JP3141409B2 - Data storage device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is connected to an analog or digital telephone line, records and reproduces voice messages via the telephone line, and stores FAX data input from the telephone line. The present invention relates to a data storage device for displaying image data reproduced from the data on a screen of a television monitor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, an answering machine has been used as a voice storage device using an analog telephone line, but in recent years the demand for information storage means has rapidly increased with an increase in the amount of information. Furthermore, by accumulating messages via telephones in the office and managing them in an integrated manner, voice mail devices have been developed to improve communication efficiency and reduce the cumbersome work associated with telephones. You are in the stage. Among such voice mail devices, a device that provides a hierarchical publicity message service allows a user to blow a message or an advertisement message according to the use of a company or office with his / her own voice, It is possible for customers to hear everything from menu-style guidance to more detailed information using touch phones, and various applications are expected.

[0003] A conventional public relations service of a voice mail device connected to an analog line will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional voice mail apparatus. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a line interface unit connected to an analog line for controlling the line and separating input / output.
A coding unit for converting an analog electric signal output from the line interface unit 1 into digital data and outputting a digital signal whose information is compressed as necessary;
Is a decoding unit for converting the digital signal back to an analog signal and outputting it to the line interface unit 1; 4 is a storage unit for temporarily storing the digital signal output from the encoding unit 2 when recording a voice; An audio buffer for temporarily storing a digital signal inputted to 3, a DTMF signal sent through a telephone line is detected, and a signal corresponding to each DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency) signal is output. The DTMF detection unit 6 controls the line interface unit 1 and manages the input / output of the sound and the control of the line. 8 is a voice message storage unit for storing voice data stored in the voice buffer 4, 9 is a voice data control unit for reading digital signals from the voice message storage unit 8 and storing digital signals in the voice message storage unit 8,
Reference numeral 10 denotes a channel selector for selecting a line for inputting and outputting audio from the plurality of audio processors 7 and connecting to the audio data controller 9. Reference numeral 11 denotes a voice message while exchanging information with the audio processor 7 of each line. A central control unit for selecting an appropriate storage location in the storage unit 8 to record and reproduce voice data, a voice message management unit 12 for managing a voice message storage location and information accompanying the message, and a plurality of voice message management units 13 for a plurality of voice messages. A command interface 14 for exchanging commands and information between the line control unit 6 and the central control unit 11 is a public information message management unit 14 in which the storage location of each public information message and the information of the message provided when DTMF is input are registered.

The operation of a conventional voice mail apparatus having the above-described components will be briefly described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the user makes a telephone call to the voice mail device (step A), the line interface unit 1 connects the telephone line and informs the central control unit 11 via the line control unit 6 that the line has been connected. The central control unit 11 receives the information of the message of the initial menu from the public information message management unit 14 and outputs it to the voice message management unit 12. Upon receiving this, the voice message management unit 12 notifies the voice message storage unit 8 of the storage location of the voice data of the corresponding message, outputs the voice data, and stores the data in the voice buffer 4 via the voice data control unit 9. Store. The above-mentioned voice data is converted into an analog electric signal by the decoding unit 3 and then output to the telephone line via the line interface unit 1, and the first voice guidance is announced to the user (step B, for example, "This is a message・ It is a center. Please press 1 if you want to listen to a PR message, or 2 if you want to register. "). Here, when the user inputs [2] and a password for registration (step C), the DTMF detection unit 5 detects the DTMF signal and outputs a corresponding code string to the line control unit 6, and this code The columns are transmitted to the central controller 11 via the command interface 13. Central control unit 1 shifted to registration mode by inputting password
1 reproduces the publicity message again (step D), and then outputs a voice guidance code for prompting the user to specify registration to the voice message management unit 12 to request a key input from the user (step E, for example, “this publicity message”). Press ♯ to change the message. Enter the data number to confirm the next data. ") Here, when the user inputs [♯] for change (step F), a voice guidance prompting recording is announced (step G, for example, “Please give me a message.”), And following this guidance, the user utters a message. Then, the audio is converted into digital data by the encoder 2 and stored in the audio buffer 4. When the audio buffer 4 is full, the central controller 11 transmits the above audio data via the audio data controller 9. The message is stored in the voice message storage unit 8 and information (for example, a message number,
The recording date and time, etc.) are recorded in the public relations message management unit 14 and the storage location of the message is recorded in the message management unit 12 (step H). After the recording, the central control unit 11 announces a notice of the end of the recording (step I, for example, "message has been registered."), And then plays the newly registered message (step D). Step F
When the user presses the keys 1 to 9 without requesting the change, the central control unit 11 reads the information of the message of the designated number among the messages of the next level from the public information message management unit 14 ( Step J), the corresponding message is reproduced (step D). Step F
If the user presses [*], the central control unit 11 returns to the previous level message (step K).

When a general user makes a call to the apparatus, an initial menu message is first announced, and thereafter, a next-level public information message is sequentially reproduced according to a key input by the user.

FIG. 8 shows a connection example of the present system. 27 is a user's telephone, and 28 is a private branch exchange.

[0008]

However, the above-mentioned voice mail apparatus has a problem that the information that can be provided to the user is limited to only voice, and the amount of information that can be transmitted in a short time is limited. Had. On the other hand, there is a drawback that a network is formed by a personal computer or the like, a lot of effort is required for a sales floor guidance program, and the cost of the system is increased.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a data storage device capable of providing various information by voice and image.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a data storage unit for storing audio data and image data, and a temporary storage unit for transmitting audio data or image data to the data storage unit. A data buffer for temporarily storing voice data or image data read from the data storage unit, a fax modem unit for converting a fax signal received from a telephone line into digital data, A video interface unit that converts image data into a video signal and outputs it, and a public information that hierarchizes voice messages and image data corresponding to each button or dial number of an external terminal and records and manages accompanying information of these data Data management unit and data that manages the storage locations of voice messages and image data on the data storage unit In the registration mode, the voice signal received from the telephone line is sent to the data storage unit, and the fax signal received from the telephone line is converted into digital image data by the fax modem unit, and then the voice signal is converted to the digital signal. Link information is sent to the data storage unit, information accompanying the image data is recorded in the public relations data management unit, and the storage location of the data is recorded in the data management unit. Button information input by the user operating the external terminal Alternatively, control is performed so that the voice data of the public information message of the hierarchy is read from the data storage unit according to the dial number, reproduced and transmitted to the external terminal, and at the same time, the image data corresponding to the message is displayed via the video interface. And a central control unit that performs the operation.

[0011]

According to the present invention, when data is registered, voice information to be provided to the user is recorded from the telephone via the telephone line while the apparatus is controlled by the telephone during data registration, and image data to be provided to the user is transmitted via the same line. Can be registered more easily than FAX, and when a customer searches for information, just enter the number from the telephone installed as a pair with the TV,
A system capable of obtaining image information from a TV and voice information from a telephone can be constructed at low cost simply by adding a TV monitor to a conventional telephone system.

[0012]

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

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a data storage device according to the present embodiment. 1 is a line interface unit, 2 is an encoding unit, 3 is a decoding unit, 5 is a DTMF detection unit, 10 is a channel selection unit, Reference numeral 11 denotes a central control unit, which performs the same operation as the conventional example. What is different from the conventional example is that a line control unit 15 has added control to switch the input / output of the line interface unit 1 according to a signal input / output to / from a line, and a fax modem that demodulates a fax signal input from a telephone line. Part 1
6, a data buffer 17 for storing digital data output from the encoding unit 2 and the fax modem 16 at the time of recording, and a data buffer 17 for temporarily storing data for reproduction at the time of reading data. A fax data decoding unit 18 for restoring a bit image image from the fax data stored in the buffer 17, a VRAM unit 19 for storing the bit image image, and a VRA
A data interface 21 for periodically reading the data of the M unit 19 and outputting a video signal to form a data processing unit 21; and a data management unit for managing a storage position of image data together with audio data. 22, a data storage unit 23 for storing voice and image data, a data control unit 24 for reading digital signals from the data storage unit 23 and storing digital signals in the storage unit, and registering information on voice and image data. The difference is that a public information data management unit 25 and a FAX data management table 26 are provided.

The operation of the data storage device having the above components will be described below. First, as shown in FIG. 2, the facsimile 30 and the data storage device of this embodiment are connected via the private branch exchange 28, and further the monitor / television 2 is connected to the video interface unit 20 for image data confirmation.
9 when registering public relations data when connected
This will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As a specific example, an example of department store guidance is assumed.

First, when a user who provides image information, for example, a staff of a department store calls this data storage device (step L), the line interface unit 1 connects the telephone line and performs central control via the line control unit 15. The unit 11 is informed that the line has been connected, and the central control unit 11
Reads the message of the initial menu and the information of the image from the publicity data management unit 25 and outputs them to the data management unit 22 (step M). Upon receiving this, the data management unit 22 notifies the data storage unit 23 of the storage location of the corresponding image data, and stores the image data of the initial menu in the data buffer 17 via the data control unit 24. The above-mentioned image data is converted into a bit image image by the fax data decoding unit 18 and stored in the VRAM unit 19, and the video interface unit 20 executes the monitor television 29.
(Step N). Further, the data management unit 2
2 informs the data storage unit 23 of the storage position of the voice message designated by the central control unit 11, causes the data storage unit 23 to output the voice data, and stores it in the data buffer 17 via the data control unit 24. The voice data is converted into an analog electric signal by the decoding unit 3 and then output to the telephone line via the line interface unit 1, and the first voice guidance is announced to the user (Step O, for example, "This is a message This is the center. Press 1 if you want to see the information on the sales floor, press 2 if you want to register. "). here,
When the user inputs [2] and a password for registration (step P), the DTMF detection unit 5 detects the DTMF signal and outputs a corresponding code string to the line control unit 15. -It is transmitted to the central control unit 11 via the interface 13. Upon input of the password, the central control unit 11, which has shifted to the registration mode, displays the above image again (step Q), reproduces the above-mentioned public information message (step R), and provides voice guidance for prompting designation of registration. It outputs the code to the data management unit 22 and requests the user to enter a key (step S, for example, "Press ♯ to change this message and display. To confirm the next data, enter the data number. please do it."). Here, when the user inputs [♯] for change (step T), the central control unit 11 announces voice guidance prompting the transmission of a fax (step U, for example, “Please input fax data to be registered”. .)), The input from the line interface unit 1 is switched to the fax / modem unit 16 side. Following the guidance, when the user transmits a newly displayed guidance image from the fax machine at hand, the signal is converted into digital data by the fax modem unit 16 and stored in the data buffer 17, and when the buffer becomes full. The central control unit 11 stores the above data in the data storage unit 23 via the data control unit 24, and stores information (for example, data number, registration date and time,
Others) are recorded in the public relations data management unit 25 and the data storage position is recorded in the data management unit 22 (step V). When the reception of the fax is completed, the line control unit 15 switches the input from the line interface unit 1 to the encoding unit 2 again, and further an audio guidance for prompting the recording of a message is announced (step W, for example, "Please take a message. )). When the user utters a message following this guidance, the voice is converted into digital data by the encoding unit 2 and stored in the data buffer 17, and the voice data is stored in the data storage unit 23 in the same procedure as in the conventional example. (Step X). If the user presses a key from 1 to 9 without requesting a change in step T, the central controller 1
1 reads the message of the designated number and the information of the image data from the next level data from the public information data management unit 25 (step Y), displays the corresponding image (step Q), and reproduces the message (step Q). Step R). If the user presses [*] in step T, the central control unit 11 returns to the display and reproduction of the data of the previous level (step Z).

FIG. 5 shows a connection example when a general user, that is, a customer searches for information using the present apparatus. The operation when the user receives the guidance will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the user picks up the telephone 27 and calls the apparatus (step a), the image data of the initial menu is displayed on the monitor / television 2.
9 (step b), and a voice message is announced from the telephone (step c, for example, "Guide to the counter. 1 for the grocery counter, 2 for the daily necessities counter, ..." Please press. "). Here, when the user presses [1] (step d), the image data for guiding the grocery counter and its voice message are called (step e) and displayed and announced (steps b and c, for example, "fresh food"). Press 1 for groceries and 2 for unhealthy foods. "). If you want to go back to the previous level,
If [*] is pressed in step d, the previous message and image data are called out (step f) and displayed and announced.

In the above-described embodiment, a plurality of sets having the same configuration as the data processing unit 21 are provided, and these data processing units and the central processing unit 11 are selectively coupled by the channel selection unit. A publicity message and image data can be provided to a plurality of lines and a plurality of monitors.

Further, not only the DTMF signal but also the DTMF signal
By providing a dial pulse detection unit instead of or in addition to the detection unit, input from a dial pulse type telephone can be handled.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, a conventional voice mail apparatus is provided with a facsimile receiving means and a facsimile data display means so as to integrally control voice data and image data, thereby enabling data registration. At the same time, voice information can be recorded from the telephone while controlling the device with the telephone, and the image data can be easily registered from the FAX at the same time. It is possible to obtain image information from a television and audio information from a telephone only by inputting.
It is possible to provide a data storage device capable of configuring an inexpensive information retrieval system only by adding a monitor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a connection example when registering data in the data storage device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a data registration procedure.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a data search procedure.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a connection example when searching data in the data storage device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional voice mail device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a registration procedure of a public relations message.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a connection example of the voice mail device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Line interface 2 Encoding part 3 Decoding part 5 DTMF detection part (dial signal detection part) 8 Voice message storage part 10 Channel selection part 11 Central control part 13 Command interface 15 Line control part 16 FAX modem part 17 Data buffer 18 FAX data decoding unit 19 VRAM unit 20 Video interface unit 21 Data processing unit 22 Data management unit 23 Data storage unit 24 Data control unit 25 Public information data management unit 26 FAX data management table 27 Telephone 28 Home exchange 29 Monitor TV 30 Fax

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04M 11/00-11/10 H04L 12/54 H04L 12/58 H04M 3/42-3/58

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A line control unit for closing and opening a telephone line, a signal detection unit for detecting a signal transmitted via the telephone line, and a data storage unit for storing voice data and image data. A fax modem unit for converting a fax signal received from a telephone line into image data , a video interface unit for converting image data into a video signal and outputting the same, and transmitting voice data or image data to the data storage unit. Temporarily store before sending, or temporarily store audio data or image data read from the data storage unit,
Output from the fax / modem unit when recording data
Image data to be stored.
A data buffer to be read and sent to the video interface unit, a message corresponding to each button or dial number of an external terminal and image data are hierarchized, and accompanying information of these data is recorded and managed. and PR data management unit that includes a data management unit for managing a storage position on each of the data storage unit of the audio data and image data, the process proceeds to the registration mode by an instruction from the User chromatography the, the registration mode Now , for the audio that is received over the phone line ,
Sending voice data to the data storage unit , converting a fax signal received from the telephone line into digital image data by the fax modem unit ,
The image data is transmitted to the data storage unit in association with the audio data, and information accompanying the image data is recorded in the public relations data management unit and the storage location of the data is recorded in the data management unit. In response to the button information or the dial number to be input, the voice data of the publicity message of the hierarchy is read from the data storage unit, reproduced and transmitted to the external terminal, and the image data corresponding to the message is transmitted to the external terminal. A data storage device comprising: a central control unit for controlling display via a video interface. 2. A plurality of data processing units each comprising a line control unit, a signal detection unit, a fax modem unit, and a video interface unit, and a channel for selectively connecting these data processing units and a central processing unit. 2. The data storage device according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit, wherein the public information message and the image data are simultaneously provided to a plurality of lines and a plurality of monitor televisions.