JP2004151794A - Communication device, its control method, and its control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the operation of checking email received when one is out. <P>SOLUTION: A voice synthesizing part 202 for translating the character information of received email into voice is provided in a communication device in which an answerphone function block 205, a fax function block 206 and a telephone function are integrated together. The received email is converted by the voice synthesizing part 202 into analog voice signals, which are in turn transferred to a destination preset by an operation similar to those related to voicemail message (transferring email while reading it). If there is a voicemail message, fax data, or email yet to be reproduced, recorded or read, either a voicemail reception lamp 104, a fax reception lamp 105, or an email reception lamp 106 is turned on correspondingly. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication device having a voice communication unit connected to a public line for performing voice communication, a communication device having an e-mail receiving unit, a control method of the communication device, and a control program of the communication device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
With the development of the information society, various types of information terminals have been widely used in ordinary households. As information terminals, answering machines, facsimile machines, and personal computers (hereinafter referred to as PCs) have recently become widespread.
[0003]
The communication lines connected to ordinary households are not only traditional voice lines, but also with the spread of the Internet, lines dedicated to data communication such as ADSL have been connected. The transmission speed of the line has also been significantly increased.
[0004]
One of information transmission means in a network such as the Internet is electronic mail (hereinafter referred to as e-mail or simply mail). Although the initial e-mail was used only by a very limited number of users, such as companies and universities, the use of this e-mail is not uncommon in ordinary households.
[0005]
However, in the Internet connection in ordinary households, it is still rare that a fixed global IP address and a domain name are assigned. Therefore, the mail reception is not immediately delivered to the user's information terminal, and the contracted Internet service provider is not provided. It is necessary to download the received mail by connecting to the Internet using a protocol such as POP or IMAP.
[0006]
On the other hand, facsimile machines are also widely used in ordinary households. However, many facsimile machines for home use have many product forms such as a telephone and a facsimile machine with integrated facsimile functions.
[0007]
In such a situation, there has been proposed a configuration in which an answering machine, a facsimile, and an e-mail can be used by one composite terminal (for example, Patent Document 1 below).
[0008]
This type of device is configured to connect to the Internet by dial-up, and there are few cases where a contract is made to assign a fixed global IP address and a domain name as described above. Therefore, for mail transmission, dial-up can be performed immediately when transmission becomes necessary, and transmission can be performed immediately. However, for mail reception, the Internet is regularly dialed (for example, every several tens of minutes to several hours) by timer control or the like. In many cases, an up connection is made to connect to a mail server of a provider, to check for the presence or absence of received mail, and to download the received mail using a protocol such as POP3 or IMAP.
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2000-341432
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described home-use e-mail compatible communication device, e-mail is not directly delivered to a user's terminal, and therefore, there is a problem that real-time communication is impaired. Furthermore, since the conventional device does not provide a means for easily checking the e-mail received when going out from outside, the real-time communication is further improved especially when the user is not near the device such as when going out. descend.
[0011]
For example, in the case of e-mail, it is possible to transfer received mail to another terminal by performing a predetermined setting. However, if a facility capable of receiving the e-mail cannot be secured on the go, such a transfer function may be used. Not available. On the other hand, a voice message recorded by the answering machine function can be relatively easily transferred to a telephone on the go.
[0012]
As described above, in the conventional communication device in which the e-mail and the answering machine functions are integrated, the usability when the user goes out differs between the e-mail and the answering machine functions, and it is necessary to confirm the messages by different operations and different methods. is there.
[0013]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, to make it possible to extremely easily perform an operation for confirming an e-mail received when going out, and to confirm a method for confirming an e-mail received when going out and voice by an answering machine function. An object of the present invention is to improve the operability of a communication device by integrating a message confirmation method with a format.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, there is provided a communication device having a voice communication unit connected to a public line and performing voice communication, a communication device having an e-mail receiving unit, a communication device control method, and a communication device control program. When an e-mail is received by the e-mail receiving means, a call is made to a transfer destination telephone number registered in advance via the voice communication means, and the character information of the e-mail received by the voice synthesis means is converted into an analog voice signal. Then, a configuration in which voice is transferred to the transfer destination is adopted.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a communication device employing the present invention. The illustrated device is a communication device in which the functions of answering machine, facsimile and e-mail are integrated in one terminal.
[0017]
The communication device shown in FIG. 1 includes, on a housing, a handset 101 for calling, a display unit 102 for displaying necessary information such as an operation state of the device to a user, and an operation unit 103 including ten keys and various function keys. Have.
[0018]
In the apparatus of FIG. 1, in addition to the display 102, three lamps (arbitrary light sources such as LED elements are used) indicating the state of the apparatus are provided. Reference numeral 104 denotes an answering machine reception lamp, which is used to indicate that an answering machine message has arrived (recorded). A fax reception lamp 105 is used to indicate that a facsimile message has arrived (for example, received in a memory). An e-mail reception lamp 106 is used to indicate that an e-mail message has arrived (for example, stored in a predetermined area in a memory).
[0019]
A printer 108 mainly used for image recording in facsimile communication or the like is provided at a predetermined position such as the rear surface of the housing, and a scanner 107 mainly used for reading a document in facsimile communication or the like is provided at a predetermined position such as the front surface of the housing. Is provided.
[0020]
FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a control system of the apparatus shown in FIG. The display 102, the operation unit 103, the answering machine reception lamp 104, the FAX reception lamp 105, and the E-mail reception lamp 106 on the above-mentioned housing are indicated by the same reference numerals as those in FIG.
[0021]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 200 denotes a CPU composed of a microprocessor or the like, which controls the entire communication processing (communication of answering machine, facsimile, and e-mail) described later. An answering machine reception lamp 104, a facsimile reception lamp 105, and an e-mail reception lamp 106 are connected to the CPU 200, and the CPU 200 controls turning on / off of these lamps according to the communication status.
[0022]
The communication control of the present invention described later is stored in the ROM 208 as a control program (firmware) of the CPU 200 and is executed on the ROM 208 or after being copied to a predetermined area of the memory 201. However, the storage location of the communication control program of the present invention is not limited to the ROM 208, and any storage medium such as a hard disk or a CD-ROM can be used. In addition to storing the information, the information may be supplied to the apparatus via a network (for example, for updating firmware).
[0023]
The memory 201 includes a storage device such as a RAM, and is used for storing image data read by the scanner 107, received facsimile data, transmitted / received e-mail data, recorded data of an answering machine message, and the like.
[0024]
In the present embodiment, a voice synthesizing unit 202 for converting character information (data in the form of a character code) into an analog voice signal is provided. The voice synthesizing unit 202 is used to read out text information of the transmitted / received e-mail (or an error message or guidance voice of the apparatus: any of which can be stored in the ROM 208 or the like as text information as well). Known software (or hardware) can be used as the software (or hardware) for converting the character information into audible voice in the voice synthesis unit 202.
[0025]
As the line interface 204, a type suitable for a communication line to which the present apparatus is connected is used. If the line to be connected to this device is an analog line, a circuit such as an NCU is used. If the line is an ISDN line, an ISDN control IC, a DSU unit for terminating the network, and a TA unit for connecting external equipment are used. Etc. In the case of an ISDN line, a FAX modem of a FAX function block 206 (in the case of an analog facsimile system) described later is connected to an analog interface of a TA unit.
[0026]
A magnetic tape method may be used for recording (answering recording) / playback of a voice message. In this embodiment, a digital recording / playback method using an answering machine function block 205 including a voice IC such as a voice CODEC is used. Record / play voice messages. Voice message data from the line and the handset 101 are digitized by the answering machine function block 205 and stored in a predetermined area of the memory 201. The message recorded in the memory 201 is converted into an analog signal by the answering machine function block 205 and reproduced by the handset 101 or a speaker (not shown).
[0027]
The FAX function block 206 includes a communication control unit for controlling a facsimile communication procedure of a predetermined system such as the G3 system, for example, a FAX modem. The image input / output to / from the printer 106 and the scanner 107 is controlled by the CPU 200 in accordance with the progress of the operation of the FAX function block 206.
[0028]
In the present embodiment, the facsimile communication method is based on ITU-T Recommendation T.30. 30 according to the ITU-T Recommendation T.30. 37, T.R. An Internet facsimile communication system such as 38 can also be used.
[0029]
The e-mail transmission / reception function block 207 edits outgoing mail using the operation unit 103 and the display unit 102, and software for connecting to a mail server of an Internet service provider by using SMTP (transmission protocol), POP, IMAP, or the like (reception protocol). And software for displaying the received mail on the display 102 in an appropriate format.
[0030]
Although the FAX function block 206 is shown as an independent function block in FIG. 2 for convenience, the FAX function block 206 can of course be configured as a software module of the CPU 200. Further, a dial-up connection protocol such as PPP, and a TCP / IP layer necessary for Internet communication can also be configured as a software module of the CPU 200.
[0031]
Each of the above functional blocks is connected to the system bus 211 of the CPU 200.
[0032]
Next, communication control in the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
[0033]
In the present embodiment, the voice message and the e-mail message received by the answering machine function block 205 and the e-mail transmission / reception function block 207 can be transferred to the transfer destination set by the user. Then, both the voice message and the e-mail message are transferred to the transfer destination as voice data. Therefore, the user can designate the destination telephone number as a transfer destination as long as a telephone or the like is installed at the transfer destination, and voice mails and e-mail messages recorded at the transfer destination can be voiced at the transfer destination. Can be received as
[0034]
FIG. 3 shows a main part of control of the user setting mode of the apparatus shown in FIG. In step S301 in FIG. 3, a predetermined operation is performed on the operation unit 103, and when a user setting mode is entered, a transfer destination telephone number is set in step S302 and thereafter.
[0035]
First, in step S302, it is determined whether to transfer a voice message and an e-mail message. This determination is made by checking whether or not the user has designated the message transfer mode by a predetermined operation from the operation unit 103.
[0036]
Subsequently, in step S303, the input of the transfer destination telephone number of the user is read from the operation unit 103. The user inputs a desired transfer destination telephone number by numeric key operation or speed dial operation (including one-touch key operation). The input transfer destination telephone number is temporarily stored in a predetermined area of the memory 201.
[0037]
In step S304, whether the input transfer destination telephone number is normal is checked based on an appropriate algorithm. For example, the registered transfer destination telephone number may be checked to determine whether an inappropriate prefix or a nonexistent station number is included.
[0038]
If an abnormality is found in the transfer destination telephone number input in step S304, error processing is performed in step S306. Here, an error message is displayed on the display 102, a buzzer sounds, a voice synthesized by the voice synthesizer 202 is output, or the like, thereby notifying the user of the abnormality of the transfer destination telephone number to the user. Exit the setting mode. If there is no abnormality in the input transfer destination telephone number, in step S305, the transfer destination telephone number is set in a predetermined area (for example, an SRAM area) of the memory 201, and the registration processing ends.
[0039]
In the present embodiment, the transfer destination telephone number registered as described above is commonly used as the transfer destination of the recorded voice message and the e-mail message. The use of the common transfer destination in this way simplifies the setting operation of the user, and is convenient because both the voice message and the e-mail message can be received at the same transfer destination. Whether or not each of the transfer destinations can be separately registered is optional depending on the product specifications and the like. For example, a setting method in which one of the transfer destinations of a voice message (or an e-mail message) is first registered and the transfer destination is used as an e-mail message (or a voice message) unless a special operation is performed is also considered. Can be
[0040]
Note that the setting of the absence recording mode can be performed separately from the processing in FIG. 3 by a known method. For example, the answering machine mode is enabled when a predetermined setting operation is performed on the operation unit 103, or the answering machine mode is enabled when a ringing tone is sounded a predetermined number of times without a user response from the handset 101. To do that. In addition, when the transfer destination registration of FIG. 3 is effectively performed, the answering machine may be automatically enabled.
[0041]
The e-mail reception processing is not particularly required if a global IP address is set in the apparatus and the received e-mail is directly delivered. However, usually, the e-mail reception processing is performed via the line interface 204 using a timer interrupt or the like. Dial-up connection to the Internet and download the mail (if there is received mail) from the mail server of the Internet service provider by a known process. The time interval (or the number of times) of such a mail check can be set by an appropriate user operation.
[0042]
FIG. 4 shows a voice message and e-mail message reception process. In step S401 in FIG. 4, it is determined whether a voice message or an e-mail message has been received. The voice mail and e-mail message reception processing, the recording of an answering machine message, the reception of the e-mail message, and the storage of the e-mail message in a predetermined reception folder arranged on the memory 201 are performed by the answering machine function block 205 and the e-mail transmission / reception function block 207. Performed by
[0043]
When recording an answering machine message or receiving an e-mail, the unplayed (in the case of an answering machine message) flag and the unread (in the case of an e-mail) flag are respectively set as long as the message is in an unplayed or unread state. It is turned on in a predetermined area of the memory 201 in association with the message data. These unplayed / unread flags are not cleared unless the message is played back, displayed, or a transfer process described below is normally completed.
[0044]
The answering machine reception lamp 104 is controlled to be turned on when the unplayed flag of the voice message is on, and the e-mail reception lamp 106 is controlled to be turned on when the unread flag of the e-mail message is on. The FAX reception lamp 105 is also turned on under the same conditions (for example, FAX data is received but not recorded). These reception status lamps allow the user to know at a glance the arrival status of each type of message.
[0045]
Recording of the voice message and reception of the mail are performed as described above. When the voice message or the e-mail message is received, the process proceeds to step S402, where the message transfer mode is currently selected and a valid transfer destination is selected. It is determined whether a telephone number is registered. When step S402 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step S403. When step S402 is denied, only the above-described reception processing is performed, and the processing ends.
[0046]
In step S403, it is determined whether the received message is a voice (voice recording) message or an e-mail message. If the received message is a voice message, the process proceeds to step S404. If the received message is an e-mail message, the process proceeds to step S409.
[0047]
In steps S404 and S409, a transfer destination registered according to the procedure of FIG. 3 is called using a dialer circuit of the line interface 204 (or a facsimile modem unit of the FAX function block 206) or the like.
[0048]
In step S405, the received voice message recorded in the memory 201 is reproduced (converted to an analog voice signal) and transmitted to the line.
[0049]
In step S410, the character data of the received E-mail message is input to the voice synthesizer 202, converted (synthesized) into an analog voice signal, and transmitted to the line. The reproduction (read-out) transfer processing of the e-mail in step S410 is performed as shown in FIG. Although details of this processing will be described later, the processing of FIG. 5 sets a status flag (or a return value of a subroutine) of normal termination or abnormal termination.
[0050]
When the message voice reproduction and transfer processing in steps S405 and S410 is completed, the status of the status flag (or the return value of the subroutine) is checked in subsequent steps S406 and S411, respectively, to determine whether the message voice reproduction and transfer processing has been completed normally. Determine whether or not. If the message voice reproduction and transfer processing have not been completed normally, a transfer stop message (or another light-emitting display, an audible sound, a synthesized voice message, or the like may be used) on the display 102 in step S408 or S413. Is displayed, and the process ends.
[0051]
If the message voice reproduction and transfer processing has been completed normally, the unreproduced (in the case of an answering machine message) flag or the unread (in the case of an e-mail) flag is cleared in steps S407 and S412, respectively. In response to this, the answering machine reception lamp 104 or the e-mail reception lamp 106 is turned off.
[0052]
FIG. 5 shows an example of an electronic mail reproduction (speech) transfer process performed in step S410 of FIG. Step S501 in FIG. 5 is a step in which the determination as to whether or not the condition for executing the e-mail reproduction processing has been established by the processing as in FIG. 4 is illustrated as an independent step for convenience.
[0053]
When performing the reproduction process of the e-mail, first, in step S502, the process waits for transmission of a reproduction (speech) command based on a specific DTMF signal pattern from the transfer destination. At this time, it is assumed that the call connection to the transfer destination has already been completed. Of course, before waiting for a playback (speech) command based on the DTMF signal pattern,
"I will read the e-mail (from Mr. XX) (to Mr. YY), so please perform the playback start operation."
Sending a prompt message with synthesized voice, such as, for example, makes it easier for the respondent at the transfer destination. The parenthesized portions “(from XX)” and “(to YY)” in the above prompt message can be easily synthesized from the character information in the header portion of the e-mail. In addition, the part "Please start reproduction operation" may be replaced with an operation guidance message describing a reproduction command such as "Press the numeric keypad XX to start reproduction".
[0054]
When the predetermined reproduction command is transmitted from the transfer destination, the voice synthesis unit 202 starts voice synthesis of the e-mail and transmission processing to the line, and in step S503, the reproduction / transmission processing of the e-mail can be executed to the end. And monitor whether
[0055]
Only when the e-mail reproduction / transmission processing has been executed to the end, the normal end status flag is set in step S504, and the processing ends. As a result, the aforementioned unread flag is released (cleared). On the other hand, when the reproduction / transmission processing of the e-mail could not be executed to the end in step S503, and the reproduction command was not transmitted after waiting for a predetermined time in step S502, or a predefined stop command was transmitted. For example, if it is determined that it is not appropriate to start the reproduction of the e-mail, the process ends without setting the normal end status flag.
[0056]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, when an e-mail is received by the e-mail transmission / reception function block 207, if a transfer mode is set, a call is made to a pre-registered transfer destination telephone number, and the voice synthesis unit The character information of the e-mail received by 202 can be converted into an analog voice signal and can be voice-transferred (read-aloud transfer) to the destination.
[0057]
Therefore, the e-mail can be transferred by voice signal very easily without the need for troublesome and skillful transfer operation as in the conventional transfer of e-mail (transfer as text data), and even the voice synthesizer. If prepared, e-mail can be transferred extremely easily and inexpensively using the existing voice communication function of the communication device. If you have a voice terminal such as a telephone, you can forward e-mail.
[0058]
Further, in this embodiment, the destination telephone number of the voice transfer is also used as the destination telephone number of the answering machine message, so that the user can register the destination telephone number of the e-mail and the answering machine message by a simple operation. Handling and management.
[0059]
Also, when voice transfer of the received e-mail to the transfer destination is performed, the unread flag for identifying the unread state of the e-mail is cleared when the voice transfer of the e-mail is normally completed. There is no problem that the mail that has already been voice-transferred to the user is displayed twice.
[0060]
It is convenient to be able to adjust the voice synthesis (reproduction) speed of the received e-mail message (or the green message). Such a playback speed adjusting mechanism can be used not only at the time of voice transfer of a message, but also at the time of playing back a voice message and an e-mail message using the handset 101 or a speaker (not shown) of the apparatus. .
[0061]
As a mechanism on the apparatus body side for this purpose, a dial for adjusting a voice synthesis (playback) speed is provided on the operation unit 103, or the speed can be adjusted by an appropriate user interface (for example, a numeric keypad of the operation unit 103). There is a possible configuration. As the operation means from the transfer destination, similarly to the above-described playback start command, the transfer destination uses a numeric keypad of the telephone to transmit a playback speed adjustment command composed of a DTMF signal of a predetermined pattern to perform voice synthesis of the received E-mail message. A configuration for adjusting the (reproduction) speed is conceivable. Of course, such a playback speed adjusting mechanism can also be used for adjusting the playback speed of the answering machine message (playback at the time of transfer).
[0062]
If the playback speed of the voice message and the e-mail message can be adjusted in this way, it is possible to make it easier for the user to listen to the message voice of the user at the apparatus and at the transfer destination.
[0063]
The voice transfer of the e-mail message (or answering machine message) is performed every time one message is received (or each download session with the mail server) in the transfer mode, and at predetermined intervals using a timer interrupt or the like. (If the message is received, the message is not forwarded until a predetermined time elapses), or is executed after a predetermined number of unplayed or unread messages are accumulated (if the unplayed or unread message is less than a predetermined number, the message is not transferred). As described above, whether or not to execute according to a predetermined condition can be controlled. According to such control, it is possible to reduce the possibility that a call is frequently made to the transfer destination and cause trouble.
[0064]
In a configuration in which a plurality of messages are transferred by voice, a skip operation to the next message can be performed by a predetermined DTMF command from the transfer destination during transfer reproduction.
[0065]
Regarding voice transfer of an e-mail message, it is conceivable to simultaneously perform voice transfer and transfer (retransmission) as an e-mail. When such an e-mail transfer is (also) performed, the transmission of the prompt message in the voice transfer process of FIG. 5 (step S502)
"This email was also forwarded to email address XX"
Can be added.
[0066]
It should be noted that any part of the character information of the received e-mail message to be voice-transferred to the transfer destination is arbitrary. For example, at present, in addition to the body text information of plain text, a redundant form of mail that duplicates the same contents in HTML, adds the same as a message in MIME format, and transmits the message is sometimes used. Since it is inefficient to transfer a useless portion by voice, it is preferable to extract only an appropriate portion of the mail header and a body portion and synthesize and transfer the voice. Naturally, MIME-encapsulated attached files (audio data files and moving image data files) are not suitable for audio transfer (reading out), and are therefore excluded from the target. As described above, the part to be voice-transferred (read out) from the e-mail message is analyzed by analyzing the character string (lexical) of the e-mail header (mail header or MIME header) or, if necessary, by performing grammatical analysis. It can be obtained by extracting a part satisfying the condition. Since a simple and organized format is used for the header of the e-mail (mail header and MIME header), analysis of this part does not require much processing cost and can be executed easily and at high speed. .
[0067]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, when an e-mail is received by the e-mail receiving means, a call is made to a transfer destination telephone number registered in advance via the voice communication means, and the voice synthesis means The character information of the received e-mail is converted into an analog voice signal and the voice is transmitted to the destination, so that it is troublesome and difficult as in the conventional transmission of e-mail (transfer as text data). E-mail can be transferred by voice signal very easily without requiring transfer operation requiring skill, and e-mail can be transferred very easily and inexpensively using the existing voice communication function of the communication device. E-mail can be forwarded if there is no voice mail terminal such as a telephone at the transfer destination. It is possible, there is an excellent effect that.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a communication device employing the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the apparatus of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a state of communication control of the device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a state of communication control of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a state of communication control of the device of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
101 Handset
102 Display
103 Operation unit
104 Answering machine reception lamp
105 FAX reception lamp
106 E-mail receiving lamp
107 Scanner
200 CPU
201 memory
202 Voice synthesis unit
204 line interface
205 Answering Machine Function Block
206 FAX function block
207 E-mail sending / receiving function block
208 ROM
211 System bus

Claims (9)

In a communication device having voice communication means for performing voice communication by connecting to a public line,
Voice synthesis means for converting the text information of the e-mail into an analog voice signal,
Registration means for registering a forwarding telephone number specified by a user;
When an e-mail is received by the e-mail receiving means, a call is made to the transfer destination telephone number registered in the registration means via the voice communication means, and the character information of the e-mail received by the voice synthesis means is converted into an analog form. A communication device comprising: a control unit that converts a voice signal into a voice signal and transfers the voice signal to the transfer destination. When the voice mail message is recorded by the voice mail recording means, the same voice mail destination telephone number registered as the voice mail destination of the e-mail in the registration means via the voice communication means is provided. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication is performed by calling and recording the recorded answering machine message by voice to the transfer destination. The electronic mail receiving means has an unread flag for identifying an unread state of the received electronic mail, and when the received electronic mail is voice-transferred to a transfer destination, the control means is configured to execute the processing if the voice transfer is normally completed. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the unread flag is cleared. A voice communication means for performing voice communication by connecting to a public line, and a control method of a communication device having an e-mail receiving means;
A voice synthesizing step of converting text information of the email into an analog voice signal;
A registration step of registering a forwarding telephone number specified by a user;
When an e-mail is received by the e-mail receiving means, a call is made to the transfer destination telephone number registered in the registration step via the voice communication means, and the character information of the e-mail received in the voice synthesis step is converted into an analog form. A control method for a communication device, comprising: a control step of converting a voice signal to a voice signal and transferring the voice signal to the transfer destination. When an answering machine message is recorded by the answering machine function, the same forwarding destination telephone number registered as the voice forwarding destination of the electronic mail in the registration step is called via the voice communication means, and the recorded answering machine is recorded. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the message is transmitted by voice to the destination. When transferring the received e-mail to the transfer destination by voice, if the voice transfer is normally completed, clear the unread flag set by the e-mail receiving means to identify the unread state of the received e-mail. The method for controlling a communication device according to claim 4, wherein: In a control program for a communication device having a voice communication means for performing voice communication by connecting to a public line,
A voice synthesizing step of converting text information of the email into an analog voice signal;
A registration step of registering a forwarding telephone number specified by a user;
When an e-mail is received by the e-mail receiving means, a call is made to the transfer destination telephone number registered in the registration step via the voice communication means, and the character information of the e-mail received in the voice synthesis step is converted into an analog form. A control program for a communication device, comprising a control step of converting a voice signal to a voice signal and transferring the voice signal to the transfer destination. When an answering machine message is recorded by the answering machine function, the same forwarding destination telephone number registered as the voice forwarding destination of the electronic mail in the registration step is called via the voice communication means, and the recorded answering machine is recorded. The control program for a communication device according to claim 7, further comprising a control step for voice-transmitting the message to the transfer destination. When the received e-mail is voice-transferred to a transfer destination, the e-mail receiving means clears an unread flag set to identify the unread state of the received e-mail when the voice transfer is normally completed. The control program according to claim 7, further comprising a control step.

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