JP2000184052A - Automatic answering telephone equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an automatic answering telephone device realizing various kinds of functions such as recording a variable answering message, retaining recording contents even in the case of power interruption, realizing portability and low power consumption, realizing both of a good sound quality and long recording time. SOLUTION: In advance of an outside-line incoming call from a telephone circuit network, the automatic answering telephone device R is previously set in an automatic answering mode and a CPU 2 recognizes whether a recording medium 11 is connected to an M/S interface part 1 and operates to store information concerning this medium 11 in a RAM (incorporated memory) 3. In addition, a user selectively sets which to store a business message from an opposite party in the medium 11 or to store in the RAM (incorporated memory) 3. Thus, the erasure of the message content due to power off is prevented. In addition, a power source for power interruption is unnecessitated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an answering machine, and more particularly to an answering machine for transmitting a message having a variety of contents to a caller (caller) and making various use of a message from the caller possible. The present invention relates to an answering machine with expanded applications.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As functions and operations of a conventional answering machine, there are the following functions and operations. The call from the other party says, "I'm away now.
Leave a message after the dial tone. The user can input a response message such as "Please send a fax." The response message is recorded by a DSP (digital si
A general method is to store the data in a semiconductor memory built in the answering machine using a gnal processor. Currently, a modem connected to a PC (personal computer) can realize the same function.
As is well known, there are so-called notebook PCs and desktop PCs. In an answering machine using a DSP, it is possible to set either to prioritize the sound quality and shorten the recording time, or to prioritize the recording time and deteriorate the sound quality.

[0003]

However, the conventional functions have the following inconveniences and inconveniences, respectively.

When inputting a response message of
If you put GM (back ground music) or use a message created by another person, it is input through the microphone built into the answering machine,
There was only a primitive method of recording by connecting to a CD player or the like using a dedicated connector, or blowing a message while playing BGM on a CD player in a model without a connection connector.

In the case of storing a message in a built-in memory (semiconductor memory), it is necessary to always supply power to the built-in memory. When a power supply is stopped due to a power failure or the like, the recorded contents are stored. It was difficult.

[0006] In the case of a PC, when carrying out e-mail or the Internet, for example, a person having only a notebook PC always needs to be connected to a telephone line, thereby impairing the original portability of the notebook PC. There was an inconvenience. In addition, the desktop PC needs to be always turned on, so it consumes more current than an answering machine,
Turning on the power all day was uneconomical compared to an answering machine.

In the case of the relationship between the sound quality and the recording time, in order to prioritize the sound quality and preserve the recorded content for a long time,
It was necessary to frequently dub using an external recording device such as a tape.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to record a variety of response messages, save the recorded contents even in the event of a power outage, realize portability and low power consumption, and achieve sound quality and recording at the time of recording. An object of the present invention is to provide an answering machine which realizes various functions which the conventional apparatus does not have, such as balancing time.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to an answering machine capable of recording a response message to a destination on a recording medium in advance and recording a message from the destination. The recording medium is detachably attached to a telephone answering machine main body.

In this case, it is assumed that, for example, a memory stick is used as a recording medium. With respect to this memory stick, a variety of response messages can be recorded, such as recording a response message while loading the memory stick into a personal computer and inserting BGM or the like. Also,
If a message from the other party (sender) by fax is recorded on, for example, a memory stick, a large F
The AX transmission can be recorded, and the memory stick can be removed from the answering machine and stored. Further, even if the message from the other party is stored, there is no power consumption.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the answering machine R of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the present embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a memory stick (M
/ S), an interface unit for detachably holding a recording medium 11 composed of a compact flash (CF) or the like and supplying power, a CPU 2 for controlling a telephone function and an answering machine function according to the control contents of a program stored in a ROM 6, 3
Is a RAM (built-in memory) used for processing performed by the CPU 2 and for storing FAX data and voice messages.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an answering machine, which is activated when a user sets an answering machine (answering machine mode) in advance when a line is received from the line controller 5, sends a response message, and sends a message. Make a recording.
The microphone 7 and the speaker 8 are used for telephone calls, and 9 is an input device used for dialing and setting.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Prior to receiving an outside line from the telephone network, the answering machine R is set to the answering machine mode in advance, and the CPU 2
/ S interface unit 1 recognizes whether or not recording medium 11 is connected, and stores information on recording medium 11 in RAM.
(Built-in memory) 3.

The user can use the input device 9 to select and set whether to store the message from the other party in the recording medium (M / S) 11 or in the RAM (built-in memory) 3. it can. For example, M / S (recording medium) 1
Items recorded in 1 include a response message, a business message, a facsimile (reception), a photograph data (reception), and the like. A voice message that requires a relatively small storage area is stored in a RAM (built-in memory) 3. For example, it is possible to set such that only the facsimile reception having a relatively large storage area is stored in the M / S 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the line control device 5 detects an incoming call from the outside line (step S1), the CPU 2 opens a voice path to the answering machine 4 to open a voice message to the answering machine stored in the RAM 3 in advance. It is.-
.. ") is transmitted to the line (step S2). When there is a caller response (incoming call) from the destination in response to this response message, it is determined whether the caller response message is "voice" or "FAX reception" (step S3). First, the caller response message is
The data is stored in AM3, and then the next storage processing is performed.

That is, if the caller response message is FAX (step S3: FAX) and the M / S 11 is connected (step S4: YES), the contents stored in the RAM 3 (FAX reception data) are stored in the M / S 11 Then, the data is stored in the RAM 3 after the copy is completed (step S5). As a result, it is possible to distribute the fax to the voice side to the maximum while minimizing the FAX memory distribution (memory area occupation amount). If the M / S 11 is not connected in step S4 (step S4: NO), the RA
FAX reception data is stored in M3 (step S6).

If the message is sent in step S3 (step S3: voice), the message is received and stored in the RAM 3 (step S7), and after the line is terminated (after the line is disconnected). Then, the CPU 2 writes the voice message stored in the RAM 3 into the M / S 11 (step S8).

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, the FAX reception data is stored directly in the M / S 11, but as described above, the FAX reception data is temporarily stored in the internal memory (RAM).
3 and then stored in the M / S 11.

According to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. Equipped with a detachable recording medium [Memory Stick (M / S) or Compact Flash (CF)] for the answering machine, it is easy to record and store the contents of the answering machine message on the recording medium become. In addition, by using a computer or the like having a recording medium (M / S), reproduction, recording, and copying can be freely performed in an environment different from that of a telephone. Therefore, the message to be stored does not disappear due to a power failure or the like, and the sound quality is not deteriorated as compared with the tape dubbing, so that the message can be easily copied and stored.

Since the answering machine response message can be recorded in the M / S, it is possible to prevent the response message created by the user from disappearing after a power failure or the like and becoming a fixed message prepared in advance. . Also, M /
The recording method to the S is not limited to the recording from the telephone. For example, since a PC or the like can be used for the recording of the M / S, it is possible to easily obtain and exchange response messages created by others through the Internet. , MD (mini disk) and CD (compact disk) can be easily inserted into the BGM.

In an answering machine with a facsimile function, the M / S 11 and a built-in memory (RA
M) Since recording can be performed separately for three, the capacity of the built-in memory can be reduced, and the product cost can be reduced.

By loading the M / S into a PC, a television, or the like, it becomes possible to display the contents of the transmitted fax (fax reception data), and to print out such as seen in an answering machine with a fax function. The size can be reduced without being affected by the size of the paper.

Photo data from the other party through direct communication or the Internet, GPS (global positionin)
g system) to send and receive location information used for M / S
, It is possible to read the data as it is into a device equipped with an M / S such as a digital camera or GPS. For example, when there is an incoming call from a digital camera equipped with a communication function, the contents of the incoming call are recorded in the M / S,
Reproduction can be performed by a digital camera, a PC, or the like.

Also, a GPS or PHS having a communication function
(Personal handyphone system) and CDMA (code div
In a system capable of acquiring and transmitting approximate position information and transmitting data, such as ision multiple access, code division multiple access, etc., the present position and destination data can be easily transmitted to the other party.

In an answering machine having a handset capable of data communication such as PHS, the handset is equipped with an M / S, and the answering machine data is transferred wirelessly. This makes it possible to configure a cordless answering machine that takes up little space and has a layout-free (less occupied area) cordless handset that can be connected to a PC.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. Since the capacity of the built-in RAM can be reduced, a system can be constructed without incorporating a large memory, and there is an advantage that cost can be reduced. If the user selects to store the sound in the M / S (recording medium), the sound can be recorded with the sample rate of the sound increased, for example, so that the sound can be stored without deteriorating the sound quality.

By recording the message and the response message once stored in the RAM (built-in memory) on the removable recording medium, the message content can be prevented from being erased due to the power-off. In addition, a power supply for power failure is not required. By synthesizing voice and music using a PC or obtaining a response message via the Internet, the message can be easily recorded, and the response message can be created comfortably and easily.

For a user who has a PC or a television capable of reading M / S (recording medium), F
The AX screen can be viewed, and if the PC is equipped with a printing device, it is not necessary to have the answering machine so that the answering machine can be simplified and unnecessary output can be avoided. It is also useful for saving paper resources.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

R: answering machine, 1: M / S interface, 2
... CPU, 3 ... RAM, 4 ... Answering machine, 5 ... Line controller, 11 ... Recording medium

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An answering machine capable of recording in advance a response message to a destination on a recording medium and recording a message from the destination, wherein the recording medium is detachably attached to an answering machine main body. Answering machine characterized by the following. 2. The answering machine according to claim 1, wherein said answering machine has a memory built in a body of the answering machine. 3. The answering machine according to claim 1, wherein the answering machine has a facsimile receiving function. 4. The answering machine according to claim 2, wherein the recording medium is a memory stick or a compact flash.