JPH0234076A - Automatic answering telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To inform the number of messages to the possessor depending on the number of ring back tone rings by varying the number of bell signal ringings from the arrival of a call till the automatic reply based on the number of recorded messages. CONSTITUTION:When the message recording is finished, a CPU 14 restores the device into the incoming call standby state and the data as to the number of messages is incremented in this case. When the possessor makes a phone call from an external telephone set to the device, since the number of times of bell signal ringings up to the automatic reply is equal to the number of messages, the number of messages is recognized by counting the number of times of ring back tone ringings. When the possessor sends a pass word during the transmission of a reply message, a beep tone is sent. When a command for message reproduction is sent after the transmission of the beep tone, the message data stored in a voice memory 21 is reproduced and sent to the possessor.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Purpose of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to an answering machine.

(Prior art) When an answering machine receives an incoming call, the number of ring signals until the call is automatically answered is varied depending on whether or not a message previously issued by the other party is recorded. something is known. According to the answering machine configured as described above, when the owner calls the telephone device from outside, the number of bell signals (in this case, ringback tone) until the telephone is automatically answered is determined. By counting, it is possible to know whether the message from the other party has already been recorded.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, with the conventional answering machine described above, it is not possible to know the number of recorded messages from the number of ringback tones, so it is difficult to know the number of recorded messages. After the answering machine automatically answers the answering machine, all the recorded messages must be played back and listened to using the remote control, which is time consuming and troublesome. Also, especially when calling from a long distance,
Telephone charges are also very high. As a means to solve this problem, a method has been proposed in which when a remote control operation is performed on an answering machine, the number of messages is notified to the owner using a synthesized voice or the like. There is. However, when an answering machine is equipped with a system that notifies the number of messages using synthesized speech or the like, another problem arises in that the structure of the answering machine becomes complicated and the price increases.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to allow the number of recorded business messages to be recorded while out and about, without using a special and expensive system that notifies the owner of the number of recorded business messages using synthesized speech or the like. To provide an answering machine capable of notifying the owner.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a function of recording a business message input from a central office line, and playing back the recorded business message and transmitting it to the central office line. an answering machine having a storage means for storing a predetermined number of bell signals according to the number of stored business messages; and a bell signal counter for counting the number of bell signals from the time when a call is received on a central office line. and automatic response means for automatically answering the incoming call after the number of bell signals counted by the bell signal counting means matches the number of bell signals corresponding to the number of recorded messages stored in the storage means. Provided is an answering machine having the following features.

(Function) According to the above configuration, when there is an incoming call, after the number of bell signals matches the number of bell signals corresponding to the number of business messages stored in the storage means, the incoming call is automatically answered. It will be done. Therefore, by counting the number of ringback tones corresponding to the bell signals before automatic answering, the number of recorded business messages can be determined.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an answering machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 1, telephone line connection terminal 1
This connects the central office line and the parts that make up the answering machine. The diode bridge 2 connects the telephone line connection terminal 1 when the answering machine is in the standby state for incoming calls.
The bell signal arriving from the central office line is full-wave rectified and output. The ringer circuit 3 is adapted to drive a speaker 5 via a ringer transformer 4 when a direct current voltage is applied from the diode bridge 2, and to output a ringing tone from the speaker 5. At the same time, the ringer circuit 3 is configured to apply its output voltage to the bell signal detection circuit 12.

The diode bridge 6 receives a voice signal, a button signal representing a personal identification number, etc. arriving from the office line via the telephone line connection terminal 1, and outputs the full-wave rectification.
It receives a beep sound given from a CPU 14, which will be described later, via a communication circuit 10 and a line closing transistor 8, and sends it to the office line via a telephone line connection terminal 1.

The line closing transistor 8 is connected to the end of call detection circuit 28, the MF
It is a switching element that connects and disconnects between the signal detection circuit 15, preamplifier input changeover switch 17, and communication circuit 10 and the diode bridge 6, and is configured to be opened and closed by the line connection means, that is, the transistor control circuit 9. ing. A hook switch 7 interlocked with the /% end set 11 is provided between the diode bridge 6 and the transistor control circuit 9, and closes when off-hook to close the transistor 8 via the control circuit 9.

The communication circuit 10 has a built-in 2-wire 4-wire conversion circuit, and
Beeping sound output from PU 14, line sending amplifier 27
Upon receiving the response message 1, response message 2 outputted via the , or the transmitted voice from the handset 11,
The signal is sent out to the curve via a line closing transistor 8, a diode bridge 6, and a telephone line connection terminal 1. Further, the telephone communication circuit 10 receives input voice from the central office line and transmits it to the handset 11.

As described above, when the output voltage from the ringer circuit 3 is applied to the bell signal detection circuit 12, the applied voltage signal is waveform-shaped and then output to the CPU 14.

The call end detection circuit 28 detects the call end operation (on-hook) of the other party.
When detecting that the polarity of the central office line has been reversed, the CPU
A call end detection signal is output to the terminal 14. The MF signal detection circuit 15 receives a button signal indicating a predetermined password (that is, an MF multiplied signal) from the other party's telephone during a call, and outputs the signal to the CPU 14 after shaping the waveform. It is configured.

The preamplifier input changeover switch 17 connects or disconnects the line between the line closing transistor 8 and the communication circuit 10 to the input of the preamplifier 19 according to a drive command signal output from the CPU 14. The preamplifier input changeover switch 18 is configured to connect or disconnect the microphone 16 to the input of the preamplifier 19 according to a drive command signal output from the CPU 14. The preamplifier 19 receives an audio signal from the other party's telephone via the preamplifier input switch 17 or an audio signal from the microphone 16 via the preamplifier input switch 18, amplifies it, and then outputs it. ing.

The speech synthesis circuit 20 has both an analog/digital conversion function and a digital/analog conversion function.
Under the control of the PU 14 , a preamplifier 19 amplifies the audio signal from the other party's telephone or a microphone 16 , receives the audio signal, converts the audio signal from analog to digital, and outputs the audio signal to the audio memory 21 . Along with this, the voice synthesis circuit 20 is configured to read the voice signal data stored in the voice memory 21 based on a command signal from the CPU 14, perform digital/analog conversion on this data, and then output it. . The voice memory 21 has a response message area that stores a response message from the owner of the answering machine, and a business message area that stores a business message from the other party. Further, the response message area has two areas for storing response message 1 and response message 2, which will be described later. The business message area has an area in which four business messages can be stored.

When the business message area becomes full with four business messages, the speech synthesis circuit 20 automatically reads response message 2 instead of response message 1.

The main amplifier input changeover switch 22 is configured to open/close between the output of the preamplifier 19 and the volume volume 25 according to a drive command signal output from the CPU 14. The main amplifier input selector switch 23 is
According to the drive command signal output from the PU 14, the output side of the voice synthesis circuit 20 and the volume volume 25 are opened/closed.
Configured to close. Line output selector switch 2
4 is configured to open/close between the output side of the speech synthesis circuit 20 and the input side of the line sending amplifier 27 according to a drive command signal output from the CPU 14. The main amplifier 26 is configured to amplify the audio signal given via the volume volume 25 and output it to the speaker 5. The line sending amplifier 27 is the line sending changeover switch 2.
After receiving and amplifying the voice signal provided by the voice synthesis circuit 20 via the voice communication circuit 10, the line closing transistor 18, and the diode bridge 6, the voice signal is sent to the central office line.

The key input circuit 13 is operated manually to input a command signal for setting the mode of the answering machine and to listen to the message data stored in the message area of the voice memory 21. The CPU 14 is configured to input the personal identification number data necessary for making a call, input dial data manually when making a call, etc.

As is clear from the content already explained, the CPU 14
The command signal output from the key input circuit 13, the outgoing dial data, the detection signal output from the bell signal detection circuit 12, the detection signal output from the end of call detection circuit 28, the detection signal output from the MF signal detection circuit 15 etc., the transistor control circuit 9, preamplifier input selector switch 17, 18, telephone communication circuit 10, etc. It controls the driving of the voice synthesis circuit 20, main amplifier input changeover switches 22 and 23, and line output changeover switch 24.

FIG. 2 shows various functions provided by the CPU 14 and their relationships with peripheral circuits. In FIG. 2, the CPU 14 includes a password memory 31, a command signal memory 35, and a message number memory 37. The CPU 14 includes a key input detection means 29 and a password input means 30 corresponding to the key input circuit 13, and a transistor control means 3 corresponding to the transistor control circuit 9.
2, a bell signal detection means 33 corresponding to the bell signal detection circuit 12, a call end detection means 36 corresponding to the call end detection circuit 28, an M
An F signal detection means 38 is provided. Furthermore, CPU14
is equipped with line/microphone input switching means 40 corresponding to the preamplifier input switching switches 17 and 18, and the speech synthesis circuit 2
0, recording/re-switching and recording/re-area control means 41
A main amplifier input line output selector switch 22.
A switch changeover means 42 is provided corresponding to 23 and 24. In addition to the above-mentioned functions, the CPU 14 includes comparison means 34 regarding the number of bell signals and comparison means 39 regarding the password number.

In the above-described configuration, the password memory 31 is adapted to store password data given from the key input circuit 13 via the key force detection means 29 and the password input means 30. The command signal memory 35 stores in advance command signal value data for identifying whether or not the command signal (MF multiplied signal) received from the other party's telephone is transmitted from the owner of this telephone device. The command signal value data includes command signal data used when the owner wants to listen to the business message stored in the voice memory 21 from an outside line (outside the house);
Two types of command signal data are set for ending the remote control operation and returning the telephone device to a standby state. The message number memory 37 is connected to the voice synthesis circuit 20 and the recording/re-switching and recording/play area control means 41, and stores the number of message messages stored in the voice memory 21 and the number of messages stored. The number of bell signals corresponding to the number of message messages (for example, if the number of message messages is 0, it is 4 times, if it is 1, it is 3 times, if it is 2, it is 2 times, if it is 3, it is 1 time)
(4 times, 1 time).

When the comparison means 34 receives the output of the bell signal detection circuit 12 via the bell signal detection means 33, it reads out the number of bell signals corresponding to the number of business messages stored in the business message number memory 37, and compares the number of bell signals with the number of business messages stored in the business message number memory 37. After counting the bell detection signals outputted from the bell signal detection circuit 12 by a number equal to the number of signals, a drive command signal is outputted to the transistor control circuit 9 via the transistor control means 32 to close the transistor 8. It is designed to capture lines. After acquiring the central office line, the comparing means 34 outputs a reproduction command signal for the response message 1 to the voice synthesis circuit 20 via the recording/re-switching and recording/re-area control means 41, and the voice synthesis circuit 20 is activated. The response message 1 stored in the voice memory 21 is transmitted to the central office line. As described above, when the business memory area is full, the comparison means 34 outputs a reproduction command signal for the response message 2. Further, after sending the response message 1 to the central office line, the comparing means 34 outputs a beep sound to the other party via the communication circuit 10 to indicate that recording of the other party's business message is to be started, and also switches recording/re-switching. and the voice synthesis circuit 20 via the recording/playback area control means 41.
into the recording mode, and furthermore, the line microphone input switching means 40
The preamplifier input selector switch 17 on the line side is set to ON via the .

When the recording/re-switching and recording/re-area control means 41 recognizes that the voice synthesis circuit 20 has finished recording the business message, it controls the transistor control circuit 9 in order to return the answering machine to the incoming call standby state. , preamplifier input selector switch 17, main amplifier input selector switch 22
It outputs a predetermined command signal to the speech synthesis circuit 20 and increments the number of message messages in the message number memory 37.

When the end of call detection means 36 recognizes that the end of call detection signal is output from the end of call detection circuit 28, it issues a command signal to the transistor control circuit 9 via the transistor control means 32 to turn on the line closing transistor 8. It is designed to be opened.

The comparison means 39 detects that the pushbutton signal indicating the PIN number has arrived from the central office line before or during the sending of the response message.
8, it checks whether the number indicated by the button signal matches the password data stored in advance in the password memory 31, and if it is determined that the two match, a beep is emitted. A sound is sent to the other party's telephone to notify that the PIN number has been accepted, and the reproduction of the response message is stopped. Subsequently, the comparison means 39 detects the arrival of the command signal (button button signal) for reproducing the business message from the central office line by the MF signal detection circuit 1.
5. When recognized through the MF signal detection means 38, it is checked whether this command signal matches the command signal data stored in advance in the command signal memory 35, and it is determined that the two match. Then, through the recording/re-switching and recording/play-area control means 41 and the switch changeover means 42, the voice synthesis circuit 2o is made to play back the message, and the line transmission changeover switch 24 is turned on, so that the message is played back. The system is designed to send the received message to the central office line.

Thereafter, when the comparison means 39 recognizes via the MF signal detection circuit 15 and the MF signal detection means 38 that a command signal for terminating the remote control operation has arrived from the office line, it puts the answering machine into a bell signal standby state. In order to return to normal operation, the system is configured to output a predetermined command signal to the voice synthesis circuit 20, the line output changeover switch 24, the transistor control circuit 9, and the like.

In order to actually operate the answering machine having the above-described configuration, it is necessary for the owner to record the response message 1 and response message 2 into the voice memory 21 from the microphone 16 in advance. The response message l is
For example, it might say something like, ``I'm not home at the moment.The answering machine will ask you for your requirements, so please provide your name, phone number, and your requirements.'' Response message 2 could be, for example, rI'm away at the moment. I will be back after 8pm, so please try again. ”. In this case, response messages 1 and 2 are input from the microphone 16 to the preamplifier 19 via the preamplifier input changeover switch 18 which is closed by the CPU 14. The signal amplified by the preamplifier 19 is CP
After analog/digital conversion is performed in the voice synthesis circuit 20, which is in recording mode according to a command signal from U14, the voice signal is stored in the response message area 1 and the response message area 2 of the voice memory 21. In addition to storing these response messages, storing the password from the key input circuit 13 is also performed as a preparatory operation.

After the above preparatory operations, the answering machine is set to an answering machine (wait for incoming call) state by a command from the key input circuit 13. In this state, when an incoming call is received from the central office line, a bell signal immediately follows, and a ringing tone is output from the speaker 5 upon arrival of this bell signal. At the same time, the bell signal detection circuit 12 notifies the CPU 14 that the bell signal has arrived. In this way, when the arrival of a bell signal is recognized, the number of bell signals is counted,
When the number reaches the number of bell signals corresponding to the number of message messages stored in the message number memory 37, the CPU 14 outputs a drive command signal to the transistor control circuit 9 to close the line. The connecting transistor 8 is closed. At the same time, the CPU 14 sends response message 1 (response message 2 if the message area is full)
A command signal to reproduce the sound is output, and the voice synthesis circuit 2
After the response message 1 (or response message 2) in the voice memory 21 is read out by 0 and converted into digital/analog, the line output selector switch 24, the line output amplifier 27, the communication circuit 10, and the line closing transistor 8 etc. to the central office line.

When the sending of the response message is completed, response message 1
When the message from the other party's telephone is sent, a beep sound indicating the start of recording the message is sent to the central office line in order to store (record) the message from the other party's telephone in the voice memory 21, and the voice synthesis circuit 20 Switch to recording mode. Thereafter, the business message given from the other party's telephone is input to the voice synthesis circuit 20 via the diode bridge 6, the line closing transistor 8, the preamplifier input selector switch 17, and the preamplifier 19, where it is converted from analog to digital. It is later stored in the audio memory 21.

When the recording of the business message is completed, the CPU 14 returns the answering machine to the incoming call standby state. At this time, the message number data in the message number memory 37 is incremented.

The process by which the answering machine owner remotely operates the answering machine from outside is as follows.

First, a call is made from an external telephone to the answering machine, and the answering machine automatically responds. In this case, since the number of bell signals until automatic response is determined by the number of business messages, the number of business messages can be determined by counting the number of ringback tones. In other words, if the number of ringback tones is 4, the number of business messages is 0.
．． If 3 times, the number of messages is 1. If 2 times, the number of messages is 2. If 1 time, the number of messages is 3 or 4.

Now, if you hear the ringback tone the same number of times as the previous call, it means that no new message has been recorded, so don't listen to the message and call immediately. You can also cut it.

If the owner sends a PIN while the response message is being sent after the automatic response, if it matches the PIN data stored in the PIN memory 31, the sending of the response message will be stopped. At the same time, a beep sound is sent to the owner. After sending out this beep sound, when the owner sends a command signal for playing back the business message, if this matches the command signal data stored in the command signal memory 35, the owner sends a command signal for playing back the message. The message data will be reproduced and sent to the owner. Thereafter, when the owner sends a command signal to end the remote control operation, the answering machine returns to the incoming call standby state.

The embodiment described above is configured such that as the number of recorded business messages increases, the number of times a bell signal is received before an automatic response is made decreases. That is, if the number of messages is 1, the bell signal is sent 4 times, if the number of messages is 1, the bell signal is sent 3 times, if the number of messages is 2, the bell signal is sent 2 times, and if the number of messages is 3 or more, the bell signal is sent 1 time.

Therefore, the owner can not only know the number of business messages from the count of ringback tones, but also can avoid listening to business messages that do not need to be heard. In other words, for example, if you are thinking of hearing a message for the first time when the number of messages is 3 or more, the number of bell signals corresponding to the number of messages 3 is 1, so if the ringback tone rings twice, The number of messages is 2
Since the following is the case, you should hang up the phone immediately.

Also, if you have already heard two message messages the last time you called, and you only want to hear a new message if one is recorded this time, you can listen to the ringback tone twice. If so, there is no new message, so you can just hang up.

In this way, if there is no message that needs to be heard, this can be determined from the number of ringback tones and the call can be immediately hung up, saving time, effort, and telephone charges.

Furthermore, the number of ringback tones before automatic response or the type of response message played after automatic response (if the number of message messages is 0 to 3, response message 1; if the number of message messages is 4, response message 2) allows you to know the number of message messages in advance, so you can listen to all the message messages from the outside using the remote control (even if you listen to the entire content of the message messages depending on the number of messages, or
Alternatively, it is also possible to decide whether to listen to only the necessary parts.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the number of bell signals from the incoming call to the automatic answering is made variable depending on the number of recorded business messages. It is possible to notify the owner of the number of message messages from the number of ringback tones without using a special and expensive system to notify the owner.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an answering machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a CP diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
It is a block diagram showing the functions that U14 has. 8... Line closing transistor, 9... Transistor control circuit, 14... CPU, 12... Bell signal detection circuit, 20... Voice synthesis circuit, 21... Voice memory, 32... . . . Transistor control means, 33. Bell signal detection means, 34. Comparison means, 37. Message number memory, 40. Line/microphone input switching means, 41. switching and recording/playback area control means;
42... Switch switching means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an answering machine having a function of recording a business message input from a central office line, and playing back the recorded business message and sending it to the central office line, a predetermined number of business messages is set according to the number of stored business messages. a storage means for storing the number of bell signals received, a bell signal counting means for counting the number of bell signals from the time when a call is received on the central office line, and a storage means for storing the number of bell signals counted by the bell signal counting means. 1. An answering machine comprising automatic answering means for automatically answering the incoming call after the number of bell signals corresponding to the number of recorded messages stored in the answering machine matches the number of ring signals stored in the answering machine.