JP2507142B2 - Answering machine - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an answering machine.

2. Description of the Related Art An answering machine is equipped with an ICM tape for recording a caller message (hereinafter referred to as ICM).
Some of this answering machine is configured to record the conversation between the calling party and the called party during a normal call by using the recording function on the ICM tape. That is, when the user feels the necessity of recording during a call, the recording operation button is pressed. Then, the built-in tape deck starts recording operation, the call content of the calling party and the called party can be recorded on the ICM tape, and after the call is finished, the call content can be reproduced again. is there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, in the conventional answering machine as described above,
ICM being played, that is, the ICM recorded before the tape deck
If there is a new incoming call during the playback operation of, the tape deck will automatically stop during the ICM playback.
Then, when the caller and the called party are in a call state and the called party tries to record the content of the call, the ICM tape stops at the position during the playback of the previously recorded ICM as described above. Therefore, if you start recording as it is,
There was a problem that the ICM was erased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned prior art, and provides an answering machine that can immediately stand by in a state in which a call content can be recorded even if a call is made during ICM reproduction.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve this object, an answering machine according to the present invention comprises:
The last IC on the recording medium to store the caller message
By referring to the storage means for storing the end point of M and the information stored in the storage means, the recording medium can be started from the end point of the ICM by feeding the storage medium of the ICM recording / playback means. ICM alignment means for alignment to
When the hook detection means for detecting the on-hook / off-hook of the communication means and the ICM recording / reproduction means are in the reproduction mode of the recorded content, when the hook detection means detects the off-hook of the communication means, the ICM alignment means is operated. A control means for controlling is provided.

With this configuration, when the ICM recording / playback means is in the playback mode of the recorded content and the hook detection means detects the off-hook of the communication means, the ICM alignment means is automatically operated based on the information recorded in the recording means. The ICM recording medium is sent, and the next recording start position will be aligned with the end position of the final ICM, so that the next recording can be started immediately from that position.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an answering machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart thereof.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a telephone line, 2 is an interface means for a telephone line and an answering machine, 3 is a bell detecting means for detecting a bell signal from the telephone line, 4 is a calling means for an answering machine, and 5 is a means. An audio signal amplification unit equipped with a line output amplifier for sending OGM and a line input amplifier for recording ICM,
Reference numeral 6 is an input / output amplifier having a microphone input amplifier for recording OGM and a speaker output amplifier for reproducing ICM, and 7 is ICM and OGM.
Tape selecting means for selecting one of the following, 8 is an OGM tape, 9 is an ICM tape, 10 is a cassette deck for running the OGM tape 8 and the ICM tape 9, 11 is an ICM tape counter indicating the position of the ICM tape 9, and 12 is A memory counter that stores the ICM message end point, 13 is the ICM tape counter 1
A comparator for comparing 1 with the memory counter 12, 14 is an operation unit for performing operations such as recording / playback and rewinding of the ICM tape 9,
Reference numeral 15 is a control means for controlling the answering machine, which is composed of a microcomputer. 16 is an on / off switch for operating the answering machine, 17 is an ICM
And a speaker for outputting OGM reproduction sound, and 18 is a microphone for recording OGM. The ICM tape counter 11, the storage counter 12, and the comparator 13 are provided in the control means 15.

The operation of the answering machine configured as described above will be described below.

Here, the on / off switch 16 is pressed down, the answering machine is in an operable state, and the storage counter 12 has the ICM tape counter 11 at the message end position.
It is assumed that the count value of is stored.

First, in step 1, in response to a ring signal input from the telephone line 1, it is detected whether the user goes off-hook, or whether the user goes off-hook to make a call. Calling means 4 is off-hook
When the handset is picked up and the hook switch is turned on, the control means 15 detects it. If no off-hook is detected, then it is determined whether the ICM tape is in operation (step 2).

Here, the operation of the ICM tape will be described. Operation unit 14
When the message playback switch is pressed, the control means
15 detects this, operates the cassette deck 10,
Rewind the tape 9. During the rewinding operation, the ICM tape counter 11 counts in the direction opposite to the recording state. I c
When the M tape counter 11 stops counting, it is judged that the tape start point has been reached, the cassette deck 10 is put into a reproducing state, and the message recorded on the ICM tape 9 is output from the speaker 17 through the selecting means 7 and the speaker output amplifier 6. To do. During the reproducing state, the ICM tape counter 11 continues counting, and the comparing means 13 compares this count value with the count value of the message end position stored in the storage counter 12, and when they match, the control means 15 causes the cassette deck 10 Is controlled to stop the running of the ICM tape 9. A mode in which this series of operations is performed is referred to as a recorded content reproduction mode. Next, when the rewind switch of the operation unit 14 is pressed,
The control means 15 operates the cassette deck 10 to rewind the ICM tape 9. ICM tape counter 1 during rewinding operation
1 counts in the opposite direction to the recording state. When the ICM tape counter 11 stops counting, it is determined that the tape start point has been reached, the cassette deck 10 is controlled, and the rewinding operation is stopped. This operation is the tape operation when the tape is rewound.

Next, when the off-hook is detected during the ICM tape operation (step 3), the control means 15 causes the interface circuit 2 to operate.
Is controlled, the telephone line 1 is closed, and a call state is set. next
The ICM tape counter 11 detects whether or not the ICM tape 9 is in the rewinding operation (step 4). If the rewinding operation is in progress, the rewinding operation for ICM playback or the rewinding switch is pressed. It is determined whether or not the rewind is due to the fact (step 5). In the case of rewinding by pressing the rewinding switch, when the tape start point is detected, the control means 15 controls the cassette deck 10 to stop the rewinding operation (step 6). In the case of rewinding for ICM reproduction in step 5, the control means 15 immediately returns to the cassette deck.
The rewinding operation is stopped at 10, and the ICM is fast-forwarded to the final position (step 8). The final position of the ICM is stored in the memory counter 12, and the comparing means 13 compares this value with the count value of the ICM tape counter 11 during fast-forwarding, and when both match, the fast-forwarding operation of the cassette deck 10 is performed. Stop.

Next, when the ICM tape 9 is not rewound in step 4, the comparison means 13 compares the ICM end position stored in the storage counter 12 with the count value of the ICM tape counter 11 to determine the current ICM position. It is judged whether it is before or after the end position (step 7). If it is before the ICM end position,
Similarly to the above, the control means 15 causes the cassette deck 10 to fast-forward to the ICM end position (step 8). IC in step 7
If it is behind the M end position, the operation of the cassette deck 10 is stopped on the spot (step 9).

When the ICM recording switch of the operation unit 14 is pressed after the operations of Steps 6, 8, and 9 described above (Step 10), the control means 15 operates the cassette deck 10 in the recording state and inputs from the telephone line 1. The voice that is input and the voice that is input from the handset of the communication means 4 are recorded on the ICM tape 9 through the interface circuit 2, the line input amplifier 5, and the tape selection means 7 (step 11).

In this embodiment, the answering machine and the telephone unit are integrated, and the off-hook is detected by turning on / off the hook switch. However, this is because the answering machine and the telephone are separately provided in one telephone line. In this case, the off-hook of the attached telephone can be detected by detecting that the voltage of the telephone line has dropped. Various circuits have already been used as circuits for detecting changes in the voltage of the telephone line, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, the ICM recording / playback means for storing a plurality of caller messages of the present invention, the storage means for storing the operation end point of the ICM, and the information stored in the storage means are referred to When the ICM recording / playback means is in the playback mode of the recorded content, the hook detection means is the call means. When the off-hook is detected, the control means for controlling the ICM alignment means to operate is provided, so that the bell signal is input during the ICM reproduction and the ICM is automatically output when the detection signal is output from the hook detection means. The positioning operation is performed so that the user can immediately start the recording operation when he / she needs it during a call, and the ICM will not be erased by the call recording, and the ICM can be heard again. Can be done, and the practical effect is great.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an answering machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the answering machine. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Telephone line, 2 ... Interface means, 3 ... Bell detection means, 4 ... Call means, 5 ... Voice amplification section, 6 ... Input / output amplification section, 7 ... Tape selection means, 8 ... OGM tape, 9 ... ICM tape, 10 ... Cassette deck 11 ... ICM tape counter 12 ... memory counter, 13 ... comparator 14 ... operation part, 15 ... control means 16 ... on / off switch, 17 ... speaker 18 ... microphone

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ICM recording / reproducing means capable of recording a caller message inputted through a telephone line and recording the contents of a call by the user's instruction using the same recording medium and reproducing the recorded contents. The storage means for storing the final ICM recording end position on the recording medium of the ICM recording / playback means and the information stored in the storage means are referred to perform the feeding operation of the storage medium of the ICM recording / playback means. And then the final
When the ICM recording / playback means is in the playback mode of the recorded content, the ICM positioning means for positioning so that recording can be started from the ICM recording end position, the hook detection means for detecting on-hook / off-hook of the communication means, An answering machine according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling the ICM positioning means to operate when the hook detection means detects off-hook of the call means.