JPH0447744A - Automatic answering telephone set - 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] [Industrial application field] This invention relates to an answering machine.

In particular, it is equipped with a loudspeaker function.

[Prior Art] Fig. 3 is an external perspective view showing a conventional answering machine, Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the answering machine, and Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing sleeve response, which is one of the functions of the answering machine. It is.

In the figure, (1) is an answering machine, (2) is a dial button for dialing a telephone number, etc., (3) is a handset for sending and receiving voice and making a call with the other party, and (4) is a ringtone and various other functions. The speaker (5) that amplifies the sound is composed of a variable resistor, and has a volume control that changes the volume from the speaker (4), (6) is a keypad that performs various operations, and (7) is the number of messages recorded from the caller. (8) is a storage case for cassette tapes for recording and playing messages;
) is the telephone line connecting the answering machine (1), (1
Reference numeral 01 denotes a telephone communication circuit forming a transmitting/receiving system, and processes analog signal systems such as oscillation, incoming calls, and voice signals. (11)
(121 is a DTMF receiver that receives a DTMF signal transmitted from a caller; (131 is a device that performs various controls. Microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as microcomputer), (1
4) is a voice synthesis recording and reproducing section (hereinafter abbreviated as voice recording and reproducing section), which is equipped with a cassette tape and records and reproduces various voices such as a response message to a caller and a message from the caller. (15) is a switch A that opens and closes a transmission path for audio signals to the speaker (4).

An overview of the operation of the answering machine (1) will be explained. First, the lover records a response message to the caller in advance on a cassette tape in the voice recording/reproducing section (14). Then, if the caller rang, 1 call circuit (1
0) detects the ringing tone, automatically receives the call, and closes the line with the caller. After the microcomputer (13) detects this automatic incoming call, it activates the voice recording/reproducing section (14) and sends a response message to the caller. Thereafter, the caller side transmits the business matter as a message based on this response message, and this message is recorded by the voice recording/reproducing section (14). After the recording is finished, the number of recorded messages is displayed on the multi-counter (7) and the number of recorded messages is displayed on the call circuit (10).
) to open a line with the caller. After returning home, the lover can find out the caller's business by operating the keypad (6) and reproducing the message from the caller using the voice recording/reproducing unit (14).

In addition, it was also possible to amplify the sound from the speaker (4) by operating the key parameters 1 to (6) in order to monitor the operation from the ringing to the recording of the caller's message.

Next, I will explain the sleeve response function, which allows you to record your business without ringing when you want to spend your private time without being disturbed by phone calls or when you want to sleep peacefully.

First, as in step (21), the lover
(21) A response message to the caller is recorded. Then, operate the key bat (6) and turn on the sleeve response set button. This causes switch A (15
) is turned off, the signal line to the speaker (4) is opened, and the ringing tone shown in step (22) is stopped, and the amplification of the sound shown in step (23) is stopped. After that, when a call is received from the caller shown in step (24), the call is automatically received by the call circuit (10) in step (25). There will be no sound. Then, a response message is sent to the caller, not shown in step (26), stating that the loved one is unable to answer the phone and that the caller is requesting the caller to state his or her business. Then in step (27).

The message sent from the calling party is sent to the voice recording and reproducing section (14).
) is recorded. After the recording is completed, the number of recorded messages is displayed by the multi-counter (7) shown in step (28), and the call circuit (
1O) to open the line. After that, the lover's side knows that there was a call by looking at the multi-counter (7), and operates key parameters 1 to (6) to cancel the sleeve response. As a result, the switch A (16) is turned ON, and the message from the caller is played back in the voice recording/reproducing section (14), and the message is amplified from the speaker (4) so that the lover can know the business. there were.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventional answering machines are configured as described above, so when the sleeve answering function is used, even when a call is received, the speaker (4) does not ring or ring. Since there is no amplification of the voice, the loved one does not know right away that there is a call, and after the message from the caller is recorded, he or she looks at the multi-counter (7) that displays the number of recorded messages. This is the first time that the person learns of the phone call, and even if there is an urgent matter that must be conveyed to the lover immediately, the lover may not be able to know the matter immediately.

This invention was made in order to solve the problem of "two layers", and even when using the sleeve response function, it is possible to provide an answering machine that can notify the loved one of the urgent matter even if the sleeve response function is used. The purpose is to obtain.

[Means for Solving the Problems] An answering machine according to the present invention includes: amplifying means for amplifying a voice signal from a caller; a response means for automatically responding by transmitting a response signal to the caller; a detection means for detecting a predetermined signal transmitted from a calling party; and when the amplification means is stopped and the response means is set to be operable;
The apparatus further includes a control means for canceling the suspension of the loudspeaker means based on the detection means.

[Usage] In the answering machine of this invention, when a predetermined signal is sent from the caller by the control means, the amplification means is activated to amplify the caller's voice and send an emergency message to the loved one. It becomes possible to directly communicate the requirements of

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an answering machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the sleeve response function of the answering machine. Incidentally, since the external perspective view of the answering machine is the same as that of the conventional example, FIG. 3 will be used.

In the figure, (1) to (15) are the same or equivalent parts to those of the conventional device, so the explanation will be omitted. (I6) is a switch B that opens and closes the audio signal transmission path to the speaker (4), and (17) is a fixed resistor that determines the volume from the speaker (4).

The amplification means is a speaker (4), the response means is an audio recording/reproducing section (14), and the detection means is a DTMF receiver (121).
The control means corresponds to a microcomputer (13), and the predetermined signal corresponds to a password.

Next, the sleeve response function will be explained.

First, the response message shown in step (21) is recorded, and the sleeve response set button in the key bat (6) is turned on. This results in switching A (15
) and switch B (161 are turned off, the signal line to the speaker (4) is opened, and the ringing tone is stopped in step (22) and the amplification is stopped in step (23). Steps (24) to ( 25) is the same as the conventional example, so the explanation will be omitted.And.

By sending the response message to the caller shown in step (26), in addition to the conventional contents of ``the loved one is unable to answer the phone'' and ``asking the caller to state their business,'' the response message is ``an emergency message.'' At this time, a message will be sent to the user saying, ``When the time comes, you will be asked to enter your PIN number.'' and.

In step (30), the DTMF receiver (12) checks whether a DTMF signal, which is a personal identification number, has been transmitted from the calling party. Here, the password is DT
If the MF receiver (12) does not receive it, the same operations as in the conventional example from step (27) to step (29) are performed. Further, if the PIN number is received by the DTMF receiver (12), step (31)
) is canceled. That is, switch B (161) is turned on by the microcomputer (13),
The signal line to the speaker (4) is closed. Thereafter, an audio signal indicating an urgent matter from the caller (not shown in step (32)) is adjusted to a predetermined signal level by the fixed resistor (I7), and amplified at a constant volume from the speaker (4). On the caller's side, it becomes possible to know the business from the caller even during the sleeve response. Here, by amplifying the sound at a constant volume level using the fixed resistor (17), the loved one can reliably hear the message from the caller, regardless of the setting state of the volume volume (5). After that.

Proceed to step (29), release line 9, and hang up.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, even when the loudspeaker means is stopped, if a predetermined signal is detected by the detection means, the stoppage of the loudspeaker means can be canceled. Even if the lover sets the loudspeaker to a disabled state, if the caller wants to immediately notify the lover of an urgent matter, the caller can send out a predetermined signal, activate the loudspeaker, and convey the message by voice. This has the effect that the person receiving the call can immediately understand who is calling, and that the system is easy to use and can be used in emergencies.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an answering machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the sleeve response function of the answering machine, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the appearance of the answering machine. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional answering machine.
FIG. 5 shows a flowchart illustrating a conventional sleeve response function. In the figure, (1) is the answering machine, (4) is the speaker, (5) is the volume, (6) is the keypad,
(7) is a multi-counter, (9) is a telephone line, (
10) is a communication circuit, (12) is a DTMF register,
(13) is a microcomputer, (1, 4) is a voice synthesis recording/playback unit, (15) is switch A, (1
6) is switch B, and (17) is a fixed resistor. Note that in Figure 5, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts. Agent Masuo Oiwa (2 others)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Means for amplifying a voice signal from a calling party; Response means for automatically responding by transmitting a response signal to the calling party; Detection for detecting a predetermined signal transmitted from the calling party. An answering machine characterized by comprising: a control means for stopping the sound amplification means and releasing the stoppage of the sound amplification means based on the detection means when the response means is set to be operable.