KR19980066122A - Private mailbox method - Google Patents

Abstract

end. The technical field to which the invention described in the claims belongs

A personal mailbox method for an answering machine.

I. The technical problem that the invention is trying to solve

Record the message so that the user of the calling telephone can conveniently listen to only the specific user of the answering machine.

All. Summary of Solution of the Invention

A personal mailbox registration step of receiving and storing a plurality of personal numbers and passwords, and assigning and registering different memory areas according to a plurality of personal numbers in the voice memory unit of the answering machine; Storing a message in a memory area of a voice memory unit of the answering machine according to the specific personal number if the user inputs a specific personal number, and if the specific individual inputs the corresponding password, the specific personal number. And a message output step of outputting a message stored in a memory area of the voice memory unit of the answering machine.

la. Important uses of the invention

Used for answering machines.

Description

Private mailbox method

The present invention relates to an answering machine, and more particularly to a personal mailbox method of an answering machine.

Conventional answering machine, when a certain number of ring signals are applied from the calling party, connects the telephone line and sends outgoing message (OGM) hereinafter through the telephone line. Send it out.

Here, for example, the OGM could record a message when it beeps.

At this time, the user of the calling telephone hears the OGM, speaks the message to the talker after the beeping sound, and the message is provided to the answering machine through the telephone line and recorded.

Conventional answering machine as described above did not have a privacy function. Accordingly, after recording the message sent by the calling party, anyone who could use the answering machine even if the person was not supposed to receive the message could play and listen.

In other words, if the domestic partner is A, B, or C, an outsider or an insider recorded a message that A wants to listen to on the answering machine. C could play the message and listen to it.

Accordingly, in the related art, a private mail box function was added to an answering machine in order to protect personal privacy.

The conventional personal mailbox function is as follows. When the answering machine receives a certain number of ring signals from the calling telephone, the answering machine connects the telephone line and sends the OGM through the telephone line. At this time, when the user of the calling telephone presses a predetermined MFC button during OGM transmission or after OGM transmission, the answering machine switches to personal mailbox mode. After the answering machine is switched to the personal mailbox mode, the user of the calling party can record a message to the user of the answering machine by inputting a password registered in advance by the user of the answering machine.

As described above, the conventional personal mailbox function can record a message to one user only after the user of the calling telephone presses a specific MFC button and then presses a password predetermined by one user of the answering machine.

As described above, the conventional personal mailbox function is cumbersome in that the user of the calling telephone presses a specific MFC button and then presses a password predetermined by one user of the answering machine to record a message to the one user.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a personal mailbox method for recording a message so that a user of a calling telephone can conveniently listen to a specific user of an answering machine.

1 is a block diagram of a typical answering machine;

2 to 4 are flowcharts of a personal mailbox method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention for achieving the above object is a personal mailbox registration step of receiving and storing a plurality of personal numbers and passwords, assigning and registering different memory areas according to a plurality of personal numbers in the voice memory unit of the answering machine; After registering the personal mailbox, if the user of the calling telephone enters a specific personal number to leave a message, the message storing step of storing the message in the memory area of the voice memory unit of the answering machine according to the specific personal number; And a message output step of outputting a message stored in a memory area of a voice memory unit of the answering machine according to the specific personal number when the corresponding password is input.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description and the annexed drawings, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. And a detailed description of known functions and configurations that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention will be omitted.

1 is a block diagram of a conventional answering machine. The controller 10 controls the overall operation of the answering machine according to the control program stored in the memory 32. The call circuit unit 14 controls various tone signals, ring signals, and call voice signals under the control of the controller 10. Hook relay (H / S) is mechanically operated by the lifting of the handset to form or block the communication path between the call circuit unit 14 and the telephone line. The call relay 12 forms or blocks a call path between the call circuit unit 14 and the phone line under the control of the controller 10. The handset 16 includes a handset for converting a voice signal generated from a subscriber into an electrical signal and a handset for converting an electrical signal into a voice signal to generate an audible sound. The DTMF generation unit 18 converts the data provided from the control unit 10 into a DTMF signal and sends the DTMF signal to the call circuit unit 14. The tone detection unit 20 converts a tone signal such as a DTMF signal corresponding to the telephone number of the transmission side received through the call circuit unit 14 into predetermined data and provides it to the control unit 10. The ring detection unit 22 is connected to a telephone line that enters the hook relay H / S, detects a ring signal received through the telephone line, and provides the ring signal to the controller 10. The polarity inversion detector 24 is connected to the telephone line that is introduced into the hook relay (H / S), detects that the polarity of the voltage provided from the exchange is inverted and provides the polarity inversion detection signal to the control unit 10. . The line break detector 26 is connected to a telephone line leading to the hook relay H / S, and detects a cutoff of the voltage provided from the exchange to provide a line break detection signal to the controller 10. The signal provided from the exchanger is determined by the type of the exchanger, which includes a polarity inversion exchanger and a line switch type exchanger. The display unit 28 displays the current operating state of the phone under the control of the control unit 10. The key input unit 30 generates key commands and key data according to the key pressed by the user to control the operation of the telephone. The memory 32 stores data according to the operation of the control program and the telephone. The data includes data corresponding to the received telephone number. The timer 34 is provided inside the controller 10 and checks the current time by counting a predetermined clock. The answering machine 36 is composed of a voice processing unit 40, a codec 38, and a voice memory unit 42 to record and reproduce voice messages. The voice processor 40 is a digital signal processor that controls the answering machine 36. The codec 38 converts a voice signal into digital voice data and converts the digital voice data into a voice signal. The voice processing unit 40 has a RAM for storing various data therein. The voice memory unit 42 stores or outputs voice data under the control of the voice processor 40.

2 shows a flowchart of a personal mailbox method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In step 44 of FIG. 2, the controller 10 searches whether the hook switch H / S is turned off by lifting the handset of the handset 16. At this time, the controller 10 performs step (46) when hooked off, and otherwise performs step (56). In step 46, the controller 10 searches whether the user inputs the personal mailbox registration key of the key input unit 30 to register the personal mailbox. At this time, if the user enters the personal mailbox registration key, the controller 10 performs step (48), and if the personal mailbox registration key is not input, step (50). In step (48), the controller 10 performs a personal mailbox registration. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation of the controller 10 for registering the personal mailbox. In step 80 of FIG. 3, the controller 10 searches whether the user inputs the mailbox key of the key input unit 30. At this time, if the user inputs the mailbox key of the key input unit 30, the control unit 10 performs step 82; otherwise, performs step 44 of FIG. In step (82), the control unit 10 searches whether the user has keyed in the personal number of the key input unit 30. At this time, if the control unit 10 has keyed in the personal number of the key input unit 30, step (82) is performed, otherwise step (82) is performed again.

Here, the personal number uses one digit as an identification number for identifying an individual.

In step 84, the controller 10 stores the personal number in the memory 32. When the storing is completed, the controller 10 performs step 86. In step (86), the control unit 10 instructs the voice processing unit 40 of the answering machine 36 to output a personal OGM recording guide message. Accordingly, the voice processing unit 40 reads the voice data according to the personal OGM recording guide message prestored in the voice memory unit 42 and provides them to the codec 38. The codec 38 converts the voice data according to the personal OGM recording guide message into a voice signal and provides it to the handset unit 16, and the handset of the handset unit 16 responds to the voice signal according to the personal OGM recording guide message. Outputs the OGM announcement message.

When the output is terminated, the controller 10 performs step 88. In step 88, the controller 10 stores a personal OGM. The storage process is as follows. First, the voice signal according to the personal OGM input by the user through the handset of the handset 16 is input to the codec 38. The codec 38 converts the voice signal according to the personal OGM into the voice data according to the personal OGM. At this time, the voice processing unit 40 stores voice data according to the personal OGM in the voice memory unit 42.

Here, the personal OGM is a greeting or music of an individual.

When the storing is completed, the controller 10 performs step 90. In step 90, the controller 10 instructs the voice processing unit 40 of the answering machine 36 to output a password input guide message. Accordingly, the voice processing unit 40 reads the voice data according to the password input guide message previously stored in the voice memory unit 42 and provides them to the codec 38. The codec 38 converts the voice data according to the password input guide message into a voice signal and provides the received signal to the handset 16. The handset of the handset 16 receives the password input guide according to the voice signal according to the password input guide message. Print a message.

When the output of the message is terminated, the controller 10 performs step 92. In step 92, the controller 10 searches whether the user inputs a password composed of four digits through the key input unit 30. At this time, the control unit 10 performs step (94) when the user key-in a password consisting of four digits, otherwise performs step (92). In operation 94, the controller 10 stores the password input by the user in the memory 32. When the storage is completed, the controller 10 performs step 96. In step (96), the controller 10 searches whether the user instructs the completion of the personal mailbox registration by pressing the registration key. At this time, if the user presses the registration key, the controller 10 may allocate a voice message storage area to the voice memory unit 42 according to the personal number. Otherwise, the controller 10 may register another individual by performing step (80). When the registration of the personal mailbox is completed, the controller 10 performs step 98. In step (98), the control unit 10 instructs the voice processing unit 40 of the answering machine 36 to output the personal mailbox guide OGM recording guide. Accordingly, the voice processing unit 40 reads the voice data according to the personal mailbox guide OGM recording guide previously stored in the voice memory unit 42 and provides them to the codec 38. The codec 38 converts the voice data according to the personal mailbox guide OGM recording guide into a voice signal and provides the voice signal to the handset unit 16. The handset of the handset 16 is connected to the voice signal according to the personal mailbox guide OGM recording guide. According to the personal mailbox OGM recording guide output.

When the output is terminated, the controller 10 performs step 100. In step 100, the controller 10 stores the personal mailbox guide OGM. The storage process is as follows. First, the voice signal according to the personal mailbox guide OGM input by the user through the handset of the handset 16 is input to the codec 38. The codec 38 converts a voice signal according to the personal mailbox guide OGM into voice data according to the personal mailbox guide OGM. At this time, the voice processing unit 40 stores voice data according to the personal mailbox guide OGM in the voice memory unit 42.

If you want to leave a message to the personal mailbox guide OGM XX, please press 1. Press 2 to leave a message for YY. … If you want to record a normal message, press 0.

Here, the memory map of the voice memory section 42 and the memory 32 will be described.

First, the memory map of the memory 36 is shown in Table 1.

The memory 32 stores the personal number and the password according to the personal number.

The memory map of the voice memory section 42 is shown in Table 2.

As described above, the voice memory unit 42 is provided with a personal mailbox memory area provided for each individual to store a personal mailbox voice message. In addition, a personal mailbox guide OGM and a personal OGM storage area are provided to perform personal mailbox guides for a plurality of individuals at the calling party. A general OGM and a general OGM storage area are provided for the calling party that does not use a personal mailbox.

Meanwhile, in step 50, the controller 10 searches whether the user inputs a message reproducing key for reproducing the message. At this time, if the user inputs the message playback key, the control unit 10 performs step 52, otherwise performs step 54. In step 54, the controller 10 performs a corresponding operation.

In step 52, the controller 10 performs a message reproducing function. 4 is a detailed flowchart illustrating the message reproducing function.

In step 102 of FIG. 4, the controller 10 searches whether the user inputs a personal number through the key input unit 30. At this time, if the user inputs the personal number, the control unit 10 performs step 106, otherwise performs step 104. In step 104, the controller 10 performs general message reproduction. When the normal message reproduction ends, the controller 10 performs step 44 of FIG. 2.

In step 106, the controller 10 searches whether the user inputs a password. At this time, if the user inputs a password, the control unit 10 performs step 108; otherwise, step 106 is performed. In step 108, the controller 10 searches whether the password corresponding to the personal number stored in the memory 32 and the input password match. If step 110 is performed, otherwise step 44 of FIG.

In step 110, the control unit 10 instructs the voice processing unit 40 of the answering machine 36 to output a voice message stored in the mailbox memory area of the individual. Accordingly, the voice processing unit 40 reads the voice data stored in the personal mailbox memory area into the voice memory unit 42 and provides it to the codec 38. The codec 38 converts the voice data into a voice signal and provides it to the handset 16, and the handset of the handset 16 outputs a voice message corresponding to the voice signal. When the output is completed, the controller 10 performs step 44 of FIG. 2.

Meanwhile, in step 56 of FIG. 2, the controller 10 searches whether the incoming ring occurs as the calling user dials. At this time, if the incoming ring occurs, the controller 10 performs step 58, otherwise performs step 44. In step 58, the controller 10 searches whether the incoming ring has been a predetermined number of times. At this time, if the incoming ring reaches a predetermined number of times, the control unit 10 performs step (64), otherwise performs step (60). In step (60), the controller 10 searches for hooking off. At this time, the control unit 10 performs step 62 if the hook is off, and performs step 58 if it is not hooked off. In step 62, the controller 10 performs a general telephone function.

In step 64, the controller 10 connects the telephone line. When the connection of the telephone line is terminated, the controller 10 transmits a personal mailbox guide OGM. When the transmission of the personal mailbox guide OGM ends, the control unit 10 performs step 66. In step 66, the controller 10 searches whether a personal number is input. At this time, if the personal number is input, the controller 10 performs step (70), otherwise performs step (76). In step 70, the controller 10 sends out the corresponding personal OGM. When the transmission of the corresponding personal OGM is terminated, the control unit 10 records the message in the selected personal mailbox area. When the message recording ends, the controller 10 performs step 74. In step 74, the controller 10 cuts the telephone line. When the cutting of the telephone line is completed, the controller performs the step (44).

In step 76, the control unit sends a general OGM. When the transmission of the general OGM is finished, the control unit 10 performs step (78). In step 78, the controller 10 records a general message. When the recording of the general message ends, the controller 10 performs step (44).

As described above, the present invention can conveniently store a message by selecting an individual at the calling side.

As described above, in the present invention, the calling user simply inputs only the personal number and records the message. As such, the calling user has an advantage of using a personal mailbox conveniently.

Claims (4)

In the personal mailbox method of the answering machine, a personal mailbox registration step of receiving and storing a plurality of personal numbers and passwords, and assigning and registering different memory areas according to the plurality of personal numbers in the voice memory unit of the answering machine; After registering the personal mailbox, if the user of the calling telephone enters a specific personal number to leave a message, the message storing step of storing the message in the memory area of the voice memory unit of the answering machine according to the specific personal number; And a message outputting step of outputting a message stored in a memory area of a voice memory unit of the answering machine according to the specific personal number. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal mailbox method of the answering machine further comprises a general message storing step of storing a message of a calling party who does not press a personal number, having a general message storage area in a memory. How to do a personal mailbox. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal mailbox registration step includes: storing a personal number and password in a memory when a mailbox key, a personal number and a password are input, and receiving an outgoing message of the individual after the storage; A personal outgoing message storing step of storing in the voice memory of the answering machine; and registering the personal outgoing message by allocating an area to store the voice message of the individual in the voice memory of the answering machine when the storing of the personal outgoing message is finished; When the registration is completed, if there is an individual to be registered further, the personal number storing step is performed, otherwise the personal outgoing message storage step of receiving a guide outgoing message for the registered personal mailbox and storing it in the voice memory unit; Personal mailbox method characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of outputting the message comprises inputting a personal number and a password, reading a password of the corresponding personal number from a memory, and if the input personal number and the stored password are the same, the corresponding voice. And a message outputting step of outputting a message stored in the memory unit.