JPH04156039A - Automatic absence mode on/off type automatic answering telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sufficiently use an absence mode function by automatically turning on/off the absence mode function based on detection information from an external sensor which detects absence information, and automatically reproducing absence recording in the case of performing the absence recording when the absence mode function is turned off. CONSTITUTION:When the absence information is detected by the external sensor 6 and is inputted to an automatic answering telephone set 1, the absence mode function is automatically turned on by an absence mode control means 8. When an incoming call from the outside is received via a telephone line 2 at the time of setting an absence mode, a recording part 5 informs absence to a caller by performing a reproducing operation, while, the voice of the caller is recorded at need. Meanwhile, when a user comes back and the information is detected by the external sensor 6, the absence mode is automatically turned off by the means 8, and when the absence recording is performed on the recording part 5 by recording/reproducing control means 9, it is automatically reproduced, and is informed to the user coming back. Thereby, the absence mode function can be sufficiently used.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding an answering machine with an answering mode function that notifies the caller when you are away and can record the caller's voice if necessary, the answering machine automatically turns on and off the answering mode. In order to make full use of the away mode function, the device is equipped with an input terminal into which detection information from an external sensor that detects absence information is input, and the away mode function can be activated based on the detection information from the external sensor. The device is constructed by providing an absentee mode control means for automatically turning on and off, and a recording and reproducing control means for automatically reproducing a message when an absentee mode recording is made when turning off the absentee mode function.

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an answering machine with an answering mode function that can notify the caller when you are away and record the caller's voice if necessary, and particularly relates to an answering machine that has an answering mode function that can notify the caller that you are away and record the caller's voice if necessary. Concerning an answering machine that turns on and off automatically.

[Prior Art] In recent years, answering machines with an answering mode function that notifies the caller when you are away and records the caller's voice if necessary have come into widespread use. ing.

There are two ways to set an answering machine to answering mode: by operating the telephone itself when you are away from home, etc., and by remote control using a telephone line from outside the home. be. Furthermore, when the user returns home after going out, the user turns off the away mode and performs operations such as playing back audio recorded while the user was away.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, with such conventional answering machines, there are many cases where the user forgets to set the answering machine mode, and the answering machine function cannot be fully utilized. Additionally, when returning home, the user may forget to turn off the away mode and forget to play the answering recording.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an answering machine that can automatically turn on and off the answering mode, thereby making full use of the answering mode function.

[Means to solve the problem] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention.

In this FIG. 1, 1 is the answering machine of the present invention, 2 is a telephone line connected to this answering machine 1, 3 is a line interface section for interfacing with the telephone line 2, and 4 is a normal telephone line other than when the user is away. The communication unit (handset/receiver) 5, which answers the caller, operates when the answering mode is set, and plays a message to the caller that the caller is away, while recording the caller's voice if necessary. 6 is an external sensor that detects the absence information of the user of the answering machine 1; 7 is an input terminal into which the detection information from the external sensor 6 is input; 8 is an absence mode based on the detection information from the external sensor 6; Absence mode control means for automatically turning on and off the function, 9
is a recording/playback control means for automatically reproducing an answering machine recording in the recording section 5 when the answering mode function is turned off.

[Function] In the automatic answering machine with automatic on/off mode of the present invention described above, when the user of the answering machine l is absent (absent), his/her absentee information is detected by the external sensor 6 and sent to the answering machine from the input terminal 7. input to telephone l. In the answering machine 1, when the external sensor 6 detects that the user is away, the answering mode control means 8 automatically turns on the answering mode function. When an incoming call is received from outside through the telephone line 2 while this absentee mode is set, the recording unit 5 plays back the caller to notify the caller that you are absent, and records the caller's voice if necessary. record.

On the other hand, answering machine i7! When the user of &l returns home and the information is detected by the external sensor 6, the away mode is automatically turned off by the away mode control means 8, and at the same time, the recording playback control means 9 turns off the recording section 5. If there is an answering machine recording, this will be played automatically.
This will be communicated to the user who has returned home.

[Example code] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. In this FIG. Specifically, a line interface unit 3. for interfacing with the telephone side fi2. A telephone part (handset and receiver) that answers the caller during normal times other than when the person is away; 4. It is configured with a recording unit (e.g., IC memory, magnetic tape, etc.) 5 that operates when the absentee mode is set and plays back the fact that the caller is absent to notify the caller, while recording the caller's voice as necessary. has been done.

Further, 6A is a door sensor (external sensor) that detects whether or not the door 14 is locked from the outside and uses this as the absence information of the user of the answering machine IA, and 7 inputs the detected information from this door sensor 6A. Answering machine IA
When the door 14 is unlocked from the outside, logic "1" is input from the door sensor 6A to the input terminal 7 as the absence information, while when the door 14 is unlocked or from the inside. When this is done, the logic it Ot+ is input from the door sensor 6A to the input terminal 7.

Further, items indicated by reference numerals 10 to 15 also constitute the answering machine IA of this embodiment, and 10 is an input terminal interface section for interfacing with the input terminal 7, and 11 is a main unit via a control path line 15. This CPU is for controlling the entire answering machine IA of the embodiment.
In addition to the function of controlling the line interface section 32, talking section 4, etc. described above, the PUI 1 also has an absent mode control means 11a that automatically turns on and off the absent mode function based on the detection information from the door sensor 6A, and a function that turns off the absent mode function. If there is an answering machine recording in the recording unit 5 when the recording unit 5 is used, the recording/reproduction control means 11b automatically reproduces the recording after a certain period of time.

Note that 12 is a ROM for program storage.

13 is a RAM that functions as a work memory.

With the above-described configuration, the answering machine IA of this embodiment operates as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3.

In this embodiment, as described above, the door sensor 6A detects whether the door 14 has been locked from the outside as the absence information, and the absence mode is released, that is, the user of the answering machine IA is at home. state (step Sl)
, information from the door sensor 6A (logic JIQj+, #1) determines whether the door 14 is locked from the outside.
The absence mode control means 11a makes a determination based on the result (step S2).

When the door 14 is locked from the outside, the door sensor 6A
The output changes from "0" to "1"', and in accordance with this information, the absent mode control means 11a automatically sets the absent mode function (step S3). When an incoming call is received from outside through the telephone line 2 when the answering mode is set, the recording section 5 plays a playback operation to inform the caller that you are away, and also allows the caller to receive a call if necessary. Record audio.

Even after the absence mode function is set, the locked state of the door 14 is determined by the door sensor 6A (step S4),
The user of answering machine 1 returns home.

When the door 14 is unlocked or locked from the inside after unlocking, the output of the door sensor 6A changes from "1" to "
0'', and according to this information, the absent mode control means 1
1a, the absence mode function is automatically canceled (step S5). At the same time, the recording and playback control means 11b determines whether or not an answering message has been recorded in the recording unit 5 during the setting of the answering mode (step S6).
If there is no answering message, the process returns to step S2, while if there is an answering message, after approximately 30 seconds of waiting time has elapsed (step S7), the answering message is automatically played back and transmitted to the user who has returned home. (Step S8).

Here, the waiting time is assumed to be approximately 30 seconds, but this waiting time is limited to the time when the user leaves from the door 14 to the Moriban power supply machine I.
It shall be set appropriately depending on the time it takes to reach near A.

As described above, according to the answering machine IA of this embodiment, the answering machine IA can automatically turn on and off the answering mode, and furthermore, the answering machine message can be automatically played back after the answering mode is canceled, so that the answering machine IA can fully utilize the answering mode function. It can be put to good use.

In the embodiment described above, the user's absence information is obtained as the locked state of the door 14 by the door sensor 6A, but in addition to this, the absence information may also include the on/off status of indoor lighting equipment such as fluorescent lights. Various information can be used, such as the presence or absence of noise in the room.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the answering machine of the present invention with an answering mode self-writing on/off type, the answering machine automatically turns on and off the answering mode function based on the detection information from the external sensor that outputs the answering information. , if the answering machine recording is turned off when the answering mode function is turned off, it is configured to play automatically, so the answering mode can be turned on and off automatically, and furthermore, the answering machine message can be automatically played after the answering mode is turned off. It has the effect of making full use of the away mode function.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of this embodiment. In the figure, 1. IA is an answering machine, and 2 is a telephone line. 1 3 is the line interface section, 4 is the talking section. 5 is the recording section, 6 is the external sensor, 6A is the door sensor 1, and 7 is the input terminal. 8 is an absent mode control means, 9 is a recording/playback control means, 1o is an input terminal interface section, 11 is a CPU, 11a is an absentee mode control means, 11b is a recording/playback control means, 12 is a ROM, 13 is R, AM, 14 is the door. 15 is a control path line.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An answering machine with an answering mode function that notifies the caller when you are away and can record the caller's voice if necessary, which includes an external sensor (6, 6A) that detects the answering information. ) is provided with an input terminal (7) into which detection information from the external sensor (6, 6A) is input, and an absence mode control means (8) automatically turns on and off the absence mode function based on the detection information from the external sensor (6, 6A).
, 11a), and a recording/playback control means (9, 11b) for automatically reproducing an answering machine recording when the answering mode function is turned off.
An answering machine with an automatic on/off mode in an absentee mode, characterized by being equipped with the following.