JPS6346044A - Automatic answering telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To read out the contents of recording at a high speed from a telephone set of a calling party, by providing a storage means for storing a message as a digital data, and detecting a dial pulse signal from a line by a telephone number means. CONSTITUTION:This telephone set is provided with storage means 2, 3 for storing a message as a digital data, and also, provided with a called party detecting means 7 for detecting a called party from a line, a generating means 11 for generating a DC loop in the line by detecting this called party, a read-out means 1 for reading out an answer message stored in the storage means 2, 3, an expanding means 6 for bringing a digital data which is read out, to an expansion processing, a compressing means 6 for compressing the digital data, and telephone number signal detecting means for detecting a telephone number signal from the line, etc. According to such constitution, a desired message can be read out easily, and can be confirmed from a receiver of the telephone set by calling the automatic answering telephone set, and inputting an instruction for reading out the recording contents recorded in the set, from a telephone number input part of a calling telephone set.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an answering machine capable of recording messages from callers.

[Prior Art] A conventional answering machine is equipped with an audio magnetic tape recorder, and a message from a caller is recorded on the audio magnetic tape recorder and then played back to confirm the message. However, it is extremely troublesome to have to go back to the location where the answering machine is installed to check the recorded content, and some answering machines do not allow messages from callers recorded on the tape recorder to be sent to other places. Some devices were equipped with a means to remotely read data using a telephone line rather than a telephone.

In order to check the recorded content on a conventional answering machine, you must carry a special remote control unit with you at all times, call the answering machine, place the speaker of the remote control unit into the mouthpiece of the telephone, and then rewind the tape recorder. By manually pressing a button, the answering machine outputs an acoustic signal instructing the tape recorder to rewind, and the answering machine detects the acoustic signal from the remote control unit and rewinds the tape recorder in response to the instruction. was going on.

Then, by pressing the play button, an acoustic signal instructing playback is output from the speaker, which reads out the content recorded on the tape recorder, sends it to the line, and sends it to the receiver of the calling party's telephone. was hearing.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Therefore, in order to perform remote control, it is necessary to carry a special remote control unit, and if this is not carried, remote control cannot be performed. Furthermore, it is not possible to have an unlimited number of remote control units; there is a limit to the number of remote control units, and the number of people who can operate them is also limited.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, and in order to achieve the purpose, an answering machine equipped with a storage means for storing messages as digital data is provided. The apparatus includes a called detection means for detecting a call from a line, a generation means for generating a DC loop in the line by the call detection by the called detection means, and a response message stored in a storage means for reading out a response message. reading means; decompression means for decompressing the digital data read by the reading means; first conversion means for converting the decompressed data of the decompression means into analog data; and analog data converted by the first conversion means. a second converting means for converting analog communication data from the line into digital data;
The apparatus includes a compression means for compressing the digital data converted by the conversion means, a writing means for storing the compressed data of the compression means in the storage means, and a telephone number signal detection means for detecting the telephone number signal from the line.

[Function] With the above configuration, anyone can call the answering machine using any telephone, without using any special equipment, through the connected public telephone line, and read the recorded contents of the device. By inputting an instruction to read the message from the telephone number input section of the calling telephone, the desired message can be easily read and confirmed from the receiver of the telephone.

[Embodiment] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment according to the present invention, and 1 in the figure is a block diagram for executing the control procedure shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 2 is a read-only memory (ROM), 3 is a random access memory (RAM), 4 is a magnetic disk device that is an external storage device, and 5 is a central processing unit (rCPUJ) that controls the entire system. Line L1. From L2,
A converter 6 converts analog data sent through the matsive transformer 12 into digital data, and also converts digital data from the compression/expansion device 6 into analog data. ,
Further, a compression/decompression device 7 decompresses compressed digital data, and 7 is a line L1. A called detection circuit detects an incoming call from L2, 8 is an answering mode changeover switch that switches whether or not to activate this device, 9 is a line LL, and the dial pulse signal from L2 is analyzed and sent. A dial pulse detection circuit 10 detects the signal value of the line L1. MF that analyzes the MF flaw signal from L2 and detects the signal value sent.
A signal detection circuit 11 is connected to the line Ll under the control of the called detection circuit 7.
, a relay contact for creating a DC loop in L2, 14
15 is a switching circuit for connecting the lines L1 and L2 to the telephone 30; 15 is an external interface section for connecting the device to an external device (for example, the computer 50); and 30 is a telephone.

FIG. 2 shows an external view of this embodiment having the above configuration.

The same components as in FIG. 1 are given the same numbers.

In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes an audio data processing device having the configuration shown in FIG. 1, on which a telephone 3o is installed. 4 is a magnetic disk device shown in FIG.

The operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be explained below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 to 5.

When the device is powered on, step S1 shown in FIG.
The called detection circuit 7 connects the line L1. Monitor calls from L2. Here, if there is a call from the caller, the call detection circuit 7 detects this and the process proceeds from step S1 to step S3. Here, it is checked whether the answering mode selector switch 8 is set to the answering mode, and if it is not the answering mode, the switching circuit 14 remains connected to the telephone 3o and does nothing.

Therefore, as shown in step S4, the telephone 30 continues to ring, and when the caller goes on-hook or picks up the handset of the telephone 30 in step S5 (off-hook), the telephone 30 becomes ready to talk, and in step S6 Make the call as shown. Then, when the call ends, in step S7, the user hangs up the phone (goes on-hook) and ends the call.

During this time, the call operation is the same as using a normal telephone.

On the other hand, when the answering mode selector switch 8 is in the answering mode, the process advances to step S10, and the called detection circuit 7 controls the switching circuit 14 to connect the telephone 30 and the line L1. Disconnect L2. Subsequently, in step S11, the relay contact 11 is closed, a DC loop is generated in the line L2, and a response is made. As a result, it becomes possible to make a call, so the next step S12
The CPU then starts up the magnetic disk device 4 and reads out the message data to be responded to. Then, in step S13, the response message is decompressed by the compression/decompression device 6 and sent to the converter 5, and the converter 5 converts the decompressed digital data into analog data and converts it to the line L1. L2
Send to.

The response message in this example is "Do you want to leave a voicemail? If you leave a voicemail, press ■ on your phone, if you do not leave a voicemail, press ■.
Please enter 1.

The caller listens to this response message, decides whether to use it as an answering machine or as a post mail device (described later), and inputs the corresponding number. If the phone to be called is a button phone, press the button with the corresponding number. If the phone is a regular dial type phone that is not a button phone, enter the number by turning the corresponding dial number. .

Therefore, in step S14, the dial pulse detection circuit 9
, or the MF signal detection circuit 10 waits for either the dial pulse signal or the MF signal, which is the telephone number signal, to be detected, and when either of the telephone number signals is received, the process advances from step S14 to step S15, where the received telephone number signal is detected. It is checked whether the received telephone number signal is "1" or not. If "1" is sent, the process proceeds to step S16, and the answering machine process shown in FIG. 4 is executed.Then, in step S20, the relay Contact 11 is opened, the DC loop is opened, and lines Li and L are connected.
2 and switches the switching circuit 14 to the telephone 30 side. Then, the process ends and the process returns to step S1.

On the other hand, the telephone number signal sent in step S15 is 1.
”, the process advances to step S17, reads the command message stored in the magnetic disk device, decompresses the command message in the compression/decompression device 6 as in step S13, sends it to the converter 5, and the converter 5 decompresses the command message. Converts the digital data into analog data and sends it to line L2.

The command message in this example prompts you to enter a command number to select which function to execute among the voicemail functions, "Please enter the command number."
However, the message sent to the caller is not limited to this.

The caller listens to this response message and enters the number corresponding to the desired voice mail function. Therefore step S1
Step S8 waits for the telephone number signal from the caller to be sent, and when the telephone number signal is detected, the process proceeds to step S19, where command processing corresponding to the telephone number signal shown in FIG. 5 is executed.

Then, the process advances to step S20.

Next, the answering machine processing in step S16 will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S41, a response message as an answering machine is read out from the magnetic disk device 4 in the same manner as in step S12, and the read message is read out as in step S13 on line L1. Send to L2. Here, the message ``Please enter ■ to start the answering message, and ■ to end the message,'' is sent.Next, in step S42, the caller waits for a number input, and if the caller inputs a phone number, the message is sent. For example, in step S43, it is checked whether °°1'' has arrived. 1”, the process returns to step S42 and “°
1", the process advances to step S44. The analog voice information to be recorded from the calling side is input to the converter 5 via the transformer 12. Therefore, the converter 5 receives the received information sent in step S44. The analog audio information is converted into digital information and sent to the compression/expansion device 6. In the compression/expansion device 6, in step S45, the digitized data from the converter 5 is compressed by a known method, and the CPU The CPUI writes this compressed data to the magnetic disk device 4 in step 346.Then, in the following step S47, the calling party sends it as a telephone number signal.
It is checked whether 2°° has been input, and if 2'' has been input, the process advances to step S48; if not, the process returns to step S44, and the audio information sent is written to the magnetic disk device. Continue.

On the other hand, in step 348, a file number is assigned and registered to the audio information written in the magnetic disk device 4. Then, the process ends and returns.

Next, the command processing in step S19 will be explained with reference to FIG.

First, in step 351, the CPU selects the magnetic disk device 4.
Among the digital audio data files recorded in the data file, the data file having the number specified by the telephone number signal is located. Then, in the next step S52, the audio data of the file located at the beginning is read from the magnetic disk device 4, and the audio data read out in step S53 is compressed/
The data is sent to the decompression device 6, and decompression processing is performed on the compressed data. The compression/expansion device 6 transfers the decompressed audio data to the converter 5.

The converter 5 converts this expanded digital audio data into analog audio data in step S55, and converts the expanded digital audio data into analog audio data in the transformer 12.
It is sent to lines LL and L2 via. Then, in step S56, it is checked whether or not the output of the data file from the magnetic disk device 4 has been completed. If the output of the data file has not been completed, the process returns to step S52 and the current data file is read and played back. continue.

If the output of the data file has been completed, the process ends and returns.

As explained above, according to the Kimi-ryu side, it is possible to quickly respond to incoming calls from the line (public communication line), and by storing response messages in the magnetic disk device 4, a wide variety of messages can be sent. Can be retained.

In addition, by recording the transmission message from the caller in the magnetic disk device 4, random reading is possible.
It also becomes easier to search for a desired message.

In addition, the desired transmission message stored in the magnetic disk device 4 can be accessed and read out onto the line by a simple operation that does not require special equipment, such as inputting a telephone number signal from the telephone of the calling party. You can achieve the following voicemail functions.

(1) Mailbox function: If you post a message in the recipient's mailbox, the recipient can retrieve the message at their convenience.

(2) Information provision service: Anyone can easily retrieve registered messages.

Furthermore, analog audio data can be converted into digital data and recorded, making it possible to easily connect to other computer devices and transfer audio data. Therefore, various types of data processing are possible, and not only voice messages but also information processing data can be transferred and recorded.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to record voice messages etc. sent from a line, and
The recorded contents can also be read out faster than the telephone at the calling destination without requiring any special equipment.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external view of the embodiment, and FIGS. 3 to 5 are control flowcharts of the embodiment. In the figure, 1.CPU, 2.ROM, 3.RAM. 4... Magnetic disk device, 5... Converter, 6...
... Compression/expansion device, 7... Called detection circuit, 8...
Answering machine mode changeover switch, 9...Dial pulse detection circuit, 10...MF signal detection circuit, 11...Relay contact, 15...External interface, 3o...Telephone, 50...Computer device be. Patent applicant Canon Co., Ltd. Figure 4

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) An answering machine equipped with a storage means for storing a message as digital data, which includes a called detection means for detecting an incoming call from the line, and a DC loop in the line by the called detection means. a generating means for generating a message; and a reading means for reading out a response message stored in the memory means;
a decompressing means for decompressing the digital data read by the reading means; a first converting means for converting the decompressed data of the decompressing means into analog data; and sending the analog data converted by the first converting means to a line. a second conversion means for converting analog communication data from the line into digital data; a compression means for compressing the digital data converted by the second conversion means; 1. An answering machine comprising: writing means for storing in a storage means; and telephone number signal detecting means for detecting a telephone number signal from a line. (2) An answering machine according to claim 1, wherein the telephone number means detects an MF signal from a line. (3) An answering machine according to claim 1, wherein the telephone number means detects a dial pulse signal from a line.