-known collective housing intercom system, a visitor operates a collective entrance device installed at the entrance of the collective housing to call the resident of the visited place, and when the resident opens the automatic door installed at the entrance, the visitor then operates the entrance sub-device installed at the entrance device of the visited room to call the resident again, and finally has the door of the room unlocked (for example, Patent Document 1). [[Prior Art Documents]] [[Patent Documents]]

[0003] [[Patent Document 1]] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-135274 [[Summary of the Invention]] [[Problem to be Solved by the Invention]]

[0004] In recent years, collective housing intercom systems have been required to be compatible with a luggage receiving system in which a delivery company receives luggage placed by a resident in a predetermined delivery area such as in front of an entrance in a non-face-to-face manner and delivers it to a delivery destination specified by the resident, and there is a particular demand for being able to address the problem that luggage placed in the delivery area may be taken away by a third party.

[0005] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a collective housing intercom system capable of suppressing the situation where luggage placed in a delivery area is taken away by a third party. [[Means for Solving the Problem]]

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the invention described in claim 1 of the present invention is an intercom system for an apartment building comprising: a main entrance unit installed in the entrance of the apartment building for visitors to call residents; an apartment master unit installed in each apartment to respond to calls; a control unit that controls communication between the main entrance unit and the apartment master unit; an apartment sub-unit installed in front of the entrance of each apartment to call the apartment master unit; monitoring and control means for monitoring packages placed in a predetermined delivery area in front of the entrance; and notification means that perform notification operations in a predetermined manner, wherein the main entrance unit is provided with a first camera capable of capturing images of the person operating the main entrance unit, and the apartment sub-unit is provided with a second camera capable of capturing images of the area in front of the entrance, including the delivery area, and monitoring and control means The system is capable of storing a first image extracted from video footage captured by a first camera for the purpose of identifying a person, and a second image extracted from video footage captured by a second camera for the purpose of identifying a person. When the main entrance unit is operated, the monitoring and control means extracts and stores the first image relating to the person who operated the main entrance unit, and when a person is captured by the second camera, it extracts and stores the second image relating to that person. The system then identifies whether the two images are of the same person by comparing the first and second images. After detecting that a package has been placed in the delivery area, if the system detects that the package has moved out of the delivery area after the comparison has not identified that the person is the same, the system notifies the system of the situation using a notification means. According to the invention described in claim 1, after the monitoring and control means detects that a package has been placed in the delivery area, if it has not identified the first image of the person who operated the main entrance unit and the second image of the person captured by the second camera as being the same person, it notifies the system of the situation using the notification means, thereby effectively preventing a situation in which a package placed in the delivery area for collection is taken away by a third party other than the delivery company.

[0007] The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1, a server device is provided which stores information relating to the collection destination of the requested package, the controller and the server device are able to communicate with each other, and the entrance separates the outside side from the residential side, and includes an automatic door through which one passes when proceeding from the entrance to the residential area, and an automatic door control means for controlling the locking and unlocking of the automatic door, the controller transmits information relating to the collection destination input at the main entrance unit to the server device, the server device checks whether there is a collection request to the collection destination based on the received information relating to the collection destination, and if it determines that a collection request has been made, it transmits a permission signal to the controller, and the automatic door control means unlocks the automatic door upon receiving the permission signal at the controller. According to the invention described in claim 2, the control unit transmits information about the pickup location entered at the main entrance unit to the server device. The server device checks whether a pickup request has been made for the pickup location based on the received information about the pickup location. If it determines that a pickup request has been made, it sends a permission signal to the control unit. The automatic door control means unlocks the automatic door upon receiving the permission signal from the control unit. Therefore, delivery personnel can proceed smoothly to the front door of the apartment that will be the pickup location simply by entering information about the pickup location at the main entrance unit, resulting in a user-friendly intercom system for apartment buildings. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, a first camera capable of capturing images of the person operating the entrance unit is provided on the main entrance unit, and a second camera capable of capturing images of the area in front of the entrance, including the delivery area, is provided on the entrance sub-unit. Furthermore, the monitoring and control means is capable of storing a first image extracted from the video captured by the first camera for the purpose of identifying a person, and a second image extracted from the video captured by the second camera for the purpose of identifying a person. When the main entrance unit is operated under the control of the monitoring and control means, the first image relating to the person operating the main entrance unit is extracted and stored, and when a person is captured by the second camera, the second image relating to that person is extracted and stored, and the system identifies whether the first and second images are of the same person by comparing them. After detecting that a package has been placed in the delivery area, if the comparison results do not identify the person as the same, and the system detects that the package has moved out of the delivery area, the system notifies the system of the situation using the notification means.Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the situation in which packages delivered to the delivery area are taken away by a third party other than the delivery company. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an intercom system for apartment buildings according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing the main components of the apartment building intercom system according to the present invention, arranged in functional blocks. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The following describes in detail, based on the drawings, an intercom system for apartment buildings, which is one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 is a configuration diagram showing the apartment building intercom system according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the main components of the apartment building intercom system according to the present invention in functional blocks.

[0011] The apartment building intercom system consists of a main entrance unit 1 installed at the building's entrance for visitors (including delivery personnel) to call residents, entrance units 2, 2... installed next to the entrance 8 of each apartment to call residents, apartment master units 3, 3... installed inside each apartment for residents to answer calls, management room master unit 4 installed in the management room for communication between the manager and residents or visitors, and a control unit 5 for controlling communication between these devices. The building's entrance also has an automatic door 7 that separates the outside from the living area and must be passed through to enter the living area. The lock on the automatic door 7 is controlled by the control unit 5. The main entrance unit 1 and the control unit 5 are connected via transmission line L1, the management room master unit 4 and the control unit 5 are connected via transmission line L2, and the automatic door 7 and the control unit 5 are connected via transmission line L3. The apartment master units 3, 3... and the control unit 5 are connected via master unit trunk line L4. Furthermore, the control unit 5 is connected to the server device 6 via the internet N.

[0012] The main entrance unit 1 comprises a camera 11 for capturing images of visitors, a microphone 12 and speaker 13 for visitors and residents to communicate, an operation unit 14 for visitors to input the room number to call (the room number of the destination) or for delivery personnel to operate when switching to a collection mode as described later, a display unit 15 for displaying the operation details, a main entrance unit control unit 16 for controlling the operation of the main entrance unit 1 itself, and a main entrance unit communication IF 17 for communicating with the control unit 5.

[0013] The entrance station 2 comprises a camera 21 for capturing images of the delivery area S in front of the entrance 8 of the living room and visitors, a call button 22 for visitors to call the resident, a microphone 23 and speaker 24 for making calls, a sub-unit control unit 25 for controlling the entrance station 2 itself, and a sub-unit communication IF 26 for communicating with the living room master unit 3.

[0014] The room master unit 3 includes a call button 31 for responding to calls from the main entrance unit 1 or the door station 2 installed in conjunction with the room master unit 3, a microphone 32 and speaker 33 for making calls when responding, an operation unit 34 for performing various operations, a display unit 35 for displaying various information in addition to images captured by the camera 11 of the main entrance unit 1 or the camera 21 of the door station 2, a master unit control unit 36 ​​for controlling the room master unit 3 itself, a master unit first communication IF 37 for communicating with the control unit 5, and a master unit second communication IF 38 for communicating with the door station 2 installed in conjunction with it. The master unit control unit 36 ​​is also equipped with a person identification unit 36a for person identification as described later, and a package monitoring unit 36b for monitoring packages placed in the delivery area S.

[0015] The control unit 5 comprises a room floor information storage unit 51 for storing the relationship between room numbers and room floors, a control unit control unit 52 for controlling the operation of the control unit 5 itself and for controlling the opening and closing of the automatic door 7, and a control unit communication IF 53 for communicating with the main entrance unit 1, room master units 3, 3..., management room master unit 4, automatic door 7, and server device 6.

[0016] Furthermore, the control of package delivery and collection in the aforementioned apartment building intercom system is as follows: Furthermore, the server device 6 stores in advance the package ID attached to the package, the delivery destination (address, including the apartment number in the case of an apartment building), and the delivery method (i.e., whether or not it is designated as a contactless delivery) associated with the package before it is delivered. In addition, when a resident requests the collection of a package, the server device 6 stores in association the information of the delivery company that was requested to collect the package and the collection destination (address, including the apartment number in the case of an apartment building) entered at the time of the collection request. Moreover, a designated area in front of the entrance 8 is designated as the delivery area S where packages are left for collection, and the coordinates of the delivery area S in the video captured by the camera 21 of the entrance unit 2 are pre-set in the package monitoring unit 36b.

[0017] The controls for delivering luggage to the living area are as follows: First, the delivery person operates the main entrance unit 1, enters the room number of the destination, and makes a call. The control unit 5 then transmits a call signal to the room master unit 3 installed in the room corresponding to the entered room number. Upon receiving the call signal, the room master unit 3 sounds a call tone to inform the resident that a visitor, in this case a delivery person, has arrived. In addition, upon receiving the operation of the main entrance unit 1 by the delivery person, the main entrance unit 1 starts imaging with the camera 11. Along with transmitting the call signal as described above, the image captured by the camera 11 is transmitted to the room master unit 3 via the control unit 5 and displayed on the display unit 35 of the room master unit 3.

[0018] Then, when a resident recognizes the call by the ringing tone and responds using the room master unit 3, a communication path is established between the room master unit 3 and the main entrance unit 1, enabling communication between the delivery person and the resident. Furthermore, if the resident performs a predetermined unlocking operation using the operation unit 34 while communicating with the delivery person, an unlocking signal is transmitted to the automatic door 7 via the controller 5, causing the automatic door 7 to unlock and open. As a result, the delivery person passes through the automatic door 7 and proceeds into the residential area, where they then call the entrance unit 2 of the room to be delivered. Upon receiving this call, the entrance unit 2 starts imaging with the camera 21 and transmits the image captured by the camera 21 (the image showing the delivery person who operated the call button 22) to the room master unit 3. The room master unit 3 then displays the image captured by the camera 21 on the display unit 35 and sounds a ringing tone to inform the resident that the delivery person has arrived in front of the room. Therefore, the resident simply needs to unlock front door 8 and receive the package from the delivery person.

[0019] The following controls apply when collecting packages placed in front of the entrance 8 of a living room. Before placing a package in the delivery area S, the resident makes a collection request by, for example, using an application on a mobile terminal to input information related to the delivery company requested to collect the package (type of delivery company), package information such as the number of packages requested for collection, the address of the collection location (the resident's address), the address of the delivery destination, and the like. As a result, as described above, the information related to the delivery company for which the collection request was made and the collection location of the package are stored in association with each other in the server device 6. Then, the resident places the package in the delivery area S for which coordinates have been set in advance, and operates the operation unit 34 of the room master unit 3 to shift the room master unit 3 from the normal mode to the monitoring mode. When the room master unit 3 shifts to the monitoring mode, it activates the camera 21 of the entrance slave unit 2, detects the package placed in the delivery area S, and executes person identification for the person as described later every time a person is captured in the video imaged by the camera 21.

[0020] On the other hand, when a delivery person who has been requested to pick up a package operates the main entrance unit 1 and enters the room number of the destination to make a call, the room master unit 3 corresponding to the room number is called, just as when the package is delivered. If a resident is present at this time and responds, and the automatic door 7 is opened, the delivery person can move to the front door 8 of the room to which the pickup has been requested. However, in conjunction with the operation of the main entrance unit 1 by the delivery person, the control unit 5 extracts an image that can authenticate the delivery person from the video captured by the camera 11 of the main entrance unit 1 as an authentication image (first image), and transmits the authentication image to the room master unit 3. When the room master unit 3 receives the authentication image from the control unit 5, it stores it in the person identification unit 36a. Furthermore, when a delivery person arrives in front of the entrance 8 of the living room and is captured by the camera 21, the person identification unit 36a of the living room master unit 3 extracts an image (second image) that can authenticate the person being captured by the camera 21 of the entrance sub-unit 2, compares that image with an authentication image stored within itself, and makes an identification determination as to whether the person being captured by the camera 21 is the delivery person, that is, whether the person who operated the main entrance unit 1 and the person currently captured by the camera 21 are the same person. If the person being captured is identified as a delivery person, the package monitoring unit 36b then detects whether the package placed in the delivery area S has been moved. Upon detecting the movement of the package, it determines that a normal collection has been performed, stops the imaging by the camera 21 of the entrance sub-unit 2, and returns from monitoring mode to normal mode.

[0021] Further, when a delivery company requested for a collection performs a calling operation on the collective entrance machine 1, there may be cases where although the resident is in the room, they cannot perform a response operation on the parent room unit 3, or the resident is not in the room in the first place. In such a case, the delivery company operates the operation unit 14 of the collective entrance machine 1 (for example, operates a collection button provided as the operation unit 14 and inputs an ID indicating the type of the delivery company) to shift the collective entrance machine 1 from a normal mode to a collection mode. Then, a collection mode signal is transmitted from the collective entrance machine 1 to the control device 5, and the control device 5 transmits the information related to the delivery company and the room number input during the calling operation to the server device 6. The server device 6 checks whether a package collection request has been made based on the received information related to the delivery company and the room number, and when it determines that a collection request has been made, transmits a permission signal to the control device 5. When the control device 5 receives the permission signal from the server device 6, it unlocks and consequently opens the automatic door 7, and restores the collective entrance machine 1 to the normal mode. Thereafter, the control executed when the delivery company who arrives in front of the entrance 8 is captured by the camera 21 is the same as the control described above.

[0022] Note that although the collective entrance machine 1 is shifted to the collection mode after calling the room, the delivery company may shift the collective entrance machine 1 to the collection mode by operating the collection button or the like before calling the room. In this case, the collective entrance machine 1 may be configured to prompt input of a room number after shifting to the collection mode, and when the room number is input by the delivery company, the control device 5 transmits the information related to the delivery company and the room number to the server device 6.

[0023] Furthermore, regardless of whether a call operation is performed by the main entrance unit 1 or whether a response operation is performed by a resident, as described above, when the system switches to monitoring mode, the person identification unit 36a identifies the person. When the package monitoring unit 36b detects that a package has moved out of the delivery area S while the person being photographed by the camera 21 has not been identified as a delivery person, it sounds a warning from the speaker 24 of the entrance unit 2 for a predetermined warning time (for example, 20 seconds). The package monitoring unit 36b also stores the image and / or video for person identification extracted by the person identification unit 36a when the package moves out of the delivery area S as suspicious person information. Note that the extraction of authentication images by the control unit 5 and transmission to the room master unit 3 is performed not only during collection but also during the delivery of the package. When the room master unit 3 receives the authentication image, it deletes the authentication image if it has not switched to monitoring mode. Furthermore, if the server device 6 determines that no collection request has been made corresponding to the room number, or that the information regarding the delivery company differs from the information specified at the time of collection request, it sends a rejection signal to the controller 5. When the controller 5 receives a rejection signal from the server device 6, it returns the main entrance unit 1 to normal mode, but does not unlock the automatic door 7. At this time, the speaker 13 may emit an audible message such as "No matching collection requests were found."

[0024] In the apartment building intercom system having the above configuration, the main entrance unit 1 is equipped with a camera 11 capable of capturing images of the person operating the main entrance unit 1, and the entrance sub-unit 2 is equipped with a camera 21 capable of capturing images of the area in front of the entrance 8, including the delivery area S. Furthermore, the person identification unit 36a of the room master unit 3 is capable of storing authentication images extracted for person identification from the video captured by camera 11 and images extracted for person identification from the video captured by camera 21. In addition, when the main entrance unit 1 is operated, the control unit 5 extracts an authentication image relating to the person who operated the main entrance unit 1 and transmits it to the room master unit 3, storing it in the person identification unit 36a. When a person is captured by camera 21, the person identification unit 36a extracts and stores an image relating to that person, and identifies whether the authentication image and the image relating to the person captured are the same person by comparing them. Furthermore, after detecting that a package is placed in the delivery area S, if the package is detected to have moved out of the delivery area S after the person identification unit 36a has not identified it as belonging to the same person, the package monitoring unit 36b is configured to emit a warning sound from the speaker 24 of the door station 2 for a predetermined warning period of time. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent situations in which packages delivered to the delivery area S are taken away by third parties other than the delivery company.

[0025] Furthermore, when the delivery company operates the main entrance unit 1 and switches to collection mode, the control unit transmits information about the delivery company and the room number, which is the information about the collection destination, to the server device 6. Based on the received information about the delivery company and the room number, the server device 6 checks whether a collection request has been made. If it determines that a collection request has been made, it transmits a permission signal to the control unit 5. Upon receiving the permission signal from the server device 6, the control unit 5 unlocks and opens the automatic door 7. Therefore, the delivery company can proceed smoothly to the front door 8 of the room where the collection will take place simply by operating the control unit 14 of the main entrance unit 1, resulting in a user-friendly intercom system for apartment buildings.

[0026] Furthermore, the intercom system for apartment buildings according to the present invention can be modified as necessary, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, not only in terms of the overall configuration of the intercom system for apartment buildings and the overall configuration of each device, but also in terms of the configuration related to monitoring packages delivered to the delivery area.

[0027] For example, in the above embodiment, the speaker of the door station is used as a notification means, but it is also possible to install a red light on the door station as a notification means and configure it to light up or flash for a predetermined warning time. Alternatively, the speaker of the room master unit or the management room master unit may be used as a notification means, or notifications may be sent to a mobile terminal carried by the resident. The installation location and specific structure of the notification means can be modified as appropriate.

[0028] Furthermore, in this invention, the state in which the comparison between the first image and the second image does not identify them as the same person is not limited to cases where the comparison between the first image and the second image identifies them as different people, but also includes a state in which the first image is not stored at all.

[0029] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when switching the main entrance unit to collection mode, an ID indicating the type of delivery company is entered. However, instead of entering an ID, a separate button could be provided for each delivery company, or information related to the delivery company could not be entered at all. Alternatively, the unit could be switched to collection mode by operating the control unit used to call a room in a predetermined manner, and the design of how the main entrance unit switches to collection mode can be modified as appropriate.

[0030] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an operating unit for switching the room master unit to monitoring mode is provided on the room master unit, but for example, the system may be switched to monitoring mode using a mobile terminal, and the design of how the room master unit switches to monitoring mode can be appropriately modified.

[0031] Furthermore, the first and second images may be images of a person's face, or images of a person's entire body may be used for person identification. In addition, although the above embodiment is configured to directly control the opening and closing of the automatic door, it may also be configured to control the opening and closing of the automatic door via, for example, a communal entrance unit. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0032] 1. Main entrance unit, 2. Entrance sub-unit, 3. Room master unit, 5. Control unit (monitoring and control means, automatic door control means), 6. Server device, 7. Automatic door, 8. Entrance, 11. Camera (first camera), 14. Operation unit, 21. Camera (second camera), 24. Speaker (notification means), 34. Operation unit, 36a. Person identification unit (monitoring and control means), 36b. Package monitoring unit (monitoring and control means), S. Delivery area.

Claims

1. An intercom system for an apartment building comprising: a main entrance unit installed at the entrance of the apartment building for visitors to call residents; an apartment master unit installed in each apartment to answer calls; a control unit that controls communication between the main entrance unit and the apartment master unit; an apartment sub-unit installed in front of the entrance of each apartment to call the apartment master unit; monitoring and control means for monitoring packages placed in a predetermined delivery area in front of the entrance; and notification means that perform notification operations in a predetermined manner, The aforementioned main entrance unit is equipped with a first camera capable of capturing images of the person operating the main entrance unit, and the aforementioned door station is equipped with a second camera capable of capturing images of the area in front of the entrance, including the delivery area. The monitoring and control means is capable of storing a first image extracted from the video captured by the first camera for the purpose of identifying a person, and a second image extracted from the video captured by the second camera for the purpose of identifying a person. When the collective entrance unit is operated, the monitoring and control means extracts and stores the first image relating to the person who operated the collective entrance unit, When a person appears in the second camera's view, the system extracts and stores the second image relating to that person, and then identifies whether the first image and the second image are of the same person by comparing them. An intercom system for apartment buildings, characterized in that, after detecting that a package is placed in the delivery area, if the comparison results do not identify the package as belonging to the same person, the system detects that the package has moved out of the delivery area and notifies the system of the situation using the notification means.

2. A server device is provided that stores information relating to the pickup location of the packages for which pickup has been requested, and the control unit and the server device are capable of communicating with each other. The aforementioned entrance separates the outside from the living area and includes an automatic door through which one passes when proceeding from the entrance to the living area, and an automatic door control means for controlling the locking and unlocking of the automatic door. The control unit transmits the information relating to the collection destination, which was input at the main entrance unit, to the server device. The server device checks whether a pickup request has been made to the pickup location based on the received information relating to the pickup location, and if it determines that a pickup request has been made, it transmits a permission signal to the control unit. The apartment building intercom system according to claim 1, characterized in that the automatic door control means unlocks the automatic door upon receiving the permission signal in the control unit.

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