JP2002271526A - Communication unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a typical telephone set capable of storing voice and image information, that enhances its practicality by reducing the conversion processing of newly received information. SOLUTION: The communication unit is provided with an image conversion section 7 that converts received voice information into image information; a voice conversion section 8 that converts the image information received into voice information; an image information storage section 68 that stores the image information; and a voice information storage section 58 that stores the voice information, and identification sections 10, 20 that identify whether a particular phrase existing in a phrase included in newly received voice or image information is the same particular phrase which exists in the information having already been stored in each information storage section, when the identification sections identify the particular phrase, and data are classified into required data whose storage to each information storage means is required and unnecessary data, whose storage to each information storage means is not required and only the required data are converted into the voice or image information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device typified by a telephone having an answering machine function and a facsimile memory receiving function. In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement in a communication device having a function of converting information (audio information or image information) into another information format.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-2902
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 84-84, a telephone having an answering machine function and a facsimile memory receiving function is known. This type of telephone is equipped with a storage medium such as a magnetic tape or a volatile memory, and when a telephone is received when a user is absent or when a facsimile is received when the paper is out of paper, the voice information and image information are received. Can be stored in a storage medium. After the stored information is confirmed by the user, the information can be erased from the storage medium in response to the user's request. That is, when voice information is stored in the storage medium by the answering machine function, the user can reproduce the voice and delete the voice information from the storage medium. Further, when image information is stored in the storage medium by the facsimile memory reception function, the user can print the image information on a recording sheet and erase the image information from the storage medium.

[0003]

However, since the capacity of the storage medium provided in the telephone is limited,
There is a limit to the amount of audio information and image information that can be stored.
If the amount of received information exceeds the capacity of the storage medium without erasing the information stored in the storage medium, new information is added to a part of the information already stored. Is overwritten, and a part of information is lost.

[0004] For example, when the user has been absent for a long period of time, when the number of telephone calls received is large and the amount of voice information exceeds the capacity of the storage medium, the voice information already stored is stored. The new audio information is overwritten on a part of the audio information, and the user cannot recognize the presence of the missing audio information. Similarly, when the out-of-paper state continues for a long period of time, if the amount of facsimile reception information is large and the amount of image information exceeds the capacity of the storage medium, the image information already stored Is overwritten with new image information, and the user cannot recognize the presence of the missing image information.

As described above, in the conventional telephone, there is a possibility that the user cannot reliably confirm that information (voice information or image information) has been received for all information. .

In view of the above, the inventors of the present invention provide information on the content of the received voice (the content of the voice actually uttered by the sender; a message message) and related information (the message) related to the voice information. The sender's name, sender's telephone number, data such as the date and time of reception) are converted into text information and printed on recording paper, or information related to the content of the received image (actually sent from the sender). Facsimile contents) and related information related to the image information (data such as the sender's name, sender's facsimile number, date and time of reception, number of facsimile receptions, etc.) are converted into audio information to generate audio. (Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-265611) has already been proposed. In other words, even in a situation where new information is overwritten on a part of the stored information, the output form of the information can be converted and the information can be output in advance (by the user Even if you are absent, you can print out message messages and the like, and even if the paper is out of paper, you can output facsimile contents etc.), and confirm that information has been received. This allows the user to perform the operation reliably.

The inventors of the present invention have considered further improvements in order to enhance the practicability of this type of communication device. For example, if a phone or facsimile from an acquaintance or the like that needs to be memorized and an annoying phone or facsimile that does not need to be memorized are identified, and only information about a phone or facsimile from an acquaintance or the like can be stored, We focused on the fact that this kind of communication device could be made more practical.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to convert audio information into character information and output it, or convert image information into audio information and output it. Another object of the present invention is to improve the practicability of this type of communication device by effectively utilizing already stored information contents to reduce information conversion processing.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, as a communication device, character conversion means for converting voice information received from a sender via a communication line into character information, and An information storage unit for storing the character information converted by the character conversion unit and the voice information received via the communication line; and an information storage unit which is present in a phrase included in the voice information newly received via the communication line. Specifying means for specifying whether the specific phrase is the same as the specific phrase existing in the phrases included in the voice information and the character information already stored in the information storage means. When the same specific phrase is specified by the means, the newly received voice information is converted into character information by the character conversion means.

Another aspect of the present invention is a voice converting means for converting character information from a sender received via a communication line into voice information, voice information converted by the voice converting means,
And an information storage means for storing character information received via the communication line, and a specific phrase existing in the phrase included in the character information newly received via the communication line is already stored in the information storage means. Specifying means for specifying whether the specified phrase is the same as a specific phrase present in the phrases included in the stored character information and voice information, and specifying the same specific phrase by the specifying means. Then, the newly received character information is converted into voice information by the voice conversion means.

According to these specific items, the specific phrase (specific voice or character) detected from among the phrases included in the newly received information is included in the phrase included in the information already stored in the information storage means. When it is specified that the newly received information is identical to the specific phrase, the newly received information is converted into text information or voice information, while when it is not specified that the newly received information is the same, the newly received information is converted into text information or voice information. Since the information is not converted into information, selection of information that effectively uses the specific phrase is performed.
This makes it possible to simplify the conversion process of the newly received information, and also eliminates missing data (for example, missing data such as the name of the sender and the telephone number of the sender) for the character information and the voice information. ) Can be expanded to supplement the specific phrase. Also, by specifying a telephone number or a facsimile number of an acquaintance or the like as the specific phrase, it is possible to reliably store necessary information from the acquaintance in the information storage unit. As the specific phrase in the present invention, when the sender transmits voice information, it is not the voice content actually uttered, but words related to the voice content, for example, “sender name”, “transmission Phone number "," reception date and time ", and the like. On the other hand, when the sender transmits the character information, not the facsimile image content actually sent from the sender, but a phrase related to the image content, for example, “name of the sender”,
“Sender's facsimile number”, “reception date and time”, “number of received facsimile” and the like. Also, the specific phrase is the information content received via the communication line (the voice content actually uttered by the sender or the text content actually sent)
May be a keyword such as a personal name included in the URL.

In particular, the following is a configuration for executing a specific processing operation when the same specific phrase is specified.

That is, when the newly received voice information is specified by the specifying means as the same specific phrase, the necessary information that needs to be stored in the information storage means and the storage in the information storage means are unnecessary. And unnecessary information.

Further, when the newly received character information is specified as the same specific phrase by the specifying means, the required information that needs to be stored in the information storage means and the storage in the information storage means are unnecessary. And unnecessary information.

According to these specific items, only the necessary information among the newly received information is stored in the information storage means together with the converted information, while the unnecessary information is stored in the information storage means. Absent. As a result, selection of information that effectively uses the specific phrase is clearly performed. For example, if you have identified the source number of the nuisance call you received as a specific phrase,
From the next time, unnecessary information such as unwanted calls from the same telephone or facsimile machine and unwanted information such as unwanted facsimile will not be stored in the information storage means, and it is possible to prevent the unnecessary information from limiting the free space of the information storage means.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the present invention is applied to an answering machine with a facsimile function as a communication device.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration of a telephone 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the telephone 1 is connected by a line interface 2 to a communication line L connected to a partner telephone via an exchange (not shown). This line interface 2 has a communication line L
Of the communication line L
And a communication path with the other party's telephone is formed. Further, a handset 3 is connected to the line interface 2, and at the time of a normal call, a call is made between the handset 3 and the other party's telephone using the communication path.

An answering machine unit 5 and a facsimile communication unit 6 can be selectively connected to the line interface 2 via a selection switch 4. That is, the selection switch 4 is provided with a contact a, a contact b, and a contact c.
Are connected to the facsimile communication unit 6, respectively. The contact c is short-circuited. For this reason, when the selection switch 4 is connected to the contact a, the answering machine unit 5 is connected to the communication path, and when the selection switch 4 is connected to the contact b, the facsimile communication unit 6 performs communication. It is configured to be connected to a route. Hereinafter, each of the units 5 and 6 will be described.

(Explanation of the answering machine unit 5) The answering machine unit 5 is provided with an answering machine circuit 51 for controlling transmission of a pre-recorded response message to a communication path or registration of voice information from the other party's telephone. It has. The answering machine circuit 51 has a voice information amplifier 54 via an A / D converter 52 for converting analog voice information into digital voice information and a D / A converter 53 for converting digital voice information into analog voice information. , A related information amplifier 55 and a response reproducing unit 56 are connected. The voice information amplifier 54 amplifies voice information (voice content information) such as a business message received from the other party's telephone via the communication path. The related information amplifier 55
It amplifies information related to voice information, which is a signal such as calling side information from the other party's telephone that is received via the communication path. The related information includes "Sender (other party)
Of the sender, the telephone number of the sender, and the date and time of reception. The response reproduction unit 56 extracts a response message registered in advance in a voice information storage unit 58 to be described later and sends it to the answering machine circuit 51, thereby sending the response message to the other party's telephone.

The audio information amplifier 54, the related information amplifier 55, and the response reproduction unit 56 are connected to an audio information storage unit 58 as audio information storage means via an audio information switch 57. That is, the audio information changeover switch 57 is provided with a contact a, a contact b, a contact c, and a contact d. The contact a has the audio information amplifier 54, the contact b has the related information amplifier 55, and the contact c has the contact c. Are connected to the response reproducing unit 56, respectively. The contact d is short-circuited. For this reason, when the voice information changeover switch 57 is connected to the contact a, the voice information such as the message from the partner telephone amplified by the voice information amplifier 54 is registered in the voice information storage unit 58. , Voice information changeover switch 5
When the terminal 7 is connected to the contact b, the voice-related information from the other telephone amplified by the related-information amplifier 55 is registered in the voice information storage unit 58. When the voice information changeover switch 57 is connected to the contact c, a response message registered in advance in the voice information storage unit 58 is taken out by the response reproduction unit 56 and transmitted to the other party's telephone. It has become. Note that a magnetic tape or a volatile memory (a so-called flash memory) is employed as the audio information storage unit 58.

The audio information storage unit 58 is connected to a speaker 59 as a voice generating means via a mute switch 59a and a D / A converter 59b. The mute switch 59a switches between supply and non-supply of audio information based on the business message (audio content information) and audio related information registered in the audio information storage unit 58, and the mute switch 59a is turned on. In this case, the audio information is converted into analog audio information by the D / A converter 59b, and is emitted to the outside as audio by the speaker 59.

(Description of Facsimile Communication Unit 6) The facsimile communication unit 6 includes a facsimile communication circuit 61 for performing a communication protocol for transmission and reception in facsimile communication, compression and expansion of image information, and modulation / demodulation.
The FAX communication circuit 61 includes an image output switch 6
2, a recording paper printing unit 63 as printing means and A /
A D converter 64 is connected to be selectively switchable.
That is, the image output changeover switch 62 is provided with a contact a, a contact b, and a contact c.
However, the A / D converter 64 is connected to the contact b. The contact c is short-circuited. Therefore, when the image output changeover switch 62 is connected to the contact a, an image is formed on the recording paper based on the image information expanded by the FAX communication circuit 61, and the image output changeover switch 62 is set to the contact a. b, the image information is A /
The digital conversion is performed by the D converter 64.

The A / D converter 64 is connected to an amplifier 65 for image information and an amplifier 66 for related information.
The image information amplifier 65 amplifies the image information expanded and digitally converted by the FAX communication circuit 61. The related information amplifier 66 amplifies information related to image information, which is a signal such as calling side information from the other party's facsimile, which is received using a communication path at the time of facsimile reception. The related information includes data such as “sender's name”, “sender's facsimile number”, “reception date and time”, and “number of received faxes”.

An image information storage section 68 as image information storage means is connected to the image information amplifier 65 and the related information amplifier 66 via an image information switch 67. That is, the image information switch 67 is provided with a contact a, a contact b, and a contact c. The contact a is connected to the image information amplifier 65, and the contact b is connected to the related information amplifier 66. The contact c is short-circuited.
Therefore, when the image information switch 67 is connected to the contact a, the image information amplified by the image information amplifier 65 is registered in the image information storage unit 68, and the image information switch 67 is connected to the contact b. When connected, the image related information amplified by the related information amplifier 66 is registered in the image information storage unit 68. Note that a volatile memory is employed as the image information storage unit 68.

The image information storage unit 68 is connected to the recording paper printing unit 63, and outputs registered image information and related information to the recording paper printing unit 63 by facsimile output operation by the user. The printing operation on the recording paper is performed. Further, the image information storage unit 68 is connected to the audio information storage unit 58, so that registered audio information and image information can be taken out between the image information storage unit 68 and the audio information storage unit 58. I have.

Further, an original reading section 69 is connected to the FAX communication circuit 61. The document reading section 69 sequentially reads FAX documents set on a document tray (not shown), converts the documents into electric signals, and transmits the electric signals to the FAX communication circuit 61.

(Explanation of Configuration for Information Conversion) Telephone 1
Has an image conversion unit 7 and a sound conversion unit 8 as conversion means for converting sound information and image information registered in the storage units 58 and 68. Hereinafter, these configurations will be described.

The image conversion section 7 is connected to the audio information storage section 58 via the image conversion switch 71. Then, when the image conversion switch 71 is turned on, the image conversion unit 7 extracts the business message (voice content information) and the voice related information registered in the voice information storage unit 58 and converts them into image information. It has become. The image conversion unit 7 is connected to the image information storage unit 68, and outputs the converted image information to the image information storage unit 68 for registration. That is, in the present embodiment, the image information storage unit 68 enables both the image information before conversion (the image information received from the communication line L) and the image information created by converting the audio information to be permanently registered. I have. The storage unit (memory) may be different from the unit for registering the image information before the conversion and the unit for registering the image information created by converting the audio information.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the image conversion unit 7 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image conversion unit 7. The image conversion unit 7 includes a voice input unit 72, a voice recognition unit 73, a voice dictionary 74, a reading dictionary 75, and a score providing unit 7.
6, a character candidate storage unit 77, an input control unit 78, and a character candidate selection unit 79.

The voice input unit 72 converts the voice information received from the voice information storage unit 58 into a form that can be processed. The voice recognition unit 73 analyzes the voice information received from the voice input unit 72, obtains acoustic parameters, recognizes the input voice as one-character reading while checking the voice dictionary 74, and as a result of the recognition, It outputs the reading candidates up to the order and the likelihood of each. The speech dictionary 74 describes how kanji, kana, symbols, and the like are pronounced using a basic unit of speech recognized by the speech recognition unit 73. For example, when a phoneme is recognized as a unit, it is described as a phoneme sequence.
As a result, in practice, the sum of on-reading and kun reading, including the second level of kanji, is 3,000 to 5,000.

The construction of the reading dictionary 75 may define a plurality of readings for a character, or may define a plurality of characters for a reading. Actually, a pointer in a memory corresponding to the character or the reading may be stored instead of the character or the reading itself.

The scoring unit 76 refers to the reading dictionary 75 and assigns a score to a character candidate corresponding to a reading candidate based on the likelihood. Character candidate storage unit 77
Stores the history of the reading candidates received from the voice recognition unit 73 together with the score.

The input control unit 78 selects character candidates in an order determined in consideration of the character candidate scores stored in the character candidate selection unit 79.

Next, the voice conversion unit 8 will be described. The voice conversion unit 8 is connected to the image information storage unit 68 via a voice conversion switch 81. When the voice conversion switch 81 is turned on, the voice conversion unit 8 extracts the image information and the image-related information stored in the image information storage unit 68 and converts them into voice information. The voice conversion unit 8 is connected to the voice information storage unit 58, and outputs the converted voice information to the voice information storage unit 58 for storage. That is, in the present embodiment, the audio information storage unit 58 enables both the audio information before conversion (the audio information received from the communication line L) and the audio information created by converting the image information to be able to permanently register. I have. The storage unit (memory) may be different from the unit that stores the audio information before the conversion and the unit that stores the audio information created by converting the image information.

(Explanation of the Identifying Unit) The telephone 1 is characterized by the pre-conversion audio information newly received from the other telephone (sender) via the communication circuit L and the conversion converted by the image conversion unit 7. The specific phrase existing in the phrase included in the subsequent image information is the voice information already registered in the voice information storage unit 58, and the voice information is converted by the image conversion unit 7 and stored in the image information storage unit. A specific voice phrase specifying unit 10 for specifying whether the phrase is the same as a specific phrase existing in the phrases included in the image information already registered in the unit 68, and from the other party's facsimile machine (sender). The specific phrase present in the image information newly received via the communication circuit L and the phrase included in the audio information converted by the audio conversion unit 8 is:
The image information already registered in the image information storage unit 68 and the phrases included in the converted image information already converted in the audio information storage unit 58 after the image information is converted by the audio conversion unit 8 Is provided with a specific character phrase specifying unit 20 for specifying whether the specific phrase is the same as the specific phrase existing in. The specific voice phrase specifying unit 10 is connected to a voice information changeover switch 57 and also to a voice information storage unit 58. The specific character / phrase specifying section 20 is connected to the image information changeover switch 67 and also to the image information storage section 58. In addition, as a specific method for specifically detecting that the specific phrases are the same, for example, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-117255 can be used. This “phrase” is defined as “personal name (sending with the sender's name) included in the voice information when voice information (voice content information or related information related to the voice content information) is received from the communication line. ), “Reply-to phone number (phone number spoken by the sender)” and their conversion into image information, “source phone number”
“Reception date and time” and those obtained by converting these into image information are exemplified. Further, when image information (image content information or related information related to the image content information) is received from the communication line, the “phrase” is defined as the “personal name (transmission information written in the image) included in the image information. "User name)", "reply destination facsimile number (source facsimile number written in the image)" and those converted to audio information, "source facsimile number", Reception date / time, facsimile reception number, and those converted into voice information.
Then, the specific voice phrase specifying unit 10 and the specific character phrase specifying unit 20 determine that the “specific phrase” existing in the phrase included in the newly received information is
It is configured to specify whether the phrase is the same as the specific phrase existing in the phrases included in the information already registered in the information storage units 58 and 68.

(Explanation of Central Processing Unit) As shown in FIG. 1, the central processing unit 9 of the telephone 1 controls the circuits 51 and 61, the amplifiers 54, 55, 65 and 66 and the switches 4 and 5
The control unit 91 controls the switching of 7, 59a, 62, 67, 71 and 81.

The central processing unit 9 stores the “specific phrase” included in the phrase included in the newly received information (voice information or image information) in each of the information storage units 58 and 68. When it is determined that the phrase is the same as the "specific phrase" that exists in the phrases included in the already registered information, this newly received information is required according to the "specific phrase" An information identifying means 92 for identifying information and unnecessary information is provided. As the identification operation of the information identification means, specifically, for example, when a nuisance call or a facsimile is received, the information of the first nuisance call or the facsimile facsimile is stored in the voice information storage unit by the information temporary registration operation means 93. 58 and image information storage unit 6
8 is temporarily registered. At this time, if the “nuisance call source phone number” or “nuisance facsimile source facsimile number” of the nuisance call or the nuisance facsimile is set as the “specific phrase”, it is identified as unnecessary information. . Conversely, when a call or facsimile is received from an acquaintance, the information of the call or facsimile is stored in the voice information storage unit 58 by the information temporary registration operation unit 93.
Is temporarily registered in the image information storage unit 68. At this time, the necessary information can be obtained by setting the "telephone source telephone number" of the acquaintance's telephone or facsimile or the "facsimile source facsimile number" as the "specific phrase". Will be identified.

Further, the central processing unit 9 includes an information identifying means 9.
2 is provided with an information discarding means 94 for discarding the unnecessary information identified by 2 without making it permanently registered in the audio information storage unit 58 and the image information storage unit 68.

-Description of Operation of Telephone 1- Next, the operation of the telephone 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

(Reception Operation in Telephone Mode) First, the telephone 1
The receiving operation in the telephone mode to the telephone is described. In this case, it is assumed that the voice information and the image information are already registered in the voice information storage unit 58 and the image information storage unit 68.

As shown in the flow chart of FIG. 3, while the telephone set 1 waiting for the receiving operation is on standby, in step SD1, a call originating signal is received from the other party's telephone set to confirm the arrival of a new telephone mode. Next, in step SD2, the number of telephone call signals from the other party's telephone (for example, 10 times) is counted, and the handset 3 of the line interface 2 is counted until the count is completed.
Is determined, that is, whether or not the telephone is ready to talk.

If the determination in step SD2 is YES, indicating that the telephone is ready for immediate communication, in step SD3, the communication line L is captured by the line interface 2, and the other party's telephone is connected via the captured communication line L. Closes (forms) the communication path with the server. Then, step SD
In step 4, a call is made between the handset 3 and the other party's telephone via the communication path, and the process stands by until the call ends in step SD5. Thereafter, in step SD6, the communication line L is released by the line interface 2, a communication path with the partner telephone set via the communication line L is opened, and the process returns to the standby state.

On the other hand, the determination in step 2 is based on the number of telephone call signals from the other party's telephone (for example, 10 times).
In the case where the handset 3 is not picked up even after counting is completed, that is, in the case of NO in which the call cannot be made immediately,
Switch to answering machine operation.

That is, if the determination at step SD2 in FIG. 3 is NO, which indicates that the call cannot be immediately made, as shown in FIG. 4, the selection switch 4 of the line interface 2 is set to the contact a connection state at step SD11. To connect the communication line L to the answering machine circuit, and close the communication path with the other party's telephone via the connected communication line L. Then, in step SD12, the voice information changeover switch 57 is switched to the contact c connection state, and the response message registered in advance in the voice information storage unit 58 is taken out and played by the response playback unit 56, and the D / A converter 5
By converting the digital voice information into analog voice information by 3 and sending it to the answering machine 51, a response message is sent out to the other party's telephone.

Next, in step SD13, the voice information changeover switch 57 is switched to the contact b connection state, and the voice-related information (name of the sender,
The telephone number of the sender, the reception time, etc.)
1, after being amplified by the related information amplifier 55 via the A / D converter 52 and temporarily registered in the audio information storage unit 58, the audio information changeover switch 57 is switched to the contact a connection state.
Audio information such as a message from the other party's phone
The signal is amplified by the voice information amplifier 54 via the answering machine circuit 51 and the A / D converter 52, and waits until the voice information is temporarily registered in the voice information storage unit 58.

Then, in step SD14, the sender is specified based on the voice information and the voice-related information from the telephone of the other party temporarily registered in the voice information storage unit 58 in step SD13. Specifically, the voice information storage unit 58
A specific phrase existing in the phrase included in the voice information and voice-related information from the other party's telephone temporarily registered in, for example, the “personal name (sender name with which the sender claims to be included)” included in the voice information ”,“ Reply-to phone number (phone number spoken by the sender) ”, and specific phrases that exist in phrases such as“ source phone number ”and“ reception date and time ”included in voice-related information To identify.

Then, in step SD15, it is determined whether or not the sender has been specified. More specifically, the specific phrase existing in the phrase included in the voice information and voice related information from the other party's telephone temporarily registered in the voice information storage unit 58 is already registered in the voice information storage unit 58. It is determined whether the phrase is the same as the specific phrase existing in the phrase included in the information.

If the determination in step SD15 is NO, in which the sender cannot be specified because the specific phrase is not the same, the process proceeds to step SD16, where the image conversion switch 71 is turned on, and the audio information storage unit is turned on. The voice information and the voice-related information temporarily registered in 58 are taken out and converted by the image converter 7 into image information and image-related information. Then, in step SD17, the image conversion unit 7
The image information and the image-related information converted by the above are registered in the image information storage unit 68, and the step SD
In step 13, the voice information and the voice-related information temporarily registered in the voice information storage unit 58 are permanently registered in the voice information storage unit 58.

Thereafter, in step SD18, the connection state of the contact "a" of the selection switch 4 of the line interface 2 is released, the connection between the communication line L and the answering machine circuit 51 is released, and the other telephone set via the communication line L is released. Open a communication path with

On the other hand, if the determination in step SD15 is YES that the sender can be specified because the specific phrases are the same, as shown in FIG.
Proceeding to 21, it is determined whether or not the specified sender is a target of the nuisance call. Specifically, step SD
The specific phrase existing in the phrase included in the voice-related information from the other party's telephone temporarily registered in the voice information storage unit 58 in step 13, for example, the “source telephone number”, is already stored in the voice information storage unit 58. The information identifying means 92 determines (identifies) whether or not the specific phrase (the source telephone number of the nuisance call) included in the phrase included in the registered voice-related information is the same.

If it is determined in step SD21 that the specific phrase (source telephone number) is the same, and thus it is possible to identify the subject of the nuisance call, the voice information is stored in step SD22. It is determined that the voice information and the voice-related information provisionally registered in the unit 58 are unnecessary data, and the unnecessary data (the voice information and the voice-related information temporarily registered in the voice information storage unit 58) is converted into image information by the image conversion unit 7. After the information is discarded by the information discarding means 94 without being converted into the image-related information, the process proceeds to step SD18.

On the other hand, in the determination in step SD21, since the specific phrase (the source telephone number of the nuisance call) is not the same, it can be specified that the user is not the target of the nuisance call.
In step SD23, the image conversion switch 71 is turned on in step SD23, the audio information and audio-related information temporarily registered in the audio information storage unit 58 are taken out, and the image conversion unit 7 converts them into image information and image-related information. To process.

Then, in step SD24, it is determined that the voice information and voice-related information temporarily registered in the voice information storage unit 58 and the image information and image-related information converted by the image conversion unit 7 are necessary data. ,
Based on the voice-related information and the image-related information already registered in the voice information storage unit 58 and the image information storage unit 68, the necessary data is included in the necessary data content (for example, included in the voice information). "Personal name (sender name given by sender)", "Reply-to phone number (phone number spoken by sender)" and their converted to image information, "Send" included in audio-related information Original phone number "," reception date and time, and those obtained by converting them into image information, etc.), and after the main registration in the voice information storage unit 58 and the image information storage unit 68, the above-mentioned step SD18
Proceed to.

(Reception operation in facsimile mode)
The reception operation of the telephone 1 in the facsimile mode will be described. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, while the telephone 1 waiting for the reception operation is waiting, a fax signal from the other party's facsimile machine is received in step SF1. After confirming the incoming call in the facsimile mode, in step SF2, the selection switch 4 is switched to the contact b connection state, and it is determined whether or not facsimile reception and facsimile output are possible at the same time. If the determination in step SF2 is YES, indicating that facsimile reception is possible at the same time as facsimile reception, step S
At F3, the image output changeover switch 62 is switched to the contact a connection state, and the communication interface L is
And closes (forms) a communication path with the other party's facsimile machine via the captured communication line L. Then, in step SF4, the received facsimile image information is transferred to the recording paper printing unit 63 via the facsimile communication circuit 61.
The recording paper printing unit 63 executes an image forming operation on the recording paper. That is, facsimile output is performed simultaneously with facsimile reception.

Then, in step SF5, after waiting until the facsimile signal from the other party facsimile machine ends, in step SF6, the communication line L is released by the line interface 2 and the other party facsimile via the communication line L is released. After establishing a communication path with the machine, return to the standby state.

On the other hand, if the determination in step SF2 is NO, which indicates that the facsimile cannot be output at the same time as the facsimile reception due to running out of the recording paper of the telephone 1, etc., as shown in FIG. Switch to operation.

That is, as shown in FIG.
In F11, the image output changeover switch 62 is switched to the contact b connection state, and the image information changeover switch 6 is switched.
7 is switched to the contact b connection state, and the other party's facsimile machine is closed (connected) to the facsimile communication circuit 61, the A / D converter 64, the related information amplifier 66, and the image information storage unit 68 via the communication circuit L. ). Then, step S
In F12, the image-related information (sender name, sender facsimile number,
The facsimile-related information such as the reception time and the number of facsimile receptions) is passed through the facsimile communication circuit 61 and the A / D converter 64, amplified by the related information amplifier 66, and temporarily registered in the image information storage unit 68. Image information switch 67
Is switched to the contact a connection state, and the other party's facsimile machine is connected to the facsimile communication circuit 61, the A / D converter 64, the image information amplifier 66, and the image information storage section 68 by the communication circuit L.
And the image information (image content information) received from the other party's facsimile machine is transmitted to the facsimile communication circuit 61 and A /
After passing through the D-converter 64, it is awaited until it is amplified by the related information amplifier 66 and temporarily registered in the image information storage unit 68.

Then, in step SF13, the sender is specified from the image information and the image-related information from the facsimile machine of the other party temporarily registered in the image information storage section 68 in step SF12. Specifically, a specific phrase included in the phrases included in the image information and the image-related information from the other party's facsimile machine temporarily registered in the image information storage unit 68, for example, the “personal information” included in the image information Name (sender name written in the image) "," reply facsimile number (sender facsimile number written in the image) "," sender facsimile number "included in the image-related information, A specific phrase existing in phrases such as “reception date and time” and “number of received facsimile” is specified.

Thereafter, in step SF14, it is determined whether or not the sender has been specified. Specifically, the specific phrase existing in the phrase included in the image information and the image-related information from the other party facsimile machine temporarily registered in the image information storage unit 68 is already registered in the image information storage unit 68. It is determined whether or not the phrase is the same as the specific phrase existing in the phrases included in the image information and the image-related information.

If it is determined in step SF14 that the sender cannot be specified because the specific phrase is not the same, the process proceeds to step SF15, where the voice conversion switch 81 is turned on and the image information storage unit is turned on. 68, the image information and image-related information temporarily registered are extracted and converted into audio information and audio-related information by the audio conversion unit 8, and then, in step SF16, the audio information and audio-related information converted by the audio conversion unit 8 are output. The information is permanently registered in the audio information storage unit 58, and the image information and the image-related information temporarily registered in the image information storage unit 68 in step SF12 are permanently registered in the image information storage unit 68.

Thereafter, in step SF17, the connection state of the contact b of the selection switch 4 of the line interface 2 is released, the connection between the communication line L and the FAX communication circuit 61 is released, and the other party through the communication line L Open communication path with facsimile machine.

On the other hand, if the determination in step SF14 is YES that the sender can be specified because the specific phrases are the same, as shown in FIG.
Proceeding to 21, it is determined whether or not the specified sender is a target of annoying facsimile. Specifically, a specific phrase existing in the phrase included in the image-related information from the other party's facsimile machine provisionally registered in the image information storage unit 68 in step SF12, for example, “transmission source facsimile number” Is a specific phrase (such as the transmission source facsimile number of annoying facsimile) existing in the phrases included in the voice-related information and the image-related information already registered in the voice information storage unit 58 and the image information storage unit 68. It is determined (identified) by the information identification means 92 whether or not they are the same.

In step SF21, it is determined that the specific phrase (sender facsimile number) is the same, so that YE can be identified as a target of the annoying facsimile.
In the case of S, in step SF22, it is determined that the image information and the image-related information temporarily registered in the image information storage unit 68 are unnecessary data, and the unnecessary data (the image information temporarily stored in the image information storage unit 68 and the Image-related information)
Is discarded by the information discarding means 94 without being converted into voice information and voice-related information by the voice conversion unit 7, and the process proceeds to step SF17.

On the other hand, if the determination in step SF21 is NO, which indicates that the specific phrase (the transmission source facsimile number of the annoying facsimile) is not the same, and thus it is specified that the subject is not the subject of the annoying facsimile, the process proceeds to step SF2.
In step 3, the voice conversion switch 81 is turned on, the image information and the image-related information temporarily registered in the image information storage unit 68 are extracted, and the voice conversion unit 8 converts the image information and the image-related information into voice information and voice-related information.

Then, in step SF24, it is determined that the image information and image-related information provisionally registered in the image information storage unit 68 and the sound information and the sound-related information converted by the sound conversion unit 8 are necessary data. ,
Based on the voice-related information and the image-related information already registered in the voice information storage unit 58 and the image information storage unit 68, the necessary data is included in the necessary data content (for example, included in the voice information). "Personal name (sender name given by sender)", "Reply-to phone number (phone number spoken by sender)" and their converted to image information, "Send" included in audio-related information Original phone number "," reception date and time, and those obtained by converting them into image information, etc.), and after the main registration in the voice information storage unit 58 and the image information storage unit 68, the above-described step SF17
Proceed to.

-Effects of Embodiment- As described above,
In the present embodiment, a specific phrase detected from among the phrases included in the newly received information (when audio information or related information related to the audio information is received from the communication line, “ "Personal name (the name of the sender who gave the sender)", "reply-to phone number (the phone number spoken by the sender)", and "source phone number" and "reception date and time" included in the audio-related information And the like.
When image information or related information related to the image information is received from the communication line, the “personal name (sender name written in the image)” and the “reply destination facsimile number ( The source facsimile number written in the image), and the “source facsimile number”, “reception date and time”, and “number of received facsimile” included in the image-related information). When it is specified by the specifying units 10 and 20 that the specified phrase is the same as the specific phrase included in each of the information and the related information already stored in the image information storage unit 68 and the audio information storage unit 58, Necessary data that needs to be stored in the image information storage unit 68 and unnecessary data that does not need to be stored in the audio information storage unit 58 and the image information storage unit 68 are identified. Only is to be converted by the image conversion unit 7 or the speech converting unit 8. In other words, only necessary data of the newly received information is officially registered in the voice information storage unit 58 and the image information storage unit 68 together with the converted information, while unnecessary data such as unwanted calls and unwanted faxes are stored. The information is discarded without being registered in the audio information storage unit 58 and the image information storage unit 68.

As a result, unnecessary data conversion processing becomes unnecessary, and the conversion processing of newly received information can be simplified.

In addition, information that effectively uses the specific phrase is selected, and the contents of the nuisance call and the nuisance facsimile from the same telephone or facsimile machine from the next time are stored in the information storage units 58 and 68. Without any unnecessary data (information) and the voice information storage unit 58
Also, it is possible to prevent the free space of the image information storage unit 68 from being restricted. In addition, by specifying the phone number or facsimile number of the acquaintance as the specific phrase, information from the acquaintance can be reliably stored in the information storage units 58 and 68.

Furthermore, the specific phrase can be expanded by supplementing missing data (for example, missing data such as the name of the sender and the telephone number of the sender) of the image-related information and the voice-related information. it can.

-Other Embodiments- In the above-described embodiment, the specific phrase specified from the phrases included in the newly received information is replaced with the phrase included in each of the already stored information and the related information. When it is determined that the phrase is the same as the specific phrase in the information storage units 58 and 6
Although the necessary data that needs to be stored in the storage unit 8 is converted by the image conversion unit 7 or the audio conversion unit 8, a specific phrase among the phrases included in the newly received information is included in the required information. By specifying the phrase from among the phrases, the specific phrase among the phrases included in the newly received information can be used as the necessary information already stored in the audio information storage unit 58 and the image information storage unit 68. When it is specified that the phrase is the same as the specific phrase included in the related information, the information is converted into audio information or image information, and the audio information storage unit 58 and the image information storage unit are converted together with the converted information. 68 may be registered. In this case, when it is not specified that the received information is the same as the specific phrase, the newly received information is treated as unnecessary data, and the information is not converted to the audio information or the image information. The information is discarded together with the information temporarily registered in the image information storage unit.

Further, in the present embodiment, the registration of the contents of the nuisance call and the nuisance facsimile is prevented by registering the “nuisance call source telephone number” and the “nuisance facsimile transmission source facsimile number” as a specific phrase. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other phrases can be set as specific phrases.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to an answering machine with a facsimile function has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a telephone with an answering machine function provided with the answering machine unit 5 ( It is also possible to apply the present invention to a facsimile apparatus having no facsimile function) or a facsimile apparatus having the facsimile communication unit 6 (having no answering machine function).

In addition, the present invention is not limited to home and office telephones and facsimile machines, but is also applicable to mobile devices and other communication devices.

[0074]

As described above, according to the present invention, the specific phrase detected from among the phrases included in the newly received information is specified in the phrase included in the information already stored in the information storage means. When it is determined that the phrase is the same as the phrase, the newly received information is converted into text information or voice information, while when it is not determined that the phrase is the same, the newly received information is converted into text information or voice information. Since the information is not converted to information, it is possible to select information that effectively uses the specific phrase, and to simplify the conversion process of newly received information. Further, the specific phrase can be expanded by supplementing the missing data of the character information and the voice information, and the practicability of this type of communication device can be enhanced. Further, by specifying a telephone number or a facsimile number of an acquaintance or the like as the specific phrase, necessary information from the acquaintance can be reliably stored in the information storage unit.

In particular, when the newly received information is specified as the same specific phrase by the specifying means, the necessary information that needs to be stored in the information storage means and the storage in the information storage means are unnecessary. The unnecessary information can be stored in the information storage means together with the converted information, while preventing unnecessary information from being stored in the information storage means. it can. This makes it possible to clearly select information that makes effective use of a specific phrase, and to prevent unnecessary information such as unwanted calls or unwanted facsimile from the same telephone or facsimile machine from being stored in the information storage means from the next time. Of the information storage means can be avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration of an answering machine with a facsimile function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image conversion unit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a basic receiving operation in a telephone mode.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an answering machine reception operation in a telephone mode.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a determination operation performed by an information identification unit in a telephone mode.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a basic reception operation in the facsimile mode.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a facsimile memory reception operation in a facsimile mode.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a determination operation performed by the information identification unit in the facsimile mode.

[Description of Signs] 1 Telephone (communication device) 58 Voice information storage unit (information storage unit) 68 Image information storage unit (information storage unit) 7 Image conversion unit (character conversion unit) 8 Voice conversion unit (voice conversion unit) 10 Voice specifying unit (specifying means) 20 Character specifying unit (specifying means) L Communication circuit

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) H04N 1/00 G10L 3/00 Q 5K101 1/32 E 551A (72) Inventor Kenji Tanaka 22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka No. 22 Inside Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Yoshiko Mitani 22-22 No. 22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture Inside Sharp Corporation (72) Takaya Nakatani 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka City, Osaka (72) Inventor Takateru Yamamoto 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka FF90 5D015 KK02 5D045 AA20 AB26 5K039 EE01 JJ01 JJ08 5K101 KK01 KK06 NN06 NN07 NN15 NN18 NN21

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Character conversion means for converting voice information received from a sender via a communication line into character information, and character information converted by the character conversion means and voice information received via the communication line. An information storage unit for storing, and a specific phrase existing in the phrase included in the voice information newly received via the communication line is included in the voice information and character information already stored in the information storage unit. Specifying means for specifying whether the specified phrase is the same as a specific phrase present in the phrase to be received. When the specifying means specifies the same specific phrase, the newly received voice A communication apparatus wherein information is converted into character information by the character conversion means. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the newly received audio information needs to be stored in the information storage means when the identification means specifies the same specific phrase. A communication device characterized in that the communication device is identified as necessary information and unnecessary information that does not require storage in an information storage unit. 3. Voice conversion means for converting character information received from a sender via a communication line into voice information, and voice information converted by the voice conversion means and character information received via the communication line. An information storage unit for storing, and a specific phrase existing in the phrase included in the character information newly received via the communication line is included in the character information and voice information already stored in the information storage unit. Specifying means for specifying whether the specified phrase is the same as the specific phrase present in the phrase to be specified, and a character newly received when the specifying means specifies the same specific phrase. A communication device wherein information is converted into voice information by the voice conversion means. 4. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein the newly received character information needs to be stored in the information storage means when the specification means specifies the same specific phrase. A communication device characterized in that the communication device is identified as necessary information and unnecessary information that does not require storage in an information storage unit.