JPH06133051A - Voice response device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve convenience in a response message by selecting a message storage means reproducing the response message in accordance with a time zone at the time of reproducing the response message. CONSTITUTION:When NCU 101 detects the incoming call of a telephone set, it transmits the detection of an incoming signal to a control part 108. The control part 108 receives time information from a clock part 103 and selects memories 106a and 106b based on received time information and the time zone stored in a time zone storage part 105. The response message stored in the selected memories 106a and 106b is converted from a digital signal into an analog signal by ADPCM 102, and it is outputted to a public line through NCU 10. Thus, the message of 'Good morning, OO' can be reproduced if the time zone is the morning, and the message of 'Good afternoon OO' in the afternoon, for example, with such constitution, and convenience in the response message can be improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voice response device such as a voice mail or an answering machine, and more particularly to a voice response device capable of storing a plurality of messages.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a voice response device, a voice mail,
Answering machines are well known. The general concept is that voicemail is "recording and storing messages, etc. in a voice storage device installed and connected to a telephone network by making a call to a center with a voice storage device, contact number and secret code. It is a service that allows other people to play back and listen to recorded content using a number. " In other words, this media enables the communication that is not bound by the framework of simultaneity and one-to-one while securing mutuality by giving a non-simultaneous function to the telephone, which is the principle of two-way communication. It is considered to be positioned as a thing and will be used in many fields in the future.

By the way, a conventional voice response device is configured to set a response message and, when a call is received, reproduce the set response message. For example, on an answering machine, a message such as "Yes! XX, I'm out now" is set, and when the call is received, the message is sent to the caller by playing the set message. ing. There is also a device that can set a plurality of response messages. In this case, the user manually switches a plurality of set messages with a switch or the like.

[0004]

However, according to the conventional voice response device, although the setting of the content of the message can be changed, only one message can be reproduced at any time after the setting of the message, so that the call is received. There is a problem that it is inconvenient when the message to be transmitted differs depending on the time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to improve the convenience of a response message.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a plurality of message storage means for storing a message, a time generation means for generating current time information, and a plurality of message storage means. Time zone setting means for setting the time zone to be reproduced for each message storage means,
A time zone storage means for storing the time zone set by the time zone setting means, and a message storage means is selected based on the time generated by the time generation means at the time of an incoming call and each time zone stored in the time zone storage means. The present invention provides a voice response device including a selection unit for performing the operation.

[0007]

The voice response device of the present invention selects and reproduces the message to be reproduced according to the time zone at which the response message is reproduced.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The voice response device of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings by taking an answering machine as an example. Figure 1
It is a block diagram which shows a part of structure in the answering machine of a present Example, NCU for connecting a line and making an incoming call.
101, an ADPCM 102 that converts a response message into a signal for a public line, and a clock unit 1 that generates the current time
03, a time period setting unit 104 for setting a time period for reproducing the response message, a time period storage unit 105 for storing the time period set by the time period setting unit 104,
It is composed of a memory 106a and a memory 106b for storing a response message, a message storage unit 107 for storing a message of the other party, and a control unit 108 for controlling the above respective units. In this embodiment, as shown in the figure, the memory 10 is used as a response message for morning and afternoon.
6a "Good morning ○○", memory 106b
The message "Hello ○○" is assumed to be stored in.

The operation of the above arrangement will be described.
The answering machine of the present embodiment selects a response message to be reproduced from the memory 106a and the memory 106b, which are classified into an am or pm time zone, based on the time when the incoming signal is detected, and reproduces it by the ADPCM method. It is something to do.

Now, a reproducing procedure after detecting an incoming signal will be described. The time zone for reproducing the memories 106a and 106b is set in advance by the time zone setting unit 104. In this embodiment, the time zone is am (for example, 9:00 to 12).
Hour) and afternoon (for example, after 12:00). First,
When the NCU 101 detects an incoming call through the public line, it notifies the control unit 108 that an incoming signal has been detected.
At this time, the NCU 101 hooks off and connects the line. When the control unit 108 confirms that the NCU 101 has detected the incoming signal, it receives time information from the clock unit 103, and if it is an am memory based on the received time information and the time zone stored in the time zone storage unit 105. 106a
Is selected, and in the afternoon, the memory 106b is selected. Then, the response message stored in the selected memory is
The DPCM 102 converts a digital signal into an analog signal and outputs the converted analog signal to the public line through the NCU 101. In other words, the time zone is played the message "Good morning ○○" If the morning, if the afternoon the message of "Hello ○○" is played. At this time, when a message message is sent from the line connection destination, an analog signal which is a voice signal is input through the NCU 101, the ADPCM 102 converts the input analog signal into a digital signal, and the message storage unit 107 Remember.

[0011] It should be noted, "Thank Yo little early" in this embodiment, has been described in the message "Hello",
For example, if you want to contact another place and the place you want to contact is different in the morning and afternoon, if the time zone is in the morning, "I am going out now. If you are in a hurry, Kanda Sales Office Please call me again. "In the afternoon,"I'm going out now. If you are in a hurry, please call back to the Shibuya sales office. " Play it. Further, although the present embodiment has been described in the case of the time zone, for example, a message is selected according to the line connection destination.
You can also select the message by factors other than the time of day.

As described above, according to the answering machine of the present embodiment, it is possible to automatically select and play a message from a plurality of reply messages in accordance with the playing time and the like. Can be played automatically.

If a more natural message is selected for the listener of the response message, a man-machine interface with less discomfort can be realized.

[0014]

As is apparent from the above, according to the voice response device of the present invention, a plurality of message storage means for storing a message, a time generation means for generating current time information, and a plurality of message storage means are provided. Time zone setting means for setting the time zone to be reproduced for each message storage means,
A time zone storage means for storing the time zone set by the time zone setting means, and a message storage means is selected based on the time generated by the time generation means at the time of an incoming call and each time zone stored in the time zone storage means. Since it is provided with a selection unit for performing the response, the convenience of the response message can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a part of a configuration of an answering machine according to an embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 103 clock section 104 time zone setting section 105 time zone storage section 106a memory 106b memory 108 control section

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of message storage means for storing a message, a time generation means for generating current time information, and a time for setting a time zone for reproducing the plurality of message storage means for each message storage means. Zone setting means, time zone storage means for storing the time zone set by the time zone setting means, time generated by the time generation means at the time of an incoming call and each time zone stored in the time zone storage means A voice response device comprising: selection means for selecting the message storage means based on the above.