JP3916387B2 - Telephone response computer system, board and recording medium for realizing the function of the system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a telephone answering computer system, a board for realizing the function of the computer system, and a recording medium, and more specifically, the contents of a telephone by voice recognition for an office worker who always uses a computer. The present invention relates to a computer system that converts text to display on a PC display.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As prior arts related to the present invention, for example, there are the followings. (1) Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-347658 Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 5-347658 Voice information that has arrived via a local line is recorded in a voice storage circuit, and the recorded voice is introduced into a voice recognition circuit as necessary to perform voice recognition. Then, the main control circuit creates a character string corresponding to the voice recognition result and starts display on the display.
[0003]
(2) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-350712 When a called subscriber reproduces a recorded message, the telephone number stored in the memory is displayed on the display, and further notified as a voice message using a voice synthesizer. The called subscriber can automatically dial the telephone number from the memory after listening to the recorded message and confirming that the telephone number from the memory is the correct telephone number.
[0004]
(3) JP-A-8-265449 When a user inputs handwritten characters or the like from a touch panel mounted on the display surface of the display unit, the control unit transmits touch panel position data to an LSD (low speed data) processing unit of the video conference system. Then, the audio signal from the audio input unit and the video signal from the TV camera are multiplexed as LSD by the multimedia processing unit, and sent to the center terminal via the telephone line via the ISDN communication unit and DSU. The center terminal follows the reverse route, and the control unit displays the touch panel coordinate data on the display unit as characters or pictures.
[0005]
(4) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-116648 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Character data input from a portable information terminal is synthesized by a speech synthesizer, converted into a speech signal by a speech synthesizer, and transmitted to a partner terminal device through a modem. The voice signal received from the device is recognized by the voice understanding device, converted into the character signal by the character conversion device, and displayed on the display screen of the portable information terminal. It enables the handicapped person and the healthy person to talk easily.
[0006]
(5) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-284413 In the communication network or terminal, media conversion means having voice recognition means for converting voice information into text information and voice synthesis means for performing the reverse conversion is arranged, and the display The terminal with keyboard and keyboard is equipped with a mode setting means for voice mode or silent mode for sending and receiving with normal voice, and control to use the voice mode when sending and receiving voice information with the normal calling side and called side In the silent mode, one is transmitted and received via the media conversion means, and the other is transmitted and received as text information.
[0007]
(6) Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-28170 A voice signal input from a telephone line is input to a voice recognition circuit via a telephone call circuit, and is subjected to voice recognition processing by the voice recognition circuit and is also converted into characters by a display circuit. It is displayed on the display of the device body.
[0008]
(7) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-224520 When a voice of a caller is received by a voice signal receiving unit via a communication system and subtitle reception is selected by a voice / character conversion switch, a voice signal received by a voice recognition device is The recognition voice is recognized, converted into character data by a voice recognition generation device, and displayed as subtitles on the display. Conversely, the character string input by the caller is recognized and generated as a writing style by character recognition, the sentence is converted into a voice signal by voice synthesis, and transmitted to the other party through the communication system.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In a telephone set used in an office, for example, when a call comes in when the user cannot release his / her hand, the other party may be kept waiting. In addition, there are telephones that can talk in response to voice without having to pick up the handset, but there is a problem that people in the office are inconvenienced. Also, if a user calls you while you are out of your seat, it is cumbersome for the person in the nearby seat to hear the message, and for answering machines, forgetting to set the answering mode, There are problems such as not knowing when returning to the seat and troublesome playback.
[0010]
On the other hand, in recent offices, there are many cases where one computer can be used by individuals, and people who feel that it is easier to use a telephone, although they are starting to communicate by electronic mail when not urgent. There are also many.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is a telephone response computer system that is very convenient for the user, a board for executing the system, and a recording medium for executing the functions of the system Is intended to provide.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a telephone answering computer system capable of answering a telephone call by a computer connected to a telephone line, a line controller for detecting an incoming call and controlling the line, and receiving from the telephone line. A signal recognizer that recognizes the received signal and converts it into text, and the telephone answering computer system can be connected to a telephone, and when the line controller detects an incoming call, Displaying a button for receiving an instruction input for executing processing for converting a signal received from the telephone line into text, together with incoming call information indicating that the incoming call has been received on the computer display, from the line controller, If an instruction is input to the button before receiving a response detection signal from the telephone handset, the received signal is received by the signal recognizer. Start the conversion to strike, the converted text displayed on the display of the computer, and when said line control unit detects an incoming call, indicating that there was an incoming call on a display of the computer call When the telephone handset is picked up while the telephone is ringing and the information is displayed and the telephone handset is ringing, the display indicating the incoming call on the display is deleted and the normal call mode is switched. While performing the control, when the telephone is ringing, if the handset is not taken within a predetermined time set in advance using utility software, the line with the telephone is disconnected and the signal recognition is performed. The conversion of the received signal into text by the device is started .
[0013]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, after the line controller detects an incoming call and controls the line, the telephone line is synthesized by synthesizing a message indicating that the telephone cannot be answered as a voice signal. It has a voice synthesizer that sends it to the network.
[0015]
The invention of claim 3 is the invention of claim 1, in which is characterized in that the setting of whether to emit the ringing telephone can be switched using a utility I utility software.
[0016]
The invention of claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that for a plurality of incoming calls, time information of the incoming calls is included in the incoming call information and displayed on a display. It is.
[0017]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the line controller has a caller number notification signal analysis function, and the caller number analyzed by the line controller is the incoming call. It is characterized by being displayed on a display including information.
[0018]
The invention of claim 6 has a database in which telephone numbers and names are stored in association with each other in the invention of claim 5 , searches the database using a caller number analyzed by the line controller as a key, and When a telephone number corresponding to the caller number used as a key exists in the database, a name corresponding to the existing telephone number is extracted from the database, and the extracted name is included in the incoming call information and displayed on the display. It is a feature.
[0019]
The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 5 or 6 , wherein the line controller has a dial transmission control function, and displays a callback button for each display of the incoming call information, and the callback button is displayed by a mouse. Is clicked, the line controller generates a caller number to be called back by the dial transmission control function, calls and connects the line. After the line is connected, the line controller It is characterized by enabling a call with a user.
[0020]
The invention of claim 8 comprises the signal synthesizer according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , and when the received signal is converted into text and displayed, the text input area and the send button are simultaneously displayed. Display the key input from the computer keyboard, display the key input information in the input area, and when the transmission button is clicked, the signal synthesizer displays the key input information. Is processed and sent as a signal to a telephone line.
[0021]
The invention of claim 9 is a board that is used by connecting to a bus of an existing computer system and expanding the existing computer system, and is for realizing the functions of the invention of any one of claims 1 to 8 . It is a board.
[0022]
The invention of claim 10 is a recording medium storing a program for realizing the function of any one of claims 1 to 9 .
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is intended for an office worker who always uses a computer, and converts the contents of a telephone into text by voice recognition and displays the text on a PC display. When a call is received, a message notifying the user of the incoming call is displayed on the PC display together with a ring tone, and if the user can immediately answer the call, the receiver can be picked up. Also, if the user is in front of the PC but cannot answer the call immediately, a message indicating that the hand cannot be released is sent by selecting on the screen display of the PC, and then the received content is recognized and displayed on the display. To do. Also, if the user is out of the seat and cannot answer the call, when the set time (for example, three ringing bells) has passed, a response is automatically sent and the fact that the user has removed the seat is sent. Is recognized and displayed on the display. When the user returns to the seat, the message remains on the display, so that the user can immediately confirm that there was a call. Further, the present invention is provided as a peripheral device that is connected to a PC and expands the PC. The present invention can also be realized as a dedicated machine (high function telephone) equipped with a display and a keyboard.
[0024]
The present invention has the following differences as compared with the conventional example described above. (1) Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-347658 The above publication is similar to the present invention in that the content recorded on the answering machine is recognized and displayed, but has a different purpose from the present invention. The present invention differs from that of the above publication in that voice recognition is performed during a call and that the display is easy to see because a display of a PC is used.
[0025]
(2) Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-350712 The above publication is similar to the present invention in that a telephone number is extracted from a recording of an answering machine by voice recognition and is called back, and the telephone being called is called back. However, the present invention is different from that of the above publication in that the present invention recognizes all of the contents of a call and that the display is easy to see because it uses a PC display.
[0026]
(3) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-265449 The above-mentioned publication differs from the system for making a telephone response according to the present invention in that a conversation is recognized by voice and displayed in text in a television conversation system.
[0027]
(4) JP-A-9-116648 The above publication uses speech recognition as part of a technique for communicating with a hearing impaired person using a portable terminal. Although the same effect can be expected, the present invention is different from the above-mentioned publication in that the display is easy to see because it uses a PC.
[0028]
(5) Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 9-284413 In the above publication, the object is a mobile phone, whereas the present invention is intended for an office telephone, and a plurality of received contents can be displayed simultaneously or transmitted It is also possible to call back to a person who is not able to make a voice call, but it is possible to use it as a new answering machine even when you are not near the phone. Different from that of the publication. Further, since the present invention uses a display of a PC, it is different in that the display is easier to see.
[0029]
(6) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-28170 The invention of claim 1 of the above publication can be regarded as including the present invention, but the present invention is intended for a mobile phone and it is difficult to make a voice call. However, the present invention is intended for office telephones, and can display a plurality of received contents at the same time or call back the caller. Since it is possible, it is different from the above-mentioned publication in that it can be used as a new answering machine even when it is not close to the telephone, as well as a situation where a voice call cannot be made. Further, since the present invention uses a display of a PC, it is different in that the display is easier to see.
[0030]
(7) Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-224520 The above publication uses speech recognition as part of a technique for communicating with a hearing impaired person using a portable terminal. However, the present invention is different from that of the above publication in that the display is easy to see because it uses a PC.
[0031]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a telephone answering computer system according to the present invention.
2 and 3 are flowcharts for explaining an example of processing of the telephone answering computer system of the present invention. Hereinafter, embodiments of the telephone answering computer system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
[0032]
(1) The telephone line 40 is connected to the incoming computer system 10 using the first connector 11, and the telephone 30 is connected using the second connector 12. When the line controller 13 is set to ring the bell of the telephone 30, the switch 14 is connected to the telephone 30, and when it is set not to ring the telephone 30, it is received from the telephone line. A switch 14 is connected to a voice recognizer 16 as a signal recognizer that recognizes a signal and converts it into text. When a call from an exchange (not shown) is received through the telephone line 40, the line controller 13 detects this call. The line controller 13 detects the above call (call arrival detection) and simultaneously processes the caller number notification signal and stores the caller number in the memory 13 a inside the line controller 13.
[0033]
On the memory 17 connected to the line controller 13 via the bus 23, a program P for monitoring the state of the line controller 13 is running and is controlled by the CPU 15. When this program P receives an incoming call detection signal from the line controller 13 (step S1), the caller number is read from the line controller 13 (step S2), and the telephone stored in the hard disk using this caller number as a key. The number database 19 is searched (steps S3 and S4). If the read caller number has been registered in the telephone number database 19, and displays the window W ₁ indicating an incoming call notification text D ₁ of the as shown in Fig. 4 including the telephone number and caller name on the display 22 ( step S5), and if not registered, generates an incoming call notification text D ₁ and similar call notification text D ₁ including the telephone number of the as shown in FIG. 4 displayed on the display 22 (step S6) . At this time, when the switch 14 is connected to the telephone set 30 side, the telephone line 40 is directly connected to the telephone set 30, so that the telephone set 30 rings.
In step S7, prior to receiving a detection signal of the response by telephone handset from the line control unit 13, the incoming call notification text D ₁ or is detected that the "Voice Recognition" button is clicked, or predetermined prescribed When the set time has elapsed, the process proceeds to the subsequent voice recognition step.
[0034]
(2) Response at the handset In step S7, when the user picks up the handset of the telephone 30 and responds to the incoming call, the line controller 13 detects the response. The program P confirms the response detection line control unit 13 erases the incoming call notification text D ₁ of the above (step S13).
[0035]
(3) When the voice recognition result display step S7 is set to ring the bell of the telephone set 30 and the line controller 13 does not detect a response by the telephone set 30 even after a fixed time in (1), the program P is first, to clear the incoming call notification text D _1, to generate a message display window W _2. Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message display window W ₂ as described above. The program P requests the line controller 13 to respond to the incoming call (step S9). The line controller 13 switches the switch 14 from the telephone 30 side to the voice recognizer 16 side in response to the response request. Thereafter (immediately when setting is made not to ring the bell), the line controller 13 sends an off-hook signal to the telephone line 40 to connect the line.
[0036]
Further, in step S7 described above, the setting of the bell of the telephone 30, before receiving the detection signal of the response by the receiver of the telephone 30, an incoming call notification text D "speech recognition" is displayed on the ₁ button mouse 21 in the same manner as described above even when it is detected that is clicked, the program P generates a message display window W _2, line control unit 13 switches the switch 14 from the telephone set 30 side to the speech recognizer 16 side A line is connected (steps S8 to S9).
[0037]
When receiving the line connection completion signal from the line controller 13 (step S10), the program P requests the voice synthesizer 18 to generate a response message (step S11). That is, to the speech synthesizer 18, “I cannot answer the phone. I will leave a message on the PC display. Command to generate the message "Peep". The voice synthesizer 18 synthesizes this message and sends it to the telephone line 40 as a voice signal.
[0038]
Next, the program P requests the speech recognizer 16 to start recognition (step S12), and thereafter receives the recognition result text from the speech recognizer 16. Program P, will sequentially display as text _{D 2} in the upper area _{W 21} of the message display window _{W 2} that generated the text received (step S14, S15). Because the message display window W ₂ is generated for each call, when a plurality of calls, so that the window W ₂ for displaying a plurality of messages are displayed on the display.
[0039]
(4) Termination of Call FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when the call is terminated. When the sender ends the call and the line controller 13 detects disconnection of the line, the switch 14 is switched to the telephone 30 side. When the program P receives a line disconnection detection signal for confirming the line disconnection detection of the line controller 13 (step S20), the program P requests the speech recognizer 16 to end the recognition (step S21). The program P erases an area for input from the window _{W 2,} redisplays the message by the window _{W 3} of as shown in FIG. 6 (text _{D 2)} (step S22).
[0040]
(5) input received from the keyboard 20 while sending a call message is displayed as text D ₃ in the window W ₂ of the lower half of the area W _22. When the program P detects that the “Send” button has been clicked with the mouse 21 (step S16), the program P requests the speech recognizer 16 to stop recognition (step S17), and inputs to the speech synthesizer 18 from the keyboard 20. The received message is transmitted to request text synthesis (step S18), and the voice synthesizer 18 receiving the message synthesizes the voice signal of the text and sends it to the telephone line 40. When the speech synthesizer 18 completes the transmission of the speech, the program P requests the speech recognizer 16 to resume recognition (step S19). In the present invention, means for realizing the function of processing input from the keyboard 20 and sending it as a signal to the telephone line can be configured as a signal synthesizer.
[0041]
(6) When the “callback” button in the callback window W ₃ is clicked with the mouse 21, the program P instructs the line controller 13 to perform dial transmission control of the telephone number of the message sender. The line controller 13 sends an off-hook signal to the telephone line 40, then generates a dial signal of the designated number and sends it to the telephone line 40. When the line controller 13 detects the connection of the line and the program P confirms this, the program P generates a text D ₂ by a window W ₄ as shown in FIG. 7 indicating that the line has been connected. The user can take a call by picking up the handset.
[0042]
(7) Utility FIG. 8 shows an example of a utility software window. Window W ₅ shown in FIG. 8 shows the screen display for entering the conditions set, and then enter the pre-conditions in this screen, the "Apply" button and click with the mouse 21, the contents of the setting The line controller 13 rewrites the contents of the built-in memory (PROM) 13a.
[0043]
The computer system of the present invention can be applied to grouped telephone lines used in offices in exactly the same manner. If the connection is cut off before any of the response by the handset, the click detection of the “voice recognition button”, or the set time occurs, a text indicating only an incoming call is displayed on the display. The same situation occurs when another person answers on behalf of a grouped phone.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, an office worker who always uses a computer is targeted, and the contents of the telephone are converted into text by voice recognition and displayed on the display of the PC. You can check the message from the other party on the screen. Further, when a call is received, a message notifying the incoming call is displayed on the PC display together with a ringtone, so that the user can pick up the handset when the user can immediately answer the call. Also, if the user is in front of the PC but cannot answer the call immediately, a message indicating that the hand cannot be released is sent by selecting on the screen display of the PC, and then the received content is recognized and displayed on the display. can do. Also, if the user is out of the seat and cannot answer the call, when the set time (for example, three ringing bells) has passed, a response is automatically sent and the fact that the seat has been removed is transmitted, and the contents received thereafter Can be recognized and displayed on the display. When the user returns to the seat, the message remains on the display, so that the user can immediately confirm that there was a call.
[0045]
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a telephone answering computer system that is very convenient for the user, a board for executing the system, and a recording medium for executing the functions of the system.
Furthermore, the present invention can be used as a telephone for a hearing impaired person, and can also be applied as a means for recording telephone communication contents. In addition, since there is no need for a note paper to be left when another person answers the phone, there is also an effect of resource saving.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a telephone answering computer system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing of the telephone answering computer system of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart following FIG. 2 for explaining an example of processing of the telephone answering computer system of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a window showing an incoming call notification dialog is displayed on the display.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message display window.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state where an input message is redisplayed by a message display window.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen when a call is terminated.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a utility software window;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Computer system, 11 ... 1st connector, 12 ... 2nd connector, 13 ... Line controller, 14 ... Switch, 15 ... CPU, 16 ... Speech recognizer, 17 ... Memory, 18 ... Speech synthesizer, 19 ... Telephone Number database, 20 ... keyboard, 21 ... mouse, 22 ... display, 23 ... bus.

Claims (10)

A telephone answering computer system capable of answering a call by a computer connected to a telephone line, which detects a call and controls the line, and a text received by recognizing a signal received from the telephone line. A signal recognizer for converting to
The telephone answering computer system can be connected to a telephone, and when the line controller detects an incoming call, the incoming call information indicating that an incoming call has been made on the display of the computer, Displays a button that accepts an instruction to perform processing to convert the signal received from the telephone line into text,
When an instruction is input to the button before receiving a response detection signal from the telephone handset from the line controller,
Initiating conversion of the received signal into text by the signal recognizer, displaying the converted text on the display of the computer ,
When the line controller detects an incoming call, it displays incoming call information indicating that the incoming call has been received on the computer display, and rings the telephone, and rings the telephone. When the telephone handset is picked up, the display indicating the incoming call on the display is erased and control is performed to switch to the normal call mode. A telephone answering computer system characterized in that if the handset is not picked up within a predetermined time set by using the telephone, the line with the telephone is disconnected and conversion of the received signal into text by the signal recognizer is started. .   2. The telephone answering computer system according to claim 1, wherein after the line controller detects an incoming call and controls the line, a message indicating that the telephone cannot be answered is synthesized as a voice signal and transmitted to the telephone line. A telephone answering computer system comprising a voice synthesizer. In telephone answering computer system according to claim 1, telephone answering computer system, wherein a setting of whether to emit the ringing telephone can be switched using a utility I utility software. The telephone answering computer system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that, for a plurality of incoming calls, the incoming call time information is included in the incoming call information and displayed on a display. system. In telephone answering computer system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the line controller includes an analysis function of caller ID signal, the caller number該回ray controller has analyzed the called information A telephone answering computer system including a display on a display. 6. The telephone answering computer system according to claim 5 , further comprising a database storing a telephone number and a name in association with each other, searching the database using a caller number analyzed by the line controller as a key, When a telephone number corresponding to the caller number is present in the database, a name corresponding to the existing telephone number is extracted from the database, and the extracted name is included in the incoming call information and displayed on the display. Telephone answering computer system. Click the telephone answering computer system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a line controller dial transmission control function, the adhesive displays the callback button for each display call information, is the call-back button by the mouse When the call is made, the line controller generates a caller number to be called back by the dial transmission control function, places a call and connects the line, and after the line is connected, the caller and the user are connected by the receiver. A telephone answering computer system characterized in that a telephone call can be made. In telephone answering computer system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a signal synthesis device, when displaying by converting the received signals into text, and displays the transmitted text input area button simultaneously Accepts key input from a computer keyboard, displays the key input information in the input area, and when the transmission button is clicked, the signal synthesizer processes the key input information. A telephone answering computer system characterized in that the telephone answering signal is transmitted as a signal to a telephone line. 9. A board for connecting to an existing computer system bus and expanding and using the existing computer system, the board for realizing the function of the telephone answering computer system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 . The recording medium which memorize | stored the program for implement | achieving the function of the telephone response computer system of any one of Claim 1 thru | or 9 .

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