JPH0446443A - Automatic answering telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To record speech content immediately even when talking state is reached during ICM reproduction by program-searching a tape to an ICM operation final point depending on stored information. CONSTITUTION:When hook-off is detected during operation of an ICM tape, a control means 15 controls an interface circuit 2 to close a telephone line 1 to make speech state. In the case of rewinding a tape for ICM reproduction, the control means 15 stops the rewinding of a cassette deck 10 and drives the tape up to the final position of the ICM at a fast speed. The final position of the ICM is stored in a storage counter 12, the count and a count of an ICM tape counter 11 during fast speed are compared by a comparator means 13 and the fast feeding of the cassette deck 10 is stopped when they are coincident.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial applications The present invention relates to an answering machine.

Prior Art Answering machines are equipped with an ICM tape for recording caller messages (hereinafter referred to as ICM). Some of these telephone answering machines are configured so that the contents of a call between a caller and a called party can be recorded during a normal call by using a recording function on an ICM tape. That is, if the user feels the need to record during a call, he or she presses the recording button. Then, the built-in tape deck starts recording, and the contents of the call between the caller and the called party can be recorded on the ICM tape, and after the call ends, the contents of the call can be played back again. .

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the conventional answering machine as described above, the I.
I was recorded while the commercial was playing, that is, before the tape deck
If a new call arrives while a commercial is playing,
The tape deck automatically stops in the middle of ICM playback. Then, when the calling party and the called party are in a conversation state and the called party attempts to record the content of the call, the ICM tape will stop at the position where the previously recorded ICM is being played, as described above. Because of this, I was unable to start recording immediately. In other words, in order to record, the ICM tape must first be sent to the final message position, otherwise the unheard portion of the ICM will be erased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an answering machine that can immediately stand by in a state where the contents of a call can be recorded even if a call is made during playback of an ICM.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve this object, the answering machine of the present invention includes a last IC on a recording medium for storing a caller's message.
A storage means for storing the end point of the ICM M, and an ICM positioning means for automatically positioning the storage medium to the end point of the final ICM according to the information stored in the storage means when a call is received.

Function: With this configuration, when there is an incoming call during ICM playback and the state shifts to a talking state, the ICM positioning means automatically sends the i:IcM recording medium based on the information stored in the storage means and starts the next recording. The position will be adjusted to the end position of the final ICM, and the next time recording will be started immediately from that position.

EXAMPLE An example 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 FIG. 2 is a flowchart of its operation.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a telephone line, 2 is an interface means between the telephone line and the answering machine, 3 is a bell detection means for detecting a bell signal from the telephone line, 4 is a communication means of the answering machine, and 5 is a telephone line. Line sending amplifier and IC that sends OGM
6 is an input/output amplifier section equipped with a microphone input amplifier for recording OGM and a speaker output amplifier for reproducing ICM; 7 is an input/output amplifier section equipped with a line input amplifier for recording OGM;
is a tape selection means for selecting either ICM or OGM, 8 is OGM tape, 9 is ICM tape, 10 is OGM
A cassette deck for running tape 8 and ICM tape 9; 11 is an ICM tape counter that indicates the position of ICM tape 9; 12 is a storage counter that stores the final point of the ICM message; 13 is ICM tape counter 11 and storage. A comparator for comparing the counter 12; 14 is an operation unit for performing operations such as recording, playback, and rewinding of the ICM tape 9; and 15 is a control means for controlling the answering machine, which is composed of a microcomputer. ing. 16 is an on/off switch for operating the answering machine, 1
7 is a speaker that outputs ICM and OGM playback sound;
18 is a microphone for recording OGM. The ICM tape counter 11, the storage counter 12, and the comparator 13 are provided within the control means 15.

The operation of the answering machine configured as described above will be explained below.

Here, it is assumed that the on/off switch 16 has been pressed, the answering machine is in an operational state, and the storage counter 12 has stored the count value of the ICM tape counter 11 at the message end position. do.

First, in step 1, it is detected whether the user goes off-hook in response to a ring signal input from the telephone line 1, or whether the user goes off-hook while trying to make a call. The control means 15 detects whether the telephone is off-hook by picking up the handset of the communication means 4 and turning on the hook switch. If off-hook is not detected, then it is determined whether the ICM tape is in operation (step 2).

Here, the operation of the ICM tape will be explained.

When the message playback switch on the operating section 14 is pressed down, the control means 15 detects this and operates the cassette deck 10 to rewind the ECM tape 9. During the rewinding operation, the ICM tape counter 11 counts in the opposite direction to that in the recording state. When the 16M tape counter 11 stops counting, it is determined that the tape starting point has been reached, the cassette deck 10 is put into the playback state, and the message recorded on the ICM tape 9 is outputted from the speaker 17 through the selection means 7 and the speaker output amplifier 6. do. During playback,
The 16M tape counter 11 continues counting, and the comparison means 13 compares this count value with the count value of the message end position stored in the storage counter 12. When they match, the control means 15 controls the cassette deck 10, I
The running of the CM tape 9 is stopped. This series of actions is I
This is the tape movement when playing a commercial. Next, when the rewind switch of the operating section 14 is pressed, the control means 15 operates the cassette deck 10 to rewind the ICM tape 9. During the rewinding operation, the ICM tape counter 11 counts in the opposite direction to that in the recording state. When the 16M tape counter 11 stops counting, it is determined that the tape has reached the starting point, and the cassette deck 10 is controlled to stop the rewinding operation. This operation becomes the tape operation during tape rewinding.

Next, when off-hook is detected during ICM tape operation (
Step 3), the control means 15 is the interface circuit 2
, the telephone line 1 is closed, and a telephone call is established. Next, check 16 whether or not the ICM tape 9 is in the rewind operation.
If it is detected by the M tape counter 11 (step 4) that rewinding is in progress, it is determined whether rewinding is in progress for 10M playback or rewinding is due to the rewind switch being pressed (step 5). In the case of rewinding due to pressing of the rewind switch, when the tape starting point is detected, the control means 15 controls the cassette deck 10 to stop the rewinding operation (step 6). In the case of rewinding for ICM playback in step 5, the control means 15 immediately causes the cassette deck 10 to stop the rewinding operation, and
Fast forward to the final position of the commercial (step 8). IC
The final position of M is stored in the storage counter 12,
A comparison means 13 compares this value with the count value of the 16M tape counter 11 during fast forwarding, and when the two match, the fast forwarding operation of the cassette deck 10 is stopped.

Next, in step 4, if the ICM tape 9 is not being rewound, the means 13 compares the ICM end position stored in the storage counter 12 with the count value of the 16M tape counter 11.
By comparison, it is determined whether the current ICM position is before or after the end position (step 7). If the position is before the ICM end position, the cassette deck 10t is fast-forwarded to the ICM end position (step 8). In step 7, if the position is behind the ICM end position, the operation of the cassette deck 10 is stopped on the spot (step 9).

After the above-mentioned steps 6, 8, and 9 are completed, when the ICM recording switch on the operation unit 14 is pressed (
In step lO), the control means 15 operates the cassette deck 10 in a recording state, and transmits the voice input from the telephone line 1 and the voice input from the handset of the communication means 4 to the interface circuit 2, the line input amplifier 5, and the tape selection means. 7 to ICM tape 9 (step 11)
〉.

Note that in the non-example, the answering machine and the telephone unit were integrated, and the off-footer was detected by turning on and off the hook switch, but in this case the answering machine and the telephone were separate units.
The off-footer of the attached telephone may also be connected to a main telephone line, and in this case, the off-footer of the attached telephone can be detected by detecting a drop in the voltage of the telephone line. Various circuits are already in use for detecting voltage changes in telephone lines, and the details will be omitted.

In addition to the effects of the invention, the invention includes an ICM recording means for storing a plurality of caller messages, a storage means for storing the final point of ICM operation, and a recording means for recording the final point of ICM operation by referring to the information stored in the storage means. an ICM positioning means for positioning to a point, a bell detection means for detecting a bell, a call detection means for detecting whether the telephone is in use, and a call detection means outputting that the line is in use. In this case, the ICM positioning means performs positioning to the final point of ICM operation based on the information stored in the storage means, and a bell signal is input during fcM playback, and the contents of the conversation with the caller are recorded. In case, ICM
The ICM is not erased due to telephone recording, and the user can listen to the ICM again, which has a great practical effect.

[Brief explanation of 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 FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the answering machine. 1...Telephone line 2...Interface means 3
...Bell detection means 4...Telephone means 5.
...Audio amplification section 6...Input/output column @ section 7...
・Tape selection means 8... OGM tape 9...
ICM tape 10...cassette deck...IC
M tape counter 2...memory counter 13...comparator 4
...Operation unit 15...Control means 6.
...On/off switch 17...Speaker 8...
・Name of Mike's agent: Patent attorney Shigetaka Awano and one other person

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] ICM recording means capable of recording a caller's message input via a telephone line and recording the contents of a call according to a user's command using the same recording medium; and a recording medium of the ICM recording means. a storage means for storing the final ICM recording end position; and referring to the information stored in the storage means, the recording medium of the ICM recording means is fed, and then the final ICM recording end position is stored.
M An ICM positioning means for positioning so that recording can be started from the recording end position, a bell signal detection means for detecting a bell signal input from a telephone line, and a telephone line detecting means for detecting whether the telephone line is in use. An answering machine comprising: a detection means; and a control means for operating the ICM positioning means when the call detection means outputs a signal indicating that the line is in use.