JPH06291828A - Automatic answering telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an automatic answering telephone set whose handleability is improved by providing a first setting state and a second setting state for the operation of an automatic answering key. CONSTITUTION:In the first setting state, an automatic answering mode and an attended mode can be switched to every time the automatic answering key 13A is pushed. Also, at the time of switching from the automatic answering mode to the attended mode, when an ICM is stored in an ICM memory 35, it is reproduced by a sound recording/reproducing processing circuit 33. In the second setting state, once the automatic answering mode is switched to, even though the automatic answering key 13A is pushed, the attended mode is not switched to and the automatic answering mode is held. Then, when the ICM is stored in the memory 35 at the time of pushing the automatic answering key 12A, it is reproduced by the processing circuit 33.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an answering machine with improved usability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an answering machine, a home mode: a mode of operating as a standard phone Answering mode: OGM is output when an incoming call is received, and then
Mode for recording ICM OGM: A response message that informs the other party of the call that he / she is not at the time of an incoming call. ICM: If the message of the message from the other party of the call that was recorded during absence was: 1. Press the key. → The telephone is released from home mode and set to absence mode. 2. After returning home, press the absence key. → The telephone is released from absence mode and set to home mode. 3. Press the play key. → ICM is played. It is usual to perform the key operation.

However, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, the reproduction key 92 is often hidden by the lid 93 in order to clean the dial operation surface 91 of the telephone. Therefore, in order to listen to the ICM, it is necessary to open the lid 93, but it is troublesome to open the lid 93 and press the reproduction key 92 one by one.

On the other hand, the answering key 94 is the largest and is provided at a position where it can be easily pushed, so that it can be pushed quickly and easily when going out. Therefore, a telephone has been considered in which the ICM is reproduced when the answer key 94 is pressed after returning home. That is, if you do so,
You can listen to ICM with one touch.

[0005]

However, if the ICM can be listened to by simply pressing the absence key,
At this time, by pressing the absence key, the absence mode is canceled and the home mode is set. Therefore, in this case, when the user goes out next time, it is necessary to press the absence key again to set the absence mode.

However, there may be no incoming call during absence, and the ICM may not be recorded. In such a case, of course,
Since the ICM is not played by pressing the absence key, it is not necessary to press the absence key when going out next time, rather,
When you press it, the absence mode is canceled and the home mode is set.

Therefore, by simply pressing the absence key, the IC
With an answering machine that can listen to M, it is necessary to confirm whether the home mode or the absence mode is set when the answering key is pressed or when the answering key is pressed.

Further, in general, even if the answering machine is set to the answering mode, if the user picks up the handset while the ringer rings four times at the time of an incoming call, the incoming call can be answered. Is designed to. Therefore, while some users have their phones always set to absence mode,
Each time such a user listens to the ICM, he or she needs to press the answering machine key to reset the answering machine mode.

Therefore, the conventional answering machine has not been convenient for a user who frequently or regularly uses the answering machine.

The present invention is intended to solve such a problem.

[0011]

Therefore, in the present invention, when the reference numerals of the respective parts correspond to the embodiments described later, in the first setting state, each time the answer key 13A is pressed, the answer mode is set, Switch to home mode. Also,
When switching from the absence mode to the home mode, if there is an ICM, it is reproduced.

In the second setting state, once the user has switched to the absence mode, even if the answer key 13A is pressed, the mode is not switched to the home mode, and the absence mode is maintained. When there is an ICM when the answering key 13A is pressed, this is reproduced.

The above-mentioned operation is performed.

[0014]

[Function] When the first setting state is set, the absence key 13A
Even if the ICM is played back by pressing, the absence mode is not released.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1 and 2 denote a transmitter and a receiver of a handset, 5 denotes a 4-wire / 2-wire conversion circuit (speech network), and 6 denotes a line interface (NCU). It has a detection circuit for detecting a ring tone signal at the time of call and a switch corresponding to a hook switch, and is connected to the telephone line LN.

Further, 11 is a ringer for incoming calls, 12 is a dial key, 13 is various operation keys (operation switch) such as an answering machine, 14 is a switch (hook switch) for detecting on-hook / off-hook, and 15 is a dial. Forming circuit for dial signal (DTMF signal) at the time, 16 is LC
It is a display element such as D or LED. The absence key 13A of the operation keys 13 is provided at a position where the telephone can be easily operated, for example, on the dial operation surface 91 as shown in FIG.

Further, reference numeral 20 denotes a system control microcomputer, which is not shown, but has a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and the like, and the ROM has various processing programs and is shown in FIG. The processing routine 100 of the flowchart is written.

The microcomputer 20 also has a mode flag MD.
F and a status flag STTF are prepared. In this case, the mode flag MDF is the answer key 13A of the operation keys 13.
This is a flag that can be toggled to "0" or "1" by pressing. The telephone is in the absence mode when MDF = "0" and at home mode MDF = "1". .

Further, the status flag STTF is a flag which can be switched to "0" or "1" by performing a predetermined key operation, as will be described later. STTF = "0": This is the "always absence mode". Is released. In this state, the phone will
The operation mode is set according to the above. Therefore, each time the answer key is pressed, the home mode and the answer mode are toggled. STTF = "1": This is the state in which the "always away mode" is set. In this state, when you press the absence key, the IC
If M is recorded, the ICM is reproduced, and if not recorded, nothing is done. Is.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a recording / reproducing circuit of OGM and ICM, 31 is a microphone for the user to record an arbitrary OGM, 32 is a speaker for listening to the ICM, and 33 is a recording of OGM and ICM audio signals. A reproduction processing circuit is shown. And in this example, OGM and I
The voice signal of CM is recorded and reproduced in the memory, and 34 is a memory for recording and reproducing the OGM voice signal and the like.
Reference numeral 5 is a memory for recording and reproducing the ICM audio signal.

Further, since the memories 34 and 35 are used as the recording medium, the processing circuit 33, though not shown, is an OGM.
And an A / D converter for A / D converting the audio signal of the ICM, a data compression circuit for compressing the data of the digital audio signal, a circuit for writing / reading the memories 34 and 35 and managing / controlling the address thereof, a digital audio signal. Data expansion circuit that expands the data to a digital audio signal with
It has a D / A converter for D / A converting a digital audio signal.

When the telephone is in the standby state (idle state), the answer key 13A of the operation keys 13 is used.
When is pressed, the microcomputer 20 executes the routine 100. The process of setting and resetting the flags MDF and STTF will be described later.

That is, when the telephone is in the standby state,
When the answering key 13A is pressed, the processing of the microcomputer 20 starts from step 101 of the routine 100, and then the mode flag MDF is checked in step 102, and when MDF = "0" (at-home mode), the processing is stepped. The routine proceeds from step 102 to step 111, and in this step 111, MDF = "1" (absence mode) is set, and thereafter, at step 126, this routine 10 is executed.
0 ends.

In step 102, MDF =
When it is "1" (absence mode), the process is step 10
From 2 to step 121, the state flag STTF is checked in step 121. And STTF
When "= 0" (state in which the constant answering mode is canceled), the process proceeds from step 121 to step 122. In this step 122, MDF = "0" (at-home mode), and then the process proceeds to step. Proceed to 123.

Then, in step 123, it is checked whether or not the ICM is recorded in the memory 35. If the ICM is recorded, the process proceeds from step 123 to step 124, and this step 124
At the same time, the microcomputer 20 transfers the recording / playback processing circuit 33 to I
A command for reproducing the CM is supplied, and the ICM is reproduced as described later. Then, when the reproduction of the ICM is completed, the process proceeds from step 124 to step 126.
Then, the routine 100 is terminated.

Further, in step 121, STTF =
In the case of "1" (state in which the constant answering mode is set), the process proceeds from step 121 to step 123. Therefore, step 123 is executed while the mode flag MDF remains "1" (absence mode).

When the ICM is not recorded in step 123, the process proceeds from step 123 to step 125, and in step 125,
For example, by a digital voice signal prepared in advance in the memory 34, a message notifying that the ICM is not recorded is output from the speaker 32, and then the routine 100 is ended in step 126.

Therefore, according to this routine 100, when the constant answering mode is canceled, even if the answering mode is set, if the answering key 13A is pressed, the IC
When M is reproduced, the absence mode is canceled and the home mode is set. Further, when the constant answering mode is set, when the answering key 13A is pressed, the ICM is reproduced, but the answering mode is not released.

<< Setting of constant absence mode >> As shown in FIG. 3, the constant absence mode is canceled (STTF = "0").
In some cases, the home mode is set (MDF =
When "0"), the registration key 13R among the operation keys 13,
The answer key 13A, the "1" key of the dial keys 12, and the registration key 13R are pressed in this order. Then STTF ＝
After being set to "1", the telephone set will be in the continuous absence mode thereafter. At this time, MDF =
When set to "1", the phone goes into absence mode.

<< Releasing the constant absence mode >> As shown in FIG. 3, the constant absence mode is set (STTF = "1").
In some cases, the home mode is set (MDF =
When "0"), the registration key 13R among the operation keys 13,
The answer key 13A, the "0" key of the dial keys 12, and the registration key 13R are pressed in this order. Then STTF ＝
After being reset to "0", the telephone is in the state where the continuous absence mode is released thereafter. At this time, MDF =
When set to "1", the phone goes into absence mode.

<< Setting of Home Mode >> The setting of the home mode is also to cancel the absence mode, but there are two cases as shown in FIG. That is, the first
In the case of, the state where the constant absence mode is released (STTF
= “0”) and the home mode is set. In this case, the absence key 13A is pressed. Then, the ICM is reproduced, MDF = "0" is reset, and the home mode is set.

In the second case, the home mode is set in the state where the constant answering mode is set (STTF = "1"). In this case, the telephone key of the operation keys 13 is set. A specific key that is not used in the standby state (idle state), for example, the key 13C for the call waiting function
push. Then, MDF = "0" is reset and the home mode is set.

<< Setting of Answering Mode >> Although this setting of the answering mode is also to cancel the home mode, as shown in FIG. 3, the answering key is set regardless of whether the constant answering mode is cancelled or set. Press 13A. Then MDF
= "1" is set, and the absence mode is set.

<< Reproduction of ICM >> In this case, the user listens by reproducing the ICM recorded in the absence mode.
That is, in this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the answering machine key 13A is pressed regardless of whether the constant answering mode is released or set. Then, a command for instructing the reproduction of the ICM is supplied from the microcomputer 20 to the recording / reproduction processing circuit 33. Then, the processing circuit 33 controls the memory 35 to take out the digital audio signal of the ICM from the memory 35, and the digital audio signal is subjected to data expansion and D / A conversion into an analog audio signal. Are supplied to the speaker 32. Therefore, the user can listen to the ICM.

When the constant absence mode is released (STTF = "0"), as shown in FIG.
When the reproduction of M is completed, MDF is reset to "0" and the telephone is set to the home mode. That is, when the answering machine 13A is released and the ICM is listened to while the constant answering mode is canceled, the answering mode is canceled as in the case of the answering machine up to now.

However, when the constant absence mode is set (STTF = "1"), as shown in FIG.
When the reproduction of M is completed, the mode flag MDF remains "1", and the telephone remains in the absence mode. That is, when the constant answering mode is set, the answering mode is not canceled even if the answer key 13A is pressed to listen to the ICM.

Of the operation keys 13, the reproduction key 13
Similarly, when P is pressed, ICM is reproduced. In this case, the mode flag MDF does not change regardless of its value.

<Calling and Calling> When the telephone is in the standby state, when the handsets 1 and 2 are picked up from the telephone, the switch 14 is turned off, for example, and this is detected by the microcomputer 20. Then, the interface 6 is put into the off-hook state by the microcomputer 20, and the conversion circuit 5 is connected to the line LN through the interface 6.

Therefore, when the telephone number of the other party is input from the dial key 12, the key output is supplied to the forming circuit 15 through the microcomputer 20, and the forming circuit 15 outputs the DTMF signal corresponding to the other party's telephone number. DT
The MF signal is output to the line LN through the conversion circuit 5 and the interface 6. Therefore, the dial has been made.

When the other party answers the telephone, the voice signal of the other party is changed from the line LN to the interface 6 to the conversion circuit 5.
→ It is supplied to the handset 2 through the signal line of the amplifier 4. In addition, the voice signal from the transmitter 1 is connected through the signal line of the amplifier 3-> conversion circuit 5-> interface 6
Output to LN. Therefore, it is possible to talk with the other party.

<< End of call >> When the handsets 1 and 2 are placed on the telephone during a call, the switch 14 is switched from off to on, which is detected by the microcomputer 20.
This puts the interface 6 in the on-hook state, and the telephone returns to the standby state. In other words, it is the end of the talk.

<< Incoming Call in Home Mode >> When the telephone is in the standby state, if there is an incoming call, the ring tone signal from the line LN that announces the incoming call is detected by the interface 6 and the incoming call is received by the microcomputer 20. Will be notified. Then, the microcomputer 20 controls the ringer 11 to emit a ringer sound. Further, by checking the mode flag MDF, it is determined whether the mode is the home mode or the absence mode. In this case, since the home mode is set with MDF = "0", the ringer sound is continuously emitted. .

Since a ringer sound is emitted, when the handsets 1 and 2 are picked up from the telephone, the switch 14 is switched from on to off, and this is detected by the microcomputer 20, and the ringer 11 is stopped by the microcomputer 20. , The interface 6 is in the off-hook state. Therefore, thereafter, as described above, the call can be made with the other party.

<< Incoming Call in Answering Mode >> When the telephone is in the standby state, if there is an incoming call, the ringer tone is emitted as described above in accordance with the ring tone signal from the line LN that announces the incoming call. . Also, by checking the mode flag MDF, it is determined whether the mode is the home mode or the absence mode. In this case, the absence mode is set by MDF = "1". Is counted.

Then, if the handset 1 or 2 is not picked up from the telephone while the ring tone signal is being sent four times, for example, while the ringer 11 is ringing four times, OGM is output, After that, the ICM is recorded.

That is, if the ringer 11 is not off-hooked four times, the microcomputer 20 stops the ringer 11, the interface 6 is put into the off-hook state, and the line LN is connected to the conversion circuit 5 through the interface 6. . In addition, a command for instructing reproduction of OGM is supplied from the microcomputer 20 to the recording / reproduction processing circuit 33.

Then, the processing circuit 33 controls the memory 34 to take out the OGM digital audio signal from the memory 34. The digital audio signal is decompressed and D / A converted into an analog audio signal. The analog voice signal is sent to the line LN through the signal lines of the conversion circuit 5 and the interface 6. Therefore, the other party who has called will hear OGM.

Then, when the other party speaks ICM, the IC
The audio signal of M is supplied from the line LN to the processing circuit 33 through the interface 6 and the signal line of the conversion circuit 5, is A / D converted from the analog audio signal to the digital audio signal, is data-compressed, and is compressed. The digital audio signal is written in the memory 35. Thus, the ICM is recorded in the memory 35.

During recording of this ICM, the microcomputer 20
Checks whether or not the other party goes on-hook by looking at the detection output of the interface 6. If the other party is not on-hook, it judges that the other party is still talking to the ICM and continues writing to the memory 35.

When it is detected that the other party has finished the ICM and went on-hook, the microcomputer 20 causes the processing circuit 3 to operate.
3 is supplied with a command instructing the end of writing, and the writing in the memory 35 is ended. In addition, the microcomputer 2
0 puts interface 6 on hook,
The phone returns to standby.

On the other hand, if there is an incoming call and the handset 1 or 2 is taken from the telephone while the ring tone signal is sent, for example, four times, that is, while the ringer 11 sounds four times, When the handsets 1 and 2 are picked up from the telephone as in the case of << incoming call in the home mode >>, the ringer 11 is stopped by the microcomputer 20 and the interface 6 is put into the off-hook state. Therefore,
Thereafter, as described above, the call can be made with the other party.

<< Others >> The processing or operation for recording the OGM to the memory 34 and reproducing the OGM to confirm the contents is performed using the microphone 31 and the speaker 32, but this is the same as the conventional one. (Or, since it is the same as the recording and reproducing of ICM), the explanation is omitted. Further, the OGM or ICM can be recorded and reproduced on a tape recorder using a cassette tape.
Further, the above-mentioned telephone can be configured to be a master unit of a cordless telephone and the key operation described above can be performed from the slave unit.

[0053]

According to the present invention, when the constant absence mode is released, even if the absence mode is set,
When the absence key 13A is pressed, the ICM is reproduced, and the absence mode is canceled and the home mode is set. Also,
If the answering mode is set, leave key 13
When A is pressed, the ICM is played but the absence mode is not released. Therefore, the convenience of the conventional answering machine is not good for users who frequently or regularly use the answering machine.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of processing contents in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of mode transition in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an example of an answering machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Transmitter 2 Handset 5 4-wire / 2-wire conversion circuit 6 Interface 12 Dial keys 13 Operation keys 20 Microcomputer 30 Recording / playback circuit 33 Recording / playback processing circuit 34 OGM memory 35 ICM memory

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording / playback means for recording / playing a message of a message from a telephone partner, an answering key, and a means for switching a setting state between a first setting state and a second setting state. In the first setting state, each time the answer key is pressed,
When switching from an answering mode in which the recording / playback means responds to an incoming call and a home mode in which the recording / playback means does not respond to the incoming call, and when switching from the absence mode to the home mode,
If the message of the message is recorded in the recording / playback means, the message of the message is reproduced, and in the second setting state, even if the answer key is pressed, the mode is not switched to the at-home mode. An answering machine which retains an answering mode and reproduces the message of the message when the message of the message is recorded in the recording / reproducing means when the message key is pressed. 2. An answering machine according to claim 1, wherein said recording / reproducing means comprises a memory, and a recording / reproducing processing circuit for performing processing for accessing a voice signal of the message of said matter to said memory. Answering machine with. 3. An answering machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the recording / playback means is a tape recorder using a cassette tape. 4. The answering machine according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the means for switching the setting state is also used by a part of a key that is not used in the standby state.