JPS6372253A - Voice mail system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the exchange of voice message by a LAN by connecting a work station having a voice analog/digital mutual conversion means, a voice input means and a voice output means to the LAN. CONSTITUTION:The message desired to be sent is inputted by a microphone 6 in voice. The voice signal is digital-converted by a converter 5 and sent to an opposite party by the LAN 8 via an external storage device 3 and a terminal device 4. The voice signal from the LAN 8 is analog-converted by the converter 5 and outputted as a voice message from a speaker 7.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Technical Field) The present invention relates to a voice mail system that connects workstations such as personal computers as terminals of a local area network (LAN) and transmits voice within the LAN. .

[Prior Art] Conventionally, message exchange on a LAN has been limited to text or images.

Therefore, even though stations are connected by LAN cables, voice transmission has been carried out using other means, such as telephones using public lines. Also,
It was also not possible to transmit voice signals received from public lines via LAN.

(Purpose) The present invention eliminates the drawbacks of the conventional communication limited to text only, and makes it possible to exchange messages by voice over a LAN, and also enables voice transmission between the LAN and a public network. be.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is an external view of an in-LAN voice mail system using a personal computer employing the present invention. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the main part configuration of this system.
4 and 4 are flowcharts showing the operating procedure of this system.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a CRT, 2 is a keyboard,
The CRTI and keyboard 2 constitute a well-known personal computer. 3 is an external storage device containing a storage medium such as a hard disk, 4 is a terminal device for transmitting data with the LAN 8, and 5 is an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter and a digital-to-analog (D/D) converter. A
) A converter with a built-in converter, 6 a microphone for audio input, and 7 a speaker for audio output. Also, 9
1 is a control unit (NCU) that exchanges signals with the public line, and 10 is the public line.

Further, in FIG. 2, elements with the same numbers as in FIG. 1 are the same as in FIG.

Reference numeral 11 is a control unit (CPtJ) provided in the terminal device and controls the operation of this station, 13 is a memory ROM, 14 is a memory RAM, and 12 is a system bus. Further, 15 is another station connected to the LAN and having the same configuration as this station.

The operation of audio transmission within the LAN will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

On the transmitting side that outputs audio, a message to be conveyed is input by voice through the microphone 6 in step S1 in FIG. In the next step S2, the input voice is digitally converted by the converter 5 and then filed in the external storage device 3 of the own station. After this filing, in step S3, the other party's station 15 in the same LAN is notified of the message.

When the receiving side receives this message in step S6, it outputs a signal indicating that it is allowed to transmit audio in step 7 if it is in a state where audio can be received.

On the transmitting side, in step S4, the destination station 15
The waiting process is performed until a signal indicating that it is OK to send is received from the sender. When a signal indicating permission to send is received from the other party, in the next step S5, the audio message data filed in the external storage device 3 in step S2 is transferred to the L
Send to the other party via AN8.

When the voice is transferred via the LAN, the receiving side temporarily stores the received message data in the RAM 14 in step S8. Then, in step S9, the converter 5 performs digital-to-analog conversion and outputs the analog voice message from the speaker 7.

Next, the operation of a voice mail system including a public telephone line will be explained.

At step 511 in FIG. 4, a command to make a call to an external party is entered manually from the keyboard 2 in FIG. 2 through the public line 10. In the next step S12, the CPU 1l of the personal computer instructs the NCU 9 to switch the human power line for the voice from the microphone 6 and the output line for the voice to the speaker 7 to the public line 10. Next, in step S13, a call signal is generated within the NCU 9.

By inputting dialed numbers from a keyboard 2 using a dialed number sending function, the user can talk to the other party through a public line.

Next, in step 314, after talking with the other party, input a command to disconnect from the keyboard by using the disconnection signal sending function of the NCU 9, and notify the public network 10 that the disconnection is to be performed. Switch the audio input/output line to converter 5.

In this way, voice transmission is possible not only within the LAN but also through public lines. Further, an audio signal is stored in advance in the external storage device 5, and the stored audio signal is read out and output to the outside via the NCU 9 and the public line 10.

Conversely, the audio data received through the public line 10 is converted into a digital audio signal by a converter, and then the LAN 8
It is transmitted to other stations 15 via.

Therefore, the voicemail system can be used not only within the LAN, but also within the LAN.
It can be used as a system that includes public lines.

In the voice mail system described above, the analog-to-digital voice converter and the NCU are pre-installed in a personal computer, so that the number of terminals that can be used as a workstation for the voice mail system is limited.

Furthermore, if the audio analog/digital conversion device breaks down, there is a possibility that it will not be possible to use it as a personal computer because there is no freedom of movement.

Therefore, it is conceivable to make the converter and NC1J, which have a built-in audio A/D converter and D/A converter, into an option board for the personal computer.

FIG. 5 is an external view of a voice mail system in which the converter and NCU are made into an option board, and the elements labeled with the same numbers as in FIG. 1 are the same as in FIG. 1. The difference from FIG. 1 is that the converter 5 in FIG.
In addition to eliminating the converter and NCU9, the converter and NCU
The point is that an option board 20 containing a built-in is provided.

As shown in Figure 5, by making the converter an option board, if a converter malfunctions, the voice mail function can be restored by replacing the converter. By attaching an option board to a workstation such as a computer, it becomes possible to perform a voice mail function using a LAN.

〔effect〕

As is clear from the above explanation, this system is not only a LAN voice mail system, but also a
It is possible to provide a voice mail system that enables transmission of voice signals through public lines.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an external view of a voice mail system adopting the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the main configuration of this system, Figs. 3 and 4 are flowcharts of the operation of this system, Fig. 5 is another external view of the voice mail system, in which 1 is a CRT, 2 is a keyboard, 6 is a microphone, 7 is a speaker, and 8 is a LAN.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Connecting a workstation to a local area network, which has a control means for exchanging signals with an external public network, an audio analog/digital conversion means, an audio input means, and an audio output means. A voicemail system characterized by transmitting voice within a local area network and over an external public network. (2) The voice mail system according to claim (1), wherein the control means is an option board of a workstation.