JP2002300295A - Intercom system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an intercom system in which a user even being out can easily and comfortably confirm the video of a visitor and speak with the visitor through a door-phone by means of a communication terminal such as a portable telephone set. SOLUTION: In the case of absence, a control part 31 of an indoor master unit 30 stores the video of the visitor photographed by a camera 13 of an entrance handset 10 into a video storage part 39 and at the same time, a connection is performed through a telephone line N1 to an ISP 200. Then, the video of the visitor in the video storage part 39 can be read through the Internet N2 by an acquired IP address and electronic mail attached with that IP address is transmitted to a portable telephone set T. When reading is requested from the portable telephone set T by a URL connection based on the IP address, the video of the visitor is transferred from the video storage part 39 and the ISP 200 is disconnected. When access to the video of the visitor is detected, this control part 31 calls the portable telephone T and enables door-phone speaking with the entrance handset 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an intercom apparatus, and more particularly to an intercom apparatus capable of confirming a photographed image with a communication terminal such as a portable telephone and making a door phone call.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an intercom apparatus in which a slave unit with a camera (photographing means) is installed at, for example, an entrance and a master unit with a monitor (display means) is installed in a room. The intercom device allows a door phone call between the entrance and the room while taking a picture of a visitor with a camera and displaying it on a monitor.

[0003] As this type of intercom apparatus, there has been disclosed an intercom apparatus capable of confirming a visitor when absent by using a mobile phone (communication terminal) or the Internet, which has spread rapidly in recent years. 2000-30
8044.

[0004] The system disclosed in this publication is provided with means for creating and transmitting an e-mail by connecting to an Internet service provider (hereinafter also simply referred to as an ISP), for example, to notify a visitor's visit. By attaching the image of the visitor photographed by the camera to the e-mail containing the message and sending the e-mail to the preset mobile phone address, the user carrying the mobile phone can With the visit of the visitor, it is possible to confirm who came.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional intercom system, the visitor's visit when he is absent and the image thereof can be confirmed by the e-mail received by the mobile phone. You can't just talk.

[0006] In view of this, in addition to being able to confirm the visitor, in order to enable a call between the entrance cordless handset and the portable telephone, the function of connecting to the public line of the main monitor is provided. It is conceivable to use it. After the mobile phone calls the monitor base unit and confirms the incoming call response, the mobile phone side performs a so-called telecontroller operation to allow communication with the camera-equipped front-end unit. It is conceivable to configure to allow a call.

[0007] Further, if a visitor's image is attached to an e-mail and transmitted to the mobile phone, the image of the visitor can be confirmed only by the mobile phone to which the e-mail is sent. There is also an inconvenience that the mail data volume is large.

For this reason, the video taken by the camera is stored as file data that can be accessed from the outside via the Internet, and the IP address obtained by connecting to the ISP is attached to an e-mail and transmitted to a mobile phone or the like. By doing so, the user may select the IP address attached to the e-mail so that the stored image of the visitor can be accessed and checked from outside.

However, in each case, after confirming the image of the visitor, the user inputs the telephone number of the monitor main unit using a mobile phone or the like, and operates the telecontroller. Can establish a connection with the customer and make a door phone call with the visitor.It is necessary for the operator to memorize such complicated operations, and it takes time to input the telephone number. There was a problem that would be hung.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and it is possible to easily and comfortably confirm an image of a visitor or the like and make a door phone call with the visitor even when the user is absent. An intercom device is provided.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided an intercom apparatus for displaying an image photographed by a photographing means on a display means, wherein the main body of the interphone apparatus stores the image photographed by the photographing means. Video sending means for connecting to the Internet, acquiring an IP address, creating an email attached with the IP address, and sending the email to a preset communication terminal; An access unit that allows access to the video in the video storage unit via the Internet, and a communication terminal that is the same as or different from the communication terminal registered in advance when detecting access to the video in the video storage unit. A call can be made and a call can be made with a call means provided in the intercom apparatus main body. Has a configuration in which a communication unit that.

With this configuration, when a call is made by a visitor, for example, when the absence mode is set, the visitor's image to be photographed and stored is accessed from outside via the Internet. Is obtained by connecting to the Internet through an ISP or the like. For example, the IP address is included in an e-mail containing a message notifying that a visitor has been received.
The address is attached and transmitted to a preset communication terminal such as a mobile phone. Subsequently, by accessing the IP address displayed on the communication terminal, an image of a visitor or the like can be displayed on a monitor of a mobile phone or the like, and can be confirmed. The called mobile phone is called and connected to be able to talk with the visitor.

Therefore, even when the user is absent, the user can talk with the visitor without requesting an input operation of the telephone number or the like in conjunction with the access for confirming the visitor's image, which is simple and comfortable. After confirming the image of the visitor, the user can make a call with the visitor. It is not necessary to attach the visitor's image itself to the e-mail at this time, and it can be a light data amount with an IP address attached. The above IP address can be browsed and confirmed with an accessible communication terminal. It should be noted that the destination to be called to make a call with the destination of the e-mail may be the same or a different communication terminal, and this communication terminal is not limited to a mobile phone.
The e-mail may be sent to a personal computer and set to call a stationary phone.

Here, by providing time setting means for setting a time interval from when the access of the video in the video storage means is detected to when a call is made to the same or different communication terminal as the communication terminal, the visitor is provided. It is possible to secure time for determining whether or not to respond to a call caused by accessing an image such as an image, and it is possible to avoid unnecessary being forced to talk with a visitor.

The communication means detects a video access in the video storage means and sends a prepared voice message when there is a response from the communication terminal which has made a call. And a call selecting means for confirming a specific response signal from the communication terminal and enabling a call with a calling means provided in the intercom apparatus main body, thereby accessing an image of a visitor or the like. Even if the user responds to the outgoing call, after listening to a voice message indicating that the call is from the intercom apparatus, for example, when a control signal is received from the operation of the telecontroller, it is possible to connect to the guest so that the call can be made. It is possible to determine whether or not to switch to the call state according to the visitor, etc. It is possible.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 are diagrams showing a first embodiment of an intercom apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, intercom apparatus 100
Is constructed by connecting an entrance cordless handset 10 installed outdoors such as outside the entrance, which is invisible to the user, and an indoor master unit 30 arranged inside a room operable by the user. Internet Service Provider (IS
P) A dial-up connection to the telephone line 200 via the telephone line N1 enables the transmission of the created e-mail to the preset destination address, and also allows the stored information to be accessed from the outside via the Internet N2. A mobile phone (external terminal) T via a company that provides information services on the Internet N2, such as NTT Docomo's i-mode (registered trademark) center 300, so that the user can browse the information. The stored information can be transferred to the server.

As shown in FIG. 2, the entrance slave unit 10 is a call switch 1 that a visitor presses at the entrance to call a user.
1, a call control circuit 12 for detecting that the call switch 11 is pressed and transmitting a call signal to the indoor master unit 30, and a camera (photographing means) for photographing a visitor pressing the call switch 11 at the entrance. 13, a video modulation circuit 14 for modulating a signal from the camera 13 in a processable manner, a microphone 15 for inputting a voice of a visitor, a speaker 16 for outputting a user's voice from the indoor master unit 30, and a microphone 15. Amplifier 17 that amplifies the audio signal from the indoor master unit 30 and outputs it to the indoor master unit 30; amplifier 18 that amplifies the audio signal from the indoor master unit 30 and outputs it to the speaker 16; 2-wire to 4-wire conversion circuit 19 for converting the number of signal lines; power receiving circuit 20 for receiving power supply from indoor master unit 30; and power supply circuit 21 for supplying power via power receiving circuit 20 to each unit , And a.

As shown in FIG. 3, the indoor master unit 30 has a control unit 3 for controlling the whole of the intercom apparatus 100.
1, a microphone 32 for inputting a voice of a user at home, a speaker 33 for outputting a voice of a visitor input to the microphone 15 of the entrance cordless handset 10 and a call signal transmitted from the call control circuit 12, An amplifier 34 for amplifying an audio signal from the microphone 32 and outputting the amplified signal to the entrance device 10;
An amplifier 35 for amplifying a voice signal or a calling signal from the speaker and outputting the amplified signal to a speaker 33; a two-wire to four-wire conversion circuit 36 for converting the number of signal lines connectable to the microphone 32 and the speaker 33; A video demodulation circuit 37 for receiving a modulated video signal by photographing a visitor with the camera 13 and demodulating the video signal so that it can be displayed and output; a video display unit 38 such as a monitor for displaying the demodulated video signal; An image storage unit 39 stores signals in a GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) format, and a power supply circuit 40 that supplies necessary power to the entrance device 10.

The indoor master unit 30 includes a line interface 41 for transmitting and receiving a signal modulated and demodulated by a modem via a telephone line N1 connected by a network controller, and an amplifier 4
The control unit 31 operates the setting input unit 45 by inputting the settings from the setting input unit 45, and is set in the setting storage unit 46 in advance. By controlling the calling by reading the number and calling by the calling unit 47, or by receiving the call from the external terminal such as the mobile phone T, the incoming call is controlled.
It has a function of connecting with a microphone 15 and a speaker 16 so as to be able to talk.

The indoor master unit 30 is a contracted ISP2
00 stores the telephone number, user ID, and password of the ISP 200 for dial-up connection
As described later, a mail address of the mobile phone T or the like as a destination to which an e-mail is transmitted, and an operation of automatically establishing a call between the entrance cordless handset 10 and the mobile phone T. The time interval for delaying the start is stored in the setting storage unit 46. When the absence mode is selected and set and there is a call by a visitor, the control unit 31 transmits the absence mode from the mobile phone T. It is possible to make a door phone call with the entrance cordless handset 10 while checking the image of the visitor.

More specifically, as shown in FIG.
When the call switch 11 is pressed by a visitor, a video signal captured by the camera 13 is transmitted to the indoor master unit 30 together with a call signal from the call control circuit 12.

At this time, when the absence mode is selected and set, and the call detection circuit 48 detects a call signal from the entrance device 10, the control unit 31 converts the image of the visitor into the GIF format. The data is converted and stored in the video storage unit 39, and the telephone number and the user I in the setting storage unit 46 are stored.
The D and the password are read out and dial-up connected to the ISP 200 via the telephone network.

Subsequently, the control unit 31 maintains the dial-up connection and stores the visitor's image stored and held in the image storage unit 39 by the ISP 20 through the dial-up connection.
By using the IP address assigned and sent from 0, it is possible to browse from an external terminal via the Internet N2 and create an e-mail with the acquired IP address attached to a visitor notification message prepared in advance. Then, the message is transmitted to the mail address of the mobile phone T set as the destination in the setting storage unit 46.

For this reason, the user who receives the e-mail sent to the mobile phone T and sees the message of the visitor notice can use the Internet N2 specified by the IP address attached to the e-mail on the mobile phone T. In order to refer to the above file, an information providing service center (for example, i-Mode
(Registered Trademark) Center) 300 URL (Uniform Reso
By making the connection, the user can access the indoor base unit 30 that is given the IP address and maintains the dial-up connection, and can instruct the visitor image in the image storage unit 39 to be viewed.

When the control unit 31 of the indoor master unit 30 detects access by the browse instruction from the mobile phone T, the GIF data of the visitor image in the image storage unit 39 is sent to the request source (mobile phone T). The GIF data is transferred to disconnect the connection with the ISP 200, and the mobile phone T can receive the GIF data and check the image of the visitor.

When the control unit 31 of the indoor master unit 30 simultaneously detects access by a visitor's image browsing instruction in the image storage unit 39, the control unit 31 starts a timer function provided in the indoor master unit 30, and FIG. As shown in FIG.
Wait until the timer value reaches the set time in 6, and then
The telephone number of the mobile phone T preset in the setting storage unit 46 is automatically dialed, and the mobile phone T responds to the call after confirming the image of the visitor by automatically dialing. , A communication path can be closed with the indoor master device 30, and the indoor master device 30 is connected to the entrance slave device 10 so that a call can be made.
Even if you are not at the installation location, you can make intercom calls on the go. That is, the control unit 31 configures the mail transmission unit, the access unit, and the communication unit, and the setting storage unit 46 configures the time setting unit. Door phone calls can be made.

As described above, in the present embodiment, a light e-mail attached with the IP address given by dial-up connection to the ISP 200 while holding the image of the visitor in the image storage unit 39 of the indoor parent device 30. Is transmitted to the mobile phone T, even when the user is absent, the user can access the IP address attached to the e-mail from the mobile phone T and browse the image of the visitor stored in the video storage unit 39. At the same time, it is possible to make a door phone call with the entrance cordless handset 10 only by answering the incoming call after the access without performing an operation of inputting a telephone number or the like.

At this time, the time from access to the visitor's image to automatic dialing to the mobile phone T can be arbitrarily set in the setting storage unit 46. It is possible to secure a time for judging whether or not to answer the dial with a margin, and in the case of a visitor who does not need to make a door phone call, the portable telephone T is turned off to be in an unresponsive state. You can also.

Since the visitor image in the image storage unit 39 of the indoor master unit 30 can be accessed by the IP address, not only the mobile phone T but also a personal computer connectable to the Internet, for example, with the IP address. Can be confirmed by manually inputting, and furthermore, the destination of the e-mail and the telephone number to be automatically dialed can be arbitrarily set in the setting storage unit 46. Therefore, the destination of the e-mail is set to the personal computer. Alternatively, the destination to be automatically dialed in response to access to the visitor image can also be set to a fixed telephone according to the convenience of the user.

Therefore, a complicated operation is not required for responding to a visitor who is not present, and a simple and comfortable response can be provided.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the intercom apparatus according to the present invention. Note that, since the present embodiment is configured substantially in the same manner as the above-described embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the intercom apparatus 100 is configured by connecting the entrance slave unit 10 and the indoor master unit 30, and the control unit 31 of the indoor master unit 30 has a previously prepared indoor master unit 30. Message sending means for sending a voice message notifying that the call is from the device 30;
The access to the image of the visitor in the image storage unit 39 automatically dials the mobile phone T, and then the entrance terminal 10
And so-called call selecting means for requesting a telecontrol operation necessary for closing the connection and enabling selection of the necessity of a door phone call.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the indoor master device 30 receives the call signal and the image of the visitor from the entrance slave device 10 and dial-up connects to the ISP 200, thereby obtaining the IP address obtained by Internet N2
To access the visitor image in the image storage unit 39 through G
After transmitting the e-mail attached to the IP address to the mobile phone T while enabling the browsing with the IF data, the controller 31 accesses the mobile phone T using the IP address as shown in FIG. Depending on the detection of
At the same time that the GIF data of the visitor image in the image storage unit 39 is transferred to the mobile phone T, the timer function is started, and after the timer value reaches the set time in the setting storage unit 46, the telephone of the mobile phone T After the number is automatically dialed, a voice message is transmitted to the mobile phone T that has responded to the incoming call, indicating that the call was made by a visitor from the indoor master unit 30 and explaining a telecontrol operation when a door phone call was made. When the user receiving the voice message detects a DTMF (Dual Tone Matrix Frequency) signal transmitted by performing a telecontrol operation on the mobile phone T, the control unit 31 performs communication with the mobile phone T. By closing the communication path and connecting to the entrance device 10 in a communicable manner, the user can Thereby making it possible to make Ahon call.

As described above, in this embodiment, in addition to the functions and effects of the above-described embodiment, a visitor who needs to listen to a visitor notice or a voice message of a telecontroller operation method and then view a video before talking is required. If it is determined that the telecontroller is operated, it is possible to make a door phone call with the entrance cordless handset 10, and forcibly regardless of the case of a visitor who does not need to make a call. It is possible to avoid being connected in a state in which a call can be made with the entrance cordless handset 10.

Therefore, it is possible to easily and comfortably deal with visitors without memorizing complicated operations.

In the present invention, each of the video storage means, the mail transmission means, the access means, the communication means, the time setting means, the message transmission means, and the call selection means,
Although it may be arranged in either the slave unit or the master unit, it is common that the slave unit is generally constructed in a small size and various information is processed by the master unit. As in the embodiment, it is preferable to dispose it on the master device side. Further, it goes without saying that the photographing means and the display means may be arranged so as to be either integral with or separate from the slave unit or the master unit.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a call is made by a visitor, an IP address for accessing an image of the visitor is obtained by connecting to the Internet and attached to an e-mail. Then, by transmitting to the communication terminal used by the user, the IP address can be accessed via the Internet to check the image of the visitor, and at the same time, the communication terminal is called in conjunction with the access. By doing so, you can talk to the visitor, so even when you are out of the office, you can check the image of the visitor simply by sending and receiving an e-mail with an IP address attached to it. You can make a call.

Therefore, it is possible to provide an excellent intercom apparatus capable of easily and comfortably responding to a customer who is out of the office without requiring complicated operations.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a relationship diagram showing a schematic overall configuration of a first embodiment of an intercom apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an entrance terminal of the first embodiment of the intercom apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an indoor master unit of the first embodiment of the intercom apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing communication control of the first embodiment of the intercom apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing communication control of the first embodiment of the intercom apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing communication control of a second embodiment of the intercom apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Entrance cordless handset 11 Call switch 12 Call control circuit 13 Camera 14 Video modulation circuit 15 Microphone 16 Speaker 30 Indoor master unit 31 Control unit 32 Microphone 33 Speaker 37 Video demodulation circuit 38 Video display unit 39 Video storage unit 41 Line interface 45 Setting input Unit 46 setting storage unit 47 transmission unit 48 call detection circuit 100 intercom device 200 ISP 300 information service center N1 telephone line N2 Internet T mobile phone

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yuichi Chino 4-3-1 Tsunashimahigashi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa F-term in Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. 5C054 DA09 EA03 GB01 HA22 5K024 AA41 AA62 CC11 FF04 5K038 AA00 BB00 CC02 DD15 DD22 DD23 FF01 GG03 GG05 5K101 KK11 LL01 LL04 LL12 MM07 NN06 NN18 NN21

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An intercom apparatus for displaying an image photographed by a photographing means on a display means, wherein the main body of the intercom apparatus comprises: an image storage means for storing the image photographed by the photographing means; An e-mail sending means for obtaining an address and creating an e-mail attached with the IP address and transmitting the e-mail to a preset communication terminal; An access unit for enabling access to a video, and, when detecting access to the video in the video storage unit, calling the same or a different communication terminal as the communication terminal registered in advance and being provided in the intercom apparatus main body. Communication means for enabling a telephone call with the communication means. Hon apparatus. 2. A time setting means for setting a time interval from when an access to an image in the image storage means is detected to when a call is made to the same or a different communication terminal as the communication terminal is provided. The intercom device according to claim 1. 3. A message sending means for sending a prepared voice message when a response is received from the communication terminal which has made a call upon detecting access to an image in the image storage means. And a call selecting means for confirming a specific response signal from the communication terminal and enabling a call between the communication means provided in the intercom apparatus main body. Item 3. The intercom device according to Item 2.