JPH10150489A - Automatic call back method to called party and telephone system with automatic call back function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic call back method to the called party and a telephone system with automatic call back function, capable of judging whether or not the called party is to be called back, of information a user that the called party is automatically called back only when the called party is to be called back, and of automatically calling the called party back when a response from the user is received. SOLUTION: In a communication method to receive a telephone number of the called party and to automatically call the telephone system at the called party back, when an incoming call from the called party is received, the telephone number of the called party is detected, when the incoming call is stopped because no response is received by a receiving side, the detected telephone number of the called party is compared with the number previously registered in a storage means 4, only when the numbers is coincident with each other, a calling tone is transmitted from the telephone system of the user at a receiving side after the lapse of a fixed time and only when the response to the calling tone is received, the called party provided with the telephone number of the called party is automatically called back.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic reply method and a telephone device with an automatic reply function for automatically returning a call to a number of a specific destination to a call received while the user is away.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a telephone with an automatic transmission device has been known. As this type of telephone with an automatic transmission device, there is a telephone described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 23759/1990. In this telephone with an automatic calling device, when the user of the telephone with an automatic calling device (hereinafter simply referred to as “user”) cannot answer the telephone due to absence or the like, the telephone automatically answers the other party and prompts the other party for the name and requirements. And the name of the other party who responds to the request.

After that, registration of the telephone number of the other party is prompted, and when the registration of the telephone number notified by the other party is completed, communication is terminated and the line is disconnected. Then, after a preset time has elapsed, a sound is generated from the speaker, the LED blinks, and the call is automatically returned and sent back (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a reply) until an incoming call is received. It is supposed to.

[0004]

However, the telephone with the automatic calling device is configured to reply to all the parties who have notified the telephone number. Therefore, for example, if a sales person notifies a telephone number of a sales person who does not need to reply, the sales person will reply. In addition, since a reply is automatically made regardless of whether the user is at home or not, the other party may be replied even when there is no talking party (user), which is annoying.

[0005] Therefore, in a conventional telephone with an automatic calling device, it is necessary to check before replying whether or not the other party needs a reply. If the reply is unnecessary and the reply is unnecessary, the reply can be canceled. Function is required. In addition, when the user cannot answer the telephone due to absence or the like, an operation of canceling the reply function is requested by the user in advance. As described above, the conventional telephone with an automatic transmission device has a functionally insufficient point.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to determine whether or not the other party needs to reply, and only when the other party needs to reply, , Let the user know that they will reply automatically,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic reply method and a telephone device with an automatic reply function that can automatically reply to a destination when a response is received from a user.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a communication method for receiving a destination telephone number and automatically making a return call to the destination telephone device. When the call is detected and there is no response from the receiver, and the incoming call is stopped, the detected destination telephone number and the storage means (4)
After a certain period of time elapses only when there is a match with the number registered in the telephone number, a ringing tone is transmitted from the telephone device of the user on the receiving side, and the other party having the destination telephone number only when answering the ringing tone. It is characterized by sending an automatic call back to the destination.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that a ringing tone is transmitted to clarify that automatic return transmission is to be performed, and a message to the effect of performing automatic return transmission is transmitted to the handset (8) when the call is answered. .

Further, according to the present invention, a ringing tone is generated from the telephone device on the receiving side, and if no response is made, an automatic return call is made to the telephone device on the receiving side after a lapse of a certain time via the timer (5). It is characterized by transmitting a ringing tone for notifying that.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that when no response is made, the ringing tone is transmitted a predetermined number of times.

[0011] The present invention also provides a telephone device capable of receiving an incoming call from a destination capable of notifying the destination telephone number and automatically making a return call to the terminal, in which at least one or more specific destination telephone numbers are stored in advance. Input means (3) for inputting,
Means (4, 2) for storing the input specific destination telephone number as a registration number and comparing the registration number with the transmitted destination telephone number; Calling means (2, 7, 6) for notifying the user of the receiver's telephone device of a return call after a lapse of a predetermined time via the timer (5) only when the callee's telephone number matches, This calling means (2, 7, 6)
Only when there is a response from the telephone number, an automatic return call is sent to the destination telephone number side.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a telephone apparatus with an automatic reply function according to the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 denotes an external line interface connected to a telephone line via a connector (not shown), and includes a dial sending circuit, an automatic incoming call circuit, and a destination telephone number detecting circuit.

The automatic call receiving circuit detects an incoming signal transmitted to the telephone via a telephone line when a telephone call is made, and transmits the detected signal to the CPU 2. Further, when the setting of performing the “automatic response” and the “automatic reply” described later is made, an automatic incoming call is made according to a command from the CPU 2 which performs comparison, judgment and processing.

The other party's telephone number detection circuit receives the transmitted telephone number information when detecting the other party's telephone number, that is, the telephone number, and notifies the CPU 2 of the information. When the user on the receiving side can pick up the handset 8 and respond, the user can make a normal telephone call via the telephone circuit 9 connected to the external line interface 1.

Reference numeral 3 denotes input means comprising operation switches such as numeric keys and function keys. The input means 3 is connected to the CPU 2 and allows the user to store a specific destination telephone number (hereinafter referred to as a registration number) in the storage means 4 via the CPU 2 by the input means 3. ), Name, company name, etc., and data input such as a time interval at which replies are repeated (hereinafter referred to as a reply timer time), the number of replies, and the like.

The input means 3 can input each setting in the "preset" process.

The input means 3 can also perform other inputs such as setting and canceling of an answering machine function, so that various input states are displayed on a display section 10 composed of a liquid crystal display connected to the CPU 2. It is configured.

The timer 5 functions as a clock, and the time of the timer 5 can be read by the CPU 2.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a ringing tone transmitting circuit for driving the speaker 6 and informing the user of a call by sound in response to a signal from the CPU 2. The speaker 6 emits, for example, a sound “peep” (hereinafter referred to as a peep sound).

The communication circuit 9 is connected to the handset 8 and has a function of converting a transmission signal (message or the like) from the CPU 2 into a voice. The voice-converted transmission signal is notified to the user via the handset 8. Is done.

The communication circuit 9 has a voice recognition circuit and also has a function of converting a voice message input by the user from the handset 8 into a digital signal. This digital signal is stored in the storage means 4 via the CPU 2. Further, the communication circuit 9 is connected to the telephone line via the external line interface 1 as described above.

The communication circuit 9 converts a voice signal transmitted from the telephone line via the external line interface 1 into a digital signal.
It is stored in the storage means 4 via the CPU 2.

Next, the operation of the present apparatus will be described with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a preset operation for performing an automatic reply.

First, a response message to the other party is input from the handset 8 by voice. This voice is converted into a digital signal by the communication circuit 9 and stored in the storage unit 4 via the CPU 2. Alternatively, the user selects a favorite message from the response messages to some parties stored in advance in the storage means 4 via the input means 3 (step 10).
2).

Next, the reply timer time and the number of replies are set by operating the input means 3 (step 103). The time and the number of times can be freely set.

Next, it is set by the input means 3 whether or not the processing of "automatic response" and "automatic reply" is performed (step 104). If "automatic response" and "automatic reply" are set to be processed, "automatic response" and "automatic reply" become possible, and if "automatic response" and "automatic reply" are set not to be processed. Means "automatic reply" and "automatic reply"
Is not performed.

Next, a specific destination telephone number requiring a reply is set in the storage means 4 by the input means 3 in advance (step 105). The telephone number set at this time is the registration number. Also, for example, the name of the other party, the name of the company, and other data are input as needed.

Note that step 103 and step 10
Of course, the procedure of 5 may be changed back and forth.

The "automatic response" process will be described below with reference to the flowchart of the "automatic response" process shown in FIG. As described above, the "automatic response" process is set when the "automatic response" and "automatic reply" processes are performed, and is performed when a call is received.

In FIG. 3, when an incoming signal is transmitted from the other party via the telephone line, the incoming signal is detected by the automatic incoming circuit of the external line interface 1 and is automatically received (step 201).

The CPU 2 reads out the message set in step 102 from the storage means 4 as described above, converts the message into a voice signal in the communication circuit 9, and sends a message to notify the response via the external line interface 1 to the other party ( Step 202).

Next, the CPU 2 stores a message prompting the user to insert a message after the beep is emitted.
, And this message is converted into a voice signal by the communication circuit 9. Then, the voice signal and the beep sound are transmitted to the telephone line via the external line interface 1 (step 20).
3) In response, the message sent from the other party is recorded as a digital signal by the communication circuit 9 via the external line interface 1 in the storage means 4 (step 204).

Next, the CPU 2 reads from the storage means 4 a message requesting the input of the telephone number of the other party after the beep sound (the second beep sound) is issued, and outputs the beep sound together with this message. (Step 205).

Next, the CPU 2 detects whether the method of transmitting the telephone number information of the other party is a push button (hereinafter referred to as PB) or a voice by the other party's telephone number detecting circuit of the external line interface 1 and it is PB. In this case, the other party's telephone number is received and stored in the storage means 4 (step 206). This is called a storage number.

On the other hand, if it is a voice, the external telephone interface 1
Is informed that the information is telephone number information by voice, and C
The PU2 converts the voice signal into a digital signal via the voice recognition circuit of the communication circuit 9, and the CPU 2 stores the digital signal in the storage means 4 (storage number) (step 20).
6) and disconnect the line (step 207).

Next, the CPU 2 compares the storage number with a specific registration number registered in the storage means 4 in advance (step 208). If all the registration numbers do not match, the "automatic response" process is terminated. I do.

On the other hand, if there is a matching registration number, the CPU 2 stores the storage number matching the registration number in the storage means 4 as a reply registration number and sets the time at which it is stored (called a registration time) as a timer. 5, the registration time is added to the reply registration number and stored in the storage means 4, the storage number processed at this time is deleted, and the "automatic response" process is terminated (step 209).

In the above-described embodiment, the telephone number of the other party needs to be input to detect the telephone number of the other party. It can also detect numbers.

The "automatic reply" process will be described below with reference to the flowchart of the "automatic reply" process in FIG. This process is a process that is repeatedly performed for a reply registration number that meets the following conditions. The condition is that the reply registration number is stored in the storage means 4 and the registration time attached to the reply registration number is subtracted from the time indicated by the timer 5 by the CPU 2 and the subtracted value is a “preset”. This is a case where the return timer time set in step 103 of the process is a positive integer multiple.

First, the speaker 6 is instructed by the CPU 2.
Generates a beep, for example, to inform the user that a reply is to be made. Further, the CPU 2 displays and informs the display unit 10 of, for example, "call to (name, etc.)" on the display unit 10 with the name or company name stored along with the registration number corresponding to the reply registration number (step 3).
01).

In response to the notification, the user picks up the handset 8 and goes off-hook (the hook switch is closed).
In this state, the CPU 2 determines that there is a response (step 302). If there is no response, the CPU 2 ends the "automatic reply" process without sending the reply registration number.

On the other hand, when the response is received,
2 reads out a message to reply from the storage means 4, converts this message into a voice signal by the communication circuit 9 and sends it to the handset 8, and sends the reply registration number to the telephone line via the external line interface 1 ( Step 303).

It is determined from the signal via the external line interface 1 whether or not there is an incoming call for the transmitted outgoing call.
U2 determines (step 304), and if there is an incoming call,
The CPU 2 deletes the reply registration number from the storage means 4 (step 308), and ends the "automatic reply" process.

If there is no incoming call, the number of times the reply registration number has been sent to the telephone line in step 303 is integrated by the CPU 2 and stored in the memory 4 with this reply registration number (step 305). This accumulated number is compared with the number of replies set in step 103 of the "preset" process (step 306), and if they are equal, the CPU 2 stores this reply registration number in the storage means 4 as a hold reply registration number. (Step 307), and the reply registration number is deleted (Step 308). If the number of times integrated in step 306 is small, the process ends. However, as described above, the "automatic reply" process is a process repeated under the above conditions.

It should be noted that the hold reply registration number can be displayed on the display section 10 and can be changed to a reply registration number again or deleted by the function key of the input means 3.

As described above, the reply registration number is transmitted only when there is a response from the user (step 30).
3) Although the “automatic reply” is terminated, the reply registration number is stored, and the value obtained by subtracting the registration time attached to the reply registration number from the time indicated by the timer 5 is the “preset” in FIG. If it is a positive integer multiple of the reply timer time set in step 103 of the "process", the "automatic reply" process is repeated.

If another reply registration number becomes the time for performing the "auto-reply" process during the "auto-reply" process, the other reply registration number becomes "auto-reply" as soon as the process being performed is completed. Reply "processing.

In the embodiment described above, the "auto-reply" process is repeated by the set number of replies, but the "auto-reply" process may be repeated until a call arrives at the other party. . Further, it is also possible to display the reply registration number on the display unit 10 and immediately transmit the dial of the reply registration number selected via the input means 3 from the reply registration number via the input means 3.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is necessary for the user to automatically reply without storing the message and telephone number of the other party, and to send out the reply registration number. Judgment is made as to whether or not there is a certain party, and only when it is necessary, the user is notified that an automatic reply will be made, and if there is a response from the user, an automatic reply will be made. The user does not need to stop work and answer the phone, nor lose information from the other party.

That is, according to this embodiment, since a reply is not automatically sent to a party who does not need a reply, the trouble of having to talk with a party who does not need a reply is eliminated. In addition, since there is no automatic reply when there is no user, there is an effect that no trouble is caused to the partner.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a telephone device with an automatic reply function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a preset operation for causing an automatic reply to be performed;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an “automatic response” process.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an “automatic reply” process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 External line interface 2 CPU 3 Input means 4 Storage means 5 Timer 6 Speaker 7 Ring tone transmission circuit 8 Handset 9 Talk circuit 10 Display part

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A communication method for receiving a telephone number of a called party and automatically making a return call to the called party telephone device, wherein when receiving a call from a called party, the called party telephone number is detected and the receiving party's telephone number is detected. When there is no answer and the incoming call is stopped, the detected destination telephone number is compared with the number registered in the storage means (4) in advance, and only when a match is found, a call is made from the telephone device of the user on the receiving side after a lapse of a predetermined time. A method for automatically replying to a called party, comprising transmitting a sound and automatically making a return call to the called party having the called party telephone number only when answering the ringing tone. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a ringing tone is transmitted to clarify that automatic return transmission is to be performed, and a message to the effect of performing automatic return transmission is transmitted to the handset (8) when the call is answered. Automatic reply method. 3. A telephone device according to claim 1, wherein a ringing tone is generated from the telephone device on the receiving side, and if no answer is received, the telephone device on the receiving side is automatically transmitted to the telephone device on the receiving side after a lapse of a predetermined time via the timer (5). An automatic reply method to the other party that sends out a ring tone to notify that a return call will be made. 4. A method according to claim 2, wherein, when no response is made, a ring tone is repeatedly transmitted a predetermined number of times. 5. An input for receiving an incoming call from a destination capable of notifying a destination telephone number and automatically inputting at least one or more specific destination telephone numbers in a telephone device capable of automatically making a return call to the destination. Means (3) and means (4, 4) for storing the input specific destination telephone number as a registration number and comparing the registration number with the transmitted destination telephone number.
(2) Only when the registered number matches the called party's telephone number, a call that informs the user of the receiver's telephone device of the return call after a predetermined time has passed via the timer (5). Means (2, 7, 6) for automatically returning a call to the destination telephone number only when a response is received from the calling means (2, 7, 6). Telephone equipment.