JP2656670B2 - Cordless answering machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cordless answering machine comprising a master unit having an answering machine function connected to a telephone line and at least one slave unit connected to the master unit by a wireless line. More specifically, in the answering machine mode, a messageless message sent from the other party can be monitored only on the master unit that has set the answering machine or only on the slave unit that has set the answering machine. About answering machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been provided a cordless answering machine comprising a master unit having an answering machine function connected to a telephone line and at least one slave unit connected to the master unit by a wireless line. ing.

In this cordless answering machine,
There is a type in which a message sent from the other party can always be monitored in the answering machine mode.

[0004] That is, in the master unit, the message sent from the other party in the answering machine mode is recorded on an internal magnetic tape or the like. , And sound is emitted from the internal speaker on the slave unit side.

In another type of cordless answering machine, a message sent from the other party in the answering machine mode is recorded on an internal magnetic tape or the like, and the user performs some button operation during the recording. Thus, the message being recorded is transmitted to the slave unit, and the slave unit emits sound from the internal speaker.

[0006]

However, in the former cordless answering machine in which the message is always monitored by the slave while the message is being recorded, if the number of the slaves is more than one, The message is emitted from the slave unit. At this time, if a plurality of handsets try to talk to the other party who is answering and answering the call at the same time, the plurality of handsets simultaneously issue a command (a command for telephone connection) to the master. Will be
There has been a problem that the commands interfere with each other, the master unit cannot receive the command from the slave unit, and the slave unit cannot take a call.

[0007] Further, in the latter cordless answering machine, in which the user operates a button during recording to monitor the message on the handset side, a button must be provided to monitor the message. The operation had to be performed, which was troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to monitor a message sent from the other party in the answering machine mode, and to monitor only the parent machine that has made the answering machine or the answering machine. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cordless answering machine in which the above-mentioned problem is solved by allowing only the handset to perform the operation.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a cordless answering machine according to the present invention comprises a master unit having an answering machine function connected to a telephone line, and the master unit connected by a wireless line. At least one or more slave units, each of the master unit and the slave unit is provided with mode setting means for setting an answering machine mode, and the master unit has an answering machine set by the mode setting means. Storage means for storing whether the mode is set on the base unit or set on the slave unit, and the answering machine mode is set on the base unit based on the storage contents of the storage means. If the message has been recorded, the message sent from the other party during the answering machine mode is recorded, and the message being recorded is emitted from the internal speaker. If the answering machine mode is set on the handset, the message that is sent from the other party during the answering machine mode is recorded, and the message message that is being recorded is set for the answering machine. Control means for controlling transmission to the machine side is provided,
The slave unit is provided with control means for performing control to cause the internal speaker to emit a business message transmitted from the master unit in the answering machine mode.

[0010]

When the mode is set to the answering machine mode by the mode setting means on the master unit side, the storage means stores the setting on the master unit side.

In the answering machine mode, when a message is sent from the other party, the control means of the master unit records the message on a magnetic tape by an internal tape recording / reproducing circuit, and records the message on the magnetic tape. The internal message is output from the internal speaker, and the message is monitored. At this time, the control unit does not transmit the business message to the slave unit.

[0012] Thus, it becomes possible to monitor only on the master unit on which the absence setting has been performed. On the other hand, when the answering machine mode is set by the mode setting means on the slave unit side, the storage means stores the setting on the slave unit side.

In the answering machine mode, when a message is sent from the other party, the control means of the master unit records the message on a magnetic tape by an internal tape recording / reproducing circuit. The message in the middle is transmitted to the wireless circuit, and is controlled to be transmitted to the slave unit that has set the answering machine.

The control means of the slave unit, which has set the mode, controls the wireless circuit to receive the message sent from the master unit and emit the sound from the internal speaker.

[0015] Thus, it is possible to monitor only the slave unit on which the absence setting has been performed, and only the slave unit picks up the telephone and can communicate with the other party who is answering the absence.

When a message is sent from the other party when the answering machine mode is set by the mode setting means on the master unit, the control unit of the master unit transmits the message as described above. The magnetic tape is recorded on a magnetic tape by a tape recording / reproducing circuit provided inside, and the message during the recording is emitted from an internal speaker, and the message is monitored.

In this case, when there are a plurality of slave units, the control means of the master unit makes a wireless connection to all the slave units,
The fact that the base unit is in the absence response is notified to the slave unit by lighting (or blinking) or sound of the lamp. At the same time, the master unit sequentially transmits a command indicating a timing at which a command can be transmitted to each slave unit, so that each slave unit does not simultaneously transmit a command to the master unit. I have.

That is, when an arbitrary mobile unit picks up a telephone call (ie, goes off-hook), a wireless connection command is transmitted to the base unit at a timing at which the mobile unit can transmit. Even in the case where the slaves pick up the telephone at the same time, only the slave whose transmission timing is earlier than that of the slave will transmit. As a result, it is possible to take a call from any of the slave units without interference.

[0019]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a base unit of the cordless answering machine of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a slave unit of the cordless answering machine of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a telephone line 1 is connected to an incoming call detecting circuit 2 for detecting an incoming signal and a line capturing circuit 3 for capturing a telephone line.
Is connected bidirectionally to a communication circuit 4 for switching audio signals and the like.

The output of the voice synthesizing circuit 5 for synthesizing a response message and the output of the radio circuit 12 for receiving a voice signal and the like transmitted from the slave unit are connected to the communication circuit 4. The output of 4 is connected to the wireless circuit 12 and the speaker 9 via the audio signal sending circuit 11.

The voice signal transmission circuit 11 switches its internal connection to either the radio circuit 12 or the speaker 9 so that the voice signal from the communication circuit 4 is output to either the radio circuit 12 or the speaker 9. Has become.

The communication circuit 4 and the tape recording / reproducing circuit 6 are bidirectionally connected.
A recording / reproducing head 7 for recording and reproducing on and from a magnetic tape 8 is connected.

On the other hand, the output of the incoming call detection circuit 2 is connected to a control circuit 13 for controlling the operation of the whole base unit.

The control circuit 13 is bidirectionally connected to the radio circuit 12, and based on a control signal from the radio circuit 12, a call detection signal from the call detection circuit 2, and the like, the line capture circuit 3, the voice synthesis Control signals are output to the circuit 5, the tape recording / reproducing circuit 6, the audio signal transmitting circuit 11, and the mechanical drive circuit 10 for driving the magnetic tape 8 at respective timings. The output of the answering machine setting button 14 for setting the answering machine mode is connected to the control circuit 13, and whether the answering machine mode is set on the master unit or the slave unit is set on the slave unit side. The answering setting memory unit 15 that stores whether or not is stored is bidirectionally connected.

In FIG. 2, a radio circuit 21 for transmitting and receiving radio waves to and from a master unit is bidirectionally connected to a communication circuit 22 for switching audio signals and the like.
, The output of the microphone 24 and the input of the speaker 23 are respectively connected.

A control circuit 25 for controlling the operation of the whole slave unit is bidirectionally connected to the radio circuit 21. The output of the answering button 26 and the output of the telephone button 27 are connected to the control circuit 25, respectively.
The control signal is output from the control circuit 25 to the communication circuit 22 and the lamp 28 at respective timings.

Next, the operation of the cordless answering machine with the above configuration is described as follows: (1) When the answering machine is set on the master unit side,
(2) A case where the absence setting is performed on the slave unit will be described separately.

(1) When the absence setting is performed on the master unit side. When the absence setting button 14 of the master unit is pressed, the control circuit 13
Sets the answering machine mode to the answering machine mode, and stores in the answering machine setting memory unit 15 that the setting of the answering machine mode has been performed by the operation of the master unit.

In the answering machine mode, the telephone line 1
Incoming call detection circuit 2
Detects this incoming signal and sends the incoming detection signal to the control circuit 13.
To send to. The control circuit 13 counts the number of the incoming call detection signals, and starts an answering operation when the number reaches a preset number.

That is, the control circuit 13 first outputs a control signal to the line capturing circuit 3 to cause the line capturing circuit 3 to capture the line, and then outputs a control signal to the voice synthesizing circuit 5 to perform voice synthesis. The circuit 5 is driven. As a result, the response message is synthesized by the voice synthesizing circuit 5 and output to the telephone line 1 via the communication circuit 4 and the line capturing circuit 3.

The control circuit 13 also controls the tape recording / reproducing circuit 6
A control signal is output to the mechanical drive circuit 10 to put the tape recording / reproducing circuit 6 in a recording operation state, and the mechanical drive circuit 10 is driven to run the magnetic tape 8 in a recording mode.

When a message is sent from the other party in response to the response message, the message is guided to the tape recording / reproducing circuit 6 via the communication circuit 4 and is transmitted to the tape recording / reproducing circuit 7 by the recording / reproducing head 7. It is recorded on a magnetic tape 8.

The control circuit 13 reads the information in the absence setting memory section 15 and recognizes that the absence response operation has been set on the master unit, and executes the next operation.

That is, the control circuit 13 outputs a switching control signal to the audio signal transmission circuit 11 to switch the internal connection of the audio signal transmission circuit 11 to the speaker 9 side.

As a result, the message sent from the other party is guided to the internal speaker 9 via the communication circuit 4 and the voice signal transmission circuit 11, and the message is emitted from the speaker 9. Will be.

Further, the control circuit 13 outputs a connection request signal to the wireless circuit 12 so as to connect all the slaves and the wireless line.

In response to the connection request signal, the wireless circuit 12 connects a wireless line to all the slave units via the control channel, and a command indicating the timing at which each slave unit can send a command for a call connection. Are transmitted in order for each slave unit.

The slave unit receives this command through the radio circuit 21 and sends it to the control circuit 25. Upon receiving this command, the control circuit 25 drives the lamp 28 to turn on (or blink) the lamp in order to notify that the master unit is responding. At this time, the control circuit 2
5 makes the communication circuit 22 inactive.

In this state, the telephone button 27 of the slave unit
Is pressed, the control circuit 25 waits for the wireless circuit 21 to receive a command indicating that it is time to output the command. Then, when receiving the command indicating the output timing, the control circuit 25 transmits a connection request command to the master unit. Thereafter, the control circuit 25 puts the communication circuit 22 into an operating state.

The connection request command transmitted from the slave unit is received by the wireless circuit 12 of the master unit, and the control circuit 1
3 is sent. Upon receiving this command, the control circuit 13 stops the absence response operation and connects the slave unit to an external line.

That is, the control circuit 13 outputs a switching control signal to the audio signal transmission circuit 11 to switch the internal connection of the audio signal transmission circuit 11 to the radio circuit 12 side.

The control circuit 13 also controls the tape recording / reproducing circuit 6
And a control signal is output to the mechanical drive circuit 10 to stop the operation.

As a result, the voice signal transmitted from the other party is guided to the radio circuit 12 via the communication circuit 4 and the voice signal transmission circuit 11 and transmitted to the slave via the communication channel. . The audio signal received by the wireless circuit 21 of the slave unit is transmitted to the speaker 2 via the communication circuit 22.
3 is output.

On the other hand, the user's voice signal input from the microphone 24 is guided to the radio circuit 21 via the communication circuit 22 and transmitted to the master unit via the communication channel. Then, the audio signal received by the wireless circuit 12 on the base unit side is
The signal is output to the other party via the communication circuit 4, the line capturing circuit 3, and the telephone line 1. In this way, a call can be made between the slave unit and an outside line.

(2) The absence setting is performed on the slave unit. When the absence setting button 26 of the slave unit is pressed, the control circuit 25
Controls the radio circuit 21 and transmits a command for setting the answering machine mode from the radio circuit 21 to the master unit.

The radio circuit 12 of the master unit receives this command and outputs it to the control circuit 13. Upon receiving this command, the control circuit 13 sets the master unit to the answering machine mode, and stores in the answering machine setting memory unit 15 that the setting of the answering machine mode has been performed by the operation of the slave unit. A code for identifying each slave unit is added to this command, and information including this identification code is stored in the absence setting memory unit 15.

In the answering machine mode, the telephone line 1
Incoming call detection circuit 2
Detects this incoming signal and sends the incoming detection signal to the control circuit 13.
To send to. The control circuit 13 counts the number of the incoming call detection signals, and starts an answering operation when the number reaches a preset number.

That is, the control circuit 13 first outputs a control signal to the line capturing circuit 3 to cause the line capturing circuit 3 to capture the line, and then outputs a control signal to the voice synthesizing circuit 5 to output the voice synthesizing signal. The circuit 5 is driven. As a result, the response message is synthesized by the voice synthesizing circuit 5 and output to the telephone line 1 via the communication circuit 4 and the line capturing circuit 3.

The control circuit 13 also controls the tape recording / reproducing circuit 6
A control signal is output to the mechanical drive circuit 10 to put the tape recording / reproducing circuit 6 in a recording operation state, and the mechanical drive circuit 10 is driven to run the magnetic tape 8 in a recording mode.

As a result, when a message is sent from the other party in response to the response message, the message is guided to the tape recording / reproducing circuit 6 via the communication circuit 4 and is transmitted to the tape recording / reproducing circuit 7 by the recording / reproducing head 7. It is recorded on a magnetic tape 8.

The control circuit 13 reads the information in the absence setting memory section 15 and recognizes that the absence response operation has been set on the slave unit, and executes the next operation.

That is, the control circuit 13 outputs a switching control signal to the audio signal transmission circuit 11 to switch the internal connection of the audio signal transmission circuit 11 to the wireless circuit 12 side.

Further, the control circuit 13 outputs a connection request signal so that the wireless circuit 12 performs wireless connection only with the slave unit that has set the answering machine. Based on the connection request signal, the wireless circuit 12 transmits and receives a control signal to and from the slave unit that has performed the absence setting via the control channel, and sets a communication channel.

Thus, the business message sent from the other party is guided to the radio circuit 12 via the communication circuit 4 and the voice signal transmission circuit 11, and is sent to the slave unit which has made the absence setting via the communication channel. Sent. The business message received by the wireless circuit 21 of the slave unit is transmitted to the communication circuit 2.
The signal is output from the speaker 23 via the second device 2 and the child device can be monitored.

In this state, when the telephone button 27 of the slave unit being monitored is pressed, the control circuit 25
1 is transmitted to transmit a call connection request command to the master unit. The command of the call connection request transmitted from the slave unit is received by the wireless circuit 12 of the master unit, and the control circuit 13
Sent to

Upon receiving this command, the control circuit 13 stops the absence response operation and connects the slave unit to an external line.

That is, the control circuit 13 outputs a control signal to the tape recording / reproducing circuit 6 and the mechanical drive circuit 10 to stop the operation.

Thereafter, the voice signal transmitted from the other party is guided to the radio circuit 12 via the communication circuit 4 and the voice signal transmission circuit 11, and the slave unit which has made the absence setting via the communication channel. Sent to the side. Then, the audio signal received by the wireless circuit 21 of the slave unit is output from the speaker 23 via the communication circuit 22.

On the other hand, the user's voice signal input from the microphone 24 is guided to the radio circuit 21 via the communication circuit 22 and transmitted to the master unit via the communication channel. Then, the audio signal received by the wireless circuit 12 on the base unit side is
The signal is output to the other party via the communication circuit 4, the line capturing circuit 3, and the telephone line 1. In this way, a call can be made between the slave unit and an outside line.

[0062]

According to the cordless answering machine of the present invention, the message message sent from the other party in the answering machine mode is monitored only when the answering machine is set to the answering machine and only for the answering machine. Is performed only on the slave unit that has set the answering machine when it is performed on the slave unit side, so that monitoring can always be performed on either the master unit or the slave unit, and in a cordless answering machine with multiple slave units Has the effect of preventing interference due to each handset simultaneously picking up a telephone call while answering.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a base unit of a cordless answering machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a slave unit of the cordless answering machine according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Telephone line 4 Talk circuit 5 Speech synthesis circuit 6 Tape recording / playback circuit 9 Speaker 11 Voice signal sending circuit 12 Radio circuit 14 Answering setting button 15 Answering setting memory part 13 Control circuit 21 Radio circuit 22 Talking circuit 23 Speaker 25 Control circuit 26 Answering Settings button

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cordless answering machine comprising a master unit having an answering machine function connected to a telephone line and at least one slave unit connected to the master unit by a wireless line. Each of the slave units is provided with a mode setting unit that sets an answering machine mode, and the answering machine mode set by the mode setting unit is set on the master unit side, or Based on storage means for storing whether or not the setting has been made on the slave unit side, based on the storage content of this storage means,
When the answering machine mode is set on the master unit, the message sent from the other party in the answering machine mode is recorded, and the message being recorded is output from the internal speaker. When the answering machine mode is set on the slave unit, the slave unit that records the message sent from the other party in the answering machine mode and sets the message being recorded during the answering machine Control means for controlling transmission of the message transmitted from the master unit in the answering machine mode to the internal speaker. A cordless answering machine characterized by the following.