JP2001045142A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication equipment able to store many voice data even when a capacity of a memory of its main body is small. SOLUTION: A threshold value of a voice data capacity storable in a memory of a main body is decided and whether the memory stores or has stored voice data in excess of this threshold value (S1001), the communication equipment transfers voice data that are stored in the memory and satisfy a prescribed condition such as oldest voice data of a final recording person to an external storage device (S1003) and deletes the transferred voice data from the memory of the main body (S1005).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a communication device, and more particularly to a communication device capable of receiving and storing voice data through a communication line.

[0002] The present invention further relates to a communication device having interface means to which a large-capacity storage device can be connected externally.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a voice mail device as a communication device for handling voice data. Voice mail devices are now widely used, with 70 to 80% of the voices introduced by major US companies. In Japan, there is a growing movement to introduce or consider introducing voicemail.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a conventional connection form of a voice mail device as a voice device. As shown in FIG. 24, conventionally, when an audio device (voice mail device) 203 is installed, it cannot be directly connected to the public network 201 but always connected via the exchange 202 (the exchange direct connection system). ). Also, when handling image communication together, it is necessary to connect an image communication device such as a facsimile device 205 separate from the voice mail device to the exchange 202.

However, as shown in FIG. 24, the conventional voice mail apparatus is very expensive because it uses the direct connection system of the exchange, and it is a very large system.
It is difficult to obtain demand as a popular product in the HO (Small Office Home Office) market.

[0006] There are voice mail apparatuses which are supposed to be able to handle images. However, actually, an exchange to which the voice mail apparatus is connected detects an image signal and the like, and a facsimile apparatus or the like which is separately connected to the exchange. At present, the image communication device is activated to handle images.

[0007] In recent years, with the development of IC integration technology and cost reductions such as moving production bases to the Asian region, SOH
As a product for the O market, a communication device equipped with a small, low-capacity storage element (memory) and capable of using a large-capacity storage means built-in or connected to the outside has been developed one after another.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned communication apparatus, the available memory decreases as the stored voice data increases, and the memory becomes full and a new voice message can be received finally. There was a problem that it disappeared.

In order to avoid this problem, it is necessary to increase the memory capacity mounted on the communication device, and the device becomes expensive. On the other hand, some communication devices are provided with an external storage device so that audio data is stored in the external storage device. There was a problem that it took.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication device capable of storing voice data, which can store a large amount of voice data even if the memory capacity in the main body is small. A communication device is provided.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication device capable of storing voice data using an external storage device.
An object of the present invention is to provide a communication device capable of reducing a processing time at the time of a reproduction request.

[0012]

That is, the gist of the present invention is a communication device capable of storing an audio signal supplied from a user via a communication line, and a first device capable of storing a predetermined amount of the audio signal. Storage means, audio signal management means for managing audio signals, first threshold value storage means for storing a first threshold value relating to the amount of audio signals stored in the first storage means, The first detection means for detecting whether or not the audio signal is about to be stored in the first storage means beyond the threshold value of the first storage means, and corresponding to the detection of the first detection means, The audio signal stored in the first storage means is a storage means other than the first storage means so that the amount of the audio signal stored in the first storage means is less than the first threshold value, Transfer control means for transferring to the second storage means available to the communication device. Resides in a communication apparatus according to claim Rukoto.

Further, in the present invention, a second detecting means for detecting that the amount of the audio signal stored in the first storage means has fallen below a second threshold value having a value smaller than the first threshold value. Wherein the transfer control means responds to the detection of the second detection means by the transfer control means until the amount of the audio signal stored in the first storage means exceeds the second threshold value. Preferably, the audio signal transferred to the storage means is moved to the first storage means.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the audio signal management means manages information on the time at which the audio signal was recorded, and the transfer control means determines the audio signal to be transferred based on the information on the time. In the present invention, it is preferable that the audio signal management means manages information on the time at which the audio signal was recorded, and the transfer control means determines the moving audio signal based on the information on the time.

Further, in the present invention, the audio signal management means manages information on whether or not the audio signal is reproduced after being recorded, and the transfer control means manages the information on whether or not the audio signal to be transferred is reproduced. Is preferably determined. In the present invention, the audio signal management means manages information on whether or not the audio signal is reproduced after being recorded, and the transfer control means determines based on the information on whether or not the moving audio signal has been reproduced. Is preferred.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the audio signal management means manages information on the length of the audio signal, and the transfer control means determines the audio signal to be transferred based on the information on the length. In the present invention, it is preferable that the audio signal management means manages information on the length of the audio signal, and the transfer control means determines the moving audio signal based on the information on the length.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the first and second threshold values include any of the number of audio signals, time, and data amount. Another aspect of the present invention resides in a storage medium storing a program that can be executed by the device, wherein the device that executes the program functions as the communication device of the present invention.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a communication device 100 according to the present invention comprises:
The configuration shown is connected to a communication network through a line 115 and to an external host computer 116 through a bidirectional interface unit 118.

In the communication device 100, the CPU 101
Is a system control unit, which controls the entire apparatus. RO
M102 stores a control program for the CPU 101. The document reading unit 103 includes a CS / CCD image sensor, a document transport mechanism, and the like, and performs control for reading an image.

The recording section 104 is composed of an image forming apparatus such as an ink jet printer or a laser beam printer, and records a received image and file data on a recording medium such as paper. The voice response unit 105 is a voice synthesis IC
And the like, and the guidance by the synthetic voice is performed for the incoming call from the user or the line.

The voice recording section 106 is composed of a DRAM or the like, and records the voice of the caller arriving from the line 115. The audio compression / expansion processing unit 107 compresses and decompresses audio data in order to use the memory efficiently and to reduce the transfer time to the external storage unit.

The image compression / decompression processing unit 108 performs compression encoding such as MH / MR / MMR and JPEG in order to use the memory efficiently and to shorten the transfer time to the external storage unit. . The line control processing unit 109 controls a process of calling the line 115 and an incoming call from the line. In addition, a telephone can be connected.

The communication control section 110 is composed of a modem or the like, and controls communication performed with other communication devices via the line 115. The storage unit 111 includes a DRAM or the like, and is a memory for storing recorded / received audio / image data and for storing information for managing the data. The timer 112 is configured by a clock IC or the like, and is used when recording a recording time, a reception time, and the like.

The operation unit 113 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and is used by an operator to perform various input operations on the communication device. Interface control unit 1
Reference numeral 14 controls the bidirectional interface unit 118, controls communication with an external host computer 116 connected via the bidirectional interface unit 118, and communicates with the external storage device 117 connected to the host computer 116. / Stores / reads image data. The line 115 is configured by a public network, a private branch exchange network, or the like, and connects a communication device and another communication device.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram when using the communication device 100 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2A, the communication apparatus 100 has a voice processing unit and an image processing unit which are conventionally connected via an exchange, so that the communication apparatus 100 can be directly connected to the public network 301 without using the exchange. It is possible. Of course, as shown in FIG.
Connection via is also possible. Although the communication device 100 alone can be sufficiently used, a large-capacity storage device 117 connected to the outside can be used. In this case, the mass storage device 117 is connected to the communication device 100 via the host computer 116.
7 can also be connected directly. Since the communication device of the present invention includes the communication control unit 110, the telephone 303 for transmitting and receiving voice can be directly connected to the communication control unit 110 for use.

FIG. 3 shows the operation unit 1 of the communication device according to the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the thirteenth embodiment. The operation unit 113 includes a liquid crystal display or the like, and includes a display unit 401 for prompting various operations and displaying error information, and keys or buttons for inputting an instruction to the communication device. In the special key unit 404, keys for instructing control with the external storage device are arranged. Such special keys 405 include, for example, a transfer key, a mixed key, and an operation mode (voice mail device mode, facsimile device mode, etc.) setting key of a communication device. Other operation keys include a start key 402 for starting the operation of the communication device, a stop key 403 for stopping the operation, a numeric keypad 406 for calling a line, and setting various information.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the communication control unit 110 for controlling communication between the communication device 100 and the line 115. The communication control unit 110 includes an image signal detection (generation) control unit 501 that detects and generates an image signal from the line 115, and an image data control unit that controls image data transmitted (transmitted) in accordance with signal control. 5
02, generate a DTMF signal necessary for accessing another communication device via the line 115, and also transmit a DTMF signal control unit 503 for detecting the received DTMF signal and voice data from the line 115 to the communication device 100. It comprises an audio data control unit 504 for controlling the accumulation.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the storage unit 111 in the communication device 100 for storing information relating to audio and images. The storage unit 111 stores the first threshold value area 6
02, a second threshold area 603, an audio / image management data area 604, an audio data area 605, and an image data area 606.

The first threshold value area 602 and the second threshold value area 603 respectively have values and reverse conditions for saving the audio data / image data stored in the storage unit 111 to an external storage device. A value serving as a condition for calling the voice data and the image data saved in the external storage device to the storage unit 111 is stored.

The specific value may be a certain memory address, the number of records, or the recording time. If the address is a memory address, the head address at which audio data / image data to be recorded next (or during or after recording) is stored is larger than the address set in the first threshold area 602. Then, automatically (or in accordance with an instruction from the operator), predetermined audio / image data (for example, the oldest information that has been reproduced / output) in the audio data area 605 or the image data area 606 is sequentially stored in the external storage device. By moving and writing the fact in a predetermined area of the voice management data 604, a memory in the communication device is always secured.

The storage unit 11 is operated by a user operation or the like.
For example, when the audio / image data stored in the storage unit 111 is deleted, the audio data area 605 or the image data area 606 of the storage unit 111 is vacant in a situation where the saved audio / image data exists in the external storage device. As a result of rearranging the data inside (rearranging the free area from the start address to collect the free area), the end address becomes the second threshold area 6
When the value becomes smaller than the value stored in the predetermined voice / voice, the predetermined voice / voice is automatically (or in accordance with the instruction of the operator).
Image data (for example, unreproduced /
The latest unoutputted information) is sequentially moved from the external storage device to the audio data area 605 or the image data area 606,
By writing this fact in a predetermined area of the audio / image management data 604, new audio / image data is always maintained in the recording unit 110.

When the number of cases is used as the threshold, the memory address is used as the threshold for the data of the number exceeding the threshold (or when the number of stored cases falls below the threshold). The processing is performed as in the case.

When the time is used as the threshold value, if the total recording time exceeds the threshold value, the same processing as when the memory address is used as the threshold value is performed. Such saving / restoring (calling) operations are sequentially performed on audio data and image data related thereto.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the audio / image management data section 604 described in FIG. In the present embodiment, in order to manage information on an individual basis using the communication apparatus 100, data management is performed using a personal ID assigned to each user in advance.

The audio / image management data is managed in a data structure of two layers, and a first layer 700 is provided with a user management table 701 for each registered user. Each user management table has an ID field for recording a personal ID, a voice data management block 7 provided on the second level.
02 and an image link destination field and an image link destination field in which link information (head address and the like) to the image data management block 703 are recorded, and a password for protecting the stored audio data and image data from access by others. A password field to be recorded, a call number field for recording a call number for contacting a user-specified communication device via a public network when a voice is recorded, and updated each time voice data is recorded A recording number field for recording the number of recordings and a final recording date and time field for recording information on the date and time of the last recording.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the details of the audio / image management blocks 702 and 703 which are the second layer in the audio / image management data section 604 described with reference to FIGS. The audio block (801 or 802) constituting the audio data management block 702 indicates first and second link information fields in which link information to other audio blocks and image blocks is recorded, and the location of the audio information. Address / F
ileNO. A field, a recording date and time field where the date and time when the audio data was recorded, a recording time field where the recording time is recorded, and a storage location of the audio data (a storage unit or an external storage device connected to an external host computer) are recorded. A recorded location field and whether or not the audio data has been reproduced or not reproduced is recorded.
Has unplayed fields.

The image block (803 or 804) constituting the image data management block 703 is composed of first and second link information fields in which other image blocks and link information to image blocks are recorded. Address / FileNO. Field, a received date and time field in which the date and time when the image data was received is recorded,
A reception time field for recording a reception time, a reception location field for recording a storage location of image data (a storage unit or an external storage device connected to an external host computer), and whether the image data has been output or not output Are recorded in the output / non-output field.

In both the audio and video blocks, if there is a next linked block in the link information field, link information such as the head address of the link destination block is stored. Is recorded as the last audio or image block. FIG. 7A shows that the audio block 1 (801) is linked to the audio block 2 (802) and the image block 1 (803). In this case, the image block linked by the second link information is the image message (FA) transmitted following the voice message of the voice block 1 (801).
X). Similarly, FIG. 7B shows that image block 1 (803) is linked to image block 2 (804).

The image block 1 (803) shown in FIG.
Since there is no linked block in the audio and audio block 2 (802), a terminating code is stored in each of the two link information fields. Also,
Terminate codes are also stored in the two link information fields of the image block 2 (804) and the second link information field of the image block 1 (803) in FIG. 7B.

If the recording (reception) location field is a value indicating a storage unit in the communication device, the address / File
The value stored in the field is address information in the audio (image) data area 605 (606) of the storage unit. On the other hand, if the recording (reception) location field indicates an external storage device, the address / File field Indicates the file No. in the external storage device. Will be recorded.

(Communication with Host Computer) Before describing the operation of the communication device according to the present invention, a procedure when the communication device of the present invention communicates with an external host computer will be described with reference to FIG. . FIG. 8A shows a procedure for calling audio or image data from an external storage device connected to the host computer, and FIG. 8B shows a procedure for writing data in reverse.

In both reading and writing, the communication device sends the above-mentioned File No. to the host computer. The sequence is started by issuing a read / write command including The host computer that has received the command notifies the communication device of the reception by an ACK signal. Then, when the read command is received, the requested audio / image data is read from the external storage device and transmitted to the communication device following the issuance of the ACK signal. Upon receiving the requested audio / image data, the communication device issues an OK signal to the host computer, notifies the host computer of the reception, and ends the read sequence.

On the other hand, if a write command is received, after an ACK signal is issued, the
Wait for the image data to be sent. When the audio / image data is received, a writing process to the external storage device is performed, and when the process is completed, an OK signal indicating that is issued to the communication device, and the writing sequence ends.

In the following description, when the communication device exchanges data with the external storage device, it is assumed that the exchange is performed based on the above-mentioned command sequence, and the individual description is omitted.

(Operation) The specific operation of the communication device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. These operations are performed by, for example, the CP of the communication device 100.
U101 can be realized by executing a program stored in the ROM. In the following description, although not described sequentially, in principle, data compression is performed by the voice compression / decompression unit during recording and storage of voice data, and data decompression is performed by the voice compression / decompression unit during reproduction. Decompression is image compression /
The extension is performed by the extension unit 108.

(Audio Data Reception Processing) FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation when audio data is recorded from an external communication device to the communication apparatus of the present invention via a line. First, the line control unit 109 checks whether there is an incoming call in the communication device.
Is determined (step S901). When there is an incoming call, it is determined whether the communication device is set to the voice mail mode (step S902). If the voice mail mode is set, it is determined whether the communication control unit 110 has detected a facsimile signal (CNG signal) (step S903).

If it is detected in step S902 that the voice mail mode is not set, or if the voice mail mode is set but the communication control unit 110 detects a facsimile signal in step S903, the communication processing is performed. The process proceeds to (Step S904).

Detection of a CNG signal for a predetermined time (step S9)
05), if the CNG signal cannot be detected, the received content is determined to be voice mail, and the voice response unit 105 controls the voice response unit 105 to send a message requesting a personal ID (Box No.) to the other communication device. Send (Step S90)
6). In response to this message, the user inputs his / her registered personal ID and a command indicating desired operation from the communication device in a predetermined input format.
In the present embodiment, an instruction and an input to the communication device by a user are performed using a DTMF signal.
Specifically, the instruction and input can be performed by using a numeric keypad of a telephone capable of generating a dial tone, or by software controlling a modem or the like.

DTMF signal control unit 5 of communication control unit 110
03, the input DTMF signal is detected (step S926), and a predetermined input format (for example, ID * (input of * key following ID number) for message recording, #ID for reproduction) * Etc.) and I
Recognize D number. Then, the ID number is registered, or the mail box N corresponding to the ID is registered.
o. Is determined (step S907). At this time, in order to simplify the management, the ID number is directly used for the mail BoxNo. You may use as.

If the DTMF signal control unit 503 cannot detect the DTMF signal for a predetermined time in step S926, and if the mail BoxNo. If there is no, the voice response unit 105 is notified to the other party of a message such as "Please enter again" (step S910).

On the other hand, in step S907, the mail BoxNo. Is determined, it is determined whether the input DTMF signal is the recording instruction or the reproduction instruction described above (step S90).
8).

If the instruction is a reproduction instruction, the flow shifts to reproduction processing (step S908). Details of the reproduction process will be described later with reference to FIG. On the other hand, if the instruction is a recording instruction, it is determined whether the number of cases (MAX value) that can be processed in the communication device is equal to the total number of currently recorded cases (step S9).
11) If the number of MAX values has already been recorded, the voice response unit 105 is notified to the other party of a message indicating that recording cannot be performed anymore, for example, "recording is not possible" (step S912). ), And disconnect the line (step S913).

If it is determined in step S911 that the total number of recorded cases is less than the MAX value, an area for recording a message is secured from the voice data area 605 (step S9).
14) Then, for example, "If you beep, please get the biography."
The voice response unit 105 is notified of such a message as prompting the other party to start recording voice (step S915).
Then, a beep sound is notified to the user at the start of recording. The audio signal received from the line after the beep sound is output is recorded by the audio recording unit 106 in the area secured by the audio data unit 605 (step S916).

When the voice recording ends (step S917) due to the disconnection of the line or the reception of a recording end instruction from the user (or a forced end at a predetermined time), the storage unit 11
A new audio block linked to the user ID management table 701 corresponding to one audio / image management data area 604 is created. At this time, if it is the first recording, the link information is written to the audio link destination of the user ID management table 701, and if not, the link information is written to the link information field of the last linked audio block. Then, in the user ID management table and the audio block, the registration number field, the last recording date and time field,
The necessary fields such as the address / File field are updated, and various information (such as the recording date and time acquired from the timer 112) is set (step S91).
8) The line is disconnected (step S919).

Thereafter, in order to effectively use the memory capacity of the storage unit 111, the process branches to each process according to the contents set in advance in the communication device (step S920). That is, the first is to determine whether or not a threshold value set in advance in the first threshold area 602 has been exceeded so that the audio data area 605 is not disabled. The process shifts to threshold processing (step S921). Also, 2
First, the contents stored in the audio data area 605 of the storage unit 111 are protected in order to protect the recorded audio data from data loss or erroneous erasure due to an abnormality of a memory element or the like constituting the storage unit or a user's mistaken operation. The process proceeds to the duplication process for backup to the external storage device 117 (step S92).
2). Third, for example, a mail B of a user who is not expected to perform reproduction / deletion for a while on a long business trip or the like.
ox, etc., the process shifts to a forced process of forcibly transferring all audio data recorded in the audio data area 605 to an external storage device corresponding to a specific ID (or Box No.) (step S923).

In the figure, these three processes are 1
Although one of the threshold values is described as being performed, both the threshold value processing and the overlap processing may be performed.

After completion of each process, it is confirmed whether or not the setting for notifying the incoming call is made (step S924).
When notifying the user of D of an incoming call (step S924)
Refers to the telephone number and the like stored in the call number field in the user ID management table 701 included in the voice / image management data area 604, controls the line control unit 109 and the voice response unit 105 to perform a call, The process proceeds to a notification process in which the recording content can be notified (step S92).
5). If the reception notification is set not to be performed, the process ends.

(Threshold Processing) FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the detailed operation of the threshold processing shown in step S921 in FIG. As described above, the threshold processing is performed in the audio data area 605 in the storage unit 111 of the communication device.
If the amount of audio data recorded in the audio data area 605 exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the recording data in the audio data area 605 is moved to the external storage device 117 to secure a free area in the audio data area 605. It is.

First, in step S1001, the storage unit 111
With reference to the value of the first threshold area 602, it is checked whether or not the amount (the number or the volume) of the audio data exceeds the threshold. If not, the threshold processing ends immediately. If the value exceeds the first threshold value, the FileNo. To be transferred to the external storage device 117 connected to the external host computer 116 connected via the bidirectional interface 118. (Step S100
2) The data of the oldest recorded message is transferred to the PC 116 from the recording date field with reference to the voice block of the ID of the last recorder (step S1003).

Next, the recording location field of the audio block corresponding to the transferred audio data is stored in a PC (external storage device) and the address / File No. The value of the FileNo. (Step S1004). Then, the transferred recording data is deleted from the audio data area 605 (step S1005), and after changing the value indicating the amount of audio data, the process returns to step S1001 again and repeats the same processing until the threshold value is not exceeded. .

FIG. 10 shows the process of transferring only the recorded voice data of the last recording person to the outside, but the process may be performed by changing the users to be subjected to the threshold processing in order. By controlling in this way, it is possible to use the audio data area 605 with little variation among users.

(Forced Process) FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the detailed operation of the forcible process shown in step S923 in FIG. As described above, the compulsory process is a process of forcibly moving all the recorded audio data existing in the audio data area 605 to the external storage device 117.

First, in step S 1101, FileNo. To be transferred to the external storage device 117. To secure. This step is the same as step S1002 in the threshold processing shown in FIG. 10, except that one message is transferred in one processing in the threshold processing, but is To transfer all the data existing in the voice data area 605 among the voice data recorded by the user, FileNo. Need to be secured.

Next, of the recorded voice data of the final recorder,
All the audio data existing in the audio data area 605 of the storage unit 111 is transferred to the external storage device 117 (step S
1102), the recording location field of the audio block corresponding to the transferred audio data is stored in the PC (external storage device) and the address / File No. The value of the FileNo. (Step S1103). After rewriting,
The transferred recording data is deleted (step S1104),
The process ends.

(Overlapping Process) FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the detailed operation of the overlapping process shown in step S922 in FIG. As described above, the overlapping process is performed in the storage unit 111.
The audio data recorded in the audio data area 605 is copied to the external storage device 117 for backup.

First, in step S 1101, FileNo. To be transferred to the external storage device 117. To secure. This step is the same as step S1002 in the threshold processing shown in FIG. 10, except that one message is transferred in one processing in the threshold processing, but is To transfer all the data existing in the voice data area 605 among the voice data recorded by the user, FileNo. Need to be secured.

Next, of the recorded voice data of the final recorder,
All the audio data existing in the audio data area 605 of the storage unit 111 is transferred to the external storage device 117 (step S
1202), the recording location field of the audio block corresponding to the transferred audio data is stored in the PC (external storage device) and the address / File No. The value of the FileNo. At the same time, a field for storing data indicating the presence or absence of duplication processing is added to the user management table 701, and data indicating that duplication processing has been performed and the original address information are stored (step S1203). When the rewriting is completed, the process ends.

When the data stored in the external storage device becomes unusable due to damage, accidental deletion, or the like in the state where the duplication process has been performed, the data is restored. That is, the data remaining on the memory is re-written with the same FileNo. Is overwritten and copied as a file having. The data reproduction process can be configured to start when an error occurs while reading data stored in the external storage device or when a predetermined command is received from the user. The restoration process refers to the above-described field of the target user management table 701, and if the duplication process has been performed, the data in the memory is re-stored with the same FileNo. Can be implemented as a process of overwriting and copying as a file having.

(Reproduction Process) Next, the details of the reproduction process shown as step S909 in FIG. 9 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, step S1
At 301, it is authenticated that the calling side operator has authority to perform various operations on the mailbox corresponding to the specified ID (for example, the ID of the user management table 701). In order to do so, the voice response unit 105 sends a voice response message prompting the user to input a password such as “Please enter a password”.
In step S1302, in response to the message transmitted in step S1301, the calling operator sets the DTMF
Receive password sent by signal.

The number of digits of the password is the number of digits of the password set by the mailbox administrator (in this case, the password set in the password field of the user management table 701 in the audio / image management data area 604 in the storage unit 111). Just wait. In step S1303, it is checked whether the password input in step S1302 matches the password set by the mailbox administrator.

If they do not match, the flow returns to step S1301 to send a message such as "Please enter a password" from the voice response unit 105, and wait for the password again. If they match, the voice response unit 105 sends a message such as "Please enter a command" (step S1309), and receives an instruction command from the calling operator (step S1304). Upon receiving the instruction command, in step S1305, the received command is identified.

If the received command is an unread message playback instruction, an unread message playback process is performed in step S1306. If the received command is a FAX reception confirmation, a FAX reception confirmation process is performed in step S1307. If the received command is to play all messages,
In step S1308, all message playback processing is performed.

When each process ends, the process proceeds to step S1309.
Then, the next instruction command is received. Step S
If it is determined in step 1305 that the reception command has ended, the processing ends. Although only three commands are described in FIG. 13 for convenience, a password change and a call number (stored in a call number field in the user management table 701 and stored in a mailbox, and a voice message or a FAX message are stored). There is a command that can be used to perform a remote operation such as changing a telephone number that is automatically called when a call is made and that informs the reception of a message.

(Unread Message Playback Processing) Next, FIG.
The details of the unread message reproduction process shown in step S1306 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S1401, one piece of management information of an unread message in the mailbox corresponding to the designated ID is searched. Unread messages are in Figure 5
7, the audio data management block 70 existing in the audio / image management data area 604.
2. Searching is possible by referring to the reproduced / unreproduced fields (output / non-output fields in the case of image data) in the image data management block 703.

When there are a plurality of unread messages, there are a plurality of methods for selecting one of them. First, one is a method of selecting the oldest message as described in step S1401. If the information in the mailbox is searched under the condition that the recording date and time of the audio block 801 is the oldest and the played / unplayed field is unplayed, the oldest unread message can be selected. In this method, reproduction in a time series is possible. Another way is to select the newest message. If the information in the mailbox is searched under the condition that the recording date and time of the audio block 801 is the latest and the played / unplayed field is unplayed, the latest unread message can be selected. This method allows you to hear the latest information first. The user can improve the usability by setting the order of reproduction for each mailbox.

When one unread message management information is retrieved in step S1401, in step S1402 the recording location field in the management information is checked to determine whether the voice data of the message is stored in the storage unit 111 inside the communication device. Judge whether or not. If it is determined that the address / File No. in the management information is stored in the storage unit 111 in step S1403. The address information in which the compressed audio data is stored is obtained from the field. In step S1404, the voice data stored in the acquired address information is expanded by the voice compression / expansion unit 107, and a voice message reproduction process to be transmitted to the line as voice is performed. When the reproduction process ends, the value of the reproduced / unreproduced field of the audio block is changed to reproduction.

In step S1405, in order to confirm with the calling side operator whether or not the reproduced voice message is to be deleted, the voice response unit 105 asks "Delete the message? If not #
Please press. " In step S1406, it is checked whether a message deletion instruction has been issued from the calling operator. If # is detected and there is no erasure instruction, the flow advances to step S1408.
Is detected, and when an erasure instruction is issued, the area in which the corresponding voice message is stored in the voice data area 605 is released, and the corresponding voice block is removed from the link of the management information, and other related voice blocks are deleted. The link information of the block is changed, and the value of the recording count field of the user management table 701 is decremented by one.

In step S1408, a process for confirming the received fax document stored together with the reproduced voice message is performed. The processing content will be described in detail later. In step S1409, the reproduced / unreproduced contents of the audio block are checked. If there is an unread message, the process returns to step S1401. If there is no unread message, this processing ends.

If it is determined in step S1402 that the voice data of the message is stored in the external storage device, an area for storing the voice data is obtained from the voice data area 605 in step S1410.
This area is for storing audio data received from the PC 116. In step S1411,
The interface control unit 114 sends a voice data acquisition command to the PC 116. File of audio block
No. By attaching field information, PC 116
Can specify audio data to be transferred from the external storage device 117.

In step S1412, the PC 116
And stores it in the voice data area acquired in step S1410. The value of the recording location field of the audio block is stored in a memory (storage unit 1) in the main unit.
11) to FileNo. Field information is stored in a temporary area (not shown) of the storage unit 111,
Instead, the address of the audio data is stored. That is, the state is stored in the main body.

In step S1413, the PC 116
The audio data received and stored from the audio compression / expansion unit 107
, A voice message playback process is performed which is expanded and sent to the line as voice.

In step S 1414, in order to confirm with the calling side operator whether or not the reproduced voice message is to be deleted, the voice response unit 105 asks “Do you want to delete the message? If not #
Please press. " In step S1415, it is checked whether a message deletion instruction has been issued from the calling operator.

When * is detected and an erasure instruction is given,
In step S1416, the area where the corresponding voice message is stored in the voice compression data 605 is released, the corresponding voice block is removed from the link of the management information, the link information of the other related blocks is changed, and the user is changed. The value of the recording number field of the management table 701 is decremented by one. Subsequently, step S141
7 to the PC 116 storing the message in FileNo.
Request to delete the voice message data by specifying
The voice data in C116 is deleted. Then step S
Proceeding to 1408, a process for confirming the received fax document stored together with the voice message just reproduced is performed.

In step S1415, # is detected.
If the erasure instruction has not been issued, step S1418
In the storage unit 11
It is checked whether the value exceeds the value of the first threshold value area 602 in 1. If it does not exceed, the voice data can be stored in the main body. In step S1417, the interface control unit 114 sends the file 116 stored in the temporary area to the PC 116 storing the message.
No. Is specified, and a voice message data deletion request is made, and voice data in the PC 116 is deleted. Then, the process proceeds to a step S1408 for confirming the received fax document.

If it is determined in step S1418 that the value exceeds the value of the first threshold area 602,
Since no voice data can be stored in the main unit, the area where the voice message is stored in the voice compression data 605 is released in step S1419, and the value of the recording location field of the voice block is changed to the external storage device. , FileNo. Stored in the temporary area. Is the address of the audio block / FileNo. The data is stored in the field, and the audio data is stored in the PC 116 as before. Subsequently, F in step S1408
The process proceeds to a process for confirming the AX received document.

(FAX Document Confirmation Processing) Next, the details of the FAX document confirmation processing shown as step S1307 in FIG. 13 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S1501, the image data management block 703 in the user management table corresponding to the instructed ID searches for the presence / absence of an image block whose output / non-output field value has not been output. Check if there is. If there is a fax reception document, in step S1502, the voice response unit 105 sends a voice response message such as "press the start key".

If the calling operator uses a telephone having a FAX function, the ITU-T. 30 DIs
Since the S signal can be transmitted, step S150
3, after the communication device receives the DIS signal, 30
According to the procedure, the address / Fi in the image block
leNo. Field, the address of the image data area 606 of the storage unit 111 recorded in the field, or the FileNo. The image data indicated by
Send X. After the transmission is completed, the area in which the image in the image data 606 area is stored is released (if the storage location is an external storage device, a deletion request is issued to the PC and deleted), and the corresponding image block is further managed. The link is removed from the information link, the link information of another related block is changed, and the entire process ends.

On the other hand, in step S1501, FAX
If it is determined that there is no reception, step S1504
The voice response unit 105 sends a voice response message such as "No fax document" to notify the calling operator that there is no fax message. And fax
The confirmation processing ends.

(Transmission Processing of Image Data Attached to Voice Message) FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a control procedure when image data is transmitted to the other party when the image data is attached to the recorded voice data. . First, in step S1601, it is checked whether image data is linked to the audio data by referring to the second link information of the audio block 801. If it is linked, a message to that effect, for example, “Image is present” is sent to the voice response unit 10.
5 (step S1602), and waits for reception of a DTMF signal in response thereto (step S1603).

If the received DTMF signal is a command indicating “confirmation”, a message prompting the user to prepare for receiving image data accompanying the voice data, for example, “Please press the start key”, is sent to the voice response unit. 105
(Step S1604), and after confirming reception of the above-mentioned DIS signal, performs a facsimile transmission process (step S1604).
1605).

If a command indicating "transfer" is received in step S1603, a message such as "Please input the transfer destination number" is sent from the voice response unit 105 to transfer the image data. Wait for a number from the user (step S1611). The transfer destination number, for example, a telephone (FAX) number is received as a DTMF signal, stored in a temporary area (not shown) of the storage unit 111 (step S1606), and the line is temporarily disconnected (step S1607).

Thereafter, the telephone number received in step S1606 is read out, a call is made to this telephone number (step S1608), and the address / File in the image block given by the second link information of the audio block 801 is read.
No. The image data linked by referring to the field is transmitted by facsimile (step S1609). After the transmission is completed, the line is disconnected (step S1610).

If it is determined in step S1601 that the image data is not linked to the audio data by referring to the second link information of the audio management block 801, the processing is immediately terminated.

(Audio Data Copying Process During Reproduction) Next, using the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, when reproducing the recorded audio data,
The process when copying to a mailbox is described.

First, at step S1801, the line control unit 10
9 to monitor whether there is an incoming call, and if there is an incoming call, check whether this communication device is set to the voice mail mode (step S1802), and if not, perform normal communication processing (step S1803). In the voice mail mode, it is monitored whether a CNG signal arrives within a predetermined time (step S1804, step S1).
805), when the CNG signal arrives, the other device is considered to be a facsimile device, so that normal communication processing is performed (step S1803).

If a CNG signal does not arrive within a predetermined time, a voice response message such as "Please enter a box number" is transmitted from voice response unit 105 to prompt the calling side to input a mailbox ID ( Step S1806).
Then, it waits for the arrival of the DTMF code (step S1807). If the DTMF code arrives, it is determined whether the head of the received code is “#” indicating a reproduction instruction and the subsequent code is a registered ID. (Step S
1808). If the ID is not a registered ID, a voice response message indicating an error such as "input is incorrect" is transmitted from the voice response unit 105 (step S180).
9), disconnect the line (step S1810). Of course, as shown in FIG. 9, the input may be prompted again.

If it is determined that a code consisting of “#” and an ID has been received, a response message (eg, “Please enter a password”) prompting for the input of a password is sent (step S1811) and received in response. DT
It is checked whether or not the MF signal matches the password data stored in the password area of the user management table 701 corresponding to the ID received in step S1808 (step S1812).
Return to 11.

If the passwords match, step S181
The process proceeds to step S3, where a response message prompting input of various commands, for example, "Please input a command" is transmitted (step S1813), and the reception of a command by a DTMF signal is waited (step S1814, FIG. 18).

If the received command is "FAX confirmation", the flow advances to step S1815 to perform the FAX confirmation process shown in FIG. 15, and then returns to step S1813 (FIG. 17). If the received command is a reproduction of an unread voice message, the oldest one is searched from the unread recorded voice data. As described above with reference to FIG. 13, this corresponds to the “reproduced / unreproduced” area of the audio block 801 indicated by the audio link destination information of the user management table 701 corresponding to the ID received in step S1808. Reference is made to the “recording date and time” area, the next audio block is sequentially referred to from the value of the link information field of this audio block, and the “played / unplayed” field and “recorded” of the referenced audio block are referred to. The oldest message can be searched by referring to the "date and time" field.

In step S1817, the storage location of the searched voice is stored in the recording location field of the voice block and the address / FileNo. Look up by referencing the field. If the value of the recording location field indicates the storage unit 111 in the communication device, a memory address is obtained from the address / File field, and the recorded message stored at this address is reproduced (step S181).
8, step S1819).

Next, it is checked whether the number of recorded messages exceeds a predetermined maximum number (step S1820), and if it is, a response message (for example, “recording is full”) is sent (step S1822), and communication is performed. The processing is executed (step S1823). If the number of recordings does not exceed the maximum number, a response message (for example, "Please input a command") prompting input of a command for processing the reproduced recording is transmitted (step S182).
1) Detect command reception by DTMF signal.

When the command is received, it is checked whether the command is a "transfer" instruction command (step S182).
4) If the command is a “transfer” instruction command, a response message (eg, “Please select a destination box No.”) for prompting input of a destination ID to which the reproduced recording is transferred is transmitted (step S1825). Upon receiving the transfer destination ID, the reproduced message is copied to the received destination (step S).
1826, step S1827), step S1828
Proceed to. If it is determined in step S1824 that the received command is not “transfer”, step S1828 is performed immediately.
Proceed to.

In step S1828, it is determined whether the received command is an "erase" command. If the received command is an "erase" command, the reproduced recorded message is erased (step S1829), and the flow advances to step S1830.
If the received command is not the “erase” command, the process immediately proceeds to step S1830. In step S1830,
It is checked whether or not there is a next message to be read, and if there is, the process returns to step S1817. Otherwise, the process ends.

If the storage location of the audio data checked in step S1817 is an external storage device, the audio data is obtained from the external storage device (step S1817).
31), and proceed to step S1824.

In the present embodiment, only the “transfer” or “delete” processing for an unread recorded message has been described. However, regardless of whether the message is unread, all recorded messages in the mailbox corresponding to the received ID are read. It is easy to configure so that these processes can be performed on a message. That is, in the search in steps S1816 to S1830, it is apparent that the above-described control procedure is possible unless the "reproduced / unreproduced" field of the audio block is referred to.

(Process for Adjusting Data Amount in Storage Unit) Next, a process for holding a certain amount or more of audio data in the communication device will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. As described above, the communication device 100 stores the first threshold area 602 and the second threshold area 603 in the storage unit 111.
The first threshold value stored in the first threshold area 602 represents the upper limit of the amount of audio data used in the memory. The data is transferred to the PC 116 via the interface unit 114, and is controlled so that the audio data amount in the main unit does not exceed the first threshold value.

The second threshold value stored in the second threshold value area 603 indicates a value at which audio data may be stored in the memory so far. When the usage amount (or the number of cases) of the voice data in the main body falls below this threshold value, the voice data is acquired from the PC 116 via the interface unit 114, and a fixed amount of voice data is always stored in the main unit. I do. Hereinafter, this processing will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S1901, it is checked whether the amount of audio data used in the memory is smaller than a second threshold. If not, the process ends.

If the amount of audio data used in the memory is smaller than the second threshold value, the content of the recording location field of the audio block is checked in step S1902, and the audio data stored in the PC 116 is checked. Choose one. The conditions for selection are arbitrary, and it is possible to search for recorded audio data that meets various conditions by referring to management information, such as the latest / oldest audio data and data that matches the specified recording date and time. it can.

In step S1903, an area for storing audio data is obtained from the audio data area 605. This area is for storing audio data received from the PC 116. Then, an audio data acquisition command is sent from the interface control unit 114 to the PC 116. File No. of the audio block. By attaching the field information, the PC 116 can store the external storage device 11.
7, the audio data to be transferred can be specified. Step S
In 1904, the audio data is received from the PC 116 and stored in the audio data area acquired in step S1903.

In step S1905, the value of the recording location field of the audio block is changed to a value indicating the storage unit in the main unit, and the FileNo. The field information is stored in the temporary area of the storage unit 111, and the address in the audio data area 605 secured in step S1903 is stored instead.

In step S1906, the PC connected to the external storage device 117 storing the message is
In response to FileNo. 116 stored in the temporary area from the interface control unit 114, Is specified, and a voice message data deletion request is made to delete the voice data in the external storage device. Then, step S1901
Then, the processing returns to the comparison processing of the audio data usage amount and the second threshold value. By repeating this process, a certain amount or more of audio data can be held in the main body.

By the way, in step S1902,
One of the audio data stored in the external storage device 117 is selected, and several methods can be considered for the selection. The first is a method in which the audio block 801 is checked from the beginning, and if the content of the recording location is found in the external storage device, the audio block is selected. The second is to search all audio blocks under the condition that the recording date and time of the audio block is the latest and that the content of the recording location of the audio block is in the external storage device, and store it in the external storage device. This is a method of selecting an audio block having the latest date and time among the audio data being recorded. The third is to assign a priority to the mailbox, examine the audio block from the audio link destination of the mailbox with the higher priority, and find that the content of the recording location is in the external storage device, then This is a method of selecting an audio block. The user's usability is improved by allowing the user to set a selection criterion when moving audio data from the PC to the main unit.

(Sound / Image Data Transmission Processing by Operation of Communication Device) FIG. 20 shows that a communication device according to the present invention sequentially transmits voice and image by a predetermined key operation to a desired destination ID.
9 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of a process of transmitting an instruction to transmit to a DTMF signal.

Here, a case will be described in which, using a DTMF signal sequence of “ID1 * ID2 ** #”, only voice is transmitted to the destination mailbox of ID1 and voice and image are sequentially transmitted to the destination mailbox of ID2. An example will be described. "I
"D1" and "ID2" are composed of numbers "0" to "9" and have a predetermined number of digits. "*" Is the ID
1 indicates that only voice recording is to be performed on the ID, and if "**" and * are continued two times,
At the same time as indicating the break of D2, the ID indicates that sound recording and image storage are sequentially performed. Also,
“♯” is a terminator indicating the end of a series of DTMF signal sequences.

First, in step S 2001, a destination ID 1 (for example, 1234) for only voice recording is input using the numeric keypad 406 of the operation unit 113. "
Is input (step S2002). Next, a numeric keypad is input for ID2 of a destination for sequentially recording voice and storing an image (step S2003), and then presses a “mixed” key of the special keys 405 as a delimiter of ID2 (step S2004). Finally, enter the ♯ key (step S2
005).

After converting the “mixed” key into * which is a sequence of two keys out of the key sequence input in this way, a DTMF signal corresponding to a series of key inputs is transmitted, and a desired recording is performed. A voice message prompting the start of FAX reception (for example, "press the start key") is received by the telephone (303 in FIG. 2) connected to the communication device (step S2006), and the start key is input (step S2007). . By inputting the start key,
The image of the original document previously mounted on the original reading unit 103 is read, and the image data is recorded in the image block in the mailbox corresponding to the designated ID by a normal FAX transmission procedure (step S2008). ) End the processing.

According to the above control procedure, only the voice is recorded at the destination of ID1 and the same voice as that recorded at the destination of ID1 is recorded at the destination of ID2, and then the image is stored only at the destination of ID2. become.

(Audio / Image Data Transfer Processing by Operation of Communication Device) FIG. 21 shows a control procedure of processing for transferring audio data of the storage unit 111 of the communication device to an external storage device by operation of the operation unit 113. It is a flowchart.
In step S2101, it is monitored whether a “transfer” key 405 provided on the operation unit 113 for instructing transfer to the external storage device is pressed. If the press is detected, it is determined whether or not the transfer is valid (step S2102). If the transfer is valid, the guidance for prompting the user to input the ID (or mailbox No.) of the data to be transferred is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 113. The information is displayed on the display 401 (step S2103), and an ID input using the numeric keypad 406 is awaited.

If an input of a valid ID is detected (step S2104), a determination is made in step S2105 by waiting for an input of a transfer direction. If the input is a transfer from an external storage device to a communication device, the data of the ID is determined according to predetermined conditions. Transfer from the external storage device to the storage unit 111 (step S2106)
Together with the data on the PC (step S21).
07), after making necessary changes to related management data such as audio blocks and image blocks, the processing is terminated. On the other hand, if the transfer direction is from the communication device to the external storage device in step S2105, the data is transferred from the storage unit 111 to the external storage device (step S2108), and the data is deleted from the storage unit 111 (step S210).
9) After making necessary changes to related management data such as audio blocks and image blocks, the process ends.

When it is determined in step S2102 that the transfer is not valid, or in step S2104
If an invalid ID is input in step, the process is immediately terminated.

(Second Embodiment) In FIG. 9, the processing for receiving voice data has been described. However, the communication apparatus according to the present invention can also receive voice messages and image messages (FAX messages). FIG. 22 and FIG.
Is a flowchart showing the operation in this case.

First, the presence / absence of an incoming call from the line 115 is detected by the line control unit 109 (step S1701). If the line control unit 109 detects an incoming call, step S170
It is checked whether the setting of the device set in the predetermined area in the storage unit 111 is the voice mail mode in 2.
When the voice mail mode is not set, the communication processing in the set mode is performed.

If the voice mail mode is set in step S1702, a CNG signal (signal notifying of facsimile transmission) is detected in steps S1703 and S1704 for a certain period of time.
If a CNG signal is detected, the facsimile transmission to the mailbox described below is not performed, so that the processing shifts to communication processing and normal facsimile reception processing is performed.

If the CNG signal has not been detected for a certain period of time, a voice response message such as "Please enter a box number" is sent from voice response section 105 in step S1715, and the mailbox ID of the mailbox ID is sent to the calling side. Prompt for input. In step S1706, the box ID
Is received. Upon receiving the DTMF signal, it is checked in step S1707 whether an ID has been input. If it is not an ID input, step S
In step 1708, the voice response unit 105 sends a voice response message such as "Please enter the box number again" to prompt the user to re-enter the ID.

If it is determined in step S1707 that the ID has been input, the destination is analyzed in step S1709. In the present embodiment, a plurality of mailbox IDs can be set from the calling side, and furthermore, whether to send only a voice message, an image (FAX) message, or only an image (FAX) message for each destination is determined. You can also instruct. This can be realized by, for example, determining an input method as described below.

For example, as described with reference to FIG.
D key generated by the # key (
TMF signal. Hereinafter, the same meaning is used) is a terminator indicating the end of input, and the * key is determined to mean continuation of mailbox ID input or FAX transmission. Using this rule, enter "" ID "#" to record a voice message in one mailbox and "" I "to record the same voice message in two mailboxes.
D1 "*" ID2 "#".

To record a voice message and send an image (FAX) message to a certain mailbox ID, enter * after the mailbox ID.
When "" ID1 "* #" is input, it means that a voice message is recorded and an image (FAX) message is transmitted to the mailbox of ID1. Recording of voice messages for ID1 and ID2 images only for ID1 (FAX)
If you want to send a message, select "" ID1 "**
"ID2"#".

Since the mailbox ID is input according to the above-mentioned rules, in step S1709, a mailbox for recording a voice message and a mailbox for storing an image (FAX) message are determined from the input destination.

In step S1710, it is checked whether or not an instruction to record a voice message has been issued as a result of the destination analysis in step S1709. If there is no instruction, the process proceeds to step S1716. If there is a voice message recording instruction, it is checked in step S1711 whether the number of recordings exceeds the maximum number of recordings of the apparatus. If the maximum number has been exceeded, in step S1713, the voice response unit 105 sends a voice response message such as "cannot record", notifies the caller recorder that no further recording is possible, and disconnects the line. .

If the maximum number is not exceeded in step S1711, in step S1712, the audio data storage area of the audio data area 605 and the audio block in the audio data management block 702 are acquired from the storage unit 111.

In step S 1714, voice response message such as “Please leave a message” is transmitted from voice response section 105, and the message is subsequently received. The received voice is compressed by the voice compression / expansion unit 107 and stored in the voice data area acquired in step S1712.

In step S1715, step S17
For the recording of 1714, each information of the recording date and time, the recording time, and the recording location is registered in the audio block acquired in step S1712. The recording location is stored in a memory. Also, the address / FileNo. In the field, an address in the audio data area 605 where compressed audio data is stored is registered. Then, the registered voice block is linked to the link of the voice block included in the mailbox to which the instruction to record the voice message is issued (if a plurality of boxes are designated, the mailbox to which FAX reception is also instructed). Connecting.

In step S1716, it is checked whether there is an instruction to receive an image (FAX) message as a result of the destination analysis in step S1709. If there is no instruction, the process proceeds to step S1719. If there is an instruction to receive an image (FAX) message, step S1717
In, the image data storage area of the image data area 606 and the image block in the image data management block 703 are obtained from the storage unit 111. Then ITU-T. The DIS signal specified in 30 is transmitted. The calling side sets a document and presses the start button (or executes software having an equivalent function) to enable FAX communication, and the apparatus can receive an image message. The received image is stored in the area secured in the image data area 606.

In step S1718, step S
In response to the reception of the image message in step 1717, step S1 is executed.
The information of the reception date and time, the reception time, and the reception location are registered in the image block acquired in 717. The receiving location is stored in a memory. Also, the address / FileNo. In the field, an address in the image data area where the image data is stored is registered. Then, the registered image block is connected to the link of the image block of the mailbox (in the case of specifying a plurality of boxes, the first mailbox) for which the instruction to receive the image message has been issued. However, if a voice message is also recorded in the mailbox in step S1714, the link between the voice block 801 and the image shown in FIG. 7A is not a normal image block link as shown in FIG. Block 803
Is connected to the second link information of the voice block of the related voice message.

In step S1719, the line is disconnected. In step S1720, step S17
As a result of the destination analysis of 09, it is checked whether or not recording of a voice message and reception of an image (FAX) message have been performed for a plurality of mailboxes (so-called broadcast). If not addressed to a plurality of mailboxes, the process ends. If the message is addressed to a plurality of mailboxes, the recorded voice message and the received image message are copied internally. First, it is checked whether or not the voice message is addressed to a plurality of mailboxes. To win. And
Copy the recorded audio data to the acquired audio data storage area.

Next, it is checked whether the image (FAX) message is addressed to a plurality of mailboxes. If the message is addressed to a plurality of mailboxes, the image data area 6 is transmitted by the number of destinations.
06 image data storage area and image data management block 7
Obtain the image block in 03. Then, the received image data is copied to the acquired image data storage area.

Next, the created audio block and image block are connected to the audio link and image link of the mailbox. The audio block connects to the link chain of the audio block, the image block connects to the link of the image block, but if both the voice message and the image message connect to the same mailbox, the address of the image block Is stored in the second link information field of the audio block, the image block is linked to the audio block, and then the audio block is connected to the audio block link. When the copying of the recorded voice message and the received image message has been completed, the process ends.

[0139]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) on which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or a computer) of the system or apparatus. It is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Also,
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code.
It goes without saying that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by performing some or all of the actual processing, and the processing performs the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described flowcharts (shown in any of FIGS. 9 to 21).

[0143]

As described above, according to the present invention, the upper limit of the audio data amount occupying in the apparatus can be set, and when the audio data exceeds the upper limit amount, the audio data to be transferred from all the audio data is set. By searching data, transferring the searched voice data to an external storage device, and storing the voice data in the external storage device, the memory of the device main body can always be used, and the amount of memory required for the communication device main body. , And a product can be constructed at low cost. Further, since a plurality of search conditions can be set, there is an effect that user convenience is increased.

Further, according to the present invention, the amount of audio data that can occupy the memory in the apparatus can be set, and when the occupancy of the audio data falls below this set amount, the audio data to be received from the external storage device By controlling to receive the searched audio data from the external device and store it in the main unit, a fixed amount of voice data can always be stored in the device. On the other hand, the possibility that the audio data can be reproduced immediately increases. In addition, since the condition for obtaining the audio data from the external device can be set from a plurality of conditions, there is an effect that the convenience for the user is increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration via a public line (also via PBX) of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an operation unit of the communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication control unit of the communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a storage unit of the communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of audio / image management data in a storage unit of the communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration and mutual relationship of audio blocks and image blocks in the communication device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a protocol between the communication device of the present invention and an external storage device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing audio data reception processing in the communication device of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of threshold processing in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing details of a forcing process in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing details of an overlapping process in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing details of a reproduction process in FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing details of an unread message reproduction process in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating details of a FAX document confirmation process in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a process of transmitting image data attached to a voice message.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing audio data copying processing during reproduction.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing audio data copying processing during reproduction.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a process of adjusting the data amount in the storage unit.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating audio / image data transmission processing by operation of a communication device.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating audio / image data transfer processing by operation of a communication device.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a voice message receiving process in another embodiment of the communication device of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a voice message receiving process in another embodiment of the communication device of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration when a conventional audio device is used.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Communication device 101 CPU 102 ROM 103 Document reading unit 104 Recording unit 105 Voice response unit 106 Voice recording unit 107 Voice data expansion / compression processing unit 108 Image data expansion / compression processing unit 109 Line control processing unit 110 Communication control processing unit 111 storage unit 112 clock unit 113 operation unit 114 interface control unit 115 line 116 host computer 117 external storage device 118 bidirectional interface 201 public network 202 exchange network (and exchange controlling it) 203 audio device 204, 206 telephone 205, 207 Facsimile machine 303 Telephone 401 Display unit 402 Start button 403 Stop button 404, 405 Special key unit 406 Numeric keypad 501 Image signal control unit 502 Image data control unit 503 D MF signal controller 504 audio data controller 602 first threshold area 603 second threshold area 604 audio / image management data area 605 audio data area 606 image data area 701 user management table 702 audio data management block 703 Image data management block

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04M 11/00 303 H04M 11/00 303 5K039 H04N 1/00 102 H04N 1/00 102A 5K101 (72) Inventor Koichi Matsumoto 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) in Canon Inc. AC02 AC04 AC05 AC22 AC23 AC43 AC58 AE11 AE15 5K015 GA00 5K024 AA72 BB05 5K039 CC08 DD04 5K101 KK05 NN23

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A communication device capable of storing an audio signal supplied from a user via a communication line, a first storage unit capable of storing a predetermined amount of the audio signal, and managing the audio signal. Voice signal management means; first threshold value storage means for storing a first threshold value relating to the amount of the voice signal stored in the first storage means; First detection means for detecting whether or not the sound signal is to be stored in the first storage means; and in response to the detection of the first detection means, A storage unit other than the first storage unit, wherein the audio signal stored in the first storage unit is stored in a storage unit other than the first storage unit so that the amount of the audio signal stored in the storage unit is less than the first threshold ,
Transfer control means for transferring the data to a second storage means available to the communication device. 2. A second detecting means for detecting that the amount of the audio signal stored in the first storage means has fallen below a second threshold value having a value smaller than the first threshold value. A detection unit, wherein the transfer control unit responds to the detection by the second detection unit, and the amount of the audio signal stored in the first storage unit exceeds the second threshold value 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the audio signal transferred to the second storage unit is moved to the first storage unit until the first storage unit. 3. The audio signal management means manages information on the time at which the audio signal was recorded, and the transfer control means determines the audio signal to be transferred based on the information on the time. The communication device according to claim 1. 4. The audio signal management means manages information on the time at which the audio signal was recorded, and the transfer control means determines the moving audio signal based on the information on the time. The communication device according to claim 2. 5. The communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said transfer control means performs said transfer in order from the oldest or newest recorded time. 6. The communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the transfer control means moves the recorded time in order from the oldest one or the newest one. 7. The audio signal management means manages information on whether or not the audio signal has been reproduced after being recorded, and the transfer control means has information on whether or not the audio signal to be transferred has been reproduced. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is determined based on the source. 8. The audio signal management means manages information on whether or not the audio signal has been reproduced after being recorded, and the transfer control means has information on whether or not the moving audio signal has been reproduced. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the communication device is determined based on the determination. 9. The communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said transfer control means transfers the audio signals in order from the reproduced one. 10. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said transfer control means moves in order from an unreproduced audio signal. 11. The audio signal management means manages information on the length of the audio signal, and the transfer control means determines an audio signal to be transferred based on the information on the length. 2. The communication device according to 1. 12. The audio signal management means manages information on the length of the audio signal, and the transfer control means determines a moving audio signal based on the information on the length. 3. The communication device according to 2. 13. The communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said transfer control means transfers said audio signal in order from a long one or a short one. 14. The communication device according to claim 12, wherein the transfer control means moves the audio signal in order from a long one or a short one. 15. The communication according to claim 1, wherein the first and second threshold values include any of the number, time, and data amount of the audio signal. apparatus. 16. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the second storage unit has a larger storage capacity than the first storage unit. 17. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein a read speed of the second storage unit is lower than that of the first storage unit. 18. A storage medium storing a program executable by a device, wherein the device executing the program functions as the communication device according to claim 1. Description: Storage media.