JPH027216B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field of the Invention) The present invention relates to a telephone equipped with a recording/playback function.

(Prior art and its problems) An answering machine with a recording and playback function attached to a telephone set, which has the function of recording a message from a caller when an incoming call is received while the user is away, and playing back the recorded content at a desired time. is widely used. However, with conventional answering machines, there is a response tape that records the response message issued to the other party when a call is received, and a message recorder that records the message from the other party that comes in response to this response message. Since the tape is provided separately, two systems of recording and reproducing mechanisms are required, making the device large and uneconomical. As a solution to this drawback, a configuration has already been proposed in which a recording tape having two recording tracks is used, one recording track is used for recording the response message, and the other recording track is used for recording the business message. has been done. However, even in this latter case, since a plurality of tracks are provided, the recording/reproducing mechanism must have a complicated structure to accommodate the plurality of tracks.

Furthermore, since the recording tapes of conventional answering machines are used without any particular division within the recording area of a series of recording tapes, the importance of the recorded information is not particularly relevant when reproducing the message contents. The disadvantage is that unless you replay all of the information, you will not be able to understand the outline of the information. This is a particularly serious drawback when listening to the contents of a message by remote control from an outside line.

In addition, conventional answering machines are used only to record the message of the other party when receiving a call from an outside line, and if the answering machine has multiple owners, There are no plans to use this answering machine for communication between owners.

(Object of the Invention) In view of the above drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention records a response message and a message on a single recording track, and records a plurality of recording blocks to which the recording track is sequentially assigned. Use it by dividing it into
Furthermore, the recording block is integrally formed with the telephone so that it records voice input from the line as well as direct input from the microphone, and an audio message type that allows efficient playback of the recording block. It provides telephones.

(Structure and operation of the invention) The present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First, the allocation format of the recording tape recording area used in the present invention will be explained. FIG. 1 shows an example of this recording area allocation, and one of the features is that the recording area is sequentially divided into a large number of blocks on the recording tape 1 as shown in the figure. Response area AM for recording response messages and message area G for recording message messages.
Another feature is that S is assigned to one recording tape. The response area AM is arranged at an intermediate position between the start end ST and the end ED of the recording tape, and consists of a response recorded message block AM _a and a response-only message block AM _b . The response-only message block AM _b is a recording block that records a response-only message (for example, "We are closed today,""I am out of the office," etc.) that does not involve recording the business, for example, for 60 seconds. A length of time has been assigned. Answer recording message block
AM _a is a recording block that records a response recording message (e.g., ``I'm not home right now. I'll record your message, so please speak when you hear the beep. Now, please.''). , for example, a time length of 60 seconds is assigned like AM _b . After the response area AM, the general business area G is arranged in sequence as shown in the figure, with each block G ₁ , G ₂ ..., G ₁₀ having a time length of 40 seconds and a recording gap of 6 seconds between blocks. Then, the content of the call during the absence is recorded in the vacant recording blocks _G1 , _G2 , _G3 , . . . _G10 in this order. Outside the recording blocks G ₁ , G ₂ ..., G ₁₀ of the general business area G, there are recording blocks S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ , of the specific business area S,
One of the features of the present invention is that _S4 is provided, and the recording blocks _S1 ,... _S4 of this specific business area S are provided with recording blocks S1,...S4 for mutual communication between multiple parties using this telephone. , to record specific messages instead of so-called "memos." In this case, recording is performed using a microphone at the desired recording block S ₁ ,
This can be done by directly sending a message to S ₂ , S ₃ or S ₄ , or it can be accessed by remote control using a PIN number etc. after connecting the subscriber line, and the predetermined recording block S ₁ , Messages can be recorded in S ₂ , S ₃ or S ₄ . Recording block S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ , S ₄
For example, the time length of the general recording block _G1 ,
G ₂ ...The time length is selected to be 40 seconds, the same as G ₁₀ .

The recording tape 1 is stopped so that the first waiting point _P1 , which corresponds to the beginning of the response recording message block AM _a in the normal response area AM, faces the head, and when a call is received, the response recording message block is stopped.
After reproducing and transmitting the message of AM _a , the receiver moves to the empty block that is the first among the recording blocks _G1 , _{G2 ,} . In a similar operation, if a message has been recorded in all recording blocks G ₁ , G ₂ ..., G ₁₀ , the second message block corresponding to the beginning of response-only message block AM _b
The recording tape 1 is stopped with the head facing the standby point _P2 , and in response to an incoming call, a response-only message is played back and sent out. Recording blocks S ₁ ,...S ₄ of specific task area S include
It can be accessed by controlling the control button or by remote control at the time of receiving a call using a password, and is controlled so that it is possible to record a specific message or to play back the recorded content.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a magnetic tape housed in a cassette, 2 is a magnetic head for recording and playback,
3 is a servo for driving the magnetic tape 1; 4 is a forward/reverse speed control circuit that controls the driving direction of the magnetic tape 1 and on/off of the drive; 5a and 5b are the magnetic tape 1;
5c is a reel for supplying the tape 1, 5d is a reel rotation detection circuit that generates, for example, 8 pulses for each rotation of the axis of the reel 5c using a photoreflector, and 6 is a magnetic head 2. This is a plunger that controls contact/non-contact with the tape 1.

The telephone circuit 10 is attached with a dial circuit 11, a line 12, a transmitter 13, a receiver 14, and a sounder 15. The microcomputer 20, which forms the center of the control circuit system, includes a function key 21, read-only memories 22, 34, a push button signal receiver 23, input circuits 24, 32,
Selection circuit 25, latches 26, 27, 28, 30
a, 30b, light emitting element 29, 7 segment circuit 3
1a, 31b, and a speech synthesizer 33 are attached.

The output of the speech synthesizer 33 is applied to an amplifier 43 via a filter 40. 800Hz oscillator 41
is connected to the amplifier 43 via the inhibit gate 42.
is applied to the input of

44 is a PB signal amplifier that amplifies the push button signal (PB signal) and other line signals applied via the line 12 and telephone circuit 10; 45 is a line amplifier that amplifies the line signal; 46 is an audio switch; 47 is a silence detector. 48 is a speaker amplifier, 49 is a speaker, and VR is a volume control circuit.

51 is a microphone, 52 is a recording preamplifier,
53 is a playback preamplifier, 54 is a recording/playback switch, 55 is a recording amplifier, and 56 is a bias oscillator for generating a bias signal.

AS ₁ , AS ₂ , AS ₃ , AS ₄ , AS ₅ , AS ₆ , AS ₈ ,
AS ₁₀ , AS ₁₁ , AS ₁₂ are switch elements controlled by latch 26 , and AS ₇ , AS ₉ are switch elements controlled by microcomputer 20 .

The designation of a recording block, the recording to that recording block, and the reproduction of the recorded contents, which are the main features of the present invention, will be explained with reference to FIG.

In the present invention, the rotation speed of the reel of the recording tape 1 is determined on the recording tape 1 as described above based on the count value calculated from the start end ST or the end end ED of the recording tape 1 using pulses from the reel rotation detection circuit 5d. Multiple recording blocks S ₁ assigned sequentially,
S ₂ , S ₃ , S ₄ , AM _b , AM _a , G ₁ , G ₂ , G ₃ , ...,
Addressing means is used to sequentially indicate the display numbers of _G10 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the rotation information of the reel shaft is supplied to the input "rotation detection" of the microcomputer 20, and if a predetermined number of pulses are generated every time the shaft rotates as described above, this pulse By counting with a counter from the start end ST or the end end ED of the recording tape, the display address of each recording block can be determined in advance based on the counted value.

"Response", "Specific" in function key 21,
By pressing one of the "General" buttons,
By specifying either response area AM, specific business area S, or general business area G, and pressing the desired one or two number buttons on dial circuit 11, the display address of each of the above-mentioned recording blocks can be changed. One is selected. The display address information selected in this way is set in the block address register in the microcomputer 20. Therefore, when the display address information set here matches the display address displayed by the address means,
By controlling the plunger 6 and the forward/reverse speed control circuit 4 via the latch 27, it is possible to stop the recording tape 1 while cueing a predetermined recording block.

Due to the above configuration, specific operations can be performed as follows.

First, in the case of recording a response message, the display address of the response recording message block AM _a can be set immediately when the "Response" button of the function key 21 is pressed. As a result, the plunger 6 and the forward/reverse speed control circuit 4 operate via the latch 27 as described above.
The motors 5a and 5b are driven at high speed, and the magnetic head 2 is placed at the beginning of the response recording message block AM _a.
The drive stops when the magnetic tape 1 faces the magnetic tape 1.
The drive of is temporarily stopped. Now, by pressing the "Record" button on the function key 21,
Switch elements AS ₁ , via latches 26 and 27
AS ₇ and AS ₁₂ are turned on, the recording/playback switch 54 is switched to the recording preamplifier 52 side, and the plunger 6 and forward/reverse speed control circuit 4 are operated to drive the motors 5a, 5b at normal low speed. Ru. Here, by issuing the guidance signal GD,
An 800 Hz signal can be heard from the speaker 49 from the oscillator 41 via the path of [inhibit gate 42 → amplifier 43 → switch element AS ₈ → volume VR → amplifier 48], and at this time, the microphone 51
By uttering a recorded response message towards the microphone 51 → switch element AS ₁ →
Recording preamplifier 52 → Recording playback switch 54
→ switch element AS ₇ → switch element AS ₁₂ → recording amplifier 55] is applied to the magnetic head 2,
A desired response message can be recorded. An example of a recorded response message is: [Yes, this is Kobayashi, but I am currently on a business trip and will be away until 〇〇. We apologize for the inconvenience, but please follow the female voice guidance and record your request. Thank you. ``Now, I would like to guide you through the recording process.The recording time is about 40 seconds.Please tell us your name, phone number, and what you want to do.Here you go.'' (Voice guidance). Here, the voice guidance is transmitted from the voice synthesizer 33 after the response recording message [filter 40 → amplifier 43 → line amplifier 45 → switch element AS ₅ → telephone circuit 1
0] to line 12.

By pressing the ``record'' button again, a silent part is automatically created on the tape for a predetermined time following the recorded message, and the end of recording can be detected by detecting silence during playback. As a result, the automatic playback mode of the recorded response message is activated, and the [Magnetic head 2 → switch element]
AS ₁₁ → Playback preamplifier 53 → Recording/playback selector switch 54 → Switch element AS ₇ → Switch element AS ₈
→Volume VR→Speaker amplifier 48→Speaker 49] The content can be confirmed by the reproduced sound. Also, since the line amplifier 45 applies power to the audio switch 46, when the recorded response message is normally reproduced, its output ₀₁ is supplied to the microcomputer 20, which then enables setting to the absentee mode.

In addition, after playing the recorded response message, click "Play".
By pressing the button, the response-only message block AM _b is designated as described above, and by pressing the "record" button here, the response-only message can be recorded via the microphone 51 in the same manner as described above. An example of a response-only message is ``Yes, this is Kobayashi, but I am not available at the moment. We apologize for the inconvenience, but please try again later. ].

This response-only message is handled in the same manner as the response recorded message described above, and is automatically played back, so that it is possible to shift to the away mode only when the playback output is obtained as output 0 ₁ by the audio switch 46. Can be configured.

Each recording block G ₁ , G ₂ ... of general business area G
...G ₁₀ is accessed via the subscriber line 12.

In away mode, the recording tape is the first standby point.
While on P ₁ , there is an incoming call from subscriber line 12.
When the incoming call detection output IR is detected by the microcomputer 20 and the line is closed by the L relay, the switch elements AS ₁₁ , AS ₇ , and AS ₅ are turned on to send out the response recording message, and the recording is started. The playback selector switch 54 is switched to the playback preamplifier 53 side, and the plunger 6 and forward/reverse speed control circuit 4 are operated via the latch 27, so that the response recording message is changed to [magnetic head 2 → switch element AS ₁₁ → Playback preamplifier 53 → Recording/playback selector switch 54 → Switch element AS ₇ → Line amplifier 45 → Switch element AS ₅ → Telephone circuit 1
Speech synthesizer 33 and read-only memory 3 by selection circuit 25 in response to detection output 0 ₂ sent to line 12 via route 0] and end of the recorded response message detected by silence detection circuit 47
By selecting 4, the voice guidance will be sent to the voice synthesizer 3.
3 to the subscriber line 12 via the route [filter 40 → amplifier 43 → line amplifier 45 → switch element AS ₅ → telephone circuit 10].

After the recorded response message and voice guidance are sent out, the microcomputer 20 is moved so that the magnetic head 2 faces the head position of the magnetic block (for example, G ₁ ) in the nearest empty general business area G.
Servo 3 and motors 5a, 5 by addressing
The magnetic tape 1 is driven by the operation b. When the completion of this operation is detected by matching the display address of the recording block as described above, the guidance GD
is detected and the guidance signal is [oscillator 41 → inhibit circuit 42 → amplifier 43 → line amplifier 4
5 → switch element AS ₅ → telephone circuit 10 → line 12], and when the transmission is finished, the recording/playback system is in recording mode, and magnetic tape 1 starts running at normal speed. . Therefore, at this time, if the person on the other end of the call speaks about the business,
The requirements are: [line 12 → telephone circuit 10 → switch element AS ₂ → recording preamplifier 52 → recording/playback selector switch 54 → switch element AS ₇ → switch element AS ₁₂ → recording amplifier 55], and the magnetic head 2 and recorded in its recording block _G1 .

After this recording is finished, the microcomputer 2 confirms that there is recording in this recording block _G1 and that it is not empty.
It is registered in the recording block register in 0.

By pressing the "General" and "Play" buttons on the function key 21, the contents of the registered recording blocks are displayed on the recording tape drive means in the order of the registered recording blocks recorded in the register in the microcomputer 20. 27,6,4,5a,5
b, 3, the regeneration circuit system 2, AS ₁₁ ,
53, 54, AS ₇ , AS ₈ , VR, 48, 49.

In the case of playback by remote control from the local line 12, the remote control signal is transmitted as follows: [local line 12 → telephone circuit 10 → switch element AS ₃ → amplifier 44 → PB
signal receiver 23→microcomputer 20], the signal is transmitted to the microcomputer 20 and decoded, and other than the recording tape drive means, another reproduction circuit system 2, AS ₁₁ , 53, 54, AS ₇ , 45 ，
The content of the recorded block reproduced via AS ₅ and 10 is sent to subscriber line 12.

Also, during such playback operation, for example (1) if the content of the message is not important enough to need to be listened to now, or (2) during playback of the message contents, it is possible to read the outline or all of the message thoroughly. There may be cases where there is no need to listen to the recorded content, such as when the subject is understood or (3) the content of the matter has already been played back and listened to. At this time, a predetermined control signal is sent out by the function key 21 of this device, or the predetermined control signal [for example, #0#] is transmitted by remote control from the joining line 12.
The microcomputer 20 determines this, and the recording tape drive means temporarily stops driving the tape 1. Here, the microcomputer 20 determines whether a registered recording block exists or not by referring to the contents of the register, and if a registered recording block exists, the recording tape driving means moves the tape 1 in the forward direction or It is driven in the opposite direction at high speed and performs a so-called cueing operation using a normal playback operation at the starting end of the most recently registered recording block, and reproduces the contents of the recording block. In this way, it is possible to efficiently reproduce recorded matters in a short and efficient reproduction time.

Furthermore, if there is a silent period longer than a certain period of time during such a playback operation, it is determined that there is no longer any record of business in that recording block, and the silence detection circuit 47 detects the output of the line amplifier 45. Detects this and outputs a detection output of ₀₂ . This detection output ₀₂ is transmitted to the microcomputer 20, and the recording tape driving means drives the tape 1.
The microcomputer 20 determines whether or not a registered recording block exists by referring to the contents of the register. If a registered recording block exists, the recording tape drive means drives the tape. 1 is driven in the forward or reverse direction at high speed, so-called cueing, which is a normal playback operation, is performed at the starting end of the most recently registered recording block, and the contents of that recording block are reproduced. In this way, by using the above-mentioned reset operation by the dial circuit 11 in combination, it is possible to efficiently reproduce recorded matters in a short reproduction time with no waste.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus of the present invention. Since the operation described below is simply summarized, detailed explanation will be omitted.

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a plurality of recording blocks are sequentially allocated on the recording tape based on a count value obtained by counting the number of revolutions of the reel of the recording tape 1 from the start or end of the recording tape.
recording block address means 5c, _5d , 20 for sequentially outputting display numbers S1 _, S2, _S3 , G1 _{, G2} ,..., _G10 as recording block addresses; a registration means RES, 20 for registering in advance the display number of a desired recording block among the plurality of recording blocks;
block designating means 11, 20, 21 for designating the display numbers in the order of pre-registered recording blocks;
The reel of the recording tape is driven at high speed in a driving direction in which each display number of the desired recording block specified by the block designation means matches the display number of the recording block output from the recording block address means. Recording tape drive means 27, 6, 4, 5a, 5b, 3 that stops high-speed driving of the reel of the recording tape so that the display numbers match.
and a recording/playback function 5 for recording audio input from a line or microphone to the recording block at the stop position or reproducing from the recording block.
1, AS ₁ , 52, 54, AS ₇ , AS ₁₂ , 55, 5
6, 2, 12, 10, AS ₂ , AS ₁₁ , 53, AS ₈ ,
VR, 48, 49, and silence detection means AS ₈ , 4 that outputs a silence detection output when a silence period of a predetermined length or more is detected during playback by the recording and playback function.
5, 47, a reset means 21 for erasing the registration of a desired recording block among the recording blocks registered in advance, and a reset means 21 for erasing the registration of a desired recording block among the recording blocks registered in advance; Skip cue means 2 for skipping and cueing the next recording block designated by the block designation means when the recording block is erased or when the silence detection means outputs the silence detection output.
0, 27, 6, 5a, 5b, 3, and 4 can be realized.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained in detail above, since the present invention uses a single recording track, the recording/playback drive mechanism is simplified, and the recording track is divided into a large number of sequentially assigned recording blocks. Due to the partitioned nature, access control is easy and quick to perform. Therefore, by sequentially specifying unlistened recording blocks, it is possible to extract, reproduce, and listen to only the most urgent and important recording contents in an extremely short period of time. Also, when shared by multiple owners,
This has the effect of allowing mutual communication among the plurality of owners to be carried out easily and reliably.

Furthermore, by simplifying the configuration as described above, it becomes easy to adopt a structure in which the above-mentioned functions are integrated with a telephone set, which has an extremely large practical effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the recording format of the recording tape used in the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the present invention.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A recording block address that sequentially outputs as a recording block address the display numbers of a plurality of recording blocks that are sequentially assigned on the recording tape based on the count value of the number of rotations of the reel of the recording tape from the start or end of the recording tape. means, registration means for pre-registering the display number of a desired recording block among the plurality of recording blocks, block designating means for specifying the display number in the order of pre-registered recording blocks; The reel of the recording tape is driven at high speed in a driving direction in which each display number of the desired recording block designated by the recording block address means matches the display number of the recording block output from the recording block address means, so that both display numbers are matched. recording tape drive means for stopping the high-speed driving of the recording tape reel so that the recording tape reels match;
A recording and playback function that records audio input from a line or microphone to the recording block at the stop position or plays back from the recording block, and a silent period of a predetermined length or more during playback by the recording and playback function. a silence detection means for outputting a silence detection output when detecting a silence detection output; a reset means for erasing the registration of a desired recording block from among the recording blocks registered in advance; Skip cueing for skipping and cueing the next recording block specified by the block specifying means when the registration of the recording block being played back is erased or when the silence detection means outputs the silence detection output. A voice message type telephone equipped with means.