JPH0313153A - Automatic responding device for automatic answering telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent an uncomfortable feeling from being applied to a caller since time required for fast forward operation to a recording start position is prolonged by recording a message form the caller to a magnetic tape while being delayed for prescribed time. CONSTITUTION:The message from the caller is converted to a digital signal by a first sound converting circuit 15 and stored to a memory circuit 16 for the prescribed time. After the lapse of the prescribed time, the signal read from the memory circuit 16 is converted into an analog signal by a second sound converting circuit 17 and recorded to a magnetic tape T. When a length to the recording start position is short, the bit rate of a signal processing operation is switched. Thus, when the magnetic tape is fast forwarded to the recording start position within the prescribed time, the message can be recorded without waiting the caller even in the case a message for response and the message form the caller are recorded to the same magnetic tape. Then, the uncomfortable feeling is not applied to the caller. The capacity of the memory circuit is effectively used and the clear degree of the recorded signal can be improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention is an automatic answering machine that records a message from a caller on a magnetic tape after performing an incoming call operation in response to a ringing signal coming from a telephone line. Regarding reception equipment.

(B) Conventional technology An automatic answering machine is configured to automatically receive a call, send a response message to the caller, and then record the message from the caller. A general automatic answering machine is equipped with two magnetic tapes: a response tape on which a response message is recorded, and a recording tape on which a message from a caller is recorded. Such an automatic answering machine using two magnetic tapes has problems in that it is expensive and the size of the main body of the device is large because it incorporates two tape recorders. As a method to solve this problem, there is a method of recording a message from the caller on a magnetic tape on which a response message is recorded, and such a technique is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10951/1983. There is something.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention In an automatic answering machine that is configured to record a response message and a message from the caller on the same magnetic tape, after the response message is played back, the The tape is fast-forwarded to a recording start position, and when the fast-forwarding is finished, a message from the caller is recorded on the magnetic tape. In such an automatic answering machine, as the number of messages from callers recorded on the magnetic tape increases, the time required to fast-forward to the recording start position becomes longer. There is a problem in that it takes a long time to record the message from the caller, causing discomfort to the caller.

The present invention aims to provide an automatic answering machine that solves this problem.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The automatic answering machine of the present invention has a tape recorder control circuit that fast-forwards the magnetic tape to the recording start position after sending out a response message, and puts it in a recording standby state at the recording start position. a memory circuit that stores a message from a caller obtained through a telephone line as a digital signal for a predetermined period of time and reads out the signal after a predetermined period of time; and a memory circuit that converts the digital signal read from the memory circuit into an analog signal. It is comprised of an audio conversion circuit that inputs the analog signal to a recording amplifier circuit.

(f) Effect The present invention provides a memory circuit that stores a message from a caller as a digital signal for a predetermined period of time, and a voice conversion circuit that converts the digital signal read from the memory circuit into an analog signal. The switching is made in accordance with the length up to the recording start position.

(F) Embodiment The circuit shown in FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the automatic answering machine of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between signals recorded on a magnetic tape. In Figure 1, (1) is a connection terminal with a telephone line, and (2) is a ringing signal detection circuit that detects a ringing signal coming from the telephone line. It has an output terminal (3) that outputs a detection signal. (4) is a closing switch that closes the telephone line, and (5) is activated when an H level signal is applied to the control terminal (6) and closes the closing switch (4). (7) is a line transformer, (8) and (9) are a response state in which a response message is sent to a caller, and a recording state in which a message from a caller is recorded on a magnetic tape (1'). This is a changeover switch that switches between the common terminal (8a)
(9a), response side terminals (8b), (9b) and recording side terminals (8c) ((9c). It is a magnetic head that performs a signal recording operation on the tape (T), and its signal terminal is the common terminal of the changeover switch (9).
9a). (11) is a reproducing amplifier circuit whose input terminal is connected to the response terminal (9b) of the changeover switch (9), and whose output terminal is the common terminal (8
a) is connected to a response terminal (8b) of a changeover switch (8) connected to a line transformer (7). (
12) is a beep tone detection circuit that detects a beep tone signal recorded on a magnetic tape (T), and is configured to output an H level signal to an output terminal (13) when the beep tone signal is detected. There is. (14)
The input terminal is the recording side terminal (8) of the changeover switch (8).
c) is an amplification circuit connected to the caller, and has the function of amplifying the message from the caller. (15) is a first audio conversion circuit into which the signal amplified by the amplifier circuit (14) is input and converts the signal into a digital signal; (16) is the first audio conversion circuit that converts the signal into a digital signal; a memory circuit (17
) is a second audio conversion circuit that receives the digital signal read from the memory circuit (16) and converts the signal into an analog signal, and is equipped with an output terminal (18) from which the analog signal is output. . (19) includes the control operation of the automatic answering machine and the first voice conversion circuit (1).
5), a memory circuit (16) and a second audio conversion circuit (1
(20) a control circuit for controlling the signal processing operation according to (7);
is a recording amplifier circuit which receives an analog signal which is the output signal of the second audio conversion circuit (17) and amplifies the signal, and its output terminal is connected to the changeover switch (9).
) is connected to the recording side terminal (9c). (21) is the output terminal (13) of the beep tone detection circuit (12)
This switch circuit is activated by a switching signal output from the control circuit (19) when an H level signal is output to the switch circuit (8).
It has the effect of switching (9) to the recording side, which is the opposite side from the illustrated state. (22) is a pulse signal generation circuit that generates a pulse signal corresponding to the rotation of the reel shaft (23);
(24) is a counter circuit that receives and counts the number of pulse signals output from the pulse signal generation circuit, and performs an up-count operation during playback, recording, and fast-forward operations, and a down-count operation during rewind operations. It is configured to do the following. (25) is a counter memory circuit, which is configured to store the count value of the counter circuit (24) when the recording operation of the message from the caller is completed. (26)
is a tape recorder control circuit that controls the operation of the tape recorder by the control operation of the control circuit (19), and when the reproduction operation of the response message and beep tone signal recorded on the magnetic tape (T) is completed, the counter memory is After the magnetic tape (T) is fast-forwarded to the position of the count value stored in the memory by the circuit (25), the tape recorder is switched to a recording standby state, that is, a temporary stop state in the recording state. Then, when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the writing of the message from the caller to the memory circuit (16) was started, and the reading operation from the memory circuit (16) is started, the recording standby state of the tape recorder is released. recording operation is started. Further, when there is no more message from the caller written and read out in the memory circuit (16), the recording state of the tape recorder is canceled and the magnetic tape (T) is rewound. (T) is rewound to the standby position, ie, the beginning of the response message, and is in a stopped state. (
27) is an operation button provided for performing switching operations of the automatic answering machine. In such a circuit configuration, the time stored by the memory circuit (16) is set in consideration of the time required to fast-forward the magnetic tape (T) to the recording start position.Sampling for performing signal processing operations If the frequency is 4KHz and the number of quantization bits is 4, the bit rate will be 16 bits,
If a 1 Mbit RAM is used as the memory circuit (16), a borrowed symbol can be stored in the memory circuit (16) for about 60 seconds. Therefore, in this case, the magnetic tape (T
) to the end of the file is 60
Set within seconds. Also, if there are few messages from the caller recorded on the magnetic tape (T),
The time required to fast-forward the magnetic tape (T) to the recording start position is shortened. The present invention is configured to switch the signal processing bit rate, for example, if the time required to fast-forward to the recording start position is within 30 seconds. That is, the sampling frequency is 8
KHz, and the number of quantization bits is 4, the bit rate is 32 bits, and a 1M bit memory circuit (16
) can memorize borrowed names for about 30 seconds. The time required for the position where the bit rate of this signal processing operation is switched, that is, the fast forward operation of the magnetic tape (T), is 3.
The automatic answering machine of the present invention is constructed in such a manner that Ts is the count value at the position of 0 seconds.The operation of this circuit will now be described.

When the magnetic tape (T) is attached to the storage part provided in the automatic answering machine, the counter circuit (
After resetting the count value of 24> to zero, press the operation button (27
) to record the response message and the beep tone signal.
This can be done using a well-known technique, and its explanation is omitted.

Figure 2 (A) shows the state of the magnetic tape (T) on which such a recording operation has been performed, and from count value 0 to count value T, a response message (A) and a beep tone signal (B ) is recorded. Recording operation of such signals and response messages (A) and beep tone signals (B)
After performing the playback confirmation operation, when the operation button (27) is used to set the standby state, the magnetic tape (T) is rewinded, and the magnetic tape (?) is moved to the position of the count value 0, that is, the response message (A). ). When such an operation is performed, the count value T is stored in the counter memory circuit (25). In this way, the automatic answering machine is set to a standby state. When a ringing signal arrives from the telephone line while the automatic answering machine is in a standby state, the ringing signal detection circuit (2) performs a detection operation and outputs an H level signal to its output terminal (3). . When an H level signal is output to the output terminal (3) of the calling signal detection circuit (2), the control circuit (19) starts the control operation, and first, the control terminal (6) of the closing circuit (5) is output. An H level signal is applied. As a result, the closure circuit (5)
When the telephone line is activated, the closing switch (4) is closed, so that the telephone line is closed. When such a closing operation is performed, the control circuit (19) controls the tape recorder control circuit (26), and the tape recorder starts playing. Magnetic tape(
After the response message (A) recorded in 1) is played back by the magnetic head (lO), the changeover switch (9) is pressed.
The signal is input to the reproducing amplifier circuit (11) through the signal line. The response message (completely input to the reproduction amplifier circuit (11))
A) is amplified and then sent to the caller through a changeover switch (8) and a line transformer (7). When the reproduction and transmission of the response message (A) to the caller is completed, the beep tone signal (B) that has been completely recorded is reproduced after the response message (A). Reproduction amplifier circuit (11
) is input to the beep tone detection circuit (12) and is sent to the caller to notify that the message recording operation has started. The beep tone detection circuit (12
), the beep tone detection circuit (12) performs a detection operation and outputs an H level signal to its output terminal (13). When the H level signal is output to the output terminal (13), a switching signal is output from the control circuit (19) and the switch circuit (
21) becomes operational, and as a result, the selector switch (8)
(9) is switched to the recording side, which is the opposite side from the state shown. In this first response operation state, the count value of the counter circuit (24) and the count value stored in the counter memory circuit (25) match, so the fast forwarding operation of the magnetic tape (T) is not performed. The tape recorder is switched to a recording standby state after the playback operation. Further, when such a switching operation is performed, the first voice conversion circuit (15) and the memory circuit (16) are brought into operation by the action of the control circuit (19),
The first audio conversion circuit (15) performs a conversion operation of an analog signal into a digital signal, and the memory circuit (16) performs a storage operation. In such a state, since the count value T stored in the counter memory circuit (25) is smaller than the bit rate switching setting value Ts, the signal processing operation is performed at a bit rate of 32 bits and the memory circuit (16 ) memory time is set to approximately 30 seconds. In such a state, a message from the caller coming over the telephone line will be sent to the line transformer (
7) and the amplifier circuit (14) through the changeover switch (8).
is input. The message input to the amplification circuit (14) is amplified and then input to the input terminal (15a) of the first voice conversion circuit (15). The message, which is an analog signal input to the first voice conversion circuit (15), is converted into a digital signal and then sent to the memory circuit (16).
The data is inputted into the memory circuit (16) and stored in the memory circuit (16). The signal stored in the memory circuit (16) is read out after a predetermined time, that is, approximately 30 seconds, and is sent to the second voice conversion circuit (16).
7), and when such a read operation is performed, the second audio conversion circuit (17) is brought into an operating state for converting a digital signal into an analog signal. The digital signal input to the second audio conversion circuit (17) is converted into an analog signal, which is the original signal, and sent to the output terminal (
18>. The message from the caller, which is an analog signal output to the output terminal (18), is input to the recording amplifier circuit (20), but the message can be heard for about 30 seconds from the time it arrives from the telephone line. and is input to the recording amplifier circuit (20). and,
When the reading operation of the message from the memory circuit (16) is started, the tape recorder is switched from the recording standby state to the recording state by the switching operation of the tape recorder control circuit (26).

As a result, the message amplified by the recording amplifier circuit (20) is applied to the magnetic head (10) through the changeover switch 9〉, so that the message is recorded on the magnetic tape (T) by the magnetic head (10). . In this way, the message from the caller is recorded on the magnetic tape (r).
6) until all messages from the caller stored in step 6) are read out. That is, when the caller hangs up after speaking the message, the message input to the first voice conversion circuit (15) disappears, but the message input to the memory circuit (15) disappears.
In step 6), since the message that has been spoken up to that point is already stored, the tape recorder is kept in the recording state until the signal reading operation is completed. Memory circuit〈
When all the messages from the caller stored in 16) are read out and recorded on the magnetic tape ff), the recording state of the tape recorder is erased and the tape recorder is switched to the rewind state. When the rewinding operation of the magnetic tape (T) is started, the count value T1 of the counter circuit (24) is stored in the counter memory circuit (25). When the magnetic tape (T) is rewinded to the count value 0 position by the rewinding operation, it is switched to the stopped state, and the closing circuit (5) and the switch circuit (21
) is returned to an inactive state, and the automatic answering machine is switched to a standby state in which it waits for the next incoming call. In this way, the message from the caller is recorded onto the magnetic tape (T), but the message is recorded at the position shown in (C) in FIG. It will have been recorded by.

Although the message from the first caller is recorded as described above, the operation for recording the message from the next caller will now be explained. When a calling signal arrives while in the above-mentioned standby state, the above-mentioned incoming call operation, response message (A) and beep tone signal (B) sending detection operation are performed, and then the message is written into the memory circuit (16). However, in such a case, the count value T stored in the counter memory circuit (25) is smaller than the set value Ts, so the signal processing operation is 32
This is done at a bit rate of . Therefore, the storage time of the memory circuit (16) is approximately 30 seconds, while the tape recorder is controlled by the tape recorder control circuit (26). That is, when the reproduction operation of the response message (A) and beep tone signal (B) recorded on the magnetic tape (T) is completed, the tape recorder is switched to the fast forward mode. When the magnetic tape (T) is fast-forwarded and reaches the recording start position, that is, the count value T stored in the counter memory circuit (25), the fast-forward state of the tape recorder is released and the tape recorder enters the recording standby state. Can be switched. When the reading operation of the message from the caller stored in the memory circuit (16) is started, the tape recorder is released from the recording standby state and switched to the recording state, so that the message from the caller is read out from the magnetic tape ( T
) can be recorded. Thereafter, the above-described operations are performed and the automatic answering machine is returned to the standby state, but at this time the count value T is stored in the counter memory circuit (25). In this case, the message from the caller is recorded at the position shown in (D) in FIG. 2 (b), that is, from the count value T1 to the count value T. Thereafter, the above-mentioned operations are repeated, and the message from the caller is transferred to the magnetic tape (I'
) will be recorded one after another.Next, a case will be described in which the recording start position, that is, the count value stored in the counter memory circuit (25) is at Tm, which is greater than the set value Ts.

When a call signal arrives when the count value stored in the counter memory circuit (25) is in the standby state at Tm, the above-mentioned incoming call operation and response message (
After the transmission detection operation of A) and the beep tone signal (B) is performed, the message writing operation to the memory circuit (16) is performed. In such a state, since the count value Tm stored in the counter memory circuit (25) is larger than the bit rate switching setting value Ts, the signal processing operation is performed at a bit rate of 16 bits, and the memory circuit (16) ) can be set to approximately 60 seconds. On the other hand, since the tape recorder is controlled by the tape recorder control circuit (26), the response message (A) recorded on the magnetic tape (T) is
) and the beep tone signal (B) are completed, the tape recorder is switched to fast forward mode. Magnetic tape(
When the fast-forward operation of T) is performed and the tape recorder reaches the recording start position, that is, the count value Tm stored in the counter memory circuit (25), the fast-forward state of the tape recorder is canceled and the tape recorder is switched to a recording standby state. Then, the signal stored in the memory circuit (16) is read out after a predetermined period of time, that is, approximately 60 seconds, and converted into an analog signal by the second audio conversion circuit (17), but such readout operation is not started. Then, the tape recorder is released from the recording standby state and switched to the recording state, so that the message from the caller can be recorded on the magnetic tape (T). Thereafter, the above-mentioned operation is carried out, and the automatic answering device for absentee talk 1 is returned to the standby state, but at this time, the counter memory circuit (25)
The count value Tn is stored in the memory. In this case, the message from the caller is shown in Figure 2 (b).
N), that is, from the count value Tm to the count value Tn
It will have been recorded by. Thereafter, the above-described operations are repeated, and messages from the caller are recorded one after another on the magnetic tape (T).

In this embodiment, the maximum storage time by the memory circuit (16) is 60 seconds, but this time is longer than the magnetic tape (T).
It is set corresponding to the time required for fast-forwarding, and the storage time is not limited. In addition, in this embodiment, the first audio conversion circuit (15>), the memory circuit (
Although the bit rate of the signal processing operation by the second audio conversion circuit (16) and the second audio conversion circuit (17) is switched in two stages, it can also be configured to be switched in three stages or more.

(G) Effects of the Invention The automatic answering machine of the present invention converts a message from a caller obtained through a telephone line into a digital signal, stores it in a memory circuit for a predetermined period of time, and reads it out from the memory circuit after a predetermined period of time. In other words, the message received from the caller via the telephone line is delayed for a predetermined period of time and then recorded on the magnetic tape. If the tape is fast-forwarded to the recording start position, even if the answering message and the message from the caller are configured to be recorded on the same magnetic tape, the message from the caller can be recorded without making the caller wait. , does not cause discomfort to the caller, and
The present invention switches the bit rate of the signal processing operation when the number of messages from the caller recorded on the magnetic tape is small, that is, when the length to the recording start position is short. The present invention has a very large effect since it is possible to improve the clarity of the recorded signal by effectively utilizing the capacity.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The circuit shown in FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the automatic answering machine of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between signals that can be recorded on a magnetic tape. Explanation of main drawing numbers 4)...Closing switch, (5)...Closing circuit,
(7)... Line transformer, (8)<9)... Selector switch, (10)... Takami head, (11)...
... Reproduction amplifier circuit, (12) ... Beep tone detection circuit, (15> ... First audio conversion circuit, (16)
...Memory circuit, (17)...Second audio conversion circuit, (19)...Control circuit, (20)...Recording amplifier circuit, (22)...Pulse signal generation circuit,
(24)... Counter circuit, (25)... Counter memo no circuit, (26)... Tape recorder control circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Sending a response message in an automatic answering machine configured to send a response message recorded on a magnetic tape to the caller and then record a message from the caller on the same magnetic tape. A tape recorder control circuit that fast-forwards the magnetic tape to a recording start position and puts it in a recording standby state at the recording start position, and a tape recorder control circuit that stores a message from a caller obtained through a telephone line as a digital signal for a predetermined period of time, and records the message after a predetermined period of time. It consists of a memory circuit from which the signal is read out, and an audio conversion circuit which converts the digital signal read out from the memory circuit into an analog signal and inputs the analog signal to a recording amplifier circuit, and the signal is stored in the memory circuit. When the signal reading operation is started, the tape recorder is switched from a recording standby state to a recording state, and the bit rate of the signal processing operation by the memory circuit and the audio conversion circuit is switched in accordance with the length up to the recording start position. An automatic answering machine that is characterized by: