JPH04105448A - Automatic answering telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reproduce a specific part again on the way of reproduction by moving a reproduced position by feed information from a current reproduction position upon the receipt of a halfway reproduction command and the feed information and reading the recording. CONSTITUTION:When a part of recording giving hard of hearing or of inaudible recording exists on the way of reproduction, a return key 10 is depressed and a rough return time is entered succeedingly by a dial key 11. An MPU 6a restores a read address by a rewinding quantity being a value resulting from dividing a message data read from a RAM 7 by a time interval of a D/A converter 8 for converting the message data into an analog signal at its sampling interval, reads the data again from the returned address and, controls the RAM 7 for analog signal conversion. Thus, a part of recording giving hard of hearing or of inaudible recording in the reproduced message is listened to again.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an improvement in an answering machine, and particularly to an improvement in which a designated range of a message recorded on the answering machine can be repeatedly played back. This is about an answering machine.

(Prior art) An answering machine memorizes the user's voice message and sets it to answering mode. When an incoming call is received, the ringer rings for a predetermined period of time and if there is no off-hook , reproduce the stored voice message and send it to the other party, and then start recording the voice message of the other party. Recording is generally done using memory or magnetic tape, and by setting the recorded voice message to playback mode, it can be converted into voice and listened to through the answering machine's speaker or handset.

By the way, if we pay attention to the recording/playback system of such a conventional answering machine, the conventional answering machine was constructed as shown in FIG.

That is, the telephone communication system of the telephone is connected to the line 3 via the hybrid circuit 1, and the hybrid circuit 1 is connected to the line 3 through the hybrid circuit 1.
After 2-wire to 4-wire conversion, the transmitting signal from the transmitter 2 is transferred to the line 3, and the receiving signal from the line 3 is output to the receiving system. The recording/playback system digitally converts the 2-wire to 4-wire converted reception signal obtained from the reception system using the A/D converter 5, and stores it in the RAM 7. Overall control is MP
It is performed by tl (microprocessor) 6.

To be more specific, the recording function allows MPtl to be set by operating a specific function setting key for setting the recording function among the dial keys and function keys (not shown) of the answering machine.
8 enters recording mode.

Then, the qpu e controls the analog reception signal outputted from the above-mentioned communication circuit 1 to the receiver system to be A/D converted by the A/D converter 5 at a certain time interval, and the MPU 13 controls the input address of the RAM 7 in order to sequentially store the digital data obtained by the A/D conversion in the RAM 7 in chronological order.

In the playback function, when a specific function setting key for playback among the keys (not shown) of the answering machine is pressed, the MPU 6 enters the playback mode and controls to sequentially read data stored in the RAM 7. The read data is given to the l)/A converter 8 to be converted into an analog signal, and this is given to the receiver (or speaker) 4 via the speech network 9.
Convert audio.

In this case, in order to play back the recorded message from the beginning, the MPU 6 loads the RAM 7 in the same order as when recording.
The data is read out from the computer, inputted to the D/A converter 8 at the same time interval as when the data was converted to digital values during recording, D/A converted, converted into an analog signal, and this analog signal is sent to the speech network 9. The receiver 4 then reproduces the audible sound.

Incidentally, the speech network 9 performs on/off control of various sound source signals, signal level control, and the like.

Further, the hybrid circuit 1 performs conversion between a two-wire output in which transmitting and receiving signals are combined and a four-wire output in which transmitting signals are separated by system. Connect the office line to this 2-wire output side, and
Connect the transmitting system and receiving system to the 4-wire output side.

In the case of playback, this conventional answering machine is configured to return to the beginning of the recording and play from the beginning, and it is not possible to skip or repeatedly play the middle part. Therefore,
If you have some recordings made while you were away, and there is a message in the middle that includes your phone number, time, name, and requirements, and you missed it during playback or couldn't hear it well, rewind it a little. Even if I wanted to listen to it again, I had to play it from the beginning of the recording.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, conventional answering machines are configured to return to the beginning of the recording and start playback, and therefore only a portion of the recording is played back during playback. Even if I wanted to listen to it again and again, I couldn't and had to listen to it from the beginning. Therefore, if a number of messages have been recorded and the message you want to listen to again is at the end, it will take unnecessary time to play back the message you want to listen to again, making it impossible to record for a long time. The problem with the system is that it takes a lot of effort to grasp all the requirements, and it lacks operability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an answering machine that allows a specific portion to be played again during playback.

[Configuration of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows. That is, it has a recording means for recording voice information, and when in recording mode, the recording means records the incoming voice in chronological order, and when in playback mode, the recorded contents are played back in the order in which they were recorded and output as audio. On the answering machine,
A first means for giving an intermediate reproduction command, a second means for giving information on the feed amount, and when the intermediate reproduction command and the information on the feed amount are received from these first and second means, the current state of the recording means is recorded. and a control means for controlling the playback position to be moved by the feed amount information from the playback position to perform reading.

(Function) In such a configuration, when the intermediate reproduction command and the feed amount information are given from the first and second means, the control means reproduces the information from the current playback position of the recording means by the amount of the feed amount information. Control is performed to move the position and perform reading. This allows partial playback to be performed freely.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when an answering machine plays back a message recording of an incoming caller, even if the player misses or misses some of the playback audio, that part can be played back again, which improves efficiency. It is possible to provide an answering machine that allows the use of an answering machine function.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention, and the same elements as in the conventional example are given the same numbers.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the recording/playback system of an answering machine according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a hybrid circuit, 2 is a transmitter, 3 is a line, 4 is a receiver, and 5 is an A/
D converter, 6a is MPtl, 7 is RAM, 8 is D
/A converter, 9 is a speech tone/sotowork, 10 is a return key, and 11 is a dial key.

The telephone is connected to line 3 via hybrid circuit 1, and hybrid circuit 1 performs 2-wire to 4-wire conversion and transfers the transmitting signal from transmitter 2 to line 3. Outputs the received signal to the receiving system. This is the recording/playback system.
The receiving signal obtained from the receiving system after line-to-4 line conversion is digitally converted by the A/D converter 5, and is stored in the RAM.
7. Overall control is MPU
(Microprocessor) 8a. RAM
7 has a capacity that can record a predetermined amount of time when audio data is collected at a predetermined sampling interval, and the MPU 6a controls the sampling timing at that time and updates the address for the RAM 7 at each sampling timing. Control and write control, key 10
．． 11, basic controls necessary for a telephone, read control of data stored in the RAM 7, etc.

The return key (“RETLIRN”KEY) 10 is used to return the address for a specified period of time during the playback of the voice message data stored in the RAM 7, and then
This is a key that specifies playback, and dial key 1
1 is used for inputting a dial number when making a call, and in addition, in the playback mode, the value input by this key is used as data indicating the playback return time position in seconds (playback return time value).

Also. Is MPU 8a l in playback mode? From AM 7, control is carried out to read out data sequentially from the beginning of the message data storage area at time intervals corresponding to the sampling interval, and the read data is supplied to the D/A converter 8 to be converted into an analog signal at the time interval. and play it, but
At this time, if the pressing of the "RETURN" key 10 and the dial key 11 is detected, the MPU 6a sets the value indicated by the operated key of the dial key II as second data (playback return time value) and specifies the value with this data. The rewind amount is calculated by dividing the rewind time by the sampling time interval, and when the "RETURN" key 10 is pressed, the RA
With respect to the address of the data read from M7, the address is returned by an address corresponding to the calculated rewinding time, a new address is specified, and the data is controlled to be read again from that address. .

Next, the operation of this device having the above configuration will be explained.

To set the recording mode, press the key for setting the recording function among the function keys of the main answering machine.
PLl 8a enters recording mode. When an incoming call is received, if there is no off-hook operation within a predetermined period of time, the MPU Ba responds to the answering machine and sends an answering message to the other party, and then starts recording the answering machine. Then, the analog reception signal outputted from the hybrid circuit 1 to the receiving system is controlled to be converted into ^/D by the A/D converter 5 at a predetermined sampling interval, and the MPU Ba receives the A/D converted signal. The obtained digital data is stored in RAM
In order to sequentially store messages in chronological order from the beginning of the message data storage area in RAM 7, changing and writing of input addresses in RAM 7 is controlled.

In this way, each time a call is received, the message data from the other party is stored in the area following the previous message data.

To play a message recorded by an answering machine, press the playback key on the answering machine. Then, MPU 6
enters playback mode, performs address control to read data stored in RAM 7 sequentially from the beginning of the message data storage area, and transfers the read data to D/A converter 8.
is converted into an analog signal, which is then sent to the receiver (or speaker) 4 via the speech network 9 for audio conversion.

In this case, in order to play back the recorded message from the beginning, the MPU [ia is
7, input the data to the D/A converter 8 at the same time interval as the sampling interval during recording, perform D/A conversion, convert it into an analog signal, and send this analog signal via the speech network 9. The receiver 4 reproduces the audible sound.

Next, a partial return playback operation for listening back to a partial part during playback, which is a feature of this apparatus having the above configuration, will be explained. for example,
Suppose that during playback, there are some parts that are difficult to hear, or parts that you have missed.

In this case, press the return key IO and then input the approximate return time using the dial key 11. For example, 5
If you want to go back in seconds, press the "5" dial key.

Then, the MPU Ba or its key press is detected, and the value inputted with the dial key 11 pressed after pressing the return key 10 is taken in as data representing time in seconds, and the message data read from the RAM 7 is read out. is converted into an analog signal at the sampling interval by the D/A converter 8.The value obtained by dividing the value by the time interval is set as the rewinding amount, and the read address is returned by the returned amount, and the data is read again from the returned address. Controls RAM 7 to convert analog signals.

This makes it possible to go back 5 seconds and replay the message, allowing you to re-listen to parts of the reproduced message that you missed or could not catch.

By repeating this operation, you can repeatedly relisten to parts of the message, so even if many messages have been recorded and the message you want to relisten is towards the end, you can immediately listen to only the necessary parts. There is no need to waste time as in the past, and the usability is dramatically improved.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within the scope of the gist, and the idea of the present invention is to record messages on magnetic tape. This can also be applied to telephones using the same method. In addition, in the above embodiment, as an example, a numerical value is input after pressing the return key (other keys may be used), but the input light for numerical values can be input within this period by specifying a period. If so, it becomes possible to input a return time of one or more digits.

Furthermore, if a key operation indicating the end of the input is performed at the stage when the numerical value input is completed, it is possible to start return playback at the stage at which the operator's operation ends, thereby further improving the operability. In addition to backward playback, playback from the middle can also be developed into forward playback, in which unnecessary parts are skipped and listened to. This allows you to listen from any location at any time.

As explained above, this device has a recording means for recording audio information, and when in the recording mode, the recording means records the incoming voice in chronological order, and when in the playback mode, the recorded contents are recorded in the order in which they were recorded. In an answering machine that reproduces and outputs audio, there is a first means for giving a mid-play command, a second means for giving feed amount information, and the first and second means can output the mid-play command and When receiving the information on the feed amount, the control means controls the recording means to move the playback position by the amount of the feed amount information from the current playback position of the recording means to perform reading.

When the first and second means give the intermediate reproduction command and the feed amount information, the control means moves the playback position by the feed amount information from the current playback position of the recording means and performs reading. This allows for partial playback to be performed freely.

Specifically, message recording is performed using I as the recording means.
? When using AM, this I? In AM, the data is recorded while sequentially changing the address where the data is stored while sampling the incoming voice data at a predetermined sampling time interval, and for playback, the data is read out while sequentially changing the address where the data is stored in this RAM. The reading speed is the same as the sampling time interval during writing, and the data is converted into an analog signal. Therefore, the control means reads the RAM from the address corresponding to when the time is advanced (returned) by the amount of the inputted forwarding (returning) time information, so that playback can be started from a desired position, and the playback can be started from the desired position. Repairs can be easily carried out.

If you miss the time, phone number, person's name, etc. in a message while playing a recording, you may want to listen to that part again. Since it is possible to specify and play back, it becomes possible to use the answering machine function efficiently.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, when an answering machine plays back a message recording of a received caller, even if the player misses or misses the reproduced voice in the middle, Since that part can be played back again, it is possible to provide an answering machine that allows the answering machine function to be used efficiently.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a process diagram showing a conventional example. ■...Hybrid circuit, 2...Telephone, 3...
line, 4... handset, 5... A/D converter, 6a.
...MPtl. 7...RAM, 8...D/A converter, 9...
Speech network, 10...Return key 1j.
...Dial Key Applicant Patent Attorney Takehiko Suzue

Claims (1)

[Claims] It has a recording means for recording voice information, and when in the recording mode, the recording means records the incoming voice in chronological order, and when in the playback mode, the recorded contents are played back in the order in which they were recorded, and the voice is reproduced. In an answering machine configured to output the output, a first means for giving a mid-play play command, a second means for giving feed amount information, and the mid-play play command and the feed amount information are received from these first and second means. and control means for controlling the playback position to be moved and read from the current playback position of the recording means by the feed amount information from the current playback position of the recording means.