JPH04239857A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain easy and quick dialing based on information (such as telephone number and destination name) relating to a communication destination recorded on an IC card in the communication equipment accessible to the IC card and to use the information for such purposes as personal management purpose, for carrying purpose and for personal use. CONSTITUTION:A registration information management means 23 manages information registered on an IC card 30, a registration information retrieval means 24 retrieves information required from the IC card 30 and a retrieval information display control means 25 displays the retrieved information onto an input/display section 15. The user selects information of a required destination based on the display and a retrieval information selection means 26 generates dial request information. An automatic dial control means 27 receives dial request information to allow a transmission reception section 16 to make dial processing to a selected destination of the information. When an information registration control means 28 is provided, the information relating to the destination is registered on the IC card 30 via the input/display section 15.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention uses communication devices such as telephones and facsimile machines, and in particular, uses an IC card as an external storage device to store a database of communication destination code information such as telephone numbers stored in the IC card. The present invention relates to a communication device with an auto-dial function that can search and directly perform call processing based on information selected from the searched information.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, communication devices of this type have not only the function of transmitting and receiving communication information, but also various functions associated therewith are being added.

[0003] For example, some telephones have a built-in IC chip or the like to provide multiple functions, and their additional functions include, for example, a speed dial function. The speed dial function allows you to store and register the phone number of the other party in advance on the IC chip built into the phone, and then dial the speed code corresponding to the stored phone number to make a call to the other party. It is for the purpose of

[0004] When making a call using a telephone equipped with such a speed dial function, the user, for example, picks up the handset, operates (for example, presses or touches) a function key for the speed dial function, and then calls the other party. Just dial the abbreviation code. This allows the user to make a call to the other party by dialing a simple abbreviated code without having to take the trouble of dialing the entire telephone number of the other party.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the telephone with the above configuration has the following problems.

(a) There is a limit to the number of telephone numbers that can be registered inside a telephone, and the number of telephone numbers allowed may be small in order to register telephone numbers as personal information.

(b) With telephones and public telephones used within each department of a company, it is impossible to register, for example, an individual's unique telephone number.

(c) Since the telephone number registered in the telephone is stored in the telephone itself, there is also a problem in terms of confidentiality.

(d) The correspondence between telephone numbers registered in a telephone and abbreviated codes can be memorized by the individual or written down in another correspondence table and referred to when dialing. It takes time and effort.

(e) The speed dial function is unique to each telephone, and in order to provide each telephone with the speed dial function, it is necessary to perform telephone number registration processing for each telephone. For this reason, when registering a telephone number, a telephone number managed by an individual must be registered for each telephone, which also poses problems in terms of economy and efficiency.

(f) When making a call using a telephone without a speed dial function or a public telephone, it is generally a hassle to make a call while looking at a notebook or electronic notebook in which the telephone number of the other party is recorded. You can't avoid it.

[0012] Each of the problems (a) to (f) listed above is as follows:
This problem occurs not only in communication devices such as telephones, but also in other communication devices such as facsimile machines. The present invention solves the problems that the prior art had,
A communication device that solves the problems of not being able to easily and quickly make a call to a desired destination, as well as difficulty in individually managing information about the destination required for making a call, carrying, using it individually, and relaxing capacity restrictions. It provides:

[0013]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the first invention provides key input means for inputting data, display means for displaying data, and transmission processing and communication based on communication destination code information. A communication device comprising: a transmitting/receiving section that performs processing for transmitting and receiving information; a card receiving section that accepts an IC card having a memory for storing data; and a control section that controls the key input means, display means, the transmitting/receiving section, and the IC card. , an information management means, an information search means, an information display means, an information selection means, and an auto-dial means configured as follows are provided.

The information management means has a configuration for managing the communication destination code information registered in the memory of the IC card, and the information retrieval means searches the IC card based on management data of the information management means. The communication destination code information is retrieved from the communication destination code information.

The information display means is configured to display the communication destination code information retrieved by the information search means on the data display display means, and the information selection means is configured to display the communication destination code information retrieved by the information search means. The automatic dialing means is configured to manage information selected from the information and generate dial request information based on the selected communication destination code information, and the auto dial means generates the selected communication destination code information based on the dial request information. The transmitter/receiver is configured to use the transmitter/receiver to perform a transmission process.

[0016] A second invention according to the first invention includes information registration means for registering communication destination code information in the memory of the IC card based on data input from the key input means.
It was established.

[0017]

[Function] According to the present invention, since the communication device is configured as described above, the information management means stores the communication destination code information (for example, the telephone number or the communication device of the communication destination) registered in the memory of the IC card. (code for calling, destination name, etc.). This management function includes, for example, management of registration locations, grasping the registration status (for example, type and number of registered contents, etc.), and depending on settings, management at the time of registration (for example, prevention of duplicate registration, etc.).

The information search means searches for communication destination code information registered in the memory of the IC card based on the management data of the information management means. The retrieved communication destination code information is displayed on the data display display means by the function of the information display means. The communication destination code information displayed on the data display display means is selected, for example, by the user's key operation on the key input means.

The information selection means manages selected communication destination code information and generates dial request information based on the information. The auto-dial means causes the transmitter/receiver to perform a call process using the selected communication destination code information based on the dial request information.

[0020] A communication device having each of the above means,
Furthermore, if the information registration means is provided, the information registration means operates to register communication destination code information in the memory of the IC card based on data input from the key input means.

[0021] Therefore, the above problem can be solved.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a telephone that is a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an external view of the telephone shown in FIG. Figure 3 is a diagram of the telephone number/input mode screen displayed on the operation panel in Figure 2 when the IC card is inserted, and Figure 4 is
FIG. 6 is a diagram of a telephone number/search mode screen, in which (a) is when searching in kana display, and (b) is when searching in alphabet display. In addition, Figure 5 shows the telephone number and
Diagram of the selection mode screen, FIG. 6 is a diagram of the auto dial mode screen.

This telephone 10 is connected to a telephone line L and has a normal telephone function, and is also capable of inserting and removing an IC card 30 for personal use, for example.
The device has a function of accessing a memory 31 built into the device and performing various processes, and is equipped with a main body case 11 and a handset 12. The main body case 11 is provided with an IC card insertion slot 13 for inserting an IC card 30, which is a card receiving section, and an operation panel 14 is provided on the surface thereof. The operation panel 14 includes, for example, a touch panel switch equipped with a liquid crystal display or the like.

[0024] Inside the main body case 11, there are provided a drive circuit for a display switch, which together with the operation panel 14 constitutes the input/display section 15, and a dial circuit and a telephone call circuit, which together with the handset 12 constitute the transmitter/receiver section 16. ing. Furthermore, in addition to a power supply section 17, a data memory 18, etc., a control section 20 is built-in.

The control section 20 is composed of, for example, a microprocessor, a program memory, etc., and functionally from the viewpoint of software configuration, it has information management means, information retrieval means, information display means, information selection means, automatic An integrated management means 21 and an input control means 22 partially responsible for the functions of each means of dialing means and information registration means, respectively, information management means, information search means, information display means, information selection means, auto dial means, and registered information management means 23, registered information search means 24, search information display control means 25, and search information selection means 2, which are the main components of the information registration means.
6, auto-dial control means 27, and information registration control means 28.

The overall management means 21 mainly has an interface manager function, and while managing the entire system,
For example, it executes various processes such as analyzing input from the user and calling necessary functions.

The input control means 22 mainly has a telephone number/input function, and for example, similarly to the case of inputting with a touch-tone telephone, the input control means 22 can be input when an IC card is not inserted or inserted, as shown in FIG. 2 or 3. The transmitting/receiving unit 1 performs input processing based on key input on the telephone number/input mode screen (hereinafter referred to as the dial screen when no IC card is inserted) of the operation panel 14.
6 to take full advantage of the dialing process for the other party.

[0028] The registration information management means 23 is an IC card 30.
It has a function to manage the information registered in , for example, the management of the registration location and the registration status (for example, is it a telephone number, the name of the other party, the name of the company, or whether the telephone number is for a telephone or facsimile device, etc.) ), or, depending on the settings, management at the time of registration (for example, prevention of duplicate registration, etc.).

[0029] The registered information search means 24 mainly uses telephone numbers and
It has a search function, for example, on the screen of the input/display section 15,
By requesting other functions to display the phone number/search mode screen shown in Figure 1 and inputting key information, the database of the IC card 30 will be searched for a matching phone number, etc., and the search results will be displayed. Performs a search process to request the other function to display the .

The search information display control means 25 mainly has a telephone number/display function, and displays information requested to be displayed, such as the search results of the registered information search means 24, through the input/display section 15 on the operation panel. It performs display processing to display on the liquid crystal display No. 14, and manages which part of the telephone number, etc. requested to be displayed is displayed.

[0031] The search information selection means 26 mainly selects telephone numbers and
It has a selection function, manages information regarding a telephone number selected by the user based on the display of a telephone number/selection mode screen as shown in FIG. 5, and performs a selection process to generate dial request information.

The auto-dial control means 27 mainly has an auto-dial function, and upon receiving the dial request information issued by the search information selection means 26, the auto-dial control means 27 displays the information in FIG. While displaying the auto-dial mode screen as shown in FIG.

[0033] The information registration control means 28 mainly stores telephone numbers and
It has a registration function and performs a registration process of registering information such as a telephone number input by the user via the operation panel 14 in the memory 31 of the IC card 30. It is also possible to provide a memo function, such as when a user records a telephone number given by the other party during a call.

FIG. 7 is a process flowchart showing an example of the operation of the telephone shown in FIG. 1, and the operation of the telephone shown in FIG. 1 will be explained with reference to this diagram.

For example, the IC card insertion slot 13 of the telephone 10
The IC card 30 in which the user's personal information is registered in advance is inserted into the terminal (steps 100 and 101). The personal information here is communication destination code information, such as the telephone number of the other party managed by the individual and attribute information such as the other party's name, address, company name, fax number/telephone number distinction, etc. has been done.

When the IC card 30 is inserted into the telephone set 10, under the management and control of the general management means 21 etc., the memory is stored based on the management data regarding the database of the IC card 30 managed by the registered information management means 23. 31 to 1
Pages of personal information are read and temporarily held, for example, in the data memory 18. This one page worth of personal information is displayed on the search result display portion of the liquid crystal display of the operation panel 14 as shown in FIG. 5 by the function of the search information display control means 25 (step 102). At this time, the liquid crystal display of the operation panel 14 is a telephone number/selection mode screen, and the destination designation field for selection is
The cursor 14a is blinking.

The interface manager function (step 10
3), various processes such as input processing/dial processing, selection processing/auto dial processing, display processing, search processing, registration processing, and termination processing are executed as shown in Figure 7. Input/dial mode ■, selection/audial mode ■, search mode ■, registration mode ■, etc. are executed.

■ Input/dial mode When the telephone number/input key 41 is touched on the screen shown in FIG. The telephone number/input mode screen as shown in FIG. You can make a call to .

■ Selection mode If you touch the cursor key 43 on the screen shown in Figure 5,
The cursor 14a moves in the destination designation field, and the user can freely specify the destination by operating the cursor keys 43. In the screen shown in FIG. 5, if the telephone number has the letter "F" at the end, it means a FAX telephone number. When the cursor 14a is moved to the desired destination specification field using the cursor key 43 and the destination is specified, and the dial key 44 is finally touched, the destination is selected and information regarding the destination's telephone number is displayed. is collected and sent to the auto-dial function of the auto-dial control means 27 together with the dial request information, and the selection process (step 106) is executed. Thereafter, the auto-dial function of the auto-dial control means 27 performs auto-dial processing (step 107) to make a call based on the received information. At this time, the screen of the operation panel 14 is set to an auto-dial mode screen as shown in FIG. 6 by the display processing (step 108) of the search information display control means 25, and the information of the other party is displayed. Here, when the other party is busy, for example, if the cancel key 45 is touched, the automatic dialing process is canceled, and if the resend key 46 is then touched, redialing is performed. On the other hand, if the attribute key 47 is touched after moving the cursor key 43 to the desired destination designation field in FIG. 5, it is possible to display only the information for that destination without proceeding to auto-dial processing. .

■Search Mode When the search key 48 is touched on the screen shown in FIG. 5, a telephone number/search mode screen as shown in FIG. 4(a) is displayed by the display process in step 108. In this case, the character keys 49 are displayed in kana, and a search can be performed using kana. If the alpha key 50 is touched on the screen shown in FIG. 4A, the screen changes to FIG. Furthermore, on the screen shown in Figure 4(b), press the Kana key (“Kana”).
) 51, the liquid crystal display of the operation panel 14 returns to the screen shown in FIG. 4(a). In this way, the display of the character keys 49 on the keyboard display part in the search mode can be switched by touching the alpha key 50 and the kana key 51.

When the screen of the operation panel 14 is as shown in FIG. 4(a), when you touch the character key 49 and enter a kana for search, the search character (for example, ``Asa'') is displayed in the search character display area. , and then touch the search key 48, the IC
The data stored in the memory 31 of the card 30 is searched and a search process (step 109) is executed. The searched information is displayed on the liquid crystal display of the operation panel 14 through the display function (step 108), and for example, a screen similar to that shown in FIG. 5 is displayed according to the search character. The subsequent process can be performed in step 10 by, for example, key operation on the screen.
Moving on to the selection process in step 6, the user can select the telephone number he or she wishes to dial.

After the operation panel 14 moves from the telephone number/search mode screen in FIG. 4(a) to the telephone number/selection mode screen in FIG. 5, if the search key 48 is further touched on that screen, the screen will return to The screen returns to the telephone number/search mode screen shown in FIG. 4(a). At this time, the first search character (``Asa'') that you entered remains displayed in the search character display area.
Incremental searches are possible by inputting additional search characters following the search character. That is, for example, if the previously input search characters were only the last name of a name, the searched information is displayed on the phone number/selection mode screen in Figure 5, and then the phone number in (a) in Figure 4 is displayed again. When you return to the number/selection mode screen, operate the character keys 49 in (a) of Figure 4, enter the first name followed by the last name, and touch the search key 48. When you first enter search characters, information with the same last name as entered will be displayed. will be displayed, and next, information with the same name and last name as the input will be displayed in the search results display area. In this way, an incremental search can be performed in which the search target can be narrowed down by adding search characters in stages.

In the screen shown in FIG. 4A, when modifying the search character, use the cursor key 43 and the delete key 52.

The operation of the search mode explained with reference to FIG. 4(a) is the same in the case of the alphabetical display shown in FIG. 4(b). Also, the transition to search mode is shown in Figure 3.
This can also be done by touching the search key 48 on the telephone number/input mode screen. ■ The modes ■ to ■ above the registration mode are for searching a database of telephone numbers etc. stored in the memory 31 of the IC card 30, selecting a desired telephone number, and making a direct call based on the selection result. As an example of operation, in the telephone 10 of FIG. 1, the telephone number of the other party, its attribute information, etc. can be registered in the memory 31 of the inserted IC card 30.

For example, the operation panel 14 displays the telephone number and
When the input mode screen is displayed, if you touch the registration key 53 on the screen, the screen changes to a registration screen display. A registration process (step 110) for registering information is performed. Similarly,
Even when the operation panel 14 is on the screen shown in FIG. 6, the registration key 53 is displayed and information can be registered. For example, in the settings of this embodiment, when the operation panel 14 is displayed as the screen shown in FIG. 6, the telephone number or attribute information given by the other party can be registered even during a call.

If the end key 54 displayed on each screen of FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, or FIG. The process ends and the screen of the liquid crystal display of the operation panel 14 moves to the end process (step 111) in which the screen returns to the dial screen of FIG. Here, for example, the IC card 3 in the telephone 10
Depending on the setting of the insertion state of the IC card 3, step 111 is executed by operating the end key 54, and the IC card 3
0 can be detached from the telephone set 10, or the detachment can be notified by an electronic sound.

This embodiment has the following advantages.

(A) The personal information registered in the IC card 30 can be managed by the individual, there is no need to store speed dials on the telephone 10 side, and it can be easily sent to a sufficient number of parties. and can send messages quickly.

(B) The IC card 30 allows you to freely carry your personal information, so you can get the information you need wherever you go.

(C) When making a call, the user does not need to look at his/her notebook or the like and can easily make a call. At the same time, it also provides a means for effectively using the IC card.

(D) Since communication destination code information can be registered in the IC card 30 by the telephone 10 itself,
Improved usability.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, but can be modified in various ways. Examples of such modifications include the following.

(I) The telephone 10 of the above embodiment is merely an example, and various modifications can be made to its configuration and operation examples.

[0054] For example, the control unit 20 can change the settings of the functional division as appropriate, and may add other functions. Further, the registered information management means 23, the registered information search means 24, the search information display control means 25, the search information selection means 26, the auto dial control means 27, and the information registration control means 28 are respectively information management means, information search means, This is an example of realizing the main parts of the software configuration of the information display means, the information selection means, the auto-dial means, and the information registration means, and various changes and settings can be made for both the integrated management means 21 and the input control means 22. These information management means, information search means, information display means, information selection means, auto dial means, and information registration means can be set to include other hardware configurations, etc., as necessary.

[0055] Also, an IC card insertion slot 13, an input/display section 15, a transmitting/receiving section 16, a power supply section 17, and a data memory 1.
It is possible to change the configuration of the telephone 8, etc., for example, the telephone 10.
Data may be exchanged between the IC card 30 and the IC card 30 without going through the data memory 18.

(II) The IC card 30 can also be modified in various ways, such as its configuration, and in accordance with the change in its configuration, the operation on the telephone 10 side, etc., can be changed as appropriate. For example, the IC card 30 may have a function similar to that of a telephone card, and in that case, the remaining number of cards (for example, "50") is displayed as shown in FIG. 6, for example.

The communication destination code information registered in the IC card 30 may be, for example, only the destination name and its telephone number, or other attribute information may be added. In addition, when the other party's code information is set to include both the individual's name and the company name, as in the above embodiment, the telephone number of the other party can be searched from either the name or the company name. It is also possible to do so.

(III) In the above embodiment, the telephone 10 was used as an example of the communication device, but the present invention is not limited to the telephone 10, but can be applied to other telephones including public telephones,
Furthermore, facsimile machines, computers with communication functions,
It is widely applicable to various communication devices including word processors and the like.

[0059]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the information management means, information search means, information display means, information selection means, and auto dial means are provided, and information registration means is added by setting. to configure the communication device. Therefore, the communication destination code information and the communication device can be handled separately, the communication destination code information is managed in the memory of the IC card, the communication device searches the IC card database, and the desired communication destination is It is possible to select code information and perform direct outgoing processing based on the selected code information of the destination, realizing an auto-dial function with excellent functionality.

Therefore, according to the communication device of the present invention, by accessing the IC card, it is possible to easily and quickly make a call to a desired destination based on the communication destination code information registered in the IC card. There is no need to register information in the communication device in advance.

Further, the IC card in which the communication destination code information and the like are registered can be managed by an individual user or a specific group, and can be carried freely. Furthermore, the memory of the IC card can be utilized as an external storage device for storing the communication destination code information necessary for the transmission processing of the communication device, and the effect of easing the permissible amount limit of the communication destination code information can be expected. It can also contribute as a means of promoting effective use of IC cards.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a telephone that is a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the telephone of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a telephone number/input mode screen displayed on the operation panel in FIG. 2 when an IC card is inserted.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a telephone number/search mode screen.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a telephone number/selection mode screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an auto-dial mode screen.

FIG. 7 is a process flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the telephone of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

10　Telephone 13 IC card insertion slot 14 Operation panel 15 Input/display section 16 Transmission/reception section 20 Control section 21 General management means 22 Input control means 23 Registration information management means 24 Registration information search means 25 Search information display control means 26 Search information selection means 27 Auto dial control means 28 Information registration control means 30 IC card 31 Memory

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: An IC having a key input means for inputting data, a display means for displaying data, a transmitting/receiving unit that performs transmission processing based on communication destination code information and transmission/reception processing of communication information, and a memory for data storage. In a communication device comprising a card acceptance unit that accepts a card, and a control unit that controls the key input means, display means, transmission/reception unit, and IC card, the communication destination code information is registered in the memory of the IC card. information management means for managing; information search means for searching the communication destination code information from the IC card based on management data of the information management means; and display means for displaying the communication destination code information searched by the information search means. information display means for displaying information on the dial request information; information selection means for managing information selected from the retrieved communication destination code information and generating dial request information based on the selected communication destination code information; and auto-dial means for causing the transmitter/receiver to perform a call process using the selected communication destination code information based on the selected communication destination code information. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising information registration means for registering communication destination code information in the memory of said IC card based on data input from said key input means.