JPS63227166A - Long call warning notification method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Table of contents] Overview Industrial field of application Conventional technology Problems to be solved by the invention Means for solving the problems (Fig. 1) Working example (a) One example Explanation of the configuration (Figure 2) (b) Explanation of the operation of one embodiment (Figures 3 and 4) (c) Explanation of other embodiments Effects of the invention [Summary] Talking time using a handset In the long call warning notification method that warns that the call time is long, the timer control section counts the call time, and when the set alarm time is reached, a generation signal is generated, and the alarm sound generation section sends the signal via the line control section. By outputting an alarm sound to the receiver, the caller is directly warned of a long talk.

[Industrial application field]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a long-term call warning notification system for notifying a user of a telephone or a communication device with a telephone that the call will be for a long time.

Telephones and telephone-equipped communication devices are widely used, and a typical telephone-equipped communication device is a telephone/facsimile function type facsimile.

In such a device, the duration of the call is at the discretion of the caller, and during the call, communication from other communication devices other than the person on the other end of the call is not possible.

For this reason, when a long call is made, it becomes impossible to communicate with anyone other than the person being called.For example, with the above-mentioned facsimile, facsimile communication is not possible, and long calls waste time and call charges, which is not desirable. .

Therefore, it is necessary for these devices to have a function that warns about long-term calls.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, methods for warning of such long-duration calls include displaying the call time on the display of the device, and
It was designed to detect a long phone call and play an alarm sound on the speaker.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, the conventional method of displaying call time allows you to recognize that the call has been for a long time after the call ends, but there is a problem that it is not very effective because people do not talk while looking at the display during the call. Ta.

In addition, the conventional method of making a speaker ring is that if the ringing sound is low, the caller can put the handset on the phone and cannot hear it because the person is on the phone, and if the ringing sound is loud, it will cause noise to the person who is not talking. There is a problem in that this causes trouble, and furthermore, there is a problem in that the person on the other end of the call has no knowledge of the long-duration call.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a long-term call warning notification system that can directly warn only the caller of a long-term call.

[Means for solving problems]

FIG. 1 is a diagram explaining the principle of the present invention.

In FIG. 1 (A), l is a handset for sending and receiving calls, and 2 is a line control unit that controls the line, such as making calls, receiving calls, etc., and controls calls using the handset 1. 3 is an alarm sound generation unit, which generates an alarm sound to the line control unit 2; 4 is a timer control unit, which counts the call time and generates a warning according to the set alarm time interval. It emits a signal and causes the alarm sound generator 3 to generate an alarm sound.

[Effect]

In the present invention, when the timer control unit 4 detects a long-term call,
The alarm sound generating section 3 is activated and an alarm sound is given to the line control section 2. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 1 (B), the alarm sound becomes a signal on the line and is transmitted through the handset 1 to notify the caller at a predetermined interval T during the call, so that it does not disturb the surrounding people. You can directly alert the caller without any warning.

In addition, since it becomes a signal on the line, the other party is also notified,
It is even more effective.

〔Example〕

(a) Explanation of the structure of one embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, and shows a facsimile machine that can be used as a telephone/facsimile machine.

In the figure, the same parts as shown in Fig. 1 are indicated by the same symbols.Za is a signal detection unit that detects line polarity/hook-off/incoming call, and 2b is a telephone ”)/FAX (Facsimile) line switching control unit, which connects the telephone line (line) to the installation side (12b) and the FAX side (12b).
12a), 4a is a call time timer, which is provided in the timer control unit 4 and counts the call time; 4b is an alarm time timer, which counts the sent alarm time and outputs a warning generation signal. 5 is a main control unit, which is composed of a microprocessor and controls operations when making a call, controls operations when receiving a call, and also controls a long call warning; 6 is an LCD (liquid crystal) display control unit. 7 is a switch control unit, which includes switches such as a numeric keypad, communication switch, speed dial instruction key, etc. and a control circuit for these switches; 8 is a memory unit; can be,
It stores your own telephone number, the entered telephone number of the other party, the telephone number of the other party registered for speed dialing, and various statuses. 10 is a facsimile communication control unit that controls a facsimile transmission/reception mechanism (not shown) to control facsimile transmission or reception; 11
is a control bus, which includes a main control unit (hereinafter referred to as MPU) 5, a signal detection unit 2as, a line switching control unit 2b, an alarm sound generation circuit (unit) 3, a D P/P B call control unit 9, and a FAX communication control unit. Part 10. ICD display control section 6, switch control section 7
, a device for connecting the timer control section 4 and the memory section 8 and exchanging data and control signals between them, 12a
, 12b, 12c, and 12d are communication buses for exchanging communication signals, and the communication bus 12a is for connecting the line switching control section 2b, the alarm sound generation circuit 3, the DP/PB call control section 9, and the FAX communication. The communication bus 12b connects the line switching control unit 2b and the handset 1, and the communication bus 12c connects the line switching control unit 2b and the signal detection unit 2.
The communication bus 12d is for connecting the line to the signal detection section 2a.

In this embodiment, the line switching control unit 12b switches the line to
That is, when connected to the communication bus 12b side, telephone calls are possible, and when connected to the FAX side, that is, the communication bus 12a side, FAX is possible.
Communication becomes possible.

(b) Description of operation of one embodiment FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the entire process of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the free cola calling process in FIG. 3.

First, normally, the line switching control section 2b is connected to the receiving side, and the telephone line is connected to the signal detection section 2a, the communication bus 12c,
It is connected to the handset 1 via a line switching control section 2b and a communication bus 12b. This is called the ready state.

In the ready state, the MPU 5 executes the main processing shown in FIG. 3(A).

In other words, the MPU 5 monitors the detection output of the signal detection section 2a via the control bus 11, and when the signal detection section 2a detects an incoming signal from the telephone line and issues an incoming call output, the MPU 5 is set to automatic reception mode. If so, in order to start FAX reception, switch the connection of the line switching control section 2b from the device side to the FAX side via the control bus 11, connect the telephone line to the FAX communication control section 10, and then switch the connection of the line switching control section 2b to the FAX communication control section 10. to FA
Instructs X reception processing.

As a result, the facsimile signal received via the telephone line is received.

■ On the other hand, when the signal detection unit 2a detects the hook-off of the handset 1 in the manual incoming call mode or when no incoming call is detected, the MPU 5
Proceed to the determination flow (FIG. 3(B)).

On the other hand, if hook-off is not detected, the MPU 5 checks whether the switch control unit 7 is pressing down various switches such as the speed dial setting key and the copy designation key, and if pressing is detected, the MPU 5 executes the process instructed by the switch. Execute, and if no press is detected, return to step.

■ When the MPU 5 detects hook-off in step ■,
The mail/FAX determination flow shown in FIG. 3(B) is executed.

The MPU 5 checks whether the switch control section 7 detects that any switch (key) has been pressed or whether the signal detection section 2a detects a hook-on state.

When the switch control unit 7 detects that the numeric keypad or the short dial key (speed dial instruction key) is pressed and the destination telephone number is specified, the MPU 5 starts the free cola calling process shown in FIG. 4.

On the other hand, when the switch control unit 7 detects that the communication switch is pressed, the MPU 5 enters FAX communication processing and switches the line switching control unit 2b to the FAX side 12a.

For example, if a transmission document is set in the facsimile transmission mechanism, the FAX communication control section 10 performs a transmission operation, and if no transmission document is set, the FAX communication control section 10 performs a reception operation.

Furthermore, if the depression of the numeric keypad/one-touch key or the communication switch is not detected, but the depression of another switch (copy designation key, etc.) is detected, the process corresponding to the switch is executed in the same way as in step (2).

■Next, assuming that the MPU 5 does not detect the pressing of any of these switches, it checks whether the signal detection unit 2a has detected the hook-on state, and if it has detected the footer-on state, returns to FIG. 3(A). , step ■ starts execution, and if no hook-on state is detected, returns to the beginning of step ■ and checks the switch status.

■ In step ■, when the hook-off state is detected and the press of the numeric keypad or one-touch key is detected, and the destination telephone number is input, the MPU 5 temporarily transfers the input telephone number to the memory section 8 via the control lot 5, and Store as destination information.

Next, the MPU 5 causes the line switching control unit 2b to switch the connection to the line from the calling side to the FAX side, and makes a dial call to the D P/P B call control unit 9 based on the destination information in the memory unit 8. let

Therefore, the call information (dial pulse) is transmitted to the communication lot 12a.
, line switching control section 2b, communication bus 12C1 signal detection section 2
a, sent to the telephone line via the communication bus 12d.

After the call is finished, the MPU 5 switches the line connection of the line switching control section 2b from the FAX side to the fax side.

This makes it possible to make a call using the handset 1.

(2) Next, the MPU 5 resets the call time timer 4a and alarm time timer 4b of the timer control section 4, and starts counting by the call time timer 4a.

(2) The MPU 5 compares the destination telephone number stored in the memory section 8 with the separately registered local telephone number and determines the alarm interval time.

For example, by comparing phone numbers, determining the communication distance,
If you are far away, set the alarm interval time to IT (for example, 1 minute),
For medium distances, set the alarm interval time to 2T (for example, 2 minutes).
If the distance is short, the alarm interval time is determined to be 3T (for example, 3 minutes).

Then, the MPU 5 sets the determined alarm interval time in the alarm time timer 4b of the timer control section 4 and starts counting.

(2) Next, the MPU 5 reads the call time from the call time timer 4a of the timer control section 4, and supplies it to the LCD display control section 6 to display the call time.

Furthermore, in the MPU 5, the signal detection unit 2a checks the line polarity status. The line polarity status is normally reversed when the called party picks up the phone (hookoff), so the MP
In response to the inversion of the line polarity status, U5 returns to step (3) and once resets the call time and alarm time of the timers 4a and 4b.

Thereafter, the line polarity status will not be reversed during the connection with the called party.

Next, the MPU 5 checks whether the switch control unit 7 has detected the press of the communication switch, and if the press of the communication switch is detected, the MPU 5 shifts to FAX communication processing.

Alarm processing is therefore interrupted.

The FAX communication process is the same as that described for switch (2).

If the press of the communication switch is not detected, the MPU 5 checks whether the signal detection unit 2a has detected hook-on of the handset l.

Footer-on indicates the end of the call, so when hook-on is detected, the MPU 5 stops counting the call time and alarm time on the timers 4a and 4b, and stores the call time on the timer 4a and the destination address on the memory unit 8 in the FAX communication control unit 10. Give the telephone number, have the facsimile receiving mechanism output the management record, and return to step (2) in FIG. 3(A).

[Phase] On the other hand, in the hook-off state, the call is still in progress, so the MPU 5 counts the alarm time set by the alarm time timer 4b and checks the elapsed alarm time.

If the alarm time has not elapsed, the process returns to step (2).

On the other hand, if the alarm time has elapsed, the MPU 5 connects the line switching control section 2b to both the sending side and the FAX side. Therefore, the telephone line is connected to both the handset 1 and the FAX side communication bus 12a.

Then, the MPU 5 causes the alarm sound generation circuit 3 to send an alarm sound signal to the communication bus 12a for a predetermined period of time.

This causes an alarm tone signal to be sent out to the line, both to the handset 1 and to the telephone line.

Therefore, an alarm sound is emitted from the handset of the handset 1 of the own station to the caller of the own station, and at the same time is also sounded to the other party via the telephone line.

Further, after the alarm sound signal is generated, the MPU 5 switches the line switching control unit 2b from the connection of both the sending side and the FAX side to the connection of only the sending side, and disconnects the FAX side.

Then, the process returns to step (2), sets the alarm time in the timer 4b again, and returns to the subsequent processing.

In this way, after the hook-off of the handset 1, the line polarity is reversed (connection with the called party starts), as shown in FIG. 1(B).
The call time is measured and displayed on the display, and an alarm sound signal is generated at regular intervals during the call until hook-on.

Since this alarm sound signal becomes a signal on the line, the alarm sound is transmitted to both the calling party and the called party through the handset and alerting them, without interrupting the call.

Furthermore, since alarm processing is canceled during facsimile communication, stable facsimile communication is guaranteed without the alarm sound signal being mixed in the facsimile communication signal.

Moreover, the alarm time interval is automatically determined according to the communication distance, which helps to avoid wasting charges in addition to call time.

(C) Description of Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiments, a telephone/facsimile type communication device has been described, but the present invention may be applied to each telephone (and can also be applied to other telephone-equipped communication devices).

Furthermore, when only the call time is the issue, the alarm time interval may be constant regardless of the communication distance, and various alarm sounds may be selected.

Although the present invention has been described above using examples, the present invention can be modified in various ways according to the gist of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to directly warn the caller of a long-term call, and the warning notification can be sent effectively without bothering the surrounding people, and it is possible to properly and effectively can encourage shortening of call time.

It also has the effect of giving a warning to the other party, and the other party can also be warned of a long call.

In particular, when used in a combined telephone/facsimile machine, facsimile transmission and reception can be carried out without delay, and call charges can be prevented from being wasted.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is an overall processing flow diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is a free flow diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a call origination process. In the figure, 1-.- handset, 2- line control section, 3- alarm sound generation section, 4- timer control section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A handset (1), a line control unit (2) that performs line control and allows the handset (1) to make a call, and counts the duration of the call and sets an alarm time interval at a set alarm time interval. A timer control unit (4) that issues a warning generation signal in response to reaching
), and outputs an alarm sound to the line control unit (2) in response to the warning generation signal.
) and an alarm sound generator (3) that generates an alarm sound at a set time interval, and notifies a caller of an alarm sound via the handset (1) at set time intervals.