JP3127498B2 - Voice storage device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voice storage device connected to an analog or digital telephone line for recording and reproducing voice messages via the telephone line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, an answering machine has been used as a voice storage device using an analog line, but in recent years the demand for information storage means has rapidly increased with an increase in the amount of information. Further, a voice storage device (hereinafter, also referred to as a voice mail device) that accumulates messages via telephones in the office and manages them in an integrated manner to improve communication efficiency and reduce troublesome work associated with telephones. Development is in progress and it is already in the practical stage.

[0003] A conventional voice mail apparatus connected to an analog line will be described below.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a conventional voice mail apparatus. 1 is a line interface unit connected to an analog line for controlling the line and separating input / output, and 2 is an analog interface output from the line interface unit 1. A coding unit for converting the electric signal into digital data and further outputting a digital signal whose information is compressed as required; a decoding unit for converting the digital signal into an analog signal and outputting it to the line interface unit; Is a decoding control unit for controlling the output speed of the analog signal output from the decoding unit 3; and 5, a digital signal output from the encoding unit 2 is temporarily stored during voice recording, and a message is reproduced. Sometimes, an audio buffer for temporarily storing the digital signal input to the decoding unit 3, and 6 is an audio buffer 5
A buffer address control unit 7 for controlling the read / write address of the Dual To
ne Multi-Frequency (hereinafter DTMF)
A DTMF detection unit for detecting a signal, a line control unit 8 for controlling the line interface unit 1 to manage voice input / output and line control, and a line control unit 9 according to a command from the line control unit 8 A DTMF output unit that outputs a DTMF signal to the interface unit 1 constitutes a one-line audio processing unit 19.

A voice message storage unit 10 stores voice data stored in the voice buffer 5, a voice guidance storage unit 11 stores voice guidance recorded in advance, and a voice message storage unit 10 or 12 stores voice guidance. A voice data control unit 13 for reading a digital signal from the voice guidance storage unit 11 and storing the digital signal in the voice message storage unit 10. The channel selection unit 14 connected to the voice data control unit 12 exchanges information with the voice processing unit 19 of each line and exchanges information with the appropriate voice message storage unit 10 and voice guidance storage unit 1.
1 is a central control unit for recording and reproducing voice data by selecting 1; 15 is a voice message management unit for managing storage locations of recording and playback messages and information accompanying the messages;
Reference numeral 6 denotes a voice guidance management unit for managing the storage location of voice guidance, 17 a command interface unit for relaying commands and status between the central control unit 14 and the line control unit 8 of each line, and 18 a current date and time. The above-described configuration constitutes the central processing unit 20.

The operation of the voice mail apparatus configured as described above for message listening and high-speed reproduction will be described below.

The case where a listener listens to a message recorded in the voice message storage unit 10 will be described. A DTMF signal for listening to a message is output to an analog line by a listener's dial pad input. The output DTMF signal is recognized as a DTMF signal by the DTMF detection unit 7 via the line interface unit 1 from the analog line. Further, the DTMF signal is transmitted to the line control unit 8.
Is sent to the command interface unit 17 via
When recognizing that the DTMF signal is a message listening request, the command interface unit 17 notifies the central control unit 14 of message listening request information. The central control unit 14 sends the above notification to the voice message management unit 15,
Based on the notification, the voice message management unit 15 notifies the central control unit 14 of the number of registered messages, the voice message registrant, and the recording date and time information. Upon receiving the notification, the central control unit 14 requests the voice guidance management unit 16 for voice guidance for outputting the number of registered messages, the voice message registrant, and the recording date and time, and from the voice guidance storage unit 11 to the voice data control unit 12, The voice guidance is transmitted via the voice buffer 5 and the decoding unit 3 to inform the listener of the number of registered messages, the voice message registrant, and the recording date and time (for example, "There are ○ messages.
This is a message from Mr. XX. This message was recorded on the month, day, hour, minute. )). Thereafter, the central control unit 14 requests the voice message management unit 15 to output the voice message, and
Output a message through the audio data control unit 12, the audio buffer 5, and the decoding unit 3.

Next, a case where the playback speed is changed when the listener listens to the voice message will be described. A DTMF signal for changing a message playback speed is output to an analog line by a listener's dial pad input. The output DTMF signal is transmitted from the analog line to the DTMF detection unit 7 via the line interface unit 1 by the DTMF detection unit 7.
Recognized as a signal. Further, the DTMF signal is sent to the command interface unit 17 via the line control unit 8. The command interface unit 17 has the DTMF
When recognizing that the signal is a message playback speed change request, the central control unit 1 transmits the message playback speed change request information.
Notify 4. The central control unit 14 notifies the decoding speed change request to the decoding control unit 4 via the command interface unit 17. The decoding control unit 4 changes the reproduction speed of the voice message (for example, 1.5 times speed) to the decoding unit 3.
Notify to Here, when the decoding unit 3 converts a digital signal from the voice message storage unit 10 through the voice data control unit 12 and the voice buffer 5 into an analog signal, the playback speed is changed (the voice signal is stored in the voice message storage unit 10). Voice data is 16ms analog signal of voice message
ec = 1 Sampled and digitized for each block. When this audio data is converted to an analog signal, the audio data is converted into six blocks as one unit, and the first four blocks are converted, and the conversion of the next two blocks is ignored, and 96 ms.
The reproduction time can be reduced by 32 msec for each ec. By repeating this, the reproduction speed can be changed. ) And a voice message is output.

[0009]

However, the above-mentioned voice mail apparatus has the following problems. (1) When listening to a message, the length of the message is not notified, so it is not possible to know how long it takes to listen to the message. Time allocation for listening cannot be systematically and efficiently performed. (2) Since the elapsed time and remaining time of the message are not notified during message playback, the time used for listening to the message and the remaining time of the message are not known.
It is impossible to determine whether to continue or stop listening to the message in consideration of time. (3) Listening to messages at a high speed is troublesome because the listener must consider the necessity of quick listening for each message, and since there is only one high-speed playback speed, it is not so much depending on the length of the message. It is not valid.
For example, a quick message is meaningful for long messages, but difficult to hear for short messages.
The effect of early listening is not so great.

There has been a problem that: An object of the present invention is to provide a voice storage device that solves the above-mentioned conventional problems.

[0011]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides: (1) To solve the above problem (1), open and close the telephone line connected to an analog or digital telephone line. A line control unit that performs connection, a DTMF detection unit that detects a DTMF signal from the telephone line, a voice guidance management storage unit that stores and manages voice guidance registered in advance, and a voice guidance management and storage unit that is received through the telephone line control unit. A voice message management storage unit that records and manages voice messages to be played; a playback control unit that plays back voice guidance and voice messages from the voice guidance management storage unit and the voice message management storage unit and transfers the voice messages to the line control unit; A decoding unit that processes data from the reproduction control unit and outputs the processed data to a line interface; and a decoding unit that converts the output speed of the decoding unit. An encryption control unit, a clock unit that manages date and time, a central control unit that controls the line control unit, the DTMF detection unit, the voice guidance management storage unit, the voice message management storage unit, and the playback control unit. A voice message length management unit that stores the voice message length registered in the message management storage unit and notifies the length of the voice message when listening to the voice message is provided. (2) In order to solve the above problem (2), in addition to the above means (1), the voice message playback time is counted during the playback of the voice message registered in the voice message management storage unit, and the voice message being played back is counted. And a voice message playback time management unit for notifying the elapsed time and the remaining time. (3) The above means (1) for solving the above problem (3),
In addition to (2), an appropriate playback speed is set based on the voice message length information or the remaining message time information notified from the voice message length manager or the voice message playback time manager via the central controller during voice message playback. It is configured to include a voice message playback speed management unit that determines the voice message at high speed through the central control unit based on the voice message playback speed change information.

[0012]

(1) When listening to a message with the voice mail device having the above configuration (1), the length of the message can be confirmed before and after the message is reproduced. (2) When listening to a message with the voice mail device according to the above configuration (2), it is possible to confirm the reproduction elapsed time and remaining time of the currently reproduced message. (3) When the message is quickly heard by the voice mail device according to the above configuration (3), an appropriate speed is automatically set according to the length of the message (for example, 1 time if the message length is 1 minute or less, 1 time to 1 minute to 3 minutes). (1.5 times, 3 times or more, 2 times) is determined and high-speed reproduction is performed.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A voice storage device (voice mail device) according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. (1) In FIG. 1, 1 is a line interface unit, 2
Is an encoding unit, 3 is a decoding unit, 4 is a decoding control unit, 5 is an audio buffer, 6 is a buffer address control unit, and 7 is a DTM.
An F detection unit, 8 is a line control unit, 9 is a DTMF output unit, and the above constitutes the audio processing unit 19 of one line.

10 is a voice message storage unit, 11 is a voice guidance storage unit, 12 is a voice data control unit, 13 is a channel selection unit, 14 is a central control unit, 15 is a voice message management unit, 16 is a voice guidance management unit, Reference numeral 17 denotes a command interface unit, and reference numeral 18 denotes a clock unit, which performs the same operation as in the related art. Reference numeral 21 denotes a voice message length management unit that stores the length of the voice message registered in the voice message storage unit 10 and managed by the voice message management unit 15, and the above components constitute the central processing unit 20a. In the above, the voice message storage unit 10 and the voice message management unit form a voice message management storage unit,
The voice guidance storage unit 11 and the voice guidance management unit form a voice guidance management storage unit, and the voice data control unit 12 and the channel selection unit 13 form a playback control unit. The same applies to FIGS. 2 and 3 below.

The operation of the message listening function of the voice mail apparatus configured as described above will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for listening to a message registered in the voice message storage unit 10, particularly the message length. In step A, the voice message management unit 15 storing the number of registered voice messages is sent to the central control unit. The central control unit 14 requests the voice guidance for outputting the number of registered voice messages to the voice guidance control unit 16 via the voice guidance management unit 16.
2. It outputs voice guidance for notifying the number of registered messages via the voice buffer 5 and the decoding unit 3. Step B
Then, the voice guidance for notifying the voice message registrant is output by the same operation as in step A. In step C, voice guidance for notifying the recording date and time is output by the same operation as in step A. In step D, for example, the voice data stored in the voice message storage unit 10 stores 4 seconds = 1 voice block as one unit, and the voice message indicated by the voice message management unit 15 owns several voice blocks. The length of the message can be determined by counting the presence or absence (for example, the length of the message when there are five voice blocks is 5 blocks × 4 seconds = 20 seconds). The voice message length management unit 21 storing the voice message length in such a manner notifies the central control unit 14 of the voice message length information, and thereafter transmits the voice message length by the same operation as in step A above. Output guidance. In step E, a function is selected in accordance with the listener's dial pad input. If the listener does not input anything, the process proceeds to step F. In step F, the message is reproduced. When the listener presses the 2 key (or presses the 1 key twice in succession), the process proceeds to step G and returns to step B of the next message (or previous message). When the listener presses the star, the process proceeds to step H and the message listening ends.

As described above, the message length is notified before the message is heard by the voice message length management unit 21 of the embodiment (1) of the present invention, so that the message is listened or not in consideration of the message length. It is possible to judge whether the message can be heard. For example, if the listener only has 10 minutes to listen to a message, the listener first listens only to the registered message length, and listens to those that can be heard within 10 minutes. Listen to other messages at different times. (2) FIG. 2 shows the central processing unit 20a in the configuration of the embodiment (1) counting the playback time of a message being played back and transmitting information on the message playback elapsed time and remaining time to the central control unit 1.
4 is added to the voice message playback time management unit 22 for notifying, and the above constitutes the central processing unit 20b.

The operation of the message listening function of the voice mail apparatus configured as described above will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for listening to a message registered in the voice message storage unit 10 (here, the elapsed time of the message being reproduced and the remaining time can be known). Steps A and I , Step E performs the same operation as Steps A to E in FIG. In step F, the voice message management unit 15 receives a voice message playback request from the central control unit 14, and the voice message is output from the voice message storage unit 10 via the voice data control unit 12, the voice buffer 5, and the decoding unit 3. Is done. Next, the central control unit 14 notifies the voice message playback time management unit 22 that the output of the voice message has started. The voice message playback time management unit 22 that has received the notification stores the playback start time using the clock unit 18. If a message has been played from the listener while the voice message is being output, and a dial pad input has been made for a request to listen to the remaining time, the process proceeds to step J. Step J
Then, the central control unit 14 sends a notification request of the message reproduction elapsed time and the remaining time to the voice message reproduction time management unit 22, and the voice message reproduction time management unit 22 receiving the notification request temporarily stores the voice message by the clock unit 18. Check the time of stoppage. Next, a voice message playback elapsed time is calculated from the playback start time and the pause time. Further, the central control unit 14 requests the voice message length management unit 21 to notify the message length. The message length management unit 21 having received the notification request notifies the voice message reproduction time management unit 22 of the voice message length via the central control unit 14. Thereafter, the voice message playback time management unit 22 calculates the remaining message time from the notified message length and the message playback elapsed time. Voice message playback time management unit 2
2 notifies the central control unit 14 of the voice message playback elapsed time and remaining time information, and the central control unit 14 requests the voice guidance management unit 16 to output voice guidance for outputting the voice message playback elapsed time and remaining time. Then, the voice guidance storage section 11 outputs voice guidance for notifying the elapsed time of message reproduction and the remaining time through the voice data control section 12, the voice buffer 5, and the decoding section 3. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step L. If the listener does not input anything, the process returns to step F to resume the reproduction of the message. If there is a dial pad input of a request to stop listening to the message from the listener, the process returns to step I.

As described above, the message playback elapsed time and the remaining time are notified during the message playback by the voice message playback time management unit 22 according to the embodiment (2) of the present invention. After confirming the time required for listening, it is possible to determine whether to stop or continue listening. (3) FIG. 3 shows the central processing unit 20 in the configuration of the embodiment (2).
b, a voice message playback speed management unit 23 that determines a high speed playback speed of the voice message based on data from the voice message length management unit 21 and the voice message playback time management unit, and notifies the central control unit 14 of the playback speed information. The above constitutes the central processing unit 20c.

The operation of the voice message device having the above-described structure will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart in the case where the message registered in the voice message storage device is quickly listened to (when the listener is set to the fast listening mode in advance). FIG. 4 above
The same operations as those in Steps A to E are performed. In step K, the voice message length information is stored in the voice message length management unit 21 or the voice message playback time management unit 22.
To the voice message playback speed management unit 23 via the central control unit 14, and from the notified message length information or remaining message time information, an appropriate fast listening speed (normally, if the message length is 1 minute or less, Speed,
The speed is set to 1.5 times for 1 to 3 minutes, and to 2 times for more than 3 minutes. ), And notifies the central control unit 14 of the reproduction speed information. The central control unit 14 sends the speed change request to the decoding control unit 4 via the command interface unit 17.
Notify to The decoding control unit 4 changes the voice message playback speed and notifies the decoding unit 3 of the change. In step F, the voice message data registered in the voice message storage unit 10 is processed by the decoding unit 3 via the voice data control unit 12 and the voice buffer 5, and the reproduction speed is changed (the voice message storage unit 1).
The voice data stored in 0 is obtained by sampling and digitizing the analog signal of the voice message every 16 msec = 1 block. When this audio data is converted into an analog signal, the reproduction time can be reduced by 32 msec every 96 msec by converting the first 4 blocks and ignoring the conversion of the next 2 blocks, with 6 blocks of audio data as one unit. By changing the number of blocks to be ignored, the reproduction speed can be changed in several steps. ) And a voice message is output.

As described above, the voice message reproduction speed management unit 23 according to the embodiment (3) of the present invention determines an appropriate fast listening speed (for example, a normal speed of 1 minute or less, It is automatically determined to be 1.5 times faster than 1 minute and less than 3 minutes 1.5 times faster than 3 minutes 3 times faster than normal speed. In the case of reproduction and a long message, an appropriate fast listening speed adjustment is performed according to the length (usually, the longer the message, the faster the reproduction), so that the listener can automatically and efficiently listen to the message.

[0024]

(1) As is clear from the above embodiment (1), according to the present invention, the message length is notified at the time of listening to the message, so that the scheduled message can be listened and the time can be saved. Can be used. (2) As is clear from the above embodiment (2), according to the present invention, the elapsed time of the message during the reproduction of the message,
Since the remaining time can be checked, the continuation or interruption of the listening can be determined in consideration of the time even during the listening of the message, and the time can be effectively used. (3) As is apparent from the above embodiment (3), according to the present invention, the message length and the remaining message time are automatically set even when the listener does not judge the presence or absence of the early listening when listening to the message. Since the message fast listening speed is selected according to, efficient and fast listening can be performed naturally.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a voice storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a voice storage device according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a voice storage device according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for listening to a message (listening to a message length) according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart at the time of listening to a message (elapsed message playback time and remaining time) according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart when a message is quickly listened to in the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a conventional voice storage device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Line interface part 2 Encoding part 3 Decoding part 4 Decoding control part 5 Audio buffer 6 Buffer address control part 7 DTMF detection part 8 Line control part 9 DTMF output part 10 Voice message storage part 11 Voice guidance storage part 12 Voice data Control unit 13 Channel selection unit 14 Central control unit 15 Voice message management unit 16 Voice guidance management unit 17 Command interface unit 18 Clock unit 19 Voice processing unit 20 Central processing unit 21 Voice message length management unit 22 Voice message playback time management unit 23 Voice Message playback speed management unit

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-113658 (JP, A) JP-A-3-1648 (JP, A) JP-A-3-159351 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04M 3/42-3/58 H04M 1/64-1/652

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A is connected to an analog or digital telephone lines opening of the telephone line, and a line control unit which performs 閉結, stores a voice guidance registered in advance, and voice guidance management storage unit that manages the telephone line A voice message management and storage unit for recording and managing voice messages received through the voice guidance management and storage unit and playing back voice guidance and voice messages from the voice message management and storage unit
A decoding unit that processes data from the playback control unit and outputs it to a line interface; a clock unit that manages date and time; a line control unit, a voice guidance management storage unit, and a voice message management storage a central control unit for generally controlling the parts and playback control unit, the stored voice message length registered in the voice message management storage unit, a voice message length manager for notifying the length of the voice message when the voice message listening With
The central control unit responds to an input signal from the telephone line.
The first voice message from the voice message length manager.
After notifying the voice message length of the first voice message,
Prior to sending the message, a further
If there is an input signal, a second sound is generated according to the input signal.
Control to notify voice message length of voice message
A voice storage device. 2. A connection to an analog or digital telephone line.
A line control unit that opens and closes the telephone line, and stores and manages voice guidance registered in advance.
A voice guidance management storage unit for storing voice messages received through the telephone line.
A voice message management and storage unit for managing sounds and voices, and the voice guidance management and storage unit and the voice message pipe;
Play audio guidance, the voice message from the management storage unit
A reproduction control unit for processing data from the reproduction control unit and a line interface.
A decoding unit that outputs data to a source, a clock unit that manages date and time, the line control unit, a voice guidance management storage unit, and a voice message.
Central control of the message management storage unit and playback control unit
A control unit and a voice message registered in the voice message management storage unit.
The message length is stored, and the voice message is
Voice message length manager and voice to notify the length of the message
Voice messages registered in the message management storage
Counts and plays voice message playback time while playing
Sound to notify the elapsed time and remaining time of the voice message
A voice storage device having a voice message playback time management unit . 3. A compounding device for converting an output speed in a compounding unit.
A control unit, a moderate reproduction speed based on the voice message length manager or voice message playback time management voice message length is notified via the central control unit from the section information or message remaining time information when the voice message playback 3. The voice storage device according to claim 2, further comprising: a voice message playback speed management unit for determining and playing back the voice message at a high speed via the central control unit based on the voice message playback speed change information.