JPH11331359A - Handsfree equipment for telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inform a user that an automatic call-incoming response is given by generating a sound different from a call-incoming sound. SOLUTION: When a call comes to a portable telephone set, a call-incoming signal is reported to a handsfree control microcomputer 20 through connectors 12 and 14, and a call-incoming sound is outputted from a speaker 17. In a case when a response is not made manually though a call-incoming state continues and the call incoming sound keeps ringing, the call-incoming sound keeps ringing when an automatic call-incoming response switch 24 is in an OFF state, but when the switch is in an ON state, the microcomputer 20 makes an automatic response, informs the voice generating part of the microcomputer 20 of a voice generation instruction and the voice generating part generates a signal of beeping sound different from the call-incoming sound or voice reporting automatic call-incoming response to a speaker 17. In the case of call-incoming, a user identifies the execution of a response to an automatic call-incoming with a sound different from the call incoming sound informing the automatic call-incoming response.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hands-free device for a telephone, and more particularly to a hands-free device for a telephone which is suitable for using a mobile telephone or a portable telephone while driving a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hands-free devices for telephones include those of a type used by connecting to a telephone and those of a type integrated with a telephone. Both types have the same purpose and purpose of use.For example, when using a car phone or a mobile phone while driving a car, hold the handset of the car phone or the mobile phone in hand so as not to hinder driving. It has a function that allows you to talk without having it.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional hands-free device for a telephone, when an incoming call is received, a response is made by some key operation. Therefore, when used when driving a car, if the user answers an incoming call while driving, the user has to release his / her hand from the steering wheel, causing a problem with danger.

[0004] In addition, when a call is automatically answered without any key operation, etc., the timing to start talking is unclear,
In some cases, it is indistinguishable from the case where the incoming call is interrupted, and there is a problem with danger due to reduced concentration on driving.

According to the present invention, when a telephone automatically answers an incoming call without any key operation or the like, the user is notified by voice so that the user can determine that the automatic incoming call has been answered, so that driving is not hindered during driving. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hands-free device for a telephone set that can be used.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a hands-free device for a telephone capable of making a telephone call without having a telephone, and a control means for automatically answering an incoming call upon receiving an incoming call.
And a voice generating means for generating a sound different from a ring tone when the automatic call answering is executed.

Here, when the control means executes an automatic incoming call response, the voice generating means generates a sound different from the ringtone.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

The telephone hands-free device 1 shown in FIG. 1 enables a telephone call with the microphone 3 without having the telephone 2, and is characterized in that the control means 4 responds automatically to incoming calls. The sound generation means 5 generates a sound different from the ringtone and outputs the sound from the speaker 6.

In addition to the above configuration, the control means 4 has an automatic incoming call response setting means 7 for arbitrarily setting whether or not to execute the automatic incoming call response. Alternatively, an automatic incoming call response time setting means 8 for arbitrarily setting the number of calls upon receiving an incoming call is provided.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a hands-free device for a telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention. The telephone hands-free device 10 shown in FIG.
, A connector 12, 14, a curl cord 13 for connecting the connectors 12 and 14, an audio processing unit 15, an amplifier 16, a speaker 17, a cigar plug 18, a system power supply 19, a hands-free control microcomputer 20, , A memory 21, a remote controller 22, an automatic incoming response time setting switch (hereinafter, referred to as a setting switch) 23, and an automatic incoming response switch (hereinafter, referred to as an answer switch) 24.

Connector 1 connected by curl cord 13
As shown in the connection diagram between the hands-free device 10 for a telephone and the mobile phone 30 in FIG.
Is to connect. With this connection, signals are exchanged between the mobile phone 30 and the hands-free device 10 for the phone.

The cigar plug 18 shown in FIG. 2 is connected to a cigar plug portion of an automobile (not shown) to obtain power from an automobile battery. The system power supply 19 converts a voltage supplied from the cigar plug 18 into a predetermined voltage and supplies the predetermined voltage to the hands-free control microcomputer 20.

The hands-free control microcomputer 20 exchanges signals with the mobile phone 30 via the connectors 12 and 14 to perform hands-free control such as an automatic incoming call response and a telephone call which will be described in detail later. .

The memory 21 is a memory such as an EEPROM, and stores a telephone number, data necessary when the hands-free control microcomputer 20 performs hands-free control, and the like.

The remote controller 22 is used by the user to perform operations such as sending, answering, disconnecting, and the like. Setting switch 23
Is for the user to set the time from the incoming call to the automatic response. The answer switch 24 is for determining whether or not the automatic incoming call answer is made by turning on / off the user arbitrarily.

The answer switch 24 is turned off, for example, when the answering function is used to answer an incoming call while driving, or when the automatic answering is canceled. Voice processing unit 1
Reference numeral 5 denotes a processing so that a voice signal exchanged with the mobile phone 30 via the connectors 12 and 14 or a voice signal controlled by the hands-free control microcomputer 20 can be converted by the speaker 17 via the microphone 11 and the amplifier 16. Is what you do.

The hands-free control microcomputer 20 is
A function unit for controlling the automatic incoming call response shown in FIG. 4, which is a feature of the present invention, is provided. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an automatic call answering function section of the hands-free control microcomputer 20 in the hands-free device for a telephone.

The automatic incoming call response function unit shown in FIG. 4 comprises a message transmission / reception processing unit 20a, a timer management unit 20b, a voice generation unit 20c, a switch / key detection unit 20d, and a hands-free main control unit 20e. . Although FIG. 4 shows the automatic incoming call response function unit as a hardware configuration, it is actually realized by a program.

The message transmission / reception processing section 20a notifies the hands-free main control section 20e that there is an incoming call to the mobile phone 30. The timer management unit 20b measures the automatic call response set time set by the setting switch 23, that is, the time from the incoming call to the automatic call response, and notifies the hands-free main control unit 20e.

The voice generator 20c generates a beep tone different from the ring tone or a voice signal notifying the automatic incoming call response under the control of the hands-free main controller 20e.

The switch / key detecting section 20d acquires the on / off state of the automatic incoming call response set in the answering switch 24 and notifies the hands-free main control section 20e.

Hands-free main control section 20e
Controls the respective functional units 20a to 20d as a whole. In this control, first, the switch key detection unit 2
When the OFF state of the answering switch 24 is notified from 0d, the automatic incoming call response is not performed even if the incoming call is notified from the message transmitting / receiving unit 20a.

On the other hand, when the ON state of the answer switch 24 is notified, an automatic incoming call response is made after the timer in the timer management unit 20b times out. After the automatic incoming call response, the voice generation unit 20c is notified of the voice generation command.

When an incoming call is notified from the message transmitting / receiving section 20a, the timer control section 20b is notified of a start command for timing. The operation of the automatic incoming call response in such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the automatic incoming call response in the hands-free device 10 for the telephone. [S1] If there is an incoming call to the mobile phone 30, the incoming signal is notified to the hands-free control microcomputer 20 of the hands-free device 10 for the telephone via the connectors 12 and 14 shown in FIG. After being processed by the unit 15, it is amplified by the amplifier 16 and output from the speaker 17 as a ringtone. [S2] The incoming signal input to the hands-free control microcomputer 20 is transmitted to the message transmission / reception processor 20a shown in FIG.
Is notified to the hands-free main control unit 20e via the.

The hands-free main control unit 20e notifies the timer management unit 20b of a start command for timing by the notification of the incoming call, and the timer management unit 20b performs a timing operation. This operation is performed by setting switch 2
It is executed for the time set in 3. [S3] During this time, the ring tone continues to sound, and the system enters a waiting state for terminating the incoming call. [S4] In step S3, for example, when the calling party disconnects the call, the incoming call ends. [S5] On the other hand, in step S3, if the incoming call state continues and the ringing tone continues to ring, the hands-free control microcomputer 20 determines whether or not the user of the hands-free device 10 for the telephone has manually performed a response operation. Judge. [S6] If it is determined in step S5 that a response operation has been performed manually, the hands-free control microcomputer 20 performs an incoming call response process. [S7] A call state is established. [S8] On the other hand, if the response operation is not manually performed in step S5, the hands-free main control unit 20e determines whether the timer management unit 20b, which has been in the clocking operation state in step S2, has timed out. I do. Here, if not a timeout, step S3
Return to That is, the ring tone continues to sound. [S9] If a timeout occurs, the setting switch 23
Judge whether is set. This is determined by notifying the hands-free control microcomputer 20 of the on / off state of the response switch 24 detected by the switch / key detection unit 20d. Here, the response switch 2
If 4 is off, the process returns to step S3. That is, the ring tone continues to sound. [S10] On the other hand, if the answer switch 24 is on, the hands-free main control unit 20e performs an automatic incoming call response. [S11] Then, a voice generation command is notified to the voice generation unit 20c. In response to this notification, the voice generation unit 20c generates a beep sound different from the ringtone or a voice signal notifying the automatic incoming call response and outputs the signal to the speaker 17, and the communication state is set in step S7.

According to the embodiment described above, the hands-free device 10 for the telephone is connected to the switch / key detector 20.
If the response switch 24 is informed of the OFF state of the response switch 24, the automatic call response is not performed even if the message transmission / reception unit 20a is notified of the incoming call. After the time-out at 20b is timed out, an automatic incoming call response is performed, and after this automatic incoming call response, a beep sound different from the ringtone or a sound for notifying the automatic incoming call response is generated from the voice generation unit 20c.

Thus, when there is an incoming call, the automatic response to the incoming call is emitted with a sound having a sound quality different from the ring tone, so that the user can automatically determine that the incoming call has been interrupted. Can start a conversation smoothly even during automatic answering. Therefore, when the user is driving, the driver can drive safely without paying attention to incoming calls and calls.

Also, when the user cannot respond at all, when he / she wants to freely respond while the user's hand is idle, or when he / she wants to use other functions of the mobile phone such as answering machine and transfer, etc. In some cases, it may be desirable that the incoming call response function does not work. However, even in such a case, whether or not to use the automatic incoming call response function can be selected, so that it is possible to respond.

Furthermore, for example, when it is desired to give priority to the answering machine function of a mobile phone while driving, the number of recordable records is limited. If there is an incoming call exceeding this number, the incoming call need not be ignored by setting an automatic incoming call response. If the user wants to use the function in this way, it can be realized by setting the time until the automatic response to be longer than the function for which priority is desired.

Further, since the time until the automatic response can be set according to personal preference and situation, a better feeling of use can be obtained. As described above, the mobile phone 30 has the function of setting the time for answering the incoming call and the number of calls.
Can be used flexibly with other functions, and convenience according to personal preferences and situations can be obtained.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the hands-free device 10 for the telephone is used by connecting it to the mobile phone 30 has been described. However, the functions of the hands-free device 10 for the telephone may be built in the mobile phone 30. .

[0033]

As described above, the hands-free device for a telephone according to the present invention is a hands-free device for a telephone that enables a telephone call without having a telephone, and the control means executes an automatic incoming call response upon receiving a call. At this time, a sound different from the ringtone is generated by the voice generating means.

Thus, when the telephone automatically answers the call without any key operation or the like, the user can determine that the automatic answer has been answered. When the user is driving, the driver pays attention to the incoming call and the call. You can drive safely without being caught.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a hands-free device for a telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a connection diagram of a hands-free device for a telephone and a mobile telephone.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an automatic call answering function unit of a hands-free control microcomputer in the hands-free device for a telephone.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of an automatic incoming call response in the hands-free device for a telephone.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 control means, 5 voice generation means, 7 automatic call response setting means, 8 automatic call response time setting means.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A hands-free device for a telephone which enables a telephone call without having a telephone, a control means for automatically answering an incoming call when receiving an incoming call, and generating a sound different from a ring tone when the automatic incoming call response is executed. A hands-free device for a telephone, comprising: voice generating means. 2. The hands-free device for a telephone according to claim 1, wherein said voice generating means generates a voice notifying the incoming call response instead of a sound different from said ringing tone. 3. The hands-free device for a telephone according to claim 1, wherein said control means has automatic call answering setting means for arbitrarily setting whether or not to execute automatic call answering. 4. A hands-free telephone set according to claim 1, further comprising an automatic call answering time setting means for arbitrarily setting a time until the control means makes an automatic call answering and a number of calls upon receiving an incoming call. apparatus.