JPH0669191B2 - Answering machine - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an answering machine apparatus for recording an incoming call while not in use.

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when an incoming call comes in, an answering machine will first send a response message to the caller to the effect that an answer recording will be made, and then record the caller's message. .
Such a conventional device is provided with a changeover switch for selecting an answering machine mode and a home mode, and when the user goes out, the changeover switch is switched to the answering machine mode side.

When the answering mode is set, first, confirmation reproduction is performed to check whether the response message is recorded in a predetermined tape format. When the confirmation reproduction is completed, the tape is rewound to the beginning of the response message and the incoming call waiting state is set. When the first call comes in, the answer message is first played back to the caller. The caller's requirement is then recorded after the response message. After recording the message, the tape rewinds to the beginning of the reply message and waits for the next call. When the second call is made, after the response message is reproduced, the part in which the message for the first time is recorded is skipped by fast-forwarding, and then the message for the second time after the above part is recorded. When the recording of the second message is finished, the tape is rewound to the beginning of the reply message and waits for the next call. After that, the same operation is automatically repeated and the messages are sequentially recorded.

In the case of reproducing the message recorded in this way, the above-mentioned changeover switch is operated to set the home mode, and then the reproduction button is pressed to sequentially reproduce the message from the first time. Further, generally, when the answering machine mode is set and the cassette is taken in and out, the answering machine mode is canceled.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Since the conventional answering machine is provided with the switch for switching between the answering mode and the home mode as described above, the user forgets to switch this switching switch when going out. There were times when the absence recording failed because of this. If a plurality of tapes with different contents of the response message are prepared and used properly according to the purpose, the answering mode is released when the cassette is replaced, so the changeover switch is operated every time the cassette is replaced. It was annoying.

Means for Solving the Problems In the present invention, the changeover switch is omitted and the answering mode is automatically set when a predetermined time has elapsed after the cassette was inserted.

Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a tape format of a tape 1 in which a plurality of requirements are recorded. In the following description, the response message will be referred to as an OGM (outgoing message) and the message will be referred to as an ICM (incoming message). In the present invention, OG
The start point of M and ICM is found, and other necessary tape position detection is performed by detecting the number of rotations of the reel shaft and collating it with the number of rotations stored in advance. N ₀ , N ₁ , N ₂ ...... indicates the tape position obtained from the number of rotations of the reel shaft.

In Figure 1, N ₃ past the leader tape of Tape 1
From the point of view, the silent part and the cue signal recording part are 0.5 each.
Formed for seconds. The OGM is then recorded for a maximum of 60 seconds with, for example, a 30 Hz cue signal. Next, after a silent section for about 4 seconds and a break sound section for a beep tone signal for about 0.2 seconds are formed, the first ICM from N ₇ points to N ₈ points will be 60 points at maximum.
Recorded in seconds. At this time, for example, 30 for the first 3 seconds
Recorded with the Hz cue signal. Then, after about 1 second of silence and 0.2 seconds of break sound, the second ICM is recorded from the N ₉ point. Similarly, the ICM for the 3rd time and thereafter is recorded through the silent part and the segmented sound, and at least I
Recorded up to CM.

The answering machine according to this embodiment having the above tape format has the following four characteristics.

A. A means for automatically setting the absence mode is provided when a predetermined time (5 seconds in the embodiment) has elapsed since the cassette was inserted into the apparatus.

A means for automatically determining the answering machine mode is provided when a predetermined time (5 seconds in the embodiment) has elapsed since the reproduction of B and OGM was interrupted. For example, when you want to know the contents of the OGM, the OGM is played back, but at this time, the playback may be interrupted when the first part is heard and the contents are known.

C. A means for automatically setting the answering machine mode is provided when a predetermined time (30 seconds in the embodiment) has elapsed since the reproduction of all ICMs was completed and stopped. During the above 30 seconds, the user can choose whether or not to protect the recorded ICM. If you protect a recorded ICM, the next ICM is recorded after the last ICM. If the recorded ICM is not protected, the next ICM is recorded from the ICM portion in FIG.

D, a predetermined time after the ICM reproduction is interrupted (3 in the embodiment
Means are provided for automatically setting the answering machine mode after 0 seconds). In this case, the recorded ICM is protected, but may not be protected.

The present invention has the characteristics of A above.

Next, a series of operations of the answering machine will be described with reference to FIG.

First, record the OGM.

(1) Attach the tape cassette to the cassette housing of the answering machine and press the OGM record button. This starts the preparatory operation, and the first LED arranged near the OGM record button lights up.

(2) First, the tape 1 is rewound to the tape top N ₀ , and then fast-forwarded to the N ₃ point.

(3) Next, forward erasure is performed for about 0.5 seconds from N ₃ point to N ₄ point. During this time, the head has sufficiently passed the leader tape portion and the previously recorded signal is erased.

(4) Next, after the cue signal is recorded for about 0.5 seconds from the N ₄ point, the pause state is entered and the preparatory operation is completed. At this time, the first LED changes from lit to slow blinking, and a beep tone sounds for about 1 second to indicate that it is ready.

(5) After confirming the completion of the preparation operation, press the OGM recording button again.

(6) By this, the pause is released and it becomes OGM recording mode. The user records the OGM using the microphone. At this time, the first LED changes from blinking to lighting, indicating that OGM recording is in progress. Second separately provided
LED blinks according to the sound level from the microphone. If the paused state is left for about 30 seconds, the pause is released and the stop state is reached, and the fifth LED flashes rapidly.

(7) During the OGM recording, the cue signal is recorded together with the audio signal. This OGM recording lasts up to 60 seconds,
If the OGM record button is pressed for a second, the recording operation is stopped, and then the forward erasure is performed for about 4 seconds to form a silent portion, and then the tape is stopped. The silent portion is formed by the erasing head preceding the recording head, and a beep tone sounds during the erasing for 4 seconds.

(8) About 5 seconds after the beep tone stops and OGM recording is completely stopped, the device automatically enters the answering machine mode. At this time, the third LED lights up.

In this answering mode, first, OGM confirmation reproduction for checking whether or not OGM is recorded in a predetermined OGM format is performed.

(9) First, the tape 1 is rewound and stopped at an appropriate predetermined point N ₂ between N ₀ and N ₃ .

(10), then forwarded to N ₃ points,
Check that there is silence for approximately 0.5 seconds from N ₃ to N ₄ . At this time, if a sound with a duration of 1 second or more is detected, it is processed as an OGM format error. For example, a process is performed in which the fifth LED rapidly blinks when the stop state is entered.

(11) When the silent part for about 0.5 seconds is confirmed, the cue signal for 0.5 seconds is checked next. At this time, if there is no sound for 7 seconds or more, it is treated as an OGM format error.

(12) When the cue signal is confirmed, the speaker output is turned on and it is checked that the sound (voice + cue) continues for 1 second. If there is no sound for 0.3 seconds at this time, O
Treated as a GM format error.

(13) When it is confirmed that the sound (voice + cue) for 1 second continues, OGM playback is continued as it is, and when silence is detected for about 0.4 seconds after OGM ends, the tape is stopped. And the speaker output turns off. The stop position N ₆ at this time is stored as the OGM end, and the OGM confirmation reproduction ends. If the OGM playback time lasts 70 seconds or more, the OGM
Treated as a format error.

(14) When the OGM confirmation reproduction is completed, it is rewound to a predetermined point N ₁ , then fast-forwarded to N ₃ , and then forwarded to N ₄ .

(15), further 0.2 seconds cue signal from the N ₄ stops at N ₅ point detected. I remember this N ₅ as the OGM top.

As a result, the device is in a standby state for incoming calls.

(16) If there is a first incoming call in the incoming call waiting state,
When the telephone bell is detected twice, for example, the DC closing relay is turned ON, the apparatus and the telephone line are connected to DC, and the tape 1 starts to be reproduced. This causes the OGM to be played and communicated to the caller over the line.

(17), after the OGM end N ₆ is played back, then 2
OGM playback ends when a silent portion of 0.4 seconds is detected within the second. On the contrary, when N ₆ is detected within 2 seconds after 0.4 second of silence is detected, the OGM reproduction is terminated. Therefore, when 0.4 seconds of silence is not detected within 2 seconds from N ₆ or when N ₆ is not detected within 2 seconds after the detection of 04 seconds of silence, it is treated as an OGM format error. For example, when the stop state is entered, the fifth LED is quickly blinked. It should be noted that the above-mentioned 2 seconds takes into consideration the cycle (2 seconds) of the pulse for detecting the rotation of the reel shaft. That is, an error range of 2 seconds occurs at the time of detecting the OGM end N ₆ .

(18) When the OGM reproduction is completed as described above, a melody tone is sent to the caller and forward erasing is performed for about 4 seconds.

(19) A beep tone is sent to the caller for 0.8 seconds after the forward erasure. The last 0.2 of this beep tone
It is also recorded on the tape 1 as a break sound for a second.

(20) When the transmission of the beep tone is completed, ICM recording is started.

(21) The maximum recording time of ICM is 60 seconds. Within this 60 seconds, continuous sound is detected, or silence, click noise generated when the receiver is placed, or busy tone is generated. By detecting, the end of ICM is detected.

(22) After the ICM recording is finished, the end point N ₈ is stored and a beep tone is sent for about 4 seconds to notify the end of recording.

(23) Erase the tape 1 while sending the beep tone.

(24) After erasing the tape, the DC closing relay turns off and the tape stops.

(25), then the tape is rewound to N ₁ points,
Then, after the step (15), the second incoming call is waited.

(26) When there is a second incoming call, first OGM reproduction is performed up to N _{6 in the} same procedure as described above.

(27), then fast-forward to the front of the N ₈ while transmitting the melody tone, for about 1 second forward cancellation from there, by sending simultaneously a beep tone 0.8 seconds, the become a stage (20), the same below The ICM is recorded according to the procedure.

Next, a second embodiment of the device for performing the above-described operation
A detailed explanation will be given with reference to FIGS.

In this device, all of the above operations are automatically performed based on the instructions of the CPU of the microcomputer. FIG. 3 shows a peripheral circuit system which gives an instruction to the CPU 10 or is operated by an instruction of the CPU 10, and FIG. 2 shows an input / output circuit and a recording circuit which are connected to the telephone.

In Fig. 2, when recording OGM, microphone 1
The OGM signal obtained from 1 is applied to the recording / reproducing head 15 through the microphone amplifier 12, the recording amplifier 13 and the equalizer 14 to be recorded on the tape 1. Along with this, the cue signal from the cue signal oscillator 16 is applied to the recording / playback head 15 and recorded. The cue signal oscillator 16 is also operated at the above-mentioned predetermined timing during ICM recording. The OGM signal is applied to the speaker 19 through the volume resistor 17 and the main amplifier 18 and monitored. When using earphones, the earphone jack 20 is used.
Further, the bias oscillator 21 is operated, a bias current is applied to the recording / reproducing head 15, and an erasing current is applied to the erasing head 38.
Added to. From the beep tone oscillator 34, the beep tone is a muting circuit 35, a line input circuit 36,
It is added to the recording / reproducing head 15 through the recording amplifier 13 and the equalizer 14 and recorded on the tape 1.

On the other hand, a disconnector 24 is connected to the terminals 22a, 22b of the telephone and the terminals 23a, 23b of the office line, and a line transformer 25 is connected to the disconnector 24 via a relay 26 for closing the direct current. Has been done.
A detection circuit 27 that detects whether the receiver is picked up or placed is connected to the terminal 23b. Terminal when there is an incoming call
A bell sound signal is input to 22a and 22b, and this signal is detected by the bell detection circuit 28 from the transformer 25. When the detection signal when the bell rings twice is applied to CPU10, relay 2
6 is closed and the closing is done. When the OGM is reproduced together with the cue signal, the reproduced signal is applied from the head 15 to the high-pass filter 30 via the preamplifier 29 to remove the cue signal, and is applied from the equalizer 31 to the speaker 19 via the amplifier 18 and the line output circuit. Called from 32 to transformer 25 and then to the caller through the line. The reproduction signal is applied to the cue signal detection circuit 33, and the cue detection signal is applied to the CPU 10. When the OGM reproduction is completed, the melody sound generation circuit 37 outputs a melody sound.

At the time of ICM recording, the ICM signal from the caller is applied from the transformer 25 to the line input circuit 36, further applied to the head 15 via the recording amplifier 13 and the equalizer 14, and recorded on the tape 1. In this case, if the ICM exceeds 60 seconds, a beep tone sounds and the ICM automatically shuts off. Each time ICM recording is performed, the CPU 10 stores the values of N ₈ and N ₁₀ at the end of recording. When the next ICM recording is fast-forwarded, the number of rotations of the reel shaft is detected, and the detected number of times is compared with the recorded number to find the recording start point. The non-signal portion, the segmented sound portion, etc. are formed by operating the erasing head 38, the beep tone oscillator 34, etc. at predetermined timings.
The circuits shown in FIG. 2 are the same as those shown in FIG. 1 and (1) to (25) above.
The operation is performed at a predetermined timing in accordance with the operation sequence described above with respect to each, and is controlled by the CPU 10 to stop or mute the operation when not necessary. For this purpose, a control signal is applied from a CPU 10 to a predetermined circuit, and an instruction signal is applied to the CPU 10 from a predetermined circuit as commonly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Further, the device of the present invention can perform remote control, in which case the remote control number switch circuit 2 sets the same number as the number of the remote controller. The remote control signal sent from the remote controller through the line is detected by the remote control signal detection circuit 3.

In FIG. 3, the CPU 10 is supplied with + B power when the tape cassette erroneous erasure prevention claw detection switch 40 and the slicing device 24 are closed. When the tape 1 is rewound to the tape top N ₀ point, the reel shaft rotation detection circuit 42 detects the rotation stop of the reel shaft 41. The detection circuit 42 also detects the number of rotations of the reel shaft. CPU10
Receives an instruction based on the operation of the mode setting switch 3 in addition to the instruction from the predetermined circuit in FIG. The CPU 10 also controls the operations of the plunger drive circuit 43, the capstan motor drive circuit 44, the reel motor drive circuit 45, the relay drive circuit 46, the display drive circuit 47, and the LED drive circuits 48, 49, 50, 60, 61.
As a result, the forward plunger 51, the cue signal plunger 52, the capstan motor 53, the reel motor 5
4, relay 26, recording frequency display circuit 55, operation display LEDs 56, 5
7, 58, 59, 62, etc. are operated at predetermined timings. Further, the CPU 10 is reset by the reset circuit 59 after the power is turned on.

Next, the automatic answering machine mode setting means described in A to D will be described.

A. The answering machine is automatically set 5 seconds after the cassette is inserted (feature of the present invention).

First, when the power is turned on, if the tape cassette is not loaded in the cassette housing, the fifth LED blinks at a quick cycle to notify the user. When the cassette is attached and the presence of the erroneous erasure prevention claw is detected, the blinking of the fifth LED changes to a slow cycle. After that, when a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) has elapsed, the answering machine mode is automatically set. Note that the above 5 seconds takes into consideration the time until the tape cassette is securely mounted. Next, the confirmation reproduction of OGM is performed first. O
When the GM is in a format other than the normal format, the tape running is stopped and the fifth LED flashes rapidly to indicate an OGM error. After that, the state is maintained until the tape is replaced. At this time, no response is made even if a bell call is made. When a play button or the like is pressed, a "warning sound" is generated to warn the user. If the OGM format is legitimate, it rewinds and cues the OGM, then waits for an incoming call.

When the cassette without the erroneous erasure prevention claw is attached, the fifth LED blinks quickly and is not automatically set to the answering machine mode.

If the cassette is installed when the power is restored after a power failure, the data in the backup memory is tested.
When the backup is performed, the answering mode is automatically set after a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) has elapsed.
When the backup is not made, the LED blinks slowly, and the stopped state is maintained without being set to auto answer. This is a measure to prevent the ICM recorded before the power failure from being erased by carelessly setting the absence.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart for performing the above operation. When the operation according to this flowchart is performed, the operation according to the answering machine mode setting routine of FIG. 5 is continuously performed.

The flowchart of FIG. 5 shows the process from the setting of the answering machine to the end of the OGM confirmation reproduction and the waiting of an incoming call. At the first step in FIG. 5 is a push button called a "play / open again" button. This push button is essentially a play button.
The ICM will be played, subject to the protection of the CM. If you press it again during playback, the ICM will be played again.

When B or OGM playback is interrupted, the answering machine is automatically set after 5 seconds.

If the stop button is pressed during the reproduction of the OGM, the tape stops, and after a lapse of a predetermined time (for example, about 5 seconds), the answering mode is automatically set. Then, the OGM cue is performed. The OGM cue is based on where the cue signal was, and the device is OGM
If the confirmation playback of is not performed, the playback is continued. Then, the OGM end position N ₆ is stored. After checking the OGM end position N ₆ ,
The tape is rewound, the OGM is cued, and stopped when there is a cue signal. After that, the incoming call standby state is set. FIG. 6 shows a flowchart for performing the above operation.

C. Answering mode is set automatically 30 seconds after all ICM playback is completed.

During ICM playback, the CPU always confirms the final position of all ICMs by the number of rotations of the reel shaft or the presence or absence of a cue signal. When the tape position reaches the final position, the CPU outputs a mechanical deck stop signal, which stops the forward operation. Thereafter, the stopped state is continued until a predetermined time elapses. If the "Play / Open again" button is pressed during this time, the tape will be rewound and playback will start from the position at which this button was stopped. If no button is operated during this time, the answering mode is automatically set after a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds). Then, the OGM cue operation is performed and the incoming call waiting state is set.
When the bell is called, the new ICM is recorded from the ICM part after the OGM transmission, without protecting the ICM up to the previous time.

FIG. 7 shows the above-mentioned operation routine. Incidentally, in FIG. 7, the fourth LED is an LED for displaying "there is a telephone while not in the house", and it lights up when the ICM is recorded during the absence. Therefore, when the above operation is performed, the fourth LED is turned off when the ICM reproduction is completely finished, that is, when the mechanical deck is stopped.

If you interrupt the D or ICM playback, the answering machine will be set automatically after 30 seconds.

As shown in the flow chart of FIG. 8, if the stop button is pressed during ICM playback, tape running stops, and if left for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds), all ICMs are protected and the answering mode is set. When the play button is pressed within the above 30 seconds, the tape is rewound, and the reproduction starts again from the point where the play button is stopped. In the above operation, the ICM is protected, but in some cases, it may be possible to select not to be protected.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION It is possible to save the trouble of operating a conventional switch for switching between the answering machine mode and the home mode, and it is possible to prevent a missed recording due to forgetting to operate the changeover switch. Further, since the changeover switch can be omitted, the cost can be reduced.

In addition, the answering machine mode is not set immediately after the detection means detects that the tape cassette is mounted in the cassette housing portion of the answering machine, but a predetermined time (5 seconds in the above embodiment) elapses. Since the answering machine mode is set later, there is no possibility that the answering machine mode is set before the tape cassette is securely mounted in the cassette housing portion of the answering machine, causing trouble in the recording / reproducing operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a tape format of an answering machine according to the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are block diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the present invention. 5 to 8 are flow charts showing other features of the embodiment. In the reference numerals used in the drawings, 1 ... tape 10 ... CPU.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-51-48207 (JP, A) JP-A-48-88804 (JP, A) Practical application Sho-48-113305 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An answering machine in which a tape cassette is mounted in the cassette storage portion so that an incoming telephone call can be recorded in the tape cassette while the user is away from the tape cassette. And a control means for setting an answering mode after a predetermined time has elapsed after the detection means detects that the tape cassette has been mounted in the cassette housing portion. Answering machine.