JPH04299639A - Automatic answering telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure the recording of a message even when a different button operation is implemented. CONSTITUTION:When a message recording button 11a or 11f of an operation block 11 is depressed, a button depression detection means 12 detects it and discriminates whether or not the message recording button is depressed for a prescribed time or over by using a timer 13. When the recording button is depressed for a prescribed time or over, the recording is terminated when the depression of the message recording button is stopped and when the button is not depressed for a prescribed time or over, the recording of message is terminated by depressing the message recording button again.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an answering machine which operates by pressing a recording button to record a message.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are mainly two types of recording operation methods for recording response messages. The first method is to momentarily press the response message recording button to record the response message, and when you want to finish recording, press the response message recording button again to finish. This method involves holding down the response message recording button while recording the response message, and releasing the button to finish recording. Both methods are currently accepted by users as common methods, but only one method is used for each recording button.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, with the above configuration, if the user assumes that the above method is to be used without reading the instruction manual, etc., but actually uses the second method. In this case, when the user presses the response message recording button and immediately releases it, the recording ends immediately and no recording is possible. On the other hand, if the user assumes that the second method will be used, but the first method is actually used, when the user presses and holds the response message recording button to record and then exits. Even if you release the button, recording will not end, so there is a high possibility that you will get confused and fail to record.

[0004] When a user's mistake in recording occurs due to the user's imagination, in the case of answering machines that record response messages on tape, which are often used today, the response message must be recorded from a fixed position on the tape. For example, if there is a large gap between the final point of the message and a point that can be detected as silence, it is necessary to rewind the tape to that point, and the tape rewinding ends. There is also the inconvenience of having to wait until

[0005] A failure in recording causes great dissatisfaction to the user, so it is necessary to prevent failures as much as possible, but as mentioned above, there are currently two main recording operation methods, which can cause confusion and dissatisfaction to the user. is inviting.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the above-mentioned prior art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an answering machine that can reliably perform recording without failure, no matter which of the second methods is used.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this object, the answering machine of the present invention is provided with a button-continuation detection means for detecting whether or not a message recording button has been pressed for a certain period of time or more; When the message recording button is pressed and the detection means detects that the button has been pressed for more than the predetermined period of time, instructs to end the recording when the message recording button is released;
The configuration is provided with a recording continuation determining means that instructs to continue recording when the recording is released within the predetermined time.

[0008]

[Operation] In the above configuration, if the user momentarily presses the message recording button to start recording, the button continues to be pressed and the detection means does not count for a certain period of time and the button is pressed. Because you can let go,
The recording continuation determination means instructs the user to continue recording and the recording is performed, and conversely, if the user presses and releases the message recording button while recording and then releases it to end the recording, While the message is being recorded, the button continues to be pressed and the detection means counts a predetermined time or more, and when the button is released, the recording continuation determining means instructs the user to end the recording, so that the recording can be ended. Therefore, a message can be reliably recorded using either of the above two recording operations.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An answering machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main parts of an answering machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts showing its operation. In Figure 1, 1 is a telephone line, 2 is a telephone line 1
3 is a telephone line closing means for connecting/disconnecting the telephone line 1; 4 is an audio signal amplifier for processing an audio signal; a microphone amplifier 4a;
, speaker amplifier 4b, response tape recording amplifier 4c
, message tape recording amplifier 4d, response tape playback amplifier 4e, message tape playback amplifier 4f, line output amplifier 4g for outputting signals to the telephone line, line input amplifier 4h for amplifying signals from the telephone line, line Automatic level control (ALC) section 4i that controls the amplification factors of the input amplifier 4h and microphone amplifier 4a
and an audio signal detection circuit 4j, and each amplifier receives an on/off signal sent from the microcomputer below.
Controlled by the off command. 6 is an OGM (outgoing message) where a response message is recorded.
7 is an ICM (income message) tape that records messages from the other party.
Both of these are defined as message recording media. 5 is OGM
a cassette deck that drives tape 6 and ICM tape 7;
8 is a bias circuit that applies a recording bias to the recording/playback head during recording. Further, 9 is a microphone, and 10 is a speaker.

Reference numeral 11 denotes an operation section equipped with buttons for operating the answering machine, such as recording and playback, including a response message recording button 11a, a playback button 11b,
It is provided with a playback button 11c, a stop button 11d, and a rewind button 11e for a message tape from the other party. Further, 11f is a message recording button for recording a message from the microphone 9 of the main telephone answering machine onto the message ICM tape 7, and this is also provided in the operation section 11.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a control means for controlling the telephone answering machine, and is constituted by a microcomputer. Reference numeral 12 denotes button press detection means for detecting the press of each of the buttons and transmitting the detected information to the control means 15. Reference numeral 13 is a button press timer that counts the length of time the button has been pressed to detect reception of the button, and 14 detects and stores when the button continues to be pressed and the count value of the timer 13 exceeds 3 seconds. This is a 3-second detection memory, and both of these are defined as detection means when the button is continuously pressed.

The operation of the answering machine configured as described above will be explained below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the user turns on the power to the main answering machine in order to use the main answering machine, the
ep1), the control means 15 immediately controls the cassette deck 5 to rewind the response message OGM tape 6 in order to enter the response message recording state (step 2). Then, the button is continued to be pressed to reset the timer 13, clear the 3-second detection memory 14 (step 3), and enter a standby state for message recording button and bell reception.

In the standby state, when the response message recording button 11a is pressed (step 4), the button press detection means 12 outputs a button press detection signal to the control means 15, and upon receiving the signal, the control means 15 outputs a button press detection signal to the microphone amplifier 4.
a, the response tape recording amplifier 4c, and the recording bias circuit 8 are turned on, the OGM tape 6 on the cassette deck 5 is run, and a recording state is entered in which the voice input from the microphone 9 is recorded (step 5). Further, the signal from the button press detection means 12 causes the timer 13 to count if the button continues to be pressed (step 6).

[0014] If the user thinks that the response message recording button 11a is being recorded only while the button is being pressed and that the recording will end when the button is released, the timer will continue to be pressed if the user continues to press the button while recording the message. The count value of 13 exceeds 3 seconds, and information indicating this is stored in the 3-second detection memory 14 (step 7).

When recording is finished, when the response message recording button 11a is released, the control means 15 reads the information stored in the 3-second detection memory 14 (step 8), and if it is stored that the response message recording button 11a was pressed for more than 3 seconds, Determines to end recording. That is, the microphone amplifier 4a and the response tape recording amplifier 4c are turned off. Also, at this time, only the recording bias circuit 8 is kept on, and a silence writing process is performed at the end of recording (step 9).

[0016] Conversely, the user may think that simply pressing the response message recording button 11a momentarily will start recording, and that pressing the button again will end the recording state. . When the user performs such an action, the button continues to be pressed and timer 1 starts.
The count value of 3 cannot exceed 3 seconds, and the button is released before 3 seconds have been counted. And the control means 15
When the information in the second detection memory 14 is read, it is not information that the button was pressed for more than three seconds (step 10), so the control means 15 determines to continue recording.

When the user presses the response recording button 11a again to end the recording state, the button press detection means 12 sends a signal to the control means 15 indicating that the button has been pressed. It is determined to end the recording (step 11), and a silence writing process is performed at the end of the recording (step 12).

[0018] The silence writing process is performed at the end of recording so that when the response message is played back, the audio signal detection circuit 4j can detect that there is a long period of silence and automatically end the playback. It is. Also, for this reason, the audio signal detection circuit 4j must detect whether there is continuous silence even during the recording of the response message.

When the silence writing process at the end of recording is completed, the OGM tape 6 is rewound, the button press timer 13 for detecting button reception is reset, the 3 second detection memory 14 is cleared, and the button and bell reception are detected. Return to standby state.

Next, a case will be described in which the user confirms a recorded response message. In standby state,
When the response message playback button 11c is pressed (ste
p13), the button press detection means 12 outputs a button press detection signal to the control means 15, and upon receiving the signal, the control means 15 turns on the speaker amplifier 4b and response tape reproduction amplifier 4e, and reproduces the cassette deck 5. state and play the message sound from the speaker 10 (s
step 14). During reproduction of the response message, the audio signal detection circuit 4j detects that there is continuous silence, and the reproduction is automatically terminated (step 15). It also ends if the response message playback button is pressed again (s
step 16).

When the playback is finished, the OGM tape 6 is rewound, the button press timer 13 for detecting button reception is reset, the 3-second detection memory 14 is cleared, and the state returns to the standby state for button and bell reception.

Next, the reception of a call will be explained. When a ring is received from the telephone line 1 during the standby state (step 17), the bell detection means 2 detects this, and the control means 15 closes the telephone line closing means 3 using the signal from the bell detection means 2. I am now in the answering state. In the absence response state, first the response tape playback amplifier 4 is activated to send a response message.
Turn on e and line output amplifier 4g, and turn on cassette deck 5.
The OGM tape 6 is set to be played back to the line. This reproduction is automatically terminated when silence is detected by the audio signal detection circuit 4j.

Next, in order to record a message from the other party, the message tape recording amplifier 4d, line input amplifier 4h, and bias circuit 8 are turned on, and the message ICM tape is recorded while controlling the recording level by the automatic level control section 4i. Record on 7. When the other party ends the recording and hangs up the receiver, the audio signal detection circuit 4j detects the end and ends the recording. When recording is finished,
Preparations are made for the next absence response such as locating the beginning of the response OGM tape 6, and when the preparations are completed, the system enters a standby state.

[0024] In this way, the response message recording button 11
a is pressed, and when the button continues to be pressed and the button continues to be pressed by the timer 13 and the 3-second detection memory 14 and detects that the button has been pressed for more than a certain period of time, recording is started when the response message recording button 11a is released. A series of means for instructing to end the recording, or for instructing to continue recording when the response message recording button 11a is released within a certain period of time, is defined as a recording continuation determining means.

The answering machine in this embodiment has a message board function using voice messages. For example, when a person other than the user presses the message recording button 11f and records a message on the ICM tape 7, For example, you can leave a message and send it to the main user. Here, a case will be described in which a person other than the main user leaves a voice message for the user, using the flowchart of FIG. 3 as well.

First, when a person other than the main user presses the message recording button 11f (step 18), the button press detection means 12 outputs a button press detection signal to the control means 15, and the control means 15 receives the signal. In this case, the microphone amplifier 4a, the message tape recording amplifier 4d, and the recording bias circuit 8 are turned on to put the cassette deck 5 into a recording state (step 19). In this state, the voice input from the microphone is recorded on the ICM tape 7. Further, the signal from the button press detection means 12 causes the timer 13 to count if the button continues to be pressed (step 20).

[0027] In such a message board function, the person who records the message is often not the main user of the answering machine, and the person who records the message operates the same way as the answering machine normally used. There are times when you think it's okay to do something. For example, if the user believes that the message recording button 11f will be recorded only while the message recording button 11f is pressed and the recording will end when the user releases the message, the user will continue to press the button the entire time the user is speaking. Then, the button is kept pressed and the timer 13 counts for 3 seconds or more, and the information is stored in the 3-second detection memory 14 (step 21). To end the recording, when the button is released, the control means 15 reads the 3-second detection memory 14 (step 22), and since it is stored that the button was pressed for more than 3 seconds, it determines that the recording should end, and the microphone amplifier 4a, the message tape recording amplifier 4d, and the recording bias circuit are turned off to complete the recording.

On the other hand, if the person recording the message thinks that recording will start by momentarily pressing the message recording button 11f, and end recording by pressing the recording button again, do the following. Become. That is, the button is kept pressed and released before the count value of the timer 13 reaches 3 seconds. Therefore, the information that the button has been pressed for more than 3 seconds is not stored in the 3-second detection memory 14, so the control means 15 determines to continue recording until the button is pressed again (step
23). When the button is pressed again to end the recording, the button press detection means 12 sends information indicating that the button has been pressed again to the control means 15, and the control means 15 determines to end the recording now. (Step 24), recording ends.

[0029] To listen to the recorded message,
In the standby state, when the message rewind button 11e is pressed (step 25), the button press detection means 12 outputs a button press detection signal to the control means 15, and when the control means 15 receives the signal, the message rewind button 11e of the cassette deck 5 is The tape 7 is rewound (step 26). While rewinding the message tape 7, the stop button 11d and play button 11c are accepted and processed accordingly.

In the standby state, when the message playback button 11c is pressed (step 27), the button press detection means 12 outputs a button press detection signal to the control means 15, and upon receiving the signal, the control means 15 outputs a button press detection signal to the speaker amplifier 4b and The message tape reproducing amplifier 4f is turned on to play the message tape 7 of the cassette deck 5 to the speaker 10 (step 28). During message playback, stop button 11d and rewind button 11
e and processes them respectively.

[0031] In this way, the message recording button 11
f is pressed, and when the button continues to be pressed and the button continues to be pressed by the timer 13 and the 3-second detection memory 14 and the detection means detects that the button has been pressed for a certain period of time or more, recording starts when the message recording button 11f is released. A series of means for instructing to end recording, or for instructing to continue recording when the message recording button 11f is released within a certain period of time, is combined with a similar series of means for the response message recording button. Defined as a recording continuation determination means.

As described above, in this embodiment, even if the user performs an operation that would have failed in the past, it is possible to reliably perform recording without failure.

[0033] In this embodiment, the length of time for determining whether or not the recording button has been continuously pressed is set to 3 seconds, but this can be reduced to 3 seconds if it is possible to determine that the user is continuing to press the button. There is no need to limit it, and it may be set arbitrarily.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, a magnetic recording tape is used as the message recording medium, but the medium may be a recording/reproducing means other than a magnetic tape, or may be a solid-state element such as a semiconductor memory element. No problem.

[0035]

Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the answering machine of the present invention, the button continues to be pressed detecting means for detecting whether the message recording button is pressed for a certain period of time or not; If the detection means detects that the button has been pressed for more than a certain period of time, it will instruct the recording to end when the message recording button is released, or if the message recording button is released for less than a certain period of time. By providing a recording continuation determination means that instructs the user to continue recording when the message recording button is pressed momentarily to start recording, the button is not pressed. Since the recording continuation detection means releases the button without counting for a certain period of time, the recording continuation determination means instructs the user to continue recording and the recording is performed, and conversely, the message recording button is pressed while the user is recording. If you press and release the button to end the recording, the detection means will continue to hold down the button while recording the message, and the detection means will count a certain amount of time or more, and when you release the button, the recording continuation determination means will stop recording. Since the user is instructed to end the recording, even if the user uses any of the above methods, the user will not be able to record at all, or will not be confused and fail when finishing the recording, and will be able to reliably send the message. It can be recorded, and its practical effects are great.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of main parts of an answering machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Flowchart showing the processing procedure of the same answering machine

[Figure 3] Flowchart showing the processing procedure of the same answering machine

[Explanation of symbols]

4 Audio signal amplifier 5 Cassette deck 6 Response (OGM) tape (message storage medium)
7 Message (ICM) tape (message storage medium) 8 Bias circuit 9 Microphone 11a Response message recording button (message recording button) 11f Message recording button (message recording button) 12 Button press detection means 13 Button press timer 14 3 seconds detection memory

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A message storage medium for storing a message, an audio circuit unit including a microphone and an audio signal amplifier for recording a message on the message storage medium, and a message recording button that is operated when recording the message. a button press detection means for detecting that the message recording button has been pressed; and a button press detection means for detecting whether the message recording button has been pressed for a certain period of time or more based on a signal from the button press detection means. a detection means; when the message recording button is pressed and the detection means detects that the button has been pressed for more than the predetermined period of time, it instructs to end the recording when the message recording button is released; and recording continuation determining means for instructing to continue recording when the message recording button is released within the predetermined time.