JPH0773303B2 - Answering machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an answering machine.

(B) Prior Art In the recent answering machine, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-14
As shown in Japanese Patent No. 7636, there has been developed a device configured to record not only a message of a caller (hereinafter referred to as ICM) but also conversation contents during a call or a message to a person at home. However, as the recording method, as shown in Fig. 13, the recording is made separately from the position where the ICM is recorded on the magnetic tape (T). When I try to record the conversation content of, since it is recording at a predetermined position after rewinding the tape, it takes time to start recording,
There was a problem that part of the conversation was not recorded.
Therefore, as a method to solve this, it is possible to record in order without dividing the recording position as shown in Fig. 14, but in this case, when reproducing the recorded content later, for example, only the conversation content during the call There is a problem that it is not easy to find the recording position when reproducing a specific recording such as when reproducing.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides an answering machine which can perform recording and reproduction quickly.

(D) Means for Solving Problems The present invention is a means for generating a pulse in synchronization with the rotation of a reel shaft accompanying the running of a recording tape, a means for counting the generated pulse, and a start of recording. And a means for storing the value of the counter means read at the end, data for discriminating the kind of the recorded message, and a control means for controlling the means for recording, reproducing or erasing the message.

(E) Operation With the present invention configured as described above, the messages can be sequentially stored on the tape, so that the recording can be started promptly and the message can be stored based on the data stored in the storage means. Playback or deletion can be performed for each type.

(F) Example An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(1) is an interface circuit that connects the telephone line (L) and the answering machine (2), and is composed of an incoming call detection circuit that detects an incoming bell signal, a line transformer, and the like. (3) is a speech network circuit connected to the interface circuit (1), and exchanges signals between the telephone line (L) and the handset (4). (5) is a tape recorder comprising a drive mechanism (6) for driving the response tape and a drive mechanism (7) for driving the message tape,
The contents of the response tape were sent to the telephone line (L) through the speech network circuit (3) and the interface circuit (1), and also sent from the telephone line (L).
The ICM is configured to be taken in through the interface circuit (1) and the speech network circuit (3) and recorded on the message tape. (8) and (9) are an amplifier and a speaker for reproducing the message recorded on the message tape. (10) and (11) are a microphone and a microphone amplifier used when recording the response contents on the response tape or recording a message to a person on the house on the message tape.

Reference numeral (12) is a control circuit for performing various controls according to a program of a program memory (14) in which a processing program is stored in advance by a key signal from the interface circuit (1) and the keyboard (13), and is constituted by a microprocessor. ing. The keyboard (13) is composed of a plurality of keys (13a) for controlling dial transmission and various keys for controlling the tape recorder (5) as shown in FIG. (15) is a counter for counting pulse outputs, which is configured to be generated in association with the rotation of the reel shaft of the tape drive mechanism (7) for message of the tape recorder (5), and the count value is supplied to the control circuit (12). The tape position is indicated.

(16) is a data memory in which the data indicating the type of the message to be recorded and the data indicating the tape position at the start and end of the recording of the message, that is, the value of the counter (15) are written, are recorded as shown in FIG. An area (16a) that stores the value of the counter (15) at the start of recording for each message to be recorded,
The area (16b) that stores the value at the end, the flag area (16c) that indicates that it is an ICM, the flag area (16d) that indicates that the conversation is recorded during a call, and the message It is composed of a flag area (16e) for instructing. In each flag area, data "1" is written corresponding to the message to be recorded. (17) is an indicator for instructing which message is being recorded. The type of the message that is lit and recorded based on the data in the flag areas (16c) (16d) (16e) of the data memory (16) Instruct.

Next, the operation of the present invention having such a configuration will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 to 7.

First, in the standby state of the apparatus, the control circuit (12) repeats the processing of steps (401) to (405) shown in FIG. 4, and when any state is detected, it corresponds to that state. Proceed to the processing routine to perform each control. That is, when a calling operation is detected in step (401), the process proceeds to step (406) to perform a calling process such as dialing based on the telephone number input from the keyboard (13). If the called party responds to the dial call, the call can be made using the handset (4) as with a normal telephone.

At this time, if the user wants to record the conversation contents during the call, it can be done by operating the recording key (13f) and the conversation key (13d) of the keyboard (13). That is, the recording key (13
Control circuit (12) that detected operation f) in step (403)
Advances to the recording processing routine of step (409), and since the conversation key (13d) is further operated, the process proceeds from step (511) to (512) of FIG. 5 to the conversation flag area of the data memory (16). After writing the data "1" in (16d),
In step (507), the value of the counter (15) is read and written in the recording start position storage area (16a). Then, in step (508), the message tape drive mechanism (7) of the tape recorder (5) is controlled to start recording. When the recording is completed, the value of the counter (15) at that time is written in the recording end position storage area (16b) in step (510), and the operation returns to the standby state. This allows the data memory (1
Data is written in 6) as shown in FIG. 8, and the conversation in progress is recorded on the message tape (T) as shown in FIG. 8 (b). When the conversation recording is performed, the control circuit (12) turns on the conversation recording indicator (17b) to indicate that the conversation recording is performed.

Next, an operation when recording a message to a person at home and then setting it in the answering machine mode and going out will be described.

First of all, when recording the message, if the recording key (13f) is operated and then the message key (13e) is operated, the control circuit (12) that detects the recording key (13f) in step (403) is the same as the above. Proceed to the recording processing routine of step (409), and when the message key (13e) is detected, step (511) to step (51
3), go to the message flag area (16
After writing the data "1" to e), step (507)-
By (510), the message input from the microphone (10) can be recorded on the message tape. Upon completion of recording, data is written in the data memory (16) as shown in FIG. 9, and a message is recorded on the message tape following the conversation content as shown in FIG. 9 (b). Also, the recording of the message turns on the indicator (17c) for the message.

And when going out, the recording key (13f) on the keyboard (13)
Also, operate the OGM key (13b) to record a response message (hereinafter referred to as OGM) when a call arrives on the response tape. The control circuit (12) that has detected the operation of the recording key (13f) and the OGM key (13b) proceeds to the recording processing routine of step (409) in the same manner as described above, and proceeds to steps (501) to (501).
By the processing of (503), the OGM input from the microphone (10) is controlled by the response tape drive mechanism (6),
Record on response tape. When you finish recording OGM, operate the recording key (13f) on the keyboard (13) and the ICM key (13c) that instructs recording of the ICM to set the answering machine mode and go out.

In this standby state, the control circuit (12)
The detection is repeated by 1) to (405), and there is an incoming call. When the incoming signal is generated from the interface circuit (1),
Control circuit (12) that detected an incoming call in step (402)
Advances to step (407) to determine whether or not the recording mode is set. Since the recording key (13f) is operated and the recording mode is set, the process proceeds to the recording processing routine of step (409).
In the recording processing routine, the control circuit (12) that detects that the ICM key (13c) is operated in step (504)
Proceeding to step (505), the response tape drive mechanism (6) of the tape recorder (5) is controlled to reproduce the OGM prerecorded on the response tape, the speech network circuit (3) and the interface circuit (1). To the telephone line (L) and inform the caller that the message will be recorded because it is out. Then, in step (506), after writing the data "1" in the ICM flag area (16c) of the data memory (16), steps (507) to (51) are performed in the same manner as described above.
By the process of 0), the ICM is recorded on the message tape. As a result, data is stored in the data memory (16) as shown in FIG. 10, and the data is stored in the message tape (T).
The message is recorded as shown in Fig. 10 (b). When the message recording is completed, the control circuit (12) returns to the standby state and prepares for the next incoming call. In this manner, the ICM is recorded on the message tape (T) each time an incoming call arrives, and a plurality of messages are recorded as shown in FIG.

If you are not at answering machine mode because you are at home when receiving an incoming call, etc., the normal call processing is performed from the incoming call detection in step (402) to steps (407) and (408). If (4) is taken up and an incoming call is answered, a call with the caller can be performed.

The next time someone else at home returned while I was out, the message indicator (17
When you notice the lighting of c) and listen to a message, explain the operation.

Therefore, to hear the message, press the play key (13) on the keyboard (13).
When you operate g) and the message key (13e), step (404)
The control circuit (12), which has detected that the reproduction key (13g) has been operated in step 4, advances to the reproduction processing routine in step (410). In the reproduction processing routine, as shown in FIG. 6, since the message key (13e) is operated, steps (614) to (62)
After proceeding to 2) and storing the value of the counter (15) at that time, proceed to step (623) to search for a position where the data “1” is stored in the message flag area (16e) of the data memory (16) and record it. The data stored in the start position storage area (16a) is read. Then, in step (624), the message tape drive mechanism (7) is controlled based on the current value of the counter (15) to rewind the message tape and move it to the recording start position of the message. By detecting the match between the value of the counter (15) and the data read from the data memory (16), when the movement to the recording start position of the message is detected in step (625), the control circuit (12) proceeds to step ( Proceed to 626) Tape drive for message (7)
Is set to the reproduction state, and the message is reproduced by the speaker (9). At this time, the control circuit (12) detects whether or not the value of the counter (15) matches the data read from the recording end position storage area (16b) of the data memory (16), and ends the reproduction of the message ( It is detected in 627), and when the reproduction is finished, the presence or absence of another message is detected in step (628).
If there is no message, proceed to step (613), run the message tape based on the value of the temporarily stored counter (15), move the message tape to the final position where the ICM is recorded, and answering machine mode. It will be in the standby state.

Next, a description will be given of an operation in which a person who has gone out returns home and plays back the ICM recorded while he / she is absent by checking the lighting of the ICM indicator (17a).

Then, when you operate the playback key (13g) and ICM key (13c) on the keyboard (13), the same steps (40
Detect the operation of the playback key (13g) with 4), and
Proceed to the reproduction processing routine of step 0), and steps (605) (60
By repeating the processes from 6) to steps (607) to (612), the ICMs are sequentially reproduced based on the data stored in the data memory (16) as in the case of reproducing the above-mentioned message, and the speaker ( Loud in 9). This makes ICM
Can be confirmed. Note that the recording state in FIG. 11 is when the ICM is continuously recorded, but even when the ICM is intermittently recorded as shown in FIG. 12, the ICM flag area of the data memory (16) is Since the reproduction is performed while checking the data of (16c), it is possible to reproduce while selecting only the ICM.

When you want to replay the recorded conversation during a call, operate the replay key (13g) and the conversation key (13d).
The control circuit (12) is the step (615) of the reproduction processing routine.
It is possible to reproduce only the conversation contents by performing the processing of (621). Also in this case, even if a plurality of conversation recordings are made on the message tape as shown in FIG. 12, it is possible to select and reproduce only the conversation recordings.

When only the reproduction key (13g) is operated, the steps (602) to (604) are performed to reproduce all the recorded messages.

Finally, the operation of ending the reproduction of the contents recorded on the message tape and erasing the contents when they are no longer needed will be described.

When the erase key (13h) of the keyboard (13) is operated, the control circuit (12), which has detected the operation of the erase key (13h) in step (405), proceeds to the erase processing routine of step (411) to perform the erase operation. Yes, but with the delete key (13h), ICM key (13c), conversation key (13d) and message key (13
ICM key (13c) depending on which one is operated
If is operated, by performing the processing of steps (707) to (714), only the ICM is selected and erased by the same procedure as in the case of reproduction, and when the conversation key (13d) is operated. Deletes only the conversation contents in the process of steps (717) to (724), and if the message key (13e) is operated, selects only the message in the process of steps (725) to (732). And erase. If only the delete key (13h) is operated, steps (702) to (705)
By performing the process of (3), all the messages recorded on the message tape are erased.

(G) Effect of the Invention As described above, the answering machine of the present invention is configured to store in the memory the data for distinguishing the message type for each message and the data indicating the recording position of the message when recording the message. As a result, even if different kinds of messages are sequentially recorded on the message tape, only the desired message can be selected and reproduced or erased, so that the message can be quickly recorded and reproduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an answering machine of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the keyboard of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the data memory of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are flowcharts for explaining the operating states of FIG. 1, FIG. 8, and FIG. Figure, Figure 10, Figure
11 and 12 are schematic diagrams showing the operating state of FIG. 1, FIG.
FIG. 14 and FIG. 14 are schematic diagrams showing a conventional example. (3) …… Speech network circuit, (5) …… Tape recorder, (12) …… Control circuit, (13) …… Keyboard, (16) …… Data memory, (17) …… Indicator.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A caller's message can be automatically recorded and reproduced on a magnetic tape in response to an incoming call to confirm the message, and further, a message or conversation contents during a call can be recorded and reproduced. In an answering machine, a means for generating data indicating a recording position of a magnetic tape, a recording start position and a recording end position of a message to be recorded by reading the data of the means, and data for classifying a message type are stored. A data memory, means for inputting instructions for recording and reproducing messages, etc., and control means for controlling data recording or reproduction by writing or reading data to or from the data memory based on the input to the means. An answering machine that is characterized.