NURSE CALL SYSTEM, NURSE CALL CONVERSION UNIT, NURSE CALL CONNECTION METHOD, AND PROGRAM

Abstract

In nurse call systems that enable communication from a plurality of cordless handsets with a plurality of extension terminals carried by nurses belonging to a group, a nurse call conversion unit is provided between a nurse call control device and a private branch exchange. A call signal for a group representative call in which only an identification number for a group is given is transmitted by the nurse call conversion unit from the nurse call control device to the private branch exchange. From this call signal, the private branch exchange generates a call signal for extension terminals belonging to a group and calls the extension terminals.

Claims

1. A nurse call system comprising: a nurse call controller accommodating a plurality of slave units; and a private branch exchange accommodating a plurality of extension terminals, in which: the slave units and the extension terminals form speech paths, to thereby have telephone conversations therebetween; the plurality of extension terminals are divided into a plurality of groups each of which is allocated with a group identification number (ID); if a call for extension terminals belonging to one of the groups is received from one of the slave units, the nurse call controller sends a call signal including a group identification number of the group concerned and identification numbers of the extension terminals belonging to that group; the private branch exchange makes a call, for an incoming call signal assigning one of the groups, to all of extension terminals belonging to the assigned group; a nurse call conversion unit is provided between the nurse call controller and the private branch exchange, to receive a call signal including a group identification number and identification numbers of extension terminals belonging to the group concerned incoming from the nurse call controller, extract only the group identification number from the received call signal, and send it as a call signal assigning that group to the private branch exchange.

2. (canceled)

3. The nurse call system according to claim 1, wherein: the nurse call conversion unit converts a call signal received from the nurse call controller including a group identification number and identification numbers of extension terminals into a call signal a group identification number allocated with reference to a table describing correspondences between the group identification numbers, and extension numbers and identification numbers of extension terminals belonging to each of the groups, and sends the call signal to the private branch exchange.

4. A nurse call conversion unit which is used in a nurse call system in which: the nurse call system comprising a nurse call controller accommodating a plurality of slave units, and a private branch exchange accommodating a plurality of extension terminals, wherein: the slave units and the extension terminals forming speech paths, to thereby have a telephone conversation therebetween; the plurality of extension terminals are divided into a plurality of groups each of which is allocated with a group identification number (ID); if a call for extension terminals belonging to one of the groups is received from one of the slave units, the nurse call controller sends a call signal including a group identification number of the group concerned and identification numbers of the extension terminals belonging to that group; and the private branch exchange makes a call, for an incoming call signal assigning one of the groups, to all of extension terminals belonging to the assigned group, the nurse call conversion unit is provided between the nurse call controller and the private branch exchange to: receive a call signal including a group identification number and identification numbers of extension terminals belonging to the group concerned incoming from the nurse call controller, extract only the group identification number from the received call signal, and send it as a call signal assigning that group to the private branch exchange.

5. (canceled)

6. The nurse call conversion unit according to claim 4, wherein: the earliest number in identification numbers of extension terminals belonging to a group is given as the group identification number, and the nurse call conversion unit, when a call signal including a group identification number and identification numbers of extension terminals belonging to the group concerned received from the nurse call controller, does not extract the identification numbers of the extension terminals belonging to the group concerned, but extracts the earliest identification number which is a group identification number of the group concerned, and sends a call signal to which only a group identification number is allocated, to the private branch exchange.

7. A nurse call connection method with a nurse call controller accommodating a plurality of slave units, and a private branch exchange accommodating a plurality of extension terminals; in which: the slave units and the extension terminals forms speech paths, to thereby have a telephone conversation therebetween; the plurality of extension terminals are divided into a plurality of groups each of which is provided with a group identification number (ID); when a call for extension terminals belonging to one of the groups is received from one of the slave units, the nurse call controller sends a call signal including a group identification number of the group concerned and identification numbers of the extension terminals belonging to that group; when a call signal assigning one of the groups is received, the private branch exchange makes a call to all of extension terminals belonging to the assigned group; wherein: a nurse call conversion unit is provided between the nurse call controller and the private branch exchange, and the nurse call conversion unit receives a call signal including a group identification number and identification numbers of extension terminals belonging to the group concerned incoming from the nurse call controller, extracts only the group identification number from the received call signal, and sends it as a call signal assigning that group to the private branch exchange.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program which is installed on an information processor, and causes the information processor to implement a function corresponding to the nurse call conversion unit according to claim 4.

9. The nurse call connection method according to claim 7, wherein: the earliest number in identification numbers of extension terminals belonging to a group is given as the group identification number, and the nurse call conversion unit, when a call signal including a group identification number and identification numbers of extension terminals belonging to the group concerned received from the nurse call controller, does not extract the identification numbers of the extension terminals belonging to the group concerned, but extracts the earliest identification number which is a group identification number of the group concerned, and sends a call signal to which only a group identification number is allocated, to the private branch exchange.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] {FIG. 1} FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] {FIG. 2} FIG. 2 is a view for describing connection in calling up a group with the use of a group representative number, according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] {FIG. 3} FIG. 3 is a view for describing allocation of group representative numbers and PHS terminals, according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] {FIG. 4} FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram for describing connection, according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] {FIG. 5} FIG. 5 is a view showing a nurse call system in which a conventional nurse call adapter is used.

[0021] {FIG. 6} FIG. 6 is a view for describing connection in calling up a group according to conventional arts.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a construction of a whole of a nurse call system according to an embodiment. The nurse call system according to the embodiment includes: a nurse call controller 20 which accommodates a plurality of nurse call slave units 10; a private branch exchange 40; a plurality of PHS terminals 50 which serve as extension terminals of the private branch exchange 40, are accommodated in the private branch exchange 40, and are carried by nurses (or care workers and the like); and a dedicated nurse call unit 30 which is located between the nurse call controller 20 and the private branch exchange 40 and notifies the private branch exchange 40 of an identification number of a PHS terminal (PS-ID) included in a call message, as a call message to which a group representative number of a group identification number, is given. Meanwhile, the PHS terminals 50 are accommodated in the private branch exchange 40 as extension terminals, and are divided into groups of a first group including PHS 51-1, 51-2, 51-3, and 51-4, a second group including PHS 52-1, 52-2, 52-3, and 52-4. Also, as is appreciated from illustration of nurse call slave units 11-1 to 11-4, 12-1 to 12-4, many nurse call slave units 10 are accommodated in the nurse call controller 20, and are collectively denoted by a reference numeral 10.

[0024] Each of the nurse call slave units 10 is installed for a patient (or a bed), and includes various buttons and a call function, so that a nurse center or a nurse can be summoned by manipulating the buttons or the like. The nurse call controller 20 is a representation of a part relating to control in the nurse call master unit which accommodates the nurse call slave units, as described above, and has functions of controlling making of a nurse call, communication, and the like.

[0025] The private branch exchange 40 is configured to have a function of an exchange between extensions or between an exterior and an interior, and serves as a key telephone master unit. Also, the private branch exchange 40 accommodates the plurality of PHS terminals 50 which are portable terminals, via a radio line, and controls exchange in communicating with the PHS terminals 50. Further, the private branch exchange 40 is connected with the nurse call controller 20, and controls a call to the PHS terminals 50 with a nurse call, a call to the nurse call slave units 10 from the PHS terminals 50, and the like.

[0026] The dedicated nurse call unit 31 is interposed between the nurse call controller 20 and the private branch exchange 40, and converts a call message provided from the nurse call controller 20. Note that, though the dedicated nurse call unit 31 is provided in the private branch exchange 40 in FIG. 1, the position in which the dedicated nurse call unit 31 may be placed is not limited, if the dedicated nurse call unit 31 has a function of converting a message between the nurse call controller 20 and the private branch exchange 40.

[0027] Additionally, while the private branch exchange 40 can be connected to a plurality of nurse call controllers 20, an example in which the private branch exchange 40 is connected to one nurse call controller 20 is shown in FIG. 1, for the sake of explanation. Also, the number of the nurse call slave units 10 accommodated in one nurse call controller 20 (nurse call master unit), or the number of the PHS terminals 50 accommodated in the private branch exchange 40 depends on a specification of a nurse call system, and the number is not limited to any value.

[0028] Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, a nurse call connection method in a call to a group with the use of a group representative number (group PS-ID) will be described.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a view for describing an example of connection achieved when the slave unit 1 of the nurse call slave units 10 calls three PHS terminals 50 (PHS1, PHS2, and PHS3) belonging to one group.

[0030] The nurse call controller 20 and the dedicated nurse call unit 31 are physically connected to each other by ISDN basic interface (2B+D)2 via two lines with four speech paths. Also, the private branch exchange 40 accommodates four PHS terminals 50 in a communicatable state and are referred to as PHS #1 to PHS #4, respectively. Out of the four PHS terminals 50, the PHS #1 to PHS #3 are included in one group, and a number 0110 is given as a PS-ID of a group representative number for calling up the group.

[0031] A table in FIG. 3 shows allocation of group representative numbers and numbers of PHS terminals. A number 0110 is given as an identification number (PS-ID) of a representative number of a group to which the PHS #1 to PHS #3 belong, a number 0111 is given as an identification number PS-ID of the PHS #1, a number 111 is given as an extension number, and a number 0111 is given as a caller number. Likewise, a number 0112 is given as an identification number PS-ID of the PHS #2, a number 112 is given as an extension number, and a number 0112 is given as a caller number. A number 0113 is given as an identification number PS-ID of the PHS #3, a number 113 is given as an extension number, and a number 0113 is given as a caller number. That is, the earliest number in PS-IDs of PHS terminals belonging to a group which is to be called up is used as a group representative number. Additionally, since the PHS #4 belongs to another group, numbers 0120, 120, and 0120 are given as an identification number, an extension number, and a caller number, as a next PS-ID, or as a group representative number which is the earliest number in a next group, and an identification number 0121, an extension number 121, and a caller number 0121 of the PHS #4 are given.

[0032] In the private branch exchange 40, direct inward dialing is set so that, in a case where there is an incoming call indicating a group representative number as an incoming call number, the PHS terminals 50 (PHS #1, PHS #2, and PHS #3) belonging to a PS-ID of the group representative number included in a call message can receive the incoming call. Also, when a PHS terminal responds to a call, the private branch exchange 40 notifies the nurse call controller 20 of a caller number of the PHS terminal.

[0033] The above-described table which shows PS-ID correspondences between group representative numbers and each of the PHS terminals is equipped in the dedicated nurse call unit 31 for converting a call message, and is referred to in converting a PS-ID of a call message provided from the nurse call controller 20. Also, a table including PS-IDs, extension numbers, and caller numbers is equipped in the private branch exchange 40, and is referred to in conversion into a number for direct inward dialing in response to a call to the PHS terminals 50, and in notification of a caller number when responding to a call. The table which shows correspondences between PS-IDs of group representative numbers and PS-IDs of PHS terminals is equipped also in the nurse call controller 20, and is referred to in notification of a call message in a case when there is a call to a group of PHS terminals from a nurse call slave unit.

[0034] Next, operations for a call to a PHS with the use of a group representative PS-ID will be described with reference to a sequence diagram therefore in FIG. 4.

[0035] A call button is pressed in the nurse call slave unit #1, and a call to a group is made. As a result of this operation for a call, the nurse call controller 20 notifies the private branch exchange 40 of the group representative number 0110 and identification numbers PS-IDs of the PHS terminals 0111, 0112, and 0113 which are associated with the PHS terminals belonging to the group, as one call message. The dedicated nurse call unit 31 analyzes the PS-IDs in the call message, and extracts the PS-ID of the group representative number 0110. Since the group representative number 0110 is the earliest number of the PS-IDs in group, when the PS-IDs within the incoming call message are extracted in ascending, a group representative number PS-ID can be extracted first. Then, the extracted number is determined to be a group representative number, and the private branch exchange 40 can be notified of a call message to which the group representative number 0110 is given, with the use of one channel, without extracting any other PS-IDs of PHS terminals which have later numbers.

[0036] When the private branch exchange 40 is notified of a call message with a PS-ID of a group representative number, the private branch exchange 40 calls up extension numbers 111, 112, and 113 of PHS terminals by direct inward dialing in accordance with the group representative number. As a result of this, each of the PHS #1 to PHS #3 enters into a state where a call is incoming. If one of the PHS terminals responds to a call, the private branch exchange 40 notifies the nurse call controller 20 of a caller number of the PHS responding to the call. In the nurse call controller 20, a number (PS-ID) of the PHS responding to the call is recorded as a response history.

[0037] Additionally, a call signal provided from the nurse call controller 20 to the dedicated nurse call unit 31, can be also implemented by a signal in a form in which only a group representative number (PS-ID) is given and an identification number (PS-ID) of each of the PHS terminals 50 is not given.

[0038] The above-described operations for a call to a group with the use of a group representative number can be implemented as software which causes computers of the nurse call controller 20, the dedicated nurse call unit 31, and the private branch exchange 40 to operate. Particularly, in the dedicated nurse call unit 31, the operations can be implemented by using software which is designed to convert a group call signal to a call signal to which only a group representative number is given. Also, by utilizing an ISDN line unit which contains ISDN basic interface of the private branch exchange 40 for the dedicated nurse call unit 31, software for controlling conversion of an interface and conversion for direct inward dialing in a private branch exchange can be achieved.

[0039] As described above, a call to a group which is provided from the nurse call controller 20 to the private branch exchange 40 is conducted with the use of only one channel, so that it is possible to prevent as many channels as called terminals from being occupied in a call to a group, to thereby allow for efficient use of channels. Also, hardware and software should be changed only a little, to thereby reduce a cost.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0040] 10: Nurse call slave unit [0041] 20: Nurse call controller [0042] 31: Dedicated nurse call unit [0043] 32: Nurse call adapter [0044] 40: Private branch exchange (PBX) [0045] 43: Analog line unit [0046] 50: PHS terminal