WO2009069852A1

WO2009069852A1 - Toll-free telecommunication line switching apparatus, lobby phone apparatus, and line switching method using the same

Info

Publication number: WO2009069852A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/000368
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yong-Soo Seo
Original assignee: Solvus Corporation
Priority date: 2007-11-30
Filing date: 2008-01-21
Publication date: 2009-06-04
Also published as: KR100800070B1

Abstract

A toll-free telecommunication line switching apparatus connects a telecommunication line between a telephone line and a household phone provided to each household and an intercommunication line between the household phone and a lobby phone provided to a common porch of a public dwelling in a switching manner such that the telecommunication line connected to the household phone is connected to the intercommunication line in a sharing manner. The apparatus includes a telecommunication line detecting unit for detecting a state of the telecommunication line; a controller for controlling whether or not to connect the intercommunication line according to the input state of the telecommunication line, in case an intercommunication requesting signal that requests a connection to the household phone is input from the lobby phone; and a relay unit for switching and connecting the telecommunication line or the intercommunication line by a control signal from the controller.

Description

TOLL-FREE TELECOMMUNICATION LINE SWITCHING

APPARATUS, LOBBY PHONE APPARATUS, AND LINE

SWITCHING METHOD USING THE SAME

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a telecommunication line switching apparatus, and more particularly to a toll-free telecommunication line switching apparatus for effectively switching an intercommunication line between a household phone and a lobby phone provided at a main porch of a public dwelling with an existing telecommunication line so as not to charge an additional fee. Background Art

[2] With a recent housing life pattern toward a nuclear family and a single -person household and various economical and cultural factors, a housing type of a public dwelling such as an apartment or an officetel (a high-rise condominium bachelor pad) rather than a housing type of a detached house spreads increasingly at fast speed in a modern society.

[3] The public dwelling where a plurality of households live in a physically same or adjacent building, for example an apartment, a row house or an officetel, generally has a lobby phone for regulation or control of access at a public entrance or a lobby.

[4] The lobby phone may be used for controlling a door to be opened or closed when a dweller inputs a secret number or contacts a card key thereto, or the lobby phone connects a visitor to a household such that any member of the household controls to open the door.

[5] The intercommunication between a lobby phone and a household may be realized in various ways. Generally, a phone authentication method utilizing a telecommunication line in a wired manner, an interphone method using a wired infrastructure additionally constructed, or VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) using an Internet line is used.

[6] The phone authentication method advantageously utilizes existing wired lines connected to household phones as they were. However, since this method utilizes a general telecommunication line, in many cases, a predetermined fee is charged whenever a call is connected between the lobby phone and a household phone.

[7] Such fee is calculated at a fixed amount or calculated at a certain rate, so it may be increased greatly as time goes. In addition, in the modern society where on-line transaction using Internet shopping or home shopping is propagated rather than direct purchase, home-delivery service is more widely used, so the above fee becomes a more serious issue. [8] In addition, the interphone method cannot use existing household phones as they were but needs to additionally construct an independent communication infrastructure, which consumes a lot of construction costs. In addition, this method needs a delayed time for constructing the infrastructure.

[9] Also, the VOIP advantageously causes no additional fee, but a dedicated line should be constructed to each household similarly to the interphone method. Thus, the problems of additional costs and difficult construction issued in the interphone method similarly happen in the VOIP method.

[10] Meanwhile, a security and safety system of each household is installed and managed by corresponding service providers. The term 'security' or 'safety' has a general meaning including prevention of various causes of danger such as gas leakage, shocks and fire in addition to prevention of a simple intrusion, and various security services are provided by different private security companies. Thus, in case the security and safety system is constructed by individual companies for each cause of danger, each household should bear a considerable financial burden. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[11] The present invention is designed to solve the above problems, and therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a telecommunication line switching apparatus, a lobby phone apparatus and a telecommunication line switching method that may be used without any additional financial burden by configuring an intercommunication line between a household phone and a lobby phone, which causes no payment for using a telecommunication line when constructing or actually using the intercommunication line, that may give convenience to a user in a simple and efficient way when the user utilizes a household phone for prevention of various dangers, and that allows easy extension to an external device or server.

[12] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be more fully described in the following detailed description, and be understood by preferred embodiments of the present invention. And, these and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be realized by configuration or combination of configuration recited in the claims. Technical Solution

[13] In order to achieve the objects, the present invention provides a toll-free telecommunication line switching apparatus for connecting a telecommunication line between a telephone line and a household phone provided to each household and an intercommunication line between the household phone and a lobby phone provided to a common porch of a public dwelling in a switching manner such that the telecommunication line connected to the household phone is connected to the intercommunication line in a sharing manner, the switching apparatus including: a telecommunication line detecting unit for detecting a state of the telecommunication line; a controller for controlling whether or not to connect the intercommunication line according to the state of the telecommunication line, input from the telecommunication line detecting unit, in case an intercommunication requesting signal that requests a connection to the household phone is input from the lobby phone; and a relay unit for switching and connecting the telecommunication line or the intercommunication line by a control signal from the controller.

[14] Preferably, the telecommunication line detecting unit senses a voltage of the telecommunication line to classify the state of the telecommunication line into a standby state, a calling state and a busy state, and then transmits a corresponding state value to the controller, and it is also preferred that, when the intercommunication requesting signal is input from the lobby phone, the controller controls the relay unit to connect the intercommunication line between the household phone and the lobby phone in case the state value input from the telecommunication line detecting unit is a standby state value.

[15] In addition, the toll-free telecommunication line switching apparatus may further include a notice message processing unit for outputting a notice message corresponding to the state of the telecommunication line to the lobby phone or the household phone, in case the intercommunication requesting signal is input while the telecommunication line is in the calling state or the busy state.

[16] Also, it is preferred that, in case the calling state value of the telecommunication line is input from the telecommunication line detecting unit while the intercommunication line is connected, the notice message processing unit outputs a notice message notifying the calling state of the telecommunication line to the household phone or the lobby phone or outputs a notice message notifying the busy state of the intercommunication line or a background music to a telephone line of the telephone communication line who requested the call.

[17] More preferably, in case a control signal for a door of the common porch is input from the household phone, the controller outputs the control signal to a door operating device for operating the common porch to open or close or to the lobby phone that controls the operating device.

[18] For more effective switching between the telecommunication line and the intercommunication line without causing any additional fee, the relay unit may include a first sub relay and a second sub relay, wherein the first sub relay includes a first terminal connected to the household phone, a second terminal connected to the lobby phone, a third terminal connected to the second sub relay, and a first switch switched to connect the first terminal to the second or third terminal, wherein the second sub relay includes a fourth terminal connected to the telephone line, a fifth terminal connected to the controller, a sixth terminal connected to the first sub relay, and a second switch switched to connect the fourth terminal to the fifth or sixth terminal, wherein, in case a control signal for connecting a telecommunication line is input from the controller, the first switch is switched to connect the first terminal to the third terminal, and the second switch is switched to connect the fourth terminal to the sixth terminal, and wherein, in case a control signal for connecting an intercommunication line is input from the controller, the first switch is switched to connect the first terminal to the second terminal, and the second switch is switched to connect the fourth terminal to the fifth terminal.

[19] In this case, it is more preferred that the first to sixth terminals respectively have two contact points, wherein the first and second switches connect the terminals by switching operation in a way that two contact points of any terminal are respectively connected to two contact points of another terminal by means of conductors provided to both surfaces of each switch.

[20] In addition, it is also possible that, in case a predetermined time passes after the intercommunication line is connected, the controller controls each switch of the relay unit to be switched for connecting the telecommunication line, and the controller controls the notice message processing unit to output a notice message notifying the end of the intercommunication line to the household phone or the lobby phone.

[21] In another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a toll-free telecommunication line switching method for connecting a telecommunication line between a telephone line and a household phone provided to each household and an intercommunication line between the household phone and a lobby phone provided to a common porch of a public dwelling in a switching manner such that the telecommunication line connected to the household phone is connected to the intercommunication line in a sharing manner, the switching method including: a telecommunication line detecting step for detecting a state of the telecommunication line; a controlling step for controlling whether or not to connect the intercommunication line according to the state of the telecommunication line, detected in the telecommunication line detecting step, in case an intercommunication requesting signal that requests a connection to the household phone is input from the lobby phone; and a switching step for switching and connecting the telecommunication line or the intercommunication line under the control of the controlling step.

[22] Preferably, the telecommunication line detecting step senses a voltage of the telecommunication line to classify the state of the telecommunication line into a standby state, a calling state and a busy state, and then transmits a corresponding state value, and it is also preferred that, when the intercommunication requesting signal is input from the lobby phone, the controlling step controls to connect the intercommunication line between the household phone and the lobby phone in case the state value input in the telecommunication line detecting step is a standby state value.

[23] For better implementation, the toll-free telecommunication line switching method may further include a notice message outputting step for outputting a notice message corresponding to each state of the telecommunication line to the household phone, the lobby phone or a telephone line, in case any one of the telecommunication line and the intercommunication line is connected and then a connection requesting signal is input for the other communication line not connected.

[24] In still another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a lobby phone apparatus provided to a common porch of a public dwelling to give communication among households of the public dwelling, the lobby phone apparatus including: a keypad input unit for receiving information from an external user; an output unit for transmitting household number data and intercommunication requesting signal, input from the keypad input unit, to a telecommunication line switching apparatus that connects a telecommunication line between a telephone line and a household phone provided to each household and an intercommunication line between the household phone and the lobby phone apparatus in a switching manner such that the telecommunication line connected to the household phone is connected to the intercommunication line in a sharing manner; and a voice transmission unit for transmitting voice between the external user and a dweller of the household in case the intercommunication line is connected by the telecommunication line switching apparatus.

[25] In addition, the lobby phone apparatus may further include an authentication unit that stores authentication information for opening/closing a door of the common porch; a reader unit for obtaining information from a security card of each household; and a control unit for controlling a door operating device to open/close the door in case the information input from the reader unit or the keypad input unit is identical to the information stored in the authentication unit. More preferably, the lobby phone apparatus further includes a movement sensing sensor for sensing movement within a predetermined distance; and a message output unit for outputting a notice message that requests contact of a card or input of a secret number to a voice or image display means, in case a sensing data is input from the movement sensing sensor. Brief Description of the Drawings

[26] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of preferred embodiments of the present invention will be more fully described in the following detailed description, taken accompanying drawings. In the drawings: [27] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing connections among components in a system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[28] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a telecommunication line switching apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[29] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a plurality of relays provided to a telecommunication line switching apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[30] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing that a telecommunication line is connected under the control of a relay unit of a telecommunication line switching apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[31] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing that an intercommunication line is connected under the control of the relay unit of the telecommunication switching apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[32] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the process of switching a telecommunication line according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[33] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a lobby phone apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[34]

[35] < Reference Numerals of Essential Parts in the Drawings >

[36] 100: toll-free telecommunication line switching apparatus

[37] 110: telecommunication line detecting unit

[38] 120: controller 130: relay unit

[39] 140: notice message processing unit 150, 160: VO interface

[40] 200: household phone 300: lobby phone

[41] 400: telephone line

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[42] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to the description, it should be understood that the terms used in the specification and the appended claims should not be construed as limited to general and dictionary meanings, but interpreted based on the meanings and concepts corresponding to technical aspects of the present invention on the basis of the principle that the inventor is allowed to define terms appropriately for the best explanation.

[43] Therefore, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed de- scription.

[44] Referring to FIG. 1, a toll-free telecommunication line switching apparatus 100 according to the present invention is corresponding to a device installed in connection with a plurality of household phones 200, a lobby phone 300 and a telephone line 400 to effectively switch and interface an intercommunication line between the household phone 200 and the lobby phone 300 and a telecommunication line between the household phone 200 and the telephone line 400.

[45] The telecommunication line switching apparatus 100 according to the present invention is preferably provided with a predetermined power device (not shown) that may receive the same voltage as one connected to a telephone line such that a household phone for the telephone line may be used for the switching apparatus of the present invention as it is though the telecommunication line is intercepted and then switched to the intercommunication line. Detailed configurations for the above are as well known in the art and not described in detail here.

[46] As shown in FIG. 1, the switching apparatus 100 is interposed between the telephone line 400 and a household phone. Since the household phone should ensure a wired phone call through an existing telecommunication line as it was, it is required to provide VO ports connected between the telecommunication line switching apparatus and household phones, namely the I/O interfaces 160 shown in FIG. 2 as much as the number of household phones or households. It is more needed since telecommunication line and intercommunication line are preferably switched independently and individually for each household in the present invention.

[47] Hereinafter, detailed configurations and operations of the switching apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to FIGs. 2 and 6.

[48] The switching apparatus 100 of the present invention includes a telecommunication line detecting unit 110, a controller 120, a relay unit 130, a notice message processing unit 140, and I/O interfaces 150, 160.

[49] Before the detailed explanation, it should be understood that the components of the switching apparatus 100 according to the present invention are distinguished not physically but logically.

[50] That is to say, each configuration is corresponding to a logic component for realizing the technical spirit of the present invention. Thus, although any component is operated integrally or individually, if a function performed by a logical configuration of the present invention can be realized, the component should be interpreted within the scope of the present invention. Also, any component having an equal or similar function should also be interpreted within the scope of the present invention though it is called differently. [51] The switching apparatus 100 switches and connects a telecommunication line formed between the telephone line 400 and the household phone 200 provided in each household and an intercommunication line formed between the household phone 200 and the lobby phone 300 provided at a lobby of a public dwelling such as an apartment, explained above, with each other.

[52] At this time, it is more preferred that a part of the telecommunication line, namely a common line 500, at which the household phone and the switching apparatus of the present invention are interconnected, is used as the intercommunication line in a sharing manner such that wires already buried or installed in the apartment for telecommunication lines may be utilized as they are.

[53] Here, seeing FIG. 2, the telecommunication line is defined as a series of communication lines in which a line 700 connected from a telephone line is connected via the switching apparatus 100 of the present invention to the household phone 200 through the common line 500. Also, the intercommunication line is defined as a series of communication lines in which a communication line 600 between the lobby phone 300 and the switching apparatus 100 is connected via the switching apparatus 100 to the household phone 200 through the common line 500.

[54] The communication line 600 formed between the lobby phone 300 and the switching apparatus 100 may be configured together with bi-directional lines using serial communication schemes such as RS-232, 422, 485 or communication schemes such as TCP/IP for processing of data signals, in addition to lines for transmission of voice signals.

[55] For implementation of the toll-free telecommunication line switching apparatus 100 of the present invention, first, the telecommunication line detecting unit 110 functions to detect a state of the telecommunication line (S500).

[56] The state of the telecommunication line may be generally classified into a standby state where a call is not connected thereto, a calling state where a calling signal for a call is input from outside, and a busy state where a communication line is established and the call is already connected.

[57] A general telecommunication line forms a certain voltage even in the standby state, commonly about 48V. 80V is formed in the calling state where a ring signal is generated, and about 60V is formed in the busy state where a call is established. Though the above voltages may be changed differently in each case, the magnitudes of voltages at the standby state, the calling state and the busy state are always different from each other.

[58] The telecommunication line detecting unit 110 of the present invention senses a relative difference of voltages at each state so as to detect a current state of the telecommunication line (S500). [59] In addition, the controller 120 of the switching apparatus 100 is corresponding to a microprocessor that takes a charge of overall processing of the switching apparatus and control of data processing among components. In case an intercommunication requesting signal that requests connection to the household phone 200 is input from the lobby phone 300, the controller 120 controls whether or not to allow a connection to the intercommunication line depending on the state of the telecommunication line, input from the telecommunication line detecting unit 110.

[60] In case an intercommunication requesting signal is input (S510), the controller 120 may send a control signal to the telecommunication line detecting unit 110 such that the telecommunication line detecting unit 110 transmits a state value of the telecommunication line. In other case, the controller 120 may receive a state value of the communication line in real time.

[61] Each state value of the telecommunication line may be represented as a simple digital signal such as 000, 001 and 010 respectively for the standby state, the calling state and the busy state, and then transmitted to the controller. At this time, it is also possible to transmit a magnitude of voltage sensed at each state to the controller as it is, but it is more preferred to generate, process and transmit a simple binary digital signal as mentioned above for efficient data processing.

[62] According to the state value input from the telecommunication line detecting unit

110, the controller sends a control signal to the relay unit 130 to control the relay unit 130. That is to say, the controller 120 determines whether the telecommunication line is in a standby state (S520). If the state value corresponds to a standby state, the controller 120 controls the relay unit 130 to connect the intercommunication line (S540).

[63] That is to say, the relay unit 130 of the present invention functions to switch and connect the telecommunication line or the intercommunication line according to a control signal of the controller 120. Detailed switching mechanism of the relay unit 130 will be explained later.

[64] In case an intercommunication requesting signal is input from the lobby phone 300, if the telecommunication line is in a standby state as mentioned above, the controller 120 controls the relay unit 130 to connect the intercommunication line. If the intercommunication line is connected as mentioned above, a ring signal output unit 170 of the present invention outputs a ring signal to a household phone of a household corresponding to the intercommunication requesting signal such that a dweller of the household may recognize the intercommunication requesting signal.

[65] If the intercommunication requesting signal is input from the lobby phone while the telecommunication line detecting unit 110 is inputting a state value of a calling state or a busy state of the telecommunication line, it is preferred to give a priority to the tele- communication line and keep the connection of the telecommunication line.

[66] In addition, in order to give an interface to a dweller or a visitor who makes a call with a dweller using the lobby phone, the notice message processing unit 140 of the present invention outputs a notice message that notifies the state of the telecommunication line to the lobby phone, the household phone or a telephone line (S530).

[67] That is to say, the notice message processing unit 140 stores voice messages or message data including texts or images for various situations, and reads and outputs data of a corresponding state to the lobby phone or the household phone.

[68] In case a display such as LCD is provided to the lobby phone or the household phone, a message data having text or image may be output to the display according to the state, and a voice message for a current state may be output to a voice output means such as a speaker.

[69] By outputting a message according to a situation, the present invention may give better convenience to dwellers and visitors.

[70] In addition, in case a value of the calling state of the telecommunication line is input from the telecommunication line detecting unit 110 while the intercommunication line is connected, the notice message processing unit 140 preferably outputs a notice message for the calling state of the telecommunication line to the household phone or the lobby phone, or outputs a notice message notifying the busy state of the intercommunication line or a background music to a telephone line who requested the call.

[71] In this configuration, if a communication line previously established is ended, the controller 120 of the present invention controls the relay unit 130 to connect a next communication line that is in a standby state.

[72] In addition, for better implementation of the present invention, it is determined whether the connected intercommunication line is ended (S550). If the intercommunication line is ended, the controller 120 preferably controls the relay unit 130 to return the relay unit 130 to the telecommunication line.

[73] Also, it is possible that a forced ending time (for example, 60 seconds) for intercommunication connection is set such that a notice message notifying the forced ending may be output to the lobby phone or the household phone when the set forced ending time is approached.

[74] Along with it, the relay unit may be configured to return to the telecommunication line even when it is determined that the forced ending time is passed (S550), similarly to the case that the intercommunication call is ended, thereby activating use of wired calls through the telecommunication line.

[75] In addition, in case a control signal for a door of a public porch is input from the household phone 200, the controller 120 is more preferably configured to output the control signal to a door operating device for opening/closing the common porch or the lobby phone 300 for controlling the door operating device such that the common porch may be controlled to open or close from a household physically spaced apart from the porch.

[76] Hereinafter, an operating mechanism of the relay unit according to the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to FIGs. 3 to 5.

[77] In FIG. 3, the reference numeral 190 designates a relay unit and related components of the present invention, and other components including the controller of the present invention are simply designated as a circuit unit 180 in general.

[78] As shown in FIG. 3, the relay unit and related control means are preferably provided as much as the number of household phones (1, 2, ..., n) such that they may be individually operated for each household.

[79] Hereinafter, the operating mechanism of the relay unit will be described in detail with reference to FIGs. 4 and 5 that show detailed configuration of the relay unit indicated by A in FIG. 3.

[80] As shown in FIGs. 4 and 5, the relay unit 130 of the present invention includes a first sub relay 130-1 and a second sub relay 130-2. The first sub relay 130-1 includes a first terminal 10 connected to the household phone 200, a second terminal 20 connected to the lobby phone 300, a third terminal 30 connected to the second sub relay 130-2, and a first switch 70 that is switched to connect the first terminal 10 to the second or third terminal 20, 30.

[81] In correspondence with the first sub relay 130-1, the second sub relay 130-2 includes a fourth terminal 40 connected to a telephone line, a fifth terminal 50 connected to the controller 120, a sixth terminal 60 connected to the first sub relay 130-1, and a second switch 80 switched to connect the fourth terminal 40 to the fifth or sixth terminal 50, 60.

[82] The fifth terminal connected to the controller 120 gives a connection for operations related to notice message outputting, but it does not means all connections required for the controller 120 to entirely control the relay unit 130.

[83] The mechanism for operating the relay unit 130 to connect the telecommunication line is as follows. As shown in FIG. 4, if a control signal for connection of the telecommunication line is input from the controller 120, the first switch 70 is switched to connect the first terminal 10 to the third terminal 30, and the second switch 80 is switched with a left inclination to connect the fourth terminal 40 to the sixth terminal 60.

[84] By the above switching operation, the telecommunication line is connected to the household phone 200 to form a closed circuit via the telephone line 700, the fourth terminal 40, the sixth terminal 60, the third terminal 30 and the first terminal 10.

[85] In addition, the mechanism for operating the relay unit 130 to connect the intercom- munication line is as follows. As shown in FIG. 5, in case a control signal for connection of the intercommunication line is input from the controller 120, the first switch 70 is switched to connect the first terminal 10 to the second terminal 20, and the second switch 80 is switched with a right inclination to connect the fourth terminal 40 to the firth terminal 50.

[86] By the above switching operation, the intercommunication line is connected to the household phone 200 to form a closed circuit via the lobby phone 300, the second terminal and the first terminal. In case the intercommunication line is connected, the controller 120 connected to the telephone line by the second switch may effectively output required message data to the telephone line or the like by interworking with the notice message processing unit 140.

[87] In order to realize the above configuration in more detail, it is preferred that the first to sixth terminals 10 to 60 respectively have two contact points, each of which is connected by switching operation of the first and second switches 70, 80 in a way that two contact points of any terminal are connected to two contact points of another terminal by means of conductors 70a, 80a provided to both surfaces of each switch.

[88] That is to say, in case the intercommunication line is connected, a first contact point

10a of the first terminal 10 is connected to a first contact point 20a of the second terminal 20, and the other contact point 10b of the first terminal 10 is connected to the other contact terminal 20b of the second terminal 20, as an example.

[89] Meanwhile, the lobby phone apparatus of the present invention, which is for realizing another object of the present invention, is provided to a common porch of a public dwelling for communication among households. As shown in FIG. 7, the lobby phone apparatus 300 may include an input unit 310, an output unit 320, a voice transmission unit 330, an authentication unit 340, a reader unit 350, a control unit 360, a movement sensing sensor 370, and a message output unit 380.

[90] The input unit 310 corresponds to a kind of input interface for receiving information from an external user, and it may have various applications such as a keypad or a touch panel for inputting a secret number from a dweller or inputting a household number or an intercommunication requesting signal from a visitor to make a communication with a predetermined household.

[91] The output unit 320 functions to transmit the household number data and intercommunication requesting signal input from the keypad input unit 310 to the switching apparatus that connects a telecommunication line between a telephone line and a household phone provided to each household and an intercommunication line between the household phone and the lobby phone provided to a common porch of a public dwelling in a switching manner such that the telecommunication line connected to the household phone is connected to the intercommunication line in a sharing manner. [92] In case an intercommunication line is connected as explained above in the switching apparatus 100 of the present invention, the ring signal output unit sends an intercommunication requesting signal to a corresponding household. If the call is made in the household, the voice transmission unit 330 of the lobby phone apparatus 300 transmits voice between the external user and the dweller of the household.

[93] The voice transmission unit 330 is controlled by a microprocessor (not shown) included in the lobby phone apparatus 300, and it may include a speaker or a microphone.

[94] In addition to the above configuration, the authentication unit 340 is preferably configured to store authentication information for opening/closing a door of the porch in its DB such that the authentication information DB is updated or changed when a user is authenticated as a dweller of the household. More preferably, for management of many lobby phones, the authentication unit may be connected to an external DB server such that many lobby phones use updated authentication information together.

[95] The reader unit 350 of the lobby phone apparatus 300 obtains information from a security card of each household. In case the information input from the reader unit 350 or the keypad input unit 310 is identical to the information stored in the authentication unit 340, the control unit 360 may control a door operating device 390 to open/close the door such that the door may be effectively controlled.

[96] Additionally, in order to further enhance convenience of a user, in case a sensing data is input from the movement sensing sensor 370 that senses movement within a certain distance, the message output unit 380 of the present invention outputs a notice message for requesting contact of a card or input of a secret number to a voice or image display means.

[97] The present invention has been described in detail. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. Industrial Applicability

[98] The toll-free telecommunication line switching apparatus, the lobby phone apparatus, and the toll-free telecommunication switching method according to the present invention give the following effects.

[99] First, the present invention allows to construct an intercommunication line in a simple and rapid way without squandering resources since a telecommunication line already constructed may be utilized as it is.

[100] Second, the switching apparatus of the present invention may be used for monitoring telecommunication line and intercommunication line and interfacing a user to give a monitoring result, so it is possible to further enhance convenience of users.

[101] Third, the switching apparatus of the present invention may give easy extension to connect with external devices or servers, and it may give an infrastructure for connecting with other devices such as an in-house security device in an effective and rapid way.

[102] Fourth, the switching apparatus of the present invention may be simply interposed into a communication line between a household phone and an existing telephone line, so it may be easily installed and removed without additional works. Also, the switching apparatus of the present invention gives easy extension in case an additional communication port is constructed due to the increase of lines.

[103] Fifth, since voltages of telecommunication line and intercommunication line are sensed and monitored while using the switching apparatus of the present invention, the present invention allows to easily find any problem occurring in lines, so bad connections in telephone line or intercommunication line may be rapidly treated.

Claims

[1] A toll-free telecommunication line switching apparatus for connecting a telecommunication line between a telephone line and a household phone provided to each household and an intercommunication line between the household phone and a lobby phone provided to a common porch of a public dwelling in a switching manner such that the telecommunication line connected to the household phone is connected to the intercommunication line in a sharing manner, the switching apparatus comprising: a telecommunication line detecting unit for detecting a state of the telecommunication line; a controller for controlling whether or not to connect the intercommunication line according to the state of the telecommunication line, input from the telecommunication line detecting unit, in case an intercommunication requesting signal that requests a connection to the household phone is input from the lobby phone; and a relay unit for switching and connecting the telecommunication line or the intercommunication line by a control signal from the controller.

[2] The toll-free telecommunication line switching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the telecommunication line detecting unit senses a voltage of the telecommunication line to classify the state of the telecommunication line into a standby state, a calling state and a busy state, and then transmits a corresponding state value to the controller, and wherein, when the intercommunication requesting signal is input from the lobby phone, the controller controls the relay unit to connect the intercommunication line between the household phone and the lobby phone in case the state value input from the telecommunication line detecting unit is a standby state value.

[3] The toll-free telecommunication line switching apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a notice message processing unit for outputting a notice message corresponding to the state of the telecommunication line to the lobby phone or the household phone, in case the intercommunication requesting signal is input while the telecommunication line is in the calling state or the busy state.

[4] The toll-free telecommunication line switching apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, in case the calling state value of the telecommunication line is input from the telecommunication line detecting unit while the intercommunication line is connected, the notice message processing unit outputs a notice message notifying the calling state of the telecommunication line to the household phone or the lobby phone or outputs a notice message notifying the busy state of the in- tercommunication line or a background music to a telephone line of the telephone communication line who requested the call.

[5] The toll-free telecommunication line switching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in case a control signal for a door of the common porch is input from the household phone, the controller outputs the control signal to a door operating device for operating the common porch to open or close or to the lobby phone that controls the operating device.

[6] The toll-free telecommunication line switching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the relay unit includes a first sub relay and a second sub relay, wherein the first sub relay includes a first terminal connected to the household phone, a second terminal connected to the lobby phone, a third terminal connected to the second sub relay, and a first switch switched to connect the first terminal to the second or third terminal, wherein the second sub relay includes a fourth terminal connected to the telephone line, a fifth terminal connected to the controller, a sixth terminal connected to the first sub relay, and a second switch switched to connect the fourth terminal to the fifth or sixth terminal, wherein, in case a control signal for connecting a telecommunication line is input from the controller, the first switch is switched to connect the first terminal to the third terminal, and the second switch is switched to connect the fourth terminal to the sixth terminal, and wherein, in case a control signal for connecting an intercommunication line is input from the controller, the first switch is switched to connect the first terminal to the second terminal, and the second switch is switched to connect the fourth terminal to the fifth terminal.

[7] The toll-free telecommunication line switching apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first to sixth terminals respectively have two contact points, wherein the first and second switches connect the terminals by switching operation in a way that two contact points of any terminal are respectively connected to two contact points of another terminal by means of conductors provided to both surfaces of each switch.

[8] The toll-free telecommunication line switching apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, in case a predetermined time passes after the intercommunication line is connected, the controller controls each switch of the relay unit to be switched for connecting the telecommunication line, and the controller controls the notice message processing unit to output a notice message notifying the end of the intercommunication line to the household phone or the lobby phone.

[9] A toll-free telecommunication line switching method for connecting a telecom- munication line between a telephone line and a household phone provided to each household and an intercommunication line between the household phone and a lobby phone provided to a common porch of a public dwelling in a switching manner such that the telecommunication line connected to the household phone is connected to the intercommunication line in a sharing manner, the switching method comprising: a telecommunication line detecting step for detecting a state of the telecommunication line; a controlling step for controlling whether or not to connect the intercommunication line according to the state of the telecommunication line, detected in the telecommunication line detecting step, in case an intercommunication requesting signal that requests a connection to the household phone is input from the lobby phone; and a switching step for switching and connecting the telecommunication line or the intercommunication line under the control of the controlling step.

[10] The toll-free telecommunication line switching method according to claim 9, wherein the telecommunication line detecting step senses a voltage of the telecommunication line to classify the state of the telecommunication line into a standby state, a calling state and a busy state, and then transmits a corresponding state value, and wherein, when the intercommunication requesting signal is input from the lobby phone, the controlling step controls to connect the intercommunication line between the household phone and the lobby phone in case the state value input in the telecommunication line detecting step is a standby state value.

[11] The toll-free telecommunication line switching method according to claim 10, further comprising: a notice message outputting step for outputting a notice message corresponding to each state of the telecommunication line to the household phone, the lobby phone or a telephone line, in case any one of the telecommunication line and the intercommunication line is connected and then a connection requesting signal is input for the other communication line not connected.

[12] A lobby phone apparatus provided to a common porch of a public dwelling to give communication among households of the public dwelling, the lobby phone apparatus comprising: a keypad input unit for receiving information from an external user; an output unit for transmitting household number data and intercommunication requesting signal, input from the keypad input unit, to a telecommunication line switching apparatus that connects a telecommunication line between a telephone line and a household phone provided to each household and an intercommunication line between the household phone and the lobby phone apparatus in a switching manner such that the telecommunication line connected to the household phone is connected to the intercommunication line in a sharing manner; and a voice transmission unit for transmitting voice between the external user and a dweller of the household in case the intercommunication line is connected by the telecommunication line switching apparatus.

[13] The lobby phone apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: an authentication unit that stores authentication information for opening/closing a door of the common porch; a reader unit for obtaining information from a security card of each household; and a control unit for controlling a door operating device to open/close the door in case the information input from the reader unit or the keypad input unit is identical to the information stored in the authentication unit.

[14] The lobby phone apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: a movement sensing sensor for sensing movement within a predetermined distance; and a message output unit for outputting a notice message that requests contact of a card or input of a secret number to a voice or image display means, in case a sensing data is input from the movement sensing sensor.