JPH07221786A - Mail equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability of the user by simplifying transmission operation of command information relating to text entry by a terminal equipment. CONSTITUTION:Voice recognition means 414-4n4 are provided to line interface units 41-4n and the voice recognition means 414-4n4 recognize command information relating to text entry comprising a voice signal sent from a caller terminal equipment and analyze the content and mail equipment main bodies 10, 20 execute respectively the reception control of text, storage control and transmission control to a destination terminal equipment based on the result of analysis.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mail device provided in a communication network system such as a LAN.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a mail service for exchanging messages (mails) by connecting various data terminals such as personal computers and facsimile terminals and OA terminals through a communication network has received attention. This type of service is provided with a mail device inside or outside the information processing device such as an electronic exchange installed in a communication network, and the communication processing function and storage function of the mail device are used to send a message. It comprehensively provides various message communication processing services related to transfer, storage, and processing.

By the way, in this type of system, when a message is transmitted from a terminal device to a mail device, the terminal device sends instruction information relating to a message input for instructing its communication protocol to the mail device, The mail device is configured to communicate with the terminal device according to the communication protocol instructed by the instruction information relating to the electronic message input.

[0004]

However, the conventional system is configured to transmit the instruction information relating to the message input by using the OMR sheet or the DTMF signal. Therefore, the user of the terminal device has to write the code on the OMR sheet each time before sending the message, or operates the dial keys in a predetermined procedure for sending the DTMF signal (PB signal). I had to do it, and the operation was very troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to always easily transmit instruction information related to message input in a terminal device, thereby improving operability of a user. It is to provide a mail device that can be improved.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a communication protocol control unit for communicating with a terminal device according to a communication protocol corresponding to the terminal device, and a received message information. A mail device main body including at least a storage unit for storing, and a main control unit for controlling the communication protocol control unit and the storage unit to send and receive electronic message information to and from a terminal device; In addition to line control means for performing predetermined line control for the communication line to which the device is connected, a voice recognition means and a connection means that operates according to the recognition result are provided. Then, the contents of the instruction information relating to the electronic message input consisting of the voice signal coming from the terminal device via the communication line is recognized by the voice recognition means, and the instruction information relating to the electronic message input recognized by the voice recognition means is recognized. According to the contents, the connection control means connects the line control means and the mail apparatus main body.

In addition to the above-mentioned structure, the present invention further comprises a voice response means, by which the voice response information relating to the operation of transmitting the instruction information relating to the message input is sent to the terminal device and the voice recognition. Means for judging whether or not the recognition content of the instruction information relating to the message input is good or bad, and if it is judged to be incorrect, voice guidance information for prompting the terminal device to retransmit the instruction information relating to the message input by the voice response means. Is characterized in that it is designed to send out.

Further, according to the present invention, the voice recognition means is provided with a word registration table in which a word corresponding to the content of the instruction information relating to the message input is stored in advance, and the word registration table is stored when the word arrives from the terminal device. When recognizing the content of the instruction information related to the message input corresponding to the above-mentioned word by referring to it, or when a voice message including a word corresponding to the content of the instruction information related to the message input from the terminal device is received, It is characterized in that the word is identified from the voice message and the content of the instruction information relating to the electronic message input corresponding to this word is recognized.

Further, the voice recognition means is provided with a registration table in which words and phrases for correcting the instruction information relating to the message input are stored in advance, and after the arrival of the instruction information relating to the message input, the contents of the instruction information relating to this message input are displayed. When the word to be corrected arrives from the terminal device, the above-mentioned word is recognized by referring to the registration table, and the content of the previously received instruction information relating to the electronic message input is corrected according to the recognized word. Is characterized by.

Further, in order to detect at least one of the instruction information relating to the message input consisting of the control signal on the communication protocol and the instruction information relating to the message input consisting of the multi-frequency signal, which has arrived from the terminal device via the line to the connection means. Of the instruction information relating to the electronic message input detected by the signal detecting means and the content of the instruction information relating to the electronic message input recognized by the voice recognizing means. Accordingly, the line control means and the mail device body are connected.

Further, the mail device main body is provided with a plurality of communication protocol control units having different communication protocols, and in the connection means, the communication protocol of the terminal device is identified from the contents of the instruction information relating to the message input from the terminal device. It is also characterized in that a communication protocol control unit corresponding to the identified communication protocol is selected and connected to the line control means.

Further, a plurality of mail device main bodies are provided, and the connecting means has a judging means for judging whether the operating states of these mail device main bodies are good or bad. The mail device main body judged to be normal by this judging means is connected to the line. It is also characterized in that it is connected to a control means.

[0013]

As a result, according to the present invention, the mail device is provided with the voice recognition means, and the content of the instruction information relating to the electronic message input coming from the terminal device is recognized by the voice recognition means. Therefore, the user of the terminal device can transmit the instruction information relating to the electronic message input by his / her own voice, so that the instruction information relating to the electronic message input can be transmitted as compared with the case of using the OMR sheet or the multi-frequency signal. Can be done easily.

Further, the voice response means sends voice guidance information relating to the operation of transmitting the instruction information relating to the message input to the terminal device, and the voice recognition means determines that the recognition content of the instruction information relating to the message input is incorrect. If
By transmitting voice guidance information for prompting the terminal device to retransmit the instruction information relating to the message input, the user of the terminal device can easily and appropriately transmit the instruction information relating to the message input according to the voice guidance information. Can be done.

Further, since the word registration table is provided, when a word arrives from the terminal device, the content of the instruction information relating to the electronic message input corresponding to this word is recognized by the word registration table, and the voice message including the word arrives. Then, the word is identified from this voice message, and the content of the instruction information relating to the electronic message input corresponding to this word is recognized. That is, the mail device is provided with a function of recognizing instruction information relating to electronic message input using shortened words. Therefore, the user of the terminal device does not need to input the entire sentence of the instruction information related to the electronic message input each time, and can transmit the instruction information related to the electronic message input only by inputting the shortened word. Therefore, it is possible to more easily send the instruction information related to the message input.

In addition, the voice recognition means is provided with a registration table in which words and phrases for correcting the message input instruction information are stored in advance, and words and phrases for correcting the contents of the message input instruction information after the arrival of the message input instruction information. When it comes from the terminal device, by recognizing the words and phrases by referring to the registration table, by correcting the content of the previously received message input instruction information according to the recognized words and phrases,
The user of the terminal device can correct the incorrect message input instruction information even if it is transmitted.

Further, the connection means detects the message input instruction information consisting of the control signal on the communication protocol and the message input instruction information consisting of the multi-frequency signal, and the content of the detected message input instruction information and the voice recognition means. The connection between the line control means and the mail apparatus main body is controlled according to the selected content of the recognized content of the electronic message input instruction information. Therefore, in the terminal device, not only the voice but also the electronic message input instruction information can be transmitted by a control signal or a multi-frequency signal on the communication protocol, whereby the user transmits the electronic message input instruction information in a desired signal form. It becomes possible.

Further, the mail device main body is provided with a plurality of communication protocol control units having different communication protocols, the communication protocol is identified from the contents of the message input instruction information received from the terminal device, and the communication function based on this communication protocol is established. The communication protocol control unit included therein is selected and connected to the line control means. Therefore, it becomes possible to receive electronic message information from a plurality of types of terminal devices. Also, when transmitting the received electronic message information, the communication protocol control unit corresponding to the communication protocol of the destination terminal device is selectively used to transmit the electronic message information. For this reason,
It is possible to transmit electronic message information between different types of terminal devices having different communication protocols. In other words, the mail device of the present invention naturally has a protocol conversion function. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a protocol conversion device.

Further, a plurality of mail device main bodies are provided, and it is judged whether the operating states of these mail device main bodies are good or bad, and the mail device main body judged to be normal is connected to the line control means. Therefore, even if an operation abnormality occurs in the mail apparatus main body being used, it is possible to switch to another standby mail apparatus main body and continue communication, thereby improving the reliability of the apparatus.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing the configuration of a mail device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The mail device is the main mail device body 1 of the active system.
0, the standby mail device body 20, and a plurality of line interface units 41, 42, ... Provided corresponding to each of the plurality of communication lines 31, 32 ,. , 4n.

First, the mail system bodies 10 and 20 of the active system and the standby system respectively have a plurality of protocol control units 111.
.About.11m, 211 to 21m, multiplexers 12 and 22 for selectively connecting the protocol control units 111 to 11m 211 to 21m to the CPU buses 19 and 29, and central control units (CPU) 13 and 23, Furthermore, this C
The PUs 13 and 23 are connected to the main storage units (MEM) 14 and 24 and the auxiliary storage devices (DIS) via the CPU buses 19 and 29.
K) 15, 25 and the input / output devices 16, 26 are connected to each other. The input / output devices 16 and 26 are provided with key input units 17a and 27a with displays, microphones 17b and 27b for voice input, and printers 18 and 28.

Protocol control units 111 to 11m, 211
21 m have communication control functions according to different protocols, and examples of the protocols include a facsimile protocol, a mail protocol, and a personal computer protocol. In addition,
The protocol control units 111 to 11m and 211 to 21m
Each has a communication control function by one kind of protocol, but one protocol control unit has a communication control function by a plurality of kinds of protocols and selectively executes these communication control functions. May be.

The central control units 13 and 23 are provided with, for example, a microcomputer as a main control unit, and receive processing, storage processing of a message file sent from a terminal device of a transmission source and a message to a terminal device of a transmission destination. A series of control processes related to the mail service such as file transmission process are executed.

On the other hand, each line interface unit 41
4n are line control units 411-4n1 and signal detection units 412-4n2 connected to the communication lines 31-3n, respectively.
And voice connection units 413 to 4n3, and voice recognition units 414 to 4n4 and voice response units 415 to 4n5. Each line interface unit 41
4n have the same configuration, only the configurations of the line interface units 41 and 42 are shown in the figure.

The line control units 411 to 4n1 perform various interface operations for the communication lines 31 to 3n such as detection of incoming signals, response to incoming calls, and operation of capturing communication lines at the time of transmission. When a communication link is formed between them, the signal detecting units 412 to 4n1 are connected to the communication lines 31 to 3n.

The signal detectors 412 to 4n2 determine whether the message input instruction information received from the terminal device is a voice signal or not.
It is determined whether the signal is a TMF signal (PB signal) or another signal such as a digital control signal on the communication protocol. In the case of a voice signal, the communication line 3
The voice recognition units 414 to 4n4 are connected to 1 to 3n, and a recognition request is given to the voice recognition units 414 to 4n4. On the other hand, when the message input instruction information is a DTMF signal or another signal, the instruction data represented by these signals are transferred to the connection units 413 to 4n3.

The voice recognizing units 414 to 4n4 identify the contents of the electronic message input instruction information by recognizing the voice signals transferred from the signal detecting units 412 to 4n2, and identify the identified instruction information. It transfers to connection part 413-4n3 via 412-4n2. As a method for identifying the content of the electronic message input instruction information, a method of identifying by recognizing a word that simplifies the content of the electronic message input instruction information and a voice message sentence including the word are selected. A method of extracting the word and identifying information from the extracted word is selectively used. Further, the voice recognition units 414 to 4n4 use a word for requesting correction of the already-input message input instruction information, for example, “correction”.
It also has the function of recognizing. FIG. 7 shows an example of a word registration table used for the word recognition process.

The voice response units 415 to 4n5 generate a voice guidance message and send it to the communication lines 31 to 3n when a correct recognition result is not obtained by the voice recognition units 414 to 4n4.

The connection units 413 to 4n3 select a protocol control unit suitable for the source terminal device from the active protocol control units 111 to 11m according to an instruction from the central control unit 13 of the mail apparatus body. , Communication lines 31 to 3
connect to n. Further, at the time of the above connection, it is judged whether or not the operating state of the mail system main body 10 of the active system is good, and if an operation abnormality occurs in the active system, the mail system main body 2 of the standby system
0 is selected to selectively connect the protocol control units 211 to 21m to the communication lines 31 to 3n.

Next, the operation of the mail device configured as described above will be described by taking as an example the case where the facsimile terminal device issues a broadcast instruction. The operator of the facsimile terminal device first calls the communication network to request a connection to the mail device. Then, an incoming signal is sent from the communication network to the mail device via an empty communication line (for example, 31). When the line control unit 411 detects the arrival of the incoming signal, it responds to the communication line 31 by an incoming call, and then connects the signal detection unit 412 to the communication line 31.

In this state, it is assumed that the operator of the facsimile terminal device inputs the message input instruction information by voice from the microphone of the handset before transmitting the message. Then, the signal detection unit 412 executes the signal detection processing according to the operation procedure shown in FIG. That is, step 2
When the arrival of the message input instruction information is detected in a, the type of the arrived signal is first determined in step 2b. Since the signal that has just arrived is a voice signal, the signal detection unit 412 moves to step 2d, where the voice recognition unit 414 is connected to the communication line 31 and a request for recognition of the received voice is given to the voice recognition unit 414. .

The incoming message input instruction information is DTM.
If the signal is the F signal, the process proceeds to step 2c to store the instruction data represented by the DTMF signal, and then, in step 2g, the connection process of the protocol control unit is executed. If the incoming message input instruction information is a digital control signal on the communication protocol,
As it is, the process proceeds to the connection process of the protocol control unit in step 2g.

When a request for recognizing a received voice arrives from the signal detecting unit 412, the voice recognizing unit 414 executes the following voice recognizing process according to the processing procedure shown in FIG. That is, when the arrival of the recognition request is detected in step 4a, the received voice data is fetched from the signal detection unit 412 in step 4b, and the recognition process of this voice data is performed in step 4c.

Now, suppose that the operator of the facsimile terminal device is "FAX", "broadcast", "A", "kara", "B", "C", "D" as shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the electronic message input instruction information represented by a list of words such as “he” is input by voice.

Then, the voice recognition unit 414 sequentially recognizes each of the words in the order of arrival, and each time one word is recognized, it is determined in step 4d whether or not the word was correctly recognized. If the recognition is not successful, the process proceeds to step 4i, where the voice response unit 415 is instructed to send a response message. Upon receipt of this instruction, the voice response unit 415 is activated and the voice recognition unit 4
The response is returned to 14.

The voice recognition unit 414, after instructing to send the response message, outputs the voice response unit 415 in step 4j.
The response of the message transmission end response is monitored, and when this response is confirmed, the process proceeds to step 4k, and the stored data of the above-mentioned word that cannot be correctly recognized is discarded.
Then, after this discard, the count value of the re-input counter is incremented in step 4m. This re-input counter counts the number of re-input requests for one word to the terminal device. Next, the voice recognition unit 414 determines whether or not the number of re-inputs has reached the specified number in step 4n. If the number of re-inputs has not reached the specified number, the process proceeds to step 4p, and the voice response unit is executed here. From 415, a voice response message prompting re-input of one word of the electronic message input instruction information is generated.

Therefore, the voice response unit 415 generates a voice response message prompting the user to re-input the word of the electronic message input instruction information, and sends it to the terminal device of the transmission source. As the response message, a message such as "Please input the word again" is used. Therefore, the operator of the facsimile terminal device can know from the voice response message that the word was not correctly recognized by the mail device, and can redo the voice input of the word of the electronic message input instruction information according to the response message. it can.

When the number of times of the voice response message for prompting the re-input of the word reaches the specified number, the voice recognition unit 414 performs the error processing in step 4o and then moves to step 4h. The count value of the re-input counter is reset, and the voice recognition process ends. At this time, in the error processing, the voice response unit 415 may generate a voice response message such as "Please re-input the instruction information from the beginning" and send it to the terminal device.

On the other hand, it is assumed that the words are correctly recognized in step 4d. Then, the voice recognition unit 41
4 shifts to step 4e and analyzes the instruction content represented by the word as follows based on the recognized word.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, step 5a
After the recognition word is stored in the built-in memory at, the word registration table shown in FIG. 7 is searched at step 5b. In the word registration table, words are registered in advance so that a simple output code with which the mail device can operate can be obtained using the recognition code pattern when the recognition process is correctly performed as a key. The voice recognition unit 414 determines whether or not the recognized word stored in the word registration table exists in step 5c based on the result of the search of the word registration table. If the result of this determination is that the recognized word is present in the table, the process proceeds to step 5d, where the output code as the analysis content is stored in the internal memory, and then in step 5e the analysis flag is set to normal analysis. set. On the other hand, when it is determined in step 5c that the recognized word does not exist in the word registration table, the voice recognition unit 414 proceeds to step 5f and sets the analysis flag to analysis abnormality.

Thus, the recognition and analysis of the first word "FAX" forming the electronic message input instruction information is performed.
After that, each word received subsequently, that is, "broadcast",
Similarly, "A", "from", "B", "C", "D", and "to" are recognized by voice and their contents are analyzed.

When the message input instruction information is analyzed in this way, the voice recognition unit 414 determines in step 4f from the analysis result whether the input voice data is correct, and if correct, the process proceeds to step 4g. The analysis result of the message input instruction information is transferred to the protocol control unit via the signal detection unit 412 and the connection unit 413, respectively. Then,
The analysis result of the message input instruction information is fetched from the protocol control unit to the central control unit 13 via the multiplexer 12.

If it is determined in step 4f that the input voice data is incorrect, the voice recognition unit 414 proceeds to step 4i and executes the voice response control in steps 4i to 4o described above. .

Next, a case will be described in which the operator of the facsimile terminal device voice-inputs the electronic message input instruction information composed of a sentence. Now, the operator is
It is assumed that the voice message “Please broadcast from FAX A to B, C, D” is input as shown in. Then, the voice recognition unit 414
The voice recognition of the above sentence is performed according to the procedure shown in FIG. 4 as in the case where the electronic message input instruction information (FIG. 8) composed of a list of words described above arrives, and the content of the recognized sentence is displayed. Analyze according to the procedure shown in 6.

That is, the voice recognition unit 414 stores the recognized text data in the built-in memory in step 6a, searches the word registration table according to the table pointer value in step 6b, and searches for one word from the word registration table. Read the recognition code pattern. Then, it is determined in step 6c whether or not the same pattern as the read recognition code pattern is present in the recognition data stored in the built-in memory. Then, when it is determined that the same pattern does not exist in the recognition data, the voice recognition unit 414 proceeds to step 6f, where the search for the recognition code pattern corresponding to all the words stored in the word registration table is completed. It is determined whether or not. Then, if there is an unrecognized word recognition code pattern, the value of the table pointer is incremented (+1) in step 6h.
After that, the process returns to step 6b to repeat the above search processing.

On the other hand, it is assumed that the search processing finds the recognition code pattern of the word registered in the word registration table in the recognition data stored in the built-in memory. Then, the voice recognition unit 414 performs step 6
In step 6d, the recognition code pattern of the recognized word is stored in the analysis content storage area of the built-in memory. Then, after incrementing (+1) the storage area pointer in step 6e, the process proceeds to step 6f, and it is determined here whether or not the search for the recognition code pattern corresponding to all the words stored in the word registration table is completed. Then, upon completion, in step 6g, the table pointer value and the storage area pointer value are initialized to the head values. In this way, each word which comprises the said message | telegram input instruction information is analyzed.

The analysis contents of each word constituting the message input instruction information obtained in this manner are analyzed by the protocol control units 111 to 1 through the signal detection unit 412 and the connection unit 413, respectively.
The protocol control unit 111-
Central control unit 13 from 11 m via multiplexer 12
Is taken into.

Based on the analysis result of the electronic message input instruction information, the central control unit 13 subsequently sequentially executes electronic message reception control from the transmission terminal, storage control, and broadcast transmission control to the destination terminal.

Prior to execution of the control of the central control unit 13, the connection unit 413 controls the protocol control units 111 to 1 to 1.
A process for selectively connecting 1 m to the communication line 31 is performed.

That is, the connection unit 413 monitors the arrival of a connection request in step 3a as shown in FIG. In this state, when a connection request arrives, steps 3b, 3c,
, And based on the analysis result of the message input instruction information in these steps 3b, 3c, ..., Whether the terminal device of the transmission source is a facsimile device, a mail device, a personal computer, or the like. It is identified whether it is another data terminal device. If the source terminal device is, for example, a facsimile device, the process proceeds to step 3d to select a protocol control unit having a facsimile communication protocol. If it is a mail device, the process proceeds to step 3e to select a protocol control unit having a communication protocol for the mail device.

When the protocol control unit is selected in this way, the connection unit 413 subsequently determines in step 3f whether or not the operation state of the mail device main body 10 of the active system is normal. If it is normal, the process proceeds to step 3g to select the active mail device body 10 here, and then proceeds to step 3i where the protocol control units 111 to 11m of the active mail device body 10 are selected. The selected protocol control unit is selected from the above and connected to the communication line 31. On the other hand, it is assumed that an operation abnormality is detected in the main mail device body 10 of the active system. Then, the connection portion 413
Shifts from step 3f to step 3h to select the spare mail device main body 20 here, and then shifts to step 3i where the spare mail device main body 2 is set.
The selected protocol control unit is selected from the 0 protocol control units 111 to 11m and connected to the communication line 31.

As described above, in this embodiment, the voice recognition means 414-4n are provided in the line interface units 41-4n.
4 is provided, the voice recognition means 414 to 4n4 recognizes the instruction information relating to the electronic message input consisting of the voice signal sent from the terminal device of the transmission source, analyzes the content, and the mail device based on the analysis result. In the main bodies 10 and 20, the electronic message reception control, the storage control, and the transmission control to the destination terminal are executed.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the operator of the terminal device of the transmission source can transmit the instruction information relating to the electronic message input by his / her own voice, whereby, for example, when the DTMF signal or the OMR sheet is used. In comparison, it is possible to easily perform the operation of transmitting the instruction information related to the message input. Therefore, the operability for the user is enhanced.

Further, in this embodiment, the voice recognition units 414-4 are used.
n4 is provided with voice response units 415 to 4n5,
When the voice recognition units 414 to 4n4 do not correctly recognize the instruction information relating to the message input, a voice response message prompting the user to re-input is sent.
Therefore, the user can accurately input the voice of the instruction information related to the electronic message input according to the voice response message.

Further, in this embodiment, the voice recognition units 414-4 are used.
A word registration table is provided in n4. By referring to this word registration table, the instruction information relating to the electronic message input is recognized word by word, and the instruction content is analyzed from this recognized word. Therefore, when sending the instruction information related to the message input, the user only needs to send the necessary words in a list, and as a result, even an inexperienced user can input the message relatively easily and accurately. It is possible to transmit the instruction information related to. Further, the voice recognition unit 414 of the present embodiment has a function of recognizing the instruction information related to the textual message input and analyzing the content of the instruction. Even when input, the instruction content can be analyzed and mail control can be executed.

Further, in this embodiment, the signal detecting sections 412-4
Since n2 has a function of receiving the DTMF signal and the digital control signal on the communication protocol, the user does not use the voice input and the DTMF signal or the O
Even when the MR sheet or the like is used to transmit the instruction information related to the electronic message input, the instruction information related to the electronic message input can be accepted.

Further, a plurality of protocol control units are provided for different communication protocols, and the protocol control unit corresponding to the communication protocol used by the communication partner terminal is selected and connected to the communication lines 31 to 3n. For this reason,
Of course, it is possible to connect to a plurality of types of terminal devices having different communication protocols, and it is possible to simultaneously connect different protocol control units to the plurality of communication lines 31 to 3n.

Further, the mail device main body is duplicated in the active system and the standby system, and when the active system has an abnormal operation, it is switched to the standby system by the connecting portion 413.
Therefore, a highly reliable device can be provided.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the word “correct” is registered in the word registration table of the voice recognition unit. Then, during the recognition and analysis period of the instruction information voice related to the message input, when the word "correction" comes from the terminal device of the transmission source, this word is recognized by referring to the word registration table, and When this "correction" is recognized, the voice recognition processing procedure and processing contents may be configured to delete the word of the instruction information relating to the electronic message input received and recognized immediately before that. Further, at this time, after the word erasing process, a voice response message indicating that the word has been erased from the voice response unit and prompting for re-input of the word may be transmitted to the terminal device of the transmission source. Good.

In addition, the erasure process performed when the word "correction" is received is not limited to the word recognized immediately before, and all the words of the instruction information relating to the received electronic message are collectively received. It may be configured to erase. Furthermore, an instruction word used when deleting only the immediately preceding word and an instruction word used when deleting all received words at once may be set. As these instruction words, for example, the words "correction" and "all corrections" can be considered.

Further, in the above embodiment, when the voice data inputted by the user is incorrect, the voice response message for prompting the re-input of the voice data is sent to the terminal device of the transmission source. Before inputting the instruction information related to input, make sure to send a voice guidance message such as "What is the input terminal?""Where do you want to send it?" May be. In this way, even an inexperienced user can input the instruction information related to the electronic message input without error according to the content of the guidance message.

Further, the mail device body is provided with an optical reading device such as a facsimile device or a scanner for optically reading and inputting a document, or a floppy disk or a hard disk like a word processor or a personal computer. An information terminal device for reading and inputting stored text data and image data is provided as an accessory, and the electronic message information input from these accessory input devices is accumulated and configured to be transmitted to a designated communication partner terminal. May be. At that time, a voice input device including microphones 17b and 27b for voice input and a voice recognition circuit as shown in FIG. The instruction information related to the message input performed by
The voice input device may be used to allow the operator to input voice. In addition, this voice input device may also be provided with a voice response circuit.

That is, not only the input of the electronic message information and the input of the electronic message input instruction information by voice is performed from the terminal device connected through the communication line, but also the attached input device provided attached to the main body of the mail device. It may be configured so that it can be performed also from a voice input device. The voice input device may be provided with only a microphone, and the voice recognition of the input voice may be performed by the voice recognition units 414 to 4n2 provided in the line interface units 41 to 4n. By doing so, the number of voice recognition circuits installed can be reduced, which contributes to simplification and downsizing of the circuit configuration.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, one protocol control unit is provided with one communication protocol, but one protocol control unit is provided with a plurality of communication protocols, and the terminal device is selected from these communication protocols. May be configured to be selected and used. With this configuration, even when connection requests are simultaneously issued from a plurality of terminal devices that use the same communication protocol, by providing a plurality of protocol control units having the above configuration, each terminal device can be controlled by these protocol control units. It is possible to connect to each section at the same time.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the active system and the standby system are provided as the mail device main body, and these systems are selectively selected and used. However, since the traffic increases, it is not possible to deal with the active system alone. When it runs out, the active system and the standby system may be used at the same time. However, if an abnormal operation occurs in the active system while the active system and the standby system are being used at the same time, switch the active system to the standby system after terminating all communication control being executed in the standby system. To By doing so, it is possible to cope with an increase in traffic without deteriorating the effect of duplicating the device, and thus it is possible to provide a device having high reliability and high capacity.

In addition, the number and configuration of the mail device main unit and the line interface unit, the number of communication protocol control units and the type of communication protocol, the recognition processing procedure and its processing content in the voice recognition means, the analysis procedure of the instruction content and its The contents, the functions of the signal detecting means and the connecting means, etc. can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0068]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a communication protocol control unit for communicating with a terminal device according to a communication protocol corresponding to the terminal device, and a storage for storing received message information. The terminal device is connected to the mail device main body including at least a unit and a main control unit for controlling the communication protocol control unit and the storage unit to send and receive message information to and from the terminal device. In addition to the line control means for performing a predetermined line control for the communication line, a voice recognition means and a connection means that operates according to the recognition result are provided. Then, the contents of the instruction information relating to the electronic message input consisting of the voice signal coming from the terminal device via the communication line is recognized by the voice recognition means, and the instruction information relating to the electronic message input recognized by the voice recognition means is recognized. Depending on the contents, the connection means connects between the line control means and the mail apparatus main body.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide the mail device which can always easily transmit the instruction information relating to the electronic message input in the terminal device, thereby improving the operability of the user.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of a mail device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure and processing contents of a signal detection unit of the mail device shown in FIG.

3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure and processing contents of a connection unit of the mail apparatus shown in FIG.

4 is a flowchart showing a voice recognition processing procedure and its processing content in a voice recognition unit of the mail apparatus shown in FIG.

5 is a flow chart showing an instruction content analysis processing procedure in the voice recognition unit of the mail apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and the processing content thereof.

6 is a flowchart showing a sentence analysis processing procedure and processing contents in the voice recognition unit of the mail apparatus shown in FIG.

7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a word registration table provided in the voice recognition unit of the mail device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of instruction information related to message input.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of the configuration of instruction information related to message input.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Working mail device body 20 ... Standby mail device body 31-3n ... Communication line 41-4n ... Line interface unit 51, 52 ... Bus 111-11m, 211-21m ... Protocol control unit 12, 22 ... Multiplexer 13, 23 ... Central control unit (CPU) 14, 24 ... Main storage unit (MEM) 15, 25 ... Auxiliary storage device (DISK) 16, 26 ... Input / output device 17, 27 ... Key input unit with display 18, 28 ... Printer 19, 29 ... CPU bus 411-4n1 ... Line control unit 412-4n2 ... Signal detection unit 413-4n3 ... Connection unit 414-4n4 ... Voice recognition unit 415-4n5 ... Voice response unit

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location H04M 11/10 8324-5K

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A communication protocol control unit for communicating with a terminal device according to a communication protocol corresponding to the terminal device, a storage unit for storing received message information, and a communication protocol control unit for these units. In order to perform predetermined line control for the mail device main body having at least a main control unit for controlling the storage unit and transmitting and receiving electronic message information to and from the terminal device, and a communication line to which the terminal device is connected Line control means, voice recognition means for recognizing the contents of instruction information relating to electronic message input consisting of a voice signal coming from the terminal device via the communication line, and electronic message input recognized by the voice recognition means. The connection means for connecting between the line control means and the mail device main body according to the content of the instruction information related to Mail device. 2. The mail according to claim 1, further comprising: a voice response unit for transmitting a voice response message for instructing a transmission operation of instruction information related to message input to the terminal device. apparatus. 3. The voice recognition means has a function of judging the validity of the recognition result of the instruction information related to the message input, and the voice response means when the voice recognition means judges that the recognition result is not valid. The mail device according to claim 2, wherein the mail device has a function of transmitting a voice response message for prompting the terminal device to retransmit the instruction information related to the message input. 4. The voice recognition means has a word registration table in which words corresponding to the contents of instruction information relating to message input are stored in advance, and the word registration table is referred to when a word arrives from a terminal device. The mail apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function of recognizing the content of instruction information related to the electronic message input corresponding to the word. 5. The voice recognition means, when a voice message including a word corresponding to the content of instruction information relating to electronic message input arrives from the terminal device, identifies the word from the voice message, and detects the word. 5. The mail device according to claim 4, wherein the mail device has a function of recognizing the content of the instruction information related to the electronic message input corresponding to. 6. The voice recognition means has a registration table in which words for correcting instruction information related to message input are stored in advance, and the content of the instruction information related to message input after the arrival of the instruction information related to message input. When a word / phrase for correcting is received from the terminal device, the word / phrase is recognized by referring to the registration table, and the content of the instruction information relating to the electronic message input previously received is corrected in accordance with this word / phrase. The mail device according to claim 1, further comprising a function for: 7. The connection means detects at least one of instruction information relating to a message input consisting of a control signal on a communication protocol that has arrived from a terminal device via a line, and instruction information relating to a message input consisting of a multi-frequency signal. And a signal detection unit for detecting the content of the instruction information related to the message input detected by the signal detection unit and the content of the instruction information related to the message input recognized by the voice recognition unit. The mail device according to claim 1, wherein the line control means and the mail device main body are connected accordingly. 8. The mail device main body comprises a plurality of communication protocol control units having different communication protocols, and the connection means is
It is characterized in that the communication protocol of the terminal device is identified from the content of the instruction information relating to the message input coming from the terminal device, and the communication protocol control unit corresponding to the identified communication protocol is selected and connected to the line control means. Claim 1
Alternatively, the mail device according to claim 7. 9. A mail device main body comprising a plurality of mail device main bodies, wherein the connecting means has a judging means for judging whether or not the operating state of these mail device main bodies is good, and the mail device main body judged to be normal by this judging means. The mail device according to claim 1, wherein the mail device is connected to a line control means. 10. A communication protocol control unit for communicating with a terminal device according to a communication protocol corresponding to the terminal device, a storage unit for storing input message information, and a communication protocol control unit for these units. In order to perform predetermined line control for the mail device main body having at least a main control unit for controlling the storage unit and transmitting and receiving electronic message information to and from the terminal device, and a communication line to which the terminal device is connected Line control means, first voice recognition means for recognizing the content of instruction information relating to electronic message input consisting of voice signals coming from the terminal device via the communication line, and the first voice recognition means. Connection means for connecting between the line control means and the mail device body according to the content of the instruction information related to the message input recognized by It is attached to the main body of the device and consists of an auxiliary input means for inputting instruction information relating to electronic message input consisting of electronic message information and voice signal to the main body of the mail device, and a voice signal input by this auxiliary input means. Second voice recognition means for recognizing the content of the instruction information relating to the electronic message input, and, in accordance with the content of the instruction information relating to the electronic message input recognized by the second voice recognition means, from the auxiliary input means. And a means for executing at least a process of accumulating electronic message information inputted in the mail apparatus main body.