JPS61147640A - Display system of automatic answering telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the mechanism to make the access easy and omit the unnecessary control by using a single recording track and dividing the recording track to many recording blocks to use it. CONSTITUTION:Recording block address means (5c, 5d, and 20) display successively display numbers of plural successively allocated recording blocks on a recording tape on a basis of the rotation number of a reel. Block designating means (11, 20, and 21) designate display numbers of desired blocks in the order of recording registration. The recording tape is driven in a high speed so that display numbers designated by both means coincide with each other. If recording registration for all of plural recording blocks, recording registration of all of blocks is indicated by display reporting means (4, 20, 25, 28, 29, 33, 40, 43, AS8, VR, 48, 49, 45, AS5, and 10). Thus, the unnecessary control for recording is omitted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field of the Invention) The present invention relates to an answering machine equipped with a recording and playback function.

(Prior art and its problems) An answering machine with a recording and playback function attached to a telephone set, which has the function of recording a message from a caller when an incoming call is received while the user is away, and playing back the recorded content at a desired time. Telephone devices are widely used.

However, with conventional answering machines, there is a response tape that records the response message sent to the other party when a call arrives, and a message recording that records the message from the other party in response to the response message. Since the tape is provided separately, two systems of recording and reproducing mechanisms are required, making the device large and uneconomical. To overcome this drawback,
A configuration has already been proposed in which a recording tape having two recording tracks is used, one recording track being used for recording the response message and the other recording track being used for recording the business. However, even in this latter case, since a plurality of tracks are provided, the recording/reproducing mechanism needs to have a complicated configuration suitable for the plurality of tracks.

Furthermore, since the recording tapes of conventional answering machines are used without any particular division within the recording area of a series of recording tapes, the importance of the recorded information is not particularly relevant when reproducing the message contents. The disadvantage is that unless you replay all of the information, you will not be able to understand the outline of the information. This is a particularly serious drawback when listening to the contents of a message by remote control from an outside line.

In addition, conventional answering machines are used only to record the message of the other party when receiving a call from an outside line, and if the answering machine has multiple owners, There are no plans to use this answering machine for communication between owners.

(Object of the Invention) In view of these shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention records a response message and a message on a single recording trunk, and uses a large number of recording blocks to which recording tracks are sequentially assigned. Further, the recording block is formed integrally with the telephone so that it records not only the voice input from the line but also the direct input from the microphone, and the recording operation to the recording block is efficiently executed. The present invention provides a display method for an answering machine that enables the following.

(Structure and operation of the invention) The present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First, the allocation format of the recording tape recording area used in the present invention will be explained. Figure 1 shows an example of this recording area allocation.
One of the features is that the recording area is sequentially divided into a large number of blocks, and in addition, the response area AM for recording response messages and the business areas G and S for recording business messages can be recorded in one recording area. Another feature is that it is assigned to a tape. The response area station is located at an intermediate position between the start end ST and the end end ED of the recording tape, and consists of a response recorded message block AM and a response-only message block. The response-only message block AMb is
Response-only messages that do not involve recording of business matters (e.g., “We are closed today,” “I am out of the office,” etc.)
etc.), and is assigned a time length of, for example, 60 seconds. The recorded response message block AM is for recorded response messages that include a recorded message (for example, ``I'm not home right now. I'll record your message, so please speak when the beep sounds.'' Please go ahead.

This is a recording block for recording ``AMゎ''), and is assigned a time length of <60 seconds, which is the same as AMゎ, for example.

After the response area 8N, there is a general use area G for each block Gl+G! '-''+ Gto For example, the recording blocks G, , G, , G, are arranged sequentially as shown in the figure with a recording gap of 6 seconds between blocks with a time length of 40 seconds.
- Record the contents of the call during the absence in the vacant blocks in the order of GIO. General use area G recording block GI+
G2. −・−+Gl. One of the features of the present invention is that the recording blocks S+, Sz, Ss, and Sa of the specific business area S are provided outside of the specific business area S. records specific messages instead of so-called "memos" for mutual communication between multiple parties using this telephone. In this case, recording is performed using the microphone at the desired recording block S of the device.
This can be done by directly sending a message to +, Sz, S* or S4, or by accessing by remote control using a PIN number etc. after connecting the line from the subscriber line, the predetermined recording block S+, Sz , Si or S4. Recording block St, Sz.

S3. The time length of S4 is, for example, the general purpose recording block G.
, G, . . . - is selected to be <40 seconds, which is the same as the time length of GIG.

The recording tape 1 is stopped so that the first standby point PI, which corresponds to the beginning of the response recording message block AM in the normal response area, faces the head, and when a call is received, the message of the response recording message block AM is played back. After sending,
Recording blocks G+, Gz, -G+o of general use area G
Oppose the empty block that is the first among them, and record the message when the call arrives on that empty block. Recording block GI with the same action.

G2. -・J+. When all messages have been recorded, the recording tape 1 has stopped so that the head is facing the second waiting point P2, which corresponds to the beginning of the response-only message block, controls to reproduce and send a response-only message. The recording blocks s, ..., S4 in the specific message area S can be accessed by controlling the control button or by using a PIN code by remote control when receiving a call, and can be used to record or record specific message messages. Control is performed so that the recorded content can be played back.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a magnetic tape housed in a cassette, 2 is a magnetic head for recording and playback, 3 is a servo for driving the magnetic tape 1, and 4 is for controlling the driving direction and on/off of the drive of the magnetic tape 1. Forward/reverse speed control circuit, 5a + 5
b is a motor for driving the magnetic tape 1; 5c is, for example, a supply reel for the tape 1; 5d is a reel rotation detection circuit that uses a photoreflector or the like to generate, for example, eight pulses for each rotation of the axis of the reel 5c; Reference numeral 6 denotes a plunger for controlling contact/non-contact of the magnetic head 2 with the tape l.

The telephone circuit 10 includes a dial circuit 11, a line 12,
A transmitter 13, a receiver 14, and a sounder 15 are attached. The microcomputer 20, which forms the center of the control circuit system, includes a function key 21, a read-only memory 22.34, a button signal receiver 23, an input circuit 24.32, a selection circuit 25, and a latch 26.27.28°30a. , 30b, light emitting element 29.7 segment circuit 3
1a, 31b 1 speech synthesizer 33 is attached.

The output of the speech synthesizer 33 is applied to an amplifier 43 via a filter 40. The 800H2 oscillator 41 is applied to the input of an amplifier 43 via an inhibit gate 42.

44 is a PB signal amplifier that amplifies the button signal (PB signal) and other line signals applied via the line 12 and telephone circuit 10; 45 is a line amplifier that amplifies the line signal; 46 is an audio switch; 47 is a A silence detection circuit, 48 a speaker amplifier, 49 a speaker, and VR a volume for volume adjustment.

51 is a microphone, 52 is a recording preamplifier, 53 is a reproduction preamplifier, 54 is a recording/reproduction changeover switch, 55 is a recording amplifier, and 56 is a bias oscillator for generating a bias signal.

To S+, ^Sz, ^S3. AS4. Eight Ss, to S6. A
SII, ASIOIAS, and ASI2 are switch elements controlled by the latch 26, and AS? , AS9
is a switch element controlled by the microcomputer 20.

The designation of a recording block, the recording to the recording block, and the reproduction of the recorded contents, which are the main features of the present invention, will be explained with reference to FIG.

In the present invention, the number of rotations of the reel of the recording tape 1 is determined on the recording tape 1 as described above based on the count value calculated from the start end ST or end HD of the recording tape 1 using pulses from the reel rotation detection circuit 5d. A plurality of recording programs S1. Sz, Ss.

Sa, AMb, AM-, G+, Gz, Gz, -, G+o
Addressing means is used to sequentially designate the display addresses of .

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the rotation information of the reel shaft is supplied to the input "rotation detection" of the microcomputer 20, and if a predetermined number of pulses are generated each time the shaft rotates as described above, this pulse Start point ST or end point ED of the recording tape
By counting with a counter, the display address of each recording block can be determined in advance based on the counted value.

"Response" and "Specific" in the function keys 21.

By pressing any of the "General" buttons, you can specify either the response area AM, the specific area S, or the general use area G, and then press the desired one or two of the numeric buttons on the dial circuit 11. By pressing the button, one of the display addresses of each recording block is selected. The display address information selected in this way is set in the block address register within the microcomputer 20. Therefore, when the display address information set here matches the display address displayed by the address means, the latch 27
By controlling the plunger 6 and the forward/reverse speed control circuit 4 via the recording tape 1, it is possible to stop the recording tape 1 while locating a predetermined recording block.

Due to the above configuration, specific operations can be performed as follows.

First, in the case of recording a response message, the display address of the response recording message block AM can be set immediately when the "Response" button of the function key 21 is pressed. As a result, the plunger 6 and the forward/reverse speed control circuit 4 are connected to each other via the latch 27 as described above.
operates, and the motor 5a.

5b is driven at high speed and the response recording message block AM
When the magnetic head 2 faces the leading position of , the drive is stopped, and the drive of the magnetic tape l is temporarily stopped. Now, by pressing the "record" button of the function key 21, the switch element AS1 is
．． AS? , AStz are turned on, the recording/playback changeover switch 54 is switched to the recording preamplifier 52 side, and the plunger 6 and forward/reverse speed control circuit 4 are operated to drive the motors 5a, 5b at normal low speed. Here, by issuing the guidance signal GD, a signal of 800)1z is transmitted from the oscillator 41 to [in upper bit gate 42-amplifier 43-
The sound can be heard from the speaker 49 via the path of [switch element AS, → volume VR - amplifier 48], and at this time, by uttering a response recording message to the microphone 51, [microphone 51 - switch element AS,
- Recording preamplifier 52 - Recording/playback selector switch 54 - Switch element ASt - Switch element AS, ! = recording amplifier 55] to the magnetic head 2, and a desired response message can be recorded. An example of a recorded response message is "Yes, this is Kobayashi.
I am currently scheduled to be away until the 00th due to a business trip. We apologize for the inconvenience, but please follow the female voice guidance and record your request.

Thank you. ``Now, I will guide you through the recording.The recording time is approximately 40 seconds.

Please tell us your name, phone number, and your business. "Here you go" (voice guidance).

Here, the voice guidance is sent from the voice synthesizer 33 after the response recording message to the line 12 via [filter 40 - amplifier 43 - line amplifier 45 - switch element ^S, →telephone circuit 10].

By pressing the ``record'' button again, a silent part is automatically created on the tape for a predetermined time following the recorded message, and the end of recording can be detected by detecting silence during playback.

As a result, the automatic playback mode of the recorded response recording message is entered, and [Magnetic head 2→Switch element AS++-
Playback preamplifier 53-recording playback selector switch 54→switch element AS? →Switch element AS, -Volume VR
→ speaker amplifier 48 → speaker 49], the content can be confirmed by the reproduced sound.

Also, since the voltage is applied from the line amplifier 45 to the audio switch 46, when the recorded response message is normally reproduced, its output 01 is supplied to the microcomputer 20, which then enables setting to the absence mode.

In addition, by pressing the "Play" button after playing the response recorded message, the response-only message block AM is specified as described above, and by pressing the "Record" button here, the response-only message block AM is recorded in the same manner as above. can be recorded via the microphone 51. An example of a response-only message is ``Yes, this is Kobayashi.
I'm currently away. We apologize for the inconvenience, but please try again later. ].

This response-only message is also handled in the same way as the response recorded message, and is configured so that it is automatically played back and the transition to the absence mode is only possible when the playback output is obtained as the output OI by the audio switch 46. can do.

The access operation to each recording block G, , G, .

In the absence mode, when the recording tape is at the first standby point P, there is an incoming call from the subscriber line 12, and the incoming call detection output I
When R is detected by the microcomputer 20 and the line is closed by the L relay, switch elements AS+ r,
AS? , ASs is turned on, the recording/playback selector switch 54 is switched to the playback preamplifier 53 side, and the latch 2 is turned on.
By operating the plunger 6 and the forward/reverse speed control circuit 4 via the magnetic head 7, a response recording message is recorded.
→ to switch element Sll → ll preamplifier 53 - recording/playback selector switch 54 - switch element As? →Line amplifier 45→Switch element ASs→Telephone circuit 10) The sound is sent to line 12 via the path of →Line amplifier 45→Switch element ASs→Telephone circuit 10), and is made by the selection circuit 25 in response to the detection output 02 when the silence detection circuit 47 detects the end of the response recording message. By selecting the synthesizer 33 and the read-only memory 34, voice guidance is sent from the voice synthesizer 33 to the subscriber line 12 via the path [filter 40 -> amplifier 43 - line amplifier 45 - switch element AS5 - telephone circuit 10]. .

After this response recording message and voice guidance are sent out, the magnetic head 2 is moved to the servo 3 by addressing from the microcomputer 20 so as to face the magnetic block (for example, the head position of GO) in the nearest empty general business area G.
The magnetic tape 1 is driven by the operations of the motors 5a and 5b. When the completion of this operation is detected by the failure of the display address of the recording block as described above, the guidance GO is issued and the guidance signal is [oscillator 41 - inhibit circuit 42 -> amplifier 43 - line amplifier 45 - switch element As5 - telephone circuit 10 - line 12], and at the end of the transmission, the recording/reproducing system is in the recording mode, and the magnetic tape 1 starts running at a normal speed. Therefore, at this time, if the person on the other end of the incoming call speaks the business, the business will be [Line 12 - Telephone circuit 10 - Switch element ^S2 - Recording preamplifier 52 -> Recording/playback selector switch 54 - Switch element AS? -Switch element AS
lz-recording amplifier 55], the signal is applied to the magnetic head 2 and recorded in its recording block G1.

After this recording is completed, it is registered in the recording block register in the microcomputer 20 that this recording block G1 has been recorded and is not empty.

If the recording registration for all the general data rear Gl+Gt+・-・+G16 is performed in this recording block register, the microcomputer 20 will select the Via a latch (display) 28, a recording lamp by a light emitting diode 29 is flashed and displayed. At the same time, the speech synthesizer 33
For example, "Recording is not possible at this time."
Generates a voice synthesized guidance sound such as . This voice synthesized guidance sound is emitted and reported from [filter 40-amplifier 43-switch element As8-volume VR→speaker increase. When a call arrives, this voice synthesized guidance sound is transmitted through [filter 40-amplifier 43] in response to the call.
- line amplifier 45 - switch element ASs = telephone 1
0] to line 12.

By pressing the "General" and "Play" buttons of the function key 21, the contents of the registered recording blocks are displayed in the recording tape drive means ( 2
7.6, 4.5a, 5b, 3), the reproduction circuit system (2.ASI,,53,54,AS?.As8.
Vl? .

48, 49).

In the case of playback by remote control from the subscriber line 12, the remote control signal is transmitted to the microcomputer via the path of [attached line 12 - telephone circuit 10 -> switch element AS3 - amplifier 44 - PB signal receiver 23 -> microcomputer 20]. The information is transmitted to the computer 20 and decoded, and in addition to the recording tape drive means, another reproduction circuit system (2, AS++, 53, 5
4, ASr, 45. The content of the reproduced recording block is sent to the subscriber line 12 via the ASs, 10).

Also, during such a playback operation, for example, (1) if the content of the matter is not so important that it must be listened to in its entirety,
(2) If you can fully understand the outline or all of the message while playing back the message, or (3) If you have already listened to the message, you can listen to the recorded content. There may be no need to do so.

At this time, a predetermined control signal sent by the function key 21 of this device or a predetermined control signal [for example #0#] transmitted by remote control from the subscriber line 12 is transmitted to the microcomputer 20.
is determined, and the drive of the tape 1 is temporarily stopped by the recording tape drive means.

Here, the microcomputer 20 determines whether a registered recording block exists or not by referring to the contents of the register, and if a registered recording block exists, the recording tape driving means drives the tape 1 in the forward direction or It is driven in the opposite direction at high speed and performs a so-called cueing operation by a normal playback operation at the starting end of the most recently registered recording block, and reproduces the contents of the recording block. In this way, it is possible to efficiently reproduce recorded matters in a short and efficient reproduction time.

Furthermore, if there is a silent period longer than a certain period of time during such a playback operation, it is determined that there is no longer a record of business in that recording block, and the silence detection circuit 47 detects the output of the line amplifier 45. Detect this and the detection output is 0.
Roll 2. This detection output 0□ is the microcomputer 2
0, the recording tape driving means temporarily stops driving the tape L, and the microcomputer 20 refers to the contents of the register to determine whether or not a registered recording block exists. If there is a recording block that has been recorded, the recording tape drive means
is driven at high speed in the forward or reverse direction to perform a so-called cue, which is a normal playback operation, at the starting end of the most recently registered recording block, and reproduce the contents of that recording block. In this way, by using the above-mentioned reset operation by the dial circuit 11 in combination, it is possible to efficiently reproduce recorded matters in a short reproduction time with no waste.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus of the present invention. Since the operation described above is simply summarized, detailed explanation will be omitted.

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, in an answering machine configured to respond to an incoming call, send a prerecorded response message, and record the contents of the call,
A plurality of recording blocks (S+, St,
S+, G+, Gz, -1G+. ) Recording block address means (5c, 5d, 20) for sequentially instructing display numbers of
and block designating means (11, 20, 21) for designating the display number of a desired one recording block among the plurality of recording blocks in the order of the blocks in which recording has been registered; The reel of the recording tape is driven at high speed so that the display number O of the desired recording block coincides with the display number of the recording block specified by the recording block address means, and Recording tape drive means (27°6.4.5a,
5b, 3), if the recording registration has been performed for all of the plurality of recording blocks, the display lamp will change when the recording operation by the recording playback function is about to be performed or when the recording operation is performed. Display notification means (20, 25, 28
, 29, 33, 40, 43, ASe.

vl? , 48.49.45. It is possible to realize a display method for an answering machine equipped with ASs, 10).

(Effects of the Invention) As explained in detail above, since the present invention uses a single recording track, the recording/playback drive mechanism is simplified, and the recording trunk is divided into a number of sequentially allocated recording blocks. Furthermore, since it is necessary to access only the blocks registered by recording registration, access control during both recording and playback is easy and can be executed in a short time. Furthermore, since it is possible to clearly know through display and notification that recording has been performed in all recording blocks, wasteful control can be eliminated and efficiency can be increased. An accompanying effect is that by sequentially specifying unlistened recording blocks, it is possible to extract and play back only the most urgent and important recorded content in an extremely short period of time. Furthermore, when a plurality of owners share the same, it is possible to easily and reliably communicate with each other.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the recording format of the recording tape used in the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the present invention. Patent applicant: Iwasaki Tsushinki Co., Ltd. Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation Toshiba Corporation

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an answering machine configured to send a pre-recorded response message in response to an incoming call and record the contents of the call, the number of revolutions of a recording tape reel is calculated from the beginning or end of the tape. a recording block address means for sequentially instructing display numbers of a plurality of recording blocks to be sequentially allocated on the recording tape based on the recording registration of the display number of a desired one recording block among the plurality of recording blocks; A block specifying means for specifying the blocks in order, and a block specifying means for specifying the blocks in order, and the display number of the desired one recording block specified by the block specifying means and the display number of the recording block specified by the recording block address means. a recording tape driving means for driving a recording tape reel at high speed and stopping the high-speed driving of the recording tape reel so that both display numbers match; A recording and playback function that records input and registers the recording or plays back from the recording block, and when the recording registration is performed for all of the plurality of recording blocks, the recording A display system for an answering machine, which is equipped with a display notification means that flashes a display lamp and sends out a voice guidance sound when a recording operation using a playback function is about to be performed or when a recording operation is to be performed.