[Technical Field] [0001]
The present invention relates to an elevator system.
[Background Art] [0002]
A known elevator system includes: a remote monitoring device connected to a communication network including a plurality of connecting points, the remote monitoring device including a first telephone; an earthquake sensor configured to detect an earthquake occurring at an installation location of a car of an elevator and generate an earthquake occurrence signal; an elevator controller configured to generate a communication route establishment command signal after receiving the earthquake occurrence signal generated by the earthquake sensor; a second telephone disposed in the car; a transceiver configured to, when connected to one of the connecting points of the communication network, transmit and receive voice signals exchanged between the first and second telephones to and from the remote monitoring device; and a selection switch configured to, when receiving the communication route establishment command signal generated by the elevator controller, repetitively select one of the plurality of connecting points of the communication network and cause the transceiver attempt to connect to the connecting point until a communication route with the remote monitoring device is established (for example, refer to PTL 1). [Citation List] [Patent Literature] [0003] [PTL 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-063084
[Summary of Invention] [Technical Problem] [0004]
However, an elevator system such as that described in PTL

1 repetitively selects one of a plurality of connecting points of a communication network and attempts to connect to the selected connecting point until a communication route is established between a telephone (a call device) provided in an elevator car and a telephone of a remote monitoring device. Therefore, it takes time for a call during an emergency to be started. In addition, particularly, when a call is terminated by an abnormal disconnection or the like, time required to start a next call increases as attempts to re-establish a communication route are repetitively made. [0005]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems described above. An object of the present invention is to provide an elevator system capable of starting, when making a call between a call device of an elevator and a telephone installed at a location other than the elevator, a subsequent call in a short time after a call has been made at least once between the call device and the telephone.
[Solution to Problem]
[0006]
An elevator system according to the present invention includes: a reporting device configured to connect a call device provided in an elevator to any one of a plurality of reception devices so that voice communication can be performed therebetween; and a management device configured to manage a communication status of the plurality of reception devices, wherein the reporting device includes: a connection destination inquiry unit configured to inquire the, management device about a reception device to become a connection destination of the voice communication; and a connection destination storage unit configured to store the connection destination notified from the management device, the management device includes a connection destination notification unit configured to, in response to an inquiry from the connection destination inquiry unit, issue a notification of one reception device selected from the plurality of reception devices as the connection destination, and when the call device and the reception device are engaged in the voice communication, the connection destination inquiry unit inquires about the reception device to become a next connection

destination.
[Advantageous Effects of Invention]
[0007]
The elevator system according to the present invention is capable of starting, when making a call between a call device of an elevator and a telephone installed at a location other than the elevator, a subsequent call in a short time after a call has been made at least once between the call device and the telephone.
[Brief Description of the Drawings] [0008]
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an elevator system related to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing internal configurations of a reporting device, a reception device, and a management device of the elevator system related to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a reception device status management table of the management device provided in the elevator system related to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing operations of the elevator system related to the first embodiment of the present invention during an emergency call.
Fig. 5 is a flow chart showing operations of the management device provided in the elevator system related to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a flow chart showing operations during an emergency call of an elevator system related to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Description of Embodiments] [0009]
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the respective drawings, same or comparable portions will be denoted by same reference signs and overlapping descriptions will be simplified or omitted as deemed appropriate. It should be noted that the

present invention is not limited to the embodiments described
below and various modifications can be made thereto without
departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0010]
First Embodiment
Figs. 1 to 5 are related to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which: Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an elevator system; Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing internal configurations of a reporting device, a reception device, and a management device of the elevator system; Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a reception device status management table of the management device provided in the elevator system; Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing operations of the elevator system during an emergency call; and Fig. 5 is a flow chart showing operations of the management device provided in the elevator system. [0011]
As shown in Fig. 1, the elevator system according to the first embodiment of the present invention is provided with an elevator 1 installed in a building. In addition, the elevator system enables calls (emergency calls) to be made between inside of a car of the elevator 1 installed in the building and a remote location. The elevator system may include the elevator 1 in plurality. In this case, for example, the elevator system includes three elevators 1. [0012]
Each elevator 1 is provided with a call device 10 and a reporting device 100. The call device 10 and the reporting device 100 are connected so as to be capable of communicating with each other. The call device 10 is installed inside the car of each elevator 1. The call device 10 is used by a person inside the car of the elevator 1 to make a call to the outside. To this end, each call device 10 is provided with a microphone and a speaker (not shown) . A specific example of such a call device 10 is an intercom. The reporting device 100 performs control related to reports on abnormalities of the elevator 1 to the outside and calls made by the call device 10 to the outside. [0013]
Each elevator 1 is connected to an information center 2 via a communication network 400 so as to be capable of communicating

with the information center 2. The communication network 400 is
configured using, for example, a public line network.
[0014]
The information center 2 is provided at a location which differs from the building in which the elevator 1 is installed. For example, each information center 2 is installed in each area where the building in which the elevator 1 is installed is located. In this case, for example, an information center (area A) 2a, an information center (area B) 2b, and an information center (area C) 2c are provided. Hereinafter, the information center (area A) 2a, the information center (area B) 2b, and the information center (area C) 2c will be collectively referred to as the information center 2. [0015]
Each information center 2 monitors buildings in an area for which the information center 2 is responsible. A monitor, a maintenance person, and the like of the elevator 1 are on duty at all times at the information center 2. In addition, in the event of an emergency such as an occurrence of an abnormality in the elevator 1 of a building in the area for which the information center 2 is responsible, necessary personnel such as a maintenance person can be dispatched from the information center 2 to the building in which the abnormality had occurred. [0016]
Each information center 2 is provided with a telephone 20 and a reception device 200. In this case, each information center 2 is provided with a plurality of pairs of the telephone 20 and the reception device 200. The telephone 20 and the reception device 200 of each pair are connected so as to be capable of communicating with each other. The telephone 20 enables a call to be made between a person inside the car using the call device 10 of the elevator 1 and a monitor at the information center 2. The reception device 200 performs control related to reception of abnormality reports of the elevator 1 from the reporting device 100 and calls between the call device 10 and the telephone 20. [0017]
Each information center 2 is connected to a management device 300 so as to be capable of communicating with the management device 300. Each elevator 1 is also connected to the

management device 300 so as to be capable of communicating with the management device 300. For example, the management device 300 is installed at a data center or the like. For example, the data center manages information necessary for maintenance and management of the elevators 1 in an integrated manner across many areas. The data center is provided at a location which differs from both the building in which the elevator 1 is installed and the information center 2. The management device 300 manages communication statuses of a plurality of reception devices 200. [0018]
In the example shown in Fig. 1, each elevator 1 and the management device 300 are connected via the communication network 400 while each information center 2 and the management device 300 are connected by a dedicated communication line without involving the communication network 400. However, connection methods are not limited thereto and each information center 2 and the management device 300 may be connected via the communication network 400. [0019]
Next, configurations of the reporting device 100, the reception device 200, and the management device 300 will be further described with reference to Fig. 2. As described earlier, the elevator 1, the information center 2, and the management device 300 are connected to the communication network 400. Fig. 2 shows an example in which the communication network 400 is constituted by a phone line network 401 and an IP communication network 402. The IP communication network 402 is a communication network using IP (Internet Protocol) as a communication protocol. [0020]
In the example shown in Fig. 2, the reporting device 100 of the elevator 1 is connected to the IP communication network 402 via the phone line network 401. To this end, the reporting device 100 is provided with a phone line communication unit 112. The phone line communication unit 112 is an interface used when the reporting device 100 communicates with the phone line network 401. [0021]
The reception device 200 of the information center 2 and the management device 300 are respectively directly connected to

the IP communication network 402. To this end, the reception device 200 is provided with a reception device-side IP communication unit 210. In.addition, the management device 300 is provided with a management device-side IP communication unit 301. The reception device-side IP communication unit 210 is an interface used when the reception device 200 communicates with the IP communication network 402. Furthermore, the management device-side IP communication unit 301 is an interface used when the management device 300 communicates with the IP communication network 402. [0022]
The reporting device 100 connects the call device 10 to any of the plurality of reception devices 200 so that the call device 10 is capable of voice communication. A voice call can be made between the call device 10 inside a car of the elevator 1 and the telephone 20 of the information center 2 via the reporting device 100 and the reception device 200. Since the voice communication in this case is performed via the IP communication network 402, for example, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) can be used. [0023]
In addition to the phone line communication unit 112 described earlier, the reporting device 100 is further provided with a reporting device-side communication data processing unit 101, an elevator communication unit 102, a reporting device-side failure information processing unit 103, a call device communication unit 104, a calling unit 105, a reporting device-side encoding unit 106, a reporting device-side decoding unit 107, a reporting device-side sound quality monitoring unit 108, a connection destination inquiry unit 109, a connection destination storage unit 110, and a master-slave communication control unit 111. [0024]
The reporting device-side communication data processing unit 101 performs calculations, processing, and the like with respect to data related to communication among the reporting device 100, the reception device 200, and the management device 300. [0025]
Each elevator 1 is provided with an elevator control device

11. The elevator control device 11 controls operations of the elevator 1. When controlling operations of the elevator 1, the elevator control device 11 uses information related to a status of the elevator 1. Specifically, for example, information related to the status of the elevator 1 includes whether the elevator 1 is moving or whether the elevator 1 has stopped, a position, a direction of operation, and a status of call registration of the elevator 1, and the presence or absence of a failure of the elevator 1 and, (when there is a failure), contents or the like of the failure. [0026]
The elevator communication unit 102 is connected to the elevator control device 11 so as to be capable of communicating with the elevator control device 11. The elevator communication unit 102 is an interface used when the reporting device 100 communicates with the elevator control device 11. The elevator communication unit 102 is capable of acquiring information related to contents of a failure (hereinafter, this information will be referred to as "failure information") of the elevator 1 from the elevator control device 11. [0027]
The reporting device-side failure information processing unit 103 processes failure information of the elevator 1 acquired by the elevator communication unit 102 and sends the failure information to the reporting device-side communication data processing unit 101. The reporting device-side communication data processing unit 101 transmits the failure information of the elevator 1 to the phone line network 401 from the phone line communication unit 112. The transmitted failure information of the elevator 1 is received by the reception device 200 from the phone line network 401 via the IP communication network 402. [0028]
The call device communication unit 104 is connected to the call device 10 so as to be capable of communicating with the call device 10. The call device communication unit 104 is an interface used when the reporting device 100 communicates with the call device 10. The call device 10 and the reporting device 100 exchange various signals including a voice signal of a call in progress via the call device communication unit 104. [0029]

For example, when a person inside the car of the elevator
1 performs a call operation determined in advance on the call
device 10, a call operation signal is output from the call device
10. For example, the call operation is an operation in which a
person presses a call button provided on the call device 10.
The call operation signal output from the call device 10 is input
to the call device communication unit 104 of the reporting device
100.
[0030]
The calling unit 105 is for making a call from the reporting device 100 to the reception device 200 of the information center
2 when a call operation is performed on the call device 10. When
a call operation signal is input to the call device communication
unit 104, the calling unit 105 outputs a calling signal. The
calling signal output from the calling unit 105 is input to the
reporting device-side communication data processing unit 101.
Subsequently, the reporting device-side communication data
processing unit 101 to which the calling signal is input performs
a calling process.
[0031]
In the calling process, the reporting device-side communication data processing unit 101 first checks whether a reception device 200 to become a next connection destination is stored in the connection destination storage unit 110 (to be described later). When a reception device 200 to become a next connection destination is stored in the connection destination storage unit 110, the reception device 200 is adopted as a partner of the current call.
[0032]
On the other hand, when a reception device 200 to become a next connection destination is not stored in the connection destination storage unit 110, the connection destination inquiry unit 109 (to be described later) inquires the management device 300 about a reception device 200 to become a connection destination. Subsequently, the reception device 200 notified as a connection destination by the management device 300 in response to the inquiry is adopted as a partner of the current call.
[0033]
In addition, the reporting device-side communication data processing unit 101 transmits a calling signal from the phone

line communication unit 112 to the reception device 200 that is the partner of the call. The transmitted calling signal is received by the partner reception device 200 from the phone line network 401 via the IP communication network 402. [0034]
The reporting device-side encoding unit 106 converts an analog voice signal output from the call device 10 during a call between the call device 10 and the telephone 20 of the information center 2 into a digital voice signal. The conversion from the analog voice signal to the digital voice signal is performed by digitally encoding the analog voice signal so that the converted digital voice signal is suitable for digital communication via the phone line network 401 and the IP communication network 402. [0035]
Specifically, when a voice of a person inside the car is input to the microphone of the call device 10 in a calling state, the voice input to the microphone is output from the call device 10 as an analog voice signal. The analog voice signal output from the call device 10 is input to the call device communication unit 104. The reporting device-side encoding unit 106 digitally encodes the analog voice signal input to the call device communication unit 104 and converts the analog voice signal into a digital voice signal. The converted digital voice signal is sent to the reporting device-side communication data processing unit 101. Subsequently, the reporting device-side communication data processing unit 101 transmits the digital voice signal to the phone line network 4 01 from the phone line communication unit 112. The transmitted digital voice signal is received by the reception device 200 connected to the telephone 20 that is the call partner from the phone line network 401 via the IP communication network 4 02. [0036]
The reporting device-side decoding unit 107 decodes a digital voice signal transmitted from the telephone 20 of the information center 2 during a call between the call device 10 and the telephone 20 and converts the digital voice signal into an analog voice signal. Specifically, when the reporting device 100 receives, with the phone line communication unit 112, a digital voice signal transmitted from the reception device 200

connected to the telephone 20, first, the reporting device-side communication data processing unit 101 sends the digital voice signal received by the phone line communication unit 112 to the reporting device-side decoding unit 107. Subsequently, the reporting device-side decoding unit 107 decodes the digital voice signal and converts the digital voice signal into an analog voice signal. The analog voice signal decoded by the reporting device-side decoding unit 107 is sent from the call device communication unit 104 to the call device 10. The analog voice signal is then reproduced as a voice by the speaker of the call device 10. [0037]
The reporting device-side sound quality monitoring unit 108 monitors sound quality of voice communication between the call device 10 and the reception device 200 to which the telephone 20 of the information center 2 is connected during a call between the call device 10 and the telephone 20. In doing so, as an index for evaluating the sound quality of the voice communication, for example, one or more of a signal delay (ms) , a packet loss (%), an S/N ratio (dB) , and a signal level (dB) can be used. Hereinafter, the index for evaluating the sound quality of the voice communication will be referred to as a "sound quality evaluation index". [0038]
First, the reporting device-side sound quality monitoring unit 108 acquires a digital voice signal prior to being decoded by the reporting device-side decoding unit 107 and an analog voice signal decoded by the reporting device-side decoding unit 107. In addition, the reporting device-side sound quality monitoring unit 108 monitors the sound quality of the voice communication by obtaining the sound quality evaluation index of the voice communication described earlier with respect to the acquired digital voice signal and analog voice signal. It should be noted that, among the sound quality evaluation indices described earlier, a signal delay and a packet loss are to be evaluated based on a digital voice signal. In addition, an S/N ratio and a signal level are to be evaluated based on an analog voice signal. Therefore, acquiring only a necessary signal among a digital voice signal and an analog voice signal in accordance with the sound quality evaluation index to be used may suffice.

[0039]
The connection destination inquiry unit 109 inquires, when voice communication is performed between the call device 10 of the elevator 1 and the telephone 20 of the information center 2, the management device 300 about a reception device 200 to become a connection destination of the voice communication. The connection destination inquiry unit 109 inquires the management device 300 about a reception device 200 to become a connection destination at a first timing and a second timing described below. [0040]
First, the first timing is at a start or a restart of a call between the call device 10 and the telephone 20. The start of a call between the call device 10 and the telephone 20 occurs when, for example, making a call. In addition, the restart of a call between the call device 10 and the telephone 20 occurs when, for example, the call between the call device 10 and the telephone 20 is started once again after being abnormally disconnected. [0041]
However, when a reception device 200 to become a next connection destination is stored in the connection destination storage unit 110 (to be described later) upon starting or restarting a call, the connection destination inquiry unit 109 does not inquire about a reception device 200 to become a connection destination. In this case, the reporting device-side communication data processing unit 101 starts or restarts a call to the reception device 200 to become a next connection destination being stored in the connection destination storage unit 110. [0042]
Next, the second timing is when the call device 10 and the reception device 200 are engaged in voice communication. Specifically, when the call device 10 and the reception device 200 are engaged in voice communication, the connection destination inquiry unit 109 inquires about a reception device 200 to become a next connection destination. Particularly, in the present first embodiment, when the call device 10 and the reception device 200 are engaged in voice communication and, at the same time, the sound quality monitored by the reporting device-side sound quality monitoring unit 108 falls below a

criterion set in advance, the connection destination inquiry unit 109 inquires about a reception device to become a next connection destination. The criterion in this case is set using the sound quality evaluation index described earlier. [0043]
At the second timing, in a similar manner to the first timing described above, when a reception device 200 to become a next connection destination is stored in the connection destination storage unit 110 (to be described later), the connection destination inquiry unit 109 does not inquire about a reception device 200 to become a connection destination. [0044]
When the connection destination inquiry unit 109 inquires about a connection destination, the connection destination inquiry unit 109 sends a connection destination inquiry request to the reporting device-side communication data processing unit 101. Subsequently, the reporting device-side communication data processing unit 101 having received the connection destination inquiry request transmits a connection destination inquiry signal to the phone line network 401 from the phone line communication unit 112. In addition, the connection destination inquiry signal having been transmitted from the phone line communication unit 112 of the reporting device 100 to the phone line network 401 is sent to the management device 300 via the IP communication network 402. [0045]
The connection destination storage unit 110 stores a connection destination notified from the management device 300. When the connection destination inquiry unit 109 inquires the management device 300 about a reception device 200 to become a connection destination of voice communication, as will be described later, in response to the inquiry, the management device 300 notifies the reporting device 100 having made the inquiry of a reception device 200 selected from the plurality of reception devices 200 as a connection destination. [0046]
The reporting device 100 having made the inquiry receives, with the phone line communication unit 112, information on the reception device 200 that is the connection destination notified from the management device 300. The information on the reception

device 200 that is the connection destination received by the phone line communication unit 112 is processed by the reporting device-side communication data processing unit 101 and then sent from the connection destination inquiry unit 109 to the connection destination storage unit 110. Subsequently, the connection destination storage unit 110 stores the information on the reception device 200 that is the connection destination notified from the management device 300. [0047]
It should be noted that, as a general rule, the connection destination storage unit 110 stores only one reception device 200 that is a connection destination. Therefore, supposing that the connection destination storage unit 110 already stores a reception device 200 that is a connection destination when the reporting device 100 receives information on a reception device 200 that is a connection destination notified from the management device 300, the connection destination storage unit 110 overwrites the already-stored information on the reception device 200 that is a connection destination with the newly-notified information on the reception device 200 that is a connection destination and stores only the newly-notified information on the reception device 200 that is a connection destination. [0048]
When the call device 10 and the telephone 20 of the information center 2 are engaged in a call, the reporting device-side communication data processing unit 101 monitors whether or not voice communication between the call device 10 and the reception device 200 connected to the telephone 20 has been abnormally disconnected. In addition, when the voice communication between the call device 10 and the reception device 200 connected to the telephone 20 has been abnormally disconnected, the reporting device-side communication data processing unit 101 attempts to reconnect the call device 10 and the reception device 200 with each other. In doing so, when a reception device 200 to become a next connection destination is stored in the connection destination storage unit 110, the reporting device 100 reconnects the reception device 200 stored in the connection destination storage unit 110. In other words, when the voice communication between the call device 10 and the

reception device 200 has been abnormally disconnected, the reporting device 100 connects the call device 10 and the reception device 200 that is a connection destination stored in the connection destination storage unit 110 so that voice communication can be performed therebetween. [0049]
The master-slave communication control unit 111 controls master-slave communication. Master-slave communication refers to communication in which one master device and one or more slave devices are configured for a plurality of call devices 10 and one telephone number is shared among the master device and the slave devices. Using master-slave communication enables a plurality of call devices 10 to be connected to the phone line network 4 01 with one telephone number. [0050]
However, when one of the plurality of call devices 10 in a master-slave relationship is already engaged in a call using a shared telephone number, the master-slave communication control unit 111 places other call devices 10 attempting to make a call in a call standby state until the shared telephone number becomes available. In addition, when the call ends and the shared telephone number becomes available, the master-slave communication control unit 111 connects the call device 10 in the call standby state to the phone line network 401 using the shared telephone number. [0051]
In addition to the reception device-side IP communication unit 210 described earlier, the reception device 200 is further provided with a reception device-side communication data processing unit 201, a server communication unit 202, a reception device-side failure information processing unit 203, a telephone communication unit 204, an incoming call unit 205, a reception device-side encoding unit 206, a reception device-side decoding unit 207, a reception device-side sound quality monitoring unit 208, and a status data generation unit 209. [0052]
The reception device-side communication data processing unit 201 performs calculations, processing, and the like with respect to data related to communication among the reception device 200, the reporting device 100, and the management device

300. [0053]
A monitoring server 21 is installed in each information center 2. The monitoring server 21 stores information necessary for monitoring a status of each elevator 1 installed in a building. The server communication unit 202 is connected to the monitoring server 21 so as to be capable of communicating with the monitoring server 21. The server communication unit 202 is an interface used when the reception device 200 communicates with the monitoring server 21. [0054]
The reception device-side failure information processing unit 203 processes failure information of the elevator 1 transmitted from the reporting device 100 and sends the failure information to the server communication unit 202. Specifically, when the failure information of the elevator 1 transmitted 'from the reporting device 100 is received by the reception device-side IP communication unit 210, the reception device-side communication data processing unit 201 sends the failure information received by the reception device-side IP communication unit 210 to the reception device-side failure information processing unit 203. The reception device-side failure information processing unit 203 processes failure information of the elevator 1 sent from the reception device-side communication data processing unit 201 and sends the failure information to the server communication unit 202. Subsequently, the server communication unit 202 stores the failure information on the elevator 1 in the monitoring server 21. [0055]
The telephone communication unit 204 is connected to the telephone 20 so as to be capable of communicating with the telephone 20. The telephone communication unit 204 is an interface used when the reception device 200 communicates with the telephone 20. The telephone 20 and the reception device 200 exchange various signals including a voice signal of a call in progress, an off-hook signal, and an on-hook signal via the telephone communication unit 204. [0056]
The incoming call unit 205 receives an incoming call with the telephone 20 when the reception device 200 receives a calling

signal from the reporting device 100. When the reception device-side IP communication unit 210 of the reception device 200 receives a calling signal from the reporting device 100, the reception device-side communication data processing unit 201 sends an incoming call instruction to the incoming call unit 205. The incoming call unit 205 having received the incoming call instruction sends an incoming call signal to the telephone 20 via the telephone communication unit 204. [0057]
The telephone 20 having received the incoming call signal performs a call operation. Specifically, the call operation is sounding of a ring-back tone and one of or both of lighting and blinking of a call light. When a receiver of the telephone 20 is picked up in response to the call operation, an off-hook signal is output from the telephone 20. The off-hook signal from the telephone 20 is input to the reception device 200 via the telephone communication unit 204. [0058]
When the off-hook signal from the telephone 20 is input, the reception device-side communication data processing unit 201 transmits a response signal to the reporting device 100 having transmitted the calling signal. Subsequently, as the reporting device 100 receives the response signal, voice communication is established between the call device 10 and the telephone 20 and the call device 10 and the telephone 20 enter a calling state. [0059]
The reception device-side encoding unit 206 converts an analog voice signal output from the telephone 20 during a call between the telephone 20 and the call device 10 of the elevator 1 into a digital voice signal. The conversion from the analog voice signal to the digital voice signal is performed by digitally encoding the analog voice signal so that the converted digital voice signal is suitable for digital communication via the phone line network 401 and the IP communication network 402. [0060]
Specifically, when a voice of a monitor is input to the microphone of the telephone 20 in a calling state, the voice input to the microphone is output from the telephone 20 as an analog voice signal. The analog voice signal output from the telephone 20 is input to the telephone communication unit 204.

The reception device-side encoding unit 206 digitally encodes the analog voice signal input to the telephone communication unit 204 and converts the analog voice signal into a digital voice signal. The converted digital voice signal is sent to the reception device-side communication data processing unit 201. Subsequently, the reception device-side communication data processing unit 201 transmits the digital voice signal to the IP communication network 402 from the reception device-side IP communication unit 210. The transmitted digital voice signal is received by the reporting device 100 connected to the call device 10 that is the call partner from the IP communication network 402 via the phone line network 401. [0061]
The reception device-side decoding unit 207 decodes a digital voice signal transmitted from the call device 10 of the elevator 1 during a call between the telephone 20 and the call device 10 and converts the digital voice signal into an analog voice signal. Specifically, when the reception device 200 receives, with the reception device-side IP communication unit 210, a digital voice signal transmitted from the reporting device 100 connected to the call device 10, first, the reception device-side communication data processing unit 201 sends the digital voice signal received by the reception device-side IP communication unit 210 to the reception device-side decoding unit 207. Subsequently, the reception device-side decoding unit 207 decodes the digital voice signal and converts the digital voice signal into an analog voice signal. The analog voice signal decoded by the reception device-side decoding unit 207 is sent from the telephone communication unit 204 to the telephone 20. The analog voice signal is then reproduced as a voice by the speaker of the telephone 20. [0062]
The reception device-side sound quality monitoring unit 208 monitors sound quality of voice communication between the telephone 20 and the reporting device 100 to which the call device 10 of the elevator 1 is connected during a call between the telephone 20 and the call device 10. In doing so, the sound quality evaluation indices described earlier can be used to evaluate the sound quality of the voice communication in a similar manner to the reporting device-side sound quality

monitoring unit 108. Specifically, for example, one or more of a signal delay (ms), a packet loss (%) , an S/N ratio (dB), and a signal level (dB) can be used. [0063]
First, the reception device-side sound quality monitoring unit 208 acquires a digital voice signal prior to being decoded by the reception device-side decoding unit 207 and an analog voice signal decoded by the reception device-side decoding unit 207. In addition, the reception device-side sound quality monitoring unit 208 monitors the sound quality of the voice communication by obtaining the sound quality evaluation index described earlier with respect to the acquired digital voice signal and analog voice signal. It should be noted that, among the sound quality evaluation indices described earlier, a signal delay and a packet loss are to be evaluated based on a digital voice signal. In addition, an S/N ratio and a signal level are to be evaluated based on an analog voice signal. Therefore, acquiring only a necessary signal among a digital voice signal and an analog voice signal in accordance with the sound quality evaluation index to be used may suffice. [0064]
The status data generation unit 209 generates status data of the reception device 200 in accordance with an inquiry from a status inquiry unit 303 (to be described later) of the management device 300. Subsequently, the reception device 200 transmits the generated status data of the reception device 200 to the management device 300. The status data of the reception device 200 includes data related to a sound quality of the voice communication between the reception device 200 and the reporting device 100 and data related to a communication status of the reception device 200. [0065]
Specifically, the data related to the sound quality of the voice communication is data of a sound quality evaluation index used by the reception device-side sound quality monitoring unit 208 to monitor sound quality. In addition, the communication status of the reception device 200 includes, for example, the four states of "call in progress", "data communication in progress", "idle", and "reserved". "Call in progress" is a state where voice communication is being performed. "Data

communication in progress" is a state where communication not accompanied by voice communication is being performed. "Idle" is a communication standby state where neither voice communication nor data communication is being performed. Furthermore, "reserved" is an idle state in which a connection destination notification unit 304 (to be described later) of the management device 300 has notified the reporting device 100 of the reception device 200 as the reception device 200 that is a next connection destination. [0066]
When the reception device-side IP communication unit 210 receives a status inquiry signal from the status inquiry unit 303 of the management device 300, the status data generation unit 209 acquires data of the sound quality evaluation index from the reception device-side sound quality monitoring unit 208 as data related to the sound quality of the voice communication. In addition, the status data generation unit 209 acquires data related to the communication status of the reception device 200 from the reception device-side IP communication unit 210. [0067]
Furthermore, the status data generation unit 209 generates status data of the reception device 200 by combining the acquired data related to the sound quality of the voice communication and the acquired data related to the communication status. The status data of the reception device 200 generated by the status data generation unit 209 is sent to the reception device-side communication data processing unit 201. The reception device-side communication data processing unit 201 transmits the status data of the reception device 200 to the IP communication network 402 from the reception device-side IP communication unit 210. The transmitted status data of the reception device 200 is received by the management device 300 via the IP communication network 402. [0068]
In addition to the management device-side IP communication unit 301 described earlier, the management device 300 is provided with a reception device management unit 302, the status inquiry unit 303, and the connection destination notification unit 304. The reception device management unit 302 manages statuses of a plurality of reception devices 200. To this end, the reception

device management unit 302 stores a reception device status management table of the plurality of reception devices 200 that are management objects. Status data of each reception device 200 generated by the status data generation unit 209 of the reception device 200 is stored in the reception device status management table. [0069]
Fig. 3 shows an example of contents of the reception device status management table stored by the reception device management unit 302. As shown, in the reception device status management table, a plurality of reception devices 200 that are management objects are divided according to and registered for each information center 2 of an area in which each reception device 200 is installed. [0070]
The plurality of reception devices 200 are assigned a serial number for each information center 2 of each area. In the example shown in Fig. 3, six pairs of telephones 20 and reception devices 200 are installed in the information center (area A) 2a. In addition, ten pairs of telephones 20 and reception devices 200 are installed in the information center (area B) 2b. Furthermore, eight pairs of telephones 20 and reception devices 200 are installed in the information center (area C) 2c. [0071]
A "status" field of the reception device status management table includes a communication status of each reception device 200. The communication status of the reception device 200 includes the four states of "call in progress", "data communication in progress", "idle", and "reserved" described earlier in a similar manner to data related to the communication status of the reception device 200 acquired by the status data generation unit 209. [0072]
"Delay" and "packet loss" fields of the reception device status management table are related to sound quality during a call of each reception device 200. Specifically, in the example shown in Fig. 3, a delay and a packet loss are adopted as two sound quality evaluation indices during a call of the reception device 200. It should be noted that data related to "delay" and "packet loss" are only stored in the reception device status

management table for a reception device 200 of which the "status"
is "call in progress".
[0073]
The status inquiry unit 303 inquires each reception device 200 that is a management object of the management device 300 about a status. The status inquiry unit 303 makes the inquiry regarding a status to the reception device 200 on, for example, a regular basis. Specifically, the status inquiry unit 303 transmits, a status inquiry signal from the management device-side IP communication unit 301 to the IP communication network 402 at regular time intervals set in advance. The transmitted status inquiry signal is received by the reception device 200 via the IP communication network 402. [0074]
When the reception device 200 receives a status inquiry signal, the status data generation unit 209 described earlier generates status data of the reception device 200 and the generated status data is transmitted from the reception device 200 to the management device 300. When the management device 300 receives the status data from the reception device 200, the status inquiry unit 303 updates contents of the reception device status management table stored in the reception device management unit 302 with the received status data of the reception device 200. In this manner, the contents of the reception device status management table are kept up-to-date. [0075]
In response to an inquiry from the connection destination inquiry unit 109 of the reporting device 100, the connection destination notification unit 304 selects one reception device 200 to become a connection destination from the plurality of reception devices 200 and notifies the reporting device 100 of the selected reception device 200 as a connection destination. In doing so, the connection destination notification unit 304 selects one reception device 200 to become the connection destination from the plurality of reception devices 200 based on the contents of the reception device status management table stored in the reception device management unit 302 or, in other words, the status data of each reception device 200. [0076]
First, the communication status of the reception device 200

to be selected as a connection destination must be an idle state. When there are a plurality of reception devices 200 in the idle state, the connection destination notification unit 304 selects one reception device 200 as a connection destination from the reception devices 200 in the idle state according to a selection criterion determined in advance. [0077]
Specific examples of the selection criterion in this case will be described below. First, as a first selection criterion, a reception device 200 is preferentially selected from the reception devices 200 in the information center 2 in a same area as or at a shortest distance from an area in which is located the reporting device 100 having made the inquiry about a connection destination. For example, when an inquiry about a connection destination is made from the reporting device 100 in the area A, applying the first selection criterion results in preferentially selecting a reception device 200 from the reception devices 200 at the information center (area A) 2a in the same area A. [0078]
Next, as a second selection criterion, a reception device 200 is preferentially selected from the reception devices 200 installed at an information center 2 having the largest number of reception devices 200 in the idle state among the reception devices 200 installed at a same information center 2. In the example shown in Fig. 3, applying the second selection criterion results in preferentially selecting a reception device 200 from the reception devices 200 at the information center (area C) 2c. [0079]
In addition, as a third selection criterion, a reception device 200 is preferentially selected from the reception devices 200 installed at an information center 2 having a best average sound quality evaluation index among the reception devices 200 installed at a same information center 2. In the example shown in Fig. 3, applying the third selection criterion results in preferentially selecting a reception device 200 from the reception devices 200 at the information center (area B) 2b. [0080]
A plurality of these selection criteria may be used in combination. In this case, favorably, the first selection

criterion is most preferentially applied, the second selection criterion is applied next, and the third selection criterion is applied last. [0081]
Once one reception device 200 to become a connection destination is selected as described above, the reporting device 100 having made the inquiry is notified of the selected reception device 200 as a connection destination. In addition, in the contents of the reception device status management table stored in the reception device management unit 302, the management device 300 changes the status of the reception device 200 notified as a connection destination to "reserved". [0082]
Operations during an emergency call between the call device 10 of the elevator 1 and the telephone 20 of the information center 2 in the elevator system configured as described above will now be described with reference to Fig. 4. When a person is confined in the car of the elevator 1 and, for example, the confined person performs a call operation using the call device 10, first, in step SI, the connection destination inquiry unit 109 inquires the management device 300 about a reception device 200 to become a connection destination. Subsequently, the process advances to step S2 upon receiving a notification about the reception device 200 to become a connection destination from the management device 300. Step SI corresponds to the first timing described earlier. [0083]
In step S2, the reporting device 100 connects to the reception device 200 notified as the connection destination. Subsequently, the process advances to step S3. In step S3, a call is started between the call device 10 connected to the reporting device 100 and the telephone 20 connected to the reception device 200. Subsequently, the process advances to step S4. [0084]
In step S4, when a sound quality of the voice communication monitored by the reporting device-side sound quality monitoring unit 108 has fallen below the criterion, the process advances to step S5. In step S5, the connection destination inquiry unit 109 inquires the management device 300 about a reception device

200 to become a next connection destination. Subsequently, when a notification of the reception device 200 to become the next connection destination is received from the management device 300, the reception device 200 to become the next connection destination is stored in the connection destination storage unit 110. Step S5 corresponds to the second timing described earlier. [0085]
After step S5, the process advances to step S6. Alternatively, in step S4, when the sound quality of the voice communication monitored by the reporting device-side sound quality monitoring unit 108 has not fallen below the criterion, the process bypasses step S5 and advances to step S6. In step S6, when the reporting device-side communication data processing unit 101 detects that the communication between the reporting device 100 and the reception device 200 has been abnormally disconnected, the process advances to step S7. [0086]
In step S7, when the reception device 200 to become the next connection destination is stored in the connection destination storage unit 110, a return is made to step S2. In this case, the reporting device 100 is to connect to the reception device 200 stored in the connection destination storage unit 110 as the next connection destination without making an inquiry with the connection destination inquiry unit 109. [0087]
On the other hand, in step S7, when the reception device 200 to be the next connection destination is not stored in the connection destination storage unit 110, the process returns to step SI. Therefore, a connection between the reporting device 100 and a reception device 200 is performed after an inquiry is made by the connection destination inquiry unit 109 and a notification of a reception device 200 to be the next connection destination is received. [0088]
Conversely, in step S6, when the reporting device-side communication data processing unit 101 does not detect that the communication between the reporting device 100 and the reception device 200 has been abnormally disconnected, the process advances to step S8. In step S8, when the reception device 200

detects that an on-hook signal has been output from the telephone 20, the call is terminated. On the other hand, in step S8, when the reception device 200 does not detect that an on-hook signal has been output from the telephone 20, a return is made to step S4 and the call is continued. [0089]
Next, operations of the management device 300 provided in the elevator system configured as described above will be described with reference to Fig. 5. The flow of operations starts by initializing a value of a counter variable N used for the process to 1. In this case, a maximum value of the counter variable N is the number of management devices 300 that the management device 300 considers management objects. Each of the management devices 300 that the management device 300 considers a management object is assigned a serial number in advance. [0090]
In step Sll, the status inquiry unit 303 inquires an N-th reception device 200 or, in other words, the reception device 200 with the serial number N about a status. Subsequently, when the management device 300 receives status data transmitted from the N-th reception device 200, the status inquiry unit 303 records the received status data in the reception device status management table in the reception device management unit 302 and updates the reception device status management table. The process then advances to step S12. [0091]
In step S12, when an inquiry is received from the connection destination inquiry unit 109 of the reporting device 100, the process advances to step S13. In step S13, the connection destination notification unit 304 selects a reception device 200 to become a connection destination and notifies the reporting device 100 of the reception device 200. Specifically, first, the connection destination notification unit 304 searches for a reception device 200 in an idle state from the reception device status management table in the reception device management unit 302. When only one reception device 200 in an idle state is found, the reception device 200 is selected as the connection destination. When a plurality of reception devices 200 in an idle state are found, the candidates are narrowed down to one reception device 200 according to the selection criteria

described earlier. [0092]
When one reception device 200 is selected in this manner, the management device 300 changes the status in the reception device status management table of the reception device 200 selected as the connection destination to "reserved". Subsequently, the connection destination notification unit 304 notifies the reporting device 100 having made the inquiry of the selected reception device 200 as a connection destination. After step S13, the process advances to step S14. [0093]
On the other hand, in step S12, when an inquiry is not received from the connection destination inquiry unit 109 of the reporting device 100, the process bypasses step S13 and advances to step S14. In step S14, the counter variable N is incremented or, in other words, a value obtained by adding 1 to a present value of the counter variable N is set as a new value of the counter variable N. In doing so, when incrementing the counter variable N causes the value of the counter variable N to exceed the number of reception devices 200 that are management objects, the value of the counter variable N is set to 1. After step S14, a return is made to step Sll and the process described above is repeated. [0094]
As described earlier, the information center 2 is installed in each area where the building in which the elevator 1 is installed is located. In addition, in many cases, the information center 2 is basically installed in a same country as the buildings in an area for which the information center 2 is responsible. [0095]
On the other hand, there may be cases where a country in which relay stations, line facilities, and the like (hereinafter, referred to as "relay stations and the like") of the phone line network 401 are installed is the same country as a country in which the information center 2 and the building in which the elevator 1 is installed are located and, in other cases, the country in which the relay stations and the like are installed differs from the country in which the information center 2 and the building in which the elevator 1 is installed are located.

In a similar manner, there may be cases where a country in which nodes, line facilities, and the like (hereinafter, referred to as "nodes and the like") of the IP communication network 402 are installed is the same country as the country in which the information center 2 and the building in which the elevator 1 is installed are located and, in other cases, the country in which the nodes and the like are installed differs from the country in which the information center 2 and the building in which the elevator 1 is installed are located. In addition, cases are conceivable where the country in which the relay stations and the like of the phone line network 401 are installed is the same as the country in which the nodes and the like of the IP communication network 402 are installed but, at the same time, cases are conceivable where the country in which the relay stations and the like of the phone line network 401 are installed differs from the country in which the nodes and the like of the IP communication network 402 are installed. [0096]
Furthermore, a country in which the relay stations and the like of the phone line network 401 which are passed through in one communication are installed is not limited to one country and, some cases, communication may pass through relay stations and the like installed in a plurality of countries. In a similar manner, a country in which the nodes and the like of the IP communication network 402 which are passed through in one communication are installed is not limited to one country and, some cases, communication may pass through nodes and the like installed in a plurality of countries. [0097]
Therefore, for example, there may be cases where communication between the information center 2 and the building in which the elevator 1 is installed being located in a same country is performed via relay stations and the like of the phone line network 401 installed in a country that differs from the country in which the information center 2 and the building in which the elevator 1 is installed are located or cases where the communication is performed via nodes and the like of the IP communication network 402 installed in a country that differs from the country in which the information center 2 and the building in which the elevator 1 is installed are located. In

such.cases, as described earlier, the country in which the relay stations and the like or the nodes and the like which the communication passes through are installed may exist in plurality. [0098]
As described above, the elevator system according to the first embodiment of the present invention also assumes cases where communication between the building in which the elevator 1 is installed and the information center 2 via the phone line network 401 or the IP communication network 402 is performed across a plurality of countries. [0099]
In the elevator system configured as described above, the reporting device 100 is provided with the connection destination inquiry unit 109 which inquires the management device 300 about a reception device 200 to become a connection destination of voice communication and a connection destination storage unit 110 which stores a connection destination notified from the management device 300. In addition, the management device 300 is provided with the connection destination notification unit 304 which, in response to an inquiry from the connection destination inquiry unit 109, notifies one reception device 200 selected from the plurality of reception devices 200 as a connection destination. Furthermore, when the call device 10 and the reception device 200 are engaged in voice communication, the connection destination inquiry unit 109 inquires about a reception device 200 to become a next connection destination. [0100]
Therefore, the elevator system according to the first embodiment of the present invention is capable of securing, in advance, a reception device 200 to become a next connection destination before starting a next call. As a result, the elevator system according to the first embodiment of the present invention is capable of starting, when making a call between a call device of an elevator and a telephone installed at a location other than the elevator, a next call in a short time after a call has been made at least once between the call device and the telephone. [0101]
In addition, particularly, the connection destination

inquiry unit 109 inquires about a reception device to become a next connection destination when the sound quality monitored by the reporting device-side sound quality monitoring unit 108 falls below a criterion set in advance during voice communication between the call device 10 and the reception device 200. Furthermore, when the voice communication between the call device 10 and the reception device 200 has been abnormally disconnected, the reporting device 100 connects the call device 10 and the reception device 200 that is a connection destination stored in the connection destination storage unit 110 so that voice communication can be performed therebetween. [0102]
Therefore, when sound quality declines in a present call, the elevator system according to the first embodiment of the present invention is capable of securing, in advance, a reception device 200 to become a re-connection destination in preparation of an abnormal disconnection of the call. As a result, the elevator system according to the first embodiment of the present invention is capable of restarting a call in a short time when an abnormal disconnection of the call occurs. [0103] Second Embodiment
Fig. 6 is a flow chart showing operations during an emergency call of an elevator system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [0104]
The second embodiment described below is configured such that, in the first embodiment described above, when the call device 10 and the reception device 200 are engaged in voice communication and, consequently, there is another call device 10 in a call standby state, the connection destination inquiry unit 109 inquires the management device 300 about a reception device 200 to become a connection destination of the other call device 10. Hereinafter, the elevator system according to the second embodiment will be described with a focus on differences from the first embodiment. [0105]
Specifically, in the present second embodiment, the connection destination inquiry unit 109 similarly inquires the management device 300 about a reception device 200 to become a

connection destination of voice communication at the first timing and the second timing described in the first embodiment. However, with respect to the inquiry at the second timing, in the first embodiment described above, when the call device 10 and the reception device 200 are engaged in voice communication and, at the same time, the sound quality monitored by the reporting device-side sound quality monitoring unit 108 falls below a criterion set in advance, the connection destination inquiry unit 109 inquires about a reception device to become a next connection destination. [0106]
Conversely, in the present second embodiment, while the connection destination inquiry unit 109 similarly makes an inquiry when the call device 10 and the reception device 200 are engaged in voice communication, particularly when the call device 10 and the reception device 200 are engaged in voice communication and, consequently, there is another call device 10 in a call standby state, the connection destination inquiry unit 109 inquires the management device 300 about a reception device 200 to become a connection destination of the other call device 10. Whether or not there is another call device 10 in a call standby state can be confirmed using a function of the master-slave communication control unit 111 of the reporting device 100. [0107]
The reception device 200 to become the connection destination of the other call device 10 notified from the management device 300 is stored in the connection destination storage unit 110. In doing so, the reporting device 100 connected to the other call device 10 is desirably notified of the reception device 200 to become the connection destination of the other call device 10. Accordingly, the reception device 200 to become the connection destination of the other call device 10 notified from the management device 300 is stored in the connection destination storage unit 110 of the reporting device 100 connected to the other call device 10. Subsequently, once the call in progress of the call device 10 is terminated, the reporting device 100 of the other call device 10 connects to the reception device 200 stored in the connection destination storage unit 110.
Moreover, since other configurations, operations of the

respective units, and the like are similar to those of the first
embodiment, descriptions thereof will be omitted.
[0108]
Next, operations during an emergency call between the call device 10 of the elevator 1 and the telephone 20 of the information center 2 in the elevator system configured as described above will now be described with reference to Fig. 6. A flow chart shown in Fig. 6 is the one in which steps S31 and S32 enclosed by a dashed line have been added to the flow chart shown in Fig. 4 according to the first embodiment. Therefore, steps S21 to S28 in Fig. 6 are respectively similar to steps SI to S8 in the flow chart shown in Fig. 4 according to the first embodiment. In consideration thereof, descriptions of steps S21 to S28 will be omitted and contents of steps S31 and S32 will be mainly described. [0109]
As shown in Fig. 6, in the elevator system according to the second embodiment, the process advances to step S31 after step S23. Subsequently, in step S31, when another call device 10 such as the call device 10 of another elevator 1 is in a call standby state, the process advances to step S32. [0110]
In step S32, the connection destination inquiry unit 109 inquires the management device 300 about a reception device 200 to become a connection destination of the call device 10 of another elevator. When a notification of the reception device 200 to become the connection destination of the call device 10 of the other elevator is received from the management device 300, the reporting device 100 having made the inquiry by the connection destination inquiry unit 109 notifies the reporting device 100 to which the call device 10 of the other elevator is connected of the reception device 200 to become the connection destination of the call device 10 of the other elevator. In addition, the connection destination storage unit 110 of the reporting device 100 to which the call device 10 of the other elevator is connected stores the reception device 200 to become the connection destination of the call device 10 of the other elevator. After step S32, the process advances to step S24. [0111]
On the other hand, when another call device 10 is not in a

call standby state in step S31, the process bypasses step S32
and advances to step S24.
[0112]
It should be noted that, in the present second embodiment, when the call device 10 and the reception device 200 are engaged in voice communication and, at the same time, the sound quality monitored by the reporting device-side sound quality monitoring unit 108 falls below a criterion set in advance at the second timing described earlier, the connection destination inquiry unit 109 need not necessarily inquire about a reception device to become a next connection destination. In other words, the process may advance directly to step S26 from step S31 or step S32 without performing the steps S24 and S25 in the flow chart shown in Fig. 6. [0113]
The elevator system configured as described above is capable of starting, when making a call between a call device of an elevator and a telephone installed at a location other than the elevator, a subsequent call in a short time after a call has been made at least once between the call device and the telephone in a similar manner to the first embodiment. In particular, the elevator system according to the second embodiment of the present invention is capable of securing, in advance, when the call device 10 and the reception device 200 are engaged in voice communication and, consequently, there is another call device 10 in a call standby state, a reception device 200 to become a connection destination of the other call device 10 in the call standby state after the call currently being made is terminated and before the other call device 10 in a call standby state starts a next call. As a result, the elevator system according to the second embodiment of the present invention is capable of starting a call by another call device 10 in a call standby state in a short time.
[Industrial Applicability] [0114]
The present invention can be utilized in elevator systems in which (emergency) calls are made between a call device inside a car of an elevator installed in a building and a telephone installed at a location that differs from the building.

[Reference Signs List] [0115]
1 Elevator
2 Information Center

10 Call Device
11 Elevator Control Device

20 Telephone
21 Monitoring Server

100 Reporting Device
101 Reporting Device-side Communication Data Processing Unit
102 Elevator Communication Unit
103 Reporting Device-side Failure Information Processing Unit
104 Call Device Communication Unit
105 Calling Unit
106 Reporting Device-side Encoding Unit
107 Reporting Device-side Decoding Unit
108 Reporting Device-side Sound Quality Monitoring Unit
109 Connection Destination Inquiry Unit
110 Connection Destination Storage Unit
111 Master-slave Communication Control Unit
112 Phone Line Communication Unit

200 Reception Device
201 Reception Device-side Communication Data Processing Unit
202 Server Communication Unit
203 Reception Device-side Failure Information Processing Unit
204 Telephone Communication Unit
205 Incoming Call Unit
206 Reception Device-side Encoding Unit
207 Device-side Decoding Unit
208 Reception Device-side Sound Quality Monitoring Unit
209 Status Data Generation Unit
210 Reception Device-side IP Communication Unit

300 Management Device
301 Management Device-side IP Communication Unit
302 Reception Device Management Unit
303 Status Inquiry Unit
304 Connection Destination Notification Unit

400 Communication Network
401 Phone Line Network

402 IP Communication Network

We Claim:
[Claim 1]
An elevator system, comprising:
a reporting device configured to connect a call device provided in an elevator to any one of a plurality of reception devices so that voice communication can be performed therebetween; and
a management device configured to manage a communication status of the plurality of reception devices, wherein
the reporting device includes:
a connection destination inquiry unit configured to inquire the management device about a reception device to become a connection destination of the voice communication; and
a connection destination storage unit configured to store the connection destination notified from the management device,
the management device includes a connection destination notification unit configured to, in response to an inquiry from the connection destination inquiry unit, issue a notification of one reception device selected from the plurality of reception devices as the connection destination, and
when the call device and the reception device are engaged in the voice communication, the connection destination inquiry unit inquires about the reception device to become a next connection destination.
[Claim 2]
The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein
the reporting device further includes a sound quality monitoring unit configured to monitor a sound quality of the voice communication,
when the sound quality monitored by the sound quality monitoring unit falls below a criterion set in advance during the call device and the reception device are engaged in the voice communication, the connection destination inquiry unit inquires about the reception device to become a next connection destination, and
when the voice communication between the call device and the reception device is abnormally disconnected, the reporting device connects the call device and the reception device that is

the connection destination stored in the connection destination storage unit so that voice communication can be performed therebetween.
[Claim 3]
The elevator system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the call device is provided in each of a plurality of the elevators, and
when there is another call device in a call standby state when the call device and the reception device are engaged in the voice communication, the connection destination inquiry unit inquires about the reception device to become a connection destination of the other call device.
[Claim 4]
The elevator system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
the reception device generates status data of the reception device including the sound quality of the voice communication and transmits the generated status data to the management device, and
the connection destination notification unit selects the reception device to become the connection destination from the plurality of reception devices, based on the status data.

ELEVATOR SYSTEM
Provided is an elevator system capable of starting, when making a call between a call device of an elevator and a telephone installed at a location other than the elevator, a subsequent call in a short time after a call has been made at least once between the call device and the telephone. To this end, the elevator system includes: a reporting device which connects a call device provided in an elevator to any one of a plurality of reception devices so that voice communication can be performed therebetween; and a management device which manages a communication status of the plurality of reception devices. The reporting device includes: a connection destination inquiry unit which inquires the management device about a reception device to become a connection destination of the voice communication; and a connection destination storage unit which stores a connection destination notified from the management device. The management device includes a connection destination notification unit which, in response to an inquiry from the connection destination inquiry unit, issues a notification of one reception device selected from the plurality of reception devices as a connection destination. In addition, when the call device and the reception device are engaged in the voice communication, the connection destination inquiry unit inquires about a reception device to become a next connection destination.
[Figure: 2]