JPH11275211A - Automatic answering telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable an exact response to a caller by recognizing the caller at the time of automatic answering while utilizing call originating number information, and sending a response message, to which the name of that caller is added, to that recognized caller. SOLUTION: When there is an incoming call while an automatic answering mode is set, the telephone number information of the caller detected by a number display decoder 5 at that time is extracted. Then, the automatic response is performed by connecting a call-incoming telephone. In this case, it is judged whether any one of telephone numbers stored in a telephone directory database using an external memory 10 is coincident with the telephone number of the dected incoming call or not. If there is a coincident telephone number, concerning that coincident telephone number in the telephone directory database, it is judged whether the voice data of the caller name are stored or not. If the voice data of the caller name are stored, these voice data of the caller name are reproduced and sent to the side of the party. Namely, the answer of 'You are Mr. Tanaka, aren't you?' is reproduced and sent out, for example.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an answering machine for automatically answering an incoming call when answering.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various types of answering machines that automatically answer incoming calls when the user is away have been developed. This answering machine has a response message prepared in advance on a magnetic tape or a semiconductor memory, and when an incoming call arrives at the telephone, reproduces the prepared response message and sends it to the other party. In some cases, processing for recording (storing) requirements from the other party on a magnetic tape, a semiconductor memory, or the like is performed.

On the other hand, a service called a caller ID notification service has recently been started as a service using a telephone line. This service transmits the caller's telephone number information to each subscriber telephone when the incoming signal is transmitted from the central office.
In the case of a telephone having a corresponding function, when there is an incoming call to the telephone, based on the transmitted caller ID information, the transmission of the caller is performed as predetermined coded information. A telephone number can be displayed. By using this service, when there is an incoming call, it is convenient to know who the caller is before answering the call.

[0004]

The caller ID notification is a service for displaying the caller's telephone number as described above, and it is basically assumed that there is a person who answers the incoming call. Is a service. Therefore, the caller ID notification service function has not been used effectively when answering automatically with an answering machine.
For example, when automatically responding to an incoming call in the answering machine mode, only the telephone number (caller number) of the other party at that time is stored.

[0005] In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to enable an answering machine to perform a good process using a caller ID notification function.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a telephone number storage unit which stores transmission number information detected by a transmission number detection unit when an incoming call is received by a communication processing unit. It is provided with a control unit for comparing the telephone number with a caller's name information stored in relation to the number and adding it to the message when there is a match, and sending the message to the other party.

[0007] With this configuration, the caller is recognized at the time of answering using the calling number information, and a response message to which the caller name is added is transmitted to the recognized caller.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the answering machine of the present embodiment. An answering machine 3 of the present embodiment is connected to a switching center 2 via a predetermined telephone line. The telephone is connected to the other party's telephone device 1 so that a call can be made between the other party's telephone device 1 and the answering machine 3.

The answering machine 3 includes a line control unit 4,
The line control unit 4 performs a process of transmitting an audio signal to the telephone line and a process of receiving an audio signal from the telephone line.
The line control unit 4 includes a speaker 1 constituting a handset.
1 and microphone 12 are connected. A number display decoder 5 is connected to the line control unit 4 of the present embodiment, and when receiving an incoming call to the telephone 3, calling number information transmitted in a predetermined code from the exchange 2 is transmitted to the decoder 5. , And supplies the decoded calling number information to the microcomputer 7. The microcomputer 7 controls the operation of each part of the telephone 3 by a central control unit (CPU) 7a for performing control processing;
ROM 7b for storing a control program, RAM 7c for temporarily storing data required for control processing, and interface unit 7d for exchanging data with other circuits
And

An external memory 10 is connected to the microcomputer 7, and stores telephone number information and the like as a telephone directory database. The storage of the telephone number information is executed under the control of the microcomputer 7 based on the operation of the input unit 13 of the telephone connected to the microcomputer 7. In the case of this example, the external memory 10 is constituted by, for example, a nonvolatile memory or a memory to which backup power is always supplied, and has a configuration in which stored data is not lost unless an erasing operation is performed. As the storage of the telephone number information in the external memory 10, for example, a predetermined number of storage areas (for example, a storage area of 100 telephone numbers)
And stores, for example, a telephone number that is frequently transmitted (or received) by the telephone. In this case, the character data of the name of the other party indicated by the telephone number can be stored.

The microcomputer 7 is connected to a display unit 14 composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or the like.
At the time of an incoming call, a calling number decoded by the number display decoder 5 is displayed.

In the answering machine 3 of this embodiment, an audio codec unit 6 is connected to the line control unit 4. The audio codec unit 6 converts the audio signal obtained by the line control unit 4 into digital data, and It is supplied to a processing unit (DSP) 8. The digital signal processing unit 8 processes audio data under the control of the microcomputer 7,
The processed voice data can be stored in the voice memory 9. As the voice data stored in the voice memory 9, a voice signal picked up by the microphone 12 is stored as a response message, and a voice signal transmitted from the other party's telephone device 1 with the telephone line connected is stored. , Is stored as a message.
In the case of the present example, a plurality of types of response messages can be stored in the voice memory 9, and a plurality of message messages can be stored. A plurality of types of response messages include a response message to be reproduced when the caller's telephone number is registered as described below, and a response message in which the transmission number is not registered (or the transmission number is not notified). At least two types of response messages (standard response messages) to be reproduced.

The voice memory 9 of the present embodiment also has an area for storing the voice of the caller name corresponding to the telephone number of each area stored in the external memory 10 described above. For example, when the operation of storing the telephone number in the external memory 10 is performed, the voice codec unit 6 digitizes the voice of about several seconds picked up by the microphone 12 under the control of the microcomputer 7. The processed voice data is stored in the voice memory 9 in association with the stored telephone number. However, the process of storing the voice data of the caller name is a process performed by the user, and the voice data of the caller name is stored in the voice memory 9 corresponding to all the telephone numbers stored in the external memory 10. It is not always remembered. Therefore, for example, the telephone number data stored in each area of the external memory 10 includes:
A flag indicating that voice data of the caller name corresponding to the telephone number is stored is added.

The answering machine 3 of this embodiment is configured such that when the answering machine mode for automatically answering an incoming call is set as the operation mode, the microcomputer 7 controls the incoming call. When the answering machine mode is set, the control process includes, when there is an incoming call to this telephone, answering the incoming call and detecting the outgoing number decoded by the number display decoder 5 and determining the outgoing call. It is determined whether the number is in the telephone number registered (stored) in the external memory 10 and the response message reproduced from the voice memory 9 is changed based on the determination.

FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration in which processing for transmitting a response message in the answering machine mode is performed in the microcomputer 7 (including peripheral circuits). When the telephone number of the caller is detected by the calling number detecting means 21 (corresponding to the number display decoder 5 in FIG. 1), all the telephone numbers stored in the telephone number storing means 22 (corresponding to the external memory 10 in FIG. 1) are detected. The telephone number comparison means 25 compares the number with the telephone number of the caller. This telephone number comparison means 25
Corresponds to the central control device 7a in the microcomputer 7 shown in FIG. 1, and is executed by arithmetic processing in the central control device 7a. The storage of the telephone number in the telephone number storage means 22
The telephone number executed by the operation of the input unit 24 corresponding to the input unit 13 shown in FIG.
The image can be displayed on the display unit 23 corresponding to the display unit 14 shown in FIG.

As a result of the comparison by the telephone number comparing means 25, if there is a storage of a matching telephone number, it is determined whether or not voice data of the caller name is stored corresponding to the telephone number. When data is stored, the voice memory 9, the digital signal processing unit 8, and the message recording / reproducing unit 26 corresponding to the voice codec unit 6 shown in FIG. Are continuously played back and transmitted to the other party. At this time, the response message to be reproduced is a response message prepared for adding and reproducing the caller name.

Next, the processing under the control of the microcomputer 7 when an incoming call is received when the answering machine 3 is in the answering machine mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. If there is an incoming call while the absence mode is set (step 101), the telephone number information of the caller detected by the number display decoder 5 at that time is extracted (step 102). Then, the telephone is connected to the incoming call and an automatic response is performed (step 10).
3). Here, it is determined whether any of the telephone numbers stored in the telephone directory database using the external memory 10 matches the telephone number at which the incoming call is detected (step 10).
4) If there is a matching telephone number, it is determined whether or not voice data of the caller name is stored (recorded) for the matching telephone number in the telephone directory database (step 105). If the voice data of the caller name is stored (recorded), the voice data of the caller name is reproduced and transmitted to the other party (step 106). For example, “Tanaka-san” is reproduced and transmitted.

After the voice data of the caller name is reproduced in step 106, the response message stored in the voice memory 9 is reproduced and transmitted to the other party (step 107). At this time, a response message when the telephone number of the caller is known is used. For example,
"Thank you for your call. I'll call you back later, please give me a message." Also, if it is determined in step 105 that there is no storage (recording) of the voice data of the caller name, the process proceeds to step 107, where the same response message is reproduced and transmitted to the other party.

Thereafter, the voice data of the business transmitted from the other party is stored (recorded) in the voice memory 9 (step 1).
09) When the storage of the message is completed, a process for terminating the automatic response and disconnecting the line is performed (step 110).

If the telephone number detected as an incoming call in step 104 does not match all the telephone numbers stored in the telephone directory database using the external memory 10,
The standard response message stored in the voice memory 9 is reproduced and transmitted to the other party (step 108). For example,
"I'm away now, so please give me a name and a message after the dial tone." After reproducing the standard response message, the process proceeds to step 109,
The voice data of the message transmitted from the other party is stored in the voice memory 9.
Is stored (recorded) (step 109). When the storage of the message is completed, a process for terminating the automatic response and disconnecting the line is performed (step 110).

Here, the messages reproduced at the answering machine response in the processing of this example are summarized as shown in Table 1 below.
It is divided into types. That is, according to the registration status of the caller's telephone number of the incoming call in the telephone directory database using the memory 10, the state is divided into three types, and in each state, a response as shown in the following Table 1 is given. The message plays.

[0023]

[Table 1]

When the processing of this embodiment is performed as described above,
According to the calling number information notified from the telephone station, if the incoming call is from a telephone number registered in advance, a response message asking for only the message of the business is played, and the calling number is If the voice data of the corresponding caller name is registered, the caller name is further reproduced at the head of the response message or the like, and an accurate response can be made. For example, if the caller is calling from a person whose caller name is registered, the caller will know that he / she is recognized from the response message, and will not speak his / her name or phone number. All you have to do is leave the message in the message, which makes it easier to respond to automatic answers by answering machine. In particular, the conventional answering machine played a uniform response message from anyone, so the caller often hesitated to leave a business message. In addition to the effect of avoiding such a problem, the effect that the caller can immediately recognize that the number dialed by the caller is indeed the intended party is provided, and the effect of making it easier to talk about a task occurs.

In the above-described embodiment, two types of response messages are prepared, and the two types of messages are selectively used depending on whether or not the calling number of the incoming call is registered. About 1
When only voice data of the caller name corresponding to the transmission number is registered, the voice of the caller name may be added to the head of the one type of response message.

In the above-described embodiment, as an example of the voice of the caller name stored in the voice memory, the voice calling for the name "Mr. XX" is used. Only the voice of “○○” may be stored in the voice memory in association with the telephone number, and the voice of the part calling “san-san” may be stored in advance in a response message or the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the voice data of the caller's name is stored directly in the voice memory. However, for example, a voice synthesizer is built in the answering machine, and The character information of the caller's name is stored in the telephone directory database or the like, and the stored character information of the caller's name is stored in the speech synthesis circuit, and the sound is reproduced to reproduce the voice. You may do it.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to an answering machine connected to a wired telephone line has been described. However, a so-called wireless telephone (mobile phone) for a wireless telephone line has a function as an answering machine. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to those provided.

[0029]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a caller is recognized at the time of answering a message using the calling number information, and a response message to which the caller name is added is transmitted to the recognized caller. Thus, an accurate response to the caller becomes possible. For example, the caller knows from the response message that he or she is recognized, and only needs to leave the message in the message without speaking his or her name or phone number, making it easy to respond to automatic answering by answering machine become.

According to the invention described in claim 2, in the invention described in claim 1, in the case of an incoming call having no matching number, or in the case of an incoming call for which the caller number is not notified,
By sending a response message different from the case where there is a matching number, for example, when receiving an incoming call from an unregistered party, it is possible to convey with a response message to leave the name etc., and a more accurate response Will be possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an answering machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a message sending configuration of an answering machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a message sending process according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

3 Answering machine, 4 Line control unit, 5 Number display decoder, 6 Audio codec unit, 7 Microcomputer, 8 Digital signal processing unit, 9 Audio memory, 10 External memory

Claims (2)

[Claims] A communication processing unit that processes a signal received via a telephone line; a transmission number detection unit that detects transmission number information included in an incoming signal; a message storage unit that stores a response message; A telephone number storage unit for storing number information in association with caller name information; and a transmission number information detected by the transmission number detection unit when the communication processing unit receives a call, in the telephone number storage unit. If there is a matching number, the caller name information stored in association with the number is added to the message stored in the message storage unit and sent to the other party. An answering machine provided with a control unit. 2. The answering machine according to claim 1, wherein the message storage unit stores a plurality of types of messages, and in the comparison by the control unit, when there is an incoming call having no matching number, or when a caller number is notified. An answering machine that sends a different response message if there is no incoming call than a matching number.