DE2931254A1 - Automatic telephone answering equipment - stores calling number for use in subsequent call and does not have recording facility - Google Patents

Abstract

The answering system dispensed with a recording facility for incoming messages. Instead the caller is invited to leave his own number which is then recorded in a digital memory. The number is transmitted over the connecting line by the caller dialling his own number on his instrument. The transmitted impulses are evaluated and stored at the receiving instrument. When the receiving instrument is again manned the numbers can be displayed for manual call back. Alternatively they can be transferred to another register and used, one by one, to directly send out the aooropriate signals to call the number stored. On completion of the call the next number in the memory is selected, and this process repeated until the store is empty.

Description

description

The invention relates to a device for automatic answering for telephone sets with a memory for call recording.

Automatic answering machines are known as additional devices for telephones, which automatically output a message when the called subscriber is absent and have the ability to speak a message of limited duration, which can be listened to later by the returned subscriber.

Such answering machines have the disadvantage that for voice recording a mechanically moved sound carrier must be available, which is prone to failure and one requires great design effort. To prevent a malfunctioning recorder Calls are also accepted according to the postal regulations to provide elaborate control and safety devices. Furthermore, the known answering machine for the calling subscriber is often unsatisfactory, when he usually does not expect to have to formulate a message, since he expects to speak to the called party personally. Lots of callers are unable to be precise in the short time available formulate in what way contact after the failed personal call should be included. You hang up without leaving a message, like that that calls are lost for the called subscriber.

The invention specified in claim 1 is based on the object to create an answering machine that does not have these disadvantages and the possibility offers, using an accumulator that does not require a mechanical drive, record a number of calls.

The claimed solution is based on the knowledge that telephone sets These days are so widespread that when the called party is absent is, in almost all cases, a later callback is appropriate to deal with the caller Get in touch with.

In order to notify the called party of the wish to be called back, it is sufficient to transmit the digits of the phone number under which the caller himself can be reached by the called subscriber from a main connection. For this Information is only required in a memory of ten decimal digits each can accommodate.

In an advantageous development of the invention, they are used for transmission of the digits of the call number to the called subscriber use the same dialing characters as to establish connections from telephones anyway. So needs the caller after the automatic answering machine by issuing an appropriate Text has reported, only his own phone number - for long-distance calls under Addition of your own area code - via his number dial or = his keypad to identify yourself to the called party.

As the commonly used dialing characters as a cracker "- in the event the pulse dialing process - or as audio-frequency signals - in the case of the multi-frequency process - Are transmitted in the language area, the dialing characters arrive via the speech channel to the called set.

The device according to the invention is advantageously designed in such a way that that the usual dialing characters used in a telephone system side by side are decodable.

The device according to the invention is particularly advantageous because as they are in the case of telephones which automatically issue complete telephone numbers allow from memories - a facility that is used on telephones with a a certain ease of use is expected anyway - only a small additional effort means. The stored phone number transmitted by the caller is used directly used. to establish the connection when you call back. With that the owner needs of the called telephone connection after his return only those in his Absence stored phone numbers (in the case of several calls) one after the other to be transferred to an output memory by triggering a corresponding Button to call back. After a successful callback, an additional phone number will be used transferred to the output memory, which is preferably for the purpose of control with a Display memory is connected.

Such an output memory can be combined in an advantageous manner with a memory for redial, i.e.

a memory in which a number memory (with speed dials or abbreviated dialing numbers) or using the dial or keypad Call number can be entered, which in the event of the busy tone or, if the called subscriber does not answer, again and, if necessary, repeated can be output.

Other preferred developments of the invention are set out in the subclaims specified. The following is an advantageous embodiment of the invention described in more detail with reference to the figures. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a telephone with a device for automatic answering, FIG. 2 a block diagram of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, FIG Block diagram of a device for decoding dialing pulses for the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, a pulse diagram for the device shown in FIG. 3.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 1 of a telephone set with the inventive device for automatic answering is under simultaneous reference to the block diagram of FIG. 2 described, wherein the blocks corresponding to the operating elements of the telephone set in FIG in Fig. 2 are provided with matching reference numerals.

The telephone set 1 can after picking up the handset 2 as usual can be used, dialing a number using a keypad 3. The selected phone number is saved as a buffer for the output of the Call number serving display memory 4 (Fig.

2), which controls a ten-digit seven-segment display 5 (Fig.l). By pressing a "SELECT" button 6, the one in the display memory 4 becomes Telephone number (again if necessary) issued. The possible repetition of the Dialing characters belonging to a phone number make it easier to dial a number again Subscriber when the busy signal appears or the call is not answered and this should be repeated after a while.

Before entering a new phone number, the display memory 4 is through Press a key nDELSCHENs 7 cleared. The telephone set 1 is also provided with name keys 8, which output a complete phone number cause a memory 9. These phone numbers are also stored in the display memory 4 and are shown in display 5. Saving a phone number in the Memory 9 from the display memory 4 in a preselected position of the call number memory 10, which forms part of the memory 9, is carried out by actuating a button RSSTORE "10 while pressing down one of the speed dials 8. The addressing of the memory 9, which in addition to the number memory 10 still further, in the following contains memory parts described, an addressing part 11 takes over each. The dialing pulses are generated by a dialing signal generator 12, which is determined by the content of the display memory 4 is controlled when through the "SELECT" button 6, the corresponding connection is made via a switching element 13.

The answering machine function of the telephone set 1 is over a key "ABSENT" 14 switched on, which the answering machine control 15, which is shown schematically as a block, activated. When pressing this button 14, the area of the memory 9 serving as the call memory 16 is deleted at the same time and the write-in address for this memory area is set to "0". In the call log 16 for an incoming call is the phone number transmitted over the line of the calling party.

Goes with activated answering machine part at the telephone set 1 receives a call over the trunk line 17, the registration address in the Call memory 16 increased by "1" by the answering machine control 15. Will the highest registered address is not exceeded, i.e. If the "MEMORY FULL" signal does not appear, the corresponding one is sent via Linking producing AND gate 18 sends a signal to a message text generator 19, the first caused the closing of the office loop by the telephone set 1. As a spoken text, the name or business name is stated the subscriber and the note that the answer will be automatic, the request was made to the caller, now without hanging up, on own set to dial the number under which he of the calling subscriber can be achieved. This request is for the caller fer clear and clearly and he can easily follow her.

The message text generator contains means for synthetic speech generation, the speech vibrations recorded in digital form in read-only memories are. In the case of simple versions and short announcement texts, the storage direct, i.e. the amplitude values of the speech vibrations to be recorded scanned at fixed time intervals "" and each stored as a digital value. The playback takes place accordingly with a digital-to-analog converter, which is clocked each time the stored values are supplied to the fixed times.

In the case of more complex designs, a device is used for speech synthesis used as they are in connection with data processing equipment or language teaching devices is known. The phonemes representing speech sounds can be called up directly and it is only necessary to present the texts to be output in wLautschriftw, i.e.

the commands causing the output of the phonemes are in the required Order to be held in a memory.

In response to the aforementioned request via the telephone, from which the call is made, the dialing signals issued form crackers "on the line, i.e. steep-edged impulses that are transmitted in the speech frequency range and thus the transmission path from the calling party to the called subscriber happens to the latter also applies to dialing characters after the multi-frequency dialing process, because also at these the transmitted frequencies fall within the audible range.

The incoming dial signals over the trunk line 17 are from a Dialing character decoder 20 converted into digits corresponding electrical signals, wherein the schematically shown decoder both dialing characters according to the multi-frequency method NMFV "as well as using the pulse dialing method" IWV ". The incoming digit signals are closed as a call number in the designated by the pending write address Transfer area of call memory 16.

If the owner of the called telephone returns, so sets he first presses wAISENDw 14 back to the answering machine control 15 put out of function.

Now he has the opportunity to see if there have been any calls have taken place. By pressing the "tu 21" button, the calls stored in the call memory 16 are held Call numbers in sequence starting with the first address - in the display memory 4 transferred. If no call has been saved, this status is displayed a sequence of zeros. The same applies if, after reviewing all phone numbers, a empty memory area or the end of memory 16 is reached. The respectively The phone number recorded in the display memory can be accessed directly using the "SELECT" 6 key used to connect to the caller so that a manual dialing is not necessary. It can be - as with the one described above Call repetition - Press the "SELECT" button 6 several times, if not a connection immediately comes about. After the call has ended or when the called subscriber is does not report, the stored at the next address of the call memory 16 can Call number into the display memory 4 by pressing the n t 12 21 key again be convicted. As already mentioned, the call memory is completely erased, when the answering machine part is switched on again by pressing key 14 will.

To - in the case of a corresponding spread of such devices - not your own call number for the transmission of your own call number when making a call having to enter each via the keypad 3 is a memory in the memory 9 22 intended for your own phone number. The output takes place by pressing the Key "OWN TELEPHONE NUMBER" 22, at the same time as transferring this number in the display memory 4, the switching element 13 is triggered, which is done by an OR gate 23 is indicated, so that pressing the "SELECT" button 6 to output the digits in the form of dialing characters on line 17 is not required in this case.

The own call number is output including the area code. This makes it easier to call back even for long-distance calls. To within of your own local area network for incoming calls to save the - then not required - to suppress the area code, a function block 24 is provided, the storing of the digits of the area code of your own local area network in the call memory 16 suppressed, this possibly by comparison with the contents of the memory 22 can be done for your own call number, as indicated in Fig. 2 by an arrow is.

The block diagram shown in Fig.3 gives one for the pulse dialing method (IWV) suitable dialing character decoder in its basic mode of operation. In the case of a dialing character decoder that works according to the multi-frequency method (DTMF) the frequencies used via suitable filters from the transmitted voice frequency band sifted out and using a decoding matrix in accordance with the agreements made converted into the digits assigned to the frequency groups. Such a dialing character decoder corresponds to those normally used in the telephone system to establish a connection Explanations, so that a more detailed description is not necessary.

In the case of the IWV dialing character decoder shown in FIG Voice frequency band transmitted from the calling subscriber to a rectifier 25, through which the alternating voltage signal, which forms the speech frequencies, is or full wave rectification.

Signals that exceed a specified level ("crackers") become transformed into square-wave pulses by a Schmitt trigger 26. If a flip flop 27 is set via its input Start 28, the output pulses arrive from the Schmitt trigger 26 via an AND gate 29 to the input of a delay circuit 30, the incoming pulses by the time period T1 at their output with respect to the input signal appears late lets. The time period T1 is slightly longer than when a telephone dialing pulse appears at the exit of the Schmitt trigger 26 emitted pulse. In Fig. 4 the time relationships are shown, the pulses shown reflect the output signal of the Schmitt trigger 26.

If the signal delayed by T1 appears at the output of the delay circuit 30 when the output pulse of the Schmitt trigger 26 has already decayed, If the pulse does not exceed a maximum duration specified by T1, then A counter 32 is incremented by "1" via an AND gate 31. The counter 32 counts the impulses belonging to a digit of the transmitted phone number and converts convert them to the relevant digit in the BCD code.

A monoflop 33 is triggered by the leading edge of the delay circuit 30 output pulse is set and maintains this state for the period T2. The time T2 is slightly smaller than the time between two pulses. A while A pulse appearing at T2 or a pulse that lasts into this period means that an incorrect signal was received, whereupon via an AND gate 34 and an OR gate 35 and a further OR gate 36 of the counter 32 are reset will.

At the same time, a text is output via an output 37 causes the calling subscriber, who prompts this, with the transmission of his Call number to start again because an incorrect transmission took place. It will also a buffer 38 for receiving the entire call number in which the digits from the counter 32 were transmitted, deleted and a Address counter 39, which is in the buffer memory 38 for receiving the following Digit is addressed to the next memory location, reset so that the Circuit returns to its initial state.

By means of a resettable delay circuit 40, each delayed by a period of time T3, emits an output pulse, the end of the transmission a single digit and also the end of the transmission of the entire phone number recognized. The time T3 corresponds approximately to the period of the dialing pulses.

The circuit 43 is activated by one of the delay circuit 30 prepared via an OR gate 41 at its input pulse. The edition of the pulse occurs after the time T3 has elapsed when the delay circuit 40 is not reset by a further input pulse and for the output of a pulse after the delay time related to this new input pulse has elapsed T3, is being prepared. So do not appear from the delay circuit 30 More pulses, then after the time T3 from the delay circuit 40 output pulse a counter 42 is incremented by one digit, which in turn on the transition from "0" to 1 "increases the address counter 39 by one address, so that the next digit in the following memory location of the intermediate memory 38 got. The counter 42 is at each new pulse at the output of the delay circuit 30 is reset, so that after each transmission of a digit from t0 "to counting begins. Above the OR gate 3-6 becomes the counter 32 on "0" reset. The following digits are - if there is no error in the transmission is determined - one after the other according to the other storage locations in the buffer 38 transferred.

In the pauses between successively transmitted digits the counter 42 is incremented by "1" in each case.

If the pause exceeds a specified one after a digit has been transmitted Value - that is, if the transmission of a complete call number has ended - is achieved the counter a count "Z" assigned to this max imal time and enters signal indicating this condition. The continued pulse delivery from the delay circuit 40 works in such a way that appearing at the output of the delay circuit 40 Impulse these reset each in their initial state via an AND gate 43. Only when the counter has reached the specified counter reading "Z" is the inverting input of the AND gate 43 the path of the output pulses of the delay circuit 40 locked back to its input and via an output 46 the output of a Initiates text to the calling subscriber, who informs him that the Number was recorded and the answering machine now switches off. Simultaneously the flip-flop 27 is reset.

via a signal appearing at an interrogation input 44, the Transmission of the call number via an output 45 to the corresponding memory of the Telephone set. The simultaneous resetting of the flip-flop 27 power the circuit is insensitive to further input pulses. Only with the next start signal Via the input 28 (via the OR gate 35) the counter 32, the buffer memory 38 and the address counter 39 prepared for entering a new call number.

Claims (10)

Automatic answering device P a -t e n t a n p r ü c h e Automatic answering device for telephone sets with a memory for call recording, which is not e c e h n e t that the memory as a digital memory (16) for holding over the Line from the calling party transmitted digits of Call number of the calling subscriber in the form of electrical signals is. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, d a d u r c h g e -k e n n z e i c h n e t that decoding means (20) for converting in the form of dialing characters transmitted digits are provided in the electrical signals to be stored. 3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c it is noted that decoding means (20) for several in telephone systems types of dialing characters used which can be transmitted in the voice frequency band are provided are. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, d a d u r c h k en n z e i c h n e t that the dialing characters are those based on pulse dialing and the multi-frequency method acts. 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e k-e n n n z e i c h n e t that the memory (16) with means (4, 13, 12) for Output of the stored phone number in the form of dialing characters on the line Actuation of an operating element (6) to make a callback easier is provided. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, d a d u r c h g e -k e n n z e i c h n e t that the means (4, 13, 12) for output also act as a buffer for redialing Can be switched on for an outgoing call when a phone number is normally entered are. 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c it is noted that the memory (16) can accommodate several Call numbers and with a display device (4) for displaying a call number is provided. 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, d a d u r c h g e -k e n nz e i c h n e t that the different call numbers on the activation of a corresponding one Actuating element (21) one after the other for display in the display device are transferable. 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h e k e k e n n n n e i n e t that means for closed output of one's own Call number in the form of dialing characters on actuation of a corresponding control element (22) are provided. 10. The device according to claim 10, d a d u r c h g e -k e n n z e i c h n e t that the output of the call number takes place with the prefix and that Means (24) provided are involved in the transmission of digits the calling number of the calling subscriber the area code of the local area network suppress.