JPS62263759A - Data communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the occurrence of misoperation and misinput by controlling an input device inputting data to a computer corresponding to the hook state of a telephone set provided additionally. CONSTITUTION:When a hook switch of a telephone set 22 is hooked on (handset is not lifted up), the data input from an input device 3 of the comuter 1 is inhibited, but when the switch is hooked off (handset is lifted up), the data input from the input device 3 of the computer 1 is allowed. For example, a user uses the telephone set 22 to listen directly to the order by customer's voice of a slave equipment and the order is inputted to the computer 1 immediately by operating the key of the input device 3. Thus, the order is placed in voice without unskillful operation (key operation of slave equipment) by the customer. Further, the user cannot receive a wrong order by the misoperation of the customer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a data communication device that transmits and receives data via a telephone line.

[Summary of the invention]

In the present invention, an input device for inputting data to a computer is controlled in response to the hook state of an attached telephone.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 9 shows a configuration for transmitting and receiving data between computers via a telephone line.

For example, a relatively small computer 1 such as a personal computer has a main body 2, an input device 3 such as a keyboard,
It is composed of a display device 4 such as a CRT. 5 is a modem telephone, and as shown in FIG. 10, for example, the data sent from the computer 1 to the telephone line 6 is converted into
a modem 11 that modulates using a predetermined method such as PSK and demodulates the modulated signal from the telephone line 6 into high-level and low-level digital signals and outputs them to the computer 1;
It is integrated with the telephone unit 12. NCU (Netw)
Ork Control Unit) section 13 switches and connects telephone line 6 to modem 11 and telephone section 12 . The audio signal to the telephone unit 12 is sent to the monitor speaker 14.
It is now possible to monitor. Reference numeral 15 denotes an auto-dial device, which outputs a signal corresponding to a predetermined telephone number to the telephone line 6.

Equipment with such a configuration is installed at locations A and B.

For example, 15 is B in the auto dialing system of A (or B) location.
When a call is made to the telephone of a device at location A (or location A) and the device at location B answers, the digital signal from computer 1 at location A is modulated by modem 5 and sent to location B (or location A) via telephone line 6. is sent to the modem 11 of B land (or A
The modem 11 at the local station demodulates the modulated signal from the telephone line 6 to the original signal and supplies it to the computer 1.

When performing data communication via a telephone line in this way, there is a drawback that a computer 1 and a modem 11 are required on both the sending and receiving sides. Using a telephone of the type,
A system has been proposed as a non-store sales system in which a voice signal input from each telephone is recognized by a voice recognition device on the receiving side, and the recognized signal is input as a digital signal to a computer on the receiving side. In this system, data can also be input by key operations on a so-called telephone, and it is also possible to call a telephone from the computer side and request input of data from the telephone, a so-called request.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Such systems allow data to be input from regular telephones placed in each home.

Since data is input by a user who is not familiar with the operation of the handset, there are disadvantages in that not only are erroneous operations and inputs likely to occur, but the telephone line is occupied for an unnecessarily long period of time.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides a data communication device that includes a relatively small computer that processes input data according to a predetermined program, a telephone attached to the computer, a detection means that detects a hook state of the telephone, and a computer that transmits data to the computer. The present invention is characterized by comprising an input device whose operation during input is controlled in accordance with the output of the detection means.

[Effect]

The detecting means detects the hooked state of the telephone attached to the computer, and when the handset is lifted up, the input device is allowed to input data into the computer.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 represents a network of data communication devices according to the present invention. A relatively small-sized computer 1 such as a personal computer consisting of a main body 2, an input device 3, and a display device 4 is prepared as the parent device as in the case described above. 21
is a controller, which is connected to the telephone line 6 of the attached telephone 22, and also connects the computer 1 and the modem 2.
3. Control the recording/reproducing device 24, etc.

FIG. 3 shows a more detailed block diagram of the controller 21. 31 is a line interface, which includes a closing part that closes and opens the telephone line, a calling signal detecting part that detects an incoming calling signal, a polarity detecting part that detects the polarity of the DC loop of the telephone line, and CPC (Calling Party) detects when the handset is placed (on-hook)
Control) detection unit, attached telephone 22
The telephone line 6 has a hook detection section that detects the hook state of the telephone line 6, and a voice detection section that detects the presence or absence of a voice signal on the telephone line 6. 32 is a computer interface such as R8232C. 33 is a transmitting/receiving device, which is a so-called DTMF (Dual T.

ne Multi-frequency) signals and receives them. When the controller 21 is integrated with the attached telephone 22, the transmitting/receiving device 33 can also be used as the original device of the telephone that generates a DTMF signal when a key of the telephone 22 is operated. A switch 34 switches the signal flow path (indicated by a thick line in the figure). 35 is a C such as a microprocessor as a control device.
This is a PU, which issues control signals (indicated by thin lines in the figure) to each circuit, device, means, etc. to control them.

For base units installed at locations A and B (of course, location A may be the only location), calls are made to location C via predetermined telephone stations 41 such as terminal stations, centralized stations, central stations, general offices, etc., and their telephone lines 6. , a plurality of slave units are connected to locations B and E. The handset at ground C receives the dial type telephone 42 and the dial pulse output when dialing the telephone 42, and transmits the corresponding DTMF.
It is composed of an adapter 43 that outputs a signal. E
The handset on the ground is composed of a button 44 that outputs a DTMF signal. On the other hand, the handset installed in a land includes a telephone 47, a dedicated terminal 45 connected thereto for carrying out the data communication of the present invention, and a printer 46 (necessary) that prints information as characters on paper and outputs it. (included according to the requirements) and more.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the terminal 45.

51 is a line interface, which closes the telephone line;
A closing part that opens, a calling signal detecting part that detects an incoming calling signal, a polarity detecting part that detects the polarity of the direct current loop of the telephone line, a CPC detecting part that detects on-hook of the other party, and an attached telephone set. 47, and a voice detection section that detects the presence or absence of a voice signal on the telephone line 6. Reference numeral 52 denotes a transmitting/receiving device that transmits and receives DTMF signals, and as in the case described above, when it is integrated with the attached telephone 47, it can also be used as the original transmitting/receiving device of the telephone 47. can. 53 is an input device such as a keyboard, and 54 is an LE, for example.
This is a display device consisting of a D, LCD, CRT, etc. 55 is a memory such as a RAM for storing data to be communicated, and 56 is a CPU such as a microprocessor as a control device. Reference numeral 57 represents an interface for the printer 46, and reference numeral 58 represents an interface for an external memory 59 provided as required. As the external memory 59, for example, a tape recorder, a magnetic disk recording/reproducing device, a solid state memory, etc. are used.

Data communication is between the base units at locations A and B (in this case, one base unit can be considered a slave unit for the other base unit)
, is carried out between the base unit at location A or B and the slave unit at location C, B, or E. The former case is similar to conventional modem-modem communication (the modem 23 is necessary in this case, but unnecessary in the following cases), so its explanation will be omitted.

The present invention relates to the latter case, and particularly relates to the case where the parent device calls the child device, and will be described below.

When a parent device calls a child device, operations are performed according to a flowchart as shown in FIG. 7, for example.

That is, the operation is started by first specifying the telephone number (selected number) of the handset to be called, and this start can be performed manually or automatically. In the case of automatic 1 For example, C
The operation is started when a timer built into the PU 35 measures a predetermined time or detects a predetermined alarm.

The phone number of the handset is stored in advance in the memory of the computer 1, and a predetermined number is searched from among the stored numbers, and the interface 32, C of the controller 21 is searched for.
It is output to the transmitter/receiver device 33 via the PU 35. The transmitting/receiving device 33 transmits a DTMF signal corresponding to the designated number.

This signal is sent to the telephone line 6 via the switch 34 and the interface 31.

When the calling operation is performed automatically, the number to be called is specified according to the program on the computer 1. However, when the calling operation is performed manually, the input table [3] The keys of the telephone 22 that are currently being displayed are operated. When this key is operated, a DTMF signal of the number specified by the operation is outputted from the transmitting/receiving device 33.

Therefore, calling operations can be performed at any time even to slave units that are not stored in the memory of the computer 1. Once the telephone number is manually operated, it is automatically stored in the memory of the computer 1, and automatic calls can be made from the first time onwards.

When a calling operation is being performed, data stored in the memory of the computer 1 associated with the telephone (selected) number is displayed on the display device 4. This data may include, for example, the sex, age, date of birth, hobbies, family, etc. of the customer being called. Therefore, especially when the user speaks directly as a message, which will be described later, the user can have a conversation tailored to the customer he/she is calling. For example, if it is the new school season and the recipient of the call has a child of the age who is about to enter school, a talk (advertisement) about new school products can be made. If you don't have such a child, you can talk about formal wear, for example.

Furthermore, in this case, data about not only the customer who is making the call but also multiple customers who are calling one after another will be displayed at the same time. It is possible to skip the calling process and make calls only to customers who need the information.

When the calling operation is started, the CPU 35 starts a built-in timer. Then, the polarity detection section of the interface 31 detects the response of the slave device.

When the handset does not respond (the polarity of the telephone line 6 is not reversed), it is determined whether or not a call is in progress. When the call is not in progress, it is determined whether the timer has counted a predetermined period of time (it may also count ring bank tones, etc.) (whether or not the time is up). If the time has not yet expired, the timer is incremented (timekeeping operation continues).

When the called party is on the phone or when the timer has counted a predetermined time and timed out, the CPU 35 sends a command to the computer 1 via the interface 32 and stores the number in the memory of the computer 1.

Next, it is determined whether or not all numbers have been called (or not), and if there are no uncalled numbers, the calling operation is ended.

If the call is not completed, it is determined whether or not to make a call by operating the input device 3 of the computer 1 or the keys of the telephone 22. If the call is made by key operation, the call operation to the number specified and input is performed by the next key operation. be exposed. Even if the call is not made by key operation, the next number is automatically specified (according to the program) in a pre-specified order. When it is input that the specified number should be skipped, the next number is further specified. If no skip is entered for a specified number, that number is searched in the same manner as described above. Since the number to be skipped among the stored numbers differs depending on the message to be sent, it is specified in advance in accordance with the message to be sent.

On the other hand, when the polarity detection section of the interface 3 detects the reversal of the DC loop of the telephone port LA6 (response from the other party), C
The PtJ 35 sends a predetermined information message (audio signal) recorded in the recording/reproducing device 24 to the interface 3.
1. Send it to the handset via the telephone line 6. The recording/reproducing device 24 can be configured with a tape recorder, a voice synthesis IC, a floppy disk, or the like.

When the information being sent to the called party has not yet been completed, it is determined whether there has been a manual input for termination from the input device 3, and if there is no input, the system waits until the information is completed. When the information is finished, the voice detection section of the interface 31
Determine whether there is a message from. If there is no message from the handset, the process moves to a series of steps for determining termination. When there is a message from the handset, CPtJ 35
drives the recording/reproducing device 24 to record the audio signal from the slave unit. Of course, in this case, it is possible to record not only messages from the child device but also information from the parent device. The signal from the telephone line 6 is also input to the transmitting/receiving device 33 which is activated (made ready for reception) at this time, and when a DTMF signal is input from the handset side, it is received. The received DTMF signal is converted into high-level and low-level digital signals by the transmitting/receiving device 33 and input to the computer 1 via the CPU 35 and interface 32. The computer 1 stores the input data in a memory and performs aggregation and other processing according to a program.

Next, it is determined whether the hook switch of telephone 1a22 is on or off. When on-hook (the handset is not lifted), data entry from the input device 3 of the computer 1 is prohibited, but when off-hook (the handset is lifted), the input device 3 of the computer 1 is prohibited.
Data input from is allowed. That is, for example, the user can directly place a voice order from a customer using the telephone 22, and immediately enter the order into the computer 1 by operating the keys of the input device 3. In this way, the customer can place an order by voice without having to perform unfamiliar operations (key operations on the handset). In addition, the user will not receive an incorrect order due to a customer's erroneous operation.
You can eliminate unnecessary troubles with customers. Furthermore, since the computer 1 automatically processes the input data as data from the currently calling party when the input is completed (for example, when on-hook is detected), the user can input data specifically regarding the orderer. There's no need to do it. Since the operation is performed by an experienced user, there is less risk of erroneous input.

When a user is on the phone 22 on the base unit side.

Instead of reproducing information for the other party from the recording/reproducing device 24, the user can directly talk to the other party. In this case, the CPU 35 automatically makes a call only to a number stored in the computer 1 or a manually input number. Therefore, the user can concentrate on providing information tailored to the other party as needed while viewing the other party's data displayed on the display device 4.

When the telephone set 22 is in an on-hook state (the handset is taken down), it is determined whether or not the call is over. When the handset enters an on-hook state (end of call), a pulse generated at that time is detected by the CPC detector, or a re-inversion of the direct current loop of the telephone line is detected by the polarity detector. When the call has not ended, the process moves to a message recording step, and when it has ended, the process moves to an end determination step.

This detection of the end of a call is always performed, and even if the end of a call is detected while information is being sent, the telephone line 6 is opened and the process moves to the end determination step.

When it is determined that the calling operation has ended in the end determination step, the calling operation can be ended there, but it is also possible to carry out further processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, for example. In other words, when the normal calling operation is completed, it is determined whether there is a number that could not be contacted due to the calling operation or time-up (absentee), and if such a number exists and redial is not specified. If so, the calling operation is performed again to that number stored in the memory. If there is no number that could not be contacted or if redial is not specified, it is necessary to print it on the printer 61 (Fig. 2) that is added to the base unit as necessary (if there is no printer, it is displayed on the display device 4). The presence or absence of is determined. If printout is not specified, it will remain as is; if it is specified, the number will be printed and then exit.

The printout can be the number that could not be contacted or conversely the number that could be contacted. For the handset that could not be contacted, the date and time of subsequent calls, day of the week and time, etc. can be changed.

The above operations are continuously and automatically repeated for different numbers, and orders from each number are entered using the DTMF number.

The child device called by the parent device sends out necessary data in response to the information sent from the parent device by operating its keys. When a key is operated, a DTMF signal is output from the telephone's original transmitting/receiving device (or adapter 43) or the transmitting/receiving device 52 of the handset. DTMF
The signal is composed of an HF signal and an LF multiplied signal corresponding to each key, as shown in the following table, for example.

When the front slave unit is a general-purpose telephone such as a dial telephone 42 or a telephone 44, the base unit sends out information in the form of audio signals. However, if the child device is a dedicated terminal device 45 and a printer 46 is attached, the parent device outputs information to the printer 46 as text information rather than an audio signal. In this way, the called party does not have to answer the telephone in response to a call from the base unit, and can simply read the information outputted to the printer 46 at his leisure.

Further, when the slave device is the dedicated terminal device 45, predetermined data can be stored in the memory 55 in advance by operating keys. When the interface 51 detects a calling signal from the base unit, the CPU 56 reads out the data stored in the memory 55 and sets the DT corresponding to the calling/receiving device 52.
Output the MF signal. This DTMF signal is sent to the base unit via the interface 51. If you do it like this.

This is useful, for example, when it is necessary to regularly receive predetermined orders from regular customers.

A dial pulse generator can be attached to the transmitting/receiving device 33 or 52 of the base unit or the slave unit, so that the calling operation is performed using the dial pulse signal and the data sending operation is performed using the DTMF signal. In this way, a dial line can be used instead of a bush line, and costs can be lowered.

The data communication device according to the present invention is basically configured with one computer 1 and a plurality of slave devices connected to it, as shown in FIG. When the number of slave units increases, one base unit that controls multiple base units may be increased in parallel as shown in Figure 5, or multiple base units may be added in parallel as shown in Figure 6. 1
It is also possible to sum up the information sequentially and serially using the base unit. Note that the slave units are omitted in these figures.

Furthermore, in the above description, the number of telephone lines controlled by the base unit is one, but it may be possible to manage a plurality of telephone lines. In this case, the number of recording/reproducing devices 24 is also plural in accordance with the number of telephone lines, and it is possible to send a predetermined message to multiple telephone lines in parallel, or to receive data from multiple handsets in parallel. can do. Furthermore, if the telephone line called from a predetermined handset is in use, the controller 21 can control the call to be routed to a vacant telephone line and received. In this way, more data can be efficiently sent and received in a shorter amount of time.

〔effect〕

As described above, the present invention provides a data communication device that includes a relatively small-sized computer that processes input data according to a predetermined program, a telephone attached to the computer, a detection means for detecting a hook state of the telephone, and a computer. This is because the input device includes an input device whose operation when inputting data is controlled in accordance with the output of the detection means.

A user on the base unit side who is accustomed to operations can input data, reducing the occurrence of erroneous operations and inputs, and shortening the exclusive time of the telephone line. In addition, when data is being received by a user's operation on the slave device, erroneous input or erroneous operation caused by accidentally touching the input device on the base device is also prevented.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1, 2, 5 and 6 are network diagrams of the data communication device of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of its controller, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of its terminal, and FIG. 7 8 is a flowchart thereof, FIG. 9 is a network diagram of a conventional data communication device, and FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a conventional modem telephone. 1... Computer 2... Main body 3... Input device 4... Display device 5... Modem telephone 6... Telephone line 11... Modem 13... NCU section 15... Auto Dial device 21...controller 23...modem 24...recording/reproducing device 31.32...interface 33...transmission/reception device 34...switch 35...CPU 41...telephone office 43 ... Adapter 45 ... Terminal 46 ... Printer 51 ... Interface 52 ... Transmitting and receiving device 53 ... Input device 54 ... Display device 55 ... Memory 56 ... CPU 57 .58...Interface 59...External memory 61...Printer or higher

Claims (1)

[Claims] A relatively small computer that processes input data according to a predetermined program, a telephone attached to the computer, a detection means for detecting a hook state of the telephone, and a computer for inputting the data to the computer. and an input device whose operation is controlled in response to the output of the detection means.