JP2004080379A - Speech system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system by which speech can be smoothly executed in a speech system in a so-called talk back method. <P>SOLUTION: The speech system is constituted in such a method that a voice speech line is automatically connected in-between a counterpart station after calling the counterpart station for a specified period of time by operations of a speech switch 16. At least two kinds of longer and shorter connection response times are previously set to a communication means 13 to connect the voice speech line as a required time from receiving the call from the counterpart station until the connection of the voice speech line. And, the system is used by switching the setting of the connection response time according to conditions such as the required time from the finish time of the last speech until the current call and the presence or the absence of prescribed operations at the speech switch 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a call system, and more particularly, to a call system in a so-called talk-back type call system in which a call switch is operated to call a partner station for a certain period of time and then a voice communication line is automatically opened with the partner station. The technology relates to a process from call to call smoothly.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, a remote control device (hereinafter, referred to as a remote control) of a water heater installed in a bathroom or a kitchen is provided with a communication device having a microphone, a speaker, and the like, and a hot water supply configured to enable communication between the remote controls. Vessel systems have been proposed.
[0003]
FIG. 7 shows an example of a schematic configuration of a water heater system having such a call function. A remote controller b1 for the bathroom and a remote controller b2 for the kitchen are connected to the water heater a via a communication line c. Each of the remote controllers b1 and b2 is provided with a plurality of operation switches d for remotely controlling the water heater a, a display unit e for displaying a state of the water heater a, and the like, and realizes the above-mentioned call function. For this purpose, a microphone (not shown) for voice input, a speaker f for voice output, and a call switch g for calling a partner station are provided.
[0004]
In such a water heater system with a call function, a call method (talkback method) in which a voice call line is automatically opened with the other station after the other station is called by operating the call switch g for a certain period of time. ) Has been adopted. For example, when the call switch g of the bathroom remote controller b1 is operated, the operation information is transmitted to the kitchen remote controller b2 via the communication line c, and the kitchen remote controller b2 that receives the operation information transmits a predetermined signal from the speaker f. After outputting the ringing tone for a certain period of time, the circuit for communication is operated to enable communication with the bathroom remote controller b1.
[0005]
By the way, when such a talkback method is adopted, the called station can receive a call in a so-called hands-free manner, so that the call time is limited for reasons such as preventing forgetting to disconnect the line at the end of the call. Often. In other words, there is a case where the voice communication line is automatically disconnected after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the call.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, such a conventional configuration has the following problems, and its improvement has been desired.
[0007]
That is, in the water heater system in which the talk time is limited as described above, when the talk during the talk is prolonged, the voice communication line is forcibly disconnected during the talk. In such a case, even if the call switch is operated again to continue the talk, a predetermined time (connection response time) is waited until the voice communication line is opened with the partner station. Therefore, there is a problem that the conversation cannot be resumed immediately even if the conversation is to be resumed immediately.
[0008]
In addition, in the above-described water heater system, since a certain time (connection response time) elapses from the reception of the call from the caller to the opening of the voice communication line, the call is received. Even if the called party is in the vicinity of the remote controller, the call cannot be made immediately, and an improvement in this respect has been desired. In this case, a water heater system has been proposed in which a voice call line is immediately opened by operating a call switch on a side that has received a call. Hands-free calling was not possible due to the need for operation.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a so-called talkback type communication system capable of smoothly performing a call.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a call system according to the present invention provides a method for automatically calling a partner station by operating a call switch and then automatically opening a voice communication line with the partner station. At least two types of connection response time, long and short, are set in advance as the time required from the reception to the opening of the voice communication line, and the setting of the connection response time is switched and used according to the situation.
[0011]
As a preferred embodiment, the present invention is characterized in that the connection response time is switched according to a required time from the end of the most recent call to the reception of the next call.
[0012]
In another preferred embodiment, the connection response time is switched according to the presence or absence of a predetermined operation of a call switch on a caller side.
[0013]
Further, as another preferred embodiment, the call system of the present invention is provided with a human detection means for detecting whether or not a human body is present near each of the call terminals of the call system. The connection response time is switched based on the detection result of the human detection means.
[0014]
Further, the communication system of the present invention is a communication system of a system of automatically opening a voice communication line with the other station after calling the other station for a predetermined time by operating a communication switch. Provided with a predetermined operation means, wherein the connection response time can be arbitrarily set for each call terminal by the operation means.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
Embodiment 1
FIG. 1 shows a case where the communication system of the present invention is used as a system for communication between remote controllers in a water heater system. Specifically, in the illustrated communication system, a bathroom remote control 1a and a kitchen remote control 1b of a water heater (not shown) are used as communication terminals, and a remote control of the water heater is provided on a communication transmission line between the communication terminals. A two-core communication line 2 disposed between the bathroom remote control 1a and the kitchen remote control 1b is used to transmit operation signals. In addition, since the bathroom remote control 1a and the kitchen remote control 1b functioning as a call terminal are common in the configuration, the same reference numerals are given to the parts having the same configuration, and the description will be omitted. For convenience of explanation, the communication between the bathroom remote control 1a and the kitchen remote control 1b will be described with the bathroom remote control 1a as the caller side and the kitchen remote control 1b as the callee side.
[0017]
The bathroom remote controller 1a includes a microphone 11 for converting a sound into an electric signal (sound signal), a microphone amplifier 12 for amplifying the sound signal, and a communication terminal (kitchen) serving as a partner station for modulating / demodulating the sound signal. Communication means 13 for performing communication with the remote controller 1b), a speaker amplifier 14 for amplifying an audio signal received and demodulated through the communication means 13, and an audio signal amplified by the speaker amplifier 14 being output as audio. The main part includes a speaker 15 for performing a call operation of a partner station in a talk-back method, which will be described later, and a control means 18 for controlling operations of the communication means 13 and each part of the remote control. In the drawing, reference numeral 17 denotes a display unit for displaying the operation state of the water heater and the like.
[0018]
The communication means 13 is a communication device provided with a voice modem for voice communication and a data modem for data communication. A ring tone generation device for generating a ring tone is provided (not shown). The operation of each unit of the communication unit 13 is controlled by the control unit 18 as described above. In the present embodiment, when the control unit 18 receives the operation of the call switch 16, the other station (kitchen) A calling method (talkback method) in which a voice communication line is automatically opened with the partner station after calling the remote controller 1b) for a certain period of time.
[0019]
Specifically, for example, when the call switch 16 of the bathroom remote controller 1a is operated, the operation information is received by the control unit 18, and the operation information is transmitted from the communication unit 13 of the bathroom remote controller 1a to the two-core communication line 2. It is transmitted to the kitchen remote controller 1b via the remote controller. On the other hand, on the side of the kitchen remote controller 1b that has received the operation information, the control unit 18 of the kitchen remote controller 1b operates a ring sound generation device (not shown) built in the communication unit 13 to generate a predetermined ringing sound from the speaker 15. After outputting for a certain period of time, a voice communication line is automatically opened with the bathroom remote controller 1a, so that communication with the bathroom remote controller 1a is enabled.
[0020]
Here, the control means 18 is constituted by a control device having a microcomputer. The control means 18 has a control program for controlling the operation of the communication means 13 in addition to a control program for remotely controlling the water heater, and receives operation information of the call switch 16 from the partner station. The required time (connection response time) from when the voice communication line is opened with the other station is also set by the control means 18.
[0021]
In the present invention, at least two types of connection response times having different lengths are set in the control means 18 as the connection response times. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the connection response time TL (for example, about ten and several seconds) used for a normal call as the connection response time, and the voice communication line is established in a shorter time than the connection response time for the normal call. Two types of short connection response time TS (for example, about several seconds) for opening are set.
[0022]
In addition to the connection response time described above, the control means 18 is also provided with a call limit time Tc for limiting the time during which a voice call can be made. When the time Tc elapses, the voice communication line is automatically disconnected.
[0023]
In the communication system shown in the present embodiment, the control means 18 is provided with a time counting means 19 for measuring an elapsed time after the voice communication line with the partner station is closed. Based on the measurement result, the control means 18 executes a process as shown in FIG.
[0024]
That is, when the call switch 16 is operated on one of the call terminals (for example, the bathroom remote control 1a) and the other call terminal (for example, the kitchen remote control 1b) is in a calling state, the other call terminal (for example, In this case, the control means 18 of the kitchen remote controller 1b) uses the measurement result of the clocking means 19 to determine the required time Ta from the end of the previous call (that is, the disconnection of the latest voice communication line) to the reception of the current call. Is determined whether a predetermined time Tx (x seconds in the illustrated example) has elapsed (see step S1 in FIG. 2). If the required time Ta exceeds the predetermined time Tx, The voice communication line is opened at the connection response time TL at the time of calling (see FIG. 2, step S2). If the required time Ta does not exceed the predetermined time Tx, the voice communication line is opened with a short connection response time TS (see step S3 in FIG. 2).
[0025]
That is, in the communication system according to the present embodiment, when the voice communication line is forcibly disconnected during the communication due to the passage of the communication time limit Tc, the predetermined time Tx is not elapsed after the voice communication line is disconnected. When the call switch 16 is operated, the voice communication line is opened with a shorter connection response time TS than when a normal call is made. Therefore, by setting the connection response time TS short, the interruption time of the conversation can be minimized. It will be possible to have a smooth conversation while suppressing it. Note that, in this case, the setting of the predetermined time Tx is set to a time which is normally required to resume the call after the forcible disconnection of the voice communication line (that is, to operate the call switch 16 again), For example, it is preferably set to about several seconds.
[0026]
Embodiment 2
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, the switching of the connection response times TL and TS is performed by the control means 18 in response to the operation of the telephone call switch 16 without depending on the measurement result of the timer 19. Therefore, in the communication system shown in the present embodiment, the control means 18 is not provided with the clock means 19 as shown in FIG. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, portions having the same configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
[0027]
Therefore, the operation of the communication system according to the present embodiment will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0028]
That is, in the telephone system of the present invention, when the telephone switch 16 is operated by one (for example, the bathroom remote controller 1a), the operation information is transmitted to the control means 18 of the other (kitchen remote controller 1b) as described above. In this embodiment, the control means 18 of the kitchen remote controller 1b, which has received the operation information at this time, uses the bathroom operation remote controller 1a to perform a predetermined operation of the call switch 16 (in the illustrated example, the communication switch 16) based on the received operation information. Is determined (see step S1 in FIG. 4).
[0029]
Then, if the predetermined operation of the call switch 16 is not performed on the bathroom remote controller 1a, the control means 18 of the kitchen remote controller 1b opens the voice communication line with the connection response time TL at the time of normal calling (see step S2 in FIG. 4). If a predetermined operation has been performed, the voice communication line is opened with a short connection response time TS (see step S3 in FIG. 4).
[0030]
That is, in the second embodiment, when a predetermined operation is performed by the call switch 16, the control unit 18 of the partner station that has accepted the operation opens the voice communication line in a shorter time than when a normal call is made. Therefore, if it is known in advance that the other party is near the calling terminal, or if the conversation is interrupted due to the limitation of the talk time, it is possible to open the voice communication line with the other station in a short time, and Can be performed smoothly.
[0031]
In the present embodiment, as the predetermined operation of the call switch 16, continuous pressing of the call switch 16 (a state in which the switch is pressed down for a certain period of time or more) is shown, but this predetermined operation is different from a normal switch operation. The operation can be changed to another operation. For example, the call switch 16 can be intermittently pressed (the switch is pressed down twice or three times in a short time).
[0032]
Embodiment 3
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the third embodiment, the connection response times TL and TS are switched depending on whether or not a person is present near the call terminal. As shown in FIG. A human detecting means 20 for detecting the presence of a human is provided. Since other basic configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, portions having the same configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
[0033]
The person detecting means 20 is provided in each of the bathroom remote controller 1a and the kitchen remote controller 1b, and is a known device for detecting whether or not a person exists near each of the remote controllers 1a and 1b. The detection results of the detection means 20 are input to the control means 18, respectively. Here, as the person detecting means 20, for example, a device that captures a surrounding image and detects the presence of a person by using a pattern recognition technique or a device that detects the presence of a person by using an infrared sensor is preferably used.
[0034]
Therefore, the operation of the telephone system provided with such a human detecting means 20 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0035]
That is, also in the call system according to the third embodiment, as described above, when the call switch 16 is operated on one (for example, the bathroom remote control 1a), the operation information is transmitted to the other (the kitchen remote control 1b). In this embodiment, the control unit 18 of the kitchen remote controller 1b, which has received the operation information at this time, detects whether a person has been detected by the human detection unit 20 mounted on the kitchen remote controller 1b. It is determined whether it is not (see step S1 in FIG. 6).
[0036]
Then, if the presence of a person near the kitchen remote controller 1b is not detected by the human detection unit 20, the control unit 18 of the kitchen remote controller 1b opens the voice communication line with the connection response time TL at the time of normal calling (FIG. 6). If the presence of a person is detected, the voice communication line is opened with a short connection response time TS (see step S3 in FIG. 6).
[0037]
That is, in the third embodiment, when the presence of a person is detected near the call terminal that has received the call, the control unit 18 on the side that has received the call switches the voice call line with a shorter connection response time than usual. It is configured to open. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when there is a person near the calling terminal that has accepted the call, it is possible to immediately have a conversation with the partner station, and when the conversation is interrupted due to the limitation of the talking time. Can resume the conversation promptly.
[0038]
The above-described embodiments merely show preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and various design changes can be made within the scope.
[0039]
For example, in the above-described embodiment, a case was described in which the call system of the present invention was used for a call function between remote controllers in a water heater system. However, the call system of the present invention was provided with a call function of a talkback method. It is applicable to other systems.
[0040]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the bathroom remote control 1a and the kitchen remote control 1b are connected by wire through the two-core communication 2 has been described. However, the present invention is applicable not only to a wire connection system but also to a wireless connection system. Applicable.
[0041]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the connection response time is switched in accordance with the measurement result of the timer unit 19, the predetermined operation of the call switch 16, and the detection result of the human detection unit 20 has been described. The connection response time may be switched. For example, since the bathroom remote controller 1a is installed in a limited narrow space such as a bathroom, a response can be made in a relatively short time when a call is received. 1b may be set shorter than that of 1b. That is, the connection response time can be switched according to the installation location of the call terminal. In this case, the connection response time is set by providing an operation means such as a dip switch in the control means 18 so that the connection response time can be set by operating the operation means or by using an existing operation switch. It is desirable that the connection response time be set by setting.
[0042]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the connection response time is set to two types, long and short, has been described. However, two or more connection response times can be set in advance and switched.
[0043]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the connection response time is set at the call terminal of the caller who has accepted the call, but the connection is set at the call terminal of the caller who operated the call switch 16. It is also possible to configure to set the response time.
[0044]
In the above-described embodiment, when a call is made with a shorter connection response time than that of a normal call, the control unit 18 should be set so that the ring tone is lower than the volume of the normal call. Is possible. Further, when there is no voice response from the called station, the control means 18 can be set so that the ringing tone is made louder when the call switch 16 is operated next time. is there.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, in the call system of the present invention, in a call system of a system in which a call station is called for a certain period of time by operating a call switch and then a voice call line is automatically opened between the call station and the other station. At least two types of connection response times, long and short, are set in advance as the time required from the reception to the opening of the voice communication line, and the setting of the connection response time is switched and used depending on the situation. When a call is interrupted or when it is clear that there is a person near the calling terminal, the call can be started with a shorter connection response time than in a normal state, and the conversation can be performed smoothly with a short waiting time. Can be.
[0046]
Further, in the communication system of the present invention, in a communication system of a system in which a voice communication line is automatically opened with the other station after calling the other station for a predetermined time by operating a communication switch, each communication terminal of the communication system is provided. Provided with predetermined operation means, and the connection response time can be arbitrarily set for each call terminal by the operation means, so that the connection response time can be arbitrarily set according to the installation location of the call terminal. As described above, in a place where a response can be made in a relatively short time, a call can be set in a short time.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the communication system.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a second embodiment of the communication system.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a third embodiment of the communication system.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the third embodiment.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a water heater system having a call function.
[Explanation of symbols]
1a Remote control for bathroom (call terminal)
1b Kitchen remote control (call terminal)
2 Two-core communication line 11 Microphone 13 Communication means 15 Speaker 16 Talk switch 18 Control means 19 Clocking means 20 Human detection means

Claims (5)

In a call system in which a voice communication line is automatically opened with a partner station after calling a partner station for a certain period of time by operating a call switch, the time required from the reception of the call to the opening of the voice communication line is determined in advance. A communication system, wherein at least two types of connection response times are set, and the setting of the connection response time is switched and used according to the situation. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the connection response time is switched according to a required time from the end of the most recent call to the time of receiving the next call. 2. The replacement system according to claim 1, wherein the connection response time is switched depending on whether or not a predetermined operation of a call switch is performed on a caller side. Each call terminal of the call system is provided with a human detection means for detecting whether or not a human body is present near the terminal, and the connection response time is switched based on a detection result of the human detection means. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein: In a call system of a method of automatically opening a voice communication line with the partner station after calling the partner station for a certain period of time by operating a call switch,
A communication system, wherein predetermined operation means are provided in each of the communication terminals of the communication system, and the connection response time can be arbitrarily set for each of the communication terminals by the operation means.

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