JPH0367383B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an improvement in an answering machine using an external recorder.

[Technical background of the invention]

Conventionally, this type of device generally specifies the answering mode with a mode selection switch, and when an incoming call occurs in this state, a preset answering message is output from an answering message circuit containing an external recorder or voice synthesizer. The system is configured to send messages to the telephone line, and to record on an external recorder the messages that arrive from the other party's telephone after the response message has been sent.

On the other hand, as an advanced form of this type of device, there are two types of response recording messages: one that includes a message indicating that recording is possible, and one that does not include a message that recording is possible (or a message that does not include a message that recording is possible). By preparing two types of response messages, a response-only message (including a message indicating that the message is "response-only"), and selecting and specifying these response messages using a response mode designation switch, the response-recording mode and response-only mode can be selectively used. What has been proposed has been proposed. With such a device, it is possible to arbitrarily set whether or not to record a message according to the owner's request, and it can also automatically respond with a response message when the message recording area of the recording tape becomes full. You can also switch to a dedicated message, which is very useful.

[Problems with background technology]

However, in this type of conventional device, the operating mode and the answering mode are designated only by the designated states of the operating mode designating switch and the answering maid designating switch. Therefore, if you forget to connect the external recorder to the answering machine, or if the connection is incomplete and the answer recording mode is set, the answer message may not be sent, or even if it is sent, This causes problems such as not being able to record messages that arrive from someone.

For example, there are two types of answering machines: one type that plays the response message from an external recorder and sends it out, and another type that generates it from the voice synthesizer of the answering machine itself and sends it out. If a connection failure occurs with the external recorder,
Even though the answering mode is set, it is not possible to send a response message or record the message, and as a result, the answering message cannot be answered. If a connection failure occurs in the latter type, a response message will be sent, but even if the other party sends a message in response to this response message, this message will not be recorded at all, and the important message will not be recorded. This is very undesirable as information will be lost.

For this reason, it is possible to monitor the connection status of the external recorder and prohibit answering when the external recorder is not connected, but in this case, no matter how long you wait, there will be no response, so There is a problem in that people are unable to know the situation and feel anxious.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention prevents an inappropriate response operation from being performed when a connection failure of an external recorder occurs.
As a result, it is possible to perform an answering operation with high operational reliability by preventing the occurrence of non-sending of response messages and non-recording of business matters, and power is supplied to the external recorder only when necessary in response to the response operation. An object of the present invention is to provide an answering machine that can reduce power consumption and improve safety.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a connection state determining means for detecting and determining whether the connection state of the external recorder to the main body of the answering machine is good or bad;
and mode change control means. When the connection state determining means determines that the connection state is good while the first mode, which is the response recording mode, is set by the mode change control means, the first mode is left unchanged. If it is determined that there is a connection failure, the first mode is forcibly changed to the second mode, which is a response-only mode.

Furthermore, the present invention includes a power supply control means for the external recorder, and in the first mode, the power supply control means causes the external recorder to be supplied with power after the transmission of the response message is completed, and in the second mode, In this mode, no power is supplied to the external recorder.

[Embodiments of the invention]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of an answering machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which numeral 1 indicates the main body of the answering machine, and numeral 4 indicates an external recording device such as a tape recorder.

The answering machine main body 1 includes a control section 10 made up of, for example, a microcomputer, and an answering circuit 11a.
and a communication circuit 11 consisting of a transmission circuit 11b;
an incoming call detection section 12 that detects the arrival of an incoming call signal from the telephone circuit 2; and a changeover switch 13 that selectively connects the telephone circuit 11 and the incoming call detection section 12 to the telephone line 2 according to instructions from the control section 10. and a response message circuit 1 that sends a preset response message to the telephone line 2 via the telephone call circuit 11 in response to an instruction from the control unit 10 when the user is absent.
4, a group of function switches 15 for specifying the operation of the device, and an external outlet 3 for connecting the commercial power output.
a power supply unit 17 that is introduced through the AC power supply unit 17 and outputs a predetermined DC power supply voltage; and an AC power supply control unit 18 that controls on/off the supply of commercial power output to the external recorder 4.
They each have the following. Here, the function switch group 15 includes function switches for specifying device operations such as "recording,""response," and "playback," as well as function switches for specifying the device's operation mode between occupancy mode and absent response mode. mode designation switch 15a for specifying whether the answering mode is an answering recording mode in which the answering message is sent and the message is recorded, or an answering only mode in which only the answering message is sent and the message is not recorded. A response mode designation switch 15b is provided for selectively designating the response mode. Note that 18a is a socket for supplying commercial power output to the external recorder 4, and 19 is a connector type audio signal terminal for transmitting and receiving audio signals to and from the external recorder 4.

By the way, this audio signal terminal 19 has a detector 2.
0 is attached. The detector 20 is made of, for example, a micro switch, and is attached to the inner wall surface of a mounting portion of a connector type audio signal terminal 19 having a female terminal 19a fixed to a housing 19b, as shown in FIG. When the connector 5 of the signal cord connecting with the audio signal terminal 41 of the external recorder 4 is attached, it operates mechanically and outputs a connection detection signal ("H" level). In addition, 19 in Figure 2
C is a lead wire for audio signals, and 20a is a lead wire for detection signals.

With such a configuration, if the owner operates the mode designation switch 15a to designate the answering mode while the owner operates the mode designation switch 15b to designate the response recording mode, the control unit 1
0 first determines the detection output of the detector 20. If the detection output of the detector 20 is at the "H" level, it is determined that the external recorder 4 has been reliably connected, and the response recording mode is set as specified by the response mode designation switch 15b.

Therefore, when an incoming call occurs in this state and is detected by the incoming call detection unit 12 and transmitted to the control unit 10, the control unit 10 first switches the changeover switch 13 to the telephone call circuit 11 side and switches the call circuit 11 to the telephone line. Connect to line 2, then respond message circuit 14
A message sending instruction is sent to the telephone line 2, and a response message is sent to the telephone line 2 via the telephone communication circuit 11.
The response message used in this response recording mode includes a message indicating that you can record your business, for example, ``I am out of the office.If you have any business, I will record it for 40 seconds.'' , Please talk to me after this message is finished. Well then, please."
Something like is used. When the sending of the response message is finished, the control unit 10 turns on the AC power supply control unit 18, which had been off until then, and supplies commercial power output to the external recorder 4.
As a result, the external recorder 4 is placed in the recording operation state.
Thereafter, the message coming from the other party's telephone via the telephone line 2 is supplied to the external recorder 4 via the recording signal terminals 19, 41 and recorded on a recording tape. At the same time, the message from the other party's telephone is supplied from the communication circuit 11 to the loudspeaker circuit 16, and is output as audio from the speaker 16b. Thus, an answering operation is performed using the answering recording mode.

On the other hand, if the detection output of the detector 20 is "L" level when setting the response mode,
The control unit 10 determines that the connection state of the external recorder 4 is not securely established, and at this time, even if the response recording mode is designated by the response mode designation switch 15b, it forcibly sets the response only mode. .
Therefore, when an incoming call occurs in this state, the control unit 10 connects the call circuit 11 to the telephone line, and then sends a message transmission designation to the response message management circuit 14 to generate a response message for the response-only mode, and then Send it to line 2. At this time, the response message for the response-only mode is a response message that does not include a message indicating that you can record the business, such as "I am currently out of the office. Please call back later." is used. Therefore, the other party who received this response message does not send the message, and as a result, as mentioned earlier, the connection with the external recorder 4 is poor and the message cannot be recorded. Even if you do, your business will not be lost. Note that when the transmission of the response message is finished, the control unit 10
Since this is a response-only mode, the AC power supply control section 18 is left in the OFF state, commercial power is not supplied to the external recorder 4, the line is disconnected, and the system returns to the standby state.

When the response only mode is designated by the response message designation switch 15b, even if the connection state with the external recorder 4 is poor, the answering operation in the response only mode is executed as is.

In this embodiment, the detector 20 detects the connection state of the external recorder 4, determines whether the connection state is good or bad based on the detection output, and if the connection state is poor, the response mode designation switch is activated. Even if the answer recording mode is specified in 15b, by setting the answer-only mode that does not use the external recorder 4, messages will not be sent from the other party's phone, and as a result, the loss of messages will be avoided. can be prevented. Therefore, a highly reliable absence response can be performed.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the setting of response recording mode or response only mode is performed based on the quality of the connection state of the external recorder 4 as the first condition, so the external recorder 4 must be actively connected. You can also select and specify response recording mode and response-only maid by turning it on or off. In this way, the response mode designation switch 15b of the function switch group 15 can be made unnecessary, and the occurrence of erroneous operations can be reduced accordingly.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, when a connection failure of an external recorder is detected, an alarm may be issued. In this way, it is possible to notify the owner that the connection state of the external recorder 4 is defective, and it is possible to always set the mode reliably. Furthermore, as a means of determining whether the connection status is good or bad, a detector is also provided at the audio signal terminal of the recorder, so that connection failure is detected on both the answering machine main unit 1 side and the external recorder 4 side. Good too. In this way, it is possible to more reliably determine whether the connection state is good or bad. It is also possible to determine whether the connection status is good or not by monitoring the presence or absence of current flowing between the external recorder and the answering machine when the external recorder is connected, without installing a particular detector. good. In addition, the connection state determining means, the control procedure and control contents of the control unit, etc. can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in detail above, the present invention includes means for determining the connection state of an external recorder and mode change control means, and when the first mode, which is the response recording mode, is set, the above-mentioned If the connection state determining means determines that the connection state is good, the first mode is maintained as is, while if it is determined that the connection is poor, the first mode is changed to the second response-only mode. By forcibly changing the mode, it is possible to prevent inappropriate response operations from being performed in the event of a connection failure with the external recorder, and this can prevent response messages from not being sent or It is possible to prevent the occurrence of non-recording of business matters and to realize an absentee response operation with high operational reliability.

Further, according to the present invention, a power supply control means for the external recorder is provided, and the power supply control means controls the first
In this mode, power is supplied to the external recorder after the transmission of the response message is completed, and the second
In this mode, no power is supplied to the external recorder, so regardless of whether the first mode or the second mode is set, the Power is supplied to the external recorder only when necessary, so
Power consumption can be significantly reduced, and the external recorder can be prevented from overheating, improving safety and reliability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of an answering machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view showing an example of a detector installation structure. 1...Answering machine main body, 2...Telephone line,
4...External recorder, 10...Control unit, 11...Telephone circuit, 12...Incoming call detection unit, 13...Selector switch, 14...Response message circuit, 15...Function switch group, 15a...Mode designated switch,
15b... Response mode designation switch, 16... Loudspeaker circuit, 17... Power supply section, 18... AC power supply control section, 19, 41... Connector type audio signal terminal, 2
0...Detector.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An answering machine main body having a response message circuit for generating and sending a response message and a power supply circuit, and a main body of an answering machine having a power supply circuit and a power supply circuit detachably connected to the answering machine main body via a signal cord. It is equipped with an external recorder for recording business matters that operates by power supply from the circuit, and transmits a response message including a message indicating that recording of business matters is possible from the response message circuit, and records the business matters from the other party. An answering machine that can set a first mode in which an external recorder is used to record the message, and a second mode in which the response message circuit only sends out a response message including a message to the effect that recording of the business is impossible. In the telephone device, a response mode setting means for selectively setting either the first mode or the second mode, and detecting and determining whether or not the connection state of the external recorder to the main body of the answering machine is good or bad. a connection state determination means for maintaining the first mode as it is if the connection state determination means determines that the connection state is good in a state where the first mode is set;
On the other hand, a mode change control means for forcibly changing the first mode to the second mode when it is determined that there is a connection failure; The apparatus is characterized by comprising a power supply control means for supplying power to the external recorder and controlling the power supply circuit so as not to supply power to the external recorder at all in the second mode. Answering machine.