JPH03117147A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To utilize various kinds of information stored in the equipment effectively by remote control even from a visiting place by extracting information corresponding to an input key data from a storage means, converting the information into an audible sound signal and sending a DTMF signal to an opposite station. CONSTITUTION:A voice data stored in a voice storage section 6 is used by a voice reply section 7 comprising a known voice synthesis IC or the like. A DTMF recognition section 2 recognizes a DTMF signal sent from a visiting place, a telephone directory memory 5 is referenced based on the recognition information to retrieve an object telephone number and the voice storage section 6 and the voice reply section 7 sends a telephone number as an audible sound signal. Thus, a user even the user is not resident in the vicinity of the equipment uses the information of the telephone directory memory 5 by external remote control.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a communication device, and particularly to a communication device that stores information related to communication and outputs the stored information in response to a predetermined operation.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in communication devices such as facsimile machines,
2. Description of the Related Art A technique is known in which a telephone number is stored and the stored telephone number is called up in response to a speed dial operation or the like and used for making a call.

Furthermore, a so-called telephone directory method is known as a method for searching for a target telephone number from among the telephone numbers stored in the device.

In the telephone directory method, by entering key data such as a serial number or the abbreviation of the other station, you can retrieve stored information such as the telephone number corresponding to the key data and its associated abbreviation, just as in a normal database search. Display. Then, when the desired partner station is displayed, a predetermined operation is performed to make a call to that partner station using the stored telephone number.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above-mentioned telephone directory system, from the viewpoint of operability, when searching for a telephone number and making a call, the telephone directory is usually operated with the telephone directory directly in front of the user. Therefore, in order to search for a stored telephone number and make a call using it, a predetermined operation must be performed using the operating section of the device.

For this reason: l) You cannot search for a phone number in the phone book unless you are near the device.

2) I want to know the phone number of the other party while I am out, but
In cases where it is difficult to connect to T-Number Assistance, there are problems such as not being able to refer to stored telephone number information when the device is unattended.

The above problem is not limited to telephone numbers, but is common to communication devices that store and use subscriber numbers of various systems, calling information, and information related to various communications.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to make it possible to use various types of information stored in a device even if one is not near the device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a communication device that stores information related to communication and outputs the stored information in response to a predetermined operation. DTMF recognition means for recognizing a DTMF signal transmitted from the line,
a retrieval means for searching the mi memory storage means from the input key data expressed by the DTMF signal and retrieving information corresponding to the input key data from the storage means; and a retrieval means for converting the information retrieved by the retrieval means into an audible audio signal. DTM
A configuration was adopted that provided a means for transmitting the F signal to the other station.

[Operation] According to the above configuration, DTMF is transmitted from a remote location via a line.
By inputting key data using a signal, stored information corresponding to the key data can be obtained as an audible audio signal.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the example shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a facsimile machine adopting the present invention. Here, illustrations of known components for facsimile communication, such as a reading device for image input/output, a printer, and a modem, are omitted, and only parts related to call control are shown.

Therefore, the configuration shown in FIG. 1 can be applied as is to various communication devices that communicate different data.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a communication unit consisting of a network control device, a modem, etc. Interface with N.

The DTMF signal input from the line N via the communication section 1 can be used by the DTMF recognition section. D
The TMF recognition unit is composed of a frequency discrimination circuit for the recognition unit, etc., and identifies at least dial data of 0 to 9, *, and #, and outputs it to the control unit 3.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a control section comprised of a microprocessor, etc., which controls the operation of the entire apparatus and, in this embodiment, searches for telephone directory data stored in a telephone directory memory 5, which will be described later.

Each block surrounded by a broken line at the bottom of the figure is a variety of memories appropriately arranged in the address space of the control unit 3, and the reference numeral 4 is
Memory elements such as ROM, RAM, or SRAM are collectively shown. Other blocks indicate various types of memories particularly required in the present invention.

First, the storage unit 4 includes a ROM 4a that stores a control program for the control unit 3, which will be described later.

Further, reference numeral 5 denotes a telephone directory memory constructed using RAM or SRAM of the storage section 4. Phonebook memory 5
As shown in FIG. 3, the telephone number of the other station is stored along with other unique information. Here, the phone number is
It is remembered in association with its abbreviation (here, the katakana surname). The telephone number may be associated with a serial number or the like. Further, it may be associated with two or more types of information.

Reference numeral 6 indicates a voice storage unit C1 that stores digital voice data (pronunciation data).The voice data recorded in the voice storage unit 6 is used by a voice response unit 7 configured using a known voice synthesis IC or the like. be done.

FIG. 4 shows the data stored in the audio storage section 6.

The phonetic record/boundary part 6 has a table structure, and by inputting character codes or address data associated with them, "A" ~ "N", rA'' ~ rZJ, 0 ~ 9
It is now possible to output audio data corresponding to each character. The audio data retrieved from the audio storage section 6 is input to the audio response section 7, where it is converted into an audible audio signal, and then output from the communication section 1 to the line.

Reference numeral 8 is a numeric keypad used for inputting a telephone number and the abbreviation of the other party's name, and for searching, and has a key arrangement as shown in FIG. Key input data from the numeric keypad 8 is input to the control section 3.

The numeric keypad 8 is used for O to 9, #, and the like on regular telephones.
It has 12 keys marked with *, and in addition to the input function of each display, you can also search for the characters shown below the keys. That is, code 9 is a numeric keypad for searching the A line, code 10 is the C line, code 11 is the →No line, code 12 is the evening line, code ■3 is the cross line, code 14 is the C line, and code 15 is the 16 is a numeric keypad for searching the y line, 17 is the crawling line, and 19 is the numeric keypad for searching the wa line.

Further, reference numeral 18 is a numeric keypad for searching alphabets A to Z, and numeral 20 is a numeric keypad for instructing confirmation of search information and start of remote processing to be described later.

Note that the numeric keypad 8 may be one of a telephone attached to the device. In this case, a key input signal is input to the control unit 3 using a DTMF signal or the like.

In this embodiment, a telephone number in the telephone directory memory 5 is directly searched using the numeric keypad 8 and used for making a call, as in the conventional case.

Furthermore, by transmitting a DTMF signal from outside, for example, the DTMF recognition unit recognizes this signal, searches for the target telephone number by referring to the telephone directory memory 5 based on this recognition information, and further performs voice storage. The telephone number is transmitted by the section 6 and the voice response section 7 as an audible voice signal. Thereby, the user can use the information in the telephone directory memory 5 by remote operation from outside even if he or she is not near the device.

Note that the DTMF signal input from line N is 0 to 9.
! These signals correspond to the keys 5, #, and *, but the information of O to 9, #, and * indicated by these signals is handled as if a search command was assigned as in Figure 2. .

The process will be explained in detail below using the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 5 shows a control program for the control section 3 stored in the ROM 4a. Here, processing for searching the telephone directory memory 5 from outside will be described.

Now, a pig as shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the telephone directory memory 5, and the device shown in FIG.
Consider the case where you want to know Mr. Tsumura's phone number.

First, device B makes a call to device A. This call is
Device B dials device A's phone number.

The user of the device B presses the numeric keypad of the device B corresponding to the numeric keypad 20 of the numeric keypad 8, that is, the [#] key (hereinafter, the pressed numeric keypad of the device B is indicated by enclosing [] in this way) in step Sl. As a result, device A and device B
A remote processing relationship is established between the two.

When the device A enters the remote mode, it outputs a message to the line N in step S2 saying, "You can search the telephone directory." This process is performed by the voice response section 7 using the voice data in the voice storage section 6.

After confirming this message, the user of device B presses the [4] key in step S3. As a result, a DTMF signal corresponding to the number "4" is transmitted to device A via line N.

The DTMF signal is recognized by the DTMF recognition unit in step S4.
The recognition information is input to the control unit 3 in the form of a character code or the like.

Then, the control section 3 of the device A recognizes the DTMF signal of the [41 key as a search for evening cruise, and finds "Mr. Tanaka" from the data stored in the telephone directory memory 5 (FIG. 3).

When the target data is found, in step S4, the control unit 3 searches the voice storage unit 6 for pronunciation information for the three characters “Yu”, “Su”, and “Chi”, and sends it to the device B using the voice response unit 7. Transmits an audible voice of "Tana Power".

The user of device B hears this voice, but since it is not the desired "Mr. Tsumura," he presses the [4] key on the numeric keypad again.

This response of device B is identified in step S5. When the same DTMF signal as in step S3 is transmitted again in step S5, steps S3 and S4 are repeated to search for the next telephone number entry "Mr. Tanoue" in the telephone directory memory 5, and similarly transmit an audible voice. Notify device B of the search results.

However, it is still not the desired name of "Mr. Tsumura", so
When the user of device B presses the [4] key on the numeric keypad again, the same search is performed again, and this time device A searches for "Mr. Tsumura" and the audio signal of "Tsumura" is transmitted to device B.

Since the target person has been found for device B, step S is now performed.
6, press the [#1 key on the numeric keypad.

Device A recognizes the transmitted [#] primary key DTMF signal as search information confirmation, and in step S7, device A converts each character information of "Mr. Tsumura" and r523820J into audible voice to device B. Send. The audible voice may be transmitted twice in order for the user of device B to take notes.

In step S8, the user of device B hangs up the phone if he wants to hang up, and if he still wants to find another person, presses a key other than 2 [#] to return the process of device A to step S3 and continue. You can search for another partner station.

In addition, in the above search procedure, if the number corresponding to the keybutton (for row A, row A) is not found, then
All you have to do is send a voice message saying "Not found" to device B.

Through the operations described above, it becomes possible to search for a telephone number in the telephone directory of one's own communication device by remote operation from outside using a DTMF signal, and registered telephone number data can be used effectively.

Further, in the above configuration, since the transition to the remote search mode can also be controlled remotely, there is no need to set the device A to the remote mode or the like in advance. The remote search may be any telephone capable of transmitting DTMF signals.

The use of the above configuration is not limited to remote retrieval of stored telephone numbers.

For example, in a facsimile machine, information on a communication result record is stored as communication management information as a record of communication. If this information is stored in a memory corresponding to the telephone directory memory 5 in FIG. It is possible to know with what kind of destination station the facsimile transmission/reception was carried out. Such a function is extremely effective when going out for a long period of time.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart for remotely searching communication result records. Here again, the apparatus in FIG. 1 is referred to as apparatus A.
Assuming that the device is set to enable sending of DTMF signals outside the home, in step S21 of FIG.
The user presses the [#] primary key to shift to remote processing.

In step S22, the device A uses the voice response unit 7 to transmit a voice message saying, for example, "You can search the telephone directory."

4. In step S23, the user of device B presses the [#] key to instruct recording of past communication results.

Device A detects this through the DTMF recognition unit recognition process, and in step S24, information related to a predetermined number of past communications, such as the abbreviation of the other party, is sequentially converted into voice and transmitted to device B, and then Disconnect.

With such a configuration, various information stored in the device can be remotely searched and used from outside the device. It goes without saying that the information to be remotely searched may be stored together with searchable key data, and any information may be used.

Further, information in multiple categories (for example, both the above-mentioned telephone number and communication result information) may be remotely searched. As described above, when searching for different information, different search commands may be used to distinguish between the two in terms of recognition by the DTMF recognition unit.

It goes without saying that this embodiment is not limited to facsimile machines, but can be applied to various communication devices.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, in a communication device that stores information related to communication and outputs the stored information in response to a predetermined operation, information related to communication is stored in predetermined key data. DTMF recognition means for recognizing the DTMF signal transmitted from the line;
a search means for searching the storage means from the input key data expressed by the TMF signal and extracting information corresponding to the input key data from the storage means; and a search means for converting the information retrieved by the search means into an audible audio signal and generating a DTMF signal. Since the configuration is equipped with a means for transmitting the information to the other station, by inputting the key data using a DTMF signal from a remote location via a line, the stored information corresponding to the key data can be transmitted as an audible voice. It can be used manually as a signal, and various types of information stored in the device can be effectively used by remote control even when away from home.Also, since it uses DTMF signals, the information in the storage section of the device can be manually controlled with just a telephone. This has an excellent effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile machine adopting the present invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a numeric keypad used for searching the telephone directory of a telephone capable of transmitting DTMF signals, and Fig. 3 shows telephone directory data. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the storage state of audio data corresponding to characters, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing different control procedures in the apparatus of FIG. 1. ■...Communication section 2...DTMF recognition section 3...
-Control unit 4...-Storage unit 5...Telephone directory memory 6...Voice storage unit 7...Voice response unit 8...-
Numeric keypad facsimile shell 7'o,,,fu 2 Fig. 1 Qin chanting Ai memory L is nil Fig. 3 Chio heart filled with bean paste Fig. 2 M ^ [4D philosophy I' n 3'Lef'rrw No. Fig. 4f

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) A communication device that stores information related to communication and outputs the stored information in response to a predetermined operation, comprising: means for storing information related to communication together with predetermined key data; DTMF recognition means for recognizing the input key data expressed by the DTMF signal; retrieval means for searching the storage means from the input key data expressed by the DTMF signal and retrieving information corresponding to the input key data from the storage means; What is claimed is: 1. A communication device comprising means for converting received information into an audible audio signal and transmitting the converted information to a partner station that has transmitted the DTMF signal.