JPS6372252A - Voice mail system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the exchange of a voice message by LAN by connecting a work station having a voice analog/digital mutual conversion means, a voice input means and a voice output means to the LAN. CONSTITUTION:In inputting a message desired to be sent from a microphone 6 in voice, the voice signal is digital-converted by a converter 5 and filed in an external storage device 3 of its own station. The filed voice signal is given to the LAN 8 via a terminal equipment 4. The voice signal from the LAN 8 is converted into an analog signal by the converter 5 and a voice message is outputted from a speaker 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a voice mail system that connects workstations such as personal computers as terminals of a local area network (LAN) and transmits voice within the LAN.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, message exchange on a LAN has been limited to text or images.

Therefore, even though stations are connected by LAN cables, voice transmission has been performed using other means, such as telephones using public lines.

[Purpose] The present invention eliminates the drawbacks of conventional communication limited to text only, and makes it possible to exchange messages by voice over a LAN.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an in-LAN voice mail system using a personal computer employing the present invention. Second
The figure is a schematic diagram showing the main part configuration of this system, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operating procedure of this system.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a CRT, 2 is a keyboard,
The CRTI and keyboard 2 constitute a well-known personal computer. 3 is an external storage device containing a storage medium such as a hard disk, 4 is a terminal device for transmitting data with the LAN 8, and 5 is an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter and a digital-to-analog (D/D) converter. A
) A converter with a built-in converter, 6 a microphone for audio input, and 7 a speaker for audio output.

Further, in FIG. 2, elements with the same numbers as in FIG. 1 are the same as in FIG.

Reference numeral 11 is a control unit (CPU) provided in the terminal device and controls the operation of this station, 13 is a memory ROM, 14 is a memory RAM, and 12 is a system bus. Further, 15 is another station connected to the LAN and having the same configuration as this station.

The operation of this system will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

On the transmitting side that outputs audio, a message to be conveyed is input by voice through the microphone 6 in step S1 in FIG. In the next step S2, the input voice is converted into digital data by the converter 5, and then filed in the external storage device 3 of its own station. After this filing, in step S3,
Tell the other party's station 15 that there is a message.

When the receiving side receives this message in step S6, if it is in a state where it can receive audio, it outputs a signal indicating that audio can be transmitted in step S7.

On the transmitting side, in step S4, the destination station 1
The waiting process is performed until a signal indicating that it is OK to transmit is received from 5. When a signal indicating permission to send is received from the other party, in the next step S5, the voice message data filed in the external storage device 3 in step S2 is transmitted to the other party via the LAN 8.

When the voice is transferred over the LAN, the receiving side temporarily stores the received message data in the RAM 14 in step S8. Then, in step S9, the converter 5 sequentially performs digital-to-analog conversion and outputs the analog voice message from the speaker 7.

In the voice mail system described above, a personal computer is pre-installed with an audio analog-to-digital conversion device, so that the number of terminals that can be used as a workstation for the voice mail system is limited.

Furthermore, if the audio analog/digital conversion device breaks down, there is a possibility that it will not be possible to use it as a personal computer because there is no freedom of movement.

Therefore, it is conceivable to make a converter containing a built-in audio A/D converter and a D/A converter into an option board of a personal computer.

FIG. 4 is an external view of a voice mail system in which the converter is made into an option board, and the elements labeled with the same numbers as in FIG. 1 are the same as in FIG. 1. and,
The difference from FIG. 1 is that the converter 5 of FIG. 1 is eliminated, and an option board 20 containing a built-in converter is provided.

As shown in Figure 4, by making the converter an option board, if a converter malfunctions, it is possible to restore the voice mail function by replacing the converter. By attaching an option board to a workstation such as the above, it becomes possible to perform a voice mail function using a LAN.

Also, a general telephone may be connected to the converter without providing a special microphone or speaker for voice mail.

Incidentally, if the converter shown in the fourth figure is connected to the telephone set and the converter is made into an option board, a voice mail function can be achieved by attaching this option board to the workstation.

[Effects] As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, in addition to exchanging messages such as text and images in the conventional LAN, it is now possible to send and receive voice messages.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an external view of an LA tJ de-voice mail system that adopts the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the main structure of this system, Fig. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of this system, and Fig. 4 1 is an external view of an intra-LAN voice mail system. 1 is a CRT, 2 is a keyboard, 6 is a microphone, 7 is a speaker, and 8 is a LAN.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) Transmission of audio within the local area network is possible by connecting a workstation equipped with audio analog/digital conversion means, audio input means, and audio output means to the local area network. Features a voicemail system. (2) The voice mail system according to claim (1), wherein the conversion means to which the input means and the output means are connected is an option board of a workstation. . (3) The voice mail system according to claim (1), wherein the input means and the output means are a telephone handset.