JPH04351146A - Radio telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize the smooth operation of an automatic answering function with less mis-operation or the like by recognizing accurately an operating state of a recording/reproduction section for the automatic answering function in both a master set and a slave set forming the telephone system. CONSTITUTION:In the telephone system consisting of a master set 1 connecting to a wired line and a slave set 2 connecting to the master set 1 via a radio line and using an automatic answering function recording a message from a destination terminal equipment in response to an incoming call automatically and reproducing the recorded message as required from both the master set 1 and the slave set 2, the master set 1 (slave set 2) is provided with a display device 18, 35 able to display character or specific mark information at least and the operating state of a recording/reproducing section 19 for the automatic answering function is displayed on each of the display devices 18, 35.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Object of the invention]

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless telephone device with an answering machine function, and more particularly to an improvement in a method for displaying the operating status of a recording/reproducing section of various messages related to the answering machine function.

0003

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows the external structure of a conventional wireless telephone device with an answering machine function. This wireless telephone device includes a base unit 1 connected to a wired telephone line 3, and a handset 2 connected to the base unit 1 via a wireless line.

[0004] As one component of the above-mentioned answering function, the base unit 1 is equipped with a recording/reproducing tape 19.

The operation of the recording/reproducing tape 19 can be controlled by applying a predetermined key operation input from the key unit 17 on the base unit 1 side.

At this time, the operating state of the recording/reproducing tape 19 is indicated to the operator by lighting and blinking the LED 18a, or by changing the color of the LED 18a.

On the other hand, the slave unit 2 is also provided with a key unit 34 and an LED 35a similar to those of the base unit 1.

By sending a control signal corresponding to a predetermined key operation input on the key unit 34 to the base unit 1 via a wireless line, the operation of the recording/playback tape 19 of the base unit 3 can also be controlled from the slave unit 2 side. Can be done.

While the recording/reproducing tape 19 is in operation, a control signal indicating the operating state is sent from the base unit 1 to the slave unit 2 via the wireless line.

The slave unit 2 drives the LED 35a based on the received control signal, thereby controlling the recording/recording of the base unit 1.
The operating state of the playback tape 19 can also be notified to the operator of the slave unit 2.

In this conventional wireless telephone device, base unit 1
When controlling the recording/playback tape 19 by inputting the key unit 17 from the side, in addition to looking at the display on the LED 18a, you can also check the recording/playback tape 19 quite accurately by directly observing the movement of the recording/playback tape 19. /The control status of the playback tape 19 can be known.

On the other hand, when controlling the recording/playback tape 19 from the handset 2 side through input operations on the key unit 34, the handset 2 normally communicates with the master unit 1 via a wireless line.
Since it is located quite far away from the base unit 1, recording/
Since it is not possible to directly observe the playback tape 19, the only way to know the control status of the recording/playback tape 19 is to look at the display on the LED 35a of the handset 2.

In the conventional radio telephone device in which the recording/playback tape 19 for the answering machine function can be controlled from both the base unit 1 and the handset 2, the operating status of the recording/playback tape 19 can also be controlled on both sides. Although it is possible to notify the operator of the
This was done by blinking or lighting up the D18a and 35a.

[0014] With such a method of displaying operation status by driving a single LED, it is difficult to create a plurality of display patterns corresponding to a wide variety of operations of the recording/playback tape 19;
There was a limit to the amount of information that could be disseminated.

[0015] For this reason, the user receiving the notification cannot accurately recognize the operational status of the recording/playback tape 19 due to the confusing display, leading to erroneous operations and confusing the user.

[0016]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, in the above-mentioned conventional radio telephone device, the operating status of the recording/playback unit for various messages related to the answering machine function is informed to the user by driving a single LED. Due to the lack of information, there was a problem in that the user of the handset, in particular, could not accurately recognize the operating status of the recording/playback unit, making it impossible to smoothly operate the answering machine function.

[0017] The present invention eliminates this problem, uses a larger amount of information to accurately inform the operating status of the recording/playback unit for various messages related to the answering machine function, and reduces the number of erroneous operations by the user. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a wireless telephone device that can contribute to the smooth operation of an answering machine function.

[Configuration of the invention]

[0019]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention is composed of a base unit connected to a wired line and a slave unit connected to the base unit via a wireless line. In a wireless telephone device in which an answering function that records a message from a previous terminal and plays back the recorded message as necessary can be used from either the base unit or the slave unit, the base unit and the slave unit may Both devices are provided with display means capable of displaying at least text or specific mark information, and the operating status of the recording/reproducing section of various messages related to the answering machine function is displayed on each of the display means.

[0020]

[Function] In the wireless telephone device of the present invention, display means such as an LCD (liquid crystal display), which can display a much larger amount of information than an LED, is provided on both the base unit and the slave unit.

When this type of display means is used, the operating state of the recording/playback section can be displayed in correspondence with, for example, character information or a specific mark display movement pattern.

According to the display control of the present invention, since the amount of displayed information is extremely large, the user can always accurately recognize the operating state of the recording/playback section based on the display, and the next step The answering function can be operated smoothly while promoting correct and prompt transition to the desired action.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a wireless telephone device according to the present invention.

This wireless telephone device is composed of a base unit 1 connected to a wired telephone line 3 and a slave unit 2 connected to the base unit 1 via a wireless line.

Here, the base unit 1 includes a line relay 4, a hybrid circuit 5, a transmitter 6, a transmitting antenna 7, a receiving antenna 8, a receiver 9, a synthesizer 10, a received electric field detection circuit 11, an identification signal detection circuit 12, Control circuit 13, transmitter 14, receiver 15, memory 16, key unit 17, display (LCD, LED) 18, recording/playback tape 19 for answering machine function, microphone 20, amplifier 21, speaker 22
Equipped with:

The handset 2 also includes a receiving antenna 23, a receiver 24, a receiver 25, a transmitter 26, a transmitter 27, a transmitting antenna 28, a speaker 29, a synthesizer 30, a received electric field detection circuit 31, and an identification signal detection circuit 32. , a memory 33, a key unit 34, a display (LCD, LED) 35, and a control circuit 36.

In base unit 1, a signal sent from wired telephone line 3 is sent to transmitter 6 through line relay 4 and hybrid circuit 5, and becomes a modulation input of transmitter 6.

The radio waves modulated by the transmitter 6 are wirelessly transmitted from the transmitting antenna 7 to the handset (wireless telephone) 2.

On the other hand, the radio waves transmitted from the handset 2 are received by the receiving antenna 8, demodulated by the receiver 9, and then transmitted to the wired telephone line 3 through the hybrid circuit 5 and line relay 4.

Synthesizer 10 outputs a frequency corresponding to a radio channel to transmitter 6 and receiver 9.

One of the outputs of the receiver 9 is input to a received electric field detection circuit 11, and the electric field strength is determined. This circuit is generally called a carrier squelch circuit or a noise squelch circuit.

Another output of the receiver 9 is output as a data signal included in the received demodulated wave, and is sent to an identification signal detection circuit 12 that collates an identification signal determined by the combination of the base unit 1 and the slave unit 2. entered and verified.
This identification signal is generally called an ID code.

The output of the received electric field detection circuit 11 and the demodulated output of the data signal are input to the control circuit 13 and used for connection control.

Furthermore, the control circuit 13 controls the synthesizer 10
By controlling the , it performs radio channel control and controls such as sending out a transmission data signal to the transmitter 6 as a modulation input.

The transmitter 14 and the receiver 15 enable the base unit 1 to communicate with the handset 2 or a terminal on the wired telephone line 3.

The memory 16 is a portion that stores various control data related to service functions such as speed dialing.

The key unit 17 consists of a plurality of key groups, such as a numeric keypad and keys for answering machine functions, which will be described later, and is used to perform input operations to activate operations such as the above-mentioned speed dialing and answering machine functions, as necessary. .

The display device (LCD, LED) 18 displays information such as control states related to various operations based on key operation inputs from the key unit 17.

The recording/reproducing tape 19 is also activated by a key operation input from the key unit 17, and a recording/reproducing operation corresponding to the input is performed.

A microphone 20 is used to record a response message using the recording/playback tape 19, and an amplifier 21 and a speaker 2 are used to reproduce a voice message from the other operator that has been recorded after sending the response message.
2 is used.

Similarly, in the handset 2, the radio waves transmitted from the base unit 1 are received by the receiver 24 through the receiving antenna 23, and the demodulated output of the receiver 24 is output to the receiver 25.

[0043] Furthermore, the voice input from the transmitter 26 becomes a modulated input to the transmitter 27, and is transmitted to the base unit 1 from the transmitting antenna 28 in the form of radio waves.

The speaker 29 is a sounder that emits a ringing tone when a call is received from the base unit 1.

Synthesizer 30, received electric field detection circuit 31
, identification signal detection circuit 32, memory 33, key unit 3
4. Each function of the display device (LCD, LED) 35 is the same as each corresponding part of the base unit 1, and the control circuit 36 controls the operation of the slave unit 2 by controlling each of these parts.

Next, FIG. 2 shows the external structure of the wireless telephone device of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, only the key unit 17, display 18, and recording/playback tape 19 are shown as the constituent elements of the base unit 1 connected to the wired telephone line 3, with particular emphasis on the answering machine function structure. There is.

Similarly, only the key unit 34 and the display 35 are shown as components of the handset 2 connected to the base unit 1 via a wireless line.

As is clear from FIG. 2, in the wireless telephone device of the present invention, the displays (18, 18,
35) are both LED (18a, 35a) and LCD (
18b, 35b).

In the wireless telephone device of the present invention, the operation of the recording/playback tape 19 for the answering machine function of the main unit 1 can be controlled by applying necessary key operation inputs from the key unit 17.

At this time, the operating state of the recording/reproducing tape 19 is displayed using both the LED 18a and the LCD 18b that constitute the display 18 of the base unit 1.

On the other hand, the slave unit 2 can also control the recording/playback tape 19 of the base unit 1 by using the wireless line between it and the base unit 1 according to a wireless communication procedure described later.

Control of the recording/playback tape 19 in this case can be realized by giving necessary key operation inputs from the key unit 34 of the slave unit 2, and the operating state of the recording/playback tape 19 of the base unit 1 at that time is also controlled. , again the display 35 of slave unit 2
It is displayed using the LED 35a and LCD 35b that constitute the .

The specific control procedure for activating the answering function operation of the base unit 1 from the slave unit 2 will be described in detail with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG.

First, when fast-forwarding the recording/playback tape 19 from the handset 2, press the corresponding [[] on the key unit 34.
Press the [Fast Forward] key.

[0056] When this [Fast Forward] key is pressed, the slave unit 2
A fast-forward signal is sent from the base unit 1 to the base unit 1 via a wireless line.

When the base unit 1 receives the fast forward signal from the slave unit 2, it drives the recording/playback tape 19 in fast forward mode.

While the recording/reproducing tape 19 is being driven in fast forward mode, the base unit 1 transmits a fast forward operation signal to the slave unit 2 through the wireless line.

[0059] Upon receiving this fast-forward signal, the handset 2 displays a state in which the fast-forward operation can be identified on the LED 35a and LCD 35b of its own display 35.

Similarly, when the handset 2 recognizes the pressing of the [Rewind], [Stop], [Play], and [Record] keys on the key unit 34, it sends a rewind signal, a stop signal, and a stop signal, respectively. A playback signal and a recording signal are sent to the base unit 1 via a wireless line.

Upon receiving each of these signals, base unit 1 immediately controls recording/playback tape 19 to each operating state corresponding to each of these signals.

While the recording/playback tape 19 is in each operating state, the base unit 1 sends a signal indicating that the recording/playback tape 19 is in each operating state (or a stop completion signal if the operation is stopped) via the wireless line. Send to slave unit 2.

On the other hand, on the handset 2, the above operation is being performed from the base unit 1 (
or operation stop) signal is received, the operating state of the recording/playback tape 19 corresponding to that signal is displayed on the display 35.
It is displayed on D35a and LCD35b.

[0064] Furthermore, the base unit 1 started from the slave unit 2 side mentioned above.
In the playback operation of the recording/playback tape 19 control operations, the base unit 1 sends a playback operation signal and a playback audio signal to the slave unit 2.

[0065] Based on the reproduction operation in-progress signal received from the base unit 1, the handset 2 displays the reproduction operation status on the LED 35a and LCD 35b, and also reproduces the reproduction audio signal as a recorded message through the speaker 22. .

In addition, during the recording operation of the recording/playback tape 19, the slave unit 2 sends a recording signal to the base unit 1 in response to the pressing of the [record] key of the key unit 34, and then continues when the operator transmits a call. The audio signal for recording input from the device 26 is sent to the base device 1 via a wireless line.

On the other hand, the base unit 1 controls the recording/playback tape 19 to a recording state based on the recording signal received from the slave unit 2, and records the subsequently received recording audio signal as a recorded message.

Next, the LCD 18b of the base unit 1 and the LCD 35 of the slave unit 2 related to the control of the recording/playback tape 19 described above.
Figures 4 and 5 show specific examples of operation status display for b.
Explain with reference to.

First, FIG. 4 shows an example of the operation display mode.
The moving or stopping state of a specific mark (indicated by a □ mark in the figure) on the display surface of the LCD 35b corresponds to the operating state of the recording/playback tape 19.

FIG. 4(a) shows, for example, the LCD 3 of the handset 2.
5b shows a specific mark on the screen moving slowly from left to right, and this display indicates the operating status of the recording/playback tape 19 as "playing" or "recording". corresponds to

[0071] Here, each operating state of "playing" or "recording" is indicated by the LED 35a attached to this LCD 35b.
They can be distinguished by lighting or blinking.

Next, FIG. 4(b) shows that the specific mark is LC.
It shows how the D35b moves from left to right on the screen faster than the state shown in FIG.

FIG. 4(c) also shows that the specific mark is LC.
It shows how the D35b moves rapidly from right to left on the screen at the same speed as that shown in FIG.

Furthermore, FIG. 4(d) shows a situation where the movement of the specific mark on the screen of the LCD 35b is stopped, and this display corresponds to the "stopped" operating state.

According to the display method according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4(a), there may be an operation state that has two meanings for the same movement of a specific mark. , these two operating states can be detected using conventional LEDs.
35a, it is possible to distinguish between, for example, "recording" when the light is lit in red, and "playback" when the light is lit in green, as described above.

According to such a display method, the running state of the recording/playback tape 19 can be intuitively recognized, and confusion for the operator can be minimized.

In addition to this, another operation display mode according to the present invention can be considered as shown in FIG.

This display method directly displays the type of each operating state of the recording/playback tape 19 on the display surfaces of the LCD 18b of the base unit 1 and the LCD 35b of the slave unit 2 using text information.

[0079] As a result, the recording/playback tape 19 becomes
"Playing back", "Recording", "Fast forwarding", "Rewinding",
When in each operating state of "stopped", for example, the L of slave unit 2
Figures 5(a) and (b) are displayed on the screen of the CD35b, respectively.
, (c), (d), and (e) are displayed.

According to the display method according to another embodiment of the present invention, since there is a one-to-one correspondence between the operation of the recording/playback tape 19 and the display content on the LCD screen, the user's personal Regardless of sensitivity, the operating state can be accurately conveyed.

Therefore, this display method is particularly useful when there are many operating states to be shown to the operator for the purpose of making it possible to clearly distinguish each operating state.

The method for displaying the status of the answering function operation according to the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned two embodiments, but can also be realized by, for example, a combination of both.

[0083] At this time, if the conventional LED drive is also used, it is possible to display even more types of operating status, and by providing an extremely large amount of information, it is possible to prevent erroneous operations by the user, and to efficiently display the information. It is possible to operate an answering machine function.

In the above embodiment, an example is described in which the recording/playback tape 19 is used as a message recording/playback unit for the answering machine function, but an IC memory or the like may also be used as the recording/playback unit. Needless to say, it's a good thing.

[0085]

As explained above, according to the wireless telephone device of the present invention, both the base unit and the slave unit are provided with display means such as an LCD, so that the operating status of the recording/playback section for the answering function can be displayed more clearly. Since the amount of information is displayed on the display means, the user can always accurately know the operating status of the recording/playback section, and the answering function can be smoothly performed without causing erroneous operation or anxiety. Can be operated.

[0086]

[Detailed explanation of drawings]

[0087]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a wireless telephone device according to the present invention.

[0088]

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the external configuration of a wireless telephone device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0089]

FIG. 3 is a control sequence diagram when the answering function operation of the wireless telephone device according to the present invention is activated from the handset side.

[0090]

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a status display related to the answering machine function operation of the wireless telephone device according to the present invention.

[0091]

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a status display regarding the answering machine function operation of the wireless telephone device according to the present invention.

[0092]

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the external configuration of this type of wireless telephone device.

[0093]

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Base unit 2 Hand unit 3 Wired telephone line 4 Line relay 5 Hybrid circuit 6, 27 Transmitter 7, 28 Transmitting antenna 8, 23 Receiving antenna 9, 24 Receiver 10, 30 Synthesizer 11, 31 Received electric field detection circuit 12, 32 Identification signal detection circuit 13, 36 Control circuit 14, 26 Transmitter 15, 25 Receiver 16, 33 Memory 17, 34 Key unit 18, 35 Display (LCD, LED) 19 Recording/playback tape 20 Microphone 21 Amplifier 22, 29 speaker

Claims (4)

[Claims] Claim 1: Consisting of a base unit connected to a wired line and a slave unit connected to the base unit via a wireless line, it automatically answers incoming calls and records messages from the other party's terminal, In addition, in a wireless telephone device in which an answering function for playing back the recorded message as necessary can be used from either the base unit or the handset, both the base unit and the handset have at least text or specific mark information. 1. A wireless telephone device, characterized in that a display means capable of displaying is provided, and the operating status of a recording/reproducing section of various messages related to the answering machine function is displayed on each of the display means. 2. The radio telephone device according to claim 1, wherein the display means is constituted by a liquid crystal display device. 3. The display means displays the operating state of the recording/reproducing section using either character information or a specific mark movement pattern corresponding to the operating state. The radiotelephone device described. [Claim 4] The recording/playback section is a magnetic tape or I
2. The radiotelephone device according to claim 1, wherein the radiotelephone device is constituted by a C memory.