JPH01226260A - Automatic answering telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it difficult for a caller calling repeatedly to become aware of that an automatic answering telephone set receives his call by recording plural answer messages previously, and changing the answer message to be reproduced and sent to the caller at the time of the incoming for every incoming. CONSTITUTION:The answer message 16 consists of a head part 17 and a message part 18, and plural head parts are prepared, and the answer message to make other side say his name is recorded in the respective head parts 17a, 17b, 17c. When the call arrives, one of the plural head parts 17a, 17b, 17c, for instance, the head part 17a is selected. After the transmission of the head part 17a of the answer message is finished, a recording/reproducing part is switched to a recording mode for a prescribed time. When the next call arrives, the head part 17a-17x of the answer message 16 different from that of the previous time is selected. Therefore, even for the caller calling so many times, possibility that he becomes aware of that this side is receiving by the automatic answering telephone set is a little.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an answering machine that records the voice of a caller.

[Summary of the invention]

By recording multiple response messages to be sent to the caller immediately after the line is connected, and changing and transmitting these response messages for each incoming call, it is possible to notify that the caller is being answered by answering machine. This is an answering machine that reduces the possibility of being noticed by the caller.

[Conventional technology]

The answering machine is equipped with a telephone recording function, a message function, etc., and when operating in these modes, when an incoming call is received, it is recorded in advance on a recording medium such as magnetic tape or memory IC. response message (OGM)
) and sends it to the caller over the line.

These answering machines send a response message informing the caller that the answering machine is answering the caller, ask the caller to state their business, and record the message. However, some callers may hang up without recording anything. In this case, either nothing is recorded, or only the "two-two" sound is recorded, so even if you play it back later, you will not be able to tell who is calling.

In addition, conventional answering machines prompt callers to record their business, so they may ask for a recording of a business they don't want to accept, and if they later find out by playing it back, Sometimes it was too late to refuse.

In order to eliminate this inconvenience, immediately after receiving a call, instead of announcing that it is an answering machine, simply say °゛Yes○○. ”
Send a response message such as ``I'm away at the moment, so please talk to me about your business after the beep.'' After waiting for the other party to respond (saying their name, etc.).
There is a known answering machine that transmits messages such as 2-digit messages and records all of these dialog-like responses and business matters. If the caller does not first realize that it is an answering machine, the caller's name (voice) can be retrieved. Also, if you send a message such as ``When do you want to return?'', you will not be forced to accept the other person's errands unconditionally.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, conventional answering machines that perform interactive recording always send the same response message. Therefore, a caller who makes many calls quickly realizes that the caller is answering the call with an answering machine. In this case, the caller would not reply, so there were many incoming calls whose name, voice, etc. could not be recorded properly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to make it difficult for people to notice that the answering machine is being used.

[Means to solve the problem]

The answering machine of the present invention can record a plurality of response messages 17 to be sent to the caller immediately after the line is connected, and has recording/reproducing means (
Recording/reproducing means 24, first memory 14, recording/reproducing section 1
2) and the above response message 17 to be played back and sent to the caller.
and switching means 23 for changing the number each time a call is received.

[For production]

The order in which the response messages 17 recorded on the recording medium 14 are reproduced and transmitted is managed by a switching means 23, and the response messages 17 to be reproduced are switched every time there is an incoming call. Therefore,
Since a different response message is sent to the caller for each incoming call, the caller is less likely to notice that the answering machine is answering the call.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an answering machine showing an embodiment of the present invention. The line control circuit 2 is a circuit for connecting the telephone answering machine 1 to a telephone line, and is composed of hook switches, relays, and the like.

In addition, each circuit of this device 1 is connected to a control microcomputer 3.
Therefore, it is operated at a predetermined timing.

If the handset 4 is placed, it is in a standby state for incoming and outgoing calls, and if an incoming call is received in this state, the bell circuit 5 is driven through the line control circuit 2 to ring the bell. Then, when the user picks up the handset 4, the bell circuit 5 is disconnected, the talking circuit 6 is activated, and the line is further connected to establish a talking state.

Further, in the incoming and outgoing call standby state, if the handset 4 is picked up, the dial circuit 7 is activated, so that a call can be made by dialing using the dial button 8 of the telephone.

When recording an answering machine, the operation/display section 9 is operated. The operation/display section 9 consists of an operation section consisting of operation buttons, switches, etc. for setting various operation modes, and a display section for displaying the operation modes.

Record answering messages to operate in answering machine mode. This recording is performed using the microphone 13 by operating the recording/reproducing section 12 comprising an A/D and D/A conversion circuit in a recording mode. A memory IC is provided in the microcomputer 3 as a recording medium. In this embodiment, two memory ICs, a first memory 14 and a second memory 15, are provided, a response message (OGM) 16 is recorded in the first memory 14, and a response message (OGM) 16 is recorded in the second memory 15. Records the event message (ICM).

The response message 16 consists of a beginning part 17 and a message part 18, as shown in the explanatory diagram of the response message in FIG. In this embodiment, a plurality of opening parts 17 are provided, and each opening part 17 is used to write a response message that asks the other party to say his or her name.
Record at a, 17b, 17cm・---------・------. For example, the beginning part 17a records "Yes, which one are you?", and the beginning part 17b records "Hello, who are you?". Further, in the opening part 17c, "Yes, this is O○, who are you?" is recorded.

Further, the message section 18 includes two types of message sections 18a and 18b, for example.
In order to have the message section 18a state the business,
I recorded "I'm away at the moment. Please talk to me when it beeps." In order to avoid informing message section 18b of my business, I said that my father was away at the moment.

I'm sorry, but please try again tonight. ” is recorded.

The response message 16 recorded in this way is stored in the recording/reproducing section 1.
2 can be set in playback mode and monitored through the Polyum 20 and speaker 21.

The answering machine 1 of this embodiment is capable of selecting two types: a first answering machine mode in which the other party's business is recorded, and a second answering machine mode in which the other party's business is not recorded. .

FIG. 2 shows how messages are sent and received when operating in the first answering machine mode. Time 1 in Figure 2. When a call arrives, the switching means 23 of the microcomputer 3 detects the call, and selects a plurality of opening parts 17a, 17b, 1 recorded in the first memory 14.
One from 7 c---------------,
For example, the beginning part 17a is selected.

The selected opening part 17a is read by the recording/reproducing means 24, reproduced by the recording/reproducing section 12 as an analog audio signal, and transmitted to the calling party through the telephone communication circuit 6, the line control circuit 2, and the line.

When the transmission of the first part 17a of the response message ends at time t2, the recording/reproducing section 12 is switched to the recording mode for a predetermined period of time under the control of the microcomputer 3.

Therefore, after time t2, if the caller says his or her name in response to the transmission of the opening part 17a, the recording/reproducing section 12 and the recording/reproducing section 12
It is recorded in the second memory 5 by the reproducing means 24.

When a predetermined period of time has elapsed from time t2 to time t3, the recording and reproducing section 12 is switched to the reproducing mode, and the message section 18 of the response message 16 recorded in the first memory 4 is read out by the recording/reproducing means 24. It is played back and sent out.

When operating in the first answering machine mode, the switching means 23 selects the message section 18a. Therefore, "I'm away at the moment.

Please talk to me when it beeps. ” is played back and transmitted to the caller through the telephone call circuit 6, line control circuit 2, and line.

When the transmission of the message portion 18a is completed at time t4, the recording/reproducing portion 12 is again switched to the recording mode for a predetermined period of time under the control of the microcomputer 3. Therefore, the other party's business can be recorded in the second memory 15. Then, at a time point t after a predetermined period of time, for example, several tens of seconds to several minutes, the recording is stopped, the line control circuit 2 is turned off, and the telephone is hung up.

When the next call is received, the switching means 23 displays the beginning portions 17a to 17X of the response message 16 different from the previous call.
Select. Therefore, even if a caller makes many calls, there is little chance that the caller will notice that the caller is using the answering machine until the message section 18 is sent out. Therefore, each time there is an incoming call, the name, voice, etc. of the other party can be reliably recorded in the beginning recording period 26 shown by diagonal lines between time t2 and time t3 in FIG. As a result, time t4
Even if no message is recorded during the message recording period 27 from t to t, it is possible to know with certainty who called during the user's absence.

Further, the answering machine of this embodiment records in the second memory 15 only the period during which the caller is likely to be speaking, that is, the period from time t2 to t and from time t4 to t5 in FIG. Therefore, since the own station's response message 16 is not recorded, no time is wasted for reproduction. Also, since the own station's response message 16 is not recorded, the second memory 1
5 memory capacity can be used effectively.

Sometimes you want to know who called you while you were away, but you don't want them to record the call. In such a case, the second answering machine mode is operated.

FIG. 3 shows how messages are sent and received when operating in the second answering machine mode.

In FIG. 3, the operation up to time t3 is the same as in the first answering machine mode.

When transmitting the message section 18 of the response message 16 at time t3, the switching means 23 is switched to transmit the contents of the message section 18b that does not allow recording of the message: "I'm away at the moment. I'm sorry, but please call again tonight." do.

Then, under the control of the microcomputer 3, the message section 1
At time t4 when the transmission of 8b is completed, the recording/reproducing section 12
Then, the line control circuit 2 is turned off and the call is hung up. Even when operating in this mode, from time t2 to t.

During the first recording period 26, the caller's name, voice, etc. can be recorded. Therefore, the user can know who called him while he was away without the inconvenience of having his unwanted business recorded. Additionally, it is possible to send a message such as ``I will call you.'' to callers who call while you are away, giving the answering machine owner the option to hack the call.

When operating in the first answering machine mode, the remaining memory capacity of the second memory 15 may become small due to some messages being recorded. In this case, the microcomputer 3 automatically switches to the second answering machine mode and records only the name and voice of the other party during the beginning recording period 26. Since the memory capacity required to record the beginning part once is small, the remaining memory capacity can be used effectively.

In the above embodiment, the response message (0GM)
In both cases, a memory IC was used as a recording medium for recording the message (rcM) and the business message (rcM). However, for both of these recording media, a recording medium such as a magnetic tape or a magnetic disk may be used. Also, a memory IC is used for response messages.
A magnetic tape or the like may be used only for message messages so that the recipient's message can be recorded for a long time.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the present invention records a plurality of response messages and changes the response message that is played when a call arrives and is sent to the caller each time a call is received. It is also possible to make it difficult for the caller to notice that the caller is answering the call using an answering machine. Therefore, each time there is an incoming call, it is possible to increase the probability that a response corresponding to the response message will be obtained and recorded, and it is possible to reliably reduce the number of no-signal recordings in which nothing is uttered by the caller. Because of this, it is possible to know with a high probability who called you while you were away, so there is no problem in disconnecting the line as described below. That is, the owner of the answering machine sends a message asking him to call later or to call back later, and then disconnects the line. In this way, errands that the user does not want to take on will not be recorded, and the user can also select the person to call back to, and when the remaining capacity of the memory becomes low, it becomes possible to save and use it.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an answering machine showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining sending and receiving of messages when operating in answering machine mode for recording messages, and FIG. The figure is a diagram for explaining the sending and receiving of messages when operating in an answering machine mode in which messages are not recorded. In addition, in the reference numerals used in the drawings, 3-- −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−Second memory 16−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−One response message 17'−−−−−−−−−−− --Opening part 18---
−・・−・−−−−−−−−Message section 23−−−−−−
−−−−−−−−−−−−Total change means 24−−−−−−
---111--Recording/reproducing means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Recording/reproducing means capable of recording a plurality of response messages to be sent to a calling party immediately after a line is connected, and capable of selectively reproducing these messages; and switching means for changing the response message for each incoming call.