JP2004179884A - Apparatus and system for communication with telephone call function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and a system with a telephone call function that enable a caller to converse without speaking by arranging a means of facilitating character input by a called person and also realizes an ordinary vocal telephone call through a calling-side telephone set. <P>SOLUTION: The communication apparatus with the telephone call function is equipped with a telephone call mode setting means of setting one of an ordinary telephone call mode and a voiceless telephone call mode, a voice/character message converting means of converting a telephone call party voice into a character message at the time of call termination, a display means of displaying the character message on a display, an answer message storage means in which the character message are stored while related to a telephone call party telephone number or without being related to the telephone call party telephone number, an answer message specifying means of selecting a character message, and an answering means of converting the character message generated or selected by the answer message specifying means into a voice and sending the voice to the telephone call party. Consequently, a voice of an answer corresponding to the caller can easily be transmitted by selecting a symbol, and the communication apparatus with the telephone call function makes it possible to select whether an answer is made by ordinary telephone or voiceless telephone in response to call termination. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication device with a call function and a communication system capable of transmitting a text message to a call partner instead of voice during a call.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The exchange of voice information and document information between communication devices such as a portable telephone, a PC (Personal Computer) and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) is not limited to a wired / wireless telephone line, but may be performed via an Internet line or a wireless LAN. Utilization is performed in various communication modes.
[0003]
Voice calls are used to establish a conversation with a communication partner by speaking into a microphone built into the communication device.Therefore, silence is low in public places such as conference rooms, movie theaters, and trains. Requested and response must be regulated. A person who receives a call (usually without ringing) can know who the caller (call partner) is from the telephone number. In this case, the called party can use the answering machine function to record the voice received from the calling party, but the content is a one-way message from the calling party, and communication with the called party is not possible. Not done. For this reason, usually, a person who receives an incoming call by answering machine must return a call to the caller when the answering restriction is removed. Such communication of calls is troublesome for a person who makes and receives calls, and may cause a serious situation when a call is urgently needed.
[0004]
In order to solve such inconveniences, there is also provided a technique capable of communicating the intention of the called party to the other party by voice even in an environment where the response is restricted. For example, in the wireless communication device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a dial operation key is operated on one telephone, the same dial operation key operates (for example, lights up) on the other telephone, and as a result, the other dial operation is performed. A message assigned to the key enables a silent call to be established. Thus, communication with the other party can be realized without using the voice message (registered in the memory) assigned to the other dial operation key.
[0005]
In addition, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes a voice synthesizing unit that synthesizes a character code string read from a storage unit that stores an input character code string into a voice, and communicates the voice synthesized by the voice synthesizing unit when responding. To the other party. Thus, a voice message including the user's name can be created by an input operation from the character code input unit.
[0006]
Further, in the technique of Patent Document 3, the receiving telephone receives the message from the transmitting telephone via the earphone as a voice, and stores a reply message in the exchange in the telephone communication, or returns the message in the exchange. To compose and compose a message, select it and reply.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-355404 [Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-216875 A [Patent Document 3]
JP-A-11-205439
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the technology described in Patent Document 1, a specific character string is set in advance with a dial operation key with a communication partner, so that a message can be visually confirmed or a response message with a high degree of freedom can be created. However, performing a silent call using the dial operation keys requires time and effort to set a specific character string corresponding to the operation key with the other party in advance, and there is a risk of erroneous operation because the operation is different for each setter. . Further, even in a situation where the caller can speak, it is necessary to input and output a conversation by key operation.
[0009]
In the technique of Patent Document 2, the other telephone can receive a message from one of the telephones by voice, so that no key operation is required on the other telephone, but the character code is stored in association with the symbol. The message to be transmitted is stored in advance corresponding to the numeric keypad, and the number of messages is limited.
[0010]
Further, in the technology described in Patent Document 3, the called party acquires the transmission content from the sender as a voice using a phone, and cannot visually confirm the content using characters or the like. Further, since a response message prepared in advance by a user or a maker of a portable telephone is used, the content is fixed, and a message according to the received content cannot be sent.
[0011]
An object of the present invention is to provide a means for simplifying the character input of a called party, thereby supporting that a conversation can be made without uttering, and making it possible for a calling telephone to make a telephone call with a normal utterance. An object of the present invention is to provide a communication device with a call function and a communication system.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The communication device with a call function according to the present invention is applied to a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, and the like. A call mode setting means to be set; a speech / text message conversion means for converting the speech of the other party into a text message when a call is received when the call mode setting means is set to a silent call mode; Display means for displaying the text message converted by the voice / text message conversion means on a display, and a response message in which the text message is stored in association with the destination telephone number or without being associated with the destination telephone number Storage means for generating a text message using a text key, or storing the text message in the response message storage means; Response message specifying means for selecting a text message or a voice message being input, and response means for converting the text message generated or selected by the response message specifying means into voice and transmitting the voice to the other party by voice. I do.
[0013]
According to the present invention, a text message input by the input means or a text message prepared in advance (or in the past) can be transmitted as voice response information, and a message prepared in advance (or in the past) and caller information can be transmitted. Is stored in the RAM or the like in association with the corresponding character, so that the voice corresponding to the caller can be easily transmitted by selecting a symbol.
[0014]
The communication system of the present invention comprises a communication device with a call function, a line control unit installed on a communication network, and a voice / character mutual conversion unit. When there is an incoming call when the call mode setting means for setting one of the normal call mode for uttering and the silent call mode for not uttering the other party's voice and the call mode setting means for the silent call mode, The line control unit includes a silent call mode notifying unit that notifies a call in a silent call mode, and the line control unit includes the call function when the notification is received from the silent call mode notifying unit. Line switching means for changing a connection line of the communication device with a communication partner to a connection via the voice / character mutual conversion means, wherein the voice / character mutual conversion means comprises Response message storage means stored in association with the destination telephone number or without being associated with the destination telephone number, and converting a text message received from the communication device with a telephone call function into a voice, A text message / voice conversion means for converting a text message corresponding to the character received from the portable telephone stored in the storage means into a voice message and sending the voice message to the other party; And a voice / text message converting means for converting the voice message into a message and transmitting the voice / text message to the communication device with a call function. In the communication system of the present invention, by providing a character / speech conversion function on the network, the load on the hardware and software of the communication device can be reduced.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
1 to 5, an embodiment of a communication device with a call function according to the present invention will be described by taking a form-type telephone as an example.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the mobile phone 1. 1 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a work RAM 103, a data RAM 104, a communication circuit 105, an antenna 106, a display circuit 107, a display 108, a sound output circuit 109, and a speaker 110. , A voice input circuit 111, a microphone 112, a key control circuit 113, a plurality of keys (not shown), and a character / voice conversion circuit 114.
[0016]
FIG. 2A shows programs stored in the ROM 102, and includes a system program, various drivers, a call mode setting program, a voice / text message conversion program, a response message identification program, a response program, and a telephone directory search program. .
[0017]
The system program controls the entire mobile phone 1 together with the CPU 101. The various drivers include a communication driver, a display driver (display driver), and an audio input / output driver (sound driver). The communication driver is a driving program for the communication circuit 105, and performs transmission and reception of telephone calls, transmission and reception of characters and images (e-mail transmission / reception function, etc.). The display driver is a driving program for the display circuit 107, and can display data stored in the work RAM 103 and the data RAM 104, display a key input (not shown), display a call state (display a telephone number of a call partner), and the like. . The display driver and the display circuit 107 constitute a display unit of the present invention.
[0018]
The audio input / output driver outputs the audio data stored in the audio area of the data RAM 104 from the speaker 110, takes in audio from the microphone 112, and stores the audio in the audio area of the data RAM 104.
[0019]
The call mode setting program constitutes the call mode setting means of the present invention, and can set one of a normal call mode in which the other party's voice is uttered and a silent call mode in which the other party's voice is not uttered.
[0020]
The voice / text message conversion program, together with the text / voice conversion circuit 114, constitutes the voice / text message conversion means of the present invention. When the call mode setting means is set to the silent talk mode, an incoming call is received. When there is, the voice of the other party is converted into a text message.
[0021]
The response message specifying program constitutes a response message specifying unit of the present invention together with the operation keys. The data RAM 104 not only functions as a telephone directory but also functions as a response message storage unit of the present invention. In the response message storage area, a text message generated by using the operation keys is stored in a destination telephone number. Stored in association with or not associated with the destination telephone number. The response message specifying program can select a text message generated by the operator using the operation keys or a text message stored in the data RAM 104.
[0022]
The response program corresponds to the response means of the present invention, and can convert a text message generated or selected by the response message specifying program into a voice and send it to the other party by voice.
[0023]
When there is an incoming call accompanied by a caller's telephone number notification, the telephone directory search program searches the telephone numbers stored in the telephone directory area of the data RAM 104 to determine whether the same telephone number has been registered.
[0024]
FIG. 2B is a view showing a table of character messages stored in the data RAM 104. The character storage information correspondence table includes character string information set in advance as transmission contents, and furthermore, when this character string information is information associated with a caller, a telephone number or a caller (call Information in which the name of the other party, the model name, and the like are set is stored. Also, a symbol for character string information or information in which character string information is associated with sender information is stored. The input information can be designated by a symbol stored in the input information correspondence table.
[0025]
The operation of the portable telephone 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
When there is an incoming call to the portable telephone 1 (here, it is assumed that the incoming call is set to vibrating incoming call), the caller is specified with reference to the telephone directory area of the data RAM 104 (S101). That is, the telephone directory search program checks from the telephone numbers stored in the telephone directory area of the data RAM 104 whether or not the same telephone number is registered (S102).
[0026]
When the caller cannot be identified, that is, when the caller ID is not notified, or when the caller ID is not registered and the number is not registered, the caller information cannot be displayed. Is displayed on the display 108. On the other hand, when the caller can be identified, that is, when the caller ID is to be notified and the number is registered, the caller information such as the name is displayed on the display 108 together with the caller's telephone number ( S103).
[0027]
Next, the user selects whether to make a call in the normal call mode or in a silent call mode (S104).
When the user selects the normal call mode ("YES" in S104), the user selects whether to answer in the answering machine mode or to perform a normal voice call, and selects the normal voice call. At this time, the portable telephone 1 transmits and receives voice in a normal call mode (S105), and when a response in the answering machine mode is selected, transmits a voice message (response message) to the other party (S106). .
When the user sets the silent communication mode, the character-to-speech conversion circuit 104 converts the received voice into a text message one by one (S107), and displays the converted text message on the display 108 (S108).
[0028]
Next, the user selects whether to create and transmit a message or to transmit a registered character message (S110).
When creating a message, a character message is created from a character input key (S111), and the character message is displayed on the display 108 (S112). In S110, when transmitting the registered character message, it is checked whether or not a caller ID is to be notified (S113). That is, when the incoming call is accompanied by the caller ID notification ("YES" in S113), a list of text messages (caller registration text messages) registered in advance corresponding to the caller is displayed (S114). When an incoming call is not accompanied by a number notification ("NO" in S113), a list of general text messages registered in advance (general registered text messages) is displayed (S115). Then, when the user designates a certain message from the text message list, the CPU 101 acquires a registration number (S116), and displays the selected text message on the display 108 (S117).
[0029]
Next, when the text message is specified ("YES" in S118), it is determined whether or not the text message is already registered (S119). If the message is already registered ("NO" in S119), the text message is converted to voice (S124). If not registered ("YES" in S119), it is determined whether or not to register a text message (S120). If not registered ("NO" in S120), the text message is converted into voice as it is (S120). S124). In S120, when registering, it is determined whether or not the incoming call is a caller ID notification (S121). If the caller number has been notified, the text message is converted into voice after registering the text message in association with the caller (S122). If the caller number has not been notified (the caller number is not notified), the text message is registered without being associated with the caller (S123), and the text message is converted into voice (S124). Sent to the caller.
[0030]
An embodiment of the communication system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the communication system 100. In the communication system shown in FIG. 6, a mobile phone 2 and a computer 3 with a call function are connected to a mobile phone network 5 via a base station 41. An exchange 61 is connected to the mobile telephone network 5, and a character / speech converter 62 is connected to the exchange 61.
[0031]
FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the mobile phone 2. 7, the mobile phone 2 includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a work RAM 203, a data RAM 204, a communication circuit 205, an antenna 206, a display circuit 207, a display 208, a sound output circuit 209, and a speaker 210. And a voice input circuit 211, a microphone 212, and a key control circuit 213.
In the present embodiment, when the computer 3 with the call function receives an incoming call from the portable telephone 2 to the portable telephone 2, the portable telephone 2 sets the exchange 61 to the normal call mode or the silent call mode. When the silent call mode is set, the character / speech conversion device 62 performs a telephone directory search and voice / text message conversion, and outputs the voice from the computer 3 with a call function as described with reference to FIGS. The mobile phone 2 converts the text message to a text message and transmits the text message to the mobile phone 2.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a text message input by the input means or a text message prepared in advance (or in the past) can be transmitted as voice response information, and a message prepared in advance (or in the past) and caller information can be transmitted. Is stored in the RAM or the like in association with the "?", So that a voice corresponding to the caller can be easily transmitted by selecting a symbol. In this case, in the communication device with a call function of the present invention, when there is an incoming call, it is possible to select whether to answer with a normal call or a silent call.
[0033]
Further, according to the present invention, by providing a character / speech conversion function on a network, the load on hardware and software of the communication device can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a communication device with a call function of the present invention.
FIG. 2A is an explanatory diagram showing a program stored in a ROM 102, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a table of character messages stored in a RAM.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining the operation of the mobile phone shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process subsequent to FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process subsequent to FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of a communication system according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a mobile phone used in the communication system of FIG. 6;
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 2 mobile phone 3 computer with call function 5 mobile phone network 41 base station 61 exchange 62 character / voice converter 101, 201 CPU
102,202 ROM
103, 203 Work RAM
104,204 Data RAM
105, 205 Communication circuit 106, 206 Antenna 107, 207 Display circuit 108, 208 Display 109, 209 Voice output circuit 110, 210 Speaker 111, 211 Voice input circuit 112, 212 Microphone 113, 213 Key control circuit 114, 214 Character / voice Conversion circuit 100 Communication system

Claims (2)

Call mode setting means for setting one of a normal call mode for uttering a call partner voice and a silent call mode for not uttering a call partner voice;
When the call mode setting means is set to the silent call mode, when there is an incoming call, voice / text message conversion means for converting the voice of the other party into a text message,
Display means for displaying a text message converted by the voice / text message conversion means on a display,
A response message storage means in which the text message is stored in association with the destination telephone number or without being associated with the destination telephone number;
Response message specifying means for generating a text message using a text key, or selecting a text message or a voice message stored in the reply message storage means,
A response means for converting a text message generated or selected by the response message identification means into voice and transmitting the voice message to the other party;
A communication device with a call function, comprising: A communication system comprising a communication device with a call function, line control means installed on a communication network, and voice / character mutual conversion means,
The communication device with a call function,
Call mode setting means for setting one of a normal call mode for uttering a call partner voice and a silent call mode for not uttering a call partner voice;
When the call mode setting means is set to the silent talk mode, when there is an incoming call, the line control means, a silent talk mode notifying means for notifying a call in the silent talk mode,
With
The line control means,
From the silent call mode notifying means, when receiving the notification, a line switching means for changing a connection line with a communication partner of the communication device with a calling function to a connection via the voice / character mutual conversion means,
The voice / character mutual conversion means,
A response message storage means in which the text message is stored in association with the destination telephone number or without being associated with the destination telephone number;
The text message received from the communication device with the call function is converted into voice, and the text message corresponding to the character received from the portable telephone stored in the predetermined storage unit is converted into a voice message and sent to the other party. Text message / voice conversion means,
Voice / text message conversion means for converting the voice received from the call partner into a text message and sending the text message to the communication device with a call function,
A communication system comprising:

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