JP3217590B2 - Message playback device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a message reproducing apparatus used for a recording / reproducing unit of an answering machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording / reproducing unit including a microcassette tape recorder is widely used as a recording / reproducing apparatus for voice messages in an answering machine. Also,
Recently, a recording / reproducing unit using a semiconductor memory or a disk memory has been developed.

In a recording / reproducing unit using a semiconductor memory or a disk memory, in order to manage messages, serial numbers are assigned in the order in which the messages are recorded. Therefore, not only can messages be reproduced in the order of recording, but also a specific message can be reproduced by specifying a serial number. Further, it is possible to delete only a specific message.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, when a message is reproduced, the reproduction is interrupted for some reason, and when a subsequent message is to be reproduced later, a message that has not yet been listened to is erroneously detected. May be skipped. In such a case, there is a problem that all messages cannot be received reliably.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a message reproducing apparatus which can receive a message more reliably by giving priority to a message which has never been reproduced or a message having a small number of reproductions. I have.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a message reproducing apparatus for solving the above-mentioned problems.
In a message reproducing apparatus provided with a storage unit for recording a plurality of messages and a reproducing unit for reading and reproducing the messages from the storage unit, each of the storage units corresponds to each message. A reproduction number storage area capable of storing even if the number of reproductions is a plurality of times is provided, and the reproducing means is controlled based on the number of reproductions recorded in the reproduction number storage area at the time of reproduction. It is characterized by comprising control means for reproducing a message recorded in the storage means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a message reproducing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of messages;
Means for recording a message, and reading a message from the storage means.
Message playback with playback means for playback
In the apparatus, the storage means corresponds to each message.
And the reproduction means stores the number of times of reproduction by the reproduction means.
A number-of-times storage area is provided.
Controls the playback means based on the number of playbacks recorded
And stored in the storage means in the order of the number of times of reproduction.
Control means for reproducing a message stored in the storage unit.The storage means is further provided with a recording order storage area for recording a message recording order, and the control means is stored in the recording order storage area. The reproduction order is determined based on the recording order and the number of reproductions recorded in the reproduction number storage area.

[0008] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a message reproducing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of messages;
Means for recording a message, and reading a message from the storage means.
Message playback with playback means for playback
In the apparatus, the storage means corresponds to each message.
And the reproduction means stores the number of times of reproduction by the reproduction means.
A number-of-times storage area is provided.
Controls the playback means based on the number of playbacks recorded
And stored in the storage means in the order of the number of times of reproduction.
Control means for reproducing a message, and the control means creates an address table corresponding to the reproduction order and sequentially reproduces the messages according to the address table.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a message reproducing apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the storage means stores the number of times the message has been reproduced and the message. And the recording order is stored as data of a fixed byte length, and the number of reproductions is arranged on the upper byte side of the data, and the recording order is arranged on the lower byte side. The reproduction order is determined based on the reproduction order.

[0010]

According to the configuration of the first aspect, the storage means is provided with a number-of-reproductions storage area for storing the number of times of reproduction by the reproduction means corresponding to each message. Can be recorded. Also, since the control means controls the reproducing means based on the number of times of reproduction recorded in the number-of-times-of-reproduction storage area at the time of reproduction and reproduces the messages recorded in the storage means in ascending order of the number of times of reproduction. The messages recorded in the storage means can be reproduced in ascending order of the number of times of reproduction. As a result, a message that has never been reproduced is reproduced first, and thereafter, a message with a small number of reproductions is preferentially reproduced. As a result, the message can be reliably received.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the storage means is further provided with a recording order storage area for recording a message recording order, and the control means is stored in the recording order storage area. Since the order of reproduction is determined based on the recording order and the number of times of reproduction recorded in the number-of-times-of-reproduction storage area, the messages recorded in the storage means are reproduced in ascending order of the number of times of reproduction, and the reproduction times are the same. In that case, for example, the newer one of the records can be given the priority.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the storage means includes
Corresponds to each message,
A playback count storage area for storing the playback count is provided.
The number of times of reproduction can be recorded for each message. Also,
The number of playback times recorded in the above-mentioned number-of-playbacks storage area during playback
Control the reproducing means based on the number of reproductions,
The messages recorded in the storage means are played back in order.
Control means, which is stored in the storage means.
Messages can be played in ascending order of play count.
it can. This allows messages that have never been played
The message is played first, and then
Is played back with priority. This ensures the message
You can receive it. Furthermore, the control means creates an address table corresponding to the reproduction order, the sequential to play the message in accordance with the address table, it is possible to sequentially reproduce the message according to the address table.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the function of the second aspect, the storage means stores the number of times of reproduction of the message and the recording order of the message as data having a fixed byte length, and stores the data in a fixed byte length. The number of views on the upper byte side,
In addition, while the recording order is arranged on the lower byte side, the control means determines the reproduction order based on the data of the fixed byte length, so that the reproduction order can be easily determined.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the voice message recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment includes a memory card 6 (storage means) for storing voice messages, and a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing voice messages to / from the memory card 6. Part 1

The recording / reproducing section 1 includes a recording system, a reproducing system, a system microcomputer 7 (control means) for controlling these and reading / writing compressed data (described later) from / to the memory card 6, and a system microcomputer 7. A key switch 12 for a user to give instructions such as recording, reproduction, and erasing;
A display unit 13 for displaying the operation status of the system microcomputer 7;

The recording system includes a microphone 2 for converting a voice message into an electric signal, an amplifier 3 for amplifying the electric signal, an AD (analog-digital) converter 4 for converting an output of the amplifier 3 into a digital signal, and a system microcomputer. The control signal from the A / D converter 7 converts the digital signal from the A / D converter 4 into compressed data.
And a voice compression circuit 5 for sending the data to a computer.

The reproduction system converts the compressed data from the system microcomputer 7 into an original digital signal in accordance with a control signal from the system microcomputer 7, and converts the digital signal from the sound expansion circuit 8 into an analog signal. DA (digital-analog) converter 9 and DA
Amplifier 1 for amplifying analog signal from converter 9
0, speaker 11 for converting the output of amplifier 10 to sound
Reproduction means is constituted by each section of the reproduction system and the system microcomputer 7.

The system microcomputer 7 writes the compressed data from the audio compression circuit 5 in order from a specified address (a recording start address described later) of the memory card 6, and
The compressed data is read out from the specified address of the memory card 6 in order and sent to the audio decompression circuit 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, the system microcomputer 7 has four indexes XN-
The function of writing the message recording start address, the message serial number, the number of times the message has been reproduced, and the message recording end address into 1 to XN-4 for each message.

Further, the system microcomputer 7 reads the indexes XN-1 to XN-1 read from the memory card 6.
A memory (not shown) for temporarily storing the content read from XN-3 is provided inside.

The memory card 6 is, for example,
As shown in FIG. 3, F-EEPROMs (batch electrical erase type programmable read only memory) 14.
And an address decoder 15 for outputting chip select signals (CS1 to CS4 in the figure) for selecting the F-EEPROMs 14.

A data bus from the system microcomputer 7, a lower address bus, a write enable signal (WE) for writing data, and an erasing signal (ER) for erasing data all at once are provided in each of the F-EEPROMs 14. It is connected to the.

The upper address bus from the system microcomputer 7 and all the F-EEPROMs 14.
The card enable signal (CE) for disconnecting the data from the data bus is connected to the address decoder 15.

The chip select signal is obtained by decoding the upper address of the address bus by the address decoder 15. However, when the card enable signal is not active, any of the F-EEPROMs 14 cannot be accessed.

In the above configuration, when recording a voice message, a recording key in the key switch 12 is pressed. The audio is taken in from the microphone 2, passed through the amplifier 3, the AD converter 4, and the audio compression circuit 5 and is converted into compressed data. The system microcomputer 7 sequentially writes the compressed data from the audio compression circuit 5 to the memory card 6 while incrementing the address.

When the end mark key of the key switch 12 is pressed during recording, the system microcomputer 7 writes the message recording end address in the index XN-4 of the memory card 6 and continues recording. As a result, the compressed data up to that time can be handled as one message. In this manner, one or more messages are recorded until the stop key in the key switch 12 is pressed. Even when the stop key is pressed, the recording end address at that time is set to the index X.
Write to N-4.

To play a voice message, a play key in the key switch 12 is pressed. The system microcomputer 7 reads out the compressed data from the memory card 6 and sends it to the audio decompression circuit 8. In the audio decompression circuit 8, the compressed data is converted into the original digital signal, and is passed through the DA converter 9 and the amplifier 10, so that the audio message is reproduced from the speaker 11.

The above recording process will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the recording key is pressed, the system microcomputer 7
Is defined as step 1 (hereinafter, step is abbreviated as S)
A blank area of the memory card 6 is searched, and the address of the blank area is set as a recording start address. Here, the blank area refers to a message block in which nothing is recorded, or a message block having the lowest priority (that is, may be deleted) based on the number of times of reproduction and the order of recording.

Next, the system microcomputer 7 writes the recording start address into the index X1-1 of the memory card 6 (S2). Then, the maximum value of the serial number of the message already recorded is searched (S3), and a value obtained by adding 1 to the maximum value is written to the index X1-2 of the memory card 6 (S4, 5). Then, the default value of the number of times of reproduction (for example, 7FH) is set to the index X.
Write to 1-3 (S6).

Thereafter, the system microcomputer 7 records a message on the memory card 6 until the stop key (or the end mark key) is pressed (S7, 8). When the stop key (or the end mark key) is pressed, the recording end address is written into the index X1-4 of the memory card 6 (S9).

Next, the processing at the start of reproduction will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the play key is pressed, the system microcomputer 7
Determines whether the recording has just been completed (S1).
1). If immediately after the end of the recording, the sorting process of S12 to S15 is executed, the address of the highest priority message is set, and then the reproduction process of S17 is executed. If not immediately after the end of the recording, the reproduction process of S17 is immediately executed. .

In the case immediately after the end of recording, the system microcomputer 7
Is the index XN-1 on the memory card 6
The recording start address, serial number, and number of times of reproduction are read into the internal memory of the system microcomputer 7 from .about.XN-3 (S12 to S14). Then, in order of decreasing views,
If the number of times of reproduction is the same, an address table of messages arranged in ascending order of the serial number is created in the memory (S15). Then, the address of the message with the highest priority in the address table is set (S1).
6), execute the reproduction process (S17).

It is to be noted that the address table may be created by performing the sorting when the power of the apparatus is turned on, or the address table may be created by performing the sorting when the reproduction is started after the power is turned on.

The reproduction process will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

While the message is being reproduced (S21), it is checked whether or not it is time to update the number of times of reproduction (S2).
2) Check for the presence or absence of a signal from the skip key to determine whether to interrupt the message being played and shift to the next message (S23), and check whether the message has ended (S24). ) Are sequentially executed. Finally, it is checked whether or not the next message is to be reproduced continuously (S25). If the next message is to be reproduced continuously, the process returns to S21. If the next message is not to be reproduced continuously, the reproduction process is terminated. I do.

In the above-mentioned S22, the update timing of the number of times of reproduction is the time when the message is reproduced to the end, the time when the head of the message is reproduced, the time when the message is reproduced to the middle part, or the time when these are combined. Is set to If it is the update timing, the reproduction count of the index XN-3 is updated (S26). Then, S25 is executed.

In the present embodiment, the number of times of reproduction is indicated by a code in hexadecimal notation, for example, 0 times, 1 time, 2 times,
…, The number of playbacks of 7 times is 1 byte of 7FH,
3FH, 1FH, 0FH, 07H, 03H, 01H, 0
It is indicated by 0H and is divided into eight stages. This is a flash
Bits that have been set to "0" once are blocked due to the characteristics of
It cannot be set to "1" unless erased in units and set to FFH
And without considering erasing a specific address.
Very useful for rewriting several times.

If the message is skipped in S23, or if the message ends in S24, the next higher priority message (ie,
The address of the message with the next smallest number of times of reproduction is read from the already rearranged address table, and the address is set (S27). Then, S25
Execute

The sorting process in S12 to S15 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3A shows a recording start address, a serial number, and the number of times of reproduction read from the indexes XN-1 to XN-3 on the memory card 6 into the internal memory of the system microcomputer 7. Record in order
This is obtained as a result of performing reproduction. Here, 0
, 1 time, 2 times,..., 7 times
Byte 7FH, 3FH, 1FH, 0FH, 07H, 0
3H, 01H, and 00H.

In the memory, the serial number and the number of times of reproduction are stored as 4-byte length data, and the number of times of reproduction is arranged in the upper one byte (MSB side in the figure) of each data, and the lower three bytes ( A serial number is arranged at the LSB side in the figure).

Then, the data is treated as a numerical value, and 0 times,
.., 7 times are represented by 1-byte 7FH, 3FH, 1FH, 0FH, 07H, 03
H, 01H, and 00H, the addresses are sorted in descending order of the data value, and as shown in FIG. 3B, as shown in FIG. An address table can be easily obtained.

As described above, in the voice message recording / reproducing apparatus of this embodiment, the memory card 6 for storing the message, the number of times the message is reproduced, and the address where the message is stored for each message. Have. Therefore, by sorting the addresses of the messages in ascending order of the number of times of reproduction by the system microcomputer 7, the messages can be reproduced in ascending order of the number of times of reproduction. As a result, a message that has never been reproduced is reproduced first, and thereafter, a message with a small number of reproductions is preferentially reproduced. As a result, the message can be reliably received.

Further, in the voice message recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment, the serial number is stored in the memory card 6 in the order of message recording, and the system microcomputer 7
Has a memory that stores the address of the message, the number of times the message has been reproduced, and the serial number of the message as fixed-byte length data. And
In memory, the number of playbacks is placed on the upper byte side of the data, and the serial number is placed on the lower byte side of the data.By sorting the addresses in order of data value size, In addition, the addresses of the messages can be rearranged in descending order of the serial number. This makes the sorting extremely easy. That is, by treating each data as one numerical value, the load on the hardware can be reduced and the software can be simplified.

In this embodiment, the number of times of reproduction and the serial number are used as the keywords for sorting. However, another keyword may be used or the number of keywords may be increased as necessary. . However, it is necessary to use at least the number of plays as a keyword for sorting.

Further, since the voice message recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment is provided with the voice compression circuit 5 for compressing voice messages, the capacity of the memory card 6 can be reduced compared to the case where voice messages are not compressed. It can be reduced to one tenth to several tenths. Further, since the audio decompression circuit 8 for decompressing the compressed data is provided, the voice message can be reproduced from the memory card 6 on which the compressed data is recorded.

Also, as the memory card 6, F-EE
Since a card on which a semiconductor memory such as the PROM 14 is mounted is used, fast forward and rewind of a message can be executed instantaneously. Other than this, as the memory card 6,
You can use a recording card such as a magnetic card,
Recording disks can also be used. It is more convenient to handle the memory card 6 if it can be removed. However, if the memory card 6 is fixed and built-in, the size of the recording / reproducing apparatus for voice messages can be reduced.

Further, in the above embodiment, the recording / reproducing instruction is given by the key switch 12.
By providing a serial interface (or a parallel interface) to the device, recording and reproduction can be automatically performed by an external signal. This allows
For example, in an answering machine, a message can be automatically transmitted or received.

In the above embodiment, the length of the voice message is variable, but may be fixed. When the length is fixed, the indexes XN-1 (message recording start address) and XN-4 (message recording end address) become unnecessary. That is, it is possible to know the recording address of the voice message only by the serial number. For this reason, the above-described recording processing and processing at the time of starting reproduction can be further simplified.

The voice message recording / reproducing apparatus of this embodiment is not only a message recording / reproducing unit used for an answering machine, but also a recorder capable of recording voice as a memo, and a voice recording / reproducing apparatus used for learning a foreign language. And the like, can be widely applied to a recording / reproducing apparatus or a reproducing apparatus for a voice message. Further, if an image is stored in the memory card 6, it can be applied to an image message recording / reproducing device or a reproducing device.

[0054]

As described above, in the message reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the number of times of reproduction by the reproducing means is a plurality of times corresponding to each message in the storage means.
A reproduction number storage area which can be stored even if the reproduction number is controlled based on the reproduction number recorded in the reproduction number storage area at the time of reproduction, and is recorded in the storage means in ascending order of reproduction number. And a control means for reproducing a message that is present.

According to this, the number of times of reproduction can be recorded for each message. Also, since the control means controls the reproducing means based on the number of times of reproduction recorded in the number-of-times-of-reproduction storage area at the time of reproduction and reproduces the messages recorded in the storage means in ascending order of the number of times of reproduction. The messages recorded in the storage means can be reproduced in ascending order of the number of times of reproduction. As a result, a message that has never been reproduced is reproduced first, and thereafter, a message with a small number of reproductions is preferentially reproduced. As a result, there is an effect that the message can be reliably received.

In the message reproducing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, as described above, the storage means stores the message corresponding to each message.
And the number of reproductions for storing the number of reproductions by the reproduction means.
Number storage area, which is recorded in the above-mentioned number-of-reproductions storage area during playback.
Controls the above playback means based on the recorded number of playbacks
And stored in the storage means in the order of the number of times of reproduction.
Control means for reproducing a message stored in the storage unit.The storage means is further provided with a recording order storage area for recording a message recording order, and the control means is stored in the recording order storage area. The playback order is determined based on the recorded order and the number of times of reproduction recorded in the number-of-times-of-reproduction storage area.

According to this, it is possible to play back the messages recorded in the storage means in ascending order of the number of times of reproduction, and when the number of times of reproduction is the same, for example, it is possible to prioritize a newer record. .

In the message reproducing apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, as described above, the storage means corresponds to each message.
And the number of reproductions for storing the number of reproductions by the reproduction means.
Number storage area, which is recorded in the above-mentioned number-of-reproductions storage area during playback.
Controls the above playback means based on the recorded number of playbacks
And stored in the storage means in the order of the number of times of reproduction.
Control means for reproducing a message which is to be reproduced, wherein the control means creates an address table according to the reproduction order and sequentially reproduces the messages in accordance with the address table.

According to this, the number of times of reproduction is set for each message.
Can be recorded. Also, when playing back the above
Based on the number of playbacks recorded in the storage area,
Control the steps and record in the storage means in the order of the least number of reproductions
Control means to play the message
To play the message recorded in the storage means.
Playback can be performed in ascending order. This allows
Messages that have never been played are played first.
Below, messages with a low number of views will be played first
You. This ensures that you receive the message
And at the same time, it is possible to reproduce messages sequentially according to the address table.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a message reproducing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the storage means stores the number of times the message has been reproduced and the recording order of the message. Is stored as fixed-byte length data, and the number of times of reproduction is arranged on the upper byte side of the data, and the recording order is arranged on the lower byte side. Is determined.

According to this, in addition to the effect of the second aspect, there is an effect that the reproduction order can be easily determined.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a voice message recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an index used in the recording / reproducing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a specific example of a memory card in the recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a recording process by a system microcomputer in the recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing at the time of starting reproduction by a system microcomputer in the recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing during reproduction by a system microcomputer in the recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are explanatory diagrams showing an arrangement of data on a memory in a system microcomputer and an address table in the recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1; FIG. 7A shows a state before sorting, and FIG. Is shown.

[Description of Signs] 5 Audio compression circuit 6 Memory card (storage means) 7 System microcomputer (reproduction means, control means) 8 Audio expansion circuit (reproduction means) 9 DA converter (reproduction means) 10 Amplifier (reproduction means) 11 Speaker ( Reproduction means)

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-248741 (JP, A) JP-A-4-360446 (JP, A) JP-A-6-168000 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G10L 19/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] Storage means for recording a plurality of messages;
A message reproducing apparatus comprising: a reproducing unit that reads out a message from the storage unit and reproduces the message. The storage unit stores, even if the number of reproductions by the reproduction unit is a plurality of times, corresponding to each message. Possible
A reproduction number storage area is provided, and at the time of reproduction, the reproduction means is controlled based on the reproduction number recorded in the reproduction number storage area, and the messages recorded in the storage means are reproduced in ascending order of reproduction number. A message playback device comprising control means. 2. A storage means for recording a plurality of messages,
A reproducing means for reading a message from the storage means and reproducing the message;
And a message reproducing apparatus having a step and a step, wherein the storage means stores the reproduction means in correspondence with each message.
The number-of-reproductions storage area for storing the number of times
The number of playback times recorded in the number-of-times-of-playback storage area during playback
Control the reproducing means based on the number of reproductions,
The messages recorded in the storage means are played back in order.
And a control means for causing, in the storage means, further, recording order storage region for recording the recording order of the message is provided with said control means, recording order recorded in the recording order storage region and the playback device characteristics and to Rume message determining a reproduction order based on the reproduction count recorded in the reproduction count storage area. 3. A storage means for recording a plurality of messages,
A reproducing means for reading a message from the storage means and reproducing the message;
And a message reproducing apparatus having a step and a step, wherein the storage means stores the reproduction means in correspondence with each message.
The number-of-reproductions storage area for storing the number of times
The number of playback times recorded in the number-of-times-of-playback storage area during playback
Control the reproducing means based on the number of reproductions,
The messages recorded in the storage means are played back in order.
And a control means for causing said control means to create an address table corresponding to the reproduction order, reproduction apparatus features and to Rume message to be sequentially reproduced message in accordance with the address table. 4. The storage means stores the number of reproductions of a message and the recording order of the message as data having a fixed byte length, and records the number of reproductions on the upper byte side and the lower byte side of the data. 3. The message reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit determines the reproduction order based on the data having a fixed byte length.