JPH11112644A - Communication terminal equipment with recording function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To record the response message of an appropriate volume level by recording a response message to be returned through a line at the time of call termination and displaying visibly the volume level of the response message during recording. SOLUTION: For a facsimile equipment F, a modem 1 for executing a facsimile communication procedure, and modulating and demodulating signals for performing data communication through a telephone line L, which is an analog line and a TAD chip 2 which is the dedicated line of automatic recording for constituting a recording means are connected in parallel to the secondary side of a line transformer T. The TAD chip 2 is provided with an automatic recording memory 3 constituted of a voice IC and a recording tape, etc., and the response message and a message from an opposite party are stored there. Then, when the TAD chip 2 inputs voice inputted through a microphone MIC to the automatic recording memory 3, a CPU 4 judges the volume level of the response message during recording and visibly displays it at the display means of an operation panel 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a communication terminal device having a function of recording a response message used for an answering machine function and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, communication terminal devices such as telephones and facsimile machines have been equipped with an answering machine function. With this function, when the user goes out of the office, the user operates a button to perform an answering machine mode. If you set to, you can receive a message after notifying the incoming call with a response message to the incoming call and record the message on a recording tape or semiconductor memory. it can.

[0003] Therefore, if a recorded message is played back when the user returns from home or the like, it is possible to confirm the presence or absence of a telephone call while he / she is away, so that important telephone calls can be left without being missed. ing.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional communication terminal device, for example, when a response message (OGM) such as "I am out of the office" is recorded, the volume level is changed to a TAD (Telephone) which is a dedicated circuit. Answering
Device) The chip (IC) adjusts by AGC (Automatic Gain Control), but when the volume level of the input voice exceeds the adjustable range, the recording person is notified of the volume level at that time. When the answering machine function was subsequently activated, the volume of the recorded response message was low and could not be heard by the other party, or conversely, the volume was too high, making it difficult to hear the contents.

[0005] In addition, the sound to be heard for confirmation from a built-in speaker or the like and the sound returned through a line are:
Because of the different sounds, it was difficult to determine the appropriate volume level for the recorded response message. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication terminal device with a recording function capable of recording a response message having an appropriate volume level.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a communication terminal with a recording function, comprising: a recording means for recording a response message to be returned via a line when an incoming call is received; Display means for visually displaying the volume level of the response message during recording.

The present invention is applied to not only an answering machine and a facsimile apparatus with an answering machine function but also to any apparatus for returning a response message recorded at the time of an incoming call. In claim 2, the display means is a liquid crystal display, and in claim 3, the display means is constituted by a light emitting diode.
The display is changed according to the volume level of the response message being recorded by the recording means. That is, the display of characters, symbols, and the like on the liquid crystal display is changed, and the lighting mode of the light emitting diode is changed according to the volume level of the recording.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a communication terminal device with a recording function according to the present invention. Here, the configuration of a facsimile machine F with an answering machine function is shown as an example.

This facsimile apparatus F includes a modem 1 for executing a facsimile communication procedure and modulating and demodulating a signal in order to perform data communication via a telephone line L which is an analog line, and a recording means of the present invention. A TAD (Telephone Answering Device) chip 2, which is a dedicated circuit for answering and recording, is connected in parallel to the secondary side of the line transformer T.

Note that the TAD chip 2 has an answering machine memory 3 composed of a voice IC, a recording tape, or the like, in which a response message in an answering machine mode or a telephone / facsimile standby mode, and a response message from a destination. Message message is stored. Further, in the figure, reference numeral 4 denotes a CPU for controlling signals of respective units, and reference numeral 5 denotes an RO storing control programs and the like.
M and 6 are RAMs for temporarily storing various data, 7 is a scanner for reading image data of a document, 8 is a thermal printer for applying heat by a thermal head to print on recording paper, and 9 is a liquid crystal display (hereinafter also referred to as “LCD”). ), A light emitting diode (hereinafter also referred to as “LED”), etc., and constitutes the display means of the present invention, and is an operation panel provided with operation means such as numeric keys and various buttons.

Further, reference numeral 10 denotes a dial pulse generating circuit for generating a dial pulse when calling, and 11 denotes a low-pass filter (LPF) for eliminating noise after converting a digital signal into an analog signal during data transmission. ), 1
2 connects the telephone line L according to the standby mode, etc.
A switching contact for switching control to the modem 1 or the TAD chip 2; a switching contact 13 for switching when recording a response message from the microphone MIC; a switching contact 14 for switching when reproducing a message message from the speaker SP;
5 is an off-hook detection circuit for detecting off-hook of the attached telephone Tel, RYc is a CML relay for switching and controlling the connection of the telephone line L to the facsimile communication side or the call side, RY
S switches and controls the connection of the telephone line L to the calling side (dial pulse generation circuit 10) or the communication side (modem 1).
It is a relay.

The basic operation of the facsimile machine F will be described below. In the telephone / facsimile standby mode, the state as shown in the drawing, that is, the CML relay RYc is on the telephone Tel side (b side), and the S relay RYs is on the communication side (b
Side), the switching contact 12 is on the modem 1 side (a side). When a call signal is sent from the other party via the telephone line L, a call signal detection circuit (not shown) detects this signal. If the CPU 4 determines from the procedure signal that the call is from another facsimile machine, the CML relay RYc is switched to the facsimile communication side (a side). As a result, the telephone line L and the modem 1 are connected via the line transformer T, and facsimile communication becomes possible. The data received via the modem 1 is printed out on a recording paper by the thermal printer 8.

If the modem 1 cannot detect the procedure signal, the CPU 4 sets the switching contact 12 to the TAD chip 2 side (b
Side), the response message for the telephone / facsimile standby mode is read out from the answering machine memory 3 and output through the telephone line L, and at the same time the ringing bell is sounded, so that the user of the facsimile apparatus F Inform that However, if the procedure signal is continuously detected and it is determined that the call is from another facsimile machine, the call bell is stopped and the switching contact 12 is switched to the facsimile communication side (modem 1 side).

If the off-hook detection circuit 15 detects an off-hook of the telephone set Tel during a call, the CPU 4
While the CML relay RYc remains on the telephone set Tel side (b side), a telephone call between the telephone set Tel and the partner telephone set via the telephone line L is enabled. On the other hand, this facsimile machine F
When a call is made from the
The ML relay RYc is switched to the a side and the S relay RYs is switched to the a side, and the dial pulse generated from the dial pulse generation circuit 10 is transmitted to the telephone line L. When the other party receives a call, the S relay RYs is switched to the b side, and the scanner 7
Is transmitted via the modem 1.

Next, the operation when the mode is switched to the answering machine mode by operating the operation panel 9 will be described. When a call signal is sent from the other party through the telephone line L in the answering machine mode, the CPU 4 determines a call, and
The L relay RYc is switched to the facsimile communication side (a side). Then, if this call is from another facsimile machine, it automatically receives a call and starts facsimile reception.
If it is determined that the signal is not from the facsimile apparatus but from the telephone, the switching contact 12 is switched to the TAD chip 2 side (b side).

[0016] Thus, after receiving an automatic call, the TAD
The chip 2 can read out the answer message for the answering machine mode from the answering machine memory 3 and output it via the telephone line L. When a message message is sent in response to the response message, the message is compressed and recorded in the answer phone memory 3. Also, in the answering machine mode, after receiving a message message, it is also possible to automatically switch to facsimile reception by the transmission operation of the other party, and further, when the mode is set to the answering machine mode, the switching contact 12 is switched to the b side, The TAD chip 2 can also receive a tone signal through the telephone line L and enable external remote operation.

Next, recording of a response message and reproduction of a message will be described. This facsimile machine F
In advance, the TAD chip 2 or the answering machine 3
In addition to using the response message stored in the answering machine, a response message recorded by the user in the answer phone memory 3 can be used. When the operation panel 9 is operated to enter the recording mode, the switching contact 13 is switched, and a response message can be recorded through the microphone MIC.

For example, for the telephone / facsimile standby mode, "Yes, xx. I am just calling the telephone. For the facsimile, just press the send button. For the telephone, please wait for a while."
Just record a message like Also, for the answering machine mode, "Yes, xx. I'm currently away. I'm a facsimile, just press the send button. If you're on the phone, speak your name and your business after the signal tone. Please record a message like "Please."

When a message message is played back when the user returns home from home or the like, the user operates the operation panel 9 to set the playback mode.
The chip 2 reads out the message recorded in the answering machine memory 3, decompresses the compressed voice data, and
Output through P. The speaker SP is also used when confirming the contents of the response message.

Although the basic operation of the facsimile apparatus F has been described above, according to the present invention, the volume level of the response message can be confirmed when the response message is recorded. That is, the TAD chip 2 is
When the voice input through is input to the answering machine memory 3, the CPU 4 determines the volume level of the response message during the recording and visually displays it on the display means of the operation panel 9.

FIG. 2 shows a display example.
(A) is a display example on the LCD 9a, and (b) is a display example on the LED 9b. As shown, the CPU 4 controls the LCD 9 according to the volume level input from the microphone MIC.
The display on a is changed like a level indicator, and the lighting mode of the LED 9b is made to blink or the blink interval is changed. The illustrated display is merely an example, and characters may be displayed on the LCD 9a, or a plurality of LEDs 9b may be provided to change the lighting color. Also,
The LED 9b does not need to be newly provided. For example, the LED 9b may also be used as an error display LED for notifying an open state of the cover.

Next, FIG. 3 shows an example of a circuit configuration for displaying the volume level. Here, the existing LCD 9a
Shows an example of displaying the volume level at the time of recording by using the MIC, and the voice input from the microphone MIC to the TAD chip 2 is
The feature is that the data is input to the CPU 4 via the A / D converter 20 (portion surrounded by a broken line). The function of the A / D converter 20 may be built in the CPU 4.

Input from the microphone MIC, the amplifier AMP
The audio signal amplified by the A / D converter 2
At 0, it is converted to a digital signal. The CPU 4 determines the volume level using a predetermined threshold value, and inputs this to the serial / parallel converter 21 as a serial signal. The serial / parallel converter 21 converts the signal into a parallel signal, and inputs the signal to the LCD driver 22. Then, the LCD driver 22 controls display on the LCD 9a according to the input signal.

The user who sees the display on the LCD 9a,
If the volume level is not an appropriate level, recording from the microphone MIC may be performed again. So, for example,
Even if a sound having a level exceeding the adjustment range of the AGC function of the TAD chip 2 is input, the user can use the speaker SP.
Thus, re-recording can be performed without confirming the message recorded in the answering machine memory 3.

As shown, when a display indicating that the volume level is not appropriate is displayed on the LCD 9a,
The CPU 4 automatically deletes the recorded response message and outputs a text message prompting re-recording of the response message.
You may make it display on CD9a.

[0026]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the communication terminal device with the recording function according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the volume level of the response message during the recording is visually displayed. By looking at this display, it becomes possible to record at an appropriate volume level. Therefore, since the volume level of the message entered by the user is not known as in the past, the volume level of the response message is low when the answering machine is activated, and the volume cannot be heard by the other party. There is no problem that the content is too hard to hear.

In particular, according to the second and third aspects, the volume level of the recording can be displayed by using the existing liquid crystal display and light emitting diode.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a basic configuration of a communication terminal device with a recording function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of a sound volume level on a display means.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a main configuration of a communication terminal device with a recording function according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 F: facsimile machine with answering machine function 2: TAD chip 3: answering machine memory 4: CPU 9: operation panel 9a: liquid crystal display (LCD) 9b: light emitting diode (LED) L: telephone line

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A recording function, comprising: recording means for recording a response message to be returned via a line when an incoming call is received; and display means for visually displaying a volume level of the response message being recorded by the recording means. Communication terminal device. 2. A recording function according to claim 1, wherein said display means comprises a liquid crystal display, and the display is changed according to a volume level of a response message being recorded by said recording means. Communication terminal device. 3. A recording function according to claim 1, wherein said display means comprises a light emitting diode, and the display is changed according to a volume level of a response message being recorded by said recording means. Communication terminal device.