JPS61147644A - Automatic answering telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute easily the message operation to a stranger by outputting an already set response message to reproduce it with a speaker or the like if a function switch is operated when the operation mode is set to the automatic answering mode. CONSTITUTION:An operation mode changeover switch 8 which switches the operation mode to the presence mode or the automatic answering mode and designates it to a CPU1, an audition button 9 used for audition of the set response message, a function switch 10 for setting the response message, and a dial button 15 are connected to an input/output port 7. The function switch 10 consists of a subscriber's number button 11 used for input of the subscribers number of an automatic answering telephone set, an absence time button 12 used to set the absence time of a response message setting person, a communication destination button 13 used to set the communication destination for absence, and an absence reason button 14 used to designate selectively a desired response message out of plural kinds of response message set preliminarily in a message ROM5.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Technical field of invention] The present invention relates to improvements in telephone answering machines.

. From. Technique 9: In recent years, systems have been equipped with recording and reproducing devices such as tape recorders or voice synthesis circuits, and when a caller receives an incoming call when the caller is away, they automatically form a communication path and then read out a response message that has been stored in a storage medium in advance. Many answering machines are in use, in which a voice signal corresponding to a response message is generated from the recording/playback device or voice synthesis circuit and sent out. This type of device is very convenient because it allows you to send a desired response message to the other party by simply recording or storing in advance the response message to be sent when you are away.

However, while conventional devices of this type can send a response message to the caller when a call arrives while the user is away, they cannot send a response message to outsiders, such as family members, co-workers, or visitors. Unable to convey message.

Therefore, if you want to convey a message to a visitor, you have to send a separate memo or the like, or you have to ask the visitor to confirm the message by phone each time, which is very inconvenient.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention aims to improve functionality by not only automatically answering incoming calls when you are away, but also allows you to send a message to a visitor.Moreover, this message operation for a visitor can be easily configured without the need for any new switches. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an answering machine that can be implemented as an answering machine.

[Summary of the Invention] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention, when a function switch for setting a response message is operated while the operation mode is set to the occupancy mode, sets the response message directly. On the other hand, when the function switch is operated while the operation mode is set to the absent mode, a response message that has already been set is output and reproduced by, for example, a speaker.

[Embodiments of the invention]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing the configuration of an answering machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and numeral 1 indicates a central control circuit (CPU) consisting of a microprocessor. This c
The pui includes a control ROM 3 that stores the control operation program for the CPU 1 via the bus 2, a RAM 4 that stores information necessary for each control operation such as response message selection information, and a message storage that stores voice message information. ROM5, speech synthesis circuit 6, input/output board (Ilo
) 7 are connected to each other. Also, this Ideku capo
On the door, there is an operation mode changeover switch 8 for specifying whether the CPtJ1 is in the room mode or the absence mode, a preview button 9 used to preview the set response message, and a function switch for setting the response message. 10 and a dial button 15 are connected to each other. Here, the function switch 10 includes a subscriber number button 11 used when inputting the subscriber number of the answering machine, an absence time button 12 used when setting the absence time of the answering message setter, A contact button 13 used to set a contact information in case of absence, and a reason for absence button for selectively specifying a desired response message from among multiple types of response messages preset in the message ROM 5. It consists of 14.

Further, the voice signal of the response message outputted from the voice synthesis circuit 6 is transferred to the response message transmission circuit section 17 and the response message preview circuit section 1 via the changeover switch 16.
8 is alternatively supplied.

The response message transmission circuit section consists of an amplifier 17a and a line interface 17b. - The power response message preview circuit unit 18 includes an amplifier 18a and a speaker 1 that outputs the response message amplified by the amplifier 18a as audio.
8b.

Now, as shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 1 is connected to a calling side means 21 that performs normal call control operations when a call is received while the room mode is set, and when a call is received while the absent mode is set. an absentee response control means 22 that executes absentee response control when an absent response message occurs; a preview control means 23 that causes the speaker 20 to output a response message set at this time when the preview button 9 is operated; A response message setting control means 24 sets the message information corresponding to the button when each button of the function switch 10 is operated in the state of , and when each button of the function switch 10 is operated in the state of the absence mode. Each of the control functions includes a response message playback II 111 and a response message reproduction means 25 for outputting a response message from the speaker 20 at the same time.

Next, the operation of the apparatus configured as described above will be explained according to the control procedure of the CPU 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the control procedure.

First, when the operation mode changeover switch 8 is switched to the occupancy mode, the CPLll determines the switching state (occupancy side) of the operation mode changeover switch 8 in step 3a, and thereafter shifts to the control operation of the occupancy mode.

When shifting to the control operation of this room mode, the CPU 1 will:
First, in step 3b, it is determined whether or not a call has occurred.
For example, if an incoming call occurs at this time, a normal call control operation is performed in step 3C to connect the other party's telephone device and make the call possible. In this state, the end of the call is monitored in step 3d, and when the call ends, the process returns to the operation mode determination (step 3a). On the other hand, if it is determined in step 3b that no call has occurred, CPLl
1 sequentially proceeds to step 3e and step 3h to determine whether or not the preview button 9 has been operated and whether or not the function button 10 has been operated, respectively.

Here, for example, when an office worker wants to set a response message when going out, he presses any button on the function switch 10.
For example, when the subscriber number button 11 is operated, CPLll
detects the operation of this button 11 in step 3h and moves to step 31, and thereafter in this step 3h each button 1
Message information is input or selected for each operation 1 to 14. For example, the subscriber number button 11
When turned on, the number subsequently input using the dial button 15 is stored in the RAM 4 as the subscriber number of the main telephone answering machine. In this case, the end of the subscriber number input operation is determined by detecting that the subscriber button 11 is pressed again and turned off. Furthermore, when the absence time button 12 and the contact button 13 are operated, the absence time and the contact telephone number specified by the dial button 15 following the first push button operation are temporarily stored in a register in the CPUI. However, when the buttons 12 and 13 are operated again, the absent time and contact telephone number of the register are transferred to the RAM 4 and stored therein. When the reason for absence button 14 is operated finally, the message corresponding to the number of presses of the button 14 is determined to be the specified reason for absence message among the multiple types of message for the reason for absence prepared in advance, and this message is responded to. Write the selection number to RAM4.

Then, when all the operations for each button 11 to 14 are completed, C
The PUI detects this in step 3j and returns to the operation mode switching determination (step 3a). In this way, the setting of each piece of message information constituting the response message is completed. In addition, after setting this response message, when the setter operates the preview button 9 to check the message set, CPLJl detects this in step 3e and moves to step 3f, and in this step 3f first switches A switching control signal is output to the switch 16 to set the changeover switch 16 to the response message preview circuit section 18 side.

Then, each message information stored in the RAM 4 is edited, a response message corresponding to the message information is read out from the message ROM 5, and a voice signal corresponding to this response message is output from the voice synthesis circuit 6 and is output as voice from the speaker 20. Output. Therefore, the response message setter can judge whether or not the response message just set has been correctly set by listening to this voice message.

Now, the response message settings are completed as described above.
When the setter switches the operation mode selector switch 8 to the absentee mode, the CPU 1 determines this switching in step 3a and thereafter executes the absent mode control operation. That is, first, in step 3, it is determined whether or not an incoming call has occurred, and if the occurrence of an incoming call is detected here, the process moves to step 3°C, and in step 32, a series of controls for automatic incoming call response is performed. For example, first, the line interface 17b is driven and controlled to connect the telephone to the subscriber telephone line, thereby forming a call path. Then, after setting the changeover switch 16 to the response message transmission circuit section 17 side, edit each message information set in the RAM 4 and send the message R.
A response message is read from the OM 5, and a voice synthesis circuit 6 generates a voice signal corresponding to the response message.

This audio signal is then supplied to the amplifier 17a via the changeover switch 16, amplified by the amplifier 17a, and then sent to the subscriber telephone line via the line interface 17b. When the message transmission is finished, C
PU1 detects this in step 3m and returns to the operation mode determination (step 3a).

On the other hand, if it is determined that no incoming call has occurred in the incoming call determination in step 3, the CPU 1 performs step 3n and step 3.
q, and it is determined whether the preview button 9 has been operated and whether each button of the function switch 10 has been operated or not.

Now, in this state, for example, if a visitor operates the button of the function switch 10 in order to know the message of the person who has left the house,
The CPU 1 moves to step 3r, and performs individual playback control of the response message in step 3r. For example, when a visitor presses each button from the subscriber button 11 to the reason for absence button 14 in sequence, the CPU 1 first sets the selector switch 16 to the response message preview circuit 18 side, and then stores the message in the RAM 4. Message RO by editing the message information of subscriber number, absence time, contact phone number, and selected number of reason for absence in order.
Each message is read from M5. These messages are introduced into the speech synthesis circuit 6, where they are converted into speech signals, and then passed through the amplifier 118a and generated as speech messages from the speaker 18b. For example, if the visitor operates only the contact button 13, only the message information of the contact will be displayed, for example, "If you are in a hurry, ooo-ooo number Q or ΔΔΔ-ΔΔ
Please correct your call to number ΔΔ. "Only the message information regarding the contact information in the response message is individually output from the speaker 18b. Then each button 1
When the audio output of the message information selectively designated by steps 1 to 14 is completed, the CPU returns from step 3S to the operation mode determination (step 3a), and ends the response message playback control operation. Therefore, the foreigner
By listening to this voice, it is possible to know the message left by the person who has left the house.

The operation when the trial listening button 9 is operated in the above-mentioned absence mode is the same as the operation in the presence mode.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the button of the function switch 10 is operated while the operation mode selector switch 8 is set to the away mode, this is determined to be an instruction to play a response message and the setting is made. Since the response message being sent is output as voice from the speaker 18b, the existing function switch can be used as is without installing a new function switch, and the response message can be sent to an incoming call and the same message can be sent to a visitor. Messages can be sent, thereby increasing functionality with a simple configuration. In addition, in this embodiment, by operating each of the buttons 11 to 14 provided for each of a plurality of pieces of message information constituting a response message, the message information corresponding to each button is individually transmitted to the speaker 18.
As a result, only the message information that the visitor wants to know can be immediately notified. Furthermore, even if the function switch 10 is operated in the absence mode, the set response message is only output from the speaker 18b and the response message setting does not change. Even if a person accidentally operates the function switch 10, the setting contents of the response message will not be changed or deleted, and the response message can be reliably protected.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the response message is generated by voice synthesis, but the response message may be recorded in advance on a tape recorder or the like and then played back. However, in this case, when recording a response message, it is necessary to add an address or the like so that a plurality of pieces of message information constituting this message can be selectively reproduced individually. Furthermore, if it is necessary to proactively send a response message to the visitor, a visual indicator may be provided to display the message to ensure that the message is conveyed to the visitor. In addition, the control procedure and content of the CPU, the number of buttons on the function switch (the type of message information constituting the response message), etc. can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As detailed above, according to the present invention, when the function switch for setting a response message is operated while the operation mode is set to the occupancy mode, the response message setting operation is performed as is, while the operation mode is set to the occupancy mode. When the above function switch is operated while the is set to the away mode, the preset response message is output and played back from a speaker, etc., so that it can not only automatically answer incoming calls when the user is away. , it is possible to provide an answering machine that has improved functionality by being able to send a message to a visitor, and that can perform the message operation for a visitor with a simple configuration without providing any new switches. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing the configuration of an answering machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of a CPU, which is the main part of the device, and FIG.
3 is a flowchart showing a control procedure and control contents of U. 1...CPU, 2...Bus, 3...Control ROM,
4...RAM, 5...message ROM, 6...
Speech synthesis circuit, 7... Input/output board (Ilo), 8.
・・Operation mode selector switch, 9 ・Preview button, 1
0...Function switch, 11...Subscriber number button,
12...Absence time button, 13...Contact button,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14... Absence reason button, 15... Dial button, 16... Changeover switch, 17... Response message transmission circuit section, 17a... Amplifier, 17b... Line interface, 18... Response Message listening circuit section, 18a...amplifier, 18b...speaker.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An operating mode selector switch that switches between an occupied mode in which normal telephone call operations are performed when making and receiving a call, and an absent mode in which a call circuit is automatically configured and a preset response message is sent out when a call is received; a function switch that specifies a response message setting mode; and a response message setting control means that performs a response message setting control operation when the function switch is operated with the operation mode changeover switch set to the occupancy mode; The answering machine is characterized by comprising a response message reproduction control means for reproducing a set response message from a regenerator when the function switch is operated while the operation mode changeover switch is set to the absence mode. Telephone device. (2) The function switch has a plurality of individual switches each corresponding to a plurality of types of message information constituting a response message, and when the response message setting operation is performed, each time the individual switch is operated, the message information corresponding to this switch is displayed. , and when the response message is reproduced, the message information corresponding to the individual switch is reproduced each time the individual switch is operated. Answering machine.