JP2563624B2 - Answering machine - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an answering machine that can be remotely operated from a public telephone or the like using a personal identification number and can reproduce and listen to a message recorded on an answering machine at home. More specifically, the present invention relates to an answering machine that collates a personal identification number.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some types of answering machine have used a remote control signal or a DTMF signal. However, in order to use a specific remote control signal, a dedicated commander must always be carried, which is inconvenient. Also, when using a DTMF signal, remote control was only possible from a push-type telephone.

Therefore, even if a specific remote control signal or DTMF signal is not used, the answering machine is provided with a voice synthesizing unit and a voice detecting unit, and the voice synthesizing unit is used to sequentially generate a number from 0 to 9 to the caller. In response to this question, whether or not there is a voice from the caller in response to this question is judged using the voice detection means, and a password is input by the number that has a voice, and an answering machine that allows remote operation is known. There is.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a password verification operation in such a conventional answering machine using voice. In this answering machine, n numbers (n is an integer of 0 or more and 9 or less) out of the numbers 0 to 9 are selected in advance as the password A. At this time, A is composed of n number strings. In the figure, the answering machine generates ten numbers from 0 to 9 in order by the voice synthesizing means (the same figure), and the voice detecting means determines whether or not the caller utters a voice for each of the numbers. Detect and
If detected (same), the number is stored (same). Therefore, the caller replies, for example, "yes" when the numbers correspond to the numbers forming the personal identification number A in order.
This operation is repeated from 0 to 9 (same), and the answering machine produces the input personal identification number B. When the personal identification number A and the input personal identification number B are the same (the same), it is assumed that the personal identification number has been correctly input (the same), and then the remote operation mode is set (the same), and the remote operation is permitted. If the personal identification number A and the input personal identification number B are not equal, it is determined that the personal identification number was incorrect (same), the telephone line is opened (same), and remote operation is disabled.

The target of remote operation is not only playback and listening of recorded message, but also fast forward playback, rewind playback,
There are various functions such as deletion, change of response message, deletion, transfer function, pager calling function, room monitor function and the like.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique (see FIG. 5), the voice synthesizing means 0 to 9 are used in the collation operation of the personal identification number.
It is necessary to repeat the numbers up to and speak, and the caller must select a number corresponding to each number forming the password A from the repetition and give a voice as a reply. There was a problem that it took time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an answering machine that uses a voice synthesizing means and a voice detecting means so that a collation operation of a personal identification number can be performed in a shorter time.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention automatically responds to a call from a telephone line and, after sending a response message,
In a voice mail device capable of recording a caller's message and remotely controlling and using the personal identification number to reproduce and listen to the message, a voice synthesizing means for generating a plurality of voices stored for the caller. , A voice detecting means for detecting whether or not there is a voice from a caller, a memory for storing a personal identification number composed of a series of one or more registered numbers, and a plurality of memory elements before and after each number of the personal identification number. A memory for storing a pseudo secret code including a decoy number and a collating operation of the secret code used at the time of remote operation, sequentially use each digit forming the pseudo secret code by using the voice synthesizing means. Speaking, and a memory for sequentially storing the numbers which were sounded when the voice detecting means detected the voice from the caller in response to this utterance, as an input secret code, and the input secret code and the registered secret code. It is provided with a, and means for opening the telephone line only when the No. does not coincide.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the voice synthesizing means sequentially utters the numbers constituting the pseudo-password, instead of uttering the numbers 0 to 9 as in the conventional case. The caller can input the input personal identification number by selecting the numbers constituting the personal identification number from the respective numbers and uttering, for example, "Yes".

At this time, the smaller the decoy number included in the pseudo-personal identification number, the easier the operation of collating the personal identification number. In addition, if many decoy figures are included, it is possible to prevent remote operation by an outside intruder.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram, and FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are flow charts.

In FIG. 1, a control unit 1 controls all of the answering machine. 2 is a telephone rotation (hereinafter, simply "line")
Dial unit for opening and closing and for sending dial signals, 3 is an incoming call detecting unit for detecting incoming signals from the line, 4
Is a numeric keypad for inputting numbers such as dial numbers or personal identification numbers to be registered. Reference numeral 5 is a switch for registering a personal identification number, 6 is a switch for registering a pseudo personal identification number, and when the respective switches are in an ON state, the personal identification number or the pseudo personal identification number is registered by the ten keys 4. 7 is
The memories A and 8 that store the personal identification number set by the owner,
This is a memory B for storing a pseudo-code number specified by the owner, and the pseudo-code number is obtained by inserting a plurality of decoy numbers before and after each number constituting the code number. 9 is
It is a memory C for storing the personal identification number input by the caller at the time of matching. Reference numeral 10 denotes a voice synthesizing unit that utters the stored voice according to an instruction from the control unit 1. Reference numeral 11 is a voice detection unit that inputs a signal from the line, smoothes the input signal, and compares the level of the smoothed signal with a threshold value. Is to detect. Reference numeral 12 is a response message reproducing unit for reproducing the recorded voice message and sending it to the line. Reference numeral 13 is a message recording / playback unit for recording a message from the line or for playing back the recorded message and sending it to the line. Reference numeral 14 is a call unit for transmitting and receiving. 15,1
6 is timer x, y, timer x is 10 seconds, timer y
Counts 1 minute.

Next, the preparatory operation in the above configuration will be described. First, the personal identification number is registered. The switch 5 is turned on, and x (where x is an integer) arbitrary numbers are input using the numeric keypad 4, and the control unit 1 stores in the memory A. Here, the registered personal identification number is, for example, “432”. At this time, x = 3.

Next, the pseudo code number is stored. The switch 6 is turned on, and the numeric keypad 4 is used to insert a decoy number before and after each number "4", "3", "2" of the registered personal identification number to make a number consisting of y numbers. . The control unit 1 stores this number in the memory B. The pseudo code number registered here is, for example, “240327”. Of these numbers, the first "2" and then "0" and "7" are decoy numbers. Note that x and y are both integers, and x ≦
y is established and y−x is the number of decoy numbers.
In the above example, x = 3 and y = 6, and y−x = 3 is the number of decoy numbers.

With reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 2 to 4, the absence operation of the portion including the password collation operation of this embodiment will be described.

When the incoming signal is input from the line in the absence state, the incoming call detection unit 3 detects the incoming call, and the control unit 1 dials the dial unit 2
Control the line and close the line (step (hereinafter referred to as S)
1) The response message reproducing unit 12 sends a prerecorded response message to the line (S2).
This response message includes, for example, "I am out of the office right now. If you have a business message, please have a business message." Then, record the caller's message in the message recording / playback unit 13 (S3) and at the same time, timer x1
5 and timer y16 work. When the caller issues a message within 10 seconds, the voice detection unit 11 detects that there is voice (S4) and continues recording the message. When the timer y16 has passed one minute (S6), the recording of the message is ended (S7), the line is released (S8), and the answering machine returns to the waiting state.

Next, the operation of collating the personal identification number by voice will be described mainly with reference to FIG. If the caller does not say anything for 10 seconds from the start of recording the message (S3) (see FIG. 2) (S4), the voice detection unit 11 detects the voice or the timer x1
When 5 has elapsed for 10 seconds (S5), the control unit 1 judges that the caller does not speak anything for 10 seconds in order to remotely operate the answering machine, and finishes recording the message (S9). (See FIG. 3 below) Enter the remote control mode. Here, the collation operation of the personal identification number is performed. The control unit 1 substitutes 1 into the variable m representing the number from the left of the number string forming the personal identification number (S10). The following operation changes the variable m from 1,
Repeat up to y, which is the number of digits that make up the pseudo-password. The control unit 1 reads the m-th digit "a" from the left of the pseudo code number from the memory B8 (S11), causes the voice synthesis unit 10 to speak "a" (S12), and sends out the line. The caller opens the voice "a", and if this "a" is a number that constitutes the registered personal identification number and is a number in order from the left side, and therefore it is not a decoy number, the caller will say "Yes". ” The voice detection unit 11 detects this "yes" (S13), and the control unit 1 judges that "a" is a number that constitutes the personal identification number that the caller inputs to collate, and the memory is stored.
Store in C9 (S14).

The above points will be described more specifically. Now, assume that the registered personal identification number “432” is stored in the memory A7 and the pseudo personal identification number “240327” is stored in the memory B8. Control unit 1 is 1 from the left of memory B8
The second "2" is read out and the voice synthesizer 10 is made to speak "2" and sent to the line. The caller opens "2" and says "yes" if it is the first digit from the left of the PIN. The voice detector 11 detects this "yes", and the controller 1 stores "2" in the memory C9. Therefore, the memory C9 stores a secret code different from the secret code of the memory A7, so that the line is opened as described later. However, if the calling party is a registered person of the personal identification number, it can be judged that it is not the first digit from the left of the personal identification number with respect to the pronunciation of "2", so it is silent. The control unit 1 judges that there is no sound, and "2" is not stored in the memory C9. Next, if the same procedure is performed for the second "4" from the left of the pseudo-code number, if the caller is the registered number of the code number, the voice of "Yes" is issued to "4". Is memory
Registered first from the left of C9. In this way, the third digit "0", the fourth digit "3", the fifth digit "2", and the sixth digit "7" are similarly processed. Then, if the caller is a registered PIN, the memory
The numbers “4”, “3”, and “2” are stored in C9, and the personal identification number “432” has been input. However, when the person who does not know the personal identification number is the caller, it is extremely unlikely that the correct registration number “432” is entered as the input personal identification number in the memory C9, and it is extremely low (6) of (1/2). There is a probability of being squared. Therefore, it becomes possible to fully fulfill the function as the personal identification number.

As described above, y numbers constituting the pseudo-code number are uttered in order (S15, 16) from the voice forming unit 10, and a reply from the caller that "Yes" is silent with respect to these numbers is obtained. When the input personal identification number is configured, the control unit 1 compares the registered personal identification number stored in the memory A7 with the input personal identification number stored in the memory C9 (S17). If these two are equal, the caller is correct. It can be judged that the user knows the personal identification number (S18). If they are not equal, it can be determined that a person who does not know the PIN is about to enter the remote control mode (S1
9), the line can be opened (S8). When it is determined that the personal identification number is correct, the answering machine continues to be in the remote control mode.

By doing so, not only can the verification operation of the personal identification number be performed only by voice, but also the time required for the verification operation can be shortened by reducing the number of decoy numbers included in the pseudo personal identification number. Further, if the possibility of being remotely operated by an outside intruder who does not know the personal identification number is closer to 0, the number of decoy numbers may be increased. In this way, the owner of the answering machine can freely set the pseudo code number.

The operation after entering the remote operation mode state in this way will be described with reference to FIG. The functions that are the target of the remote operation mode in the answering machine in this embodiment are reproduction of a message and recording of the message. Also,
It is assumed that the voice synthesizing unit 10 (see FIG. 1) can utter voices of "play back", "record?" And "remote control" by command from the control unit 1. If it is determined in S18 of FIG. 3 that the correct personal identification number has been input, the remote operation mode is entered and the voice synthesizer 10
Sends the voice "Do you want to play back" to the line (S20)
(Fig. 4). If the caller listens to this voice and wants to hear the message that may have been recorded so far, the caller will say "yes". The voice detection unit 11 detects this voice "Yes" (S21), and the control unit 1 controls the message recording / reproducing unit 13 to reproduce the recorded message and send it out from the line (S22). . When this reproduction operation is completed (S23), the voice synthesizer 10 then utters "Do you want to operate remotely?" (S28), and detects no voice if the caller is not making any voice. (S29), it is determined that the caller has performed remote control, and the answering machine exits the remote control mode, opens the line (S8), and enters the standby state. In step 21, it is determined that the caller does not want to reproduce unless the caller makes a voice, and the voice synthesizer 10 then asks "Do you want to record?"
To the line (S24). If the caller wants to listen to this voice and record a message, he or she will say "yes". The voice detection unit 11 detects this voice (S25), and the control unit 1 controls the message recording / playback unit 13 to record the message (S26). When the recording operation ends (S2
7) Similarly, move to S28. Further, in S29, the caller utters "Yes" if he / she wants to reproduce or record again for the voice "Do you want to operate remotely?" Move.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the pseudo-code number formed by including a plurality of decoy numbers before and after each number of the code number is uttered in order from the left, and each uttered number is called. The person, for example, utters a voice "yes" and inputs the personal identification number. On the other hand, conventionally, 0 to 9
The numbers up to are uttered in order, and the caller utters, for example, a voice "yes" for each of the numbers to input the personal identification number. Therefore, as an example similar to this embodiment, when the personal identification number is "432", the voice synthesizing means is "0""1""2" ... "8""9""0""1""2".
… “8”, “9”, “0”, “1”, “2”… “8”, “9” and so on.
I had to utter a number of times. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the six numbers "2" that form the pseudo code number
It suffices to say "4", "0", "3", "2", and "7", and the operation of collating the personal identification number can be shortened. Moreover, by reducing or increasing the number of decoy numbers, the time required for the matching operation can be further shortened, and the possibility of being remotely operated by an external person who does not know the personal identification number can be further reduced. . This setting can be done freely.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As is apparent from the above-described embodiment, the present invention not only enables the operator to remotely operate the answering machine by inputting a personal identification number only by voice, but also sets a pseudo personal identification code that is preset when the personal identification number is input. By using a number, each number that constitutes this pseudo-personal identification number is uttered by the voice synthesizing means in order, and the caller can give a response voice in response to this utterance to input the personal identification number. Since a plurality of decoy numbers are included before and after each number making up the number, the number can be made sufficiently shorter than the numbers 0 to 9 used conventionally. Therefore, if the number of decoy numbers is reduced, the time required for the collation operation of the personal identification number can be shortened, and if the number of decoy numbers is increased, the possibility of remote operation by an outside intruder is sufficiently reduced. Can approach. The number of these decoy numbers can be freely selected, so that the owner of the answering machine can shorten the matching operation time or reduce the possibility of remote operation by an intruder, if necessary. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an answering machine in one embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 to 4 are flow charts showing the operation of the answering machine of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a conventional answering machine. It is a flow figure showing operation. 1 ... control unit, 2 ... telephone line, 3 ... incoming call detection unit, 4
…… Numeric keypad, 5,6 …… Switch, 7,8,9 …… Memory,
10 …… Speech synthesizer, 11 …… Speech detector, 12 …… Response message playback, 13 …… Message recording / playback, 14…
… Communication department.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An answering machine capable of automatically answering a call from a telephone line, transmitting a response message, recording a caller's message, and remotely controlling and using the password to reproduce and listen to the message. In the telephone device, a voice synthesizing means for generating a plurality of voices stored for the caller, a voice detecting means for detecting whether or not there is voice from the caller, and a sequence of one or more registered numbers A memory that stores the PIN code configured, a memory that stores a pseudo-code number that includes multiple decoy numbers before and after each number in the PIN code, and collation of the PIN code used during remote operation At the time of operation, the numbers composing the pseudo code number are sequentially uttered by using the voice synthesizing means, and the numbers uttered when the voice detecting means detects the voice from the caller in response to this utterance. An answering machine that is provided with a memory for sequentially storing the input password and an input password, and means for opening the telephone line only when the input password does not match the registered password.