JP2573248B2 - Telephone - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to an improvement of a telephone having a function of variably setting the volume or tone of a ringing tone.

(Prior Art) Generally, a telephone is configured to generate a ringing tone when an incoming call is made and notify the subscriber of the occurrence of the incoming call. In recent years, however, the volume and tone of the ringing tone have been changed. Many have the function to do. If such a telephone is used, it is possible to set an optimal ringing volume and tone according to the surrounding noise state and the user's request, which is extremely useful.

However, in this type of conventional telephone, for example, a circuit for variably setting the volume and tone is added to a ringing tone generating circuit, and the state of these variable circuits is switched by a changeover switch to set a desired ringing volume and tone. Although many are configured to be set, most of them do not have a function of displaying the setting state of the volume and tone, generate a ringing tone only at the time of an incoming call, and do not generate a ringing tone at the time of setting. For this reason, the subscriber cannot confirm what state the volume and tone are currently set, and cannot confirm whether or not the desired volume and tone can be set when resetting the settings.
It was very inconvenient. On the other hand, there is a display in which a scale or the like is displayed at the operation position of the operation switch of the changeover switch so that the setting state of the ringing volume and the tone can be confirmed, but in general, the changeover switch is provided on the operation panel for space reasons. Is not disposed, and is often disposed at a position that is difficult to visually recognize, such as a side surface portion or a rear surface portion of the housing. Therefore, there is a problem that it cannot be easily confirmed.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, the conventional telephone has difficulty in confirming the setting state of the ringing tone type and operability when changing the setting, and the present invention has been made in view of this point. In addition, a ringing tone is output at the time of caller setting, and the setting state of the ringing volume or tone can be clearly notified with a simple configuration without providing a new display or the like for notification, thereby enabling a compact setting operability. The aim is to provide an excellent telephone.

[Configuration of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention relates to a ring tone generating means for generating a plurality of types of ring sounds different in at least one of volume and tone when an incoming call occurs, and a ring tone generating means. A ring tone designation input means for designating the type of ring tone to be generated and a notification control means are provided. When the alert control means performs an operation for designating a ring tone setting mode with the ring tone designation input means, Then, the display pattern of the existing visual display is switched to a pattern for displaying the type of ringing tone, and in this state, the type of ringing tone designated and input by the ringing tone designation input means is displayed on the visual indicator. In addition, the type of the designated and inputted ringing tone is notified to the ringing tone generating means to generate a corresponding ringing tone.

(Operation) As a result, the ringing tone is output when the ringing tone is set, and the setting status of the ringing tone is clearly notified, so that the setting status of the ringing tone can be easily and reliably checked and changed. be able to. Further, since the notification is made using the existing visual display, a new display or the like is not required, and the telephone can be downsized and the configuration can be simplified accordingly.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of a telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention, where 1 indicates a subscriber line. This telephone has a control circuit 10 composed of, for example, a microcomputer. When a call is made, a dial signal is generated from a dial transmitting circuit 5 according to an instruction from the control circuit 10 and transmitted to the subscriber line 1. After the other party answers, the telephone circuit 3 and the handset 4 are connected via the subscriber line 1.
To make a call. Reference numeral 2 denotes a hook switch that is switched according to a hook operation of the handset 4. On the other hand, when a calling signal arrives from an exchange (not shown) via the subscriber line 1, the incoming of the calling signal is detected by the ringing tone generating circuit 6 to generate a ringing tone, and this ringing tone is generated by the speaker 7 To notify the subscriber of the occurrence of an incoming call.

The telephone also has an input / output unit 8 which normally operates as a dial key, and a mode designation key 9 for designating a ringing tone setting mode. The input / output unit 8 is composed of a so-called digitizer in which a transparent input sheet is placed on the display surface of the display, for example, and a dial key pattern is displayed on the display at normal times. By pressing a position corresponding to the pattern, dial information is input.

The control circuit 10 includes a call display control means 10a and a call sound generation control means 10b in addition to the above-described dial transmission control means and the dial information input control means by the input / output unit 8. The call display control means 10a causes the display of the input / output unit 8 to display a predetermined display pattern for setting the type of ringing sound when the mode specifying key 9 is operated, and in this state, specifies the ringing volume and tone. Is performed, the calling volume and tone are changed according to the input information, and the changed volume and tone are displayed on the display. On the other hand, the ringing tone generation control means 10b
The ringing volume and tone specified by the input / output unit 8 are specified to the ringing tone generation circuit 6, and the ringing tone is changed in the ringing tone setting mode, or a specific key input operation of the input / output unit 8 is performed. Is performed, a ringing tone is generated from the ringing tone generating circuit 6.

Next, the operation of the telephone configured as described above will be described. Under normal conditions, the control circuit 10 causes the display of the input / output unit 8 to display, for example, a dial key pattern as shown in FIG. 3 (a). The mode designation key 9 is in a mode designation standby state.

When the subscriber operates the mode designation key 9 in this state, the control circuit 10 first detects the operation of the mode designation key 9 in step 2a as shown in FIG. Is switched from the dial key pattern to a ring tone setting pattern as shown in FIG. 3 (b). Then, the operations of the input / output unit 8 and the mode designation key 9 are monitored in steps 2c and 2d, respectively. In this state,
If the subscriber presses the key pattern of the input / output unit 8 with an input pen or a finger, the control circuit 10 detects this in step 2c and proceeds to step 2e. In this step 2e, the input from the input / output unit 8 is performed. Determine the information. If "low" is designated, the control circuit 10 determines that the ringing volume is to be changed and shifts to step 2f. Here, the ringing volume of the ringing tone generating circuit 6 is changed to "low". In step 2g, the display position of the volume display mark 8 displayed on the display of the input / output unit 8 is moved to a position corresponding to "small" as shown in FIG. 3 (c). Thus, the ringing volume is changed and the display after this change is made. On the other hand, if "A" is designated in the input / output unit 8, the control circuit 10 proceeds to step 2i, where the tone of the ringing tone generating circuit 6 is first changed, and
At 2j, the display position of the tone color display mark 8b of the input / output unit 8 is moved to a position corresponding to the tone color "A" as shown in FIG. Thus, the tone color of the ringing tone is changed and displayed. Therefore, the subscriber can easily and accurately set the volume and tone of the ringing tone by visually recognizing the display positions of the volume indication mark 8a and the tone indication mark 8b displayed on the input / output unit 8. When the volume or tone is changed in this manner, the control circuit 10 proceeds to step 2h and instructs the ringing tone generating circuit 6 to generate a ringing tone, thereby generating the changed ringing tone. Let the subscriber know. As a result, the subscriber can confirm the ringing tone by ear.

On the other hand, if, for example, the display position of the volume display mark 8a or the tone color display mark 8b is pressed in the input / output unit 8, the control unit 10 determines in step 2e that the instruction is to generate a ringing tone, and proceeds directly to step 2h. Then, a generation instruction is output to the ringing tone generation circuit 6 to generate a ringing tone of the currently set volume and tone. Therefore, the subscriber can easily confirm the volume and tone of the ringing tone easily.

When the change or generation of the ringing tone is finished and the subscriber operates the mode designating key 9 again, the control circuit 10 detects this in step 2d and returns the control operation mode to the normal mode. Move to 2k and this step 2k
Returns the display pattern of the display unit of the input / output unit 8 to the dial key.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the ring tone setting pattern and the currently set ring volume and tone are displayed using the indicator of the input / output unit 8 which is normally used for displaying the dial key pattern. As a result, the type of ringing tone can be clearly displayed with a simple configuration without providing a new indicator, thereby improving the operability of setting the ringing volume and tone. In addition, not only is the type of ringing tone visually displayed, but also the ringing tone is simultaneously generated from the speaker 7 and can be directly checked by ear, so that the setting of the ringing tone can be more clearly confirmed.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
For example, in the above embodiment, the ring tone setting state is displayed by using the display device that displays the dial key pattern, but the display device that displays the time, the call time, the telephone number, and the like is provided. May display the setting state of the ringing tone on the display. Further, the display pattern for setting the ringing tone may be set so that the ringing volume and the tone color currently being set are displayed as they are, instead of the marks, as shown in FIGS. FIG. 9A shows a display pattern in the normal mode, and FIG. 9A shows a display pattern indicating the position of the mode designation key. Also, 9b and 9c in FIG. 4 (a) are display patterns representing the positions of the tone color and volume designation keys, respectively. Further, the type of the ringing tone may be notified by outputting a voice message indicating the fact from the speaker. In addition, the display form of the type of the ringing tone, the display control procedure, the control content, and the like can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a ring tone generating means for generating a plurality of types of ring sounds having at least one of different volume or tone when an incoming call is generated, and a ring tone generated by the ring tone generating means. Ringing tone designation input means for designating the type of ringing tone to be provided, and notification control means.
When an operation for designating a ring tone setting mode is performed by the ring tone designation input means, the display pattern of the existing visual display is switched to a pattern for displaying the type of ring tone. The type of the ringing tone designated and input by the designation input means is displayed on the visual indicator, and the type of the designated and inputted ringing tone is notified to the ringing tone generating means to generate a corresponding ringing tone. This makes it possible to clearly notify the ringing volume or tone setting state with a simple configuration without providing a new display or the like for notification, thereby providing a small-sized telephone with excellent setting operability. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 3 (a) to 3 (d) are views for explaining a telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing the configuration of the telephone, and FIG. 3 (a) to 3 (d) are diagrams each showing an example of a display pattern in an input / output unit, and FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are other flowcharts of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the display form of the ringing tone setting pattern of the telephone in Example of FIG. 1 ... subscriber line, 2 ... hook switch, 3 ... communication circuit, 4 ... handset, 5 ... dial transmission circuit, 6
... A ringing tone generating circuit, 7 a speaker, 8 an input / output unit, 8a a volume display mark, 8b a tone display mark, 9
... Mode designation switch, 10... Control circuit, 10a... Call display control means, 10b.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hideki Hayakawa 3-1-1 Asahigaoka, Hino-shi, Tokyo Inside Toshiba Hino Plant (72) Inventor Shiro Kotake 3-1-1 Asahigaoka, Hino-shi, Tokyo 1 share (56) References JP-A-59-259 (JP, A) JP-A-61-288541 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A telephone equipped with a visual display for displaying predetermined information relating to a telephone call, ringing sound generating means for generating a plurality of types of ringing sounds having at least one of different volume or tone when an incoming call occurs, Ringing tone designation input means for designating the type of ringing tone generated by the tone generating means; and a display pattern of the visual indicator when the ringing tone setting mode is operated by the ringing tone designation input means. Is switched from a pattern for displaying the predetermined information to a pattern for displaying the type of the ringing tone. In this state, the type of the ringing tone designated and input by the ringing tone designation input means is displayed on the visual display. And a notification control means for notifying the type of the designated and inputted ringing tone to the ringing tone generating means and generating a corresponding ringing tone. Telephone characterized by.