JP3683038B2

JP3683038B2 - Simple operation telephone device

Info

Publication number: JP3683038B2
Application number: JP14750596A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 政和竹内
Original assignee: 西菱電機株式会社
Priority date: 1996-06-10
Filing date: 1996-06-10
Publication date: 2005-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 2016-06-10
Also published as: JPH09331388A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
この発明は、例えば高齢者が住む住宅( 高齢者宅）と、その高齢者宅から離れた場所に住み高齢者の監視等を行う必要のある子息等の住む住宅（監視者宅）との間の連絡通話を行うに好適な簡易操作の電話装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
図３は、従来型の高齢者宅と監視者宅の間のホットラインを構成する電話方式を示す図である。従来型では、高齢者宅の電話装置３と監視者宅の電話機１との間は公衆回線２を用いた電話回線により接続されていて、適宜ダイヤル通話を行って高齢者の健康状態確認や用件の聴取などを行うことにより、高齢者の監視を行っていた。高齢者宅の部屋数が多い場合には、高齢者宅の電話装置３として所謂コードレス電話等も使われていた。
【０００３】
具体的な運用法として、高齢者宅に親機３Ａと子機３Ｂの電話機から成るコードレス電話装置３が設置されている場合を例にとると、監視者宅から高齢者宅に通話を行う場合、監視者宅の電話機１のダイヤル操作を行って高齢者宅に対し呼び出しを行うと、高齢者宅の電話装置３の親機３Ａおよび子機３Ｂの着信ベルが鳴る。高齢者が親機３Ａの送受話器、或は子機３Ｂを取上げると通話回線が構築されるので通話を行うことができる。このようにして、監視者宅と高齢者宅の間の連絡を確保できるので、いわゆるホットラインとしての機能を果たすことができた。
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、高齢者に身体的障害があり、比較的迅速に送受話器等を取り上げ応答することができない状況下では、この種の従来型の電話機を使った通話回線ではホットラインとしての機能を十分に達成することができない。また、呼出し音が鳴ったら「ハーイ」と応えるだけでハンズフリー通話ができるコードレス電話装置も開示されているが（特開平７−１１５４５９号公報）、このハンズフリー電話装置の例では、高齢者の「ハーイ」の応答音声が、親機と複数の子機等の電話機に同時に入るような位置関係にある場合に、相互間で発生する干渉問題（たとえば同時起動の問題）を回避する必要があり、使用上の制約があった。
【０００５】
次に、高齢者が監視者に向け発信を行う場合に、従来型の電話機の例では、送受話器を取り上げ発呼操作を正しく行う必要があり、この点からも高齢者にとっては困難を伴うという問題があった。
【０００６】
この発明は、上記のような課題を解決するためになされたもので、第１の目的は、高齢者宅の中の複数の部屋のどこにいるか定かでない高齢者を対象として、監視者宅から呼び出しを行った場合に、複数の部屋に設置されている複数の電話機（たとえば、親機と複数の子機からなるコードレス電話装置）のうち最も条件のよい電話機を経て、高齢者と監視者間の通話回線の構築を簡易に行える簡易操作の電話装置を得ることである。
また、第２の目的は、高齢者から監視者の呼び出しを行う場合も同様に、最も条件のよい電話機を経て、監視者と高齢者間の通話回線の構築を簡易に行える簡易操作の電話装置を得ることである。
【０００７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
監視者宅の電話機からの呼び出し音に対して行われる高齢者の応答の音声レベルを、本発明にかかる電話装置を構成する各電話機（親機と各子機）に備えるマイクロホンで受けて測定し、それぞれ一時蓄積する。次に、この音声レベルのデータを親機に集め、各電話機の音声レベルのデータを比較する。そして、応答音声がもっとも大きく受かった電話機を選んで、監視宅装置との通話回線を構築するようにした。
【０００８】
なお、各子機からの音声レベルの測定データの収集は、親機から子機毎の個別識別信号（以下、ＩＤ信号という。）を周期的に発し、子機は自己のＩＤ信号が受った場合に自己の測定データを親機へ送る、ことにより行われる。
【０００９】
さらに、通話回線構築後も、各電話機は高齢者が通話している時にそれぞれの電話機のマイクに入る高齢者の音声レベルの測定を継続的に行う一方、親機は間欠的にＩＤ信号を発して子機からの音声レベルの測定データの収集を行って、音声レベルの比較を行う。そして、その時々における音声レベルの最大の電話機を選んで監視者の電話機に接続すべく、切り替え制御を行うようにしている。
【００１０】
さらに、高齢者の発する発呼のための音( 音声または笛などの特殊な音) を各電話機のマイクで受け、その発呼音の内容があらかじめ用意された発呼のための発呼内容に合致しているかを確認し、発呼音の音レベルもあわせ測定する。この確認結果が正しかった電話機について、それぞれの発呼音の音レベルの測定データを比較し、最大の音レベルの電話機を選んで高齢者宅の発呼電話機として、監視者宅の電話機１との間の通話回線を構築するようにしている。
【００１１】
各電話機のマイクで受けた、発呼のために発せられる音のレベルの測定データは、各電話機のID信号による識別を行って親機に送ることによって、他の子機のものと識別するようにしている。
【００１２】
なお、子機の測定データを他の子機のものと識別する方法としては、ＩＤ信号を親機に送る方法と、親機からID信号を出してもらい、その指定が行われた都度指定された子機からその測定データを親機に送る方法とがある。
【００１３】
また、発呼音としては、高齢者が発声しやすく判りやすい言葉を高齢者に発声させる方法と、周囲の騒音と区別しやすく、かつ高齢者にとり簡単に操作できる特殊な笛のようなもので音を発生させる方法とがある。これらの音を発呼音として利用するため、それぞれの発声音または発呼音を他の音と区別して認識する認識回路を使用している。
【００１４】
【発明の実施の形態】
実施の形態１．
図１はこの発明の実施の形態１に係る簡易操作の電話装置の全体的構成を示す。図において、１は監視者宅で使用される通常の電話機を示す。３は高齢者宅の電話装置で、親機３Ａと複数( この場合説明の都合上、２台) の子機３Ｂ、子機３Ｃを備えた都合３台の電話機から構成される、いわゆるコードレス電話装置を設置している場合を示す。２は交換機を含む電話回線であり、ダイアル通話方式によって監視者宅と高齢者宅の間を接続し通話を行うことができる。また親機３Ａと子機３Ｂ、子機３Ｃの間は、制御信号を伝える制御チャンネル１０１と通話信号を伝える通信チャンネル１０２で構成される無線周波の通信回線１０でつながれている。
【００１５】
親機３Ａおよび子機３Ｂ、子機３Ｃの電話機は、それぞれスピーカ３Ａ２、３B ２、３C ２とマイク３Ａ３、３Ｂ３、３Ｃ３を備え、送受話器を持つことなく通話ができるハンズフリー型の構成となっている。即ち、親機３Ａおよび子機３Ｂ、３Ｃの電話機には、応答のためや発呼のために高齢者が発する音声（または特殊な音）を受けるマイク３Ａ３、３Ｂ３、３Ｃ３がある。親機３Ａと各子機３Ｂ、３Ｃの電話機にはそれぞれのマイク３Ａ３、３Ｂ３、３Ｃ３で音声レベルの測定を行う測定回路と、音声の内容が発呼のためのものかの確認を行う認識回路が備えられている。これらから得られるデータのうち、音声レベルの測定データは親機３Ａに集められ、親機３Ａ及び各子機３Ｂ、３Ｃの音声レベルの比較を行って、親機または子機のうち音声レベルのもっとも大きい電話機を選んで、高齢者宅の電話機とし、監視者宅の電話機１へ接続するようにしている。この選択切り替動作は、以下で説明するように親機と子機の複数の回路の協調によって達成される。
【００１６】
音声レベルの測定データの収集は、親機３Ａから子機３Ｂ、子機３Ｃに向け、時間的にずらしたタイミングでそれぞれ向けのＩＤ信号を送り、このＩＤ信号の指示にしたがって各子機３Ｂ、子機３Ｃはそれぞれの音声レベルの測定データを親機３Ａに送る。このようにすることにより、それぞれのデータが混ざることなく親機３Ａに伝えられる。
【００１７】
接続時以降も、親機３Ａ、子機３Ｂ、子機３Ｃで高齢者が発する音声レベルの測定を継続して行い、親機で必要なタイミングに前記したＩＤ信号による制御によって、音声レベルの測定データの収集と比較を行い、通話回線の選択切り替え制御を行って常に条件のよい親機または子機が監視者宅の電話機に接続されるようにしている。
【００１８】
なお、手動操作による通話も可能のように、親機３Ａには送受話器３Ａ４、ダイアル操作用の押しボタンダイアル３Ａ５および一挙動で短縮ダイアル機構等を起動させ、発呼信号を発信できる発呼ボタン３Ａ１を備えている。また、子機３Ｂ、子機3 Ｃにも同様な目的のため、それぞれ発呼ボタン３B １、３C １を備えている。
【００１９】
図2 は、図１に示すこの発明の実施の態様に係る簡易操作の電話装置の詳細な構成図を示す。この図において、図１に示した記号と同じものは同じか同じ機能のものを示す。この高齢者宅の電話装置３には、機能的に監視者宅または他から高齢者宅への着呼に関係する部分と、高齢者宅から監視者宅への発呼に関係する部分とを含んでいる。
【００２０】
図２の高齢者宅の電話装置３の親機３Ａに含まれる機器の説明を行う。親機３Ａは高齢者宅の電話装置３全体の制御をつかさどる機能と、独立の１つの電話機としての機能とを備えている。まず高齢者宅電話装置3 の全体の制御をつかさどる機能に関連する部分について説明する。３Ａ１０は着信検出回路で、監視者宅１からの発呼信号( 以下、第１の発呼信号という。）を検出し、制御管理部３Ａ９を通して、監視者宅からの着信を親機３Ａ自身に知らせると共に、複数の子機３Ｂ、３Ｃ向けの発呼信号（以下、第２の発呼信号という。）を生成させる。３Ａ１１は通話経路部で、高齢者宅の電話装置３と監視者宅の電話機１との通話回線の接続を行うものである。３Ａ１７はアンテナ、３Ａ１３は高周波送信部、３Ａ１４は高周波受信部であり、複数の子機との間を制御チャンネル１０１と通話チャンネル１０２を持つ無線周波の通信回線１０で結ぶものための制御チャンネル部分と、通話チャンネル部分をそれぞれに持っている。なお、アンテナ３Ａ１７は送信用と受信用とを別々に用意した例を記載しているが、送受アンテナの共用方式でもよい。３Ａ１５は送信データ生成部で、制御管理部３Ａ９からの制御にもとずいて制御チャンネル１０１で送信する信号と通話チャンネル１０２で送信する信号を生成する。３Ａ１６は受信データ解析回路で、複数の子機３Ｂ、３Ｃから送られてくる各種データ( 例：音声レベルの測定データ、音声認識データ）を解析し、その結果を制御管理部３Ａ９に報告する。
【００２１】
送信データ生成部３Ａ１５で生成される信号としては、制御チャンネル１０１を経て各子機３Ｂ、３Ｃに伝えられる第２の発呼信号とＩＤ信号が、また通話チャンネル１０２を経て子機に伝えられる通話信号とがある。第２の発呼信号は、第１の発呼信号を受けた制御管理部３Ａ９からの制御にもとずき生成されるもので、これによって各子機３Ｂ、３Ｃに監視者宅等から呼び出しのあったことを伝えるものである。また、ＩＤ信号は、複数の子機の中から特定の子機を指定するための信号で、制御管理部３Ａ９が指示する必要なタイミングでＩＤ信号の生成と送出が行われる。この発明では、ＩＤ信号により指定された特定の子機に対し、ＩＤ信号とともに各種の必要な指示信号を送り込むことにより、その子機に対し所望の制御を行うようにしている。この制御の例として、音声レベルの測定データと必要により音声認識の結果を親機に報告させるほか、子機の送信起動の制御、スピーカの切断などを行う。また、送信データ生成部３Ａ１５の通話信号部分では、通話信号の副搬送波による変調、デジタル化の場合は帯域圧縮等の処理が、通話信号に対し施される。
【００２２】
次に親機自身が１つの電話機として機能する部分について説明する。３Ａ６はハンズフリー制御部で、ハンズフリー通話の場合に問題となるスピーカからマイクへの回り込みによるハウリングの問題や、通話中に送話者から電話機のマイクまでの距離が変化することに伴って発生するマイクの入力レベルの大幅な変化の問題等を解決するための制御を行うものである。前者はエコーサプレッサーといわれる技術により、また後者は自動利得制御といわれる技術により解決される。３Ａ７は音声レベル測定回路で、マイク３Ａ３に到達する送話者の音声レベルを測定して、そのデータを制御管理部３Ａ９へ報告し、そこで一時蓄積する。３Ａ８は音声認識回路で、送話者の発声内容をあらかじめ設定している内容と比較し、設定している内容に相当する場合は、発呼制御の制御信号として利用すべく制御管理部３Ａ９に報告する。
【００２３】
次に子機の構成について説明する。子機はいずれも基本的に同じ構成になっているので、１台のみ取り上げて説明し、第2 の子機３Ｃの各構成要素の説明は省略する。なお、各部の符号は第1 に子機３Ｂのものに準じ採番している。３Ｂ１７はアンテナ、３Ｂ１３は高周波送信部、３Ｂ１４は高周波受信部であり、親機３Ａの高周波受信部３Ａ１４、高周波送信部３Ａ１３と対向して制御チャンネル１０１と通話チャンネル１０２を使って交信するものである。３Ｂ１５は送信データ生成部で、制御チャンネル１０１を通して親機３Ａに送る制御チャンネルの信号については、音声レベルの測定データに関する信号と自己のID信号とがある。また、通話チャンネル１０２を通して送る通話信号については、親機３Ａにおけると同じような通話信号の送出に必要な信号処理を行う。３Ｂ７は音声レベル測定回路で、マイク３Ｂ３を通して得られる送話者の音声レベルを測定し、そのデータを制御部３Ｂ９に報告する。制御部３Ｂ９ではこのデータを一時蓄積し、親局３Ａから音声レベルの測定データの収集を指示するＩＤ信号を受けて親局３Ａに報告する。３Ｂ８は音声認識回路で、送話者の送話内容があらかじめ用意されている内容と一致しているか否かをチェックし、一致していると判断される場合はその旨を制御部３Ｂ９に報告する。後で説明するように、この信号は高齢者側からの音声による発呼信号として利用する。３Ｂ１６は受信データ解析回路で、親機から送られてきた発呼信号、ＩＤ信号、送信起動信号、スピーカ回路の切断、ほかの制御信号を読み分けて、対応する制御信号を発生させる機能を持った回路である。３Ｂ６はで、親機３Ａにおけるハンズフリー制御部３Ａ６と同じ機能を持っている。３Ｂ１は発呼ボタンで、親機３Ａの発呼ボタンと同じ機能のものである。
【００２４】
次に監視者宅から発呼があった場合の動作について説明する。監視者宅からの第１の発呼信号は、親機３Ａの着信検出回路３Ａ１０で検出され、親機３Ａに着信があったことを知らせると共に、制御管理部３Ａ９を経て第２の発呼信号に変換され子機３Ｂ、子機３Ｃに送られ、監視者宅から呼び出しがあった事を各電話機に伝える。高齢者はこの呼び出しに対し、ハンズフリ−方式で応答を行うと、この応答音声の届く範囲に設置されているいくつかの電話機のマイクに、その応答音声が同時に入る。各電話機は常に音声レベルの測定をしていて、上記応答音声もそれぞれの電話機で測定される。その測定データは一時それぞれの電話機で記憶する。この子機の測定データは、親機３ＡからＩＤ信号と共に発せられる制御信号によって親機３Ａに集められ、親機３Ａの制御管理部３Ａ９で各々の電話機の音声レベルの比較が行われる。この比較により、複数の電話機の中から最も大きい声を収集できたマイクのある電話機を選んで、その電話機の送話内容の送出を行わせ、監視者宅の電話機１へ送り込まれるよう通話回線へ接続を行う。この音声レベルの測定と比較は通話中も継続して行い、常に最適な状態にある電話機を選んで、切り替え接続を行い通話を行う。なお、比較される音声レベルはレベルリミッター等を使って所定値以上のものを収集しできるようにし、比較処理を効率よく行う。
【００２５】
次に、音声レベルの最大の電話機を選んで通話を行う、通話チャンネルの切り替え接続の動作について説明する。親機３Ａにおいて各電話機の音声レベルの比較が行われ、その結果にもとずき接続すべき電話機を決定したら、それが子機の場合は、当該子機を指定するＩＤ信号と、当該子機から親機３Ａに向け音声信号を送るための送信起動の制御信号とを制御チャンネル１０１を経て親機３Ａから子機に向け発信する。ここで通話チャンネルが複数あり、使用すべき通話チャンネルを指定する場合はその指定も合わせて行う。ＩＤ信号で特定された子機では、指定のチャンネルで送信起動がかけられて、マイクに入る高齢者が発声する音声信号は、子機の高周波送信部、第2 の信号回線１０の通話チャンネル１０２を経て親機３Ａに導かれ、親機３Ａに備える通話経路部３Ａ１１を経て監視者宅の電話機１に届く。一方、監視者宅からの音声信号は、通話チャンネル１０２を通して各子機に届いているので、高齢者と監視者間の通話回線が構築される。なお、すべての子機のスピーカから監視者の音声が出てうるさい場合は、ＩＤ信号を利用した制御により、接続中の子機を除く子機のスピーカ出力を断にするか音量を下げる。また、指定される電話機が親機の場合は、ＩＤ信号によることなく以上の制御を親機内で行う。以上のようにして、高齢者宅３の電話装置３０のうち最も条件のよい電話機を使って監視者宅との通話回線を構築することができる。
【００２６】
次に高齢者宅から監視者宅に向け発呼する場合について説明する。発呼者の発呼音声が受かる範囲にある各電話機において、発呼者の発呼音声の内容を音声認識回路により確認し、これが正しいと判断された場合に、音声認識回路からの情報をそれぞれの制御部( または制御管理部）に報告する。発呼信号についても、上記と同様に、各電話機で受かる発呼者の声の大きさを測定して、音声認識の結果のよかった電話機のうち音声レベルの高い電話機を選択して接続を行う。このようにして、発呼ボタン３Ａ１を押すことなく、最もよい条件の電話機を使ってハンズフリー方式で発呼起動を行うようにしている。また、接続後も通話中の音声レベルのレベル測定を継続的に行い、その測定データを親機３ＡからのＩＤ信号による指示にもとずき、制御チャンネル１０１を通して親機３Ａに送る。親機３Ａでは各電話機のレベル比較を継続的に行い、レベル最大の電話機を決定する。この決定後は上記と同様の制御を行って監視宅へ向けての選択接続を行う。このようにして、高齢者が高齢者宅３の中のどこにいるかを監視者宅から特定できない状況下でも、常に最も条件のよい電話機を使って通話回線を構築するようにしている。
【００２７】
また終話処理については以下のようにする。まず監視者宅が送受話器を置いて終話した場合は、これによって高齢者宅との通話回線を開放する。高齢者宅は通話が途絶え予め設定した時間が経過すると自動的に終話状態とし、すべての機能をリセット状態にして、次の呼び出しまたは発呼が行える状態にする。
【００２８】
また、以上の説明では、音声レベルの測定部と音声認識部を各電話機にそれぞれ備え、それぞれの測定データを特定の電話機（親機）に集めここで比較し、監視者宅の電話機１と接続する電話機の選定を行なう構成の場合を説明したが、マイクで受けた音声信号をそれぞれ親機に導き、ここで必要な早さでサンプリングしてデジタル化したうえでレベルの比較や音声認識を行なうことでもよい。親機と子機の間にそれぞれを接続する信号線がある場合は、音声信号を親機まで導きここで共通のレベル測定や音声認識を行なうことにより、子機を単純な構成とすることができる。
【００２９】
なお、以上は身体の自由が十分でない高齢者を監視するケースに適用した例にあげ説明したが、本発明では通話者と電話機との位置関係が固定しなくともハンズフリーの起動と着信による通話を行えるので、建物の中の複数の部屋を頻繁に往来する通話者向けのハンズフリー通話機器としても利用することができる。
【００３０】
また、以上の説明では、ハンズフリー通話を行う側がコードレス電話装置で構成される複数の電話機を使用する例を挙げて説明したが、通話をしながら制御信号を同時に伝送できるものであれば、複数のチャンネルを有するコードレス電話方式でなくともよい。例えば、制御信号と音声信号を２本の別々の信号線を通して送受することでもよく、また多重化された有線回線を親機と子機の間に引くことでもよい。これらの場合も、通話中に継続的に音声レベルの最大の電話機を見つけて切り替え接続でき、常に最大レベルの電話機を使った通話回線の構築を行うことができるので、本発明が趣旨とする、常に最適な電話機を経由したハンズフリー通話を行うことができる。
【００３１】
【発明の効果】
この発明は、以上説明したように構成されているので、以下に示す効果を奏する。
【００３２】
親機と複数の子機から構成される複数の電話機を比較的広いエリア内に離して配置し、これらの電話機に受かる1 人の応答者からの発声音レベルがもっとも高い電話機を選んで発呼者側電話機との接続を行うようにしたので、複数の電話機を配置した比較的広いエリア内の不特定な場所にいる応答者との間に、常に最適な電話機を使ったハンズフリーによる通話回線を構築できる効果が得られる。
【００３３】
親機と複数の子機から構成される複数の電話機を比較的広いエリア内に離して配置し、かつ通話とは別の制御回線を使って通話中の各子機の音声レベルのデータの収集を行い、親機と子機を含む電話機で受かる応答者の音声レベルの比較を行い、音声レベルがもっとも高い電話機を選んで、発呼者側電話機との接続を行うようにしたので、複数の電話機を配置した比較的広いエリア内の不特定な場所にいる応答者との間に、常に最適な電話機を使ったハンズフリーによる通話回線を構築し維持できる効果が得られる。
【００３４】
発呼のための発声を音声認識方式で確認して発呼制御を行うようにしたので、ハンズフリーによる発呼の精度を高めることができる効果がある。
【００３５】
発呼のための発声に換え、特定の人工音を発することにより、発呼音の発生と認識を容易にすることができる効果がある。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】この発明の実施の形態１にかかる簡易操作の電話装置の全体の概略構成を示す図である。
【図２】この発明の実施の形態１にかかる簡易操作の電話装置の構成図である。
【図３】従来の電話装置の構成を示す図である。
【符号の説明】
１監視者宅の電話機、２公衆回線、３高齢者宅の電話装置、
３Ａ親機、３Ｂ第１の子機、３Ｃ第２の子機、
３Ａ１親機の発呼ボタン、３B １第１の子機の発呼ボタン、
３C １第２の子機の発呼ボタン、３Ａ２親機のスピーカ、
３B ２第１の子機のスピーカＢ、３C ２第２の子機のスピーカＣ、
３Ａ３親機のマイク、３Ｂ３第１の子機のマイクＢ、
３Ｃ３第２の子機のマイクＣ、３Ａ４親機の送受話器、
３Ａ５親機の押しボタンダイアル、３Ａ６親機のハンドフリー制御部、
３Ｂ６第１の子機のハンドフリー制御部、
３Ｃ６第２の子機のハンドフリー制御部、
３Ａ７親機の音声レベル測定回路、
３Ｂ７第１の子機の音声レベル測定回路、
３Ｃ７第２の子機の音声レベル測定回路、
３Ａ８親機の音声認識回路、３Ｂ８第１の子機の音声認識回路、
３Ｃ８第２の子機の音声認識回路、３Ａ９親機の制御管理部、
３Ｂ９第１の子機の制御部、３Ｃ９第２の子機の制御部、
３Ａ１０親機の着信検出回路、３Ａ１１親機の通話経路部、
３Ａ１３親機の高周波送信部、３Ｂ１３第１の子機の高周波送信部、
３Ｃ１３第２の子機の高周波送信部、３Ａ１４親機の高周波受信部、
３Ｂ１４第１の子機の高周波受信部、
３Ｃ１４第２の子機の高周波受信部、
３Ａ１５親機の送信データ生成部、
３Ｂ１５第１の子機の送信データ生成部、
３Ｃ１５第２の子機の送信データ生成部、
３Ａ１６親機の受信データ解析回路、
３Ｂ１６第１の子機の受信データ解析回路、
３Ｃ１６第２の子機の受信データ解析回路、３Ａ１７親機のアンテナ、
３Ｂ１７第１の子機のアンテナ、３Ｃ１７第２の子機のアンテナ、
１０無線周波の通信回線、１０１制御チャンネル、
１０２通話チャンネル、[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is, for example, between a house where an elderly person lives (an elderly person's house) and a house where a child who needs to live in a place away from the elderly person's house, such as a child who needs to be monitored The present invention relates to a telephone device with a simple operation suitable for making a communication call.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a telephone system that constitutes a hot line between a conventional elderly house and a monitor house. In the conventional type, the telephone device 3 in the elderly person's house and the telephone 1 in the person's house are connected by a telephone line using the public line 2, and an appropriate dial call is performed to check the health condition of the elderly person. The elderly were monitored by listening to the cases. When the number of rooms in the elderly home is large, a so-called cordless phone or the like has been used as the telephone device 3 in the elderly home.
[0003]
As a specific operation method, for example, when a cordless telephone device 3 composed of a telephone set of a parent device 3A and a child device 3B is installed in an elderly person's house, a call is made from the supervisor house to the elderly person's house. When a call is made to the elderly person's house by performing a dialing operation on the telephone 1 at the supervisor's house, the ringing bells of the parent device 3A and the child device 3B of the telephone device 3 at the elderly person's house ring. When an elderly person picks up the handset of the base unit 3A or the handset 3B, a telephone line is constructed so that a telephone call can be made. In this way, since the communication between the monitoring house and the elderly house can be secured, the function as a so-called hotline could be achieved.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in a situation where elderly people have physical disabilities and are unable to pick up and respond to the handset etc. relatively quickly, a telephone line using this type of conventional telephone is not enough to function as a hotline. Cannot be achieved. Also, a cordless telephone device is disclosed that can make a hands-free call simply by answering “Hi” when a ringing tone is heard (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-11559A). It is necessary to avoid interference problems (for example, simultaneous activation problems) that occur when the voice response of “Hi” is in a positional relationship where it enters the telephones of the master unit and multiple slave units at the same time. There were restrictions on use.
[0005]
Next, when an elderly person makes a call to a supervisor, in the example of a conventional telephone, it is necessary to pick up the handset and perform a call operation correctly, and this point is also difficult for the elderly person. There was a problem.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a first object is to call an elderly person who is not sure where in a plurality of rooms in an elderly person's house from a supervisor's house. When a call is made, the telephone with the best condition among the multiple telephones installed in multiple rooms (for example, a cordless telephone device composed of a master unit and a plurality of slave units) passes between the elderly and the supervisor. It is to obtain a telephone device with simple operation that can easily construct a telephone line.
In addition, the second object is to provide a telephone device with a simple operation that can easily construct a telephone line between a supervisor and an elderly person through a telephone with the best conditions when calling a supervisor from an elderly person. Is to get.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The voice level of the elderly's response made to the ringing tone from the telephone set at the supervisor's house is received and measured by a microphone provided in each telephone set (master unit and each slave unit) constituting the telephone device according to the present invention. , Each temporarily stored. Next, the voice level data is collected in the master unit, and the voice level data of each telephone is compared. Then, the telephone with the highest response voice was selected and the telephone line with the monitoring home device was constructed.
[0008]
The voice level measurement data from each slave unit is collected by periodically issuing an individual identification signal (hereinafter referred to as an ID signal) for each slave unit from the master unit, and the slave unit receives its own ID signal. This is done by sending own measurement data to the main unit.
[0009]
Furthermore, even after the telephone line is constructed, each telephone continuously measures the voice level of the elderly person entering the microphone of each telephone when the elderly person is talking, while the master unit intermittently emits an ID signal. Collect voice level measurement data from the handset and compare the voice levels. Then, switching control is performed so that the telephone with the highest sound level at that time is selected and connected to the supervisor's telephone.
[0010]
In addition, a sound for a call made by an elderly person (speech or special sound such as a whistle) is received by the microphone of each telephone, and the content of the call sound is changed to a call content for a call prepared in advance. Check whether they match, and also measure the sound level of the calling sound. For the telephones for which the confirmation results are correct, the measurement data of the sound levels of the respective calling sounds are compared, and the telephone with the highest sound level is selected to be used as the calling telephone for the elderly person's home. I'm trying to build a communication line between them.
[0011]
The measurement data of the sound level emitted for the call received by the microphone of each telephone is identified by the ID signal of each telephone and sent to the parent machine so that it can be identified from those of other child machines. I have to.
[0012]
In addition, as a method of identifying the measurement data of the slave unit from those of other slave units, a method of sending an ID signal to the master unit and an ID signal from the master unit are specified each time the designation is made. There is a method of sending the measurement data from the slave unit to the master unit.
[0013]
In addition, the ringing tone is a special whistle that is easy to distinguish from surrounding noise and that can be easily operated by the elderly. There is a method to generate sound. In order to use these sounds as calling sounds, a recognition circuit that recognizes each utterance sound or calling sound separately from other sounds is used.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a simple telephone device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a normal telephone used at a supervisor's house. 3 is a telephone device for an elderly person, which is a so-called cordless telephone composed of a main unit 3A, a plurality of (in this case, for convenience of explanation, two) sub-units 3B and three units of telephones equipped with sub-units 3C. The case where the device is installed is shown. Reference numeral 2 denotes a telephone line including an exchange, which can make a call by connecting between a supervisor's house and an elderly person's house by a dial telephone system. The master unit 3A, the slave unit 3B, and the slave unit 3C are connected by a radio frequency communication line 10 including a control channel 101 that transmits a control signal and a communication channel 102 that transmits a call signal.
[0015]
The telephones of the master unit 3A, the slave unit 3B, and the slave unit 3C are provided with speakers 3A2, 3B 2, 3C 2 and microphones 3A3, 3B3, 3C3, respectively, and have a hands-free configuration that enables a telephone call without having a handset. ing. That is, the telephones of the master unit 3A and the slave units 3B and 3C include microphones 3A3, 3B3, and 3C3 that receive voices (or special sounds) emitted by elderly people for answering and making calls. Each of the telephones of the main unit 3A and each of the sub units 3B and 3C has a measurement circuit for measuring the sound level with the respective microphones 3A3, 3B3 and 3C3, and a recognition circuit for confirming whether the content of the sound is for calling. Is provided. Among the data obtained from these, the voice level measurement data is collected in the master unit 3A, and the voice levels of the master unit 3A and each of the slave units 3B and 3C are compared to determine the voice level of the master unit or the slave unit. The largest telephone is selected and used as the telephone for the elderly and is connected to the telephone 1 at the supervisor's house. This selection switching operation is achieved by cooperation of a plurality of circuits of the parent device and the child device, as will be described below.
[0016]
The voice level measurement data is collected from the master unit 3A toward the slave unit 3B and the slave unit 3C by sending ID signals for the respective timings at different timings. The slave unit 3C sends the measurement data of each voice level to the master unit 3A. By doing in this way, each data is transmitted to the main | base station 3A without mixing.
[0017]
Even after connection, measurement of the voice level generated by the elderly is continuously performed by the master unit 3A, the slave unit 3B, and the slave unit 3C, and the voice level is measured by the above-described control using the ID signal at a necessary timing. Data collection and comparison are performed, and selection switching control of the telephone line is performed so that a master unit or a slave unit having good conditions is always connected to the telephone set at the supervisor's house.
[0018]
In order to enable a call by manual operation, the main unit 3A has a handset 3A4, a dial button 3A5 for dial operation and a dialing button that can activate a shortening dial mechanism and the like to send a call signal. 3A1 is provided. The slave unit 3B and the slave unit 3C are also provided with calling buttons 3B1 and 3C1, respectively, for the same purpose.
[0019]
FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the telephone device for simple operation according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. In this figure, the same symbols as those shown in FIG. 1 indicate the same or the same functions. The telephone device 3 at the elderly's house includes a portion functionally related to an incoming call from the supervisor's house or another to the elderly's house, and a portion related to an outgoing call from the elderly's house to the monitor's house. Contains.
[0020]
The devices included in the base unit 3A of the telephone device 3 at the elderly's house in FIG. 2 will be described. The base unit 3A has a function for controlling the entire telephone device 3 in the elderly's house and a function as an independent telephone. First, a description will be given of a portion related to the function that controls the entire elderly home phone device 3. 3A10 is an incoming call detection circuit which detects a call signal from the supervisor home 1 (hereinafter referred to as a first call signal), and sends the incoming call from the supervisor home to the master unit 3A itself through the control management unit 3A9. In addition to the notification, a call signal (hereinafter referred to as a second call signal) for the plurality of slave units 3B and 3C is generated. 3A11 is a call path unit for connecting a call line between the telephone device 3 in the elderly house and the telephone 1 in the supervisor house. 3A17 is an antenna, 3A13 is a high frequency transmitter, 3A14 is a high frequency receiver, and a control channel portion for connecting a plurality of slave units by a radio frequency communication line 10 having a control channel 101 and a communication channel 102; , Each has a call channel part. In addition, although the antenna 3A17 has described the example which prepared for transmission and reception separately, the sharing system of a transmission / reception antenna may be sufficient. 3A15 is a transmission data generating unit that generates a signal to be transmitted on the control channel 101 and a signal to be transmitted on the communication channel 102 based on the control from the control management unit 3A9. A reception data analysis circuit 3A16 analyzes various data (eg, voice level measurement data and voice recognition data) sent from the plurality of slave units 3B and 3C, and reports the result to the control management unit 3A9.
[0021]
As a signal generated by the transmission data generating unit 3A15, a second call signal and an ID signal transmitted to each of the slave units 3B and 3C via the control channel 101, and a call transmitted to the slave unit via the call channel 102 There is a signal. The second call signal is generated based on the control from the control management unit 3A9 that has received the first call signal, thereby calling each of the slave units 3B and 3C from the supervisor's house or the like. It conveys what happened. The ID signal is a signal for designating a specific slave unit from a plurality of slave units, and the ID signal is generated and transmitted at a necessary timing instructed by the control management unit 3A9. In the present invention, various necessary instruction signals are sent together with the ID signal to a specific slave unit designated by the ID signal, so that desired control is performed on the slave unit. As an example of this control, the measurement data of the voice level and, if necessary, the result of the voice recognition are reported to the master unit, the transmission activation of the slave unit is controlled, and the speaker is disconnected. In the call signal portion of the transmission data generation unit 3A15, the call signal is subjected to processing such as modulation by a subcarrier of the call signal and band compression in the case of digitization.
[0022]
Next, a description will be given of a portion where the base unit itself functions as one telephone. 3A6 is a hands-free control unit, which occurs when the distance from the speaker to the microphone of the telephone changes during a call, and the problem of howling due to sneaking from the speaker to the microphone, which is a problem in hands-free calls. The control is performed to solve the problem of a significant change in the input level of the microphone. The former is solved by a technique called an echo suppressor, and the latter is solved by a technique called automatic gain control. 3A7 is a voice level measurement circuit, which measures the voice level of the talker reaching the microphone 3A3, reports the data to the control manager 3A9, and temporarily stores it. 3A8 is a voice recognition circuit, which compares the utterance content of the sender with the preset content, and if it corresponds to the set content, the control management unit 3A9 is used to use it as a control signal for call control. Report.
[0023]
Next, the configuration of the slave unit will be described. Since all the slave units have basically the same configuration, only one unit will be taken up and described, and description of each component of the second slave unit 3C will be omitted. In addition, the code | symbol of each part is numbered according to the thing of the subunit | mobile_unit 3B first. 3B17 is an antenna, 3B13 is a high-frequency transmission unit, and 3B14 is a high-frequency reception unit, which communicates with the high-frequency reception unit 3A14 and high-frequency transmission unit 3A13 of the master unit 3A using the control channel 101 and the communication channel 102. . Reference numeral 3B15 denotes a transmission data generation unit, which includes a signal relating to audio level measurement data and a self ID signal as a control channel signal sent to the master unit 3A through the control channel 101. For the call signal sent through the call channel 102, signal processing necessary for sending the call signal is performed in the same manner as in the base unit 3A. 3B7 is a voice level measuring circuit, which measures the voice level of the sender obtained through the microphone 3B3 and reports the data to the control unit 3B9. The control unit 3B9 temporarily accumulates this data, receives an ID signal instructing collection of measurement data of audio level from the master station 3A, and reports it to the master station 3A. 3B8 is a voice recognition circuit, which checks whether or not the content of the sender's transmission matches the content prepared in advance, and if it is determined to match, reports that fact to the control unit 3B9 To do. As will be described later, this signal is used as a call signal by voice from the elderly side. 3B16 is a received data analysis circuit, which has a function to generate a corresponding control signal by reading a call signal, an ID signal, a transmission activation signal, a speaker circuit disconnection, and other control signals sent from the master unit. Circuit. 3B6 has the same function as the hands-free control unit 3A6 in the base unit 3A. A call button 3B1 has the same function as the call button of the parent device 3A.
[0024]
Next, the operation when a call is made from the supervisor's house will be described. The first call signal from the supervisor's house is detected by the incoming call detection circuit 3A10 of the parent device 3A, and notifies the parent device 3A that there has been an incoming call, and also passes through the control manager 3A9 to obtain the second call signal. And is sent to the handset 3B and handset 3C to notify each telephone that there has been a call from the supervisor's house. When an elderly person responds to this call in a hands-free manner, the answering voices simultaneously enter the microphones of several telephones installed within the range where the answering voices reach. Each telephone always measures the voice level, and the response voice is also measured by each telephone. The measurement data is temporarily stored in each telephone. The measurement data of the slave unit is collected in the master unit 3A by the control signal issued together with the ID signal from the master unit 3A, and the voice level of each telephone is compared by the control management unit 3A9 of the master unit 3A. As a result of this comparison, a telephone with a microphone that can collect the loudest voice is selected from a plurality of telephones, and the transmission contents of the telephone are sent out to the telephone line to be sent to the telephone 1 at the supervisor's house. Connect. The measurement and comparison of the voice level are continuously performed during a call, and a telephone that is always in an optimal state is selected, and a call is made by switching connection. Note that the audio levels to be compared can be collected by using a level limiter or the like, and the comparison processing is efficiently performed.
[0025]
Next, a description will be given of a call channel switching connection operation in which a telephone having the maximum voice level is selected to make a call. When the base unit 3A compares the voice levels of the respective telephones and determines a telephone to be connected based on the result, if it is a sub unit, if it is a sub unit, an ID signal designating the sub unit and the sub unit A transmission activation control signal for transmitting an audio signal from the master to the master 3A is transmitted from the master 3A to the slave via the control channel 101. Here, when there are a plurality of call channels and a call channel to be used is designated, the designation is also performed. In the slave unit specified by the ID signal, transmission activation is applied on the designated channel, and the voice signal uttered by the elderly person entering the microphone is the high-frequency transmission unit of the slave unit, the communication channel 102 of the second signal line 10. Is then guided to the base unit 3A and reaches the telephone 1 at the supervisor's home via the call path unit 3A11 provided in the base unit 3A. On the other hand, since the audio signal from the monitor's house reaches each slave unit through the call channel 102, a call line between the elderly person and the monitor is constructed. When the voice of the supervisor is emitted from the speakers of all the slave units, the speaker output of the slave units other than the currently connected slave units is turned off or the volume is lowered by the control using the ID signal. If the designated telephone is a parent device, the above control is performed in the parent device without using an ID signal. As described above, a telephone line with the supervisor's house can be constructed using the telephone having the best condition among the telephone devices 30 of the elderly person's house 3.
[0026]
Next, a case where a call is made from an elderly person's house to a supervisor's house will be described. In each telephone in the range where the caller's call voice can be received, the content of the caller's call voice is confirmed by the voice recognition circuit, and if this is determined to be correct, the information from the voice recognition circuit is Report to the control unit (or control management unit). As for the calling signal, similarly to the above, the loudness of the calling party received by each telephone is measured, and the telephone having a high voice level is selected from the telephones having good voice recognition results and connected. In this way, the call activation is performed in a hands-free manner using the telephone having the best conditions without pressing the call button 3A1. Further, after the connection, the level measurement of the voice level during the call is continuously performed, and the measurement data is sent to the base unit 3A through the control channel 101 based on the instruction by the ID signal from the base unit 3A. Base unit 3A continuously compares the levels of the respective telephones to determine the telephone with the highest level. After this determination, the same control as described above is performed to perform selective connection toward the monitoring home. In this way, the telephone line is always constructed using the telephone with the best conditions even in a situation where the elderly person cannot be identified from the supervisor's house in the elderly person's house 3.
[0027]
The end-call processing is as follows. First, when the supervisor's house ends the call by placing the handset, the telephone line with the elderly person's house is thereby opened. The elderly person's house is automatically put into a call-ending state when a call is interrupted and a preset time elapses, and all functions are set in a reset state so that the next call or call can be made.
[0028]
In the above description, each telephone is provided with a voice level measuring unit and a voice recognizing unit, and each measured data is collected in a specific telephone (base phone) and compared there to be connected to the telephone 1 at the supervisor's house. In the case of the configuration for selecting the telephone to be used, the voice signal received by the microphone is guided to the main unit, and is sampled and digitized at a required speed for comparison of the level and voice recognition. It may be. If there is a signal line connecting each between the main unit and the sub unit, the sub unit can be configured simply by guiding the audio signal to the main unit and performing common level measurement and voice recognition here. it can.
[0029]
Although the above is described as an example applied to the case of monitoring an elderly person with insufficient physical freedom, in the present invention, even if the positional relationship between the caller and the telephone is not fixed, the call with hands-free activation and incoming call Therefore, it can also be used as a hands-free call device for callers who frequently visit multiple rooms in the building.
[0030]
Also, in the above description, an example has been described in which a hands-free caller uses a plurality of telephones configured with cordless telephone devices. However, a plurality of telephones can be used as long as they can transmit control signals simultaneously while making a call. It does not have to be a cordless telephone system having multiple channels. For example, the control signal and the audio signal may be transmitted and received through two separate signal lines, or a multiplexed wired line may be drawn between the master unit and the slave unit. Even in these cases, the telephone having the maximum voice level can be continuously found and switched during the call, and a telephone line using the telephone having the maximum level can always be constructed. You can always make a hands-free call via the optimal telephone.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
[0032]
Place multiple telephones consisting of a base unit and multiple handsets in a relatively wide area and select the telephone with the highest voice level from one responder who receives these telephones. Because it is connected to the party's telephone, a hands-free telephone line that always uses the optimal telephone between responders in unspecified places within a relatively large area with multiple telephones. The effect that can be built is obtained.
[0033]
Collecting voice level data of each handset during a call by using a control line that is separate from the call, with multiple telephones composed of a base and multiple handsets placed in a relatively wide area The voice level of responders received by the telephones including the master unit and the slave unit was compared, and the telephone with the highest voice level was selected and connected to the caller side telephone. It is possible to obtain and maintain a hands-free communication line using an optimal telephone at all times with a responder in an unspecified place within a relatively large area where the telephone is arranged.
[0034]
Since the utterance for making a call is confirmed by the voice recognition method and the call control is performed, there is an effect that the accuracy of the hands-free call can be improved.
[0035]
By generating a specific artificial sound instead of the voice for making a call, it is possible to easily generate and recognize the call sound.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall schematic configuration of a telephone device with simple operation according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a simple operation telephone device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional telephone device.
[Explanation of symbols]
1. Telephone at the supervisor's house, 2 public line, 3 telephone equipment at the elderly's house,
3A master unit, 3B first slave unit, 3C second slave unit,
3A1 Call button on the master unit, 3B 1 Call button on the first slave unit,
3C 1 Call button of the second slave unit, 3A2 Speaker of the master unit,
3B 2 Speaker B of the first slave unit, 3C 2 Speaker C of the second slave unit,
3A3 Base unit microphone, 3B3 First handset microphone B,
3C3 Second handset microphone C, 3A4 handset handset,
3A5 Master unit push button dial, 3A6 Master unit hand-free control unit,
3B6 Hands free control unit of the first slave unit,
3C6 Hand-free control unit of the second slave unit,
3A7 Audio level measurement circuit of the master unit,
3B7 audio level measurement circuit of the first slave unit,
3C7 audio level measurement circuit of the second slave unit,
3A8 Voice recognition circuit of parent machine, 3B8 Voice recognition circuit of first child machine,
3C8 voice recognition circuit of the second slave unit, 3A9 control management unit of the master unit,
3B9 control unit of the first slave unit, 3C9 control unit of the second slave unit,
3A10 incoming call detection circuit of the parent machine, 3A11 call path section of the parent machine,
3A13 high frequency transmission unit of the master unit, 3B13 high frequency transmission unit of the first slave unit,
3C13 High frequency transmitter of the second slave unit, 3A14 High frequency receiver of the master unit,
3B14 The high frequency receiver of the first slave unit,
3C14 The high frequency receiver of the second slave unit,
3A15 Transmission data generation unit of the master unit,
3B15 transmission data generation unit of the first slave unit,
3C15 transmission data generation unit of the second slave unit,
3A16 Receive data analysis circuit of the master unit,
3B16 received data analysis circuit of the first slave unit,
3C16 Received data analysis circuit of the second slave unit, 3A17 Antenna of the master unit,
3B17 antenna of the first slave unit, 3C17 antenna of the second slave unit,
10 radio frequency communication line, 101 control channel,
102 Call channel,

Claims

A first telephone set and a second telephone apparatus comprising a plurality of telephones connected to the first telephone line via a first communication line and connected to each other via a second communication line; , A response sound from one sound source made in response to a call signal from the first telephone is simultaneously received by each microphone included in each telephone constituting the second telephone device, and the sound level is measured A voice level measurement unit that compares the voice level data obtained by each telephone with a level comparison circuit that selects the telephone with the highest response voice level, and performs transmission control of the selected telephone to A communication path switching control means comprising a control circuit for transmitting a voice signal of a caller received by a microphone from the telephone and guiding the voice signal to the telephone line with the first telephone; Among the telephones of the second telephone apparatus that has received the incoming call signal, a telephone line is established between the telephone with the highest response voice level and the first telephone. Simple operation telephone device.

The utterance sound from one sound source at the time of the call from the second telephone device is received by each microphone included in each telephone constituting the second telephone device, and the utterance sound is a preset voice signal and 2. The telephone device of simple operation according to claim 1, further comprising a voice recognition circuit for confirming whether they are the same, and being used as a call control signal at the time of a call from the second telephone device.

Even during a call after establishing a connection of a call line between the first telephone device and the second telephone device, the voice level of the call is continuously measured from one sound source by each telephone of the second telephone device. By controlling the call path switching control means according to the measurement data, the telephone with the maximum voice level of the call from one sound source is selected from the telephones of the second telephone device, and the telephone call with the first telephone 3. The telephone device for simple operation according to claim 1, wherein a line is constructed.

The second communication line has a control channel that handles control signals and one or more call channels that handle call signals, and is selected for voice level data collection control even after the call line is constructed. 4. A call line between a telephone having a maximum voice level of a call and the first telephone is constructed by performing selective transmission control from the telephone. The telephone device of simple operation as described in any one of Claims.

5. The telephone device for simple operation according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a voice level measuring unit is provided in each telephone constituting the second telephone device.

6. The telephone device for simple operation according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein a voice recognition unit is provided in each telephone constituting the second telephone device.

A voice level measuring unit is provided in a specific telephone set of the plurality of telephones constituting the second telephone apparatus, and the voice signal of the other telephone is guided to the telephone, and the voice level of the other telephone is measured together with the own telephone. The telephone device of simple operation according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the telephone device is performed together.

A voice recognition unit is provided in a specific telephone set of the plurality of telephones constituting the second telephone apparatus, and voice signals of other telephones are guided to the telephone, and voice recognition of other telephones is performed together with the own telephone. 6. The telephone device of simple operation according to claim 2, wherein the telephone device is configured as described above.

5. A sound from a sound source that emits an artificial sound is used in place of a voice signal that is emitted from the second telephone device for calling to the first telephone. The telephone device of simple operation as described in one term.