JPS6322662B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an answering machine that notifies the user of the inability to record when it is in a state where no further recording is possible.

Answering machines that record business messages from callers have the disadvantage that the tape ends or the tape runs out, making further recording impossible. A solution has been proposed. For example, using a recording/playback device equipped with a stereo head, etc., record two types of response messages, and when recording is possible, the first response message recorded on the first track is played back, and when recording is not possible, the first response message recorded on the first track is played back. There is a method of reproducing and transmitting the second response message recorded on the second track. Here, by recording a message with the content "recordable" for the first response message and "recording not possible" for the second response message, and playing back and sending out the second response message, the call can be made. Notify the person that recording is not possible. However, since the above method uses a stereo head or the like to record and reproduce two types of response messages, the circuit is complicated, the cost is high, and the recording operation is complicated.

The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and also
To provide an answering machine that uses an inexpensive monaural head and only needs to record one type of response message.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. In this embodiment, a response message of an arbitrary length is recorded on an endless cassette tape to which a sensing tape is attached, and an end signal indicating the end of the message is recorded.The tape is used as the response message tape.

The drawing is a block diagram of one embodiment of the invention.
In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a control section comprised of a microcomputer, input/output circuits, etc., which controls all operations of the device. 2 is an incoming signal detection circuit consisting of a photocoupler, etc. After receiving a call, as described later,
This serves as a line current detection circuit for automatic line recovery.
3 is a capacitor, 4 is a communication transformer, 5 is an end signal detection circuit, 6 is an audio detection circuit, 7 is an alarm signal generation circuit, 8 is a line relay, 9 is a reproduction system relay, 1
0 is a recording relay, 11 is a playback amplifier for response messages, 12 is a playback head, 13 is a recording amplifier for message messages, 14 is a recording head, and 15 detects the sensing tape attached to the endless tape for response messages. Contact for
16 is a plunger drive circuit for the tape deck for response messages, 17 is a plunger drive circuit for the tape deck for message messages, 18 is a motor drive circuit, and 19 is a tape end detection circuit for the tape deck for message messages. There are methods of detecting rotation. 20 is a line relay switch, 21 is a playback relay switch, and 22 is a recording relay switch. However, in the figure, mechanical parts such as a plunger are omitted.

First, the operation in a normal recording enabled state will be explained. In the incoming call waiting state, an incoming signal is sent from the line to the incoming signal detection circuit 2 via the condenser 3 and the call transformer 4.
The detection output is input to the input end 1-4 of the control unit 1, and the output end 1-5 outputs a line relay ON signal to turn on the line relay 8 and switch 2.
Turn on 0 to complete the incoming call. Next, output end 1-
6, 1-9, and 1-18, turn on the regeneration system relay 9, turn on the switch 21, and turn on the plunger drive circuit 16 and motor drive circuit 1.
8 and sends a response message to the line. The message signal is amplified by the reproduction amplifier 11 from the reproduction head 12 via the switch 21.
The signal is transmitted to the line via the telephone transformer 4 and the switch 20. The message signal is constantly monitored by the end signal detection circuit 5, and when the message recorded on the response message tape has finished playing,
When the end signal is reproduced, a detection output from the end signal detection circuit 5 is inputted to the input terminal 1-1 of the control unit 1, and the output is output to end the reproduction and transmission of the response message tape and stop the running. End 1-6, 1-
9, cancel the on signal of 1-11.

Next, in order to record the message from the caller, an on signal is output from the output terminals 1-7, 1-10, and 1-11, the recording system relay 10 is turned on, the switch 22 is turned on, and the plunger is driven. circuit 1
7. Turn on the motor drive circuit 18 and record the message. A message signal from a caller is transmitted from the line through a switch 20, a telephone transformer 4, and a switch 22, and then amplified by a recording amplifier 13 and supplied to a recording head 14. The message signal is constantly monitored by the voice detection circuit 6, and if there is no voice for a certain period of time, it is determined that the message from the caller has ended, and the detection output is input to the input terminal 1-2 of the control unit 1. Output end 1-7, 1-10, 1-1
The on signal of 1 is released and the recording of the message is finished.

In addition, an incoming signal detection circuit 2 connected to the line
After receiving a call, it functions as a line current detector, and when the line current is cut off, a detection output is generated and the recording of the message ends as described above. After the recording is completed, in order to run the remaining part of the endless tape for response message to the sensing tape section, an ON signal is output from the output terminals 1-9, 1-11 of the control section 1, the tape is run, and the contact pole 15 detects the sensing tape and stops it, output end 1-5
cancels the on signal and returns the line to standby status.

Next, a description will be given of the operation when the main point of the present invention is recorded to the end of the message tape, or when recording becomes impossible due to the tape being cut midway.

During recording of the above-mentioned message, when the end of the tape is reached and a detection output is output from the tape end detection circuit 19, the ON signals of output terminals 1-7, 1-10, and 1-11 are released, and the message is recorded. end. Subsequently, an ON signal is output from the output end 1-3 to turn on the warning signal generation circuit 7 and start sending out a warning signal to the line.At the same time, the output end 1-9, in order to feed the remaining part of the endless tape for the response message.
An on signal is output from 1-11, and when the sensing tape is detected, the on signal at output ends 1-9 and 1-11 is released and the running is stopped. Here, the control unit 1 determines the time from the start of sending out the warning signal, and if it is longer than the certain time T, the on signal of the output terminals 1-3 is released to stop sending out the warning signal, and the line relay 8 is turned off. , the line is returned to the incoming call standby state, and if the predetermined time is shorter than T, the sending of the warning signal is continued, and after the elapse of T time, the sending is terminated, and the line is returned to the incoming call standby state.

From the next incoming call, after sending a response message, the message is not recorded, and the response message tape is run and a warning signal is sent.
Similarly to the above, if the running time of the response message tape is longer than the time T, the sending of the warning signal is stopped at the same time as the running is stopped; if it is shorter than the running time, the sending of the warning signal is continued even after the running is stopped, and the sending of the warning signal is continued even after the running is stopped. After T has elapsed, transmission is stopped and the line returns to the incoming call standby state.

In an answering machine that operates as described above,
If you add a message to the end of the response message prompting recording that says, "If the signal is heard for more than T seconds, recording will not be possible," the signal will notify the caller that recording is not possible, and the caller will It is possible to prevent the risk of a message being sent but not being recorded.

As is clear from the above embodiments, the present invention requires only one type of response message to be prepared, and can notify the caller of the recording-disabled state with a simple and inexpensive configuration. This prevents the caller from accidentally sending a message. Furthermore, when controlling this answering machine from a remote location, you can immediately know that messages are being recorded while you are away by listening to the warning signal that indicates that recording is not possible.
It is very convenient for both the caller and the owner.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawing is a main part configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1...Control unit, 2...Incoming signal detection circuit, 3...
... Capacitor, 4 ... Call transformer, 5 ... Termination signal detection circuit, 6 ... Audio detection circuit, 7 ... Warning signal generation circuit, 8 ... Line relay, 9 ... Playback system relay, 10 ... Recording system Relay, 11... Playback amplifier, 12... Playback head, 13... Recording amplifier, 14... Recording head, 15... Contact pole, 16, 17... Plunger drive circuit, 18
... Motor drive circuit, 19 ... Tape end detection circuit, 20 ... Line switch, 21 ... Playback system switch, 22 ... Recording system switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. It has an endless tape for recording and reproducing response messages, a tape for recording and reproducing business messages, and a recording and reproducing device for these tapes, and a sensing tape for end detection is attached to the endless tape for response messages. , a response message and a signal indicating the end of the response message (end signal)
After the call is received, a response message is sent to the line. When the end signal detector detects the end signal, the endless tape for the response message stops running, starts recording the business message, and after the recording is finished, starts again. The endless tape for the response message is run, the sensing tape is detected and stopped, the line is restored and the next call is waited for. While the message is being recorded, an output is generated from the tape end detector of the tape for the message. In this case, it stops recording the business message, starts sending out a warning signal indicating that recording is not possible, and at the same time runs an endless tape for response messages, detects a sensing tape, and stops running this endless tape. If the travel time is longer than a certain amount of time, the warning signal will be stopped and the line will be restored; if it is less than a certain amount of time, the line will be restored after a warning tone is emitted until the specified amount of time has elapsed, and the next incoming call will be An answering machine characterized in that after detecting an end signal of a response message, the telephone answering machine does not perform a recording operation of the message, and transmits a warning signal indicating that recording is not possible for the predetermined period of time to restore the line.