JP2606212B2 - Answering machine - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a telephone answering machine which automatically answers a telephone call received while answering.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, an answering machine detects an incoming call while a user is away, and firstly, a response message (hereinafter simply referred to as OGM) indicating that an answering machine recorded in advance on a recording medium is performed.
), And transmits the reproduced response message to the caller of the telephone through the line, and then sends out a predetermined signal tone and establishes the ICM recording mode. Business message sent through
ICM) is recorded on a recording medium.

Conventional OGM and ICM recording methods are roughly classified into the following four types.

(1) Two tapes, a cassette tape dedicated to OGM recording and a cassette tape dedicated to ICM recording.

(2) Recording OGM and ICM on a single cassette tape.

(3) A device that records OGM and ICM in a solid-state memory such as a dynamic RAM.

(4) An OGM is recorded on a solid-state memory, and an ICM is recorded on a cassette tape.

Also, there are two methods of playing back the recorded ICM: a method in which the user goes home and sets the answering machine to the play mode, thereby performing the ICM playback, and a method in which the user uses the telephone at home to answer. , And sending a predetermined remote control signal to set the answering machine to the playback mode, thereby performing ICM playback.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

As described above, in the conventional answering machine, the caller
He listens to the OGM, then hears a beep, for example, before speaking his ICM. In addition, the answering machine is set to the ICM recording mode together with the transmission of the signal tone.
However, the caller is unaware that the other party is an answering machine and while the OGM is being sent, the beginning of the ICM (often the caller's name) or in some cases
If you speak all of the ICM and then notice that your other party is an answering machine, you may end up hanging up. In such a case, the beginning or all of the ICM spoken by the caller during the OGM transmission is not recorded, so that the user cannot know at all that there was a call from the caller during the absence.

[Means for solving the problem]

In the present invention, first magnetic recording means for sending a response message recorded in advance to a caller in response to an incoming call, and sending the response message and simultaneously recording a message from the caller And a solid-state memory for recording only the beginning of the message.

[Action]

If the caller accidentally speaks the ICM and hangs up while sending the response message, it is recorded that at least the caller has called.

〔Example〕

In the present embodiment, the above-described problem is solved, and the following problem is also solved.

When a plurality of ICMs sequentially recorded on a magnetic tape are reproduced by a conventional answering machine, it takes a very long time to reproduce all the ICMs. Especially when a single answering machine is used by multiple people, a reproduced IC that is not addressed to itself
It will be heard to M, it will take time and it will be unpleasant. In some cases, ICs for yourself or others
M's secret will be leaked. When playing back the ICM, it is often necessary to know only the essential points, for example, only the name of the caller who gives his / her name at the beginning of the ICM.

Therefore, the user performs a skip operation in order to skip and listen to the ICM that is not addressed to the user or a part other than the main point of the ICM. For this reason, it is necessary to repeatedly operate the fast forward button while listening to the reproduced sound, which is very troublesome and time consuming. In particular, when ICM playback is performed by mote control from a place where the user is away from the phone, the telephone bill will also increase.

Next, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the answering machine of the type (1) will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a tape deck for recording and reproducing OGM, which is provided with a cassette tape 2, a recording / reproducing head 3, and the like. Reference numeral 4 denotes a tape deck for recording and reproducing ICM, and is provided with a cassette tape 5, a recording / reproducing head 6, and the like.
Reference numeral 7 denotes an index recording / reproducing unit provided according to the present invention. The index recording / reproducing unit is provided with a dynamic RAM 8 as a solid-state memory for recording the head part of the ICM, an A / D converter (not shown) and a D / A converter.

9 is a line interface, 10 is an incoming call detection circuit, 11 is a remote control signal detection circuit, 12 is a microcomputer for controlling the system, 13 is a timer circuit, 14 is a recording circuit section including a recording amplifier, and 15 is a reproduction amplifier. And the like, a reproducing circuit section 16 and the like, 16 is a microphone, and 17 is a speaker.

The microcomputer 12 has a recording circuit section 14 and a reproducing circuit section.
15. Index recording / reproducing unit 7 and tape decks 1, 4
Are controlled so as to achieve a predetermined state at a predetermined timing.

Next, a description will be given of a case where the absence recording is performed by the above configuration.

First, OGM is recorded using the microphone 16. The OGM signal from the microphone 16 is processed by the recording circuit unit 14, sent to the tape deck 1, and recorded on the tape 2 via the head 3. Next, when the tape deck 1 is set to the reproduction mode for performing the OGM confirmation reproduction, the OGM signal reproduced from the tape 2 by the head 3 is processed by the reproduction circuit section 15 and added to the speaker 17 to be checked.

Next, when the answering machine is set to the answering machine mode, the tape 2
Of the OGM is performed, and the part of the tape 5 where the ICM is to be recorded is performed. Then, the user goes out, and the apparatus is in a state of waiting for an incoming call.

If there is an incoming call in this state, a bell sound signal from the line is detected by the incoming call detection circuit 10 through the line interface 9. Microcomputer based on this detection
Numeral 12 sets the tape deck 1 to the reproducing mode and operates the reproducing circuit section 15 and the index recording / reproducing section 7. The OGM signal reproduced from the tape 2 by the head 3 is transmitted from the reproduction circuit unit 15 to the line through the line interface 9 and transmitted to the caller.

At this time, if the caller does not notice that the caller is the answering machine of the other party, but speaks the beginning (or sometimes all) of his own ICM, for example, the name of the caller, the ICM signal is The signal is supplied from the interface 9 to the index recording / reproducing unit 7, converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter, and recorded in the RAM 8. This recording is performed for a predetermined time from the start of OGM transmission. This gives R
AM8 records at least the name of the caller.

If the caller waits for the end of the OGM transmission and then sends the ICM after hearing the signal tone, the tape deck 4 is set to the recording mode together with the signal tone transmission, and the recording circuit unit 14 and The index recording / reproducing unit 7 is operated. When the caller hears the signal tone and sends an ICM, the ICM signal is sent from the line interface 9 to the recording circuit unit 14.
And is recorded on the tape 5 by the head 6. At the same time, the ICM signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter in the index recording / reproducing unit 7 and then recorded in the RAM 8. this
Recording in the RAM 8 is performed, for example, for several seconds from the beginning of the ICM.
Thereby, for example, the name of the caller in the ICM is recorded in the RAM 8. The recording time of the above-mentioned several seconds in the RAM 8 is managed by the timer circuit 13.

When the recording of the ICM is completed and the call is disconnected as described above, the apparatus is again in the incoming call waiting state. At this time, the beginning of the OGM of the tape 2 of the tape deck 1 has been performed.
Next, when there is a second incoming call, the incoming call is detected in the same manner as described above, the caller's ICM is recorded on the tape 5, and
The beginning of the CM is recorded in RAM8. By repeating the above operation, the ICM is sequentially recorded on the tape 5 and the beginning of the ICM is sequentially recorded on the RAM 8.

Next, a case where the ICM recorded as described above is reproduced will be described.

When the user is at home to perform ICM reproduction, the apparatus is set to the home mode and then to the ICM reproduction mode. As a result, the index recording / reproducing unit 7 enters the reproducing mode, and the RAM 8 is read. The signal at the beginning of each ICM sequentially read from the RAM 8 is stored in the
After being converted into an analog signal by the A converter, the signal is supplied to the speaker 17 through the reproduction circuit unit 15. Thus, the user can hear the beginning of each of the plurality of ICMs recorded on the tape 5. Therefore, the beginning of each ICM can be used as an index of all ICMs recorded on the tape 5. This index includes the caller
It also includes the beginning of the ICM that was sent incorrectly during the transmission of M.

Thereafter, if the tape deck 4 is set to the reproduction mode as required, the ICM recorded on the tape 5 is supplied to the speaker 17 through the reproduction circuit unit 15. At this time, only the necessary ICM can be heard by using the head of each ICM read from the RAM 8 as an index.

When the user performs ICM reproduction by remote control using a telephone set away from home, the user sends a predetermined remote control signal including his / her own identification signal. This remote control is detected by the remote control signal detection circuit 11 through the line interface 9. The microcomputer 12 sets the index recording / reproducing unit 7 in the reproducing mode based on this detection, and the RAM 8 is read out in the same manner as described above. The read signal at the beginning of each ICM is transmitted from the index recording / reproducing unit 7 to the telephone set outside the user via the reproducing circuit unit 15 and the line interface 9. This allows the user to know, as an index, the beginning of the ICM of all incoming calls. Thereafter, if necessary, a predetermined remote control signal can be sent to set the tape deck 4 to the playback mode, and the ICM recorded on the tape 5 can be heard.

Various functions described below can be added to the answering machine according to the above-described embodiment.

(1) When recording the beginning of the ICM in the RAM 8, voice detection or the like is performed, and when the voice is detected, the timer circuit 13 is operated assuming that the ICM has started, and then the ICM is operated for only a few seconds.
Record

Thus, useless recording in the RAM 8 can be eliminated, and the capacity of the RAM 8 can be used effectively.

(2) The following various data are recorded in the RAM 8 together with the beginning of the ICM.

a, position information such as a recording start point and a recording end point of the ICM recorded on the tape 5. This is recorded, for example, as a value obtained by counting the number of rotations of the reel shaft of the tape deck 4.

 b, ICM recording date and time.

 c, total recording time of all ICMs.

d, Caller identification signal. This can be realized, for example, by including in advance in the OGM a content indicating that it is desired to send an identification signal (predetermined) identifying the caller.

e, a priority signal indicating that the ICM is reproduced with higher priority than other ICMs.

f. Signal to prohibit playback if you do not want others to hear the ICM.

 g, Signal for identifying the ICM partner.

h, total recording time of ICM only for the identified ICM partner.

The recording of each of the signals e, f, and g is performed in advance to that effect.
It can be realized by incorporating it in OGM. The signals a, b, c, h, etc. can be read out from the RAM 8 and displayed during ICM reproduction. Among them, for example, information relating to time or the like may be displayed by voice synthesis or signal sound.

Data of the above a (count value of the number of lines on the reel axis)
Can be used for searching for each ICM when the tape 5 is reproduced.

The signals d, e, f, etc. are particularly effective when one answering machine is used by a plurality of persons. In other words, it is possible to prevent unnecessary ICM destined for another person from being reproduced and to protect the secret of ICM destined for oneself and others.

(3) If the capacity of the RAM 8 is small, the head of the ICM recorded in the RAM 8 is sequentially recorded on a predetermined portion of the tape 2 and / or the tape 5 after the completion of the ICM recording or after the RAM 8 is full. In this case, if recording is performed in a portion after the OGM for the tape 2 and in a predetermined portion before the ICM recording portion for the tape 5, it is convenient to use it as an index during reproduction.

By doing so, it is possible to obtain many indexes even if the capacity of the RAM 8 is small. Also, even if the power is turned off due to a power failure or the like and the data in the RAM 8 disappears, the index can be protected. Furthermore, the indexes can be used when the tapes 2 and 5 are reproduced by another tape recorder.

Although the embodiment is a case where the present invention is applied to the answering machine of the type (1) described in the section of the prior art, the present invention is applied to the types (2), (3) and (4). Can be applied to the answering machine. Further, instead of the RAM 8 for recording a part of the ICM, another recording medium such as a magnetic tape can be appropriately used.

According to the present embodiment, even if the caller utters his / her name or the like during OGM playback and then hangs up, the caller's name or the like can be recorded in the record.

In addition to the tape 5 that records the entire ICM, a RAM 8 that records only the beginning of the ICM is provided. By playing back this RAM 8, only the main part of the ICM of the telephone that came in 5 can be used as an index of the ICM recorded. Therefore, when the tape 5 is reproduced, only the ICM desired to be known in advance can be selectively reproduced. In particular, when performing ICM reproduction by remote control, it is convenient because it is possible to know the outline of ICM in a short time, and it is also possible to save telephone bills.

The start of each ICM can be searched in a very short time by the RAM 8, and the address of the start of the ICM can be stored as a digital signal, so that control by the control microcomputer can be easily performed.

Also, when one answering machine is used by a plurality of people, it is convenient because the ICM desired by the user can be known in advance.

Further, by recording the position information of the ICM recorded on the tape 5 in the RAM 8, the search for the tape 5 can be easily performed.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, apart from the magnetic recording means for recording the entire ICM, a solid-state memory for recording only the beginning of the ICM during OGM transmission by another magnetic recording means is provided. By reproducing the beginning of the ICM, it is possible to know at least the name and the like of the caller who is sent during OGM transmission, which cannot be recorded in a conventional answering machine.

[Brief description of the drawings]

 The drawing is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1 ... OGM recording / playback tape deck 7 ... Index record / playback unit 8 ... RAM 12 ... microcomputer

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first magnetic recording means for transmitting a pre-recorded response message to a caller in response to an incoming call, and transmitting the response message and simultaneously recording a business message from the caller. An answering machine, comprising: a second magnetic recording means capable of storing the message; and a solid-state memory for recording only the beginning of the message.