JPS6339250A - Automatic answering telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively use a read/write memory by running background music when a response message is transmitted and insuring the read/write memory storing variable pattern data against operating during a silence period. CONSTITUTION:An incoming call detection circuit 23 detects an incoming call from a calling party side, and automatically responds to the call in an automatic answering mode. In sound recording, according to the presence or absence of a voice set by a timer 27, signals in the read/write memory 21 are read. If a user wants to run background music simultaneously, a melody switch 32 is turned on, whereby a melody generator circuit 26 generating a melody starts. The silence state set by the timer 27 stops reading the read/write memory 21. Only when the melody switch 32 is turned on, a melody is outputted through an A/D converter 22.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] This invention provides an answering machine that automatically answers an incoming call according to the specification of an answering machine switch, and sends a pre-stored response message to the caller. It is related to.

[Prior Art] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional answering machine disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-81952. In the figure, (1) is a CPU, (2) is a fixed pattern data (3) is a read-only memory (ROM) that stores variable pattern data; (3) is a read-write memory that stores variable pattern data;
4) is a microphone, (5) is a microphone input amplifier circuit, and (6) is a microphone input amplifier circuit.
) is an A/D converter that converts microphone input into a digital signal, (7) is an incoming call detection circuit that detects incoming calls, (8) is a relay driver, and (9) is a communication status switching contact. ) is driven by a relay driver (8).

(10) is a line transformer, (11) is a voice synthesis circuit that generates voice, (12) is a 2-wire to 4-wire exchange, (13)
is an analog switch, (14) is an amplifier circuit, (15)
is the speaker, (16) is the analog switch for recording, (1
7) is an amplifier circuit, (18) is a magnetic head, and (19) is a recording tape.

Next, the operation of the conventional answering machine with the above configuration will be explained. The audio input from the microphone (4) is sent to the amplifier (5).
), then A/D converted by an A/D converter, and stored in the read/write memory (3) as variable pattern data.

When an incoming call is expected, the incoming call detection circuit (7) detects the incoming call,
Sends a calling signal to CPU (1).

The CPU (1) drives the relay driver (8) and switches the switching contact (9) to the line transformer (10) side, and at the same time reads fixed pattern data and variable pattern data from each of the memories (2>, (3)). Readout, speech synthesis circuit (
11), the data is converted into audio data and sent to the calling party.

Messages from the sender are recorded using a recording analog switch (16), an amplifier circuit (17), and a magnetic head (18).
Record it on the recording tape (19).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Since the conventional answering machine is configured as described above, the response message is a post-processing response and is less likely to cause discomfort to the caller. There wasn't. Further, even when a silent period is inserted between messages, read/write memory is required for the silent period, which causes problems such as requiring the largest amount of memory.

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems.It is possible to add a melody to a response message, and even when a silent period is provided between messages, the melody can be added to the silent period without using read/write memory. To provide an answering machine that generates a message and sends a pleasant response message to a caller.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The answering machine according to the present invention plays background music along with audio when sending a response message to the caller, and mutes the read/write memory that stores variable pattern data. It is configured so that it does not operate during the period.

[Operation] The response message to the caller according to the present invention is voice-synthesized using the melody generated by the read/write memory and the melody generating circuit, and is sent out.When the response message is stored in the read/write memory, the response message is By stopping reading of the read/write memory during the non-response period, a reasonably good response message can be sent to the transmitting station and the read/write memory can be used effectively.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1st
In the figure, (20) is the processing unit, and (21) is the A/D
Read/write memory for storing converted audio (2)
2) is an A/ that converts analog signals and digital signals.
D converter, (23) is an incoming call detection circuit that detects incoming calls, (
24) is a communication circuit, (25) is a handset consisting of a transmitter (25a) and a receiver (25b), (26) is a melody generation circuit, and (27) is a timer for determining recording on/off times. , (28) is a display that displays each display depending on the status, (29) is a numeric keypad, (30) is an answering switch that is pressed when selecting the answering function, (31) is a message recording switch that is pressed when recording a response message, (32
) is a melody switch for synthesizing melody with voice.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG. 2 is a recording/playback operation diagram showing the relationship between the read/write memory read/write processing and each switch. In FIG. 2, (A) indicates the presence or absence of audio, and (
B) shows the state in which the read/write memory is reading or writing, (c) shows the melody volume when the melody switch is turned on, and (d) shows the recording button when recording a message in the read/write memory. (e) shows how to set the time for the presence or absence of audio using the recording button.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the processing section (1) used when recording a response message, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart used when sending a response message to the caller.

First, recording of a response message will be explained based on FIG. By pressing the recording switch (31), the recording is turned on (step 3-1). Handset (25
Recording is possible by speaking into the transmitter (25a>) built into the device.

From this point on, it is determined whether the timer (27) has already started operating (step 3-2). If it is not working, start the timer (step 3-3), and if it is working, set the recording restart time (step 3-4).
.

The voice input by the transmitter (25a) is converted into a digital signal by the A/D converter (22) (Step 3-5>) and stored in the read/write memory (21) (Step 3-6). Further, it is determined whether the effective time of the memory has exceeded (step 3-7>), and if the effective time has exceeded, the process ends.

Also, by turning off the recording switch (31), the recording "n" to the read dry mill memory (21) is stopped (step 3-8), and the time when recording is stopped is set. Step 3-9> Determine whether the it sound has ended or not, and if the recording has not ended, return to step 3-1 (step 3-10).
).

Next, based on FIG. 4, the case where a response message is reproduced and sent to the calling party will be explained. The incoming call from the calling party is detected by the incoming call detection circuit (23), and the incoming call is determined (step 4-1). It is also determined whether the telephone is in automatic response mode (step 4-2). In the case of the answering mode, automatic response processing is performed (step 4-3).

During recording, the read/write memory (2
1) Read out the signal. Also, if you want to play background music at the same time, you can use the melody switch (3
2) (step 4-5), the melody generation circuit (26) that generates a melody is turned on from star 1 to
(Step 4-6). Read/write memory (21)
The signal is converted into an analog signal by an A/D converter (22), synthesized with a melody sound, and given to the calling party.

In the silent state set by the timer (27), reading of the read/write memory (21) is stopped (step 4-9).
> Only when the melody switch (32) is on,
A melody sound is output through an A/D converter (22).

When the melody switch (32) is on, the sound remains silent. When there is a voice in each state, the melody volume is reduced so that the response message does not become difficult to hear. The processing unit (20) controls the melody volume to a medium level when there is no sound.

Incidentally, in the above embodiment, the voice signal and melody in the read/write memory are synthesized when sending a response message, but the voice and melody may be synthesized during recording and stored in the read/write memory.

1. Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, background music can be sent together with a response message, and since the silent state caused by recording is not stored in the read/write memory, the caller can This has the effect of giving a better response message to the side and making effective use of the memory of the read dryer 1 to memory.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an answering machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 shows the presence or absence of an audio signal during recording and playback, the on/off of melody recording, and the times of memory reading and writing timers. FIG. 3 is a flow chart for recording, FIG. 4 is a flow chart for playback, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional answering machine. In the figure, (20) is a processing unit, (21) is a read/write memory, (22) is an A/D converter, (23) is an incoming call detection unit, (26) is a melody generation circuit, (27) is a timer, (30) is an answering switch. In the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts. Agent: Patent attorney Masuo Oiwa (and 2 others) ^ ^ ^
^V mouth ’1(
Pregnancy - ν Li - Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an answering machine that automatically answers an incoming call and sends a pre-stored response message to the caller according to the specifications of the answering machine switch, the message sent to the caller is converted from analog to digital and converted into a digital message. An A/D converter for encoding, a read/write memory for storing the digitally encoded data, a melody generation circuit for generating a melody, and a recording time and recording stop time of the response message are measured and set. a timer to
generating a silent period for the response message, reading from the read/write memory, controlling the operation of the A/D converter;
An answering machine comprising a processing section that controls the operation of the melody generating circuit and manages the time set by the timer.