Apartment Intercom System

Abstract

To transfer a first call to a manager's room, and then transfer the call to an original call destination by subsequent transfer operation.SOLUTION: An apartment-house intercom system includes an apartment-house entrance machine 1, a room master machine 2 and a management master machine 4, and has a reception mode in which a call to an arbitrary dwelling unit from the apartment-house entrance machine 1 is transmitted to the management master machine 4 evenly. The control master unit 4 includes a transfer button 42a for re-transferring a call transferred in the reception mode to an original call destination, and the control master unit CPU 47 got re-transferring a call to the room master machine 2 of an original call destination dwelling unit in response to a call in the reception mode when the transfer button 42a is pushed in a state where a call path is formed with the apartment-house entrance machine 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an intercom system for an apartment building, and more particularly to an intercom system for an apartment building that allows a caretaker to respond to calls made by visitors to a resident on a first-come, first-served basis. [Background technology]

[0002] In an apartment complex intercom system, when a visitor operates the apartment unit installed at the entrance, selects the residence they wish to visit, and makes a call, the main unit in the called residence's room makes a call, and when the resident recognizes this and answers the main unit in their room, a call path is created. Among such conventional systems, there are systems that have a call forwarding function, so that if the person in question is not at home and cannot answer the call, the call can be forwarded to a manager's office, and the manager can answer the call on behalf of the person in question (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-101328 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The above-mentioned conventional systems equipped with a call forwarding function were based on the assumption that the called resident would be away from home, and did not have the function of redirecting a call forwarded to the manager's office back to the original call recipient. However, for security reasons, there is a demand for a system in which the manager always receives the first call regardless of whether the resident is present or not, and then the call is forwarded to the original call destination. In such cases, a function to forward the call again to the original call destination is essential.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide an apartment building intercom system that allows the initial call to be transferred to the manager's office and then re-transferred to the original call destination by a subsequent transfer operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 1 provides an apartment complex intercom system equipped with a collective entrance unit installed at the entrance so that visitors can call residents, room master units installed in each dwelling unit so that residents can respond to calls from visitors, and a management master unit installed in the manager's room so that residents can talk to visitors or residents, the system having a reception mode that transmits calls from the collective entrance unit to the uniform management master unit, the management master unit having a transfer button that re-transfers a call in the reception mode to the original call destination, and a transfer control unit that, in response to a call transferred in the reception mode, re-transfers the call to the room master unit of the original called dwelling unit when the transfer button is operated with a communication path established with the collective entrance unit. and the transfer control unit transmits a call signal having the ID of the collective entrance unit to the original call destination room master unit upon receiving a re-transfer operation, and when the room master unit responds, the call path between the collective entrance unit and the management master unit is disconnected, and a call path is formed between the re-transfer destination room master unit and the collective entrance unit. Let us assume that. With this configuration, all calls from the common entrance unit are forwarded to the manager's room, allowing the manager to handle the initial response and improving security measures against suspicious people, etc. Furthermore, with the simple operation of operating the forwarding button, calls are forwarded from the management master unit to the original call destination, eliminating the hassle of inputting the forwarding destination such as a room number, minimizing the burden on the manager.

[0007] In addition, When the re-transfer destination room master unit responds, a call path is formed directly between the room master unit and the collective entrance unit without first being connected to the management master unit, so that the called resident can smoothly respond to the call from the visitor.

[0008] Claim 2 The invention is claimed 1In the configuration described above, the collective entrance machine has a collective entrance machine display unit that displays the call destination, and when a call from the collective entrance machine is being forwarded to the management master unit, the collective entrance machine display unit displays that the call has been forwarded to the management master unit, and when the call is again forwarded from the management master unit to the original call destination, the dwelling unit information of the original call destination is displayed. According to this configuration, when a call is transferred in reception mode, the information of the transfer destination is displayed on the collective entrance terminal, and when the call is then transferred again to the original call destination, the dwelling unit information is displayed, making it easy for the visitor to understand the situation.

[0009] Claim 3 The invention of claim 1 or 2 In the configuration described in the above, the collective entrance unit has a camera for capturing images of visitors, and the management parent unit has a monitor for displaying images captured by the camera, A feature of this system is that in the reception mode, the image captured by the camera is displayed on the monitor of the management master unit to which the call is transferred. According to this configuration, the manager can check the visitor on video even if the call is a forwarded call, which is effective in improving security.

[0010] The invention of claim 4 is 3 In any one of the configurations described above, the management master unit is characterized by having a display unit that displays the dwelling unit information of the original call destination when a call is transferred in reception mode. With this configuration, the manager can know the callee of the visitor and can easily respond to the call. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, calls from the common entrance unit are uniformly forwarded to the manager's room, allowing the manager to take primary action and improving security against suspicious individuals, etc. Furthermore, with the simple operation of operating the forwarding button, calls are forwarded from the management master unit to the original call destination, eliminating the hassle of inputting the forwarding destination, such as a room number, and minimizing the burden on the manager. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of an apartment building intercom system according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a management parent device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an apartment house intercom system according to the present invention. The apartment house intercom system includes an apartment entrance unit 1 installed at the entrance of the apartment house to allow visitors to call residents, a room master unit 2 installed in each dwelling unit to respond to calls from the apartment entrance unit 1, an entrance slave unit 3 installed at the entrance of the dwelling unit to call residents, and a management master unit 4 installed in the management room to talk to residents, etc.

[0014] Reference numeral 5 denotes a hub, and each device is connected to a LAN via communication line L1, with communication between devices being carried out by IP (Internet Protocol). Also, the figure shows a configuration in which two room master units 2 and two management master units 4 are installed in each residence. By carrying out communication between devices by IP, it is easy to add more room master units 2, etc.

[0015] The collective entrance device 1 is equipped with a camera 11 for capturing images of visitors, an operation unit 12 for selecting or inputting the residence to be called, a display unit 13 for displaying the call destination, etc., a microphone 14 for making calls, and a speaker 15. The operation unit 12 is made up of a touch panel and is integrated with the display unit 13.

[0016] The room master unit 2 includes a call button 21 for responding to a call, a monitor 22 for displaying the image captured by the camera 11 and various information, and an operation unit 23. The operation unit 23 is configured as a touch panel and is integrated with the monitor 22. The entrance slave unit 3 includes a slave camera 31 for capturing an image of a visitor, a call button 32 for calling the resident, a microphone 33 and a speaker 34 for making a call, and the like.

[0017] Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of the management master unit 4. As shown in Fig. 2, the management master unit 4 includes a display unit 41 that displays various information in addition to the image captured by the camera 11, an operation unit 42 consisting of a touch panel, a speaker 43 that outputs ringtones and the like, a handset 44 for making calls, a call circuit 45 that controls the speaker 43 and the handset 44, a memory unit 46 that stores various information including transfer information, a management master unit CPU 47 that controls the management master unit 4, and a management master unit communication IF 48 that communicates with the collective entrance unit 1 and the room master units 2.

[0018] The operation of the intercom system configured as described above is as follows. However, since calls from the collective entrance unit 1 in normal mode where calls are not forwarded to the management master unit 4 and the response operation by the room master unit 2, etc. are the same as in the past, explanations will be omitted. Here, the explanation will focus on the operation when set to reception mode where calls from the collective entrance unit 1 are uniformly forwarded to the management master unit 4. The operation of switching to reception mode is performed by a specified operation of the management master unit 4. When the reception mode is set, all calls from the collective entrance unit 1 are transferred to the management master unit 4. The following describes, as an example, a case where a call is made to residence 101.

[0019] The call signal to apartment 101 includes the ID of apartment 101, which is the called apartment, but in the reception mode, the ID of the manager's office is added as the destination ID when the signal is sent. The two management master units 4 that receive this call signal perform a call operation and sound a call tone. Also, the visitor video captured by the camera 11 is displayed on the display unit 41. Furthermore, the display unit 41 displays that the call originated from the collective entrance unit 1, and that the original call destination was apartment number 101. Meanwhile, the display unit 1 of the call originated from displays on its display unit 13 that the call has been forwarded to the management master unit 4.

[0020] When the manager picks up the handset 44 of one of the management base units 4 upon receiving the call, a communication path is established between the management base unit 4 and the collective entrance unit 1. The other management base unit 4 ends the call operation upon receiving the answering operation of the one management base unit 4 and returns to the standby state. By establishing the communication path, the manager can talk to the visitor while watching the visitor's image displayed on the display unit 41 of the manager master unit 4. In this way, when the manager, who has confirmed that the visitor is a visitor to apartment 101 by viewing the visitor image displayed on display unit 41 while making the call, operates (touches) transfer button 42a provided on operation unit 42, the call signal is retransferred to the room master unit 2 of apartment 101. However, if the manager determines that the visitor is suspicious, the call is ended without operating transfer button 42a.

[0021] When the transfer button 42a is operated, a call signal bearing the ID of the collective entrance unit 1 as the call origin is sent to the two room master units 2 in dwelling unit No. 101. When the handset 44 is returned to the main unit in this state, the call path to the collective entrance unit 1 is disconnected, and the call destination display on the collective entrance unit 1 changes from the manager's office to dwelling unit No. 101. The transfer operation also transfers the image captured by camera 11, and it is displayed on the monitor 22 of the room master unit 2. When one of the room master units 2 responds to the call signal transferred from the management master unit 4, a communication path is established between the room master unit 2 and the collective entrance unit 1. Then, the other room master unit 2 returns to the standby state. In this way, the resident who answered the call can talk to the visitor while watching the video of the visitor. After the call is finished, the call path is disconnected and the system returns to the standby state.

[0022] In this way, all calls from the common entrance unit 1 are forwarded to the manager's room, allowing the manager to handle the initial response and improving security measures against suspicious people, etc. Furthermore, with the simple operation of operating the forwarding button 42a, the call is forwarded from the manager master unit 4 to the original call destination, eliminating the hassle of inputting the forwarding destination such as a room number, and minimizing the burden on the manager. In addition, when the re-forwarding destination room master unit 2 responds, a call path is established between the room master unit 2 and the collective entrance unit 1 without first connecting to the management master unit 4, so that the called resident can smoothly respond to the call from the visitor. In addition, when a call is transferred in reception mode, the information of the transfer destination is displayed on the collective entrance unit 1, and if the call is then transferred again to the original call destination, the residence information is displayed, making it easy for the visitor to understand the situation. Furthermore, since the manager can check the visitor on video even if the call is a forwarded call, it is effective in improving security, and since the original call destination is displayed on the forwarded management parent unit 4, the manager can know the call destination of the visitor and easily respond.

[0023] In the above embodiment, when the room master unit 2 which has received a re-transfer from the management master unit 4 responds, a call path is formed between the collective entrance unit 1 and the room master unit 2 without forming a call path with the management master unit 4. However, a call path may be first formed between the management master unit 4 and the room master unit 2, and then a call path may be formed between the collective entrance unit 1 and the room master unit by a specified operation of the management master unit 4. In addition, the operation of selecting the call destination based on the apartment number has been shown, but if the call destination is a store or office located in the apartment complex, the collective entrance device 1 can be configured to select or input the store or office name. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 1·· Collective entrance unit, 2·· Room main unit, 3·· Entrance sub-unit, 4·· Management main unit, 11·· Camera, 13·· Display unit (collective entrance unit display unit), 41·· Display unit (monitor), 42·· Operation unit, 42a·· Transfer button, 47·· Management main unit CPU (transfer control unit).

Claims

1. In an apartment complex intercom system, there is a collective entrance unit installed at the entrance so that visitors can call residents, a room master unit installed in each dwelling unit so that residents can answer calls from visitors, and a manager master unit installed in the manager's room so that residents can talk to visitors or residents. A reception mode is provided for transmitting a call from the collective entrance unit to any one of the dwelling units to a uniform management master unit, The management master unit has a transfer button for transferring a call in the reception mode to the original call destination again, and a transfer control unit for transferring the call again to the room master unit of the original call destination dwelling unit when the transfer button is operated in a state where a call path is established between the management master unit and the collective entrance unit in response to the call transferred in the reception mode, This is an apartment building intercom system characterized in that, in response to a re-transfer operation, the transfer control unit sends a call signal including the ID of the collective entrance unit to the room master unit of the original call destination, and when the room master unit answers the call, it disconnects the call path between the collective entrance unit and the management master unit and forms a call path between the room master unit of the re-transfer destination and the collective entrance unit.

2. The collective entrance machine has a collective entrance machine display unit that displays a call destination, When a call from the collective entrance unit is being forwarded to the management master unit, the collective entrance unit display unit displays that the call is being forwarded to the management master unit, 2. The intercom system for an apartment building according to claim 1, wherein when the call is re-transferred from said management master unit to the original call destination, dwelling unit information of the original call destination is displayed.

3. The collective entrance unit has a camera for capturing images of visitors, and the management parent unit has a monitor for displaying images captured by the camera, 3. The intercom system according to claim 1, wherein in the management master unit to which a call is transferred in the reception mode, the image captured by the camera is displayed on the monitor.

4. 4. An intercom system for an apartment building according to claim 1, wherein the management base unit has a display unit which displays information about the dwelling unit to which the call was originally directed when the call was forwarded in the reception mode.

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