JPH05244304A - Automatic answering telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent malfunction of a facsimile equipment side due to a decrease in a message recording capacity by recording of a tone signal and due to reproduction of a tone signal by implementing storage of a succeeding voice message from an area from which storage of this voice message is started when the tone signal is detected. CONSTITUTION:When a control section 9 uses a Ci signal detection circuit 4 to detect a Ci signal, a relay contact 1b is closed to close a line 20. Then a reply message stored in a memory 10 is read and sent to a line 20. Then an address is set to a head of an idle area of a recording area of the memory 10 and a received message is being written in the memory 10. Simultaneously, when a tone detection circuit 6 detects a CNG signal, a relay contact 1b is opened to open the line 20 and the address of the memory 10 is set to the head of an idle area of a recording area. Thus, when a succeeding reception message is recorded, a CNG signal recorded this time is erased.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an answering machine having a voice message storing function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an answering machine has been provided which records a message from a calling side after sending a response message when an incoming call is received in an answering machine mode.

In such an answering machine, a recording operation is performed uniformly for all incoming calls.

[0004]

By the way, when such an answering machine is connected to a facsimile machine having an automatic telephone / facsimile switching function (TEL / FAX switching function), an answering machine is first responded to an incoming call. There is a system in which the telephone device is activated and the line is closed on the side of the answering machine, and the line is switched to the side of the facsimile device when a CNG signal from the line is detected.

However, in such a device, even if the incoming call is a facsimile, the answering machine is activated and executes a recording operation.
A CNG signal will be recorded in the message answering section, resulting in a waste of recording capacity.

[0006] When an attempt is made to reproduce and listen to a message by remote control of such an answering machine by using a DTMF signal from the outside, the CNG signal is recorded as described above. When it is present, the reproduced CNG signal is detected on the side of the facsimile device, so that the TEL / FAX switching function malfunctions, and the facsimile device is activated and automatically receives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an answering machine which can prevent consumption of a message recording capacity due to recording of a tone signal for facsimile identification and malfunction of the facsimile apparatus side due to reproduction of the tone signal.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a voice message storage means for storing a voice message input from a line, a tone signal detection means for detecting a tone signal from the line, and the voice message storage means are activated. After that, when a tone signal is detected by the tone signal detecting means, it has a control means for controlling so that the storage of the next voice message is performed from the area where the storage of the current voice message is started. ..

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

The answering machine of this embodiment uses a semiconductor memory as a voice message storing means and is connected to a slave telephone 3 of a facsimile machine.

In FIG. 1, the relay contacts 1a and 1b are
The off-hook of the telephone 3 is detected, or the Ci signal detection circuit 4 detects the Ci signal, and the control unit 9 controls when the answering machine is activated. Each contact 1
a and 1b are interlocked with each other, and when one contact 1a is closed, the other contact 1b is open.

The ringer 2 sounds a ringing tone based on the Ci signal input from the line 20 through the rectifier circuit 21. The Ci signal detection circuit 4 detects the arrival of an incoming call by the Ci signal input from the line 20 via the rectifier circuit 21 and notifies the control unit 9 of the arrival.

The speech network 5 performs 2-line to 4-line conversion of a transmission / reception signal, and the tone detection circuit 6
Is to detect a tone signal such as a CNG signal (1100 Hz).

The decoder unit 7 decodes the response message and the recorded message stored in the memory 10,
The encoder unit 8 converts it into an analog voice signal, and the encoder unit 8 performs voice digitization of the received message for storing in the memory 10 and encodes it into an appropriate code.

The control unit 9 includes a CPU, controls the entire answering machine, and has a memory 10.
Is a semiconductor memory that stores a response message and a message.

The speaker 11 outputs a voice when the message recorded in the memory 10 is reproduced, and the operation unit 12 operates various keys.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation of the answering machine in the present embodiment when receiving a message.

First, the control section 9 monitors whether or not the Ci signal is detected by the Ci signal detection circuit 4 (S1).
When the Ci signal is detected, the relay contact 1b is closed and the line 2
0 is closed (S2).

Next, the response message stored in the memory 10 is read out and sent to the decoder section 7 where it is decoded and D / A converted, and the response message voice is transmitted over the line 20.
(S3). Then, while setting the address at the beginning of the empty area of the recording area of the memory 10,
The number of recordings stored in the control unit 9 is incremented by 1 (S4).

Then, the received message is subjected to A / D conversion and encoding in the encoder section 8 and written in the memory 10 in order from the address set in S4 (S5).

At the same time, it is judged whether or not the CNG signal is detected by the tone detection circuit 6 (S6). Then, if the CNG signal is not detected, it is judged whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S7). If not, the process returns to S6 and the CNG signal is detected while continuing to record the received message. Monitor.

When the predetermined time has passed without detecting the CNG signal, the relay contact 1b is opened to open the line 20 (S8), and the reception of the message is ended.

When the CNG signal is detected in S6, the relay contact 1b is opened to open the line 20 (S9), and then the address of the memory 10 is returned to the value set in S4 and increased in S4. The number of recorded recordings is reduced by one (S10).

In this way, when the next received message is recorded, recording is started from the address where recording is started this time, and the CNG signal recorded this time is erased.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

The answering machine of this embodiment uses a magnetic tape recorder as a voice message storing means, and instead of the decoder unit 7, the encoder unit 8 and the memory 10 in the above embodiment, a magnetic tape 16 is used. Drive 15 for recording and playing back messages
The recording unit 14 and the reproducing unit 13 are provided. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the above-described embodiment except the operation of the control unit 9, and the description thereof is omitted.

The reproducing section 13 reproduces the message recorded on the magnetic tape 16 and includes a reproducing head and an amplifier. The recording unit 14 records the received message on the magnetic tape 16 and includes a recording head. Further, the drive unit 15 drives the feeding and winding of the magnetic tape 16, and has a drive motor and a driver for the tape reel.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the answering machine in the present embodiment when receiving a message.

First, the control section 9 monitors whether or not the Ci signal is detected by the Ci signal detection circuit 4 (S2).
1) When the Ci signal is detected, the relay contact 1b is closed and the line 20 is closed (S22).

Next, the response message voice is sent to the line 20 (S23), the magnetic tape 16 is moved so that the recording head is located at the beginning of the blank portion of the magnetic tape 16, and it is stored in the controller 9. The number of recordings is incremented by 1 (S24).

Then, the received message is sent to the recording unit 14 and written on the magnetic tape 16 (S25).

At the same time, it is judged whether or not the CNG signal is detected by the tone detection circuit 6 (S26).
Then, if the CNG signal is not detected, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S27), and if it has not yet elapsed, the process returns to S26 and the CNG signal is detected while continuing to record the received message. Monitor.

When the predetermined time has passed without detecting the CNG signal, the relay contact 1b is opened to open the line 20 (S28), and the reception of the message is ended.

When the CNG signal is detected in S26, the relay contact 1b is opened to open the line 20 (S29), and then the magnetic tape 16 is wound so that the recording head is at the position set in S24. While returning, the number of recordings increased in S24 is decreased by 1 (S30).

In this way, when recording the next received message, recording is started from the position where recording was started this time, and the CNG signal recorded this time is erased.

[0036]

According to the present invention, when a tone signal from the line is detected after the storage of a voice message in response to an incoming call is started, the storage of the next voice message starts the storage of the current voice message. From the area where
It is possible to prevent the tone signal from remaining mixed with the message as it is recorded, reduce the waste of the recording capacity, and prevent malfunctions due to reproduction of the tone signal.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the other embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a, 1b ... Relay contact, 2 ... Ringer, 3 ... Telephone, 4 ... Ci signal detection circuit, 5 ... Speech network, 6 ... Tone detection circuit, 7 ... Decoder section, 8 ... Encoder section, 9 ... Control section, 10 ... Memory, 11 ... Speaker, 12 ... Operation section, 13 ... Playback section, 14 ... Recording section, 15 ... Drive section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A voice message storage means for storing a voice message inputted from a line; a tone signal detection means for detecting a tone signal from the line; and a tone signal detection means after activating the voice message storage means. And a control means for controlling the next voice message to be stored from the area where the storage of the current voice message is started when the tone signal is detected.