Intercom System Operator Information Acquisition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current intercom systems do not provide timely information about the operator, such as a visitor, to the callee on the indoor station, which can lead to inconvenience and unnecessary movement to view the operator's image.

Innovation Solution

An intercom system that includes a function to start acquiring information, such as sound recording, within a predetermined period when a call is made, allowing the callee to know the operator's details earlier, thereby improving convenience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the intercom system displays the operator's image on the indoor station, then the callee can see the operator, but the callee must physically move closer to the display to view the image clearly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator informationVSAvoidconvenience of viewing
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by acquiring and processing operator information (sound recording, image capture) before the callee needs to view it. The outdoor station captures the operator's image and sound, and the system prepares this information in advance so that when the callee needs to know operator details, the information is already available and processed, eliminating the need for the callee to move closer to view the image.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If the intercom system waits until the call is established to acquire operator information, then the system maintains simple timing control, but the callee receives operator information too late

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation delivery timeVSAvoidtiming control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is configured to acquire operator information within a predetermined period before or during the call establishment. This preliminary action ensures that operator information is captured and prepared in advance, allowing the callee to receive this information immediately when needed, reducing the time delay without requiring complex timing control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback mechanisms where the outdoor station continuously monitors for operator presence and automatically captures information when detected. This feedback loop ensures that operator information is acquired at the optimal moment without requiring complex manual timing control, balancing early information delivery with simple system operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If the intercom system acquires operator information only after the call button is pressed, then the system maintains simple operation flow, but the callee cannot know the operator's identity before responding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator identity informationVSAvoidoperation flow simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The outdoor station is configured to perform preliminary action by capturing the operator's image and sound information as soon as the operator approaches or presses the call button, before the call is fully established. This preliminary capture of operator identity information allows the callee to know who is calling before responding, while the automatic triggering mechanism keeps the operation flow simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service by automatically detecting when the call button is pressed and autonomously initiating the operator information acquisition process without requiring additional manual intervention. This self-service mechanism ensures operator identity is captured early in the call process while maintaining simple operation flow, as the system handles the information gathering automatically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3562132B1Intercom system, control method and computer program
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3562132B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3562132B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3562132B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An object of the disclosure is to improve convenience of an intercom system (10). The intercom system (10) includes a function part (F1). The function part (F1) is configured to, within or prior to a predetermined period (T1), start acquiring information on an operator (H1) who operates an operating part (outdoor station operating part 14) to enter an operation for specifying a callee (C1) therethrough. The predetermined period (T1) is a period of time during which the callee (C1) is being called based on the operation entered. Acquiring the information contains at least sound recording.