JPH08331226A - Push button signal generator for telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a miniaturized and lightened push button signal generator for telephone with which the use of a dial button is unnecessitated, an operation by buttons for operation or touch keys at a minimum is made simple and secure and an operating function except for registration/read out can be secured as well by providing the function of interfacing with external equipment including a personal computer. CONSTITUTION: An external interface part 4 interfaces a personal computer 101 and an input part 1 provided with the buttons for operation at a minimum is connected with the personal computer 101 so that required dial data can be previously stored in a register storage part 2. These stored data are read out by the input part 1 and a push button signal in a DTMF form is sent from a PB signal generating part 3 to a speaker 10. The data can be registered/read out by an infrared remote controller 5 and an infrared light receiving part 6 as well. An LCD display part 7 displays the read dial data and a CPU 8 controls the entire operation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a telephone push button signal generator, and more particularly to a limited number of operation buttons without using a dial button in which a plurality of dials having a predetermined number of digits are registered in advance. Also, the present invention relates to a mobile phone or IC card type push button signal generator for a telephone, which can read a dial registered with a touch key and send it as a push button signal from a speaker.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A push-button telephone that generates push-button signals, which are so-called DTMF (Dual Tone Multi-Frequency) signals having a two-frequency configuration by arranging push-button dials, uses a preset push-button signal of a plurality of digits. In recent years, the number of information services that can access various information centers to obtain desired information has been increasing.

However, among the telephones called push-button telephones, only the push-button arrangement is the same as that of a normal push-button telephone, so that the push-button signal of a specific multi-digit push button to receive the above-mentioned information service is pushed. Some items cannot be sent by pressing the button.

When an information service is to be received by such a telephone, the information service can be exchanged by transmitting a push button signal as a voice signal to a center providing the information service through a telephone line. It will be possible. An example of a push button signal used in this case is a specific multi-digit dial such as # 101.

Now, let us assume a case in which a home telephone is called by a public telephone or the like from a place away from a proprietary telephone such as an urban area, and the center is accessed to receive an information service. In such a case, a portable push button signal generator that transmits a push button signal for receiving a desired information service toward the center is required.

[0006] There are the following two types of conventional portable push button signal generators for such purposes. The first type is to set the corresponding dial one-to-one. One kind of push button signal is sent only when the dial button is pressed, or it is registered in combination with a special dial button including # etc. The push button signal of one or more digits of the plurality of stored data is transmitted, and there is also one having a display function of the push button signal to be transmitted. For registering the target dial data, a special button is used in addition to the dial button on the main body of the telephone, so a considerable number of buttons are required, which is smaller and lighter than the second type described below. it can.

Further, the second type is constructed as an electronic notebook integrated type, and more keys and buttons are arranged as compared with the first type described above, and the weight is large, and it is generally used. Is not portable so that people can easily carry it around.

[0008]

The conventional telephone push button signal generator described above has the following problems. (1) A considerable number of keys and push buttons are required for registering / reading push button signals. Specifically, at least 12 special dials and at least two special ones are required. (2) Since there are many keys and push buttons, it is easy to make a mistake in viewing and pushing, and the push button signal generator that is installed close to the mouthpiece of the handset of the telephone comes off the handset with the force of pushing the push button. It is not suitable for emergency operations such as emergency contact because it is easy to cause erroneous operations such as getting lost. (3) Since it does not have an interface with external equipment, especially a personal computer level computer,
Data registration method is limited to key and push button input,
It is also impossible to expand the operation to other uses.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, facilitate data registration / readout with a simple configuration in which keys and push buttons are greatly reduced, and use a dial using an external device such as a personal computer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a small-sized, lightweight portable or IC card type push-button signal generator for telephones that enables data registration / readout and expanded operation.

[0010]

The present invention has the following means constitution in order to achieve the above-mentioned object. That is, the first configuration of the present invention relating to a push-button signal generator for a telephone generates a push-button signal corresponding to a plurality of digits and a plurality of dials by securing an interface with a personal computer without using a dial button. A push-button signal generator for a telephone characterized by being formed as a portable type, having the following configurations (a) to (g). (A) Input unit having operation buttons for registering / reading out a predetermined number of digits and a plurality of dials (b) Storing data of the predetermined number of digits and a plurality of dials registered by the input unit (C) An interface with the personal computer is ensured, and the predetermined plural digits and plural dials are read from the personal computer by the connecting operation between the input unit and the personal computer and registered in the registration storage unit. External interface section (d) A push button signal generating section for generating a DTMF format push button signal corresponding to the dial read from the registration storage section by the input section (e) A push generated by the push button signal generating section Speaker (f) that sends out button signals CPU for controlling the operation (g) power supply unit for supplying power necessary for the operation of each unit

The second structure of the present invention is formed on or integrated with an IC card to secure an interface with a personal computer and to provide a push button signal corresponding to a plurality of digits and a plurality of dials to a dial button. A push-button signal generator for telephones, which is generated as unnecessary and is formed as an IC card type, and has the following configurations (a) to (g). (A) Input unit equipped with touch keys for registering / reading out a predetermined number of digits and a plurality of numbers (b) Registration memory for storing data of the predetermined number of digits and a plurality of dials registered by the input unit Part (c) An external interface part that secures an interface with a personal computer, and reads out the predetermined plural digits and plural dials from the personal computer by the connecting operation of the input part and the personal computer and registers them in the registration storage part. (D) A push button signal generation unit for generating a DTMF format push button signal corresponding to the dial read from the registration storage unit by the input unit. (E) A push button signal generated by the push button signal generation unit. The speaker (f) control program to be sent out is built-in to control the operation of each part. To CPU (g) power supply unit for supplying necessary power to each part of the operation

In addition, in a third configuration of the present invention, in the first configuration, under the control of the CPU, infrared rays are used as a transmission medium to register / read the predetermined plural digits and plural dials. It has a structure provided with means for enabling remote control.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or third configuration, under the control of the CPU,
It has a configuration including means for visually displaying a dial read from the registration storage unit.

[0014]

The operation of the present invention having the above construction will be described below. To obtain desired information by accessing various information centers that provide various information to telephone terminals through telephone lines from telephones other than formal push-button telephones, use DT
It is necessary to generate a push button signal in the MF signal format (hereinafter abbreviated as PB signal) and send it to the telephone line.

In the conventional PB signal generator used for this purpose, only one corresponding PB signal is transmitted only when the dial button is pressed, or a plurality of registration data among a plurality of registration data is combined with the special button. One type that sends a PB signal of multiple digits, and one that has an electronic notebook integrated structure and has all the functions of the type described above, send more PB signals by arranging more keys and push buttons. There are some types.

These two types are as follows:
Data registration is a total of at least 10 + 2 buttons and α (α ≧ 2) special buttons on the phone body (12 + 2)
Since it is done with one button, it is necessary to use a considerable number of keys and buttons corresponding to this, so for misunderstanding,
It is apt to be mistakenly pressed, and an erroneous operation such as the PB signal generator being detached from the handset of the telephone to which the button is attached is likely to occur due to the force of pressing the button, which is particularly unsuitable for the purpose of emergency contact. Further, the latter type has more keys and buttons than the former type, and is heavy and unsuitable for portable use. Furthermore, since neither type has an interface with external devices, especially a personal computer, the data registration means is limited to key and button inputs, and cannot be used for other purposes.

According to the present invention, a personal computer as an external device or an infrared remote controller (hereinafter, abbreviated as an infrared remote controller) is provided with an interface control function so that dial data can be registered and read out.
It is possible to significantly suppress the number of at least (12 + 2) buttons in the related art for generating a signal to send a push button signal corresponding to a plurality of digits and a plurality of dials, and eliminate various kinds of erroneous operations. We have realized a compact, lightweight portable or IC card type push button signal generator for telephones that can handle emergency calls.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention. The telephone push button signal generator shown in FIG. 1 has a dial data registration / readout function by securing an interface between a personal computer and an external device such as an infrared remote controller, and is a portable push button that visually displays the read data. The signal generator 11 stores an input unit 1 for inputting and setting a predetermined multi-digit dial with a limited number of operation buttons, and data for a predetermined multi-digit and plural dials registered by the input unit 1. An external interface that secures an interface between the registration storage unit 2 and the personal computer, and reads a predetermined plurality of digits and a plurality of dials from the personal computer by the connecting operation of the input unit 1 and the personal computer and registers them in the registration storage unit 2. Read from the registration storage unit 2 by the unit 4 and the input unit 1. DT corresponding to the 1er
A PB signal generator 3 that generates a push button signal in the MF format, a speaker 10 that sends the push button signal generated by the PB signal generator 3, a CPU 8 that incorporates a control program and controls the operation of each unit, and each unit. Together with the power source unit 9 for supplying the power required for the operation of the infrared ray remote controller 5 and the infrared remote controller 5 for registering and reading a plurality of digits and a plurality of dials with infrared rays as a transmission medium in the portable push button signal generator 11 An infrared light receiving unit 6 which forms a remote unit for registration / readout by infrared rays, receives infrared rays sent from the infrared remote controller 5, and registers / reads dial data to / from the registration storage unit 2 via the external interface unit 4, Under the control of the CPU 8, the LCD display section 7 as a means for visually displaying the read dial from the registration storage section 2; Comprising, still in Figure 1, the external interface connector / cable (R for interfacing with the personal computer 101 and the external interface section 4
S-232C) 102 is also shown.

3A and 3B are perspective views of the portable push button signal generator 11 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3A is a front perspective view and FIG. 3B is a rear perspective view. The portable push button signal generator 11 has a plurality of, in this embodiment, five operation buttons 103 arranged on the surface of a thin cubic case. Below each operation button, the name of each button and A label 104 displaying operating functions and the like is provided. An external interface connector (RS-232C) 102 for connecting to the personal computer 101 is provided on the side surface together with a cable (not shown), and an infrared receiving window 601 of the infrared receiving section 6 is provided on the front surface. . Further, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), a speaker 10 is arranged on the back surface and a PB signal is transmitted from this.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the infrared remote controller shown in FIG. The infrared remote controller 5 includes five operation buttons 501 including activation corresponding to the operation buttons of the input unit 1 required for registration / readout of dial data by infrared rays, and an infrared projection window 502.

Next, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The portable push button signal generator 11 includes a personal computer 101 and an external interface connector /
Connected via a cable (RS-232C) 102, a plurality of dials having a plurality of digits are registered in the registration storage unit 2 by a combination operation of some or all of the five operation buttons 103 of the input unit 1. Such registration is performed by setting an access dial necessary for acquiring various service data by pressing the operation button 103 individually or in combination while the interface is secured by the external interface unit 4. The registered data includes various data including a telephone number, second dial data, communication protocol data and the like.

The input section 1 reads out data of a desired dial from the registration storage section 2 and sends it to the PB signal generation section 3 by any one of the operation buttons 103 or a combination operation of at most two or three buttons. The PB signal generator 3 generates a PB signal corresponding to the input dial and supplies it to the speaker 10 for output. The PB signal is transmitted to the telephone line by the transmitter by putting the speaker 10 on or near the mouthpiece of the telephone.

The dial supplied from the registration storage unit 2 to the PB signal generation unit 3 is displayed and confirmed on the LCD display unit 7 using an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). When the infrared remote controller 5 is used, a multi-digit dial designated by the operation of the operation buttons of the infrared remote controller 5 shown in FIG. 4 is used as an infrared signal from the light projecting window 502 to the infrared receiver 6 of the infrared receiver 6 shown in FIG. The window 601 is illuminated. The operation button 501 for setting the dial transmission by infrared ray can be dialed by the same operation procedure as the dial setting by the operation button 103 of the input section 1, and the infrared ray receiving section converted into an electric signal by the infrared ray receiving section 6 The output of 6 is registered in the registration storage unit 2 under the interface processing by the interface unit 4. The dial read by the infrared remote controller 5 is supplied to the PB signal generation unit 3 and also to the LCD display unit 7, and the speaker 10 sends and displays the PB signal of the dial.

The CPU 8 has an input unit 1, a registration storage unit 2, P
A control program necessary for controlling the operation of the B signal generating section 3, the external interface section 4, the infrared light receiving section 6, and the LCD display section 7 is built in, and the operation of each section is controlled under the control of this control program. The power supply unit 9 supplies power to the above-mentioned units and the CPU 8. In the above-described first embodiment, the infrared remote control 5 and the infrared light receiving unit 6 perform dial reading using infrared rays as a transmission medium.
This is not always necessary together with the LCD display unit 7, and can be arbitrarily arranged as desired.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention. The telephone push button signal generator shown in FIG. 2 is a portable push button signal generator 31 configured as an IC card type, and is provided with a predetermined number of digits and a limited number of touch keys for performing registration / reading. The input unit 21, the registration storage unit 22 for storing a predetermined plurality of digits and a plurality of dial data registered by the input unit 21, and the interface with the personal computer are secured, and the input unit 21 and the personal computer are connected. An external interface unit 24 for reading a predetermined plurality of digits and a plurality of dials from a personal computer by operation and registering them in the registration storage unit 22, and a DTMF format corresponding to the dial read from the registration storage unit 22 by the input unit 21. Built-in PB signal generator 23 for generating push button signals and control program , The CPU25 for controlling the operation of each unit, a power supply unit 27 supplies necessary power to each part of the operation, and sends the PB signal loudspeaker 26
And the personal computer 101 in FIG.
Is also shown.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the IC card type push button signal generator 31 of FIG. Thickness is a few mm
IC card type push button signal generator 31
Touch key for operation of touch key type of input unit 21 on the surface
211 is arranged, a speaker 26 using a plate-shaped speaker is attached to the back surface, and an IC card connector 311 for connecting to a personal computer 101 (not shown) via a bus line is arranged on the side surface. Have.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The touch key 211 for operation of the input unit 21 is S
In addition to (start-up), each of the F1, F2, F3, and F4 touch keys is provided, and the combination of these touch keys and the keyboard of the personal computer 101 connected via the bus line are commonly used to personalize the registration storage unit 22. A plurality of dials having a predetermined plurality of digits stored in the computer 101 are registered under the interface of the external interface unit 24. The push button signals corresponding to these plural digits and plural dials are various push button signals including a telephone number, second dial data, communication protocol data and the like.

The data registered in the registration storage section 22 is read out by pressing one of the operation touch keys 211 of the input section 21 or at most two or three, and is supplied to the PB signal generating section 23. . The PB signal generator 23 generates a PB signal corresponding to the supplied data and supplies the PB signal to the speaker 26 that uses a plate-shaped speaker. The speaker 26 is
An audible PB signal is transmitted, and this PB signal is transmitted from the mouthpiece of the telephone to the telephone line.

In this way, both the portable type and the IC card type push button signal generators for telephones have an interface with a personal computer and can register a wide variety of data. It is possible to realize a push button signal generator for a telephone having a lightweight and compact structure in which the input operation is simplified by registering and using the dial and the occurrence of error operation is significantly suppressed.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, both the portable type and the IC card type telephone push button signal generators have an interface function with the personal computer, and further, the portable type infrared rays are infrared rays. By controlling the registration / reading of dial data by also having an interface function for the remote controller, the dial button, which was indispensable in the past, becomes unnecessary and the push buttons and touch keys for operation required for registration / reading are pressed. The number of buttons can also be significantly reduced, which simplifies and ensures the operation, and has the effect of realizing a compact and lightweight push button signal generator for telephones that is suitable for emergency use and can be widely operated. Further, there is an effect that a push button signal generator for a telephone which can perform functions other than registration / readout, for example, application operations such as data communication using a telephone line can be realized based on the connection operation with a personal computer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a push-button signal generator for a mobile phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a push button signal generator for an IC card type telephone according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a front (a) and back (b) perspective view of the push-button signal generator for the mobile phone of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the infrared remote controller of FIG.

5 is a front perspective view of the push-button signal generator for the IC card type telephone of FIG. 2. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Input Section 2 Registration Storage Section 3 PB Signal Generation Section 4 External Interface Section 5 Infrared Remote Control 6 Infrared Receiver 7 LCD Display Section 8 CPU 9 Power Supply Section 10 Speaker 11 Portable Push Button Signal Generator 21 Input Section 22 Registration Storage Section 23 PB signal generator 24 External interface 25 CPU 26 Speaker 27 Power supply 31 IC card type push button signal generator

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A push-button signal corresponding to a plurality of digits and a plurality of dials is generated without requiring a dial button, and is formed as a portable type by providing each of the following configurations. A push button signal generator for telephones. (A) Input unit having operation buttons for registering / reading out a predetermined number of digits and a plurality of dials (b) Storing data of the predetermined number of digits and a plurality of dials registered by the input unit (C) An interface with the personal computer is ensured, and the predetermined plural digits and plural dials are read from the personal computer by the connecting operation between the input unit and the personal computer and registered in the registration storage unit. External interface section (d) A push button signal generating section for generating a DTMF format push button signal corresponding to the dial read from the registration storage section by the input section (e) A push generated by the push button signal generating section Speaker (f) that sends out button signals CPU for controlling the operation (g) power supply unit for supplying power necessary for the operation of each unit 2. The following configurations are formed or integrated on an IC card to secure an interface with a personal computer and generate push button signals corresponding to a plurality of digits and a plurality of dials without using a dial button. And a push button signal generator for a telephone, which is formed as an IC card type. (A) Input unit equipped with touch keys for registering / reading out a predetermined number of digits and a plurality of numbers (b) Registration memory for storing data of the predetermined number of digits and a plurality of dials registered by the input unit Part (c) An external interface part that secures an interface with a personal computer, and reads out the predetermined plural digits and plural dials from the personal computer by the connecting operation of the input part and the personal computer and registers them in the registration storage part. (D) A push button signal generation unit for generating a DTMF format push button signal corresponding to the dial read from the registration storage unit by the input unit. (E) A push button signal generated by the push button signal generation unit. The speaker (f) control program to be sent out is built-in to control the operation of each part. To CPU (g) power supply unit for supplying necessary power to each part of the operation 3. Under the control of the CPU, a means for remotely registering / reading the predetermined plural digits and plural dials is provided by using infrared rays as a transmission medium. The telephone push button signal generator according to claim 1. 4. The telephone push button signal generator according to claim 1, further comprising means for visually displaying a dial read from the registration storage unit under the control of the CPU. .