JPH0614651B2 - Digital telephone - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a digital telephone having an answering machine function.

[Prior Art] An answering machine, which is connected to a conventional analog telephone network and realizes an answering function only by a terminal device, automatically responds to incoming calls uniformly when set to answering machine mode. The following inconveniences occur due to the configuration.

(1) Although the memory or tape that can record the other party's message is limited, in order to prompt the called party to enter a message for all incoming calls including prank calls, for example, most people will enter messages, Or, if it is input for a long time, the message of a truly important partner may not be received.

(2) In order to prevent unwanted calls and mistaken calls at night, when using the answering machine, respond to emergency or important incoming calls with a batch answering machine and do not use it in an emergency.

(3) You cannot use the absence for only one specific opponent.

On the other hand, there has been realized a digital telephone that uses a digital telephone network to receive a caller's number and to display it when a call is received before the callee answers. According to this, it is possible to judge whether or not the called party receives the call by looking at the calling number,
Although the inconveniences of (2) and (3) above are partially solved, it is necessary for a person to judge whether or not an incoming call can be received by looking at the calling number display. This will result in some inconvenience.

Furthermore, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-66252, when a call is received, a message for notifying the caller that the caller is absent is sent, and thereafter, a special number that has been given only to a specific person is given. There is a caller-selected telephone that rings the call level to notify the incoming call if the caller sends it. However, in order to do this, it is necessary to inform the specific person in advance of the special number, the calling side needs to send out the telephone number and special number of the other party, and further, the special number is illegally decoded by a so-called secret code. Could be
There is an inconvenience that once it is decrypted, it is necessary to notify all the specific people again.

[Object of the Invention]

An object of the present invention is to realize a digital telephone with an answering machine which is more efficient and more convenient than conventional devices.

[Structure of Invention]

The present invention relates to a digital telephone connected to a digital telephone network that transfers a calling party number when an incoming call is notified to a called party, means for storing a message to the calling party and a message from the calling party, and a specific telephone number. And a means for registering a registered telephone number and a calling party number, and selectively answering an incoming call according to the result.

Example of Invention

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the digital telephone of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 is a digital office line provided from a digital telephone network through a digital subscriber line terminating unit (DSU), for example, and a digital telephone 11
Are connected. The digital telephone 11 is an interface circuit 1 that terminates the digital office line 10 and separates or assembles a signal such as a calling party number and voice information.
2. Input / output signal control unit 13 for controlling communication with the network and input / output processing of various signals, display 14, hook switch 15, input key group 16 such as dial keys and function keys,
A sounder 17 for outputting a ring tone, a voice memory unit 18 for storing digitally encoded voice information, a codec circuit 19, a speech circuit 20, and a handset for digitally encoding voice information and decoding digitally encoded voice. 21 and a switch group 22, 23, 24, 25 for switching the input / output destination of the digital audio information path.

FIG. 2 shows a concrete configuration example of the input / output signal control unit 13 and the audio memory unit 18. Here, the input / output signal control unit 13 is the same as a general microprocessor architecture, and includes a processor (CPU) 131, a program memory (ROM) 132, and a data memory (RAM) 13.
3, an indicator 14, a hook switch 15, an input key group 16, and an input / output control circuit 13 for controlling the sounder 17.
4, which are commonly connected to the address bus 135, the data bus 136, and the control bus 137. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the data memory 133 is used as a registration means for a specific telephone number. The voice memory unit 18 is controlled by the input / output signal control unit 13, and stores a voice message memory 181 for storing a digitally encoded message for a caller and a message from the caller, and a voice signal input in series. A serial / parallel conversion circuit 182 for converting a parallel signal, and a parallel / serial circuit 18 for converting a parallel audio signal from the voice message memory 181 into a serial audio signal.
3, a concentrator circuit 184, and a distribution circuit 185.

The input / output operation of a message and the operation at the time of incoming call will be described below with reference to FIGS.

First, a message input / output operation for the voice memory unit 18 will be described. First, when registering an answering machine message, the input / output signal control unit 13 is requested to enter the message registration mode using the function keys of the input key group 16.
In the input / output signal control unit 13, when the processor 131 receives this message registration mode through the input / output control circuit 134, the switch 2 is set by the program in the ROM 132.
2 is turned on to the side a, and the writing operation and the writing address are instructed to the audio memory unit 18. This allows
The voice message from the handset 21 is the call circuit 20.
After being digitally encoded by the codec circuit 19, it enters the voice memory 18 through the switch 22, is converted into a parallel signal sequentially by the serial-parallel conversion circuit 182 through the concentrator circuit 184, and is input / output signal control unit 13 It is stored in the voice message memory 181 in accordance with the address designated by. On the contrary, when listening to the voice information stored in the voice message memory 181, the input / output signal control unit 13 is similarly requested by the function keys of the input key group 16. In this case, the input / output signal controller 13 uses the switch 23.
Is turned on to the side a, and the voice memory unit 18 is instructed to perform a read operation and a read address. As a result, the voice message information is read from the voice message memory 181, converted into a serial signal by the parallel / serial conversion circuit 183, output from the distribution circuit 185, passed through the switch 23, and decoded by the codec circuit 19. After that, it can be heard on the handset 21 through the communication circuit 20.

When outputting the registration message of the voice message memory 181 to the other party, the input / output signal control unit 13 turns on the switch 24 to the side a, and instructs the voice memory unit 18 to perform the read operation and the read address. As a result, the voice message information read from the voice message memory 181 is converted into a serial signal by the parallel / serial conversion circuit 183, output from the distribution circuit 185, passes through the switch 24, and is output from the interface circuit 12 in a digital format in a digital format. Sent to line 10. Further, when storing the partner message, the input / output signal control unit 13 turns on the switch 25 to the side a, and instructs the voice memory unit 18 to perform the writing operation and the writing address. As a result, the interface circuit 12
The other party voice message in the digital format separated by (4) enters the voice memory unit 18 through the switch 24, is converted into a parallel signal by the serial / parallel conversion circuit 183, and then stored in the voice message memory 181.

Next, a case where the specific telephone number is registered in the RAM 133 will be described. In this case, the function key of the input key group 16 is used to request the input / output signal controller 13 for the specific telephone number registration mode. Processor 131 of the input / output signal controller 13
When the specific telephone number registration mode is received through the input / output control circuit 134, the ROM 132 program reads R
It is stored in a predetermined area of the AM 133. At this time,
The address of the voice message memory 181 in which the voice message for the specific telephone number is stored is also stored.

Next, the operation upon receipt of an incoming call will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for operating the answering machine function only in the answering machine mode when a specific telephone number is registered and the calling number is verified. Upon receiving the incoming call notification from the interface circuit 12, the processor 131 of the input / output signal control unit 13 determines whether the answering machine is in the answering machine mode or the specific telephone number is registered according to the program in the ROM 132 (steps 301 and 30).
2) If both are YES, the registered telephone number and the calling number are further collated (step 303).
Execute the answering machine function operation. The programs necessary for this are also stored in the ROM 132. In the answering machine operation,
First, an automatic incoming call response is executed (step 304). Next, the switch 24 is turned on to the side a, the voice memory unit 18 is controlled, and the registration message is read out.
4. Send to the digital office line 10 via the interface circuit 12 (step 305). Then switch 25
Is turned on to the side a, the voice memory unit 18 is controlled, and the partner message separated by the interface circuit 12 is stored in the voice memory unit 18 via the switch 25 (step 306).

On the other hand, in any of steps 301, 302, 303, N
If O is determined, the processor 131 of the input / output signal control unit 13 displays the calling party number separated by the interface circuit 12 on the display device 14 according to the program of the ROM 132 (step 307), and the sounder 17 displays the ringer number. Sound is transmitted (step 308). After that, when the callee raises the hook switch 15, the switches 22 and 23 are turned on to the b side, and the handset 21 enables a call.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart in the case of operating the answering machine function only when the specific telephone number is not registered in the answering machine mode. That is, when an incoming call arrives, the input / output signal control unit 13 is in the answering machine mode (step 401), whether the specific telephone number is registered (step 402), and whether the registered telephone number and the caller number can be compared (step 403). If the specific telephone number is not registered in the answering machine mode, or if the calling number is not verified even if the specific telephone number is registered, the answering machine function operation is executed (step 404, 405, 406). The answering machine function operation is exactly the same as in the case of FIG. On the other hand, when the answering machine is not in the answering machine mode, or when the registered telephone number and the calling party number are collated even in the answering machine, a normal incoming call notification is executed to the called party (steps 407, 40).
8).

Although the above embodiment shows the case where the answering mode is activated only for a specific incoming call and the case where the answering mode is canceled only for a specific incoming call, the answering mode is set for all ordinary incoming calls. It is easy to infer that the three answering machine modes can be realized by one device, including the case of taking. In any case, the answering machine mode may be designated by the function keys of the input key group 16 similarly to the other mode designations.

Further, as the audio memory unit, in the present embodiment, the example of the solid-state memory for storing the digital information is given, but it is also possible to use a cassette tape which is commonly used at present.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, the telephone automatically differentiates the incoming call based on the registered telephone number and the caller number, and it is possible to judge whether or not the operation of the answering machine function can be performed. Therefore, in addition to the normal use as an answering machine, There are the following advantages.

(1) It is possible to receive only specific incoming calls, such as relatives and acquaintances, without being called by unnecessary incoming calls (prank call or wrong call).

(2) Similarly, for unwanted incoming calls, by rejecting the other party's message input, the memory for recording answering machine can be reduced.

(3) You can use the answering machine as an answering machine.

(4) Different messages can be registered for each registration number, and the transmitted message can be changed according to the other party.

(5) It can also be applied to a facsimile machine (FAX) and an electronic mail machine. In this case, it is possible to prevent unnecessary FAX paper from being consumed by a direct mail FAX or to effectively use a mail memory.

(6) In order to utilize the transfer of the telephone number of the calling party when notifying the called party of the incoming call, as previously disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-66252, the special number is notified to a specific person in advance. There is no need for the caller to send out the other party's telephone number and special number, and there is basically no need to worry about illegal decoding.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of a digital telephone of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed diagram of an input / output signal control unit and a voice memory unit in FIG. 1, and FIGS. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement. 10 ... Digital station line, 11 ... Digital telephone, 12 ... Interface circuit, 13 ... Input / output signal control unit, 14 ... Display unit, 15 ... Hook switch, 16 ... Input key group, 17 ... Sounder, 18 ... Voice memory section, 19 ... Codec circuit, 20 ... Call circuit, 21 ... Handset, 22, 23, 24, 25 ... Switch.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Matsui 1 2356 Take 1 Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture Yokosuka Telecommunications Research Institute, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation (56) Reference JP-A-59-66252 (JP, A) 56-128055 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first means for registering a specific telephone number in a digital telephone connected to a digital telephone network for transferring a calling party number when an incoming call is notified to a called party, a message for the calling party, and a caller The second means for storing and inputting / outputting the message from the caller is collated with the caller number sent from the digital telephone network and the registered telephone number of the first means, and the collated caller is identified. A digital telephone comprising a third means for responding to an automatic incoming call and activating the second means.