JPH114480A - Image communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To receive a video image of a visitor, even when a user is not present indoors in a doorphone that is fitted at the entrance of an apartment house or the like, converts a video image of the visitor into an electric signal and transmits it to an indoor receiver. SOLUTION: Normally in the case of an access to a doorphone 5, the doorphone 5 calls a slave set 4 to have a video image of a camera transferred to the slave set 4 and to make 2-way communication through voice. When the doorphone 5 calls the slave set 4, a timer is operated and when it is recognized that the slave set 4 does not reply even after the lapse of a predetermined time, the doorphone 5 uses a radio signal to make contact with a master set 2 of a cordless telephone set. When the master set 2 receives a contact from the doorphone 5, the master set makes automatic dialing to make a connection to a terminal 10 with a communication function via a radio base station 9, to allow the doorphone 5 and the terminal 10 with communication function to send/receive image and audio data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a door phone with a built-in camera for transmitting a picture of a visitor as an image to an indoor device. The present invention relates to an image communication method that can be transferred to a user on the go.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of door phones with cameras,
Visitors can be checked indoors with images. According to this method, the security aspect is improved as compared with the confirmation of only the voice. Doorphones with cameras are currently installed in many apartments, and in such apartments, visitors can be seen at the entrance of the apartment rather than at the entrance of their home. A security system that accepts a visitor by inputting a password and unlocking the entrance of the apartment after the user confirms the visitor with a video has become widespread.

[0003]

However, in recent years, nuclear families have become more and more family members working together, and many single-family homes have been away from home during the day. In particular, in apartment buildings and the like, there are many single-dwelling houses such as students and OLs, so that they tend to be more out of home than single-family homes. Recently, more and more homes have been vacant for long vacations. Staying away for a long time has many security problems.

[0004] In some cases, the guest may temporarily leave the house at the scheduled visit time of the guest for some reason, and in such a case, the visitor may be kept waiting for a long time. Further, when the visitor's visit is greatly delayed, there may be a case where the user cannot go out while waiting for the visitor for a long time.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a conventional problem, and it is possible to confirm a visitor to a home with an image even when going out. The purpose is to realize a system that can make phone calls.

[0006]

According to the invention, the above-mentioned object is solved by the means described in the claims.

That is, the invention of claim 1 provides a base unit of an indoor cordless telephone connected to an indoor telephone line, a door phone having a function of communicating with the base unit using a radio signal and incorporating a camera, and the door phone. A cordless telephone handset that performs image and voice transmission using a wireless signal between the cordless telephone and a communication that functions as the cordless phone handset and has a built-in wireless communication function with a wireless base station to display images on a monitor A system including a terminal with a function and a wireless base station that performs communication using the terminal with a communication function and a wireless line,

Usually, when the door phone is accessed,
The intercom calls the slave unit, transfers the image of the camera to the slave unit and performs two-way communication by voice, and the slave unit does not respond even if a predetermined time elapses when the doorphone calls the slave unit. When recognizing

The base unit is contacted using a radio signal. When the base unit receives a call from the door phone, the base unit automatically dials, connects to the terminal with a communication function via the radio base station, and receives the call with the door phone. The image and the voice are transmitted from the master unit to the terminal with the communication function via the wireless base station, and the voice or the image and the voice of the terminal with the communication function are transmitted from the wireless base station to the intercom via the master unit. An image communication method characterized in that:

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a base unit of an indoor cordless telephone connected to an indoor telephone line, a door phone having a function of communicating with the base unit by using a radio signal and incorporating a camera; A cordless telephone handset that performs image and voice transmission using wireless signals between the cordless phone and a communication function that functions as a cordless phone handset and has a built-in wireless communication function with a wireless base station and displays images on a monitor. Configuring a system including a terminal and a wireless base station that performs communication using the communication function-equipped terminal and a wireless line,

The master unit is provided with a unit for switching between the normal mode and the absence mode, and a unit for notifying the door phone of the mode. In the normal mode, when the door phone is accessed, the door phone calls the slave unit. In addition, the video of the camera is transferred to the slave unit and two-way communication is performed by voice. In the absence mode, when the door phone is accessed, the door phone contacts the master unit, and the master unit receives the notification from the door phone. Automatically dials, connects to the terminal with communication function via the wireless base station, the image and sound received by the intercom are transmitted from the master unit to the terminal with communication function via the wireless base station, and The image communication method is characterized in that the sound, or the image and the sound on the terminal side with the communication function are transmitted from the wireless base station to the door phone via the master unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image communication method according to the second aspect, the means for switching between the normal mode and the answering machine mode of the master unit is realized by a manual switch provided in the master unit. It is.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image communication method according to the second aspect, the means for switching between the normal mode and the answering mode of the master unit is controlled by an answering mode setting signal from the slave unit. .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image communication method according to the second aspect, the means for switching between the normal mode and the absence mode of the master unit is called for a predetermined time or more when the master unit calls the slave unit. Also, when the handset does not respond, the automatic answering mode is set.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an indoor cordless telephone base unit connected to an indoor telephone line, a door phone having a function of communicating with the base unit using a radio signal, and incorporating a camera; A cordless telephone handset that performs image and voice transmission using a wireless signal between the handset and a communication function that functions as the cordless phone handset and has a built-in wireless communication function with a wireless base station to display images on a monitor A terminal and a system including a wireless base station that performs communication using a wireless line with the communication function-equipped terminal,

Normally, when the door phone is accessed,
The intercom calls the slave unit, transfers the image of the camera to the slave unit and performs two-way communication by voice, and the slave unit does not respond even if a predetermined time elapses when the doorphone calls the slave unit. When the intercom recognizes or is set to the absence mode, the intercom automatically dials and connects to the terminal with communication function via the radio base station, and the radio base station is connected between the intercom and the terminal with communication function. This is an image communication method for exchanging images and sounds via a station.

A seventh aspect of the present invention provides an indoor cordless telephone base unit connected to an indoor telephone line, a door phone having a function of communicating with the base unit using radio signals and having a built-in camera; A plurality of intercom sub units that are connected by a line and transmit images and voices to and from the intercom, and function as sub units of the cordless telephone and have a built-in radio communication function with a radio base station to display images on a monitor. Configuring a system including a communication-capable terminal and a wireless base station that performs communication using the communication-capable terminal and the wireless line,

The terminal with a communication function receives only images and sounds to be sent to a specific intercom slave unit from the intercom, and usually when the intercom is accessed, the intercom calls the intercom slave unit, When the video of the camera is transferred to the intercom slave unit and performs two-way communication by voice, and when the intercom unit recognizes that the intercom slave unit does not respond even after a predetermined time has elapsed when the intercom calls the intercom slave unit, Or, when the answering mode is set, the intercom transfers the number of the applicable intercom slave unit to the master unit,

The master unit automatically dials and transmits the image and sound to be transmitted to the corresponding intercom slave unit to a specific terminal with a communication function, and connects to the terminal with a specific communication function via a wireless base station. However, the image and voice received by the intercom are transmitted from the master unit to the terminal with the communication function via the wireless base station, and the voice or the image and voice of the terminal with the communication function, or the image and voice are transmitted from the wireless base station via the master unit. The image communication method is transmitted to a door phone.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image communication method according to the seventh aspect, the terminal having a communication function is provided with a unit functioning as a slave unit of an indoor cordless telephone.

As described above, the inventions of the first to sixth aspects are characterized in that a door phone has a wireless communication function and functions as a "child unit" of an indoor cordless telephone connected to an indoor telephone line. Occasionally, a direct call between slave units that can transmit video and audio using a wireless line and a self-service slave unit registered in the master unit is used.

Normally, communication is performed between the intercom and the self-employed slave unit. However, when the user is out of the office, the intercom calls the master unit, and the called master unit is the terminal of the communication function terminal carried by the user when he goes out. By automatically dialing the phone number or directly at the door phone, the user can receive the video and audio of the visitor via a nearby wireless base station, and confirm the visitor even when in a remote location It is possible to

Further, according to the present invention, since the intercom and the self-employed child unit are connected by a wireless line, the installation work of cables and the like accompanying the installation of the intercom system is unnecessary.
The user can easily attach the door phone system. Further, since the terminal with communication function and the self-employed child device can be used indoors as a cordless telephone, it is also possible to make a direct telephone call between the child device and the terminal with communication function.

According to the seventh and eighth aspects of the present invention, in a multi-family house or the like, a common door phone placed at the entrance of the apartment and a door phone child provided in each room of the multi-family house and connected to the intercom by a wired line, respectively. It is a thing with a machine, usually,
Communication is performed between the doorphone and the slave unit.

In the case of absence, the intercom calls the base unit, and the called base unit automatically dials the telephone number of the terminal with the communication function carried by the user when going out, or directly dials on the intercom side. By connecting to the terminal with communication function via the wireless base station near the terminal with communication function and transferring the video and audio of the visitor, the user can confirm the visitor even in a remote place Is possible.

[0026]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a door phone system using a PHS communication function. In the figure, numeral 1 denotes indoor, 2 denotes a base unit of a cordless telephone, 3 denotes a protocol converter, 4 denotes a slave unit of a cordless telephone, 5 denotes a door phone with a camera, 6 denotes an analog telephone network, and 7 denotes a D / A signal. Conversion device,
Reference numeral 8 denotes an ISDN network, 9 denotes a radio base station (CS), and 10 denotes a terminal with a communication function.

In FIG. 1, the self-service slave unit 4 and the door phone with camera 5 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a door phone) are registered in the master unit 2 in advance, and the portion between the self-service slave unit 4 and the door phone 5 is directly between the slave units. Calls are possible. Normally, the video and audio of the visitor are transmitted to the private sub unit 4, and the image is displayed on the private sub unit 4 on a monitor. The user confirms the visitor using the private handset 4.

When the user is away, the intercom 2 calls the base unit 2, and the called base unit 2 automatically dials the telephone number of the communication-capable terminal 10 carried by the user who is away from home. The absence of the user is detected by the absence of a response after a certain period of time when the door phone first calls the slave unit or by the fact that the absence mode is set.

Note that the telephone number of the terminal 10 with a call function may be automatically dialed by the door phone 5. At this time, the digital signal between the doorphone 5 and the base unit 2 is converted into an analog signal by the protocol converter 3 built in the base unit 2 and transmitted to the radio base station 9 via the analog network-ISDN network.

The terminal 10 with a communication function is operated by a speed converter built in the radio base station 9 to operate from 64 kbps to 32 kps.
The digital signal converted to bps is received. Through this series of remote operations, the user can confirm a visitor as if he / she is indoors from where he / she is away from home.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a second example of the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. Numeral code 11 is a speed converter. The operation of this example is the same as that of FIG. 1 except that the master unit 2 is directly connected to the ISDN network 8 via the speed converter 11, so that the detailed description is omitted.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a third example of the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, numeral 12 is a collective house such as an apartment, 13 is a management room, 14 is a collector, 15
Denotes a door phone with a camera, 16 denotes a door phone handset, 17 denotes a protocol converter or a speed converter, and
This is the same as in FIG. 1 or FIG.

In this example, a wireless communication function is added to the door phone 15 of the conventional door phone system in which the door phone handset 16 and the door phone 15 in each room are connected by wire, and when the called user is away, the door phone is used. Reference numeral 15 denotes a terminal connected to the master unit 2 via a wireless line, and
2 shows a configuration connected to the.

Doorphone 15 and slave unit 16 in each room
Is connected by wire, and a visitor calls a specific user by inputting a room number from a door phone. The intercom calls the intercom slave unit for a certain period of time, but if there is no response, it is determined that the user is out of the office, the connection is temporarily switched from the wired connection to the wireless connection, and the intercom is connected to the master unit using the wireless line.

The master unit that receives the call converts the room number dialed by the visitor into the telephone number of a specific terminal with a communication function, and connects to the public network. The terminal with communication function 10 carried by the user who is away from the home receives video and audio via the surrounding wireless base station 9. When the intercom switches from the wired connection to the wireless connection and calls the user, the visitor may be notified that the specific user is currently calling.

Base unit 2 is connected to a public network in the configuration as shown in FIGS. If the intercom 15 is configured to automatically generate the number of the terminal with the communication function, a function of converting the room number dialed by the visitor into the telephone number of the specific terminal with the communication function is added to the intercom. There is a need. In this case, it is not necessary to add such a function to the master unit.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, if the terminal with communication function is shared with the terminal for private use, it is not necessary to newly provide a terminal for private use. Video and audio can be received.

In the case where the present invention is applied to such an apartment house, in addition to the above, a configuration in which a terminal with a communication function is also used as an intercom slave unit can be considered. In this case, instead of the doorphone slave unit, a terminal with a communication function may be connected to the wiring from the doorphone via a connector, and the terminal with the communication function may be easily separated from the wiring.

Usually, this terminal with a communication function is used as a door phone slave unit. Then, when the user goes out, the user can remove the terminal with the communication function and carry the terminal with the wireless base station by a wireless line so that the camera image of the intercom can be received at the destination. In addition, a user who carries a terminal with a communication function can communicate with a visitor by remote control.

After returning home, the user stores the terminal with the communication function in the original position and uses it as a door phone slave unit. In this configuration, when the terminal with a communication function (doorphone slave) is removed, the doorphone may be automatically set to the answering mode for the slave.

For this purpose, on the doorphone side, an electrical contact which operates by detecting a change in the impedance of the connection line or by detaching a connector for connecting a terminal with a communication function (doorphone slave unit) is provided, and a mode switching signal is transmitted through the contact. Is transmitted, and this is detected on the intercom side, whereby it can be recognized that the terminal with communication function has been removed.

As another configuration, a base unit for an indoor cordless telephone is installed in each unit of an apartment house, and usually, a terminal with a communication function is connected to the base unit for the indoor cordless telephone via a wireless line and used. It can also be used as a slave unit, and carry the terminal with a communication function when going out, so that it is possible to receive the image of the camera of the door phone at home via the wireless base station when going out.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a first example of control according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the first example and the second example of the above-described embodiment, the intercom and the normal intercom are used. The operation of the slave unit is shown.

In the figure, when the intercom is off-hook, a call signal is transmitted as a radio signal to call the slave unit. The slave unit transmits a synchronization signal in response to this, and when synchronization is achieved, the slave unit sounds the ringer. When the slave unit is hooked off, a response signal is returned to the door phone, whereby the door phone and the slave unit start communication, and a video signal and an audio signal are exchanged between the door phone and the slave unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a second example of control according to the embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to the first aspect of the present invention. This example shows a case where the door phone automatically detects the absence of the user and connects to the user on the go. The door phone attempts to connect to the private handset, but if there is no response from the private handset even after calling for a certain period of time, it is determined to be away and the parent handset is called. The called base unit calls the terminal with a communication function as described above, and transmits the video and audio of the visitor to the terminal with the communication function at a destination.

At this time, since the exchange does not know where the corresponding terminal with the communication function is located, the exchange inquires the PHS service control station about the location information. The service control station retrieves the location information, knows the location and informs the exchange of this.

Thus, the corresponding wireless base station calls the terminal with a communication function, and when the terminal with a communication function responds to the call, communication is started. Thereby, the figure of the visitor is converted into an electric signal through the camera of the door phone, transmitted, and reproduced on the screen of the terminal with the communication function.

Then, a voice conversation can be performed between the door phone and the terminal with a communication function. It is also possible to send characters and graphics as images from a terminal with a communication function.
In addition, if a camera is attached to the terminal with a communication function, a photographic image can be sent from the terminal with a communication function to the door phone.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining a third example of the control according to the embodiment of the present invention, and shows a case in which a switch for manually setting an automatic answering mode is provided in the master unit. In this example, the user himself / herself registers the absence mode in the master unit. The parent device in which the absence mode is registered notifies the intercom of the absence.
When the doorphone receives the notification, when there is a visitor, the doorphone transmits the video and audio directly to the terminal with the communication function at the destination via the parent device. Other operations are the same as those in the case of FIG. 5 described above, and a detailed description will be omitted.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a fourth example of the control according to the embodiment of the present invention, and shows an example in which the master unit automatically searches for the absence of the user. The terminal with a communication function operates in a private mode indoors and can be used as a cordless handset of a home. When the user takes the terminal with communication function outdoors when going out, the terminal with communication function automatically switches from the private mode to the public mode.

For example, if the master unit does not respond to the call with a communication function terminal at a certain period, it is determined that the communication function terminal is outdoors. By such a method, the master unit can automatically detect the absence of the user. Thereafter, the master unit that has detected an absence performs the same operation as in the case of FIG. 6 described above.

In the operation diagrams shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the telephone number of the terminal with the communication function is dialed in the master unit, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the dialing is performed on the door phone side as described above. Further, the base unit can also provide a transfer service for automatically transferring a telephone call from an outside line to a terminal with a communication function at a destination when the user determines that the user is away.

Further, the user carrying the terminal with a communication function not only confirms the visitor from the outside, but also depending on the visitor, a password for unlocking the entrance of the house or the entrance of the condominium from the terminal with the communication function. By inputting, it is also possible to welcome visitors by remote control.

When the intercom does not have a wired line connection, it is effective to use a solar cell or the like to supply power to the intercom. In addition, when an outside light is installed in a detached house or the like, it is not necessary to add a solar cell function as long as power supplied to the outside light can be supplied to the door phone.

[0055]

According to the present invention, a door phone has a wireless communication function and functions as a "child unit" of an indoor cordless telephone connected to an indoor telephone line. It uses direct communication between child devices that can transmit video and audio to and from the devices using wireless lines.

When the user is away, the intercom calls the base unit, and the called base unit automatically dials the telephone number of the communication-capable terminal carried by the user when going out. By receiving this via a nearby wireless base station, the user can recognize the video and audio of the visitor. Therefore, the user can confirm the visitor even in a remote place.

Further, according to the present invention, since the intercom and the self-employed child unit are connected by a wireless line, wiring work for installing the intercom is not required, so that the intercom system can be easily installed, and therefore economical. Can also be expected.
In addition, since both the terminal with communication function and the private handset can be used indoors as cordless telephone handsets, there is an advantage that this system can be used as a home telephone.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a second example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a third example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a first example of control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a second example of control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a third example of control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a fourth example of control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Indoor 2 Base unit 3 Protocol converter 4 Self-employed slave unit 5, 15 Camera door phone 6 Analog telephone network 7 D / A signal converter 8 ISDN network 9 Wireless base station 10 Terminal with communication function 11 Speed converter 12 Apartment 13 Manager's room 14 End collector 16 Door phone slave unit 17 Protocol converter or speed converter

Claims (8)

[Claims] An indoor cordless telephone base unit connected to an indoor telephone line, a door phone having a function of communicating with the base unit using a wireless signal and having a built-in camera, and a wireless signal transmitted between the door phone and the door phone A handset of the cordless telephone that performs image and voice transmission using the same; a terminal having a communication function that functions as a handset of the cordless telephone and has a built-in wireless communication function with a wireless base station and displays an image on a monitor; A system that includes a terminal with function and a wireless base station that communicates using a wireless line is configured. Normally, when an intercom is accessed, the intercom calls the slave unit and transfers the camera image to the slave unit. When the intercom recognizes that the handset does not respond even after the predetermined time elapses when the intercom calls the handset, it informs the base unit using a radio signal. When the master unit receives a call from the door phone, it automatically dials and connects to the terminal with communication function via the wireless base station, and the images and sounds received by the door phone are sent from the master unit via the wireless base station. An image communication method, which is transmitted to a terminal with a communication function, and wherein the sound, or the image and the sound of the terminal with the communication function, is transmitted from the wireless base station to the door phone via the master unit. 2. A base unit of an indoor cordless telephone connected to an indoor telephone line, a door phone having a function of communicating with the base unit by using a wireless signal and having a built-in camera, and transmitting a wireless signal between the door phone and the door phone. A handset of the cordless telephone that performs image and voice transmission using the same; a terminal having a communication function that functions as a handset of the cordless telephone and has a built-in wireless communication function with a wireless base station and displays an image on a monitor; Means for configuring a system including a function-equipped terminal and a wireless base station that performs communication using a wireless line, and switching a normal mode and an answering mode to the master unit;
Means for notifying the intercom of the mode, and in the normal mode, when the intercom is accessed, the intercom calls the slave unit, transfers the image of the camera to the slave unit, and performs two-way communication by voice. In the absence mode, when the door phone is accessed, the door phone contacts the master unit, and when the master unit receives a call from the door phone, it automatically dials and communicates via the wireless base station. The image and sound received by the door phone connected to the function-equipped terminal are transmitted from the master unit to the terminal with communication function via the wireless base station, and the sound or the image and sound of the terminal with the communication function are transmitted to the wireless base station. An image communication method characterized in that the image communication is transmitted to a door phone via a parent device from a telephone. 3. The image communication method according to claim 2, wherein the means for switching between the normal mode and the absence mode of the master unit is performed by a manual switch provided in the master unit. 4. The image communication method according to claim 2, wherein the means for switching between the normal mode and the absence mode of the master unit is based on an absence mode setting signal from the slave unit. 5. The means for switching between the normal mode and the answering mode of the master unit automatically sets the answering mode when the master unit calls the slave unit and when the slave unit does not respond after calling for a predetermined time or more. 3. The image communication method according to claim 2, wherein: 6. A base unit of an indoor cordless telephone connected to an indoor telephone line, a function of communicating with the base unit by using a wireless signal, a door phone including a camera, and a wireless signal between the door phone. A cordless telephone handset that transmits images and voices using the same, a terminal with a communication function that functions as a cordless phone handset and has a built-in wireless communication function with a wireless base station and monitors and displays an image; A system including a terminal with a communication function and a wireless base station that performs communication using a wireless line is configured.Normally, when an intercom is accessed, the intercom calls the slave unit and the video of the camera is sent to the slave unit. When the intercom calls the slave unit and performs a two-way communication and recognizes that the slave unit does not respond even after the predetermined time elapses when the intercom calls the slave unit, or when the answering mode is set When the doorphone automatically dials, connects to the terminal with communication function via the wireless base station, and transmits and receives images and voices between the doorphone and the terminal with communication function via the wireless base station. An image communication method comprising: 7. A base unit of an indoor cordless telephone connected to an indoor telephone line, a door phone having a function of communicating with the base unit using a radio signal and having a built-in camera, and connected to the door phone by a wired line. A plurality of intercom slave units for transmitting images and voices to and from the intercom, and a communication function for functioning as a slave unit of the cordless telephone and having a built-in radio communication function with a radio base station and displaying images on a monitor. A system including a terminal and a wireless base station that communicates with the terminal with a communication function using a wireless line, wherein the terminal with a communication function is an image to be sent from the intercom to a specific intercom slave unit. When only the doorphone is accessed, the doorphone calls the doorphone slave unit, and the camera image is transferred to the doorphone slave unit and both sounds are received. When the doorphone recognizes that the doorphone slave unit does not respond after a predetermined time has elapsed when the doorphone calls the doorphone slave unit, or when the doorphone is set to the answering machine mode, The number of the slave unit is transferred to the master unit, and the master unit automatically dials the image and sound to be sent to the corresponding door phone slave unit to a specific terminal with a communication function, and transmits the image and sound via the wireless base station. When connected to a specific terminal with a communication function, the image and sound received by the intercom are transmitted from the master unit to the terminal with the communication function via the wireless base station, and the sound of the terminal with the communication function or the image and sound are An image communication method, wherein the image communication method is transmitted from a wireless base station to a door phone via a parent device. 8. The image communication method according to claim 7, wherein the terminal having a communication function is provided with a unit functioning as a slave unit of an indoor cordless telephone.