JPH04200144A - Automatic answering telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the convenience of a telephone set by sending a call standby message to a caller when a call comes from an external line when the call standby mode is set, sending a holding tone succeedingly and sounding the call tone to a called party. CONSTITUTION:When a call signal is sent from a telephone exchange through a telephone line 1, a command signal is outputted to a switch driving section 17 to drive a relay circuit 10. A channel is formed with a caller by closing the hook switch 2. A main control section 19 outputs a command signal to a voice synthesis circuit drive section 14 and outputs a command signal to a call signal generating section 16. A holding control section 13 based on the command signal to drive a holding tone generating circuit 5 and a holding tone signal is sent to the telephone line 1 via a speech circuit 3 and the hook switch 2. Since a holding tone is sounded in succession to a call standby message, the waiting state is informed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an answering machine that can send a call waiting message to a caller requesting that the caller wait for a call.

(Prior art) When an answering machine receives an outside call when it is not set to answering mode, it rings and continues to ring until the handset is picked up or the other party cancels the call. . On the other hand, when the answering mode is set, the mode shifts to the answering mode when the number of incoming calls reaches a preset number of rings.

The answering operation at this time is that when an incoming call is received, a response message pre-recorded in the recording section is automatically sent out, and a corresponding message from the other party is recorded on magnetic tape, IC memory, etc. It will be recorded.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) By the way, with the above-mentioned conventional answering machines and general telephones, when a call is received, the caller cannot answer the call immediately, so the caller ends up hanging up. This often happens. For example, if you are running an errand that you cannot take your hands off, or because you are far away from your phone, you may be delayed in noticing an incoming call.
There may be a delay in noticing an incoming call because the ringtone is difficult to hear. Furthermore, in a workplace such as a company, there are cases where while one telephone is answered, a call is received on another telephone.

Furthermore, even if an answering machine is set to answering machine mode, when it becomes clear that the user is away, the answering machine often hangs up without leaving a message, and the answering machine does not function adequately.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to send a call waiting message to the other party to ask them to wait for a while when the incoming call cannot be answered immediately. To provide an answering machine that eliminates problems such as calls being hung up unilaterally and the functions of the answering machine not being able to be used.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the answering machine of the present invention includes a number of incoming calls detecting means for detecting the number of incoming calls of a calling signal, and an incoming call signal detected by the number of incoming calls detecting means. a message sending means that sends a call waiting message requesting the caller to wait for a call when the number of times reaches a preset number; until the caller responds, the hold tone sending means sends a hold tone to the caller, and the number of incoming calls detected by the incoming call count detecting means reaches a predetermined number of times, and the call waits. The present invention is configured to include a ring tone sending means for sending out a ring tone to inform the called party that the call standby mode is set when the callee is in the call standby mode.

(Function) In the call standby mode, when a call signal is received from a calling party through the telephone line, the number of times the call signal has been received is detected by the number-of-calls detecting means. When the detected number of incoming calls reaches a preset number, the message sending means sends a call waiting message requesting the calling party to wait for a call, and after sending this message, the called party Until the caller responds, the hold tone sending means sends out a hold tone to the caller. Further, when the detected number of incoming calls reaches a preset prescribed number and the call standby mode is entered, the ring tone sending means sends out a ring tone to inform the called party that the call standby mode is set. Thereby, the called party who notices the incoming call can cancel the call standby mode (hold mode from the caller's perspective) and shift to the call mode by an operation such as picking up the handset.

(Example) Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

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

In the figure, a telephone line 1 for connection to a telephone at the other end is connected to a speech circuit 3 via a hook switch 2, as well as to an incoming call detection circuit 6 and a ring tone generation circuit 7.

The speech circuit 3 includes a movable contact a and two switching contacts S and C.
The output of the speech synthesis circuit 4 is at the switching contact.
The outputs of the hold tone generation circuit 5 are connected to the switching contacts C, respectively. The movable contact a is normally connected to the switching contact C side, and is configured to switch to the switching contact C side in response to a switching signal from a transmission signal selection section 12, which will be described later. The speech synthesis circuit 4 is composed of a storage medium and a transmitting section, and when in the answering mode, it sends a response message such as "I am away at the moment. Please take care of your business." When in the call standby mode, it sends a response message such as "Please wait for a while." Please.

” content 9 message waiting for call 1 message is output. Furthermore, upon receiving the drive signal, the held tone generation circuit 5 outputs a held tone signal and sends it to the caller.

On the other hand, the output of the incoming call detection circuit 6 is connected to the number of incoming calls detection unit 15, and the output of the ring tone generating circuit 7 is connected to the speaker 8, which receives an incoming call signal from the telephone line 1 and outputs a ring tone signal. The ring tone is output from the speaker 8. This speaker 8 also has an amplifier 9.
The output of the ringing signal generating section 16 is guided through the ringer, and the ringing tone signal is amplified and emitted from the speaker 8. . Further, the output of the switch driving section 17 is led to the relay circuit 10, and the hook switch 2 is closed in response to the driving signal.

The control circuit 11 that controls the entire gTl includes a transmission signal selection section 12, a hold control section 13, a speech synthesis circuit drive section 14, an incoming call count detection section 15, a ringing signal generation section 16, a switch drive section 17, a storage section 18, and It is configured to include a main control section 19.

The transmission signal selection unit 12 performs switching control of the movable contact a of the speech circuit 3 based on a command signal from the main control unit 19. Further, the hold control unit 13 outputs a drive signal to the hold sound generation circuit 5 based on the command signal from the main control unit 19 to cause the hold sound generation circuit 5 to output a hold sound signal. Further, the voice synthesis circuit driving section 14 receives a command signal from the main control section 19 and drives the voice synthesis circuit 4 to output a response message signal or a call standby message signal. In addition, the number of incoming calls detection unit 1
5 counts the incoming call detection signal and provides the number of incoming calls data to the main control unit 19. Also, call.

The ratio signal generator 16 receives a command signal from the main controller 19 and outputs a ringing tone signal, and outputs a ringing tone signal to the speaker 8 via the amplifier 9.
supply to. Further, the storage section 18 stores in advance data on the number of times to shift to the call standby mode, and is bidirectionally connected to the main control section 19. The main control section 19 compares the number of incoming calls data provided from the number of incoming calls detection section 15 and the number of times data read from the storage section 18 . When the two number of times data match, the controller shifts to call standby mode and sends command signals to the voice synthesis circuit drive section 14, hold control section 13, call signal generation section 16, and switch drive section 17, respectively. Following the call waiting message, a hold tone is sent to the caller, and control is performed to cause the speaker to emit a ring tone.

Although not shown, this telephone is equipped with a setting switch for setting it to call standby mode when a call signal is received, and a handset equipped with a transmitter and a receiver can also be connected. has been done.

Next, the operation of the answering machine having the above configuration will be explained.

First, when using the telephone, data on the number of incoming calls is stored in the storage unit 18 in order to set the number of incoming calls in advance for transitioning to the call standby mode. Then, a setting switch (not shown) is operated to set the call standby mode.

In this state, when a calling signal is sent from the telephone exchange via the telephone line 1, this calling signal is guided to the incoming call detection circuit 6 and the ringing tone generating circuit 7. The ring tone generation circuit 7 is activated by this incoming call signal, sends the ring tone signal to the speaker 8, and causes the speaker 8 to emit a ringing tone indicating the incoming call.

Further, the incoming call detection circuit 6 detects this calling signal and outputs an incoming call detection signal. Receiving the incoming call detection signal, the incoming call count detection section 15 counts the incoming call detection signal and sends the incoming call count data to the main control section 19 . The main control unit 19 compares this incoming call count data with the count data read from the storage unit 18, and if both count data match (i.e.
When the number of rings reaches the set number), a call standby operation is started.

That is, first, a command signal is output to the switch driving section 17 to drive the relay circuit 10, and the hook switch 2 is closed, thereby forming a communication path with the calling party.

Next, the main control section 19 outputs a command signal to the voice synthesis circuit drive section 14 and also outputs a command signal to the calling signal generation section 16. As a result, the voice synthesis circuit 4 is activated and a call waiting message "Please wait for a while" is sent from the speech circuit 3 to the telephone line 1 via the hook switch 2. When the transmission of the call standby message is completed, the main control section 19 outputs a command signal to the transmission signal selection section 12. Based on this command signal, the transmission signal selection unit 12 switches the movable contact a of the speech circuit 3 from the switching contact side to the C side.

Thereafter, the main control section 19 outputs a command signal to the hold control section 13. The hold control section 13 drives the hold tone generation circuit 5 based on this command signal, and sends out the hold tone signal to the telephone line 1 via the speech circuit 3 and the hook switch 2. As a result, on the caller side, a hold tone is emitted following the call waiting message, so that the calling party can be prompted to wait.

On the other hand, in this call standby state, the ringing signal from the telephone exchange is stopped by closing the hook switch 2, so the ringing tone does not sound.

Therefore, the main control unit 19 outputs a command signal to the calling signal generating unit 16, drives the calling signal generating unit 16, and outputs a ringing tone from the speaker 8 (the sound at this time indicates that the caller is in a call waiting state). (This is a sound to notify you.). As a result, the called party can confirm that the caller is on standby, and can begin the call in response to the caller's call as soon as the caller is done.

(Effects of the Invention) When the answering machine of the present invention receives a call from an outside line while the answering machine is set to call standby mode, and the number of incoming calls reaches a preset number, it sends a call standby message to the caller. Next, a hold tone is sent and a ring tone is emitted to notify the called party that the call is on standby, so even if the caller is unable to answer the call immediately, the caller can can be asked to wait for a while,
This eliminates the conventional problem of being disconnected, and greatly improves the convenience of the telephone.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of an answering machine according to the present invention. 1...Telephone line 4...Speech synthesis circuit 5...Hold tone generation circuit 6...Incoming call detection circuit 11...Control circuit 15...Number of incoming calls detection section 16...Ring signal generation section 19... Main control section

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) An incoming call count detecting means for detecting the number of incoming calls of a paging signal, and a call originating device that detects the number of incoming calls of a calling signal when the number of incoming calls of the calling signal detected by the incoming call count detecting unit reaches a preset specified number of times. a message sending means for sending a call waiting message requesting the caller to wait for a call; and a message sending means that sends a hold tone to the caller until the called party answers after the message sending means sends the call standby message. a hold tone sending means for transmitting a hold tone; and when the number of incoming calls detected by the number of incoming calls detecting means reaches a predetermined number of times and the call standby mode is set, the called party is placed in a call standby mode. 1. An answering machine characterized by comprising: a ringing tone transmitting means for transmitting a ringing tone to notify the user that the answering machine is a telephone.