JPH08186637A - Automatic answering telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To preferentially reproduce an important matter message from a specified caller among respective important matter messages recorded during absence by reproducing the important matter message corresponding to a specified code based on the reproduction request of a specified important matter message. CONSTITUTION: When the caller transmits the important matter message, he transmits it by operating an ID code allocated to himself. Lamps 19 are provided in the respective numerical keys of dial keys. When an ID code is received from a calling-side during the recording of the important matter message, CPU 1 lights the lamp corresponding to the received ID code. Then, a regular recording state showing that the important matter message is recorded is displayed on a display unit 14. Thus, only the important matter message from the specified caller can preferentially be selected and reproduced by operating the dial key corresponding to the lighting lamp 19 when the user of the device comes home.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an answering machine for automatically responding to an incoming call from an outside line, sending a reply message, and reproducing a message from the outside line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an answering machine, when an incoming call arrives at an outside line in an answering mode, a response message is automatically sent to the calling side through the outside line in response to the incoming call.
The calling side listens to the response message sent, and when the sending of the response message is completed, the message for the called side is sent to the answering machine as the message. As a result, the message from the calling side is recorded in the memory of the answering machine. After that, the called party returns home and performs a predetermined reproducing operation, whereby the message message of the calling side recorded in the memory of the answering machine is reproduced.

[0003]

In the conventional answering machine, when the message messages from a plurality of calling parties are recorded in the memory, when the message messages are recorded, the message messages are recorded. Are played in the order they were taken. Therefore, if you try to hear the desired caller's message immediately when you return home, if this message was recorded last, it will be played last after each message is played. Therefore, there is a demand for an answering machine that can preferentially reproduce a message from a specific caller.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to preferentially reproduce a message message from a specific calling party among the message messages recorded during absence.

[0005]

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention automatically arrives at an outside line while automatically responding to an outside line incoming, reproducing a response message stored in advance and transmitting the message to the outside line. An answering machine that records a message from a caller in a storage means receives a specific code that comes from an outside line between automatically answering an outside line call and opening the outside line when the recording of the message is completed. When the specific code is received, the receiving means, the control means for storing the recording address information of the message as the specific message message information together with the specific code in the memory when the specific code is received by the receiving means, and the specific code is received. Display means for displaying the corresponding message, and referring to the memory based on the request to play the specific message, the message of the message corresponding to the specific code is displayed. It is provided with a reproduction means for performing live.

As a display means, a lamp is provided inside each dial key provided in advance in the device, and an ID is provided.
When the code is received, the control means turns on the lamp corresponding to this ID code. Further, the reproducing means is configured to recognize the reproduction request of the specific message when the dial key corresponding to the lit lamp is operated. Further, the storage means is composed of a semiconductor memory. Further, when the specific code received when the specific code is received by the receiving means and the specific code stored in the memory match, the control means controls the reproducing means to cause a message corresponding to the specific code. It is designed to be played back. In addition, a registration means for registering a password in association with a specific code is provided in advance, and if a password that arrives with the specific code from an outside line is received and the password matches the registered password, the message corresponding to the specific code The message is reproduced.

[0007]

[Function] When a specific code that arrives from an outside line is received between the time when an external line is automatically answered and the outside line is released when the recording of the message is completed, the recording address of this message is used as the information of the specified message. As a result, the message is stored in association with the memory together with the specific code and the corresponding display is displayed, while the message corresponding to the specific code is reproduced based on the reproduction request of the specific message. As a result,
Among the message messages recorded during absence, the message message from a specific caller can be preferentially played. Also,
A lamp is provided inside each of the dial keys provided in advance, and when an ID code is received, the lamp corresponding to this ID code is turned on. As a result, it is possible to easily identify which caller the message is from.

When the dial key corresponding to the lit lamp is operated, it is recognized as a reproduction request for the specific message and the specific message is reproduced. As a result, the message of the specific caller can be played back by a simple operation. Further, the storage means is composed of a semiconductor memory. As a result, the device can be made compact and economical. Further, when the specific code received when the specific code is received and the specific code stored in the memory match, the message corresponding to this code is reproduced. As a result, the message of the particular caller recorded in the device can be remotely reproduced and heard. Also, when a password that arrives together with a specific code from an outside line is received and this password matches the registered password, the message corresponding to this specific code is reproduced. As a result, when one device is used by each member of the family, if the parents and the children of the family are assigned different specific codes and passwords, for example, the parent cannot reproduce the message message addressed to the child. Therefore, when reproducing the specific message, the confidential matters of each member can be protected.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an answering machine according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a CPU that controls all of the answering machine, and the CPU 1 is connected with the following circuits. That is, 2 is a dial circuit that sends a dial signal to telephone lines (hereinafter, external lines) L1 and L2, 3 is a BT detection circuit that detects a busy tone (hereinafter, BT) that reaches the external lines L1 and L2, and 4 is an external line L.
A voice detection circuit 5 for detecting a voice signal from L1, L2 is a holding sound circuit for sending a holding sound to the outside lines L1, L2, etc. via the communication circuit 6.

Reference numeral 7 is a voice recording / reproducing circuit, which is a recording / reproducing IC.
8. Connected to the amplifier 9 and the microphone 10, the voice signal from the microphone 10 can be recorded in the recording / reproducing IC8, and the other party's requirement from the outside lines L1 and L2 via the amplifier 9 is also recorded in the recording / reproducing IC8. The message is reproduced and sent to the speaker SP via the amplifier 9. 12 is a PB receiver for receiving PB signals from the outside lines L1 and L2, and 1
3 is a memory, 14 is a display such as an LCD, 15 is a function key such as an absence setting key and a reproduction key, 16 is a dial key,
18 is a clock section, HS1 is a hook switch, and PC is 16H
It is a photocoupler for transmitting an incoming signal detected by the z detection circuit 17 to the CPU 1. Reference numeral 19 denotes a lamp provided inside each of the numeric keys of the dial key 16 described above, and the CPU 1 controls turning on and off of the lamp.

By the way, when the user of this answering machine is absent due to going out or the like, if the answer setting key in the function key 15 is operated, the answering mode is set in the apparatus.
When an incoming call arrives at the outside lines L1 and L2 accommodated here, this incoming signal is sent to the 16 Hz detection circuit 17 and the photocoupler P.
It is transmitted to the CPU 1 via C. When the absence mode is set in the device at this time, the CPU 1 turns on the transistor Q1 by turning on the transistor Q2 via the dial circuit 2, and closes the loops of the external lines L1 and L2 to respond to this incoming call.

After that, the voice recording / reproducing circuit 7 is driven to perform the recording / reproducing IC.
The response message recorded at is output to the outside lines L1 and L2 via the voice recording / reproducing circuit 7, the amplifier 9, the communication circuit 6 and the like, and is sent to the calling side. Then, after the response message is sent, the message that comes from the calling side and reaches the outside lines L1 and L2 is recorded in the recording / reproducing IC 8 via the communication circuit 6, the amplifier 9 and the voice recording / reproducing circuit 7. Thus, in the absence mode, the message messages of the calling side are sequentially stored in the recording / reproducing IC 8.

Thereafter, the user returns home, and the function key 15 is used to reproduce the message recorded in the recording / reproducing IC 8.
When the reproduction key in the inside is operated, the CPU 1 detects this and drives the voice recording / reproducing circuit 7, and causes the recording / reproducing IC 8 to reproduce the recorded message, and the voice recording / reproducing circuit 7 and the amplifier 8 are used. To sequentially output to the speaker SP. By the way, when the message messages are reproduced from the recording / reproducing IC 8 of the answering machine, conventionally, the message messages are reproduced in the recording order. Therefore, when a plurality of message messages are recorded, it is impossible to immediately reproduce and listen to the message message of the desired caller. Therefore, in the present invention, a plurality of different ID codes are registered in advance in the device, and each individual ID (specific calling party) is individually informed of each ID code, and the calling party sends a message message. By operating and transmitting the ID code assigned to itself when sending the message, the apparatus treats these message messages as special message messages and enables priority reproduction.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a storage state of the memory 13 which manages the recording / reproducing IC 8 for recording and reproducing the message. FIG. 4A shows an address storage area of the recording / reproducing IC 8 for recording each message, and a start address (recording start address) and a stop address (recording end address) for each message.
Is stored. Further, FIG. 4B shows an ID code storage area, in which an ID code is stored for each recorded message. In the case of a normal message having no ID code added to the recorded message, a common code is added and stored. Note that a separate area of the memory 13 is provided with a work counter indicating the number of recorded case messages shown in FIG. 4C and a work counter thereof.

Next, the recording operation of the message sent from the caller will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the power of the present apparatus is turned on, the CPU 1 performs an initialization process with the switch S1, and in the initialization process, each area of the memory 13 shown in FIG. 4 is initialized. When an incoming call arrives at the outside lines L1 and L2 and the determination in step S2 becomes "Y", the absence mode is set in this device, and the recording / reproducing IC8 area must be full due to the recording of the message. For example, the CPU 1 determines that “response possible” in step S3 is “Y”. In this case, in step S4, the outside lines L1 and L2 are captured to respond to the incoming call, and then the reproduction of the response message recorded in the separate area of the recording / reproducing IC 8 is started in step S5.

The response message thus reproduced is sent to the calling side via the outside lines L1 and L2. Next, in step S6, it is determined whether or not the response message has been reproduced, and when the reproduction of the response message is completed, a beep sound is transmitted to the calling side for a predetermined time in step S7, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, step S8. When the "end of transmission of dial tone" is "Y", recording of the message sent from the calling side is started in step S9.

When the recording of this message is started, C
The PU 1 reads the address of the current recording / reproducing IC 8 via the voice recording / reproducing circuit 7 and stores it as the start address of the corresponding message in the memory 13 shown in FIG. . Then, recording / playing IC
8 starts the recording operation from this start address and records the message of the calling side. During recording, the address of the recording / reproducing IC 8 is sequentially increased and transmitted to the CPU 1 via the audio recording / reproducing circuit 7. Here, when the calling side outputs an ID code consisting of several digits, which is given to itself by dial key operation, to the device side as a PB signal,
This ID code is received by the PB receiver 12 and CP
It is transmitted to U1. In this case, the CPU 1 executes step S1
The "ID code" of 0 is determined to be "Y", and the received ID code is temporarily stored in a separate area of the memory 13 in step S11. In addition, when receiving the ID code, the recording / reproducing IC
The recording operation of No. 8 is once stopped, and then the recording operation is restarted.

After that, in step S13, it is determined whether the caller has terminated the call, or in step S14, the end of recording due to the elapse of a certain time by a timer provided inside the CPU 1.
Here, the BT arriving at the outside lines L1 and L2 due to the call end on the calling side is detected through the BT detection circuit 3 and step S13.
If the determination is “Y”, or if the timer has reached a certain time and the result is “Y” in step S14, the CPU 1 controls the audio recording / reproducing circuit 7 in step S15 to control the recording / reproducing IC 8. Stop the recording operation. Then, the address of the recording / reproducing IC 8 at this time is stored as the stop address of the corresponding message in the memory 13, the message counter indicating the number of recorded messages is incremented by 1 in step S16, and then the outside line is released in step S17.

After that, if the ID code received from the calling side at the time of recording the message is stored in the memory 13, the ID code is acquired in step S18, and this ID code is previously stored in the device in step S19. Judge whether it matches the registered code. And receive I
If the D code matches the ID code registered in the device in advance, an ID code pointer is set in step S20, and the received ID is set in the corresponding area in the ID code storage area shown in FIG. 4B by this pointer. Remember the code. Thereafter, a "code-corresponding sign display" to be described later is performed in step 21, a "normal sign display" is performed in step S22, and the process returns to step S2.

That is, as described above, this device is provided with the lamp 19 for each of the numeric keys of the dial key, and the ID code is received from the calling side during recording of the message. Then, the CPU 1 turns on the lamp corresponding to the received ID code in step S21. Then, in step S22, a normal recording state display indicating that the message is being recorded is displayed on the display unit 14. Therefore, when the user of the device returns home and operates the dial key corresponding to the lit lamp 19, only the message from the particular caller can be preferentially selected and reproduced.

If the ID code cannot be received from the calling side during recording of the message, or if the received ID is
If the code is not registered in the device and the determination in step S19 is "N", only the normal sign display is performed in step S22. Although the present embodiment is configured to receive the ID code of the calling side during recording of the message, the ID code may be received during the sending of the response message or the dial tone. Therefore, the ID code can be received at any timing from the response to the incoming call from the outside line to the recording of the message of interest and the opening of the outside line. Further, in this embodiment, a lamp 19 is provided inside each dial key, and when a message with an ID code is recorded in the device, the corresponding lamp is turned on and the corresponding dial key is operated. Although these are played back, in this case, a dedicated lamp and an existing key or a dedicated key may be provided, and the display 14 is used for the display, and the dedicated key or the existing key is used for the playback operation. You may use it.

Next, the reproducing operation of the calling-side message recorded in the apparatus as described above will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The CPU 1 determines based on the value of the message counter that a message has been recorded in the device, and “Y” indicates “recorded” in step S31.
If it is determined, next, in step S32, it is determined whether or not there is a reproduction operation of the message. Here, when the user of the apparatus returns home and notices the lighting display of the lamp arranged inside the dial key and presses the dial key corresponding to the lamp, the CPU 1 causes the "Y" of "reproduction operation" in step S32. , And “N” of “regular message reproduction” of step S33, the “reproduction of message corresponding to code n” of step S34 is determined to be “Y”.

In this case, the CPU 1 counts the number of ID codes stored in the memory 13 shown in FIG. 4B in step S35 and sets the number in the work counter. Then, in step S36, the ID corresponding to the operated dial key stored in the ID code storage area
The start address and stop address of the message corresponding to the code are acquired from the recording address storage area of FIG. Subsequently, this start address is set in the voice recording / reproducing circuit 7 and the voice recording / reproducing circuit 7 is driven to reproduce, thereby reproducing the message message to which the ID code n is added in step S37.

After that, in step S38, the work counter is decremented by one, and the address of the recording / reproducing IC 8 via the voice recording / reproducing circuit 7 is compared with the stop address obtained from the recording address storage area, and one message message is compared. To determine the end of playback. When both addresses coincide with each other and the reproduction of one message message with the ID code ends, whether or not another message message with the ID code is recorded is determined in step S39 as the value of the work counter. Judge based on At this time, if the value of the work counter is "0", the CPU 1 executes "code n" in step S39.
It is determined that the "reproduction of the message" is "Y", and in step S40, "erasing the code-corresponding sign" that erases each lamp that is lit is executed. If the value of the work counter is not "0", the process returns to step S36 to retrieve the next ID code from the ID code storage area in FIG. 4B and reproduce the message corresponding to this ID code.

In this way, when each message message is recorded in the recording / reproducing IC 8, it is possible to preferentially reproduce the message message from the specific caller to which the ID code is added. . Then, in step S41, the ID
All the message messages are judged by judging whether the subtraction value of the work counter and the value of the message counter match, whether all the message messages including the special message message with the code have been played If it is determined that the "playback" has been reproduced, the "display sign with recording" displayed on the display 14 is erased in step S46.

When all the message messages with ID codes have been reproduced, when the normal message is still recorded in the recording / reproducing IC 8, "End all message reproduction" in step S41 is executed. "N", and in this case, step S3
Return to 1. Then, at this time, the user of the device uses the function key 15
When the playback key in the inside is operated, the CPU 1 executes step S32.
“Reproduction operation” is determined to be “Y”, and “normal message reproduction” in step S33 is determined to be “Y”, and the message message with the ID code already reproduced is excluded from the value of the message counter in step S42. Value is set in the work counter. Then, the start address and the stop address of the normal message corresponding to the common code stored in the ID code storage area shown in FIG. 4B are acquired from the recording address storage area of FIG. 4A. Subsequently, this start address is set in the voice recording / reproducing circuit 7 and the voice recording / reproducing circuit 7 is set.
The normal message is reproduced in step S43 by driving and reproducing.

Next, in step S44, the work counter is set to −
After that, the address of the recording / reproducing IC 8 via the voice recording / reproducing circuit 7 and the stop address acquired from the recording address storage area are compared to determine the end of reproduction of one normal message. If it is determined that both addresses match and the reproduction of one normal message has ended, whether or not another normal message has been recorded is determined in step S45 based on the value of the work counter. to decide. In this case, if the value of the work counter is "0", the CPU 1 determines that all the message messages have been reproduced, and deletes the "recording sign display" displayed on the display 14 in step S46. To do. Even if all the message messages are reproduced when the value of the work counter becomes “0”, the values of the message counter and the recording address storage area shown in FIG. You can play the message of the message repeatedly as many times as you want. Eventually, the reproduction of the message becomes impossible because the message counter and the recording address are erased when a predetermined operation is performed and a predetermined time elapses due to the timer.

As described above, in this embodiment, it is possible to preferentially reproduce the message from the specific caller to which the ID code is added. Although the user of the device that has returned home operates the key provided on the device when playing back the message, it can also be played by accessing this device from a remote location via a telephone line. be able to. That is, after the user of the device calls the device and the device responds, if the same ID code as that used when the caller recorded the message is sent to the device by the PB signal, the device transmits the PB signal. The signal is received by the PB receiver 12 and transmitted to the CPU 1. Then, the CPU 1 is shown in FIG.
By referring to the ID code storage area in (b), it is recognized that the same ID code has been received twice (first time from the calling party and second time from the device user) during the absence mode. In this case, the CPU 1 reproduces the message message corresponding to this ID code and sends it to the user side. If the relevant message is not recorded in the device, the CPU 1 drives a voice synthesizing circuit separately provided in the device to display a voice message saying "the relevant message is not recorded" on the user side. Send to.

Further, by assigning a plurality of different ID codes to each individual, and letting each person know this code to his or her friend or acquaintance, one answering machine can be shared by a plurality of users. . That is, in this case, it is assumed that a friend of an individual sends a message to the device and responds on the device side, and then sends a corresponding ID code that has been notified to the device side and records a message. After that, when an individual calls the device from a remote place using a telephone line and then sends the ID code assigned to the device to the device, the device side sends a message corresponding to this ID code as described above. Is played and sent to the telephone line. As a result, the message for the user can be played back.

Further, when one answering machine is used jointly by members of each family, each member of the family is configured to add a secret password to each ID code. . Then, each member of the family should be able to register his / her own password in the device. In this case, for example, when a child of the family calls the device from a remote place using a telephone line and then sends the ID code and password assigned to the device to the device, the device side checks the password and this is the device. ID registered in the device and corresponding to this password in the device
If the coded message is recorded, this message is played back and sent to the telephone line. As a result,
Only the message message addressed to me is played, so even if the parent tries to play the message message addressed to the child, for example, the corresponding password cannot be entered. It can protect the confidential matters of each member.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a specific code arriving from an outside line is received between the automatic answering of an outside line incoming and the opening of the outside line based on the end of recording of a message, this The recording address of the message is stored as the information of the specific message in association with the specific code in the memory and the corresponding display is displayed, while the message is reproduced according to the specific code based on the reproduction request of the specific message. By doing so, it is possible to preferentially reproduce the message message from the specific caller among the message messages recorded while the user is away. In addition, each of the dial keys provided in advance has its own lamp, and when an ID code is received, the lamp corresponding to this ID code is turned on. Whether it is a message can be easily identified.

Further, when the dial key corresponding to the lit lamp is operated, it is recognized as a reproduction request for the specific message and the specific message is reproduced, so that the specific message can be specified by a simple operation. You can play the message of the calling party. Further, since the memory means is composed of the semiconductor memory, the device can be made compact and economical. Also, when the specific code received when the specific code is received matches the specific code stored in the memory, the message corresponding to this code is played, so it is recorded on the device. The message of a specific caller can be remotely played and listened to. Further, since the password is added to the specific code, when one device is used by each member of the family, if a different specific code and password are assigned to the parents and the children constituting the family, for example, The parent cannot reproduce the message message addressed to the child, and therefore can protect the confidential matters of each member when reproducing the specific message message.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an answering machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a recording operation of a message in the above device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a reproduction operation of a message in the above device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a management state of a memory for managing each message message recorded in the device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... CPU, 3 ... BT detection circuit, 7 ... Voice recording / reproducing circuit, 8
... Recording / playback IC, 12 ... PB receiver, 13 ... Memory, 14
... Display, 15 ... Function keys, 16 ... Dial keys, 17
... 16 Hz detection circuit, 18 ... Lamp, L1, L2 ... External line.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An answering machine which automatically responds to an incoming call to an outside line, reproduces a response message stored in advance and sends the answer message to the outside line, and records a message message from a caller who arrives at the outside line in a storage means. In the device, receiving means for receiving a specific code coming from the external line between automatically answering the external line incoming and opening the external line based on the end of recording the message, and the specific code is received by the receiving means. In the case of, the control means for storing the recording address information of the message as the specific message message information in association with the specific code in the memory, and the display means for displaying the corresponding when the specific code is received, Reproduction for referring to the memory based on the reproduction request of the specific message and reproducing the message according to the specific code Telephone answering apparatus being characterized in that a stage. 2. The answering machine according to claim 1, wherein a lamp is provided inside each dial key provided in advance as the display means in the device, and the control is performed when the ID code is received. An answering machine is characterized in that a means turns on a lamp corresponding to the ID code. 3. The answering machine according to claim 2, wherein the reproducing means recognizes as a reproduction request of the specific message when a dial key corresponding to the lit lamp is operated. A featured answering machine. 4. The answering machine according to claim 1, wherein the storage means is a semiconductor memory. 5. The answering machine according to claim 1, wherein if the specific code received when the specific code is received by the receiving unit matches the specific code stored in the memory, the control is performed. An answering machine is characterized in that the means controls the reproducing means to reproduce a message corresponding to the specific code. 6. The answering machine according to claim 5, further comprising: registration means for registering a password in advance in association with the specific code, wherein a password that arrives together with the specific code from the outside line is received and registered with this password. The answering machine is characterized in that when the password matches the password, the message message according to the specific code is reproduced.