JPH03212048A - Automatic answering telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the user to surely listen to a message by devising the set such that reproduction is automatically started when a travelling object detection means detects return of a user who is a travelling object. CONSTITUTION:When the user returns home and enters a room, an ultrasonic wave pulse radiating from an ultrasonic wave transmitter 11 is reflected in the user near the ultrasonic wave transmitter than a main reflecting body and returns to an ultrasonic wave transmitter 12, then the time of the arrival to its peak is shorter than a mean value during the absence of the user. Then a control means 10 activates a message recording/reproduction means 7 to rewind a magnetic tape 8 till a set initial position and to reproduce a message recorded during the absence. Thus, the user does not require any key entry operation and a mistake leaving the reproduction of a message undone is prevented.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial applications The present invention relates to an answering machine.

BACKGROUND ART FIG. 7 shows an example of an answering machine, in which when an incoming call is detected by the incoming call detection section 20, the control means 21
closes the central office line and sends the message stored in the response message storage means 23 to the caller by the response message reproduction means 22. After listening to this message, the caller speaks his/her business, and the message recording/reproducing means 2
4 so that recording can be performed on a magnetic chip 25.

On the other hand, when the user returns home and listens to the message recorded on the magnetic tape 25, the control means 21 is activated by manually pressing a key from the key operation section 26 provided on the main body of the answering machine. The tape 25 is rewound to the set recording start position, then a playback operation is performed, and the message is output as audio from the speaker 27.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In order to listen to recorded messages, key human power from the key human power means 26 is required each time, which is not only troublesome but also inconvenient in that there is a risk of forgetting to listen at times. was there.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and its purpose is to provide a novel answering machine that automatically reproduces messages when the user returns home.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve these problems, the present invention provides means for intermittently emitting a beam, and means for determining the surrounding situation from changes in the reflected waves of the beams. A means is provided for rewinding and reproducing the business message to a predetermined position when the surrounding situation changes.

The playback operation is automatically started when the active moving object detecting means detects that the moving object of the user is returning home, so that the user is sure to hear the message.

Embodiments The present invention will now be described in detail based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which reference numeral 1 indicates an answering machine, and when an incoming call is detected by the incoming call detection means 2, the central office line closing means 3 After the line is connected, the response message recording and reproducing means 4 is activated and the message in the response message storage means 5 is transferred to the communication system circuit 6.
is transmitted to the central office line and transmitted to the calling party.

The message from the caller is recorded on the magnetic tape 8 by the message recording and reproducing means 7, and when the end of the call is detected by the call termination means 9, the central office line is opened by the central office line closing means 3. , the operation of the message recording and reproducing means 7 is stopped.

Reference numeral 10 in the figure is a control means consisting of a microcomputer, which performs the basic operations as an answering machine as described above, and also determines the presence or absence of a moving object using an ultrasonic transmitter 11 and an ultrasonic receiver 12, which will be described later. It is configured to control the operation of the business recording and reproducing means 7. In the figure, reference numeral 13 indicates a handset, and 14 indicates a key manual means.

Next, the operation of the apparatus configured as described above will be explained based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the user uses the key manual means 14 to select the answering machine mode when going out, that is, to set the answering machine (step 1), the control means 10 checks whether there is an input to read the business information from the key manual means 14 (step 1). B). If manual readout of a message is commanded, the program jumps to step (e) and proceeds to a normal message readout operation. On the other hand, if there is no reading command from the key manual means 14, the system enters the surrounding situation detection mode (step c) and puts the ultrasonic transmitter 11 and ultrasonic receiver 12 into operation. As a result, the ultrasonic transmitter intermittently emits pulsed ultrasonic waves as shown in FIG. 3 into the room. This ultrasonic pulse is reflected by the walls and furniture of the room, and is detected as a chevron-shaped waveform as shown in FIG. 4 whose level changes over time.

Since the peak time Tmax of this waveform is proportional to the distance to the object causing the main reflection, if an object is interposed between the ultrasonic transmitter 11 and the main reflector, as shown in FIG. The peak time Tmax becomes shorter. Therefore, the time Tmax from when the ultrasonic pulse is emitted from the ultrasonic transmitter 11 to the peak of the signal received by the ultrasonic receiver 12
By monitoring , it is possible to determine whether a new object has intervened or not.

Figure @6 is a flowchart showing an example of the process for ultrasonic detection described above. When an ultrasonic pulse is emitted, the timer is set (stenosis). When a received signal is output from the ultrasonic receiver (step C) within the time set by the timer (step 2), the time Tmax until the peak is reached is detected (step 2).

On the other hand, if the received signal is not output within the time set in the timer, the process returns to the first step (a).

When the peak arrival time is detected, it is determined whether this value falls within a predetermined range or not, that is, whether or not it is normal data (step E). If it is determined to be normal, a comparison is made with the past average value (go to step 2), and in this embodiment, if it is smaller than the average value, a detection flag is set (step 1) and the user returns home. It is determined that the On the other hand, if there is only a slight change from the average value, the average value is calculated by taking in the peak arrival time just measured (step).

This process is repeated below. In addition, if the data deviates from the normal value, set the chatter prevention flag (step re).

Returning to FIG. 2 again, while monitoring the surrounding situation in this way, every time there is an incoming call, the answering message recording and reproducing means 4 is activated and the answering message storing means 5 is activated, just like a normal answering machine. message is sent to the caller, and the message from the caller is recorded on a magnetic tape 8 by the message recording and reproducing means 7. Thereafter, this process is repeated until there is a reaction in the surrounding situation detection process.

When the user returns home and enters the room, the ultrasonic pulse emitted from the ultrasonic transmitter 11 is reflected by the user who is closer to the ultrasonic receiver than the main reflector, and is reflected to the ultrasonic receiver 12.
will return to. Therefore, the peak reached 'l'max
time becomes shorter than the average value during absence (Step 2). As a result, the control means notifies the number of recorded messages (step E), and also operates the message recording and reproducing means to rewind the magnetic tape to the set initial position (step H). , and then plays back the message that was uttered during his absence (step). This allows the user to listen to messages without using the key human power of an answering machine. In this way, when the playback reaches the final position (step re), the ending sound is output (step n).

In this embodiment, the presence of the user is detected using ultrasonic waves, but it is clear that the same effect can be achieved using infrared rays or electromagnetic waves.

Further, in this embodiment, changes in the surroundings are detected from the peak arrival time of the reflected wave, but it is clear that it can also be determined from the reflection intensity and the shape of the waveform.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention includes a means for intermittently emitting a beam, a means for determining the surrounding situation from changes in the reflected waves of the beam, and a means for sending a requirement message when the surrounding situation changes. Since the system is equipped with a means to rewind and play the message to a predetermined position, when the user enters the room where the answering machine is installed, the message is automatically played back, so there is no need for manual key operation, and the message can be played back. It is possible to prevent mistakes such as forgetting to play.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a device showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the same device, and FIGS.
The figures are an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the surrounding situation determination means, and
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the surrounding situation determining means, and FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional answering machine. l... Answering machine, 2... Incoming call detection means, 3...
Station line closing means, 4...response message recording and reproducing means,
5...Response message storage means, 6...Telecommunication system circuit, 7...Messaging message recording/reproducing means, 8...Magnetic tape, 9...Call end detection means, 10...Control means ,
11... Ultrasonic transmitter, 12... Ultrasonic receiver.

Claims (1)

[Claims] The apparatus includes means for intermittently emitting a beam, means for determining the surrounding situation from changes in reflected waves of the beam, and means for rewinding and reproducing the business message to a predetermined position when the surrounding situation changes. An answering machine.