VISUAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND ITS MAIN APPARATUS

• US 20080260111A1
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Sasaki, Yasumasa, Shima, Koji, Takeda, Nobuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,081,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an apparatus accommodates a telephone terminal and an emergency call terminal, wherein the telephone terminal is associated with the first video camera and a first display, the emergency call terminal is associated with a second video camera and a second display, and the apparatus further includes a determination processor determines whether or not a call generated from the telephone terminal is an emergency call, a visual link former forms an image communication link between the first video camera and the second display to display an image captured by the first video camera on the second display if the determination processor determines the call is the emergency call, and a voice link former forms a voice communication link between the telephone terminal and the emergency call terminal when the emergency call terminal performs a response to the call after the image communication link is formed.

Claims

1. A visual communication system comprising:

a telephone terminal;

a first video camera to be associated with the telephone terminal;

a first display unit to be associated with the telephone terminal;

an emergency call terminal that is an incoming call destination of an emergency call from the telephone terminal;

a second video camera to be associated with the emergency call terminal;

a second display unit to be associated with the telephone terminal; and

a main apparatus which accommodates the telephone terminal and the emergency call terminal via a common extension network, wherein

the main apparatus comprises;

a determination processing unit which determines whether or not a call generated from the telephone terminal is an emergency call;

a visual link forming unit which forms an image communication link between the first video camera and the second display unit to display an image captured by the first video camera on the second display unit when the determination processing unit determines that the call is the emergency call; and

a voice link forming unit which forms a voice communication link between the telephone terminal and the emergency call terminal when the emergency call terminal performs a response operation for the call after the image communication link is formed.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the visual link forming unit forms an image communication link between the second video camera and the first display unit to display an image captured by the second video camera on the first display unit when the voice communication link is formed.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the determination processing unit determines that the call is the emergency call if the call is made by dialing an emergency call number.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the determining processing unit determines that the call is the emergency call if a specified time has elapsed without any dial input from off-hook of the telephone terminal.

5. The system according to claim 3, further comprising:

a management center to be connected to the main apparatus via an external network differing from the extension network, wherein

the voice link forming unit forms a voice communication link between the telephone terminal and the management center if the determining processing unit determines that the call is the emergency call.

6. The system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a management center to be connected to the main apparatus via an external network differing from the extension network, wherein

the voice link forming unit forms a voice communication link between the telephone terminal and the management center if the determining processing unit determines that the call is the emergency call.

7. A main apparatus which accommodates a telephone terminal and an emergency call terminal that is an incoming call destination of an emergency call from the telephone terminal via a common extension network, wherein

the telephone terminal is associated with the first video camera and a first display unit,

the emergency call terminal is associated with a second video camera and a second display unit, and the main apparatus further comprising:

a determination processing unit which determines whether or not a call generated from the telephone terminal is the emergency call;

a visual link forming unit which forms an image communication link between the first video camera and the second display unit to display an image captured by the first video camera on the second display unit if the determination unit determines that the call is the emergency call; and

a voice link forming unit which forms a voice communication link between the telephone terminal and the emergency call terminal when the emergency call terminal performs a response operation to the call after the image communication link is formed.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the visual link forming unit forms an image communication link between the second video camera and the first display unit to display an image captured from the second video camera on the first display unit when the voice communication link is formed.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the determination processing unit determines that the call is the emergency call if the call is mage by dialing an emergency call number.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the determination processing unit determines that the call is the emergency call if a specified time has elapsed without any dial input from off-hook of the telephone terminal.

11. The apparatus according to either claim 9, being connected to a management center via an external network differing from the extension network, wherein

the voice link forming unit forms a voice communication link between the telephone terminal and the management center if the determination processing unit determines that the call is the emergency call.

12. The apparatus according to either claim 10, being connected to a management center via an external network differing from the extension network, wherein

the voice link forming unit forms a voice communication link between the telephone terminal and the management center if the determination processing unit determines that the call is the emergency call.