JPH05176060A - Voice storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the accuracy of DTMF detection by turning up the volume in reproducing the message if the DTMF reception level is high and turning down the volume if it is low according to the reception level of the DTMF signal transmitted by a subscriber by providing a DTMF reception level measurement section on a voice mail device. CONSTITUTION:The system is provided with a line control unit 6 connected to the analog or digital telephone line and closing and opening the telephone line, a DTMF code detection section 5 detecting the code of the DTMF signal from the line control unit, a DTMF reception level measurement unit 10 measuring the reception level of the DTMF signal, a voice message storage unit storing the voice message, a reproduction control unit reproducing the voice message recorded on the voice message storage section and transmitting it through the line control unit 6 to the telephone line, a reproduction volume control unit 4 controlling the output volume of the reproduction control unit, and a central control section 9 controlling the reproduction control section and the line control section 6 to integrate the voice message reproduction based on the control signal from the reproduction control section.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voice storage device which is connected to an analog or digital telephone line and records / plays back a voice message via the telephone line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a voice storage device using an analog telephone line, for example, an answering machine is available. In recent years, however, the demand as information storage means has rapidly increased with the increase in the amount of information. Furthermore, by accumulating and managing messages via telephones in the office in an integrated manner, the efficiency of communication is promoted, and the development of a voice mail device that reduces the troublesome work associated with telephones is also in progress, and is already in practical use. Entering the stage.

A conventional voice mail device connected to an analog line will be described below. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional voice mail device. 1 is a line interface unit connected to an analog telephone line for controlling the line and separating input / output. 2 is an analog electric signal output from the line interface unit 1. A voice recording section for converting the digital signal into digital data, and further for outputting a digital signal in which information is compressed, if necessary, a voice reproducing section for returning the digital signal to an analog signal and outputting it to the line interface section 1.
4 is a reproduction volume control unit for controlling the output of the audio reproduction unit 3, and 5
Is a DTMF code detecting section for detecting the code of the DTMF signal sent via the telephone line, and 6 is a line control section for controlling the line interface section 1 and the reproduction volume control section 4 to control the voice input / output and the line. , 7 is a DTMF output section for outputting a DTMF signal to the line interface section 1 in response to a command from the line control section 6, and 8 is accumulation of output voice data from the voice recording section 2 and voice data input to the voice reproducing section 3. Is a voice message storage unit, and 9 is a central control unit for managing recording / playback of voice data.

The operation of the voice mail device configured as described above will be briefly described below. First, when the subscriber calls the voice mail device and reproduces a message, the line interface unit 1 detects a ring sound, off-hooks the line, and notifies the line control unit 6. The line control unit 6 notifies the central control unit 9 that an incoming call has been made,
In response to this, the central control unit 9 causes the voice message accumulating unit 8 to output the voice guidance notifying that the voice mail device is used, restores the analog signal by the voice reproducing unit 3, inputs the voice signal to the line interface unit 1, and connects to the telephone line. Output voice guidance (for example, "This is Message Center. Please enter the box number.").

The subscriber who hears the above message uses the key of the touch-tone telephone to enter the box number (for example, "13" of the other party).
12 "), the box number is input to the DTMF code detecting section 5 via the line interface section 1 as a DTMF signal, converted into a code of a numerical string representing the box number, and sent to the central control section 9. Central control unit 9
When receiving the code of the numerical string representing the box number from the line control unit 6, causes the voice message storage unit 8 to output the message corresponding to the box number, restores the analog signal by the voice reproduction unit 3, and causes the line interface unit 1 to output the message. Input and output a message on the telephone line.

At this time, since the input / output of the line interface unit 1 is not completely separated, the above message spills over to the DTMF code detecting unit 5 via the line interface unit 1. At this time, if the message contains a frequency component similar to the DTMF signal, the DTMF code detection unit 5 may malfunction. DTM by this wraparound
In order to prevent malfunction of the F code detection unit 5, when the voice output unit 3 outputs a voice, if the detection output is input from the DTMF code detection unit 5 to the line control unit 6 for a preset time, The line control unit 6 instructs the reproduction volume control unit 4 to cut off the output from the audio reproduction unit 3 so as to eliminate the influence of the message wrapping around to the DTMF code detection unit 5.
After the disconnection, the line control unit 6 determines if the detection output from the DTMF code detection unit 5 continues, the DTMF sent by the subscriber.
It is judged as a signal, converted into a number and output to the central control unit 9, and after the DTMF detection output disappears, the reproduction volume control unit 4 is instructed to input the output of the audio reproduction unit 3 to the line interface unit 1 and reproduce. Resume sending sound to the line.

On the other hand, if the detection output from the DTMF detection section 5 disappears after disconnection, the line control section 6 judges that it is an erroneous detection due to the wraparound of the reproduced sound, and commands the reproduction volume control section 4 to notify the reproduction volume of the sound reproduction section 3. The output is re-input to the line interface unit 1. When the subscriber finishes listening to the message, he / she presses a key for notifying the end, the DTMF code detecting unit 5 detects this and notifies the line control unit 6, and the line control unit 6 confirms that the end key has been pressed. Notify the control unit 9. Upon receiving the end command, the central control unit 9 finishes reading the voice message storage unit 8 and finishes the reproduction.

[0008]

However, in the voice mail device having the above configuration, the reproduced voice output is temporarily completely output due to the erroneous detection judgment of the DTMF detecting section due to the circling of the reproduced sound to the receiving side during message reproduction. Be disconnected. Therefore, the playback audio output becomes discontinuous at the time of disconnection,
There was a problem that pulse noise was generated and the call quality deteriorated.

An object of the present invention is to solve the conventional problems and to provide a voice mail device with a DTMF reception level measuring section so that the voice mail device receives a DTMF signal transmitted by a subscriber at the reproduction volume at the time of message reproduction. It is an object of the present invention to provide a voice storage device that improves the DTMF detection accuracy by increasing the reproduction volume when the DTMF reception level is high and decreasing the reproduction volume when the DTMF reception level is low according to the level.

[0010]

The voice storage device of the present invention is connected to an analog or digital telephone line, and a line control unit for closing and opening the telephone line, and a DTMF signal from the line control unit. DTMF to detect code
A code detection unit, a DTMF reception level measurement unit that measures a reception level of a DTMF signal, a voice message storage unit that stores a voice message, and a voice message that is recorded in the voice message storage unit is reproduced to call through the line control unit. A reproduction control section for transmitting to the line, a reproduction volume control section for controlling the output volume of the reproduction control section, and a reproduction control section and a line control section for performing integrated control of the voice message reproduction by a control signal from the DTMF code detection section. It is provided with a central control unit for controlling.

[0011]

With the above construction, the voice mail apparatus raises the reproduction volume when the message is reproduced according to the reception level of the DTMF signal sent by the subscriber, and raises the reproduction volume if the DTMF signal reception level is high, and the DTMF signal reception level is increased. If it is low, the DTMF detection accuracy can be improved by lowering the reproduction volume.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 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 a voice mail device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a line interface section, 2 is a voice recording section,
3 is a voice reproduction unit, 4 is a reproduction volume control unit, 5 is a DTMF code detection unit, 6 is a line control unit, 7 is a DTMF output unit, 8
Is a voice message storage unit, and 9 is a central control unit. The above is the same as that of the conventional voice mail device. The difference from the conventional example is the DTMF from the line interface unit 1.
DTMF reception level measuring unit for measuring signal reception level
This is the point where 10 is provided.

The operation of the voice mail device configured as described above will be described below. When the subscriber calls the voice mail device and reproduces the message, the line interface unit 1 takes off the line in the same manner as in the conventional example, and voice guidance notifying that it is the voice mail device is output. When the subscriber inputs the box number, the box number is converted into a number string by the DTMF code detecting section 5 and sent to the central control section 9, the voice message designated by the central control section 9 is reproduced, and the line interface section 1 is operated. Sent to the subscriber via. On the other hand, the DTMF signal representing the box number is sent to the DTMF reception level measuring section 10, and the reception level of the DTMF signal is sent to the central control section 9. At this time, if audio is being reproduced, the above D
The central control unit 9 determines that the TMF reception level includes the influence of the wraparound of the reproduced sound, and discards the DTMF reception level. If the DTMF reception level is low, the frequency of DTMF erroneous detection increases due to the influence of the wraparound from the audio reproduction unit 3. Therefore, if the DTMF reception level is low, the central control unit 9 causes the reproduction volume control unit via the line control unit 6. Four
To decrease the reproduction volume, and conversely increase the reproduction volume if the DTMF reception level is high. This allows
It is possible to reduce the influence of the wraparound of the reproduced sound to the DTMF code detection unit 5 and improve the detection accuracy. Further, the auditory sense of volume reduction of the subscriber is small because the auditory sense operates in logarithm. In addition, the DTMF code detection unit 5 is activated during voice reproduction.
If there is a detection output from, an erroneous detection determination is performed as in the conventional example. When the subscriber has finished listening, he / she presses a key notifying the end, the DTMF code detector 5 detects this and notifies the line controller 6, and the line controller 6 notifies the central controller 9 that the end key has been pressed. Tell. Upon receiving the end command, the central control unit 9 finishes reading the voice message storage unit 8 and finishes the reproduction.

[0014]

According to the present invention, by providing the conventional voice mail device with the DTMF reception level measuring section, the voice mail device determines the reproduction volume at the time of message reproduction according to the reception level of the DTMF signal sent by the subscriber. Then, if the DTMF reception level is high, the reproduction volume is increased, and if the DTMF reception level is low, the reproduction volume is decreased, so that the DTMF detection accuracy can be improved, and the frequency of the erroneous detection determination is reduced, so that the erroneous detection determination is performed. This has the effect of reducing the frequency of occurrence of the transmission noise, and is practically effective.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a voice mail device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional voice mail device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Line interface section, 2 ... Voice recording section, 3 ...
Voice reproduction unit, 4 ... Reproduction volume control unit, 5 ... DTMF code detection unit, 6 ... Line control unit, 7 ... DTMF output unit, 8 ... Voice message storage unit, 9 ... Central control unit,
10 ... DTMF reception level measuring unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A line controller connected to an analog or digital telephone line to close or open the telephone line,
DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Freque) from the line controller
a DTMF code detection unit for detecting the code of the (ncy) signal,
A DTMF reception level measuring unit for measuring the reception level of the DTMF signal, a voice message storage unit for storing voice messages, a voice message recorded in the voice message storage unit is reproduced, and the telephone line is passed through the line control unit. A playback control section for sending to the playback control section, a playback volume control section for controlling the output volume of the playback control section, and a playback control section for controlling the voice message playback by a control signal from the DTMF code detection section, a line A central control unit for controlling the control unit is used, and when the output value of the DTMF reception level measurement unit is high, the reproduction volume is increased, and when the output value is low, the reproduction volume control unit is used to decrease the reproduction volume. By controlling the output sound volume of the reproduction control unit, the DTMF co-operation by sneaking the reproduced sound to the receiving side at the time of reproducing the voice message is performed. Voice storage apparatus being characterized in that so as to prevent erroneous detection of the de-detecting portion.