JP2558796B2 - Telephone terminal equipment - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a telephone terminal device such as a videophone for transmitting and receiving voice and video through a telephone line.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, there is a video telephone that transmits and receives voice and video through a telephone line, but in recent years, an apparatus of this kind has attracted attention as the amount of information increases.

However, the above-mentioned configuration has a problem that even if an incoming call occurs when the user is absent, a message from the other party cannot be received, that is, automatic reception of the message is impossible. Proposed a still picture videophone with an added answering machine function, which automatically stores the audio and video signals from the other party and can output the stored information from the audio output section and the video display section.

Hereinafter, a still image videophone, which is an example of a telephone terminal device proposed by the applicant, will be described.

The configuration of the video phone proposed by the applicant was as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, for example.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an image input unit composed of a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), an image pickup tube and the like, 2 an image display unit composed of a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a liquid crystal display panel, etc. An image transmission button 5 operated when transmitting the image captured by the input unit 1 to the other party via the telephone line is a cassette tape deck for storing the received audio signal and video signal on the cassette tape 6.

Further, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration,
In the figure, 7 is a telephone line, 8 is a line interface section, and 9 is a flow of signals coming through the telephone line on the audio side (A)
And an audio signal / video signal switch for switching to the video side (B), 10 is a signal sent from the other side via the telephone line when the audio signal / video signal switch is connected to the audio side. Is a video signal discriminating unit for detecting whether or not there is a video signal, and when there is a video signal, a signal indicating that is sent to the audio signal / video signal changeover switch 9. Reference numeral 11 is a voice output unit such as a speaker, 12 is a voice input unit such as a microphone, and 13 is the video input unit 1
A video signal modulation unit that modulates the video signal captured by the device into a signal that can be sent out over the telephone line, 14 is a video signal demodulation unit that demodulates the modulated video signal sent over the telephone line, and 15 and 16 are respectively A first video memory, a second video memory, and 17 are answering machine function switches that selectively switch the videophone section and the answering machine section manually. In the on state, the answering machine function switch is connected to the (D) side and in the off state, (C). ) Side is connected. Reference numeral 18 is an incoming call detection unit that detects a calling signal coming from the telephone line 7, and 19 is a voice synthesis IC and a voice storage memory IC.
A response message sending unit, 20 and 21 are a received message storage unit and a received message reproducing unit using the cassette tape deck 5. In the figure, a portion surrounded by a broken line 22 indicates an audio communication portion, a portion surrounded by 23 indicates a video communication portion, and a portion surrounded by 24 indicates an answering machine.

Next, the operation of the still image videophone configured as described above will be described. In the following description, it is assumed that a plurality of videophones having the configurations shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are connected via the telephone line 7.

First, at home, the answering machine function switch 17 is set to the (C) side, and the audio signal / video signal switching switch 9 is connected to the audio side (A). When a call or an incoming call occurs in this state, the caller and the called party are connected via a telephone line,
Thereafter, normal voice communication is mutually performed by the voice output unit 11 and the voice input unit 12.

Also, if you want to send the video to the other party from yourself, by pressing the image sending button 4, the audio signal / video signal switching switch 9 operates, and the signal flow is switched from the audio side (A) to the video side (B). The video information taken into the first video memory 15 by the video input unit 1 is the video signal modulation unit.
The signal is modulated by 13 into a signal that can be transmitted through the telephone line.
After that, the modulated video signal is added with a signal for switching between audio and video at the head and sent from the line interface unit 8 to the other party via the telephone line 7. Then, the audio / video switching signal is detected by the video signal discriminating unit 10 of the telephone terminal device of the other party, and the audio / video switching switch 9 is operated to change the signal flow from the audio side (A) to the video side (B ), The video signal is demodulated by the video signal demodulation unit 14, stored in the second video memory 16, and displayed on the video display unit 2.

After the video transmission is completed, the audio signal / video signal changeover switch 9 automatically returns to the audio side (A).

On the other hand, when the other party sends the video, the same processing as above is performed, and the received video is displayed on the video display unit 2 on the own side.

When the user is absent, the answering machine function switch 17 is turned on, that is, set to the (D) side. When a call signal arrives from the telephone line 7 in this state, the call signal is detected by the incoming call detection unit 18, and after the telephone line is automatically closed, the response message transmission unit 19 is driven to previously store the voice storage memory IC. And the response message is sent to the telephone line. When the sending of the response message is completed, the audio signal sent from the calling side via the telephone line 7 and the video signal modulated into a signal that can be sent out via the telephone line are stored in the received message storage section 20 in the cassette tape 6 Remember. In this way, an incoming call which is on the absence is automatically answered and a voice signal and a video signal from the other party are stored.

Next, when the operator operates the received message reproducing section 21 after returning home and starts reproducing the received message stored in the cassette tape 6 while he / she is absent, the voice message in the reproduced signal is a voice output section which is a voice output section. The audio / video switching signal added to the beginning of the video signal is detected by the video signal discriminating unit 10 and the audio / video signal switching switch 9 is switched to the video side (B) to demodulate the video signal. It is stored in the second video memory 16 via the unit 14 and reproduced on the video display unit 2 which is a video display unit. When the output of the video signal is completed, the audio signal / video signal switch 9 is switched to the audio side (A).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, the above-mentioned configuration has a problem that a message recorded during absence cannot be confirmed from outside.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is possible to confirm a message recorded while not being present, and to hear only a voice signal, only a video signal, and both of them. (EN) Provided is a telephone terminal device capable of hearing only an audio signal even from a telephone having no image receiving device such as a telephone, thereby shortening a time for remote listening and reducing a call charge.

Means for Solving the Problems In addition to the configuration of the above-mentioned conventional telephone terminal device, a telephone terminal device of the present invention includes a remote control signal for detecting a remote control signal coming through a telephone line and determining the content of the remote control. Detecting means, means for connecting a reproduction signal from the received message reproducing section to the telephone line, and a start position for storing a signal indicating a storage start portion of each of an audio signal and a video signal received via the telephone line. A storage unit and a signal output from the remote control signal detection unit are used to refer to the storage information in the start position storage unit to select at least one of an audio signal and a video signal stored in the received message storage unit. The received message reproducing unit is provided with a control unit for controlling the reproduction signal to be transmitted to the telephone line.

Operation With this configuration, the remote control signal detection unit detects the remote control signal that the caller selects and sends, and the control unit detects the audio signal and the image stored in the received message storage unit according to the type of remote control signal. It becomes possible to select a signal and send it to the telephone line.

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

1 and 2 are perspective views of a still picture television telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention, and 29 is a reproduction selection switch. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration thereof. In the figure, 25 is a remote control signal detecting section for detecting a remote control signal inputted from a telephone line, and 26 is a rotation of the reel of the cassette tape 6. It is a rotation detection unit and outputs a pulse signal every time the reel makes one rotation. Reference numeral 27 denotes an answering machine control section for controlling the answering machine section 24. The answering machine control section includes a rotation number counting section 27a for counting the pulse signal output from the rotation detecting section. 28 is answering machine 2
An answering machine operation switch that supplies power to 4 and puts it in a standby state. 29 is a reproduction selection switch, and 30 is a received message sending switch for sending a received message to the telephone line. Reference numeral 31 is a start position storage unit for storing a signal indicating the number of reel rotations corresponding to the recording start position of each of the audio signal and the video signal stored in the cassette tape 6.

In this embodiment, the same parts as those in the above-mentioned conventional example are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation of the still image videophone configured as described above will be described.

In the normal operation at home, it is possible to send and receive voice and video as in the conventional example. In this embodiment, an answering machine function when not at home and an operation for reproducing a received message will be described.

When the user is absent, by turning on the answering machine operation switch 28, the answering machine section 24 is supplied with power and becomes operable. When a call signal arrives from the telephone line 7 in this state, the call signal is detected by the incoming call detection unit 18, and the signal is output to the answering machine control unit 27. Answering machine control unit 27
Closes the telephone line and drives the response message sending section 19 to send the response message previously stored in the voice storing memory IC to the telephone line. When the transmission of the response message is completed, the answering machine control unit 27 controls the received message storage unit 20 to modulate the voice signal sent from the calling side via the telephone line 7 and the signal that can be sent out on the telephone line. The received video signal is stored in the cassette tape 6 by the received message storage unit 20. The voice signal received even while the answering machine 24 is in operation is output from the voice output unit 11, and when the video signal is transmitted from the calling side, the video signal determination unit 10 determines and the voice signal / video signal changeover switch. Since 9 is switched to the video side (B) and the video display section, the video can be monitored. During recording of the received message, the rotation of the reel of the cassette tape 6 in the received message storage unit 20 is detected by the rotation detection unit.
Detected by 26, one pulse is output to the answering machine control section 27 for each rotation of the reel. Then, the rotation number counting unit 27a of the answering machine control unit 27 counts the pulses. Then, the answering machine control unit 27 determines the number of revolutions when the audio signal / video signal switch 9 is switched from the audio side (A) to the video side (B) and the video side (B) to the audio side (A).
The rotation speeds at the time of switching to are stored in the start position storage unit 31 as the rotation speeds indicating the recording start position of the video signal and the recording start position of the audio signal, respectively. In this way, an incoming call which is on the absence is automatically answered and a voice signal and a video signal from the other party are stored.

Next, when the operator operates the received message playback unit 21 after returning home and starts playing the received message stored in the cassette tape 6 while the player is out of the house with the playback selection switch 29 set to audio / video, the cassette tape is wound. The tape is run at a constant speed from the starting point of the return tape, and the voice message of the playback signal is played back from the voice output unit 11 which is the voice output unit, and the video signal is the voice / video switching signal added to the beginning of the video signal. The audio signal / video signal switch 9 is switched to the video side (B) when detected by the discrimination unit 10 and stored in the second video memory 16 via the video signal demodulation unit 14 and reproduced in the CRT unit of the video display unit 2. It When the output of the video signal is completed, the audio signal / video signal switch 9 is switched to the audio side (A). Thereafter, the audio signal and the video signal are reproduced in the same manner.

When the reproduction of the received message stored in the cassette tape 6 is started with the reproduction selection switch 29 set to voice, the cassette tape 6 is rewound to the start end thereof. When the rewinding operation is performed, the answering machine control unit 27 operates the rotation number counting unit each time a pulse arrives from the rotation detecting unit 26.
Decrement the count value by 27a. Then, the reproducing operation is started from the start end of the cassette tape. By this reproducing operation, the audio signal recorded on the cassette tape is output from the audio output unit 11. Also, during this reproducing operation, the pulses output from the rotation detection unit 26 are counted by the rotation number counting unit 27a of the answering machine control unit 27, and the count value is stored in the start position storage unit 31 when the received message is recorded. When the number of rotations indicating the storage start position of the video signal is reached just before the storage start position of the video signal, the cassette tape is fast-forwarded to the position of the rotation speed corresponding to the next storage start position of the audio signal, and then in the reproduction state again. The next audio signal is reproduced. In the same manner, only the audio signal will be output from the audio output unit 11.

When the reproduction of the received message stored in the cassette tape 6 is started with the reproduction selection switch 29 set to the video side, the video signals are sequentially reproduced from the storage start position of the video signal, and the CRT of the video display section 2 is reproduced. As it is displayed on the unit, the recorded portion of the audio signal will be fast forwarded.

Next, a case will be described in which a remote signal is sent from a destination to check the recorded contents.

First, when going out, the answering machine operation switch 28 is turned on, and the answering machine section 24 is in a standby state. When a call signal is input through the telephone line in this state, the incoming call detection unit 18
Detects and closes the telephone line. Next, the response message sending section 19 sends a response message to the calling party. At this time, the remote control signal detection unit 25 constantly monitors whether or not the remote control signal has arrived in the telephone line, and when the remote control signal indicating remote listening is detected, the remote control signal control unit 27 is notified of that fact. Is output. On the other hand, when this signal is input, the answering machine control unit 27 controls the response message transmission unit to stop the transmission of the response message and sets the reception message transmission switch 30 to the conductive state. Further, after controlling the received message reproducing section 21 to rewind the cassette tape 6 to the starting point, the cassette tape 6 is run at a constant speed from the starting point. Therefore, the received messages are reproduced from the received message reproducing unit 21 in the order in which they were recorded and sent to the telephone line 7 through the received message sending switch 30 and the line interface unit 8.

Next, when the operator wants to listen to only the voice signal by remote control, the operator sends a remote signal to listen to only the voice while sending the response message. Then, this remote signal is detected by the remote signal detection unit 25 and the answering machine control unit.
It is output to 27. The answering machine control unit 27 controls the received message reproduction unit 21 and the received message transmission switch 30, and the reproduction selection switch at home is determined by the value counted by the rotation speed counting unit 27a at the time of recording and stored in the start position storage unit 31.
In the same way as when 29 is set to the voice side and played back, only the voice signal is played back and output to the telephone line 7 through the line interface section 8. Further, when it is desired to reproduce only the video signal, the operation is started by the operator sending a remote control signal for remotely listening to only the video while sending the response message. Then, when the remote control signal is detected, the answering machine control unit 27 displays the video signal in the same manner as when the reproduction selection switch 29 is set to the video side and the reproduction is performed according to the rotation speed stored in the start position storage unit 31. Only sent to the telephone line 7.

The configuration of the remote control signal detection unit 25 described above is as follows although not particularly shown.

That is, DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency) signal is detected and data corresponding to the detected DTMF signal is output.
A DTMF detection unit, a remote control signal storage unit in which data corresponding to each of a plurality of remote control signals is stored in advance,
A data comparison unit that compares the data detected and output by the DTMF detection unit with the data read from the remote control signal storage unit and outputs a coincidence signal to the answering machine control unit 27 when the two coincide. It is composed of. Then, while listening to the response message, the operator compares the DTMF signals sent to the line by pressing some dial buttons of the tone dial type telephone, and the incoming DTMF signals are remotely controlled by the data comparison unit. It is determined whether the signal is a signal, and if the signal is a remote control signal, what kind of operation is the signal for instructing the telephone terminal device.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to remotely listen to a received message recorded while away from home, and to listen to only audio signals, only video signals, and both listening operations. By being able to select and listen from among them, the time for remote listening can be shortened if necessary, and the call charge can be reduced, which is very effective in practice.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 and 2 are perspective views of a still picture television telephone which is a telephone terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing its circuit configuration, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a still image videophone, which is a conventional telephone terminal device.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a still picture videophone which is a conventional telephone terminal device. 1 ... video input part, 2 ... video display part, 3 ... device body 4 ... image sending button, 5 ... cassette tape deck 6 ... cassette tape, 7 ... telephone line 8 ... line interface part 9 …… Sound signal / video signal changeover switch 10 …… Video signal discrimination unit, 11 …… Sound output unit 12 …… Sound input unit, 13 …… Video signal modulation unit 14 …… Video signal demodulation unit, 15 …… First Video memory 16 …… Second video memory 17 …… Answering function switch 18 …… Incoming call detection section 19 …… Response message sending section 20 …… Received message storage section 21 …… Received message playback section 22 …… Voice communication Section, 23 ... video communication section 24 ... answering machine section, 25 ... remote signal detection section 26 ... rotation detection section, 27 ... answering machine control section 28 ... answering machine operation switch 29 ... playback selection switch 30 ...... Receive message sending switch 31 …… Open Position storage unit

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Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An audio communication unit having an audio input unit and an audio output unit; a video communication unit having a video input unit and a video display unit;
A response message sending unit for sending a response message stored in advance to the telephone line, a received message storage unit for storing voice signals and video signals coming over the telephone line, and a received message stored in the received message storage unit are provided. A received message reproducing unit for reproducing, a remote control signal detecting unit for detecting a remote control signal coming through a telephone line to determine the contents of the remote control, and a reproduced signal from the received message reproducing unit are connected to the telephone line. Means, a start position storage section for storing a signal indicating a storage start portion of each of an audio signal and a video signal received via a telephone line, and the start position storage by a signal output from the remote control signal detecting means. Select at least one of the audio signal and the video signal stored in the received message storage section with reference to the storage information of the section. Telephone terminal apparatus having a control unit for controlling so as to transmits the reproduced signal to the telephone line from the received message reproducing unit and.