JPH0486052A - Automatic telephone corresponding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To present a message to a caller to explain an operational method for working the respective functions of a telephone set by remote control by reacting to a prescribed remote operation signal transmitted from an external telephony system. CONSTITUTION:A control part 7 monitors the operations of a recording part 6 and a sound reproducing part 8, etc., and works functions provided in this telephone set. The remote operation signal inputted from the outside is detected or demodulated by a VOX detection circuit 7a and a DTMF(dual tone multi- frequency) decoder 7b and when an automatic correspondence control part 7c judges the signal as an input signal effective for the remote operation, the various functions such as setting/canceling, etc., the standby state of an automatic responding function provided in the telephone set are operated. Thus, the message set in advance is reported to the caller so as to explain the operational method for working the respective functions of the telephone set.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an automated telephone answering device, and more particularly, to an automated telephone answering device that provides message guidance by remote control from an external telephone device. Regarding compatible devices.

(Prior art) An automatic response function (generally known as an answering machine) that records messages from a caller on magnetic tape, etc. when the recipient is absent.
There is a telephone device that has a "answering function" (hereinafter referred to as an "answering function").

Some telephones with this type of function include
As disclosed in Publication No. 190, ``Telephone Automatic Response Device,'' a DTMF (dual tone multicast) call made when a caller presses a button on a telephone dialed from outside.
There is a high-performance telephone equipped with an automatic response control unit that can remotely control activation/deactivation of various functions of an answering machine using frequency (frequency) signals. These remote controls respond when a combination of 10-key manual DTMF signals corresponding to each function is input from an external telephone. For example, it is possible to retrieve business matters recorded on a magnetic tape or the like of the high-performance telephone from an external telephone, or to remotely control setting and canceling the standby state of the answering machine function. Furthermore, by applying these remote controls, it is also possible to easily control the on/off operation of devices other than telephones, such as lighting equipment and kitchen equipment.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in order to operate the various functions of the conventional high-performance telephone described above, the functions cannot be operated unless a DTMF signal corresponding to each function is input.

Remote control for operating the various functions of a high-performance telephone is a very complicated operation, and it is not easy to memorize all the operating methods. Also, if you cannot remember how to operate the function,
It is not possible to operate the function by remote control.

Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to confirm help messages for operation methods for operating various functions of a high-performance telephone by a simple operation, and in particular, it is possible to confirm the help messages by an extremely simple operation from an external telephone. The purpose is to provide an automatic telephone response device.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the automatic telephone response device of the present invention has a remote operation control function that controls the operation of the automatic response function in response to a remote operation signal that arrives from the outside. a message recording means in which a predetermined message related to remote control of the telephone device main body is recorded in advance;
a means for detecting a predetermined remote control signal; a reading means for reading a predetermined message from the message recording means; and when the predetermined remote control signal is detected by the detecting means,
and transmitting means for operating the reading means and transmitting the read predetermined message to the outside through the telephone line.

(Function) A telephone device equipped with an automatic telephone answering device configured as described above responds to a predetermined remote control signal transmitted from an external telephone device and input through a telephone line, and responds to a preset telephone call. Provides a message to the caller explaining how to operate each function of the device.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of a telephone device (hereinafter referred to as the present telephone) including an automatic telephone response device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present telephone according to the first embodiment.

This telephone is connected to an external telephone (not shown) by a telephone line 1, and is connected to the input side of a line transformer 3 via a hook switch 2 that is turned on/off by an automatic response control section, which will be described later. The DEFT signal, voice signal, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "
(referred to as "line signal") arrives.

One end of the output side of the line transformer 3 is connected to an automatic gain control circuit (AG) that performs gain control so that the magnitude of the line signal output from the line transformer 3 becomes average.
C) is connected to the input end of the preamplifier 5 via 4.

The output end of the preamplifier 5 is connected to a recording section 6 that records business matters, messages, etc. on a magnetic tape (to be described later), a control section 7 that controls functions of the telephone, and a control section 7 that converts the received line signal into audio and outputs it. It is connected to each input side of the audio reproduction section 8.

The audio reproduction section 8 includes a changeover switch 8a for selecting either the audio signal from the magnetic tape or the line signal received from an external telephone.

Temporary blocking (which allows you to arbitrarily block these signals)
The line signal input from the preamplifier 5 is input to the amplifier circuit 8c via the MLITE) circuit 8b, where it is amplified and output as audio from the speaker 8d.

In the recording section 6, the line signal input from the preamplifier 5 is amplified by a reproduction amplifier 6a, and inputted to a recording side terminal BEC of a recording/reproduction changeover switch 6C connected to a bias oscillator 6b. This changeover switch 6
c is a recording/reproducing head 6 whose switching terminal causes the incoming line signal to be recorded/reproduced on the magnetic tape 6d.
e, and the playback side terminal PLAY is connected to the playback amplifier 6f.
connected to the input side of the This reproduction amplifier 6f has an output side connected to the line amplifier 9 and the changeover switch 8a of the audio reproduction section 8, and after amplifying the audio signal etc. reproduced from the magnetic tape 6d, The signal is input to the changeover switch 8a of the section 8.

This line amplifier 9 transmits its output signal to the other end of the output side of the line transformer 3.
and transmits the output signal to the external telephone via the telephone line 1.

The control section 7 controls the operations of the recording section 6, audio reproduction section 8, etc. described above, and operates the functions of the telephone.

In the control section 7, the preamplifier 5 is connected to the input sides of a vOX detection circuit 7a that detects whether or not an audio signal is received, and a DTMF decoder 7b that demodulates the received DEFT signal, and further outputs these. The side is connected to an automatic response control section 7C consisting of a central processing unit (CPU). Further, a mechanical driver 7d for driving each drive section of the telephone is connected to the automatic response control section 7C, and a recording/playback drive section for performing recording/playback operations on the magnetic tape 6d of the recording section 6. 7e is connected. Further, a ring detection circuit 10 is connected to both ends of the telephone line 1, and when a line signal transmitted from an external telephone arrives, the detection signal is sent to the automatic response control section 7C.

Therefore, in this telephone with such a configuration, a remote control signal input from the outside is detected or demodulated by the vOX detection circuit 7a and the DTMF decoder 7b, and the automatic response control section 7C determines that the input signal is valid for remote control. When the automatic answering function of the phone is set to standby/
Various functions such as cancellation can be activated.

Next, the operation of the telephone thus configured will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the answering machine function of the telephone is put into a standby state (step Sl). During this standby state, when a line signal such as a calling signal arrives, the ring detection circuit 10 sends a detection signal to the automatic response control section 7C.
It is determined whether or not a call has arrived from C (step S2). If the determined signal is not a calling signal (No), the process returns to step S1 and the standby state is maintained. Further, when it is determined that it is a call signal (YES), the automatic response control section 7C turns on the H, S switch 2 and connects to the telephone line 1 (step S3). Next, a calling signal that arrives via the connected telephone line 1 is amplified by the AGC 4 and preamplifier 5, and then sent to the DTMF decoder 7.
b, and the DTMF signal within the line signal is demodulated. Further, the decoded signal is input to the automatic response control section 7C (step S4). Then, it is determined whether this decoded signal is based on the key input of the external telephone (hereinafter referred to as "key input") (step S5).

If the key is not manually operated (NO), the caller is determined to be an "outsider", and the caller is switched to "answering machine mode" which records the message from the outsider on the magnetic tape 6d, and the telephone operates as a normal answering machine. It functions (step S6). When the recording of the business is completed, the process returns to step S1 and enters a standby state.

Further, when the key human power is determined (YES), it is determined whether the key human power is a predetermined key human power set in advance (step S7).

Assuming that the predetermined key manual power is set to "#", if the key manual power is not "#" but another key manual power (No), the system enters the "remote operation mode" from outside and the function cannot be controlled. After the operation is completed, the process returns to step S7.

However, when the key force is "#" (YES)
Then, the automatic response control section 7C drives the mechanical driver 7d to rewind the magnetic tape 6d, and locates the beginning of the help message recording section where operating instructions for each function are stored (step S9).

Next, it is determined whether or not the rewinding of the magnetic tape 6d has been completed (step 510), and if the rewinding has not been completed (NO), the rewinding operation is continued, and the rewinding operation of the magnetic tape 6d is continued.
When d stops and the rewinding operation is completed (YES), the help message recording section is played back from the beginning of the rewind, and the help message is played to the handset of the external telephone through telephone line 1, and the call is made. The operator is informed of the operation method (step 5ll).

As shown in FIG. 3, in the part of the magnetic tape 6d where the help message ends, there is an area where a CUE signal 11 indicating the end of the help message is stored, and it is determined whether or not this CUE signal is detected. do(
Step 512).

If the CUE signal is not detected (No), the magnetic tape 6d is run until it is detected, and when it is detected (YES), the magnetic tape 6d is stopped (step 813).

Next, the process returns to step S7, assuming that the method of operating the desired function has been confirmed by the help message, and then shifts to the "remote operation mode" of step S8 to operate the desired function.

In addition, as a second embodiment, in the first embodiment, the help message was recorded on the magnetic tape, but this magnetic tape is used as an SRAM in which the help message is stored in advance.
Equivalent implementation is also possible using a semiconductor solid-state memory such as.

The configuration of this second embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and for example, a semiconductor solid-state memory for recording help messages may be connected to the automatic response control section 7c.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG. Here, from step S1 to step S8
The steps up to this point are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, so the same reference numerals are given.

First, use the answering machine function of this phone to send a standby message! ! (Step S
1), when a call signal arrives, the ring detection circuit 10 detects it, and the automatic response control section 7c determines whether or not the call has arrived (step S2).

When the incoming call signal is not a calling signal (NO)
, the process returns to step S1 to maintain the standby state, and when the call signal is received (YES), the automatic response control section 7c connects the telephone line 1 (step S3).

Next, the line signal is input to the DTMF decoder 7b, the DTMF signal within the line signal is demodulated, and is input as a decoded signal to the automatic response control section 7c (step S4). Then, it is determined whether this decoded signal is a key input signal (step S5). If the key is not manually operated (No), the caller is determined to be an "outsider" and the caller is switched to "answering machine mode" which records the message from the outsider on the magnetic tape 6d, and the telephone is used as a normal answering machine. Function(
Step S6). When the recording of the business is completed, the process returns to step S1 and enters a standby state. Further, when the key human power is determined (YES), it is determined whether the key human power is a predetermined key human power set in advance (step S7).

Assuming that the predetermined key input is set to "#", if the key input is not "#" but another key input (No), the system enters the "remote operation mode" from outside and the function is not activated. After the operation is completed, the process returns to step S7.

However, when the key human power is “#j” (YES)
Then, the automatic response control unit 7C reads out the help message recorded in the semiconductor solid-state memory (step 5).
14). After the help message is finished, the process returns to step S7 assuming that the method of operating the desired function has been confirmed, and then shifts to the "remote operation mode" of step S8 to operate the desired function.

Based on the above, when the caller is trying to remotely control various functions of this phone and cannot remember how to do it, the DTMF signal can be sent by simple push-button operation (one button press) from the external phone. By,
It is possible to provide an automatic telephone response device that can listen to help messages explaining how to operate each function.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and it goes without saying that various modifications and applications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

For example, the remote control signal is not limited to the DTMF signal, but may also be a dial signal or a dial tone from a controller connected to the handset of an external telephone.

In addition, for safety reasons, the manual key operation can be enabled only after an ID signal is input, or only when multiple keys are operated within a predetermined period of time.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the automatic telephone response device of the present invention, each function of the telephone equipped with the automatic telephone response device can be adjusted in response to a predetermined remote control signal transmitted from an external telephone device. A message can be provided to the caller that explains how to operate the remote control.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the automatic telephone response device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the automatic telephone response device of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of the magnetic tape of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the automatic telephone answering device according to the second embodiment. 1...Telephone line, 2...Hook switch, 3...
Line transformer, 4... automatic gain control circuit (AGC
) 5... Preamplifier, 6... Recording section, 6a...
・Reproduction amplifier, 6b...bias oscillator, 6C...
Recording/playback switch, 6d...Magnetic tape, 6
e... Recording/playback head, 6f... Playback amplifier, 7
...Control unit, 7a...VOX detection circuit, 7b...
DTMF decoder, 7C... automatic response control section, 7d.
... Mechanical driver, 8 ... Audio playback section, 8a ... Selector switch, 8b ... - time cutoff (MUTE) circuit,
8C...Amplification circuit, 8d...Speaker, 9...Line amplifier, 10...Ring detection circuit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A telephone device having a remote operation control function that controls the operation of an automatic response function in response to a remote control signal received from the outside, wherein a predetermined message regarding remote operation of the telephone device main body is recorded in advance. a message recording means for detecting a predetermined remote control signal; a readout means for reading a predetermined message from the message recording means; and when the predetermined remote control signal is detected by the detection means, the readout means 1. An automatic telephone response device comprising: sending means for operating and sending a predetermined message read out to the outside through the telephone line.