JP2002133090A - Answering control system, answering control device, and program recording medium therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] An intelligent robot capable of autonomous action can be used as an answering machine, and the contents of an answering machine desired by a requester can be arbitrarily set. That is, even in a calm normal state, it is possible to easily confirm the current various types of absence status via a network from outside. An answering machine terminal device acquires various situations during an absence message as answering message monitoring information in accordance with predetermined schedule information and transmits it to an answering machine management server. The absence management server 1 creates a report page based on the absence monitoring information, and transmits the report page to the user according to a request from the user.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an answering control system and an answering control device for performing an answering control via a network by installing a terminal having an answering function at an answering machine for which an answering request has been made, and a program recording apparatus for the same. Regarding the medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional absence management system, a security company which provides comprehensive security services has a permanent installation of a gas leak detector, a fire detector, a monitor camera, and the like in advance in an answering house where an answering machine has been requested. In addition, the company provides a comprehensive security service that monitors online 24 hours a day. In this case, when an abnormal situation is detected by various sensors installed at the destination, an emergency report is sent to the center device of the security company.
Also, when a staff member makes a confirmation request from the center device of the security company, the monitor camera in the absence home is activated and a camera image is transmitted to the center device. In addition to the management system, the security company also provides a service for directly dispatching security personnel.

[0003]

However, travel,
If you leave your home temporarily or urgently due to illness, etc., requesting a full-fledged security company to provide security and deploying a comprehensive security system would be enormous and costly. There is a problem that it takes time to install the equipment and it is not enough in case of an emergency.In addition, if you request a security guard to be patrol regularly or stay at home, There's a problem. Also,
When an abnormal situation is detected, the client can notify the security company by simply notifying the security company's center device or operating the monitor camera in response to a confirmation request from the staff and transmitting the camera image to the center device. If you do not make a phone call,
The client cannot confirm the current absence status, and may spend time uneasy. On the other hand, even if you ask a nearby acquaintance for your answering machine, you can't ask anything but anything, and you can only do so without responsibilities and security. By the way, in recent years, intelligent robots equipped with autonomous behavior functions have remarkably developed their functions, enabling movement and perception close to human behavior, and their effective use is expected. Are too expensive, and only personal robots are sold as toys.

A first object of the present invention is to enable a terminal device having an answering machine function to be used as an answering machine, to set an arbitrary answering machine content desired by a requester, Needless to say, even in a calm normal state, it is possible to realize an absence management system that enables a client to easily confirm the current various types of absence status from a destination via a network. . Second
The problem of the invention is that without having to purchase expensive equipment individually,
By simply making a contract to temporarily borrow a terminal device with an answering machine function, the answering machine can be entrusted to the terminal device so that the user can easily check the current absence status via a network from outside the office It is.

[0005] The means of the present invention are as follows. According to the first aspect of the present invention (first invention), an answering machine installed at an answering machine requested to be answering machine, and answering monitoring information transmitted from the answering machine are received and managed. An answering control system in which an answering control device is connected via a network, wherein the answering terminal device is configured to drive in accordance with predetermined schedule information, and to monitor various situations during the absence. Information acquisition means for acquiring as information, and transmission means for transmitting the absence monitoring information acquired by the information acquisition means to the absence management device, the absence management device,
It is provided with a creating means for creating report information based on the answering monitoring information transmitted from the answering machine terminal device, and a transmitting means for transmitting the report information created by the creating means as information for the client. Things. Also,
Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium in which a program code for causing a computer to execute each of the above-described functions is recorded. Therefore, in the invention described in claim 1, an intelligent robot capable of autonomous action can be used as an answering machine, and the answering machine content desired by the client can be set arbitrarily. As a matter of course, even in a calm normal state, it is possible to realize an absence management system that can easily confirm the current various types of absence status via a network from outside.

The present invention may be as follows. (1) The answering machine terminal device is a mobile robot having an autonomous action function, and has a shooting function for shooting a current situation while patrolling in an answering machine according to predetermined schedule information. The transmission unit transmits the captured image acquired by the information acquisition unit to the absence management device as the absence monitoring information. (2) The answering machine is a mobile robot having an autonomous action function, acts according to predetermined schedule information, and autonomously performs a task of taking care of the creatures growing in the answering machine. While performing, a photographing function of photographing the current state of the living thing is provided as the information acquisition unit, and the transmission unit transmits the photographed image acquired by the information acquisition unit to the absence management device as absence monitoring information. Send. (3) the answering machine is a sensory robot, and has a sensory function for constantly monitoring an abnormal situation that has occurred in the answering machine;
The information obtaining means obtains various situations during absence as the absence monitoring information in accordance with predetermined schedule information, and also acquires abnormal situation information perceived by the perception function as the absence monitoring information, and The management device makes an emergency report of the abnormal situation information transmitted from the answering machine terminal device to a predetermined report destination.

[0007] The invention according to claim 5 (second invention) is as follows.
When a contract for an answering machine service for renting an answering machine installed at the answering machine is exchanged with a requester for an answering machine, the answering machine installed at the answering machine is connected via the network. An absence management device that receives and manages the absence monitoring information that has been transmitted, and a receiving unit that receives the absence monitoring information when the absence monitoring information is transmitted from the answering terminal. And a reporting unit for reporting the absence monitoring information received by the receiving unit as information for a client who has signed a loan contract for the answering terminal. Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium on which a program code for causing a computer to execute each of the above-described functions is recorded. Therefore, in the invention according to claim 5, it is possible to temporarily rent a terminal device having an answering machine function without purchasing an expensive intelligent robot or a surveillance camera by an individual. The role can be entrusted, and the current absence status can be easily checked from the outside via the network.

The present invention may be as follows. (1) When a contract for an answering machine service for renting the answering machine is made, correspondence information storage means for storing and managing the correspondence between the requester and the answering machine, and receiving the answering monitor information And a requester identification unit that refers to the correspondence information storage unit based on the transmission source and identifies a corresponding requester, and the reporting unit transmits the requester identified by the requester identification unit to the requester. Report the absence monitoring information. (2) The reporting means reports the absence monitoring information by e-mail transmission to a terminal device owned by the client who has signed a loan contract for the answering machine terminal device. (3) There is provided receiving means for receiving a report request from a requester, and collating means for confirming whether or not the report request is valid when the report request is received by the receiving means. When it is confirmed that the requester is a proper requester, the absence monitoring information is reported to the requester. (4) The answering machine monitoring information is a photographed image taken by the answering machine terminal installed at the answering machine, and when receiving a report request from the client, the answering machine corresponding to the requester There is provided an absence monitoring information relay means for instructing the terminal device to transmit the absence monitoring information and transmitting the absence monitoring information transmitted in response to the terminal device on the requester side, which is the requester.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. This embodiment specifically shows the first and second inventions described above. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the absence management system according to this embodiment. This answering machine management system is equipped with a terminal device (intelligent robot) having an answering machine function at the answering machine to which the answering machine is requested, and receives the answering machine management information from the answering machine terminal via a network to manage the answering machine. It is possible for the client to make an answering contract (rental contract) to temporarily rent an answering machine without having to purchase an intelligent robot or surveillance camera, etc. By deploying such an absence management service on a nationwide scale, a wide-area communication system that can be used by anyone by using the Internet is constructed.

In this absence management system, an absence management server (absence management device) 1 on the side of a comprehensive security service provider (center side) includes an answering terminal 2 installed at an absence home and a security service provider. An out-of-home user terminal 3 on the side of the requester who has requested an absence is connected to a fire department terminal 4 via a network (Internet) 5. The absence management server 1 is a center device that controls the entire absence management system, and receives the absence monitoring information when various situations during the absence are transmitted from the answering terminal 2 as the absence monitoring information. The outgoing user terminal 3 of the requester is sent to the user, and the absence status is reported to the user. Also, when the absence monitoring information from the answering machine terminal device 2 notifies an abnormal situation (fire detection), an emergency report to the fire department terminal 4 can be made.

The answering machine 2 is temporarily borrowed from the service provider for the contract period when the security service provider and the client make an answering contract. In other words, in this embodiment, the answering machine 2 is temporarily rented only while the answering machine 2 is away by the rental contract of the answering machine 2, and after the cancellation of the contract,
Returned to security service provider. The answering machine 2 is a mobile robot having an autonomous action function for monitoring various situations during an absence according to predetermined schedule information. It is an intelligent robot that can also perform tasks such as feeding and watering plants. In other words, it is a high-performance intelligent robot equipped with a sensor group and a monitor camera corresponding to various sensory functions, which can monitor various situations during absence and can also work as an answering machine. According to the schedule information, each of the rooms in the absence house is regularly patroled, and the state of each room is photographed by a monitor camera. Note that the answering machine 2 may be simply referred to as a “robot” below. The outside user terminal 3 on the client side is a mobile phone or mobile information device capable of Internet communication, in addition to a desktop personal computer.

FIG. 2 shows various databases and tables provided in the absence management server 1. The absence management server 1 includes a contract table 11 and a contract database 1.
2, a photography database 13 and a report database 14 are provided. The contract table 11 indicates that the answering machine 2
It manages and manages the lending status of lending.
As shown in (A), the contract table 11 is configured to have respective items of “robot ID”, “period 1”, “period 2”, “period 3” for each answering machine 2. . “Period 1”, “Period 2”, “Period 3” ‥‥
Indicates a contract period of the answering machine 2 and indicates a period during which the terminal is currently rented or reserved.

The contract database 12 stores and manages the contract contents between the security service provider and the client.
As shown in (B), each record constituting the contract database 12 includes “robot ID”, “user ID”,
"Contract period", "User address", "Email address",
It has a configuration having items of “telephone contact information”, “password”, and “contract fee”. Photography database 13
Is for storing and holding photographed image data for each of the answering machine terminal devices 2. As shown in FIG. 2 (C), each record constituting the photographing database 13 includes "robot ID",
It has a configuration having items of “photographing date and time” and “photographed image data”. The report database 14 stores various statuses during the absence as the absence monitoring information, and stores the report information for reporting to the client side for a plurality of pages for each user. As shown in FIG. Each record constituting the report database 14 has a “user ID”, “report date and time”, and “report page content” items. The contents of the report database 14 are read out and transmitted to the user when a browsing request is made by the user.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the absence management server 1. The CPU 101 is a storage device 10
2 is a central processing unit that controls the overall operation of the absence management server 1 according to the operating system and various application software. Storage device 102
Are the above-described contract table 11, contract database 12, photographing database 13, and report database 1 in addition to the operating system and various application software.
4 and a recording medium 103 constituted by a magnetic, optical, semiconductor memory or the like, and a drive system therefor. The recording medium 103 is a fixed medium such as a hard disk or a portable medium such as a CD-ROM, a floppy desk, a RAM card, and a magnetic card which can be detachably mounted. The programs and data in the recording medium 103 are stored in the RA under the control of the CPU 1 as necessary.
M (for example, a static RAM) 104 or data in the RAM 104 is saved in the recording medium 103. Further, the recording medium may be provided on an external device side such as a server, and the CPU 101 can directly access and use the program / data in the recording medium via a transmission medium.

The CPU 101 can also take in some or all of the data stored in the recording medium 103 from another device via a transmission medium, and newly or additionally register the data in the recording medium 103. Further, the program / data may be stored and managed on the external device side such as a server, and the CPU 101 can directly access and use the program / data on the external device side via a transmission medium. On the other hand, a transmission control unit 105, an input unit 106, and a display unit 107, which are input / output peripheral devices, are connected to the CPU 101 via a bus line, and the CPU 101 controls the operations according to an input / output program.

FIG. 4A is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the answering machine 2. This answering machine 2
In addition to the CPU 201 and the storage device 202, the configuration includes a drive unit 203, a gas / smoke sensor 204, a monitor camera 205, an image file 206, and a communication unit 207. It is to be noted that, similarly to the absence management server 1 described above, an operation unique to the answering terminal 2 can be executed using a program / data externally supplied via a recording medium or a transmission medium. The storage device 202 stores preset schedule information in addition to various programs such as an autonomous action program and an absence monitoring program.

FIG. 4B shows setting schedule information. This set schedule information is set in advance according to the contents of the absence message, and includes a “patrolling time” and “pattern location information” when regularly patrol each room of the absence message, and the pet's If feeding and watering the plants are requested, "watering time", "watering location information", "feeding time", "feeding location information", "feeding location" Is set. "
It should be noted that even if the setting schedule information is set once, if there is a request from the requester, the absence management server 1
By transmitting schedule change information to the answering machine 2 in response to the request, automatic change is possible.

Next, the operation of the absence management system in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Here, programs for realizing the functions described in these flowcharts are stored in a recording device in the form of readable program codes, and the CPU 101 (201) performs an operation according to the program codes. Execute sequentially. The CPU 10
1 (201) can also sequentially execute the operation according to the above-mentioned program code transmitted via the transmission medium. That is, an operation specific to this embodiment can be executed using a program / data externally supplied via a transmission medium in addition to a recording medium.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are flow charts showing the operation of the absence management server 1 when the user accesses. First, the absence management server 1 transmits the top page to the requesting user terminal (step A1). FIG.
(A) shows this top page screen, in which each item of "robot contract" and "absence report" is displayed as menu items, and the user selects a desired menu item from among them. I do. Here, the absence management server 1
Is in a menu item selection waiting state (step A
2) If any item is selected and specified, the type is determined, and the process proceeds to the corresponding process.

If the "robot contract" item is specified, the term application page is transmitted to the requesting user (step A3). FIG. 10B shows this period application page screen. In this page screen, a message prompting the user to enter an absence period is displayed, and an input area is allocated. When the user inputs the absence period information, the absence management server 1 receives the period information (step A4), accesses the contract table 11, and extracts the answering terminal device (robot) 2 that can be contracted. (Step A5). That is, robots that are currently waiting for a contract are extracted except for robots that are lent to third parties or robots that are reserved.

Then, a robot menu page is created based on each extracted robot, and transmitted to the requesting user (step A6). FIG. 10 (C) shows this robot menu page screen, in which a robot list and its basic fee are displayed. Note that the robot basically has the same function, for example,
Robots with shapes and designs according to the user's preference, such as dog type, cat type, etc., are prepared.
The robot list and the fee are displayed in correspondence with the list, and the user selects a desired robot from the list.

Here, when the user selects a robot, the absence management server 1 receives the "robot number" (step A7) and calculates a contract fee (step A).
8). In this case, the contract fee is calculated in consideration of the contract period for the basic fee. Then, a contract page is created and transmitted to the user (step A9). FIG. 10 (D)
Indicates this contract page screen. In this contract page screen, "", "robot number", "contract period", "contract fee" are displayed, and "contractor name", "address" , "Email", "Phone Contact", "Password"
Are displayed. When the user describes necessary items in this input item, the absence management server 1 receives the contract content (step A10), generates and issues a “contract ID” (step A11), and transmits the contract ID to the user (step A11). Step A12), a contract record is generated based on the contract contents, and newly registered in the contract database 12 (step A13).

When the absence contract procedure is completed, the requested robot is lent to the user. In this case, a staff member of the service provider goes to the answering machine and delivers the designated robot, and sets various schedule information while inquiring from the user about the role of the robot so that the robot acts as an answering machine as requested by the user. Perform FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are flowcharts showing the operation of the answering machine 2, which is started when the power is turned on. First, it is determined whether the setting of the schedule information has been registered (step B1). At first, since it is in an unregistered state, the staff of the service provider performs the setting work. That is, when the robot is moved to the patrol position designated by the user and a registration instruction is given at that position (step B2), the current position information is registered in the robot (step B3). In this case, the indoor reference position (home position) is determined in advance, and the traveling position is specified based on the direction and the offset distance from the reference position, but the specifying method is arbitrary.

After registering one patrol position,
It is determined whether there is another patrol place, that is, whether termination of position registration has been instructed (step B4). If there is no termination instruction, the process returns to step B2, and the above-described registration operation is repeated. As a result, when all the traveling position registrations have been completed (step B4), the traveling time is registered in order to make the robot perform a periodic traveling action (step B4).
5). Next, the attendant inquires from the user whether or not the plant is watered, and if necessary, specifies and inputs the necessity (step B6), and the answering machine terminal device 2 determines whether or not the necessity is necessary (step B7). ). If watering is requested, the robot is moved to the position specified by the user, and then an instruction for position registration is given (step B8).
The answering machine 2 registers the current location information (step B9). Then, the setting of the watering time is registered (step B10).

Further, the clerk inquires from the user whether or not to feed the pet, and if necessary, specifies and inputs the necessity (step B11).
Determines the necessity (step B12). Now, when feeding is requested, after the robot is moved to the position specified by the user and an instruction for position registration is given, the answering machine terminal device 2 registers current position information (step B13). Then, a process of inputting and setting the feeding time is performed (step B14). As a result, when the registration of a series of schedule information is completed, the autonomous action according to the schedule becomes possible thereafter.

Here, in order to make the rented robot function as an answering machine, the power of the robot is turned on when leaving the house. Then, as described above, step B1
The presence or absence of the registration of the schedule is checked. In this case, since it is determined that the schedule has been registered, the process proceeds to step B20 in FIG. 8, and it is determined whether or not the registration time of the schedule has been reached. It is determined whether the registration time is a tour time (step B21). Now, when the traveling start time has been reached, the robot acquires the traveling position information, moves from the current position in the direction of the position, and when reaching the position, activates the monitor camera to photograph the surrounding area ( Step B
22). At this time, if a plurality of tour positions are registered, the operation of moving to each tour location and photographing in a predetermined order is repeated.

On the other hand, when the watering time has been reached (step B23), watering position information is acquired, the water is moved from the current position in the direction of the position, and when the watering time is reached, the watering operation is performed. (Step B24), and activates the monitor camera to photograph the situation (Step B2).
5). If the feeding time has been reached (step B
23), obtain the position information of the bait storage place, move from the current position in the direction of the position, and take out the bait when the position is reached (step B26). And move in that direction,
A feeding operation is performed (step B27). Then, the monitor camera is operated to photograph the situation of the pet (step B28).

Further, the answering machine terminal device 2 constantly monitors gas leak detection and fire detection (smoke detection), and if any of them is detected (step B29), the answering management server 1 on the center side sends it to the center. An alarm is issued to the user (step B30), and a siren is sounded (step B30).
31) In addition, a photograph is taken while moving in the detection direction (step B32). On the other hand, the answering machine 2
The center is constantly monitoring whether there is any request from the absence management server 1 (step B33), and upon receiving the center request, activates the monitor camera (step B34) and transmits the monitor image to the center (step B34). Step B35). Thereafter, it is checked whether there is a drive request from the center (step B36). If there is, the robot is driven based on the request command (step B3).
7). Accordingly, the robot moves, shoots, and performs work according to the instructions from the center side, but such remote operation is performed until a monitor end command is received from the center side (step B36-B38).

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation of the answering management server 1 which is started every time data is received from the answering machine 2. First, the absence management server 1
Determines the type of the received data and checks whether it is a captured image (step C1) or an abnormality report (step C2).
Here, if the image is a photographed image, it is received (step C3), the robot ID of the transmission source is acquired, and the current system date and time are acquired as the photographing date and time. , And a photographing record composed of a "photographed image" and register it in the photographing database 13 (step C4). Next, a report page is created based on the photographed contents (step C5), and the "robot I"
Based on "D", the contract database 12 is searched, and a report page having the corresponding "user ID" as a key item is registered in the report database 14 (step C6). Then, the “mail address” corresponding to the “robot ID”
Is obtained from the contract database 12, and a report page is notified to the user by e-mail (step C7).

If the data from the answering machine 2 is an abnormality report (step C2), the data is received and the "robot ID" as the transmission source is obtained.
The contract database 12 is searched based on the “robot ID”, and the “address” of the user corresponding to the “robot ID”,
“Telephone contact information” is obtained (step C8). And
The contents of the abnormality are notified to the user's address by telegram (step C9), and the contents of the abnormality are notified to the user's telephone contact (step C10).

On the other hand, in the above-described top page screen,
When the item of "absence report" is selected and designated as the menu item, the process proceeds to step A20 in FIG. 6, and a user information request page requesting "user ID" and "password" is transmitted to the user. In this user information request page, an input area for inputting a "user ID" and a "password" is provided. When necessary items are input in the input area for writing, the absence management server 1 “User ID” and “password” are received (step A2)
1) Verification of the identity (authentication) is performed by collating with the contents of the contract database 12 (step A22). As a result, if the user is not a valid user, the report request is invalidated.
If the authentication is successful, the report database 14 is searched based on the "user ID", a report page corresponding to the user is read (step A23), and transmitted to the user (step A24). FIG. 11 (A) shows this report page screen. The page screen includes a “camera image” of each room taken during the regular patrol and its “tour date”, watering plants and feeding pets. If the user has done so, a list of “camera images” at that time is displayed, and a “previous page button” and a “monitor button” are arranged.

When the "previous page button" is operated by the user (step A25), the "user I"
D, the report database 14 is searched, a report page (previous page) positioned before the current read page is designated and read (step A26), and the previous page is transmitted to the user (step A24). . Such an operation is executed every time the “previous page button” is operated, and as a result, the user can browse the report pages created for him / her while going back one page at a time. When the “monitor button” is operated by the user (step A
27) Then, the contract database 12 is searched based on the "user ID", a "robot ID" corresponding to the user is acquired, and a monitor request is made to this robot (step A28). In response to this, the answering machine 2
When the camera image transmitted from is received (step A29), a monitor page is created and transmitted to the user (step A30).

FIG. 11B shows this monitor page screen, in which a monitor image is displayed and various "robot drive buttons" are arranged. The “robot drive button” includes a “360 ° rotation monitor button” for requesting 360 ° monitor shooting while rotating the robot once, and a “rotation button” and “forward button” for drive request. ,
By operating any button, the robot is remotely controlled. Here, when any one of the buttons is operated (step A31), “360 ° rotation monitor request”, “rotation request”,
A "forward request" is transmitted to the robot (step A32). Then, when the monitor end request is specified by the user (step A33), the monitor end request is transmitted to the robot (step A34).

As described above, in this embodiment, the answering terminal 2 acquires the various statuses during the absence as the absence monitoring information in accordance with the predetermined schedule information, transmits the information to the absence management server 1, and The management server 1 prepares a report page based on the absence monitoring information, and transmits the report page to the user according to a request from the user. Even in a calm normal state, the present absence status can be easily confirmed on the go via the Internet. Therefore, it is not necessary to make a telephone call to the security service company as in the prior art, and it is possible to check the details in detail.
Also, when a contract for an answering machine management service is made with a requester of an answering machine, a contract for lending the answering machine terminal device 2 installed at the answering machine is performed.
The user can leave the answering machine to the terminal device only by making a contract to temporarily borrow the answering machine terminal device 2 without having to purchase an expensive intelligent robot or a surveillance camera by himself. In addition, the work of installing various detectors and the like is not particularly required, and it is sufficient to set an action schedule in the robot.

The answering machine 2 shoots the current situation while patroling the answering machine according to predetermined schedule information, and transmits the captured image to the answering management server 1 as answering monitor information. Because
You can know the situation of each room without installing a monitor camera in each room. Also, the answering machine 2
Takes the current situation of this creature while acting in accordance with the predetermined schedule information and autonomously taking care of the creatures growing in the absence place, and absent the photographed image Since the information is transmitted to the absence management server 1 as the monitoring information, the user can not only monitor but also perform the work of feeding pets and watering plants as an answering machine instead of a human being. Can be checked freely at any time, and the answering machine can be left with confidence.

Further, the answering machine terminal device 2 constantly monitors the presence or absence of an abnormal situation (gas leak or smoke detection) occurring at the answering machine,
In the event of an abnormal situation, the absence management server 1 is notified, and the absence management server 1 makes an emergency call to a predetermined report destination to determine whether the information is abnormal situation information. Comprehensive security that can be used for emergency response is possible. When a contract for the answering service is made, the correspondence relationship between the requester and the lent answering terminal device 2 is stored and managed in the contract database 12, and is transmitted from the answering terminal device 2. The absence monitoring information can be reliably reported to the client.

The user report is sent by e-mail to the terminal device owned by the client.
Real-time reporting and confirmation is possible. When a report request from a client is accepted, it is checked whether the client is a legitimate client and the absence monitoring information is reported to the client on condition that the client is a legitimate client. By sending a report request from oneself when it is convenient for the person, the request can be received and the third party can be surely prohibited from viewing the report. In the confirmation, the current situation in the absence house can be confirmed realistically by the monitor image.

In the above-described embodiment, when a list of robot menus is presented to the user, a list of robots having different shapes and designs is presented. A list of other robots may be presented. In addition, as a sensory function of the answering machine terminal device 2, a hearing function for detecting the presence or absence of a buzzer ringing sound and a telephone ringing sound at the time of visiting the answering machine is provided.
The presence or absence of a visitor and the presence or absence of a telephone call may be reported by transmitting information perceived by the hearing function to the absence management server 1 as absence monitoring information. Also,
Although the schedule information is set in advance in the answering machine 2, the schedule information is set in the answering management server 1, and when the schedule time is reached,
The action command of the robot may be transmitted.

[0039]

According to the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to use a terminal device having an answering machine function as an answering machine, and to arbitrarily set the contents of an answering machine desired by a requester, thereby generating an abnormal situation. Of course, even in a calm normal state, it is possible to easily check the current various types of absence status from a place away from home via a network. Second
According to the invention of the above, without having to buy expensive equipment by himself,
Just by making a contract to temporarily borrow a terminal device with an answering machine function, you can leave the answering machine to that terminal device, and you can easily check the current absence status from the outside via the network, Users do not have to purchase expensive intelligent robots and surveillance cameras individually,
The cost is remarkably reduced, and the work of mounting various detectors and the like becomes unnecessary, so that an emergency response can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an absence management system.

2A is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a contract table 11, FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a record configuration of a contract database 12, and FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating a record configuration of a photographing database 13. (D) is a diagram showing a record configuration of the report database 14. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an absence management server 1.

FIG. 4A is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the answering machine 2; FIG. 4B is a diagram showing schedule information set in the answering machine 2;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the absence management server 1 when a user accesses the system.

6 is a flowchart subsequent to FIG. 5, illustrating an operation on the absence management server 1 side at the time of user access.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the answering machine terminal device 2 started to be executed when the power is turned on.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the answering machine 2 following FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the answering service server 1 which is started to be executed each time data is received from the answering terminal 2;

FIG. 10A is a diagram showing a top page screen,
(B) is a diagram showing the period application page screen, (C) is
The figure which showed the robot menu page screen, (D) is the figure which showed the contract page screen.

FIG. 11A is a diagram showing the report page screen;
(B) is a diagram showing a monitor page screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 Answering management server 2 Answering machine terminal device 3 Outgoing user terminal on requester side 4 Fire department terminal 11 Contract table 12 Contract database 13 Imaging database 14 Report database 101, 201 CPU 102, 202 Storage device 103 Recording medium 105 Transmission control unit 106 Input Unit 203 Drive unit 204 Gas / smoke sensor 205 Monitor camera 207 Communication unit

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Claims (11)

[Claims] An answering machine installed at an answering machine for which an answering machine has been requested and an answering machine for receiving and managing answering monitor information transmitted from the answering machine are connected via a network. An answering management system comprising: an answering terminal device, a driving unit that drives in accordance with predetermined schedule information, an information acquiring unit that acquires various states during an absence as absence monitoring information, Transmitting means for transmitting the absence monitoring information acquired by the information acquiring means to the absence management device, wherein the absence management device creates report information based on the absence monitoring information transmitted from the answering terminal device And transmitting means for transmitting the report information generated by the generating means as information for the client. Absence management system to butterflies. 2. The answering machine according to claim 1, wherein said answering machine is a mobile robot having an autonomous action function, and a photographing function for taking an image of a current situation while patrolling in an answering machine in accordance with predetermined schedule information. 2. An answering machine according to claim 1, wherein the answering machine is provided as an acquiring means, and wherein the transmitting means transmits the photographed image acquired by the information acquiring means to the answering control device as answering monitor information. Management system. 3. The answering machine terminal device is a mobile robot having an autonomous action function, acts according to predetermined schedule information, and autonomously performs a task of taking care of living things growing in the answering machine. The information acquisition means is provided with a photographing function for photographing the current state of the living thing while performing the operation, and the transmission means uses the photographed image acquired by the information acquisition means as the absence monitoring information as the absence management. 2. The absence management system according to claim 1, wherein the answering management system transmits the information to an apparatus. 4. The answering machine terminal device is a sensory robot and has a sensory function for constantly monitoring an abnormal situation that has occurred in the answering machine. In addition to acquiring various situations as absence monitoring information, acquiring abnormal situation information perceived by the perception function as absence monitoring information, the absence management device transmits the abnormal situation information transmitted from the answering terminal. 2. The absence management system according to claim 1, wherein an emergency call is made to a predetermined report destination. 5. An answering machine installed at an answering machine when a contract for an answering service for renting an answering machine installed at the answering machine is made with a requester requesting an answering machine. An answering management device that receives and manages absence monitoring information transmitted from a device via a network, and receives the absence monitoring information when the absence monitoring information is transmitted from the answering terminal. And a reporting means for reporting the absence monitoring information received by the receiving means as information for a client who has entered into a loan contract for the answering machine terminal device. 6. A correspondence information storage means for storing and managing a correspondence relationship between a requester and an answering machine when a contract for an absence management service for renting the answering machine is received, and receiving the answering monitor information. In this case, referring to the correspondence information storage means based on the transmission source, a requester specifying means for specifying a corresponding requester is provided, and the reporting means is specified by the requester specifying means. The absence management device according to claim 5, wherein the absence monitoring information is reported to the client. 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said reporting means reports the absence monitoring information by e-mail transmission to a terminal device owned by a client who has signed a loan contract for the answering machine terminal device. The absence management device according to claim 5. 8. A receiving means for receiving a report request from a requester, and a collating means for confirming whether or not the report request is valid when the report request is received by the receiving means, wherein the reporting means comprises: 6. The absence management device according to claim 5, wherein when it is confirmed that the client is a legitimate client, the absence monitoring information is reported to the client. 9. The absence monitoring information is a photographed image taken by the answering terminal installed at an answering machine, and corresponds to the requester when a report request from the requester is received. An answering monitoring information relaying means for instructing the answering terminal to send an answering monitoring information, and transmitting the answering monitoring information transmitted in response to the requesting terminal as a requester; The absence management device according to claim 5, wherein the absence management device is provided. 10. A recording medium having a program code which can be read by a computer, for driving an answering machine terminal device installed at an answering machine requested to be answering machine according to predetermined schedule information. Computer readable program code, computer readable program code for acquiring various situations during absence as the absence monitoring information, and computer for transmitting the obtained absence monitoring information to the absence management device The readable program code and the answering machine monitoring information transmitted from the answering machine to the answering machine for receiving and managing the answering machine monitoring information transmitted from the answering machine via the Internet. A computer-readable Recording medium having a program code capable and includes a program code readable computer for to transmit the report information generated as information for the requester taken. 11. A recording medium having a program code readable by a computer, wherein when the answering machine monitoring information is transmitted from an answering machine terminal device installed at an answering machine to which an answering machine has been requested, the answering machine is monitored. A computer readable program code for receiving the information, and a computer readable program code for reporting the received absence monitoring information as information for a client who has signed a loan contract for the answering terminal. A recording medium comprising: