JPH0263246A - answering machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To confirm number of messages recorded on a master set through the operation from a slave set side by providing a storage means storing whether or not an incoming message is recorded to a stationary set, sending a specific signal in the changeover to the standby mode and allowing a display means to apply display corresponding to a signal sent from the stationary set. CONSTITUTION:When a message detection means 18 of a stationary set 1 detects a message from a caller, a storage means stores the message and the stationary set 1 sends the content stored in the storage means to a mobile set when a mobile set 2 sends a signal to the stationary set 1 with a switch of the mobile set 2 thrown from the off-mode into the standby mode and the content is displayed by the display means of the mobile set 2. Then the user throws a mode changeover switch 30 from the off mode into the standby mode after remote listening to receive the information of number of messages recorded newly after the remote listening.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an answering machine that is used by being connected to a telephone line.

2. Description of the Related Art Telephone answering machines have been widely used in the past for answering callers when the caller is away and recording messages from the caller. Cordless telephone devices are also known, which consist of a fixed device connected to a telephone line and a mobile device that communicates with the fixed device by wireless communication, and can communicate via the telephone line even from a remote location.

The present applicant has proposed an answering machine that has these two functions and allows the contents of messages recorded on the answering machine to be heard from a mobile unit of a cordless telephone.

The answering machine proposed by the present applicant will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional answering machine. In Fig. 3, 1 is a base unit connected to a telephone line, 2 is a slave unit that communicates wirelessly with the base unit 1, 3 is an incoming call detection means for detecting a bell signal from the telephone line, and 4 is a telephone line. 5 is a dialing signal generating means for generating a dialing signal; 6 is a response device that sends a response message to the caller and makes it possible to record the response message. Message recording/sending means; 7 an incoming message recording means for recording a message from a caller; 8 a transmitting means for transmitting a signal to the handset 2; 9 a receiving means for receiving a signal from the handset 2; 10 is a control signal detection means for detecting a control signal from the slave unit 2; 11 is a changeover switch for switching the operation mode of the base unit 1; 12 is a control means for controlling the operation of the base unit; 13
．． 14, 15, and 16 are switches, and 17 is a tone detection means for detecting a visit tone. Also, in handset 2, 2
1 is a receiving means for receiving the signal from the base unit 1; 22 is an amplifier for amplifying the signal demodulated by the receiving means 21; 23
is a speaker, 24 is a microphone, 25 is an amplifier that amplifies the signal input from the microphone 24, 26 is a transmitting means for transmitting a signal to the main unit 1, and 27 is a calling signal when a calling signal is input from the main unit 1. 28 is a ringing tone generating means for generating a ringing tone; 29 is a dialing signal inputting means for inputting a dialing signal; 30 is a changeover switch for switching the operation mode of the handset 2; There is an off mode in which both reception and transmission operations are stopped, a standby mode in which the device is placed in a receiving state and waits for an incoming signal from the base unit, and a communication mode in which it sends a signal to the base unit to close the telephone line and enable communication. You can switch between three levels. 31 is a monitor switch, and when this switch is pressed while the answering machine function of the base unit is operating, the contents (for example, a response message that is being sent or a message from an incoming caller) can be listened to. Can be done. 32 is a control start switch for starting control of the operation of the parent device. 33
is a control means for controlling the operation of the slave device. A battery 34 supplies power to the transmitting section 37 via a switch 35 and to the receiving section 38 via a switch 36.

The operation of the answering machine configured as described above will be explained below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

First, when using the function as a cordless telephone, set the selector switch 11 of base unit 1 to the cordless telephone side (
Set it to side a). When a bell signal is input from the telephone line in this state, the incoming call detection means 3 detects it (step (b)) and outputs it to the control means 12. In response, the control means 2 controls the transmitting means 8 and transmits an incoming signal to the handset 2 (step (c)). When the receiving means 21 of the handset 2 receives the incoming call signal from the base unit (step (b)), the calling signal detecting means 27 detects the signal and sends a signal indicating this to the control means 33. Output. The control means 33 controls the ringing tone generation means 28 to generate a ringing tone synchronized with the bell signal (step (C)). The user who inquired about this ringtone selected the changeover switch 3 of handset 2.
When O is switched from the standby mode (side B) in which power is supplied only to the receiving section 38 through the switch 36 to the call mode (side C), the process moves from step (e) to step (f), and the control means 33 Turn on the switch 35 and send the transmitter 3
7 as well as controlling the transmitting means 26,
A signal is sent to base unit 1 to instruct it to close the telephone line. However, if the selector switch 30 of the slave unit 2 is in the off mode at the time when the signal informing of the incoming call arrives from the base unit 1, both the switch 35 and the switch 36 are turned off, and power is not being supplied to the receiving means 21. Therefore, the incoming signal from base unit 1 cannot be received.

Next, when the reception means 9 of the main unit 1 receives the telephone line closing instruction signal from the handset 2 in step (d), the control signal detection means 10 detects this signal and outputs it to the control means 12.

In response, the control means 12 controls the interface circuit 4
is controlled to close the telephone line (step (E)), and the switch 1416 is turned on to make a call (step (G)). In this state, the voice signal from the caller arriving on the telephone line passes through the interface circuit 4 and transmitting means 8.
is sent to slave unit 2. A signal from the base unit 1 is received by the receiving means 21 of the slave unit 2, amplified by the amplifier 22, and then output from the speaker 23.

Further, the audio input from the microphone 24 of the handset 2 is amplified by the amplifier 25 and transmitted to the base device 1 from the transmitting means 26.

Base unit 1 receives this signal with receiving means 9 and sends it to the telephone line through interface circuit 4. In this way, a conversation between handset 2 and the caller is carried out via base unit 1 (
Step (g)). When the call ends, the changeover switch of handset 2 is set to standby mode (side b). Then, the process moves from step (h) to step (i), and the control means 3
3 causes the transmitting means 26 to transmit a signal for opening the telephone line, and then turns off the switch 35 to enter the standby mode. The signal from the handset 2 is detected by the base unit in the same manner as the signal for closing the telephone line, and the transition from step (G) to step (H) causes the control means 12 to open the telephone line and turn the switch. 14.
16 is turned off.

When making a call by dialing from the handset 2 side, the changeover switch 30 of the handset 2 is connected to the (C side) to put the handset 2 into a talking state. When the control means 33 detects this, it transmits a signal to the base unit 1 to close the telephone line as described above (step (j)).

On the other hand, when base unit 1 detects this signal, it moves from step (a) to step (s), closes the telephone line, and turns on switches 14 and 16. Next, when a dial signal is input from the dial signal input means 29 of the handset 2, the control means 3
3 causes this manually entered dial signal to be transmitted from the transmitting means 26 to the base unit 1 (step (k)). This dial signal is received by the receiving means 9 of the base unit 1, detected by the control signal detecting means 10, and outputted to the first stage 12 of the controller (step (N)). The control means 12 causes the dial signal generating means 5 to generate a dial signal corresponding to the input dial signal, and sends it to the telephone line through the interface circuit 4 (step). When the transmission of the dialed number is completed and the called party goes off-hook, the process moves from step (w) to step (g), and the call state is established, and a call can be made between handset 2 and the called party as explained above.

Next, the case of using it as an answering machine will be explained. In this case, first, set the changeover switch 11 of the base unit 1 to the answering machine side (side b). Then, a signal indicating this is input to the control means 12, and the answering machine mode is set.

When a calling signal arrives from the telephone line in this state, the incoming call detection means 3 detects it and outputs it to the control means 12. Then, the control means 12 controls the transmitting means 8 to send an incoming signal to the handset 2, and when the incoming signal arrives a predetermined number of times, the control means 12 moves to step (Y). Next, the process moves to step (S) to control the interface circuit 4, close the telephone line, and turn on the switch 13. Next, the response message sending means 6 is controlled to send the response message to the telephone line through the interface circuit 4 (step (S)). When the sending of the response message is completed, the control means 12 turns off the switch 13,
Also, the switch 15 is turned on to operate the incoming message recording means 7, and the incoming message recording means 7 is activated to record the incoming message from the telephone line and the interface circuit 4.
Record the incoming message input through (Step (ツ)). On the other hand, when the changeover switch 30 is in the standby position (b pieces) on the handset 2 side, when an incoming signal from the telephone line arrives, the base unit receives the ringing signal sent from the base unit and outputs a ringing tone from the ringing tone generating means 28. (Step (C)). This allows the user to know that an incoming call signal has been input to the answering machine and that the answering machine is in operation. To listen to incoming messages coming into base unit 2 while the answering machine function is in operation, monitor switch 31 is pressed.

When the control means 33 detects that the monitor switch 31 has been pressed, it turns on the switch 35 and transmits a monitor-on signal from the transmitting means 26 to the base unit 1. This signal is received by the receiving means 9 of the base unit 1, detected by the control signal detecting means 10, and output to the control means 12. The control means 12 turns on the switch 16, and the transmitting means 8 transmits the incoming message to the handset 2. This incoming message is received by the receiving means 21 of the handset 2 and output from the speaker 23 (step (m)).

When the caller finishes sending the message and puts the telephone on the hook, a visit tone is input to the base unit 1 from the telephone line, the tone detection means 17 detects it (step (N)), and outputs it to the control means 12.

The control means 12 causes the interface circuit 4 to open the telephone line (step (S)) and turns off the switch 15. When the slave device 2 is monitoring, when the monitor switch 31 is pressed again, the control means 33 transmits a monitor end signal to the base device 1 from the transmitting means 26, and turns off the switch 35. When the base unit 1 receives the monitor end signal, it turns off the switch 16.

Next, a case will be described in which the slave unit 2 controls the base unit 1 and listens to an already recorded incoming message.

In this case, if the switch 30 of the handset 2 is turned off, the handset 2 will not be able to receive the call signal even if it is sent from the base unit 1. (b side) and put it in a standby state, and then press the control start switch 32. Control means 3
When the controller 3 detects that the control start switch 32 has been pressed, it turns on the switch 35 and enters the control mode of the base unit 1. Next, a control signal for controlling remote listening is inputted from the dial signal input means 29. The control means 33 is the transmission means 26
The control signal is then sent to the base unit 1. After this control signal is received by the receiving means 9 of the base unit 1, the control signal detecting means 10
is detected and output to the control means 12. Then, the process moves from step (U) to step (M), and the control means 12 turns on the switches 15 and 16 to record the incoming message recording means 7.
and controls the transmitting means 8 to reproduce the recorded message.

This reproduced signal is input to the transmitting means 8, and the transmitting means 8 transmits the reproduced signal to the slave unit 2. The handset 2 receives the reproduced signal by the receiving means 21 and outputs it from the speaker 23 (step (p)).

Next, a case will be described in which the handset 2 controls the base unit 1 and records a response message. In this case, if the changeover switch 30 of the handset 2 is turned off, the handset 2 will not be able to receive the call signal even if the call signal is set to 4 from the base unit 1, so the user must first switch the handset 2. Switch 30 (b
side) and put it in a standby state, and then press the control start switch 32. The control means 33 is a control start switch 32
When it is detected that has been pressed, the switch 35 is turned on and the main unit 1 enters the control mode. Next, a control signal for controlling response message recording is inputted from the dial signal input means 29. The control means 33 transmits a control signal to the base unit 1 from the transmitting means 26. This control signal is received by the receiving means 9 of the base unit 1, then detected by the control signal detecting means 10 and output to the control means 12. Then, moving from step (U) to step (I), the control means 12 switches 13 and 14.
is turned on, the response message sending means 6 and the receiving means 8 are controlled, and the receiving means receives the response message inputted from the microphone 24 of the handset 2, amplified by the amplifier 25, and transmitted from the transmitting means 26, and responds. The message is recorded on the message recording/sending means 6.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with the configuration described above, in order to confirm on the handset that a message has been received when the handset is in answering machine mode, the handset must be placed on standby and a ringing signal sent from the telephone line. Check by the audible sound that the handset makes when the handset is turned on, or if the handset is turned off, put it into standby mode and press the control switch to listen to the message recorded on the base unit. I had no choice but to do it. If you leave the handset in standby mode and use an audible sound to confirm, current must be constantly flowing through the receiving means, which shortens the battery life of the handset. When listening to and confirming messages, there is a problem in that it takes time because it cannot be determined whether a new message has been input unless all messages recorded on the base unit are listened to.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the answering machine of the present invention has the following features:
The fixed device is provided with a storage means for storing whether an incoming message has been recorded and a means for transmitting this stored information, while the mobile device is provided with a transmitting means for transmitting a signal to the fixed device;
receiving means for receiving a signal from the fixed device; switch means for switching from an off mode in which both the transmitting means and the receiving means are inactive to a standby mode in which the receiving means is operated; display means; and the switch. A control means is provided for controlling the display means to transmit the specific signal from the transmitting means and then cause the display means to display a display corresponding to a signal transmitted from the fixed device when the means is switched from an off mode to a standby mode. Become.

Operation With this configuration, when the fixed device detects a message from the caller by the message detection means, it is stored in the storage means, and when the mobile device is switched from off mode to standby mode, the mobile device transmits a signal to the fixed device. Then, the contents stored in the storage means are transmitted to the mobile device, and the contents are displayed on the display means of the mobile device.

EXAMPLE An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an answering machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation. In FIG. 1, 18 is a message detection means for detecting incoming messages, and 19 is a counter means provided in the control means 12 for counting the number of incoming messages. Further, 39 is a timer means.

Incidentally, in this embodiment, the same parts as those in the conventional example described above are given the same numbers, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

The operation as a cordless telephone, the operation as an answering machine, the operation of monitoring incoming messages, and the operation of remote listening under control from a handset are the same as those of the prior art.

In this embodiment, the operation of notifying the presence or absence of an incoming message will be explained.

Set the changeover switch 11 of base unit 1 to answering machine mode (b
When an incoming call signal is input from the telephone line (step 1) while the receiver is in the same position as the receiver, the incoming message is recorded in the same manner as described in the conventional example. This incoming message is detected by the message detection means 18 and output to the control means 12 (step 2).

The control means 12 determines that the message has been recorded based on this signal, and sets the count number of the counter means 19 to 1. (Step 3). Thereafter, when a calling signal is input and a message is recorded, the counter number of the counter means 19 is set to 2 by the same operation as described above. Thereafter, if a message is input by the same operation, the counter number is increased by one (step 3).

Here, the display of the number of messages when the changeover switch 30 of the handset 2 is changed from the off mode to the standby mode will be explained. When the changeover switch 30 is changed from the off mode to the standby mode, the control means 33 turns on the switches 35 and 36 (step 11), supplies power to the transmitting means 26 and the receiving means 21, and sets the timer means 39 (step 11).
Step 12). Next, the transmitting means 26 is controlled to transmit a message confirmation signal to the base unit 1 (step 13).

When this signal is received by the receiving means 9 of the base unit 1 (step 4), the control signal detecting means 10 detects it, and the control means 12
Output to. The control means 12 causes the transmitting means 8 to transmit a message number signal corresponding to the number of messages counted by the counter means 19 (step 5). When the receiving means 21 of the handset 2 receives this message number signal (step 14), the calling signal detecting means 27 detects the message number signal, and the control means 3
Output to 3. The control means 33 operates the ringing tone generating means 28 to generate an intermittent ringing tone corresponding to the number of messages. If no message is recorded in the base unit 1, a continuous sound is generated for a certain period of time (step 15). After that, the handset 2 turns off the switch 35, and step 17) the receiver 3
It becomes a standby mode in which power is supplied only to 8. Also, a certain period of time (10 in this embodiment) is set in the timer means 39.
seconds) have elapsed (step 16), this timer means 39 outputs a signal to the control means 33.
3, the switch 35 is turned off, step 17>, and a standby mode is entered in which power is supplied only to the receiving section 38.

Next, the user confirms the intermittent audible sound corresponding to the number of messages and presses the control start switch 3 as described in the conventional example.
When the user presses , and remotely listens to the contents of the message recorded on the master device 1, the IIJ control means 12 clears the counter means 19 and clears the count. Therefore, when the user changes the mode changeover switch 30 from off mode to standby mode after remote listening, only the number of newly recorded messages after remote listening will be notified to the user.

In this embodiment, the number of messages is displayed as an audible intermittent tone, but the number of messages may be generated by voice synthesis, or may be displayed using visible means such as an LED.

Alternatively, the timer means may be abolished and the switch 35 may be turned off after the number of messages is notified.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides a fixed device with a storage means for storing whether or not an incoming message has been recorded, and a mobile device with a transmitting means for transmitting a signal to the previous stationary device. receiving means for receiving a signal from the fixed device; switch means for switching from an off mode in which both the transmitting means and the receiving means are inactive to a standby mode in which the receiving means is operated; display means; and the switch. A control means is provided for controlling the display means to transmit the specific signal from the transmitting means and to cause the display means to display a display corresponding to a signal transmitted from the fixed device after that when the means is switched from an off mode to a standby mode. This makes it possible to know the number of messages recorded on the base unit by operating the slave unit, which has a great practical effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the answering machine of the present invention, and FIG.
3 is a block diagram of a conventional answering machine, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the operation of the conventional answering machine. 1...Base unit (fixed unit) 2...Slave unit (mobile unit) 3...Incoming call detection means 4...Interface circuit 5...Dial signal generation means 6...Response message recording/sending Means 7... Incoming message recording means 8... Transmitting means 9... Receiving means 10... Control signal detecting means 11... Changeover switch 12... Control means 13 to 16... Switch 17 ... Tone detection means 18 ... Message detection means 19 ... Counter means 21 ... Receiving means 22 ... Amplifier 23 ... Speaker 24 ... Microphone 25 ... Amplifier 26 ... Transmission Means 27... Ring signal detection means 28... Two ring tone generation means... Dial signal input means 30... Changeover switch 31... Monitor switch 32... m control start switch 33... Control means 34...Battery 35...Switch 36...Switch 37...Transmission section 38...Reception section 39...Timer means Name of agent Patent attorney Shigetaka Awano and one other person 1 unit (Nosato Riki)

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A response message sending means for sending a response message to a caller, an incoming message recording means for recording a message arriving from a caller, and a memory for storing whether or not an incoming message has been recorded. a storage means, a wireless communication means for performing wireless communication, and a control means for controlling the wireless communication means to transmit a signal corresponding to the content stored in the storage means when the wireless communication means receives a certain signal. a fixed device comprising: a transmitting means for transmitting a signal to the fixed device; a receiving means for receiving a signal from the fixed device; and an off mode in which both the transmitting means and the receiving means are in an inoperable state. a switch means for switching the receiving means to a standby mode in which the receiver is operated; a display means; a display means for causing the transmitting means to transmit the specific signal when the switch means is switched from the off mode to the standby mode; 1. An answering machine comprising: a mobile device having a control means for controlling the display means to display a display corresponding to a transmitted signal.