JPH08317043A - Answering Machine for Auto Answer Telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [PROBLEMS] To switch a call to another telephone so that a call can be made to another person when the call received while answering is an emergency. SOLUTION: When a call path is formed in response to an incoming call and a response message is sent out, if a predetermined call switching code such as an asterisk button is input, the corresponding telephone is pre-designated as another telephone. Switch to. The call switching code may be input either while the response message is being sent or after the recording of the message is started.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic answering telephone, and more particularly, to a method of answering an incoming call which is not in existence.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When using an automatic answering telephone, a user can set an answering machine mode by setting a purpose of going out, a place to go out, or a time to go home. In this case, the general response message is ended by "Please tell us your message after the dial tone", and simply records your message. About this
Also, a more specific description will be given with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an automatic answering telephone. The line interface and the communication path 10 are connected to a line of a general telephone or a dedicated telephone of an exchange. The ring signal / data detector 20 has a role of detecting a ring (call). The central processing unit 110 is equipped with a ROM storing a program necessary for the operation unique to the automatic answering telephone, a RAM required during the operation, various interrupt clocks, and the like, and automatically detects the number of times the ring signal is detected. Controls the overall operation of the answering phone as a whole. The switching unit 300 is under the control of the central processing unit 110 to connect or short-circuit each circuit. The voice input unit 40 is a circuit that converts voice into an electrical signal,
A microphone such as a microphone in a handset. The voice output unit 50 is a circuit that converts an electrical signal into voice, and is a receiver such as a speaker in a handset. The key input unit 60 includes push buttons for performing various functions, and the display unit 70 is required to show the setting state of each function. The display unit 70 is not an indispensable component, and other display methods may be used.

The D / A, A / D converter 80 is a circuit for converting the analog voice signal input through the switching unit 30 into a digital signal and converting the digital data of the voice signal processing unit 90 into an analog voice signal. Usually called a codec. However, it is not necessary if it is not digital recording. The audio signal processing unit 90 is for recording and reproducing a digital signal, and includes a digital signal processor and a sub processor. However, when recording an analog signal on a cassette tape or the like, a circuit for processing the analog signal is used. In the voice recording unit 100,
A DRAM is normally used when recording with a digital signal, and a cassette tape is normally used when recording with an analog signal. Note that a ROM is often used to store guidance messages and the like built into the telephone.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a process of automatically answering an incoming call that is not in the automatic answering telephone as described above. Step 2a is a step of detecting a ring signal and counting the number of times. At this time,
The input ring signal is an analog signal in the case of a device that can be connected to a general telephone line. On the other hand, key pho
In the case of an automatic response device for ne), ring data will be received by exchanging data with the main device. The ring signal input in this manner is sent to the central processing unit 110, and when the central processing unit 110 counts it and reaches a preset number of times, step 2b is performed.

In step 2b, in response to a predetermined number of ring signal inputs, the line interface and the communication path 10 are controlled to connect to the other party, and the response message registered in the voice recording unit 100 is sent out. That is, the voice recording unit 10
The response message data registered to 0 is read out, processed through the audio signal processing unit 90, and then D / A, A / D.
It is converted into an analog voice signal by the converter 80 and sent to the other party via the switching unit 30, the line interface and the communication path 10. After sending the response message, the completion of sending the response message is confirmed in step 2c.

In the following step 2d, it is confirmed whether or not a mode for recording the caller's message is set, and if the message recording mode is set, the process proceeds to step 2e to record the message of the other party. . When the other party hangs up the telephone after recording the message, the call path is released in step 2f and the reception of the next telephone is awaited.

[0008]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, in the past, the person who called the telephone was informed that he / she was out of the office, and "Please call again later" or "Tell us your message"
Simply send a response message such as and record the other party's message. Therefore, even an urgent matter can only be recorded and left, and the person making the call must wait until the person returns and plays back the recorded matter and calls back. There was an inconvenience.
Obviously, it would be even more convenient if this could be improved.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] For example, when using an automatic answering machine in an office or a public institution, since a plurality of telephones are usually connected to the person other than the person himself / herself, a call is made to a telephone in the adjacent seat. You can solve the above-mentioned problems by connecting and switching between, so that your colleagues and secretaries can respond. In other words, if a method is provided to switch the call so that the other party who has called while he / she is away can directly talk to a person other than the person in question, he or she can get in touch with him even if there is an important or urgent matter. It will be possible.

In view of the above, the present invention, in an answering machine answering method for an automatic answering telephone which has registered an answering message and is capable of answering by the answering message, has a predetermined call switching code when a replying message is transmitted in response to an incoming call. When input, the call is switched to another telephone designated in advance. In this case, if a call switch code is input during sending of a response message, the call should be switched to the designated telephone, and after the caller message recording starts, the call switch code must be input. For example, it is better to switch the call to the designated telephone.
If the call switching code is not input, it is more preferable to record the caller's requirement as usual.
It should be noted that the telephone includes those having other functions such as a fax function.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although a number of specific specific matters are shown in the following description, they are only provided for a general understanding of the present invention, and the present invention can be embodied in various forms even without such specific matters. It will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. The description of related publicly known technology is omitted.

The configuration of the automatic answering telephone in this embodiment is the same as that of FIG. 1 described above, and FIG. 3 and FIG.
3 is a flow chart showing a process of answering an incoming call on hold and a call switching process according to the present invention. Steps 3a to 3d are the same as the process in FIG. 2 described above. Therefore, the subsequent process will be described.

In step 3e, the central processing unit 110 is used when the message recording mode is set in step 3d.
However, the voice signal processing unit 9 starts recording the caller's message.
It is a stage to control 0. And the following step 3f
Is a step of confirming whether or not the recording of the other party's message is completed.

According to this embodiment, the message is being recorded (step 3e) or the response message is being sent (step 3).
In b), it is confirmed whether or not the call switching code is input (steps 3g and 3j). If the call switching code is input, the recording of the message or the sending of the response message is stopped, and the telephone corresponding to the switching destination is called. It is designed to connect.

That is, in the confirmation of the completion of the message recording in step 3f after the start of the message recording in step 3e, if the recording is not completed, the process goes to step 3g to confirm the input of the call switching code. If the call switching code is input, the process proceeds to step 3h to stop the recording of the message, the call is switched in step 3i, and then the process proceeds to step 3k so that the next call can be answered. To cancel. On the other hand, if the message recording is completed in step 3f, step 3k is performed as it is.
Go to and release the call path.

If the response message transmission is not completed at step 3c after the start of the response message transmission at step 3b, the process proceeds to step 3j to confirm the input of the call switching code. If the call switching code is input, the process proceeds to step 3i also at this time to switch the call to the previously designated switching destination subscriber telephone and open the communication path. After that, the process proceeds to step 3k, and the communication path is released so that the next call can be answered.

As the call switching code, any one of the push buttons provided on the dial keypad, such as a one-digit number, can be used, and the telephone number (extension number) of the switching destination is registered in correspondence with this push button. It is only necessary to provide a memory for this. An example sentence of the response message in this case is as follows. "Hello, I am a" gold ".
Unfortunately, I am out of the office right now, so if you have any questions, please give a message after the beeping tone. If you have an urgent business, you can press the asterisk button (*) on your telephone and you will be able to talk to the person called "...". Thank you for calling. ”

That is, according to the present embodiment, the answering machine mode is selected before going out and the response message as described above is registered, and then the telephone number (extension number) to which the call is switched is registered in the memory. . In this way, when the caller hears the response message and presses the asterisk button (*), the call is automatically connected to the telephone to which the call is switched so that an urgent response can be made. Become.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if the person is out of the office, if necessary, it is possible to switch the call so that they can talk directly with someone other than the person.
This is useful when you need to convey important or urgent requirements. In particular, the effect can be exhibited when using a private exchange or a keyphone system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an automatic response telephone.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a conventional answering machine process.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an answering machine response and a call switching process according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart following FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 line interface and communication path 20 ring signal / data detection unit 40 voice input unit 50 voice output unit 60 key input unit 70 display unit 80 D / A, A / D converter 90 voice signal processing unit 100 voice recording unit 110 central processing Device 300 Switching unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An automatic answering telephone answering method in which an answering message is registered and an answering machine is enabled by the answering message, a predetermined call switching code is input when the answering message is transmitted in response to an incoming call. And an answering machine answering method, characterized in that the call is switched to another telephone specified in advance. 2. The answering machine answering method according to claim 1, wherein when a call switching code is inputted during sending of a response message, the call is switched to a designated telephone. 3. The answering machine answering method according to claim 1, wherein when a call switching code is input after the recording of the caller's message is started, the call is switched to a designated telephone. 4. The answering machine answering method according to claim 1, wherein the caller's message is recorded if the call switching code is not input.