JPH04113758A - audio storage 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 (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to improving the reliability of a voice storage device, commonly referred to as a voicemail.

(Prior art) Answering machines that use recording tapes are widely known as voice storage devices, but in recent years, a method called voice mail that uses magnetic disk devices as storage media and stores voice signals in digital values has been introduced. It has become widely used due to its fast access speed and multifunctionality.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a conventional audio storage device. In Figure 4, 1 is a power supply section that generates the necessary voltage from a commercial power source and supplies power to each part of the device.Usually, a capacitor or battery is used to prevent the device from becoming unusable due to a momentary power outage of the commercial power source. There is a backup function that maintains the voltage.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a power outage detection unit that detects the occurrence of a power outage based on the state of the power supply unit l; 3 a control unit that manages and controls the entire device; and 4 a magnetic disk device that stores and reproduces digital values.

5, when outputting audio, data for D/A conversion is transferred all at once from the magnetic disk device at regular intervals;
A temporary storage section for transferring A/D converted data to a magnetic disk device in batches at fixed time intervals during audio input; 6 a D/A conversion section for converting digital values into audio signals;
7 is an A/D conversion unit that converts the received audio signal into a digital value, and 8 is a line control unit that interfaces with the telephone line, and is responsible for closing and opening the telephone line, detecting incoming calls, making calls, and receiving calls from other parties. Detection of dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signals as control commands is performed. 9
is a telephone line that is a public line central office line or a PBX extension line.

Next, the basic operation of the above conventional example will be explained below. When an incoming call is received from the telephone line 9, the line control section 8 detects this and notifies it to the control section 3, and also closes the line according to instructions from the control section 3. An incoming voice signal is converted into a digital value by an A/D converter 7 according to a DTMF instruction from a caller, and is stored in a -time storage 5. - When the time storage unit 5 is filled with the data, the data is transferred to the magnetic disk device 4 all at once.

Similarly, the data stored in the magnetic disk device 4 is transferred to the temporary storage unit 5 in bulk according to the memory capacity of the temporary storage unit 5 according to instructions such as DTMF from the telephone line 9, and the data stored in the time storage unit 5 is transferred to the temporary storage unit 5. is converted into an audio signal by the D/A converter 6 and sent to the telephone line 9 via the line controller 8.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the above-mentioned conventional audio storage device, as with other information communication equipment, service to users may be disrupted even in the event of a momentary power outage (hereinafter referred to as a momentary power outage) of the commercial power supply. It is necessary to take into account that the power supply unit does not cause any damage or loss, and the backup function using a capacitor or battery in the power supply section allows the service to continue even in the event of a momentary power outage. However, in the case of an audio storage device that uses a magnetic disk device, since the power consumption of the magnetic disk device is large, normally the magnetic disk device itself is not backed up, but everything other than the magnetic disk is backed up, and when a power outage is detected, access to the magnetic disk is stopped. stop. Then, when the power is restored within the backup period during which the power supply section maintains the voltage, access is resumed after waiting for the magnetic disk device to become accessible. However, since it takes a considerable amount of time for the magnetic disk drive to become accessible after the power is turned on when fishing on a boat, inconveniences arise during playback of stored audio or recording of input audio.

The following describes operations when a momentary power failure occurs during playback and a momentary power failure occurs during recording.

If a momentary power outage occurs during playback of stored audio, the system will remain silent until the magnetic disk drive becomes accessible after all of the audio data in the temporary storage section has been played back. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the time relationship at the time of instantaneous power outage during playback by a conventional device. Normally, the data transferred from the magnetic disk drive 4 to the temporary storage section 5 at 17a is converted into audio and output during the period 18a. 17b and 17c are also 18b
, is converted into audio in the period of 18c. If a momentary power failure occurs during conversion at 18c, audio output continues until the data transferred at 17c is completed, but then the inaccessible period 18 of the magnetic disk device 4 ends and the transferred data is converted again at 17d. Until the start, a silent period of 20 continues as audio output. From the point of view of the caller, the voice may be interrupted while playing back a recorded message, which may cause anxiety as to what important content may have been recorded during that period, and the reliability of the device itself may be a concern. It also makes one feel doubtful.

Next, a case will be described in which a momentary power outage occurs during recording of input audio. If a momentary power outage occurs during recording, the magnetic disk device 4 will not be able to store it even if the -time storage section 5 is filled with A/D converted audio data, so the input audio will remain until the magnetic disk device 4 becomes accessible. will no longer be able to record.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the time relationship at the time of momentary power failure during recording by a conventional device. Normally, data A/D converted during the period 23a is transferred to the magnetic disk device 4 at 22a. 2
The data converted in step 3b is similarly transferred to the magnetic disk device 4 in step 22b. However, the data converted by 23C923d is transferred to the magnetic disk drive 4 at the timing when it should be transferred.
You cannot record because it is inaccessible. From the standpoint of the caller, a problem arises in that a message that appears to have been recorded is actually interrupted midway through the recording.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems.When a power outage occurs during the playback of stored audio, the present invention notifies the caller that there has been a power outage, and also provides reliable information even if a power outage occurs during recording. The object of the present invention is to provide an audio storage device that can perform recording.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an auxiliary storage section in a conventional audio storage device, and when a power outage occurs during playback of stored audio, the stored audio is stored in the auxiliary storage section. This system converts the power outage notification content into audio and sends it to the telephone line, informing the caller that there has been a power outage so that the caller does not feel anxious, and also when a power outage occurs while the input audio is being recorded. When this occurs, the converted audio data is stored in the auxiliary storage section to ensure reliable recording.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an audio storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, numerals 9 to 9 are the same as those in the conventional example shown in FIG. IO is an auxiliary storage section. The following describes operations when a momentary power failure occurs during playback and a momentary power failure occurs during recording.

The basic operation from the power supply section 1 to the telephone line 9 in FIG. 1 is the same as that of the prior art explained in FIG. 4, so a description thereof will be omitted. Second
The figure shows the temporal relationship when a momentary power outage occurs during playback in the audio storage device according to the present invention. Normally, the data transferred from the magnetic disk device 4 to the temporary storage section 5 at 13a is converted into audio and output during the period 14a. 13b,
13c is similarly converted to voice during the periods 14b and 14c. If a momentary power failure occurs during conversion of 14c, the magnetic disk drive 4 will stop functioning, but the other parts will remain in the power supply section l.
It will continue to work as is with the backup. Power outage detection unit 2
notifies the control unit 3 of the occurrence of a power outage. The control unit 3 is 14c
In order to be able to reproduce the power failure notification contents following the reproduction of the power failure notification contents, the data of the power failure notification contents is transferred from the auxiliary storage section 10 to the temporary storage section 5 at 15a, and is reproduced at 14d. The data of the power failure notification contents is stored in the magnetic disk device 4 in advance, and the power failure notification data is stored in the magnetic disk device 4 in advance.
It is transferred to the temporary storage unit 5 before the occurrence. The number of times data is transferred from the auxiliary storage section 10 as shown in 15b changes as necessary depending on the length of the inaccessible period 12 of the magnetic disk device 4 or the length of the power failure notification contents stored in the auxiliary storage section 10. The content of the power outage notification to be stored in the auxiliary storage unit 10 is, for example, "Beep! A power outage has occurred right now, but there is no problem with the recorded content, so we will continue playing it.

”. In the case of Fig. 2, the inaccessible period 12 has ended while 14e is being converted, so data is transferred from the magnetic disk device 4 again so that the stored audio can be played following the reproduction of the power failure notification contents of 14e. You can continue the process that was performed before the power outage.

FIG. 3 shows the temporal relationship when a momentary power outage occurs during recording in the audio storage device according to the present invention.

Normally, the audio data 19a is A/D converted at 20a and stored in the temporary storage section 5, and then transferred to the magnetic disk device 4. The data A/D converted at 20b is similarly transferred to the magnetic disk device 4 at 19b. If a momentary power failure occurs during conversion in 20c, the magnetic disk device 4 will stop functioning, but other parts will continue to operate as they are backed up by the power supply section 1. The power outage detection unit 2 notifies the control unit 3 of the occurrence of a power outage. The control section 3 transfers the audio data, which is A/D converted at 20c and stored in the temporary storage section 5, to the auxiliary storage section 10 at 21a. During the inaccessible period 14 of the magnetic disk device 4, audio data is similarly stored in the auxiliary storage unit 10, and when the magnetic disk device 4 becomes accessible, it is stored in the magnetic disk device 4 again.

In addition, the storage area for the power failure notification contents in the auxiliary storage unit and the storage area for the accumulated audio at the time of a momentary power outage during recording are the same area, and after a momentary power failure occurs during recording, the audio data stored in the auxiliary storage unit is transferred to the magnetic disk device 4. The capacity of the auxiliary storage device can be reduced by transferring the power failure notification content data in the magnetic disk device to the auxiliary storage section.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the embodiments described above, when the audio storage device becomes unable to read data from a magnetic disk due to a momentary power outage during playback, the power outage notification content is recorded in the auxiliary storage device. Since the message being played does not suddenly stop and continue playing after a period of silence, the caller can feel secure about the message being played, and at the same time it increases their confidence in the device. In addition, in the event of a momentary power outage during recording, the auxiliary storage device is used as an audio storage area, so the recorded content is not interrupted and reliable recording is achieved, which has a practical effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an audio storage device in an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the time relationship of operations during playback in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the present invention. An explanatory diagram showing the time relationship of operations during recording in the example, FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a conventional audio storage device, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the time relationship during playback in the conventional example, and FIG. 6 is a conventional example. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the time relationship of actions during recording in an example. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Power supply part, 2... Power outage detection part, 3 Control part, 4... Magnetic disk device, 5... Time storage device, 6... D/A conversion part, 7... A /
D conversion unit, 8... Line control unit, 9... Telephone line, 10... Auxiliary storage unit. Patent applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Representative: Hisashi Hoshino

Claims (1)

[Claims] a line control unit that is connected to a telephone line and performs closing and opening of the telephone line, detecting incoming calls, and making calls; and an A/D conversion unit that converts audio signals received from the telephone line through the line control unit into digital signals. a magnetic disk device that stores the digital signal, an auxiliary storage that stores the digital signal, and a D/A converter that converts the digital signal read from the magnetic disk device or the auxiliary storage into an audio signal. , a temporary storage section that is located between the magnetic disk device and the A/D conversion section and the D/A conversion section and temporarily stores the digital signal; A power supply unit supplies power, a power failure detection unit that detects a power outage of the commercial power supply, and a control unit that controls the entire device, and audio data of a power outage notification is stored in advance in the magnetic disk device before a power outage occurs. is transferred to the auxiliary storage section, and when the power outage detection section detects a power outage during playback of the stored audio and the commercial power is restored while the voltage is being held by the power supply section, the data is transferred from the auxiliary storage section. Output the read power failure notification voice to the telephone line through the line control unit, and when the power failure detection unit detects a power failure while recording the input voice and the commercial power is restored while the voltage is maintained by the power supply unit. The audio storage device is characterized in that a digital signal obtained by A/D-converting input audio in the A/D converter is stored in the auxiliary storage.