JPS63280550A - Automatic answering telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To bring the state into the standby state instantly after the end of message recording by allowing a 2nd storage means to store a reply message stored in the 1st storage means under the control of a control circuit and allowing the 2nd storage means to send a reply message by the control of the control circuit in receiving the incoming from a caller. CONSTITUTION:A 1st storage means 5 with a reply message stored therein in advance is set to the set and the control circuit 10 is controlled to reproduce a reply message stored in the 1st storage means 5. The reproduced reply message is stored in the 2nd storage means 25 so that the 2nd storage means 25 sends the stored reply message to a caller by the control of the control circuit 10 every time reception is applied at the reception of a call from the caller. Thus, the set is brought into the standby state immediately after the end of message recording and the reply message stored in a voice storage circuit is preserved by itself.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to an answering machine that transmits a response message to a caller and records a message from the caller. .

(b) Conventional technology In general, when an answering machine that records incoming calls while the user is away from home receives a call, it sends a message to the caller to record the answering machine. A response message is transmitted, and then, in response to the response message, a business message from the caller is recorded. As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 56-16987, such a device uses two tapes: a response tape on which response messages are exclusively recorded, and a message tape on which message messages are exclusively recorded. Conventionally, devices have been used that are equipped with the following and are capable of performing the above operations. Therefore, in order to configure the answering machine, it is necessary to provide two sets of tape drive mechanisms such as keys, pinch rollers, etc., and at least two pieces of tape must be prepared, resulting in a complicated structure. It becomes uneconomical,
There were also problems in terms of space factor and handling. Recently, as a solution to this problem,
For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-24854, an answering machine has been developed which records response messages and business messages on magnetic tape and is capable of automatic answering operations.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention As mentioned above, an answering machine in which a response message and a business message are recorded on a single magnetic tape, and the answering operation is performed, is provided at the starting end of the magnetic tape. A response message is recorded, and an interval signal is placed after the recording part of the response message to record the business message, and an interval signal is also recorded after the d clef part of the business message. There is. Therefore, the automatic answering operation upon receiving a paging signal from the caller first closes the line for the first caller, plays back the response message recorded on the beginning of the magnetic tape, and then connects the line. Send via. By detecting the interval signal recorded after the response message after the end of reproduction, the magnetic tape is put into a message recording state, and the message sent from the caller is recorded. After finishing recording the message, the line is disconnected, the magnetic tape is rewound, the response message is cued, and the machine enters a standby state. When the second ring signal is received, the line is closed again, the response message on the magnetic tape is played back from the beginning, and after the playback is finished, the magnetic tape is fast-forwarded by detecting the interval signal, and the first message is sent. The recording section is skipped, and the message sent by the caller on the second call is recorded after the first message recording section, and the telephone line is closed again after the recording of the message is finished. It is necessary to perform complicated operations such as canceling the call, rewinding the magnetic tape, cueing the response message, and entering the standby state, and as the number of calls received by the caller increases, This increases the amount of time it takes, and each time a caller receives a call, it goes into standby mode after recording a message, and it takes time to be able to answer the next call, and even if the caller tries to make a call, However, because the telephone device is busy for a long time, it becomes difficult to use the telephone. Therefore, one possible method is to store only the response message in the voice storage circuit and record only the message on the magnetic tape, but this method has the advantage that it can be put into a standby state after the message has been recorded. When replacing the response message stored in the voice memory circuit, the previously stored response message will be erased and a new response message will be stored in the voice memory circuit via the microphone. Even if the memorized response message is elaborate and takes time to memorize, it can be retained without erasing it and stored in the voice memory circuit when needed again. However, when necessary, the response message must be stored in the voice memory circuit again through the microphone, which is a problem.The present invention solves this problem. This answering machine is designed to enter a standby state after the recording of a business message is completed, and to hold the response message itself stored in a voice storage circuit.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The answering machine of the present invention includes a first storage means which is detachably attached to the apparatus and stores a response message for the caller in advance; It is comprised of a second storage means fixed to the device, and a control circuit that controls the operations of the first storage means and the second storage means.

(*) Function The answering machine of the present invention includes setting the first storage means in which a response message is stored in advance in the device, and controlling the control circuit to read the response message stored in the first storage means. Play the played response message in the second
The second storage means is stored in a storage means, and each time an incoming call from a caller is received, the second storage means is controlled by a control circuit to send the stored response message to the caller. be.

(F) Embodiment An embodiment of the answering machine of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. (1) is a connection terminal that can be connected to a telephone line, (2) is a book switch, (3) is a line transformer that is connected to the connection terminal (1) via the hook switch (2), and (4) is the connection terminal. The incoming call and disconnection detection circuit connected to (1) detects the arrival of an incoming signal, that is, a ringing signal, and a signal generated by the exchange (not shown) when the caller performs an on-footer operation on the telephone line. Detect. (5) is a magnetic tape, and in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, a response message to the caller is recorded at the beginning of one magnetic tape, and an interval signal is placed to receive the message from the caller. I am trying to record the received messages. (6) is a recording/playback head that records and plays back each message on the magnetic tape (5); (7) generates an interval signal to be recorded between each message recorded on the magnetic tape (5); This oscillation circuit is controlled by a control circuit described later.

(8) is a detection head that detects the interval signal recorded on the magnetic tape (5), (9) is a tape drive circuit that runs the magnetic tape (5), and (10) is the tape drive circuit ( 9) and switches the running state of the magnetic tape (5), which includes a playback switch (11) that puts the device in the message playback state, and an automatic response switch (11) that puts the device in the automatic response state. 12), a recording switch (13) for recording the response message on the magnetic tape (5) of this device, and a memory switch (14) for manually switching whether or not to record the response message in the voice memory circuit described later. (15) is the first amplifier circuit that amplifies the message sent by the caller via the telephone line, and after amplification, the message is recorded on the magnetic tape (5) via the recording/playback head (6). (16) is a second amplification circuit that amplifies the response message sent to the caller, (17) is a changeover switch that is switched by the control circuit (10), and connects the movable terminal (17a) to a line transformer. (3) on the secondary side, and connect the first fixed terminal (17b) to the first
A second fixed terminal (17c) is connected to the input section of the amplifier circuit (15).
is provided at the output section of the second amplifier circuit (16). (1
8) is a microphone for recording a response message to the magnetic tape (5); (19) is a microphone amplifier circuit for amplifying the signal applied via the microphone (18); and (20) is a microphone for the microphone. Amplification circuit (1
A microphone selector switch is used to select whether or not to apply the output of step 9) to the recording/reproducing head (6), and is linked to the recording switch (13). (21) is a speaker for emitting sounds of business messages and response messages, (22) is a sound emitting amplifier circuit that amplifies and adds each message to the speaker (21), and (23) is a sound emitting amplifier circuit ( (22) is a sound emitting changeover switch that switches whether or not to add each message to the automatic response switch (1); (24) is a first voice conversion circuit that converts the response message into a digital signal and outputs it;
2) and the recording switch (13) are closed, it becomes operational. In addition, in this device, when a response message is recorded on the magnetic tape (5) and when the automatic response switch (12) is operated, the first operation is to confirm the response message pre-recorded on the magnetic tape (5). In this case, the response message of the magnetic tape (5) is once reproduced, and then the start end of the magnetic tape (5) is detected again and the response message is converted into a digital signal by the reproduction operation. (25)
is an audio storage circuit that stores the digital signal output from the first audio conversion circuit (24) under the control of the control circuit (10), and in this embodiment, a semiconductor memory is used. (2
6) is a second voice conversion circuit that reads out the digital signal stored in the voice storage circuit (25), converts it into an analog response message under the control of the control circuit (10), and outputs it; (27) is the main voice converter circuit; When the device is ready to record a message (a beep sound generation circuit that emits a beep sound, (28)
is a closing circuit that receives the output of the control circuit (10) and controls opening and closing of the hook switch (2).

The operation of the answering machine configured as above will be explained. First, the case where a response message to a caller is recorded on a magnetic tape (5) will be explained. When storing a response message in the voice storage circuit (25) simultaneously with the magnetic tape (5), the control circuit (10) is closed by closing the storage switch (14) and then closing the recording switch (12). puts the tape drive circuit (9) into operation, and also puts the first audio conversion circuit (24) and audio storage circuit (25) into operation.
Make it memorizable.

Furthermore, the output of the microphone amplifier circuit (20) is connected to the recording/playback head (
6). In such a state, when the user speaks a response message through the microphone (18), the signal converted into an electrical signal by the microphone (18) is amplified by the microphone amplifier circuit (19), and the microphone switch in the on state is turned on. It passes through a switch (20) and enters the recording/playback head (6). The recording/playback head (6
), a response message is recorded as an electrical signal on the running magnetic tape (5) in response to the running operation of the tape drive circuit (9). Further, the output of the microphone amplifier circuit (19) is converted into a digital signal by a first audio conversion circuit (24), and is also stored in an audio storage circuit (25).

Then, when the recording of the response message is finished, the recording switch (
12), the control circuit (10) disables the first voice conversion circuit (24) and puts the voice storage circuit (25) into a memory retention state. In such a state, the microphone selector switch (20) is switched to the recording switch (12).
is opened in conjunction with the opening of the microphone amplifier circuit (1
Since the output of 9) is not applied to the recording/playback head (6), the control circuit (10) is connected to the oscillation circuit (7).
) is activated, and the output of the circuit is sent to the recording/playback head (6).
), the magnetic tape (5) is recorded as an interval signal after the response message, and then the tape drive circuit (9) is put into a non-operating state to stop the running of the magnetic tape (5). Terminates the response message recording operation.

In the above operation, if the voice storage circuit (25) is not to record a response message at the same time, this can be done by keeping the storage switch (14) open.

As described above, in this device, when the automatic response switch (13) is operated in a state where the response message is allowed to be stored in both the starting end of the magnetic tape (5) and the voice storage circuit (25), the control circuit (10) The tape drive circuit (9) enters the rewind operation state and performs the rewind operation of the magnetic tape (5). After this operation, the sound output changeover switch (23) is closed by the control circuit (10) and The tape drive circuit (9) performs playback running of the magnetic tape (5),
The response message recorded on the magnetic tape (5) is played back via the recording/playback head (6), passes through the closed sound output changeover switch (23) and the sound output amplifier circuit (22), and is output to the speaker ( 21), a sound is emitted for confirmation, and after the response message has been reproduced, the detection head (8) detects the interval signal recorded on the magnetic tape (5), and the control circuit (10)
makes the tape drive circuit (9) inactive and drives the magnetic tape (
5) and at the same time open the sound emitting changeover switch (23) to put the device in a standby state. In the above operation, the digital signal corresponding to the response message stored in the voice storage circuit (25) is not reproduced because the storage switch (14) is in the closed state, but when the device enters the standby state, the control circuit ( 10) causes the memory switch (14
) is reset incorrectly, so the audio storage circuit (25) after the standby state operates under the control of the control circuit (10) and also performs a reproduction operation. In such a state, when a calling signal is sent via the telephone line from the calling party, the calling signal is detected by the incoming and disconnection detection circuit (4), and the control circuit (10) is notified that there is an incoming signal. Add as a signal. Thereby, the control circuit (10) connects the movable terminal (17a) of the changeover switch (17) to the second fixed terminal (17c) and controls the closing circuit (28) to close the hook switch (2). At that time, the control signal from the control circuit (10) is also applied to the voice storage circuit (25) and the second voice conversion circuit (26), and the voice storage circuit (25) becomes readable, and the second voice conversion circuit (26) becomes readable. 26>.The second audio conversion circuit (26) outputs the digital signal as an analog response message, and the response message is applied to the second amplifier circuit (16) for amplification, and the changeover switch (17) - line transformer (3) - hook switch (2) - connection terminal (1) route to the caller via the telephone line. In such operation the voice storage circuit (25)
When the digital signals stored in the memory are read out repeatedly, the control circuit (10) puts the audio storage circuit (25) into a memory retention state, and the beep sound generation circuit (27) goes into operation to emit a beep sound. Send to caller. After the sending is finished, move the movable terminal (17a) of the changeover switch (17) to the first
It is connected to the fixed terminal (17b) and the tape drive circuit (9) is enabled to operate, so that the message sent from the caller is added to the recording/playback head (6). In such a state, when the caller who has heard the response message sends a business message, the business message is sent to the connection terminal (1) - hook switch (2) - line transformer (3) - changeover switch. It is connected to the first amplifier circuit (15) through the path (17) and is amplified to the recording/playback head (6).
recorded on magnetic tape (5). When the business message is no longer sent and the caller performs an on-footer operation, the control circuit (10) detects a signal sent from the exchange (not shown) in the incoming call and disconnection signal detection circuit (4). ) controls the closing circuit (28) to open the hook switch (2), then controls the oscillation circuit (7) and applies the output of the oscillation circuit (7) to the recording/playback head (6). The magnetic tape (5) is recorded as an interval signal.

When this operation is completed, the control circuit (10) puts the tape drive circuit (9) into an inactive state and enters a standby state awaiting the next call from the caller. When the next caller receives a call, it performs the same operations as described above and sequentially records the message from the caller on the magnetic tape (5) as shown in FIG.

Next, set the magnetic tape on which a response message has been previously recorded at the starting end as described above into the device.
The case where automatic response operation is performed will be explained. When the magnetic tape (5) is set in the device and the automatic response switch (13) is operated, a switching signal is input to the control circuit (10).
The tape drive circuit (9) is controlled by the control circuit (10).
) enters the rewinding operation state and performs the rewinding operation of the magnetic tape (5). After this operation, the sound output changeover switch (23
) is closed by the control circuit (10), and since the memory switch (14) is not closed in this state, the voice memory circuit (25) and the first voice conversion circuit (24) are connected by the control circuit (10). ) becomes operational, and the voice storage circuit (
25) becomes a memorizable state. In addition, the tape drive circuit (
9) is also brought into operation under the control of the control circuit (10), and the magnetic tape (5) is played back. In such a state, the response message played back from the magnetic tape (5) via the recording/playback head (6) is sent to the sound emitting selector switch (23).
The sound is amplified by the sound emitting amplifier circuit (22) through the speaker 21) and emitted for confirmation. On the other hand, the reproduced response message is converted into a digital signal by the first voice conversion circuit (24) in an operating state, and is added to and stored in the voice storage circuit (25) which is in a memorizable state.

When the reproduction of the response message is completed and the interval signal after the response message is detected by the detection head (8), the control circuit (10) causes the voice storage circuit (25) to enter the memory retention state and First audio conversion circuit (24)
After making the tape drive circuit (9) inactive, the magnetic tape (5) is stopped from running, and the sound output changeover switch (23) is opened to put the device in a standby state. let

In such a state, when the calling party sends a ringing signal through the telephone line, the ringing signal is detected by the incoming call and disconnection signal detection circuit (4), and the above-mentioned operation is carried out and the ringing signal is stored in the voice storage circuit (25). The stored digital signal is converted into an analog response message via the second voice conversion circuit (26) and sent to the caller as a response message, and the business message sent by the caller is transferred to a magnetic tape ( 5)
A recording bag is attached to the machine, and each time a call is received, a response message is sent out from the voice storage circuit (25), and the message is sequentially recorded on the magnetic tape (5).

Next, the answering machine of the present invention is activated by an automatic answering switch (13
The operation after the power outage operation in which the supply current is temporarily stopped and the supply current is added again when the device is in a standby state due to the closing of ) will be explained. When the supply current is no longer applied to the telephone answering machine, each circuit constituting the telephone answering machine becomes inoperative. In such a state, when a supply current is applied, the control circuit (10) enters a memory retention state, and the voice memory circuit (25), which had stored the response message as a digital signal, becomes a clear state, and the stored response is stored. Messages are deleted.

When the supply current is received again, the automatic response switch (13) remains closed in such a state, so that the control circuit (1
0) detects that the automatic response switch (13) is in the open state and that the voice storage circuit (25) is in the clear state, and controls the tape drive circuit (9) to drive the magnetic tape. Rewind the rest. In this state, the control circuit (10) does not detect the output of the incoming and disconnection detection circuit (4), and also controls the closing circuit (28) to keep the hook switch (2) open. Then, when the rewinding of the magnetic tape (5) is completed, the control circuit (10) puts the first audio conversion circuit (24) and the audio storage circuit (25) into an operating state, so that the audio storage circuit (25) can store data. state. In this state, the control circuit (10) causes the tape drive circuit (9) to reproduce and run the magnetic tape (5). As a result, the response message recorded at the beginning of the magnetic tape (5) is completely reproduced through the recording/playback head (6) and converted into a digital signal through the first audio conversion circuit (24) which is in operation. , the response message is added to the voice storage circuit (25) which is in a storage enabled state, and the response message is stored as a digital signal. In such a state, when the reproduction of the response message progresses and the interval signal recorded after the response message is detected by the detection head (8), the control circuit (10) makes the tape drive circuit (9) inactive and the magnetic At the same time as the tape (5) stops playing, the first voice conversion circuit (24) also becomes inactive, and the voice storage circuit (25) enters a state in which the reproduced response message is stored. After this operation, the control circuit (10) enters a state in which it receives the output of the incoming and disconnection detection circuit (4), and the apparatus enters a standby state.

In addition, a recording/reproducing head (6) is used instead of the above-mentioned detection head (8>), and the output of the recording/reproducing head (6) is added to the signal identification circuit for identification, and only when the signal is an interval signal, the signal identification circuit There is no problem even if the output of No problem will arise if you do so.

(G) Effects of the Invention The answering machine of the present invention has a second storage means fixed to the device, which is removably provided to the device, and which stores response messages in advance. A response message is added under the control, and the response message is stored in the second storage means, and upon receiving a calling signal from the caller, the second storage means receives the caller under the control of the control circuit. Since a response message is sent to the caller, if a plurality of first storage means each storing a variety of response messages are prepared, the first storage means storing a desired response message depending on the mood of the owner may be prepared.
By setting and controlling the storage means in the device, a desired response message can be easily stored in the second storage means without using a microphone or the like. Furthermore, by storing a favorite response message in the first storage means, even if the response message completely stored in the second storage means is deleted, the response message can be used whenever desired.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the answering machine of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a timing diagram of recording each message on a magnetic tape used in the embodiment of the answering machine of the present invention. Explanation of main figure numbers (5)...Magnetic tape, (6)...Recording/playback head, (10)...Control circuit, (24)...First audio conversion circuit, (25)... ...Voice memory circuit, (26)
...Second voice conversion circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In an answering machine that performs an automatic answering operation by sending a response message in response to the caller's incoming call and then recording a message from the caller, the answering machine is removably attached to the device, a first storage means that stores in advance a response message to the calling party; a second storage means fixed to the device; and control for controlling the operations of the first storage means and the second storage means. The response message stored in the first storage means is stored in the second storage means under the control of the control circuit, and the response message stored in the first storage means is stored in the second storage means under the control of the control circuit. An answering machine characterized in that a response message is transmitted from the means.