JP3854335B2 - Modem equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a modem device which is connected between a telephone line and a data line and converts voice signals and digital signals.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As conventional modem devices, those shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 are known.
The modem device shown in FIG. 12 is connected to the data line of the computer 1 and has a voice circuit, a modem circuit 2, a line terminal 4 connected to the telephone line 3, a telephone terminal 6 connecting the telephone 5, A switch 7 for switching the connection between the line terminal 4, the modem circuit 2 and the telephone terminal 6 is provided. That is, the switch 7 connects the modem circuit 2 and the telephone 5 to the line terminal 4 or disconnects the line terminal 4 to connect the modem circuit 2 and the telephone 5.
[0003]
In such a configuration, normally, the switch 7 connects the telephone 5 to the line terminal 4 so that a telephone call can be made using the telephone 5. On the other hand, when the modem circuit 2 is used by operating the computer 1, the modem circuit 2 is connected to the telephone line 3 via the line terminal 4. This modem circuit 2 has a voice function. The line terminal 4 is disconnected by the switch 7 to connect the modem circuit 2 and the telephone 5, and the answering machine answers the telephone 5 using voice response software on the computer 1 side. Get messages etc.
[0004]
On the other hand, in the modem device shown in FIG. 13, the modem circuit 2 does not have a voice function, and the switch 7 can switch the line terminal 4 to either the telephone terminal 6 or the modem circuit 2. Further, the computer 1 is provided with a sound circuit 8, and an audio signal is converted into a digital signal and inputted through a microphone 8 a connected to the sound circuit 8, or a speaker 8 b while converting the digital signal into an audio signal. Can be generated.
[0005]
In such a configuration, the modem circuit 2 or the telephone 5 is normally connected to the telephone line 3. However, in addition to such usage, the modem circuit while converting the voice signal and the digital signal by using the microphone 8a connected to the sound circuit 8 by the calling software as a transmitter and the speaker 8b as a receiver, 2 makes it possible to make calls within the network.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventional modem device described above has the following problems.
[0007]
In the former case, the telephone 5 is not useful when it is being used as a modem, and even in the latter case, the telephone 5 cannot be used when making a call using the call software.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a modem device that can effectively use a telephone that is naturally provided corresponding to a telephone line.
[0008]
[Means and Actions for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, modem means for exchanging data interposed between a public communication line and a computer and an external telephone can be connected, and the telephone can be used for voice input / output. A telephone line interface to be used; sound means connected between the telephone line interface and the computer for converting voice signals and digital signals corresponding to voice input and output; and by dialing the telephone, A dial signal converter that converts a signal output to the telephone circuit interface into dial operation data that is a digital signal and outputs the dial operation data to the computer ;
When the computer determines that the dial operation data transmitted from the dial signal converter is destined for a network, the audio signal can be transmitted to the computer while the modem means is connected to the public communication circuit. The telephone circuit interface is connected to the telephone, and when the dial operation data transmitted to the computer is not addressed to a network, switching means is provided so that the telephone can be connected to the public communication circuit. A modem device.
[0009]
In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, when performing a normal call, the switching unit connects the telephone to a public communication line such as a telephone line. A dial signal converter for converting the dial signal of the telephone into a digital signal and transmitting the digital signal to the data line; Therefore, when the dial is operated on the telephone, the dial signal converter can convert the dial signal into a digital signal, which can be used as an operation input. In response to the dial signal , the switching means connects the modem means to the public communication line and connects the telephone to the telephone line interface. Here, the telephone line interface can be used for voice input / output when an external telephone is connected, and the sound means connected between the telephone line interface and the data line is the telephone line interface. Thus, it is possible to convert a voice signal corresponding to the voice input / output and a digital signal.
[0010]
That is, the telephone is used as a voice input device, and the inputted voice signal is converted into a digital signal and taken into a computer, which is sent out from the modem means to the public communication line in a predetermined form, or conversely sent from the public communication line. Based on the received data, it can be converted into an audio signal through sound means and a telephone line interface, and the telephone can be used as an audio output device. Here, the modem means may be any means for connecting a computer to a public communication line. If the public line is a normal telephone line, it may be a modem that modulates and demodulates a digital signal into an analog voice signal. If is a high-speed digital communication network, a terminal adapter which is a connection device for digital communication may be used. Further, the computer and the modem may be independent or may be integrated as a part of the computer function. Further, the dial signal converter may be a single device, or the sound means may separate the tone signals via the telephone line interface to extract only the operation information. At least the dial operation on the telephone may be taken out as information and input to the computer. Accordingly, if the telephone side is provided with voice input or special dial operation means such as a one-touch dial, it is only necessary to obtain dial information input by such operation means.
[0011]
The sound means is connected between the telephone line interface and the computer, converts a voice signal input from the telephone into a digital signal, converts a digital signal input from the data line into an analog signal, and outputs the voice to the telephone. Any device that outputs a signal may be used. In this case, it may be an intelligent type or a data transfer unit provided with a compression / decompression circuit. Of course, it is also possible to use a single unit that normally plays back or records audio. Further, these functions may be provided as a part of the whole and may have other functions.
[0012]
On the other hand, the above-described telephone line interface only needs to use a telephone connected to the public communication line for voice input / output. That is, in general, the transmitter may be a microphone and the receiver may be used instead of a speaker. This may be an ordinary analog telephone or an analog port of a terminal adapter that can use the analog telephone. That is, the public telephone line may be a digital line, and an apparatus for connecting an analog telephone to the digital line may be used.
[0013]
The switching means is not particularly limited as long as the above switching is performed, and may be a switch including a mechanical contact piece or a switching circuit not including a mechanical contact piece. The switching itself may be switched according to the status of the modem means. As a specific configuration executed by the microcomputer in response to switching by the switching means described above, the invention according to claim 2 is the modem device according to claim 1, wherein the dial indicating the dial number addressed to the network to the computer is provided. When the operation data is transmitted, the computer is configured to activate a call program that transmits and receives data representing voice transmitted from the telephone via a network .
[0014]
In this way, if you configure the software to connect to the other party on the network by dialing, you can talk over the network rather than as a regular phone simply by picking up the handset and dialing. Become.
[0017]
Such calls need not be limited to voice-only calls. A configuration in which an imaging device can be connected to the computer may be employed. That is, a photographing device is input to the computer side via a data circuit, and an image photographed by the photographing device can be captured together with audio input / output. Accordingly, it is possible to receive a digital image signal while transmitting / receiving a digital signal for a call, and to receive the image signal from the other party for use as a TV phone.
[0018]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the telephone can be used for voice input / output even when a public communication line is connected to the modem means, and the telephone can be used effectively. Therefore, it is possible to provide a modem device capable of making a call without a sense of incongruity. In addition, the dial of the telephone can be used as an input device, and operation with less discomfort can be performed with familiar devices than when the keyboard has to be operated.
[0019]
Furthermore, according to the second aspect of the present invention, predetermined processing on the computer can be started by dialing the telephone, so that the telephone call can be made in the same manner as the telephone if the telephone call software is activated.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a modem device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0021]
In the figure, the modem device 10 comprises a switcher 20 as a switching means, a modem circuit 30 as a modem means, a telephone line interface 40, and a sound circuit 50 as a sound means. And an analog public telephone line (hereinafter referred to as a telephone line) 70 and an analog telephone (hereinafter referred to as a telephone) 80.
[0022]
The telephone line 70 is connected to the modular jack type line terminal 11, and the telephone 80 is similarly connected to the modular jack type telephone terminal 12. Both terminals 11 and 12 are connected to a relay type switch 20, and a line terminal 31 of a modem circuit 30 and a telephone terminal 41 of a telephone line interface 40 are connected to the switch 20. The line formation like this is possible.
First, in order to use a normal telephone 80, the line terminal 11 is connected to the telephone terminal 12, and the line terminal 31 of the modem circuit 30 and the telephone terminal 41 of the telephone line interface 40 are opened. This line status is called the first switching status. On the other hand, in order to use the telephone 80 for voice input / output of the computer 60, the line terminal 11 is connected to the line terminal 31 of the modem circuit 30 and the telephone terminal 12 is connected to the telephone terminal 41 of the telephone line interface 40. This line situation is called a second switching situation. It is not impossible to always use it as the second switching situation.
[0023]
In the first switching situation, the telephone 80 is connected to the telephone line 70, while the modem circuit 30 and the telephone line interface 40 are opened, and a general telephone is used.
In the second switching situation, the line terminal 11 is connected to the line terminal 31 of the modem circuit 30, and the computer 60 can be connected to the telephone line 70 via the modem circuit 30. The modem circuit 30 is connected to a bus line inside the computer 60, and performs signal modulation / demodulation between a voice signal and a digital signal that can be transmitted / received via the telephone line 70, thereby enabling communication. In this embodiment, although connected to the bus line inside the computer 60, it goes without saying that it may be connected to a serial communication line of the computer 60 or connected to a parallel line.
[0024]
On the other hand, the telephone line interface 40 connected to the telephone 80 in the second switching situation uses the telephone 80 connected to the telephone line 70 for voice input / output, and FIG. 2 shows a schematic circuit diagram thereof. . The telephone 80 is supplied with -48V via the two-line telephone line 70, and can transmit and receive simultaneously. In this embodiment, -48V is supplied, but it goes without saying that the power is changed depending on the telephone line system. Similarly, the telephone line interface 40 includes a voltage dividing circuit 42, a power feeding circuit 43, and a two-wire four-wire conversion circuit 44 so that transmission and reception can be performed while power is supplied to the telephone 80. The two-wire four-wire conversion circuit 44 includes a line output 44a corresponding to the output of the transmitter and a line input 44b corresponding to the input to the receiver, and is connected to the sound circuit 50 shown in FIG.
[0025]
In the present embodiment, the telephone line interface 40 has a circuit configuration corresponding to an analog telephone. However, when the public telephone line is a high-speed digital communication network and the telephone is a digital telephone, the digital line is used. Any circuit configuration that can use the cellular phone for voice input / output is acceptable. In this sense, it can be configured using analog port firmware or the like in the terminal adapter.
As shown in FIG. 3, the sound circuit 50 in this embodiment is connected to a line output 44a in the telephone line interface 40 and converts an analog signal into a digital signal, and the A / D converter 51. A compression circuit 52 that compresses the output of the computer 60, an interface 53 interposed between the bus lines inside the computer 60, a decompression circuit 54 that decompresses the compressed digital data output via the interface 53, The D / A converter 55 converts the digital signal output from the decompression circuit 54 into an analog signal and outputs it to the line input 44b in the telephone line interface.
[0026]
The sound circuit 50 converts audio data into digital data when an audio signal is input, requests an interrupt from the computer 60, and sends the digital data to the bus line. When digital data is input from the bus line, the digital data is converted into voice data according to a command represented by the data and output. The sound circuit 50 can also process sound, and thus can process sound while converting an analog signal and a digital signal. Further, the processing may be performed not on the sound circuit 50 but on the computer 60 side. Of course, it may be at the time of transmission or at the time of reception.
The sound circuit 50 only needs to be connected between the telephone line interface 40 and the data line of the computer 60 and convert analog signals and digital signals. The sound circuit 50 need not necessarily have the above-described circuit configuration. Absent. For example, in the present embodiment, it is a bus line inside the computer 60, but it may be connected to a serial line or a parallel line.
[0027]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.
The modem device 10 is controlled by software used in the computer 60. For example, the calling software is configured corresponding to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
First, to start a call, network connection is performed in step S100. Taking the Internet as an example of the network, in this network connection, the switcher 20 is switched to the second switching state side, and the modem circuit 30 makes a call to a predetermined provider or the like via the telephone line 70. When the telephone is communicated, connection is made via a predetermined protocol.
[0028]
After connecting to the network, a call program is started in step S110. In this calling program, data representing voice is transmitted to the other party who wants to talk, or data representing voice sent by designating oneself is received.
When talking to the transmitter of the telephone 80, it is converted into a voice signal from the line output 44 a of the telephone line interface 40 and outputted, and further inputted to the computer 60 through the sound circuit 50 as digital data. Accordingly, it is determined that the voice data is input from the sound circuit 50 in step S200 of the transmission process, and is transmitted as data to a specific call destination in the network via the modem circuit 30 in step S210.
[0029]
On the other hand, when data is received from the network via the modem circuit 30, the reception process is executed. In this reception process, if it is determined in step S300 that there is an output from the modem circuit 30, it is determined whether the output is audio data from the network, and if it is audio data, it is output to the sound circuit 50. Then, the sound circuit 50 converts it into an analog signal and outputs it to the line input 44b of the telephone line interface 40. The telephone line interface 40 outputs an audio signal so that it can be heard from the telephone 80 receiver.
[0030]
As described above, a call can be made via the network. However, the modem device 10 can use not only such a call but also the telephone 80 as a microphone or a speaker alone. When it is desired to capture audio data into the computer 60, recording can be performed by sequentially storing the audio data from the sound circuit 50 in the form of a file in a memory or a hard disk (steps S400, 410, 420). Data is read from the file and output to the sound circuit 50 (steps S500 and S510), thereby enabling reproduction.
[0031]
Such a recording / playback function can be realized by the above-described software of the computer 60, and it is needless to say that an answering machine function can be realized by receiving a call while using this recording / playback function. That is, it is automatically received by the modem circuit 30, and when the protocol is established and connected to the network, the recorded message is reproduced and sent out from the modem circuit 30, and then sent from the modem circuit 30. Similarly, you can record a message by saving it to a hard disk in the form of a file.
[0032]
Instead of the answering machine function, it can also be transmitted and received like an e-mail over a network. If it is an e-mail, it may be stored in a predetermined institution, and when the other party receives the e-mail, it may be sent to the telephone 80 via the sound circuit 50 if the content is voice data. In this case, if the doorbell of the telephone 80 is ringed before sending out, the convenience is further improved.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified as appropriate. For example, in the embodiment described above, the Internet is taken as an example of the network, but a normal in-house network is also possible. If the network is connected via a dedicated line, a call can be made free of charge.
[0033]
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a modem device 10 according to a modification of the present invention.
This embodiment differs from the modem device 10 shown in FIG. 1 in that a DTMF decoder 45 that decodes a tone signal transmitted by dialing the telephone 80, a camera terminal 13, and a camera interface 90 are provided. Yes.
Here, the DTMF decoder 45 as a dial signal converter can be connected to the telephone 80 by the switch 20 together with the telephone line interface 40. When the dial operation is performed, a digital signal representing the dial operation is interrupted and the bus line of the computer 60 is also interrupted. Output to. In this embodiment, the tone signal is targeted, but it may be converted into a digital signal representing a dial operation based on the pulse signal.
[0034]
The camera interface 90 is also connected to the bus line of the computer 60 and can output image data of the camera 81 connected to the outside in response to a command from the computer 60.
The modem device 10 having such a configuration can be used in a call activation program corresponding to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the dialing operation of the telephone 80 is performed while the computer 60 is on standby, the DTMF decoder 45 detects this, converts it into digital data, and sends it to the computer 60. At this time, since an interrupt signal is output, the computer 60 detects that dial operation data is input (step S600), and determines whether the dial operation data is a dial number addressed to the network (step S610). .
[0035]
For example, if the first dial number is “1”, it may be set as a dial number addressed to the network. The subsequent several-digit dial number is associated with the ID of a specific individual on the network, and the call destination is specified with reference to the table.
Thereafter, as described above, the communication program is connected to the network (step S620) and the call program is started (step S630).
As described above, the telephone program via the network is activated by the dial operation of the telephone 80, so that a telephone call can be made in the same manner as a normal telephone.
[0036]
Of course, not only the call destination may be specified, but a command to increase or decrease the volume by a dial operation may be output, or it may be used as an operation means for recording or reproduction.
On the other hand, simultaneously with the calling program, the image data of the camera 81 is acquired from the camera interface 90 (step S700), and if it is sent to a predetermined network partner via the modem circuit 30 (step S710), it functions as a TV phone.
In this modification, the camera interface 90 is connected, but an information device that can be transmitted via a network can be connected, and the system apparatus can be expanded.
[0037]
As described above, the modem circuit 30 for exchanging data between the telephone line 70 as a public communication line and the computer 60 is provided, and an external telephone 80 can be connected and the telephone 80 is used for voice input / output. A line interface 40; and a sound circuit 50 connected between the telephone line interface 40 and the computer 60 for converting a voice signal corresponding to voice input / output and a digital signal. By connecting the telephone 80 to the telephone line interface 40 while connecting the telephone 30, communication is possible via the modem circuit 30 while using the telephone 80 for voice input / output, so that the telephone 80 can be used effectively. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a modem device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of a telephone line interface.
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a sound circuit.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main routine of call software.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing transmission processing.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing reception processing.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing recording processing.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a reproduction process.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a modem device according to a modified example of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a calling program starting process.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a TV phone process.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a conventional modem device.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram of another conventional modem device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Modem apparatus 20 ... Switch 30 ... Modem circuit 40 ... Telephone line interface 45 ... DTMF decoder 50 ... Sound circuit 60 ... Computer 70 ... Telephone line 80 ... Telephone 81 ... Camera 90 ... Camera interface

Claims (2)

Modem means that is interposed between the public communication line and the computer to exchange data;
A telephone line interface that can be connected to an external telephone and used for voice input and output;
Sound means connected between the telephone line interface and the computer for converting audio signals corresponding to audio input / output and digital signals;
A dial signal converter that converts a signal output to the telephone circuit interface by dialing the telephone into dial operation data that is a digital signal and outputs the data to the computer ;
When the computer determines that the dial operation data transmitted from the dial signal converter is addressed to a network, the voice signal can be output to the computer while the modem means is connected to the public communication circuit. The telephone circuit interface is connected to the telephone, and when the dial operation data transmitted to the computer is not addressed to a network, switching means that can be switched to connect the telephone to the public communication circuit is provided. A modem device. In the modem device according to claim 1, when the dial operation data indicating a dial number addressed to a network is transmitted to the computer,
A modem device, characterized in that the computer activates a call program for transmitting and receiving data representing voice transmitted from the telephone via a network .

Images