JP2006080611A - Intercom apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable performing communication between an intercom slave set and an intercom sub-master set by enabling radio communication even if an intercom master set is away from the intercom sub-master set or an obstacle interrupting communication is present between the both. <P>SOLUTION: A relay terminal 4 for relaying radio communication is provided between the intercom master set 2 and the intercom sub-master sets 3A , 3B. The intercom master set 2 selects direct radio communication with the intercom sub-master set 3A, 3B or radio communication via the relay terminal 4, depending on a radio wave state. The intercom slave set 1 can perform communication with the intercom sub-master sets 3A, 3B via the intercom master set 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an intercom apparatus that can handle a visitor while viewing a video of the visitor.

  Conventionally, as an interphone device using video, for example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a television interphone device. This TV intercom device includes an interphone slave unit with camera installed at the entrance, an interphone master unit with monitor connected to the interphone slave unit by wire, and an interphone sub-parent unit with monitor that can communicate wirelessly with the interphone master unit. It consists of a machine.

  The interphone master unit has a radio transmission / reception unit that transmits the audio signal and the video signal transmitted from the interphone slave unit as radio signals and receives the audio signal transmitted wirelessly from the interphone sub-master unit. The interphone sub-master unit has a radio transmission / reception unit that receives an audio signal and a video signal transmitted by radio signals from the interphone master unit and transmits the audio signals by radio signals. When a call is made between the interphone base unit and the interphone sub base unit, the interphone base unit wirelessly transmits an audio signal and receives an audio signal wirelessly transmitted from the interphone sub base unit. An audio signal wirelessly transmitted from the parent device is received, and the audio signal is wirelessly transmitted.

According to the television intercom apparatus having such a configuration, it is possible to save wiring work during installation and expansion of the interphone sub-master. In addition, it is possible to set the installation location of the interphone secondary master unit freely, and when replacing the system, the existing transmission path between the interphone slave unit and the interphone master unit can be used. A system configuration including a secondary master unit can be easily realized.
JP 2000-224316 A

  However, in the above-mentioned TV intercom apparatus, when the video signal transmitted from the interphone slave unit is wirelessly transmitted to a plurality of interphone sub-master units, unlike the case of wired transmission, the wall of the house between the communication transmission paths, etc. The state of the communication transmission path is always affected by the surrounding radio wave environment due to the radio wave obstruction. For this reason, depending on where the interphone sub-master is installed, the interphone sub-master may not be able to communicate wirelessly with the interphone master. In addition, there is a problem that the range of communicable communication is limited compared to wired transmission because the transmitted radio wave intensity is regulated by law.

  In view of the above, the present invention makes it possible to perform wireless communication even when the interphone master unit and the interphone submaster unit are separated from each other or there are obstacles that interfere with communication between them. An object of the present invention is to provide an intercom device capable of setting a wide range of installation locations.

  The present invention provides an intercom slave that acquires external information about a visitor, an interphone master that is communicably connected to the interphone slave and has a wireless communication function, and at least one that performs wireless communication with the interphone master. Two interphone sub-master units, and a relay terminal that performs wireless communication with the interphone master unit and the interphone sub-master unit. The interphone master unit directly transmits external information to the interphone sub-master unit or via the relay terminal. Any one of the transmissions performed is selectively performed.

  The intercom base unit can establish either a direct wireless transmission path or an indirect wireless transmission path to the interphone sub base unit, and can perform radio communication with the interphone sub base unit.

  When there are multiple secondary master units having means for acquiring internal information in the house, the intercom secondary master unit transmits the internal information to the interphone master unit or the relay terminal. Either the direct transmission to the interphone sub-master device or the transmission via the relay terminal is selectively performed, and the relay terminal transmits the received internal information to the interphone master device or another interphone sub-master device. To do. The extension communication between the interphone sub-master devices can be performed through the interphone master device during communication between the interphone master device and the interphone slave device.

   Here, the interphone base unit may select whether to perform wireless communication directly with the interphone sub-base unit or via a relay terminal depending on the strength of the radio signal. In this case, it is possible to select an optimum wireless transmission path, and the interphone master unit and the interphone submaster unit can reliably perform wireless communication.

  The intercom handset includes means for acquiring external information such as video and audio of a visitor, means for communicating with the interphone base unit, and means for outputting information received from the interphone base unit. The interphone master unit has means for communicating with the interphone slave unit, means for wirelessly communicating with the interphone sub master unit or the relay terminal, and means for outputting information received from the interphone slave unit or the interphone sub master unit. The interphone secondary master unit receives means for acquiring internal information such as video and audio of an indoor user, means for wirelessly communicating with the interphone master unit or relay terminal, and information received from the interphone master unit or other interphone secondary master units. Means for outputting. The relay terminal includes means for wirelessly communicating with the interphone base unit or the interphone sub base unit.

  As a result, the intercom handset outputs the user's voice in response to the visitor's call. The interphone master unit or the interphone submaster unit outputs the voice of the visitor and also outputs the video. The visitor and the user can make a call, and the user can also view the video of the visitor. In addition, during extension communication between interphone sub-master units, video and audio of each other are output.

  Then, the interphone sub-master or relay terminal may be movable. When the communication state deteriorates, if the interphone sub-master or relay terminal is moved, the communication state is improved and wireless communication can be performed.

  The relay terminal may include means for monitoring the communication state and means for moving to a position where the communication state is optimal. The optimal position can be determined by moving the relay terminal while monitoring the communication state. Therefore, even if the communication state fluctuates, the communication state can always be maintained in an optimum state, and high-quality wireless communication can be performed.

  Guide means for movably guiding the relay terminal may be provided, and the guide means may have a power supply unit that supplies power to the relay terminal. The relay terminal moves within a predetermined range, but power is always supplied within the range. Therefore, when the terminal device is movable, it is usually necessary to use a battery as a power source. However, this battery is not necessary, and the terminal device can be miniaturized.

  When performing wireless communication, any one of the interphone master unit, the interphone sub master unit, or the relay terminal becomes a master that leads the radio communication, and any of the interphone master unit, interphone sub master unit, or relay terminal other than the master is a slave. It becomes. A network capable of wireless communication is formed by the master and the slave. The slave is managed by the master, and a plurality of slaves can exist for one master. Note that slaves cannot communicate with each other.

  Any of the interphone master unit, the interphone sub-master unit, and the relay terminal can be a master and can be a slave. That is, the master becomes a slave in another network and performs wireless communication with the master of the other network. In this way, even when a plurality of interphone sub-master devices belong to different networks, a system configuration centering on the interphone master device capable of wireless communication between the interphone sub-master devices through the plurality of networks can be realized.

  According to the present invention, by selectively using a relay terminal that relays wireless communication, the interphone master unit and the interphone sub-master unit are separated from each other, or there are obstacles that interfere with communication between the two. Even wireless communication can be performed. As a result, the place where the interphone sub-master can be installed can be widened, and an interphone device that is easy for the user to use can be provided.

  The television intercom apparatus of this embodiment is shown in FIG. The television intercom apparatus includes interphone slave units 1A and 1B, an interphone master unit 2 connected to the interphone slave unit 1, a plurality of interphone sub-master units 3A and 3B that perform wireless communication with the interphone master unit 2, and an interphone master unit. 2 and the intercom sub-master unit 3A, and a relay terminal 4 that performs wireless communication with both.

  The interphone handset 1 with a camera is usually installed outdoors, for example, at the entrance. Here, the two intercom slaves 1A and 1B are installed in different places. The interphone master unit 2 with a monitor is usually installed in an indoor place such as a living room, connected to each interphone slave unit 1A, 1B via an interphone line 5 that is a dedicated communication line, and is wired and bidirectional. Communication is performed. Interphone sub-master devices 3A and 3B with a monitor and relay terminal 4 are also installed at any indoor location such as a living room, respectively. Interphone master device 2 and inter-phone sub-master devices 3A and 3B, interphone master device 2 and relay terminal 4 The relay terminal 4 and the interphone sub-master devices 3A and 3B are connected to each other via a wireless transmission path 6 so that wireless communication is possible. That is, the relay terminal 4 functions as a repeater terminal that relays wireless communication. The interphone sub-master devices 3A and 3B and the relay terminal 4 can be carried.

  The interphone base unit 2, the interphone sub base units 3A, 3B, and the relay terminal 4 perform wireless communication with each other, but the interphone base unit 2 can control the plurality of interphone sub base units 3A, 3B and the relay terminal 4. Therefore, the Bluetooth (registered trademark) wireless system is adopted as the wireless communication system. This is a system that enables data transmission in a specific low-power radio station in the 2.4 GHz band via the Bluetooth radio transmission path 6 that is a path through which a radio signal is transmitted.

  First, a general description of the Bluetooth wireless system will be given. The Bluetooth wireless system is a wireless communication technology for portable information devices that can perform communication at a speed of 1 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band. That is, it is a wireless system that can construct a wireless network system capable of one-to-many connection, not simply a network technology that replaces a one-to-one cable.

  In the Bluetooth wireless system, since a plurality of terminal devices can perform orderly communication, a control function related to communication is given to one terminal device from a group of a plurality of terminal devices related to communication. Thereby, the terminal devices can be easily made into a wireless network. In the Bluetooth wireless system, a terminal device that is responsible for a control function is called a master, and the others are called slaves. A network in which a master and a slave are in communication is called a piconet. The master has a function of determining the frequency and timing for hopping and managing the traffic and state of the network.

  The Bluetooth wireless system is designed so that both voice and data can be handled without bias. With respect to voice, up to three calls can be made simultaneously per piconet, and this is realized by using a circuit-switched SCO (Synchronous Connection Oriented) link. Regarding data, packets are transmitted and received between each slave and the master while sharing a communication line between slaves existing in the piconet. Data transmission / reception is realized by using a packet-switched ACL (Asynchronous Connection Less) link.

  The Bluetooth wireless system is premised on the installation of wireless equipment in battery-powered portable devices. Therefore, in order to reduce power consumption in the ACL link, a Bluetooth device that performs wireless communication transitions to three low power consumption modes: a park mode, a hold mode, and a sniff mode. It is possible.

  The park mode is a mode specific to the slave. The parked slave in the park mode is synchronized with the piconet, that is, synchronized with the hopping pattern and the master clock. However, in the park mode, the slave cannot exchange packets with the master. The parked slave receives information transmitted from the master at regular time intervals (beacon period) and can immediately join the piconet if necessary. In the park mode, the slave once returns to the master the slave identifier assigned by the master (3-bit address (1-7) given to the connected slave). Therefore, even if a slave in the park wishes to rejoin the piconet, it cannot join immediately if there is no free slave identifier. Conversely, the master gives an 8-bit park slave identifier to the slave entering park mode. The master manages up to 255 parked slaves and allows only the necessary slaves to join the piconet at any time.

  The hold mode is a mode in which both the master and the slave can transition. The master and slave in the hold mode do not transmit / receive during the set fixed period (hold time) while synchronizing with the piconet, and resume communication after the hold time elapses.

  The sniff mode is a mode in which only the slave can transition. In this mode, the slave transmits / receives information to / from the master at regular time intervals (sniff intervals) and suppresses power consumption at other times. In the sniff mode, the slave standby processing is extremely reduced, so that the power consumption of the slave can be suppressed as compared with the hold mode. Also, in the sniff mode, unlike the park mode, the slave is in a state of holding the slave identifier assigned by the master, so that it can immediately rejoin the piconet.

  In the television intercom apparatus according to the present embodiment, two piconets are always formed. In the first piconet, the interphone base unit 2 is a master, and the interphone sub-base unit 3B and the relay terminal 4 are slaves. In the second piconet, the relay terminal 4 is the master, and the interphone sub-master 3A is the slave. Furthermore, interphone sub-master devices 3A and 3B that are slaves are configured to be able to transition to the sniff mode in the low power consumption mode described above. As a result, even if the slave interphone sub-master units 3A and 3B are in the sniff mode, they can immediately rejoin the piconet as necessary. Therefore, both the interphone master unit 2 and the interphone sub-master units 3A and 3B can quickly respond to visitors.

  Next, each terminal device constituting the television intercom apparatus will be described. Note that the two interphone slave units 1A and 1B shown in FIG. 1 have the same configuration, and the two interphone sub-master units 3A and 3B have the same configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the intercom handset 1 (1 </ b> A, 1 </ b> B) photographs a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 100 that controls the entire device, a call button 10 for calling the interphone base unit 2, and a visitor. A camera unit 11 such as a CCD camera, a microphone and a speaker (not shown), a voice call circuit 101 that enables voice calls between an outdoor visitor and an indoor user, and a video shot by the camera unit 11 are modulated. And a multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 103 that performs signal processing to communicate with the interphone master unit 2.

  The CPU 100 is connected to the call button 10, and a call signal is input from the call button 10 when the visitor presses it. The CPU 100 is connected to the camera unit 11 and the multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 103 and sends out control signals for controlling them. When a call signal from the call button 10 is detected, a visitor is detected, and a visitor detection signal that is a control signal indicating that there is a visitor is sent to the multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 103.

  The camera unit 11 is always driven in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 100 and captures an image in the vicinity of the intercom slave unit 1. Then, a video signal based on the photographed video is sent to the video modulation circuit 102. The video modulation circuit 102 performs modulation processing on the video signal input from the camera unit 11 and sends the processed video signal to the multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 103. The multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 103 generates a transmission signal including the modulated video signal input from the video modulation circuit 102 and sends this signal to the interphone master unit 2 via the interphone line 5 at a predetermined timing. Send to.

  The voice call circuit 101 acquires a voice uttered by a visitor with a microphone, and sends a voice signal based on the acquired voice to the multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 103.

  The multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 103 performs a modulation signal input from the video modulation circuit 102 according to a control signal from the CPU 100 and an audio signal based on a visitor's voice input from the voice call circuit 101. And a visitor detection signal that is a control signal input from the CPU 100, a transmission signal is generated and transmitted to the interphone master unit 2 via the interphone line 5.

  Further, the multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 103 receives the multiplexed transmission signal from the intercom base unit 2 via the interphone line 5. The multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 103 separates the transmission signal transmitted from the interphone master unit 2 into a voice signal and a control signal, sends the voice signal to the voice call circuit 101, and sends the control signal to the CPU 100. To do.

  The voice call circuit 101 outputs a voice signal from the intercom base unit 2 to a visitor from a speaker. Therefore, in the intercom handset 1, external information such as video and audio related to the visitor is acquired by the camera unit 11 and the microphone of the voice call circuit 101. And the voice which is the information received from the intercom base unit 2 is output by the speaker of the voice call circuit 101.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the interphone master unit 2 calls the interphone slave unit 1 to start a call with the CPU 200 that controls the entire device, the liquid crystal display unit 21 that displays the visitor's video, and the visitor. An antenna 24A for performing wireless communication between the call button 22, an extension button 23 for calling the interphone sub-master 3 to start an extension call with another user indoors, and the inter-phone sub-master 3 or the relay terminal 6 A voice communication circuit 201 having a wireless transmission / reception unit 24, a removable memory 25 for video recording, a microphone and a speaker (not shown), and enabling voice calls with outdoor visitors and other users indoors. A video demodulation circuit 202 that demodulates the video signal, a multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 203 that performs signal processing to communicate with the terminal device, an analog audio signal, and a digital signal An audio AD / DA (Analog-Digital / Digital-Analog) conversion circuit 204 that converts voice signals to each other; a video A / D (Analog / Digital) conversion circuit 205 that converts an analog video signal into a digital signal; Video compression / expansion circuit 206 that compresses and decompresses the video signal, display video storage circuit 207 that stores the video signal converted into a digital signal, and transmission that stores the video signal to be transmitted to the interphone sub-master unit 3 A video storage circuit 208; a recording video storage circuit 210 that stores a video signal to be recorded in the memory 25; a compressed video storage circuit 211 that stores a compressed video signal; and a ringing tone circuit 209 that outputs a ringing tone. It has.

  The CPU 200 includes a voice call circuit 201, a multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 203, a voice AD / DA conversion circuit 204, a video compression / decompression circuit 206, a display video storage circuit 207, a liquid crystal display unit 21, a transmission video storage circuit 208, and a ringing tone circuit 209. Are connected to the recording video storage circuit 210, the wireless transmission / reception unit 24, and the memory 25, and send control signals for controlling them.

  The multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 203 receives the transmission signal including the video signal from the interphone slave unit 1 or the multiplexed transmission signal via the interphone line 5, and receives the received signal according to the control signal from the CPU 200. Are separated into a video signal, an audio signal, and a visitor detection signal which is a control signal.

  The multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 203 is connected to the video demodulation circuit 202, the video demodulation circuit 202, and the voice call circuit 201, and the video signal obtained by the separation is sent to the video demodulation circuit 202 and the voice signal is sent to the voice call circuit 201. In addition, a visitor detection signal is sent to the CPU 200, respectively.

  The wireless transmission / reception unit 24 transmits the time-division-multiplexed transmission by the Bluetooth wireless protocol as a 2.4 GHz band Bluetooth wireless signal transmitted from the interphone sub-master 3 or the relay terminal 4 via the Bluetooth wireless transmission path 6. The credit signal is received, and the transmission signal is separated into a digital audio signal, a control signal, and a digital video signal in accordance with the control signal from the CPU 200.

  The wireless transmission / reception unit 24 is connected to the audio AD / DA conversion circuit 204, the CPU 200, and the video compression / decompression circuit 206. The digital audio signal obtained by the separation is sent to the audio AD / DA conversion circuit 204 as a control signal. To the CPU 200 and the digital video signal to the video compression / decompression circuit 206, respectively.

  When detecting the visitor detection signal input from the multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 203, the CPU 200 recognizes the presence of a visitor in the vicinity of the intercom handset 1. When the CPU 200 detects a call signal that is a control signal from the interphone sub-master device 3 input from the wireless transmission / reception unit 24, the interphone sub-master device 3 performs a response operation to the call operation from the interphone slave device 1. Recognize that.

  The CPU 200 receives a call signal from the call button 22 when the call button 22 is pressed by an indoor user. When the CPU 200 detects a call signal from the call button 22, it detects that an indoor user has pressed the call button 22, and a response operation to the call operation from the interphone handset 1 or the interphone sub-master 3 is performed. Recognize that.

  Further, the CPU 200 receives a call signal from the extension button 23 when the extension button 23 is pressed by an indoor user. When detecting a call signal from the extension button 23, the CPU 200 detects that the indoor user has pressed the extension button 23 and recognizes that the call operation for the interphone sub-master unit 3 has been performed.

  The video demodulation circuit 202 is connected to the video A / D conversion circuit 205, demodulates the video signal input from the multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 203 into an analog composite signal, and sends it to the video A / D conversion circuit 205.

  The video A / D conversion circuit 205 is connected to the display video storage circuit 207 and the video compression / decompression circuit 206, converts the video signal that is an analog composite signal input from the video demodulation circuit 202 into a digital signal, and displays the display video. The data is sent to the storage circuit 207 and the video compression / decompression circuit 206.

  The video compression / decompression circuit 206 is connected to the compressed video storage circuit 211 and converts the digital video signal input from the video A / D conversion circuit 205 into a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) compressed image in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 200. Converted and sent to the compressed video storage circuit 211.

  The compressed video storage circuit 211 has a capacity capable of storing video for 30 screens, and has a ring-shaped memory structure in which new video is overwritten and stored in order from old video. The digital video signal input from the video compression / decompression circuit 206 is sequentially stored at a cycle of 15 screens per second.

  The recorded video storage circuit 210 has a capacity capable of storing one screen of video received from the interphone slave unit 1 and is stored in the compressed video storage circuit 211 according to the control signal and time signal from the CPU 200. The oldest video is read and copied at a cycle of 5 screens per second. The recorded video storage circuit 210 is connected to the memory 25 and sends a digital video signal obtained by copying to the memory 25 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 200.

  The memory 25 uses an SD (Secure Digital) memory card (registered trademark). As the removable memory 25, another form of memory card may be used. The memory 25 is connected to the video compression / expansion circuit 206 and the transmission video storage circuit 208, and sequentially records and saves the digital video signals input from the recording video storage circuit 210 according to the control signal from the CPU 200, and also records them. The reproduced digital video signal is reproduced and output to the video compression / decompression circuit 206 or the transmission video storage circuit 208.

  The video compression / decompression circuit 206 is connected to the display video storage circuit 207 and performs a decompression process on the JPEG-compressed digital video signal input from the memory 25 or the wireless transmission / reception unit 24 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 200. The expanded digital video signal is sent to the display video storage circuit 207.

  The display video storage circuit 207 sequentially stores the digital video signals input from the video A / D conversion circuit 205 and the video compression / decompression circuit 206 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 200.

  The liquid crystal display unit 21 reads and displays the digital video signal stored in the display video storage circuit 207 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 200. In this way, the video that is the information received from the interphone slave unit 1 or the interphone sub-master unit 3 is output.

  The transmission video storage circuit 208 has a capacity capable of storing one screen of video received from the interphone slave unit 1 and stores video input from the memory 25. The transmission video storage circuit 208 reads out, copies, and stores the oldest video stored in the compressed video storage circuit 211 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 200.

  The transmission video storage circuit 208 is connected to the wireless transmission / reception unit 24. The wireless transmission / reception unit 24 reads the video stored in the transmission video storage circuit 208 at a predetermined cycle according to the control signal from the CPU 200. Copying of the video in the transmission video storage circuit 208 is performed every time the video stored in the transmission video storage circuit 208 is read by the wireless transmission / reception unit 24. Here, the period at which the video stored in the transmission video storage circuit 208 is read out by the wireless transmission / reception unit 24 depends on the radio wave state of the wireless communication performed by the wireless transmission / reception unit 24, and from one screen to three screens per second. Fluctuate between minutes.

  The voice AD / DA conversion circuit 204 converts the digital voice signal input from the wireless transmission / reception unit 24 into an analog signal in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 200, and sends the obtained analog voice signal to the voice call circuit 201. To do.

  The voice call circuit 201 is connected to the multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 203 and the voice AD / DA conversion circuit 204, and in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 200, the voice signal or the voice AD / DA conversion circuit input from the multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 203. The audio signal input from 204 is output from a speaker to an indoor user. The voice which is the information received from the intercom handset 1 or the interphone sub-master 3 is output by the speaker of the voice call circuit 201.

  In addition, the sound emitted by the indoor user is acquired by the microphone, and the sound signal based on the acquired sound is transmitted to the multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 203 or the sound AD / DA conversion circuit 204. Also, the audio signal input from the multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 203 is transmitted to the wireless transmission / reception unit 24 via the CPU 200. Thus, the internal information such as the voice of the indoor user is acquired by the microphone of the voice call circuit 201.

  The multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 203 performs a multiplexing process on the voice signal based on the voice of the indoor user input from the voice call circuit 201 and the control signal input from the CPU 200 in accordance with the control signal from the CPU 200. And transmitted to the intercom handset 1 via the intercom line 5.

  The voice AD / DA conversion circuit 204 is connected to the wireless transmission / reception unit 24, converts the voice signal input from the voice call circuit 201 into a digital voice signal in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 200, and converts the obtained digital voice signal. The data is transmitted to the wireless transmission / reception unit 24.

  In accordance with a control signal from the CPU 200, the wireless transmission / reception unit 24 receives a digital audio signal input from the multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 203 via the CPU 200, a digital video signal read from the transmission video storage circuit 208, and an input from the CPU 200. The control signal is subjected to time division multiplexing processing using a Bluetooth wireless protocol to generate a transmission signal. Also, Bluetooth is applied to the digital audio signal input from the audio AD / DA conversion circuit 204, the digital video signal input from the transmission video storage circuit 208, and the extension call signal that is a control signal input from the CPU 200. A time division multiplexing process is performed by a wireless protocol to generate a transmission signal. Then, these transmission signals are transmitted as a 2.4 GHz band Bluetooth radio signal from the antenna 24 </ b> A to the interphone sub-master 3 or the relay terminal 4 via the Bluetooth radio transmission path 6.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the interphone secondary master unit 3 (3 </ b> A, 3 </ b> B) starts a call with a visitor, a CPU 300 that controls the entire device, a liquid crystal display unit 31 that displays a visitor's video, and the like. Wireless communication with the interphone master unit 2 and the call button 32 for calling the interphone slave unit 1, the extension button 33 for calling the interphone master unit 2 and the like to start an extension call with another user indoors, etc. A voice call that has a wireless transmission / reception unit 34 having an antenna 34A, a camera unit 35 that captures an indoor user, and a microphone or speaker (not shown) and that allows voice calls with outdoor visitors and other indoor users A circuit 301, a video compression / decompression circuit 302 that compresses and decompresses video signals, a display video storage circuit 303 that stores video data, and the interphone master unit 2 are transmitted. A transmission video storage circuit 304 for storing a video signal, an audio AD / DA conversion circuit 305 for converting an analog audio signal and a digital audio signal, and a ringing tone circuit 306 for outputting a ringing tone. ing.

  The CPU 300 includes a voice call circuit 301, a voice AD / DA conversion circuit 305, a video compression / expansion circuit 302, a display video storage circuit 303, a liquid crystal display unit 31, a transmission video storage circuit 304, a ringing tone circuit 306, and a wireless transmission / reception unit 34. It is connected to the camera unit 35 and sends a control signal for controlling them.

  The radio transmission / reception unit 34 receives the transmission signal transmitted from the interphone master unit 2 or another interphone sub-master unit 3 via the Bluetooth radio transmission path 5 and subjected to time division multiplexing processing using the Bluetooth radio protocol through the antenna 34A. To do. Then, according to the control signal from the CPU 200, the received transmission signal is separated into a digital audio signal, a JPEG video signal, and a control signal.

  Here, the other interphone sub-master 3 is the interphone sub-master 3B for the interphone sub-master 3A, and the interphone sub-master 3A for the interphone sub-master 3B.

  The wireless transmission / reception unit 34 is connected to the audio AD / DA conversion circuit 305, the CPU 300, and the video compression / decompression circuit 302, and the digital audio signal obtained by the separation is sent to the audio AD / DA conversion circuit 305 to the JPEG video. The signal is sent to the video compression / decompression circuit 302, and the control signal is sent to the CPU 300.

  When the CPU 300 detects the visitor detection signal or the extension call signal that is a control signal from the interphone master unit 2 or another interphone sub-master unit 3 input from the wireless transmission / reception unit 34, the CPU 300 Recognizes a call request from the presence or the interphone master 2 or another interphone sub-master 3.

  The CPU 300 receives a call signal from the call button 32 when the call button 32 is pressed by an indoor user. When CPU 300 detects a call signal from call button 32, CPU 300 detects that an indoor user has pressed call button 32, and calls from interphone slave unit 1, interphone master unit 2, or other interphone sub-master unit 3. Recognize that a response operation to the operation has been performed.

  Further, the CPU 300 receives a call signal from the extension button 33 when the extension button 33 is pressed by an indoor user. When the CPU 300 detects a call signal from the extension button 33, the CPU 300 detects that an indoor user has pressed the extension button 33 and confirms that a call operation to the interphone master unit 2 or another interphone sub-master unit 3 has been performed. recognize.

  The camera unit 35 is driven at a predetermined timing in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 300 and captures an image in the vicinity of the interphone sub-master unit 3. Then, a video signal based on the photographed video is sent to the video compression / decompression circuit 302.

  The video compression / decompression circuit 302 is connected to the transmission video storage circuit 304, converts the video signal input from the camera unit 35 into a JPEG compressed image according to the control signal from the CPU 300, and sends the video signal to the transmission video storage circuit 304. Send it out. The transmission video storage circuit 304 sequentially stores the video signals input from the video compression / decompression circuit 302.

  The video compression / decompression circuit 302 is connected to the display video storage circuit 303 and performs a decompression process on the digital video signal that is a JPEG video signal input from the wireless transmission / reception unit 34 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 300. And sent to the display video storage circuit 303. The display video storage circuit 303 sequentially stores the digital video signals input from the video compression / decompression circuit 302 in accordance with the control signal from the CPU 200.

  The liquid crystal display unit 31 reads and displays the digital video signal stored in the display video storage circuit 303 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 300.

  The transmission video storage circuit 304 is connected to the wireless transmission / reception unit 34 and sends the stored video signal to the wireless transmission / reception unit 34 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 300.

  The voice AD / DA conversion circuit 305 is connected to the voice call circuit 301 and the wireless transmission / reception unit 34, converts a digital voice signal input from the wireless transmission / reception unit 34 into an analog signal in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 300, and obtains an analog signal. The received analog voice signal is sent to the voice call circuit 301. In addition, the voice signal input from the voice call circuit 301 is converted into a digital voice signal, and the obtained digital voice signal is sent to the wireless transmission / reception unit 34.

  The voice call circuit 301 is connected to the voice AD / DA conversion circuit 305, and outputs a voice signal input from the voice AD / DA conversion circuit 305 from a speaker to an indoor user according to a control signal from the CPU 300. The voice generated by the indoor user is acquired, and a voice signal based on the acquired voice is transmitted to the voice AD / DA conversion circuit 305.

  In accordance with a control signal from the CPU 300, the wireless transmission / reception unit 34 receives a digital audio signal input from the audio AD / DA conversion circuit 305, an extension call signal that is a control signal input from the CPU 300, and a transmission video storage circuit 304. The input digital video signal is subjected to time division multiplexing processing using a Bluetooth wireless protocol to generate a transmission signal. This transmission signal is transmitted as a Bluetooth radio signal in the 2.4 GHz band from the antenna 34A to the interphone base unit 2, the relay terminal 4, or another interphone sub-base unit 3 via the Bluetooth radio transmission path 6.

  In the interphone sub-master device 3, internal information such as video and audio regarding an indoor user is acquired by the camera unit 35 and the microphone of the voice call circuit 301. The liquid crystal display unit 31 and the speaker of the voice call circuit 301 output video and audio as information received from the interphone base unit 2 or other interphone sub-base unit 3.

  In the present embodiment, only two interphone sub-master devices 3A and 3B are shown, but the number of interphone sub-master devices 3 that can communicate with interphone master device 2 is the number in point-to-multipoint connection. There is no limitation as long as it is within the limit of 7 units. In addition, the interphone base unit 2 and the interphone sub base unit 3 have different configurations as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, but may have the same configuration. In this case, one terminal device is the interphone master device 2 and the other terminal device is the interphone sub-master device 3.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the relay terminal 4 communicates with the CPU 400 that controls the entire device, the slave-side link indicator lamp 41 that indicates the link status of the communication transmission path with the interphone master unit 2, and the interphone sub-master unit 3. The master side link indicator lamp 42 indicating the link status of the transmission path, the radio transmitter / receiver 43 having the antenna 43A for performing radio communication with the interphone base unit 2 or the interphone sub base unit 3, and the interphone base unit 2 are transmitted. Slave side transmission video storage circuit 401 for storing video signals for transmission, master side transmission video storage circuit 402 for storing video signals for transmission to the interphone sub-base unit 3, and audio for transmission to the interphone base unit 2 A slave-side transmission audio storage circuit 403 that stores signals, and a master-side transmission that stores audio signals to be transmitted to the interphone sub-master unit 3. And a voice storage circuit 404.

  The CPU 400 includes a slave side transmission video storage circuit 401, a master side transmission video storage circuit 402, a slave side transmission audio storage circuit 403, a master side transmission audio storage circuit 404, a wireless transmission / reception unit 43, a slave side link indicator lamp 41, and a master side link. It is connected to the indicator lamp 42 and sends a control signal for controlling them.

  The radio transmission / reception unit 43 receives the transmission signal transmitted from the interphone master unit 2 or the interphone sub-master unit 3 via the Bluetooth radio transmission path 6 and subjected to time division multiplexing processing using the Bluetooth radio protocol through the antenna 43A. Then, according to the control signal from the CPU 400, the received transmission signal is separated into a digital audio signal, a JPEG video signal, and a control signal.

  The wireless transmission / reception unit 43 is connected to the slave-side transmission video storage circuit 401, the master-side transmission video storage circuit 402, the slave-side transmission audio storage circuit 403, the master-side transmission audio storage circuit 404, and the CPU 400, and is obtained separately. The control signal is sent to the CPU 400, the digital audio signal from the interphone secondary master unit 3 is sent to the slave side transmission audio storage circuit 403, and the digital audio signal from the interphone master unit 2 is sent to the master side transmission audio storage circuit 404. The JPEG video signal from the interphone sub-master 3 is selectively input to the slave-side transmission video storage circuit 401, and the JPEG video signal from the interphone master 2 is selectively input to the master-side transmission video storage circuit 402.

  The slave-side transmission video storage circuit 401 and the master-side transmission video storage circuit 402 sequentially store the video signals input from the wireless transmission / reception unit 43. In addition, the slave-side transmission audio storage circuit 403 and the master-side transmission audio storage circuit 404 sequentially store the audio signals input from the wireless transmission / reception unit 43.

  CPU 400 determines whether or not a communication transmission path with interphone master unit 2 or interphone sub-master unit 3 has been established based on a link control signal from interphone master unit 2 or interphone sub-master unit 3 input from radio transceiver 43. Recognize When the communication transmission path with the interphone master unit 2 can be established, the slave side link indicator lamp 41 is used. When the communication transmission path with the interphone sub master unit 3 is established, the master side link indicator lamp 42 is set. Each lighting control is performed.

  In accordance with a control signal from the CPU 400, the wireless transmission / reception unit 43 includes a digital video signal stored in the slave transmission video storage circuit 401, a digital audio signal stored in the slave transmission audio storage circuit 403, and an interphone sub-master unit. 3 is subjected to a time division multiplexing process using the Bluetooth wireless protocol with respect to the extension call signal that is a control signal input from the CPU 300 of No. 3 to generate a transmission signal. This transmission signal is transmitted as a Bluetooth radio signal in the 2.4 GHz band from the antenna 43A to the intercom master unit 2 via the Bluetooth radio transmission path 6.

  Similarly, in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 400, the wireless transmission / reception unit 43 includes a digital video signal stored in the master transmission video storage circuit 402, a digital audio signal stored in the master transmission audio storage circuit 404, and an interphone. A transmission signal is generated by subjecting the extension call signal, which is a control signal input from the CPU 300 of the sub-master unit 3, to time division multiplexing using the Bluetooth wireless protocol. This transmission signal is transmitted as a Bluetooth radio signal in the 2.4 GHz band from the antenna 43A to the interphone sub-master 3 via the Bluetooth radio transmission path 6.

  As described above, the Bluetooth wireless system employed in the present embodiment is a very suitable transmission means for wirelessly communicating data and / or voice in a home. By using this standardized standard, the equipment required for communication can be achieved at low cost.

  Next, in the television intercom apparatus according to the present embodiment, processing in intercom base unit 2 when responding to a call from intercom handset 1 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. This process is realized mainly by the CPU 200 of the intercom base unit 2 reading and executing a program stored in a storage device (not shown) to control each unit in the device.

  First, in an initial state in which each terminal device of the TV intercom apparatus is turned on, the wireless transmission / reception unit 24 of the intercom base unit 2 executes an initialization process for starting operation as a master in the Bluetooth wireless system (S101). ). Specifically, the radio transmission / reception unit 24 operates as a slave in the same piconet with respect to the radio transmission / reception unit 34 of the interphone sub-master units 3A and 3B installed indoors and the radio transmission / reception unit 43 of the relay terminal 4. Executes predetermined inquiry processing and call processing such as parameter exchange processing for maintaining hopping synchronization.

  However, when the relay terminal 4 is recognized as a slave by the intercom base unit 2 in the course of the above-described initialization procedure, first, the relay terminal 4 operates as a master and is closest to the relay terminal 4 and has the radio field strength. The wireless transmitter / receiver 34 of the strong interphone sub-master 3A is set as a slave. Thus, a piconet having the relay terminal 4 as a master and the interphone sub-master unit 3A as a slave is formed as a separate configuration. Then, the relay terminal 4 performs predetermined inquiry processing and call processing such as parameter exchange processing for maintaining frequency hopping synchronization with respect to the interphone sub-master 3A.

  For this reason, the interphone sub-master 3A does not participate in the piconet whose master is the radio transmission / reception unit 24 of the interphone master 2. As a result, the present television intercom apparatus is configured by two piconets each having the interphone master unit 2 and the relay terminal 4 as masters. Here, the relay terminal 4 is subjected to initialization processing redundantly as masters or slaves in two piconets. As a result, interphone sub-master devices 3A and 3B (hereinafter, interphone sub-master devices 3A and 3B are collectively referred to as interphone sub-master device 3) transition to a state in which communication is always possible. In the following description, this state is referred to as a normal mode with respect to the above-described sniff mode.

  As described above, in the initialization process when the power is turned on, only when the RSSI value indicating the radio wave state with the interphone master unit 2 is improved when compared with the case where the relay terminal 4 is not used when the relay terminal 4 is used. Thus, the interphone sub-master unit 3A is set in a piconet configuration via the relay terminal 4. However, if not improved, the relay terminal 4 is not set as a slave for the interphone master unit 2, the interphone sub-master unit 3A is also set as a slave for the interphone master unit 2 in the same manner as the interphone sub-master unit 3B, and the TV interphone device is 1 It consists of two piconets. As described above, the interphone base unit 3 selects whether to communicate directly with the interphone sub-base unit 3 or to communicate via the relay terminal 4 based on the strength of the radio signal.

  By the way, when the interphone sub-master unit 3 is configured to shift to, for example, the hold mode in the low power consumption mode described above, it usually takes ten or more seconds to shift from the hold mode to the normal mode in which communication is possible. Cost. Note that this time also depends on the number of interphone sub-master devices 3 connected to the interphone master device 2.

  However, in the TV intercom apparatus, if the radio transmission / reception units of all the terminal devices constituting the Bluetooth wireless network are configured to always perform terminal monitoring communication for maintaining the communication link, all these terminal devices The power consumption at is increased. Since a portable terminal device such as the interphone sub-master 3 is driven by a battery, it is inconvenient because battery consumption becomes intensive.

  Therefore, the interphone sub-master 3 is configured to transition to the sniff mode as the low power consumption mode. Thereby, the intercom secondary master unit 3 is in a state in which power consumption is suppressed, and can be shifted to a standby state waiting for a visitor.

  As described above, the camera unit 11 of the intercom slave 1 always performs an imaging operation. A video signal based on the captured video is transmitted to the intercom base unit 2 in real time, and the compressed video storage circuit 211 is always in the state of storing 15 videos for the past 1 second.

  When the call button 10 of the intercom handset 1 is pressed by a visitor, a visitor detection signal that is a control signal output from the CPU 100 of the intercom handset 1 is transmitted to the multiplexing / separation circuit 103, the interphone line 5, and the interphone parent. It is transmitted to the intercom base unit 2 via the multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 203 of the unit 2 and detected by the CPU 200.

  In step S101, after the initialization process in the initial state where the terminal device is turned on is completed, the CPU 200 waits until such a visitor detection signal is detected (NO in S103). When the visitor detection signal is detected, that is, when the presence of a visitor is recognized in the vicinity of the intercom handset 1 (YES in S103), the ringing tone generated by the ringing tone circuit 209 is output from the speaker of the intercom base unit. (S105).

  In addition, a video that has already been stored in the compressed video storage circuit 211 in the memory 25 of the intercom base unit 2 is a predetermined time before and after the CPU 200 detects the visitor detection signal, for example, a video for 5 seconds in total. Are sequentially recorded (S107).

  At the same time, based on the video signal received from the intercom handset 1, the visitor's video imaged in real time by the camera unit 11 of the intercom handset 1 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 21 (S109).

  At the same time, a cancel signal for canceling the sniff mode of the interphone sub-master unit 3 in the standby state is transmitted from the radio transceiver unit 24 of the interphone master unit 2 to the radio transceiver unit 34 of the interphone sub-master unit 3. (S111). Here, the radio transmission / reception unit 34 of the interphone sub-master unit 3 </ b> A is transmitted via the radio transmission / reception unit 43 of the relay terminal 4. By transmitting a sniff mode release signal from the interphone master unit 2 to the interphone submaster unit 3, the interphone submaster unit 3 quickly transitions to the normal mode described above. The sniff interval is preferably set to 1 second or less, for example. Here, the transition from the sniff mode of the interphone sub-master 3 to the normal mode in which communication is possible is because the interphone master 2 has already been inquired and called by the interphone sub-master 3 as described above. It is possible in a short time of 1 second or less.

  Next, when the interphone sub-master 3 transitions to the normal mode, the wireless transmission / reception unit 24 of the interphone master 2 includes the visitor detection signal and the video signal from the interphone slave 1 to the interphone sub-master 3. A transmission signal is transmitted (S113).

  In the interphone sub-master 3, the transmission signal transmitted from the interphone master 2 is received by the wireless transmission / reception unit 34, and the visitor detection signal in this signal is detected by the CPU 300. The ringing tone generated by the ringing tone circuit 306 is output from the speaker of the voice call circuit 301 under the control of the CPU 300. Note that a transmission signal to the wireless transmission / reception unit 34 of the interphone sub-master 3A is transmitted via the wireless transmission / reception unit 43 of the relay terminal 4.

  Based on the video signal included in the transmission signal, not only the liquid crystal display unit 21 in the interphone base unit 2 but also the liquid crystal display unit 31 of the interphone sub base unit 3 displays the video of the visitor in real time. The

  If the “SD memory recording video automatic playback function”, which is a function for automatically playing back the video recorded in the memory 25, is set in the interphone base unit 2 in advance, the interphone base unit 2 starts from the interphone base unit 2 in S113. For transmission to the interphone sub-master 3 including a video signal based on the video recorded in the memory 25 in S107, instead of the video signal based on the video of the visitor captured in real time by the interphone slave 1 A signal is transmitted.

  In this case, in the interphone master unit 2 and the interphone master unit 3 that has received the transmission signal in S113, the interphone master unit 2 or the interphone sub master unit 3 performs a response operation until the interphone master unit 2 or the interphone sub master unit 3 performs a response operation. Instead of the video of the visitor captured in real time by the intercom handset 1, the video of the predetermined time before and after the visitor presses the call button 10 already recorded in the memory 25 is displayed on the liquid crystal of the intercom base unit 2. Displayed repeatedly on the display unit 21 and the liquid crystal display unit 31 of the interphone sub-master 3.

  Here, in interphone base unit 2, when CPU 200 detects that call button 22 has been pressed (YES in S 115), a setting signal for the sniff mode is transmitted from radio transmission / reception unit 24 to interphone sub-base unit 3. (S117). When the interphone sub-master 3 receives this setting signal, the state is again shifted to the sniff mode, and the display of the visitor's video on the liquid crystal display unit 31 is stopped.

  Videos of visitors are continuously transmitted from the intercom handset 1 and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 21 of the intercom base unit 2 (S119). Bidirectional audio signals are transmitted / received between the intercom handset 1 and the interphone base unit 2, and the voice of the visitor is output from the speaker of the intercom base unit 2 (S121). Thereby, a call using the intercom handset 1 and the interphone base unit 2 can be performed between the visitor and the indoor user.

  When the call with the visitor ends (YES in S123), the display of the visitor's video on the liquid crystal display unit 21 is stopped in S119 (S125), and the series of processing ends.

  When the CPU 200 of the interphone master unit 2 detects that the call button 32 of the interphone sub master unit 3A is pressed based on the transmission signal transmitted from the interphone sub master unit 3 (NO in S115), As with S117, a sniff mode setting signal is transmitted to the interphone sub-master 3B in which the call button 32 is not pressed (S127). For this reason, only the interphone sub-master unit 3B makes a state transition again to the sniff mode, and the display of the video of the visitor on the liquid crystal display unit 31 is stopped.

  The interphone base unit 2 continuously receives from the interphone handset 1 from the radio transmission / reception unit 24 to the radio transmission / reception unit 34 of the interphone sub-base unit 3 </ b> A whose call button 32 is pressed via the Bluetooth wireless transmission path 5. The video of the visitor who has been sent is transmitted (S129). The relay terminal 4 transmits the video signal to the interphone sub-master unit 3A by the wireless transmission / reception unit 43. Further, the relay terminal 4 transmits and receives bidirectional audio signals between the interphone slave unit 1 and the interphone sub-master unit 3A, and relays the audio (S131). As a result, a conversation between a visitor using the interphone handset 1 and the interphone sub-master 3A and an indoor user becomes possible. Then, on the liquid crystal display unit 31 of the interphone sub-master device 3A, a video of a visitor photographed in real time by the camera unit 11 of the interphone slave device 1 is displayed.

  When the call with the visitor is finished (YES in S133), a control signal for stopping the display of the visitor's video from the intercom master unit 2 to the interphone sub master unit 3A and a sniff mode setting signal are displayed. It is transmitted (S135). As a result, the relay terminal 4 and the interphone sub-master unit 3A that relayed the setting signal of the sniff mode make a transition to the sniff mode again, the display of the video of the visitor on the liquid crystal display unit 31 is stopped, and the series of processing ends. .

  Here, the interphone slave unit 1 and the interphone master unit 2 are used, and an extension for performing extension communication with the interphone sub-master unit 3A in the interphone sub-master unit 3B during a call between a visitor and an indoor user. When the button 33 is pressed, processing for realizing the extension call shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is executed as interrupt processing.

  The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 is a process realized by the CPU 200 of the intercom base unit 2 reading and executing a program stored in a storage device (not shown) and controlling each unit in the device. The processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is realized mainly by the CPU 300 of the intercom secondary master unit 3B reading and executing a program stored in a storage device (not shown) to control each unit in the device. It is.

  That is, in interphone base unit 2, when CPU 200 detects that the signal received from interphone sub-base unit 3B includes a control signal for calling interphone sub-base unit 3A, as shown in FIG. It is recognized that the extension button 33 of the machine 3B has been pressed (YES in S201). A release signal for releasing the sniff mode of the interphone secondary master unit 3B whose extension button 33 has been pressed is transmitted from the wireless transceiver unit 24 to the wireless transceiver unit 34 of the interphone secondary master unit 3B (S203). Then, a transition instruction control signal for shifting the terminal function of the interphone secondary master unit 3B from the slave to the master is transmitted to the wireless transmission / reception unit 34 of the interphone secondary master unit 3B (S205). Thereby, the interruption process in the intercom base unit 2 ends.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8, in interphone sub-master 3B in which the sniff mode is canceled, CPU 300 detects that the above-described shift instruction control signal is included in the signal received from interphone master 2 (in S301). YES), the terminal function is shifted from the slave to the master (S303).

  Then, after the terminal function is transferred to the master, the interphone secondary master unit 3B transmits the interphone via the relay terminal 4 and the interphone master unit 2 to the interphone secondary master unit 3A that is the calling party from the wireless transmission / reception unit 34. A cancel signal for canceling the sniff mode of the secondary master unit 3A is transmitted (S305). As a result, the relay terminal 4 and the interphone sub-master unit 3A quickly transition from the standby mode sniff mode to the normal mode.

  When the interphone sub-master unit 3B receives the transmission signal transmitted from the interphone sub-master unit 3A that has transitioned to the normal mode via the relay terminal 4 (S307), the interphone sub-master unit 3B, based on the video signal included in this signal, The video imaged by the camera unit 35 of the base unit 3A is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 31 in real time (S309). For this reason, when the interphone sub-master unit 3B is used, it is possible to check the presence / absence of a user in the vicinity of the interphone sub-master unit 3A without waiting for a response operation of the interphone sub-master unit 3A.

  When the CPU 300 of the interphone secondary master unit 3B detects that the call button 32 of the interphone secondary master unit 3A has been pressed (YES in S311), the CPU 300 of the interphone secondary master unit 3B is interactively connected to the interphone secondary master unit 3B via the relay terminal 4. Send and receive audio signals. The voice of the user in the vicinity of the interphone sub-master 3A is output from the speaker (S313).

  At this time, the television intercom apparatus is in a scatternet communication mode in which two piconets exist independently. The extension call between the interphone sub-master 3B and the interphone sub-master 3A does not affect the call between the interphone slave 1A and the interphone master 2, and proceeds simultaneously.

  When the extension call is completed (YES in S315), a setting signal for the sniff mode is transmitted from the wireless transmission / reception unit 34 of the interphone sub-master 3B to the interphone sub-master 3A (S317). As a result, the interphone sub-master unit 3A and the relay terminal 4 transition to the sniff mode again when the call with the interphone sub-master unit 3B ends.

  Upon detecting that the setting signal has been transmitted, intercom base unit 2 causes interphone sub-base unit 3B to release the terminal function from the temporary master and shift to the slave state, and to the sniff mode. A setting signal to be transferred is transmitted. When the interphone sub-master unit 3B receives these signals from the interphone master unit 2 (S319), the inter-phone sub-master unit 3B again shifts to the slave (S321), changes the state to the sniff mode (S323), and ends the series of processes.

  As described above, when a visitor is present, the same video signal is transmitted to all of the interphone master unit 2 and the plurality of interphone sub-master units 3, so that the visitor presses the call button 13 of the interphone slave unit 1. Can be confirmed on the interphone base unit 2 and each interphone sub-base unit 3 under the same conditions. Therefore, it is possible to improve the usability of the user and it is useful for crime prevention.

  In addition, the wireless reach distance from the interphone base unit 2 to the interphone sub-base unit 3 that is normally about 100 m in line-of-sight distance can be doubled by way of the relay terminal 4 and can be expanded to 200 m in line-of-sight distance. Therefore, good communication can be performed even in a room slightly away from the intercom base unit 2.

  In addition, only when the radio wave condition between the interphone master unit 2 and the interphone sub-master unit 3 when the relay terminal 4 is routed is improved as compared to when the relay phone 4 is not routed, the initialization process at the time of power-on is performed. The system configuration via the relay terminal 4 is set. Therefore, the communication transmission path can be selected and formed so that the terminal devices are always in the best communication state, and high-quality wireless communication can be performed.

  Furthermore, even if there is a radio wave obstruction between the interphone base unit 2 and the interphone sub base unit 3, if the relay terminal 4 is arranged avoiding this, the wireless transmission path 6 can be formed between them, Wireless communication is possible. The relay terminal 4 has a movable structure, and when the radio wave propagation state changes due to a change in the arrangement of indoor furniture and electrical appliances, the interphone master unit 2, the relay terminal 4, and the interphone sub master unit 3 The relay terminal 4 can be moved to a place where the best communication state is always established with the relay terminal 4.

  Therefore, in order to make the relay terminal 4 movable, a guide mechanism for guiding the relay terminal 4 in a movable manner is provided. As a guide mechanism, as shown in FIG. 9, a pair of rails 50 are integrally provided on a wall or ceiling of a building. The rail 50 is formed with an outer groove 51 and an inner groove 52. As shown in FIG. 10, the relay terminal 4 is provided with a pair of wheels 45 so as to fit into the outer grooves 51 of the rails 50. By sandwiching each rail 50 from the outside by the pair of wheels 45, the relay terminal 4 moves along the rail 50 while being supported so as not to fall. Thus, by moving the relay terminal 4 along the rail 50, it can be easily moved to a place where the best communication state is achieved.

  The guide mechanism includes a power supply unit for supplying power to the relay terminal 4. As a power supply unit, an electrode 53 for supplying power to the relay terminal 4 is provided in the longitudinal direction along the inner groove 52 of each rail 50. The electrode 53 is connected to a power source (not shown) such as a commercial power source. A pair of connectors 46 project from the relay terminal 4 and come into contact with the electrode 53.

  The relay terminal 4 moves along the rail 50 while the connector 46 is in sliding contact with the electrode 53. Even if the relay terminal 4 moves, the connector 46 and the electrode 53 are always in contact with each other, so that power is reliably supplied. Accordingly, unlike the case of battery driving, there is no need for battery replacement, and maintenance is not required.

  Further, the relay terminal 4 may be capable of traveling along the rail 50. The relay terminal 4 automatically moves to a place where a normally usable communication state is established. For this purpose, the relay terminal 4 includes a communication monitoring unit that monitors the communication state, a traveling unit that includes a motor and wheels, and a movement control unit that controls the communication monitoring unit and the motor.

  The communication monitoring unit constantly monitors the communication state, and determines whether the communication state has deteriorated and the communication cannot be performed with normal use, that is, the state where the video and audio are disturbed and the speech cannot be performed. When the communication monitoring unit detects a communication disabled state, it notifies the movement control unit of communication disabled information. The movement control unit drives the motor to start the movement of the relay terminal 4. At this time, the communication monitoring unit continues to monitor the communication state, and the relay terminal 4 moves along the rail 50. When the communication monitoring unit detects that the communication status is normally usable, the communication monitoring unit notifies the movement control unit of communicable information. When the movement control unit stops driving the motor, the relay terminal 4 stops at that location.

  For example, when the relay terminal 4 is initially located near the middle of the rail 50, the movement is first started toward one end of the rail 50. If a location that can be normally used even after reaching one end is not found, this time, movement is started toward the other end to search for a location that can be normally used. If a location that is in a normally usable communication state cannot be found even if the other end is reached, the user is notified that communication is not possible. Examples of the reporting method include voice notification using a buzzer or the like, and display using an LED or the like.

  As a monitoring of the communication state, a signal such as a test signal is periodically transmitted and received between the interphone master unit 2 and the relay terminal 4 and the interphone sub-master unit 3 and the relay terminal 4 even when not in use. The communication state may be monitored. If it does in this way, the relay terminal 4 will necessarily be located in the place which can communicate before use, and can avoid the situation where communication is impossible at the time of use.

  As a method for searching for the best communication state, the communication state level at each position on the rail 50, for example, every 1 cm, is sampled and the communication state level at each position is stored. When the sampling of the communication state level at all positions on the rail 50 is completed, the relay terminal 4 is moved to a place where the communication state level is the highest, that is, the communication state is the best. Alternatively, the position with the best communication state is updated while the relay terminal 4 moves. After all sampling is completed, the user moves to the location stored as the best communication position. By periodically performing such an operation, it is possible to always maintain the best communication state.

  Although the relay terminal 4 is configured to move along the rail 50, it may be self-propelled so that it can move freely indoors while detecting the surrounding situation with a sensor, like an unmanned electric vehicle. Or it is good also as a structure which can be carried. Further, not only the relay terminal 4 but also the interphone sub-master device 3 may have a movable structure as described above.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, many corrections and changes can be added to the said embodiment within the scope of the present invention. For example, a method of responding to a call of an interphone slave unit and a method of performing an extension call between interphone sub-master units along the way may be provided as a program. Such a program is stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk attached to the computer, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a memory card. It can also be recorded and provided as a program product. Alternatively, the program can be provided by being recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk built in the computer. A program can also be provided by downloading via a network. The provided program product is installed in a program storage unit such as a hard disk and executed. The program product includes the program itself and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  Communication between the interphone slave unit and the interphone master unit may be wireless communication. Further, it is only necessary that at least audio transmission / reception can be performed between the interphone sub-master and the interphone slave.

  Moreover, although the Bluetooth wireless system is the most suitable as the wireless communication system in the present television interphone apparatus, the present invention is not limited to this, and other wireless systems such as a wireless LAN may be used.

Overall configuration diagram of the television intercom apparatus of the present invention Block diagram showing schematic configuration of intercom handset Block diagram showing schematic configuration of intercom base unit Block diagram showing schematic configuration of interphone sub-master Block diagram showing schematic configuration of relay terminal The flowchart which shows the process which responds to the call of the intercom handset 1 in the intercom base unit The flowchart which shows the process in the interphone main unit for the visitor and the indoor user to perform the extension communication between the interphone sub base units during a call The flowchart which shows the process in the interphone sub-master unit for the visitor and the indoor user to perform extension communication between the inter-phone sub-master units during a call Front and sectional views of the guide mechanism Front view and sectional view of relay terminal supported movably by guide mechanism

Explanation of symbols

1, 1A, 1B Interphone handset
2 Interphone base unit 3, 3A, 3B Interphone sub base unit
4 Relay terminal
10 Call button
11 Camera unit
21 Liquid crystal display
22 Call button
23 Extension button
31 Liquid crystal display
32 Call button
33 Extension button
35 Camera section

Claims (10)

An intercom slave that acquires external information related to a visitor, an interphone master that is communicably connected to the interphone slave and has a wireless communication function, and at least one interphone sub-parent that performs radio communication with the interphone master And a relay terminal that performs wireless communication with the interphone master and the interphone sub-master, and the interphone master transmits either external information directly to the interphone sub-master or via the relay terminal. An intercom apparatus characterized by selectively performing the above. Interphone slave unit that acquires external information about visitors, interphone master unit that is communicably connected to the interphone slave unit and has a wireless communication function, and a plurality of interphone sub-master units that perform radio communication with the interphone master unit And a relay terminal that performs wireless communication with the interphone master and the interphone secondary master, the interphone secondary master has means for acquiring internal information in a house, and the interphone secondary master is Internal information is transmitted to an interphone base unit or a relay terminal, and the interphone base unit selectively transmits the received internal information either directly to another interphone sub-base unit or via the relay terminal. The relay terminal transmits the received internal information to the interphone base unit or another interphone sub-base unit. Intercom and wherein the door. The intercom apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the interphone sub-master device transmits internal information through the interphone master device during communication between the interphone master device and the interphone slave device. The interphone slave unit has means for acquiring external information, means for communicating with the interphone master unit, and means for outputting information received from the interphone master unit, wherein the interphone master unit is connected to the interphone slave unit. Means for communicating, means for wirelessly communicating with the interphone sub-master or relay terminal, and means for outputting information received from the interphone slave or inter-phone sub-master, Means for acquiring information, means for wirelessly communicating with the interphone master or the relay terminal, and means for outputting information received from the interphone master or another interphone sub-master, wherein the relay terminal is The wireless communication apparatus includes means for wirelessly communicating with the interphone base unit or interphone sub-base unit. Intercom apparatus according to any one. The interphone master unit selects whether to perform wireless communication with the interphone sub-master unit directly or via a relay terminal according to the strength of the radio signal. Intercom device. The intercom apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the interphone sub-master or the relay terminal is movable. 7. The intercom apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the relay terminal includes means for monitoring a communication state and means for moving to a position where the communication state is optimal. The intercom apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein guide means for movably guiding the relay terminal is provided, and the guide means includes a power supply unit that supplies power to the relay terminal. Any one of the interphone master unit, the interphone sub master unit, or the relay terminal is a master that leads wireless communication, and any one of the interphone master unit, interphone sub master unit, or relay terminal other than the master is a slave, The intercom apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a network capable of wireless communication with a slave is formed. 10. The intercom apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the master is a slave in another network and performs wireless communication with the master of the other network.

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