FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of door entry system, and more particularly to methods for supportmgmultiple calls simultaneously in door entry system and system thereof.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] At present, the device in Door Entry System can support single call at the same time. When a called device is under ringing or calling establishment and such device is requested for receiving a new incoming call from a third party device, there are two general methods to deal with the situation. [0003] One is to notice the calling device of the third party that 'system is busy!' or something like that. The other way is to interrupt the current calling, and the called device switch to ring for the new incoming call.

[0004] The first method of the above-mentioned, the third party shall wait untilthe called device is idle and acommunication channel is established. While for the second method of the above-mentioned, the new incoming call will interrupt the current call if the called device establishes a new communication channel. Hence, the two methods in prior art are not convenient for customers.

[0005] Due to the above mentioned problems, methods for supporting multiple calls simultaneously in door entry system and system thereof areproposed in the present invention without line-business issue for door entry system.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] To overcome the problems mentioned above, the present invention proposes methods for supportmgmultiple calls simultaneously in door entry system and system thereof, which can display new incoming call, smoothly switch communication channel and greatly reduce line-busy issue with an improved customers' satisfaction.

[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, it provides a method for supporting multiple calls simultaneously in a door entry system. The method comprises:displaying at least one sub-window in a main window by a called device when the called device is called by at least a third device during the called device under ringing or calling establishment.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises:sending a call request to the called device by the at least a third device; in which the call request includes media steam attribute information;identifying whether there is at least an availably idle channel after thecalled device receives the call request; if so, distributing the idle channel to the at least a third device; setting the idle channel as ringingstatus; analyzing the media steam attribute information of the third device; activating corresponding video decoding module and feeding a call response back to the at least a third device; decoding the media steam attribute informationbythe called device after receiving the call response; activating corresponding video decoding module and sending coded video data to the video receiving terminal of the called device; anddecoding the video data and displaying it in at least one sub-window by the called device after receiving the video data; and associating the sub-window with theavailably idle channel.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises :takinga calling channel which is under ringing status and corresponding video of at least one sub-window to the main window in case the called device under multiple incoming calls, in which at least one is under ringing status, at least another one is under ringing or calling establishment.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises: sending a call-wait request to the current communication device by the called device; shutting off the audio receiving/sending module bythe current communication device after receivingthe call-wait request; and feeding call-wait response back to the called device;shutting off the audio receiving/sending module bythe called device after receivingthe call-wait response; switching video of the main window to an available sub-window; and sending an offhook request to thethird device;switching the third device to calling establishment by the called device after the third device receives the offhook request; activating corresponding audio coding module; sending coded data to the audio receiving terminal of the called device and activating audio receiving module to receive audio data from the called device; and sending an offhook response to the called device; andswitching the channel occupied by the called device and third device under calling establishment; activating corresponding audio coding module; sending coded data to the audio receiving terminal of the third device and activating audio receiving module to receive audio data from the third device; and switching video signal of the third device from the sub-window to the main window.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, after switching video of the main window to an available sub-window, the method further comprises: associating the available sub-window with a channel which is occupied by the called device and the current communication device.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises:associating the main window with the channel occupied by the called device and third device.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises:switching among calling devices in case of at least two devices under callingestablishment.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises:sending a call-wait request to a current communication device by the called device; shutting off audio receiving/sending module bythe current communication device after receivingthe call-wait request; and sending a call-wait response to the called device;shutting off receiving/sending module bythe called device after receiving the call-wait response; switching video signal of the current communication device from the main window to an available sub-window; and sending a call-wait exiting request to the third device;activating corresponding audio coding module bythe third device after receivingthe call-wait exiting request; sending coded data to the audio receiving terminal of the called device; activating audio receiving module to receive audio data from the called device; and feeding call-wait exiting response back to the called device; andactivating corresponding audio coding module of the called device after the called device receives the call- wait exiting response; sending coded data to audio receiving terminal of the third device; activating audio receiving module to receive audio data from the third device; and switching video signal of the third device from the sub-window to the main window.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, after switching video signal of the current communication device from the main window to an available sub-window, the method further comprises: associating the available sub- window with a channel which is occupied by the called device and the current communication device.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises:associating the main window with the channel occupied by the called device and third device.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the called device, the current communication device or thethird device is selected from devices used in door entry system.

[0018] According to the other aspect of the present invention, it provides a door entry system. The door entry system adopts any above mentioned method for supporting multiple calls simultaneously.

[0019] Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for supporting multiple calls simultaneously in door entry system and system thereof, which display different video signals of multiple calls at the same time in a visual mode. Tlirough the present invention, users can switch between these multiple callsfreely and easily.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The subject matter of the invention will be explained in more details in the following description with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the drawings, in which: [0021] Fig. 1 illustrates a process (©-©) that the device B is calling the device A whenthe device A is in idle status, a process ((§)-©) that the device A establishes calling with the device B when the device A is under ringing; anda process (®-®) that the device A hangs up the calling with the device B when the device A has established a calling with the device B;

[0022] Fig. 2 illustrates adisplay with at least two windows for supporting multiple calls simultaneously in a door entry systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Fig. 3 illustrates a process that a third device calls the called device A when the called device A is under ringing or calling establishmentaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Fig. 4 illustrates a process of takinga calling channel which is under ringing status and corresponding video of at least one sub-window to the main window in case the called device under multiple incoming calls according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0025] Fig. 5 illustrates a process of switching among calling devices in case of at least two devices under callingestablishment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Throughout thefigures, same or similar reference numbers indicate same or similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONOF EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings hereinafter. For the sake of clarity and conciseness, not all the features of actual implementations are described in the specification.

[0028] Before describing the proposed method of the present invention, prior methods for operating two devices are briefly described for better understanding the innovation.

[0029] For example, the device A is a called device, and the device B is a calling device. When there is a new incoming call, the called device is under ringing; and then offhook or hangup operation can be executed on the called device.

[0030] Fig. 1 illustrates a process (©-©) that the device B is calling the device A when the device A is in idle status, the method is shown as below:

[0031] Step 1, the device sends a call request to the device A, in which the call request includes media steam attribute information such as the audio coding format PCMA or PCMU, the video coding format H.264 or MPEG4, information of the audio receiving tenninal, audio terminal No. and associated channel No.. Generally, the terminal No. is calculated according to the channel No.; for example, the audio terminal No. equals 5004 plus 4 times of the channel No.; and the video tenninal No. equals 5004 plus 4 times of the channel No. and then plus 2.

[0032] Step 2, the device A identifies whether there is at least an available idle channel after receiving the call request. If so, distribute an idle channel (e.g. Channel 1) to maintain the incoming call, and the channel is under ringing from idle status. In an embodiment, the device also broadcasts ringing sound to remind user there is an incoming call. Decode the media steam attribute information of the device B, and activate corresponding video decoding module. Then send a call response to the device B, in which the call response includes media steam attribute information. Generally, the channel is configured to maintain a communication status such as ringing, offhook and idle, the associated local terminal, the window position of video display, and the exclusive identifier of channel No..

[0033] Step 3, the device B decodes the media steam attribute information of the device A after receiving the call response from the device A, activates corresponding video coding module, and sends coded data to video receiving tenninal of the device A. In an embodiment, the device B also broadcasts ringing sound to remind user that the called device is under ringing.

[0034] Step 4, the device A decodes and displays video signal in the main window after receiving the coded data from the device B, and associates the video main window with the channel (e.g. Channel 1).

[0035] Fig. lalso illustrates a process ((§)-©) that the device A establishes calling with the device B when the device A is under ringing; details as below: [0036] Step 5, the device A sends an offhook request (i.e. calling establishment request) to the device B.

[0037] Step 6, the device stops broadcasting ringing after receiving the offhook request, switches to calling establishment status, activates corresponding audio coding module, sends coding data to audio receiving terminal of the device A; and activates the audio receiving module to receive audio data from the device A; then sends offhook response to the device A.

[0038] Step 7, the device A stops broadcasting ringing sound after receiving the offhook response, switches the channel 1 to establish calling, activates corresponding audio coding module and sends coded data to audio receiving terminal of the device B, and activates the audio receiving module of the device B to receive the audio data.

[0039] Fig. 1 further illustrates a process (®-®) that the device A hangs up the calling with the device B when the device A has established a calling with the device B; details as below: [0040] Step 8, the device A sends a hangup request to the device B.

[0041] Step 9, the device B switches to idle status after receiving the hangup request, shuts off audio receiving/sending module, audio coding module; then sends hangup request to the device A. The device Breturns to standby mode/idle mode.

[0042] Step 10, the device A switches the channel 1 to idle status after receiving the hangup response, cleans up the information of the local temiinal associated with the channel 1, the window position of video display; shuts off audio receiving/sending module, audio coding module; and returns to standby mode/idle mode.

[0043] Fig. 2 illustrates adisplay with at least two windows for supporting multiple calls simultaneously in a door entry system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] As shown in Fig.2, at least one sub-window © is displayed in a main window ©when a called device (e.g. device A) is called by at least a third device (e.g. device C) during the called device under ringing or calling establishment. Generally, the video for current communication/talking visitor is displayed in the main window, and the second video is displayed in the sub-window.

[0045] That's to say, thepresent invention ensures the called device can support multiple callssimultaneously, and different videos of multiple calls are displayed at the same timevia a video (or picture)format. Furthermore, users can easily switch between these multiple calls. How many incoming call can be supported at the same time depends on the hardware processing capacity.

Embodiment 1

[0046] Fig. 3 illustrates a process that a third device calls the called device A when the called device A is under ringing or calling establishment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 3, the method for supporting multiple calls simultaneously in a door entry system comprises steps 1-4.

[0048J Step 1, at least a third device sendsa call request to the called device ; in which the call request includes media steam attribute information.

[0049] Step 2, thecalled device identifieswhether there is at least an availably idle channel after thecalled device receives the call request.If so, the called devicedistributesthe idle channel to the at least a third device; setsthe idle channel as ringing status; analyzesthe media steam attribute information of the third device; activatescorresponding video decoding module and feeds a call response back to the at least a third device.

[0050] Step 3, the called device decodesthe media steam attribute information after receiving the call response; activates corresponding video decoding module and sends coded video data to the video receiving terminal of the called device. [0051] Step 4, the called device decodesthe video data and displays it in at least one sub-window after receiving the video data; and associating the sub-window with theavailably idle channel.

Embodiment 2 [0052] Fig. 4 illustrates a process of taking a calling channel which is under ringing status and corresponding video of at least one sub-window to the main window in case the called device under multiple incoming calls according to an embodiment of the present invention. Assuming that at least one is under ringing status, and at least another one is under ringing or calling establishment among such multiple incoming calls.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 4, the method for supporting multiple calls simultaneously in a door entry system comprises steps 1-5

[0054] Step 1, the called device (e.g. device A) sends a call-wait request to the current communication device (e.g. device B) .

[0055] Step 2, the current communication deviceshuts off the audio receiving/sending module after the current communication device receives the call- wait request; and feedsa call-wait response back to the called device.

[0056] Step 3, the called device shuts off the audio receiving/sending module of after the called device receives the call-wait response; switches video of the main window to an available sub-window; and sends an offhook request to the third device.

[0057] Step 4, the called device switchesthe third device to calling establishment after the third device receives the offhook request; activates corresponding audio coding module; sends coded data to the audio receiving terminal of the called device and activates audio receiving module to receive audio data from the called device; and sends an offhook response to the called device.

[0058] Step 5, the called device switches the channel occupied by the called device and third device under calling establishment; activates corresponding audio coding module; sendscoded data to the audio receiving terminal of the third device and activatesaudio receiving module to receive audio data from the third device; and switchesvideo signal of the third device from the sub-window to the main window.

[0059] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the above step 3, after switching video of the main window to an available sub-window, the method further comprises: associating the available sub-window with a channel which is occupied by the called device and the current communication device. And in the above step 5, the method further comprises: associating the main window with the channel occupied by the called device and third device.

Embodiment 3 [0060] Fig. 5 illustrates a process of switching among calling devices in case of at least two devices under callmgestablishment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] As shown in Fig. 5, the method for supporting multiple calls simultaneously in a door entry system comprises steps 1-5. [0062] Step 1, the called device (e.g. device A) sends a call-wait request to a current communication device (e.g. device C).

[0063] Step 2, the current communication device shuts off the audio receiving/sending module of after the current communication device receives the call-wait request; and sends a call-wait response to the called device. [0064] Step 3, the called device shuts off receiving/sending module of the called device after receiving the call-wait response; switchesvideo signal of the current communication device from the main window to an available sub-window; and sends acall-wait exiting request to the third device (e.g. device B).

[0065] Step 4, the third device activatescorresponding audio coding module after the third device receives the call-wait exiting request; sendscoded data to the audio receiving terminal of the called device; activates audio receiving module to receive audio data from the called device; and feedscall-wait exiting response back to the called device.

[0066] Step 5, the called device activatescorresponding audio coding module after the called device receives the call-wait exiting response; sendscoded data to audio receiving terminal of the third device; activatesaudio receiving module to receive audio data from the third device; and switchesvideo signal of the third device from the sub-window to the main window.

[0067] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the above step 3, after switching video signal of the current communication device from the main window to an available sub-window, the method further comprises: associating the available sub-window with a channel which is occupied by the called device and the current communication device. And in the above step 5, the method further comprises: associating the main window with the channel occupied by the called device and third device.

[0068] The method according to any one of above Claims, wherein the called device, the current communication device or the third device is selected from devices used in door entry system, such as indoor stations and outdoor stations. [0069] The present invention also provides a door entry system, which adopts any above mentioned method for supporting multiple calls simultaneously.

[0070] Compared with the existing prior arts, the proposed solution of the present invention is flexible and easy for supporting multiple calls simultaneously in door entry system. Referring to the description of the exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art appreciate the advantages of the present invention:

[0071] The proposed methods for supporting multiple calls simultaneously in door entry systemand system thereof can display different video signals of multiple calls at the same time in a visual mode, i.e. the current communication shown in the main window and other incoming calls shown in the sub-window. [0072] Moreover, through the methods proposed by the present invention, users can switch between these multiple callsfreely and easily, which greatly reduces line-busy issue with an improved customers' satisfaction.

[0073] Though the present invention has been described on the basis of some preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should appreciate that those embodiments should by no means limit the scope of the present invention. Without departing from the spirit and concept of the present invention, any variations and modifications to the embodiments should be within the apprehension of those with ordinary knowledge and skills in the art, and therefore fall in the scope of the present invention which is defined by the accomp aniedcl aims.