JP2000184054A - Information processor and message transmitting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To give a message describing the reason why a person is absent at present to an incoming call when the person is absent without increasing special work trouble. SOLUTION: A schedule management device 10 managing a schedule, a telephone part 31 which is connected to a line and receives an incoming call from the outside, a control part 30 obtaining the schedule managed by the schedule management device 10 and generating a message based on the schedule if the telephone part 31 receives the incoming call when an automatic recording mode is set and a sound output part 32 transmitting the voice of the message generated by the control part 30 to the incoming call received by the telephone part 31 are installed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus in which an electronic schedule management function for managing a personal schedule and a communication terminal having an answering machine function (telephone with answering machine) are integrated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a telephone with an answering machine responds by transmitting a prepared answering message unless an off-hook is performed during a predetermined number of ringing tones when an incoming call is received. . In general, an answering machine message used is a message set in advance for an answering machine-equipped telephone, and the same message is used for an incoming call from anyone. Therefore, in a conventional telephone with an answering machine,
You could be notified of your absence by an answering machine message, but you could not tell where you are now. If the user has been notified of an incoming call while he was away by using an answering machine message, he / she must input the answering machine message according to the destination beforehand every time he / she goes out.

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional telephone with an answering machine, when an incoming call is received when the user is out of the office, it is necessary to go out of the office every time he or she goes out in order to notify the user of the current location. A recording message must be input in advance depending on the destination and the like, and a great work load is required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and for an incoming call that was present when the user was away, without increasing the special work load, the user is not available for any reason. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus capable of notifying whether a message is sent by a message and a message transmission method.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a schedule management means for managing a schedule, a telephone means connected to a line for receiving an incoming call from outside, an answering machine mode setting means for setting an answering machine mode, When the answering machine mode is set by the answering machine mode, when an incoming call is received by the telephone means, a schedule managed by the schedule managing means is obtained, and a message based on the schedule is obtained. And a voice output unit for transmitting voice of a message generated by the control unit to an incoming call received by the telephone unit.

According to such a configuration, the schedule management means for managing the schedule and the telephone with an answering machine are integrated, and the information managed as the schedule is used for creating a response message in the telephone with an answering machine. Thereby, very useful information can be notified as a response message.

The answering machine mode setting means sets the answering machine mode when the schedule corresponding to the current time is managed by the schedule managing means, and when the schedule is not managed, the answering machine mode. The mode is canceled.

[0008] This automatically sets and cancels the answering machine mode of the answering machine according to the registered schedule, so that the schedule managed by the schedule management means can be effectively used. Can be.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a home information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the home information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a schedule management device 10 and a telephone 12 with an answering machine.

The schedule management device 10 manages the schedules of a plurality of users such as family members.
For example, it is realized by a computer that reads a program recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD, and a magnetic disk, and controls the operation of the program.

The telephone with an answering machine 12 can transmit an answering machine message according to schedule data managed by the schedule management apparatus 10 in addition to a telephone function and a data communication function by a general voice call. A possible answering machine function is provided.

The schedule management device 10 and the telephone with answering machine 12 are in a state of being connected wirelessly or by wire, and can mutually transmit and receive data.

The schedule management device 10 has functions of a schedule control unit 20, a schedule input unit 22, a schedule storage unit 24, a schedule output unit 26, and an I / F (interface) unit 28.

The schedule control unit 20 controls the entire schedule management apparatus 10, manages schedule data input from the schedule input unit 22, and controls the schedule output unit 26 and the I / F unit 28. The schedule control unit 20 controls the output (display) of the data stored in the schedule storage unit 24 from the schedule output unit 26 in accordance with the instruction input from the schedule input unit 22, and via the I / F unit 28. It controls the output of the specific schedule data stored in the schedule storage unit 24 to the external device in response to the request from the external device input from the external device.

The schedule input unit 22 controls input of schedule data and input of an edit instruction for data management by the schedule control unit 20.

The schedule storage unit 24 stores the schedule data input by the schedule input unit 22 under the control of the schedule control unit 20. The schedule storage unit 24 can store the schedules of a plurality of users such as family members.

The schedule output unit 26 is a CRT, LC
D or a printing device configured to output schedule data stored by the schedule storage unit 24 under the control of the schedule control unit 20. An example of a schedule display will be described later.

The I / F unit 28 includes the schedule management device 1
0 and an external device. For example, a telephone with a telephone answering machine 12 is connected, and a request for reading schedule data from the telephone with a telephone answering machine 12 under the schedule control unit 20 and a request for this request. The corresponding schedule data is output.

The telephone with an answering machine 12 is provided with a control unit 3.
0, a telephone unit 31, a voice output unit 32, a clock unit 34, a destination confirmation unit 36, an output unit 38, an I / F (interface) unit 40, and a storage unit 42.

The control unit 30 controls the entire telephone 12 with an answering machine, and controls the entire telephone function including the answering machine function. Further, the control unit 30 can set the answering machine mode in response to an external instruction by operating a predetermined button (not shown). When the answering machine mode is set, the control unit 30 acquires schedule data from the schedule management device 10 via the I / F unit 40,
Answering machine message data is generated based on the schedule data. The answering machine message data is stored in the storage unit 42. Further, the control unit 30 is provided with a function of automatically switching the answering machine mode, and is provided with a counter 30a used when executing this function.

The telephone unit 31 is connected to a public line and receives an incoming call from the outside. The telephone unit 31 has a function for realizing general telephone functions in general. Connection, transmission and reception of voice, output of an answering machine message, etc. are performed.

The voice output unit 32 generates a telephone call based on the message message data created by the control unit 30 stored in the storage unit 42 or the message message message (standard message) registered in advance. The voice of the answering machine message output from the unit 31 or the output unit 38 is generated. For example, the voice output unit 32 generates voice by voice synthesis.

The clock section 34 manages the time, and is referred to when the time of the incoming call at the telephone section 31 or the elapse of the time is determined.

When the answering machine mode is set, the incoming call destination confirming section 36 is a function for confirming to which family member the incoming call is sent. Is transmitted from the telephone unit 31 and the confirmation is made based on the answer to the inquiry message. An answering machine message is created using message data corresponding to the destination (to whom the family is addressed) confirmed by the destination confirmation unit 36.

The output unit 38 outputs sound from a speaker or the like based on the sound data generated by the sound output unit 32.

The I / F section 40 is for connecting the telephone with answering machine 12 and an external device. For example, the schedule management apparatus 10 is connected to the schedule management apparatus 10 under the control of the control section 30. Of the schedule data read request and input of schedule data in response to the request.

The storage unit 42 stores various data necessary to execute each function. The storage unit 42 includes answering machine message data created by the control unit 30 based on the schedule data, and data prepared in advance. Answering message data, message data for inquiry used for confirming the destination by the destination checking unit 36, and the like are stored.

Next, the operation of the home information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

First, the operation of the schedule management device 10 will be described. The schedule management device 10 is used at home, and can register a schedule for each family member. For example, when an instruction such as registration, correction, or deletion of a schedule is issued using input means such as a keyboard or a touch panel, the schedule input unit 22 notifies the schedule control unit 20 of an instruction regarding the schedule.

The schedule control section 20 responds to an instruction from the schedule input section 22 to store the schedule in the schedule storage section 2.
4 to register the schedule data or update the registered schedule data.

The schedule recorded in the schedule storage unit 24 includes an action schedule for each family member,
For example, information such as a registered person name, a destination, a purpose, and the like, and a start time and an end time as the target are associated with each other.

The schedule data stored in the schedule storage unit 24 is output (displayed) from the schedule output unit 26 in accordance with an instruction input from the schedule input unit 22 so that the contents of the schedule can be arbitrarily referenced. it can.

Next, the operation when there is an incoming call to the answering machine-equipped telephone 12 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 and the explanatory diagram for creating an answering machine message shown in FIG.

First, when an external call is received by the telephone unit 31 (step A1), the control unit 30
It is determined whether or not the answering machine mode is set (step A2). Here, when the answering machine mode is not set, the control unit 30 outputs a ringing tone from the output unit 38 to notify that there is an incoming call. When the user goes off-hook, a voice call is made through the telephone unit 31 by a general telephone function.

On the other hand, when the answering machine mode is set, the control unit 30 outputs a predetermined number of ring tones, and if the telephone is not off-hook during this time, the telephone unit 31 connects the line and receives an incoming call. The current time that has occurred is obtained from the clock unit 34 (step A3).

Here, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that there is an incoming call to “A child” whose schedule is managed by the schedule management device 10. The process of confirming the destination by the destination checking unit 36 will be described later.

As for “child A”, it is assumed that the schedule having the contents as shown in FIG. That is, the start time “10:00”, the end time “12:00”, the place “@tennis court”, and the purpose “tennis” are registered as the first schedule, and the start time “14” is registered as the second schedule. 0:00 ”, end time“ 17:00 ”, place“ ○
○ Department store and purpose "shopping" are registered.

The control unit 30 requests the schedule management device 10 via the I / F unit 40 to acquire schedule data according to the current time. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the current time of the incoming call is “14:30”, the control unit 30 is assigned to the time zone including the time “14:30”. Request to read the existing schedule data.

When the schedule control unit 20 of the schedule management device 10 receives a request from the telephone set 12 with an answering machine via the I / F unit 28, the schedule control unit 20 searches the schedule storage unit 24 based on the time indicated by the request. (Here, schedule data of "A child" is targeted)
The schedule data assigned to the time zone including the current time is read.

The schedule control unit 20 stores the schedule data read from the schedule storage unit 24 into I / O
The message is transmitted to the telephone with answering machine 12 via the F unit 28.

When the time when there is an incoming call to the telephone with answering machine 12 is "14:30" as shown in FIG. 3A, and when the schedule data shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3B, the second schedule is read out as the corresponding schedule data and transmitted to the telephone with answering machine 12.

Thus, the control unit 30 can obtain the schedule data assigned to the current time from the schedule management device 10 (step A).
4).

For example, the telephone with an answering machine 12 acquires schedule data from the schedule management device 10 in a format as shown in FIG. That is, the schedule data includes the start time, end time, registrant name, location,
Contains data for each of the objectives.

The control unit 30 includes the schedule management device 10
When the schedule data allocated to the current time is obtained from the scheduler, the answering machine message data is created from the schedule data (step A8).

When the second schedule data shown in FIG. 3 (b) is obtained, for example, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), "I now go out to OO department store for shopping. Answering machine message data showing the contents of "I am going home at 17:00."

That is, in the storage unit 42, “Now,
I am out for (registration name) and (place) for (purpose). I will be home at (end time). The format data of the answering machine message is registered.
Creates message recording message data by embedding each data acquired from the schedule data at a predetermined position of the format data.

It should be noted that a plurality of format data of the answering machine message may be prepared in advance, and the format data used for creating the answering machine message may be arbitrarily specified.

After creating the answering machine message data, the control unit 30 stores it in the storage unit 42 and instructs the sound output unit 32 to output a sound based on the answering machine message.

In response to an instruction from the control unit 30, the voice output unit 32 generates a voice for reading out a message by voice synthesis, for example, based on the answering machine message data stored in the storage unit 42. Is transmitted from the telephone unit 31 through the line (step A7).

If the schedule data assigned at the time of the incoming call cannot be obtained from the schedule management device 10, the control unit 30 outputs the voice based on the standard message data registered in the storage unit 42 in advance. It is generated by the output unit 32 (step A6), and transmitted from the telephone unit 31 via a line (step A7).
In addition, as a standard message, an answering machine message data (format which does not use schedule data) such as "A child (registrant name) is out now. If there is a message, please speak after the dial tone." ) Is prepared.

In this way, for an incoming call that occurred when the answering machine mode was set, an answering machine message corresponding to the schedule data can be generated and transmitted. It is possible to inform the other party of the call about the time during which the user is away, or where he / she is away, or the purpose, without performing a task such as recording a recorded message.

In the above description, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that there is an incoming call addressed to the child A. However, when a line is connected in answering machine mode, the incoming call destination confirming unit 36 Then, a process of confirming to whom in the family the call is received through the telephone unit 31 is executed.

Based on the inquiry message data registered in the storage unit 42, the destination confirmation unit 36 generates a voice by the voice output unit 32 and outputs the voice from the telephone unit 31. Determine the destination.
As a method of responding to the inquiry message, first, a method of having the user specify by voice, second, a method of having the other party output a tone signal by operating a button on the telephone of the other party, and third, confirming one by one, There is a way to get "Yes / No".

For example, when the first method is used, for example, a message for inquiry such as "Yes, XX. Who should I use?" Is transmitted. On the other hand, for example, if there is an answer “Please ask A-ko”, the destination confirmation unit 36 recognizes the voice of this answer, and expresses a specific person in the family from the voice. Search for. As a result, if an expression representing “A child” can be obtained from the recognition result, it is determined that the expression is addressed to “A child”.

When using the second method, for example, "Yes,
○○ Who is it for? Button 1 for XX, Button 2 for △△, Button 3 for A child, ...
Please press. "Is sent. On the other hand, when a predetermined button is pressed and a tone signal corresponding to the button is received, the destination confirmation unit 36 recognizes the frequency of the tone signal and, for example, recognizes the tone corresponding to the button 3. If the signal can be recognized, it is determined that the signal is addressed to "child A".

When using the third method, for example, "Yes,
○○ Who is it for? Xx? "Is sent. On the other hand, if the destination confirmation unit 36 can recognize that there is a negative answer such as "No" by voice, or if there is no answer for a predetermined time, then "?" Is sent. On the other hand, if a negative response such as "No" is received in the same manner, or if there is no response for a predetermined time, a message for inquiry of "A child?" On the other hand, if the destination confirmation unit 36 recognizes that there is a positive answer such as “Yes”, it is determined that it is addressed to “A child”.

In this way, the destination check unit 36 checks the destination, and specifies the schedule data to be used for creating an answering machine message from the schedule data of a plurality of persons managed by the schedule management device 10. Therefore, the schedule data managed by the schedule management device 10 can be effectively used, and an appropriate message can be notified to the caller.

If the telephone with an answering machine 12 is configured to accommodate a plurality of lines, schedule data to be used for creating an answering machine message can be determined according to the line on which an incoming call is received. . In this case, the control unit 30 requests the schedule management device 10 to read out the message data according to the line on which the call has been received, thereby performing the processing described above.

Next, the function of automatically switching the answering machine mode of the answering machine-equipped telephone 12 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The answering machine-equipped telephone 12 is set to communicate with the schedule management device 10 at predetermined time intervals.
This fixed time is set by a preset specified value with respect to the value counted by the counter 30a.

After clearing the counter 30a (step B1), the control unit 30 adds 1 to the value of the counter 30a at every predetermined time counted by the clock unit 34 (step B2), and adds a predetermined value to the predetermined value. Compare (Step B
3). As a result, if the value of the counter 30a is smaller than the specified value, it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed. Thereafter, similarly, the counting to the counter 30a is continued until it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed (steps B2 and B3).

When a certain time has elapsed (step B3),
The control unit 30 acquires the current time from the clock unit 34 (step B4), and requests the schedule management device 10 to read the schedule data assigned to the time zone including the current time via the I / F unit 40. I do.

When the schedule control unit 20 of the schedule management device 10 receives a request from the telephone with answering machine 12 via the I / F unit 28, the schedule control unit 20 searches the schedule storage unit 24 based on the time indicated by the request. Then, the schedule data assigned to the time zone including the current time is read.

The schedule control unit 20 stores the schedule data read out from the schedule storage unit 24 into I / O
The message is transmitted to the telephone with answering machine 12 via the F unit 28.

The control unit 30 transmits the schedule data read request to the schedule management device 10.
Then, it is checked whether or not there is schedule data (step B6). If there is registered schedule data, it is determined whether or not the answering machine mode is currently set (step B7). Here, when the answering machine mode is not set, the control unit 30
Set to answering machine mode. If the answering machine mode is set, the answering machine mode is continued.

On the other hand, if the data corresponding to the current time has not been registered, control unit 30 determines whether or not the answering machine mode is currently set (step B9). Here, when the answering machine mode is set, the control unit 30 cancels the answering machine mode (step B10). If the answering machine mode is not set, the process returns to step B1, and the schedule management device 10
The process returns to the measurement for a certain period of time for communication.

In this way, the telephone with an answering machine 12
Can automatically set or cancel the answering machine mode according to whether or not the schedule data corresponding to the current time is registered in the schedule management device 10, so that the user can set the answering machine mode. Alternatively, it is possible to respond to the incoming call with a useful answering message by effectively using the schedule data registered in the schedule management device 10 without performing the release according to the schedule. Further, by having the function of automatically switching the answering machine mode, the user does not need to be conscious of setting and canceling the answering machine mode, so that the convenience is improved.

In the above description, if there is an incoming call in the answering machine mode, the incoming call destination confirmation unit 3
6 describes that the incoming call destination is confirmed, but is not shared by a plurality of users as a home information processing apparatus. It is possible to omit the process of confirming the destination by the first confirmation unit 36.

In the above-described embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 3, an answering message is created using all the contents of the schedule data stored in the schedule storage unit 24, and the incoming call message during the absence is received. However, it is not always necessary to create an answering service message using the contents of all schedule data.

For example, when a schedule is registered in the schedule management device 10, it is designated as a secret schedule so that it is not used for creating an answering machine message. In this case, the voice output unit 32 causes the telephone unit 31 to transmit a recorded message for providing the minimum information prepared in advance, for example, a recorded message such as “XX is currently away”. .

When a schedule is registered, a plurality of levels may be set for each schedule so that data used for creating an answering message may be selected. For example, according to the level set for the schedule, the contents of notifying the schedule of the absence time, the destination, and the purpose of going out by the absence message are sequentially added according to the set level. You may make it go.

Further, the contents of the answering machine message may be changed according to the other party of the transmission source. For example, the telephone unit 31 of the telephone with an answering machine 12 is provided with a function of recognizing the telephone number of the caller, and in the case of an incoming call from any of the telephone numbers, which level of the above-described answering machine message is transmitted is determined. Set it. Thereby, the control unit 30
Is based on the telephone number recognized by the telephone unit 31,
From the schedule data managed by the schedule management device 10, it is determined whether to use the data of the schedule of the absence time, the destination, or the purpose of going out, and the audio output unit 32 records using the corresponding data. Generate a message.

For example, in the case of an incoming call from a close partner, an answering message using all data of the schedule of the absence time, the destination, and the purpose of going out is transmitted.
If there is an incoming call from another party, an answering message notifying only that the user has been away can be scheduled to be transmitted.

As described above, when creating an answering machine message based on the schedule data, the schedule data can be selectively used.
Unnecessary disclosure of schedule data can be prevented, and confidentiality can be managed.

The method described in the above-described embodiment includes, as programs that can be executed by a computer, for example, a magnetic disk (floppy disk, hard disk, etc.), an optical disk (CD-ROM,
DVD and the like, and can be written to a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory and provided to various devices. Further, it is also possible to transmit the data via a communication medium and provide it to various devices. A computer that implements the present apparatus reads the program recorded on a recording medium or receives the program via a communication medium, and executes the above-described processing by controlling the operation of the program.

[0076]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the schedule management means for managing the schedule and the telephone with an answering machine are integrated, and the information managed as the schedule is transmitted to the telephone with the answering machine. By using it to compose a message, it is possible to notify by a message of the reason why the user is currently away without an extra work load for an incoming call that was absent It becomes.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a home information processing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an operation when there is an incoming call to the telephone with answering machine 12;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of answering machine message creation.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a schedule managed by the schedule management device 10.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data format when acquiring schedule data from the schedule management device 10.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a function of automatically switching an answering machine mode of the answering machine-equipped telephone 12;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Schedule management apparatus 12 ... Answering machine telephone 20 ... Schedule control part 22 ... Schedule input part 24 ... Schedule storage part 26 ... Schedule output part 28 ... I / F part 30 ... Control part 31 ... Telephone part 32 ... Audio output part 34 clock section 36 destination confirmation section 38 output section 40 I / F section 42 storage section

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A schedule management means for managing a schedule, a telephone means connected to a line for receiving an incoming call from outside, an answering machine mode setting means for setting an answering machine mode, and an answering machine by the answering machine mode setting means Control means for acquiring a schedule managed by the schedule management means when a call is received by the telephone means when the recording mode is set, and creating a message based on the schedule; And an audio output means for transmitting a voice of the message generated by the means to the incoming call received by the telephone means. 2. A schedule management step of managing a schedule; an incoming call step connected to a line to receive an incoming call; an answering machine mode setting step of setting an answering machine mode; and an answering machine mode setting step. A control step of acquiring a schedule managed by the schedule management step and creating a message based on the schedule when an incoming call is received by the incoming call step when the recording mode is set; A message transmitting step of transmitting a voice of the message generated in the step to the incoming call received in the incoming call step. 3. The schedule management step manages schedules for a plurality of persons, and when a call is received in the reception step, confirms to whom the call is received. In the control step, the confirmation is performed. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein a message is created by acquiring a schedule according to the destination. 4. The answering machine mode setting means sets the answering machine mode when the schedule corresponding to the current time is managed by the schedule managing means, and when the schedule is not managed, the answering machine mode The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mode is released. 5. In the answering machine mode setting step, when the schedule corresponding to the current time is managed by the schedule managing step, the answering machine mode is set, and when the schedule is not managed, the answering machine mode is set. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mode is released.