JPH01129562A - Telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To utilize the free time of the telephone set effectively by reading a speech message out of a storage means and voicing it through the operation of a dial signal input means at the time of on-hook operation. CONSTITUTION:When a hook switch 32 is in the on-hook state, input operation is performed on a ten-key 35; and, for example, a '*' key is pressed and then a '2' key and a '1' key or the '2' key is pressed. Thus, an assistance storage means 22 or information storage means 27 is selected and a speech input from a microphone 8 is stored in the storage means 22 or 27. When a timer means 16 reaches preset time while the telephone set is not in the speaking mode, a warning tone generation signals from a warning tone is sent to a monitor/ ringer speaker 14 to generate a warning tone. The user inputs a playback command signal with the ten-key so as to hear the speech message stored in the assistance storage means 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a telephone device that also serves as a simple storage device.

Conventional telephone devices are used only for making and receiving calls; for example, even in telephone devices with an answering machine equipped with information storage means such as magnetic tape, the information stored in the information storage means is ICM. (InCHling Message
e) and OGM (Out Going Message)
), and there is basically no difference in that it is used only for making and receiving calls. Particularly when such conventional telephone devices are used for home use, they are used infrequently for making and receiving calls, and therefore the utilization efficiency of the telephone devices is extremely low.

Therefore, so-called simple storage devices have conventionally been used to store, for example, household memos and events in advance using free time, and read out the data and output it as voice by operating a dial signal input means as necessary. There has been a desire for a telephone device that can be used as a telephone.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, to be able to use it as a simple storage device, and to make effective use of free time. An object of the present invention is to provide a telephone device.

The present invention comprises a storage means for storing a voice message and a dial signal input means, and reads the voice message stored in the storage means by operating the dial signal input means at the time of on-footer. The feature is that it outputs audio.

According to the above configuration, by operating the dial signal input means at the time of on-hook, the voice message stored in advance in the storage means is read out and output as voice. Therefore, by storing memos, event schedules, etc. in advance in the storage means, it is possible to output them audibly as needed.
It can be used as a hour wheel storage device. Therefore,
The idle time of the telephone device can be used effectively, and the telephone device can be used effectively.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a telephone device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This telephone device 1 includes a handset 2, a ringer section 3, a first storage section 4, and a second storage section 5.
and a central processing unit 6 realized by a microcomputer or the like.

The handset 2 has a speaker 7 and a microphone 8. The ringer part 3 includes a ringer input/output means 10 for inputting and outputting a ringer signal, an encoding/decoding processing means 11 for demodulating a multi-frequency signal (DTMF signal), a changeover switch SW7, and a changeover switch SW7. It has an amplifier 13 that amplifies the output from the amplifier 13, and a monitor/ringer speaker 14 that amplifies the output from the amplifier 13. The encoding/decoding processing means 11 is supplied with an encoding/decoding processing signal from the central processing unit 6 via a control line 1. Further, an amplification degree adjustment signal is given to the amplifier 13 from the central processing unit 6 via a control line 2.

In addition, a line switching signal is given to the changeover switch SW7 from the central processing unit 6 via the control line 3, thereby causing the output line 7 from the encoding/decoding processing means 11 to
! 6, the output line 17 from the alarm generating means 15, and the output line β8 from the first storage section 4 are selectively switched. Note that the alarm sound generating means 15 includes a first
It is provided to encourage the storage section 4 to become audible, and is activated by a drive signal from the central processing unit 6 when the timer means 16 reaches a preset time.

The first storage unit 4 includes an amplifier 20 that amplifies the analog audio signal from the microphone 2, an analog/digital converter 21 that converts the analog audio signal from the amplifier 20 into a digital signal, and an analog/digital converter 2.
Supporting storage means 2 for storing digital audio signals from 1
2, a switch SW4 interposed between the analog/digital converter 21 and the support storage means 22, and a digital/analog converter 23 that converts the digital audio signal read from the support storage means 22 into an analog signal; It has a switch SW5 interposed between the support storage means 22 and the digital/analog converter 23, and a lobal filter 24 for low-pass filtering the analog audio signal from the digital/analog converter 23. The support storage means 22 is a random access memory with a capacity of about 1 to 4 Mbits, and it is possible to write and read short messages such as cooking notes and event schedules using the handset 2, and the storage capacity is 1 Mbit per minute. Can memorize and replay conversations of a certain degree. Further, the switch SW4. The SW 5 is connected to the control line from the central processing unit 6 by 4. The opening/closing operation is performed by an on/off command signal given to , through 5. For example, when the switch SW4 is on and the switch SW5 is off, the audio signal from the analog/digital converter 21 is written into the support storage means 22. Furthermore, when the switch SW4 is in the off state and the switch SW5 is in the on state, the audio data stored in the support storage means 22 is read out.

The second storage unit 5 includes a write/continue processing circuit 25, an information storage means 27 such as a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, or a RAM card, and a write function for writing/reading audio signals to/from the information storage means 27. /Continuation means 26.

Further, numeral 30 in the figure is a display means, which is driven by a display drive means 31. This display means 30 indicates that when an alarm sound is emitted from the monitor/ringer speaker 14,
Alternatively, when the audio data stored in the first storage unit 4 has been converted into audio, this is used to display this when a ringer signal is input.

Further, numeral 32 in the figure is a hook switch, and this footer switch 32 is in an on-hook state when the handset 2 is placed on the telephone main body, and is in an off-hook state when the handset 2 is lifted from the telephone main body. Further, numeral 33 in the figure is a speech input/output means. Also, 3 in the diagram
4 is a speech network circuit for selectively connecting/disconnecting the audio signal lines 7!1 to 15, and is controlled by a signal line switching signal from the central processing unit 6 via the control line 6. be done. This speech network I/work circuit 34 includes line β2, switch SW
3 to the amplifier 20 of the first storage section 4, and to the write/continue circuit 25 of the second storage section 5 via the line 12, switch SW3, line AIO, and switch SWI. Further, the output from the low-pass filter 24 of the first storage unit 4 is applied to the speech network circuit 14 via the switch SW6 and the line 13, and is also applied to the changeover switch SW7 via the line C9, the switch SW2, and the line a8. Switch SWI, SW
2. SW3. SW6 has 7. connected to the control line. 8. 9
．． An on/off command signal is given from the central processing unit 6 via the KIO, which causes the switches SWI and SW2 to
．． SW3 and SW6 perform the opening and closing operations. Further, the second storage unit 5 is connected to the central processing unit 6 via a pass line Kll. In the figure, reference numeral 35 indicates a numeric keypad as a dial signal input means, and by using this numeric keypad 35, dial signals and voice messages in the first storage section 4 and second storage section 5 can be written/continued. In this embodiment, the first storage section 4 and the second storage section 5 are configured so that either one can be selected by operating the numeric keypad 35. Incidentally, when the storage capacity of the information storage means 27 of the second storage section 5 becomes full, the configuration may be such that the information is monitored and stored in the support storage means 22.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of recording voice messages in the support storage means 22 and the information storage means 27. In the initial state, the switches SW1 to SW6 are in the off state. At step n1, it is determined whether or not the on-footer state is present.

That is, a detection line 7!20 (see FIG. 1) is provided between the hook switch 32 and the central processing unit 6, and this detection line A20 allows the central processing unit 6 to monitor the switching mode of the hook switch 32. has been done. When the hook switch 32 is in the on-hook state in step n1, the process moves to step n2, and an input operation using the numeric keypad 35 is performed. To designate the recording mode, for example, a key (hereinafter referred to as the "x" key) without indicating the "x" function key on the numeric keypad 35 is pressed. In addition, in order to store the voice message in the support storage means 22, this "
x” key, followed by the number key for “2” (
In order to store a voice message in the information storage means 27, for example, press the "X" key and then press All you have to do is press the "2" key twice.

In step n3, it is determined whether or not the input signal from the numeric keypad 35 designates a recording mode, and if the "x" key is not pressed, it is not a recording mode designation, and therefore the process moves to step n4, and if the "x" key is not pressed. Move on to processing that requires key human power.

In step n3, when the input signal from the numeric keypad 35 designates a recording mode, that is, when the r'pEJ key is pressed, the process moves to step n5, and it is determined whether or not the input signal is a recording designation to the support storage means 22.

When the r2J key and the "1" key are pressed in this order in step n5, it is a recording specification to the support storage means 22, and therefore the control line 9. An on command signal is derived from the central processing word W6 at step n6.
and switch SW3. SW4 is turned on. Then, in step n7, a switching signal is applied to the speech network circuit 34 via the control line 6, thereby connecting the line 7!1 and the line β2. Then, in step n8, it is determined whether or not the timer means 16 is to be set.

This timer means 16 is used to store a voice message in the support storage means 22 and to set the reproduction time when the stored voice message is reproduced.

The timer means 16 is set by pressing, for example, a key indicating "#" (hereinafter referred to as "#" key) on the numeric keypad 35. When the "#" key is pressed in step n8, the timer means 16 is in the setting mode, and the process moves from step n8 to step n9, where the number keys on the numeric keypad 35 are pressed to input the cent time. When the set time is input using the numeric keys in step n9, step n9 to step nlo
Then, the specified time is entered in the timer means 16.

Then, the process moves to step nil. Incidentally, when the setting operation to the timer means 16 is not performed in step n8, the process moves from step n8 to step nil.

In step nil, it is determined whether or not there is voice input. When voice is input through the microphone 8, the process moves to step n12, and writing processing to the support storage means 22 is executed. That is, the analog audio signal from the microphone 8 is applied to the amplifier 20 via the line β1, the speech network circuit 34, the line 7!2, and the switch SW3.

The analog audio signal amplified by the amplifier 20 is then applied to an analog/digital converter 21, converted into a digital signal, and stored in the support storage means 22 via the switch SW4.

In this way, the process of writing the voice message to the support storage means 22 is completed.

When the recording is not specified to the support storage means 22 in step n5, that is, when the keys r2J and rlJ are pressed successively, the recording is specified to the information storage means 27, so the process moves from step n5 to step n13. ,
The central processing unit 6 is connected to the control line 7. The on command signal is derived at 9. This turns on the switches SWI and SW3. Then, in step n14, a switching signal is given to the speech network toggling circuit 34, and line 11 and line jl! 2 is connected.

Next, in step n15, the write/continue output processing circuit 25 is set to the write side, and in step n16, the write/continue output means 26 is set to the write side.

Then, in step n17, it is determined whether or not there is voice input. When a voice message is input from the microphone 8, the process moves to step n18, and writing processing to the information storage means 27 is executed. That is, the audio signal from the microphone 8 is applied to the write/continuation processing circuit 25 and the write/continuation means 26 via the lines 11, 12, 110 and the switch SWI, and the write process is performed in the information storage means 27. The voice message is stored in the information storage means 27.

In this way, either the support storage means 22 or the information storage means 27 is selected by the input operation of the numeric keypad 35, and the storage process in either of the storage means 22, 27 is performed by voice input from the microphone 8.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of reproducing voice messages stored in the support storage means 22 and the information storage means 27. In step s1, it is determined whether or not the footer is in an on-footer state. When it is in the on-footer state, that is, when it is not in the call mode, the process moves to step S2, and it is determined whether or not the time set in the timer means 16 has been reached. That is, in the timer mode, when the timer means 16 reaches a preset time, the timer means 16 gives a signal indicating this to the central processing unit 6.

As a result, the process moves from step s2 to step S3, and the central processing unit 6 gives a switching signal for switching to the line 17 side to the changeover switch SW7 via the control line 3. As a result, the changeover switch SW7 is switched to the line 17 side. Then, in step s4, the alarm sound generation means 15 is activated, and in step s5, the alarm sound generation signal from the alarm sound generation means 15 is amplified by the amplifier 13 via the changeover switch SW7, and audible from the monitor/ringer speaker 14. be done. At this time, the monitor/ringer speaker 14
The tone of the alarm sound is different from that of the ringer sound. By converting the alarm sound into audio in this way, the user can know that it is necessary to read out the voice message stored in the support storage means 22 and convert it into audio.

Then, the process moves from step S5 to step S6, and the ringer
It is determined whether a signal has been input.

When the ringer signal is not input, the process moves from step s6 to step S7, and it is determined whether or not there is a reproduction command from the numeric keypad 35 to the support storage means 22. That is, the user operates the numeric keypad 35 to open the voice message stored in the support storage means 22 using the alarm sound, and inputs a reproduction command signal. To issue a reproduction command to the support storage means 22, for example, press the "#" key to input a reproduction command mode signal, and when selecting the support storage means 22, press the number "2" key and the number "1". Press the keys continuously. When the reproduction command signal is input to the support storage means 22 in step S7, the process moves to step S8, and line 8. An on command signal is sent to switch SW2.
3W5, which causes switches SW2. SW
5 is turned on. Note that switch SW4. SW6 remains off. Then, in step S9, a switching signal for switching to the line 7!8 side is applied to the control line 3 via the control line 3 to the changeover switch SW7, thereby switching the changeover switch SW7 to the line 16 side. Then, in step slO, reading to the support storage means 22 is performed.

That is, the digital voice message stored in the support storage means 22 is transferred to the digital/audio message via the switch SW5.
It is converted into an analog signal by an analog converter 23, is low-pass filtered by a low-pass filter 24, and is applied to the amplifier 13 from the selector switch SW7 via the lines 7 to 9, the switch SW2, and the line β8, where it is amplified by the amplifier 13 and output to the monitor/ringer. Audio is output from the speaker 14 (step 511). By setting the timer means 16 in this way, it is known that an alarm sound will be generated at the set time and a voice message will be read out, and then stored in the support storage means 22 by operating the numeric keypad 35. It is possible to make audible voice messages from the monitor/ringer speaker 14. .

When a ringer signal is input while the monitor/ringer speaker 14 is outputting audio, the process moves from step SL2 to step s13. Also, in step S6, the monitor/ringer speaker 14
Also when a ringer signal is input while an alarm sound is being output from the controller, the process moves from step S6 to step s13.

In step S13, the alarm sound generating means 15 is stopped, and in step s14, the changeover switch SW7 is switched to the line 16 side. Then, in step s15, switch SW2
is turned off, and further, in step s16, a signal for increasing the amplification degree from 8 is applied to the control line to the amplifier 13, and the gain of the amplifier circuit 13 is increased. and step s
At step 17, the ringer signal is demodulated from the ringer input/output means 10 by the encoding/decoding processing means 11, and the ringer sound is outputted from the monitor/ringer speaker 14 via the changeover switch SW7 and the amplifier 13. At this time amplifier 1
3, the degree of amplification is higher than that of the sound output from the support storage means 22 when the alarm sound is generated, and therefore the output level of the ringer sound is increased, so that the user can easily receive a call from an outside line. You can know what has been done. Further, in step 318, the display driving means 31 is activated, and in step S9, the display means 30 displays that the ringer signal has been input. The display means 30 is realized by, for example, a light emitting diode, and by repeating lighting or blinking of this light emitting diode, it is possible to visually confirm that a ringer signal has been input.

In this way, the user can be notified when an alarm is being sounded or when a call signal is input from an outside line during the playback operation of the support storage means 22, and thereby the user can The call mode can be set by lifting the handset 2 and turning off the hook switch 32.

In such a call mode, there may be cases where it is desired to input a voice message stored in the support storage means 22 or the information storage means 27 to the outside line. In such a case, the process moves from step S1 to step s20. step s
At step 20, it is determined whether or not there has been an input operation on the numeric keypad 35, and if there has been an input operation, the process moves to step s21.

Then, in step s21, it is determined whether the operation input signal from the numeric keypad 35 designates a playback mode, and if not, the process moves to step s22 and the process corresponding to the operated key is executed. When the playback mode is designated in step s21, the process moves to step s23, where it is determined whether or not the playback to the support storage means 22 is designated. Note that the operations from the numeric keypad 35 in this case are similar to the above-described playback operations.

If it is determined in step s23 that the reproduction is specified for the support storage means 22, the process moves to step s24, and the switch SW5. SW6
is turned on, and switches SW2 and SW4 are turned off. Then, in step 325, speech network circuit 34 connects line 13 and line 15. Then, in step s26, the support storage means 22 is read out, and in step S27, the voice message stored in the support storage means 22 is transferred to the digital/digital format via the switch SW5.
The signal is converted into an analog signal by an analog converter 23, low-pass filtered by a low-pass filter 24, and further includes a switch SW6, a line β3, a speech network circuit 34,
The signal is output from the line 15 to the outside line via the speech input/output means 33.

In step s23, when the reproduction is not specified to the support storage means 22, that is, when the reproduction is specified to the information storage means 27, the process moves from step s23 to step 328, and the switches SWI and SW3 are turned on. Then, in step S29, the speech network circuit 34
2 and line 15, and write/write in step s30.
The successive output processing circuit 25 is set to the reading side, and step S3
1, the writing/continuation means 26 is set to the reading side. As a result, in step S32, the voice messages stored in the information storage means 27 are output one after another, and the switch SW
From I to switch SW3, line! 2. The signal is output to an outside line via the speech network circuit 34, the line 15, and the speech input/output means 33. Note that the information storage means 27 is read by cueing, and this cueing operation is performed using the numeric keypad 3.
This is done by the operation in step 5. In this way, during a call, the voice message stored in the support storage means 22 or the information storage means 27 can be output to the outside line.

Further, when the call is not in progress and the time set in the timer means 16 has not yet been reached, or when the timer means 16 is not activated, steps S2 to S3
Move on to 3. In step S33, it is determined whether or not there is an input signal from the numeric keypad 35. If there is an input signal, the process moves to step s34, and it is determined whether the input signal specifies a playback mode. If not, step S3
Moving to step 5, processing corresponding to the operated key is performed.

When the playback mode is specified in step S34, the process moves to step s36, where it is determined whether or not the support storage means 22 is specified for playback. When the playback mode is specified for the support storage means 22, the process moves to step S37, and the selector switch SW7 is set to the line 18 side. and in step 338 switches SWI and S
W5 is turned on, and step SW4. SW6 is turned off, and the support storage means 22 is read out in step 339, whereby the voice message stored in the support storage means 22 is output as a sound from the monitor/ringer speaker 14 in step s40.

In step 336, if the reproduction is not specified for the support storage means 22, that is, if the reproduction is specified for the information storage means 27, the process moves to step 341, where the switches SWI and SW3 are turned on, and in step S42, the speech network circuit 34 switches to the line p2. and the line 14, the writing/continuation circuit 25 is set to the reading side in step S43, the writing/reading means 26 is set to the reading side in step S45, and the reading of the information storage means 27 is started in step S45. As a result, the process moves to step S46, where the voice message stored in the information storage means 27 is output as voice from the speaker 7 via the switch SWI, the switch SW3, the line 12, the speech network circuit 34, and the line 14.

In this case as well, the playback operation of the information storage means 27 is performed by cueing, and therefore, if you want to output a predetermined voice message, you can select each voice stored in the information storage means 27 by operating the numeric keypad 35. Requires message cue operation.

In this way, the voice message stored in the support storage means 22 and the information storage means 27 can be read out and output as voice by operating the numeric keypad 35 when on-hook, and the free time of the telephone device can be effectively utilized. .

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the "X" key and the "#" key were used to record/play back the voice message.
Other dedicated keys may be provided separately.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a telephone device 50 according to another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is similar to the previous embodiment, and corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals. It should be noted that in this embodiment, an absence recording device 31 is added. The absence recording device 31 includes an ICM processing circuit 32,
It has an ICM write/continue output means 33, an information storage means 34 for recording ICM, an OGM processing circuit 35, an OGM write/continue output means 36, and an information storage means 37 for recording OGM. The information storage means 34, 37 is a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, or an IC card realized by RAM and/or ROM. The input/output line NIO is connected to the write/continue output circuit 25, the ICM processing circuit 32, and the OGM processing circuit 3 via the changeover switch SW8.
5, and their signal paths are switched by a switching signal from the central processing unit 6.

Therefore, the voice messages stored in the information storage means 27, 34, 37 are outputted as voices from the speaker 7.

In this way, the present invention can also be suitably implemented in the telephone device 50 in which the configuration of the first embodiment shown in the first figure is added to the conventional answering machine. In addition, in the configuration in which this answering machine 31 is added, for example, the information storage means 34.3
When the capacity of 7 overflows, the remaining support storage means 22 and information storage means 27 can be used as backup.

Incidentally, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the voice message stored in the support storage means 22 is only output as voice from the monitor/ringer speaker 14, but four outputs are selectively output from the speaker 7 and the speaker 14. It may be configured like this. Further, although the support storage means 22 is accessed sequentially, it may be configured to perform random access. Furthermore, information storage means 2
7 was carried out by cueing in the above embodiment, but when recording a voice message in the information storage means 27, a signal indicating an address is simultaneously stored at the beginning of the data, and by operating the numeric keypad 35. The configuration may be such that an address related to the voice message to be read is inputted, and the desired voice message is directly read out and output as voice.

As described above, according to the present invention, the voice message stored in the storage means can be read out and output as voice by operating the dial signal input means when on-hook, so it can be used as a simple storage means. can do. Therefore, the idle time of the telephone device can be used effectively, and the usefulness of the telephone device can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a telephone device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the recording operation of the support storage means 22 or the information storage means 27, and FIG. A flowchart showing the operation of reproducing a voice message stored in the support storage means 22 or the information storage means 27, FIG. 4 is a telephone device 5 according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of 0. ■, 50...Telephone device, 2...Handset, 4...
... first storage section, 5 ... second storage section, 6 ... central processing unit, 7 ... speaker of handset 2, 8 ...
Microphone, 14...Monitor/ringer speaker, 22
... support storage means, 27 ... information storage means, 32.
...Hook switch, 34...Speech network circuit, 35...Numeric keypad, SWI to SW8...Switch. Patent applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] The device comprises a storage means for storing a voice message and a dial signal input means, and when on-hook, the voice message stored in the storage means is read out by operating the dial signal input means and outputted as voice. A telephone device characterized by: