JPH08251276A - Telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a telephone set which can hear the voice messages at an optimum sound level at all times with no complicated operations required in a remote control mode. CONSTITUTION: When a voice message which is recorded in a voice data storage 5 of a telephone set 1 is reproduced by remote control, the message is sent to a reproduction device 6 and reproduced there based on a reproduction start command produced by the DTMF signal that is inputted via a telephone circuit network 21. The sound level of the reproduced message is adjusted by a reproduction sound volume adjuster 9, and the message is sent to the network 21 via a network controller 3. Then the reproduction sound can be adjusted at a desired level when a sound volume adjustment command produced by the DTMF signal is inputted during the reproduction of the message.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a telephone having a so-called answering machine function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a general answering machine is provided with an automatic gain adjusting device for automatically adjusting a recording level according to a voice level inputted when recording a message inputted from the outside. A user of an answering machine can always listen at a constant volume level when playing a message.

Further, as a general answering machine, a telephone capable of outputting a DTMF (Dual Tone MultiFrequency) signal from the outside is used to input a predetermined code to operate the answering machine through a telephone line network. There is an answering machine that can be operated (remote operation).

[0004]

When the message message is reproduced by remote operation, the reproduced message is affected by the line loss until the message is transmitted to the receiver side. Cannot get a proper playback volume level. Also, when the noise level around the listener is high, the message may be difficult to hear if the reproduction volume level is not sufficient.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-268324 discloses a technique for reproducing a message at a volume level desired by a listener during the remote operation as described above. In the answering machine in the above publication, D
From a telephone that can output a TMF signal, DTM
By inputting a plurality of remote signals by the F signal, transmission / reception switching and volume adjustment are performed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a telephone which can always listen to a voice message at an optimum volume without performing a complicated operation during a remote operation using a DTMF signal.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an automatic response means for storing in a storage means a voice message sent from a calling side after receiving a ringing signal a predetermined number of times, receiving an incoming call, transmitting a response message, and then transmitting. Reproducing means for reproducing and outputting the voice message stored in the storage means, and volume adjusting means for adjusting the reproduction volume by the reproducing means,
And a command analysis means for analyzing whether or not the DTMF signal received from the telephone line is a volume control command, the volume control means adjusting the reproduction volume in response to the output of the command analysis means. Is. The present invention further includes an automatic response means for storing in a storage means an automatic response means for receiving a voice signal sent from a calling side after receiving a ringing signal after receiving a predetermined number of times and transmitting a response message. Playback means for playing back and outputting a voice message, volume control means for controlling playback volume by the playback means, and DT received from the telephone line.
A command analyzing means for analyzing whether or not the MF signal is a predetermined command and a volume measuring means for measuring the volume of the DTMF signal received from the telephone line are provided, and the volume adjusting means is provided when the predetermined command is received. The telephone is characterized in that the reproduction volume is adjusted based on the output of the volume measuring means. The present invention also relates to an automatic response means for storing in a storage means a voice message sent from a calling side after receiving a call signal after receiving a predetermined number of times and transmitting a response message, and a storage means for storing the voice message. And reproducing means for reproducing and outputting the voice message stored in the storage means, volume adjusting means for adjusting the reproduction volume by the reproducing means, and analyzing whether the DTMF signal received from the telephone line is a predetermined command And a sound volume measuring means for measuring the sound volume of the voice signal received from the telephone line, wherein the sound volume adjusting means, when a predetermined command is received, based on the output of the sound volume measuring means. The telephone is characterized by adjusting a reproduction volume.

[0008]

According to the present invention, when the voice message stored and recorded in the storage means by the automatic response means is played back by the playback means and listened to through the telephone line, the DTMF is used.
The playback volume of the voice message is adjusted by inputting a volume control command according to the signal. Therefore, even if the reproduction volume is not sufficient depending on the situation of the telephone line, the voice message can be reproduced at the volume desired by the listener by adjusting the reproduction volume.

According to the present invention, when listening to a voice message through a telephone line, the volume of the DTMF signal input to operate the telephone is measured by the volume measuring means, and the DTMF signal is command analyzed. When the means determines that the command is a predetermined command, the reproduction volume is adjusted based on the output of the volume measuring means. Therefore, the voice message can be reproduced at a reproduction volume according to the situation of the telephone line without inputting a command based on the DTMF signal again for volume adjustment.

Further, according to the present invention, when listening to a voice message via the telephone line, the voice signal received via the telephone line is measured by the volume measuring means, and the inputted DTMF signal is analyzed by the command analyzing means. When it is determined that the command is a predetermined command, the reproduction volume is adjusted based on the output of the volume measuring means. Therefore, the voice message can be reproduced at a reproduction volume according to the situation of the telephone line without inputting a command based on the DTMF signal again for volume adjustment.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a telephone 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG. The telephone 1 includes a control device 2, a network control device 3, a recording device 4, a voice data storage device 5, a playback device 6, a storage device 7, a playback button group 8, a playback volume control device 9, DTMF signal detector 1
0, DTMF volume measuring device 11, and volume measuring device 12
And a handset 13 and a speaker 14. The operation button group 8 includes a dial button 15 including keys such as numbers and symbols, and a playback button 1.
6, a stop button 17, and an absence button 18 are included.

The control device 2 is connected to each device constituting the telephone 1 and controls each device. The network control device 3 controls the connection of the telephone 1 to the telephone line network 21. In normal use, the handset 13 connected to the network control device 3 is used to send and receive voice signals. The network control device 3 receives a voice signal input from the telephone line network 21, a recording device 4, a DTMF signal detecting device 10, and a DTMF signal.
The audio signals supplied to the volume measuring device 11 and the volume measuring device 12 and input from the reproduction volume adjusting device 9 are output to the telephone line network 21.

The recording device 4 converts a voice signal which is an analog signal supplied from the network control device 3 into voice data which is a digital signal and inputs the voice data into the voice data storage device 5. The voice data storage device 5 stores the response message and the message message as voice data. The voice data storage device 5 is a so-called first-in first-out storage device that outputs the previously stored voice data at the time of output, and reproduces the oldest message message when reproducing the message message by the reproducing device 6 described later. Will be done.

The reproduction device 6 converts each audio data stored in the audio data storage device 5 into a corresponding audio signal. The converted audio signal is output to the speaker 14 when the telephone 1 is directly operated, and is reproduced by a so-called electronic volume or the like in the case of remote operation through the telephone line network 21. Volume control device 9
After the playback volume level is adjusted in the network control device 3
And is output to the telephone line network 21 via. The storage device 7 is
Various settings described later can be stored.

When the DTMF signal is included in the input voice signal, the DTMF signal detecting device 10 as the command analyzing means converts it into a corresponding code and inputs it to the control device 2. The DTMF volume measuring device 11 converts the amplitude of the DTMF signal input via the telephone network 21 into a numerical value and inputs the numerical value to the control device 2. Similarly, the volume measuring device 12 converts the amplitude of the voice signal input via the telephone network 21 into a numerical value.

In the telephone 1, the user sends and receives the handset 13
The user can place a call to the other party by inputting a telephone number using the dial button 15 after taking off the telephone, and the voice is sent to the other party by the handset 13 via the network control device 3. To hear the voice from the other party. When a call is received from the other party, the telephone 1 outputs a ringing tone based on a ringing signal input via the telephone network 21. When the connection between the network control device 3 and the telephone network 21 is validated by the operation of the user, the handset 13 transmits and receives voice.

The answering machine function of the telephone 1 will be described. When the answer button 18 is pressed by the user, the telephone 1 enters the answering mode and enters a standby state in which a response message can be sent and a message can be stored. When a calling signal is input to the telephone 1 in the standby state through the telephone line network 21 a predetermined number of times, the network control device 3 validates the connection with the telephone line network 21. Since the telephone line is closed in the waiting state, the control device 2 enables the reproduction device 6 and the reproduction volume control device 9, and the connection between the reproduction volume control device 9 and the network control device 3. The control device 2 causes the voice data storage device 5 to output the voice data of the response message stored in advance to the playback device 6. The audio data is converted into an audio signal in the reproduction device 6 and output to the reproduction volume adjusting device 9. The audio signal is adjusted to a predetermined signal level by the reproduction volume adjusting device 9, and then output to the telephone line network 21 via the network control device 3.

After the reproduction of the response message, when a message message which is a voice signal from the other party is input through the telephone line network 21, the message message is sent to the network controller 3.
Is input to the recording device 4 via the, and converted into voice data in the recording device 4 and stored in the voice data storage device 5. When the data is stored in the voice data storage device 5, data indicating the number of the subject message in each storage area of the storage device 7 and the voice data storage device 5 in which the subject message is stored. The start address and the end address are stored in association with each other. When the preset recording time elapses,
The control device 2 disconnects the line with the telephone line network 21 connected in the network control device 3. After that, the telephone 1 becomes the standby state again.

To play back the recorded message, the answering machine 18 is pressed to release the answering machine and the play button 16 is pressed. By pressing the play button 16, the start address of each audio data stored in the storage device 7 is sequentially read, and the audio data is read from the audio data storage device 5 based on the start address and input to the reproduction device 6. The audio data input to the reproducing device 6 is converted into an audio signal in the reproducing device 6,
The sound is output from the speaker 14 as an acoustic output. The reproduction is continued until all the recorded message messages are reproduced or the stop button 17 is pressed. When listening to a message from outside via the telephone network 21, D
Playback start and stop are instructed by the TMF signal.

While automatically answering a call from the telephone line network 21, the telephone line network 21 is operated by inputting a personal identification number and a specific operation by a DTMF signal.
Table 1 below shows the commands that are input and the operations that correspond to each when the operations from are enabled.

[0021]

[Table 1]

By inputting each command shown in Table 1, reproduction, stop, and setting of volume can be performed. Table 1 shows the commands that can be entered on the telephone 1.
The example is not limited to.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the processing when listening to the message recorded on the telephone 1 through the telephone line network 21. When the telephone 1 is in the standby state, the network control device 3 detects in step s1 that an incoming signal is input through the telephone line network 21, and when the incoming signal is input a predetermined number of times, the network is input in step s2. The telephone network 21 is closed in the control device 3 to automatically receive an incoming call.

In step s3, the voice data storage device 5
The voice data of the response message is input to the reproducing device 6 to be converted into a voice signal, and the volume level is adjusted by the reproduction volume adjusting device 9 and output to the telephone network 21 via the network control device 3. If a DTMF signal is input through the telephone network 21 during the response message reproduction, D
The TMF signal detection device 10 converts the code into a code corresponding to the DTMF signal.

In step s4, the converted data is converted into the control device 2.
It is determined whether or not the code input to is a specific code such as a predetermined personal identification number. If the specific code is not input, the process proceeds to step s5. In step s5, it is determined whether or not the reproduction of the response message is completed. If the reproduction of the response message has not been completed, the processing from step s4 is performed. That is,
Determine if a particular code was entered until the end of playing the response message. When the reproduction of the response message is completed, the process proceeds to step s6. In step s6, the message, which is a voice signal input via the telephone network 21, is converted into voice data in the recording device 4 and stored in the voice data storage device 5. At the same time, the start address or the like in which the message is stored is stored in the storage device 7. The process ends after recording the message for a predetermined time.

If a specific code is input in step s4, the process proceeds to step s7. Step s7
Subsequent processing is processing in the remote operation mode performed by the user of the telephone 1 from a remote location. In step s7, the set value X of the reproduction volume (X = 0 to 9: the larger the X, the larger the volume level) is set to the initial set value X = 5. The determined set value is stored in the storage device 7. Further, the set value X is input to the reproduction volume adjusting device 9 and serves as a reference for the reproduction volume.

In the subsequent step s8, until the command by the DTMF signal as shown in Table 1 above is detected,
Wait in step s8. If any command is detected, the process proceeds to step s9. Step s
At 9, it is determined what function the detected command is a command for. The detected command is 1
If it is #, the process proceeds to step s10. Step s
At 10, the reproduction is started as an operation corresponding to the command 1 #. After that, the processing from step s8 is performed.

If the command detected in step s9 is 2 #, the process proceeds to step s11. At step s11, the set value X of the reproduction volume is incremented by 1 as the operation corresponding to the command 2 #. The set value X is X = 9
If it is, the set value is not changed. Subsequent steps
At 12, the set value X is input again to the reproduction volume adjusting device 9 to set the reproduction volume. After that, the processing from step s8 is performed.

If the command detected in step s9 is 3 #, the process proceeds to step s13. At step s13, the set value X of the reproduction volume is decreased by 1 as the operation corresponding to the command 3 #. The set value X is X =
If it is 0, the set value is not changed. After that, the processing from step s12 is performed.

If the command detected in step s9 is 4X #, the process proceeds to step s14. At step s14, the value of X included in the command 4X # is set as the set value X of the reproduction volume. After that, step s12
Perform the following processing.

If the command detected in step s9 is 9 #, the process proceeds to step s15. At step s15, the reproduction is stopped as the operation corresponding to the command 9 #. It should be noted that this process is invalid when not being reproduced. After that, the processing from step s8 is performed.

If the command detected in step s9 is not one of the above commands, step s
Proceed to 16. In step s16, the process corresponding to each detected command is performed. After that, the processing from step s8 is performed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the recorded message is reproduced by remote operation, the volume when the message is recorded, the loss on the line, the hearing of the listener, the receiver. The playback volume at which the message is easily heard is different depending on the volume output from the device and the ambient noise on the receiving side, but the playback volume is set by inputting a command by the DTMF signal by providing a means for switching the playback volume As a result, the listener can always adjust the volume to the optimum level and listen to the message.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the processing when listening to a message message recorded by the telephone set 32 in the second embodiment of the present invention through the telephone line network 21. The telephone 32 has the same configuration as the telephone 1 shown in FIG.

The feature of the telephone 32 in this embodiment is that when the message is reproduced in the remote operation mode,
That is, the reproduction volume of the message is determined based on the volume level of the DTMF signal input to instruct the command.

In the flowchart shown in FIG.
The same steps as those in the flowchart of FIG. In this flowchart, the process of step s7 is deleted from the flowchart shown in FIG.
The process of step s21 is inserted between step s8 and step s9.

If a specific code is input in step s4, the process proceeds to step s8. Step s
At 8, it is determined whether a command by the DTMF signal is input.

If a command is detected in step s8, the process proceeds to step s21. In step s21, the reproduction volume is set according to the volume of the DTMF signal.
That is, the DTM input to instruct the command
The F signal is simultaneously input to the DTMF volume measuring device 11. The amplitude of the DTMF signal is converted into a numerical value and becomes a volume level, which is input to the control device 2. According to the volume level measured by the DTMF volume measuring device 11, the control device 2 determines the reproduction volume of the message in the reproduction volume adjusting device 9. Table 2 below shows the relationship between the measured sound volume level and the set sound volume level.

[0039]

[Table 2]

As shown in Table 2, when the measured volume level is 0, the volume level to be set is set to 9, and the set level is decreased by 1 each time the measurement level is increased by 1. A volume level of 0 indicates that the volume level is extremely low such that it is difficult for a person to distinguish the contents, and is a volume level at which only the DTMF signal can be detected by the DTMF volume measuring device 11. . If the measurement level is 5 or higher, the setting level is 5. After setting the playback volume,
In step s9, it is determined which function the detected command indicates.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the volume level of the DTMF signal input to specify the command is measured by the DTMF volume measuring device 11, and the reproduction volume adjusting device 9 uses the volume level based on the measured volume level. Since the reproduction volume of the message is set, the reproduction volume level changes according to the amount of sound attenuation due to the line loss, and the message can be listened to comfortably.

The setting of the reproduction volume level is automatically performed based on the volume level of the DTMF signal measured by the DTMF volume measuring device 11 which is input for command designation. Since it is not necessary to manually set the settings, it is possible to save the trouble of setting.

Furthermore, since the reproduction volume level is automatically set, the time for setting can be saved and the call time can be shortened.

Furthermore, depending on the difference in individual hearing,
Even if the message volume cannot be heard sufficiently with the automatically set playback volume level, the playback volume level can be set by entering the command to switch the playback volume. You can listen to the message at the level.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the processing when listening to a message recorded on the telephone 33 through the telephone network 21 in the third embodiment of the present invention. The telephone 33 has the same configuration as the telephone 1 shown in FIG.

The feature of the telephone 33 in this embodiment is that the volume of the surrounding area on the receiving side is measured when the message is reproduced in the remote operation mode, and the volume of the message reproduced is measured based on the measured volume level. Is to determine.

In the flow chart shown in FIG.
The same steps as those in the flowchart of FIG. In this flowchart, the process of step s31 is inserted between the steps s2 and s3 of the flowchart shown in FIG.
The process of step s32 is inserted between 8 and step s9. Further, as in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the process of step s8 is deleted.

In step s2, when the telephone line network 21 is closed in the network control device 3 and an incoming call is automatically received, in the subsequent step s31, the volume of the surrounding sound input via the handset of the receiving side is controlled. The control device 2 sets the reproduction volume level of the reproduction volume control device 9 based on the measured volume level measured by the volume measurement device 12. Table 3 below shows the relationship between the measured sound volume level and the set sound volume level.

[0049]

[Table 3]

As shown in Table 3, when the measured sound volume level is a value of 0 to 5, the reproduction sound volume level in the reproduction sound volume adjusting device 9 is set to 5. When the measured sound volume level is 6 or more, the set sound volume level is incremented by 1 each time the measured sound volume level is increased by 1.

The description of the flowchart of FIG. 4 will be continued. According to the reproduction volume level set in step s31, the response message is reproduced in subsequent step s3. When a specific code is input in step s4, the process proceeds to step s8. In step s8, it is determined whether or not the command by the DTMF signal is input. If a command is detected in step s8, the process proceeds to step s32. In step s32, the same processing as step s31 is performed again. After the reproduction volume level is set in step s32, the processes of step s9 and thereafter are performed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the volume level around the listener is measured by the volume measuring device 12, and the reproduction volume of the message in the reproduction volume adjusting device 9 is determined based on the volume level. Since the setting is made, it is possible to comfortably listen to the message even when the volume level of the surroundings is high due to noise or the like.

Since the reproduction volume level is automatically set based on the surrounding volume level measured by the volume measuring device 12, the listener does not have to manually set the reproduction volume level. You can save the trouble of setting. Further, since the reproduction volume level is automatically set, the time for setting can be saved and the call time can be shortened. In addition, even if the automatically set playback volume level does not allow you to fully hear the message due to differences in individual hearing, you can change the playback volume level by entering a command to switch the playback volume. Since it can be set, you can listen to the message at a comfortable volume level.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a voice message is reproduced from the outside via a telephone line and listened to, a reproduction volume is adjusted by inputting a volume adjustment command which is a DTMF signal. Then, the listener can adjust the volume to a desired reproduction volume and listen to the voice message.

Further, according to the present invention, when a voice message is reproduced from the outside via a telephone line and listened to, the reproduction volume is adjusted based on the volume of the DTMF signal input to operate the telephone. Since the output is performed, the listener can listen to the voice message at the reproduction volume according to the situation of the telephone line without adjusting the reproduction volume, and the labor for the adjustment can be omitted.

Further, according to the present invention, when the voice message is reproduced from the outside via the telephone line and listened to, the reproduction volume is adjusted and output based on the voice signal received via the telephone line. Even if the listener does not adjust the reproduction volume, the voice message can be heard at the reproduction volume according to the volume level around the listener, and the labor for adjustment can be omitted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of telephones 1, 32, and 33.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process for listening to a message message recorded by the telephone set 1 through the telephone line network 21 in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of listening to a message message recorded by a telephone set 32 through a telephone line network 21 in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process of listening to a recorded message of interest through the telephone network 21 in the telephone 33 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 32, 33 Telephone 2 Control device 3 Network control device 4 Recording device 5 Voice data storage device 6 Playback device 7 Storage device 8 Operation button group 9 Playback volume control device 10 DTMF signal detection device 11 DTMF volume measurement device 12 Volume measurement device 13 handset 14 speaker 15 dial button 16 play button 17 stop button 18 absence button 21 telephone network

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An automatic response means for storing a voice message sent from a calling side after receiving a ringing signal after receiving a calling signal a predetermined number of times and transmitting a response message, and an automatic response means stored in the storage means. A reproducing unit for reproducing and outputting a voice message; a volume adjusting unit for adjusting a reproducing volume by the reproducing unit; and a command analyzing unit for analyzing whether a DTMF signal received from a telephone line is a volume adjusting command, The volume adjusting means adjusts the reproduction volume in response to the output of the command analyzing means. 2. An automatic response means for storing a voice message sent from a calling side after receiving a ringing signal after receiving a predetermined number of times and transmitting a response message in a storage means, and an automatic response means stored in the storage means. Reproduction means for reproducing and outputting a voice message, volume control means for adjusting the reproduction volume by the reproduction means, command analysis means for analyzing whether the DTMF signal received from the telephone line is a predetermined command, and telephone line Volume control means for measuring the volume of the received DTMF signal, wherein the volume control means controls the reproduction volume based on the output of the volume measurement means when a predetermined command is received. Telephone to do. 3. Automatic response means for storing in a storage means a voice message sent from a calling side after receiving a call signal after receiving a predetermined number of times and transmitting a response message, and an automatic response means stored in the storage means. Reproduction means for reproducing and outputting a voice message, volume control means for adjusting the reproduction volume by the reproduction means, command analysis means for analyzing whether the DTMF signal received from the telephone line is a predetermined command, and telephone line Volume control means for measuring the volume of the received audio signal, wherein the volume control means adjusts the reproduction volume based on the output of the volume measurement means when a predetermined command is received. Telephone to do.