JPH05336224A - Automatic answering telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To inhibit the output of an unfixed message by setting a manual telephone mode not to reproduce the message when the message is not fixed by a fixing means when the recording of an answer message is complete. CONSTITUTION:When the recording of an answer message is started with an automatic answering telephone device, the answer message inputted by an input means is stored in an answer message storage device. When the recording of the answer message is complete, the stored answer message is fixed by a fixing means. Then a judging means judges whether the message is fixed or not. If not, a reception mode control means changes the reception mode to a manual telephone mode where the message is not reproduced. Thus the unfixed message is never outputted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

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

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of answering machine, a cassette tape is used as a voice data memory for storing voice data of a response message when a telephone line is received and voice data of a caller's message. Those using a semiconductor memory are known. In an answering machine using a semiconductor memory (RAM) as a memory for storing a response message, in the RAM, a voice data memory for storing a response message as voice data, a start address of voice data in the voice data memory, and A management table that stores end addresses is provided.

Further, in such an answering machine, an answering machine which automatically responds to an incoming call as a reception mode of a telephone line, sends a predetermined response message, and then records a message message from a calling party. A reception mode and a manual telephone mode in which a person manually answers an incoming call are provided. When the manual telephone mode is set, the response message is not sent, so the RAM
Need not be stored in.

In such an answering machine, when the owner of the answering machine records the response message A,
First, when the power is turned on, the reception mode that was set before the power was turned off is set as the reception mode. Here, the answering machine reception mode is set and stored in the reception mode storage memory.

After that, when the recording of the response message is started, the start position address of the voice data memory is stored in the management table as the start address, and the response message is converted from the analog voice signal into the voice data and the voice data. Stored in memory. Thus, when the response message A is stored in the voice data memory, the response message A is overwritten and stored on the response message B previously stored in the voice data memory. After that, when the recording of the response message A is stopped, the recording end position address of the recorded voice data memory is stored in the management table as the end address, and the recording of the response message A ends.

Thereafter, when the response message A is reproduced in the answering machine reception mode, the voice data from the start address to the end address in the voice data memory is based on the start address and the end address stored in the management table. Is read out, and the response message A is converted from voice data into an analog voice signal and reproduced.

[0007]

However, when the semiconductor memory is battery-backed up, during recording of the response message A in the answering machine reception mode,
For example, if the power supply is stopped due to a power failure or the like, the end address of the previously recorded response message B remains in the management table. Then, when the response message A recorded before the power supply is stopped is shorter than the previously recorded response message B, the non-overwritten portion of the previously recorded response message B is added to the response message A. The voice data obtained by synthesizing the two response messages A and B has become the response message.

When the power is turned on even though the combined response message is stored, the reception mode is set to the answering machine reception mode set before the power was turned off. Then, in the reception mode, the reply message created by combining the two reply messages A and B is reproduced, so that the owner of the answering machine mistakenly uses the composite reply message. However, there is a problem that it is reproduced when received.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. When the response message is not confirmed by the confirmation means at the end of recording the response message, the reception mode is reproduced as the response message. It is an object to provide an answering machine that automatically sets a manual telephone mode.

[0010]

In order to achieve this object, an answering machine of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, has an input means for inputting a response message and a response input by the input means. Response message storage means for storing a message, selection means for selecting one of the first reception mode requiring a response message and the second reception mode not requiring a response message, and the selection means A reception mode storing means for storing the reception mode selected by, and a confirmation means for confirming the response message stored in the response message storage means at the end of recording the response message, and a response by the confirmation means. Means for judging whether or not the confirmation message has been confirmed, and when the recording of the response message is completed, the judgment means responds. If the message is determined not to be established, the reception mode storage unit and a reception mode control means for controlling to store the second reception mode.

[0011]

In the answering machine of the present invention having the above structure, when the recording of the response message is started, the response message input by the input means is stored in the response message storage means, and the response message is stored. At the end of recording, the determining means determines the response message stored in the response message storing means, and when the determining means determines that the response message is confirmed, the receiving mode control means receives the receiving mode storage means. Are controlled to store a second receive mode that does not require a reply message.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration of the control unit of the facsimile apparatus having the answering machine function of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit of the answering machine has a CPU
The CPU 12 is provided with a ROM 14 storing a control program, a RAM 16 having a working memory area, an EEPROM 53, an audio recording / reproducing integrated circuit (ADM) 20 and the like connected to the CPU 12 via a bus. ing.

The EEPROM 53 is provided with a response M management table 46 for storing the start address and end address of the response message, a reception mode storage area 49 for storing a reception mode described later, and the like.

Further, in the response M management table 46, the SA storage unit 50 for storing the start address of the response message in the response M storage area 42 and the response M storage area 4 are stored.
EA storing the end address of the response message of 2
When the response message in the storage unit 52 and the response M storage area 42 is valid or invalid according to a flag, F
0, a response M presence / absence management area 54 which is set to F1 when enabled is provided. Based on the flag in the response M presence / absence management area 54, it is determined whether or not the response message is confirmed.

Further, the RAM 16 is provided with a temporary reception mode storage area 17 for temporarily storing the reception mode in the reception mode storage area 49.

The RAM 18 is connected to the ADM 20 and is backed up by a battery. That RA
M18 includes a response M storage area 42 for storing voice data of a response message, a message M storage area 44 for storing voice data of a plurality of message messages, and a start address and end address of the message messages. A message M management table 48 and the like to be stored are provided.

Further, in the voice information conversion circuit provided in the ADM 20, the analog voice signal input from the microphone 24 is converted into voice data and the RAM 18 is provided.
The voice data read from the RAM 18 is converted into an analog voice signal and output. Also, AD
M20 is a read instruction signal R sent from the CPU 12, a write instruction signal W, a chip enable signal CE,
A register for temporarily storing data and the like for addressing the RAM 18 is provided. As the ADM 20, for example, TC8831F type manufactured by Toshiba Corporation can be used.

A keyboard 22 provided on the front surface of the main body of the facsimile machine sends a voice signal input from a microphone 24 to the ADM 20 to send a response M storage area 42.
M recording start key 56 for response to be stored in M, and M recording end key 5 for response to end storage in the M storage area for response 42
8. A response M playback key 60 for playing back the response message stored in the response M storage area 42 is provided. In addition, the answering mode of the telephone line automatically answers incoming calls, sends a predetermined response message, and then records the message from the caller. A reception mode change switch 62 for changing a reception mode such as a manual telephone mode for responding is provided. Here, the answering machine requires a reply message, but the manual telephone mode
No reply message is required.

The output signal from the keyboard 22 and the output signal from the photocoupler 30 forming a part of the network control unit 28 are sent to the CPU 12. And that CP
The switch 34 connecting the telephone line 29 and the line transformer 32 is selectively opened and closed by the output signal sent to the U12, and either the facsimile section (FAX section) 64 or the changeover switch 26 is selectively opened. Then, the switch 36 is switched so that either the output audio signal from the microphone 24 or the signal from the switch 36 is selectively sent to the ADM 20 as an analog signal input. Furthermore, the mode of the FAX unit 64 is switched by the output signal sent to the CPU 12, and the switch 40 for selectively guiding the reproduced analog audio signal from the ADM 20 to either the line transformer 32 or the speaker 38. Switching is performed.

Next, the operation of the facsimile machine with an answering machine function thus configured will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the facsimile, it is assumed that the reception mode is set to the answering machine reception mode that requires a response message. First, when the response M recording start key 56 of the keyboard 22 is pressed (S2: YES), the flag in the response M presence / absence management area 54 is set to F0 and stored in the response M storage area 42 last time. The response message is invalidated (S4). Then, the reception mode storage area 4
The reception mode stored in 9 is temporarily stored in the temporary reception mode storage area 17 (S6). Here, the answering machine reception mode is stored in the temporary reception mode storage area 17.

Next, it is determined whether or not the reception mode stored in the reception mode storage area 49 is the answering machine reception mode (S8). In this embodiment, the reception mode is the answering machine reception mode that requires a response message (S8: YES), so the manual telephone mode is stored in the reception mode storage area 49 (S10).

Then, the start address in the response M storage area 42 is stored in the SA storage section 50 (S12).
Then, when the CPU 12 instructs the ADM 20 to start recording, the changeover switch 26 is switched to the output terminal side of the microphone 24, the response message is input from the microphone 24, and the voice signal of the response message is sent to the ADM 20. The voice signal is converted into voice data and written in the response M storage area 42 of the RAM 18 (S14).

Next, it is determined whether the response M recording end key 58 of the keyboard 22 has been pressed, that is, whether the response message recording has been completed (S16).
When the response M recording end key 58 is not pressed (S16: NO), the process returns to S14, and steps S14 and S16 are performed until it is determined that the response M recording end key 58 is pressed.
Is repeated, and the voice data of the response message is written in the response M storage area 42. On the other hand, when the response M recording end key 58 is pressed (S16: YE
S), the recording end position address in the response M storage area 42 is stored in the EA storage unit 52 of the response M management table 46 as the end address of the response message (S).
18).

Then, the flag in the response M presence / absence management area 54 is set to F1, and it is stored that the response message in the response M storage area 42 is valid (S2).
0). Then, the reception mode in the temporary reception mode storage area 18 is stored in the reception mode storage area 49 (S2).
2). That is, since the reception mode returns to the reception mode set before the response M recording start key 56 is pressed in S2, the reception mode in the reception mode storage area 49 is changed from the manual telephone mode to the answering machine reception mode. To be done.

In S8, the reception mode storage area 4
When the receiving mode in 9 is not the answering machine receiving mode, for example, the manual telephone mode (S8: NO), the receiving mode is left as it is and the process proceeds to S12.

Here, for example, when the power supply is stopped due to a power failure or the like during the recording of the response message, the recording of the response message is finished, but S1
In S6, it is not determined that the response M recording end key 58 is pressed, and in S20, the flag in the response M presence / absence management area 54 is not set to F1. Therefore, the flag in the response M presence / absence management area 54 corresponding to the recorded response message in the response M storage area 42 remains F0 set in S4, and the response message in the response M storage area 42 is Invalid is stored. Further, in S22, the reception mode in the reception mode storage area 49 is S
Since the manual telephone mode stored in 6 is not changed to the reception mode in the temporary reception mode storage area 18, the manual telephone mode is stored as the reception mode in the reception mode storage area 49.

Then, the EEPROM 53 and the RAM 18
The information inside remains stored even after the power supply is stopped.

Therefore, during recording of the response message, after the power supply is stopped due to a power failure or the like, the power is turned on again.
If it is, the reception mode is stored in the reception mode storage area 49.
The manual telephone mode stored therein is set, the flag in the response M presence / absence management area 54 is set to F0, and the response message in the response M storage area 42 is stored as invalid.

As described above, no matter which reception mode is set or whether the flag in the response M presence / absence management area 54 is set to F0 or F1, at the start of recording the response message, The flag in the response M presence / absence management area 54 is set to F0, and the reception mode in the reception mode storage area 49 is set to the manual telephone mode.

Therefore, when the power supply is stopped due to a power failure or the like during the recording of the response message and the response M recording end key 58 is not pressed, the flag in the response M presence / absence management area 54 is set. Remains F0, and the reception mode also remains in the manual telephone mode. Therefore, at the end of recording the response message, the response M recording end key 58 is not pressed, so that the response message is not stored in the response M storage area 42, or the response message in which the two messages are combined is used. Even if the message is stored, the reply message will not be erroneously used.

In the present embodiment, the manual telephone mode is stored in the reception mode storage area 49 in S10, but the automatic FAX reception is automatically connected to the FAX unit 64 when the telephone line 29 is received. The mode may be stored. In that case, the power supply is stopped due to a power failure or the like during recording of the response message, and when the power is turned on again, the FAX automatic reception mode is stored in the reception mode storage area 49. There is.

[0034]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when the response message is not confirmed by the confirmation means at the end of recording the response message,
Since the reception mode is automatically set to the second reception mode in which the response message is not reproduced, the response message is not output when the response message is not confirmed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of this embodiment when recording a response message.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 CPU 18 RAM 24 Microphone 42 Response M Storage Area 49 Reception Mode Storage Area 53 EEPROM 54 Response M Presence / Absence Management Area 58 Response M Recording End Key 62 Reception Mode Change Switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An input unit for inputting a response message, a response message storage unit for storing the response message input by the input unit, and a first reception mode that requires the response message.
An answering machine including: a selection unit that selects one of the second reception modes that does not require a response message; and a reception mode storage unit that stores the reception mode selected by the selection unit. A confirmation means for confirming the response message stored in the response message storage means at the end of recording the response message, and a determination means for determining whether or not the response message is confirmed by the confirmation means. Reception mode control means for controlling the reception mode storage means to store the second reception mode when the determination means determines that the response message is not confirmed at the end of recording the response message. An answering machine that is equipped with.