JPS61147645A - Automatic answering telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To cope easily with the change of purpose or the like by providing the first designating means which discriminates alternatively a purpose storage medium and the second designating means which selects message information to be used of the purpose storage medium. CONSTITUTION:A voice synthesizing circuit 4 and a message ROM5 where absence reason message information are stored are included in a CPU1. The message ROM5 is provided with three memory blocks 51, 52, and 53 as purpose storage mediums provided in accordance with purposes, and plural (four, in the figure) absence reason message information M11-M34 required for individual purposes are stored in memory blocks 51, 52, and 53. Addresses are given to memory blocks 51, 52, and 53 and absence reason message information M11-M34, and these addresses are designated to select and designate individually memory blocks 51, 52, and 53 and absence reason message information M11-M34.

Description

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

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

In recent years, there are recording and reproducing devices such as tape recorders or voice synthesis circuits that automatically form a communication circuit in response to an incoming call when the caller is absent, and then read out message information that has been stored in a storage medium in advance. Many answering machines are in use, in which a voice signal corresponding to message information is generated from the recording/playback device or voice synthesis circuit and sent out. This type of If is very convenient because it allows you to send a desired voice message to the other party by simply selecting and specifying the message information corresponding to the voice message to be sent when the person is absent.

However, in this type of device, message information is generally specified using only one changeover switch, so it has been impossible to increase the number of message information. In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to increase the number of changeover switches so that more message information can be selected, but in this case, the number of changeover switches increases approximately in proportion to the number of message information, so it is possible to downsize the device. And price reduction will be hindered. For this reason, conventionally, the number of message information is limited and used. Therefore, such conventional devices are useful when the purpose of an office, store, home, etc. has changed and the message information must be changed accordingly, or when only the message information needs to be changed even though the purpose has not changed. In such cases, the settings of the message information must be changed each time, and the operation is extremely troublesome.

(Object of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to provide an answering machine that is easy to handle and can easily accommodate changes in usage, etc., and can easily specify message information without causing confusion. shall be.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a usage storage medium having at least one piece of message designation information corresponding to one usage, and a first designation means for selectively identifying the usage storage medium. and a second specifying means for selecting the message information regarding the consumption of the storage medium for the intended use, and the first and second specifying means select the desired message information corresponding to the intended use and produce the corresponding voice. It is designed to send messages.

[Embodiments of the invention]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing the main part configuration of an answering machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This @ position is the control unit (CPL) that controls the operation of the entire device.
I) 1 and to this CPLJl via bus 2.
A control ROM 3 that stores a program that specifies the control procedure of the PU 1, a voice synthesis circuit 4, a message ROM 5 that stores absence reason message information, a RAM 6 that stores various data necessary for control, and a block designation switch 7 and a message that will be described later. I1 to which designated switch 8 is connected
0 boat 9 are connected to each other.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 2, the message ROM 5 has three memory blocks 51, 52, and 53 as storage media for different uses, and these memory blocks 51, 52, . 53, multiple (four in the figure) absence reason message information M required for each purpose.
11 to M34 are stored. and,
Each of the above memory blocks 51, 52, 53 and its absence reason message information M11 to M34 is assigned an address, and by specifying this address, the above memory block 51, 52, 53 and each of its absence reason message information M11 to M34 are assigned an address. are individually selected and specified.

On the other hand, FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) show the configuration of the operation panel portion of the answering machine of this embodiment, where (a) is a plan view thereof, and (b) is an I-I of (a). FIG. In the figure, a concave reason-for-absence card accommodating portion 72 is provided on the surface of a casing 71, and a reason-for-absence card 73 is set on the bottom surface of this reason-for-absence card accommodating portion 72. This absence reason card 73 is made of a strip of hard paper as shown in the fourth reason, and corresponds to each memory block 51, 52, 53.

A symbol representing the type of absence reason message information is written on the surface of each of these absence reason cards 73, and holes 74 are provided at different positions. Further, a board 75 is disposed below the absence reason card accommodating section 73, and a block designation switch 7 and a message designation switch 8 are attached to this board 75. The block designation switch 7 is the operation knob 7
6 is slid so that it can be inserted into the hole 74 of the absence reason card 73. On the other hand, the message designation switch 8 is configured such that an operating knob 78 slides along the absence reason card 73, and an output corresponding to the position of the operating knob 78 is used as an absence reason message information designation signal (absence reason card 73). message specification signal). Note that 77 is a transparent plate attached to the opening surface of the absence reason card accommodating section 73.

With the above configuration, for example, if you want to set absence reason message information for an office, select the absence reason card 73 corresponding to the purpose, and use this absence reason card 7.
3 is set in the absence reason card storage 81s72 by temporarily removing or rotating the transparent plate 77 of the operation panel section. At this time, the operation knob 76 of the block designation switch 7 is slid to a position corresponding to the hole 74 of the absence reason card 73 in order to be inserted into the hole 74. Therefore, by setting the position of the operation knob 76, the block designation switch 7 selectively identifies the absence reason card and sends out the identification information. When the setting of the reason for absence card 73 is completed, message designation information is assigned to each predetermined area, and a symbol to that effect is written in the area m.A message is sent to the position where the desired symbol is written on the reason for absence card 73. Move the operation knob 78 of the designated switch 8. Therefore, the message designation switch 8 selects a predetermined area and sends out the selection result as message designation information.

Now, when there is an incoming call in this state, CPUI first determines whether or not the device is set to answering mode as shown in FIG. Line connection control is performed (step 62). In addition, if it is not in answering mode,
Recognizing that it is the normal response mode, the line connection control is performed based on the subscriber's response (step 63). After completing the connection control of the above line, CPtJl next outputs the block designation switch 7 and message designation switch 8 (l
separate information and message specification information) are I and 10, respectively.
These input signals are read in via the port 9 (step 64), and addresses corresponding to these input signals are generated and stored in the message ROM 5.
(step 65). Then, the message information on the reason for absence specified by each address is selectively read from the message ROM 5, and the CPtJl supplies this message information on the reason for absence to the speech synthesis circuit 4 (step 66). Therefore, the voice synthesis circuit 4 generates a voice message corresponding to the absence reason message information, and this voice message is sent to a telephone line (not shown). Thus, a voice message is sent indicating the desired reason for the desired absence of the desired application.

By the way, when changing the purpose, select the absence reason card 73 corresponding to the purpose and set this card in place of the absence reason card previously set in the absence reason card storage section 72.

At this time, the position of the operation knob 76 of the block designation switch 7 is slid to match the position of the hole in the newly set absence reason card 73. Then, the user slides the operation knob 78 of the message designation switch 8 to the position corresponding to the desired absence reason meta message information, and the setting operation is completed. If you wish to set new absence reason message information within the same application, leave the absence reason card 78 as it is and move the operation knob 78 of the message designation switch 8 to the position corresponding to the absence reason message information. All you have to do is match them.

As described above, according to this embodiment, memory blocks 51, 52, and 53 are provided in which a plurality of absence reason message information are registered for each purpose, and a desired memory block is selectively designated by the block designation switch 7. Since the purpose is set and changed using the touch screen, it is possible to set and change the purpose in a short time with simple operations.Then, by setting the message designation switch 8 to the desired position, Desired absence reason message information can be set. Further, in this embodiment, an absence reason h-door 3 is prepared corresponding to each memory block 51, 52, 53, and a hole 7 for identification is provided in this absence reason card 73.
4 is provided, and the block designation switch 7 is switched by inserting the operation knob 76 of the block designation switch 7 into this hole 74, so that the memory block can be designated at the same time as the absence reason card 73 is set. This makes it possible to prevent forgetting to switch the block designation switch 7 after changing the fruiting use, and to ensure memory block designation.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, to identify the absence reason card, cutouts 81 are provided at different positions at the end of each card as shown in FIG. 6, and the cutouts 81 are detected by a detector using mechanical contacts or a photodetector. This detection output may also be used.
The means for identifying each absence reason card may include attaching stickers with different reflectances to the holes or notches, or painting the card with a color, and detecting this with a photodetector. Further, in the embodiment described above, a case has been described in which a speech synthesizer is used as a means for generating a voice message, but a recording/reproducing device such as a tape recorder may also be used. In addition, the number of memory blocks, the number of absence reason message information registered in each memory block, the configuration of the block designation means and message designation means (for example, a rotary switch may be used)
The control procedure for the answering machine mode, etc. can also be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in detail above, the present invention provides a usage storage medium having at least one piece of message designation information corresponding to one usage, and includes a first designating means for selectively identifying the usage storage medium, and a first designation means for selectively identifying the usage storage medium; and a second specifying means for selecting message information regarding consumption of the intended storage medium, and the first and second specifying means select desired message information corresponding to the intended use and transmit a voice message corresponding to the desired message information. This is how it was done.

Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided an answering machine that can easily respond to changes in usage, etc., can easily specify message information without causing confusion, and is easy to handle. can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 5 are for explaining an answering machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the memory configuration of the device, and FIG. 2 is a memory map of the message ROM. Figures 3(a) and 3(b) show the configuration of the operation panel, where (a) is a plan view thereof, and (b)
is a sectional view of knee I in (a), FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the configuration of the absence reason card, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the IIJI11 procedure of the CPU, and the sixth factor is the reason for absence in another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of a card. 5...Message ROM, 7...Block specification switch, 8...Message specification switch, 51.52°53...Memory block, 71...Casing, 72...
・Absence reason card storage section, 73...Absence reason card,
74... Hole, 75... Substrate, 76.78... Operation knob, 77... Transparent plate. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 (a) (b) Figure 4 Figure 5 WJ

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an answering machine that sends out a voice signal corresponding to message information stored in a storage medium, an application storage medium having at least one piece of message designation information corresponding to one application and the application storage medium are selected. a first specifying means for selectively identifying and transmitting identification information; a second specifying means for selecting and transmitting desired message specifying information of the intended storage medium; and identification information obtained from the first specifying means. and control means for reading message information based on the message designation information obtained from the second designation means from the storage medium and transmitting it as a desired voice signal. (2) The plurality of usage storage media is a usage designation card that has determination sections provided at different positions and to which message information is assigned to each predetermined area, and the first designation means is a storage area. The second designating means is a designation switch means that detects the position of the discrimination section of the usage designation card stored in the storage section and supplies this detection result to the control means as identification information, and the second designation means detects the position of the discrimination section of the usage designation card stored in the storage section. The answering machine according to claim 1, further comprising designation switch means for selecting a predetermined area of the card and supplying the selection result to the control means as message designation information.