JP2021057680A - Information terminal, communication system, intercom system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of suppressing the increase in the transmission band while improving the reliability of the transmission of information in the situation where information is transmitted to multiple communication units.SOLUTION: A house information panel 400 is installable in a facility. A first communication unit 450 communicates with an entrance unit 200 and receives a piece of first information from the entrance unit 200. A second communication unit 460 communicates with multiple communication units, and when transmitting a piece of second information based on the first information, transmits the second information before the communication unit included in a second group out of multiple communication units to a communication unit included in a first group out of the multiple communication units. The control unit 440 controls the second communication unit 460.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present disclosure relates to communication technology, and more particularly to information terminals, communication systems, and intercom systems for communicating information.

The intercom system includes a doorphone slave unit with a camera and an intercom master unit with a monitor TV, and when the call button is pressed on the doorphone slave unit, the image is captured by the doorphone slave unit on the TV monitor of the intercom master unit. Image is displayed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-15974

When the intercom system is installed in a collective facility such as an apartment, the entrance device is installed at the entrance of the collective facility, and the housing information board is installed in the facility in the collective facility, for example, the residence, so that the entrance device and the housing information board are installed. A visitor call to and from is executed. Further, by connecting the sub-device installed in the facility to the housing information board, the sub-device can execute a visitor call with the entrance device via the housing information board. Further, by connecting a terminal device such as a smart phone to the housing information board, the terminal device can also execute a visitor call with the entrance device via the housing information board. Before executing the visitor call, the call request that triggers the start of the visitor call is transmitted to the housing information board, the auxiliary device, and the terminal device together with the video signal of the visitor imaged at the entrance device. When the number of sub-devices and terminal devices connected to the housing information panel by wireless communication increases, it is desirable to use unicast to improve the certainty of transmission of video signals, etc., but it is used for transmission of video signals, etc. The transmission band to be performed increases.

The present disclosure has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for suppressing an increase in a transmission band while improving the certainty of information transmission in a situation where information is transmitted to a plurality of communication devices. To provide.

In order to solve the above problems, the information terminal of a certain aspect of the present disclosure is an information terminal that can be installed in a facility, and is a first communication unit that communicates with an entrance device and a second communication that communicates with a plurality of communication devices. A unit and a control unit that controls a second communication unit are provided. When the first communication unit receives the first information from the entrance device and the second communication unit transmits the second information based on the first information, the first communication unit sends the second information to the first group among the plurality of communication devices. The second information is transmitted to the included communication devices with priority over the communication devices included in the second group of the plurality of communication devices.

It should be noted that any combination of the above components and the conversion of the expression of the present disclosure between methods, devices, systems, recording media, computer programs and the like are also effective as aspects of the present disclosure.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress an increase in the transmission band while improving the certainty of information transmission in a situation where information is transmitted to a plurality of communication devices.

1 (a)-(b) is a diagram showing the configuration of the intercom system according to the first embodiment. 2 (a)-(c) is a diagram showing the configuration of the entrance device, the housing information board, and the sub-device of FIGS. 1 (a)-(b). It is a figure which shows the data structure of the table used in the control part of FIG. 2B. 4 (a)-(b) is a sequence diagram showing a communication procedure by the intercom system of FIGS. 1 (a)-(b). It is a sequence diagram which shows the communication procedure by the intercom system of FIG. 1 (a)-(b). It is a figure which shows the structure of the intercom system which concerns on Example 2. FIG.

(Example 1)
A summary will be given before the present disclosure is specifically described. An embodiment relates to an intercom system installed in a collective facility such as a condominium or an apartment. A plurality of facilities such as residences are gathered in the collective facility, and people can enter and exit at at least one common entrance. When a visitor operates an entrance device such as a lobby intercom installed at the common entrance, the housing information board installed at the facility of the visitor is called up. In response to the call, the resident of the facility confirms the visitor by operating the housing information board. When the resident operates the housing information board to answer the call, a visitor call between the entrance device and the housing information board is executed.

In addition, in the facility, the auxiliary device may be installed in a room different from the room in which the housing information panel is installed. By communicating with the housing information board, the sub-device executes a visitor call with the entrance device via the housing information board. In addition, the facility may be equipped with routers to access the Internet. Terminal devices such as smart phones, tablets, and PCs access the Internet via routers. When the housing information board is connected to this router, communication between the housing information board and the terminal device becomes possible via the router. Therefore, the terminal device executes a visitor call with the entrance device via the housing information board.

In order to execute a visitor call on any of the housing information board, the sub device, and the terminal device, the call request from the entrance device is transmitted to the housing information board and also from the housing information board to the sub device and the terminal device. Will be done. In addition to the call request, the audio signal and the video signal acquired at the entrance device are also transmitted to the housing information board, the sub device, and the terminal device. Further, when there are a plurality of sub-devices or terminal devices, the call request, audio signal, and video signal are transmitted to all of the plurality of sub-devices or terminal devices. When the resident responds to such a call request with any of the housing information panel, the sub-device, and the terminal device, for example, one sub-device, a visitor call is made between the one sub-device and the entrance device. Be done. Hereinafter, a plurality of sub-devices and a plurality of terminal devices are collectively referred to as "plurality of communication devices". The plurality of communication devices may include only a plurality of sub-devices, may include only a plurality of terminal devices, and may include one or more sub-devices and one or more terminal devices. May be good.

Before the visitor call starts, the video signal is transmitted to a plurality of communication devices, but after the visitor call starts, for example, the video signal is transmitted to one sub-device, so that after the visitor call starts. However, a wide transmission band is required before the visitor call starts. In addition, depending on the communication status of the network connecting the housing information panel and the plurality of communication devices, the video or audio of the visitor may be disturbed, or the video signal or the like may not reach the communication device. Alternatively, if the video signal or the like is transmitted by unicast in order to improve the certainty of transmission of the video signal or the like, the transmission band increases as the number of communication devices increases, so that another device connected to the network May affect. Therefore, it is required to suppress an increase in the transmission band while improving the certainty of transmission of a video signal or the like.

The intercom system according to this embodiment classifies a plurality of communication devices into, for example, two groups. The housing information board transmits a video signal or the like by unicast to the communication device included in the first group of the two groups. On the other hand, the housing information board transmits a video signal or the like by multicast to the communication device included in the second group of the two groups. By executing unicast to the communication devices included in the first group, the certainty of transmission of video signals and the like is improved, and by executing multicast to the communication devices included in the first group, transmission is performed. Bandwidth increase is suppressed.

1 (a)-(b) shows the configuration of the intercom system 1000. In FIG. 1A, the collective facility 100 includes a first facility 110a, a second facility 110b, and a third facility 110c, which are collectively referred to as the facility 110. The intercom system 1000 includes an entrance device 200, a control device 300, a common area trunk line 310, an occupied trunk line 320, a housing information board 400, a relay device 500, and a first sub-device 600a and a second sub-device 600b, which are collectively referred to as sub-devices 600. The router 700, the network 710, the server 720, the first terminal device 800a collectively referred to as the terminal device 800, the second terminal device 800b, and the entrance slave unit 850 are included. The number of facilities 110 in the collective facility 100 is not limited to "3", the number of sub-devices 600 is not limited to "2", and the number of terminal devices 800 is not limited to "2". The housing information board 400, the relay device 500, the sub-device 600, the router 700, and the terminal device 800 are shown only in the first facility 110a, but are also included in the second facility 110b and the third facility 110c. When the housing information board 400 is called an information terminal, the sub-device 600 and the terminal device 800 are called communication devices.

The intercom system 1000 includes a trunk line system including an entrance device 200, a control device 300, and a housing information board 400, and an extension system including a housing information board 400, an auxiliary device 600, and a terminal device 800. The intercom system 1000 can execute a visitor call processing, and the visitor call processing executes a voice and image call between any one of the housing information board 400, the sub device 600, and the terminal device 800 and the entrance device 200. .. In the following, (1) visitor call processing in the trunk line system, (2) visitor call processing including the sub-device 600, (3) visitor call processing including the terminal device 800, and (4) group control will be described in this order.

(1) Visitor call processing in the trunk line system In the collective facility 100, a plurality of facilities 110 are gathered. An example of the collective facility 100 is a condominium, and an example of the facility 110 is a residence. An entrance device 200 is installed at the common entrance of the collective facility 100. The entrance device 200 is, for example, a lobby intercom installed in the lobby of a condominium. 2 (a)-(c) show the configuration of the entrance device 200, the housing information board 400, and the sub device 600. FIG. 2A shows the configuration of the entrance device 200. The entrance device 200 includes a processing unit 210, an operation unit 230, a control unit 240, and a communication unit 250, and the processing unit 210 includes an imaging unit 212, a microphone 214, a speaker 216, a monitor 218, and an IF unit 220.

The operation unit 230 of the entrance device 200 is a user interface for receiving the operation of a visitor, for example, a call button. When the operation unit 230 receives the number of the facility 110 to be visited from the visitor, the operation unit 230 outputs a call request to the control unit 240. Further, when the operation unit 230 is operated by a visitor, the processing unit 210 operates.

The image pickup unit 212 is provided with a solid-state image sensor such as a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Sensor) image sensor and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor, and takes a picture of a visitor. The solid-state image sensor outputs the photoelectrically converted video signal to the IF unit 220. The IF unit 220 executes various signal processing on the video signal from the imaging unit 212. Since known techniques may be used for various signal processing, description thereof will be omitted here. The IF unit 220 outputs a video signal (hereinafter, also referred to as a “video signal”) that has been subjected to signal processing to the control unit 240.

The microphone 214 and the speaker 216 are user interfaces for the visitor to talk to the resident. The microphone 214 collects the voice of the visitor, converts it into an electric signal, and outputs it to the IF unit 220. The IF unit 220 receives an electric signal from the microphone 214 and converts it into a signal in a format for transmitting the electric signal (hereinafter, referred to as “audio signal”). The IF unit 220 outputs an audio signal to the control unit 240. On the other hand, the IF unit 220 inputs an audio signal from the control unit 240 and converts the audio signal into an electric signal. The IF unit 220 outputs an electric signal to the speaker 216. The speaker 216 reproduces an electric signal from the IF unit 220 and outputs an audio signal.

The monitor 218 displays a message or the like. The IF unit 220 inputs a message signal from the control unit 240 and outputs the message signal to the monitor 218. The message signal may be generated in the entrance device 200. The control unit 240 controls the operation of the entrance device 200. The control unit 240 is connected to the communication unit 250. The communication unit 250 is connected to the control device 300 via the common unit trunk line 310, and executes communication with the housing information board 400 via the control device 300. Specifically, the communication unit 250 transmits a call request and a video signal to the housing information board 400, and also transmits and receives an audio signal and a message signal to and from the housing information board 400, but the signals are not limited thereto. .. 2 (b)-(c) will be described later, and the process returns to FIG. 1 (a).

The control device 300 is installed in a common space such as a machine room or a manager's room, and relays a signal between the entrance device 200 and the housing information board 400. At that time, the control device 300 extracts the transmission destination information included in the signal from the entrance device 200, and transmits the signal to the housing information board 400 of the transmission destination indicated by the extracted information. The common section trunk line 310 and the occupied trunk line 320 are transmission lines for transmitting a call request from the entrance device 200, a response signal from the housing information board 400, and the like, and are, for example, dedicated lines. The above-mentioned call request, video signal, audio signal, and message signal are transmitted to the common section trunk line 310 and the occupied trunk line 320.

The housing information board 400 is installed in the facility 110, and is also called a dwelling unit unit, a dwelling unit terminal, a living room master unit, or a housing master unit. FIG. 2B shows the configuration of the housing information board 400. The housing information board 400 includes a processing unit 410, an operation unit 430, a control unit 440, a first communication unit 450, and a second communication unit 460, and the processing unit 410 includes a microphone 414, a speaker 416, a monitor 418, and an IF unit 420. Including.

The first communication unit 450 is connected to the control device 300 via the occupied trunk line 320, and executes communication with the entrance device 200 via the control device 300. A control unit 440 is connected to the first communication unit 450, and the control unit 440 controls the operation of the housing information board 400. An IF unit 420 and an operation unit 430 are connected to the control unit 440, and a microphone 414, a speaker 416, and a monitor 418 are connected to the IF unit 420. Here, the microphone 414, the speaker 416, the IF unit 420, and the operation unit 430 are configured in the same manner as the microphone 214, the speaker 216, the IF unit 220, and the operation unit 230. The monitor 418 displays the image captured by the imaging unit 212 of the entrance device 200.

The control unit 440 receives a call request, a video signal, and an audio signal from the entrance device 200 via the first communication unit 450. When the control unit 440 receives the call request, the control unit 440 outputs a ring tone from the speaker 416 via the IF unit 420. Following this, the control unit 440 causes the monitor 418 to display the reproduced video of the video signal via the IF unit 420, and outputs the reproduced audio of the audio signal from the speaker 416 via the IF unit 420. .. When the resident who hears the ringing tone answers the call by operating the operation unit 430, the control unit 440 causes the first communication unit 450 to perform communication with the entrance device 200. As a result, a video signal is transmitted from the communication unit 250 to the first communication unit 450, and an audio signal is communicated between the communication unit 250 and the first communication unit 450, so that a visitor who operates the entrance device 200 And a call with the resident who operates the housing information board 400 is executed. FIG. 2 (c) will be described later, and the process returns to FIG. 1 (a).

(2) Visitor call processing including the sub device 600 The relay device 500 has a communication function corresponding to a wireless communication system such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), and includes a housing information board 400 and a sub device included in the extension system. The signal between the devices 600 is relayed. The relay device 500 is, for example, an AP (Access Point) mode router. In the AP mode router, the wireless communication function is enabled, but the router function is disabled. The sub-device 600 is also called a sub-master unit or a sub-master unit with a monitor, and can execute a visitor call process with the entrance device 200 via the housing information board 400.

FIG. 2C shows the configuration of the auxiliary device 600. The sub-device 600 includes a processing unit 610, an operation unit 630, a control unit 640, and a communication unit 650, and the processing unit 610 includes a microphone 614, a speaker 616, a monitor 618, and an IF unit 620. The microphone 614, the speaker 616, the monitor 618, the IF unit 620, and the operation unit 630 are configured in the same manner as the microphone 414, the speaker 416, the monitor 418, the IF unit 420, and the operation unit 430. The communication unit 650 has a communication function corresponding to the same wireless communication system as the relay device 500. The communication unit 650 executes communication with the entrance device 200 via the relay device 500, the housing information board 400, and the control device 300 in the visitor call processing. A control unit 640 is connected to the communication unit 650, and the control unit 640 controls the operation of the sub-device 600.

As described above, the control unit 440 of the housing information board 400 of FIG. 2B receives a call request, a video signal, and an audio signal from the entrance device 200 via the first communication unit 450. The control unit 440 transmits a call request, a video signal, and an audio signal from the second communication unit 460. The call request, video signal, and audio signal transmitted from the second communication unit 460 are received by the first sub-device 600a and the second sub-device 600b via the relay device 500 of FIG. 1 (a).

The communication unit 650 of the sub-device 600 of FIG. 2C receives a call request, a video signal, and an audio signal. When the communication unit 650 receives the call request, the control unit 640 causes the speaker 616 to output a ring tone via the IF unit 620. When the communication unit 650 receives the video signal and the audio signal, the control unit 640 causes the monitor 618 to display the reproduced video of the video signal via the IF unit 620, and the audio from the speaker 616 via the IF unit 620. The sound that reproduced the signal is output. When the resident who hears the ringing tone answers the call by operating the operation unit 630, the control unit 640 notifies the housing information board 400 of the response via the communication unit 650, thereby causing the communication unit 650 to enter the entrance. The communication with the device 200 is executed. As a result, the video signal is transmitted from the communication unit 250 to the communication unit 650 via the housing information board 400 and the relay device 500. Further, a voice signal is communicated between the communication unit 250 and the communication unit 650 via the housing information board 400 and the relay device 500. As a result, a call is executed between the visitor who operates the entrance device 200 and the resident who operates the sub device 600. Return to FIG. 1 (a).

(3) The visitor call processing router 700 including the terminal device 800 is a device for connecting the network in the first facility 110a and the network 710 outside the first facility 110a. The network 710 includes the Internet, and the server 720 is a device that executes a predetermined process on the Internet. The first terminal device 800a and the second terminal device 800b are communication devices such as smart phones, tablets, and PCs. The first terminal device 800a and the second terminal device 800b execute communication with the server 720 via the network 710 by being connected to the router 700 or the relay device 500 in the first facility 110a. Further, the first terminal device 800a and the second terminal device 800b execute communication with the server 720 by being connected to the network 710 outside the first facility 110a. Further, the first terminal device 800a and the second terminal device 800b are connected to the housing information board 400 via the router 700 or the relay device 500 to process a visitor call with the entrance device 200 via the housing information board 400. Is feasible.

As described above, the control unit 440 of the housing information board 400 of FIG. 2B receives a call request, a video signal, and an audio signal from the entrance device 200 via the first communication unit 450. The control unit 440 transmits a call request, a video signal, and an audio signal from the second communication unit 460. The call request, video signal, and audio signal transmitted from the second communication unit 460 are received by the first terminal device 800a and the second terminal device 800b via the relay device 500 and the router 700 of FIG. 1 (a). ..

The terminal device 800 such as the first terminal device 800a and the second terminal device 800b has the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 2C, and outputs a ringing tone when a call request is received. When the terminal device 800 receives the video signal and the audio signal, the terminal device 800 displays the video in which the video signal is reproduced and outputs the audio in which the audio signal is reproduced. When the resident who hears the ringing tone answers the call by operating the terminal device 800, the terminal device 800 executes communication with the entrance device 200 by notifying the housing information board 400 of the answer. .. As a result, the video signal is transmitted from the communication unit 250 to the terminal device 800 via the housing information board 400, the relay device 500, and the router 700. Further, a voice signal is communicated between the communication unit 250 and the terminal device 800 via the housing information board 400, the relay device 500, and the router 700. As a result, a call is executed between the visitor who operates the entrance device 200 and the resident who operates the terminal device 800.

As described above, the communication device capable of communicating with the second communication unit 460 of the housing information board 400 includes the terminal device 800 that communicates via the router 700 and the sub-device 600 that communicates without the router 700. Here, when the terminal device 800 is referred to as a first-class communication device, the sub-device 600 is referred to as a second-class communication device.

(4) Control by Group In the following, the transmission of the video signal before the start of the visitor call will be mainly described. This video signal is a signal transmitted together with the call request. In particular, attention is paid to a video signal transmitted from the housing information board 400 to a plurality of communication devices via the relay device 500. As described above, the plurality of communication devices are a general term for a plurality of sub-devices 600 and a plurality of terminal devices 800. Before the visitor call begins, all of the plurality of communication devices must display the video including the visitor by receiving the video signal. In order to improve the certainty of transmission of the video signal, it is desirable that the video signal is transmitted to each of a plurality of communication devices by unicast. However, since transmission of a video signal requires a wider transmission band than transmission of an audio signal, if the number of a plurality of communication devices increases, the required transmission band increases too much.

The control unit 440 of the housing information board 400 in FIG. 2B can communicate with the second communication unit 460 in order to suppress an increase in the transmission band while reliably transmitting the video signal before the start of the visitor call. Two groups are defined for classifying a plurality of communication devices. The two groups are the first group and the second group, and the first group is a group in which video signals and the like should be transmitted with priority over the second group, and therefore has a higher priority than the second group. Is. As an example, a plurality of sub-devices 600 are included in the first group, and a plurality of terminal devices 800 are included in the second group.

As described above, the first communication unit 450 receives the video signal from the entrance device 200. Following this, the control unit 440 transmits a video signal to the communication device included in the first group, for example, the sub-device 600, in preference to the communication device included in the second group, for example, the terminal device 800. The second communication unit 460 is controlled in this way. Here, when the video signal received from the entrance device 200 is called the first information, the video signal transmitted from the second communication unit 460 is called the second information.

In order to execute the priority transmission, the control unit 440 uses the table of FIG. FIG. 3 shows the data structure of the table used in the control unit 440. This shows the processing for each group. As shown in the figure, the control unit 440 causes the sub-device 600 included in the first group to transmit the video signal by unicast, and causes the terminal device 800 included in the second group to transmit the video signal by multicast.

Here, unicast is a method in which the second communication unit 460 and the communication device communicate one-to-one, and communication suitable for each communication device from among a plurality of types of communication speeds specified in the wireless communication system. The speed is selected. Further, since the communication speed suitable for each communication device is selected, it is possible to increase the communication speed per communication device. In addition, unicast is also combined with retransmission control. Therefore, unicast improves the certainty of transmitting a video signal. In such a unicast, the speed of the video signal, that is, the quality of the video may be changed for each communication device by applying the measurement result of the communication status of the wireless communication to each communication device. On the other hand, since the video signal is transmitted to each communication device, as the number of communication devices increases, the transmission band for transmitting the video signal increases.

Multicast is a method in which the second communication unit 460 and a plurality of communication devices communicate in a one-to-N manner, and the lowest communication speed is selected from a plurality of types of communication speeds. Therefore, the communication speed per communication device in multicast is lower than the communication speed per communication device in unicast. On the other hand, since the video signal is collectively transmitted to a plurality of communication devices, the transmission band for transmitting the video signal does not change even if the number of communication devices increases. Therefore, the increase in the transmission band is suppressed by multicast.

In consideration of such a difference between the unicast communication speed and the multicast communication speed, the control unit 440 determines the data quality when transmitting the video signal to the sub-device 600 included in the first group and the first. The data quality at the time of transmitting the video signal to the terminal device 800 included in the two groups is changed. For example, the video signal for the first group has a higher bit rate / higher frame rate than the video signal for the second group. Specifically, the bit rate / frame rate of the video signal for the first group is set to a value that can be transmitted at the communication speed per communication device in unicast. Further, the bit rate / frame rate of the video signal for the second group is set to a value that can be transmitted at the communication speed per communication device in multicast. These bit rate / frame rate values are held in the control unit 440.

In the following, a modified example of control by a group will be described.
(Modification example 1)
So far, the control unit 440 has made the communication devices included in the second group transmit the video signal by multicast. However, the control unit 440 may switch between unicast and multicast for the communication devices included in the second group according to the communication status. An example of the communication status is the traffic amount of the wireless communication system used by the communication devices included in the second group. For example, the control unit 440 causes the second communication unit 460 to measure the traffic amount. Since a known technique may be used for the measurement, the description thereof will be omitted here. The control unit 440 selects multicast if the traffic amount is equal to or greater than the threshold value, and selects unicast if the traffic amount is smaller than the threshold value. The second communication unit 460 transmits a video signal by multicast or unicast selected by the control unit 440.

Further, an example of the communication status may be the number of communication devices included in the second group. For example, the control unit 440 selects multicast if the number of units is equal to or greater than the threshold value, and selects unicast if the number of units is smaller than the threshold value. The second communication unit 460 transmits a video signal by multicast or unicast selected by the control unit 440. On the other hand, the video signal is transmitted by unicast to the communication devices included in the first group as before.

(Modification 2)
The control unit 440 causes the communication devices included in the first group to transmit the video signal by unicast. At that time, the control unit 440 may variably set the data quality when transmitting the video signal to the communication devices included in the first group according to the communication status. An example of the communication status is the traffic amount of the wireless communication system used by the communication devices included in the first group. The control unit 440 causes the second communication unit 460 to measure the traffic amount. Since a known technique may be used for the measurement, the description thereof will be omitted here. The control unit 440 sets the quality of the video signal so that the lower the traffic amount, the higher the bit rate / frame rate.

Another example of the communication situation is the amount of interference of the wireless communication system used by the communication devices included in the first group. The control unit 440 causes the second communication unit 460 to measure the amount of interference. Since a known technique may be used for the measurement, the description thereof will be omitted here. The control unit 440 sets the quality of the video signal so that the lower the interference amount, the higher the bit rate / frame rate. Such control may be applied when the communication device included in the second group is made to transmit the video signal by unicast as in the first modification.

(Modification example 3)
So far, the communication device included in the first group and the communication device included in the second group have been fixed. For example, the sub-device 600 is included in the first group, and the terminal device 800 is included in the second group. However, the control unit 440 may control the communication device included in the first group and the communication device included in the second group to be changed. At that time, priorities are given to each of the plurality of communication devices in advance, and the correspondence between each priority and the communication device is registered in the control unit 440. Further, the control unit 440 defines in advance the permissible number of communication devices to be included in the first group. The control unit 440 selects the communication devices included in the first group from the highest priority communication device connected to the second communication unit 460 until the allowable number is reached.

Here, for example, the first sub-device 600a, the second sub-device 600b, the first terminal device 800a, and the second terminal device 800b are set in descending order of priority, and the allowable number is set to "2". It is assumed that the case is. If both the first sub-device 600a and the second sub-device 600b are connected to the second communication unit 460, the control unit 440 includes the first sub-device 600a and the second sub-device 600b in the first group. On the other hand, if the first sub-device 600a is connected to the second communication unit 460 and the second sub-device 600b is not connected to the second communication unit 460, the control unit 440 is connected to the first sub-device 600a and the first. The terminal device 800a is included in the first group.

Further, the control unit 440 may variably control the priority order for each communication device. The second communication unit 460 measures the communication error rate or the communication required time for each communication device. Since a known technique may be used for the measurement, the description thereof will be omitted here. The control unit 440 assigns a priority to each of the plurality of communication devices based on the past communication error rate or the past communication required time. For example, the control unit 440 assigns a higher priority to a communication device having a lower communication error rate in the past, or gives a higher priority to a communication device having a longer communication time required in the past.

(Modification example 4)
So far, it is said that there are two groups, but there may be three or more groups. For example, the control unit 440 further divides the second group into a plurality of groups and two groups. Here, when the upper group of the divided second group is called the second group, the lower group of the divided second group is called the third group. The control unit 440 transmits the video signal to the terminal device 800 included in the third group by multicast, and transmits the video signal to the terminal device 800 included in the second group by unicast. On the other hand, the quality of the video signal for the terminal device 800 included in the second group is lower than the quality of the video signal for the sub-device 600 included in the first group.

FIG. 1B is a configuration in which the relay device 500 is omitted from the configuration of FIG. 1A. Therefore, the housing information board 400, the first sub-device 600a, and the second sub-device 600b are connected to the router 700 in the same manner as the terminal device 800. Since the processing of the intercom system 1000 in FIG. 1B is the same as the processing of the intercom system 1000 in FIG. 1A, description thereof will be omitted here.

The subject of the device, system, or method in the present disclosure comprises a computer. By executing the program by this computer, the function of the subject of the device, system, or method in the present disclosure is realized. A computer has a processor that operates according to a program as a main hardware configuration. The type of processor does not matter as long as the function can be realized by executing the program. The processor is composed of one or more electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or an LSI (Large Scale Integration). The plurality of electronic circuits may be integrated on one chip or may be provided on a plurality of chips. The plurality of chips may be integrated in one device, or may be provided in a plurality of devices. The program is recorded on a non-temporary recording medium such as a computer-readable ROM, optical disc, or hard disk drive. The program may be stored in the recording medium in advance, or may be supplied to the recording medium via a wide area communication network including the Internet or the like.

The operation of the intercom system 1000 with the above configuration will be described. 4 (a)-(b) are sequence diagrams showing a communication procedure by the intercom system 1000. FIG. 4A shows a process when multicast is used. The housing information board 400 receives the call request (S10). A SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) call is established between the housing information board 400 and the first terminal device 800a (S12). A SIP call is established between the housing information board 400 and the second terminal device 800b (S14). The housing information board 400 transmits a video signal to the first terminal device 800a and the second terminal device 800b by multicast (S16, S18). At this timing, not only the video signal but also the audio signal may be transmitted by multicast. The voice signal is a voice from the entrance device 200, for example, a voice of a visitor's call (one-way only). The first terminal device 800a displays an image (S20), and the second terminal device 800b displays an image (S22). A response to the call is made in the first terminal device 800a (S24). A SIP call is established between the housing information board 400 and the first terminal device 800a (S26), and an audio signal is unicast between the housing information board 400 and the first terminal device 800a (S28). After that, the housing information board 400 may execute a process for terminating the call process for the second sub-device 600b.

FIG. 4B shows a process when unicast is used. The housing information board 400 receives the call request (S50). A SIP call is established between the housing information board 400 and the first sub-device 600a (S52). The housing information board 400 transmits a video signal to the first sub-device 600a by unicast (S54). A SIP call is established between the housing information board 400 and the second sub-device 600b (S56). The housing information board 400 transmits a video signal to the second sub-device 600b by unicast (S58). At the timings of steps 54 and 58, not only the video signal but also the audio signal may be transmitted by unicast. The voice signal is a voice from the entrance device 200, for example, a voice of a visitor's call (one-way only). The first sub-device 600a displays an image (S60), and the second sub-device 600b displays an image (S62). A response to the call is made in the first sub-device 600a (S64). A SIP call is established between the housing information board 400 and the first sub-device 600a (S66), and an audio signal is unicast between the housing information board 400 and the first sub-device 600a (S68).

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a communication procedure by the intercom system 1000. This shows what to do when using multicast and unicast. The housing information board 400 receives the call request (S100). A SIP call is established between the housing information board 400 and the auxiliary device 600 (S102). A SIP call is established between the housing information board 400 and the terminal device 800 (S104). The housing information board 400 transmits a video signal to the auxiliary device 600 by unicast (S106). The sub-device 600 displays an image (S108). The housing information board 400 transmits a video signal to the terminal device 800 by multicast (S110). The terminal device 800 displays an image (S112). A response to the call is made in the auxiliary device 600 (S114). A SIP call is established between the housing information board 400 and the sub-device 600 (S116), and a voice signal is unicast between the housing information board 400 and the sub-device 600 (S118).

According to this embodiment, the video signal is transmitted to the communication device included in the first group of the plurality of communication devices with priority over the communication device included in the second group of the plurality of communication devices. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the transmission band while improving the certainty of transmission of the video signal. Further, since unicast is used for the first group and multicast is used for the second group, the certainty of transmitting the video signal to the first group can be improved. Further, since unicast is used for the first group and multicast is used for the second group, it is possible to suppress an increase in the transmission band for the second group. Further, since unicast is used for the first group and multicast is used for the second group, it is possible to reliably communicate with the communication device to which communication is desired with priority.

Further, since unicast and multicast for the communication devices included in the second group are switched according to the communication status, the communication medium can be used efficiently. In addition, since the data quality for the first group and the data quality for the second group are changed, the image quality is set separately for the communication device that wants to display the image quality with high image quality and the communication device that does not need to have so high image quality. Therefore, the communication medium can be used efficiently. Further, at least one of the data quality when transmitting the second information to the communication device included in the first group and the data quality when transmitting the second information to the communication device included in the second group. Since one is set, the communication medium can be used effectively.

In addition, the permissible number of communication devices to be included in the first group is specified, and the communication devices included in the first group are selected in order from the highest priority of the connected communication devices until the permissible number is reached. The communication devices included in the first group can be flexibly set. Further, since the priority is given to each of the plurality of communication devices based on the past communication error rate or the communication required time, the communication devices to be included in the first group can be flexibly set. Further, since the second group is further divided into a plurality of groups, the degree of freedom of configuration can be improved.

The outline of one aspect of the present disclosure is as follows. The housing information board (400) of a certain aspect of the present disclosure is a housing information board (400) that can be installed in the facility (110), and includes a first communication unit (450) that communicates with the entrance device (200) and a plurality of housing information boards (400). It includes a second communication unit (460) that communicates with the communication device of the above, and a control unit (440) that controls the second communication unit (460). When the first communication unit (450) receives the first information from the entrance device (200) and the second communication unit (460) transmits the second information based on the first information, there are a plurality of cases. The second information is transmitted to the communication device included in the first group of the communication devices with priority over the communication device included in the second group of the plurality of communication devices.

The second communication unit (460) transmits the second information to the communication devices included in the first group by unicast, and transmits the second information to the communication devices included in the second group by multicast. May be good.

The second communication unit (460) may switch between unicast and multicast for the communication devices included in the second group, depending on the communication status.

The second communication unit (460) has data quality when transmitting the second information to the communication devices included in the first group and when transmitting the second information to the communication devices included in the second group. You may change the data quality of.

The second communication unit (460) determines the data quality when transmitting the second information to the communication devices included in the first group and the second communication device included in the second group according to the communication status. 2 At least one of the data quality when transmitting information may be set.

The control unit (440) assigns a priority to each of the plurality of communication devices, defines an allowable number of communication devices to be included in the first group, and is connected to the second communication device (460). The communication devices included in the first group may be selected from the highest priority in the communication device until the allowable number is reached.

The control unit (440) may give a priority to each of the plurality of communication devices based on the past communication error rate or the communication required time.

The control unit (440) may further divide the second group into a plurality of groups.

A housing information board (400) and a plurality of communication devices may be included.

A housing information board (400) and an entrance device (200) may be provided.

(Example 2)
Next, Example 2 will be described. The second embodiment relates to the intercom system installed in the collective facility as in the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, wireless communication is performed between the housing information board and the sub device, but in the second embodiment, wired communication is performed between the housing information board and the sub device. The entrance device 200, the housing information board 400, and the sub device 600 according to the second embodiment are of the same type as those in FIGS. 2 (a)-(c). Here, the differences from the past will be mainly described.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the intercom system 1000. In the intercom system 1000, as compared with FIG. 1B, the housing information board 400 and the plurality of auxiliary devices 600 are connected by the wired cable 900 and the alarm wiring 910. The housing information board 400 and the plurality of sub-devices 600 execute communication via a wired cable 900 by a wired communication system such as Ethernet (registered trademark). That is, a wired communication system is used instead of the wireless communication system of the first embodiment. Further, the alarm wiring 910 connects the housing information board 400 and the plurality of auxiliary devices 600, and is also connected to a sensor or the like. The control unit 440 of the housing information board 400 of FIG. 2B selects a communication device included in the first group according to the communication medium between each of the plurality of communication devices and the second communication unit 460. For example, the control unit 440 includes a communication device whose communication medium is wired in the first group, and includes a communication device whose communication medium is wireless in the second group. Since the processing of the intercom system 1000 for this is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted here.

According to this embodiment, since the communication device included in the first group is selected according to the communication medium, the communication device using the communication medium with less fluctuation in the communication status can be included in the first group. Further, since the communication device using the communication medium with less fluctuation in the communication status is included in the first group, the communication success rate can be improved. Further, since the communication device included in the first group is selected according to the communication medium, the degree of freedom of configuration can be improved.

The outline of one aspect of the present disclosure is as follows. The control unit (440) may select the communication device included in the first group according to the communication medium between each of the plurality of communication devices and the second communication unit (460).

The present disclosure has been described above based on the examples. This embodiment is an example, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible for each of these components or combinations of each processing process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present disclosure. ..

The processing performed in the entrance device 200 of Examples 1 and 2 may be executed by the entrance slave unit 850 instead of the entrance device 200. The entrance slave unit 850 is a device installed at the entrance of the facility 110. According to this modification, the degree of freedom of configuration can be improved.

100 collective facility, 110 facility, 200 entrance device, 210 processing unit, 212 imaging unit, 214 microphone, 216 speaker, 218 monitor, 220 IF unit, 230 operation unit, 240 control unit, 250 communication unit, 300 control unit, 310 shared Main line, 320 Occupied main line, 400 Housing information board (information terminal), 410 Processing unit, 414 microphone, 416 speaker, 418 monitor, 420 IF unit, 430 operation unit, 440 control unit, 450 1st communication unit, 460 2nd Communication unit, 500 relay device, 600 auxiliary device (communication device), 610 processing unit, 614 microphone, 616 speaker, 618 monitor, 620 IF unit, 630 operation unit, 640 control unit, 650 communication unit, 700 router, 710 network, 720 server, 800 terminal equipment (communication equipment), 850 entrance slave unit (entrance equipment), 1000 intercom system.

Claims (11)

An information terminal that can be installed in a facility
The first communication unit that communicates with the entrance device,
A second communication unit that communicates with multiple communication devices,
A control unit that controls the second communication unit is provided.
The first communication unit receives the first information from the entrance device and receives the first information.
When the second communication unit transmits the second information based on the first information, the second communication unit of the plurality of communication devices with respect to the communication devices included in the first group of the plurality of communication devices. An information terminal that transmits the second information in preference to the communication devices included in the second group. The second communication unit transmits the second information to the communication devices included in the first group by unicast, and transmits the second information to the communication devices included in the second group by multicast. The information terminal according to claim 1. The information terminal according to claim 2, wherein the second communication unit switches between the unicast and the multicast for the communication devices included in the second group according to the communication status. The second communication unit transmits the data quality when transmitting the second information to the communication device included in the first group and the second information to the communication device included in the second group. The information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which changes the data quality at the time of operation. The second communication unit determines the data quality when transmitting the second information to the communication devices included in the first group and the communication devices included in the second group according to the communication status. The information terminal according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the data quality when transmitting the second information is set. One of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control unit selects a communication device included in the first group according to a communication medium between each of the plurality of communication devices and the second communication unit. Information terminal described in. The control unit assigns a priority to each of the plurality of communication devices, defines an allowable number of communication devices to be included in the first group, and defines a communication device connected to the second communication device. The information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which selects a communication device included in the first group from the highest priority in the above until the allowable number is reached. The information terminal according to claim 7, wherein the control unit assigns a priority to each of the plurality of communication devices based on a past communication error rate or a communication required time. The information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the control unit further divides the second group into a plurality of groups. A communication system including the information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and the plurality of communication devices. An intercom system including the information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and the entrance device.

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