JP4577082B2 - Wireless intercom system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is a wireless compatible type configured by connecting a door phone with a camera and an interphone master unit with a signal line, further connecting a wireless adapter to the interphone master unit, and adding an interphone wireless extension master unit. Related to intercom system.

  Patent Document 1 below discloses this type of wireless-compatible intercom system, which includes an interphone master unit in which a camera-equipped doorphone slave unit is connected by a two-wire signal line, and a wireless adapter that is wired to the interphone master unit. And an interphone sub-master device that sends and receives radio signals to and from the interphone master device by sending and receiving radio signals to and from this wireless adapter.

  FIG. 6 is a time chart showing the operation of this type of radio compatible intercom system. In the figure, only the image data is shown for transfer, compression, and format conversion, but in reality, an audio signal collected by the door phone slave unit with camera is also included.

  In this system, when the call button of the door phone with camera is operated, the camera is driven by receiving power from the interphone main unit to drive the camera, and the visitor video is taken. Transfer to the machine.

  The interphone master unit that has received the transfer compresses the image data and transfers it to the wireless adapter. The wireless adapter that has received the transfer converts the format of the image data into a radio signal and performs signal reception conversion processing for storing the image data.

  When the storage of at least one frame of image data is completed in the signal reception conversion process, the wireless adapter uses the interphone wireless extension master unit (here, the interphone wireless extension master unit is used instead of the interphone sub-master unit of Patent Document 1). ) And call processing. That is, it sends a call signal and waits for a response. If there is a response, communication conditions with the interphone wireless extension master unit are established, a call call signal is transmitted, and the next call call processing is performed.

In this call calling process, if there is a response from the interphone wireless extension base unit, the stored image data is sent to the interphone wireless extension base unit, and the interphone wireless extension base unit that has received this sends the transmitted image data. Expand and display on the monitor.
FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the operations of the wireless adapter and the interphone wireless expansion master in this type of wireless compatible intercom system.

  The flowchart in FIG. 7 shows the operation of the wireless adapter.

  When the power is input (200), the wireless adapter receives a call signal from the intercom base unit (201), receives a video signal from the intercom base unit, converts the format into a radio signal, and stores the received signal. Processing is performed (202).

  When the accumulation of at least one frame is completed (203), call calling processing with the interphone wireless extension master unit is performed (205 to 207). The details of the call call processing have been described above, and will not be described. However, even if a predetermined time elapses while waiting for each response (208, 210), if no response is received, the interphone master unit The absence is returned (209, 211).

  On the other hand, when there is a response to the call calling process, the stored image data is sent to the intercom wireless extension master unit (212).

  The flowchart of FIG. 8 shows the operation of the interphone wireless extension base unit.

  The intercom wireless extension base unit performs the above-described call calling process with the wireless adapter (300 to 303), and outputs a ringing tone based on the call calling signal sent from the wireless adapter (304).

Next, when a video signal is transmitted from the wireless adapter during a predetermined time, it is received (306, 307).
JP 2000-224316 A

  By the way, in such a system, since the image data from the interphone master unit to the wireless adapter is transmitted through the signal line, compared with a system that directly transmits a radio signal from the interphone master unit to the wireless extension master unit, The transmission speed is generally slow, which becomes noticeable when the signal line capacity is small and the image data capacity is large.

  Further, in this type of system, the wireless adapter performs a call calling process with the interphone wireless extension base unit after the signal reception conversion processing for storing image data from the interphone base unit is completed for at least one frame, If there is, the stored image data is sent out. As a result, after the call operation is performed with the door phone with camera and the visitor video is shot, the visitor video starts to be displayed on the intercom wireless extension master unit. Because of this, the wireless extension master unit detects the visitor's call by the interphone master unit, and after the ring chime is sounded, the visitor image is displayed after a considerable time delay has occurred. On the responding side, the wireless extension master unit gives anxiety and frustration that reminds the system operation of a failure.

  The present invention is proposed in order to solve such a problem, and it is possible to shorten the delay time from when shooting is started with a camera-equipped doorphone slave unit until the visitor video is displayed on the intercom wireless extension master unit. An object is to provide a wireless compatible intercom system.

In order to achieve the above object, in claim 1, a door phone with a camera is connected to an interphone base unit via a signal line, and a wireless adapter is connected to the interphone base unit via another signal line, so A wireless compatible intercom system configured by adding a machine, wherein the wireless adapter includes a first transmission processing unit that converts a video signal photographed by the door phone slave unit with a camera into a wireless format signal; A second transmission processing unit that calls the interphone wireless extension base unit and wirelessly transmits the radio format signal converted by the first transmission unit, and a calling signal based on a calling operation of the door phone slave unit with a camera, When the video signal is received through the interphone base unit, the first transmission processing unit receives the video signal transmitted from the interphone base unit. Received and converted into a radio format signal and stored, and the second transmission processing unit sends a call signal to the interphone radio extension base unit and receives a response signal to the call signal Are processed in parallel.
Further, in the above, if the second transmission processing unit sends a call signal to the interphone wireless extension master unit and then receives a response signal for the call signal within a predetermined time, it further sends a call call signal. Then, if a response signal to the call calling signal is received within a predetermined time, the first transmission processing unit sends the video signal converted and stored in the wireless format signal to the interphone wireless extension base unit. On the other hand, when the response signal for the call signal cannot be received within a predetermined time, or when the response signal for the call calling signal cannot be received within the predetermined time, the interphone master unit may be notified of the absence.

According to a third aspect of the present invention , the interphone master unit includes at least video compression means for converting a video signal captured by the camera-equipped doorphone slave unit into a compressed video signal, and a compression rate control means for controlling the compression rate of the video compression. And the compressed rate signal is sent to the wireless adapter, and the compression rate control means sets the compression rate of the video compression so that at least the first frame of the video signal is higher than the compression rate of subsequent frames. It is characterized by controlling so as to increase.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention , the interphone master unit includes at least video compression means for converting a video signal photographed by the camera doorphone slave unit into a compressed video signal, and a compression rate control means for controlling the compression rate of the video compression. And the compressed video signal is sent to the wireless adapter, and the compression rate control means gradually reduces the compression rate of the video compression from the first frame of the video signal to the subsequent frames. It is characterized by controlling as follows.

In claim 5 , the interphone base unit further includes periodic transfer means for periodically driving the door phone with camera and transferring a captured video signal to the wireless adapter. Each time it receives a video signal periodically transferred from the interphone master unit, it further comprises a periodic storage means for updating and storing, and the transmission processing control means is a call signal based on a call operation of the doorphone slave unit with camera. Is received through the interphone master unit, the video signal representing the latest updated image stored in the periodic storage means is preceded by the video signal photographed by the door phone with camera in response to the calling operation. And wirelessly transmitting to the interphone wireless extension base unit.

  The present invention has the following effects.

According to claims 1 and 2 , since the signal reception conversion processing by the first transmission processing unit and the call calling processing between the wireless adapter by the second transmission processing unit are started in parallel, In comparison, it is possible to shorten the delay time from the start of shooting by the camera-equipped doorphone slave unit until the visitor video starts to be displayed on the interphone wireless extension master unit.

According to the third and fourth aspects, the first visitor video can be displayed quickly with a reduced amount of data, and after starting the call, the call can be made while watching the fine video.

That is, according to the third aspect , the interphone master unit sets the compression rate for at least the first frame of the image data sent to the wireless adapter higher than the compression rate of the image data for the subsequent frames. On the side of the wireless extension base unit, a quick response display is possible for the first frame.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention , since the interphone base unit gradually reduces the compression rate of the image data sent to the wireless adapter for each frame, the intercom wireless extension is performed for the first one frame of image data. The display delay time in the master unit can be shortened, and when a call is started, there is an advantage that the image data is gradually displayed more clearly as the second and subsequent frames become later frames.

According to the fifth aspect , the wireless adapter sends out the video signal that has been periodically updated by the periodic storage means before sending out the video signal received from the intercom master by calling the door phone slave unit. Until the actual image from the second frame to be displayed on the extension base unit is captured, the video signal representing the latest updated image in the periodic storage means can be sent to the radio extension base unit for display. Regardless of the transmission capability from the master unit to the wireless adapter, the display delay time of image data in the interphone wireless extension master unit can be shortened.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Here, a television interphone is used as the interphone, but the present invention can also be configured by an interphone without a monitor.

FIG. 3 is a specific block diagram of the first inventive system.
The door phone with camera 1 and the TV interphone master unit 2 are connected by a signal line L2, and the TV interphone master unit 2 and the wireless adapter 3 are connected by a signal line L1. And the TV intercom radio | wireless expansion main | base station 4 which performs radio | wireless communication with the radio | wireless adapter 3 is provided.

The intercom 1 with camera includes a signal processing unit 10, a speaker amplifier A1 that amplifies the level of the audio signal output to the speaker SP, a microphone amplifier A2 that amplifies the level of the audio signal input from the microphone MIC, the camera 11, A call button 12 is provided.
The intercom base unit 2 includes a signal processing unit 20, a speaker amplifier A1 that amplifies the level of the audio signal output to the speaker SP, a microphone amplifier A2 that amplifies the level of the audio signal input through the microphone MIC, a monitor 21, and operation buttons. 22.
The wireless adapter 3 includes a signal processing unit 30 having an adapter control means 30A, a first transmission processing unit 31, and a second transmission processing unit 32 having an antenna 32.
The intercom wireless extension base unit 4 includes a signal processing unit 40 and an antenna ANT. The wireless communication unit 41 performs the above-described call calling processing with the wireless adapter 3 and the level of the audio signal output to the speaker SP. A speaker amplifier A1 for amplifying, a microphone amplifier A2 for amplifying the level of an audio signal input from the microphone MIC, a monitor 42, and an operation button 43 are provided.

  The first transmission processing unit 31 of the wireless adapter 3 performs a signal reception conversion process, converts the format of the video signal received from the intercom master unit 2 and photographed by the camera-equipped doorphone slave unit 1 into the form of a wireless signal and stores it. To do.

  The second transmission processing unit 32 of the wireless adapter 3 performs call calling processing with the interphone wireless extension base unit 4 based on the calling signal received from the interphone base unit 2, and if there is a response, the first transmission processing The video signal stored in the unit 31 is sent to the intercom wireless extension base unit 4 through the antenna ANT.

  In the wireless adapter 3, the first transmission processing unit 31 and the second transmission processing unit 32 can be configured by a one-chip CPU.

In the first aspect of the present invention configured as described above, the parallel transmission processing in which the signal reception conversion processing by the first transmission processing unit 31 and the call call processing by the second transmission processing unit 32 are performed in parallel as described above. Do.
That is, when at least image data is transmitted as a video signal from the intercom base unit 2, the first transmission processing unit receives it and performs signal reception conversion processing for converting the format into a radio signal and sequentially storing it.
In parallel with such signal reception conversion processing, the second transmission processing unit 32 performs the above-described call call processing with the interphone wireless extension base unit 4 based on the call signal transmitted from the interphone base unit 2. To do.

  That is, in parallel transmission processing, when there is a call operation on the camera-equipped doorphone slave unit 1, image data captured by the camera-equipped doorphone slave unit 1 is received from the intercom master unit 2, converted into a radio signal, and stored. While performing the signal reception conversion process, the intercom wireless extension base unit 4 is called by calling the call, and the intercom radio extension base unit 4 is called and the call is called and stored in the first transmission processing unit 31. The stored image data is sent to the intercom wireless extension master unit 4.

  The intercom wireless extension base unit 4 receives this, expands the received image data, and displays it on the monitor.

According to such a configuration, the following basic operation is performed. FIG. 1 is a time chart showing such a basic operation.
That is, if there is a call at the camera-equipped doorphone sub unit 1, the voltage value of the signal line L changes, and the interphone base unit 2 detects this change and recognizes that the call has been received.

Then, the interphone master unit 2 performs a calling operation, supplies the drive power of the camera-equipped doorphone slave unit 1 to drive the camera, and sends a calling signal to the wireless adapter 3 and the wired extension master unit 5.
The wireless adapter 3 uses the first transmission processing unit 31 to perform a signal reception conversion process in which the video signal received from the interphone master unit 2 and photographed by the camera doorphone slave unit 1 is converted into a wireless signal format and stored. Do.
Here, in the wireless format conversion for converting the format into the form of a wireless signal, the format conversion including block formation for dividing the frame of the video signal and addition of a header is performed.
At the same time, on the basis of the call signal received from the interphone base unit 2, the second transmission processing unit 32 performs call calling processing with the interphone wireless extension base unit 4, and if there is a response, the first transmission processing unit The video signal stored in 31 is sent to the intercom wireless extension base unit 4.
The intercom wireless extension base unit 4 outputs a ringing tone in response to a call calling process with the wireless adapter 3. At the same time, the visitor video is displayed on the monitor based on the video signal received from the wireless adapter 3.
In wireless communication with the wireless extension base unit 4, the video signal may be transmitted in one direction and the audio signal may be transmitted in both directions as a frequency-multiplexed radio signal, or the audio may be transmitted as a separate channel. In addition, a conventional wireless transmission method can be adopted for voice.
The operations of the camera-equipped doorphone slave unit 1 and the interphone master unit 2 are the same as those in FIG.

  The flowchart of FIG. 2 shows an example of the basic operation of the wireless adapter 3 (the first transmission processing unit 31 and the second transmission processing unit 32 are configured by a one-chip CPU). The basic operation of the intercom wireless extension base unit 4 is the same as that in the flowchart of FIG.

  When the wireless adapter 3 is turned on (100) and receives a call signal based on the call operation of the door phone with camera 1 from the intercom base unit 2, the second transmission processing unit 32 performs call call processing. And a call signal is sent to the intercom wireless extension master unit 4 (103). At the same time, the first transmission processing unit 31 receives the video signal transmitted from the intercom base unit 2 and performs signal reception conversion processing for converting it into a radio signal and storing it (102).

In the second transmission processing unit 32, if the response to the call signal and the responses to the call calling signal (104 to 106) are within a predetermined time (107, 109), at least one frame of the video signal is transmitted to the first transmission processing unit 31. (111), if it is completed, the video signal stored in the first transmission processing unit 31 is sent to the intercom wireless extension base unit 4 (112).
If a response to each of the call signal and the call call signal cannot be obtained within a predetermined time, the absence is returned to the intercom base unit 2 (108, 110).

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another example of the basic configuration of the second system of the present invention.

In the second present invention system, in the interphone master unit 2, the signal processing unit 20 includes a video compression unit 20A and a compression rate control unit 20B. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first system of the present invention, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted.

  This second invention system is characterized in that the compression rate is changed for each frame of the video signal by the compression rate control means 20B.

  The video compression unit 20A receives the control of the compression rate control unit 20B, and compresses the visitor video shot by the camera-equipped doorphone slave unit 1 at a predetermined compression rate.

  The compressed visitor video is sent to the wireless adapter 3 through the signal line L1 as described above.

  The compression rate control means 20B has a counter (not shown), manages the video signal to be sent to the wireless adapter 3 on a frame basis, and controls the video compression means 20A to compress only the first frame at a predetermined compression rate. Although the control is performed, the subsequent video signal is controlled to be compressed at a compression rate smaller than the compression rate.

  That is, after the second frame, transfer is performed in a state where the compression rate is canceled so as to be close to the original image.

  Note that the compression rate may be reduced step by step for each frame from the first frame, and control may be performed to achieve a predetermined compression rate.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the basic configuration of the third system of the present invention.

In the third system of the present invention, in the intercom base unit 2, the signal processing unit 20 includes a regular transfer means 20C.

  In addition, the wireless adapter 3 includes a regular storage unit 33. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first and second aspects of the invention, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted.

  The regular transfer means 20C of the intercom base unit 2 receives the video signal by feeding power to the doorphone slave unit with camera 1 for every predetermined time, and sends it to the wireless adapter 3. The wireless adapter 3 receives this through the first transmission processing unit 31 and stores and updates it in the regular storage means 33 as a video signal representing the latest updated image. Note that the storage mode of the video signal may be either a still image or a moving image.

  The transmission processing control unit 30A performs the second transmission of the audio signal and video signal in the periodic storage unit 33 before sending the audio signal and video signal received from the interphone master unit 2 to the wireless adapter 4 through the second transmission processing unit 32. The data is transferred to the processing unit 32 and sent to the wireless adapter 4 through the second transmission processing unit 32.

That is, when there is a response as a result of a call calling process with the intercom wireless extension base unit 4 by the second transmission processing unit 32, first, the audio signal and video signal of the periodic storage means 33 are sent to the second transmission processing unit 32. Then, the audio signal and the video signal accumulated in the first transmission unit 31 are delivered to the second transmission unit 32.
Therefore, the backed up image data is inserted into at least the first frame of the image data to be sent from the second transmission processing unit 32 to the wireless adapter 4.

Time chart showing an example of the basic operation of the first present invention The flowchart which shows an example of the basic operation | movement of the wireless adapter in 1st this invention The block diagram which shows an example of the basic composition of the 1st present invention The block diagram which shows an example of the basic composition of the 2nd present invention The block diagram which shows an example of the basic composition of 3rd this invention Time chart showing the basic operation of a conventional wireless-compatible intercom system Flow chart showing basic operation of wireless adapter in conventional system Flowchart showing the basic operation of the intercom wireless extension master unit in the conventional system

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Door phone subunit | mobile_unit with a camera 2 Interphone main | base station 3 Wireless adapter 4 Interphone radio | wireless extension main | base station 20A Image | video compression means 20B Compression rate control means 20C Periodic transfer means 31 1st transmission processing part 32 2nd transmission processing part 33 Periodic storage means L1, L2 signal line

Claims (5)

Connect the intercom base unit to the intercom base unit with a signal line, connect the wireless adapter to the intercom base unit with another signal line, and add the interphone wireless extension base unit that performs wireless communication with the wireless adapter. Wireless intercom system configured as
The wireless adapter includes a first transmission processing unit that converts a video signal captured by the camera doorphone slave unit into a wireless format signal;
A second transmission processing unit that calls the interphone wireless extension base unit and wirelessly transmits the radio format signal converted by the first transmission unit ;
A call signal based on the call operation of the intercom slave unit with the camera, when it receives through the intercom master unit,
By the first transmission processing unit receives the video signal that is transmitted from the interphone parent device, a process of accumulating and converted to a radio format signal,
The wireless transmission type interphone, wherein the second transmission processing unit performs processing in parallel with a process of sending a call signal to the interphone wireless extension base unit and receiving a response signal to the call signal. system. In claim 1,
If the second transmission processing unit sends a call signal to the interphone wireless extension master unit and then receives a response signal to the call signal within a predetermined time, it further sends a call call signal, and then If a response signal to the call calling signal is received within a predetermined time, the first transmission processing unit starts sending the video signal converted and stored in the wireless format signal to the interphone wireless extension master unit,
A radio-compatible intercom system, wherein a response signal for the call signal cannot be received within a predetermined time or a response signal for the call call signal cannot be received within a predetermined time, and the absence of notification is sent to the interphone master unit. . In claim 1 or 2 ,
The intercom base unit is at least
Video compression means for converting a video signal photographed by the door phone with camera to a compressed video signal, and compression rate control means for controlling the compression rate of the video compression, and sending the compressed video signal to the wireless adapter It is configured to
The wireless compatible intercom system, wherein the compression rate control means controls the compression rate of the video compression so that at least the first frame of the video signal is higher than the compression rate of the subsequent frames. In claim 3 ,
The intercom base unit is at least
A video compression means for converting a video signal photographed by the door phone with the camera into a compressed video signal, and a compression rate control means for controlling the compression rate of the video compression, and sending the compressed video signal to the wireless adapter It is composed and
The wireless compatible intercom system, wherein the compression rate control means controls the compression rate of the video compression so that the compression rate is gradually reduced from the first frame of the video signal to the subsequent frames. In claim 1 or 2 ,
The intercom master unit further includes periodic transfer means for periodically driving the camera doorphone slave unit and transferring a captured video signal to the wireless adapter,
The wireless adapter further includes a periodic storage means for updating and storing each time a video signal periodically transferred from the interphone master unit is received,
The transmission processing control means includes
When a call signal based on the call operation of the door phone slave unit with a camera is received through the interphone master unit,
The video signal representing the latest updated image stored in the periodical storage means is wirelessly transmitted to the interphone wireless extension base unit before the video signal photographed by the door phone with camera in response to the calling operation. A wireless compatible intercom system characterized by this.

Images