JPS6359150A - Automatic answer telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a function of automatic answering telephone set from being stopped even with power supply interruption due to power failure by storing a prescribed message in a reception information storage means together with a message storage means. CONSTITUTION:When power supply rises again after power failure, a message flag is set and a reply message is recorded, then the present position of a tape is stored in a memory M to rewind the tape. Then the reply message is reproduced and stored sequentially in a message storage section 3. Thus, the reply message stored in the tape recorder section 2 is transferred to the message storage section 3 automatically and stored therein. Thus, the backup to power supply interruption by means of a secondary battery or the like for the message storage section 3 requiring a large current is not required and sure recovery is attained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an answering machine connected to a telephone line network.

[Prior Art] In general, an answering machine automatically answers when there is a call, and sends a message to the effect that the called telephone is away, a message to record the message, and a message to indicate the recording period. It is configured to send a message to the calling party by sending it to the line, and then record the message sent from the calling party so that it can be called and checked later.

This notification message to the calling party is recorded in advance on a special magnetic tape device (for example, an endless tape recorder) that is separate from the one used for recording contact messages, and is activated along with the called party and sent to the line. was.

Alternatively, this message is stored in the random access memory of the IC, and after a call is detected, the memory is accessed to read the message.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, if a dedicated magnetic tape device is used as the message storage means, the configuration will be complicated, the device will inevitably become larger, and there will be problems in terms of reliability. was there.

Therefore, in recent years, devices that record this message in an IC memory have come into widespread use. Although IC memory has a good space factor and is relatively inexpensive, it has the disadvantage that the stored contents are erased when the power is cut off. Therefore, if there is a power outage or the like while you are away, your phone will no longer function as an answering machine. To prevent this, it is conceivable to provide a backup power source to maintain the stored contents of the memory even when the power is turned off.

However, IC memories generally use dynamic RAM, which inevitably consumes a large amount of current to retain the stored contents, and requires a large capacity backup power supply. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an expensive secondary battery as a backup power source. However, even if this expensive secondary battery is used, the memory contents will still be destroyed if the power outage is prolonged.

For this reason, in order to be able to use it even in overseas countries where power supply conditions are poor, the capacity of the secondary battery must be extremely large, which poses many practical problems.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been made to eliminate the above-mentioned problems and provide a highly reliable answering machine.For example, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems. The following configuration is provided as a means to solve the problem.

That is, called detection means detects an incoming call from the line, output means is activated by the call detection means to output a predetermined message to the line, and output means outputs a predetermined message to the line. a message storage means for storing the message; a reception information storage means for storing the received information from the line after the message is output from the output means; and a storage control means for storing a predetermined message in the reception information storage means and the message storage means at the same time. , a distribution means for calling a predetermined message which is written in the reception information storage means when the power of the device is turned on and writing it in the message storage means.

[Function] In the above configuration, by storing a predetermined message in the received information storage means as well as the message storage means, it is possible to prevent the contents of the message storage means from being erased if the power is cut off due to a power outage or the like. Also, there is provided a device with a high degree of complicity, which can re-store the predetermined message stored in the received information storage means in the message storage means when the power is turned on, and does not stop the function of the answering machine. can be provided.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example according to 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 control program stored in a built-in memory M, for example, the entire embodiment according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2(A) to (D). 2 is the line LL, L2
3 is a line LL; a tape recorder section is composed of a cassette magnetic tape unit M for storing contact messages etc. received from the network;

A message storage unit 4 consisting of a dynamic random accelerator memory which stores a response λ message to be sent when a call is received from L2 is to be stored in the tape recorder unit 2 and message unit 3 through processing to be described later. A message input section 5 includes a microphone 4a for manually inputting a response message, and a message input section 5 inputs a memorized message from a speaker 6 to a tape recorder section 2 or a message recording section 3, and a line L1.
゜A tone output unit for outputting the received messages etc. from L2 as sound; This is a remote control detection section that detects a remote control signal, and detects the specific control signal. Reference numeral 8 denotes an operation section including switches for controlling various operations of this device; 9 a display section for displaying various processing states; 10 a call detection section for detecting a called signal from L2; and 11 a line control section. , , a switch contact for forming a DC loop in L2, 12 is a transformer.

Further, 13 is a line open detection section that detects a pulse sent when the other party's line is opened, and 14 is a backup section that includes a backup power source such as a memory M in the control section 1. In this embodiment, since the control section 1 uses a one-chip CPU with an 0MO3 structure, the current consumed during this backup is extremely small, and the backup section 14 is constituted by a capacitor.

Note that a telephone iT is connected to the line L2 together with this device.

The control of this embodiment with the above configuration is shown in FIGS.
This will be explained below with reference to the flowchart of D).

When the power of the device is turned on, the process immediately goes to step S1, where various flags are reset, etc. Then, it is checked at the retail station S2 whether or not a cassette tape is inserted into the tape recorder section 2. If no tape is inserted into the tape recorder section 2 when the power is turned on, line L1
．． Since it is not possible to record messages sent from L2, this device basically does not work. However, it is possible to use the keys manually from the operation unit 8, and when the response message is stored in the message storage unit 3, which will be described later (
When the response recording key (not shown) of the operation unit 8 is manually pressed to complete the process in step S7-5i1, the system is activated by a call from the line, and only a response message is sent.

In the tape recorder section 2, when a new tape is set, it automatically rewinds, automatically runs through the clear tape section, and the head position is in the magnetic tape section, that is, at the initial position where recording is possible. It stops automatically (steps S3 and S4).

If the tape is set in the tape recorder section 2 in step S2, the process advances to step S5, and it is checked whether a response message to be described later is recorded on the tape or whether no recording operation is being performed. When a response message is recorded, a message flag in memory M is set. Here, when no operation is being performed, in steps 86 to S9, if there is an input from the "playback key", "answer recording keeper", or "answer key" (not shown) on the operating section 8, or if the called party The detection unit 10 monitors whether or not a call from L2 is detected.

Here, if the response recording key is pressed manually, step S7
The process then proceeds to step Sll, where it is checked whether the tape is at the initial position. If it is at the initial position, immediately proceed to step S13.
If the tape is not at the initial position, the tape is rewound and set at the initial position in step S12, and the process advances to step S13. In step S13, "message display" is displayed on the display section 8.
is energized to display that the message can be sent manually, and the sound output unit 5 outputs, for example, a beep sound to notify the user.

Note that if there is no tape in the tape recorder section 2 at this time, the process immediately advances from step S7 to step S13.

The operator then manually sends a desired response message through the microphone 4a for 15 seconds. When a response message is input from the microphone 4a, the input message is stored on the tape of the tape recorder section 2 and also recorded in the message storage section 3, as shown in step S15. Recording is performed for 15 seconds, and the recording operation is automatically stopped after 15 seconds have elapsed. When the recording is completed within 15 seconds, by inputting the recording stop key on the operation section, an end flag is written at that point and the recording is stopped, and the tape travels a predetermined gear and then stops.

Then, in the next step S16, the response messages just stored are sequentially read out from the message storage section 3, outputted from the speaker 6 via the sound output section 5, and after being confirmed by a human operator, the message flag in the memory M is set. Set, and return to step S6.

In this embodiment, first, a tape is set in the tape recorder section 2, and the response recording key is manually operated to record a response message on the tape and on the message storage section 3. As a result, the preparation for operation is completed, and the response key on the operation unit 8 is input in order to set the mode to automatically answer when a call is received from the line L2. When the response key is pressed manually, the process proceeds to step S17, where a response flag in the memory M of the control section 1 is set, and the process proceeds to step S6. This means that all preparations for operation as the answering machine of this embodiment have been completed.

In this state, if there is a call from line L2, line L1
．． A 16Hz calling signal is sent to L2. Therefore, the called detection circuit 10 detects this calling signal,
The control unit 1 is notified. When this call is detected, the process advances from step S9 to step S20, and it is checked whether or not this is the second call signal detected. If the second call signal is detected when the bell rings twice, the process advances to step S21, and it is checked whether a contact message has been written to the tape recorder section 2 first. If a message has been written first, the process advances to step S27; otherwise, the process returns to step S27.
Return to 6. If it is determined in step S20 that this is not the second calling signal, it is determined in step S22 whether or not the fourth calling signal has been detected.

If it is the fourth time, the process advances to step S23, and it is checked whether the response flag is set. If the response flag is set, the process advances to step S27, and if it is not set, the process returns to step S6.

If it is determined in step S22 that it is not the fourth calling signal, the process advances to step S24 to check whether it is the seventh calling signal. If it is not the seventh calling signal, the process returns to step S6, and if the seventh calling signal is detected, the process proceeds to step S25. In step S25, it is checked whether the message flag is set, that is, whether a response message is stored in the message storage section 3. If no response message is stored, no response can be made and the process returns to step S6 without doing anything.

On the other hand, if the message flag is set, the process advances to step 526, where the response flag is set and step S
Proceed to step 27.

Through the above processing, the process proceeds to step S27 first.
If the call signal (call bell) is set twice when the contact message is memorized and the answer flag is set for the first time, if the answer flag is set four times, and if the answer flag is set. When the response message is stored even when it is not set, it is the case that the telephone T is not off-hook even if the ring signal is received 7 times, and when the ring signal is received 7 times, the response flag is set to automatic fishing. Then, the process advances to step S27. In each of these cases, the answering machine is a masterpiece.

First, the switch contact 11 is closed to form a DC loop in the lines L1 and L2 to respond. Subsequently, step S28
In step S29, the predetermined response message stored in the message storage section 3 is read out, and sent to the lines LL and L2 via the transformer 12 in step S29. This response message is
For example, rThis is OO. I am currently away from home. If you have anything to say, you can then say, "After you hear a beep, please speak from the telephone. Please note that the recording time for messages is 150 seconds." This response message is sent even when no tape is set in the tape recorder section 2, so
In the following step S30, it is checked whether or not a tape is set in the tape recorder section 2, and if there is no tape, the switch contact 11 is opened to restore the lines LL and L2.
Return to step S6. Therefore, if this tape is not set, a message or the like requesting a call to be made to another telephone will be stored.

When the end flag is detected within 15 seconds during playback, or when silence continues for 5 seconds, the response message transmission is stopped at that point, indicating the end of the response message.

When the tape is set, the process proceeds from step S30 to step S32, and the control section 1 outputs a beep sound to the lines LL and L2 via the transformer 12. Then, in step 333, the tape recorder section 2 is started, and the tape recorder section 2 is started.
Start recording operation for 50 seconds. Subsequent step S34
During the first 5 seconds of the line, it is checked whether there is a continuous silent state in which no sound is sent from L2, and if there is no sound, the process proceeds to step S35, and it is determined whether recording has been performed for 150 seconds. investigate. If there is no recording for 150 seconds, the line open detection unit 13 detects the calling party (C) in step 336.
Check whether a line release has been detected. Here, if the line is connected, the process returns to step S34.

If the line is opened during recording, the process advances from step 836 to step S37, where an end code is written on the tape, recording is ended with no recording for a predetermined gear, and tape running is stopped.In the following step 331, the line is turned into a DC loop. to restore the line.

When recording has been performed for 150 seconds, the process advances from step S35 to step S37, and the recording process is terminated.

If the silence continues for the first 5 seconds after the start of the recording process, it is assumed that the remote control operation of the wooden cover is being performed using a line from another telephone, and the process advances from step S34 to step S40.

In step S40, the control unit 1 connects the lines L1 to L2.
A beep sound is sent out, and in the subsequent step S41, the system waits for 3 seconds to elapse, and in the next step S42, it is checked whether there was a silent state or a sound state, that is, a state where the user continued to speak. This is done by activating the remote control detecting section 7 from the control section 1 and monitoring the utterance/silence state during this time.

If it is in the silent state, the status flag in the remote control detection section 7 is set to silent in step S43, and if it is in the sound state, the status flag in the remote control detection section 7 is set to sound. Then, the process proceeds to step S45, and it is checked whether the four status flags have been set, that is, whether each status has been set four times for 3 seconds each, and if the four status flags have not been set, the process returns to step S40 again. ° Outputs a “beep” ° sound and checks the sound/silence state for the following 3 seconds.

When the status flags have been set four times in this way, the process proceeds from step S45 to step 346, and the control section 1 again outputs the beep sound to the line. Then, in step S47, the status flag is read from the remote control detection unit 7 and the remote control command is analyzed. Note that this status flag may be stored in the memory M instead of in the remote control detection section 7.

FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the states of each status flag and the remote control operation.

These combinations can be obtained individually, but in this example, the first 5
If there is silence for one second, and every subsequent three seconds is (sound - no sound, one sound, one sound), the instruction to "play" the recorded message is given, and in the case of (sound - silence, one sound, one sound), Tape recorder section 2
In the case of an instruction to change (rewrite) the response message stored in the message storage unit 3 (sound - silence, silence, sound), the instruction is to rewind. Therefore, in the subsequent step 348, it is first checked whether or not there is an instruction to change the response message, and if it is an instruction to change the response message, the process advances to step S12. At this time, the response message is recorded in both the tape recorder section 2 and the message storage section 3 by manually inputting it through the mouthpiece of the calling party's telephone.

If it is determined in step 348 that there is no instruction to change the response message, the process advances to step S49, and it is determined whether or not the reproduction instruction was made manually. In the case of manual playback, the tape in the tape recorder section 2 is rewound to the initial position in step S50, and then the response message recording portion is skipped and the process is stopped at the beginning of the contact message recording position. And step S5.
1. The recorded communication message is played back as shown in FIG. Send to L2. Therefore, the recorded content can be heard on the calling party's telephone. When the recorded end is played back, tape running is stopped in step S52, and the process proceeds to step S53.

In step S53, the control unit 1 connects the line to L2 and
Send the sound, and then proceed to step S54. At S55, wait until the remote control is manually operated again or the line is released.

Here, if the line open detection unit 13 detects a disconnection of the other party's line, the process proceeds to step S31, where the DC loop is opened and the line is restored. In addition, when the line is opened during tape playback in step S51, the line is restored and the tape is fast-forwarded, stopping at the last part of the recorded message, and when the next call is received. , the previously recorded message can be recorded continuously, and the process returns to step S6.

If the silent state continues for the first 5 seconds, the next remote control instruction will be accepted in the process starting from step S40. If the first 5 seconds are not silent, step S5 is performed again.
Return to 3.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S49 that there is no playback instruction, the process advances to step S56 to check whether or not a rewind instruction has been input. When rewinding is instructed manually, the tape in the tape recorder section 2 is rewound in step S57, and the process is stopped at the first part of the recorded contact message, skipping the response message part, and the process returns to step S53. Therefore, if the line is opened here,
When the next call is received, a new contact message will be recorded in place of the previously recorded contact message.

If it is determined in step S56 that the rewind instruction is not manually input, a process corresponding to the instruction input is executed in step S58, and the process proceeds to step S53.

In this way, in addition to automatically answering calls and recording contact messages, the recorded contents can also be read out by remote control from other telephones without the need for any special equipment.

In the above explanation, various instructions were given using a combination of sound/no sound every 3 seconds, but instead of this, the device is equipped with a telephone number signal detection circuit, and during the first 5 seconds, a specific MF signal or A telephone number signal such as a dial pulse signal may be sent out, detected by a telephone number signal detection circuit, and converted into an instruction manual signal.

Next, a power outage occurred while the answering machine was in operation,
Describe what happens when the device loses power.

When the power is turned on again after a power outage, the process advances from step S1 and step S2 to step s5. Here, since the message flag is set and the response message is recorded, the process advances from step S5 to step S60, the current position of the tape is stored in the memory M, and the tape is rewound in step S61. The process then proceeds to step S62, where the response messages are reproduced and sequentially stored in the message storage section 3. The response message recorded in the tape recorder section 2 in this way is automatically transferred to the message storage section 3.
Since the message can be transferred to and stored in the message storage unit 3, there is no need for a backup against a power failure using a secondary battery or the like in the message storage unit 3, which requires a large current, and moreover, reliable recovery is possible. In the following step S63, the response message just stored is read from the message storage section 3 and outputted from the speaker 6. Then, in step S64, the tape is fed to the tape position previously stored in step S60, and the tape is stopped. Then, the process advances to step S6.

On the other hand, if the user returns home from an outing and wants to inquire about the contact message that was recorded while he was away, he manually presses the playback key on the operation unit 8. As a result, the process proceeds from step S) to re-step S70, where the response flag is reset, and in the next step S71, the tape recorder section 2 rewinds the tape and stops at the position where the response message was skipped (initial position). Subsequently, in step S72, the recorded communication message is played back and outputted from the speaker 6 via the music lesson output section 5. This continues until either the Bose or Rewind keys are pressed or the playback is complete.

If the Bose key is input during the process, the process advances to step S76, and the tape being played is temporarily stopped. Thereafter, in step S77, the process waits for the Bose key to be input again, and when the Bose key is input again, the process proceeds to step S72, where playback of the recorded content is resumed.

Note that this pause processing may be performed using another key without providing a special Bose key. For example, the control may be such that pressing the playback key for a short time causes the playback to stop, and pressing the playback key again causes the playback to start.

When the rewind key is input, the process advances from step S74 to the Stellar Bow 378, where the tape is rewound and stopped at the initial position next to the response message. Then, in the following step S79, the process waits for 10 seconds after the tape is stopped, and checks whether or not the keep key has been pressed manually during this time. If the keep key is not input, the process returns to step S6. Therefore, the next time there is a call, a new contact message will be recorded instead of the previous contact message.

Here, when the keep key is input, step S80
Step S6 advances the tape to the last position where the message has been recorded, stops there, and advances to step S6. For this reason,
At this time, the contact messages up until now will remain as they are.

It should be noted that when the tape has been reproduced for the entire recorded amount, the process advances from step S75 to step S78.

Although the above explanation has been made using an example of backing up the stored contents of response messages in an answering machine, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to any device that outputs response messages. For example, it can be applied to various vending machines,
This can be applied when outputting a message that corresponds to the product to be output.

In this case, there is no need to change the hardware within the device each time a product is changed, and a very easy-to-use answering telephone device can be provided.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, even if the power to the device is cut off due to a power outage or the like, a predetermined message to be sent to the calling party can be reliably stored and stored without a special backup power source. Therefore, it is possible to provide an answering machine that can be used to send a predetermined message to a calling party without fail.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment according to the present invention, and FIG.
1(A) to (D) are control flowcharts of this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of inputting instructions for remote control of this embodiment. In the figure, 1...control section, 2...tape recorder section, 3
. . . message storage unit, 7 . . . remote control detection unit, 10 . . . called detection unit, 13 . . . line open detection unit. Patent applicant: Eimer Electric Co., Ltd. Figure 2 (D)
Figure 3.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A called detection means that detects a call from the line, an output means that is activated when the called detection means detects a call and outputs a predetermined message to the line, and a predetermined message that is output by the output means. a message storage means for storing a message; a reception information storage means for storing reception information from a line after the message output from the output means; and a message storage means for storing the predetermined message in the reception information storage means and the message storage means at the same time. 1. An answering machine characterized by comprising: storage control means; and activation means for calling up the predetermined message stored in the received information storage means and storing it in the message storage means when the power of the apparatus is turned on. (2) The answering machine according to claim 1, wherein the message storage means is a volatile memory, and the received information storage means is a magnetic tape storage device. (3) The received information stored in the received information storage means is remotely controlled by predetermined voice input from another telephone connected to the line, and the line is equipped with a remote control means capable of reading out the received information. An answering machine according to claim 1 or 2.