JPH01160161A - Telephone terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the unpleasant sense of the caller from being caused by sending a reply message in a voice signal in the automatic answering function operating state and sending a reply message including a video signal after a pass word from the caller is detected. CONSTITUTION:A reply message by a voice signal is sent in the automatic answering function operating state during absence and only when a pass word from the caller is detected by a pass word detection section 27, the 2nd reply message sending section 20b is driven and the 2nd reply message comprising the voice signal and video signal stored in advance in the reply message storage section 19 is sent to a telephone line. Thus, the listening to meaningless video signal by the caller is avoided and the unpleasant sense caused to the caller is prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a telephone terminal device, such as a video telephone, which transmits and receives video and audio through a telephone line.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there have been video telephones, for example, which transmit and receive audio and still images through telephone lines, and in recent years this type of device has been attracting attention as the amount of information has increased.

However, with the above configuration, even if an incoming call occurs while you are not available, you will not be able to receive messages from the other party, and in other words, automatic reception of messages will not be possible. The applicant has proposed a still image videophone that is equipped with an answering machine function, automatically stores audio and video signals from the other party, and is configured so that the stored information can be output from an audio output section and a video display section. did.

Hereinafter, a still image videophone, which is an example of a telephone terminal device proposed by the present applicant, will be explained.

The configuration of the videophone proposed by the present inventor is, for example, a third
It looked like this and Figure 4.

In the figure, 1 is a video input section composed of a CCD (charge-coupled device), an image pickup tube, etc., 2 is a video display section composed of a CRT (cathode ray tube), a liquid crystal display panel, etc., 3 is the main body of the device, and 4 is a video an image sending button 5 to be operated when sending the image captured by the input unit 1 to the other party via the telephone line;
is a cassette tape deck for storing received audio and video signals on a cassette tape 6.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration. In the figure, 7 is a telephone line, 8 is a line interface section,
Reference numeral 9 denotes an audio signal/video signal changeover switch that switches the flow of signals arriving at the telephone line 7 between the audio side <A) and the video side (B), and 10 represents the audio signal/video signal changeover switch 9 on the audio side (A). This is a video signal discriminator that detects whether there is a video signal in the signal sent from the other party via the telephone line 7 when connected to the telephone line 7, and when there is a video signal, it outputs a signal indicating that. The signal is sent to the audio signal/video signal changeover switch 9.

11 is an audio output section such as a speaker, 12 is an audio input section such as a microphone, 13 is a video signal modulation section that modulates the video signal taken in by the video input section 1 into a signal that can be transmitted over a telephone line, and 14 is an audio input section such as a microphone. A video signal demodulation unit demodulates a modulated video signal sent through a telephone line; 15 and 16 are a first video memory and a second video memory, respectively; 17 is a video telephone unit and an answering machine unit that are manually operated; This is an answering machine function switch that can be switched selectively, and when it is on (D)
In the OFF state, it is connected to the (C) side. 18
Reference numeral 19 indicates an incoming call detection unit that detects a calling signal arriving from the telephone line 7, 19 a response message storage unit comprising a voice synthesis IC and a memory IC, and 20 a response message sending unit that sends out the response message stored in the response message storage unit. , 21 and 22 are a received message storage unit and a received message playback unit using the cassette tape deck 5, 23
is a response message storage switch that is operated when storing a response message in the response message storage section 19. In addition, the part surrounded by the broken line 24 in the figure is the voice communication section,
The area surrounded by 25 indicates the video communication section, and the area enclosed by 26 indicates the answering machine section.

Next, the operation of the still picture video telephone configured as described above will be explained. In the following description, it is assumed that a plurality of video telephones having the configuration shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are connected via the telephone port vA7.

First, when you are at home, the answering machine function switch 17 is turned off (C)
audio signal/video signal changeover switch 9
is connected to the voice side (A), and the response message storage switch 23 is connected to the OFF, ie, (E, ) side. When a call is made or received in this state, the calling party and the called party are connected via a telephone line, and then normal voice communication is performed between them through the voice output section 11 and the voice input section 12.

Also, if you want to send an image to the other party, press the image sending button 4 to activate the audio signal/video signal changeover switch 9, which switches the signal flow from the audio side (A) to the video side (B). The video information taken into the first video memory 15 by the video input section 1 is modulated by the video signal modulation section 13 into a signal that can be transmitted over a telephone line. After that, the modulated video signal is added with a signal for audio/video switching at the beginning, and is added to the line interface section 8.
It is then sent to the other party via the telephone line 7. Then, the audio/video switching signal is detected by the video signal discrimination unit 10 of the telephone terminal device of the other party, and the audio/video signal switching switch 9 is operated to change the flow of the signal from the audio side (A) to the video side (B). ), the video signal demodulation section 14 demodulates the video signal, stores it in the second video memory 16, and displays it on the video display section 2.

After the video transmission ends, the audio signal/video signal changeover switch 9 automatically returns to the audio side (A).

On the other hand, when the other party sends a video, the same process as described above is performed, and the received video is displayed on the video display section 2 on the user's side.

Also, when you are not home, turn on the answering machine switch 17 (D
) side. When a calling signal arrives from the telephone line 7 in this state, the calling signal is detected by the incoming call detection unit 18, and after the telephone line is automatically closed, the response message sending unit 20 is driven and the response message storage unit 1
The response message stored in 9 is sent out to the telephone line.

When the sending of the response message is completed, the audio signal sent from the calling party via the telephone line 7 and the video signal modulated into a signal that can be sent over the telephone line are stored in the message storage section 21 and sent to the cassette tape 6. to be memorized. In this way, an incoming call while the user is away is automatically answered, and the audio and video signals from the other party are stored.

Next, when the operator returns home and operates the received message playback section 22 to start playing back the received message stored on the cassette tape 6 while he was away, the voice message among the playback signals is played back from the voice output section 11. The video signal is processed through the video signal demodulator 14 when the audio/video switching signal added to the beginning of the video signal is detected by the video signal discriminator 10 and the audio/video signal switch 9 is switched to the video side (B). The data is stored in the second video memory 16 and reproduced on the video display section 2. When the output of the video signal is finished, the audio signal/video signal changeover switch 9 is switched to the audio side (
Switch to A).

When storing a response message, the response message storage switch 23 is turned on, that is, set to (F) (+111), so that the response message can be stored.

Then, by operating a switch (not shown), the voice input section 1 is
If the image sending button 4 is operated while the audio is being stored, audio recording by the audio input section 12 will be temporarily stopped, and the audio signal/video signal changeover switch 9 will be switched to the video side (B). ) side, the video captured by the video input section 1 is taken into the first video memory 15, modulated by the video signal modulation section 13, and an audio/video switching signal is added to the beginning of the video signal. , is stored in the response message storage section 19. When the video signal storage operation is completed, the audio signal/video signal changeover switch 9 is switched to the audio side (A). To end the storage operation of the response message using audio and video, the storage operation is completed by turning off the response message storage switch 23, that is, turning it to the (E) side.

6, 7, and 8 respectively show a state in which the answering function switch 17 is set to ON, that is, the (D) side, and the answering function is operating, a received message playback state, and a response message storage operating state. It is a flowchart.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with the above configuration, if a signal including a video signal is stored as a response message, the calling party must be a telephone terminal device that is capable of communicating video signals (but cannot transmit video signals). However, there is a problem in that a response message that includes the above information is sent, making the caller feel uncomfortable.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention first sends out a response message in the form of an audio signal while the answering machine is in operation, and then uses a password detection unit that detects the password from the calling party to detect the password. It was configured to send a response message including a video signal when detected.

Function: With this configuration, a response message in the form of a video signal is not sent unless the caller sends a password, so the caller can selectively receive a response message in the form of a video signal as necessary.

EXAMPLE An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of a still picture video telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention.
and 20b are a first response message sending section and a second response message sending section, respectively. 27 is a password detection unit that detects a password from the calling side. The method for detecting this password is as follows.

In other words, the password detection unit 27 uses DTMF (Dual
The output data from the DTMF signal identification section 27a and the data in the password storage section 27b are stored in a DTMF signal identification section 27a that identifies the Tone Multi Frequency) signal, a password storage section 27b in which password data is stored in advance, and a password storage section 27b that stores password data in advance. If the calling party is a telephone terminal device capable of generating a tone dial signal, the calling party operates a dial button according to a password given in advance to generate a DTMF signal. Once sent, the two are compared using the password data 27c, and if they match, it is determined that the password has arrived.

Incidentally, in this embodiment, the same numbers are given to the same parts as in the conventional example described above, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

The operation of the video telephone configured as described above will be explained below.

The normal operation when at home and the operation of reproducing received messages are the same as in the conventional example, so their explanation will be omitted.

When storing a response message, first, by turning on the response message storage switch 23, that is, to the (F) side, storage of the first response message is started, and the response message storage section 19 receives the audio signal from the audio input section 12. While the first response message is being stored, the video signal input by the video input unit 1 is controlled not to be stored even if the video send button 4 is pressed. After the storage of the first response message is completed, storage of the second response message is started,
In the second response message storage state, the audio signal from the audio input section 12 and the video signal from the video input section 1 are stored as in the conventional example.

In this embodiment, the second response message stored in the response message storage section 19 is an audio signal and a video signal, but it may also be possible to store only the video signal, in which case the image sending button 4 is used as a trigger to It is possible to configure a telephone terminal device that is easier to use by performing control so that the storage operation of the response message is started.

When you are absent, turn on the answering machine switch 17, that is, (
By setting it to the D) side, the answering machine function will operate. The process will be explained below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When a calling signal arrives from the telephone line 7 in this state, the calling signal is detected by the incoming call detection section 18 (step a).
, after the telephone line is automatically closed (step, b),
The first response message sending unit 20a is driven and the first response message based on the voice signal previously stored in the response message storage unit 19 is sent out to the telephone line (step, C). When the sending of the first response message is completed, the process moves from (step d) to (step e), and the signal sent from the calling party via the telephone line 7 is stored in the receiving message storage unit 21 and stored on a cassette tape. 6.

In this state, when the calling side sends a password based on a combination of DTMF signals, it is detected by the password detection unit 27, and the process moves from (step, f) to (step, i), and the received message is stored in the received message storage unit 21. The storage operation is temporarily stopped, and the second response message sending section 20b is driven, and the second response message based on the audio signal and video signal stored in the response message storage section 19 in advance is sent out to the telephone line ( step, j). Second
When the sending of the response message is completed (step.

k) The process moves to (step 1), where the received message storage section 21 resumes the storage operation of the received message, and the voice signal sent from the calling party and the video modulated into a signal that can be transmitted over the telephone line. Perform signal memorization. When it is detected that the calling party has released the line in (step m), (step m).

After h), the device returns to the standby state. Also, (step, f
), if the calling side releases the line without detecting a video signal, the system enters a standby state from (step, g) through (step, h).

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention first sends out a response message using a voice signal when the answering function is in operation when the user is absent.
After that, a response message using a video signal is sent only when the password detection unit detects the password from the calling party, so the calling party can selectively receive a response message using a video signal as necessary. This eliminates the need for the caller to listen to the video signal meaninglessly as in the past (
This has the effect of not causing any discomfort to the caller, and is very effective in practice.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of a still picture video telephone which is a telephone terminal device in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a flowchart showing the operation flow of the same embodiment.
4 and 4 are perspective views of a still picture video telephone which is a conventional telephone terminal device, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an open circuit configuration of a still picture video telephone which is a conventional telephone terminal device, and FIGS. 8 are flowcharts showing the flow of operations in the conventional example. 1...Video input section 2...Video display section 3...Device main body 4...Picture sending button 5...Cassette tape deck 6...Cassette tape 7...Telephone line 8... Line interface section 9...Audio signal/video signal changeover switch 10...
-Video signal discrimination section 11...Audio output section 12...Audio input section 13...Video signal modulation section 14...Video signal demodulation section 15...First video memory 16...Second Video memory 17...Answering function switch 18...Incoming call detection section 19...Response message storage section 20...Response message sending section 20a...First response message sending section 20b...
Second response message sending unit 21...Received message storage unit 22...Received message playback unit 23...Response message storage switch 24...Audio communication unit 25...Video communication unit 26...Answering machine Telephone section 27...Password detection section 27a...DTMF signal identification section 27b...Password storage section 27c...Password comparison section Name of agent Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and one other person Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 0 Figure 7 Figure 7? J8 figure procedural amendment spontaneously) April 1, 1988 Patent Application No. 318108 of 1988 2 Name of the invention Telephone terminal device 3 Relationship with the person making the amendment case Patent application Person in charge Place Oaza, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Kadoma 1006 address name
(582) Representative of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Akio Tanii 4th representative
571 Address 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture
Address Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Name (5971) Patent Attorney Toshio Tsuchinakao [Contact information Telephone (Tokyo) 437-1121 Tokyo Legal Affairs Branch] 5 Subject of amendment 6 Contents of amendment (1) Patent of specification The scope of claims will be amended as shown in the attached sheet. (2) Delete "with the above configuration" in the first line of page 3 of the specification.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) an audio communication unit including an audio input unit and an audio output unit;
a video communication unit including a video input unit and a video display unit; a response message storage unit that stores a first response message based on an audio signal and a second response message based on a video signal;
A password detection unit that detects whether there is a password in a signal that arrives from the calling side via the line, an incoming call detection unit that detects an incoming call, and a a first response message sending means for sending a first response message stored in the response message storage section; and when the password detection section detects a password, the second response message is reproduced and transmitted to the telephone line. a second response message sending means for sending out a response message; a received message storage section that stores audio signals and video signals arriving on a telephone line; a received message playback section that plays back the received message stored in the received message storage section; A telephone terminal device comprising connection means for connecting a received message played back by a received message playback section to the audio output section and the video output section. (2) When the password detection unit detects the password, the storage operation by the received message storage unit is temporarily stopped, the second response message is played back and sent to the telephone line, and when the sending is finished, the storage operation by the reception message storage unit is performed. The telephone terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the telephone terminal device resumes the telephone terminal.