Intercom system, control method, and control program

Abstract

To provide an intercom system that makes it easy to introduce coordination with an external system.SOLUTION: An intercom system comprises: an aggregate entrance device provided in a shared section of an aggregate facility; and an entrance slave apparatus that is provided on the shared section side of a facility included in the aggregate facility and is used for a call with an information terminal in the facility. The intercom system further comprises: a first communication unit for communicating with an external system provided outside the aggregate facility; and a second communication unit for wirelessly communicating with the entrance slave apparatus. The first communication unit and the second communication unit are provided in the aggregate entrance device, for example.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an intercom system, a control method using an intercom system, and a control program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, intercom systems with auto-lock functions have been installed in many collective facilities such as condominiums and apartments. Intercom systems generally include a lobby intercom device installed at the common entrance, an entrance handset installed in the common area of ​​each dwelling unit, and an intercom master unit capable of communicating with the entrance handset (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Note that intercom systems are often not installed in older properties or small properties, and it is not easy to introduce such intercom systems into existing properties. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-193234 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the case of condominiums, apartments, and other properties, it is common for management companies to visit the site and perform management tasks such as setting and changing passwords to unlock the electronic autolock, posting information for residents, and being present during construction and viewings. In recent years, attempts have been made to perform some of the management tasks by remotely controlling an intercom system, but it is not easy to link an intercom system to an external system. In particular, it is difficult to introduce an intercom system and link it to an external system in complex facilities such as old properties and small properties that do not have an existing intercom system.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an intercom system that can easily be integrated with an external system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The intercom system of the present disclosure is an intercom system comprising a collective entrance device provided in a common area of ​​a collective facility, and a entrance sub-unit provided on the common area side of a facility included in the collective facility for communicating with an information terminal within the facility, and is characterized in that it further comprises a first communication unit that communicates with an external system provided outside the collective facility, and a second communication unit that communicates wirelessly with the entrance sub-unit.

[0007] The control method disclosed herein is a control method using an intercom system including an collective entrance device provided in a common area of ​​a collective facility and a entrance sub-unit provided on the common area side of a facility included in the collective facility for communicating with an information terminal within the facility, and is characterized in including a step of communicating with an external system provided outside the collective facility and receiving first information from the external system, and a step of transmitting second information based on the first information to the entrance sub-unit via wireless communication with the entrance sub-unit.

[0008] Further, a control program according to the present disclosure is a program for implementing the above control method on a computer. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, an intercom system can be provided that allows easy introduction of linkage with external systems. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an intercom system according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an intercom system. [Diagram 3] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for providing information to a resident using an intercom system. [Figure 4] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for acquiring information from a dwelling unit using an intercom system. [Diagram 5] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for confirming the safety of a resident using an intercom system. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a modified example of the intercom system. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a modified example of the intercom system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are merely examples, and the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. In addition, selective combinations of multiple embodiments and modified examples described below are included in the scope of the present disclosure.

[0012] The subject of the device and system of the present disclosure includes a computer. The computer executes a program to realize the functions of the subject of the device and system of the present disclosure. The computer includes a processor that operates according to the program as a main hardware configuration. The type of the processor does not matter as long as it can realize the above functions by executing the program. The processor is composed of one or more electronic circuits including an integrated circuit (IC) or a large scale integrated circuit (LSI). The multiple electronic circuits may be integrated into one chip or may be provided on multiple chips. The multiple chips may be integrated into one device or may be provided on multiple devices. The program is stored in a non-transitory storage medium such as a computer-readable ROM, an optical disk, or a hard disk drive. The program may be stored in the storage medium in advance, or may be supplied to the storage medium via a wide area communication network including the Internet.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an intercom system 1 according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the intercom system 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the intercom system includes a lobby intercom device 10 provided at a common entrance 2, which is a common area of ​​the collective facility, and a doorway sub-unit 30 provided on the common area side of a dwelling unit 3, which is a facility included in the collective facility. The intercom system 1 is a system with an auto-lock function that is installed in a collective housing unit such as an apartment or condominium. The doorway sub-unit 30 is a device for communicating with an information terminal in the dwelling unit 3. In this embodiment, an intercom master unit 40 that is connected to the doorway sub-unit 3 by wire is provided as an information terminal. The intercom master unit 40 is also generally called a housing information panel.

[0014] Generally, one entrance slave unit 30 and one intercom master unit 40 are installed in each dwelling unit 3. The intercom master unit 40 is installed inside each dwelling unit 3 and is connected to one entrance slave unit 30 so that communication can be performed therebetween. The entrance slave unit 30 is installed outside each dwelling unit 3, for example, near the entrance facing the corridor which is a common area. Each dwelling unit 3 may be provided with a sub-master unit connected to the entrance slave unit 30 so that communication can be performed therebetween via the intercom master unit 40.

[0015] The intercom system 1 will be described as being applied to a collective housing complex where the property is managed by a management company for a condominium, apartment, or the like, but the application of the intercom system according to the present disclosure is not limited to collective housing. The intercom system according to the present disclosure can also be applied to an office building where multiple facilities are gathered together, a research facility, a medical facility, a care facility, an accommodation facility, and the like. Note that, instead of the intercom master unit 40, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a mobile phone may be used as an information terminal capable of communicating with the entrance slave unit 30.

[0016] Although described in more detail below, the intercom system 1 further includes a first communication unit 14 that communicates with an external system present outside the apartment building, and a second communication unit 15 that communicates wirelessly with the front door unit 30. In this embodiment, the first communication unit 14 and the second communication unit 15 are provided in the lobby intercom device 10. In the intercom system 1, communication between the lobby intercom device 10 and the front door unit 30 is performed by wireless communication via the second communication unit 15, so no wiring work is required between the lobby intercom device 10 and the front door unit 30 of each dwelling unit 3. This makes it easy to install the system in existing properties.

[0017] In addition, because the front door sub-unit 30 that communicates wirelessly with the lobby intercom device 10 is installed in a location facing the corridor of each dwelling unit 3, the number of obstacles that can impede wireless communication is fewer than when wireless communication is performed between the lobby intercom device 10 and the intercom master unit 40. Therefore, by connecting the lobby intercom device 10 and the front door sub-unit 30 with a wireless communication system and communicating between the lobby intercom device 10 and the intercom master unit 40 via the front door sub-unit 30, attenuation of wireless signal strength is suppressed and good communication conditions are ensured.

[0018] The intercom system 1 can communicate with an external system via the first communication unit 14. In this embodiment, a management server 100 of a management company is exemplified as an external system. The management server 100 transmits first information to be notified to residents to the intercom system 1. The intercom system 1 receives the first information via the first communication unit 14 of the lobby intercom device 10. In this specification, information transmitted from the external system and received by the first communication unit is referred to as "first information." The lobby intercom device 10 is connected to the management server 100 via a wide area communication network such as an Internet line and a router 60.

[0019] The lobby intercom device 10 transmits, for example, second information based on the first information received from the management server 100 to the intercom master unit 40 of a specific dwelling unit 3. The second information transmitted from the lobby intercom device 10 based on the first information is transmitted to the intercom master unit 40 via the entrance sub-unit 30. The second information may be substantially the same as the first information, or may be information in which the first information has been modified. By using the intercom system 1, the management company can provide the necessary information to residents without having to visit the site. This allows the frequency of site visits to be reduced, greatly reducing the management burden.

[0020] The apartment building in which the intercom system 1 is installed has a common entrance 2 and multiple dwelling units 3. There may be multiple common entrances 2, but in this embodiment there is only one. The common entrance 2 is provided with a front door 12 and a locking device 13 that locks the front door 12. The locking device 13 is an auto-lock device that automatically locks the front door 12 when the front door 12 is closed, and activates an electric lock attached to the front door 12. The front door 12 is, for example, an automatic door, and is basically kept locked under normal circumstances. The common entrance 2 may be provided with a non-contact key detection device 11 that detects a pre-registered card key.

[0021] At the shared entrance 2, a lobby intercom device 10 is installed outside the front door 12. In order for a visitor to enter inside the front door 12, the visitor must call the dwelling unit 3 they are visiting using the lobby intercom device 10 and ask the resident of that dwelling unit 3 to unlock the electric lock on the front door 12. The resident can confirm the visitor using the intercom master unit 40 and operate the intercom master unit 40 to unlock the electric lock. The non-contact key detection device 11 is installed outside the front door 12, just like the lobby intercom device 10.

[0022] The non-contact key detection device 11, together with the lobby intercom device 10, constitutes a common entrance device. The card keys detected by the non-contact key detection device 11 are held by the residents of each dwelling unit 3 or by people related to the residents (e.g., parents, children, other relatives, the owner of the dwelling unit 3, the management company for the dwelling unit 3, etc.). Each card key has identification information (ID) of the holder, resident (representative), or the dwelling unit 3 or intercom master unit 40. Therefore, it is possible to identify the holder, etc. of a card key authenticated by the non-contact key detection device 11. The non-contact key detection device 11 is an input unit that acquires the identification information of the card key holder, etc., and when the non-contact key detection device 11 detects a pre-registered card key, the electric lock on the front door 12 is unlocked.

[0023] As described above, each dwelling unit 3 is provided with one entrance door sub-unit 30 and one intercom master unit 40. The intercom master unit 40 is connected to the entrance door sub-unit 30 by wire and can communicate with the lobby intercom device 10 via the entrance door sub-unit 30. Using the intercom master unit 40, a resident can talk to a visitor via the lobby intercom device 10 and the entrance door sub-unit 30 and can check a video image of the visitor. As will be described in detail later, the entrance door sub-unit 30 has a function of relaying communication between the lobby intercom device 10 and the intercom master unit 40, and includes a first communication unit 35A and a second communication unit 35B as communication interfaces.

[0024] A residential fire alarm 50 or a detector connected to the intercom master unit 40 may be installed in the dwelling unit 3. The residential fire alarm 50 is an alarm that detects smoke, heat, etc. and notifies the occurrence of a fire. The detector is, for example, a device that constitutes a part of a disaster prevention system in which a receiver is installed in a manager's room or the like. The residential fire alarm 50 warns the occurrence of a fire by voice, buzzer sound, etc., and transmits fire occurrence information to the intercom master unit 40. As will be described in detail later, the lobby intercom device 10 may obtain third information such as fire occurrence information from the intercom master unit 40 via the entrance slave unit 30 and the second communication unit 15, and transmit fourth information based on the third information to the management server 100 via the first communication unit 14. In addition to fires, a device that can detect abnormalities such as gas leaks, earthquakes, and intrusions of suspicious people may be installed in the dwelling unit 3.

[0025] The lobby intercom device 10, the entrance handset 30, and the intercom master unit 40 will be described in further detail below.

[0026] [Lobby intercom device 10] The lobby intercom device 10 includes, as user interfaces, a speaker 17, a microphone 18, and an input unit for calling the intercom master unit 40. The lobby intercom device 10 also includes a monitor 21, a camera 22, and a control unit 16. One example of the input unit is a numeric keypad 19 for inputting an apartment number, and a call button 20 for making a call. A visitor can call the apartment 3 they are visiting by inputting the apartment number with the numeric keypad 19 and pressing the call button 20. The lobby intercom device 10 may be provided with a human presence sensor.

[0027] When a call is made, the lobby intercom device 10 transmits call information to the intercom master unit 40 of the dwelling unit 3 corresponding to the dwelling unit number entered using the numeric keypad 19. At this time, a call tone is output from the speaker 17, and if a resident responds, the voice is output. The visitor's voice is picked up by the microphone 18 and transmitted to the intercom master unit 40 of the called party, so that a conversation can be made with the resident. In addition, when a call is made, the lobby intercom device 10 captures an image of the visitor using the camera 22, displays the image on the monitor 21, and transmits it to the intercom master unit 40 of the called party.

[0028] The lobby intercom device 10 has, for example, an IF section (not shown) that performs signal processing. In the lobby intercom device 10, the microphone 18 acquires voice, converts it into an electrical signal and outputs it to the IF section, which then converts the electrical signal into a predetermined audio signal and outputs it to the control section 16. The IF section also acquires an audio signal from the control section 16, converts it into an electrical signal and outputs it to the speaker 17. The IF section similarly processes the image acquired by the camera 22 and displayed on the monitor 21.

[0029] As described above, the lobby intercom device 10 includes the first communication unit 14 and the second communication unit 15. The first communication unit 14 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving information to and from the management server 100, which is an external system. The first communication unit 14 is connected to the management server 100 via a wide area communication network such as an Internet line and a router 60. The router 60 is, for example, a router with a modem function. The first communication unit 14 receives first information from the management server 100 and outputs it to the control unit 16. An example of the first communication unit 14 is a wired LAN interface to which a LAN (Local Area Network) cable is connected.

[0030] The second communication unit 15 is a communication interface including a wireless communication module for transmitting and receiving information to and from the front door slave unit 30 via wireless communication. The wireless communication module mainly uses a module with an appropriate communication standard depending on the distance from the front door slave unit 30. The second communication unit 15 includes, for example, a wireless LAN module capable of wireless communication with a plurality of front door slave units 30. An example of the wireless LAN module is a Wi-Fi (registered trademark) module. In addition, the second communication unit 15 is set with an SSID (Service Set Identifier) ​​used for wireless communication.

[0031] The second communication unit 15 transmits information output from the control unit 16 to the front door sub-unit 30, and outputs information received from the front door sub-unit 30 to the control unit 16. The second communication unit 15 transmits and receives audio signals to and from the front door sub-unit 30, and transmits video signals to the front door sub-unit 30. The second communication unit 15 further transmits second information based on the first information acquired from the management server 100 to the front door sub-unit 30. The information transmitted to the front door sub-unit 30 is transmitted to the intercom master unit 40 via the front door sub-unit 30. The second communication unit 15 also receives third information output from the intercom master unit 40 from the front door sub-unit 30.

[0032] The lobby intercom device 10 includes a control unit 16 for executing each of the above-mentioned processes. The control unit 16 is configured, for example, by a microcomputer having a processor 23 and a memory 24. The memory 24 includes a non-volatile memory for storing a control program and various information. Examples of non-volatile memory include a RAM, a ROM, and a hard disk. The processor 23 reads and executes the control program installed in the memory 24 to realize the functions of the lobby intercom device 10, including the functions of each processing unit described below.

[0033] The memory 24 of the control unit 16 stores communication information required for wireless communication with each of the front door slave units 30 of the multiple dwelling units 3. One example of the communication information is the MAC address and IP address of the front door slave unit 30. Other information may be stored in the memory 24 as communication information. The communication information of each front door slave unit 30 is stored in association with the room number of the dwelling unit 3. Therefore, when the first information received from the management server 100 includes destination information indicating a specific room number, the second information based on the first information can be transmitted only to the front door slave unit 30 of the specific dwelling unit 3.

[0034] The control unit 16 includes a first processing unit 25 that executes a call process for the intercom master unit 40. When a call operation is performed, the first processing unit 25 executes a process of outputting call information to the called intercom master unit 40, outputting a call sound from the speaker 41 of the intercom master unit 40, and displaying an image of the visitor on the monitor 45. For example, when a human presence sensor detects a visitor approaching the lobby intercom device 10, the first processing unit 25 starts capturing an image with the camera 22, and when a call button 20 is pressed to execute a call, outputs an image of the visitor to the called intercom master unit 40.

[0035] The first processing unit 25 extracts information on the room number of the call destination from the operation signal of the call, and obtains communication information of the call destination front door slave unit 30 from the memory 24. The first processing unit 25 creates call information using this communication information, and outputs it to the call destination front door slave unit 30 by wireless communication via the second communication unit 15. The call information transmitted to the front door slave unit 30 is transmitted from the front door slave unit 30 to the intercom master unit 40 connected by wire. As will be described in detail later, the SSID of the second communication unit 15 is set in the first communication unit 35A of the front door slave unit 30.

[0036] When a resident responds to the call, the first processing unit 25 causes the speaker 17 of the lobby intercom device 10 to output the voice, and when an operation signal of the unlock button 44 is received, executes processing for unlocking the electric lock of the front door 12. The information output from the intercom master unit 40 is transmitted to the lobby intercom device 10 by wireless communication via the front door slave unit 30. The first processing unit 25 executes the above-mentioned call processing in cooperation with the control unit 36 ​​of the front door slave unit 30 and the control unit 46 of the intercom master unit 40.

[0037] Residents and related parties of each dwelling unit 3 can unlock the electric lock on the front door 12 by holding their card key over the non-contact key detection device 11. If a password is set in the lobby intercom device 10 as unlocking information for unlocking the front door 12, the electric lock can also be unlocked by entering the password on the numeric keypad 19. It is preferable that the password be changed periodically, and in this embodiment it is changed by the management company. Furthermore, information that is valid for a specified period of time, or information that is valid for a specified number of times (for example, a one-time password) may be set as the unlocking information.

[0038] The control unit 16 includes a second processing unit 26 and a third processing unit 27 as processing units for executing processing related to property management. The second processing unit 26 executes processing based on the first information acquired from the management server 100 via the first communication unit 14. The second processing unit 26 transmits second information based on the first information to the intercom master unit 40 via the second communication unit 15 and the entrance slave unit 30. The third processing unit 27 executes processing for transmitting information from the intercom system 1 to the management server 100 via the first communication unit 14. The third processing unit 27 transmits, for example, abnormality occurrence information acquired from the intercom master unit 40 via the second communication unit 15 to the management server 100. In this specification, the information transmitted from the first communication unit to the external system is referred to as "fourth information."

[0039] The second processing unit 26 extracts destination information for identifying the destination of the information from the first information, and obtains the communication information of the front door slave unit 30 corresponding to the destination information from the memory 24. The second processing unit 26 creates second information based on the first information using this communication information, and transmits the second information to the target front door slave unit 30 by wireless communication via the second communication unit 15. The second information is transmitted to the intercom master unit 40 via the front door slave unit 30, similar to the call information. The second information is displayed on the monitor 45 of the intercom master unit 40, for example, so that the resident can easily check the information transmitted from the management company. The intercom master unit 40 may blink an LED to notify the reception of the second information.

[0040] The first information transmitted from the management server 100 is information necessary or useful for living in an apartment complex, and is information that a management company would conventionally visit the property and post on a bulletin board in paper form.Specifically, various types of information include notices of maintenance and construction of elevators, parking lots, and other common areas, notices of regular cleaning, notices regarding garbage collection and sorting, information on how to use and recruiting for bicycle parking lots and parking lots, requests for keeping pets and observing proper etiquette, requests for removing personal belongings from common areas, notices of moving in and out, notices of disaster prevention drills, notices of general meetings, notices of water outages, notices of preparations for approaching typhoons, local information, information on suspicious people, and questionnaires.

[0041] The second information based on the first information is transmitted to the intercom master unit 40 via the front door slave unit 30, and the second information may be substantially the same as the first information as described above, or may be information obtained by modifying the first information. For example, when the first information includes information on the room number of the dwelling unit 3 as destination information, the second processing unit 26 may create the second information by rewriting this information to communication information of the front door slave unit 30.

[0042] Specific examples of destination information included in the first information include communication information (MAC address, IP address, etc.) of the lobby intercom device 10, the room number of the dwelling unit 3, and communication information (MAC address, IP address, etc.) of the front door sub-unit 30. When the destination of the first information is the lobby intercom device 10, the first information includes, for example, the MAC address and IP address of the lobby intercom device 10. When the destination of the first information is the intercom master unit 40 of the dwelling unit 3, in addition to the communication information of the lobby intercom device 10, the first information includes the room number of the dwelling unit 3 or the communication information of the front door sub-unit 30.

[0043] The second communication unit 15 changes the communication method with the front door slave unit 30 based on the first information under the control of the second processing unit 26. The communication method includes at least one selected from unicast, multicast, and broadcast. In the intercom system 1, it is possible to set all dwelling units 3, a specific number of dwelling units 3, or one dwelling unit 3 as the information transmission destination. In this case, wireless communication is performed by unicast, multicast, or broadcast based on the destination information of the first information. In this specification, unicast means communication with one front door slave unit 30, and broadcast means communication with all front door slave units 30. Multicast means communication with a specific number of front door slave units 30.

[0044] When the first information includes destination information indicating the room number of one dwelling unit 3, the second processing unit 26 acquires communication information of one front door slave unit 30 and performs wireless communication by unicast. In this embodiment, broadcast communication information (e.g., a broadcast IP address) corresponding to information transmission to all front door slave units 30 is stored in the memory 24. When the first information includes destination information indicating the room numbers of all dwelling units 3, wireless communication is performed by broadcast using the broadcast communication information. In addition, the dwelling units 3 (front door slave units 30) may be divided into groups, and multicast communication information (e.g., a multicast IP address) corresponding to information transmission to these groups may be stored in the memory 24.

[0045] When the first information includes destination information indicating a group of dwelling units 3, the second processing unit 26 performs wireless communication by multicast using communication information for multicast. Examples of groups of dwelling units 3 include a group set by floor unit of dwelling units 3, a group of dwelling units 3 with pets, a group of dwelling units 3 with small children, a group of dwelling units 3 with elderly people, a group of dwelling units 3 that use specific facilities such as a parking lot or bicycle parking lot, a group of dwelling units 3 that belong to the board of directors of a management association, etc. Information related to the groups is stored in the memory 24 of the lobby intercom device 10 or the management server 100.

[0046] The second processing unit 26 may set or change the destination of information transmitted from the management server 100 based on information registered by the resident. For example, the memory 24 of the lobby intercom device 10 or the management server 100 may register contact information other than that of the intercom master unit 40, such as email addresses, telephone numbers, and SNS ID information of residents and related parties. In addition to or instead of the intercom master unit 40, the lobby intercom device 10 may transmit information to the contact via a wide area communication network. Alternatively, the management server 100 may directly transmit information to the contact.

[0047] In the intercom system 1, the above groups can be set, contact information such as email addresses can be registered, resident information can be registered, a pet can be registered, a parking lot or bicycle parking lot can be used, and a long-term absence notice can be submitted, by operating the intercom master unit 40 or the lobby intercom device 10. The lobby intercom device 10 or the management server 100 may automatically set the above groups based on this information.

[0048] For example, when a resident submits a long-term absence notice and the information is registered in the memory 24, the second processing unit 26 may transmit the information transmitted from the management server 100 to a pre-registered contact. In addition, when the first information includes destination information indicating the room numbers of all dwelling units 3, if the first information is information that needs to be notified to only some of the residents, such as a request to keep pets and observe proper manners, the destination of the information may be changed. In this case, the information is transmitted by multicast, for example, using communication information for multicast set for a group of dwelling units 3 with pets.

[0049] The second processing unit 26 further executes processing based on the first information in the lobby intercom device 10, such as setting and changing unlocking information for unlocking the front door 12. When a password is set to unlock the electric lock on the front door 12, conventionally, a management company would visit the site and change the password periodically, but according to this embodiment, the password can be changed by sending first information including a new password from the management server 100. The second processing unit 26 performs password change processing based on the first information. The first information may be a change command that does not include a new password, in which case a new password is created in the lobby intercom device 10.

[0050] When a password is changed, the lobby intercom device 10 or the management server 100 may automatically transmit information about the new password to the intercom master unit 40. This information may include, in addition to the new password, the scheduled date and time for the next password change, precautions for handling the password, and the like.

[0051] The unlocking information may be a password that is valid for at least one of a predetermined period and a predetermined number of times. A specific example is a one-time password that can be used only once within a predetermined period. The one-time password is issued to, for example, a delivery company, a cleaning company, or a real estate agent who provides tours of the building. Furthermore, a password with at least one of an expiration date and a number of times it can be used may be issued when construction work is carried out on an apartment building. According to this embodiment, the management company can issue such unlocking information remotely without visiting the site.

[0052] The lobby intercom device 10 may display on the monitor 21 at least one piece of received information selected from the information received by the first communication unit 14 and the information received by the second communication unit 15 from the entrance slave unit 30. The lobby intercom device 10 displays on the monitor 21 second information based on the first information. In this case, the rate at which the second information has been read can be improved. In addition, when abnormality occurrence information is received from the intercom master unit 40, the information may be displayed on the monitor 21 to inform other residents, etc. The output form of the received information is not limited to display on the monitor 21, and may be output as audio from the speaker 17.

[0053] When the non-contact key detection device 11 detects a card key held by a resident, in other words, when the input unit of the collective entrance device acquires the resident's identification information, the lobby intercom device 10 may display on the monitor 21 received information to be notified to the resident. At this time, a confirmation button may be displayed together to prompt the resident to confirm the displayed information, and the electronic lock on the entrance door 12 may be unlocked when the confirmation button is pressed. Furthermore, the lobby intercom device 10 may display on the monitor 21 received information to be notified to the resident if a read notification, which will be described later, has not been received. In this case, only unread information can be displayed on the monitor 21.

[0054] As described above, the third processing unit 27 transmits the fourth information based on the third information acquired from the intercom master unit 40 via the entrance slave unit 30 and the second communication unit 15 to the management server 100. The fourth information may be substantially the same as the third information, or may be information obtained by modifying the third information. The fourth information is output from the control unit 16 to the first communication unit 14, and transmitted to the management server 100 via the first communication unit 14, the router 60, and the wide area communication network. The third processing unit 27 may also transmit the fourth information to contact information of residents and related parties registered in advance in the memory 24.

[0055] The third information output from the intercom master unit 40 is, for example, abnormality occurrence information such as a fire detected by the residential fire alarm 50. Since the residential fire alarm 50 is wired to the intercom master unit 40, when the residential fire alarm 50 detects an abnormality in the dwelling unit 3, the abnormality occurrence information is transmitted to the intercom master unit 40. Information based on the abnormality occurrence information is transmitted to the management server 100 via the intercom master unit 40, the entrance sub-unit 30, and the lobby intercom device 10. This enables the management company to quickly grasp the abnormality that has occurred in the property. Furthermore, if contact information for residents and related parties is registered in the memory 24, the information is also transmitted to the contact information.

[0056] Another example of the third information is a read notification of the second information. A confirmation button may be displayed on the monitor 45 of the intercom master unit 40 to prompt the user to confirm the transmitted information. When the confirmation button is pressed, a read notification is transmitted to the lobby intercom device 10. The read notification may be stored in the memory 24 or transmitted to the management server 100. The read notification is stored in association with the room number of the dwelling unit 3, and if the read notification is not received after a predetermined period of time has passed, the second information may be transmitted again to the intercom master unit 40 of the corresponding dwelling unit 3. The third information may also be a response to a questionnaire (second information), a request for management, or the like.

[0057] The third processing unit 27 may transmit predetermined information to the management server 100 based on information acquired by the common entrance device. For example, the third processing unit 27 acquires information on the authentication date and time when the card key is detected by the non-contact key detection device 11, stores it in the memory 24, and counts the period that has elapsed since the last authentication date and time. Then, the third processing unit 27 compares the elapsed period with a predetermined threshold, and when this period exceeds the threshold, transmits information to the management server 100 to prompt the user to confirm the user's safety. In addition, if contact information for a related person of the resident is registered in the memory 24, information prompting the user to confirm the user's safety may be transmitted to the contact information. Alternatively, information for confirming the user's safety may be transmitted from the lobby intercom device 10 to the intercom master unit 40 of the corresponding dwelling unit 3.

[0058] The above-mentioned safety confirmation information is transmitted, for example, when detection of all card keys preregistered for each dwelling unit 3 has not occurred for a period exceeding a predetermined threshold. In this case, it is possible to prevent safety confirmation information from being transmitted due to non-use of some card keys. Furthermore, when long-term absence information is registered in memory 24 of lobby intercom device 10, the setting may be such that safety confirmation information is not transmitted for the corresponding dwelling unit 3. Note that, as trigger information for outputting safety confirmation information, the period during which a read notification has not arrived may be used in addition to or instead of the non-authenticated period of the card key.

[0059] [Entrance unit 30] The front door slave unit 30 includes a speaker 31, a microphone 32, a call button 33 for calling the intercom master unit 21, a camera 34 for capturing an image of a visitor, and a control unit 36 ​​for controlling the operation of the front door slave unit 30. The control unit 36 ​​is configured with a microcomputer having a processor and memory, similar to the control unit 16 of the lobby intercom device 10. When the call button 33 is operated, a call is made to the intercom master unit 40 which is connected to the front door slave unit 30 by wire, and the visitor is captured by the camera 34 and the image is sent to the intercom master unit 40. When the resident presses the talk button 43 of the intercom master unit 40, he or she can talk to the visitor via the front door slave unit 30.

[0060] As described above, the entrance slave unit 30 transmits and receives information to and from the lobby intercom device 10 via wireless communication, and functions as a relay unit that relays communication between the lobby intercom device 10 and the intercom master unit 40. The entrance slave unit 30 includes a first communication unit 35A for wireless communication with the lobby intercom device 10, and a second communication unit 35B for communication with the intercom master unit 40. The first communication unit 35A is a communication interface including a wireless communication module. For the wireless communication module, a module that is compatible with the second communication unit 15 of the lobby intercom device 10 is used. One example of the second communication unit 35B is a communication interface to which a communication cable extending from the intercom master unit 40 is connected.

[0061] When the wireless communication system between the entrance slave unit 30 and the lobby intercom device 10 is a wireless LAN, the SSID of the second communication unit 15 of the lobby intercom device 10 is set in the first communication unit 35A. The SSID is usually set by an installer of the intercom system 1. The installer, for example, displays a QR code (registered trademark) including SSID information on an information terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal, and sets the SSID of the second communication unit 15 in the first communication unit 35A by having the camera 34 read the QR code. In this case, the entrance slave unit 30 has a QR code reading mode using the camera 34. The reading mode can be activated by a special operation of the call button 33.

[0062] [Intercom Master Unit 40] The intercom master unit 40 includes a speaker 41, a microphone 42, a talk button 43, an unlock button 44, a monitor 45, and a control unit 46 that controls the operation of the intercom master unit 40. The control unit 46 is configured from a microcomputer having a processor and memory, similar to the control unit 16 of the lobby intercom device 10. When the intercom master unit 40 receives call information created based on a call operation of the lobby intercom device 10 or the entrance sub unit 30, it outputs a call sound from the speaker 41 and displays an image of the visitor on the monitor 45. The monitor 45 is, for example, a touch panel monitor.

[0063] The talk button 43 is a button for starting and ending a call with the lobby intercom device 10 or the front door sub-unit 30 for which a call operation has been performed. When a resident presses the talk button 43 of the intercom master unit 40, the resident can talk to a visitor or the like via the lobby intercom device 10 or the front door sub-unit 30 for which a call operation has been performed. The unlock button 44 is a button for unlocking the electric lock of the front door 12. As described above, information is transmitted and received between the lobby intercom device 10 and the front door sub-unit 30. The intercom master unit 40 includes a first communication unit 47A which is a communication interface for communicating with the front door sub-unit 30. A communication cable extending from the front door sub-unit 30 is connected to the first communication unit 47A.

[0064] The intercom master unit 40 receives the second information based on the first information transmitted from the management server 100 and displays it on the monitor 45. The display form of the second information is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to display the second information prominently, such as by continuing to display it on the home screen until the resident confirms the second information and closes the display. When a call is made, the screen displaying the second information is switched to a screen displaying the visitor's video. The intercom master unit 40 notifies the resident of the reception of the second information, for example, by outputting a ringtone and blinking an LED. The above-mentioned confirmation button may be displayed on the monitor 45, and when the resident presses the confirmation button, a read notification is transmitted to the lobby intercom device 10.

[0065] The intercom master unit 40 further acquires abnormality occurrence information from the residential fire alarm 50 when the residential fire alarm 50 or the like detects an abnormality such as a fire. The intercom master unit 40 has a second communication unit 47B which is a communication interface for receiving information from the residential fire alarm 50. A communication cable extending from the residential fire alarm 50 is connected to the second communication unit 47B. When the intercom master unit 40 acquires the abnormality occurrence information from the residential fire alarm 50, it transmits the abnormality occurrence information (third information) to the lobby intercom device 10 via the entrance slave unit 30. Then, the abnormality occurrence information (fourth information) is transmitted from the lobby intercom device 10 to the management server 100.

[0066] The intercom master unit 40 functions as an input unit for registering information in the lobby intercom device 10 or the management server 100. As described above, a resident can set and register information related to property management, and make various applications and notifications by operating the intercom master unit 40. If the first information transmitted from the management server 100 is a questionnaire, the resident can also operate the intercom master unit 40 to return the answer to the management server 100. Note that if a resident registers contact information for himself or herself or related parties in the lobby intercom device 10 or the management server 100, for example, the above-mentioned abnormality occurrence information is also transmitted to the registered contact information.

[0067] An example of a control process relating to property management using the intercom system 1 will now be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

[0068] 3 shows an example of a process for providing information to a resident using the intercom system 1. In step S1, when first information is transmitted from the management server 100 to the intercom system 1, the first communication unit 14 of the lobby intercom device 10 receives the first information (step S10). The first communication unit 14 outputs the received first information to the control unit 16. In step S11, the control unit 16 determines whether or not the first information is information that should be transmitted to the intercom master unit 40. This determination can be made based on the destination information included in the first information.

[0069] If the first information is information to be processed by the lobby intercom device 10, the control unit 16 executes processing based on the first information (step S12). For example, if the first information is unlocking information for unlocking the front door 12, the unlocking information is set or changed in the lobby intercom device 10.

[0070] When the destination of the first information is the intercom master unit 40, the control unit 16 transmits second information based on the first information to the corresponding intercom master unit 40 via the front door slave unit 30, based on the destination information included in the first information. The second information may be the same as the first information, or may be information in which the destination information, etc. included in the first information has been changed, for example.

[0071] The second information is transmitted from second communication unit 15 of lobby intercom device 10 to front door slave unit 30 by wireless communication, and intercom master unit 40 receives the second information via front door slave unit 30 (step S20). Intercom master unit 40 notifies the resident of the reception of the second information by outputting a ringtone and blinking an LED, and displays the second information on monitor 45 (step S21). Through this series of processes, the management company can quickly provide necessary information to the resident.

[0072] 4 shows an example of an information acquisition process from a dwelling unit 3 using the intercom system 1. In step S30, when abnormality occurrence information is transmitted from the intercom master unit 40 to the lobby intercom device 10, the second communication unit 15 of the lobby intercom device 10 receives the abnormality occurrence information (step S40). The abnormality occurrence information, which is one type of third information, is transmitted to the second communication unit 15 via the entrance sub-unit 30, and the second communication unit 15 outputs the received information to the control unit 16. An example of the abnormality occurrence information output from the intercom master unit 40 is fire occurrence information detected by a residential fire alarm 50.

[0073] In step S41, the control unit 16 transmits fourth information based on the acquired abnormality occurrence information to the management server 100. The fourth information may be the same as the abnormality occurrence information, which is the third information, or may be information in which, for example, the destination information or the like included in the abnormality occurrence information has been changed. If contact information for residents and related parties is registered in the memory 24 of the lobby intercom device 10, the control unit 16 also transmits the fourth information to the contact information.

[0074] The fourth information is transmitted from the first communication unit 14 of the lobby intercom device 10 to the management server 100. When the management server 100 receives the fourth information based on the abnormality occurrence information (step S100), it executes processing based on this information (step S101). Specific examples of the processing include outputting an alarm sound, outputting safety confirmation information to the dwelling unit 3, and reporting to the fire department. Through this series of processes, the management company can quickly grasp any abnormality that has occurred in the property.

[0075] 5 shows an example of a resident safety confirmation process using the intercom system 1. The control unit 16 of the lobby intercom device 10 acquires information on the authentication date and time when the card key was detected by the non-contact key detection device 11, and counts the non-authentication period, which is the period that has elapsed since the last authentication date and time (step S50). When the non-authentication period exceeds a predetermined threshold (step S51), the control unit 16 transmits safety confirmation information to the intercom master unit 40 (step S52). An example of the safety confirmation information is voice information such as "Is everything okay?" output from the speaker 41 of the intercom master unit 40.

[0076] If there is a response from the resident to the safety confirmation information (step S53), the control unit 16 determines that there is no abnormality and ends the safety confirmation process. On the other hand, if there is no response from the resident in step S53, the control unit 16 sends information including a safety confirmation request to the management server 100 (step S54). When the safety confirmation request is received by the management server 100, the management company will, for example, call the target resident and, if necessary, visit the target dwelling unit 3 to confirm the resident's safety. Through this series of processes, the management company can quickly grasp the safety of the resident.

[0077] As described above, the intercom system 1 includes the first communication unit 14 that communicates with the management server 100, which is an example of an external system, and the second communication unit 15 that wirelessly communicates with the entrance slave unit 30, and therefore can easily link with the management server 100. In addition, the lobby intercom device 10 and the entrance slave unit 30 communicate wirelessly, and information is sent and received between the lobby intercom device 10 and the intercom master unit 40 via the entrance slave unit 30. This eliminates the need for wiring work between the lobby intercom device 10 and the entrance slave unit 30 of each dwelling unit 3, and the system can be easily introduced into existing properties. In other words, it is easy to introduce the intercom system 1 into a complex that does not have an existing intercom system and have it link with the management server 100.

[0078] Furthermore, if the information received from the management server 100 is transmitted to the entrance slave unit 30 by the functions of the first communication unit 14 and the second communication unit 15, for example, the management company can provide necessary information to residents without visiting the site by using the intercom system 1. This allows the frequency of on-site visits to be reduced without compromising the quality of management services, greatly reducing the management burden.

[0079] Also, if the first communication unit 14 is configured to receive unlocking information for the front door 12 from the management server 100 or the like, the management company can set or change the password for unlocking the electric lock on the front door 12 without having to go to the site by using the intercom system 1. Furthermore, if the second communication unit 15 obtains information output from an information terminal such as the intercom master unit 40 from the front door slave unit 30 and the first communication unit 14 transmits the information to the management server 100, for example, the management company can quickly grasp an abnormality that occurs in the dwelling unit 3 and can check the safety of the resident at an appropriate time.

[0080] The above-described embodiment may be appropriately modified in design without impairing the purpose of the present disclosure. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the lobby intercom device 10 and the non-contact key detection device 11 are installed at the common entrance 2, but the common entrance may be equipped with a collective entrance device with a built-in card reader. The collective entrance device may also be equipped with other systems for identifying residents, such as a face authentication system or a fingerprint authentication system.

[0081] 6 and 7 are diagrams showing intercom systems 1X and 1Y which are modified examples of the intercom system 1. As shown in Fig. 6, the intercom system 1X differs from the intercom system 1 in which the lobby intercom device 10 and each of the front door sub-units 30 are directly connected in that the intercom system 1X includes a wireless router 70 which relays wireless communication between the lobby intercom device 10 and the front door sub-units 30. In this case, information output from the second communication unit 15 of the lobby intercom device 10 is transmitted to the front door sub-units 30 via the wireless router 70.

[0082] The intercom system 1X is suitable for, for example, a large apartment building. As the size of the apartment building increases, it is expected that radio waves will have difficulty reaching the front door slave unit 30 of the dwelling unit 3 that is far from the shared entrance 2, but by using the wireless router 70 as a repeater, good communication conditions can be ensured even for the dwelling unit 3 that is far from the shared entrance 2. The wireless router 70 does not need to relay communication between all the front door slave units 30 and the lobby intercom device 10, and may be installed as appropriate depending on the distance from the shared entrance 2, the presence or absence of obstacles, etc.

[0083] 7, intercom system 1Y is similar to intercom system 1X in that it includes a wireless router 80 that relays wireless communication between lobby intercom device 10 and entrance slave unit 30. However, it differs from intercom system 1X in that a communication cable extending from router 60 is connected to wireless router 80, and wireless router 80 includes a first communication unit that initially acquires first information from management server 100. Intercom system 1Y may further include a wireless router 70 that does not include a first communication unit.

[0084] The wireless router 80 may transmit the second information based on the first information received from the management server 100 directly to the front door sub-unit 30, or may transmit it to the lobby intercom device 10. When the second information is transmitted directly from the wireless router 80 to the front door sub-unit 30, the first information includes, for example, the MAC address and IP address of the front door sub-unit 30 as destination information. Even when the wireless router 80 having the first communication unit is provided, the lobby intercom device 10 centrally manages the transmission and reception of information with the management server 100, so that the transmission and reception of information between the management server 100 and the front door sub-unit 30 may be performed via the lobby intercom device 10. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 1 intercom system, 2 shared entrance, 3 residence, 10 lobby intercom device, 11 non-contact key detection device, 12 entrance door, 13 lock device, 14, 35A, 47A first communication unit, 15, 35B, 47B second communication unit, 16, 36, 46 control unit, 17, 31, 41 speaker, 18, 32, 42 microphone, 19 numeric keypad, 20, 33 call button, 21, 45 monitor, 22, 34 camera, 23 processor, 24 memory, 25 first processing unit, 26 second processing unit, 27 third processing unit, 30 entrance handset, 40 intercom master unit, 43 call button, 44 unlock button, 50 residential fire alarm, 60 router, 70, 80 wireless router, 100 management server

Claims

1. A collective entrance device provided in a common area of ​​the collective facility; A door unit is provided in the common area of ​​a facility included in the collective facility and is used for communicating with an information terminal in the facility; An intercom system comprising: A first communication unit that communicates with an external system provided outside the collective facility; A second communication unit that wirelessly communicates with the entrance slave unit; Further equipped with the first communication unit and the second communication unit are provided in at least one of the collective entrance device and a wireless router installed in the common area, The second communication unit transmits, to the front door slave unit, second information based on the first information received by the first communication unit from the external system; An intercom system configured so that the second information is transmitted to the information terminal via the entrance slave unit.

2. The intercom system according to claim 1 , wherein the first communication unit and the second communication unit are provided in the common entrance device.

3. The intercom system of claim 1, wherein the first information is at least one selected from notifications about maintenance and construction work for elevators, parking lots, and other common areas, notifications about regular cleaning, notifications about garbage collection and sorting, information on how to use and recruitment for bicycle and parking lots, requests for keeping pets and observing proper pet etiquette, requests to remove personal belongings from common areas, notifications of moving in and out, notifications of disaster prevention drills, notifications of general meetings, notifications of water outages, notifications about preparations for approaching typhoons, local information, information about suspicious persons, and questionnaires.

4. The intercom system according to claim 3 , wherein the first information includes destination information for specifying at least one information transmission destination selected from the plurality of entrance slave units and the plurality of information terminals.

5. The intercom system according to claim 3 , wherein the second communication unit changes a communication method based on the first information.

6. The intercom system according to claim 5 , wherein the communication method includes at least one selected from the group consisting of unicast, multicast, and broadcast.

7. The intercom system according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the first communication unit receives, as the first information, unlocking information for unlocking an entrance door of the common area.

8. 8. The intercom system according to claim 7, wherein the unlocking information is a password that is valid a predetermined number of times within a predetermined period of time.

9. The second communication unit acquires the third information output from the information terminal from the entrance slave unit, The intercom system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first communication unit transmits fourth information based on the third information to the external system.

10. The intercom system according to claim 9 , wherein the third information includes abnormality occurrence information regarding the facility acquired by the information terminal.

11. The intercom system described in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the collective entrance device is provided with an output unit that outputs at least one piece of information selected from the first information and the second information received by the first communication unit.

12. The intercom system described in claim 11, wherein the collective entrance device is equipped with a non-contact key detection device that detects a card key that has been pre-registered for each facility, obtains identification information of a person associated with the facility from the registration information of the card key detected by the non-contact key detection device, and outputs the information to the output section based on the identification information.

13. The third information is a read notification of the second information, The intercom system according to claim 9 , wherein the second communication unit acquires the read notification from the entrance slave unit when a confirmation button displayed on a monitor of the information terminal is pressed.

14. The first communication unit and the second communication unit are provided in the collective entrance device, The intercom system of claim 13, wherein the collective entrance device comprises a monitor and a non-contact key detection device that detects a card key pre-registered for each facility, obtains identification information of a person associated with the facility from the registration information of the card key detected by the non-contact key detection device, and displays the second information on the monitor based on the identification information if the read notification has not been received.

15. The intercom system described in Claim 14, wherein the collective entrance device also displays a confirmation button to prompt confirmation of the information displayed on the monitor, and unlocks the entrance door of the common area when the confirmation button is pressed.

16. The first communication unit and the second communication unit are provided in the collective entrance device, The intercom system described in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the collective entrance device is equipped with a non-contact key detection device that detects a card key that has been registered in advance for each facility, obtains information on the authentication date and time when the card key was detected by the non-contact key detection device, counts the period that has elapsed since the last authentication date and time, compares the elapsed period with a predetermined threshold, and when the elapsed period exceeds the threshold, sends information to the external system prompting a safety confirmation.

17. An intercom system as described in Claim 16, wherein the information prompting for confirmation of safety is transmitted when detection of all card keys pre-registered for each facility has not occurred for a period exceeding the specified threshold.

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