JPH03261261A - Automatic answering telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To set the automatic answering telephone set in a short time by transferring a succeeding operation even when all reply message is not listened to at the confirmation of the reply message. CONSTITUTION:A control circuit 29 reproduces a reply message in the automatic answering telephone set mode and the signal is inputted from a zero cross detection circuit 23 to the control circuit 29. The control circuit 29 detects the reproduction time during reply message reproduction and a marking frequency. Then the control circuit 29 terminates the reproduction of the reply message, applies program search of the reply message again to make the automatic answering telephone set mode complete and proceeds the processing of automatic reply or the like when the reproduction time exceeds a preset time sufficiently shorter than the recording enable maximum time of the reply message or a 2nd marking frequency representing the recording end position is detected. Since only the first part of the automatic answering setting reply message is reproduced and confirmed, the automatic answering telephone set mode is set in a short time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of Industrial Application to which the Invention Pertains The present invention relates to an answering machine, and particularly relates to a response message confirmation operation in an answering machine.

(2) Conventional technology When setting an answering machine on an answering machine, check whether a response message has been recorded, and if there are multiple response messages, check whether the selected message is correct.
I was playing the message and going.

At this time, I had to listen to the response message to the end before moving on to the next action. For example, if a response message was recorded for one minute, it would take one minute to listen to it all. After this confirmation operation, the answering machine performs operations such as locating the beginning of the message recording tape, so it takes a considerable amount of time to complete the answering machine setting operation.

For this reason, even if you need to go out in a hurry, you may have to wait for that amount of time, or you may have to wait for that amount of time when you are out of the office and use a public phone to set your absence using the remote control.
It was inconvenient to use, as there were disadvantages such as extra phone charges for that amount of time and disconnections mid-way due to insufficient charges.

(3) Object of the Invention The present invention provides an answering machine that improves operability by allowing the user to move on to the next operation even if he or she does not finish listening to all of the response messages during the response message confirmation operation.

(4) Structure and operation of the invention In order to achieve this object, an answering machine according to the present invention responds to an incoming call signal from a telephone line and sends a prerecorded response message to the telephone line. , the first marking frequency of a predetermined frequency is recorded for a certain period of time before the response message recording start position, and then the response message is recorded, and the second marking frequency is recorded for a certain period of time from the recording end position, and the second marking frequency is recorded for a certain period of time from the recording end position. When confirming the response message in the settings, playback is started after detecting the first marking frequency, and a preset time elapses from the playback operation or the start of playback so that it is sufficiently shorter than the maximum recordable time of the response message. or when the second marking frequency is detected, it is determined that the reproduction of the response message has ended.

The present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, where 1.1° is a telephone line connection terminal (Ll/L2), 2 is a diode bridge for polarity-crossing, 3 is a capacitor for DC cut, and 4 is a A diode bridge for rectification, 5 a line closing circuit composed of a transistor and a hook switch H3, 6 a dial circuit, 7 a power supply circuit for the dial circuit 6 and a telephone call circuit (8), 8 a telephone call circuit, and 9 a telephone circuit. 10 is a hold tone circuit, 11 is a tone ringer circuit, 12 is a DC isolation transformer, 13 is an incoming signal 16Hz detection circuit, 14 is a keyboard, 15 is a keyboard interface circuit,
16 is a recording/playback circuit, 17 is a remote signal receiving circuit for remote control operation, 18 is a variable resistor for volume adjustment, 19 is a speaker amplifier, 20 is a microphone, 21 is a speaker, 22 is a voice synthesis circuit, 23 is a zero cross circuit, 24 is a cassette deck, 25 is an LCD drive circuit, 26 is an LCD
(Liquid crystal display device), 27 is an LED drive circuit, 28 is L
ED, 29 is a control circuit composed of a CPU, 30°30
' is a DC power input terminal from a power adapter, 31 is a relay for voltage monitoring, 32 is a power supply circuit, and 33 is an external recording input terminal.

Next, the operation of this will be explained. First, to record a response message as an answering machine, when a button (not shown) for recording a response message is pressed on the keyboard 14, the control circuit 29 captures the response message via the keyboard interface circuit 15, and records it on the cassette deck 24. The playback circuit 16 is operated, and the response message is recorded on the tape in the cassette deck 24 via the route [microphone 20→recording/playback circuit 16→cassette deck 24].

Here is how to locate the recording area for the response message.
The tape position can be determined from the beginning of the cassette tape by the number of revolutions of the take-up reel (or supply reel). For a specific example of the positioning operation, please refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 147639/1983 filed by the same applicant as the present application, ``Voice Message Telephone J, etc.'' Fig. 2 is a detailed drawing of the positioning operation. , the position is approximately determined based on the number of rotations of the reel.After this, the marking frequency is recorded on the tape.The marking frequency is 800Hz, and the recording time is 1 second.This is [control circuit 29-recording/playback circuit 16- cassette deck 24].Next, the response message is recorded through the above-mentioned route, and when a response message recording end input is received from the keyboard 14, the control circuit 29 starts from the end position of the response message in the same way as before. Record the marking frequency (Figure 2).

The answering machine setting operation as an answering machine will be explained using the flowchart of FIG. When the absence setting is input from the keyboard 14 (Sl), the control circuit 29 searches for the beginning of the response tape (s2). For cueing, the first marking frequency is detected after roughly locating the position using the number of rotations of the reel in the same manner as in the response message recording operation described above.
S3). The control circuit 29 does not output sound from the speaker when the marking frequency at the beginning of the recording is detected. The marking frequency is detected along the path [cassette deck 24→recording/playback circuit 16→zero cross detection circuit 23→control circuit 29].

The zero cross detection circuit 23 is a circuit that outputs an output when a signal passes a predetermined threshold point.
In the case of z, there is a signal output every 1.25 m5ec, so
The control circuit 29 can determine the marking frequency.

End of marking frequency (second marking frequency)
When detected, the control circuit 29 reproduces the response message (S4). The purpose of this is to let the user hear and confirm the content of the response message that is set when the user is set to be away. The response message recorded on the tape is [cassette deck 24 → recording/playback circuit 16 → volume 18
→ speaker amplifier 19 → speaker 21).

Here, the operation at the time of setting the absence, which is the object of the present invention, will be explained. The control circuit 29 plays back the response message when the user is set to be away, and the signal is sent to the control circuit 2 via the route [recording/playback circuit 16 → zero cross detection circuit 23 → control circuit 29].
9 is also input.

The control circuit 29 detects the playback time and marking frequency during playback of the response message, and sets a preset time (for example, 10 seconds) (S5), or the second marking frequency at the recording end position is detected (S8), the playback of the response message is terminated (S7) and the beginning of the response message is restarted. The call is made to complete the absence setting operation, and processing such as automatic response operation continues. The same applies when there is no absence setting input in Sl.

The general automatic answering operation of an answering machine will be explained. When a calling signal arrives from the telephone office [Telephone line terminal 1.1
A ringing tone output is obtained from the tone ringer 11 through the path ``→capacitor 3→diode bridge 4→tone ringer circuit 11). This output is passed through transformer 12 to 16
The signal is input to the Hz detection circuit 13. Here, the voltage monitoring relay 31 is operating while energized, so its contact t1 is 1.
It is connected to the 6 Hz detection circuit 13 side. The incoming signal from the tone ringer circuit 11 is converted into direct current here and output to the control circuit 29. The control circuit 29 uses this signal to
When it is determined that there is an incoming call on the telephone line, the line closing circuit 5 is operated to create a DC loop for the telephone line. This is formed by [telephone line connection terminal 1.1'→diode bridge 2→line closing circuit 5→talking circuit 8].

The control circuit 29 connects the cassette deck 24 and the recording/playback circuit 1.
6 and send a response message to the cassette deck 24.
The signal is sent to the telephone line via the following route: -> recording/playback circuit 16 -> dial circuit 6 -> telephone call circuit 8 -> line closing circuit 5 -> diode bridge 2 -> telephone line connection terminal 1.1').

Messages from the telephone line can be sent using the [telephone line input terminal l]
, 1'→diode bridge 2→line connection circuit 5→recording/playback circuit 16→cassette deck 24]. In this case, the message may be recorded on a separate tape from the response message, or the tape may operate differently from the tape used to record the message.
The basic operation is the same as the response message recording/playback operation, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

Answering machines do not automatically answer unless you set the answering machine, so if you forget to set the answering machine and go out, there is a function that allows you to set the answering machine using the remote control from outside. This is an operation performed by calling the answering machine from outside. When the ringing signal from the telephone line continues for a predetermined period of time (for example, when the ringing tone is received 30 times in a row), the control circuit 29 operates the line closing circuit 5 and connects the telephone line to a DC loop. form. After that, a reminder tone of the remote control signal is sent to the telephone line [control circuit 29→recording/playback circuit 16→
The message is sent to the line via the dial circuit 6→call circuit 8] in the same way as a response message.

The remote control signal from the telephone line (PB double signal is transmitted via the route [telephone line connection terminal 1.1' → diode bridge 2 → line closing circuit 5 → recording and playback circuit 16 → remote signal receiving circuit 17 → control circuit 29]) Received.

The control circuit 29 receives the remote control operation signal, and if it matches the predetermined absence setting operation signal (- matching with the remote control operation password for boat fishing), it plays the response message. and ask them to confirm the message. Since this is performed by remote control operation, it is different from the operation performed on the telephone, and is necessary for checking whether the message is set as "Away" and the message desired by the user. Here, the answering machine side plays back the response message in the same manner as the above-mentioned answering message setting, and even if the answering message has been recorded for a long time, only the first part is played back and the answering message setting is completed. Just by listening to the beginning of the message, the user can determine whether it is the message he or she wants, and if it is different, he or she may want to change the message or dub the recording. When performing remote control operation, this detection is extremely difficult because the remote signal receiving circuit 17 extracts and detects the remote control signal sent from the other party's telephone from among the response messages sent to the line.

This method is also effective for checking the response message in a short time and making it easier to perform the next remote control operation.

Furthermore, since the response message confirmation operation involves playing back the user's own recorded message, it would be more convenient to set the confirmation time to suit the user. The connection circuit 29 has a playback time memory (not shown) therein, and can change the playback time by comparing it with this memory. Information on setting changes is input to the memory via the route [keyboard 14→keyboard interface 15→control circuit 29].

(5) As described in detail, the present invention allows the answering machine to play back and confirm only the first part of the message in response to setting the answering machine, so that setting the answering machine can be done in a short time, and changes and recordings can be made. This has the advantage that dubbing can be done immediately. In particular, when operating the remote control, the operation can be completed in a short time, which saves on call charges and prevents calls from being cut off mid-way due to insufficient charges at public telephones.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a time chart for explaining a message recording operation, and FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the present invention in detail. 1, l゛...Telephone line connection terminal, 2,4...Diode bridge, 3...Capacitor, 5.
...Line closing circuit, 6...Dial circuit, 7.3
2...Power supply circuit, 8...Telephone circuit, 9...
Handset/receiver, lO...on hold circuit, 11...tone ringer circuit, 12...transformer, 13...1
6H2 detection circuit, 14...keyboard, 15...
・Keyboard interface circuit, 16... Recording playback circuit, I7... Remote signal receiving circuit, 18.
...Variable resistor for volume adjustment, 19...Speaker amplifier, 20...Microphone, 21...
Speaker, 22... Voice synthesis circuit, 23... Zero cross circuit, 24... Cassette deck, 25.
・・LCD drive circuit, 26・LCD, 27・
...LED drive circuit, 28-LED, 29-...control circuit, 30.30...DC power supply input terminal,
31...Relay 33...External recording input terminal.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an answering machine that responds to an incoming call signal from a telephone line and sends a prerecorded response message to the telephone line, a first marking frequency of a predetermined frequency is recorded for a certain period of time before the response message recording start position. Then, a response message is recorded, a second marking frequency is recorded for a certain period of time from the recording end position, and playback is started after detecting the first marking frequency when checking the response message in the absence setting, and the playback operation is It is determined that the playback of the response message has ended when a preset time that is sufficiently shorter than the maximum recordable time of the response message has elapsed since the start of playback, or when the second marking frequency is detected. An answering machine characterized by comprising: