JP2006319618A - Interphone answering system and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an interphone system and a method which are capable of allowing a resident to answer to a visitor at the building without letting him or her know information as to a resident's face, age, sex, etc. and allowing the resident to answer to the visitor at the building even when the resident is out. <P>SOLUTION: The interphone answering system is equipped with a storage means 16 which is provided to an interphone master unit 1, and stores information as to the voices and images of animals, human beings, and animations other than residents, and an indication input means 19 which allows the residents to select images and voices stored in the storage means 16 when signals are received from a ringing means 25 or allows the residents to select images and voices input through the interphone host unit 1. The images and voices selected by the indication input means 19 are output from a display means 21 and a voice input/output means 24. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an intercom response system and method that enables a resident of a building to respond to a building visitor without knowing the resident's information and even when the resident is out of the office.

Conventionally, for the purpose of crime prevention or the like, an interphone technology is known in which a visitor to a building is photographed in advance with a camera attached outside the building and confirmed on a display inside the building. This intercom connects a parent device installed in a building and a child device installed outside the building by wireless or wired connection so that a resident can respond without having to meet a visitor directly.
There is also known a technology related to a doorphone device that stores image information in a base unit of an interphone in advance and redisplays an image based on the stored image information on a display installed outside the building (patent) Reference 1).
Furthermore, recently, with the widespread use of mobile phones, there is known a technology for a TV door phone system that interacts with visitors by connecting an interphone and a mobile phone through a predetermined network and performing remote control with the mobile phone. (See Patent Document 2).
JP 2005-39861 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-236083

However, in the door phone device described in Patent Document 1, since the image stored in the interphone master unit is about the resident, when the user responds using the image, the resident is There is a problem that it is not desirable in terms of security such as theft.
Further, in the TV door phone system described in Patent Document 2, it was possible to display an image such as a face of a visitor to a residence on the display of the resident's mobile phone, but the mobile phone If a response is made to a visitor using the wireless communication, the resident's face, age, gender, etc. are known to the visitor, which is undesirable in terms of security.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to allow a resident of a building to respond to a building visitor without knowing the resident's face, age, gender, and other information. It is another object of the present invention to provide an intercom response system and method capable of responding to a building visitor even when the resident is out.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the invention according to claim 1 has a calling means for notifying a resident of a visitor's visit, and an output means for outputting video and audio. An interphone response system comprising a slave unit and a master unit that outputs video and audio of a visitor input to the slave unit, provided in the master unit, for animation of animals and people other than the resident Storage means for storing information about video and audio, and selection of video and audio stored in the storage means or video and audio input from the master unit when a signal is received from the calling means The intercom response system is characterized in that the video and audio selected by the selection means are output from the output means.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a slave unit having a calling unit for notifying a resident of a visit of a visitor, an output unit for outputting video and audio, and a visitor input to the slave unit. An interphone response system comprising a master unit that outputs video and audio, and a mobile terminal possessed by the visitor, the video and audio of animation of animals and people other than the resident provided in the master unit Storage means for storing the information, and selection means for selecting video and audio stored in the storage means or video and audio input from the portable terminal when a signal is received from the calling means The intercom response system is characterized in that the video and audio selected by the selection means are output from the output means.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a slave unit having a calling unit for notifying a resident of a visit of a visitor, an output unit for outputting video and audio, and a visitor input to the slave unit. An intercom response method using a master unit that outputs video and audio, wherein the storage unit provided in the master unit stores information about video and audio of animations of animals and people other than the resident. A second step of selecting a video and audio stored in the storage unit or a video and audio input from the master unit when a signal is received from the calling unit; And a third step of outputting the video and audio selected in step 2 from the output means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a slave unit having a calling unit for notifying a resident of a visitor's visit, an output unit for outputting video and audio, and a visitor input to the slave unit. An interphone response method using a master unit that outputs video and audio and a mobile terminal possessed by the visitor, wherein the storage means provided in the master unit is an animation of an animal or person other than the resident And a first step of storing information about audio and a video and audio stored in the storage means or a video and audio input from the portable terminal when a signal is received from the calling means. An intercom response method comprising: a second step of selecting; and a third step of outputting the video and audio selected in the second step from the output means.

In the present invention, video and audio information output by the slave unit can be selected based on an instruction given from an instruction input unit such as the master unit.
Thereby, the resident of the building can respond without the face or voice being known to the visitor. Further, even when the resident is out and not in the building, the visitor can respond without knowing that he / she is out.

Hereinafter, an intercom response system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an intercom response system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This intercom response system includes an interphone master unit 1 and an interphone slave unit 2. In this intercom response system, the interphone master unit 1 is installed in the building 10 and the interphone slave unit 2 is installed outside the building 10 such as in front of the entrance or the gate.

  The interphone master unit 1 includes a display unit 11, a transmission / reception unit 12 between parent and child units, an image processing unit 14, a voice processing unit 15, a storage unit 16, an imaging unit 17, a voice input / output unit 18, and an instruction input unit 19. The display means 11 is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and displays an image of the face of the visitor to the building 10 imaged by the imaging means 23 of the intercom handset 2. Thereby, the resident can confirm who is the visitor who has visited the building 10. The parent / child device transmission / reception means 12 transmits / receives data to / from the parent / child device transmission / reception means 22 of the interphone handset 2 by wire or wireless.

Based on an instruction input from the instruction input unit 19, the image processing unit 14 displays a video image captured by the imaging unit 17 or a video image recorded in advance in the storage unit 16 on the display unit 21 of the interphone slave unit 2. indicate. The voice processing unit 15 converts the voice input from the voice input / output unit 18 or the voice recorded in advance in the storage unit 16 based on the instruction input from the instruction input unit 19 into the voice of the interphone slave unit 2. Output from the input / output means 24.
The memory | storage means 16 records information, such as synthetic | combination audio | voices, images, such as animation of an animal other than a resident, or a person. The imaging means 17 is configured by a camera or the like, and captures an image such as a resident's face in the building 10. In addition, the video stored in the storage unit 16 is not limited to an animation and may be a still image, a landscape image, or the like as long as it is not easily associated with a resident.

The voice input / output means 18 is composed of a microphone, a speaker, and the like, and acquires the voice of a resident in the building 10 with a microphone or the voice of the visitor acquired by the voice input / output means 24 of the intercom handset 2 as a speaker. Is output from
The instruction input means 19 includes a numeric keypad composed of numbers from 0 to 9. In addition to the numeric keypad, a video selection button for selecting a video to be displayed on the display means 21, a voice selection button for selecting a sound output from the voice input / output means 24, and the like may be provided. A resident in the building 10 gives an instruction to the intercom base unit 1 by operating the instruction input means 19. Note that the instruction input unit 19 may be displayed on the display unit 11 as a touch panel, and an instruction may be given by the resident touching the display unit 11. The intercom handset 2 includes a display unit 21, an inter-base unit transmission / reception unit 22, an imaging unit 23, a voice input / output unit 24, and a calling unit 25.

The display means 21 is a display device such as an LCD, and images of the resident's face in the building 10 imaged by the imaging means 17 of the interphone master unit 1, and animals and people other than residents read out from the storage means 16. Display images such as animations.
The parent / child device transmission / reception means 22 transmits / receives data to / from the parent / child device transmission / reception means 12 of the interphone parent device 1 by wire or wireless. The imaging means 23 is configured by a camera or the like, and images a visitor's face or the like outside the building 10.
The voice input / output unit 24 includes a microphone, a speaker, and the like, and acquires the voice of a visitor outside the building 10 using the microphone. The calling means 25 is composed of buttons and the like. When the visitor presses the button of the calling unit 25, a calling signal is transmitted to the intercom base unit 1. When receiving the call signal, the intercom base unit 1 performs processing such as sounding a chime in the building 10.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process flow of the intercom response system according to the present embodiment. First, when a visitor visiting the building 10 presses the button of the calling unit 25 of the interphone slave unit 2, a call signal is transmitted from the interphone slave unit 2 to the interphone master unit 1 (step S11). . As a result, a chime or the like is generated, and the resident is notified that the visitor has visited.
The image pickup means 23 picks up an image of the visitor's face and the like, transmits information of the image from the parent-child device transmission / reception means 22 to the parent-child device transmission / reception means 12, and displays the image of the visitor's face on the display means 11. Is displayed (step S12).

The resident issues an instruction from the instruction input unit 19 regarding whether the video displayed on the display unit 21 is “video captured by the imaging unit 17” or “video recorded in the storage unit 16”. (Step S13). The image processing unit 14 acquires video information based on the instruction given by the instruction input unit 19, and transmits it to the interphone slave unit 2 via the inter-parent / child unit transmission / reception unit 12. As a result, an image based on the instruction given by the instruction input unit 19 is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 21.
In addition, the resident determines whether the voice output from the voice input / output means 24 is “voice acquired by the voice input / output means 18” or “voice recorded in the storage means 16”. An instruction is given from 19 (step S14). The voice processing means 15 acquires voice information based on the instruction given by the instruction input means 19 and transmits it to the interphone slave unit 3 via the inter-parent / child device transmission / reception means 12. As a result, the voice according to the instruction given by the instruction input means 19 is output from the speaker of the voice input / output means 24.
Based on the processing performed in steps S11 to S14, a call between a resident in the building 10 and a visitor outside the building 10 is started (step S15).

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a usage example of the intercom response system according to the present embodiment. A resident 4 in the building 10 and a visitor 5 who has visited the building 10 make a call through the interphone master unit 1 and the interphone slave unit 2, respectively. The resident 4 can confirm who the visitor is by confirming the video 5 a such as a visitor's face imaged by the imaging unit 23 by the display unit 11.
On the other hand, different video and audio are output to the display means 21 viewed by the visitor 5 depending on the situation. For example, when the resident 4 selects the display means 21 to display the image of “pattern A” by the instruction input means 19, nothing is displayed on the display means 21 that the visitor 5 views. As a result, a call is made between the resident 4 and the visitor 5 only by the voice input / output from the voice input / output means 24.

On the other hand, when the resident 4 selects the display unit 21 to display the video of “pattern B” by the instruction input unit 19, the display unit 21 viewed by the visitor 5 is imaged by the imaging unit 17. An image 4a such as a resident's face is displayed. Thereby, a call can be performed between the resident 4 and the visitor 5 while confirming both faces and voices.
On the other hand, when the resident 4 selects the display means 21 to display the image of “Pattern C” by the instruction input means 19, it is recorded in the storage means 16 in advance on the display means 21 that the visitor 5 views. An image 6a such as an animation of an animal or a person other than the resident is displayed. Thereby, the resident 4 can make a call without knowing the resident 4's face to the visitor 5 while confirming the face and voice of the visitor 5.

  In the case of “Pattern A”, “Pattern B”, and “Pattern C” in FIG. 3 described above, if the voice of the resident 4 is directly output from the voice input / output means 24, the age, gender, etc. of the resident 4 can be changed. Since the possibility of being known to the visitor 5 is high, the voice of the resident 4 can be processed into a synthesized voice by the voice processing means 15 and output. Further, the voice of another person is recorded in the storage means 16 in advance, and the resident selects the voice of the other person by the instruction input means 19 and outputs it from the voice input / output means 24, so that the call with the visitor 5 is made. It can also be done.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, for example, when the visitor 5 is an acquaintance, the resident 4 displays the image of the face of the resident 4 captured by the imaging unit 17 on the display unit 21. Thus, the resident 4 and the visitor 5 can make a call while confirming each other's face and voice.
On the other hand, when the visitor 5 is another person such as a salesman, the resident 4 causes the display means 21 to display an image such as an animation 6a of an animal or a person other than the resident recorded in the storage means 16. Accordingly, the resident 4 can make a call without knowing the face and voice of the resident 4 while the resident 4 confirms the face and voice of the visitor 5. Therefore, if the intercom response system according to the present embodiment is used, security for crime prevention can be improved.

Next, an intercom response system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the intercom response system according to the present embodiment. About the part which this embodiment takes the same structure as 1st Embodiment (refer FIG. 1), the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted. This intercom response system includes an interphone master unit 1, an interphone slave unit 2, and a mobile terminal 3. The mobile terminal 3 is a terminal such as a mobile phone or PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) that a resident has when going out.
The intercom base unit 1 is different from the intercom base unit 1 according to the first embodiment in that it includes a communication unit 13 that communicates with the portable terminal 3. In addition, the storage unit 16 records the telephone number of the mobile terminal 3.

The mobile terminal 3 includes a display unit 31, an imaging unit 32, a voice input / output unit 33, a communication unit 34, and a mobile phone function unit 35. The display means 31 is a display device such as an LCD, and displays information such as the telephone number and time of the other party who has called the mobile terminal 3.
The imaging means 32 is configured by a small camera or the like built in the mobile terminal 3 and captures an image of a resident's face or the like. The voice input / output means 33 is composed of a microphone, a speaker, and the like, and obtains a voice when a resident makes a telephone call using a microphone or outputs a voice of a telephone call partner from a speaker.
The communication means 34 communicates with the communication means 13 of the intercom base unit 1 via the network of the mobile terminal 3. When the mobile terminal 3 is used as a mobile phone, the mobile phone function unit 35 realizes a calling function, a receiving function, and the like when making a call.
By operating the mobile phone function unit 35 according to the display of the screen displayed on the display means 31 of the mobile terminal 3, the video and audio input from the imaging means 32 and the audio input / output means 33 of the mobile terminal 3 are Is transmitted to the intercom handset 2 via the device 1, and the video and audio are output from the display means 21 and the sound input / output means 24 of the interphone handset 2. In addition, video and audio input from the imaging unit 23 and the audio input / output unit 24 of the interphone slave unit 2 are transmitted to the mobile terminal 3 via the interphone base unit 1, and the display unit 31 and the audio input / output of the mobile terminal 3 are transmitted. The video and audio are output from the means 33.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process flow of the intercom response system according to the present embodiment. First, when a visitor who visits the building 10 presses the button of the calling unit 25 of the intercom handset 2, a call signal is transmitted from the intercom handset 2 to the interphone base 1 (step S21). ). As a result, a chime or the like sounds and the resident is notified that the visitor has visited.
The image pickup means 23 picks up an image such as a visitor's face and transmits information of the image from the parent-child device transmission / reception means 22 to the parent-child device transmission / reception means 12. Based on the telephone number information of the mobile terminal 3 recorded in the storage means 16 of the storage means 16, the communication means 13 transmits the video information to the mobile terminal 3 via the network of the mobile terminal 3 (step). S22).

The display unit 31 displays a video of the visitor's face and the like (step S23). The resident determines whether the video displayed on the display means 21 is “video captured by the imaging means 32” or “video recorded in the storage means 16”. An instruction is given by depressing (step S24).
Further, the resident determines whether the voice output from the voice input / output means 24 is “voice acquired by the voice input / output means 33” or “voice recorded in the storage means 16”. An instruction is given from the unit 35 (step S25). The instruction information given in steps S24 and S25 is transmitted to the intercom base unit 1 via the network by the communication means 34 (step S26).

Based on the instruction given by the mobile phone function unit 35, the image processing means 14 sends the information captured by the imaging means 32 or the information stored in the storage means 16 to the inter-parent device transmission / reception means 12. To the intercom handset 3 via the remote control. As a result, the video instructed by the mobile phone function unit 35 is displayed on the display screen of the display means 21.
Also, the voice processing means 15 acquires the resident's voice information from the voice input / output part 33 or the storage means 16 based on the instruction given by the mobile phone function part 35, and transmits / receives the transmission / reception means 12 between the parent and child devices. To the intercom handset 3 via the remote control. Thereby, the voice instructed by the instruction input means 19 is output from the speaker of the voice input / output means 24.
Based on the processing performed in steps S21 to S26, a call between a resident who is out and a visitor outside the building 10 is started (step S27).

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a usage example of the intercom response system according to the present embodiment. A resident 4 in the building 10 and a visitor 5 who has visited the building 10 make a call between the mobile terminal 3 and the interphone handset 2 via the interphone base unit 1. The resident 4 can confirm who the visitor is by confirming the video 5b of the visitor's face or the like imaged by the imaging means 23 with the display means 31.
The display method of the “pattern D”, “pattern E”, and “pattern F” images displayed on the display means 21 is the same as in FIG. An instruction as to which of the “pattern D”, “pattern E”, and “pattern F” is displayed on the display means 21 on the display means 21 is not given from the instruction input means 19 of the intercom base unit 1, but a portable terminal 3 is different from the case of FIG.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the resident is out and is not in the building 10, the mobile terminal 3 can be used to respond to the visitor of the building 10. For this reason, even if there is no one in the building 10, as shown in “pattern E” on the display means 21 of the intercom handset 2, the image of the face of the resident captured by the imaging means 32 of the mobile terminal 3. Since 4b can be displayed, it can respond without a visitor knowing that the resident 4 is not present in the building 10.
Further, as shown in “Pattern F” on the display means 21 of the intercom handset 2, it is possible to display an image such as an animation 6 b of an animal or a person other than a resident recorded in the storage means 16. It is also possible to respond to information about whether there is a resident in 10 and what kind of person the resident of the building 10 is (age, gender, etc.) without the visitor knowing. Therefore, if the intercom response system according to this embodiment is used, security such as crime prevention can be improved.

  In the embodiment described above, a program for realizing the functions of the image processing unit 14, the audio processing unit 15, the instruction input unit 19, the input unit 25, and the like shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 is stored on a computer-readable recording medium. The interphone response system may be controlled by recording, causing the computer system to read and execute the program recorded on the recording medium. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes designs and the like that do not depart from the gist of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the intercom response system by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the intercom response system by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the usage example of the intercom response system by this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the intercom response system by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the intercom response system by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the usage example of the intercom response system by this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Interphone main unit, 2 ... Interphone sub unit, 3 ... Portable terminal, 4 ... Resident, 5 ... Visitor, 11 ... Display means, 12 ... Parent-child unit Inter-transmission / reception means, 13 ... communication means, 14 ... image processing means, 15 ... audio processing means, 16 ... storage means, 17 ... imaging means, 18 ... audio input / output means, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 ... Instruction input means, 21 ... Display means, 22 ... Parent-child device transmission / reception means, 23 ... Imaging means, 24 ... Voice input / output means, 25 ... Calling means, 31. ..Display means, 32 ... imaging means, 33 ... voice input / output means, 34 ... communication means, 35 ... mobile phone function unit

Claims (4)

A slave unit having a calling unit for notifying a resident of a visit of a visitor, an output unit for outputting video and audio, and a master unit for outputting a video and audio of a visitor input to the slave unit An intercom response system,
A storage means provided in the master unit for storing information about animation and video of an animal or person other than the resident; and
A selection means for selecting video and audio stored in the storage means or video and audio input from the master unit when a signal is received from the calling means;
The intercom response system, wherein the video and audio selected by the selection means are output from the output means. A calling unit for notifying a resident of a visit of a visitor, a slave unit having an output unit for outputting video and audio, a master unit for outputting a video and audio of a visitor input to the slave unit, and An intercom response system consisting of a mobile terminal held by a visitor,
A storage means provided in the master unit for storing information about animation and video of an animal or person other than the resident; and
A selection means for selecting video and audio stored in the storage means or video and audio input from the mobile terminal when a signal is received from the calling means;
The intercom response system, wherein the video and audio selected by the selection means are output from the output means. Using a calling device for notifying a resident of a visit of a visitor, a child device having an output means for outputting video and audio, and a parent device for outputting a visitor's video and audio input to the child device An intercom response method,
A first step of storing information about animation and sound of an animal or person other than the resident in the storage means provided in the master unit;
A second step of selecting video and audio stored in the storage means or video and audio input from the master unit when a signal is received from the calling means;
A third step of outputting the video and audio selected in the second step from the output means;
An intercom response method characterized by comprising: A calling unit for notifying a resident of a visit of a visitor, a slave unit having an output unit for outputting video and audio, a master unit for outputting a video and audio of a visitor input to the slave unit, and An intercom response method using a mobile terminal owned by a visitor,
A first step of storing information about animation and sound of an animal or person other than the resident in the storage means provided in the master unit;
A second step of selecting video and audio stored in the storage means or video and audio input from the mobile terminal when a signal is received from the calling means;
A third step of outputting the video and audio selected in the second step from the output means;
An intercom response method characterized by comprising:

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