Method and apparatus for connecting a television interphone monitor system to a concierge station over the internet

(12) PATENT DESCRIPTION (19) PL (11) 211471 (13) B1 (21) Application number: 369932 (51) Int.Cl.

(22) Date of notification: 07/12/2002 H04N 7/18 (2006.01)

H04N 7/14 (2006.01) (86) Date and number of the international application:

2002-07-12, PCT / US02 / 022187 (87) International application publication date and number:

2003-03-20, WO03 / 024066

Apparatus for connecting the television monitoring intercom system to the porter's lodge

<td>(30) Priority: 2001-07-24, US, 09 / 912.002</td><td>(73) The right holder of the patent: ELBEX VIDEO LTD., Tokyo, JP ELBEX AMERICA (NY) INC., Blauvelt, US</td>

<td>(43) Application was announced: 02.05.2005 BUP 09/05</td><td>(72) Inventor (s): DAVID ELBERBAUM, Tokyo, JP</td>

<td>(45) The grant of the patent was announced:</td><td rowspan="2">(74) Representative: item. stalemate. Michał Wróblewski</td>

<td>May 31, 2012 WUP 05/12</td>

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Description of the invention

The subject of the invention is an apparatus for connecting a television monitoring intercom system to a gatehouse. It enables the organization of communication between the building entrances and individual apartments, including the transmission of the visitor's image to a monitor mounted on the apartment wall, in the concierge desk and / or the gatehouse switchboard and / or service center via the Internet.

The TV monitoring intercom, used for input monitoring and communication, is mounted on the wall inside the apartment. It is wired with multi-core cables in order to connect it to other other system components, such as microphone cables, speaker cables, coaxial cable for video signals, door release cable, telephone cable and alarm cable. In the case of installation of a more complex system, such as With multiple entrances and / or multiple concierge systems, the cabling arrangement becomes increasingly complex and costly.

Moreover, when after installing such a comprehensive system that supports multiple entrances, it is simultaneously used by people at different entrances, all visitors, except for the person who is already connected to the selected apartment, must wait until the "busy communication line is released and then the system will enable the connection of the next person to the line. Busy lines cause delays and other inconveniences, especially when the concierge desk is occupied with longer communication with the tenant and / or visitor via the video intercom system network.

In addition, some buildings have several concierge stands, while in other buildings concierge services are only offered part-time, e.g. only during the day. This causes confusion and additional delays, e.g. when tenants call the reception desk, occupying subsequent communication lines and continuously load the video-interphone system, thus blocking the possibility of making emergency calls and other necessary reception services.

Another type of television interphone monitoring system is disclosed in US Patent No. 5,923,363, in which the input unit comprises a matrix switching apparatus allowing multiple inputs and reception areas to be connected to multiple apartments simultaneously.

However, when such reception services are not available 24/7 or when a single reception desk serving the entire building is fully loaded, in an emergency or in need of other services, these cases may not be properly handled, resulting in a that these services are of low quality and ineffective.

The essence of the present invention is to provide apparatus enabling connection of a television interphone monitoring system with the gatehouse E with the use of wired, wireless, dedicated or public telephone lines or other networks and / or the Internet, while providing both tenants and visitors with unlimited access to reception services around the clock. Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple call to gatehouse E by a simple touch of a key and to further simplify communication with the operators of gatehouse E by enabling two-way communication via voice, image and data, so as to enable children and elderly people who cannot operate computers personal or other internet interface devices, fast, simple and efficient recall of the reception desk E and enabling the provision of the services offered by the handset and the TV intercom monitor and / or via the entry panel, using the voice, image and TV data intercoms of the monitoring intercoms.

The use of the apparatus according to the invention includes:

- the stage of propagation of information signals, being a combination of signals selected from the group consisting of audio signals, video signals, control signals, alarm signals and data signals generated by the television intercom monitor and the entrance panel, connected by a matrix selector and transmitted on internal communication lines between the at least one television intercom monitor and the at least one input panel with at least one interface unit;

- a stage of processing the information signals by the interface unit and introducing the processed information signals into the communication network;

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- a step of generating and transmitting to the interface unit a signal for calling the gatehouse station initiating a connection of the interface unit to the gatehouse E via a communication network;

- a communication stage between the television intercom monitor system and the gatehouse station E using the information signals processed by the interface unit.

The current for controlling the television intercom monitor and recharging the battery associated with the television intercom monitor is supplied to the television intercom monitor through the internal communication lines. This monitor and the entry panel have function keys to generate control signals, including the call initiation signal.

The television monitoring intercom system comprises at least one reception bureau post and one security bureau post adapted to propagate information signals via a matrix selector and internal communication lines to at least one interface unit. At least one television intercom monitor communicates simultaneously with at least one interface unit, the bureau de change and the gatehouse E by transmitting information signals from the interface to the gatehouse E.

At least one interface unit for alternately transmitting information signals from the interface to the gatehouse station E communicates alternately with at least one bureau de change, at least one entry panel and at least one television intercom monitor. The interface unit is adapted to process the simultaneously transmitted information signals, propagate the independent information signals between the interface and the gatehouse station E via the communication network, and communicate the independent interconnected information signals with the gatehouse station E via the communication network. At least one interface unit has a memory module for storing data relating to the services offered by the gatehouse E and for selectively downloading stored data to display information relating to these services on the video intercom monitor and on the monitor of at least one bureau de change.

Apparatus for connecting a television intercom monitoring system to the gatehouse E via the public telephone line, according to the present invention, comprises at least one input panel, at least one television intercom monitor for communicating with and observing visitors, at least one transmission link for connecting each of the television intercom monitors to the central unit or directly to the at least one entrance panel. Each entry panel is equipped with a microphone, a loudspeaker and possibly a television camera and monitor, each of the entry panels processing electrical information signals including duplex and / or simplex audio signals and / or data signals, the television intercom monitor and the entrance panel having function keys, and the interface unit is connected to gatehouse E via a communication network connected to the power source.

The system of television monitoring intercoms includes at least one bureau de change, selected from the group consisting of the bureau de change of the reception desk and the bureau of the security station, connected via the matrix selector and internal communication lines with the interface unit and enables simultaneous communication of interface information signals with the reception point E.

The interface unit communicates alternately with the bureau de change station, the entry panel and the television intercom monitor for alternating transmission of the interfaced information signals to the reception station. It is adapted to process simultaneously transmitted information signals and to communicate a plurality of independent, interfaced information signals with the reception station E via the communication network. The interface unit has a memory module for storing data relating to the services offered by the reception station E and for selectively downloading stored data to display information relating to these services on the video intercom monitor and the monitor of at least one exchange office.

The matrix selector comprises digital switches for alternately transmitting information signals between at least one television intercom monitor, at least one input panel, at least one bureau de change station, and at least one interface unit.

The subject matter of the invention has been shown, without limiting its scope, in the drawing examples, in which Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a television system.

A monitoring intercom with an Internet connection; Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the television intercom monitoring system shown in Fig. 1, wherein the television intercom monitor is powered via the information transmission line; Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a multiple television intercom monitoring system with one entry panel and connection to the Internet; fig. 4 - a block diagram of the multiple television intercom monitoring system shown in Fig. 3, wherein the television intercom monitors are powered via the information transmission line; Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a multiple television intercom monitoring system with multiple entry panels, gate and security stations with an Internet connection; Fig. 6 is a block diagram of the multiple television intercom monitoring system shown in Fig. 5, wherein the television intercom monitors are powered via the information transmission line; Figure 7 is a block diagram of a multiple television intercom monitoring system with multiple entry panels, gate and security stations, and multiple connections to a web interface unit; Fig. 8 is a block diagram of the multiple television intercom monitoring system shown in Fig. 7, where the television intercom monitors are powered through the information transmission lines, and where the use of multiple internet interface units enables multiple connections to the internet; Fig. 9 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of a television intercom monitor in the apparatus shown in Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 8; fig. 10 an electric circuit block diagram showing an entry panel with a connection matrix including parts of the control circuits and their connection to the internet interface unit, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows an apparatus for connecting a television monitoring intercom system to the gatehouse station E according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The information signals in the solution according to the invention may be only audio or video signals, a combination of audio, video, alarm, data signals and coded signals propagating between the entrance panel, the gatehouse or security station and the TV intercom monitor and / or between the gatehouse station E and the TV monitor intercom and / or between the gatehouse E and the entrance panel, gatehouse or security station and / or between gatehouse E and TV intercom monitor, entrance panel, gatehouse or security desk. The video signal according to the invention may be part of a composite video signal, a composite video signal or a digital video signal. Audio signals according to the invention may be analog or digital signals, while video signals and / or audio signals and / or data signals may be compressed signals.

According to the example shown in Fig. 1, an apparatus for connecting a television monitoring intercom system to a gatehouse via the internet includes an input panel 70 with an integrated television camera 71, a microphone 73, a loudspeaker 74, a monitor 75 and a dial pad (not shown) for transmitting and receiving a signal. information. The apparatus also includes: a command sensor 50, a selector S1 / S2 for receiving and transmitting information signals to and from the input panel 70, a transmission line 16 for propagating information signals between the television intercom monitor 40 and the command sensor 50, and for propagating information signals between the command sensor 50 and entry panel 70 via selector S1 / S2. The television intercom monitor 40 has a monitor circuit 44 for displaying images and an intercom circuit 45 for receiving and generating information signals.

The television intercom monitor 40 further comprises an input for processing data signals and alarm signals and a video input for receiving the video signals and propagating the received data, alarm and video signals through transmission line 16. The command sensor 50 extracts and decodes the command and control signals propagating over transmission line 16 and provides the selected command signal to selector S1 / S2 over command line 17 and to internet interface 110 over command line 17A.

The selector S1 / S2 may be controlled via a command signal generated from the television intercom monitor 40 via the command sensor 50 and command line 17 either via the Internet interface 110 and interconnecting line 18 or via an command generated from the input panel and provided to the selector S1 / S2 via the SL selection line. The selector S1 / S2, by appropriately setting the switches, enables the input panel 70 to be connected to the television intercom monitor 40, as shown in Fig. 1, to the internet interface 110 by turning the switch S1 to position B, or to the television intercom monitor 40 and the internet interface 110 via simultaneous setting of both switches S1 and S2 to position B.

PL 211 471 B1

The selector S1 / S2 also makes it possible, by turning the selector switch S2 to position B, to connect the television intercom monitor 40 to the internet interface 110. With this arrangement, the gatehouse station E, the television intercom monitor 40 and / or the entrance panel 70 may be interconnected at any time. configuration. The selector switches S1 and S2 are shown as a pair of mechanical switches, but may be switches of any kind, such as, for example, electronic analogue or digital switches, matrix switches, which are widely available in various chipsets.

The web interface 110 is fed with information signals via connecting line 18 and is activated via command line 17A to initiate a call to reception station E via network line 19. Network line 19 may be any dedicated or public telephone line with metallic, optical or metallic wires wireless telephone line. The line can be a line from a well-known network such as TCP / IP or ATM or Ethernet. It can also be a communication line, directly connected to the Internet provider's server or to the gatehouse E.

The gatehouse stand E 129, which will be described below, is operated by operators or electronic equipment with devices for voice, video, control, alarm and data communication with common codes, data and information signals compatible with the codes, data and information signals used in the system television monitoring intercoms.

Fig. 2 shows a television monitoring intercom system with a single television intercom monitor identical to that shown in Fig. 1, except that the current source 14 is connected to the circuit between transmission lines 16 and 16A. The transmission line 16A transmits a predetermined current to the television intercom and the current to charge the battery 49 powering the display monitor circuit 44 of the television intercom monitor 40A, which, unlike the television intercom monitor 40, is not connected to the power line.

The power source 14, battery charging, and other details of the power supply to the 40A video intercom monitor are not described herein as they are exhaustively set forth in US Patent No. 5,923,363.

Fig. 3 shows an apparatus for connecting a multiple television monitoring intercom system to a gatehouse E via the internet, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, with an entry panel 70, an integrated camera 71, a microphone 73, a loudspeaker 74, a monitor 75 and a dial keypad (not shown) for transmitting and receiving a signal informational; a command sensor 60 and two selectors S1 and S2 for receiving and transmitting information signals to and from the input panel 70, with selectors S1 and S2 and an input panel 70, shown as part of the input unit 120, a number of transmission lines 16 for propagating information signals between the two or more 40 TV intercom monitors, shown as 1, 2 in, and a command sensor 60 with multiple inputs for propagating informational signals between the command sensor 60 and the input board 70 via the selectors S1 and S2. Each of the television intercom monitors 40 includes a monitor circuit 44 for displaying images and an intercom circuit 45 for acquiring and generating information signals.

Like the television intercom monitor 40 of Fig. 1, each video intercom monitor also has an integrated input for processing data signals and alarm signals and a video input for receiving video signals and for distributing received data, alarm and video signals over the transmission line 16. The command sensor 60 extracts and decodes the command and control alarm signals transmitted on transmission line 16 and provides the selected command signal to selector S1 and selector S2 via command line 17 and to the web interface 110 via command line 17A. However, since the multiple system can generate a large number of alarms, commands, and overrides, control circuit 130 may include a microprocessor for controlling multiple tasks simultaneously depending on the data provided from command sensor 60 via command / command line 17B.

The selectors S1 and S2 may be controlled via: a command signal generated from any of the television intercom monitors 40 via command sensor 60 and command lines 17, 17B and 17C, command signal generated from gatehouse E via web interface 110 and connecting line 18, or a command signal generated from the input panel and supplied to selectors S1 and S2 by the selection line SL. The selector S1 may be commanded to connect the input panel 70 to one of the television intercom monitors 40, while the other monitor 40 may be connected via the selector S2 to the gatehouse station E via

It is also possible to connect entry panel 70 to internet interface 110 via selectors S1 and S2, or connect entry panel 70 together with one of the television intercom monitors 40 to internet interface 110. Such an arrangement gives full flexibility to actuate the gatehouse station E from the input panel 70, either of the TV intercom monitors 40 or both, or to secure for separate communications of two lines, one between the input panel 70 and the TV intercom monitor 40 and the other between the TV intercom monitor 40. and gate stand E via the web interface 110.

The selectors S1 and S2 are shown in Fig. 3 as a pair of hand switches, but like the selectors S1 and S2 in Figs. 1 and 2, the selectors S1 and S2 in Fig. 3 may be any well-known analog and digital electronic switches or matrix switches. which are widely available in various integrated circuits.

Like web interface 110 of Fig. 1, web interface 110 of Fig. 3 is powered by information signals over connecting line 18 and activated to call gate station E over command line 17A and communicate with gate station E over network line 19. Line 19 it may be any public or dedicated telephone line with metal cords, optical lines, or a wireless line. It could be a line of well-known networks such as TCP / IP or ATM or Ethernet, it could also be a communication line directly connected to the ISP or to gatehouse E.

As in the apparatus of Fig. 1, the gatehouse E 129 is operated by operators or electronic equipment with devices for voice, video, control, alarm and data communication with common codes, data and information signals compatible with codes, data and signals. information used in the television monitoring intercom system.

Fig. 4 shows a television intercom monitor system with multiple television intercom monitors 40A, identical to the system shown in Fig. 3 except that it includes a plurality of power supply units 14 positioned between transmission lines 16 and 16A connecting the video intercom monitors 40A to the power supply units. 14. A predetermined current transmitted on the transmission line 16A actuates the television intercom and recharges the batteries 49 powering the circuits of the 44 television intercom monitors 40A, which, unlike the television intercom monitors 40, are not connected to a power supply. Power sources 14, battery charging, and power details of 40A video intercom monitors are fully explained in US Patent No. 5,923,363.

Fig. 5 shows an apparatus for connecting a multiple television monitoring intercom system to the gatehouse E via the internet, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, comprising at least one entry panel 70, each with an integrated television camera 71, microphone 73, loudspeaker 74, monitor 75 and not shown. keypad of the selector for transmitting and receiving the information signal. The apparatus further comprises a gatehouse 8 and a security office 9, each equipped with a monitor 5 and an intercom unit 6 for generating and receiving information signals, and a control unit 102 for generating and receiving dialing and control commands, an command sensor 60 and a plurality of selectors SG, SC, S1-1, S1-2, S1-n and S2 that form the matrix selector SM for intercepting and transmitting information signals to and from the input panels 70, gatehouse 8, security office 9 and TV intercom monitors 40, via transmission lines 16, 16-1, 16-2, 16-n, 16C, 16G and 18 and command sensor inputs 60 to search for command signals from information signals distributed through the sensor by order of 60. Each of the television intercom monitors 40 includes a monitor circuit 44 for displaying images and an intercom circuit 45 for capturing and generating information signals, similar to the television intercom monitor 40 of Figures 1 and 3. Each video intercom monitor also has a built-in data / alarm input for processing data and alarm signals and a video input for video capture and propagation of these data, alarm and video signals via transmission line 16. The command sensor 60 extracts and decodes the alarm, command and control signals transmitted on line 16 and routes the selected command signal to the main control unit 101 and to the web interface 110 via command line 17A. The main control unit 101 simultaneously commands and controls the control circuits 102 of the gatehouse 8 of the security office and the matrix selector SM via select line 101A, depending on the data supplied to and from command sensor 60 via command / command lines 17B.

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Each of the selectors S1-1 to S1-n may be commanded by a command signal generated from any of the television intercom monitors 40, via command sensor 60 and command lines 17B, or by an order generated from gatehouse E via web interface 110 and connecting line 18 or by an order generated from the input panel and supplied to selectors S1-1 and S1-n via the selection line SL. Selectors S1-1 through S1-n may be configured to connect each respective input panel 70 to one of the television intercom monitors 40 while other television intercom monitors may be connected via selectors SG, SC and S2 to the gatehouse 8, security bureau 9 and to gatehouse E via the web interface 110. It is also possible to connect the entry panel 70, the gatehouse 8 or the security office 9 to the web interface 110 via the selectors SG or SC or S1-i to S1-n and S2 or the connection of the entry panel 70, the gatehouse 8 or the security office 9 together with one of the TV intercom monitors 40 to the web interface 110. Such an arrangement gives full flexibility to initiate connections to the gatehouse E from any entry panel 70, concierge and / or security bureaux and any television intercom monitor 40 individually or collectively, or provides for separate communication a line, one between each entry panel 70 and the television monitor. intercom 40 and others between the TV intercom 40 monitor and the porter's office 8, security office 9 and concierge desk E via the web interface 110.

The selectors SG, SC, S1-1 ... S1-n, and S2 are shown in Fig. 5 as manual selector switches, but like S1 and S2 in Fig. 3, the selectors in Fig. 5 may be any well known in the fan range. analog or digital electronic switches or matrix switches which are widely available in integrated circuits.

Like the web interface 110 of Figs. 1 and 3, the web interface of Fig. 5 is powered by information signals y via connecting line 18 and activated to initiate a connection to the gatehouse E via control line 17A and communicate with the station. gatehouse E via network line 19. Network line 19 may be a public or dedicated telephone line with metal, optical, or wireless lines. This line can be a line of well-known networks such as TCP / IP, or ATM or Ethernet, or it can be a communication line directly connected to the ISP server or to gatehouse E.

The gatehouse E, as explained above, is operated by operators or electronic equipment with voice, video, control, alarm and data communication devices with common codes, data and information signals compatible with the codes, data and information signals used in the television monitoring intercom system .

Fig. 6 shows a television intercom system with multiple television intercom monitors 40A, identical to the system shown in Fig. 5, except for a plurality of power supply units 14 connected between transmission lines 16 and 16A connecting video intercom monitors 40A to power supply units 14. The transmission line 16A transmits a predetermined current to the television intercom and the current to charge the batteries 49 which energize the circuits of the 44 display monitors of the television intercom monitors 40A, which, unlike the television intercom monitors 40, are not connected to the power line. Power units 14 that are identical to the power units in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 are charged by the main power unit 7.

Fig. 7 shows a television intercom system with multiple television intercom monitors 40A and multiple input panels 70, identical to the system shown in Fig. 5, with the exception of the selectors S2-1 to S2-n added to extend the possibilities of the matrix selector SM-. X and additional n transmission lines 18-1 to 18-n connecting selectors S2-1 to S2-n to the internet interface 110. Due to this configuration, the web interface can handle up to n simultaneous connections to the gatehouse E via a 19W wideband network line, which enables dual-path multiplex transmission of a plurality of information signals.

On the other hand, Fig. 8 shows a television monitoring intercom system similar to the system shown in Fig. 7 except for the n number of internet interface units 110 each fed with an individual information signal via connecting line 18-1 to 18 n each. separately activates gate station E via network line 19. The individual gate stands E are identical to gate station E described in FIGS. 3 and 5. The intercom television monitors 40A of Fig. 8 are supplied with power via transmission line 16A via one

Power supply unit 14, which is identical to the power supply unit 14 of Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 It is evident that instead of the television intercom monitors 40A shown in Fig. 8, it is possible to mount the television intercom monitors 40 shown in Fig. 8. 7, or replacing the television intercom monitors 40 with Fig. 7 with monitors 40A with power supply units 14. It is also apparent that monitors 40 may be combined with monitors 40A in any of the systems shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. It is also clear that any n number of internet interfaces 110, each of which is intended to connect a single television intercom monitor 40 or 40A to gatehouse E via network line 19, may be connected to any n number of internet interfaces 110, each of which is designed to connect a plurality of monitors 40 and / or 40A and / or entry panels and / or gatehouse and / or security bureau of gatehouse E via a 19W wideband network line.

As shown in Fig. 9, the video intercom monitor 40A is connected to the transmission line 16A via a circuit 49C responsible for powering and separating the DC signals from the received signals. The separator circuit 49C consists of a well-known coupling capacitor for coupling signals and blocking DC from signal processing circuits, and well-known RF filters for removing signals from DC. This circuit may consist of signal converters to capture information signals from the DC or RF "traps" and to remove them from the DC line. A filtered DC line runs between circuit 49C and current control circuit 49B. Circuit 49B enables intercom circuits 45 to be supplied with a predetermined current via terminal 48 and a residual current for charging Ni-Cd batteries or other rechargeable batteries 49 via battery control circuit 49A. The battery control circuit further includes a switch for connecting the battery to the display monitor circuit 44 via terminal 48A. Details of the specified current supply and the use of rechargeable batteries are fully described in US Patent No. 5,923,363. Contrary to this patent, the television intercom monitor 40 in the invention is powered by the current directly supplied to terminals 48 and 48A, and not by a specific current transmitted on transmission line 16. Therefore, the current control circuit 49B, the battery control circuit 49A, and the DC signal separation portion 49C, as well as the battery 49, are not used by the television intercom monitor 40.

The intercom circuit 45 of monitors 40 and 40A includes a code setting circuit 34 for setting and controlling codes such as opening a door lock or calling an elevator to a given floor, or lighting on / off and / or codes to control selectors S1, S2, S1-1 to S2 1 to 8, respectively, or for calling the gatehouse E. Alarm contacts 35 of the intercom circuit 45 shown in Fig. 9 will trigger an alarm command code when activated either manually or automatically via peripheral hardware al alarm equipment such as a burglar alarm device. The intercom circuit 45 also has a code signal generator 33 that generates control signals and code signals at well known frequencies for use in telephone networks, or such as well known RS422 serial signals or telephone networks. or such as the well-known RS422 or RS232 serial signals and provides two-tone encoded control signals or serial signals to a signal processor / mixer 32 for mixing the encoded control signals with audio and / or video signals provided by terminal 46 and / or data signals provided via terminal 47, and then input the mixed signals to transmission line 16 via power supply / DC signal separator circuit 49C. Circuit 49C feeds mixed audio signals via a well known coupling capacitor or signal transformer. Well known transistor / buffer amplifier circuits may also be used.

The coded signal generator 33 of the intercom circuit 45 may consist of a digital pulse generator to transmit digital pulsed signals compatible with the selected code, in which case the signal processor 32 may generate pulsed signals to mix the digital pulses with the audio signals and introduce the mixed audio signals to it. 16 or 16A transmission line via the power supply / DC signal separator 49C. Intercom 45 also includes a microphone amplifier 36 coupled between microphone 36A and mixer 32, a signal extractor processor 38, a speaker amplifier 39 coupled to a loudspeaker 39A a code decoder 41 coupled to a function programmer 42, and a video signal extractor / demodulator 43, the functions and purpose of which will be explained. below.

As shown in Fig. 10, input panel 70 includes a set point and code generation circuit 72A for setting control codes and generating control signals similar to codes generated by the code set circuit 34 and the code signal generating circuit 33 of Fig. 9, such as e.g. . activating buzzer, either unlocking the door or calling the elevator to a given floor or turning on / off, paging keys 72 for addressing the apartment's video interphone monitor, alarm and program command circuit 72B, and memory command for alarm setting and other command codes that can be activated manually or automatically via peripheral alarm equipment such as anti-theft alarm and gateway station activation paging key E. The setpoint and code signal generation circuit 72A may consist of a two-tone IC selector for generating well-known paging tone frequencies used in telephone networks, or an IC for generating serial signals such as RS422, RS232, or IP network signals such as those used in a TCP / IP network. Ethernet or ATM. Coded control signals, consisting of one frequency or a group of two-tone frequencies or serial signals of the audio signal processor for mixing the encoded control signals with the audio signals and for inputting these signals into transmission line 16E and selector S1.

The code for calling and activating the gatehouse station E may be a well-known telephone number entered over public telephone lines or ISDN lines, it may also be an IP code for addressing the gatehouse station E via a network provider, e.g. the Internet. The code can also be a combination of a telephone number and an IP code, it can contain an entry password, such as used in personal computers and Internet communications. As will be explained, the code setting circuit 34 of Fig. 9 and the code setting circuit 72A of Fig. 10 do not require a final paging to activate the reception station E as it is generated by the internet interface unit 110 based on the reception paging code E set by the code setting circuits 34 or 72A.

Code signal generator 72A shown in Fig. 10 may be a digital pulse generator for transmitting digital pulsed signals compatible with the selected code, in which case audio signal processor 73B may generate pulsed signals to be mixed with audio signals and input mixed signals. audio to the 16E transmission line.

The signal extractor 38 of the circuit 45 shown in Fig. 9 extracts the audio signal from the information signals, then the circuit 41 decodes the control codes supplied from the signal extractor / processor 38 and provides the decoded code signal to the function programmer 42 which controls the call buzzer and turns on the monitor circuit 44. turns the lighting on or off, or triggers an alarm. Decoder 41 is a two-tone signal IC decoder with frequencies used in telecommunication networks or serial signals, which, after decoding, provides to a function handler 42. The decoded signals are sent to a function programmer 42. The programmer consists of electronic switching / excitation devices such as transistors or multiplexers ICs, relays, optocouplers or other well known switching devices.

The signal processor / extractor 38 extracts the audio signal from the information signals using well-known low-pass filters to extract low-frequency audio signals from the information signals provided on line 16D. The extracted audio signals are also routed to the loudspeaker amplifier 39 and to the loudspeaker 39A. Microphone 36A, microphone amplifier 36, loudspeaker 39A, and loudspeaker amplifier 39 include well-known means for amplifying received audio signals and microphone audio signals. Microphone amplifier 36 feeds the microphone signals to the signal mixer / processor 32, whereupon the mixed audio and microphone signals through the information signal line 16D are supplied to the DC signal separator / power supply 49C, and then fed to the transmission line 16 or transmission line 16A.

If the coded control signals generated by the code signal generator 33 in the circuit 45 shown in Fig. 9 or in the setting and code signal generation circuit 72A shown in Fig. 10 are serial signals or digital signals or pulse signals, the code decoder 41 shown in Fig. 9 is in Fig. 9 and a code decoder 76 shown in Fig. 10 they will use a well-known bandpass filter to extract the digital signal or pulsed signals, and a digital decoder to decode the encoded signals.

It is evident from the above description that the duplex audio signals generated by the input panels 70 shown in Fig. 10 and the audio signals generated by the television intercom monitor 40 or 40A may be distributed along with duplex control signals and alarm signals between the entry panel and the television intercom monitor via transmission lines 16 and / or 16A, which transfers the specified current to control the intercom circuits 45 of the TV intercom monitor 40A and the charging current to the battery 49 to control the display monitor circuit 44 of the TV intercom monitor 40 or 40A, without

The distortion of the information signals by a leakage of a stray current and / or by current surges caused by any activation of the monitor.

As shown in Fig. 10, the well-known television camera 71 supplies combined video signals to the mixer 71A. It uses the well-known frequency modulator IC, which allows the modulation of the combined video signals to a carrier frequency, which keeps the lower frequency range of the modulated video signal above the upper frequency range of the audio signals, so that the video signals can be fed into a common transmission line used for audio signals. 16E without interfering with audio signals.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the processor video mixer 72 may further include a well-known differential signal converter IC for converting the modulated video signals to differential signals and providing them to transmission line 16E and information transmission line 16 via selector S1 and a unit. power supply 14. The video signal processor 71A may include a well-known compression circuit to digitize and compress the video signals and deliver these well-known compressed video signals via transmission line 16E to information transmission line 16 via selector S1.

Extractor, demodulator and video signal processor 43 of intercom circuit 45 shown in Fig. 9 extracts frequency modulated video signals from the 16D line, either differential signals or compressed video signals by using a well-known bandpass, bandpass filter, and demodulates the extracted video signal using well-known integrated circuits or other peripheral components to supply the circuits of the monitor display 44 with modulated signals video to show the image of the visitor at the entrance on the screen of the monitor circuit 44. The monitor circuit 44 is activated via the handler circuit 42 based on an instruction delivered to and from decoder 41.

It is also evident from the above description that information signals composed of video signals along with audio signals, control signals and alarm signals are transmitted from the input panel and / or from the input unit to the television intercom monitor via a common transmission line. The signal processor video mixer 32 of Fig. 9 includes similar video signal processing circuits of the signal processor mixer 32 to the video signal processor processor 71A circuits 71A of Fig. 10 described above, as well as the digital data signal processing circuit of signal mixer 73B of Fig. 10, so that any video signals and data signals provided to terminals 46 and 47 of Fig. 9 are appropriately processed, mixed and inputted into transmission line 16 or 16A. via the DC separator circuit and via the 16D transmission line.

The audio, video and data processor extractor 77 of the input panel supplies the extracted and decoded video signals to the data / TV monitor circuit 75 of Fig. 10 in the same way as the demodulator extractor and video signal processor 43 of Fig. 9 provides the video signals to the television monitor 44 .

The controller 102 of the gatehouse 8 and the controller 102 from the room of the security office 9 shown in Figs. 5 to Figs. 8 can acquire control / control data from the main controller 101 and matrix selector unit SM and then transmit the master control signals and selector selection signals to the controller 101 and to the matrix selector unit SM or SM-X. The signal provided from the matrix selector unit SM or SM-X to the controller 101 or the controller 102 contains power-on or switching data that provides the security or gatehouse with visitor information, callers and alarm.

The intercom circuits 6 of the gatehouse 8 and the security office 9 are identical to the circuit 45 of the monitor 40 or 40A of the television intercom of Fig. 9, while the monitor circuits 5 may be similar to the circuit 44 of the display monitor also shown in Fig. 9 or to any other circuit. display monitor. It is therefore possible for the gatehouse 8 or for the security office 9 to receive and transmit audio, video, control, data or alarm signals from and to an individual TV intercom monitor 40 or 40A and / or from and to any input panel 70 and / or to and from the station. gatehouse E via the web interface 110. This arrangement allows the porter or security service to have complete flexibility in communicating with each tenant or visitor, or to intervene in the event of an emergency, to talk visitor-to-tenant, or to communicate directly with any tenant at the porter's lodge. either visitors or both.

The main control circuit or controller 101 of Figs. 5 to 8 and the controller 130 of Figs. 3, 4 and 10 are fed with control and command signals from the command sensor 60. The command sensor 60 comprises

The command code extractor and decoder and the command control communicator circuit 60A with multiple inputs 1, 2 to n each connected to one of the transmission lines 16, 1, 2 to n for receiving n information signals are provided. The extraction and decoding part of the circuit may include n circuits, each of which includes a signal processor / extractor and a code decoder similar to the signal extractor processor 38 and the code decoder 41 in FIG. 9. To reduce the number of decoder and signal processor circuits, the lines 16 may be connected to a single signal extractor circuit via a scanning circuit which scans the transmission line sequentially one by one in a continuous closed loop and provides the information signals one by one to the input of a single processor circuit. a signal extractor which is similar to circuit 38 of Fig. 9. Lines 16 can be individually scanned by a given number of n scanners with each scanner output providing information signals to n number of signal processor / extractor circuits, each similar to circuit 38 of FIG. 9 for processing the extracted signals.

The extracted signals are sent to a code decoder similar to the code decoder 41 of Fig. 9 and the decoded code is provided from the command sensor to the main controller 101 or to the controller 130 in Figs. 3 to 8 and Fig. 10 via command line 17B. and to selector S1 to either selector S10 or to the matrix selector unit SM or SM-X in Figs. 1 to 8 and Figs. 10 via selection line 17 of gatehouse E The main controller 101 or controller 130 supplies the commands to the entry panel. These are commands such as ordering the lighting on, activating the digital, audio and / or video data of the recorder 140, and / or recalling the reception or security, or activating any other system function. In parallel, command line 17B provides, via controller 130 or 101 and via select line 101A or 17C or directly to selector S1 or S10 or SM or SM-X, an command to connect the selector S1 or S10 or SC or SG according to the received an order with a television intercom monitor 40 or 40A that generates the activation order. The command to activate the video connection of the intercom monitor 40 or 40A to the gatehouse E is delivered from the command sensor 60 via select line 17 of gatehouse E to selector S2 or to selectors S2-1 to S2-n and via command line 17A to internet interface unit 110 .

The web interface 110 as shown in Fig. 10 includes an alarm, data, decoder, audio and video circuit 110A including circuits similar to a processor signal mixer 32, a code signal generator 33, a signal extractor 38, a code decoder 41 and a video signal extractor, a demodulator and a processor. 43 of intercom circuit 45. This causes circuit 110A of the internet interface unit 110 to be able to extract, mix, decode and encode audio, video, control and control alarm and data signals in a duplex system to communicate information signals through selector S2 and line 18 to television intercom monitors 40. either 40A and / or entry panels 70 or gatehouse 8 or security office 9, also in duplex. The alarm, data, audio and video decoder 110A also captures and supplies audio, video, control / control alarm and data signals, as do the inputs provided to the signal processor or mixer 32 of Fig. 9, and similar to the outputs provided from the signal extractor processor 38. and a video signal extractor, demodulator and processor 43 in Fig. 9, through intranet line 110B.

Connected to the intranet line 110B, the instant messaging 110C may be a well-known personal PC, portable PC, pocket PC, or a customer programmed communicator adapted to receive a control code signal via command line 17A or via an alarm, data, audio decoder extractor 110A. and video, and for processing interfaced audio, video and data signals, alarm and control, and to generate a signal to initiate a connection to the gatehouse E via network line 19. Depending on the bandwidth of the network line 19 and the speed capabilities of the PC or a specially programmed internet / network communicator 110C, the internet interface 110 may additionally include n number of audio and video decoder circuits 110A for a separate single call or n simultaneous calls E to one or more stations. gatehouse E by interfacing voice signals (audio), images (video), data, alarm and control of single or multiple television intercom monitors and / or entry panels, and / or reception bureaux and protection of the television intercom monitoring system.

Since the loudspeaker 39A, microphone 36A of Fig. 9, loudspeaker 74 and microphone 73 of Fig. 10 may be located inside the handset as used in telephones and the code setting circuit keys of the code setting 34 of Fig. 9, paging keys 72 of Fig. 10 may be touch keys

From the screen of the monitor 44 of Fig. 9 or that of Fig. 10, it is evident that the television intercom connection apparatus of the present invention provides the convenience and simplicity of calling the gatehouse station E by the simple touch of a key of the television intercom monitor screen. and simple voice communication using the intercom handset.

One or more gatehouses E129 of FIGS. 1 to 8 and FIG. 10 are connected to network lines 19 or 19W via a communications network 119, a dedicated or well-known network such as ISDN, the Internet, or the public telephone network.

The operators of the gatehouse E can be equipped with handsets or head-mounted microphones and loudspeakers for voice communication with the visitors. They summon tenants through the building's entrance panel 70, or directly connect visitors to the tenant via a 40 or 40A television intercom monitor inside the apartment, through a porter, security or using a combination of visitor, tenant and / or porter and security.

The gatehouse E can be additionally equipped with monitors to observe visitors, and / or digital audio and video recorders, a VCR cassette recorder to record the image of the visitor and / or voice communication, and if a video camera connected to the 40 or 40A monitor is active, it is possible to record images and / or communication from inside the apartment.

Since the locator data and information, the location system and other information can be stored in the memory circuit as data stored in the memory control circuit 72C shown in Fig. 10, the information and data can be transferred to the gatehouse E automatically, and the screen in front of the operator of the gatehouse E can display all the necessary information, such as the name of the caller, his address and even the credit card number of the caller, if such a number is registered in the system.

The operator of gatehouse E can thus cope with many tasks, including answering visitors or diverting phone calls from visitors to some tenants of the building.

The operator of gatehouse E can further transmit control / command signals such as door opening, lighting on / off, elevator call to a given floor, etc. Moreover, the operator of concierge desk E can take care of purchasing tickets for the show, calling a doctor or ambulance, delivering orders for technical personnel such as electricians, plumbers or painters, etc., as well as purchasing services, including the delivery of groceries from a nearby supermarket or chain. “Fast food or other services commissioned by visitors, a local janitor or building security.

To effectively offer a wide range of services, the gatehouse stand E can create a good product menu, catalogs or price lists that can be displayed on monitors displaying 44 TV intercom monitors 40 or 40A, and / or on the monitors of 5 gatehouse or security bureaux or on the perimeter of the TV monitor / data 75 of Fig. 10.

According to the invention, television monitors, intercom monitors may be supplied with energy via appropriate transmission lines or directly via a power line and connected to the entrance panels, entrance units, gatehouse or security bureau, or to gatehouse station E using a simple device in any combination of one of the the other so that one, two or any number of entry panels may be connected to multiple television intercom monitors via the transmission lines connecting the monitors and via power units, while other entry panels and / or television intercom monitor and / or reception or security station may be connected to porter's lodge E over the Internet.

Of course, it is understood that the present disclosure only pertains to the preferred embodiment of the invention, and is expected to protect any alteration and modification to the example of the invention set forth herein in order to disclose which modifications do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.