JPS61123347A - Automatic answering telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable to grasp the condition of the titled telephone set and the time of circuit break by making peep sound utter longer than the peep sound in action as well as indicating the motion indicated within a prescribed time after completion of a motion indicated by the remote control unit. CONSTITUTION:Vocal data for uttering the preliminarily established message and vocal data for peep sound in the fixed time are stored in a vocal data memory 13, and vocal synthesizing means 9 synthesizes the voice on the basis of vocal data from the memory 13 to send it out to telecommunication lines or a speaker 10. When remote control signal is detected by a remote control detector 11, a function control means 7 practices detecting action by remote control signal again after the motion indicated by the remote control signal. During that time, in case that the remote control signal isn't detected, telecommunication lines are broken after vocal data for peep sound are designated several times in succession.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (A) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an answering machine that, when an incoming call is detected, uses voice synthesis to utter and send a message in response to a caller.

(B) Prior art A conventional answering machine is equipped with a response tape for sending a response message to a caller and a recording tape for recording a message from the caller, and detects an incoming call. When a call is received, a response tape is run to play a pre-recorded response message on a playback device, and the response message is sent to the caller. Recording is common. This type of answering machine was introduced in 1986.
It is described in No. 6987.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, conventional answering machines require two drive mechanisms, one for answering tape and the other for recording tape, making the mechanism complex and increasing the overall size of the device. It also has the disadvantage of becoming larger. Therefore, an answering machine has been developed that uses a fixed phrase for a response message and sends it to the caller using voice synthesis. With this type of answering machine,
A remote control function is provided that allows the user to control the answering machine from outside via the telephone line. However, conventionally, the remote control operator has not been able to know when the telephone line will be disconnected after the operation instructed by the remote control has been completed, and it has also been unclear whether the instructed operation has actually been completed.

B) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and includes remote control signal detection means that operates in recording mode, and audio data for uttering a preset message. and an audio data memory that stores at least audio data for emitting a beep sound for a predetermined time; and a voice is synthesized based on the audio data read from the audio data memory, and the synthesized voice is transmitted to a telephone line or a speaker. Comprising a voice synthesizing means for outputting sound, and a function control means for controlling the operation of each means to realize a predetermined function, when the remote control signal is detected by the remote control signal detection means, the operation instructed by the remote control signal is terminated. After that, the remote control signal detection operation is executed again for a predetermined period of time, and if no remote control signal is detected during that time, audio data for emitting a beep sound is specified several times in succession, and then the telephone line is disconnected.

(e) Operation According to the above-mentioned means, when the remote control operator operates the answering machine via the telephone line, the answering machine
After completing the operation instructed by the remote control signal, if the remote control signal is not detected again within a predetermined period of time, a beep sound is emitted for a longer time than the output time during the operation, indicating that the operation has ended and the telephone line is disconnected. Notify the remote control operator of the disconnection and disconnect the telephone line.

(f) Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. (1
) is a terminal connected to the telephone line, and the line interface (2) is connected to the telephone line via the terminal fil.
The incoming and disconnection detecting means (3), which is also connected to the telephone line, detects the incoming signal, that is, the ringing signal. The system detects the arrival of the caller and also detects the disconnection signal generated when the calling party disconnects the line. The keyboard (4) is equipped with many switches for operating the answering machine, including number keys from 0 to 9, a space key for creating spaces between numbers, and a tape recorder (5). The play key, FFWD key, REW key, REC key are used to perform operations, and the function keys are used to specify the mode, such as the AUTO key for setting auto-answer mode to automatically answer incoming calls, and the AUTO key for entering a telephone number. An S/E key for setting the memory mode for input, or a 5TOP key for setting the standby mode from all modes, etc., are provided, and the closing of these key switches or the key is detected by the manual key means (6), and the key is closed. The code corresponding to the pressed key is stored in the key manual means (6). The function control means (7) takes in the code of the closed key from the key manual means (6) as necessary, performs an operation to realize the function instructed by the key, and controls each part and circuit. It is something that controls things like that. The modes realized by the function control means (7) include, for example, an initial mode executed when the power is turned on, a memory mode for storing a telephone number, an auto-answer mode for automatically answering an incoming call, and a tape mode. There is a teleco control mode for playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, etc. of the recorder (5), and a remote control mode when a remote control signal is detected.

The amplifier (8) includes a line interface (2), a tape recorder (5), a voice synthesis means (9) and a speaker Q.
OJ is connected, these input/output and amplifier (8)
The input/output of is controlled by the function control means (7).

That is, when an incoming call is detected and the line is closed, the audio signal output from the audio synthesis means (9) is sent to the amplifier (8).
The audio signal is amplified by the amplifier (8) and sent to the telephone line via the line interface (2).The audio signal sent from the line is then amplified by the amplifier (8) and recorded on the tape recorder (5). Also, in playback mode, a tape recorder (5
) is amplified by the amplifier (8) and sent to the speaker α.
Also, in the remote control playback mode, the audio signal from the tape recorder (5) is sent to the line.

The remote control signal detection means (11) is connected to the line interface (2), and after an incoming call is detected, it operates in a state of recording a message from the caller, and detects whether a remote control signal has arrived via the telephone line. In addition to detecting whether or not the remote control signal has arrived, it also determines what the incoming remote control signal instructs and instructs the function control means (7). For example, the user instructs playback, rewinding, fast forwarding, etc. using the remote control. The operation of the tape recorder (5) is controlled by a mechanism control means (1) that controls the plunger, motor, etc.
When the key closure related to the control of the tape recorder (5) is input, or the remote control signal detection means (11)
When it detects a remote control signal, it operates based on instructions from the function control means (7).
Nu voice data memory α31! , speech synthesis means (9
) is a memory that permanently stores audio data such as parameters, pitch, amplitude, etc. for voice synthesis, and is configured with a ROM, for example. As shown in the diagram, the audio data memory (1 to 1) is allocated as follows: the area from address numbers "1" to "10" is the first area, and the area from address numbers "11" to "
The area up to ``23'' is divided into a second area, and the first area stores audio data for vocalizing the numbers 1 to O for address numbers ``1'' to ``10'', respectively. In the second area, audio data for uttering sentences or phrases is stored. Here, the sentences or phrases stored in the second area include sentences or phrases suitable for notifying the caller of the recipient's telephone number, in addition to sentences and phrases that respond to the caller when a call arrives. In addition, address number "15" stores silent data, address number "16" stores beep sound data, and address numbers "18" to "23" store "message" and "end" data. ”, “Rewind”, “Playback”, “
"Skip" and "Repeat" are memorized.

The silent data with address number "15" has a period of 0.5 seconds, and is inserted between words or sentences. Also, the beep sound for address number "16" is
When a key on the keyboard (4) is closed, it is used as a notification sound to indicate that the key has been input. On the other hand, when the words stored in address numbers "18" to "23" are operated on the tape recorder (5) using the remote control, the operator on the telephone is notified of the operation. The address number of the voice data memory αJ is specified by the function control means (7)K, and depending on the way it is specified, the text to be uttered can be edited. You can choose between text that informs the caller of your phone number and text that does not.

On the other hand, the function control means (7) is connected with a telephone number memory (1), an instruction flag (15) indicating that a telephone number has been set in the telephone number memory α, and an incoming call count memory σe.Telephone number The memo 1Jc14) has a capacity to store 16 digits of a numeric code consisting of 4 or 8 bits, the instruction flag haze has a capacity of 1 bit, and the incoming call count memory α0 has a capacity to count and store up to 99. and these memos!J (141(I)
s(161 uses a part of the RAM.

When the keyboard (4) enters memory mode by operating the S/E key and closes a numeric key, the numeric code corresponding to the closed numeric key is sequentially stored in the telephone number memory (
14), and when the space key is closed, a code indicating that it is a space key is stored. The space key is used to separate telephone numbers, such as between an area code and a telephone number. When the telephone number has been memorized and the S/E key is operated, the instruction flag α9 is selected. If the instruction flag a4 is set when an incoming signal is detected, the receiver responds by specifying the second area of the voice data memo IJ (13) and saying a predetermined sentence or phrase. After uttering a sentence to convey the telephone number of the other party, the numeric code is sequentially read from the telephone number memory side, and the address number of the first area where the digit is to be uttered is specified.

At this time, if the code indicates that it is a space, specify the address number "15" of the second area,
Create a silent period of 0.5 seconds. In addition, the number of incoming calls memory α
Q is incremented by 1 when a message from the caller arrives in the recording mode after an incoming call has been detected and a voice has been uttered in response. Furthermore, the contents of the number of incoming calls memo IJ (le are read out by the function control means (katana), and the display means (17
1), and when the remote control signal detection means 1) detects that the remote control playback is instructed,
The address number of the first area of the voice data memory α3 is designated to utter the number stored in the number of incoming calls memory σθ, and the number of incoming calls is notified to the remote control operator at the telephone end by voice synthesis.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a flowchart showing the operation in remote control mode, and the operation will be explained. First, the remote control mode is activated when an incoming call is detected, the line is closed, and a preset sentence or phrase is uttered by the voice synthesis means (9) and sent to the caller, and then the tape recorder (5)
This is a case where the remote control signal detecting means α1) detects a remote control signal instructing playback in a recording mode in which a message from a caller is recorded.

When the remote control mode shown in Fig. 3 is entered, the function control means (7)
specifies the address "18" in the voice data memory (13), synthesizes the "message" with the voice synthesis means (9) and sends it to the telephone line, then reads the contents of the incoming call count memo IJ (161) and converts it to that number. Specify the address of the corresponding voice data memory α~.For example, if the number of incoming calls is "3", the remote control operator will be notified of "Message San".When the voice synthesis is completed, the number of incoming calls will be "3". If the number of incoming calls is 1 or more, the function control means (7+ is the voice After specifying the address number "20" of the data memo IJ (13) and having the voice synthesis means (9) say "rewind" and sending it to the telephone line, the mechanism control means α is instructed to start the tape recorder (5). The rewinding state is set. When the rewinding is completed, that is, the tape counter reaches rOJ, the mechanism control means Cl21 is instructed to stop the tape recorder (5).Then, the audio data memo IJ (address number "21" of 13) is instructed to stop the tape recorder (5). After specifying "PLAYBACK" to the voice synthesis means (9) and transmitting it to the telephone line, the mechanism control means (a) is instructed to put the tape recorder (5) into the playback state, and the amplifier (8) and transmits the reproduced sound to the telephone line.In this reproduction state, the remote control signal detection means (11) is operated to determine whether a remote control signal instructing fast forward (FF) or rewind (REW) is received. At this point, if no remote control signal is detected and the playback of the tape ends, that is, the value before the tape counter rewinds the tape (function control means) is detected.
7) has progressed to a point stored in advance), the mechanism control means α2 is instructed to stop the tape recorder (5), and then the address number "1" of the audio data memory α3 is
8" and "19" consecutively, and the voice synthesis means (9)
utters "message end" and sends it to the telephone line.

In this state, the remote control signal detection means α1) is operated again to detect for 10 seconds whether a remote control signal indicating rewinding has arrived. If no remote control signal is detected for 10 seconds, the address number of the audio data memory α3 is
16" three times in a row to emit a 1.5-second beep and send it to the telephone line to notify the remote control operator that the remote control mode has ended and the line will be disconnected. Controls the interface (2) to open the line and enter standby mode.

First, when a remote control signal indicating rewinding is detected when a remote control signal is detected during the playback state of the tape recorder (5) or a remote control signal is detected for 10 seconds after the end of playback, the REV mode is entered, and the function control means (7)
specifies the address number ``23'' of the voice data memory 3, causes the voice synthesis means (9) to utter ``repeat'' and sends it to the telephone line, and then instructs the mechanism control means α to record the tape recorder (5). ) is put into the rewinding state, and the remote control signal detection means αl) is operated again, and the playback (Pl
It is detected whether a remote control signal instructing ay) has arrived. Here, when the arrival of a remote control signal instructing playback is detected, the above-mentioned play mode is entered, and when the remote control signal is not detected and rewinding is completed, that is, the tape counter reaches "0", the mechanism control Instructs the means (1) to stop the tape recorder (5).

Then, the remote control signal detection means (11) is operated, and 1
It is detected whether a remote control signal instructing playback or fast forwarding has arrived for 0 seconds. Here, when a remote control signal instructing playback is detected, the above-mentioned play mode is entered, and when a remote control signal instructing fast forwarding is detected, the FF
mode, and if no remote control signal is detected for 10 seconds, a beep sound is emitted for 1.5 seconds to open the line, and then the line is set to standby mode.

Furthermore, when a remote control signal instructing fast forwarding is detected in the above-described remote control signal detection in the playback state or at the end of the REW mode, the FF mode is entered, and the function control means (7) After specifying the address number "22" of the data memo IJ (131) and making the voice synthesis means (9) say "skip" and sending it to the telephone line, the mechanism control means a2 is instructed to record the tape recorder (5 ) is put into a fast forward state, and the remote control signal detection means αυ is operated again to detect whether a remote control signal instructing playback has arrived.Here, if a remote control signal instructing playback is detected, as described above. When the play mode is entered and fast forwarding is completed, that is, when the value of the tape counter reaches the value before rewinding, the mechanism control means (121) is instructed to stop the tape recorder (5).Then, the remote control signal detection means (11 ) is operated for 10 seconds to detect whether a remote control signal instructing playback or rewinding has arrived.When a remote control signal instructing playback is detected, the above-mentioned play mode is entered,
When a remote control signal instructing rewind is detected, the above-mentioned RtW mode is entered, and if no remote control signal is detected for 10 seconds, a beep sound for 1.5 seconds is emitted as described above and the telephone line is opened. After that, it goes into standby mode.

(G) Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, when controlling an answering machine via a telephone line, the remote control signal must be sent again within a predetermined time period when the operation instructed by the remote control is completed. , a beep sound indicating that the operation instructed by the remote control has finished and that the telephone line will be disconnected will be emitted for a longer time than the beep sound during operation, so the remote control operator will not be able to answer the answering machine. This has the effect of accurately understanding the status of the device and when the line will be disconnected.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is an i
The layout of the audio data memory shown in FIG. 1 is a diagram, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. (1)...Terminal, (2)...Line interface, (3)...Incoming and disconnection detection means, (4)...
・Keyboard, (5)...Tape recorder, (6)・
...key manual means, (7) ...function control means, (8
)...Amplifier, (9)...Speech synthesis means, αQ・
...Speaker, α1) ...Remote control signal detection means,
En...Mechanism control means, (13...Voice data memory, I...Telephone number memory, αri...
Instruction flag, (1 or... memory for number of incoming calls,
...Display means. Applicant Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. and one other representative Patent attorney Shizuo Sano Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an answering machine that detects an incoming call and responds to the caller with a preset message, after detecting the incoming call, in a recording mode to record the message from the caller on a tape recorder. A remote control signal detecting means that operates and detects a remote control signal sent from a telephone line, and at least audio data for uttering the predetermined message and audio data for uttering a beep sound for a predetermined time are stored. a voice data memory, a voice synthesis means for synthesizing voice based on the voice data read from the voice data memory, and transmitting the synthesized voice to a telephone line or a speaker; and operations of each of the means. and function control means for controlling the remote control signal, when the remote control signal is detected by the remote control signal detection means, after the operation instructed by the remote control signal is completed, the operation of detecting the remote control signal is executed again for a predetermined period of time, and the result is An answering machine characterized in that when a remote control signal is not detected, the telephone line is disconnected after the audio data for emitting the beep sound is specified a plurality of times in succession.