JPH01238255A - telephone control device - 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] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a telephone control device, and is particularly applicable to a remote control system that uses a telephone line to control equipment outside the home or inside the home, especially automatic recording devices such as an answering machine. The present invention relates to a telephone control device suitable for use in conjunction with a device with a call receiving function.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, in a telephone control system that uses a telephone line to control equipment inside the house from outside the house, there is a signal sent from a push/button dial telephone.
There is a lti frequency (hereinafter referred to as DTMF signal).

As described in the telephone control system fU, which is remotely controlled using a telephone line, using conventional DTMF signals, and the instruction manuals included with commercially available products,
The number of ring signals is counted, and when the number reaches a preset number, the telephone line is closed, an absentee message is sent from the control device in the home, and after that, when the preset key number is entered, the remote control is activated. It was designed so that it could be operated.

As such a remote control device, for example, the Utility Model Act 57-
A technique described in Japanese Patent No. 18849 is known.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned conventional technology, devices that automatically receive calls using a ringing signal include an answering machine, but if you try to use multiple devices with such automatic call receiving functions together, one of the devices that automatically receives a call using a ringing signal may be used. There is a problem that the one with fewer calls will receive the call first, making it impossible to use multiple such devices with automatic call receiving function at the same time.

The present invention is a method to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art. For example, the present invention prevents malfunction of other devices with an automatic call receiving function, such as an answering machine, due to remote control signals.
It is an object of the present invention to provide nine telephone control devices that enable the simultaneous use of multiple devices with an automatic call receiving function.

[Ninth means to solve the problem]

Ninthly, to achieve the above object, the configuration of the remote control device according to the present invention is such that a control signal is sent from outside the home to a control device in the home using a telephone line, and this control device controls a controlled device in the home. In the remote control device, the in-home control device includes means for timing the duration of a ringing signal and a pause time of the ringing signal, a means for counting the number of ringing signals, and a means for closing or opening a telephone line. and means for setting a ninth determination number of times for closing the telephone line based on the number of times of said calling signal, and said line control means when said number of times of calling signals set in said number of determination times setting means is received. When the telephone M is closed by the means, the ringing signal ends before the number of judgments set in the judgment number setting means, and the pause time of the ringing signal exceeds the preset permissible pause time. , an arithmetic processing section and a control circuit are provided so that the telephone line is closed by the line control means.

In more detail, mode switching means is provided for selecting whether or not to close the telephone line when the number of call signals is less than a preset number of judgments, It is possible to perform operations such as not sending an out-of-office message when the telephone line is closed, and sending out an out-of-office message only when the correct key number is entered within a predetermined time after the telephone line is closed. It constitutes a control circuit.

[Effect]

The working of the above technical means is as follows.

The in-home control device can distinguish between a 16 Hz calling signal and noise, and can reliably detect the end of a calling signal, by means of timing the duration and pause time of the calling signal. This call signal is counted, and the counted value is compared with the number of judgments. When the number of judgments is reached, it is assumed that no other device with an automatic call receiving function is connected, and the telephone line is closed and the telephone is not placed. If the count value of the call number M ends less than the determined number of times, another device with an automatic call reception function automatically receives the call.
The telephone line is closed and the telephone control system is made available for selection by the user.

By doing this, by setting the number of times of determination to be greater than the number of automatic call determination times of other devices with an automatic call reception function, it is possible to receive calls at the same time, and any device can be used.

(9) A mode switching means is provided to select whether or not to close the telephone line when the number of ringing signals is less than a preset number of judgments, and when no other device with an automatic call receiving function is used, By setting the phone to a mode in which it ignores the call when it ends with a ring tone, unnecessary call receiving operations are not performed when the phone is used as a normal telephone. When the telephone line is closed with a preset number of successful call signals, other devices with an automatic call receiving function will assume that they are not operating and will send an absent message, and the phone line will be closed with a call signal that is less than the number of times determined to be acceptable. When the user closes the call, other devices with an automatic call receiving function operate and treat the caller as a friend and do not send the absentee message, thereby preventing multiple absentee messages from being duplicated. In addition, if you do not enter the preset key number within a preset time after closing the telephone line, or if the key number is set in advance and the number of times is incorrect, If you are trying to use a device with an automatic call receiving function or if it is a prank, you can open the telephone line to prevent errors or malfunctions.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a telephone control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure until telephone control becomes possible in the device of the first cause, and FIG. The reason is the time chart when the call signal arrives less than the determined number of times.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a telephone line, 13 is an in-house control device, and 2 is a next line control means connected to the telephone line 1.
(see figure), the telephone line 1 is closed and shut down, and the telephone line 1 is opened at a certain timing after the control operation is completed.

Reference numeral 5 denotes an amplifying section connected to the telephone line 1 via the line control means 2, and this amplifying section 5 receives a call signal 32 and a push-button dial telephone (not shown) on the calling side including the control subscriber. It amplifies and waveforms the transmitted DTMF signal and the audio from the audio generator 5.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a signal receiving section connected to the amplifying section 3. This signal receiving section 4 discriminates the DTMFMN code, decodes the dial - pressed by the control subscriber into a number, and also sends the calling M number 52.
is integrated and communicated.

Reference numeral 5 indicates a sound generation unit that generates a sound such as an absentee message; 6 indicates an arithmetic processing unit such as a microcombi controller that performs a series of controls for the in-home control device 15; and 7 indicates the duration of the call signal 32. t1 and the pause time t of the calling signal 52. 8 is a counting means that counts the number of times the calling signal 32 is issued.

9 is a judgment number setting means, and this judgment number setting means 9 is
The number of times of determination for closing the telephone line 1 is set based on the number of times of the calling signal 32. For example, it is a changeover switch, and in this example, an answering machine! The number of determinations is set to be greater than 15.

Reference numeral 10 denotes mode switching means connected to the 1 judgment number setting means 9, which selects whether or not to close the telephone line 1 at the number of call signals 32 which is less than the preset number of good judgments in the keyed switching means 10. do. For example, it is a changeover switch.

Reference numeral 11 indicates a key number setting means, such as a switch, for setting all key numbers. Reference numeral 12 operates when a control subscriber sends a control signal using a DTMF signal.

These bamboo sound generating section 5, timing means 7,
Counting means 8, judgment number setting means 9, key number setting means 11
, and the device drive section 12 are each connected to the arithmetic processing section 6 to constitute the home control device Jf13.

Reference numerals 14a, 14b, .

The operation f'F of such a remote control device will be explained with reference to step numbers in the flowchart of FIG. In the operation explanation below, the code written in parentheses indicates the step number.
, is.

First, when a person other than the control subscriber dials the telephone number on the home control device 13 side using a push-button dial telephone, an exchange connection is made at the exchange office and a 16 Hz calling signal 32 is input into the system.

Here, the home control device 13 checks the calling signal 32 (16), and when the calling signal 52 is input, the calling signal 32 is transmitted to the signal receiving section 4 via the amplifying section 3! ll is integrated and input to the arithmetic processing section 6. The duration t of this call signal 52 is measured by the clock means 7, and it is checked whether this duration t1 is within a permissible range (17).

If the duration t is within the allowable range, it is counted by the calling signal count counting means 8 (1B), and the arithmetic processing unit 6
The counted value is compared with the number of determinations set in the number of determinations setting means 9 (19), and if the counted value and the number of determinations are equal, the arithmetic processing unit 6 sends a closing signal to the line control means 2 to close the telephone line. 1 (20), and the sound generating section 5
sends an absentee message (21). Therefore, the absentee message is sent to the telephone line 1 via the amplification section 3 and the line control means 2.

Then, on the calling side, press the push button dial to
When the key number is sent as a signal, the signal is decoded by the signal receiving section 4 and input to the arithmetic processing section 6.
In this case, the input key number is compared with the set key number preset in the key number setting means 11 (22), and if they match, reception of telephone control is started (23), and then the caller operates the pushbutton dial. When the DTMF signal is sent, the arithmetic processing unit 6 sends the corresponding controlled device 14 (14a, 14
b, . . . 14n) is sent to the device driving section 12 to control the controlled device 14, and the result is reported to the voice generating section 5 in XV voice. If the key number is input incorrectly, the arithmetic processing unit 6 checks whether the number of incorrect inputs is within a preset allowable number of times.
9) If the number of times is within the permissible number, close the telephone line 1, and if the elapsed time t4 after receiving the call is within the preset permissible time, wait for the key number to be input again (31), and confirm the number of incorrect entries. If the number of calls exceeds the permissible number of times, or if the elapsed time t4 after receiving the call exceeds the permissible time, the telephone line is immediately opened to prevent even close friends, and a remote control signal from the attached answering machine 15 is used. prevent malfunction.

Further, when the number of calls 62 is less than the determined number of times, the pause time t2 of the call signal 32 is counted by the total timer 7, and the pause time t2 exceeds the preset permissible range t of the stop time. In the case (24), the arithmetic processing section 6
The mode switching means 10 checks whether the mode is a mode in which a device with an automatic call receiving function is installed (25), and if the mode is a mode in which a device with an automatic call receiving function is not installed, the in-home control device 13 immediately stops processing. In the mode in which a device with an automatic call receiving function is installed, the arithmetic processing section 6 issues a signal to the line control means 2 to close the telephone line 1, and waits for the key number to be input.

At this time, prior to this, the control device 1 in the home is connected to the telephone line 1.
An absentee recording device 15 attached to the device 3 sends an absentee message and becomes ready for recording. At this time, since the controlling subscriber knows that both the answering machine 15 and the home control bag a113 of the telephone control device are receiving calls, he can select and use either one. If the pause time t2 of the call signal 52 is within the allowable pause time range t3, check whether there is the next call signal 32 (27), and if the next call signal 32 is slurred, it is determined by its duration. Time t, check 1 (28), and its duration t
If , is appropriate, count the number of times (1B), and if there is no next calling signal 32 or its duration t is not appropriate, return to checking the pause time t of the calling signal 62 (24). .

According to this embodiment, there is a table effect as described below.

(1) Since calls are automatically received even if the number of judgments is less than the preset number of good judgments, multiple devices with automatic call receiving functions can be used together.

(2) Since both the duration of the call signal and the pause time are measured, noise can be reliably eliminated and a special detection circuit is not required, making it highly economical.

(3) Since no special wiring is required, it can be easily added to an existing device with an automatic call receiving function.

(4) By providing a mode switching means that selects whether or not to close the telephone line when the number of ringing signals is less than a preset number of judgments, parallel reception can be selected only when necessary, and it can be used during normal telephone calls. It can prevent unnecessary call receiving operations.

(5) By sending an absentee message only when the telephone line is closed after a preset number of determinations, the absentee message can be sent when it is not needed without being confused with the absentee message of other devices with automatic call receiving function. Therefore, it does not cause trouble to anyone other than the controlling subscriber.

(6) If you do not enter the preset key number within the preset time after closing the telephone line, or if you enter the key number incorrectly the number of times the key number was set in advance, By immediately opening the telephone line, it is possible to prevent calls, even close calls, and to prevent malfunctions caused by remote control signals of other devices with an automatic call receiving function.

It goes without saying that the means described in the above embodiments may be integrated by an integrated circuit such as a microcomputer.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent malfunctions of other devices with an automatic call reception function, such as an answer recording device, due to remote control signals,
It is possible to provide a telephone control device that enables the simultaneous use of multiple devices with an automatic call receiving function.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a telephone control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure until telephone control becomes possible in the device of FIG. The figure is a time chart when a call signal arrives less than the determined number of times. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Telephone line, 2... Line control means, 4... Signal receiving part, 5... Sound generation part, 6... Arithmetic processing part,
7... Clocking means, 8... Counting means, 9... Judgment number setting means, 10... Mode switching means, 11... Key number setting means, 12... Equipment drive section, 13. ...In-home control device, 14a. 14b, 14n...Controlled equipment, 32...Call signal Fig. 2 Fig. 3

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A telephone control device that sends a control signal from outside the home to a control device in the home using a telephone line, and controls a controlled device in the home by the control device, which includes: means for counting the duration of a ringing signal and a pause time of the ringing signal; means for counting the number of ringing signals; line control means for closing or opening a telephone line; means for setting the number of times of determination for closing the line, and when receiving the number of call signals set in the number of determination means, the line control means closes the telephone line and the number of times the call signal is calculation processing so that the telephone line is closed by the line control means when the number of judgments is less than the number of judgments set in the judgment number setting means and the pause time of the call signal has exceeded a preset allowable pause time; 1. A telephone control device characterized by having a control circuit and a control circuit. 2. The device described in claim 1 is characterized in that a mode switching means is provided for selecting whether or not to close the telephone line when the number of call signals is less than a preset number of determinations. Telephone control device. 3. In either of claims 1 or 2, when the telephone line is closed with a predetermined number of call signals, an absentee message is sent, and when the number of call signals is less than the number of times determined, an absent message is sent. 1. A telephone control device, characterized in that a voice generating section is provided with a circuit configured so as not to send an absentee message when the telephone line is closed. 4. In any of claims 1 to 3, if the preset key number is not input within a preset predetermined time after the telephone line is closed, A telephone control device comprising key number setting means having a circuit configuration to open a telephone line.