JP2000341399A - Communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lower the cost and to improve the operability by automatically setting a corresponding automatic answering telephone number in absence mode when the radio slave device corresponding to a dial-in number exits the communication range. SOLUTION: The communication device which accommodates the radio slave device corresponding to the dial-in number and an automatic answering telephone function corresponding to the dial-in number and automatically set the automatic answering telephone corresponding to the slave machine in an absent mode when the radio slave device exits the communication range. This communication device has facsimile equipment 101, a PHS telephone set 102 as the 1st extension slave device of the facsimile equipment 101, a PHS telephone set 103 as the 2nd extension slave device, an ISDN line 104 as a digital public line, etc. When a radio link is established it is judged that the PHS telephone set 102 is outside the radio range if there is no reception from, for example, the PHS telephone sets 102 for a certain time, the absent mode is activated, and an automatic answering processing is started.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication apparatus which supports a dial-in service and has an answering machine function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, dial-in services have become widespread, and techniques applied to personal products such as answering machines have been proposed.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-224080 discloses a technique for selecting a handset that rings according to a number received when a dial-in call is received from the PSTN. There has also been disclosed a technology for maintaining communication confidentiality by dividing an area for storing an answering machine message.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-253004 discloses a technique in which, when there is an incoming call from ISDN by dial-in, a handset that sounds according to the incoming call number is selected.

[0005]

In the above-mentioned conventional communication device, the mode setting of the answering machine function corresponding to each dial-in number is performed by pressing a button provided on the base unit.

That is, when the answering machine corresponding to the first dial-in number is set to the answering machine mode, the first
When the answering machine button is pressed to set the answering machine corresponding to the second dial-in number to the answering machine mode, the second answering machine button is pressed.

However, in the above configuration, it is necessary to provide a button corresponding to the dial-in number on the base unit. There is a problem that it is necessary to prepare for the machine, which causes a cost increase.

Further, when a plurality of answering mode buttons are provided, there is a problem that the answering mode button corresponding to the dial-in number used by another person may be pressed by mistake.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a communication apparatus having an answering machine function for each dial-in number,
When the wireless handset corresponding to the dial-in number goes out of the communication range, the corresponding answering machine is automatically set to the answering mode, thereby realizing cost reduction and improved operability.

[0010] That is, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that when the first slave unit goes out of the radio range, the first message recording / recording is performed.
By providing a means for setting the reproducing means to the answering mode and a means for setting the second message recording / reproducing means to the answering mode when the second handset goes out of the radio range, it is possible to cope with the handset. The answering machine function can be easily set to the answering machine mode.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the first handset enters the radio range, the first message recording / reproducing means cancels the absence mode, and the second handset is in the radio range. By providing a means for canceling the answering mode of the second message recording / reproducing means when entering, the answering machine function corresponding to the slave unit can be easily canceled from the answering mode.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is not desired to automatically set the automatic answering mode to the automatic answering mode by providing means for selecting whether or not to automatically set the automatic answering mode when the slave goes out of the radio range. In that case, you can manually set the absence mode.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when it is not desired to automatically cancel the answering mode by providing means for selecting whether or not to automatically cancel the answering mode when the slave enters the radio range. , You can manually release the absence mode.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for making it possible to access only the first message recording / reproducing means corresponding to the first dial-in number from the first handset, and from the second handset. By providing a means for accessing only the second message recording / playback means corresponding to the second dial-in number, only the answering machine function accessible from each slave unit is automatically set to the answering mode. It is like that.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for associating and storing a first dial-in number and an ID number of a first wireless telephone, and storing a second dial-in number and an ID number of a second wireless telephone. And a means for storing them in association with each other, it is possible to select the type of extension telephone that operates according to the dial-in number.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, when there is no response even if a predetermined number of calls are made when an incoming call arrives at the slave, means for determining that the slave has gone out of the radio range is provided. It can reliably detect that the machine is not in a state where it can respond.

The invention according to claim 8 is means for transmitting the position registration signal periodically by the slave unit, and when the master unit does not receive the position registration signal from the slave unit for a predetermined time or more, the slave unit transmits the position registration signal wirelessly. By providing means for determining that the mobile device has gone out of the service area, it is possible to quickly determine that the mobile device is out of the service area when the mobile device goes out of the wireless service area.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for calling a slave unit at an arbitrary time from the master unit, and judging that the user is in a radio range when a response to the call is made, and By providing a means for determining that the mobile device has gone out of the wireless service area, it is possible to quickly determine that the slave unit is out of the wireless service area when the mobile device goes out of the wireless service area.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, when a location registration signal is received from the slave unit while the slave unit is determined to be out of the radio range, there is provided means for determining that the slave unit has entered the radio range. As a result, the absence mode can be immediately released.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a system structural diagram showing a communication apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The communication device is a facsimile device 101
And P, which is the first extension of the facsimile machine 101
HS telephone 102 and extension 2 of facsimile machine 101
It has a PHS telephone 103 serving as a second handset, an ISDN line 104 serving as a digital public communication line, and a partner terminal 105.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the facsimile apparatus 101.

The facsimile apparatus 101 includes a central control unit (CPU) 201, a first data bus and an address bus 202, a ROM 203, a RAM 204,
A CPU 205 that mainly performs X processing operation, a second data bus and an address bus 206, a ROM 207,
It has a RAM 208 and a shared register 209 for exchanging data between the first data bus and the second data bus.

An operation panel 210 including a dial key, a fax transmission key, an answering mode setting key, and a liquid crystal display panel, a color scanner 211 for reading a fax transmission image, and printing a fax reception image. The color printer 212 performs compression / decompression processing of the read image and the image to be printed, etc.
Image processing unit 2 for exchanging data with M208
13 and a FAX modem 2 for modulating an image compressed by the image processing unit 213 to convert it into an analog signal, or demodulating a received analog signal and inputting it to the image processing unit 213.
14.

A voice compression / expansion unit 215 used for recording / reproducing a response message in the answering machine function and a message of the other party is provided.
Compressed to digital data of about 4 Kbps,
8 is stored. The compressed data stored in the RAM 208 is decompressed by the audio decompression unit 215 and output to the handset 216 and the speaker 217.

Further, the facsimile apparatus 101 includes a cross point switch 218 for switching connection of various analog signals, an ISDN line 219, a DSU 220,
An ISDN interface unit 221 for assembling / disassembling an SDN frame; PCM codecs 222 and 223;
CM / ADPCM transcoders 224, 225 and P
PHS processing unit 2 that performs HS frame assembly / disassembly and modulation / demodulation
26, the radio high frequency unit 227, and the path changeover switch 22
8, 229.

A serial communication signal line 230 for exchanging information between the CPU 201 and the CPU 205 is provided, and B1 and B2 channel data 23 of ISDN are provided.
Reference numerals 1 and 232 are data of 64 Kbps in PCM format.

Analog signal lines 233 and 234 are provided, and PHS two-channel data 235 and 236 are
It is 32 Kbps data in ADPCM format.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation unit of the facsimile machine 101.

An operation unit of the facsimile apparatus 101 includes an answering mode key 301, a function key 302, a set key 3
03 and a selection key 304.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

(Dial-in Registration Method) The facsimile apparatus 101 has a function of performing different processing depending on whether an incoming call is received using the first dial-in number or an incoming call using the second dial-in number. ing. In order to use this function, it is necessary to register a dial-in number.

In order to perform registration, after the function key 302 is pressed, the select key 304 is pressed, and when "dial-in 1" is displayed on the display section, the set key 303 is pressed, and the "DI1 = ”Is displayed, the first dial-in number“ 1231111 ”is input, and the set key 303 is pressed. The input data is stored in the RAM 208. Then, "DI2 =
Is displayed, the second dial-in number “12” is displayed.
32222 "and press the set key 303.
The input data is stored in the RAM 208. Finally, when “DI3 =” is displayed, the set key 303 is displayed.
When is pressed, registration is completed.

After the facsimile function key 302 is depressed and the selection key 304 is used to select "Complete", an extension PHS telephone corresponding to each dial-in number is registered by operating the child device. By operating the slave unit, the slave unit ID (PS number) can be exchanged with the slave unit.
The facsimile apparatus 101 exchanges the facsimile ID (CS number) with the PS number of the PHS telephone 102 corresponding to the first dial-in number and the PS number of the PHS telephone 103 corresponding to the second dial-in number.
Associate with a number and memorize it.

(Response Message Registration Method) In the facsimile apparatus 101, the first dial-in number "1"
A different type of answering machine response message can be transmitted to the ISDN depending on whether there is an incoming call at "23-1111" or an incoming call at the second dial-in number "123-2222".

The recording method of each response message in the above embodiment is as follows.

When registering an answering machine response message, after pressing the function key 302, select a mode with the selection key 304, and press the set key 303 when "Lux Out Message 1" is displayed to go off-hook. , Enter the message. For example, "I'm away now. Please give me a message."

The voice input from the handset 216 is input to the voice compression / decompression unit 215 via the cross point switch 218, and is converted into compressed digital data. When this conversion is completed, the audio compression / decompression unit 21
5 generates an interrupt to the CPU 205, and the CPU 205 having received the interrupt stores the compressed data in the first dial-in response message area of the RAM 208.

The procedure for registering the response message at the time of the second dial-in incoming call is the same as described above.
After pressing 02, the mode is selected by the selection key 304, and when the message "Loss out message 2" is displayed, the set key 303 is pressed, off-hook, and a message is input. For example, enter "I'm at the company right now, please call the number below."

After the voice input from the handset 216 is compressed, the CPU 205 stores the voice in the second dial-in response message area of the RAM 208.

The answering mode is set by pressing an answering mode setting key on the operation panel. When the absence mode setting key is pressed, the CPU 205
Recognizes and sets the absence mode flag in the shared register. This makes it possible to know whether both the CPU 201 and the CPU 205 are in the absence mode.

(Operation at Incoming Dial-In) FIGS. 4 and 5
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation when a dial-in call is received in the embodiment.

When there is an incoming call from ISDN (S401),
An interrupt is generated from the ISDN interface unit 221 to the CPU 201, and the received D channel data is transferred to the CPU2.
01 analyzes and reads out the called number information element in the received call setting message (S402).

When the destination number is 123-1111 (S
403), since this is an incoming call to the PHS telephone 102 accommodated in the extension 1, the CPU 201 activates the PHS processing unit 226 and tries to establish a wireless link with the PHS telephone 102. That is, the PHS processing unit 226 sends the PHS telephone 102
An incoming call message including the S number (slave unit ID) is transmitted (S404).

When the PHS telephone 102 is within the service area, the PHS telephone 102 that has received the incoming call message
Send a link channel establishment request. Upon receiving the link channel establishment request, the PHS processing unit 226 assigns a link channel and establishes a wireless link. When the wireless link is established, normal incoming call operation starts. That is, PHS
An incoming call notification is sent to the telephone 102, and the PHS telephone 1
Ring 02. At the same time, the CPU 201 transmits a “call” message to the ISDN via the ISDN interface unit 221. In this way, a call state can be entered.

If a link channel establishment request has not been received from the PHS telephone 102 for a certain period of time when establishing a wireless link (S405), it is determined that the PHS telephone 102 is out of the radio range, and the mode is shifted to the answering mode to answer the answering process. (S406).

The CPU 201 disconnects the wireless link with the PHS telephone via the PHS processing unit 226 (S40).
7) Subsequently, the CPU 201 transmits a “response” message to the ISDN via the ISDN interface unit 221 (S408). When a "response confirmation" message is received from the ISDN (S409), the B1 channel is connected to the partner terminal.

At this stage, the CPU 201
Is instructed to start voice response using the serial signal line 230 (S410). CPU 205 receiving the instruction
Reads the first dial-in number response message data stored in the RAM 208 and inputs it to the voice compression / decompression unit 215 (S411).

In the audio compression / expansion unit 215, the data is expanded, converted into an analog signal (S412), and input to the PCM codec via the cross point switch 218. In the PCM codec, the input voice
The data is converted into PCM data of 4 Kbps (S413), and IS
The message is transmitted to the ISDN B1 channel via the DN interface unit 221, and the message "I am out of the office. Please speak your message" is delivered to the other party (S414).

When the other party who hears the response message utters a message to record the message, the voice data received from the other party is input to the PCM codec 222 via the ISDN interface unit 221.
It is converted to an analog signal.

The converted analog signal is connected to the audio compression / expansion unit 215 by the cross point switch 218, and is compressed into a 2.4 Kbps digital audio signal (S415). When the compression process is performed, the audio compression / decompression unit 215 generates an interrupt to the CPU 205 and
U205 stores the data in the first dial-in number message area of RAM 208 (S416).

When the recording of the message from the other party is completed,
When a "disconnect" message is received from the SDN (S41)
8) The answering machine process is terminated, the answering mode key on the operation panel 210 is blinked, and the dial key "1" is blinked (S419). This indicates that a message addressed to the dial-in number 123-1111 has been recorded.

If the called number is 123-2222 (S424), this is the PHS stored in extension 2.
Since the incoming call is to the telephone 103, the CPU 201
It activates the HS processing unit 226 and attempts to establish a wireless link with the PHS telephone 103. That is, the PHS processing unit 2
26 is a PHS telephone 103 for the PHS telephone 103.
3 is transmitted (S4).
25).

If the PHS telephone 103 is within the service area, the PHS telephone 103
Sends a link channel establishment request. Upon receiving the link channel establishment request, the PHS processing unit 226 performs link channel allocation and establishes a wireless link. When the wireless link is established, normal incoming call operation starts. That is, P
An incoming call notification is made to the HS telephone 103, and the PHS telephone 103 rings. At the same time, the CPU 201
“Call” to ISDN via N interface unit 221
Send a message. In this way, a call state can be entered.

If a link channel establishment request has not been received from the PHS telephone 103 for a certain period of time when establishing a wireless link (S426), it is determined that the PHS telephone 103 is out of the radio range, the mode is shifted to the answering mode, and the answering response process is performed. (S427).

The CPU 201 disconnects the wireless link with the PHS telephone 103 via the PHS processing section 226 (S
428) Then, the CPU 201 transmits a "response" message to the ISDN via the ISDN interface unit 221 (S429). When the "response confirmation" message is received from the ISDN, the B channel is connected to the partner terminal (S430).

At this stage, the CPU 201
5 is instructed to start voice response using the serial signal line 230 (S431). CPU 20 receiving instructions
5 reads out the second dial-in number response message data stored in the RAM 208 and inputs it to the voice compression / decompression unit 215 (S432). Audio compression / decompression unit 2
At 15, the data is expanded and converted into an analog signal (S433), and input to the PCM codec 223 via the cross point switch 218.

In the PCM codec, the input voice is converted to PCM data of 64 Kbps (S434),
The message is transmitted to the ISDN B2 channel via the SDN interface unit 221, and the message "I am in the company, please call the following number" is sent to the other party (S435).

When the other party who hears the response message utters a message to record the message, the voice data received from the other party is transmitted to the ISDN interface unit 2.
21 and is input to the PCM codec 223 and converted into an analog signal.

The converted analog signal is connected to the audio compression / expansion unit 215 by the crosspoint switch 218, and is compressed into a 2.4 Kbps digital audio signal (S437). When the compression process is performed, the audio compression / decompression unit 215 generates an interrupt to the CPU 205 and
U205 stores the data in the second dial-in number message area of RAM 208 (S438).

When the recording of the message from the other party is completed,
When the "disconnect" message is received from the SDN, the answering machine process ends, the answering mode key on the operation panel 210 flashes, and the dial key "2" flashes (S440). This indicates that a message addressed to the dial-in number 123-2222 has been recorded.

(Processing when Handset Enters Wireless Area) When the PHS telephone 102 returns to the wireless area in the absence mode, the PHS telephone 102 transmits a location registration request message.

At the PHS that has received the location registration message, the processing unit 226 analyzes the PS number in the message, recognizes that the PS number belongs to the PHS telephone 102, and puts the PHS telephone 102 into the radio range. Judge that Then, the answering machine mode of the answering machine function corresponding to the PHS telephone 102 is released. Furthermore, PH
If there is an answering machine message addressed to the S telephone set 102, the PHS telephone unit 102 is notified of the presence of the answering machine message via the PHS processing unit 226. Is displayed (S420).

Similarly, when the location registration message of PHS telephone 103 is received, the PHS
Judging that the telephone 103 has entered the radio range, the PHS
The answering mode of the answering machine corresponding to the telephone 103 is released. Further, when there is an answering machine message addressed to the PHS telephone 103, the
The PHS telephone 103 notifies the presence of the answering machine message to the S telephone 103, and the PHS telephone 103 receiving the notification displays "Rusuokuari" on the liquid crystal display unit (S441).

(Recording / Reproducing Method) When "1" is pressed following the answering mode key while the answering mode key and the dial key "1" are blinking (S421), the RAM is read.
The reproduction of the recorded message stored in the second dial-in number message area on the network 208 is started (S423).

The CPU 205 reads the message for the dial-in number 123-1111 stored in the RAM 208 and inputs the message to the audio compression / expansion unit 215. The input data is expanded and output to the speaker 217.

Similarly, if "2" is pressed following the absence mode key while the absence mode key and the dial key "1" are blinking (S442), the CPU 205
Is the dial-in number 123 stored in the RAM 208
The message for -2222 is read and input to the audio compression / decompression unit 215. The input data is expanded and output to the speaker 217 (S444).

It is also possible to listen to the recorded message from the PHS telephone.

When the answer phone playback key is pressed on the PHS telephone 102 (S422), the PHS telephone 102
Establishes a wireless link with the PHS processing unit 226,
The PU 201 is notified of a message reproduction request. C
The PU 201 requests the CPU 205 to reproduce a message for the dial-in number 123-1111.

The CPU 205 reads out the message for the dial-in number 123-1111 stored in the RAM 208 and inputs it to the voice compression / decompression unit 215. The input data is decompressed, input to the PCM codec 233 via the crosspoint switch 218, connected to the PCM / ADPCM transcoder by the switch 228, converted to ADPCM data, and transmitted to the PHS telephone 102. In this way, the PHS telephone 102 can listen to its own message.

By the same processing as described above, it becomes possible to hear the message for 123-2222 from the PHS telephone 103.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, as a method of detecting that the PHS telephone is out of the radio range, a method of not responding to an incoming call message within a predetermined time is used. Was used. However, it is also possible to detect that the PHS telephone exists outside the radio range by another method.

For example, assuming that the PHS telephone periodically transmits a location registration request message and does not receive the location registration request message from the PHS telephone for a certain period of time, it is determined that the PHS telephone is out of the radio range. be able to.

Conversely, the facsimile apparatus 101 periodically transmits an incoming call message to the PHS telephone, and determines whether or not the PHS telephone is out of the radio range depending on whether or not the link channel establishment request message is received from the PHS telephone. May be determined.

According to these methods, it is possible to set the answering mode relatively early after the PHS telephone goes out of the radio range.

When the power of the PHS telephone is turned off, the same operation is performed as when the PHS telephone is out of the radio range.

(Third Embodiment) In the first embodiment,
Although ISDN is assumed as the communication line, PSTN may be assumed instead of ISDN as the communication line. In this case, the same operation as in the case where ISDN is assumed as the communication line is performed.

(Fourth Embodiment) In each of the above embodiments, a facsimile apparatus was assumed. However, as long as the communication device is compatible with the dial-in service and has an answering machine function, any type of device can adopt the same configuration as described above. The same operation as in the embodiment is performed.

(Fifth Embodiment) In the above embodiment,
The case where only two dial-in numbers are used has been described. However, three or more dial-in numbers may be used, and the same effect as described above can be obtained by storing different messages for each number.

[0080]

According to the present invention, in a communication apparatus which accommodates a wireless handset corresponding to a dial-in number and has an answering machine function corresponding to the dial-in number, when the wireless handset goes out of the service area, Since the answering machine corresponding to the handset is automatically set to the answering mode, there is no need to provide an answering mode setting button for each dial-in number on the base unit, which has the effect of reducing costs, and , The answering machine corresponding to the handset can be automatically set to the answering machine mode,
The effect that operability improves is produced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system structural diagram showing a communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the facsimile apparatus 101.

FIG. 3 illustrates an operation unit of the facsimile apparatus 101.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when a dial-in call is received in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation when a dial-in call is received in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

101: a facsimile machine, 102: a PHS telephone which is the first extension of the facsimile apparatus 101, 103: a PHS telephone which is a second extension of the facsimile apparatus 101, 104: an ISDN line which is a digital public communication line, 105 ... partner terminal.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Toshio Tsurugimo 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) 5K039 AA09 BB01 BB05 EE01 EE17 EE21 FF13 GG02 HH03 5K049 AA01 BB09 BB16 GG12 5K067 AA34 BB08 DD13 EE02 EE10 FF02 FF07 FF40 GG12 HH05 HH14 HH23 JJ68 KK15 5K101 KK06 LL14 QQ02 QQ08

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A communication apparatus comprising: means for receiving an incoming call by dial-in; and a message recording / playback means for storing a message received from a network and corresponding to the dial-in number. Means for connecting a first handset; means for connecting a second handset for an incoming call to a second dial-in number; the first handset; Means for performing wireless communication with the second handset;
Means for setting the first message recording / playback means to an answering mode when the first handset goes out of the radio range;
Means for setting the second message recording / playback means to an answering mode when the second handset goes out of the radio range;
A communication device comprising: 2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein when the first slave unit enters a wireless range, the first slave unit is set to a first wireless terminal.
Means for canceling the answering mode of the message recording / reproducing means, and means for canceling the answering mode of the second message recording / reproducing means when the second handset enters the radio range. A communication device characterized by the above-mentioned. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for automatically selecting whether or not to set the answering mode when the first slave unit or the second slave unit goes out of the radio range. A communication device characterized by the above-mentioned. 4. The device according to claim 2, further comprising means for automatically selecting whether or not to release the answering mode when the first slave unit or the second slave unit enters a wireless range. A communication device characterized by the above-mentioned. 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first slave unit can access only the first message recording / reproducing unit corresponding to the first dial-in number; Means for making only the second message recording / reproducing means corresponding to the second dial-in number accessible from the child device. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first dial-in number and an ID of the first wireless telephone are set.
A communication device comprising: means for storing numbers in association with each other; and means for storing the second dial-in number and the ID number of the second wireless telephone in association with each other. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for judging that the slave has gone out of the radio range if there is no response even if a predetermined number of calls are made when the slave receives an incoming call. Communication device. 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first or second slave unit has a unit for periodically transmitting a position registration signal, and the master unit determines a position from the first or second slave unit. A communication device comprising: means for determining that the first or second slave unit has gone out of the radio range when the registration signal has not been received for a predetermined time or more. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the base unit calls the slave unit at an arbitrary time interval; and if there is a response in response to the call, it is determined that the slave unit is within the radio range, and Means for determining that the child device has gone out of the radio range if there is no communication device. 10. The means according to claim 1, wherein when a position registration signal is received from the slave unit in a state where the slave unit is determined to be out of the wireless range, the slave unit is determined to have entered the wireless range. A communication device comprising: