JPH0366254A - Voice storage device for voice mail service - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the voice mail service with high reliability by calling a telephone set of a subscriber, sending a message urging the read of a message stored in plural media when the quantity of the operating rate exceeds a reference value and making a storage area open for the information after the end of reading. CONSTITUTION:When a subscriber (a) of a telephone set A gives a message to a subscriber (b) of a telephone set B and the storage of a voice signal is finished, a control circuit 6 updates the data as to the leading address and the size of an area not used by the subscriber (b) in a management data storage circuit 7 and when the rate of use of the subscriber (b) exceeds a reference value, the control circuit 6 detects the telephone number of the subscriber (b) and calls it to send a message readout request text, and the control circuit 6 opens the area having stored the message in the stage when the transmission of the message is finished to store the succeeding data and stores the address of the area opened newly to the management data storage circuit 7 to update the data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voice storage device that is attached to a telephone exchange and performs a voice mail service.

Conventional technology: As shown in FIG. 3, a voice storage device for providing a voice mail service, when a subscriber (a) of telephone A wants to send a voice message to a subscriber of telephone B, can:
When the telephone number for calling the voice storage device C is dialed, the voice storage device C becomes usable through the switching network.

At this stage, when the service number for instructing the recording mode and the identification number of the other subscriber (b) are sent as a DTMF signal, the interface circuit E detects this DTMF signal and activates the control circuit F. The control circuit F searches for an unused area in the voice data storage circuit G1H, and if there is an unused area, the compression circuit J compresses the voice message, and then stores the voice message together with the identification number of the other subscriber (b). Stored in memory circuits G and H.

On the other hand, if you want to receive a message addressed to yourself, you send a number instructing reading and your own identification number as a DTMF signal. Then, the control circuit F searches for the storage address corresponding to the identification number and writes the message to this storage address. The stored voice message is transmitted as a voice signal to the decompression circuit via the one-line interface circuit E. When the reading of the voice message is completed, the control circuit F controls the voice data storage circuits G and H occupied by this message.
This frees up space to allow storage of the next message.

Problem to be Solved by the Invention However, if a telephone subscriber neglects to read a message, the voice data storage circuit G allocated to the subscriber
, H remains occupied, making it impossible to accept new messages.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a voice storage device for a voice mail service that can secure as much message storage area as possible. There is a particular thing.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve such problems, the present invention provides means for managing storage medium usage for each subscriber, and a means for managing the storage medium usage for each subscriber, and a means for managing the storage medium usage for each subscriber when the usage exceeds a reference value. The apparatus is equipped with means for calling the telephone to send a message prompting the user to read the message stored in the storage medium, and for releasing the storage area for the information after the reading is completed.

When the voice storage area of the active subscriber falls below the standard value,
A call is made to the subscriber's telephone from the voice storage device side to prompt the subscriber to read the message. When the reading of the subscriber is completed, the storage area for the read message is released to secure a storage area for the next new message.

Embodiments The present invention will now be described in detail based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which reference numeral 1 denotes an interface circuit equipped with an incoming call detection function, a DTMF detection function, and a transmission function, and a data compression circuit 2.
and is connected to audio data storage circuits 4 and 5 via an expansion circuit 3. The storage circuits 4 and 5 that store the voice data are constructed of readable and writable storage media, and enable writing and reading of voice information from the subscriber, as well as message messages urging the subscriber to read the information. For example, "Your message storage area is running low, so please read it out as soon as possible" is stored.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a control circuit configured to perform management necessary to provide a voice mail service, write management data to be described later into the storage circuit 7, and perform a read request operation based on this data. has been done.

Reference numeral 7 denotes the aforementioned management data storage circuit, which is divided into sections for each user as shown in FIG. It is configured to store the available capacity of the voice storage circuits 4 and 5 for each user, such as the start address of an unused area and the size of an unused area contiguous to this address.

In this embodiment, when the subscriber (a) of telephone A sends a message to the subscriber (b) of telephone B by sending a service number instructing the recording mode and the other party's identification number as a DTMF signal, the DTMF signal is detected by the interface circuit 1 and enables the control circuit 6. The control circuit 6 searches for the start address of the unused area of the audio data storage circuits 4 and 5 allocated to the subscriber (b), and compresses the sent audio signal using the data compression circuit 2 while storing the unused area. be stored in

When the storage of the audio signal is completed, the control circuit 6 updates the data regarding the start address and size of the unused area for subscriber (b) in the management data storage circuit 7. At this stage, the control circuit 6 calculates the memory usage rate of subscriber (b) based on the data stored in the management data storage circuit 7.

As a result of the calculation, the usage rate of subscriber (b) is the standard value, for example 8
If it exceeds 0 percent, the control circuit 6 detects the telephone number of this subscriber (b) and makes a call. Subscriber(
When b) enters the receiving state, it sends out a message read request sentence ``Your message storage area is running low, so please read it out quickly'' stored in the voice data storage circuits 4 and 5 in advance.

At this stage, when subscriber (b) inputs a number instructing reading, control circuit 6 sends a message addressed to subscriber (b). When the transmission of one message is completed, the control circuit 6 releases the area where this message was stored so that the next data can be stored, and also transfers the address of the newly released area to the management data storage circuit 7. and update the data.

As a result of the calculation, if the memory usage rate of subscriber (b) still exceeds the reference value, the above-described process is repeated to prompt reading of the message.

On the other hand, when a call was made to remind the user to read the message,
If the subscriber is absent, the same process is repeated after a certain period of time has elapsed.

This makes it possible to actively encourage the subscriber to read messages, thereby ensuring timely reception of messages and effective use of the voice storage device.

Although this embodiment has been explained using a voice mail service as an example, it is clear that the same effect can be achieved even when applied to a host station for personal computer communication.

In other words, the amount of e-mail information that can be stored for each subscriber is set in advance as a standard value, and when the amount of e-mail information that can be stored exceeds the standard value, a call is made to the subscriber's phone and a voice prompts the subscriber to download the information. By sending messages, it is possible to increase the usage efficiency of the storage medium of the host station.

Further, in this embodiment, unused areas are managed, but it is clear that the same effect can be achieved even if occupied areas are managed.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention includes a means for managing storage medium usage for each subscriber, and a means to make a call to the subscriber's telephone when the usage exceeds a reference value. Since the device is equipped with a means for sending a message prompting the user to read the message stored in the storage medium and releasing the storage area of the information after the reading is completed, it is possible to prevent the situation when the voice data storage area of each subscriber exceeds the standard value. By actively encouraging the reading of messages, it is possible to secure new information storage space and provide a highly reliable voice mail service, as well as to prevent the stored information from becoming obsolete. I can do it.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a device showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a management data storage circuit in the device 1, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional audio storage device. A, B...Telephone, 1...Four interfaces,
2... Data compression circuit, 3... Data expansion circuit, 4
゜5...Audio data storage device, 6...il control circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] While storing the audio signal from the subscriber telephone in the storage medium,
In an audio storage device that outputs a voice signal in response to a call from a subscriber telephone, there is provided a means for managing storage medium usage for each subscriber, and a means for making a call to the subscriber's telephone when the usage exceeds a reference value. A voice storage device for a voice mail service, comprising means for transmitting a message prompting the user to read a message stored in the storage medium, and for releasing a storage area of the information after the reading is completed.