JPH0799539A - Automatic answering telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent malfunction even when a DTMF signal is reproduced in the remote reproduction mode. CONSTITUTION:A timer 5 starts time count as soon as automatic message recording is started. When a DTMF signal is received during the recording, a recording time counted by the timer 5 is stored in a RAM 4. The remote mode is set by the reception of the DTMF signal and the recorded content is reproduced in the remote mode. As soon as the remote reproduction is started, the timer 5 starts counting the time. When the DTMF signal is inputted during the remote reproduction mode and the recording time is stored in the RAM 4, the recording time is compared with the counted reproduction time. When the recording time is coincident with the reproduction time as the result of comparison, the DTMF signal is discriminated to be the reproduced DTMF signal and the remote reproduction mode is continued. When no recording time is stored in the RAM 4 and the recording time and the reproduction time are dissident, the DTMF signal is discriminated to be the DTMF signal received externally and the remote mode is executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an answering machine which can be remotely controlled from an external telephone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an answering machine, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 2-49070, receives an incoming call when an answering machine is set, for example, after sending a response message from the calling side. Record the message with a tape recorder.

In such an answering machine,
It is equipped with a function that allows the user to perform remote control, such as listening to the recorded content from an external telephone outside the office. With the function of this answering machine, there is an incoming call when answering machine is set,
When a DTMF signal such as a personal identification number input by a user is input from an external telephone while sending or recording a response message, the DTMF signal is received by a receiver and a corresponding control code is output, and this control is performed. The code is received by the control unit and the remote mode is set. In this remote mode, when the tape recorder remotely reproduces the recorded content, and when a DTMF signal corresponding to another control code is further input from the external telephone, modes such as fast forward and rewind are executed.

By the way, if a DTMF signal is accepted after a response message is sent and recording is started, 1
The DTMF signal is recorded in the recorded content. Therefore, if remote playback is performed, D
The TMF signal is reproduced.

However, when the DTMF signal is reproduced during the remote reproduction, it is erroneously determined that the DTMF signal is input from the external telephone, and an erroneous operation such that the reproduction is changed to another mode such as fast forward or rewind occurs. Sometimes.

Therefore, in the answering machine of the above publication,
The reproduced sound of the tape recorder is checked, and when the DTMF signal is detected, the portion of the DTMF signal is muted to prevent the malfunction due to the reproduction of the DTMF signal.

[0007]

The answering machine of the above publication can prevent a malfunction due to the reproduction of the DTMF signal, but requires a detection circuit for the DTMF signal included in the reproduced sound, a muting circuit, and the like. It increases and becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an answering machine having a simple structure which can prevent a malfunction due to reproduction of a DTMF signal.

[0009]

According to the present invention, when an answering is set at the time of setting an answering machine, a message from a calling side is recorded by a recording / reproducing means, and if a DTMF signal is received by a receiver in this incoming state, a remote mode is set, In the answering machine that can remotely play back the recorded contents by the recording / playback means in the remote mode, the recording timekeeping means for starting the timekeeping when the recording / playback means starts the recording and the recording / playback means during the recording. When the DTMF signal is received by the receiver, a storage means for storing the recording time measured by the recording time measuring means in correspondence with the recording operation for each case, and one case during the remote reproduction of the recorded content by the recording / reproducing means Playback timing means for starting timing from the playback start point of each recording content, and the receiver for remote playback by the recording / playback means. When a TMF signal is input, if the recording time is stored in the storage means for the case during the remote reproduction, the recording time stored in the storage means is compared with the reproduction time measured by the reproduction timing means. If the recording time and the reproduction time match with each other by the comparison means, the remote reproduction by the recording / reproduction means is continued, and the recording time is not stored in the storage means for the case during the remote reproduction. And a control means for executing the remote mode when the recording time and the reproduction time do not match.

[0010]

In the present invention, the timekeeping is started at the same time when the answering machine recording is started, and when the DTMF signal is inputted during the recording, the recording time up to that point is stored in the storage means corresponding to the recording operation for each case. To do.

When the remote mode is entered by the input of the DTMF signal, the recorded contents are played back remotely. At the time of remote reproduction of this recording content, time counting is started from the reproduction start point of each recording content. And during remote playback, DTM
When the F signal is input, if the recording time is stored in the storage means for the case during the remote reproduction, the recording time stored in the storage means is compared with the timed reproduction time. As a result of the comparison, if the recording time and the reproduction time match, it is judged that the reproduced DTMF signal is reproduced, and the remote reproduction is continued. On the other hand, if the recording time is not stored in the storage means or the recording time does not match the reproduction time for the case during remote reproduction, it is determined that the DTMF signal is input from the outside, the DTMF signal is accepted, and the remote mode is executed. To do.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The construction of an embodiment of an answering machine of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an answering machine, in which 1 is a CPU, and a system bus 2 of this CPU 1
A ROM 3 storing a control program, a RAM 4 serving as a storage unit capable of writing and reading various data at any time, a timer 5 serving as a recording timing unit and a reproduction timing unit are connected.

Further, an NCU 6 for connecting to a telephone line is connected to the bus 2 and a tape recorder 7 as a recording / reproducing means for recording / reproducing to / from a tape is connected to the DTMF (Dual Tone Multifrequency) signal. A receiver 8 that receives and outputs a corresponding control code is connected.

When the answering machine is set under the control of the CPU 1, if there is an incoming call, a message from the calling side is recorded by the tape recorder 7, and if the DTMF signal is received by the receiver 8 in this incoming state, the remote operation is performed. In this remote mode, the tape recorder 7 remotely reproduces the recorded contents.

The CPU 1 has at least the following various functions as software.

The timer 5 is used to start the time counting operation when the tape recorder 7 starts the answering machine recording, and at the time of the remote reproduction of the recording content by the tape recorder 7, the time counting operation is started from the reproduction start point of each recording content. Function to start.

During recording with the tape recorder 7, the receiver 8
When the DTMF signal is received at, the function of storing the recording time measured by the timer 5 in the RAM 4 in correspondence with the recording operation for each record.

When a DTMF signal is input to the receiver 8 during remote reproduction by the tape recorder 7, if the recording time is stored in the RAM 4 for the case during this remote reproduction, the recording time and the timer 5 stored in the RAM 4 are stored.
The function of the comparison means for comparing the reproduction time timed by.

Further, if the recording time and the reproduction time match with each other according to the judgment of the comparing means, the remote reproduction by the tape recorder 7 is continued, and the case during the remote reproduction R
A function of the control means for executing the remote mode when the recording time is not stored in the AM4 and when the recording time and the reproduction time do not match.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, the answering machine recording operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the answering machine is set and an incoming call is received when the answering machine is set, the tape recorder 7 starts recording a message from the calling side, resets the timer 5, and starts time counting. (Step 1).

During recording on the tape recorder 7, it is always judged whether or not the DTMF signal is inputted (step 2). If the DTMF signal is not input, the line from the other party is terminated due to the termination of the message, and the recording by the tape recorder 7 is completed (step 3), the timer 5 is reset (step 4) and the answering machine waiting state is set. Return to.

When the user performs remote control in order to hear the recording contents from the external telephone at the destination, if the DTMF signal is input during the recording by the tape recorder 7, the recording start time measured by the timer 5 starts. The recording time from the input to the DTMF signal is read (step 5), and the number and the recording time indicating the number of recordings from the time when the answering machine is set are stored in the RAM 4 (step 6). Then, the mode is switched to the remote mode (step 7).

Next, the remote reproduction operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the mode is switched to the remote mode, the tape recorder 7 rewinds the tape and then the remote reproduction is started, the timer 5 is reset and the clocking is started (step 1).

During remote playback on the tape recorder 7, D
It is always determined whether or not the TMF signal is input (step 12). If the DTMF signal is not input and one remote playback is completed, and if there is the next one, the procedure returns to step 11 and the remote playback is performed in the same manner (step 13). Return to.

During remote playback on the tape recorder 7, D
When the TMF signal is input, it is determined whether or not the recording time is stored in the RAM 4 for the case during the remote reproduction (step 15).

Then, when the user judges that there is no need to hear during remote reproduction, and a DTMF signal is input from the outside such as performing a fast-forward operation from an external telephone, the RAM 4 concerning the case during remote reproduction. Since the recording time is not normally stored in the receiver, the receiver 8 receives the DTMF signal and changes the operation mode such as reproduction stop, fast forward and rewind according to the control code output from the receiver 8 (step 16).

In step 15, if the recording time is stored in the RAM 4 for the case of the remote reproduction, the DTMF is started from the reproduction start time of the case measured by the timer 5.
Read the playback time until signal input (step 17), R
The recording time and the reproduction time stored in AM4 are compared (step 18).

If the recording time and the reproducing time do not match as a result of the comparison, it is determined that the DTMF signal is input from the outside, and the process proceeds to step 16 to accept the DTMF signal and change the operation mode.

Further, when the recording time and the reproduction time match, it is determined that the DTMF signal was recorded at the time of recording, and in this case, the DTMF signal is not accepted and the remote reproduction by the tape recorder 7 is continued. Allow (step 19).

As described above, when the DTMF signal is input, it can be surely determined whether the DTMF signal is input from an external telephone or reproduced by the tape recorder 7, and malfunctions can be prevented. .

Moreover, the RAM 4 as the recording means, the recording / counting means and the timer 5 as the reproducing and counting means are usually provided in the answering machine, and the comparing means and the control means can be handled by software. It is possible to prevent malfunctions without complicating the configuration of the device.

The recording / playback means is not limited to the tape recorder 7, but can be applied to an answering machine for writing / reading to / from another memory, and the same effect as the above embodiment can be obtained.

When the tape recorder 7 is used, as shown in FIG. 4, a track a on the A side and a track b on the B side of the tape T are used, and an answering machine is recorded on the track a on the A side. Is recorded, and the index signal i indicating that the DTMF signal is input during recording is put in the track b on the B side. As a result, it is determined that the recording time is stored in the RAM 4 for the case during the remote reproduction, and the DTM
When comparing the recording time at which the F signal was recorded with the reproduction time at the time of remote reproduction, even if there is a slight discrepancy between the recording time and the reproduction time, the reproduction time of the index signal i is Can be determined to match.

[0038]

According to the present invention, the recording time from the recording start time when the DTMF signal is input during recording is stored, and when the DTMF signal is input during remote reproduction, the reproduction time from the reproduction start time is stored. The reproduction time and the recording time are compared, and if they match, it can be determined that the reproduced DTMF signal
If the recording time is not stored or if the playback time and the recording time do not match, it can be determined that the DTMF signal is input from the outside, so malfunctions due to playback of the DTMF signal can be prevented, and the answering machine is a storage means. Since it usually has a timer function, it can be handled by software and the configuration can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an answering machine recording operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a remote reproduction operation of the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a tape showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU having functions of control means and comparison means 4 RAM as storage means 5 Timer as recording and reproducing means 7 Tape recorder as recording and reproducing means 8 Receiver

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. When setting an answering machine, if there is an incoming call, a message from the calling side is recorded by the recording / reproducing means, and if a DTMF signal is received by the receiver in this incoming state, the remote mode is set. In this remote mode, the recording / reproducing means is used. In an answering machine that is capable of remotely playing back recorded contents, a recording timekeeping means for starting timing when recording is started by the recording / playback means, and a DTMF by the receiver during recording by the recording / playback means.
When a signal is received, a recording means for recording the recording time measured by the recording time measuring means in correspondence with the recording operation for each case, and a recording for each case during the remote reproduction of the recorded contents by the recording / reproducing means. When the DTMF signal is input to the receiver during the remote reproduction by the recording / reproducing means, the recording time is stored in the storage means for the case during the remote reproduction. In this case, comparing means for comparing the recording time stored in the storage means with the reproduction time measured by the reproduction time measuring means, and if the comparison means determines that the recording time and the reproduction time match, the recording is performed. When the remote playback by the playback means is continued and the recording time is not stored in the storage means for the case during remote playback, the recording time and playback If the as between not match telephone answering device being characterized in that a control means for executing the remote mode.