JP2008124563A - Video intercom system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video intercom system surely transmitting video signals of slave units in which a visitor is included, to master units. <P>SOLUTION: The system is provided with slave units 1A (1B) and master units 2 (3A and 3B). The slave units 1A (1B) generate video images obtained by compressing video images obtained by a camera section 16, and store the generated video images into a compressed video image storing section. Then, the slave units read the video images from the compressed video image storing section and simultaneously transmit the video images to a plurality of master units. The master units each receive the video images transmitted from the slave units and display the received video images on a liquid crystal display sections 21 (31). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a television intercom apparatus, and more particularly, to a television intercom apparatus that can respond by viewing a visitor's image.

  For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a television intercom apparatus that conventionally communicates an AC 100V lamp line in a home is known. This TV intercom apparatus includes an intercom entrance unit with a camera, an intercom room base unit with a monitor that is connected to the interphone entrance unit with a camera in a wired manner, an intercom entrance unit with a camera, an intercom room base unit with a monitor, and an electric light. Intercom living room with a monitor that can talk over the line.

  Here, the monitor intercom room master unit transmits the audio signal and video signal transmitted from the camera interphone entrance unit via the power line via the home outlet, and the monitor interphone room submaster unit. It has a power line carrier communication unit that receives an audio signal transmitted via a power line. The interphone room with a monitor interphone room has a power line carrier communication unit that receives an audio signal and a video signal transmitted from the interphone room with a monitor via a power line and transmits the sound signal. When a call is made between the monitor intercom living room master unit and the monitor intercom living room sub master unit, the monitor interphone living room master unit transmits an audio signal via the power line, and is transmitted from the monitor intercom living room sub base unit. Receive an audio signal. Further, the monitor intercom living room sub-master receives the audio signal transmitted from the monitor intercom living room master and transmits the audio signal.

  In addition, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, communication is also performed by superimposing a signal on an AC 100V power line in a home for communication between an interphone entrance unit with a camera and an interphone room base unit with a monitor. There is known a television intercom apparatus for performing the above.

According to the TV intercom apparatus having such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the wiring work when installing and expanding the interphone room with the monitor interphone, and it is easy by simply inserting and removing the plug from the AC100V outlet. In addition, a structure that can be detached from the communication line can be taken. This makes it possible to freely set the installation location of the monitor intercom living room master unit and the monitor intercom living room sub master unit according to the life scene, and when replacing the system, the camera interphone entrance unit and monitor It is possible to use a transmission path to the interphone room master unit with an attached intercom, and it is possible to easily realize a configuration including an interphone room with a monitor interphone room.
JP-A-6-217319 JP 2003-46654 A

  However, in the TV intercom apparatus having such a configuration, when transmitting video signals from the intercom entrance unit with camera to a plurality of monitor intercom living room sub-master units, unlike the case of wired dedicated line transmission, Data loss is likely to occur due to noise on the power line. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures against data loss. Data loss is performed by retransmitting data. Since retransmission control is one-to-one communication, normal transmission is also performed one-to-one. In other words, when video signals are transmitted to a plurality of interphone rooms with monitors, the transmission processing is performed one by one in order, so that a delay corresponding to the time required for transmission occurs for each monitor interphone room master. As a result, a different video signal is transmitted for each monitor intercom room master unit.

  In addition, with respect to the recording function immediately before the detection of a visitor effective for crime prevention, in order to perform the recording operation in the monitor intercom living room main unit, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, not only the interphone entrance unit with camera but also the monitor is provided. The intercom room master unit also needs to be in an always operating state. In the configuration of Patent Document 2, when a transmission video signal from the intercom entrance unit with camera to the intercom unit with monitor is lost due to noise in the transmission path and a retransmission control is performed several times, a recorded image is transmitted. Missing due to noise on the track.

  In order to suppress omissions associated with the transmission of recorded images, even when a video recording function for a visitor video is provided in the intercom entrance unit with camera, video signals can be recorded on the recording medium and a monitor can be installed from the interphone entrance unit with camera. Recording is performed depending on the transmission time period from the intercom entrance unit with camera to the interphone unit with monitor, which changes constantly depending on the noise condition of the transmission line, so that video transmission to the subphone with the interphone room is performed alternately. The recording cycle of the video signal on the medium is determined. Therefore, it fails to record the necessary video.

  In addition, the intercom room with a monitor centrally controls the communication control between the interphone with the camera, the interphone with the monitor, and the subphone with the monitor. The intercom room with a monitor is a portable structure that can be easily attached to and removed from the communication line and can be moved and installed. Because it does not function, it is not easy to use.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve these problems, and can reliably transmit the video signal of the slave unit reflected by the visitor to the master unit, and the transmission path between the slave unit and the master unit. To provide a television intercom apparatus that can record video signals taken by a slave unit on a recording medium without depending on the situation, and can eliminate the centralized control of communication by the master unit and have flexibility in equipment configuration. With the goal.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, in a television intercom apparatus including a slave unit having a camera unit provided at a position where a visitor can be photographed and a plurality of master units having a display unit communicating with the slave unit. The slave unit further receives the video imaged and output by the camera unit, compresses the input video image to generate and outputs a compressed video image, and generates and outputs the compressed video image data. Compressed video storage means for receiving and storing the compressed video, and video transmission means for reading the video from the compressed video storage means and transmitting it simultaneously to a plurality of master units. Each of the plurality of master units further includes a received video display unit that receives the video transmitted by the video transmission unit and displays the received video on the display unit.

  Further, it is preferable that the compressed video storage means of the slave unit stores the video captured by the camera unit before the time when the visitor is detected by the interphone entrance slave unit.

  Preferably, the slave unit further includes a recording unit that reads the video from the compressed video storage unit, writes the video on the recording medium, and records the recorded video.

  Preferably, the video is read from the compressed video storage unit according to the first cycle and written to the recording medium, and the video transmission unit reads the video from the compressed video storage unit according to the second cycle not synchronized with the first cycle. Send.

  Preferably, the slave unit reads the video from the recording medium instead of the compressed video storage unit, and simultaneously transmits the video to a plurality of master units.

  Preferably, the slave unit reads the video from one of the compressed video storage means and the recording medium and transmits the video to a predetermined master unit among the plurality of master units.

  Preferably, the child device stores in advance unique identification information assigned to each of the plurality of parent devices, and a destination for transmitting the video is designated using the identification information of the predetermined parent device.

  Preferably, a power line carrier communication method or an IEEE802.3af communication method is applied as a communication method between the child device and the plurality of parent devices.

  Preferably, the camera unit always shoots and outputs a video while power is supplied to the slave unit, and the video storage unit stores a video of a predetermined length of time output from the camera unit. It is memory.

  According to the present invention, the video transmission unit of the slave unit reads out the video from the compressed video storage unit and transmits it simultaneously to a plurality of master units, so that a delay time is generated for all the master units. Video can be transmitted.

  In addition, the compressed video storage means stores the compressed video generated and output by the compressed video means, and the video transmission means reads the video from the compressed video storage means and simultaneously sends it to a plurality of master units. Since it is performed independently of the transmission operation, the image is recorded on the compressed video storage means regardless of the transmission time period from the slave unit to the master unit, which varies depending on the noise state of the transmission line in the communication between the slave unit and the master unit. Video can be stored and transmitted to each parent device.

  In addition, a configuration in which a specific parent device controls transmission of the video to each parent device so that images captured by the camera unit of the child device are simultaneously transmitted to all parent devices by the child device. Therefore, the TV intercom apparatus can be made to function by connecting one of the parent devices to the communication line.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  In the television intercom apparatus of this embodiment, a device having a function of photographing a visitor and outputting a video signal is referred to as a slave device, and a device that is operated by a resident and communicates with the slave device. It is called a master unit.

  1 shows the overall configuration, FIGS. 2 to 4 show functional configurations, FIGS. 5 to 7 show flowcharts, and FIG. 8 shows table configurations. 9 shows the structure of the data packet.

FIG. 1 shows a specific example of the configuration of the television intercom apparatus according to this embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 1, the television intercom apparatus according to the present embodiment is usually installed outdoors, and is a recording medium such as a call button 13, a camera unit 16, and an SD (Secure Digital) memory card (registered trademark). An interphone with a camera 1A, 1B including an SD card memory 15 and the like, and usually installed indoors so that it can be carried indoors. A liquid crystal display unit 21, a call button 22, an extension button 23, a play button 27, etc. A monitor interphone living room main unit 2 including a liquid crystal display unit 31, a call button 32, an extension button 33, a playback button 37, a camera unit 36, and the like. , 3B.

  In this embodiment, the recording medium for recording the captured video has a replaceable (detachable) structure such as an SD memory card (registered trademark) that allows the user to select a storage medium having a capacity according to the application. Preferably there is.

  The camera unit 16 is provided at a position where the entrance can be photographed, and particularly at a position where the visitor can be photographed.

The intercom entrance slave units 1A and 1B, the intercom living room master unit 2, the intercom living room sub master unit 3A, and the intercom living room sub master unit 3B communicate with each other through the existing laying lines, and the respective operation power supplies are independent from each other. More power is supplied.
More specifically, in this embodiment, audio, video, or control signals are modulated using the AC100V lamp line normally wired in each room as a power source for the electrical products installed in the house, as the transmission path 5. It is assumed that communication is performed using a power line carrier communication system having a transmission speed of 408 kbps by a tone dispersion type multi-carrier transmission system of 2 to 9 MHz band superimposed on a power line by capacitor coupling.

  In this embodiment, the communication between the intercom entrance cordless handsets 1A and 1B and the interphone living room master 2 is assumed to be communication using an AC 100V power line. You may perform communication of the system which supplies electric power from the intercom room main | base station 2 with the operation power supply of the intercom entrance devices 1A and 1B with a camera using a dedicated line.

  2 to 4 are block diagrams showing an internal configuration of each device constituting the television intercom apparatus according to the present embodiment. The intercom entrance slave device 1A and the interphone entrance slave device 1B have the same configuration, and the interphone living room sub-master device 3A and the interphone living room sub-master device 3B have the same configuration. For this reason, FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the intercom entrance slave unit 1 typified by the interphone entrance slave unit 1A and the interphone entrance slave unit 1B, and FIG. 4 shows the interphone living room sub master unit 3A and the interphone living room sub master unit. The configuration of the interphone living room sub-master 3 typified by the machine 3B is shown.

  Referring to FIG. 2, intercom entrance handset 1 included in the TV intercom apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 100 that controls intercom entrance handset 1 as a whole, interphone living room base unit 2, A call button 13 for calling the interphone living room sub-master unit 3, and a power line carrier communication unit 14 including an outlet plug 14A for performing existing line communication with the interphone living room parent unit 2, the interphone living room sub-master unit 3, etc. , A camera unit 16 that captures a visitor, a video compression circuit 103 that compresses a video signal captured by the camera unit 16, a compressed video storage circuit 104 that stores the compressed image signal, and a monitor intercom parent Transmission video storage circuit 105 for storing video signals for transmission to the machine 2 and the like, and storage of video signals for recording in the SD card memory 15 Including a recording video storage circuit 106, an audio AD (analog-digital) / DA (digital-analog) conversion circuit 102 for converting an analog audio signal and a digital audio signal, and a microphone or a speaker (not shown). A voice call circuit 19 that enables voice call between an outdoor visitor and an indoor user, and a network information storage unit 107 that manages a group number and a unique identification number of the terminal and other terminals that can communicate with the terminal. Composed. The CPU 100 has a timer 101 that measures time.

  The CPU 100 is connected to the call button 13, and a call signal is input from the call button 13 when the visitor presses it. The CPU 100 is connected to the camera unit 16, the power line carrier communication unit 14, the voice AD / DA conversion circuit 102, and the network information storage unit 107, and sends out control signals for controlling them. Further, when a call signal from the call button 13 is detected, a visitor is detected, and a visitor detection signal, which is a control signal indicating that there is a visitor, is sent to the power line carrier communication unit 14.

  The power line carrier communication unit 14 is time-division multiplexed as a power line carrier signal transmitted from the monitor interphone living room master unit 2 and the monitor interphone living room sub master unit 3 via the power line transmission path 5. The transmission signal is received, and the transmission signal is separated into a digital audio signal, a control signal such as a visitor detection signal, and a drive power source for the intercom entrance unit 1 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 100.

  The power supply circuit unit 18 is connected to the power line carrier communication unit 14 and creates DC 3.3V, 5V and 12V necessary for the operation of the intercom entrance cordless handset 1 based on the AC 100V received by the power line carrier communication unit 14. Power is supplied to the operation circuit block.

  The voice AD / DA conversion circuit 102 and the CPU 100 are connected to the power line carrier communication unit 14. The power line carrier communication unit 14 transmits the digital audio signal to the audio AD / DA conversion circuit 102 and the control signal to the CPU 100 separately.

  In addition, the CPU 100 detects a call response signal that is a control signal input from the power line carrier communication unit 14, and the interphone room sub-master unit 3 performs a response operation to the call operation from the interphone entrance unit 1. Is detected.

  Further, the CPU 100 detects a call signal that is a control signal input from the power line carrier communication unit 14, and the interphone living room master unit 2 or the interphone living room sub-master unit 3 performs an extension monitor operation on the interphone entrance cordless handset 1. Detect what happened.

  In addition, the CPU 100 detects a reproduction request signal that is a control signal input from the power line carrier communication unit 14, and records the recorded video from the interphone entrance slave unit 1 in the interphone living room master unit 2 or the interphone living room submaster unit 3. Detects that a reception request operation has been performed.

  The camera unit 16 is always driven in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 100 and captures an image in the vicinity of the intercom entrance handset 1. Then, a video signal based on the photographed video is sent to the video compression circuit 103.

  The video compression circuit 103 is connected to the compressed video storage circuit 104, converts a video signal input from the camera unit 16 into a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) compressed image in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 100, and compresses the compressed video storage circuit. To 104.

  The compressed video storage circuit 104 has a capacity capable of storing 30 screens of video, and has a ring-shaped memory structure in which new video is overwritten and stored in order from the old video. The input digital video signal is sequentially stored at a cycle of 15 screens per second.

  The recorded video storage circuit 106 has a capacity capable of storing a visitor video imaged by the camera unit 16 for one screen, and is stored in the compressed video storage circuit 104 in accordance with a control signal and a time signal from the CPU 100. The oldest video is read and copied at a cycle of 5 screens per second. The recorded video storage circuit 106 is connected to the SD card memory 15 and sends a digital video signal obtained by copying to the SD card memory 15 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 100.

  The SD card memory 15 is connected to the recording video storage circuit 106 and the transmission video storage circuit 105, and sequentially records and stores the digital video signals input from the recording video storage circuit 106 in accordance with control signals from the CPU 100. The recorded digital video signal is reproduced and output to the transmission video storage circuit 105.

  The transmission video storage circuit 105 has a capacity capable of storing one screen of video received from the compressed video storage circuit 104 or the SD card memory 15, and the transmission video storage circuit 105 is in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 100. The recorded video of the designated SD card memory 15 or the oldest video stored in the compressed video storage circuit 104 is read out, copied and stored.

  The copying of the video in the transmission video storage circuit 105 is executed every time the video stored in the transmission video storage circuit 105 is read out by the power line carrier communication unit 14. Here, the period at which the video stored in the transmission video storage circuit 105 is read out by the power line carrier communication unit 14 depends on the noise interference state of the transmission line performed by the power line carrier communication unit 14, and in one second. It varies between 1 screen and 15 screens.

  The voice AD / DA conversion circuit 102 converts the digital voice signal input from the power line carrier communication unit 14 into an analog signal according to a control signal from the CPU 100, and the obtained analog voice signal is sent to the voice call circuit 19. And send it out.

  The voice call circuit 19 is connected to the voice AD / DA conversion circuit 102 and outputs a voice signal input from the voice AD / DA conversion circuit 102 to an outdoor visitor from a speaker according to a control signal from the CPU 100. The voice that an outdoor visitor utters is acquired with the included microphone, and a voice signal based on the acquired voice is sent to the voice AD / DA conversion circuit 102.

  The voice AD / DA conversion circuit 102 is connected to the power line carrier communication unit 14, converts the voice signal input from the voice call circuit 19 into a digital voice signal in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 100, and obtains the obtained digital voice. A signal is sent to the power line carrier communication unit 14.

  The power line carrier communication unit 14, in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 100, a digital audio signal input from the audio AD / DA conversion circuit 102, a digital video signal read from the transmission video storage circuit 105, and an input from the CPU 100. The control signal is subjected to time division multiplexing by the power line carrier communication protocol to generate a transmission signal. Then, the transmission signal is transmitted as a power line carrier signal to the interphone room master unit 2 and the interphone room sub base unit 3 via the power line transmission path 5.

  A device table is stored in the nonvolatile memory of the network information storage unit 107 at the time of sale or at the time of sale, and the combination of the group number represented by 0 to 255 of the intercom entrance unit 1 and the number of 0 to 255 is three digits. Data G, I, and M indicating the unique identification number and device type to be represented are stored.

  Here, the device type instructed by the data M is a program executed by the CPU 100. In the program executed by the CPU 100, 1 is a slave unit, 2 is a monitor interphone room base unit, 3 is a camera interphone room base unit, and 4 is a camera and monitor unit. It is defined as the intercom home unit.

The network information storage unit 107 is the same when the outlet plug 14A of the intercom entrance slave unit 1 is inserted into the outlet of the house and the power supply to the terminal is started, and the interphone living room master unit 2 and the monitor interphone living room sub master unit 3 are the same. The device table for managing the identification number and device type of each terminal in the same group, acquired by the initialization process performed when the power supply is started, is stored in the nonvolatile memory.
Based on the device table stored in the network information storage unit 107, the CPU 100 performs control for selecting a communication destination for communication from the intercom system existing in the house.

  In the configuration of FIG. 2, the video imaged and output by the camera unit 16 is written into the compressed video storage circuit 104 according to a cycle of 15 screens / second. Then, the video is read from the compressed video storage circuit 104 and written to the SD card memory 15 in accordance with the first cycle (5 screens / second). In addition, in accordance with the second cycle (15 screens / second), the video is read from the compressed video storage circuit 104 and simultaneously transmitted to the interphone room master unit 2 and the interphone room submaster units 3A and 3B. As described above, since the first cycle and the second cycle are not synchronized with each other, the SD card does not depend on the second cycle in which the disturbance of the predetermined cycle may occur depending on the noise state of the transmission path 5. An effect is obtained that video can be recorded in the memory 15 in accordance with the first period.

  Referring to FIG. 3, intercom room base unit 2 included in the TV intercom apparatus according to the present embodiment includes CPU 200 that controls intercom room base unit 2 as a whole, and liquid crystal display unit 21 that displays the video of the visitor. A call button 22 for calling the interphone entrance handset 1 to start a call with a visitor, and an extension button 23 for calling the interphone room sub-base station 3 to start an extension call with another user indoors, For the outlet for performing the existing line communication with the playback button 27 for requesting the playback of the visitor video recorded in the intercom entrance unit 1 and the power supply circuit unit 28, the intercom entrance unit 1 and the interphone living room sub-master unit 3, etc. The voice line communication unit 24 including the plug 24A, and a microphone and speaker (not shown) enable voice communication with an outdoor visitor and other indoor users. A speech circuit 29, a video expansion circuit 203 for expanding the compressed video signal, a display video storage circuit 206 for storing the video signal converted into a digital signal, and an analog audio signal and a digital audio signal. Voice AD / DA (Analog-Digital / Digital-Analog) conversion circuit 202 for converting to the network, network information storage unit 207 for managing the group number and unique identification number of the terminal and other terminals capable of communication, and a ringing tone circuit 201. The CPU 200 has a timer 204 that measures time.

  The power line carrier communication unit 24 transmits the transmission signal time-division-multiplexed as the power line carrier signal transmitted from the intercom entrance handset 1 and the interphone living room sub-master 3 via the power line transmission path 5. In response to the control signal from the CPU 200, the transmission signal is separated into a digital audio signal, a control signal such as a visitor detection signal, a JPEG video signal, and a drive power source for the intercom room master unit 2.

  The power supply circuit unit 28 is connected to the power line carrier communication unit 24, and creates DC 3.3V, 5V and 12V necessary for the operation of the interphone room master unit 2 with the monitor based on the AC 100V received by the power line carrier communication unit 24. Then, power is supplied to each operation circuit block.

  The power line carrier communication unit 24 is connected to the audio AD / DA conversion circuit 202, the CPU 200, and the video expansion circuit 203. A digital audio signal obtained by separation is connected to the audio AD / DA conversion circuit 202, and a control signal is sent to the CPU 200. Then, the JPEG video signal is sent to the video decompression circuit 203.

  The CPU 200 detects a visitor detection signal input from the power line carrier communication unit 24 and detects the presence of a visitor in the vicinity of the intercom entrance unit with camera 1.

  Further, the CPU 200 detects a call end signal, which is a control signal, from the interphone entrance cordless handset 1 input from the power line carrier communication unit 24, and responds to the call operation from the interphone entrance cordless handset 1 in the interphone living room sub-master unit 3. Detect that an action has taken place.

  Further, the CPU 200 inputs a call signal from the call button 22 when pressed by an indoor user. When the CPU 200 detects a call signal from the call button 22, the CPU 200 detects that the indoor user has pressed the call button 22, and performs control as a control operation for the call operation from the intercom entrance handset 1 or the interphone living room sub-base station 3. A call response signal as a signal is sent to the power line carrier communication unit 24.

  Further, the CPU 200 inputs a call signal from the extension button 23 when pressed by an indoor user. When the CPU 200 detects the call signal from the extension button 23, the CPU 200 detects that the indoor user has pressed the extension button 23. As a control operation for the call operation to the intercom entrance handset 1 or the interphone living room sub-master 3, the control signal Is sent to the power line carrier communication unit 24.

  Further, the CPU 200 inputs a reproduction request signal from the reproduction button 27 when pressed by an indoor user. When the CPU 200 detects a playback request signal from the playback button 27, the CPU 200 detects that the indoor user has pressed the playback button 27, and is a control signal as a control operation for a recording video transmission request operation for the intercom entrance unit 1. A regeneration request response signal is sent to the power line carrier communication unit 24.

  The video decompression circuit 203 is connected to the display video storage circuit 206 and performs a decompression process on the JPEG-compressed digital video signal input from the power line carrier communication unit 24 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 200 to be decompressed. The transmitted digital video signal is sent to the display video storage circuit 206.

  The display video storage circuit 206 sequentially stores the digital video signals input from the video expansion circuit 203 in accordance with the 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 206 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 200.

  The voice AD / DA conversion circuit 202 converts the digital voice signal input from the power line carrier communication unit 24 into an analog signal in accordance with the control signal from the CPU 200, and the obtained analog voice signal is sent to the voice call circuit 29. And send it out.

  The voice call circuit 29 is connected to the voice AD / DA conversion circuit 202 and outputs a voice signal input from the voice AD / DA conversion circuit 202 to an indoor user from a speaker according to a control signal from the CPU 200. The voice generated by the indoor user is acquired by the microphone, and a voice signal based on the acquired voice is transmitted to the voice AD / DA conversion circuit 202.

  The voice AD / DA conversion circuit 202 is connected to the power line carrier communication unit 24, converts the voice signal input from the voice call circuit 29 into a digital voice signal in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 200, and obtains the obtained digital voice. A signal is sent to the power line carrier communication unit 24.

  The power line carrier communication unit 24 applies a digital voice signal input from the voice AD / DA conversion circuit 202 and a control signal input from the CPU 200 according to a control signal from the CPU 200 according to a power line carrier communication protocol. A time division multiplexing process is performed to generate a transmission signal. Then, the transmission signal is transmitted as a power line carrier signal to the intercom entrance handset 1 and the interphone living room sub-master 3 via the power line transmission path 5.

  In the nonvolatile memory of the network information storage unit 207, a device table is stored at the time of factory production or sales, etc., and a group number represented by 0 to 255 of the interphone room master unit 2 and a combination 3 of numbers from 0 to 255 A unique identification number represented by a digit and data G, I and M indicating the device type are stored.

  Here, the device type indicated by the data M is a program executed by the CPU 200. In the program executed by the CPU 200, 1 is a slave unit, 2 is a monitor interphone room base unit, 3 is a camera interphone room base unit, and 4 is a camera and monitor interphone room. It is defined as the master unit.

  The network information storage unit 207 is the same when the outlet plug 24A of the interphone room master unit 2 is inserted into the outlet of the house and the power supply to the terminal is started, and the interphone entrance unit 1 and the monitor interphone room subbase unit 3 are the same. The device table for managing the identification number and device type of each terminal in the same group, acquired by the initialization process performed when the power supply is started, is stored in the nonvolatile memory.

  Based on the device table stored in the network information storage unit 207, the CPU 200 performs control for selecting a communication destination for communication from the intercom system existing in the house.

  Referring to FIG. 4, interphone living room sub-master device 3 included in the TV intercom apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 300 that controls the entire interphone living room sub-master device 3, and a liquid crystal display unit that displays a visitor's video. 31 and a call button 32 for calling the intercom entrance handset 1 to start a call with a visitor, and an extension button 33 for calling the interphone room base unit 2 and the like to start an extension call with another indoor user. And a playback button 37 for requesting playback of a visitor video recorded in the interphone entrance handset 1, and an outlet plug 34A for performing existing line communication with the interphone entrance handset 1, the interphone living room base unit 2, and the like. It includes a power line carrier communication unit 34, a camera unit 36 that captures indoor users, and microphones and speakers (not shown), and can be used with outdoor visitors and other indoor users. A voice call circuit 39 that enables voice call, a video compression / expansion circuit 303 that compresses and decompresses video signals, a display video storage circuit 306 that stores video data, and the interphone room master unit 2 and the like Transmission video accumulation circuit 305 for accumulating the video signal, audio AD / DA conversion circuit 302 for converting an analog audio signal and a digital audio signal, a ringing tone circuit 301 for outputting a ringing tone, and the own terminal A network information storage unit 307 that manages a group number and a unique identification number of other terminals that can communicate, and a power supply circuit unit 38 are included.

  The CPU 300 includes a voice call circuit 39, a voice AD / DA conversion circuit 302, a video compression / expansion circuit 303, a display video storage circuit 306, a liquid crystal display unit 31, a transmission video storage circuit 305, and a ringing tone circuit 301. Are connected to the power line carrier communication unit 34, the camera unit 36, and the network information storage unit 307, and send control signals for controlling them.

  Here, the other interphone living room sub-master device 3 is an interphone living room sub-master device 3B for the interphone living room sub-master device 3A, and is an interphone living room sub-master device 3A for the intercom living room sub-master device 3B.

  The power line carrier communication unit 34 is time-division multiplexed as a power line carrier signal transmitted from the intercom entrance handset 1 and the interphone room main unit 2 or another interphone room sub-base unit 3 via the power line transmission path 5. In accordance with the control signal from the CPU 300, the transmission signal, the digital audio signal, the control signal such as the visitor detection signal, the JPEG video signal, and the interphone room sub-master unit 3 are received. Separate the drive power supply.

  The power supply circuit unit 38 is connected to the power line carrier communication unit 34, and receives DC 3.3V, 5V, and 12V necessary for the operation of the monitor interphone living room sub-master 3 based on the AC 100V received by the power line carrier communication unit 34. Create and feed power to each operation circuit block.

  The power line carrier communication unit 34 is connected to the audio AD / DA conversion circuit 302, the CPU 300, and the video compression / decompression circuit 303, and the digital audio signal obtained by the separation is sent to the audio AD / DA conversion circuit 302 as a control signal. Is sent to the CPU 300 to the video compression / decompression circuit 303.

  The CPU 300 detects a visitor detection signal, which is a control signal input from the power line carrier communication unit 34, from the intercom entrance slave unit 1, the monitor-equipped interphone room master unit 2, or another interphone room sub-master unit 3, The presence of a visitor near the intercom entrance handset 1 or a call request from the intercom room master 2 or another interphone room submaster 3 is detected.

  In addition, the CPU 300 detects a call end signal, which is a control signal from the intercom entrance handset 1 input from the power line carrier communication unit 34, and the intercom entrance main unit 2 or another interphone room subbase unit 3 uses the interphone entrance. It is detected that a response operation to the call operation from the slave unit 1 has been performed.

  Further, the CPU 300 inputs a call signal from the call button 32 when pressed by an indoor user. When the CPU 300 detects a call signal from the call button 32, the CPU 300 detects that an indoor user has pressed the call button 32, and from the intercom entrance handset 1, the interphone living room master unit 2, or another interphone living room sub-master unit 3. It is detected that a response operation to the call operation is performed.

  Further, the CPU 300 inputs a call signal from the extension button 33 when 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 the intercom entrance cordless handset 1, the interphone living room master unit 2, or another interphone living room sub master unit 3 is detected. It is detected that the call operation for is performed.

  Further, the CPU 300 inputs a reproduction request signal from the reproduction button 37 when pressed by an indoor user. When the CPU 300 detects the playback request signal from the playback button 37, the CPU 300 detects that the indoor user has pressed the playback button 37, and is a control signal as a control operation for the recording video transmission request operation for the intercom entrance unit 1. A regeneration request response signal is sent to the power line carrier communication unit 34.

  The camera unit 36 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 monitor-equipped interphone living room sub-master unit 3. Then, a video signal based on the photographed video is sent to the video compression / decompression circuit 303.

  The video compression / decompression circuit 303 is connected to the transmission video storage circuit 305, converts the video signal input from the camera unit 36 into a JPEG compressed image according to a control signal from the CPU 300, and sends the video signal to the transmission video storage circuit 305. Send it out. The transmission video storage circuit 305 sequentially stores the video signals input from the video compression / decompression circuit 303.

  The video compression / decompression circuit 303 is connected to the display video storage circuit 306 and performs a decompression process on a digital video signal that is a JPEG video signal input from the power line carrier communication unit 34 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 300. Are sent to the display video storage circuit 306.

  The display video storage circuit 306 sequentially stores the digital video signals input from the video compression / decompression circuit 303 in accordance with control signals from the CPU 300.

  The liquid crystal display unit 31 reads and displays the digital video signal stored in the display video storage circuit 306 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 300.

  The transmission video storage circuit 305 is connected to the power line carrier communication unit 34 and sends out the stored video signal to the power line carrier communication unit 34 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 300.

  The voice AD / DA conversion circuit 302 is connected to the voice call circuit 39 and the power line communication unit 34, and converts the digital voice signal input from the power line communication unit 34 into an analog signal in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 300. The converted analog voice signal is sent to the voice call circuit 39. Further, the voice signal input from the voice call circuit 39 is converted into a digital voice signal, and the obtained digital voice signal is sent to the power line carrier communication unit 34.

  The voice call circuit 39 is connected to the voice AD / DA conversion circuit 302, and outputs a voice signal input from the voice AD / DA conversion circuit 302 to an indoor user from a speaker according to a control signal from the CPU 300. The voice generated by the indoor user is acquired by the microphone, and a voice signal based on the acquired voice is transmitted to the voice AD / DA conversion circuit 302.

  The power line communication unit 34 applies a digital sound signal input from the sound AD / DA conversion circuit 302 and a control signal input from the CPU 300 according to a control signal from the CPU 300 using a power line communication protocol. A time division multiplexing process is performed to generate a transmission signal. Then, the transmission signal is transmitted as a power line carrier signal via the power line transmission path 5 to the intercom entrance handset 1, the intercom room master unit 2, and the other interphone room sub base unit 3.

  The power line carrier communication unit 34 receives a digital audio signal input from the audio AD / DA conversion circuit 302, a control signal input from the CPU 300, and a transmission video storage circuit 305 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 300. The digital video signal is time-division multiplexed by the power line carrier communication protocol to generate a transmission signal. Then, the transmission signal is transmitted as a power line carrier signal via the power line transmission path 5 to the intercom entrance handset 1 and the interphone room main unit 2 or another interphone room sub base unit 3.

  In the nonvolatile memory of the network information storage unit 307, a combination 3 of a device table and a group number represented by 0 to 255 of the interphone room with monitor interphone 3 in advance at the time of factory production or sales, etc. A unique identification number represented by a digit and data G, I and M indicating the device type are stored.

  Here, the device type indicated by the data M is a program executed by the CPU 300. In the program executed by the CPU 300, 1 is a slave unit, 2 is a monitor interphone room base unit, 3 is a camera interphone room base unit, and 4 is a camera and a monitor interphone room. It is defined as the master unit.

  The network information storage unit 307 supplies power to the intercom entrance unit 1 and the intercom unit 2 in the same manner when the outlet plug 34A of the intercom unit 2 is inserted into the outlet of the house and power supply to the terminal is started. A device table for managing the identification number and device type of each terminal in the same group, which is acquired by the initialization process performed at the start, is stored in a nonvolatile memory.

  Based on the device table stored in the network information storage unit 307, the CPU 300 performs control for selecting a communication destination for communication from the intercom system existing in the house.

  In this embodiment, for simplification of explanation, only two interphone living room sub-master devices 3A and 3B are shown, but the number of interphone living room sub-master devices that can communicate with the interphone living room master device 2 is shown. Is not limited as long as it is within the range up to the connection limit number. Further, in the present embodiment, the intercom living room master unit 2 and the intercom living room sub unit 3 have different configurations as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, but they have the same configuration. Alternatively, one of the devices may be the interphone living room parent device 2 and the other device may be the interphone living room sub-master device 3.

  As described above, the existing line system adopted in the present embodiment is a very suitable transmission means for communicating data and / or voice in the home, and a medium already installed in the home is used. By using it, the equipment required for communication can be achieved at low cost. The existing line communication method in the TV intercom apparatus according to the present invention is most preferably a method adopting the power line carrier communication method, but is not limited to this method, and other existing lines such as the IEEE 802.3af communication method. A communication method may be used. That is, the communication system is preferably communication using a power line carrier communication system that superimposes a signal on the AC 100V wiring of the house because of the simplicity of construction, but the inverter control circuit of various electrical appliances connected to the power line If the transmission environment of the power line communication path is bad due to the influence of noise generated from the microwave transmission equipment, communication using the IEEE 802.3af communication system of the dedicated line system that can be easily installed may be used.

  Below, operation | movement of each apparatus is demonstrated according to the flowchart shown in FIGS. The processes according to these flowcharts are stored in advance as programs in the RAM (Random Access Memory) 401 of the intaphone entrance slave unit 1, the RAM 404 of the interphone room master unit 2, and the RAM 407 of the interphone room subbase unit 3, and each of the CPUs 100, 200, 300 is stored. The function is realized by being read and executed by.

  Next, the processing of the intercom entrance handset 1A when the interphone room base unit 2 of the TV intercom apparatus according to the present embodiment responds to the call of the interphone entrance handset 1 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is realized mainly by the CPU 100 of the intercom entrance cordless handset 1A reading out and executing a program stored in a storage device (not shown) and controlling each unit shown in FIG. Is done.

  Referring to FIG. 5, first, in the initial state in which the power supply of the TV intercom apparatus is turned on, intercom door station 1A executes an initialization process for updating the device table (S101). The initialization process S101 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The camera unit 16 of the intercom entrance cordless handset 1A always performs an imaging operation (S102). The video signal based on the video imaged by the camera unit 16 of the intercom entrance cordless handset 1A is always in a state where 15 videos for the past 1 second are stored in the compressed video storage circuit 104 (NO in S105). ).

  When the call button 13 of the intercom entrance cordless handset 1A is pressed by the visitor, the CPU 100 detects that there is a visitor based on the operation signal input from the call button 13 (YES in S105).

  Based on the time data of the timer 101, the CPU 100 sequentially reads out images of a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds in total before and after) when the visitor is detected, among the data already stored in the compressed video storage circuit 104. The data is recorded in the SD card memory 15 (S106).

  The CPU 100 of the intercom door station 1 </ b> A generates a packet of FIG. 9A storing a visitor detection signal that is a control signal, and transmits the packet via the power line carrier communication unit 14.

  The packet in FIG. 9A has a field F1 for storing destination information, a field F2 for storing source information, and a field F3 for storing information / data to be transmitted. In the field F1, among the information set in the device table of the network information storage unit 107, the group numbers of the interphone room master unit 2 and the interphone room subbase unit 3A, excluding the interphone entrance handset 1B that is not the base unit, The device type and identification number are read and stored. In the field F2, data G, M, and I read from the network information storage unit 107 are stored. In the field F3, a visitor detection signal is stored.

  9A, with the upper limit of 2 minutes counted by the timer 101, the CPU 100 sends the response of FIG. 9B in which the call response is stored in the field F3 to the power line carrier communication unit 14. Video received by the camera unit 16 of the intercom entrance cordless handset 1A through the power line carrier communication unit 14 alternately for each frame to the interphone room master unit 2 and the interphone room submaster unit 3A. Are transmitted (YES in S107 and S108). This video signal is transmitted with the same destination as the field F1 in FIG. 9A attached to the header. Therefore, a visitor's image | video is simultaneously transmitted to all the main | base stations from a subunit | mobile_unit.

  In the field F1 of the packet in FIG. 9B, data G, M, and I indicating the interphone entrance slave unit 1A are stored, and in the field F2, the data G of the interphone room master unit 2 or the interphone room sub-master unit 3A is stored. M and I are stored.

  In the case where the “SD memory recorded video automatic playback function”, which is a function for automatically playing back the video recorded in the SD card memory 15 as the operation mode, is designated in advance in the intercom entrance cordless handset 1A. In step S107, a video signal based on the video recorded in the SD card memory 15 in step S106 is included instead of the video signal based on the video of the visitor photographed in real time by the intercom entrance cordless handset 1. A transmission signal is transmitted.

  In this case, in the intercom living room master unit 2 and the interphone living room sub master unit 3A, the interphone entrance unit 1 in real time until one of the interphone living room master unit 2 or the interphone living room sub master unit 3A performs a response operation. Instead of the video of the visitor being photographed, the video that has already been recorded in the SD card memory 15 for a predetermined time before and after the visitor presses the call button 13 (for example, 5 seconds in total before and after) repeats repeatedly. It is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 21 in the room master unit 2 and the liquid crystal display unit 31 of the interphone room sub-master unit 3A.

  If the call response of FIG. 9B cannot be received from any parent machine within 2 minutes, the CPU 100 sends a call end signal to the interphone room master unit 2 and the interphone room sub-master unit 3A. 9 is stored and transmitted via the power line carrier communication unit 14 (NO in S108, S114). Therefore, when a response cannot be received from the living room within 2 minutes after detecting the visitor, it is considered that there is no response and the transmission of the video addressed to all the parent devices of the visitor can be interrupted.

  The CPU 100 analyzes the received packet of FIG. 9B, compares the information in the field F2 with the information in the table in the network information storage unit 107, and has received a call response response from the intercom room master unit 2. Is determined. In this case, the video imaged by the camera unit 16 of the intercom entrance cordless handset 1A is attached with the destination indicated by the information in the field F2 of the packet in FIG. Attached) and transmitted via the power line carrier communication unit 14, and transmission of the video imaged by the camera unit 16 of the intercom entrance slave unit 1A to the interphone room sub-master unit 3A is stopped. Also, a call end signal in FIG. 9C is transmitted to the intercom living room sub-master 3A via the power line carrier communication unit 14 (S109).

  Two-way audio signals are transmitted and received between the intercom entrance cordless handset 1 and the interphone living room master phone 2 via the power line carrier communication unit 14, and the voice of the resident in the house comes from the speaker. (S110). Thereby, a call using the intercom entrance cordless handset 1 and the interphone living room master phone 2 can be performed between a visitor and a person at home.

  When the call with the visitor is completed (YES in S111), the transmission of video and audio to the intercom home base unit 2 is stopped (S112), and a series of processing when there is a visitor is completed. The end of the call is detected, for example, when the call button 22 is operated.

  When the playback button 27 (37) is operated on any interphone room parent device, the packet shown in FIG. 9F is generated and transmitted from the parent device. The packet shown in FIG. 9F stores data G, M, and I of the intercom entrance device 1 in the field F1, and stores data G, M, and I of the parent device in the field F2.

  When the CPU 100 receives the packet of FIG. 9F via the power line carrier communication unit 14, the CPU 100 collates the destination information in the field F1 with the data G, M, and I in the network information storage unit 107, and matches based on the result. It is discriminated whether or not it is, that is, whether or not it is addressed to itself. If it is determined that it is addressed to itself and it is determined that the content of the field F3 indicates a reproduction request (YES in S103), the recorded image is transmitted to the requesting master unit (S113). In other words, the CPU 100 controls the video read from the SD card memory 15 by adding the transmission source information in the field F2 of the received packet as the destination. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S104.

  When the extension button 23 (33) of the parent device is operated, the packet of FIG. 9G is generated and transmitted from the parent device. The packet of FIG. 9 (G) stores data G, M and I of the intercom entrance handset 1 in the field F1, and stores data G, M and I of the base unit in the field F2.

  When the CPU 100 receives the packet of FIG. 9G via the power line carrier communication unit 14, the CPU 100 determines whether the packet is addressed to itself. If it is determined that it is addressed to itself and it is determined that the content of the field F3 indicates an extension (calling) request (YES in S104), the process proceeds to S109, and the outdoor (front door) image captured by the camera unit 16 Is sent to the requesting parent device.

  The process of FIG. 5 is repeated until the outlet plug 14A of the intercom entrance cordless handset 1A is removed and the power is shut off (YES in S115).

  Next, using the flowchart of FIG. 6, the interphone living room base unit 2 with the monitor when the interphone room base unit with monitor 2 of the TV intercom apparatus according to the present embodiment responds to the calling of the interphone entrance unit with camera 1A. The process will be described. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is realized mainly by the CPU 200 of the intercom room master unit 2 reading and executing a program stored in a storage device (not shown) and controlling each unit shown in FIG. Is done.

  Referring to FIG. 6, first, in the initial state in which the power of the TV intercom apparatus is turned on, interphone room master unit 2 executes an initialization process for updating the device table (S201). The initialization process S201 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S201, after the initialization process in the initial state in which the TV intercom apparatus is turned on is completed, the CPU 200 waits until a visitor detection signal is detected (NO in S204), and the visitor detection signal is detected. When the presence of a visitor is detected in the vicinity of the intercom entrance cordless handset 1A and the packet shown in FIG. 9A is received (YES in S204), the ringing tone circuit 201 is controlled. As a result, the ringing tone generated by the ringing tone circuit 201 is output from the speaker constituting the intercom room parent unit voice call circuit 29 (S205).

  At the same time, since the video signals captured by the camera unit 16 of the intercom entrance cordless handset 1A are sequentially transmitted via the power line carrier communication unit 24, the video signals are received and received by the liquid crystal display unit 21. A video is displayed (S206).

  Here, when the CPU 200 detects that the call button 22 of the interphone room master unit 2 has been pressed by a person at home (YES in S209), the power line carrier communication unit 24 uses the interphone entrance unit with camera 1A shown in FIG. The call response signal packet of (B) is generated and transmitted (S210). From the intercom entrance cordless handset 1A that has received the response signal, the video of the visitor can be continuously received (S211).

  Here, if the home person first responds to the visitor with the interphone room sub-master device 3A, the transmission of the video signal to the interphone room master device 2 ends, so the CPU 200 sends out the ringing tone. Then, the video display on the liquid crystal display unit 21 is finished, and the control shifts to a standby state (YES in S207, S214).

  If no call response in FIG. 9B is transmitted from any parent device within 2 minutes, the CPU 100 of the intercom entrance child device 1A originally determines that it is absent, and FIG. 9C shows the call end signal. The following packet may be transmitted. That is, it is determined that the call end signal could not be received due to the noise state of the transmission line 5 and the packet of FIG. 9C is transmitted when 3 minutes have elapsed after the packet transmission of FIG. 9A. Then, the master unit that has received this terminates the sending of the ringing tone and the video display on the liquid crystal display unit 21, and shifts the control to the standby state (YES in S208, S214).

  In step S212, bi-directional audio signals are transmitted and received between the intercom entrance cordless handset 1 and the interphone living room master device 2, and the voice of the visitor is output from the speaker. Thereby, a call using the intercom entrance cordless handset 1 and the interphone living room master phone 2 can be performed between a visitor and a person at home.

  When the call with the visitor is terminated by an end-of-call operation such as pressing the call button 22 again in step S212 (YES in S213), transmission / reception of audio and reception of video with the intercom entrance device 1 is stopped in step S214. At the same time, the display on the liquid crystal display unit 21 is also stopped, and the call processing with the visitor ends.

  When the play button 27 is operated on the intercom room master unit 2 (YES in S202), the CPU 200 generates and transmits a packet addressed to the intercom entrance handset 1A of FIG. 9F (S215). By the transmission of the packet, the video reproduced from the SD card memory 15 is transmitted from the intercom entrance handset 1A to the intercom home base unit 2. The CPU 200 receives the transmitted video and displays it on the liquid crystal display unit 21. This operation is performed until the reproduction is finished (S216, S217). When the reproduction ends, the process proceeds to S214.

  When the extension button 23 of the intercom room master unit 2 is operated (S203), the CPU 200 generates and transmits the packet of FIG. 9G (S218). In the packet of FIG. 9G, the data G, M, and I of the other master unit read out from the table of the network information storage unit 207, that is, the interphone room sub-master unit 3 (3A and 3B) are stored in the field F1. In the field F2, data G, M, and I of the intercom room master unit 2 are stored.

  When the CPU 300 of the interphone living room sub-master devices 3A and 3B receives the packet of FIG. 9G via the power line carrier communication unit 34, it determines whether it is addressed to itself, the contents of the field F1 of the received packet and the network The information storage unit 307 determines its own data G, M and I by comparing and comparing them. If it is determined that the two match, that is, addressed to itself, the ringing tone circuit 301 outputs a ringing tone. When a person in the room operates the call button 32 to respond to the ringing tone, the CPU 300 generates and transmits the packet of FIG. 9B.

  When the CPU 200 of the intercom room master unit 2 receives the packet of FIG. 9B within a predetermined time counted by the timer 201 after transmitting the packet of FIG. 9G (S219, S220), the terminal (interphone) that has responded Video / audio communication is performed with the room sub-master 3A or 3B) (S221, S222, S223). That is, the interphone living room sub-master 3A or 3B receives the video taken by the camera unit 36 via the video compression / decompression circuit 303, the transmission video storage circuit 305, and the power line carrier communication unit 34, and the interphone living room main unit 2 Send to. In the intercom room master unit 2, the video is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 21 through the power line carrier communication unit 24, the video expansion circuit 203, and the display video storage circuit 206. Therefore, a person in the room can communicate via the voice call circuits 29 and 39 while watching the video displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 21.

  The process of FIG. 6 is repeated until the outlet plug 24A of the intercom room master unit 2 is removed and the power is shut off (YES in S224).

  The processing in FIG. 6 has been described for the interphone living room master unit 2, but the same can be applied to the interphone living room sub-master unit 3. In that case, the interphone living room sub-master devices 3A and 3B communicate with each other to display the images taken by the camera unit 36 on the liquid crystal display unit 31 while communicating with each other, and via the voice call circuit 39. You can have conversations with each other.

  Next, using the flowchart of FIG. 7, the same group when the intercom entrance cordless handset 1A of the TV intercom apparatus according to the present embodiment inserts the outlet plug 14A into the outlet of the house and starts supplying power to the terminal. An initialization process for updating the device table for managing the identification number and device type of each terminal will be described. The processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 is realized mainly by the CPU 100 of the intercom entrance cordless handset 1 reading out and executing a program stored in a storage device (not shown) and controlling each unit shown in FIG. Is done.

  Referring to FIG. 7, first, it is assumed that the outlet plug 14A of the intercom entrance cordless handset 1A is in an initial state in which power is supplied to the terminal after being inserted into the outlet of the house. Several master units or slave units are already connected to the communication path 5 in the home.

  First, the CPU 100 generates the packet in FIG. 9D and collects the configuration information of the other TV intercom apparatus and transmits it to the communication path 5 from the power line carrier communication unit 34 (S301). . In the packet of FIG. 9D, information B indicating all devices is stored in the field F1, own data G, M and I are stored in the field F2, and a machine information inquiry command is stored in the field F3. Yes.

  Although not shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 6, the CPUs of the TV interphone apparatus connected to the communication path 5 are not explicitly shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. When the packet addressed to all devices shown in FIG. 9D is received, data G, M, and I indicating the group number, identification number, and device type number of the own device are stored in the network information based on the inquiry command in the field F3. The packet shown in FIG. 9 (E) that is read from the storage unit and stored therein is generated, and a reply process is performed as a response to the inquiry command transmission device (interphone entrance cordless handset 1A).

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, there are five TV intercom devices on the communication path 5, so that the response response from the five terminals is limited by the CPU 100 through the power line carrier communication unit 34 for one minute. In step S302, S303, reception processing is performed sequentially.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, there are five TV interphone devices on the communication path 5, but the interphone room sub-master 3B is ignored because of the group number 8, and the same group as the interphone entrance slave 1A. Only the device with the number 10 is created as a device table shown in FIG. 8 in the network information storage unit 107 (S304).

  In this embodiment, a specific device does not perform communication control of the entire TV intercom device, but is characterized by distributed control of each device whose network configuration can be dynamically changed. Since normal communication control cannot be performed without a table, one-to-one communication is performed for each device temporarily registered in the table after the provisional device table is created. The type number is notified, the device table stored in the other device of the same group number is transmitted, and each device updates its own table with the received table (S305, S306).

  When the update processing of the device tables of all the devices is normally completed, the intercom entrance handset 1A, the interphone entrance handset 1B, the interphone living room base unit 2 and the interphone are shown to be present in the network. It is commonly recognized by the living room sub-master device 3 and the initialization process is terminated. Thereafter, communication control is performed based on the device table in each device (S307).

  In the TV intercom apparatus according to the present embodiment described above, the same video signal is transmitted to all of the interphone living room master unit 2 and the plurality of interphone living room sub-master units 3, so that the visitor calls the interphone entrance unit 1 The video when the button 13 is pressed can be confirmed on the interphone room master unit 2 and the plurality of interphone room submaster units 3 under the same conditions. Therefore, it is possible to improve the user-friendliness, and it is used effectively for crime prevention.

  In addition, the video signal is sent to the SD card memory 15 as a recording medium at a constant cycle that does not depend on the transmission time cycle from the intercom entrance cordless handset 1 to the interphone room master units 2 and 3 that constantly changes depending on the noise state of the communication line. Can be recorded. Therefore, it is used effectively for crime prevention.

  In this embodiment, the communication path is an AC 100 V line in the home, but by adopting an adapter system for the communication unit, it is possible to easily support an AC 200 V line and an IEEE 802.3af communication system.

  Further, in the intercom entrance handset 1A, 1B, since the video before the call button 13 of the interphone entrance handset 1 is pressed is recorded, immediately after the visitor presses the call button 13 of the interphone entrance handset 1. Even if the user leaves the vicinity of the intercom entrance cordless handset 1, the recorded video can be reproduced to surely check the visitor. Therefore, it is used effectively for crime prevention.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the interphone living room sub-master devices 3A and 3B are provided with a liquid crystal display unit 31 in the same manner as the interphone living room master device 2, so that the interphone entrance handset 1A The video intercom apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and the intercom living room sub-parent may be displayed. The machines 3A and 3B only need to be configured so as to be able to transmit and receive at least audio to and from the intercom entrance slaves 1A and 1B.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the image compression method is the JPEG method, but any image compression method such as the JPEG2000 method may be used.

  Further, a method of responding to a call of the intercom entrance handset 1 executed by the above-described TV intercom apparatus and a method of performing an extension call can be provided as programs in the RAMs 401, 404, and 407. The recording medium for such a program is not limited to the RAM. For example, a program product recorded on a computer-readable recording medium 403, 406, 409 such as a flexible disk attached to a computer, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), or a memory card. Can also be provided. The programs stored in the recording media 403, 406, and 409 are read from the recording medium by the CPU through I / Fs (interfaces) 402, 405, and 408, and stored in each RAM. It can also be downloaded and stored in each RAM by downloading via the network.

  The provided program product includes the program itself and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a block diagram of the television intercom apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a structure of the intercom entrance cordless handset. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a structure of the intercom living room main | base station 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a structure of the intercom living room submaster. It is a flowchart when there is a visitor in the entrance cordless handset 1. It is a flowchart which shows the process which responds to the calling of the entrance cordless handset 1 by the living room main | base station 2. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the initialization process at the time of power-on of the entrance cordless handset 1 and a living room main | base station. It is a figure which shows the content of the equipment table managed by the front door 1. (A)-(G) are figures which show a data packet.

Explanation of symbols

  1A, 1B Intercom entrance unit, 2 Intercom room master unit, 3, 3A, 3B Intercom room sub unit, 5 AC 100V power line transmission line in home, 22, 32 Call button, 13 Call button, 23, 33 Extension button, 37 playback button, 16, 36 camera unit, 21, 31 liquid crystal display unit, 14, 24, 34 power line carrier communication unit, 15 SD card memory, 18, 28, 38 power supply circuit unit, 19, 29, 39 voice communication circuit , 100, 200, 300 CPU, 19, 29, 39 Voice call circuit, 102, 202, 302 Voice AD / DA conversion circuit, 103, 203, 303 Video compression / decompression circuit, 206, 306 Display video storage circuit, 105, 305 Transmission video storage circuit, 201, 301 ringing tone circuit, 106 recording video storage circuit, 104 compressed video storage circuit Road.

Claims (8)

In a television intercom apparatus comprising a slave unit having a camera unit provided at a position where a visitor can be photographed, and a plurality of master units having a display unit communicating with the slave unit,
The slave unit is further
Video compression means for inputting a video imaged and output by the camera unit, compressing the input video image, and generating and outputting a compressed video image;
Compressed video storage means for receiving and storing the compressed video generated and output by the compressed video means;
Video transmission means for reading the video from the compressed video storage means and simultaneously transmitting to the plurality of master units;
Each of the plurality of master units further includes
A television intercom apparatus, comprising: a received video display unit that receives the video transmitted by the video transmission unit and displays the received video on the display unit. The slave is
The television interphone apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising recording means for reading the video from the compressed video storage means and writing and recording the video on a recording medium. The video is read from the compressed video storage means according to a first period and written to the recording medium,
3. The television interphone apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the video transmission unit reads and transmits the video from the compressed video storage unit according to a second period that is not synchronized with the first period.   The television interphone apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the slave unit reads the video from the recording medium instead of the compressed video storage unit and transmits the video simultaneously to the plurality of master units. The slave is
3. The television intercom apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the video is read from either the compressed video storage means or the recording medium, and transmitted to a predetermined master unit among the plurality of master units. The slave is
Preliminarily storing unique identification information assigned to each of the plurality of master units,
The television interphone apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a destination for transmitting the video is indicated using the identification information of the predetermined parent device.   The television intercom apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a power line carrier communication system or an IEEE 802.3af communication system is applied as a communication system between the slave unit and the plurality of master units. While the power is supplied to the slave unit, the camera unit always shoots and outputs an image,
The television intercom apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the video storage means is a ring-shaped memory that stores a video of a predetermined time length output from the camera unit.

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