JP2001203744A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide communication equipment provided with a means which constructs the connection to various public networks with digital home control as a target and a home access unit including an electric lamp line carrying modem, monitors indoor and outdoor environments and states and performs household labor by operating information devices from a remote place. SOLUTION: The home communication access unit 1 consisting of a hub/ repeater, a public network interface, a radio interface, a satellite transmitting and receiving part and the electric lamp line carrying modem, integratedly manages and controls household electrical goods and the information devices. The unit 1 can be monitored from a remote place by various monitors and sensors, and household labor, recreation and working can be performed from the remote place.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication access unit for supervising and managing OA equipment and home electric appliances in a digital home and a residential office which have remarkably developed in recent years.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Household appliances have made remarkable progress. From refrigerators, which were called conventional white goods, to rice cookers, to TVs, they were no longer called individual phones, and they became widespread until they were installed in each room. Furthermore, there is no shortage of personal computers called information home appliances, portable information devices, digital cameras, etc.

On the other hand, the spread of the Internet has spread tremendously, and the number of PCs sold in 1999 has reached 10 million units. The Internet is now called the World Internet, and can be connected to every corner of the world.

However, at present, home appliances, TVs, telephones, P
C (personal computers) are independent and not managed systematically. The activities of working adults are becoming more diversified than ever, and many companies have shifted from regular employment to leaving the company to flextime.

[0005] Social activities of women have also become active. On the other hand, the issue of declining birthrate has become a social problem.
The spread of the Internet is effective as a means to solve these problems. However, the current Internet alone does not solve the problem.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention proposes a home access unit, and the home access unit has a function of an interface between an external public network and a home network.

Further, a power line carrier modem is provided in a home access unit so that a network can be formed without using a new expense by effectively utilizing a power line existing in a house indoors.

In addition to the function of a home office in the home, it has become possible to work from the outside using a diversified public network so that housework can be performed while working in society.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] The information and intelligence of home appliances are immeasurable.
The development and cost reduction of high-performance one-chip microprocessors have spurred the development. At the same time, women's advancement in society faced the issue of declining birthrate.

The spread of the Internet and PCs is just the gospel. If these inexpensive public networks and developed home appliances can be taken one step further and control of homes and buildings can be controlled while staying outside, this would be an effective means of solving the problems.

The Telecommunications Union (ITU), a UN agency
Is the earliest public network, telephone network, ISDN, B
・ ISDN, fiber network, wireless network, satellite network, Internet (hereinafter referred to as IP) and home connection unit, C
PA (Customer Premium Accesses)
s Unit).

[0013] CPA alone is not enough to turn a home into an office in combination with a place for domestic work. This is because office functions and amusement entertainment functions are enhanced by connecting to the public network such as the Internet. The realization of HDTV also enables home theater.

A number (ProcessorSerial) unique to the CPU of an audiovisual device for a TV or videotape.
real Number) is provided with an authentication function. Content providers can be delivered upon request and billed.

Therefore, although the spread of this field is accelerating, the most necessary for ordinary households is domestic work, house security check function, enhancement of own work and pursuit of hobbies.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a communication apparatus and a home access unit according to the present invention. 1 indicates the entire access unit. Reference numeral 2 denotes a network concentrator, a hub, and a repeater. 2 is connected to the external public network 10 and plays a role of a router. 3 is PHS / PD
C, a transmission / reception unit of a mobile telephone wireless network, which in this case has an interface of a home wireless network.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a transmitting / receiving unit for communicating with a satellite network, which receives various information from LEO (low-orbit satellite), MEO (medium-orbit satellite), and GEO (geostationary satellite) in addition to receiving satellite broadcasting. The international Internet can also be transmitted and received directly using satellites.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a power line carrier modem. The power line is wired to every corner of the house and can be transmitted and received anywhere in the house through a power outlet. Conventionally, the main purpose of a power line is to receive power from a power company.

However, recently, means for isolating a power line with a transformer, superimposing a carrier wave, and using it for communication has been put to practical use. Originally, power lines were connected to various home appliances including motors, and were not used for communication networks because of the side effects of noise.

However, SS (Spread Spectr)
um) or other means of 4.8 Kbp.
Communication at a high bit rate of about 2 Mbps to s is now possible. Specialized semiconductor chips have also been commercialized and can be used at low cost.

If a communication line access modem is provided in the communication access unit and a similar modem is provided in a device connected to the power supply line, a LAN (Local A) on the power line is provided.
area (rear network) can be easily realized. This has made it possible for home and office devices to be easily applied not only to OA devices but also to homes, security, telemedicine, learning, etc. from remote locations via public networks.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a connector connected to the hub / repeater, and reference numeral 7 denotes a network line. Electric power line 7
Is the home access unit 1 from the outdoor power drop 11
To the power line modem 5. Reference numeral 9 denotes a power outlet.

Reference numeral 13 denotes an indoor / outdoor wireless transmission / reception antenna,
Indicates an antenna for transmission and reception to and from the satellite as described above.

FIG. 2 shows a system configuration of an indoor network using the communication access 1. 1 has a public network 10,
A PHS / PDC transmission / reception antenna 13, a transmission / reception antenna 14 of a satellite network 15, and a power line 12 are connected thereto.

The feature of the present invention is that the communication access unit 1
Is that indoor power lines can be used as LANs in addition to public networks, satellite networks, and wireless networks. Various electric home appliances, information home appliances, TVs, and the like are connected to the power line 8.

21 is a refrigerator, 22 is a washing machine, 23 is an electronic cooking device such as a microwave oven, 24 to 24n are lighting devices, 2
5 to 25n indicate an interphone, a surveillance camera, a TV, and the like. In the power line network 8, the connection of the connection device may be determined in consideration of the place where the LAN cable is difficult to install and the cost.

The network 7 is a home-only LAN. It mainly connects devices that require high-speed, high-quality communication. 26 indicates a PC or server. 27 denotes a digital copier or printer. 28 is FAX,
29 denotes a high-definition TV, 30 denotes a telephone, and 31 denotes a home payment terminal.

The settlement terminal 31 is an EC (Electric)
c Commercial) A terminal that performs settlement. Three
Reference numeral 1 denotes a terminal device which is essential for electronic settlement in the 21st century, and is used for various commercial transactions, bank settlement, and electronic voting at the time of election. Attached monitor not shown,
There is a means for improving security by using a camera and authentication means using a fingerprint for personal identification.

Numerals 34 to 36 indicate various sensors for measuring the temperature and humidity of the room, the state of pollen scattering, the sunshine and the like. For example, when pollen is scattered heavily, the shutters and blinds can be closed using an electric device (not shown).

In addition, when the sunshine sensor detects rain, the laundry is automatically taken indoors.
It is also possible to automatically protrude the eaves on the veranda to protect them from rain.

These housework may be controlled automatically, or when the housewife is engaged in social activities, the portable information terminal 3
It can be monitored and remotely controlled from 2, 33.

Reference numeral 37 denotes a bath, which can be similarly monitored from the outside, and can be cleaned by setting a temperature or using means not shown. Reference numeral 38 denotes a boiler and a water heater. 39 is a meter for electricity, water and gas, which is monitored automatically by the supplier of electricity, water and gas, and billed automatically by the contracted company without the meter reader checking the household every time. The feature is that you can do it.

Reference numerals 32 and 33 denote portable telephones and terminal devices such as PHSs, which are used indoors as home wireless networks.
Outside, it can be used as an ordinary portable device via a public network.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the power line network 8. The power line carrier modem 41 is incorporated in the home electric appliances 21 to 23 connected to a power supply. Reference numeral 42 denotes a surveillance camera which is installed in each room of a house and outdoors for the purpose of safety management.

The 42 surveillance cameras are effective in surveillance of children, elderly people and sick people, disaster prevention and crime prevention. These strengths are that they can be monitored externally by portable devices while doing social activities. Now that the elderly population has increased, care can be provided in close cooperation with medical and welfare institutions.

Reference numeral 43 denotes a normal TV, which incorporates a power line carrier modem 41. With this TV, the state of the home can be received from the surveillance camera 42, and it is possible to monitor and check household appliances, other bath boilers, cooking appliances, etc. It is.

It is also possible to monitor the home appliances for abnormalities and to monitor the contents of the refrigerator by monitoring the contents of the refrigerator with a monitoring camera. This check can be monitored not only at home but also from the outside as described above, from the outside while conducting social activities, from a mobile terminal or another office PC, etc.If you want to take action if there is some abnormality , Remote control is possible.

An antenna 44 as a normal TV and a game device 45 are connected to the TV 38. The game contents can be delivered from a provider (not shown) via the public network 10. Of course, the TV 43 has a hardware authentication number so that the provider can confirm who owns it.

FIG. 4 shows the connection status between the outdoors and the home 20. Digital camera 5 with PHS / PDC transmission function
1 is capable of immediately displaying an image taken outdoors on a TV 43 or a personal computer 26 at home via the public network 10. Using a high-resolution digital handycamcorder 53, it is also possible to send live video from a travel destination and enjoy it in a home theater.

When the memory of the digital camera 51 becomes full, the recorded contents can be stored in the hard disk of the personal computer 26 at home or office via the public network 10. The same can be said for the handycamcorder 53. This allows you to concentrate on recording video and sound outdoors, regardless of the memory capacity.

Reference numeral 52 denotes a portable information device which can monitor the inside of the home 20 or be used as an ordinary portable telephone. Reference numeral 54 denotes an antenna of a base station of a wireless public network.

According to the present invention, the convenience and the efficiency of the society are remarkably improved by realizing a digital home corresponding to the digital information society and the digital economy which will be actively developed in the future.

[0043]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained by the above configuration.

A home communication access unit having a built-in indoor power line carrier modem in a public network including an IP network, a public wireless network, a hub connected to a satellite communication network, and a repeater to enable connection to a personal computer, a home appliance, or the like. The feature that it is composed.

The fact that access to home electric appliances and information devices has been realized, and it has become possible to perform general management over housework and housework while performing social activities.

It is possible to manage the home appliances and home environment management and maintenance while performing social activities from the outdoors, thereby facilitating women's advancement in society.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a home network access unit according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a system configuration diagram using a home network access unit in the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating connection of home electric appliances including a power line modem according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating connection with a home and an office using a portable device from a remote place in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Home communication access unit 2 Hub / repeater 3 PHS / PDC transmission / reception unit 4 Satellite transmission / reception unit 5 Light line carrier modem 6 Connector 7 Network line 8 Indoor power line 9 Power socket 10 IP network (Internet network) 11 Power line 12 Power line drop-in line Reference Signs List 13 PHS / PDC antenna 14 Satellite transmission / reception antenna 15 Artificial satellite 20 House 21 Refrigerator 22 Washing machine 23 Electronic cooker 24, 24n Lighting equipment 25, 25n, 42 Surveillance camera 26 Personal computer, server 27 Digital copy machine, printer 28 FAX 29 TV 30 Telephone 31 Home payment terminal 32, 33, 52 Personal digital assistant 34, 35, 36 Temperature, pollen, sunshine sensor 37 Bath 38 Water heater 39 Electricity, water, gas meter 41 Electric wire line modem 43 TV with built-in power line carrier modem 44 TV antenna 45 Game console 51 Digital camera 53 Digital handy camcorder 54 Wireless public network base station

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04L 29/02 H04L 11/00 310C H04M 11/00 301 H04B 7/26 105A H04Q 9/00 301 H04L 13 / 00 301Z 311

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A communication device comprising a hub / repeater, a radio transmission / reception unit, a satellite transmission / reception unit, and a power line carrier modem. 2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for using an indoor power line as a network means, connecting home electric appliances and information home electric appliances to the network, and performing overall management of the home electric appliances and information equipment. Characteristic communication device. 3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for monitoring indoors and operating indoor equipment from a remote place via a public network. 4. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for monitoring indoor and outdoor environments from a remote place to perform crime prevention, safety, and housework of the house. 5. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein a video and a sound rich in a sense of reality are transmitted to a TV or the like of the house from a remote place by using a portable device such as a digital camera through a public network. apparatus.