JP3454278B2 - Telephone - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a telephone having an improved answering machine function or message function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an answering machine, when a call comes in while you are absent, you can record the message of the person who called you on a tape and listen to the recorded message from a telephone when you are out. There are things that I was able to do.

Further, according to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-181558, when a message is recorded and the telephone number of the telephone of the person (caller) is input after the recording, the message is set in advance. An answering machine has been proposed, which is designed to transfer to the telephone set in advance and record a reply from this destination telephone, and to transfer the reply to the telephone with the telephone number entered after the message. There is.

[0004]

However, in the former answering machine, it is not possible to even know that there is a message from the other party until the person (owner of the answering machine) checks it. Therefore, the person needs to check the presence or absence of a message by calling from outside the house, and often needs to check the message, for example, in a hurry.

On the other hand, in the latter answering machine,
When a message from the other party is recorded, it is transferred immediately, so there is no need to check for the presence of a message.

However, when the other party is at a specific place such as a house or a company, a reply can be called to the other party from a place where the other party is, but when the other party is also out, a response is called. I can't do it, that is, I can't give a reply to the other person. In this regard, the former answering machine is also the same.

The present invention is intended to solve the above problems.

[0008]

Therefore, in the present invention, for example, when a message is exchanged between Mr. A and Mr. B, 1. Mr. A and Mr. B respectively Own a pager. 2. The calling numbers (phone numbers) of the pagers of Mr. A and Mr. B are stored in the answering machine. 3. Assign respective identification codes to Mr. A and Mr. B. 4. The identification code is stored in the answering machine. I will keep it.

Then, as shown in, for example, FIG. 5 (the following symbols (~) are common in the specification and drawings), Mr. -1B calls the answering machine. -2 Mr. B inputs his own identification code. -3 The telephone plays the message from Mr. A to Mr. B, if any. -4 Mr. B speaks if there is a requirement. → The phone records this. The phone calls A's pager if there is -4 recording, and returns to the standby state if there is no recording. -1 Mr. A calls the answering machine. -2 Mr. A inputs his own identification code. -3 The telephone plays the message from Mr. B to Mr. A, if any. -4 Mr. A speaks if there is a requirement (speaks the reply to -4). → The phone records this. The phone calls Mr. B's pager if there is -4 recording, and returns to the standby state if there is not. After that, until -4 or -4 is no longer recorded,
~repeat. Perform processing such as.

That is, in the present invention, when the reference numerals of the respective parts correspond to the embodiments described later, at least the calling number PGRA of the first pager and the identification code IDA of the owner of the first pager, A memory 31 for storing the calling number PGRB of the second pager and an identification code IDB of the holder of the second pager, a recording / reproducing device 14 for recording / reproducing a message, and a forming circuit 25 for outputting a dial signal. To provide. After the incoming call, if the identification code IDA or IDB is input from the telephone that gave the incoming call, the input identification code IDA or I
When a message corresponding to DB is recorded in the recording / reproducing device 14, the recording / reproducing device 14 is set in the reproduction mode to reproduce the message corresponding to the input identification code IDA or IDB, and the reproduction signal of this message is received. If the identification code IDA or IDB is sent out to the telephone that gave the call and the telephone that made the incoming call enters, the entered identification code IDA
Or, regardless of whether or not there is a message corresponding to IDB, the command to enter the recording mode is accepted, and during this acceptance period, when the command to enter the recording mode is input from the telephone that gave the incoming call, the recording / playback device Record the message from the telephone that gave the incoming call with 14 as the recording mode, and after this recording is finished, retrieve the pager call number PGRB or PGRA from the memory 31 according to the input identification code IDA or IDB. A call signal of the corresponding pager is formed by the retrieved call number PGRB or PGRA, and this call signal is sent to the telephone line LN to call the corresponding pager.

[0011]

When the message is recorded, the pager of the other party of the message is called based on the identification code and the calling number stored in the answering machine. Then, this operation is alternately performed between the two persons, and therefore, even when the two persons are both out, the contact can be made through the answering machine.

[0012]

1 shows an example of an answering machine according to the present invention; 11 and 12 are transmitters and receivers of the handset;

In this case, the reproducing device 13 is for reproducing the OGM (a message which informs the other party of the telephone that he / she is out when he / she receives a call). Therefore, for this reason, in this example, the reproducing device 13 is not shown in the drawing, but is
Of the digital audio data written therein, a control circuit for controlling the reading of the memory and its address, and a D / A converter for converting the OGM digital audio data into an analog OGM signal.

The recording / reproducing device 14 is for recording / reproducing a message such as a message from the other party or his reply. Therefore, in this example, the recording / reproducing device 14 is composed of a cassette tape recorder that uses the cassette tape as a recording / reproducing medium.

Further, reference numeral 15 denotes an audio signal processing circuit,
The processing circuit 15 outputs a voice signal such as a call or OGM.
It is for selectively accessing the transmitter 11, the receiver 12, the reproducing device 13, and the recording / reproducing device 14. Reference numeral 16 denotes a speech network circuit having a 4-wire / 2-wire converting circuit and the like, and 17 denotes an NCU (line interface circuit) having a switch element corresponding to a hook switch. The audio signal line from the processing circuit 15 is connected to the speech network circuit 16 and the NCU.
It is connected to the telephone line LN through 17.

Reference numeral 21 is a ringer for receiving a call, 22 is a dial key, 23 is a switch (hook switch) for detecting on-hook / off-hook, and 14 is various operation keys (operation switch). Further, 25 is a forming circuit for forming a DTMF signal from dial data, 26 is a decoder circuit for decoding the DTMF signal sent from the other party into dial data, 27 is a detecting circuit for detecting the end of the telephone of the other party's telephone, and 28 is It is a detection circuit of a ringer signal at the time of an incoming call.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a system control microcomputer. The microcomputer 30 has a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc., which are not shown, and the ROM has various processing programs and, for example, FIG. Also, a routine 100 as shown in FIG. 3 is written.

Further, the elements 21 to 24 and the circuits 25 to 28 are connected to the microcomputer 30, and the microcomputer 30
Supplies a control signal to the circuits 13 to 15 and 17.

The microcomputer 30 also has a memory 31 for storing data. This memory 31 includes the identification code IDA of Mr. A, the identification code IDB of Mr. B, and the pager calling number (telephone number) PG of Mr. A's possession.
RA and B's pager call number
Remembers PGRB. Although not shown, the memory 31 is made non-volatile by being backed up by, for example, a battery.

Then, according to the ROM program of the microcomputer 32, each processing is executed as follows. In the following description, this answering machine 1
0 is owned by Mr. A and installed in Mr. A's house.

<Calling and Calling> When the handset is picked up from the telephone 10 while the telephone 10 is in a standby state, the switch 23 is turned on and off, for example, and this is detected by the microcomputer 30. Then, the microcomputer 30 brings the NCU 17 into the off-hook state, and the network circuit 16 is connected to the line LN through the NCU 17.

Therefore, when the telephone number of the other party is input from the dial key 22, the key output is supplied to the forming circuit 25 through the microcomputer 30, and the forming circuit 25 outputs the DTMF signal corresponding to the other party's telephone number. DT
The MF signal is output to the line LN through the network circuit 16 and the NCU 17. Therefore, the dial has been made.

Then, when the other party answers the call, the voice signal of the other party is changed from the line LN to the NCU 17 to the network circuit 1.
6 → It is supplied to the handset 12 through the signal line of the processing circuit 15. Further, the voice signal from the transmitter 11 is output to the line LN through the signal line of the processing circuit 15 → the network circuit 16 → the NCU 17. Therefore, it is possible to talk with the other party.

<< End call >> Since the call is ended, when the handset is placed on the telephone set 10, the switch 23 is switched from off to on, and this is detected by the microcomputer 30, and the microcomputer 30 puts the NCU 17 in the on-hook state, and the telephone set is turned on. 10 returns to the standby state. In other words, it is the end of the talk.

<< Incoming Call in Home Mode (Normal Incoming Call) >> This is the case where the telephone 10 is set in the home mode, but if there is an incoming call in the standby state, the incoming call The detection circuit 28 detects a ringer signal from the line LN, which informs the microcomputer 30 of this. Then,
By checking the output of the mode switch of the switches 24, it is determined whether the mode is the home mode or the answering machine mode. Then, in this case, since the mode is the home mode, the microcomputer 30 controls the ringer 21 to emit a ringer sound.

Since a ringer sound is emitted, when the handset is taken up from the telephone set 10, the switch 23 is switched from on to off, this is detected by the microcomputer 30, the ringer 21 is stopped by the microcomputer 30, and the NCU 17 is It goes off-hook. Therefore, thereafter, as described above, the call can be made with the other party.

<< Incoming Call in Answering Machine Mode >> In this case, in the microcomputer 10, the routine 100 is executed to realize the following items. As a result, the message is transmitted between Mr. A and Mr. B through the answering machine 10. Are exchanged.
Note that FIG. 4 shows a sequence in this case. Recording a message from Mr. B When Mr. B has a requirement and calls the telephone 10, the ringer signal is detected by the detection circuit 28,
The incoming call is notified to the microcomputer 30. Then, the microcomputer 3
The process of 0 starts from step 101 of the routine 100, and then in step 102, by checking the output of the mode switch of the switches 24,
It is determined whether it is the home mode or the answering machine mode.

Then, in this case, since it is the answering machine mode, the process proceeds from step 102 to step 111, in which the connection process is executed, that is, the NCU 17 is put into the off-hook state and the line LN is connected to the network circuit. 16 is connected to the network circuit 16 through the processing circuit 15 and the device 13,
14 is connected.

Subsequently, the process proceeds to step 112, in which the reproducing device 13 is controlled by the microcomputer 30 to be in the reproducing mode, and the reproducing device 13 notifies the OGM that Mr. A is out. The audio signal is reproduced. Then, this OGM audio signal is reproduced device 13 → processing circuit 15 → network circuit 16 → N
It is sent out to the line LN through the signal line of CU17.
Therefore, Mr. B will hear the OGM that Mr. A is out.

Then, within a predetermined time limit after the reproduction of the OGM is completed, Mr. B inputs the identification code IDB given to him from the telephone. For example, if Mr. B's identification code IDB is "# 02", Mr. B will use the dial keys "#", "0", and "2" of the telephone being used for the call at this time. Press in order.

Then, the telephone used by Mr. B outputs a DTMF signal indicating the identification code IDB of Mr. B, and the DTMF signal indicating this identification code IDB is transmitted to the line L.
It is supplied to the telephone 10 through N. Therefore, the decoder 26 outputs a signal indicating the identification code IDB of Mr. B, and this signal is supplied to the microcomputer 30.

On the other hand, the processing of the microcomputer 30 is step 1
After execution of step 12, the process proceeds to step 113, in which the identification code IDA of Mr. A and Mr. B.
Or check if the IDB has been entered.

When the identification codes IDA and IDB have not been input, the process proceeds from step 113 to step 1
14, the reproducing apparatus 1
It is checked whether or not a predetermined time limit has elapsed since the end of the reproduction of OGM by No. 3, and if not, the process proceeds from step 114 to step 115.
In step 115, the output of the detection circuit 27 is checked to see if the other party's telephone (in this case, Mr. B's telephone) is on-hook. If not, the process proceeds to step 1.
The procedure returns from step 15 to step 113.

Therefore, steps 113 to 115 are repeated until the predetermined time limit elapses after the OGM reproduction is completed or the telephone of the other party goes on-hook, and the input of the identification code is awaited.

When the identification code (in this case, Mr. B's identification code IDB) is input as described above,
This is detected by step 113, and the process proceeds from step 113 to step 121, and this step 121
In the case, the person who is currently calling from the supplied identification code IDB is judged to be Mr. B in this case,
For example, by checking the flag, it is checked whether or not a message addressed to Mr. B is recorded in the recording / reproducing device 14.

Then, when the message addressed to Mr. B is recorded, the process proceeds from step 121 to step 122.
Then, in step 122, the recording / reproducing apparatus 1
4 is controlled to enter the reproduction mode, and the message addressed to Mr. B is reproduced. Then, the voice signal of the message addressed to Mr. B is processed circuit 15 → network circuit 16 → NCU 17
Is sent out to the line LN through the signal line of.

Therefore, Mr. B will listen to the message addressed to Mr. B, following the OGM that Mr. A is out.

When the reproduction of the message addressed to Mr. B is completed, the process proceeds from step 122 to step 123. In step 123, the reproduction device 13 is controlled and if there is a message (in the present case, If there is a reply to Mr. A), after entering the message recording command, a message to play the message is played,
The voice signal of this message is sent from the playback device 13 to the line LN.
Sent to.

Then, Mr. B inputs a message recording command from the telephone within a predetermined time limit after the reproduction of the message is completed. For example, if the message recording command is "# 99", Mr. B uses the dial keys "#", "9", and
Press each key "9" in order.

Then, the telephone used by Mr. B outputs a DTMF signal indicating a message recording command,
The DTMF signal indicating this identification code is supplied to the telephone 10 through the line LN. Therefore, a signal indicating the message recording command is output from the decoder 26, and this signal is supplied to the microcomputer 30.

On the other hand, the process of the microcomputer 30 is step 1
When the reproduction of the 23 message is completed, step 131
In step 131, it is checked whether a message recording command has been input.

When the message recording command has not been input, the process proceeds from step 131 to step 13
In step 132, it is checked whether or not a predetermined time limit has elapsed since the input of the message recording command was permitted. If not, the process proceeds from step 132 to step 133. In 133, by checking the output of the detection circuit 27, it is checked whether or not the other party's telephone (in this case, Mr. B's telephone) is on-hook. If not, the process proceeds from step 133 to step 131. Return.

Therefore, steps 131 to 1 are performed until a predetermined time limit elapses after the input of the message recording command is allowed, or until the other party's telephone goes on-hook.
33 is repeated, and the input of a message recording command is awaited.

When the message recording command is input as described above, this is detected in step 131, and the process proceeds from step 131 to step 141,
In step 141, the recording / reproducing device 14 is controlled to enter the recording mode.

Then, when Mr. B speaks a message, the voice signal of the message is supplied from the line LN to the recording / reproducing device 14 through the signal line of NCU 17 → network circuit 16 → processing circuit 15. In this way, Mr. B's message is recorded on the recording / reproducing device 14.

While the message is being recorded, the processing of the microcomputer 30 proceeds to step 142. In step 142, the output of the detection circuit 27 is checked to see if the other party's telephone goes on hook. I'm checking.

When Mr. B finishes the message, the handset set is hooked on and the call ends, which is detected by the detection circuit 27 and notified to the microcomputer 30. Then, the processing of the microcomputer 30 proceeds from step 142 to step 143. In step 143, the recording / reproducing device 14 is set to the stop mode, and
A flag indicating that a message from Mr. B has been recorded is set, and then in step 144, NCU17
Is put on-hook.

The processing up to this point is the processing up to this point, and when the processing up to this point is completed, the processing up to this point is subsequently executed as will be described later.

In step 102, when the output of the mode switch is the home mode, the process proceeds from step 102 to step 103, and the above-mentioned << incoming call in home mode (normal incoming call) >> is executed.

If the other party goes on-hook during the period in which steps 113 to 115 are repeated, the process proceeds from step 115 to step 116. In this step 116, step 117 is performed after the end of call process is executed. This routine 100 is ended by the telephone 1
0 enters the standby state.

Further, when the identification code is not input, the process proceeds from step 116 to step 118, and in this step 118, the process as a normal answering machine, that is, the recording of the message and the end of the call thereafter. The processing is executed, then, in step 119, this routine 100 is ended, and the telephone 10 is set in the standby state.

If there is no message in step 121, the process proceeds from step 121 to step 122.
And skip to step 123.

Further, when the message recording command is not input during the period in which steps 131 to 133 are repeated, the processing is from step 132 to step 13
4, the end call processing is executed in step 134, and then the routine 100 is executed in step 135.
And the telephone 10 goes into a standby state.

Therefore, the process proceeds to only when the message is recorded in step 141. If the message was recorded by the notification step 141 to Mr. A,
In step 143, after the call ending process is performed, the pager of the other party of the message is called.

That is, the processing of the microcomputer 30 proceeds to step 151 following step 143, and this step 1
At 51, the NCU 17 is put into the off-hook state and the network circuit 16 is connected to the line LN through the NCU 16.

In this case, the microcomputer 30
Can know that the partner of the message in step 141 is Mr. A through step 113. Also, memory 3
The caller number PGRA of Mr. A's pager is stored in 1.

Therefore, in step 152, the microcomputer 30 reads the data of the calling number PGRA of Mr. A's pager from the memory 31 and supplies it to the forming circuit 25. Therefore, the forming circuit 25 outputs the DTMF signal of the calling number of Mr. A's pager,
This DTMF signal is transmitted to the network circuit 16 and the NCU.
It is sent to the line LN through 17.

Accordingly, the pager owned by Mr. A is called by this, and Mr. A knows that there is a telephone addressed to him and the message is recorded on the telephone 10.

The processing of the microcomputer 30 is step 1
After step 52, the process proceeds to step 153.
3, the NCU 17 is put into the off-hook state, and then the process proceeds to step 1454, and this step 15
In step 4, the routine 100 is ended, and the telephone 10 goes into a standby state.

Therefore, when Mr. B records a message, Mr. A's pager is called. Replay of message from Mr. B and recording of reply from Mr. A Notification to Mr. B This process is
Only the positions of Mr. A and Mr. B are switched, and the operation of the telephone 10 is the same as. Therefore, the microcomputer 30 similarly executes the routine 100. However,
In this case, since the positions of Mr. A and Mr. B are exchanged, the identification code input in step 121 is the identification code IDA of Mr. A, and therefore step 122
The message reproduced in step 3 is the message (reply) to Mr. A, and the pager called in step 152 is the pager of Mr. B.

Therefore, Mr. B can convey the message to Mr. A and hear the reply.

Alternatively, by repeating the following steps, it is possible to talk and talk with Mr. A and Mr. B any number of times by using the answering machine function of the telephone set 10.

<Others> Since the processing or operation for recording the OGM on the memory 3 is the same as that of the conventional one, the description thereof will be omitted. The devices 13 and 14 may be a common device, and the recording medium at that time may be a mini disk or the like in addition to the memory or the cassette tape.

Further, when the pager has a display function, in step 152, the identification code of the sender of the message is sent at the same time so that the owner of the pager can be informed of who the calling person is. If
It can be distinguished from calls from others who have not been given an identification code.

Even if a predetermined period of time has passed after calling the pager, if there is no call from the calling party (this can be known from the input identification code), the call is made again. You can also do so.

Further, in the above description, the predetermined period after the reproduction of the OGM is set as the period for receiving the identification code or the message recording command, but the identification code or the message recording is also performed during the period when the OGM is being reproduced. You may make it accept a command.

Further, as is clear from the above, the telephone 1
0 acts as a message transfer center, in this case
Since the owner of the telephone 10 does not matter, the above-mentioned function can be used among the owners of three or more pagers. And in that case, for example, OG
When M is played, not only enter your own identification code, but also the identification code of the calling party (the person you want to send the message to), and call the pager of the person corresponding to the entered identification code in order. can do. Alternatively, when a specific identification code is input as the identification code of the calling party, all of them except themselves can be called in order.

Furthermore, if the data resulting from voice recognition is used as the identification code, it is possible to eliminate the key operation for inputting the identification code.

[0069]

According to the present invention, when a message is recorded, the other party of the message is automatically called through the pager, so that no trouble is required for calling.
Also, the person receiving the message does not need to call the answering machine to check whether there is a message.

Further, even when the other party is out, the message can be transmitted by calling. Alternatively, even if both parties are out, it is possible to talk or talk through the telephone 10. Then, the above processing can be realized by commonly using one telephone 10.

Further, when using a service company for transmitting a message, a monthly basic charge is required in addition to the call charge, but according to the present invention, such a charge is not applied.

Moreover, if the answering machine can record a message, the present invention can be realized only by providing the routine 100, and the cost does not increase.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a part of an example of a processing routine in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a continuation of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of an example of processing according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Answering machine 11 transmitter 12 handset 13 Playback device 14 Recording / playback device 15 Signal processing circuit 16 Speech Network 17 NCU 22 dial keys 25 DTMF signal forming circuit 26 Decoder for DTMF signal 27 End talk detection circuit 28 Ringer signal detection circuit 30 microcomputer 31 memory 100 processing routine LN telephone line

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Ryuichi Enokido 6-735 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Within Sony Corporation (56) References JP-A-60-198927 (JP, A) JP-A-SHO 63-67060 (JP, A) Actual Kaihei 2-108462 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04M 1/64-1/658 H04M 1/725 H04M 11 / 00-11/10

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pager calling number and an identification code for identifying the owner of the pager as one set, a memory for storing the two sets, a recording / reproducing device for recording / reproducing a message, and a dial signal. And a forming circuit that forms and outputs the identification code of one of the two sets, when the identification code of one of the two sets is input from the above-mentioned telephone after responding to an incoming call from an arbitrary telephone. When a message corresponding to is recorded on the recording / playback device, the recording / playback device is set to the playback mode to play back the message corresponding to the one identification code, and the playback signal of this message is sent to the telephone. When the playback of is finished or this message has not been recorded, the recording / playback device will be ready to accept the command to switch to the recording mode. When a command to shift to the recording mode is input from the telephone during the reception period, the recording / playback device is set to the recording mode to record a message from the telephone, and after the recording is finished, one of the two sets is recorded. The caller number of the pager corresponding to the other identification code is taken out from the memory, the caller signal of the corresponding pager is formed by the fetched caller number, and the caller signal is sent to the telephone line to call the corresponding pager. The phone I made. 2. A pager calling number and an identification code for identifying the owner of the pager as one set, a memory for storing the plurality of sets, a recording / reproducing device for recording / reproducing a message, and a dial signal. And a forming circuit for forming and outputting a message, and when an arbitrary identification code of the plurality of sets is input from the telephone after an incoming call from an arbitrary telephone is received, the arbitrary identification code is input. When a message corresponding to is recorded in the recording / playback device, the recording / playback device is set to the playback mode to play back the message corresponding to the arbitrary identification code, and the playback signal of this message is sent to the telephone. When the playback of the above is finished or this message has not been recorded, the above recording / playback device is ready to accept the command to switch to the recording mode. During this acceptance period, when a command to enter the recording mode is input from the telephone, the recording / playback device is set to the recording mode and a message from the telephone is recorded. , The calling number of a predetermined pager of the other party is fetched from the memory, the calling signal of the corresponding pager is formed by the fetched calling number, and the calling signal is sent to the telephone line to call the corresponding pager. Telephone. 3. The telephone according to claim 1, wherein the input identification code is a DTMF signal and the input command is a DTMF signal. 4. The telephone set according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein voice recognition data is used as the identification code.